Bob Shell's Blog

The 11 MM Murata

2012-01-05T09:31:00.000-08:00

Shooting the 11 mm Murata

The 11 mm Murata
The Japanese have made various guns for a few hundred years mostly wheelocks and similar guns but never made one type in quantity. Prior to 1880 they bought their military weapons from such countries as France and Germany once trade was opened up. In fact the Gras and model 71 Mauser as well as the Beaumont influenced the design of the Murata. One thing they had to do was set up the manufacturing facilities in order to produce their own military rifles. Until 1853 when Commander Mathew Perry arrived in Japan no western nation was allowed on Japanese soil. He was sent by President Millard Fillmore with letters that contained some threats and requests for open trading. Prior to 1853 sailors and merchants could be imprisoned or even killed if they were unlucky enough to be shipwrecked on the islands of Japan. Since western countries traded with China that possibility existed as they passed fairly close to Japan. The shoguns, who pretty much ran the country, were afraid of losing their power if trade to the west was expanded. They were totally isolated from all western nations with the exception of Holland which put them on a technological disadvantage in regards to weapons. The Japanese eventfully signed a trade treaty with the US.

The 11 X 60 Murata, the first cartridge rifle use by the Japanese, was brought out in 1880 having been designed by Tsuneyoshi Murata 1838-1921. He fought in the Boshin war of 1868-69 where the Meiji forces defeated the last of the Pro-Tokugawa forces creating the Meiji dynasty. He toured various European countries including France, Germany and Sweden in 1875 which gave him some ideas on making his rifle which resulted in the model 13. He went back to Europe in the 1880’s and picked up other ideas to improve the Murata. It would be a Johnny come lately as most other countries adopted similar weapons 8 to 10 years prior to that. The rifle is called a Meiji 13 because it was brought out in the 13’Th year of the Meiji Emperor’s, Hirohito's grandfather, reign. It is a bolt action single shot rifle that bears a resemblance to the Dutch Beaumont rifle. That includes a leaf spring in the bolt handle that works as the firing pin spring. That could be a weakness as they weren’t as strong as a coil spring and you can’t bend the bolt handle which desirable for carbines used by a cavalry. There were somewhere between 60 and 70,000 type 13s produced

Writing on stock

The cartridge is similar to a French Gras or an 11 mm Mauser but they are not interchangeable. The 420 grain bullet is listed at 1487 FPS producing about 2060 FT LBS of energy so it was a potent cartridge for its day. The info I found on the original bullets are that they weigh 420 grains and are about .434 diameter without the paper patch on them Most were however given paper patching which was common for the day. Much of the ammo was manufactured in the US and Great Britain according to some references. France also produced it to a small extent. I have a bore cast that indicates that you can use a bullet as large as .445 in diameter. That is a good reason to slug your bore prior to loading ammo for it. They were loaded with black powder and some even had a boxer primer which was unusual for the day. Both the rifles and original cartridges are not common and are collectors’ items.

In 1885 they came out with the model 18 which had a few minor changes over the 13 but still shot the 11 X 60 cartridge. One of the changes was the 13 has a screw on top of the bolt to take it out much the same as the 71 Mauser while the 18 has it on the side. It was called the 18 because it came out during the 18’Th year of the emperor’s reign. There were about 80,000 rifles and 10,000 carbines produced before they went to the 8 mm which was also designed by Lt. Murata. Neither the 13 nor 18 saw any significant combat in any theater and was replaced by the model 22 in 1889 which is an 8 mm round loaded with smokeless powder. They may have saw service as a second line weapon in the Sino-Japanese war of 1894 and 5 though probably not too much an extent. Like many obsolete weapons they hung around for awhile after they were discontinued. The Murata rifles and rounds were replaced in 1897 by the 6.5 Arisaka rifle.

370 grain ammo for Murata

I was able to obtain an 18 for testing and shooting through the generosity of a friend. It’s all original and in pretty good shape considering it is over 120 years old. The rifle has a few of the usual dings in the stock but nothing major. In fact that gives it some character. The metal has a nice patina finish with no pitting. There is some Japanese writing on the stock though I can’t read it. I had some loaded ammo on hand so we tried it out for function and chronographing. The single shot rifle functioned fine with the action being fairly smooth. The trigger is a little heavy but I have encountered much worse. Like most rifles of the period there is no safety. One interesting thing is that they gave some attention to the gas venting system. There is a groove in the bottom of the receiver, much like the Gras plus there are some holes on top of the receiver and bolt. Since brass wasn’t as good as it is now those features probably saved more then one eye. To remove the bolt there is a screw on the left side that needs to be removed and when removing the bolt the trigger needs to be depressed. It not much of a problem removing the bolt this way. The extractor seems sturdy and works well however there is no ejector, requiring that you bring back the bolt with some authority in order to knock the case loose from the extractor. Then you can either remove the case with your fingers or tip the rifle to drop the case. The rear sight is a ladder type and for its day isn’t too bad. The twist rate in 1 in 20”. Although the rifle is over 120 years old it is evident to me that the Japanese used good quality materials and workmanship in making this rifle. I used 348 cases that were formed to fit the Murata chamber. They functioned fine but are short by about 7 mm. The bullet can be seated out to help compensate for that shortness. Loading for the Murata isn’t any harder then any of it contemporaries provided you have the right supplies and equipment. As far as I know no one makes a case to the exact dimensions of the Murata round. CH Tool & Die does make reloading dies for it as well as many other obscure rounds. I have a number of their sets for some of the various obsolete calibers I load for. If you want to contact them you can go to http://www.ch4d.com/ for a complete listing of their products. There is a verity of cast bullets available from various commercial bullet makers. Due to time constraints I didn’t shoot a lot of various types of bullets which are available. If you want lighter bullets there are some 300 and 340 grain slugs available. There is no reason to use jacketed bullets even if they are available. I used Winchester large rifle magnum primers in all loads. They may be a minor aid in burning black powder cleaner.

. * Bullets seated out.

LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
68 X Graff FFG 370 grain cast 1192 super consistent
55 X CTG Pyrodex 370 grain cast * 1128 ok
67 X Cleanshot FFG 370 grain cast * 1529 ok
69 X Cleanshot FFG 370 grain cast * 1607 nice
84 X FFG Graff 370 grain cast * 1289 ok

Bolt face for Murata

I ran into a problem with misfires when I took it out the second time. The primers were being hit but not hard enough to fire the cartridges. The bolt was taken out and uncocked so we could examine the firing pin but it seems to protrude far enough. Everything was clean so that wasn’t the problem though I did notice that you could move the bolt back and forth a little when it was in the gun. From that I concluded that it has excess headspace which would account for the misfires part cured the misfiring problem. Since I can’t fix the rifle I adjusted the ammo to compensate for it. Fixing the headspace in such a gun would be extremely difficult if not impossible. The gun isn’t mine so modifying it isn’t an option.

. I took some new 348 brass and sharpened the shoulder plus necked it up in stages which is time consuming Since I intend on keeping the pressure low it is a perfectly safe thing to do. I have done that on a couple of other occasions with good results. I wanted to shoot this gun so I took the time to figure it out and fix the problem. That for the most part fixed the problem. I don’t know if anyone is making the proper case for the Murata. I checked Bertram Brass out but didn’t see it listed which is a bit of a surprise since they make so many odd calibers. Maybe I missed it.

Since I had a bunch of test ammo that wouldn’t go off I put on my thinking cap to see if I could make it fire. I didn’t really want to pull it as I have a lot of time invested in loading it. I thought about a thin washer in front of the rim but I couldn’t get one to work. Finally I found some single strands of copper wire and wrapped it once in front of the rim and tightened it. While not the scientific or the book approach it works. I was able to shoot up the test loads and more then 90% went off with the first try. The wire compensated for the excess headspace and with the low pressures involved there is no danger. I just slip it off when I reload the case. Another way to fix that is using rubber washers that can be bought at most hardware stores. I found some that slip over the case perfectly and it is easy to use. I have done this in the past with good results however I would not recommend it for modern high pressure rifles. If the wire or rubber washer doesn’t work then perhaps the gun is not safe to shoot. As always when shooting these old guns eye protection is mandatory at all times. I have never had a black powder gun blow up but I have had a couple of case separations at the rear which spewed gas into my face. The cases were defective and if I wasn’t wearing eye protection an eye injury would have been a probability which I can do without. For some reason I and the owner found that it is a hard rifle to clean. I scrubbed the bore at length but had a difficult time removing the black powder residue. I don’t know if it is a peculiarity in the rifling or something else but we both experienced it. That may be something you want to keep in mind when you clean a Murata.

The Murata rifles are somewhat hard to get due to low production but if you find one that you can afford by all means get it. Since they were only around for a few years no other country adopted it as in the case of the model 71 Mauser which was much more widespread which enhances the value of a Murata.

Winchester Model 70

2011-11-25T13:56:00.000-08:00

" Shooting the 7 mm-08 at Rio Salado

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 7 mm -08

Recently I received a new model 70 in 7mm-08 for testing and evaluation. This model is also offered in the 22-250, 243 and 308 calibers. I wanted the 7 mm 08 because I haven’t had a chance to work with one and I feel that in a lightweight package it would be a good choice. I also wanted to have an effective hunting rifle that is both light and has low recoil. This rifle is excellent for small framed hunters and beginners. The 7 mm -08 was introduced in 1980 by Remington, though it was a wildcat since 1958. It is an efficient cartridge which makes it desirable for handloading. In the past 30 years with the improvements in ammo and bullets the 7mm has really come into its own. It is a good example of an effective hunting rifle that won’t stomp you. Low recoiling rifles are a lot easier to shoot then a shoulder buster. That is especially true with beginning shooters. Due to its more streamlined bullets it will out range its parent the 308. It would be nifty in 338 Federal and 358 Winchester caliber offerings. Recoil would go up but not enough to bother an experienced hunter.

Shooting the Winchester model 70 in 7 mm -08 The Hawkeye scope proved to work well with the model 70

The rifle is quite handsome with a nice piece of wood for the stock. The 20” barrel has no sights but the receiver is drilled and tapped for a scope. The MSRP is $899 which would take it out of the low price range. Personally for that price they should include a Weaver base which would cost them a very few dollars. The bluing is nice and even which enhances the attractiveness of the gun. It has the controlled feed action based on the Mauser model 98 which is a major plus in my book. It has the three position safety which allows you to empty your gun when on safe or it can lock the bolt closed. That is a good feature if you are walking through low hanging tree branches as they won’t open up the bolt without you knowing it. The MOA trigger is easily adjustable and has no creep or over travel. I did not find it necessary to adjust the trigger on my sample. All in all it is a nice compact rifle offered in some flat shooting calibers. With those calibers offered it would be good out to 300 yards for some big game animals. The 22-250, one of my all time favorites, would be a joy to hunt varmints with. I think that if Winchester brought out a plain Jane version with a composite stock for less money they might have a winner as more shooters may opt for it as opposed to the more expensive model. Anyway it is just my opinion for what it is worth.

Factory ammo worked well in this test

For shooting I mounted a Hawkeye 3 X 9 scope which proved to have excellent optics. It also has a lighted reticule which is handy in low light situations. The adjustments are very easy to work with and you don’t need a screwdriver as in some other scopes. Also the power adjustment is also very easy to work with. I have used some scopes that are hard to adjust from 3 to 9 X. The Hawkeye scope line contains many products such as spotting scopes and binoculars. For more info on these fine products you can go to http://www.hawkeoptics.com/ to shop online or find a local dealer. I received ammo from Barnes, Hornady and Doubletap. After sighting in we shot some groups at 100 yards. We were getting groups of 1 to 1 & ½’ which I thought were a little large but we were contending with a brisk wind that was blowing from right to left at varying speeds which did nothing to shrink the groups. The targets were also moving from side to side which enhanced accuracy not a bit. I have shot those brands of ammo a lot and I know that they are capable of better accuracy then we obtained on that day. Recoil was pleasant and functioning was perfect as expected. A second trip to the range improved the groups somewhat. As with any rifle it has its preferences in ammo. That is the fun in experimenting and reloading. Not only do you get more practice but you get to know your rifle and ammo better.

Cast bullets work well

As I always do I let several people with varying amounts of experience shoot it in order to get some feedback. Everyone was impressed with its looks and shooting. One young lady really liked it and in fact was hitting a 200 yard target with no problems. The Hawkeye scope also received good reviews. One comment made by a couple of shooters was the bolt was smooth, a feature sometimes not found in new guns. It seemed like it was already broken in. I shot some factory ammo and all of it performed well and would be suitable for hunting. For info on these fine brands of ammo you can go to http://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle or http://www.barnesbullets.com/ http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/index.php I used Barnes, Hornady and Sierra bullets for my handloads you can go to their sites for bullets and www.sierrabullets.com for their line of reloading bullets.

I wanted to chronograph some loads to get an idea as to its potential. In power the 7 mm-08 is similar to the much older 7 X 57 Mauser though the Mauser can be loaded up a bit more because of slightly larger case capacity. That would be true only in modern strong rifles and the difference would be insignificant especially with light bullets.

LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
48 X IMR 4895 100 grain Hornady HP 3094 high es
8 X Trail Boss 100 grain Hornady HP 1312 nice
45 X IMR 4895 120 grain Hornady 2932 ok
Barnes 120 grain 2973 accurate
42 X IMR4895 139 grain Hornady G-Max 2608 ok
Hornady 139 grain G-Max 2837 consistent
Double Tap 140 grain TTSX 2793 nice
48 X 760 140 grain Sierra FB 2768 consistent
8 X Trail Boss 140 grain cast RN 1204 very consistent
8 X Trail Boss 145 grain cast sp 1162 accurate
45 X Big Game 150 grain Barnes TTSX 2530 ok
45 X Big Game 150 grain Barnes X 2545 nice
42 X Big Game 175 grain Hornady 2339 woods load

During the testing there were no malfunctions of any kind. It turned out to be quite a flexible rifle as there is a very large selection of 7 mm bullets second only to the 30 calibers. The rifle handled everything well including the cast bullet loads. I had three different ladies shoot it and in spite of the fact that they were beginners they handled the rifle just fine. The loads I listed are representative of the verity of bullets available. Due to its mildness premium bullets are not necessary though they can be put to good use. Since the case is fairly small it isn’t temperamental to reload such as a larger case may be. The medium range powders work the best though with a heavy bullet a slower powder may do ok.

Model 70 is easy for a woman to shoot

If you don’t mind paying the asking price this is a good choice for a light compact hunting rifle. For a woman or youngster it makes an ideal rifle for a verity of large game hunting and wouldn’t be bad for varmints such as coyotes. If you are shopping for a rifle in this price range I can recommend that you give this model a try. For more info on this fine rifle and other Winchester products you can go to www.winchester.com

Specs
Barrel 20”
Weight 6 & ½ lbs
MSRP $899.00
Safety 3 position
Trigger MOA adjustable
Sights none Tapped for scope
Total Length 39 & ½”
Pull 13”
Drop @ comb ½”
Drop @ heel ¾”

The Governor

2011-11-15T12:56:00.000-08:00

A view of the Governor

The Governor

Whenever a company comes up with a good idea invariably someone else will bring a similar product to the market. A good example is the Judge brought out by Taurus which is a novel gun that shoots 45 Colts and 410 gauge shotshells. Evidently the Judge is selling well because Smith & Wesson has come up with their own variation. It is a close copy of the Judge with a couple of more features. Don’t get me wrong competition is good in so far as it forces the makers to come up with new and better products which are good for the end user.

These Winchester loads worked fine in my Governor

Smith & Wesson came up with their model which they call the Governor. It looks like the Judge but S & W has some features that the Judge lacks. First of all they made it a 6 shot as opposed to 5 in the Judge. That does make it a little bulkier however which may or may not be important. The feature that I like the best is its ability to shoot 45 autos. You need moon clips which are provided for that purpose. There are 2- 6 round clips as well as 2 two round versions. They would be great if you wanted to mix your ammo for some reason. I did find that it is difficult to load 45 autos in them but a little dressing with a round file should cure that. The 2 rounders seemed easier to load. The reason that I like the 45 auto feature is the ammo is easier and cheaper to get. The 45 Colt is a fine round but I have heard complaints that many stores don’t have it and when they do it is expensive. The 410 is a 2 & ½’ only which for such a small gun should not be a problem as there is some nice 410 ammo out there for self defense. Since the Governor like the Judge is a close range defense gun 45 autos should do well even if they aren’t the most accurate rounds for that revolver. The sights are fixed with the front sight being Tritium Night Sight and it sports a 2 & 3/4” barrel as opposed to a 3” on my Judge. Fixed sights are not a problem with these guns. Another novel feature is a small key is provided. There is a small hole just above the cylinder release button and you can lock the gun in case there are children around. While neat it is hardly a new idea. I have a very old Dutch revolver that has a similar feature. The frame is scandium alloy which has proven durable over time. Listed weight is 29.6 oz unloaded. The MSRP is $679 and for about $220 more you can get Crimson Trace Laser Grips which are a great addition to any gun. For info on these great sights go to http://www.crimsontracelaser.com/?gclid=CNiR4O-9uawCFQd_5QodgXaIqQ for a complete listing of their products. At this time the Judge has more models to choose from including a verity of rifle variations. I suspect that if it goes over well S & W will add more models and options. The gun is matt black which at this time is the only finish available which isn’t a problem. It you look at the business end of it, it is intimidating. I would not want to be on the wrong end of that or a similar piece in a hostile situation. The double action trigger is decent while the single breaks pretty cleanly. Most women should be able to handle it ok with a little practice. With the verity of the ammo available it should be able to cover most self defense situations. It could be a handy and flexible hiking gun also. Recoil can be a bit frisky with some loads but the grips are comfortable and help deal with that.

Three different loads shows flexibility of the Governor

Shooting the Governor with both types of 45s proved to be a pleasure. The moon clips work fine and the 45 Colts also shot well though a bit high. As a note you can use 45 Gap ammo with the moon clips and 45 Schofield, same as the 45 Colt. You can not fit 454 Casull ammo or 460 S & W ammo in it. There is a step which prevents that with good reason. If you managed to chamber one of those rounds and fired it the gun would be totally destroyed and anyone in the area would be injured. The gun isn’t designed for such high pressure loadings. I would not fire 45 Colt +P loadings either as a precaution and recoil would be excessive. The 410s however proved to be a serious problem. They totally jammed up the gun by locking the cylinder and were very difficult to extract. There is a noticeable swelling by the base which may be caused by the cut in the cylinder that is necessary to load 45 autos. I notified Matt Rice @ Blue Herron Communications who handles S & W’s advertising and am awaiting his reply. He is in contact with a S & W engineer to see if the problem can be resolved. I never received a definitive answer from anyone so I resolved it myself. I read a review in another magazine and they had the same problem. The ammo functions fine in 2 other guns including a Judge so the ammo isn’t at fault. I have come across some information that other Governors have a similar problem with the 410’s. I tried some Winchester factory loads but they also jammed the gun. In the interest of complete testing I obtained some ammo made for a handgun one is 3 balls & the other is the disc ammo with 12 bb’s in it. They worked well in the Judge in a previous test so hopefully they will function in the Governor which they did.

LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
8 X Unique 200 grain cast 760 fair
8 X Unique 250 grain cast 844 good load
8 X Unique 300 grain cast HB 768 ok

Some of the 45 Colt loads used.

The Winchester handgun loads worked well with no jamming or hard extraction. I used the 3 disc with 12 BB load and the 3 ball load with both working fine. If you buy a Governor and want to use 410’s for self defense stick with the pistol rounds and make sure that they work in your gun. They are pricey but you won’t be shooting too many so that shouldn’t be a major issue. I reloaded the Winchester handgun hulls with my standard load and they worked fine. I would have to conclude that the brass heads on the revolver ammo is heavier then on the regular shells which doesn’t allow them to expand into the chamber. Just to try them out I loaded a few 444 Marlin cases with the standard 410 load but crimped the shot in with a gas check. They were only fair as opposed to test in the past with a 444 Marlin rifle. They showed a noticeable bulge so I don’t recommend them as a substitute for 410’s. I tried them to see how flexible the pistol is and since it isn’t made for those it isn’t a design fault that they didn’t do particularly well. A regular 444 cylinder would improve that but it isn’t practical. Do not even think of shooting a 444 Marlin rifle load in the Governor as it isn’t designed for such a powerful round. Such foolishness will result in disaster for both the gun & shooter. You can use 45 Colts with the Speer shot capsule with good results also. The Governor is a flexible gun and if you handload your options increase dramatically. Accuracy was fair out to 15 yards especially with the oversize 300 grain hollow base bullets. They are sized at 458 and seem more accurate then the 452 diameter bullets. Jacketed bullets offer little if any advantage over the cast types so I didn’t use them except in the 45 auto ammo. A 185 grain HP would be a good defense option in the 45 ACP case.

The safety lock is a good feature around kids.

The Governor is a specialized close range self defense pistol. Used that way with good ammo it will perform its duties quite well. It can be handy on a hiking trail against aggressive our legged critters such as coyotes with the proper ammo. With its flexibility you can carry the proper ammo for any situation that you might encounter. With that thought I would recommend it to a buyer looking for such a gun.

Standard 410 loads produce this swelling in the Governor

For more info on this novel gun you can go to http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CustomContentDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=750001&content=11001&catalogId=750051 and see all of their fine products.

Hawkeye Scopes

2011-10-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

This young lady had no trouble hitting a 200 yard target with a Hwakeye Scope

Hawkeye Scopes

For over 30 years Hawke Sport Optics, the leading optics supplier in Europe, has been providing innovative, benefit rich products to sporting men and women in over 40 countries around the world. While still relatively new to the North American marketplace, Hawke has proven to have the staying power to become a force in sport optics in the United States and Canada. With their extensive product line coupled with good quality I see a winner here.
Hawke offers a complete line of sport optics. From rifle, crossbow, shotgun, black powder, and air gun scopes, to binoculars, spotting scopes, and accessories, Hawke is sure to have a product to suit your individual shooting, hunting, or viewing needs. For more info on their extensive line of fine products you can go to http://www.hawkeoptics.com/ You can buy their products through a local dealer or buy directly from them. You can go to their site to find a nearby dealer which will allow you to physically examine the product.

Shooting the 7 mm-08 with a Hawkeye Scope was a pleasure

I received two scopes for testing. One is a Deer Pass (point and shoot system) model HK 3254 a 3 X 9 X 40 EVIR. It is intended for a muzzle loading rifles or shotgun shooting slugs at the ranges expected from them. The optics are clear and all of the adjustments are easy to use. It has the usual up & down plus the left & right and a parallax adjustment. It also has a focus adjustment at the rear of the tube. There is an instruction booklet printed in several languages that gives good detail. The Deer Pass scope also comes with a pamphlet that helps you in determining the range that a deer might be at. They give 6 X as an example out to 225 yards. That would be an extreme range for most slugs and near the top range for an inline bullet. The pictures show how to judge the range using a typical shotgun slug. I would strongly suggest that you study this helpful chart prior to hunting. Any edge that a hunter can obtain is a good thing provided that it is legal and ethical. Most slugs have a curved trajectory especially past 100 yards so using this chart will enhance your chances of a good shot. You can also use it for muzzleloading projectiles. You can make the necessary adjustments according to the trajectory you are working with. To make Hawkeye scopes more attractive they offer BRC Ballistic Reticle Software free of charge. You can go to their website to download the software. Of course the scope can be used for other game such as a bear or wild hog.

Another young lady enjoyed shooting with the Hawkeye Scope

I have a Knight rifle which has two barrels a 45-70 and a 50 caliber inline muzzle loading barrel. I plan on using the scope on both barrels. I mounted the scope and started with the 45-70 using some Black Hills 405 grain lead bullets. I wanted mild loads to approximate the trajectory of a slug. After bore sighting I shot at 25 yards and had no trouble getting it on the target. The clarity was great once I adjusted the focus and parallax. At 100 yards the scope performed flawlessly as I would expect. Clarity was great once the adjustments were made. The Black Hills ammo also performed well and was consistent through the chronograph as well as being accurate. They make a lot of good quality ammo and you can check them out at http://www.black-hills.com/ for a complete list of their stock. I have fired a verity of their calibers and have always had good results. As I always do I had several people fire the gun with the Hawkeye scope to get feedback. Everyone commented on the clarity and the ease of adjustments. No one had anything negative to say about either scope.

Black Hills Ammo performed well in the Knight 45-70

The other scope is an Extreme View Riflescope model HK5160 IREV which is also a 3 X 9 X 40. It also has a red or blue reticule besides the usual black and they showed up very well against various backgrounds. That enables you have the best color for the shooting conditions you might encounter. I mounted it on a Winchester model 70 in 7 mm-08 which I was testing at the time. It is a nice light weight model and if you want more info you can go to http://www.winchesterguns.com/ to check out their extensive line of firearms. We took it up to the Rio Salado shooting range which I am a member to test both products. After adjusting the scope we started shooting 100 yard groups with various types of ammo. It was pretty windy but we were still able to shoot groups in the 1” range. The adjustments are easy to work with and clarity is great at all ranges tested. The 300 yard target showed up real well and as a result hitting the gong wasn’t much of a challenge. Despite the target blending in with the background the scope brought it up clearly. We took a second trip to the range and due to the good optics I was able to get the rifles full potential. I had a novice shooter try the rifle with the Extreme View scope and she really liked it. In fact she was able to hit a small rock at a measured 200 yards without much difficulty which spoke well of the rifle and scope. A couple of other shooters really liked it and stated that they would buy one when they need a scope on their next rifles.

Both the Hawkeye Scope and the Black Hills ammo performed very well in the Knight 45-70

My view on the Hawkeye scopes is two thumbs up. They are a quality product well worth the price. I would suggest anyone looking for a good scope or other optics to check them out on their website. I think that you will be impressed. I am looking forward to using them on some hunting trips.

A good look at the Hawkeye Scope on the Knight 45-70

Bulk Ammo

2011-10-15T08:52:00.001-07:00

45 auto used in testing Fiocchi Ammo

Bulk Ammo
Recently I ran across a website that sells ammo. You might wonder what the big deal is as lots of sites do just that. They have a large selection of calibers and brands of all of the common calibers you might shoot. If you go to their website www.bulkammo.com you can get a list of their products. They also list how many of each item is on hand so you don’t get stuck with back orders. They have a nice selection of the common calibers as well as several leading brands. You will find that their pricing is quite attractive usually lower then some other retailers of bulk ammo.

They sent me a tin of Fiocchi ammo called Canned Heat, in 45 auto in 230 grain hard ball. The idea of ammo being stored in a tin is a novel one. For storage it should be ideal. I have shot Fiocchi ammo in various calibers and found it to be a quality product. The 45 ammo was no exception. Advertised velocity is 830 but mine chronographed at 892 and was very consistent. I used a 5” Rock Island 45 for the test. Accuracy was also good. By the way like some other brands they are going to small pistol primers. While they will work just fine you will have to look out for them when loading assorted 45 brass. They also have rifle ammo of various calibers so for the hunter or target shooter you might find a good source of ammo there. There is also some shotgun ammo available. Rimfire in the 17 and 22 calibers are also available. They also put various items on sale which changes every so often so it would behoove you to keep an eye out on their site. The already attractive pries are reduced more on the sale items.

New Fiocchi Canned Heat Bulk Ammo

Their website is easy to navigate which is important for me as I don’t like to spend a lot of time fooling with a hard to understand site. Their customer service is excellent as well something lacking in some other companies I have dealt with. You can set up your own account which will make it quicker and easier to order your ammo. If you are looking for good deals on bulk ammo I would strongly recommend that you give these guys a try.

Shooting Black Powder Rifle

If you want a real comprehensive reloading book that has a lot of info not found elsewhere look no further. Reloading From Another View ll is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble as e-books. You need a kindle or nook to download it. It has a lot of info on antique guns and loads.

Webley & Scott Shotguns

2011-10-11T14:03:00.001-07:00

Shooting the model 900 12 gauge Webley & Scott O/U

Webley & Scott Shotguns.

Webley and Scott is one of the oldest names in the UK gun industry having been started in 1790. They are responsible for almost two centuries of production of some of the most famous firearms the world has ever seen - the Webely revolver, shotguns, and Webley rifles. Webley was founded in the late 18th century by William Davies who originally made bullet moulds. In 1834 the company was taken over by his son-in-law, Philip Webley, and his brother James who began the production of percussion sporting guns. Two sons, Thomas and Henry, entered the family business during the 1860's. The Webley's manufactured several types of pistols over the subsequent years, including single and double action percussion revolvers as well as pin-fire and center-fire revolvers. It is for the production of handguns, that Webley became famous. Webley's production originally consisted of hand-crafted firearms, although mass-production was later introduced to supply police and military buyers.

This young lady enjoyed shooting the Webley & Scott O/U

Recently Webley & Scott started importing some of their fine products into the US. Besides O/U shotguns they offer semi auto shotguns and Airguns. To get an idea as to what they have you can go to www.webleyandscott.com to get a full listing of their products. Derick Cole, who I met at a dove shoot was kind enough to send me a model 900 or properly the 912 indicating that it is a 12 gauge sporting model. Like the other Webleys I saw, it is attractive and well balanced. It has the 5 chokes like all of the other models in O/U. The gun is light and well balanced for bird or trap shooting. The single trigger breaks cleanly and is consistent. The metal fitting is tight as you would expect a new gun to be. The fit and finish rate high and the stock is attractive with a dull finish which I prefer. The wood has a decent figure which enhances the looks of the gun. There is a standard 3 year warranty on the shotguns you just need to send in the warranty card. If you want a fancy model they have the Model 3000 side lock action available for $6500.00 MSRP

The Webley & Scott shotgun is packed in an attractive hard case

Shooting the model 900 was a pleasure. Its good balance and light weight allowed easy tracking of clays. The front sight, which is a red fiber optic, is very easy to pick up which is important in wing or trap shooting shooting. The trigger breaks cleanly and the auto ejectors kick out the empties with authority. I was able to shoot it well with no problems. My only regret was due to time constraints I couldn’t keep it for the late dove season. I have no doubt that I could have limited out due to its good shooting qualities. Time also didn’t allow me to test all of the available chokes but that will come in the future.

The specifications for the 12 gauge sporter model are
30” barrels with a 3” chamber 28” Tested
20 Gauge available in 26 or 28” barrels
All models proofed for steel shot
Auto ejectors
Gated barrel selector
5 screw in chokes & tool
Fiber optic sight
Single trigger
Manual safety
Heavy duty hammer spring
Oil finished stock
MSRP Model 900 K $1200.00

The receiver is machined from a single piece of steel by CNC machinery and parts will interchange with other Webleys of the same model. The barrels sport an attractive even high gloss finish. The fitting is very tight as you would expect in a quality gun. Their guns are also usable with steel shot a big plus for duck and goose hunting

Another shooter found that hitting clays is easy with the Webley & Scott

We shot some trap with it out in the desert. I gave several shooters a chance to try it to get some feedback. One friend couldn’t miss with it. He commented on the superior balance and the front sight. Another shooter also liked the balance and after a few misses he got used to it and started hitting the clays pretty well. He liked the light weight and looks as well. A third shooter commented on the balance and looks. A couple of other shooters made similar comments and no one had anything negative to say about it. My experiences mirror theirs. The only drawback might be the price for someone on a tight budget. If you shoot magnum loads the recoil will be a bit more brisk but for most of your shooting a 1 & 1/8oz load should be sufficient. Most of our shooting was done with 1 & 1/8oz of 7 &1/2 shot which performed well in this gun. I did a limited amount of pattern testing and they were even at 40 yards. Both barrels shot close to the point of aim at the same range.

If you are looking for an O/U in the $1200.00 price range I would highly recommend that you give this one a try.

Tour at the Doubletap Ammo Factory

2011-08-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

Some of the Ammo that Doubletap sells

Double Tap Ammo Tour
In the last number of years there have been a number of companies started up to produce ammo. Some are niche companies while others supply most modern ammo. One such company is Double Tap. It was started in 2002 by Mike Mcnett with the idea of producing high quality ammo for hunting and self defense purposes. They are located in Cedar City Utah and have a toll free number 866-867-1066. For info on their products you can go to www.doubletap.com to view their extensive line of products. They started out with three loads for the 10 mm but now offer over 300 loadings in various rifle and handgun calibers. They are adding new products all of the time so it is necessary to check their site frequently lest you miss out on something you might want. I became aware of this company at the writer’s shoot which is a day prior to the SHOT show. I talked to Mike and looked over his ammo and it became obvious that he cares deeply about the quality of his products.
A couple of weeks after the SHOT show was over he sent me some sample ammo in 380, 9mm and 40 caliber. He uses premium bullets from such makers as Barnes Hornady and Nosler all top notch. A couple of loads have a high ES but that would be a function of that individual gun. Every gun is different and some don’t like a certain load or bullet. That is why it is important to experiment with your firearm to see what it likes.

LOAD BULLET VELOOCITY COMMENT
9 mm Beretta 92 5” 124 grain 1293 consistent
40- Glock 22 5” 125 grain Barnes 1308 very consistent
40- Glock 22 5” 200 grain Nosler 1013 nice
40- Glock 27 3 &1/2” 125 grain Barnes 1125 OK
40- Glock 27 3 &1/2” 200 grain Nosler 976 consistent
Sig 220 5” barrel 160 grain Barnes Tac XP 1132 potent
Sig 220 5” barrel 185 grain Nosler 1199 nice
Rock River 308 20’ 150 grain Barnes TTSX 2875 consistent
Rock River 308 20” 180 grain Nosler Accubond 2588 good load
Rock River 308 20” 200 grain Nosler Accubond 2443 high es
H & R Pistol 32 mag 60 grain Barnes 2 &1/2” barrel 1058 consistent
Ruger 327 mag 5 & ½” 60 grain Barnes 1581 impressive

One of the loading machines used.

We shot the 60 grain Barnes in the 327 at 25 yards and they were very accurate. A better rest & less wind would have done better. I have also shot some of his ammo in a couple of Diamondback pistols that I was testing out. They are very sub compact models and they performed well with his ammo. Calibers were the 380 and 9 mm. Accuracy for such small pistols was outstanding.

The Rock River 308 shot the Double Tap very well at 100 yards giving groups in the 1” area consistently. Both the Barnes and Nosler Accubonds shot well indicating good quality ammo. Either bullet would be suitable for large game hunting.

One of the Branes bullets loaded by Doubletap

Recently I had a chance to visit and tour his factory in Cedar City Utah. While the operation doesn’t look large the available space is utilized in an efficient way. They use a number of Dillon presses to manufacture most of the ammo. The Dillon presses are set up for production while maintaining the high quality control that Mike demands. For the most part he uses Starline brass which is also a quality product. Bullets come from various manufactures such as Barnes, Nosler and Hornady. The rifle ammo is hand crimped in a single stage RCBS press and individually inspected by the operator.

Target shot with Diamondback 380 and Doubletap ammo 380

I have shot a lot of his ammo and have never had any type of problem. There are several ways to measure ammo quality. First of all it has to fit and feed in the gun it is designed for. Next it has to be consistent in order to be accurate. Consistency is usually measured by a chronograph which measures its velocities among other factors. If it has a low standard deviation and ES, the difference between the slowest and fastest shot in the string, then that is an indication of good quality. Among other things it requires the proper powder and amount is used which takes some experimenting and time to develop such loads. It also has to be safe in the guns that it is designed for. Consistent ammo also is accurate an important consideration both in hunting and self defense. Mike puts the velocity on all of his boxes and the guns that were used to develop the loads. If your gun is similar to his then you should get similar results. I’m here to tell you that his ammo meets all of the criteria necessary to call it great ammo. Based on my experiences with it I would recommend his ammo without hesitation. I have other calibers to test and will report on them at a later date.
Bob Shell

My new book just got published on Amazon.com (kindle) and Barnes & Noble (nook)
Reloading From Another View ll has info not contained in other manuals. You can download it for $9.99 which is a bargain for such a large book.

Barnes Bullet factory Tour

2011-08-21T11:13:00.000-07:00

Barnes Bullet Factory Tour

For quite a few years I have used Barnes bullets both the traditional cup and jacket and the copper verity. They always performed well for me both in hunting and accuracy tests. I have toured bullet plants and saw how conventional jacketed bullets are made but haven’t had the opportunity to see how pure copper bullets are made. In August I went to a POMA conference for gun writers. Anyway Barnes is located on the way so I contacted Kari Cook and she arranged a tour for us. The plant is located in Mona which is a tiny town right off of I-15 about 2 hours or so south of Ogden. Upon arrival I noticed that the plant is modern in every way and the employees are very courteous and helpful.

The tour was conducted by Ty Herring who is the customer service lead technician. As a long time employee he is very knowledgeable and helpful. He showed us the dies in various stages of manufacture with the tolerances being kept at 50 millionths of an inch. To give you an idea as to how much thickness that is take a human hair and slice it lengthwise into 200 pieces and that will give you an idea of their tolerances. In order to make consistent bullets you need tooling that is consistent. With their modern machinery such tolerances are possible.

One of the presses used to make bullets

To make the bullets Barnes buys rolls of copper wire that is made to their specifications both in material and diameter. The wire then is pulled through a die to insure that the diameter is perfect then is cut into a cylinder shape, the length determines the weight. After inspection they are fed into a large press that used punches to give the bullet its shape and hollow cavity. The tooling in the presses are inspected and replaced often to insure that the dimensions are as needed. Every operator is their own quality control technician and they always keep the bullets in specs. Since they measure by ten thousands of an inch we shooters can appreciate the effort used in making these fine bullets. There are no shortcuts taken and if the bullets don’t measure up they don’t leave the plant. Once the bullets are made they have a proprietary machine that cuts the grooves in them. It is amazing to watch the process but no photos are allowed of that machine and a couple of others which is totally understandable. The bullets are cleaned in a large tub that contains ball bearings which shines them up really nice. They are then inspected again with a laser device that can pick up any defects and sort them out. As they are being packed the inspection process is again repeated. I have personally bought and used a lot of Barnes bullets of various calibers including the lead core bullets and never saw a defective specimen. I watched some 348 traditional bullets being inspected by hand and since it is such a tedious job I joked with her as to does she dream of them when sleeping. After the bullets are made some are tested at their shooing range upstairs to insure accuracy.

Muzzle loading bullets made by Barnes

They also make solids out of a brass alloy. They have long rods that are cut into length and machined to whatever caliber is desired. The laser cutter insures the demanded dimensions needed to produce a top notch bullet. They are made from 22 up to a dinosaur killing 577 Nitro. While I haven’t shot a lot of these the ones I did shot well. The Triple-Shock X bullet is made from 22 caliber up to a 577 while the tipped Triple’s go from a 22 to one made for the 458 Socom. You might want to check out their website as there are new bullets being added quite frequently. They also produce muzzle loading bullets as well as loaded ammo so you might want to visit http://www.barnesbullets.com/ to keep up with all of the goodies made by them. I have shot the muzzle loading slugs in a couple of inlines and they were accurate as you expect from a Barnes product.

One of my several favorites is the TTSX 338 210 grain loaded in the 338 RCM Ruger Hawkeye in a 20” barrel. I get great groups and it should handle anything that I am likely to hunt. My 300 RCM, 30-06 and 270 also shoot very well with various Barnes bullets. I am presently conducting tests with the 70 grain 22 bullets and results so far look very promising.

Bullets ready to be inspected and packed

There are a number of bullet companies out there who make quality products and are introducing new items all of the time. Such competition is good for us shooters because better bullets are constantly being designed and produced. Barnes is such a company and I strongly recommend that you try out their products if you haven’t already done so.
Bob Shell

Cartridge Conversion Guide Book review

2011-08-21T11:02:00.000-07:00

Cartridge Comparison Guide

There is a lot of information out there regarding cartridges and their dimensions and features. Unfortunately a lot of it is either outdated or inaccurate. Some of the other info out there might be hard to understand by a layman. This well researched book is written by Andrew Chamberlain

I ran across this guy at the POMA convention recently and he has written a book on cartridges and the information pertaining to them. I have seen quite a few books on this subject but he approaches it from a different angle. It starts with an explanation of how to select a cartridge for a specific purpose. It details who should use what cartridge based on such factors as purpose of use and recoil. The details are very comprehensive and clear. Anyone should be able to understand the text. It also contains a glossary to help anyone who isn’t clear on some of the terms used. Pictures are sprinkled through out which gives a face to the info provided. Then it goes to what to consider when selecting a round such as conditions, range, accuracy requirements and other factors a shooter may look at.

If you like tables and graphs then this book is for you. There are over 100 pages of tables in small print that covers grouping of calibers by caliber, energy, velocity and recoil. They also cover energy efficiency, sectional density, bullet momentum and recoil energy.
All of the modern cartridges are covered and if you want to know anything about your hunting load this is the read that will help you out. I am in total awe of how much time and effort was expanded to compile these tables. Bullet brands are also covered. I can’t imagine anyone reading this book and not knowing the pertinent info on his favorite cartridge.

After you get through with the tables they have a chapter on identifying an animal’s physical characteristics and describe which bullets and calibers work best for a particular application. They go into bullet behavior with a clear explanation of what to expect with certain bullets. Components and parts of a bullet are described in good detail which would be a great help to a beginner. Special purpose bullets and wound channel information is also described. Penetration and expansion of various bullets are written about extensively. In flight bullet behavior as well as effect of various calibers is gone over in detail. The book goes into cartridge names and recoil energy among many other things. There is so much info in this guide that it is hard to cover in a review. It is not a reloading manual for various reasons.

There are charts showing bullet drop at various ranges and other useful info that a shooter may need. With this book you can figure out the energy of your bullet at various ranges. By the time you finish this book you should have a good understanding on ammo nomenclature and behavior.

It is evident that a lot of research and work went into producing this book and I would give it an A+ for anyone who wants a lot of good info on their favorite cartridge. For more info you can go to http://store.cartridgecomparisonguide.com/index.php to buy a copy. At $24.99 it is a bargain

Hodgdon's Powders Part ll

2011-06-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

The 303 Savage responds well to LEVERevolution powder and Hornady's FTX bullets

I also received some LEVERevolution powder from Hodgdon. A Marlin 336 20” barrel in 30-30 was used for this test. The 30-30 has been around for some 115 years but continues to be very popular for deer hunting. With the new powder and bullets its popularity will soar because the guns are so handy and relatively inexpensive. You will gain at least 100 yards with the new powder and bullets.
LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
37 X Lever 150 grain Barnes TSX 2385 nice
36.5 X lever 160 grain Hornady FTX 2335 consistent
35 X Lever 180 grain RN 2144 good load

The 25-35 is another old timer however they are still fairly popular. With that thought I tried a load. The factory load lists a 117 grain at 2230 so you can realize a 150 FPS increase which may make it suitable for close range deer.
26 X lever 117 grain Horn RN 2386 nice load

LEVERevolution is a real fine powder that measures consistently

So what good does the FTX bullet do over a conventional round nose bullet in regards to usable range? Let’s use 1000 FT LBS of energy as the minimal amount to reliably anchor a large game animal according to many experts. You can probably boost the velocities of the round nose bullets using lever powder a hundred feet per second or so but what would be the point. You still have a poorly shaped bullet and at most you would gain a few yards of useful range. In my opinion it’s not worth the time or effort. The ballistic coefficient of a Hornady 170 grain flat nose is .189 while the FTX is 330, quite a difference.
150 grain rn
Muzzle 2390/1902 100 yards 1959/1278 200 yards 1581/832

160 grain FTX
Muzzle 2400/2046 100 yards 2150/1636 200 yards 1916/1309 300 yards 1699/1025
As you can see the 150 grain drops below 1000 LBS before reaching 200 yards while the FTX extends the range to 300 yards a 35% increase in usable range. The 170 grain flat point launched at 2200 FPS drops below 1000 FP LBS of energy at 150 yards so the 160 grain FTX would double the useful range.

The pointed FTX bullet will extend the range at least 100 yards given the same velocity

Even though the 303 Savage is considered obsolete there is still a demand for the ammo. Quite a few people still hunt with the Savage model 99 because it is so durable and still gets the job done. With that thought I decided to work up a couple of loads which will enhance the performance of the old round. It has about 3.5 grains more capacity then the 30-30 using Lever powder. I added a conventional bullet for comparison.
38.5 X Lever 160 grain Hornady FTX 2447 consistent
36 X Lever 180 grain RN 2220 nice

The 30 Remington has a very similar case capacity to the 303 Savage so I tried one load. I used a Remington model 14 pump for this test. Like the 303 Savage the 30 Remington is still moderately popular among deer hunters. The rifle is both light and handy in the woods both desirable traits. Both the 303 Savage and 30 Remington were brought out to compete with the 30-30. For awhile they did pretty well but were dropped after WW ll.
38 X Lever 160 grain Hornady FTX 2504 consistent-max

The 32 Winchester Special can also benefit from the new powder and bullets. There are enough 32 Winchesters out there to make using this powder worth while. If you have a 32 Remington then you should get similar results with similar loads. The FTX bullets in my model 94 are very accurate and will extend the range over the flat point bullets by at least 100 yards.
37 X Lever 170 grain Horn FP 2197 ok
Hornady factory 165 grain FTX Lever 2291 nice
37.5 X Lever 165 grain FTX 2177 mild
37.5 X Lever 165 grain FTX 2223 consistent
38 X Lever 165 grain FTX 2266 consistent
38.5 X Lever 165 grain FTX 2284 factory spec

30-30 top, 30 remington and 303 Savage benefit from LEVER powder and FTX bullets

The 35 Remington also has available a 200 grain Hornady FTX which will extend it range also. I used a Marlin model 336 with a 20” barrel for this test. The 35 Remington is still being offered in rifles and factory ammo is available to some extent but like the others in its class handloading brings out the best in it. Quite a few years ago when I was a youngster I can remember my dad having a Remington pump in 35 and he didn’t have a great deal of trouble harvesting a deer at woods range. It would be interesting to hear his comments on the new FTX bullets.
41.5 X lever 200 grain Hornady FTX 2064 good load
42.5 X lever 200 grain Hornady FTX 2164 great load
The 200 grain FTX starting at 2225/2198 still has 1503/1003 at 300 yards which makes it a legitimate 300 yard round if you can pull off the shot.
The 200 grain round nose commonly used in the 35 launched at 2100 FPS would have dropped to 1,000 FT LBS of energy at 150 yards. That would be about ½ the range that the FTX can be used at. You can use a round nose with this powder and get a hundred feet per second or slightly more but due to the poor shape of the bullet you would realize very little range advantage.

Marlin model 95 in 45-70 used in test

I fired the 325 grain FTX in the 45-70 velocity was 1957 and accuracy is good. With a BC of .325 it flattens out the trajectory from a 300 or 350 grain roundnose. You can load the 325 grain up to 2200 FPS in a modern gun such as the Marlin but not in a black powder rifle such as a Trapdoor Springfield. If you reload the 325 grain FTX in the 45-70 you may have to trim the case a bit shorter then normal. Because of the shape of the bullet the cannelure has to be located where it is for best results. Hornady designed it that way to give it the highest ballistic coefficient possible. Hornady offers FTX loads in factory ammo in case you don’t reload. The factory Hornady ammo does have a slightly shorter case so you might want to keep them separated from the normal cases. I have tested a lot of Hornady ammo in various calibers over the last couple of years and it always chronographs at or near the advertised velocity and is always accurate and reliable.

So yes there is a major advantage to using FTX bullets with new powders if you want to extend the range of some of the old standbys. How important is that to you? If you stay in the woods and never hunt fields it might not make much of a difference. However if you come out to the edge of the woods and see a nice buck across the bean field 200 yards or so away then you might want to ask yourself? Do I want the standby flat point or the new FTX loaded with LEVERevolution powder? Your answer will determine if you will harvest that buck or watch him walk away. With the new ammo you will gain a flatter trajectory plus a possibility of better accuracy as well. My calculations indicate a 100 to a 150 yard range increase for such calibers as the 30-30 & 35 Remington which is nothing to sneeze at. If you have a 32 Winchester or 32 Remington you are in luck as they offer a 160 grain FTX bullet. You can have usable ranges to 300 yards provided you have the skill to pull off such a shot. Most game animals are shot within 200 yards; though a longer shot is sometimes necessary so instead of buying a new rifle you can upgrade the old smokepole, another advantage to using new bullets and powders. You just need to know that these products are not magic wands. If you don’t have the skill with conventional ammo you probably won’t gain anything with the new stuff. With the new ammo, if you have a longer shot then you are covered. The long and short of it is if you have a rifle such as a 30-30 and don’t want or can’t afford a new rifle a change in bullets and powder will give you an honest 100 to 150 yards in useful range. That alone can save you some bucks and make your hunts more successful.

The 32 Winchester special another old timer that works well with Lever and FTX bullets

There are a lot of changes taking place in the shooting industry including some new calibers and gun models. However the most interesting changes may be taking place with the introductions of new powders and bullets. Today’s ammo is more accurate and gives better killing power then that that was made a generation ago. For us hunters those changes are a good thing. Just remember this isn’t your grandfather’s bullets or powder even if it’s his gun.

Hodgdon's New Powders Part l

2011-06-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

Accuracy that cen be expected using Superperformance Powder

At the 2011 SHOT show I went to the Hodgdon booth as there are always new powders to try. They had their recently introduced new powders including the LEVERevolution and Superperformance brands. They were recently introduced to us handloaders with the idea of improving the performance of certain cartridges. It is the same powder that Hornady uses in some of their factory loads. Both are ball powders that meter very evenly in most powder measures. The burning rates for the LEVERevolution is between BLC on the fast side and H-380 on the slow side while the Superperformance is between H-4831 on the fast side and WW 780 on the slow side. Between the new powders being introduced and the Hornady FTX bullets there are a lot of exciting possibilities for some of the old standbys. With the Hornady FTX bullets a tubular magazine can be safely loaded with pointed bullets, extending its range. Those bullets are available in 30, 32, 338, 35, 357, 44 and 45 calibers so anyone with a lever gun can take advantage of these fine bullets. Stay tuned they will probably be offered in more choices because of their efficiency and popularity. Not only do they extend the range of a lever gun but with the plastic tip they are more likely to open up at the longer ranges thus giving the hunter better killing power. They can be used in some bolt guns as well as revolvers so there is something for everyone. Do not load conventional pointed bullets in a tubular magazine as the point can possibly set off the round in front of it due to recoil. If that happens the results will be disastrous for both the gun and shooter. If you want more info on Hornady’s fine products you can go to http://www.hornady.com/bullets They also carry FTX bullets in handgun calibers.

220 Swift works well with SUPERperformance powder

Since the 22-250 is listed for the Superperformance and it is one of my favorite cartridges I decided to try it with several bullets. They listed 42.5 with a 60 grain bullet so I tried it with a 63 grain Sierra Semi pointed which I had a supply on hand. It was the only load that didn’t do well as it has a high es and marginal velocity. (See tables)
Rifles tested was Weatherby Vanguard 24” and a Ruger model 77 22” That would explain why the Weatherby is faster then the Ruger as it has 2” more barrel. As in all guns some combos work better then others which is why we experiment. I would not advise you to increase loads.
LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
44 X super 55 grain Sierra BT HP 3933 Weatherby great load
44 X super 55 grain Sierra SP BT 3829 Weatherby nice
44 X Super 55 grain Sierra SP BT 3793 Ruger consistent
44 X super 55 grain military BT 3763 Weatherby consistent
42.5 X Super 63 grain Sierra SP 3577 Weatherby high es
42.5 X Super 63 grain Sierra SP 3555 Ruger high es
43 X Super 60 grain Sierra HP FB 3685 Weatherby OK
43 X Super 60 grain Sierra HP FB 3568 Ruger consistent
43 X Super 63 grain Sierra SP 3613 Weatherby decent
43 X Super 63 grain Sierra SP 3519 Ruger ok

Superperformance can be used in a verity of cartridges

I have a Ruger model 77 in 220 Swift with a 26” barrel and thought it would be interesting to try it with the new powder. I would not exceed these loads as pressures can rise dramatically with a small increase in powder charges.
LOAD Bullet Velocity COMMENT
47.2 X Super 50 grain Remington HP 4272 consistent max
47 X Super 52 grain Hornady 4253 ok max
45 X Super 55 grain Sierra BT SP 3973

Various bullets used in test.

44.5 X Super 60 grain Sierra HP FB 3730 high es
44.5 X Super 63 grain Sierra HP FB 3708 high es
Notice that the velocity dropped using 46 as opposed to 45 but it was more consistent. It seemed to like the 55 grain bullet in this rifle. The Swift needs a little more work which will be done as soon as I can get more powder. Like all powders it doesn’t do everything for every gun but when you get a fit it really works out well. They have a fairly narrow field of cartridges that they are suitable for but if you find one that they are meant for they really will shine. The new Hodgdon reloading manual lists quite a few calibers that these powders are good in. The Swift being an example it likes some bullets better then others. The same can be said for the 22-250 or any other rifle for that matter. Hodgdon states that they can’t keep up with the orders so it may be a while before I can get some more. It should work well in such cartridges as the 300 RCM and Win Short Mag. As a note both powders meter extremely well. I have measured just about every powder available and these two powders meter as good as anything I have used and better then virtually all of them. I checked them for consistency and virtually all the time there was no difference in the thrown weight. Occasionally it would vary by 1/10 grain but that was rare. For those who weigh each powder charge, it shouldn’t be necessary with these two new powders. For more info on these fine powders you can go to http://www.hodgdon.com/ They also carry Winchester and IMR powders and you can get free loading info on their site also. The Sierra bullets used produced exceptional accuracy which I have come to expect from them. For more info on their line of bullets you can go to http://www.sierrabullets.com/ I have been using a Vortex 4.5 X 10 scope on the 22-250 and it has great optics enabling us to shoot good groups. For more info you can go to http://www.vortexoptics.com/ for more info on these great products.

Weatherby Vanguard 22-250 used in tests

RCBS Ammomaster Chronograph

2011-04-11T16:44:00.000-07:00

View of RCBS skyscreens

RCBS Chronograph
As a result of going to the 2011 SHOT show I received a RCBS Chronograph for testing and evaluation. Sheila Ennes sent it along with the Speer # 14 reloading book which I find extremely useful. The chronograph is made in China, what isn’t these days, has a novel shape much like a large round of ammo. It mounts on a standard camera tri pod which is a plus for it. The screens and electric eyes are stored inside the body which really makes it handy to carry and store. When it is in use it comes apart with the smaller end has the screen and various buttons while the larger part holds the sky screens. It is easy to assemble for use. All in all a neat arrangement especially for transport.

It has the usual buttons to retrieve data but I have found it less then user friendly. It seems overly complicated to operate at least to a gadget klutz like me. My shooting buddy who is better with gadgets doesn’t have as much trouble though he agrees that it could be easier to operate. Over a period of time it is getting easier to operate once you get used to the buttons. It helps to read the directions. It doesn’t have print capability at least yet. It takes a nine volt battery and has a one year warranty.

Large numbers are easy to read

I have used it for quite a few types of guns and it picks up the velocities well from about 600 FPS to 4000. The numbers are large which makes them easy to read something my aging eyes appreciate. It is capable of reading velocities from 500 to 7,000 FPS and can also be read in meters per second. It weighs 4 LBS and 2 OZ and has 20’ wires which are nice because sometimes you have to be further then 10’ from the start screen. I find that true when chronographing black powder loads.

If you are looking for a moderately priced chronograph then I would suggest you check out this model. It novel storage features and lower price, around $130, gives it a thumbs up.

Speer # 14 Reloading Manual

2011-02-13T15:45:00.001-08:00

Speer # 14 Reloading Book

Speer # 14 Loading Manual

There are many loading books out there and for the most part they contain a lot of good info. Speer has been producing loading manuals for a long time and in 4/07 they came out with the number 14. It has been reprinted a couple of times indicating its popularity. There is a good reason for the many copies that were and are still being sold.

Page from Speer Manual showing details of cartridges

It has 1149 pages full of must read material for the advanced and beginner alike who want to handload their ammo. It covers all of the modern cartridges that are in production as of the time that it was written and covers a few of the odd ball numbers such as the 9 mm Largo. The history and description of each cartridge is extremely complete and covers any item that you are likely to run in to. For certain cartridges such as the 32-20 and 45-70 it goes into different levels of loads for the guns that were produced many years ago as well as modern weapons. I can tell you that a lot of hard work and research went into this book. They have good drawings and dimensions of all of the cartridges listed which in itself is a valuable asset. It goes into all of the dos and don’ts of reloading. Safety and problem issues are also dealt with in detail. If you are having a reloading problem chances are the answer is somewhere in the Speer book. Of course the data is for Speer bullets and they wisely advise the reader to reduce a little if another brand of bullet is substituted. Since they are part of the same company they recommend RCBS loading products and molds which is another quality brand.

View of RCBS chronograph

Powder trickler

2011-01-28T16:34:00.001-08:00

Powder Trickler
Recently I had an opportunity to test an electric powder trickler. With certain course powders in order to get accurate measurements it is necessary to run it through a measure then trickle the last couple of grains in order to get consistent charges. Powders such as 4198 or 3031 are course and difficult to get consistent charges from a conventional measure. That is where this unique product comes into play.

UniqueTek offers this neat trickler plus many other novel products for the shooter and reloader. They seem to find products that while necessary for us shooters aren’t found in many other places. They have aftermarket items to make your Dillon work better. I have those on mine and they do indeed help out. They have other stuff including cleaning products that work well. I strongly recommend that you check out their website and see for yourself what they have to offer. http://www.uniquetek.com/

The Omega 2-Speed Electric Powder Trickler has several good features. It has a two speed motor that precisely meters the powder according to our needs. It has a heavy base that won’t slide but doesn’t take up excessive room on a reloading bench. It uses two AA batteries to power it. The 4½” long discharge tube is cut at an angle so you can see the powder coming out. It is adjustable for height and can rotate 360 degrees. It is a well made unit that should last for many years of use. I use it with various powders and it always meters well and stopped precisely where I want it to. For someone who uses course powders I can definitely recommend this unit for the uses it is designed for. It will save time and frustration when dealing with those course powders. There is a warning not to use black powder or substitutes as static electricity can ignite black powder. It is a worthwhile addition to any loading bench. For further info go to http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1378

Bob Shell

The 30 Luger

2010-10-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

30 Luger used in article

30 Luger
The 1890’s saw some advancement in semi-auto handguns. The 30 Borchardt is considered the first successful semi though the 30 Mauser came out shortly afterwards and lasted a lot longer. The Borchardt was invented by Hugo Borchardt and improved by Georg Luger which became the famous Luger Pistol.

In 1900 the Swiss adopted in it the 30 Luger caliber beating the Germans by several years. Other countries adopted it including Brazil, Bulgaria and Portugal though none use it any longer. A few other pistols chambered this round including the SIG, Walther P-38, Ruger P 89 and the Browning High Power though the Luger was the main gun used for this cartridge. The military round uses a 93 grain FMJ bullet which feeds well but lacks stopping power. The small caliber and non expanding bullet just don’t cut it for self defense. Happily the gun feeds soft and hollow point bullets which enhance it utility considerably. With its good accuracy it should do well in harvesting small game. With hollow point bullets stopping power should be improved.

30 Luger cycling

The cartridge is a 30 caliber bottleneck affair resembling the 30 Mauser round but is shorter and less powerful. Factory bullet weight is usually 93 grains though other weights can be employed. Winchester ammo may be available however the empty cases made by them are usually available. With full metal jacket bullets it isn’t a very good stopper though soft and hollow points can be used. They would make it a decent small game round as accuracy is good and trajectory is fairly flat. Just for fun I decided to try some 86 grain SWC’s by Hornady. I swaged them to 308 diameter as they are originally .313 meant for a 32 revolver. I was pleasantly surprised as they fed without a hitch in the Luger which isn’t known for its ammo tolerance. They along with the 71 grain FMJ should make shooting the Luger less expensive. The 71 grain is also swaged down as it is intended for a 32 auto. I like to see how flexible I can make a gun so I utilized bullets weighting from 60 to 110 grains. The 60 grain is a Hornady HP that was swaged down from 312 to 308 and the 110 is a 30 carbine bullet. This is a small capacity case so you should work up loads very carefully. An amount of powder as small as ¼ grain might make a large difference.

LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
6.5 X 231 60 grain HP 1466 nice
5.5 X 231 71 grain FMJ 1280 slow high es
6 X 231 71 grain FMJ 1591 much better
6 X 700 X 71 grain FMJ 1473 MAX !!!
5.5 X 231 77 grain cast 1474 nice
5 X Unique 86 grain FMJ 1270 consistent
5 X Unique 86 grain soft point 1271 good load
5 X 700 X 86 grain cast SWC 1177 good load & fed
5 X Unique 90 grain HP 1080 slow & consistent
5.5 X Unique 90 grain HP 1235 better
5.5 X Unique 93 grain soft point 1191 ok
4.5 X Unique 110 grain RN 857 too lite

Bullets from 60 to 110 grains can be used

Shooting the gun is easy as it is relatively light and well balanced. The recoil is entirely manageable while accuracy is good. The trigger pull isn’t too bad for such an old gun. The grip is set at an angle which aids in its point ability. As I usually do when reviewing a gun I get several other people to try it to get different opinions. Most shooters never have an opportunity to hold or shoot one so it is a novel experience as the balance is quite different then most modern guns. That is especially true with the 30 caliber as most Lugers are chambered for the 9 mm. Comments are generally favorable especially when they get used to its novel features. The recoil is mild enough so that we had a 10 year old shooting it with little difficulty.

The most distinctive feature of the Luger is undoubtedly the toggle-lock mechanism, which holds the breech closed by locking in a manner not unlike the human knee, which can sustain a heavy weight when straight, but once bent, is quite easy to continue to bend. This is one feature that was taken from the Borchardt pistol which it replaced. The toggle joint in its straight position resists the rearward force of the detonating cartridge, then "flexes" after enough time has passed. When a round is fired the entire breech, barrel and toggle move straight rearward, on rails, until the toggle begins to ride up on a pair of cams that "breaks" the toggle ,makes it bend at the joint similar to an elbow. Once the toggle joint is no longer straight, it bends freely, allowing the bolt to come rearward, and the striker to be cocked. The spent cartridge is extracted by a combination extractor/loaded chamber indicator on the top of the toggle, and is ejected as the toggle nears the end of its rearward travel, and a new round is stripped from the magazine and chambered as the toggle is driven back to the straight position by a spring. This happens very rapidly and it is difficult to get a picture of the action operating because of this. When there is a cartridge in the chamber the loaded cartridge indicator is slightly raised allowing the shooter to see that the chamber is loaded. The magazine spring is quite strong, requiring some effort to load several rounds. It has a projection sticking out which aids in loading the magazine. To load insert the magazine grasp the curled knobs pull back and release. That should put a round in the chamber. When the magazine is empty the action remains open so the shooter is aware of that fact. If you want to uncock the gun just hold the trigger down and let the action go forward. That saves you from dry firing the pistol though it probably doesn’t hurt to dry fire it occasionally. To me that is important as I never leave my guns cocked. The two position safety works well and is easy to use.

The 86 grain SWC fed flawlessly, go figure

Accuracy is very good in fact I had a new shooter try it and after a couple of close misses on the bullseye proceeded to put a bunch in the center. She said once she got used to the sights and balance hitting was no problem. A 12 year old youth shot it and once she got over her fear did ok. The light recoil and good trigger definitely contribute to the shoot ability of this pistol. The only problem I have with the gun is that the magazine is hard to load. The spring is stiff and after 3 or 4 cartridges are inserted it really gets to be hassle to load.
Ironically the downfall of the Luger was its quality and engineering. It is a complicated gun to make that demands tight tolerances making it difficult to manufacture. For WW ll the Walther replaced it as the front line pistol.

The 45-120 Rifle

2010-10-26T16:33:00.000-07:00

Tony's buffalo shot with 45-120

The 45-120
One of the old cartridges that always fascinated me was the 45-120 Sharps. It came out about 1878 in the Sharps rifles. It is the biggest 45 with the case measuring 3 & ¼” in length. All the other 45 caliber rifles from the 45-60 to the 45-110 will chamber in it making it more versatile. It probably came out for buffalo hunting but Sharps went out of business so not many were made. Without a doubt it was chambered in other single shot rifles though not common. Buffalo hunting was done by 1884 after the herds were shot out. With the bison gone there wasn’t much use for such a powerful cartridge. In power it would be adequate for anything in North America and most African game especially with modern loads.

Sharps action 45-120

I finally got a model 73 Sharps from Taylor Company in Winchester Va. It has a 32 inch barrel and double set triggers. It is a heavy and cumbersome rifle but with such a cartridge the size is necessary. It’s a good looking rifle without being fancy. At first I had some trouble with the triggers but a trip to the gunsmith remedied that problem. Now the back trigger sets the front one. It takes a lot of effort to set the front trigger but once set it has a nice pull. The sights are flip up located on the barrel. My intention is to take it buffalo hunting with an old style load. I want to have an accurate load with a 500 grain plus bullet at about 1600 feet per second. That will take down anything I plan on hunting with it. With the strong Sharps action I can undoubtedly exceed the 458 Winchester and even the 458 Lott. The down side is the recoil would be vicious and would be defeating the purpose of the gun. At 1600 feet per second the 535 grain gives plenty of power and recoil. The proper brass can be found at various sources. Norma presently makes it. Good cast bullets can be found at many sources probably some in your local area.

LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
90 X Cleanshot 535 grain cast 1634 consistent
42 X 5744 535 grain cast 1568 accurate
103 X FFG Goex 535 grain cast 1405 good load
72 X CTG Pyrodex 535 grain cast 1410 45-70 case
50 X 5744 350 grain Hornady 2007 mild
60 X Cleanshot 400 grain cast 1244 45-70 case
70 X Goex FFG 400 grain cast 1203 45-70 case
45 X 5744 520 grain cast 1622 good load
69 X Blackhorn 209 535 grain cast 1692 (ouch) very consistent

From Left 45-120, 45-110,458 Lott, 458 Win,45-70 and 450 Marlin

All of the above loads demonstrated consistency giving low spreads between high and low velocity shots. To get an idea of the potential of the 45-120 I took a 458, 45-120 and a 460 Weatherby case. I filled them to the top with 571 ball powder. The idea was to get an idea of capacity as compared to the others. The 458 took 88 grains; the 45-120 allowed 118 grains while the monstrous 460 took 143. With that in mind I would think that it’s reasonable to load the 45-120 up to exceed the 458 and still keep pressures low. Since the rifle has a Sharps action one should be in safe territory doing so. Evan with 458 Lott loads it should be safe. The problem would be recoil. I am not recommending that you attempt this due to many various factors regarding rifle strength and loading techniques. Since I didn’t buy this rifle for killing my shoulder I will forgo those experiments for the time being in fact forever. Also in spite of daily checking there are no T Rexes in my back yard that I have seen. I know of a guy that bought a Ruger # 1 in45-70 and rechambered it for the 45-120 with the express purpose of shooting top loads. I’m glad it’s him and not me behind that particular gun. I wanted to get a 500 grain plus up to 1600 feet per second which I have done. Jacketed bullets from 300 to 400 grains should be practical in this rifle though not necessary. Jacketed bullets are more expensive and not necessary for hunting. If you want to use reduced loads the best way is to use a shorter case. Trying to use reduced loads in the full length case can be an exercise in futility. There is too much air space to deal with most powders. Excess airspace creates inconsistent and possibly dangerous loads. Use a 45-70 case for best results as it is more amendable for reduced loads. You might lose a little accuracy but it will be inconsequential. I have shot some loads utilizing the 45-70 case with complete satisfaction. Another good option would be using 45-90 cases as they are available from Starline and hold enough powder to take care of most tasks that you might encounter. They also sell 45-100 cases just for your info.

A good friend of mine had a chance to go buffalo hunting in Wyoming this fall. Since I was unable to go I talked him into using my rifle rather them a more modern chambering. We did some shooting with various bullets and settled on the 520 grain ahead of 45 X 5744 powder. It gave good accuracy and off he went. Anyway he shot an 1800 Lb bull at 50 yards through the shoulder. He said the bullet broke the near shoulder before going through the heart and breaking a rib on the other side lodging in the hide. He reported that the animal went down instantly and did not move. A modern chambering couldn’t have done any better and in fact most wouldn’t do as well. The recovered bullet weighed 503 grains and mushroomed to about twice its diameter. That’s a 94% weight retention not shabby for an old fashioned cast bullet that went clean through a bison.

45-120 left & 50-140

He said there were 12 bulls in the heard and after he shot his bull the rest tried to get it on its feet. After that they seemed to get angry with the hunters and surrounded them, The guide wisely advised everyone to get to the vehicles and get out of the area before things got real ugly. That had to be a weird and scary experience. Anyway it shows that a cartridge that has been around for 120 years can still do the job. It is a well known fact that a slow moving and heavy bullets make good large game rounds. They generally penetrate deeply and cause a lot of damage. After all those sort of rifles nearly decimated the buffalo over 120 years ago not to mention various other species of large game.

The 300 Savage

2010-10-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

Remington model 722 in 300 Savage

Shooting the 300 Savage
Another old timer that has mostly fallen by the wayside being replaced by the 308 is the 300 Savage. It was introduced in 1920 by Savage Arms for the model 99 lever action. The original idea was to make it shoot a 150 grain bullet at the same velocity as the 30-06 as it was loaded at the time in a shorter action. If they accomplished that the pressures would be higher as it has a smaller capacity case. The thought was if you could pack 30-06 power in a more compact package the world would beat a path to your door. Back then as now the 30-06 is the standard that all other cartridges are measured by. Some things never change. Both Savage and Remington chambered their bolt action rifles for this cartridge. Remington also made a pump rifle chambered for it. Savage chambered their 99 lever action for it also. The Savage model 20 and 40 bolt action rifles also chambered it as well as the model 08 Remington semi auto rifle. The famous Winchester pre 64 model 70 was also chambered for the 300.

Remington 760 in 300 Savage

Basically it is a 308 Winchester with a short neck. In fact you can make 300 Savage cases by trimming the 308 to the proper length and sizing. Normally that would not be necessary as the brass is still available and inexpensive. I buy Winchester brass and seldom have a problem locating it. Loading dies are still made by all major manufacturers and of course standard 30 caliber bullets abound. Anyone who makes 30 caliber bullets will have something that is suitable for the Savage round. Factory ammo is still around though you may have to search for it. With all the new calibers coming out the 300 Savage is getting crowded off of the shelves. Plenty of rifles are available though they are used as no one as far as I know regularly chambers rifles for it. You can probably find one at a gun show or a used gun store as they are still fairly common. Your medium burning powders are the best suited for it with hunting weight bullets.

Remington 722 rifle used in test
LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
10 X Trail Boss 123 grain soft point 1329 high es
10 X Unique 123 grain soft point 1505 high es
20 X 5744 123 grain soft point 1859 ok
40 X 4197 123 grain soft point 3003 consistent
39 X AA 2520 150 grain 2338 fair
38 X 4064 165 grain Sierra hp 2390 ok
42 X 4895 165 grain Remington 2465 good load
41 X AA 2520 165 grain Remington 2526 consistent
42 X 748 165 grain Remington 2571 good load
40 X IMR 4895 180 grain Remington 2379 mild
37 X 4064 180 grain Remington 2261 slow
41 X 748 180 grain Remington 2415 ok
42 X 748 180 grain Remington 2619 MAX
Remington 760 Pump
LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
39 X AA 2520 165 grain Sierra BT 2420 ok
36 X 4064 165 grain Sierra BT 2405 slow
37 X 4064 180 grain Remington rn 2252 slow
36 X 2520 180 grain Remington rn 2156 slow

308 Winchester L. and 300 Savage

Accuracy with a good gun is on par with any similar caliber. My gun shoots groups in the 1” area at 100 yards with good handloads. The 722 is the forerunner to the famous model 700 having many of the same features. It is a Plain Jane model with no frills or checkering on the wood. However the 722 was a great value in its day, giving good service at a low price. In 1950 the Remington 722 sold for $74.95 while the model 70 went for $110. Accuracy and strength were two of its strong suits. Back in the day when the 721 and 722’s were being made dollars were tight so a good quality rifle at a low price made sense. Still does today. Like most of the oldies I don’t spend time looking for factory ammo as it is no longer common. If I stumble across it fine if not that is also fine. Factory ammo might be found at gun shows if you really want it. If you have one then you have a great deer and black bear rifle. I do have a pump but it lacks camming power if you have a stubborn round in the chamber. It is however a light and handy rifle for the woods hunter. If you like pump rifles this would be a great choice. It comes up well and points nice. The nice thing about the 300 is you would seldom need high priced premium bullets as the velocities aren’t blistering such as the 300 mags are. Of course you can use them for larger game such as elk to good effect. Given the proper skill level and ammo you should be able to tag a deer at 300 yards or so but as always shots need to be properly placed. Keep in mind that most game is harvested within 200 yards. It seems that everyone today has magnum mania, especially the new short mags. While they perform as billed you hardly need one to shoot a deer at 100 yards. The most hunted game in the US is the whitetail deer and the 300 Savage is up to the task at any reasonable distance.

Rear sight on model 760

For hunting purposes the 300 Savage will do anything that the 308 will do given good loads. That means that deer and black bear are fair game. Larger game at moderate ranges will also fall to the 300 with proper bullets and shot placement. Due to its modest case capacity reduced loads are a cinch to work up for small game and pest hunting. Cast bullet loads can be used for small game to good effect without destroying excess meat. Bullets heavier then 180 grains can be used but velocity will drop off rather rapidly due to limited case capacity. There just isn’t much use for real heavy bullets in that chambering as anything up to 180 grains will do just fine. Recoil is entirely within reason for anyone with any experience shooting hunting rifles. A youngster with some tolerance to recoil will not have any difficulty handling it. Also it can be loaded down to 30-30 levels and still be an effective deer rifle. All in all if you have a 300 Savage or inherit one it is very worthwhile to get it shooting and take it hunting.

10 MM Delta Elite

2010-10-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

Colt Delta Elite with Crimson Trace Laser Grips

Colt Delta Elite
Introduced in 1983 by Jeff Cooper who was looking for an effective round for self defense and some hunting possibilities the 10 mm was brought out. Norma produced the ammo and the pistol was a Bren Ten. The FBI tried it for a short period of time after the 9 mm let them down in some shootouts but determined that it has too much recoil and muzzle blast for some agents. They shortened the case and it became the 40 S & W which has become more popular then the more powerful 10 mm. Colt brought out the Original Delta Elite in 1987 but it didn’t catch on and after a few years was dropped. They are now prized collectors items fetching more now then when they were new. There are 10 mm autos that hold 15 rounds but if you can’t solve your problem with 9 then I doubt that the extra 6 will help. Also they have a larger grip which may be too big for someone with smaller hands.
I have a friend that has an original Delta Elite that he has had some custom work done to it. On the outside it looks like the re-introduced version by Colt. I have shot it a number of times and it is a joy to shoot.

S & W model 610 and Ruger Blackhawk both in 10 mm's

First impressions were positive of all the people that shot it. When I test guns I like to get as many opinions as possible for a fairer overview of the gun tested. My friends wife fell in love with it so after the testing is done it will be interesting on who ends up with it. Like most test guns Colt will either want the gun back or payment. I can tell you that it will never see the inside of a Colt building again. Some of the features include: It looks and feels like a standard 1911 in 45 auto which is one of my very favorite pistols. It is a good looking and well fitted piece such as you would expect from Colt. The 10 mm cartridge is quite powerful making it usable for some big game hunting as well as self defense. Most people who hunt with a handgun consider a 200 grain bullet launched at 1000 FPS to be about the minimum for consistent results. The 10 mm will easily achieve that with a good handload. Finding factory ammo can prove to be a challenge though not impossible. Brass availability can be spotty though some patient searching can produce results.
White Dot Sights
Aluminum Trigger
Combat Hammer
Original Roll markings
8 + 1 Capacity
Wrap Around Rubber Grips with Delta Medallions
Chambered in 10mm
80 Series Firing Pin Safety System
Bullet selection is pretty decent with weights from 135 to 200 grains from various makers. Cast bullets may also be an option. Even though it is a bit much for self defense there are some nifty 135 grain slugs available which can be driven at some impressive velocities. The 135 grainers should also be an awesome small game and pest load. There are some 180 grain full metal jacket bullets which might be good to carry in bear country. The 180 to 200 grain soft nose and hollow points should be effective on deer size animals at closer ranges. I used Starline brass in all of my shooting and as usual it performed in a flawless manner. Starline makes quite a few calibers and for more info go to www.starlinebrass.com Brass is available from other makers such as Winchester, Remington and Federal though supply may be spotty. All of your bullet makers make bullets for the 40 and 10 mm. Maximum loaded length is 1.27 though it might vary from gun to gun so I would recommend you check yours for length before you load too many rounds. Different bullets might also have different seating requirements. For self defense or hunting ammo I would suggest you manually work all of the rounds through the gun. That goes for any semi no just the Delta Elite. I obtained a set of Crimson Trace Laser Grips which are not only comfortable but useful. I obtain these for most of the handguns I test because of their comfort and utility. I highly recommend them especially if you feel that you may have to shoot in low light. I have a set on my 44 mag because some places I go night hunting is legal. For more info go to www.crimsontrace.com

LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
9.5 X Green Dot 125 grain X-Ploder 1348 mild
10 X Red Dot 125 grain X-Ploder 1428 ok
10.5 X Red Dot 125 grain X-Ploder 1512 nice
11 X AA 5 135 grain plated 1514 Max !
12 X Blue Dot 155 grain Speer GD 1240 consistent
12 X Blue Dot 155 grain Silvertip 1253 nice
8 X Herco 155 grain plated 1228 good load
8 X Herco 155 grain cast 1213 wouldn’t feed
7 X Green Dot 155 grain HP 1171 good load
7 X Green Dot 155 grain plated 1171 nice
8 X Herco 170 grain cast 1144 nice & fed
5 X 700 X 170 grain cast 969 mild *
11.5 X Blue Dot 170 grain Horn HP 1327 potent
10 X Blue DOT 180 grain Rem HP 1155 consistent
11 X Blue Dot 180 grain Rem HP 1275 max
Blazer factory 200 grain TMJ 1008 accurate

10 mm 200 grain ammo used during test

When shooting the Delta Elite I want to test the flexibility as well as the maximum safe loads. For general shooting cast and plated slugs will save you some bucks plus they are generally as accurate as jacketed bullets. The 125 grain X-Ploders are bullets that I designed some years ago with the purpose of self defense without endangering targets not involved. They easily come unglued at those high velocities as well as causing massive tissue destruction. They also reduce recoil somewhat because of their light weight. The 10 with a good 180 grain bullet should suffice for deer and similar size game. If I was in bear country the 10 would get the nod over the 45 ACP because a 200 grain bullet will out penetrate a 230 in the 45 ACP given same construction. . Extended shooting will cause the beavertail to take a little skin off of your thumb webbing. Keep in mind that this isn’t a kinder gentler handgun but a full performance weapon that is capable of harvesting big game. The energies for some of the max performance loads will be in the 650 Ft Lbs area which is nothing to sneeze at. The recommended working pressure, from SAAMI, for the 10 is 37,500 PSI which is pretty hot slightly exceeding the 357 Mag. The case is not a large capacity type so if you are working with max loads work up very carefully. A half grain of powder can make a very large difference in pressure. I used Winchester large pistol primers for all of my loads. The loads that I have listed as max should be approached with caution. I suggest that you start 10% below and carefully work up. We had a case rupture using a max load with the 125 grain X-Ploder. I ruined the magazine and left a powder burn on the shooter’s hand. Thankfully he was wearing shooting glasses. The 5 X 700 X load was nice but it didn’t always function the slide so I would add another half grain of powder. The purpose is to have a mild target load for a recoil conscious shooter. Cast and plated bullets are great for target shooting and will reduce the cost of ammo.

A couple of the available bullets for the 10 mm

Some years ago I obtained a Ruger Blackhawk that has a 38/40 and a 10 mm cylinder which should make for some interesting comparisons between the two. It was a special run offered and happily I had the sense to buy one. For this test I also made some custom bullets to see how the 10 would react to them. The 38-40 is a 10 mm revolver probably the first one ever brought out. With this modern revolver some impressive ballistics can be obtained.

Shooting the gun showed that the recoil was fairly heavy but manageable to anyone with some handgun experience. I received a set of Crimson Trace Laser Grips and they fit on with no problems. As usual they were comfortable to shoot and worked well. For some who anticipates shooting in low light these grips should be installed on your handgun.

S & W model 610 using rimmed 10 mm ammo

A client of mine has a S & W model 610 in 10 mm auto with a 6 &1/2” barrel. Not a common gun by any means. Anyway he doesn’t like using moon clips which would be necessary to prevent the rimless case from going too far in the chamber. He wanted me to make a rimmed shell for the gun. As far as I know there is no such cartridge as a 10 mm rimmed so I started from scratch. The 41 mag case was swaged down to 10 mm which at that stage would make it a 401 Herter’s Power mag. I then shortened to 10 mm length and sized it as normal. They shot fine and ejected perfectly. I did find that if the rim was a bit thin it would misfire. A vast majority worked fine and you can discard the thin rimmed cases. I chronographed a few keeping in mind that it isn’t my gun so I kept them mild.
LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
6 X 231 135 grain plated 1254 good load
8 X Herco 135 grain plated 1137 accurate
7 X Herco 155 grain Plated 936 mild
6 X Herco 170 grain cast 920 nice

I could have easily exceeded these loads but I will let the owner decide how he wants to feed the gun. You can use 10 mm loads but you have to keep in mind that the 41 mag cases might be thicker at the bottom so you might want to start mild and work up. I have used hotter loads in my 10 mm Blackhawk with no problems using the 10 mm auto cases.

Accuracy with the Delta Elite at 25 yards was quite good with most loads. Careful shooting produced groups of 1 &1/2” or so from an informal rest. Keep in mind that we used full power loads for our accuracy testing which makes it more realistic.

Stupid Gun Laws

2010-10-13T15:52:00.000-07:00

It's ok to use shot loads in this gun as long as the barrel is rifled

Stupid Gun Laws
In the US there are about 20,000 gun laws at all levels of government including Federal, state and local. Guns are probably the most regulated commodity there is. I hear that it is easier to get a job at a nuclear plant then to give a pilot permission to bring a gun aboard a plane even after they are trained. Pilots are trusted with a plane full of jet fuel and passengers but the line is drawn when they are to be trusted with a gun. If pilots had guns in the cockpit 9/11 probably wouldn’t have happened. Most of the laws are useless in the purpose that they are intended which is to make the public safer. Some of them are downright oppressive that were brought about by politicians that don’t like guns or trust gun owners. It’s amazing how the ruling class has no problem imposing their values, such as they are, upon us. Some laws are just plain stupid and useless, like the people who make them, and those are the ones that we will look at here.

One of them is if you buy a receiver or a frame with no parts it has to be treated the same as an operating weapon. The receiver has no moving parts, barrel or stock, hence it will not fire. It is a piece of metal period! It takes some knowledge, skill and proper tools to assemble such a piece into a gun and I submit that criminals are not going to take the time to assemble such weapons. Also most of them are too stupid and lazy to do that. I suppose you could put it in a sock and use it for a weapon. Hmm you could do that with a stone. That law should be re-examined and repealed.

Another hair brain law is the sawed off shotgun law. It was originally passed to stop criminals from concealing a short barreled shotgun under their coat. Fine and dandy though I doubt many outlaws worried about the length of their shotgun prior to robbing a store. An offshoot of that law is you can’t have a handgun with a smooth bore barrel or it is considered a sawed off shotgun. Why would you want a smooth bore handgun? The only reason is you might want to make it more efficient to dispatch snakes though the benefit would be minimal. Also it would not stabilize a bullet any longer. So if you have a handgun and you run something down the barrel to erase the rifling you are facing some jail time so don’t do it. You can possess a sawed off shotgun after going through the ATF system and getting cleared. Gun laws are kind of like locks, they only affect honest people.

Some of the older military pistols came with a shoulder stock as part of the package. The Broomhandle Mauser and some Lugers among others are examples. If you have an original shoulder stock it is ok to attach it for use or display. However if you have a replica which looks exactly like the original that is a no no! You can get a felony rap for having a sawed off rifle. Now I would like for some one to explain to me how that will keep the public safe. Don’t even think about attaching a shoulder stock to a modern handgun unless you go through the ATF and obtain a $200 stamp. Another bright idea is that if you rebuild some military rifles you have to use parts made in the US as opposed to imported parts. I want someone to explain to me how that makes society safer. I want to emphasize that no matter how laughable these laws are the penalties aren’t. If you get convicted for violating any of these laws you face severe penalties including jail time as these are felonies. I do not in any way advise breaking these laws though they definitely need to be changed. If you plan on modifying a gun and are in doubt of the legality then I suggest that you contact the ATF for advice. It would not be a bad idea to have a letter explaining the legal ramifications of what you are doing.

A shoulder stock is legal as long as it is an original and not a reproduction

As for states California leads the parade in stupidity though it has some stiff competition. First of all they have enacted a micro stamping law which will do nothing but inconvenience everyone. Not being satisfied with that they banned 50 caliber rifles though none have ever been used in a crime. They also have a system where ever gun has to be cleared by a board before it is allowed to be sold. You can have 2 guns that are almost identical and while one is ok the other is banned. I saw an advertisement for 45 autos, there different brands though they were identical otherwise. Two were banned. To keep the stupidity going they have a 15 day waiting period on handguns, after you get cleared by the NICS check. There is also a one gun a month limit on handguns. Ca FFL dealers have to jump through extra hoops in order to receive guns from out of state. A shipper has to go through the DOJ in Ca in order to ship guns to dealers. Mind you these are dealers not the public. They sent me the paperwork which I promptly put in the round file. Let’s face it Ca and other states don’t like law abiding citizens to possess firearms and they will do everything they can to stifle gun owners. New Jersey for example bans hollow point ammo. Their laws are designed to harass not to keep folks safe. It seems that Ca, NJ and a couple of other states are in a contest to see who can abuse law abiding gun owners the most. No wonder Ca and some of these other states are in the hole financially.

Probably the most idiotic idea though it would have stiff competition is the gun free zones. When criminals see such signs they know that they can ply their trade with little or no risk to themselves. Years ago guns were routinely taken to schools and there were no shootings. Maybe someone should blame bad behavior rather then inanimate objects. What a concept! Gun buy back programs rank right up there in the stupid column. That is where some do gooder group gets the bright idea to give folks cash or gift certificates for guns. The problem is that grannies may bring in a gun that wasn’t used anyway or some folks bring in stolen or broken guns for a little cash. In any event it does nothing to make society safer. Like many of those hair brain schemes it resolves nothing but makes someone feel good. Laws that regulate or prohibit law abiding citizens from carrying guns are also high on the do nothing list. No only do they prevent citizens from protecting themselves and their families but the criminal doesn’t follow them very closely. How many crooks worry about a permit prior to robbing a bank. If you have the misfortune to live in NYC and you get caught with a handgun, go to jail do not pass goal or collect $200. I imagine more then a few good folks went to the pokey for a mere handgun possession charge.

How to Pick Good Candidates for Office

2010-09-19T14:19:00.000-07:00

The worst president ever!

How to Pick the People you vote for in November

Without a doubt we are saddled with the worst president in our history. Between Obama’s arrogance, incompetence, dishonesty and a general dislike for this country we have a lot of problems facing us. Not content with being the worst president ever he picks the worst and most radical people he can find for the various posts that he fills. If they are incompetent, radical and hate this country then they are a shoo in for office. I could write a book on his failures but this isn’t about him except we have to elect people in congress who will stop the anti-American madness that he is foisting upon us. He will be in office another two years but if we elect the right people in Nov 2010 we can stop his socialist agenda. Right now congress is full of incompetents who have been around way too long. It is ridicules for anyone of either party to serve in congress for 30-50 years. They lose touch with reality and grow arrogant. Instead of a term of service they make it a life long career. They vote themselves raises, great pension benefits and various other perks that are not available to the general public. Not being satisfied with that some of them take bribes and steal whenever the opportunity presents itself. America so far survives in spite of them not because of them.

When I check out a candidate that I am not familiar with the first item is their record on the 2’Nd amendment. If they get bad marks from the NRA or other pro gun groups then I don’t need to know anything else about them. They will not get my support period! I have been accused of being narrow minded about that but I have good reasons for feeling that way. First of all if a politician votes against law abiding gun owners they are telling you that you aren’t to be trusted. That is the message my friends because the argument that gun laws prevent crime is nonsense. That has been proven in various studies. Why then don’t they trust you? Who Knows? They want to demonize guns because they don’t have the backbone to really go after criminals. A perfect example is when various city mayors were suing the gun makers because drug dealers were shooting each other. Apparently going after the bad guys never occurred to them. Chances are if they are wrong on the gun issue then they are wrong about other important issues such as taxes, illegals, growing of government and foreign policy. They are frequently out of step with most of the voters but they are tone deaf. For instance about 70% of the population didn’t want health care but it was rammed through.

Laziness and stupidity wrapped up in one neat package

Let’s take an example of a career politician who recently got fired in the Delaware primaries. Mike Castle has been sucking on the public teat for 40 years and has given little back in return. He is the consummate do nothing career politician. I have talked to people who tried to ask questions about an issue but he blew them off, something that long term office holders tend to do. It’s called arrogance. In spite of the fact that he has an R by his name he is notoriously anti gun. Not being satisfied with that he votes with the democrats fairly often including the failed stimulus package. He has no problem with tax increases and other liberal items. Well a good thing happened during the primary. The people of Delaware fired him and nominated Christine O’Donnell as the Republican for the Senate. I don’t know if she will win in the general election but they got rid of a useless office holder in Castle. He is throwing a temper tantrum because he believed that he was somehow entitled to the seat. He picked up his toys and went home. Arrogance will do that to you. He didn’t even have the class to call and congratulate her nor has he offered an endorsement. Like a typical liberal he blamed others for his loss including Rush Linbaugh and Shaun Hannity. The state Republican Party is smearing her but that’s because their golden boy was beaten and they are probably a bunch of Democrat wanna bees anyway. Her character is being smeared including that she was slow in paying her taxes. If that’s the case then perhaps she should be Secretary of the Treasury which is currently run by a tax cheat. She can be a tax cheat like Charlie Wrangle and run for congress. Christine O’Donnell is a perfect example of someone who should get elected. Hopefully the people of Delaware will keep up the good work and elect her to the Senate. Even if you are not a gun owner you still should vote for pro gun candidates because chances are they also support freedoms that might be important to you.

Mike Castle threw a temper tantrum and took his toys home after losing the Deleware Primary

With the frustration of the corrupt Obama administration the Tea Party came into being. The one good thing that the Obama administration has produced is a bunch of fed up Americans. The Tea Party has fielded some great candidates that want to bring America back to some sanity. There are a lot of fresh faces vying for office and they should be given a chance. Hell, they can’t do worse then what’s in Congress with their 11% approval rating they have now. Mike Castle and many others like him are a walking advertisement for term limits. We need people in congress who are fresh and inexperienced and have some good ideas. I laugh when I hear someone say that someone is qualified for office merely because they have held it for a generation or so. That is the problem and the only way to address it is term limits. I am a realist and understand that congress will never vote for term limits because then they would have to go out and get a real job like the rest of us.

Anyone want to talk about a tax cheat?

How Important is Accuracy

2010-09-16T14:59:00.000-07:00

Practice is important Marlin XL-7 in 30-06

How Important is Accuracy

Everyone likes their rifles to be accurate and if it is then we are happy. However I submit that sometimes accuracy is overrated as compared to other factors. Accuracy is the ability to hit what you are aiming at if you do your part. That can be hitting a gallon can at 50 yards or a woodchuck at 500 yards. A 30-30 foe example typically shoots a 3” group at 100 yards but for eastern woods hunting that is fine. You would not take it on an antelope hunt in a western state however. Antelope are typically shot at 300 yards plus and the lever action 30-30 isn’t up to the task. If your gun can hit the required target at the desired ranges then it is accurate enough for the task at hand. In hunting accuracy isn’t everything as important as it might be. There are other important factors such as bullet performance. A good well designed bullet is much more desirable for hunting then a gilt edge target bullet. Many target bullets while super accurate perform poorly on game. Some hollow points fold over when they hit an animal making them act like a solid which is frequently a bad idea. The Nosler Partitions had a reputation of not being as accurate as some of the other brands but they got the job done. I had the same experience but accuracy wasn’t that bad. Since then accuracy has improved over the years. No matter what type of hunting you engage in practice is all important. You should be familiar with the characteristics of you hunting gun at any range that you expect to use it. That includes the knowledge of your bullets trajectory. Also keep in mind that each rifle will prefer a different brand of bullet so it’s up to you to experiment until you find the right combo. I have seen more then a couple of hunters use the wrong bullet merely because it is accurate. The results were generally dismal.

Target showing that Weatherby Vanguard can be accurate 30-06

If you are hunting in the brush or woods for game such as a moose or grizzly bear your shots probably won’t be over 50 yards maybe a hundred at the most. With those animals you need a hard hitting rifle with a quality bullet for best results. A 45-70 with a well constructed bullet weighing 400 grains that group 3” at 100 yards is all you need for accuracy purposes. With that type of hunting you will probably be standing or at best have a haphazard rest so gilt edge accuracy isn’t necessary. You might even be shooting at a moving target. You need a combo that will place a sturdy bullet into the boiler room, breaking bones along the way if necessary. You want to do your hunting before you shoot not after. Some of the new lead free bullets made by Barnes and Hornady might be an option worth exploring. They have a good reputation for performance and are definitely accurate enough for any task that they may have to perform. I have shot both with great results in various calibers.

Typical way to test ammo 30-06 Weatherby Vanguard

If you are hunting deer at a couple hundred yards or so then you would need a different type of rifle. Something that shoots flatter and can shoot a 3 shot group at 100 yards of an inch or so. If it is more accurate fine but don’t get hung up on that. You need a good hunting bullet with good flight characteristics rather then a super accurate target bullet. The bullet has to perform on the animal to obtain a clean kill. It has to have the ability to get into the boiler room and do some significant damage in order to insure a clean kill. A bullet that blows up on the hide without penetrating is useless. As with all hunting the first shot is the most important and it’s our moral obligation to humanely dispatch any animal that we shoot. If you mess that up there is a good chance that the hunt will go south quickly. If you hit it badly or miss it the animal isn’t going to stick around for you to target practice on it. So when you shoot your groups be sure to carefully observe where the first shot from a cold barrel goes. Keeping the barrel oil free helps keep the first shot closer to the rest of the group as oil can throw off the first shot by quite a bit.

Over the years shotgun slugs have greatly improved in performance. The old pumpkin ball was good out to 50 yards or so before accuracy deteriorated too much. Slugs such as the Breneke and Actives extended that range out to about 100 yards in good guns. They were all smooth bores but with an open or modified choke and a scope 3 to 5” groups were possible at 100 yards. Then came rifled barrels and modern projectiles which changed everything. One outstanding example is the Lightfield brand of slugs www.lightfieldslugs.com. Not only are they exceptionally accurate in a rifled barrel but the various loads hit to the same point of impact. The importance of that is a shooter that is more recoil shy can shoot a lighter load while the heavier load can also be utilized without changing the scope setting. I am not aware of any other slug that can do that though there are other accurate slugs out there. I have shot the Remington slug with good accuracy results also. With the increased velocity and accuracy of modern slugs ranges of 175 yards and more are possible given hunter skill.

Typical group that can be expected from Remington factory ammo 30-06

Shooting varmints at long range does require serious accuracy. Most of the time you will be using a small caliber high velocity rifle capable of shooting bullets up to 4000 feet per second or so. A groundhog at 400 yards is a very small target. A rifle the shoots 5 shots into a half inch or less at 100 yards is needed. Groundhogs are relatively small but need to be hit well with an explosive bullet in order to anchor them reliably. Improperly hit woodchucks will escape into their holes to die. That’s a shame because the meat is very tasty , properly prepared. As with all animals they deserve a quick and painless death.

As hunters we are obligated to kill as humanely as possible any animal we shoot. Animals that get away usually die a painful and futile death since no one gets to eat the meat or gather the trophy. Harvesting everything that you shoot is also a good conservation measure. Taking your time and placing all of your shots is of paramount importance in the scheme of things.

Straight Pull Rifles Part 3

2010-09-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

Model 89 Swiss 7.5 X 53.5

Straight Pull Rifles Part 3

The Swiss model 89 came out in 1889 to replace the older 10.4 Vetterli. The original load was a .299 diameter 213 grain bullet at about 1950 FPS loaded with semi smokeless powder. Later a 190 grain jacketed bullet was utilized with smokeless powder. The 89 has a long receiver and rear locking lugs. Also a 10 round magazine protrudes from the bottom. Pressures were limited to about 37,000 PSI and should not be exceeded. The case is essentially the same as the later case, model 31, but the neck is shorter. It was replaced by the model 11 in 1911 which served for quite a few years in the Swiss military. The Swiss rifles, as you would expect are well made and finished. That applies to all of them from the Vetterli on up to the model 1911. Both Swiss models have a large ring on the rear of the receiver. That is so you can let down the firing pin without shooting it. You can cock it using that ring easily. The button on the side releases the magazine and is easy to use.

I have worked up some loads for the older Schmidt Ruben rifle. The example I used was made in 1893 and is in good shape. Mine shoots 308 diameter bullets but I strongly suggest that you slug your barrel to be sure of the correct bullet diameter. The older ones have a .299 diameter bore so you can use 7.35 Carcano bullets in those. You just need the proper die set. At no time did I attempt to see how fast I could drive the bullet but rather looked for loads that were accurate and safe. For some reason I couldn’t obtain the Swiss brass so I used 284 Winchester cases which worked fine. That situation has since been resolved and the Swiss brass is available now. First I necked them up then trimmed off some of the neck to the 53.5 length then sized as normal. This rifle required that the cases be chambered with some authority or they wouldn’t fire. That’s a good safety feature since the bolt wasn’t completely locked up and I wouldn’t want it firing with a partially closed bolt. The difficulty may have been because of minute dimensional differences in the 284 cases. After they were fired and sized they fit easier as that formed them to that chamber. During the tests I had no malfunctions or brass loss and some of the cases were fired several times. The cases are thrown several feet due to the good extractor and the effort required opening the bolt. The sights are however hard for me to use and getting groups was difficult at least for my eyes. However I didn’t have much trouble hitting cans at 50 yards though it shot low. Go figure. The trigger pull isn’t bad at all for such an old rifle. After the usual travel it broke consistently.
LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
10 X Unique 110 grain round nose 1447 fair
10 X Trail Boss 110 grain round nose 1141 consistent
25 X 5744 110 grain round nose 1949 nice
42 X IMR 4895 123 grain soft point 2341 poor load
50 X H 4831 150 grain Hornady 2151 mild
52 X IMR 4350 150 grain Hornady 2516 accurate
40 X IMR 4895 150 grain Hornady 2498 also good
10 X Unique 165 grain cast 1280 consistent
48 X H 4831 170 grain round nose 2039 mild
50 X IMR 4350 170 grain round nose 2178 ok

7.5 X 53.5 and newer 7.5 X 55 Swiss

When judging a rifle by its strength there are other factors to consider, probably the most important is its ability to handle gas in the event of a case rupturing. If the head splits, while not a common occurrence, where will the hot gases go? Information is scarce on some rifles so it’s a matter of common sense to make sure you are using the correct ammo and wearing shooting glasses. I prefer to forgo having hot gasses sprayed on me, been there done that. The hot gases have to go somewhere and it may be your face and injure you seriously. Forends and magazines can be blown downwards causing serious arm and hand injuries. The Swiss rifles aren’t the best for handling gas so keep that in mind when loading ammo especially for the older ones. Another thing to avoid is standing along side of some one shooting for if a firearm does explode shrapnel frequently goes to the side causing serious injuries to bystanders. Revolvers and shotguns are notorious for this. You must remember that black powder guns generally have a pressure of 20,000 PSI or so while smokeless arms start at around 35,000 PSI. That’s a lot of pressure to deal with when something goes wrong. In this case I am referring to rifles rather then shotguns and handguns which typically operate at lower pressures. Normally if you are using quality brass in the proper chambering you should be ok but there are no guarantees in life or in shooting. If you notice a bulge on the case I suggest you stop shooting and find out what’s going on. It could be an oversize chamber or the wrong case. Either scenario can be dangerous as it can rupture. I have encountered military rifles with badly oversize chambers on a number of occasions. Some of the Japanese rifles made at the end of WW ll are very shoddy and dangerous to shoot for an example. They are easy to spot and not very common now. If in doubt take it to a qualified gunsmith. Sometimes it is hard to extract a shell out of such a gun. I have one such example in my collection now the cause being a rough chamber. You can rebarrel it if you want to go to that expense or use it for a wall hanger.

If you get a model 89 in good condition it is worthwhile to make ammo for it and go have some fun. Like most straight pulls you will have an opportunity to strengthen your forearms. It is accurate given good rifling and enjoys the justly famed Swiss quality.

Straight Pull Rifles Part 2

2010-09-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

Steyr Mannlicher model 95 in 8 X 56 R

Straight Pull Rifles Part 2
The 8 X 56 is an upgrade of the 8 X 50. The cartridge is more powerful and bullet diameter was increased to 329. It employs a 5 round clip which is fed from the top and drops down through the bottom when empty. The inventor of the model 95 was Ferdinand Ritter Von Mannlicher who also came out with the first successful clip fed rifle. Like the 8 X 50 it is hard to operate unless you have strong forearms. The extractor also had a reputation for breakage unless you kept it clean. The rifle was used in WW ll by second line German troops as well as Romanian, Yugoslavian and Italian reserves. Other countries used it to an extent. In the 1970’s some African guerillas used them in their campaigns. There were about 3 million produced and they are fairly common and inexpensive. They are also well made weapons made to last. For the collector who is just starting this might be a good place to begin.

8 X 50 and 8 X 56 cartridges

The 8 X 56 rifle I have looks a lot better then the older 8 X 50 but share the same action. The cartridge was designed in the 1920’s to replace the 8 X 50. Hungary adopted it in 1931, also being used in the Solothurn machine gun. The Hungarians also used a model 35 bolt action for it. In 1940 Hungary adopted the German 8 X 57 and some of the rifles were adopted for same. They were rechambered and a different magazine was employed. The Nazis however did produce ammo for it in the 1930’s. I have shot some of it and it was surprisingly consistent considering its age. The bullets I used are .329 to .330 in diameter. Why they used that diameter instead of the more common .323 diameter is head scratcher as the 323 is much more common and available. Some I made as I wanted different weights and styles then what’s available commercially. I make many of my odd diameter bullets by swaging because they aren’t available in all diameters and weights that I use. There are some commercial bullets available for the handloader in soft points which are good for hunting. Like the 8 X 50 it sports a 20” barrel which is handy though a 30” barrel was also made.. Just for your information there is an 8 X 56 rimless case that is based on the 8 X 57 Mauser case. Just to keep you confused there is also an 8 X 56 Kropatachek which isn’t interchangeable with either of the other two 8 X 56’s. That is why it is important to know what your rifle shoots before trying it out. Using the wrong ammo can be a disastrous mistake.

The rear of the rimless Mannlicher measures about .030 smaller then the rimmed version. DO NOT fire in the straight pull rifle. The rear of the case wouldn’t be supported and would rupture probably causing injury. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you are using the correct ammo for your weapon something that can’t be repeated too often. You might encounter a 95 that was rechambered for the 8 X 57 Mauser round which is less common then the 8 X 56 R. This round is a good large game hunting round and can be used for deer and black bear. I have a client that uses in on wild boar in Florida with good results. Reloadable cases are available at Graffs and other distributors. In a pinch 7.62 X 54 Russian cases can be use but they are short and not necessary because of the brass supply available.

LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
16 X Trail Boss 200 grain cast 1373 inconsistent
16 X Unique 200 grain cast 1614 accurate
12 X Unique 200 grain flat nose 1019 high es
12 X Trail Boss 200 grain flat nose 635 way slow
35 X Data 4197 200 grain flat nose 1894 deer load
25 X 5744 200 grain flat nose 1536 consistent
47 X IMR 4895 200 grain home made 2180 mild
42 X RL 12 210 DKT bullet 1881 mild
47 X IMR 4350 210 DKT bullet 1748 slow
51 X IMR 4895 210 DKT bullet 2295 consistent
50 X IMR 4895 220 grain 2271 good load
45 X IMR 4895 225 grain home made 2056 good load
47 X IMR 4895 250 grain home made 2130
43 X IMR 4895 250 grain home made 1919 consistent
49 X 748 250 grain round nose HM 2087 moose
1938 Nazi Military 207 grain 2267 good load

Closeup of 8 X 56 Action

The 8 X 56 I have is in good shape and will handle some pretty decent loads though I didn’t try and set any speed records. While it is a strong action it isn’t getting any younger so I took it easy in load development and I suggest you do the same. Since the straight pull lacks the camming power of a conventional bolt it would be more difficult to extract a sticky case. The trigger is a fairly typical military type which is ok once you get used to it.

Straight Pull Rifles Part 1

2010-09-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

Mannlicher Steyr model 95 rifle in 8 X 50

Straight Pull Rifles Part 1

One of the older ones was the 8 X 50 rimmed. Originally brought out as a black powder round in 1886 for the Model 88 straight pull and later the improved model 95. For some reason they lengthened the case to 52 mm and used a semi-smokeless powder until they could obtain reliable smokeless powder. It was soon changed over to a smokeless offering in 1890 and the case was again shortened to 50 mm. It was used by Greece, Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary. The model 88 was not a real strong action using a hinged block on the underside as opposed to the front locking lugs of the stronger model 95. The round was also chambered in a few sporting rifles in Europe for some years. The military used this cartridge until 1930-31 when it was replaced by the newer 8 X 56. Ammo is not available on a commercial basis in the U.S though it may still be made overseas. Loads should be kept at 40,000 or so psi as in the Krag rifle. Standard 8 mm bullets of .323 diameter may be used in all available weights. My rifle doesn’t have any clips so I shoot it single shot. I have some clips for the 8 X 56 but they don’t work in the older model although they are close. Since I don’t anticipate going to war with this rifle that’s not a problem using it as a single shot. The straight pull was developed to enable a soldier to fire more rapidly. The theory was since you pull the bolt straight back rather then lifting it first that would enable you to fire more rapidly. When you pull the bolt back the locking lugs rotate rather then the complete bolt assembly. The only problem is you need forearms the size of Popeye’s in order to manipulate it faster. A little spinach wouldn’t hurt either.

Closeup of 8 X 50 action

The 8 X 50 I have is rough looking on the outside probably due to some poor storage. There is some pitting on the barrel and action however the rifling is fairly decent. Cases can be made from 45-70 cases and the rim is cut down to the proper size. I took it out in the desert to shoot for function and chamber problems. Feeding and extraction was flawless and the cases were thrown a few feet to the front and right of the shooting point. It does take some effort to pull back the bolt which is typical. The trigger is a typical two stage military pull and is decent for its type of rifle. The safety is located opposite of the bolt handle locks the bolt closed as well as preventing the gun from firing. To remove the push the trigger forward and pull the bolt back until removed. Putting the bolt back is tricky however because the lugs rotate when the bolt is removed. You have to pull the front of the bolt forward until the lugs line up with the extractor. I use the side of a table to pull the front of the bolt up by hooking one of the lugs at the edge of the table and pull the head forward. That requires some effort and once they are lined up slide the bolt back in by using the rails. The 8 X 56 requires the same procedure. It seems reliable and easy to use once assembled and cleaned. Once that was done I made up a few loads for it. I had a customer ask for some 8 X 50 blanks hmmmm. I did some checking and found out the 7.62 X 54 blanks work perfectly. I fired some with no problems what so ever. So the light went on in my head and I figured that if I could take some regular 7.62 X 54 cases I could make some 8 X 50 ammo. Like the Russian the 8 X 50 has a beveled rim so feeding was fine. I shortened the cases then sized as normal in the die and they chambered fine. The case length I used is 1.975”. Shooting the Russian cases showed no problems what so ever. The 45-70 required a little more effort in seating the bullets but neither case presented a problem in that regard. By the way my rifle is the model 95 verses the older model 88. This rifle has a 20” barrel which makes it light and handy. These loads can be used for deer sized game at woods ranges without a problem given good bullet placement. Standard 8 mm .323 diameter bullets are fine.
LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
10 X Trail Boss 125 grain Hornady 1259 consistent
36 X Data 4197 125 grain Hornady 2165 mild
45 X IMR 4895 150 grain Hornady 2334 good load
47 X IMR 4895 150 grain Hornady 2319 hmmmmm
10 X Unique 170 grain cast 1127 inconsistent
10 X Trail Boss 170 grain cast 974 consistent
12 X Unique 170 grain cast 1240 inconsistent
12 X Trail Boss 170 grain cast 1269 inconsistent
43 X IMR 4895 170 grain Hornady 2133 mild
45 X IMR 4895 170 grain Hornady 2231 ok
43 X IMR 4895 175 grain Sierra 2186 ok
42 X IMR 4895 185 grain Remington 2119 consistent
44 X IMR 4895 185 grain Remington 2188 accurate
10 X Unique 200 grain cast 1173 accurate
41 X IMR 4895 200 grain Speer 2050 slow
43 X IMR 4895 200 grain Speer 2149 ok
21 X AA 5744 210 grain cast 1387 small game
50 X AA 4350 220 grain Hornady 1999 consistent

Some of the 8 X 50 loads seem pedestrian by some standards but due the age and condition of the weapon I didn’t see any point in trying to increase the velocity. I probably could have obtained another 1 to 200 feet per second but for the life of me I just didn’t see the gain. The sights are crude and the rifling is only fair so long distance shooting is not an option at least with this particular specimen. Never say never but I don’t see me taking it on a hunting trip and if I do these loads will suffice for the ranges I would be using it. I would just tweak the one that I would take. I have several other 8mm rifles including the 8mm Remington magnum if I have a hankering for more velocity. I also have an 8mm Carcano and I will not use anything resembling heavy loads in it either. With some of these old guns it just isn’t worth the risk of destroying it to obtain a little more velocity. Both of the 8mm rifles like the cast bullet loads which I generally find true in the older rifles. As a note the 47 grains of 4895 behind the 150 grain did produce less velocity so that’s not a misprint. I have ran across that phenomenon on a few occasions. I am not sure why it happens but I believe the particular rifle doesn’t like that load and so I backed off.

8 X 50 round with military bullet

There is nothing quite like shooting a piece of history. It’s an interesting challenge to make ammo that works in those antiques and you might be surprised on how well they can shoot.

Norfolk Hatchery

2010-09-02T14:08:00.000-07:00

Fish caught in the White River, rainbow trout from Norfolk Hatchery

Norfolk Fish Hatchery
The Norfolk fish hatchery which is located near Mountain Home in Northern Arkansas was established in 1955 and open to the public in 1957. The hatchery was established to meet the fishery migration needs arising from the Corps of Engineer projects in the White River in Northern Arkansas and southern Missouri. The upper White River has been altered by multi purpose dams in various locations along its course. The river flows through Table Rock Lake, Lake Taneycomo and then through Bull Shoals Reservoir. There are tributaries to Norfolk Lake and Greers Ferry. For more info you can go to their website @ http://www.norforkhatcheryfriends.org/NNFH.pdf

View of Norfolk Hatchery

This hatchery specializes in threes species of trout the Brown, Rainbow and Cutthroat all which require cold water with high oxygen content. They raise the fish to restock various waters in local lakes and streams as well as to other states that may need trout. They produce over 1 & ½ million fish for restocking purposes. The fish are kept until they are approximately 11 inches then released at a cost of 47 cents each. The water used in the hatchery comes from the bottom of Lake Norfolk which has the desired cold temperature
The hatchery buys the eggs from other hatcheries and they are kept until the eggs hatch which is about 2 weeks after receiving them. As they grow they are moved to different tanks until the release date. They are fed special foods while at the hatchery. This operation is carried on year around.

Baby trout in hatchery tanks

Visitation is welcome and the hatchery is open to the public from 7: AM to 3:30 PM. Parking drinking water and restrooms are available and there is helpful personal on site to answer any questions that are brought up. There is even a place adjoining the hatchery that is handicap assessable for fishing which is catch and release.

Adult trout

As a result of their efforts many folks can enjoy great trout fishing in the area and other states. Arkansas has many lakes and streams for the anglers to try out their luck. Lake Norfolk is one of the top fishing lakes in the US according to Field & Stream.

Fine Wines

2010-08-23T16:19:00.000-07:00

Marge Roelands who makes these wines is the latest in a long family linage who made these fine wines

Raimondo Wines
Many good things have come from Italy and Sicily including various foods and wines. The Raimondo family who lived in Palermo Sicily started to make fine wines during the latter part of the 1800’s. Marty Raimondo, the present owner’s grandfather, started the business in southern California and it has been passed down from generation to generation. Tony Raimondo, Marge’s uncle went back to Sicily in 1985, to learn more about the old ways of making fine wines. The present owner Marge Roelands had to overcome a couple of obstacles in order to carry on with the business. Her uncle was not sure a woman could become a proficient wine maker because of her gender. She did however have another advantage; she grew up around the business. The Raimondo Wines are fine beverages and set very high standards for their products. She had to prove that she could learn the various procedures for making the wines to the high standards required. Guess what! She did it in spades! She worked with her uncle for four years before she attempted to make her own wine. She also worked with other wine makers learning the secrets of making good wine.

Press used to insert corks into wine bottles

She got involved in the process from selecting the grapes to the various ways of making and aging the wines. She goes to California and works with the grape growers and actually goes out and picks some of the grapes. Not only is that a good learning experience but she gets to test the grapes for the quality she demands. There is nothing like hands on experience to learn the business. The vineyards will actually cut off some bunches of grapes and throw them on the ground. That is so the rest will get the proper amount of sun in order to ripen correctly. The criteria for selecting grapes are the brix, ripeness and moisture. They test them on site to insure quality. The brix is the amount of sugar in the grape and that determines the alcohol content. When the yeast is put into the grape mix it eats the sugar and turns into alcohol. If the sugar content is too low then there is little or no alcohol and too much sugar produces a wine that is too strong. They also have to be ripe without being overly so in order to make a good wine. The moisture content can be worked with to an extent during the aging process. Depending on the type of wine it is aged from 1 & ½ to 4 & ½ years in oak barrels under a strictly controlled environment. She has studied under various wine masters and continues to do so. In fact she is planning on a two week trip to Sicily to enhance her considerable knowledge. I have interviewed her at length and I have found out that she has a lot of knowledge and passion for this business. She is determined to be the best in the business and I for one won't bet against her. Her husband also helps out in fact he built the wine cellar and labels all of the bottles by hand. While the business is small it is growing and with the word getting out about their fine products, it is growing.

Some of their fine products

Various wines are made from different grapes grown all over the globe. Different grapes make different wines and Marge travels to various locations to select the proper grapes for her wines. She is very picky and the grapes are grown without pesticides or other artificial means. While that makes the grapes more expensive it also results in better tasting wines. She makes contracts with the growers and they are obligated to provide the very best grapes available. Poor grapes make poor wines and anyone buying a Raimondo wine doesn't have to worry about that. If the grapes aren't up to the high standards demanded by the Raimondo wine business they never see in inside of the winery but go somewhere else who doesn't have such high standards. There are no shortcuts employed in making their wines and the quality proves that. I am not a wine maker so I am learning a lot about the art of wine making and it is an art if done correctly. Each wine is named after the grape used in producing it. For instance a Zinfandel grape makes a Zinfandel wine. There are various variations of Zinfandel wines using grapes grown in different regions and there may be another grape added such as a Mission grape. One blend consists of 90% Zinfandel and 10% mission. I could probably write a book about the various wines but I am sure that has been done many times. For a list of their wines you can go to http://www.raimondowinery.com/ for more info. If you can't find it in your area not to worry they can ship it to you though some states prohibit wine shipments to private homes but you should be able to have it shipped to a business. They have a wine cellar on the premises and wine tasting's are available upon request. That in itself is a treat. They also host events such as weddings so you can call Brian or Marge for details. The wines are kept there at a strictly controlled temperature environment of 60 degrees. They are coming out with new wines such as the 2007 Passione Red and 2008 Petite Sirah. The 2009 Chardonnay wine uses grapes that are not pressed but free-run drained overnight. While I not a connoisseur of fine wines I do know the difference between a good and bad wine. These are the goods wines well worth their modest prices.

Typical wine tasting session

Oak barrels used to age the wine

Another idea is they also run a great fishing resort where you can relax in the Ozarks while enjoying a glass of great wine. For info on the fishing you can go to http://www.blueladyresort.com/ for info on renting a cabin and the fishing possibilities. Hiking and sightseeing are also in the mix for interested parties. If you are a deer hunter then you are in luck they are all over the place. They also host events there and they will be glad to give you details on those.

Some old corkscrews

Another facet of their business is their fine balsamic vinegars and olive oils. Like grapes there is a large verity of olives and they are used to make various olive oils. The type and area where the olives are grown dictate which flavor the oil is. Olives are picked three times a year with spring mid summer and winter depending on which country they come from. Many countries grow olives including Italy, Spain, Greece, Australia and the US. The best quality is the first press which is called extra virgin which is more expensive but the best. The quality is determined by the amount of poly phenol which is in the oil. It should be 50 units but the Raimondo Winery doesn't buy any that is less then 84 units. Poly Phenol is an anti oxidant and some studies indicate that it helps fight breast cancer. The second press is called virgin and it goes down to the fifth press which is used in making candles. The third and fourth presses are used in lower quality olive oil. Olive oil is not aged like the wines or vinegars so the faster it gets to the market the better.

Old grape presser been in the Raimondo family for about 100 years

The balsamic vinegars traditionally come from Modena, Italy. The Traditional is the most expensive though they also make regular balsamic vinegars. The traditional is very expensive because of the time consuming process required to make it. The base is called must which is the left over grape after it is squeezed into wine. That includes the skins and remaining juices. It is boiled into a thick fluid and put into barrels for aging. It can be aged anywhere from 12 years on up depending on the type of vinegar. As it oxidizes it is put into progressively smaller barrels each made from a different type of wood. Each wood influences the flavor until it ferments into balsamic vinegars. They are aged in buildings in attics with metal roofs. During the day the area is closed to generate heat then opened up at night to allow cooling. This process is repeated until the vinegar is properly aged. The vinegars made in Italy are regulated by some laws regarding tastes, quality, and color. A committee does the tasting and quality control to make sure it is up to the high standards.
Balsamic vinigars and olive oils

Some more of their mouth watering products

For a chef in a fine restaurant these vinegars and oils are just the ticket for your customers who like a fine salad. You can make various blends of these products to suit your customer’s need. They flavor a salad just right without that heavy oily taste that a lesser product will produce. For healthy cooking the olive oils are just the way to go. Just imagine a fine steak with mushrooms cooked in one of these oils. I would bet that some of these oils will enhance the flavor of a fish such as a salmon with lemon flavored oil. Kind of makes your mouth water doesn't it. A restaurant can serve these wines with good food to enhance the customer’s eating experience.

Special stainless steel containers from Italy to store olive oil

Streets of Shame

2010-07-12T09:23:00.001-07:00

Businesses that display this sign should be avoided as being unsafe
Streets of Shame

The reason for this article is to show the public places of business and Government agencies who don’t allow law abiding citizens to carry weapons in these venues. Their argument is that weapons cause violence which is of course unmitigated nonsense. Weapons don’t cause anything but bad people do. So why do these people put up signs banning the carrying of weapons. One reason is THEY don’t like guns so no one else should according to them. The other and perhaps main reason is the various businesses and Government agencies don’t trust law abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families. Maybe they think that a gun transforms a law abiding citizen into some sort of psychopath by merely possessing a firearm. Of course that’s nonsense but you can’t reason with these types of people. You can correctly point out that more people then ever are buying guns but the crime rate is going down according to the FBI statistics. Facts and logic don’t faze them in the least. You can point out that gun free zones are just killing areas for some psycho with a grudge against society for a grievance real or imagined. Logic is left at the door when dealing with these people. So how do you deal with these people?

If they hold political office then you simply vote them out. If they can’t trust law abiding citizens to posses or carry firearms then why should we trust them with our future? If they are wrong on the firearms issue chances are that they will be wrong on other issues such as taxes and the economy. Many times they are soft on crime but hard on law abiding citizens. Such people don’t deserve to hold any office. If you look at the states with the most restrictive gun laws chances are they have high tax rates and are broke and looking for more ways to tax the populace and take away more of their rights. So the simple, though not easy solution is to vote them out and put statesmen in instead of political hacks.

One glaring and unjust ban is in the military. I find it amazing that out men and women in uniform can be trusted with various implements of war overseas but the minute they return to the US that trust is suddenly gone. They are not allowed to carry weapons on US bases and there are other restrictions as to where they can and can not posses a gun. That my friends is a sad state of affairs. This was put in place by President Clinton in the 1990’s who by the way was a draft dodger and disliked the military and guns in general. Then we have this nit-wit Janet Napolitano, our esteemed Homeland Security Chief make a remark that returning veterans are a menace to society. HOW DARE SHE? She is a perfect example of an incompetent moron who got promoted. These people volunteered to serve our country and risk life and limb in doing so. They should be honored not reviled. I wonder how many lives would have been saved at Fort Hood if a serviceman or woman was armed and could have put down that nut job sooner rather then later.

Other Government agencies don’t allow weapons into their facilities which makes it easier for the bad guys to tally up a body count. Until 9/11 pilots were not trusted to carry a firearm on board. They are trusted to fly a 30 million dollar jet full of fuel and passengers but not trusted to carry a 38 on board. I find that logic amazing. They can now but it’s a burdensome process and I heard that you can get clearance to nuclear weapon secrets easier then be allowed to carry a gun on board a jet.

Businesses have to be dealt with in a different way. When you see a sign on their door prohibiting weapons the best thing to do is turn around and spend your money elsewhere. Then notify the management and corporate office that if they don’t trust you with a weapon then why should you trust your and your family’s safety to their place of business. There are national chains such as Target and Outback and Red Robin Resteraunts who don’t allow guns on their premises but Wal Mart and many restaurants do. Guess where I am going to spend my money. Anti gun businesses will state that they have a right to prohibit weapons on their premises. Perhaps they are right but we have a right not to shop there. If enough people boycott those places of business then it will hurt them in the pocketbook which should get their attention. Those businesses that prohibit weapons can’t nor won’t guarantee your safety. If they have security they are also unarmed. Shopping malls make excellent killing fields as they prohibit weapons in most cases. Mall security is also not armed so if a shooter comes in I guess they can call 911. Hmm so can most of the shoppers as almost everyone has cell phones. So what good is mall security?

Most schools and colleges prohibit weapons by anyone. Hmmm for some reason the bad guys don’t read the signs so if they decide to shoot up a school there is no one to stop them. But the insanity goes even farther. There have been examples of kindergarten kids being suspended merely for pointing their finger at another kid and saying bang. Other ridicules incidents involve a kid bringing in a plastic fork or knife to eat his lunch. This is not -0- tolerance but mass insanity in the education system. I wonder how many lives would be saved if they taught a gun safety course in all schools. The chances of that happening are about like a snowballs chance in hell. How about training and arming some of the teachers? Small chance there as that makes too much sense! After all it’s the evil guns that are the problem not the evil people. Don’t you know that guns have evil personalities, if you don’t believe me ask some of those wack jobs that make these rules.

So what has gun free zones gotten us? To just name a few how about Luby’s cafeteria, Columbine, Virginia Tec, various McDonalds restaurants among others. I could name a bunch more but you get the idea. It also got us 9/11 because if the pilots had guns the terrorists couldn’t have hijacked the planes with box cutters. So what do the wack jobs say about that? Stricter regulations on guns! Dr. Savage states that liberalism is a mental disorder and this is proof positive that he is correct. If you keep trying the same thing over and over and expect different results then you have a form of insanity.

So what do law abiding gun owners do when confronted by anti gun wackos. Since you can’t reason with them just walk away. No sense getting upset over something that you can’t control. What you can control is at the ballot box on Election Day. Let those politicians who would take your guns know that you will be voting against them and you will also spread the word. Maybe someone who is running for a large office won’t care but the locals know that as every vote counts especially in a close race. One thing that politicians understand is the vote. Those who are against us can be put in the unemployment line come November. Make sure that you notify anti gun businesses that you will be spending your bucks elsewhere. If enough people do that they will get the message. By the way Starbucks, a national coffee chain, recently stood up to the anti-gun zealots and we should thank them and give them our business.

If enough people do these things perhaps we can get back our rights in full as the Constitution meant to be.

Gun Control & Dishonest politicians

2010-07-07T14:22:00.000-07:00

Gun Control and Dishonest Politicians
We are going to take a look at dishonest politicians and their true motives for passing gun laws. I will list a few but there are many more and a book can be written about them and their crooked and anti-gun ways. There are over 20,000 gun laws at all levels of government in the US. They cover every aspect of gun ownership and usage. There are a few that make sense but many of them are either feel good or useless laws. Many of these politicians feel that it’s better to do something wrong then be perceived as doing nothing at all. We are plagued by incompetent and dishonest politicians at all government levels who put their careers ahead of the public interest. They would rather pass a bad gun law then tackle the real issue. Criminals!!!

Big Tim Sullivan was a notorious Irish gangster whose mob controlled New York City south of 14th Street around the turn of the 20th century. He was a member of the infamous Tammany Hall group who dated back to the Civil war era and was always corrupt. He made the relatively easy transition from dangerous street thug and political ward heeler to New York state senator first in 1894 until 1903. He left Albany in 1903 for a term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and returned to the legislature in 1909 after complaining that he lacked the juice in Washington he'd grown accustomed to on his home turf. He wanted to be a big fish in a small pond rather then a small one in a lake.
In 1911, the Irish and Jewish mobsters who put him into office faced a growing problem, the Italians. Immigrant Mafiosi newly arrived from Sicily and Naples were horning in on what had once been their exclusive domain. Guess there wasn’t enough to go around. Gunfights on the Lower East Side and the neighborhood around Mulberry Street that was to become Little Italy grew more and more frequent, and it was getting so that you couldn't even shake down a barber shop or deli without some guy fresh off the boat taking a shot at you. Now that was a problem. Imagine the indignity of getting shot just because you wanted to extort money from a small business.
Not to worry, Big Tim had an idea. And in 1911, he took care of the problem. That’s where freedom ended and more corruption began. The Sullivan Act was passed into law in New York City in 1911 and remains Big Tim's primary legacy since it was named after him. It effectively banned most people from owning and, especially, carrying handguns. It bans law abiding citizens from carrying handguns but not the crooks and politicians. There have been additions in the following years which made a bad law worse. People with connections and money could always obtain a permit which is true in most areas where draconian gun laws abide. Corruption the big city way always allows those with connections to obtain a gun. By the way it did nothing to reduce the crime in New York City. As in all localities the real criminals don’t pay attention to gun laws.
The old reprobate didn’t live long after that. He became insane because of syphilis and was committed to the nut house. Shortly after he escaped but was run over by a train.

This billionaire bought his kindgom NYC Mayor Bloomberg

Today we have a billionaire mayor who bought his way into office and in fact connived his way in so he could serve more then two terms. Wonder whose palm he greased? Why would one of the wealthiest people in the world want to be the mayor of NYC? It is a power thing and don’t believe for a moment that he cares about the little guy. He is even telling people what they can and can’t eat. By the way he heads the mayor against guns outfit which is rabidly anti-gun. He hired some people to go to other states to buy guns with the intention of busting those gunshops. It seems that the ATF didn’t appreciate his meddling and a couple of states passed laws banning such activity. He is always looking for ways to abuse the law abiding gun owner. Bloomberg is nothing more then a very wealthy tyrant who bought his kingdom.

The face of curruption Mayor Daley of Chicago

Another cesspool of corruption is Chicago. The first mayor Daley served from 1955 to 1976 when the infamous handgun ban was enacted in that city. In 1989 his son Richard Daley took over and has been mayor since though he is more of a king. He has fought tooth and nail to keep the ban on handgun ownership in place though the Supreme Court recently overturned it. Without a doubt he will do everything in his power to make it very difficult for law abiding citizens to own a handgun. It makes one wonder what his motives are since it has been established that areas such as Chicago that have draconian gun laws also suffer higher crime rates. I am pretty confident that Daley can read so upon studying the FBI stats that show crime going down while gun ownership is rising, what are his motives for denying gun ownership to his own constituents. Like many tyrants he must be afraid of armed law abiding citizens.

When you talk about rampant corruption you can’t leave out New Jersey. Every time you turn around some mayor or representative is getting arrested for some sort of bribery or extortion. In fact if you have done time in prison for those sorts of crimes it is a resume enhancement if you want to run for state office. About a year ago they arrested some 40 people for selling organs including some state office holders. By no coincidence the gun laws are draconian to the max. It is very difficult to buy most guns without a lot of difficulty and some types of ammo are also banned. They also have a gun a month law, how useful. Maybe New Jersey and California are trying to out do each other to see who can bully law abiding gun owners the most. The laws in California are so draconian that it would take a book to outline them. Among them are a 15 day waiting period after you purchase a handgun and are cleared by NICS. They have a may issue permit system which would be open for abuse. If you are connected and have some money you can obtain a carry permit. The rest of us! Forget it! Every handgun sold in California has to be approved by the Dept of Justice prior to being sold.

Lies and scandals ruled Clinton's White House

Corruption also made it to the White House during the Clinton administration. It seems that there was a scandal per day and he got caught lying about his affair with Monica. Like all corrupt administrations he was rabidly anti-gun and passed the useless assault weapon ban in 1994. It did nothing to curve crime though it hindered law abiding citizens from purchasing some weapons. The useless ban did sunset in 2004 though many on the left want in re-enacted. Since it didn’t reduce crime the first time around why would they want it re-instated? We must ask that question. Clinton also did an executive order banning military personal from carrying arms while on US bases. I guess he doesn’t trust our finest with a weapon. Not surprising for a draft dodger. The blood from the Fort Hood massacre is on his hands because if the soldiers were armed someone could have stopped the shooter before he took 13 lives. Hillary would like a world wide ban on small arms especially those in the US.

There is corruption in spades at the present administration. Not only is Obama corrupt and incompetent he generally lies when he opens his mouth. When it comes to doing something right Obama is a boy in a man’s world. Obama came from Chicago so he learned his corruption from the masters. When he ran for president he stated that he respected the 2’ND amendment but his voting record in Illinois shows otherwise. He voted against gun owners every chance he got. If he has his way he would ban all guns but he doesn’t have the clout to do that yet and by the grace of God he never will. He has a higher regard for terrorists and illegals then his own citizens. He either doesn’t understand or care that guns in the hands of law abiding citizens tend to curb crime.

The Face of incompetence President Obama

Maybe some of our tyrants took their queue from worldly tyrants and despots. When you look at countries such as China and North Korea they forbid all gun ownership. By coincidence they are run by Communist despots. Castro’s Cuba doesn’t encourage ownership of firearms either. Many other countries make it almost impossible to legally own a firearm. Such governments fear their populace probably with good reason. It is easier to put your boot heel on a peasant’s neck that isn’t armed then one who is. Mexico is an excellent example of a corrupt government that has been in power for many years. Gun ownership is very strictly regulated so only the cops and drug lords have guns. Bribery is rampant in the Mexican Government and if they can’t bribe you they murder you. The president of Mexico is trying to rid the country of the drug gangs but they have been entrenched for generations and it’s proving to be a difficult task. Of course he blames the US for the amount of guns available but he better look elsewhere. He recently lectured Arizona on its immigration law but Mexico’s is much stricter. By the way all of those despots, US and otherwise are quick to advise us how to live our lives but seldom follow their own advice. We have many in congress who would like to abolish our gun rights while they have armed body guards to protect them. Anyway some of our politicians such as Daley, Bloomberg, Obama and others of their ilk would make people like Stalin proud.

Here Comes the Judge

2010-05-24T09:37:00.001-07:00

What the Judge was meant for

Judge

Every once in awhile a novel handgun comes along that can grab your attention. The Judge is such an item. This five shot revolver chambers either a 45 Colt or 2 & ½’ 410 gauge shot shell. Some models will chamber the longer 3” round. My gun weighs in at 32 oz empty which is fairly light. Crimson Trace Laser Grips also came with it adding to its utility. Taurus makes various models some stainless such as mine or blue. There are a few barrel lengths and one model which is hammerless for pulling out of a pocket quicker. Before I bought that one I would make sure I could handle the double action only trigger. They even have a rifle version called the Circuit Judge. For more information on Taurus products go to http://www.taurususa.com/ Kristin Hunt who represents Chevalier Advertising was kind enough to send a Judge for testing for this article for more info go to http://www.chevalier-adv.com/ for a list of their clients.

Typical target with 3 buck

The Judge is primarily meant for self defense against critters both two and four legged. It isn’t a long range target gun or a particularly good gun for big game hunting. It could however serve as a backup with the proper loads. The 410 loads are good to 10 feet or so with regular shot. After that the rifling spreads it quite a bit, hence causing it to lose effectiveness. You can use buckshot or a slug to extend the range some but the 45 Colt will reach out as far as you would need to shoot in self defense. The sights are rudimentary with no adjustment on the rear. The front sight is an orange fiber optic and is easy to pick up even in fairly bad light. The double action trigger is pretty heavy and may cause a woman or someone with weak hands a problem. That was the only thing that I didn’t like about the gun. It is easy to cock and shoot as a single action piece with the trigger being much lighter breaking at 5 &1/2 LBS per my trigger pull gauge.. Like many of the Taurus guns it is made in Brazil. The fit and finish seem to be good which I have observed on other Taurus products. We shot over 300 rounds of varying types of ammo and there were no malfunctions of any kind which is vital in a self defense gun. The Crimson Trace grips work well as I have experienced with other products made by this company. Shooting with the Crimson Trace grips is a comfortable experience. Just for the hell of it I carry it in my pocket and it is comfortable and doesn’t weigh me down. One thing I like about the Crimson Trace grips is when you hold the gun they automatically go on. There is no thought process needed which is vital in a serious social situation. For more info on these great grips go to http://www.crimsontrace.com/ for a list of their products.

The Judge that was used for testing

As I stated you can shoot various types of 410 and 45 Colt ammo. I don’t recommend plus P loads as the recoil would be excessive and would wear out the gun a lot faster then regular loads. That would be especially true with heavy bullets in the 300 grain range loaded hot. The 45 Colt is a pretty effective self defense load even with regular bullets. The 45 caliber bullet doesn’t have to expand to be effective as it makes a large entrance hole. For my money I will carry a light hollow point in mine maybe mixed with a couple of shot shells but that can change per the situation. If I expect to encounter snakes then I will use shot loads only. I took some 45 auto 185 grain Remington HP’S and put a cannelure on them. That way I can crimp them in the Colt cases. The lightweight bullet can be driven relatively high velocities without excessive recoil or pressure. With the many types of ammo available in both 45 and 410 a shooter can cook up any combo that will suit him. You should be able to solve your social situation with the five shots provided with the Judge.

The button load by Winchester is very effective

We tried a couple of loads offhand at 11 yards and they grouped but not in the accuracy category. That would have a lot to do with the distance the bullet has to travel before engaging the rifling. Any gun with a lot of freebore will suffer in the accuracy dept. The loads were 7 X Herco & a 250 grain cast and 12 X Herco with a 185 grain Remington HP. Since this bullet is meant for 45 autos I put a cannelure on it to enable me to crimp it. We shot 5 rounds of Federal 410 with # 4 shot that is listed for handguns. There were a few hits but not nearly enough to be effective. It seems difficult to locate factory 45 Colt ammo of any kind. I tried some local stores to no avail, sure glad that I handload which solves that problem. If you are willing to search a bit then you will eventfully find some 45 Colt ammo.

Federal #4 handgun shot at 10 feet

I did some measuring and found that the openings at the front of the cylinder measured .462 which is one explanation as to why 452 diameter bullets won’t be real accurate. In fact you can drop a 458 diameter bullet through the cylinder without a problem. That gave me an idea as I have on hand some 458 diameter 300 grain hollow base bullets on hand. I loaded them with 7 X Herco and they chambered without any problems. You have to understand that the cylinder has to accommodate the 410 shot shell which makes it more versatile but less accurate. There is a .010 slop between the bullet and cylinder which caused the bullet to tilt a little and when it engages the rifling it might be at an angle. That, my friends isn’t conducive to accuracy. Some of the bullets showed signs of keyholing at 25 yards. I believe that the 458 diameter bullet will help out as there is only .004 slop. I tried to chamber a 454 Casull round but thankfully it wouldn’t go all the way in. I have no doubt that if you fired a 454 in the Judge it would be totally destroyed. I also loaded some 45 Colt cases with the Speer shot capsules to compare the effectiveness of them against the 410 loads. They contain 140 grains of shot ahead of 10 X Green Dot. If for some reason you don’t want to use 410 loads this might be a viable option. I loaded some ammo of various types and here are the results. Actually this weapon is relatively flexible especially for those of us who handload.

Winchester factory load>

Load Bullet Velocity Comment
20 X Green Dot 125 grain X-Ploder 1529 consistent
12 X Herco 185 grain HP 976 fair
Winchester factory 255 grain lead 797 ok
9 X Herco 255 grain Hornady .454 808 fair
7 X Herco 300 grain cast HB 723 mild
7 X Herco 300 grain cast 768 high es
Winchester 1/5oz slug 90 grains 1182 fair

Combo load with both 410 and 45 Colt ammo

We tried some accuracy tests at 7 yards and they all did pretty good giving groups in the 2 to 4” range. That included the 125 grain X-Ploder, 185 grain HP, 250 grain cast and the 300 grain HB. However when we moved back to 25 yards accuracy went to pot. All of the bullets showed signs of keyholing except the 300 grain. It showed fairly decent accuracy. Careful shooting will produce groups in the 3 to 4” range with the 300 grain at 25 yards. That was something I expected. So if you want decent accuracy at longer ranges the 458 diameter rifle bullets seem the way to go. Also Hornady makes a soft lead bullet at 454 in diameter that seems to work ok. It is intended for the black powder Colts but can be used for other things as well. Trying the shot capsules showed that they are as effective or more so then the 410 shot shells in spite of the fact that they have about ½ of the amount of shot. The reason is the capsule holds the shot together longer, hence better patterns. At 3 yards both types of shot shells completely penetrated ½’ of drywall and lodged into the plywood board in back of it. That should be effective against an antagonist at close range. We shot some Winchester factory 1/5oz slugs. At 7 yards they were very accurate but at 25 they opened up to such a degree that I wouldn’t use them for longer range self defense. Personally I regard a 410 slug pretty much useless for anything as it lacks serious accuracy or weight. It weighs 90 grains and at 1200 fps it doesn’t impress me. The only thing that shoots well at 25 yards is the oversize bullets. However lets be fair and honest the gun is designed for close range self defense and all loads tested were accurate enough at that range to work. The sights, which are easy to pick up, aren’t conducive to longer range accuracy. They are non adjustable and the front sight, orange fiber optic, is rather large and thick which helps in a social situation. We shot some #3 buck which has 3 balls. At 10 feet anyone who is unfortunate enough to get shot with that will be put down and at 21 feet the buck was still pretty tight. We tried the Winchester which has three copper colored buttons plus 12 pieces of plated bird shot meant especially for the Judge. They gave great performance at both 10 and 21 feet. That might be one of the best loads for the Judge. The 410 loads designed for a handgun generally performed well and would be a good place to start when looking for self defense ammo.

Shooting the Judge

I had several people try the Judge to get different opinions of its handling feel and other features that they may or may not like. For the most part the Judge was well received and one shooter plans on buying one for himself as a result of shooting it. For a close range self defense situation it should do well with the proper ammo. I would recommend it for self defense but would recommend that the buyer tries different types of ammo to see what works best for him or her. Also like any other handgun meant for self defense I recommend that you take it to the range to get well acquainted with its features and handling characteristics. It would be a great hiking gun in snake country and you can carry bullets as defense against coyotes and mountain lions. I will be carrying it for some of my self defense needs in the future. For what it’s designed for I give the Judge a thumbs up.

A few of the types of ammo available for the Judge

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

2010-05-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

http://membership.nrahq.org/default.asp?campaignid=XR022927

SHOT Show 2010

2010-01-25T14:59:00.000-08:00

Brigitta Pumerantz co-owner of Ten X Ammo very helpful
SHOT Show 2010

As always I look forward to attending the largest gun related trade show held. This year it is in Las Vegas at the Sands Center and will be there for at least three more years. Before this year it was at the Convention Center which is in my estimation easier to get in and out. It has been held in other cities as well including last year. Be as it may be the show was so large that it would be very difficult to see everything. They had two very large floors covered with exhibitors plus some in the large hallways. Good legs and roller skates would be helpful neither which I possess. It was pretty crowded at times though the last day wasn’t quite as bad. All of the booth holders stated that they considered the four day event successful. A lot of business was transacted between exhibitors and visitors. Because of the hostility toward guns in Washington business is brisker then normal. The legitimate fear that the government wants to restrict various guns has caused many folks to buy and stock up on guns and ammo. There were over 58,000 attendees present who included dealers, media and other gun related business people. There were thousands of exhibitors present. The show isn’t open to the general public. Like most gun and trade shows there were no incidents as people in the trade are well behaved and polite toward each other. Many of the people who work at the exhibits are very helpful and knowledgeable though near the end of the show they are ready to return home.

Some of the many guns that Criminson Trace has grips for

There are so many new products coming out that it’s impossible to keep up with them all. New guns from all of the makers plus new ammo, calibers and bullets are being constantly introduced. Powder and other reloading equipment are also being updated constantly. Knives and other shooting related accessories are being updated as well. Tactical rifles are the rage of the moment and virtually all of the gun makers have some in their line. Scopes with range finders are starting to come out from a few makers. All of the companies are coming out with new products but due to the boom in the gun business most of them are running 24/7. If I mentioned all of the new products I saw it would be too large for the scope of this report. I hauled about 15 or 20 lbs of catalogs and brochures back home and without a doubt missed a few. The four day show gave us a chance to meet new people in the business as well as catch up with the folks that I know. One of the great things about this show is the nice people you get to meet. The show will return in January 2011 and I plan on being there.

An interesting revolver the Judge shoots both 410 and 45 shells

Media day at the range

On the 18’Th a day before the show opened the press is invited to shoot some of the new guns and ammo that is being introduced. It gives us an opportunity to see what’s new out there. Actually it is one of my favorite parts of the event because not only do you get to shoot guns but meet some nice people from the various companies. The only damper was the weather which was cold and windy with rain during the day however it didn’t stop anyone from enjoying themselves. The SHOT show is one event that everyone who is into the shooting sports should experience at least once but you have to be connected with a gun related business in order to attend. Everyone should join the NRA here is their link http://membership.nrahq.org/default.asp?campaignid=XR022927

Norm shooting reintroduced Steyer AUG 223

The 454 Casull

2009-10-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

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The 454 has some hefty recoil

Freedom Arms 454 Casull
Ever since handguns were invented some 700 years ago we always wanted to make them more powerful and accurate. The problem was technology because until smokeless powder was invented you couldn’t get the high velocities. They had huge handguns during the 19’Th century. The Americans had a 44 Colt Walker and later the 45 Colt. The British has some 577 caliber handguns and the Austrians had an 11 Montenegrin. While they were potent for their day black powder limited the velocity to between 7 and 900 feet per second in most cases. While some of them threw a large chunk of lead range and accuracy was limited. When smokeless powder was invented in 1886 all of that changed.

The freedom Arms 454 with 45 Colt cylinder

The first really powerful handgun came out about 1900 in Great Britain. It was a large semi auto known as the Mars Pistol. It came in various calibers including an 8.5 and 45. The 8.5 achieved a velocity of 1750 fps while the 45 went about 1250. Those were impressive ballistics in their day and still are more then respectable. It was a short lived venture as the gun was ahead of its time. Recoil was reported to be ferocious also. That’s the way it stood until 1935 though there were various experimenters working on other high powered handguns. The 357 magnum came out and was touted as the world’s most powerful handgun at least commercially. In 1955 the 44 magnum knocked it off its perch as the most powerful handgun. However it didn’t get to bask in its glory for long as in 1959 the 454 Casull was announced and production started. The case is a modified 45 Colt made 1/10” longer to prevent it being chambered in a 45 Colt. It also uses a small rifle primer because of the high operating pressures. It has twice the energy of a 44 magnum and put handguns into the super powerful category. Like the 44 magnum the 454 didn’t stay on top of the hill for too many years. The 475 Linebaugh and 444 super mag came along to rival the 454. While not common they have been around for some years. Then S & W came out with the massive 500 and afterward the 460 S & W. The 500 is touted as the world’s most powerful commercial revolver cartridge while the 460 is the fastest. While overshadowed the 454 is still a potent cartridge capable of harvesting anything on four legs given a proper load.

typical targers shot at 100 yards with Casull

Freedom Arms chambers their single action revolver for this cartridge and it is a massive affair out of necessity. They also chamber the 475 Linbaugh and the 500 Wyoming among other calibers and models. It is a 5 shot which enables the cylinder to be made thicker to withstand the operating pressures. Ammo has been made by Hornady, Buffalo Bore, Cor-Bon, and Black Hills. While you can find factory ammo it is expensive and sometimes hard to find. Also most of it has pretty severe recoil which might not be desirable. I have shot some of the factory fodder and it shoots fine but being a reloader and bullet maker I want to include in this review some options for an owner of a Freedom Arms 454. With the cost of ammo skyrocketing a lot of shooters are looking at reloading where in the past it might not of interested them. I want this review help out anyone who has one of these or thinking about buying one to see the many options to enable someone to shoot it a lot. There is no sense of me telling you how good the revolver is if you can’t afford to shoot it or find the ammo. If you plan on taking it hunting then plenty of practice is mandatory which is true of any hunting weapon but especially a handgun.

11 MM Montenegrin an early attempt at a powerful cartridge & the 454

First of all the gun is an extremely high quality product. They use the best steels available and keep the tolerances extremely tight. It reminds me of a top quality safe the way it locks up. My gun came with a 45 Colt cylinder which is an option among other calibers such as the 45 Win Mag. It has the 10” barrel which will enhance velocity though it doesn’t make it any easier to carry. Freedom Arms can install a sling system as an option. It is a single action and has a safety, half cock half cock safety, and the full cock. The half cock allows the cylinder to rotate to load or unload. It operates the same as any other single action. There is a safety transfer bar which will stop it from going off if it is dropped on its hammer. The other difference is you have to remove a screw to take out the cylinder which isn’t a problem. The 4 lb gun is all stainless steel and is attractive. The trigger pull is 3 lbs and breaks cleanly. There is no creep or over travel and in fact it would compare favorably with a high quality rifle trigger. They advise against dry firing stating it may damage the firing pin and they provide snap caps for that. The only downside that I can see is the cost. For a model like mine an 83 with an extra cylinder you will drop about two grand or so. Is it worth it? I think so if you want the ultimate single action serious hunting revolver. One thing for sure is you will never wear out this gun.

From left 500 & 460 S & W 454 Casull, 475 Limbaugh and 445 Super mag

To shoot it with factory fodder is going to set you back some bucks and you might have to check a couple of stores to find it. There is a limited selection of loads also. You can fire 45 Colt and 45 Schofield rounds but if you do I would advise that you use the 45 Colt cylinder for that. If you don’t have one be sure to clean the 454 cylinder very thoroughly prior to shooting 454’s. That is vitally important to avoid chambering and pressure problems. The factory advises against shooting 45 Colts in the 454 Cylinder. I have shot everything from 125 grain home made to a 370 grain LBT bullet. Due to the high quality it is a very accurate gun and we did well at 100 yards. The problem is the recoil with some loads. It is just brutal and no fun to shoot. There is no compensator to absorb the recoil. The tradeoff is a compensator reduces recoil but increases noise. Freedom Arms does offer magna porting to help mitigate the recoil. For their options you can go to www.freedomarms.com to see what models and options they offer. They also have a dealers list to show you where you can buy one. I have shot the 500 S & W with a muzzle break and was thankful for its existence. I shot a verity of bullets through the chronograph and on targets so I got well acquainted with the Freedom Arms revolver. For this review I shot about 500 rounds of 454 (what fun) and a bunch of 45 Colt. You might notice that I mention the recoil on several occasions. This is a specialized hunting cartridge and it is more then adequate for the job but it’s not your fathers 38. It is like the 500 horsepower Corvette while it will perform is more costly then a Malibu. If you can handle a 44 magnum with full loads then you can probably deal with this gun ok. Here are some loads you can use in the Casull. Approach max loads with caution.

LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
22 X 231 125 grain X/PLODER 2359 good load
19.5 X Red Dot 25 grain X/PLODER 2249 accurate
20 X Red Dot 155 grain X/PLODER 2162 consistent
20 X Unique 200 grain Speer 1859 mild
19 X Green Dot 200 grain Barnes 1854 nice*
36 X 296 230 grain 1730 deer load
26 X 2400 250 grain Barnes 1548 consistent
26 X 2400 250 grain Hornady 1484 consistent
34 X 296 250 grain Hornady 1646 mild
32 X 2400 250 grain Hornady 1939 near max
31 X 296 300 grain Hornady 1720 stout
26 X 5744 300 grain Hornady 1557 mild
30 X H 110 310 grain home made 1665 hunting load
27 X H 110 350 grain home made 1603 ouch
26.5 X 296 360 grain gas check 1499 consistent
* used 45 Colt cases as bullet was too long for Casull cases.

bench rest shooting makes it easier to shoot accurately

The 125’s went out at 2350 fps and are good for pests and varmints. I pushed the 250’s out to close to 1900 and the 300 Sierras www.sierrabullets.com over 1700. At those velocities while accurate they aren’t a lot of fun to shoot. The nice thing about the 454 is you can load them down and still have a potent load. I have a 350 grain jacketed bullet that I make and at 1600 fps and change it’s brutal but it will take down a grizzly bear. I obtained and shot some LBT 370 grain gas check slugs. With a stiff load it clocks over 1500 fps. My first thought was if T-Rex ever comes back he is in trouble. Good Grief! That Kicks! Unless I go somewhere where the critters stomp and eat you and weigh over a half ton I won’t be shooting them anytime soon. You don’t have to take that abuse for casual shooting just use 45 Colts and save your hand. You can load a 250 grain in the 45 Colt to 12-1300 feet per second and have a fine deer load in the woods. I was at the range not long ago and a fellow shooter had one with a 2” barrel and was shooting it with Winchester factory loads. His hand looked as red as a lobster and he complained about the pain. He offered to let me have at it which I politely declined. The only way I would shoot that with a full load is if a bear was on top of me. Reduced loads? No problem.

45 Colt and 45 Schofield can be used as light loads in the 454

I had a problem that I wanted a good deer load that would go out to at least a hundred yards, be accurate and not break your wrist. A light bullet in the 200 grain range seemed to be what I was looking for but none of them, I felt would stand up to the task at hand. When loading bullets designed for a 45 auto or Colt be careful because some of them won’t stand up to full 454 loads and may come apart. Then Barnes came out with a 200 grain pointed bullet meant for the 460 S & W. That’s just what I needed to solve my dilemma. I obtained some and quickly found out that loaded in the 454 case they were too long for the cylinder. That’s where the 45 Colt case comes in. I loaded them to 2000 fps and found that they are accurate out to at least 100 yards and recoil wasn’t bad. The Barnes bullet has a well deserved reputation for being deadly on game. I will be taking that on a hunt shortly for whitetail. I loaded some 250 grain Barnes for a hog hunt that I am planning. www.barnesbullets.com For the record I used Starline brass for all my testing with the 45 and 454 because it is a quality product. I use it for many of my tests for that reason. To find out what Starline offers go to www.starlinebrass.com to see their brass line. For those attracted to the idea of having both a rifle and handgun chambered for the same caliber then you are in luck. There is a lever action out there for the 454 a Puma model 92 which at some future date I plan on putting it through its paces.

Nice deer load a 200 grain Barnes in a 45 Colt case

The bottom line is if you want a top notch hunting handgun and don’t mind shelling out the dough then the Freedom Arms revolver is for you.

Blue Lady Resort in Arkansas

2009-08-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

Brian and Margie Roelands are the owners of the Blue Lady Resort

Nestled in the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas next to Lake Norfolk is the Blue Lady Resort. Owned by Brian and Margie Roelands they offer an ideal get away for a family vacation. Although they have only had it for a short period of time their reputation is really taking off after buying the resort in 2005 after moving from California. That, of course, is because they offer great service at reasonable prices. The resort is located just outside of Gamaliel AR and they can be reached at 870-467-5115 or their website www.blueladyresort.com I advise that you book ahead of time as slots fill up rapidly especially during the summer. They have suites of 1-3 bedrooms with all the comforts of home. They have stoves, refrigerators, microwaves and other convenient utilities to cook and clean. A laundry room as well as cable TV is also available. A BBQ grill is available as is wine tasting. They have their own wine cellar and make it themselves carrying on a family tradition. It is a full service resort and can accommodate up to 70 people. Customized trips are available including weddings and receptions. If a corporation wants to entertain clients this is the place to take them.

You can expect clean and comfortable accomodations at Blue Lady

Lake Norfolk is a very large lake 31,000 acres that has quite a few species of fish in case you want to drop in a line. They have some nice bass including Stripers, Large Mouth and Hybrids. Also there is Walleye, Crappie, Catfish, Bream as well as Brook and Brown Trout. There is a guide service and you would do well to utilize it if you want to catch a bunch of fish. Chuck knows where all the fish are and he will ensure your success. I was guided by Chuck and he knows how to find and catch fish! They also have boat rentals both pontoons and bass boats. If you want to take a cruise on the lake with the family then a pontoon is just for you. They are clean and well maintained as is all the equipment and cabins. Also you better bring along your camera as the lake is very scenic especially at sunrise or sunset. Also available is a 15 slip dock and a 10 X 20 fishing platform with pole holders and night lights. A cleaning station is also included. The fishing is a year around activity and the winters are relatively mild so that shouldn’t be a problem. In 2008 Field and Stream rated Lake Norfolk the number 2 fishing spot in the US.

The boathouse and fishing area

If you want to employ a fishing guide I highly recommend Chuck Pate who can be reached at 870-491-5971 or 870-404-9604. He will ensure your success for a memorable trip. I would call ahead of time to make sure he is available. One on one fishing consultations are available and for more fishing info go to http://www.discoverlakenorfork.com/index.html

These are some of the fish we caught in about 3 hours plus we threw some back

If you have kids that you want to bring along you are in luck. They have outdoor activities such as a swing set and bad mitten and volleyball court. A play gym and shuffleboard court is also available. There is room for them to roam about and a couple of friendly pooches to pet. There is also a swimming pool with a covered deck so the parents can watch the kids swim or take a dip themselves. There is also a bunch of board games and movies available if needed. With the nice weather they enjoy I can’t imaging anyone spending a lot of time indoors.

A nice swimming pool to keep the kids happy

Who couldn't fall in love with these two.

Nothing like a nice pontoon boat for a relaxing cruise on the Norfolk Lake

Sunrise on the lake

There are hiking trails with great scenery and plenty of wildlife to observe. Make sure you have your camera at all times as you never know when you get a chance at a great picture. There are scenic roads to travel also. If you need anything then the town of Mountain Home is about 13 miles away. They have everything you might need including a hospital. It would be hard to be bored in such a lovely spot.

A nice view of the lake from the terrece

Guided hunts are available and the area is well populated with deer. Short distances away bear and wild boar can also be hunted as well as small game. You can check ahead for seasons and guide information. If hunting is on the agenda I would recommend that you check out this website. It has all the info on seasons, places to hunt and other info. Of course you can book at the Blue Lady Resort for your hunting trip. They have about 20,000 acres of public land to hunt on http://www.norforklakechamber.com/hunting.htm

If you want a getaway with the family this is the ideal place to rest and relax. You’re out where it’s quiet and there is no crime to worry about. You can take nice pictures of the lake from the terrace as it is higher up. There are plenty of boats and jet skis to watch go up and down the lake. Come on down you won’t be sorry.

For the adults there is wine tasting and it is good

New Products

2009-05-21T09:08:00.000-07:00

Dillon tool head with UniqueTek upgrades including allen screws to hold tool head steadier, light in center and micrometer charge bar.

New Products
In my travels and writings I encounter some worthwhile products that shooters might not be aware of. They might be new companies or just haven’t been able to advertise nationally but have a good product none the less. I will put them on the blog so readers can have an opportunity to buy them. These are products that I have used and know work as advertised. Some I have tested extensively.

Installing micrometer on powder bar

The first company is a new local company that offers some unique products for the Dillon reloaders. They have a micrometer adjustable powder bar where the settings can be recorded and repeated. It also is very consistent in weight variation. They also have a powder baffle that fits inside the powder measure that aids in consistency. Another upgrade is they remove the pins that hold the tool head and tap the holes for their screws. This takes the play out of the head making the ammo more consistent. They provide the materials and easy to follow instructions on installation. We installed the upgrades on one of my Dillon 550’s and it does make it more consistent. It only took a few minutes using common tools and a vice. For match shooters these upgrades are mandatory for more accurate ammo. As any match shooter understands consistent ammo is mandatory in winning matches. Hunters and other shooters can also appreciate better quality ammo. They also carry some other unique tools for the reloader. They have everything from scales to ear protection. Gun cleaners and sights are also included on their site. They have a lot of neat products too numerous to list here. You can get on their E-mail list to keep up with what’s new at their company. I found that the staff is both helpful and pleasant to deal with. Their website is http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/page/45029 The office is located in Chandler Az and if you live in the area you can stop by. The address and directions are on the website. The phone # is 480-507-0866 if you want to call them. Check them out , you won’t be sorry.

550/650 Toolhead Clamp Kit™

Stop The Flopping

The UniqueTek 550/650 Toolhead Clamp Kit™ enables your Dillon 550 and 650 toolheads to be CLAMPED into the press frame. This corrects the loose fit between the toolhead and press frame, thus reducing OAL (overall length) variation and stabilizing die-to-shellplate alignment. Your press frame remains unmodified so you can still use standard toolheads with the original toolhead pins ... and your original Dillon warranty will not be affected.

Advantages
• Eliminates Loose Toolhead-to-Frame Fit
• Reduces OAL Variation*
• Improves Crimp Repeatibility
• Improves Bullet Conentricity from Seating Die
• Reduces Jams at Size/Decap Die

♦ It also reduces vibration and stops toolhead rattling when using the Dillon Rapid Trim Case Trimmer!

Fits the Following Dillon Presses
• XL 650
• RL 550B
• AT 500
• SL 900 (Fits both the powder bar and the shot bar!)
• Any older model press capable of using the currently available 550 or 650 toolheads.

♦ Also fits the powder bar for the Dillon 'Belted Magnum' Powder System!

What Comes in the Kit
The UniqueTek 550/650 Toolhead Clamp Kit™ comes complete with all the parts needed for 2 presses and 6 toolheads in a reclosable plastic bag (toolheads not included). Each kit includes*:
• Installation Tool for threaded inserts
• 9/64" HSS Drill Bit
• STI Thread Tap
• 12 stainless steel thread inserts
• 4 grade-8 alloy steel clamp screws with moly anti-seize coating
• 4 stainess steel washers,
• Hex-key to tighten the clamp screws
• Detailed instructions
* Quantities listed are for small sized kit.

Large Size Kit: $34.95
Due to popular demand, the UniqueTek 550/650 Toolhead Clamp Kit™ is now available in an large size to service more toolheads and/or more presses. The large kit contains 26 inserts, 10 screws and 10 washers ... enough for 13 toolheads and 5 presses ... plus the thread tap, insertion tool and hex key.

Refill Kit: $12.95
We now have a Refill Kit. The kit contains 16 inserts ... enough inserts for 8 more toolheads ... plus 4 spare screws and 6 spare washers. (Available 12/11/07)

Preinstalled Toolheads: 550=$29.95 / 650=$32.95
We also offer new 550 and 650 toolheads with the clamp kit parts pre-installed. Each toolhead comes with a set of clamp screws and washers and is ready for installation of your dies. Just select the toolhead from the drop-down menu when ordering.
NOTE: This option is being discontinued. We are now out of 650 toolheads but have two (2) 550 toolheads remaining in stock.

How it Works
Installation and use is quite simple. You tap threads into the two locator pin holes in the toolhead and install a stainless steel thread insert into each hole. The press frame is NOT modified. When you install the toolhead in the press frame, insert the clamp screws instead of locator pins to hold the toolhead into the frame. Leave the screws loose until you begin cycling the press and have all dies occupied by a round. Then, with the ram still in the up position, tighten the clamp screws. This procedure aligns the toohead to the shellplate, reducing jams. The clamp screws also create a preload force, clamping the toolhead against the top of the press frame, stopping the toolhead from moving during the press cycle and resulting in reduced OAL variation. Once the srews are tightened, just continue reloading as usual.

Q: I only shoot pistol cartridges so OAL variation isn't that critical for me.
A: Let's say you are loading to meet USPSA major power factor. Chamber pressures can rise dramatically if the bullet is seated too deeply (shorter OAL). On the other hand, if your OAL is too long, you can have feed and chambering failures. Either way, it is likely to ruin you day.

Q: I only load cartridges for Cowboy Action shooting. How can this help me?
A: In addition to reduced OAL variation yielding less problems with short action carbines, the light loads commonly used for Cowboy Action shooting require a consistent crip to achieve uniform muzzle velocities. A light crimp will not build as much chamber pressure, resulting in a velocity reduction.

Q: I'm already using a Redding Competition Bullet Seating Die. How will clamping the toolhead improve on that?
A: The Redding Competition Bullet Seating Die is a GREAT product! But it can't perform to its full potential if the toolhead is moving. With the toolhead clamped, you will achieve the full benefit of the seating die's micrometer adjustment capability. In fact, we now carry Redding Competition Bullet Seating Dies in the most popular calibers!

Read reviews of the 550/650 Toolhead Clamp Kit™ in the following publications!
Reloading Vault.com; Product Reviews/Aug 2008. Click Here to Read
IHMSA News; Volume 19, Issue 5, June 2008, Page 8. Click Here to Read
Handloader; February-March 2006, Page 90.

"After switching over to the toolhead clamp I'm finding I went from .004"-.008" of variance to .001"-.002". I measure my variance using a ogive comparator tool to the base of the case." — Steven S. – Boise, ID

"I would say I reduced the OAL variations and the station one jams by half (conservative estimate). Congratulations on another product that needed developing." — James O. – Reno, NV

Tap Handle $5.00
This nifty "tap handle" is actually a key for winding a clock, but it is the perfect size to fit the small thread tap in our kits. It is smaller and less cumbersome to use than a standard tap handle, making it easier to align the tap squarely with the hole and making tap breakage less likely.

We offer these as an option with both the small kit and large kit. If you already have a Toolhead Clamp Kit™, you can buy just the tap handle. Just select it from the drop-down menu.

*Reduction in OAL variation can be highly dependent on cartridge, bullet and other factors.

Select Kit Size
To select the Large Kit, Refill Kit, add the Tap Handle or order complete toolheads, click on the drop-down menu below.
Standard Kit ($24.95)Standard Kit w Tap Handle [$29.95]Large Kit [$34.95]Large Kit w Tap Handle [$39.95]Tap Handle Only [$5.00]Refill Kit [$12.95]550 Toolhead [$29.95]

Features

Grade 8 Alloy Steel Clamp Bolts with Dry-Film Moly Anti-Seize Coating
Stainless Steel Thread Inserts
Fits Dillon 550 and 650 Toolheads
Can be Installed on Toolheads Already Set Up with Dies
Press Frame is NOT Modified & your Dillon Warranty will NOT be affected
Unmodified Toolheads Can Still Be Used with Original Toolhead Pins

Finished powder bar

Step in installing screws in toolhead

Clock Handle and tap for threading screw holes in Dillon head

SensGard hearing protecton

At the 2008 SHOT show I met Greg Post from Sensgard hearing protecton products. His are light and compact so I wanted to try them out. I have been using them exclusively for over a year and they work very well. They are compact and comfortable and don't sweat like muffs do. I stood just a few feet from a 50 caliber rifle (50 BMG) and they worked well on that. I would suggest you give them a try. For more info ph# 585-218-4086 or www.sensgard.com

They work for me

Anyone who has skinned large game understands the importance of a quality knife. I has to stay sharp during the entire operation or you are in for a long day. It has to be sharp and maintain that edge. Such a knife is made by the Case company who have been around a long time because they make good products. You can see their extensive line at http://www.casexx.com/?gclid=CMWVkJqan5wCFRFWagodqHF0dw

Any freedom lovimg person should join the NRA here is their website address to join
http://membership.nrahq.org/default.asp?campaignid=XR022927

Bird Hunting in Arizona

2009-05-03T16:25:00.000-07:00

Nice lodge to conduct business. has all kinds of trophys
Bird Hunting in Arizona

Birds hunted at this preserve are quail, pheasant & chukar. While quail hunting is popular in AZ pheasants are few and far in between so this is one of the very few places to hunt them. The season for pheasants, chukar and quail is October through March when the weather is bearable. Most of the rest of the year is too hot to hunt. The area is only 1400 feet above sea level so temperatures can go well above 110 degrees during the summer.

Quail being shot with Lanber fuled with Blackhorn 209

There is no lodging or meals provided but there are hookups for motor homes and hotels and restaurants are available in Casa Grande or Coolidge. Both cities are a short distance from the lodge with well marked roads. Casa Grande has hotels such as the Holliday Inn, Best Western and Comfort Inn. There are over 650 rooms available in those and other hotels there. There are plenty of restaurants such as the Cracker Barrel, Olive Garden and the Golden Corral as well as
local and fast food places. Coolidge is smaller but has a few diners on their main street. There is also an airport if you want to fly in by plane.

A good dog is a joy to have on a quail hunt

You can take your dogs or use theirs. Both Bob Henson and Arlette Hennesy are top notch dog trainers who have won many field trials. They can board and train your dogs as one of their services.

Tony sure has some well trained dogs

You need to call ahead to make arrangements for training or prior to the hunt. They also have an experienced staff that can answer questions or help out in making your hunt more enjoyable.It is a private club however anyone can hunt there by calling ahead and arranging to pay the necessary fees and getting on the hunting schedule. There are memberships available or 1 day hunts. The memberships range from Associate to VIP with prices ranging from $200 to $3150 a year per the last information they put out. Sporting clay shooting is also available with a 1 day reservation ahead. I don’t want to quote any one day prices in case of changes but a phone call will determine that.

On point!!!!

He has about 8,000 acres available for hunting which is more then ample for any bird hunting.The area is either desert or fields such as alfalfa. There are very few trees but a lot of scrub brush that the birds use. The land is very flat and this makes for easy walking a feature I can appreciate. You should expect to do some amount of walking and blaze orange is required. Be sure to have some good broke in walking shoes for best comfort. High boots are not necessary
as the land is water free. During the winter months the weather is usually very pleasant with temperatures from the 50’s to the 70’s. There is a possibility of rain and windy conditions during the winter months so bringing along some rain gear might not be a bad idea. The fall and spring temperatures can be warmer up to the 90’s so be prepared to dress accordingly. During the warmer weather I would advise to carry some drinking water with you as dehydration can be a concern. I went quail hunting with a good friend of mine who is a member. It was an enjoyable experience that I plan on repeating.

Typical desert quail country

The Lanber O/U 12-gauge I was carrying is light and acquires the target very well which is a help with fast flying quail. The Lanber proved to be a reliable shotgun that everyone who shot it liked it. A light well balanced shotgun is much easier then a heavy one for the amount of walking you might do. The Lanber is such a gun.
Tony’s dogs were great and I was able to get some pictures as well as some quail. All in all an enjoyable hunting experience which I intend to repeat.

Tony with Lanber and dog

Desert Pheasant recreation has been in business for 20 years and has a good reputation. They also have big game hunting available in Texas for exotics and whitetail and Ohio for deer so if you are interested call for info. As with any hunting situation I would advise calling ahead of time with any questions so there isn’t any misunderstandings and you will have a more enjoyable hunt. That is true with any hunting lodge.

Bringing back the bird

The land is flat desert and is easy walking. The hunting is on the easy side and the dogs have plenty of room to run. If you would like to try a different type of hunting then this south west excursion might be just what you are looking for. It is not at all like hunting birds in the eastern states where there are trees and lots of undercover. Shot size is regulated to 7 & ½ or smaller.
Based on my experience I would recommend it and I have a pheasant hunt planned for the near future. Since I live about 45 miles away I will be going back as often as I can.

They have some rules so you need to call or e-mail prior to showing up.

Contact info is Bob Henson the owner who you can call at 520-723-7234 or 520-709-1019 or e-

mail pheasantrec@earthlink.net for further info and fees. The snail mail address is Desert

Pheasant Recreation 774 N Wheeler Rd Coolidge AZ 85228-9313.

Bob Shell
Tony sure likes that Lanber

Lanber O/U Shotgun

2009-03-08T15:02:00.001-07:00

That bird is in trouble compliments of a Lanber

The Lanber Shotgun
I received a Lanber model 2077 for evaluation from Jim Meuse product specialists. It is an O/U 12 gauge with 3” chambers. The first impression is that it is well balanced and light. The barrels are 24” which is plenty. Contrary to the old wives tales you don’t need a long barrel to reach out and touch. Your powder is usually burned in the first 20 to 24” and the choke determines how dense the pattern will be not the barrel length. Wood to metal fitting was good and it is a handsome gun to look at. There is some figure on my forearm though the stock is fairly plain though there is checkering on both pieces of wood. It comes with various screw in chokes from improved to full plus a tool to replace them. They are marked with the notches which indicate the degree of choke. The helpful manual that comes with it will help out in identifying which choke tube is which, plus plenty of safety and other info. It has a raised vent rib but it isn’t excessively high. It comes in a sturdy gun case that holds everything once the gun is taken down. That chore is very simple much like most other O/U shotguns. To me it is a no nonsense hunting gun that is handsome without being gaudy. One shooter described it as pretty without being girly pretty. The single trigger is gold plated which I don’t care for. While a minor observation I would have preferred a blue trigger but I am old fashioned I guess. The bluing on the barrels was well done and even and I didn’t see any tool marks when I disassembled the gun. Apparently the craftsmen who make these guns take pride in their work and it shows. The high resolution front sight makes acquiring a target very easy. The guns are made in Spain but the corporate office is in Westfield MA US phone number is 800-545-6952 if you want to give them a call.

My good friend Tony Bua shooting the Lanber

The proof in the pudding is in the shooting. Initial shooting showed it to come up quick and point well. The balance is as good as it gets which is a big plus for carrying or shooting. We took it to South Dakota for the pheasant season. Since there are many places to go and birds I knew that it would get a workout. Several hunters of varying sizes from short and stocky to tall and lanky all tried it and they stated that the gun was comfortable to them. No one had any difficulty hitting birds per their ability.

Lanber in sturdy carrying case

There were no malfunctions of any kind during the testing. It was shot quite a few times with varying loads and brands of ammo. I even tried a powder meant for inline rifles called Blackhorn 209. I wanted to see if I could get it to work in a shotgun well enough to work it and knock down a quail. It did on both counts. The quail being shot in the picture was a victim of 209 powders. The ejectors are frisky sending the empties about 10 to 12 feet from the gun. The selector is located on the safety and is easy to use as is the safety. The only objection to the gun was it kicks with heavy and 3” loads. That is a function of its light weight a feature I value. If you only shoot a few of the heavy loads there shouldn’t be a problem with the recoil. The recoil pad helps and I am not that sensitive to recoil so it doesn’t bother me as much as some other shooters.

Lanber in sturdy carrying case

We took it on a quail hunt at Desert Pheasant Recreation in Coolidge AZ. The land is flat and requires a lot of walking which is somewhat difficult to me as my legs are not what they used to be. The light weight of the Lanber was really appreciated by me. You would be surprised what a LB or so difference can make during a hunt requiring a lot of walking. I have several shotguns but for walking the Lanber gets the nod every time due to its weight and balance.

Reciever of the Lanber

I haven’t tried shotgun slugs but with the open chokes I don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t work. It is good for trap and skeet shooting because you can change the choke inserts very easily to suit the need. At a later date I will run a few slugs through it though the recoil will be frisky. I have other shotguns for slugs but it will be interesting to try it. The loads I tried pattern well though some better then others which is true of any shotgun. It hits where you point it and you shouldn’t have a problem hitting birds once you get use to it as every gun shoots differently for each shooter. Of course your ability will determine how well you do also.

Choke tube kit

The market is flooded with some nice O/U’s so anyone for an O/U would do well to look at the various Lanber offerings. My model is a mid price in the $1200.00 range and if you are going to spend that much on a shotgun then I would strongly recommend a serious look at this model. They have been around for around 20 years or so and have a good reputation. I have talked to other Lanber owners and they have positive things to say about them. If you buy one I don’t believe you will ever be sorry for that purchase. They produce various semi-auto and competition shotguns at different price ranges. They have an informative website http://www.lanberusa.com/ which provides a lot of helpful info and tips.

checkering

Bob Shell

Teaching a Senior Citizen How To Shoot

2009-02-28T15:09:00.000-08:00

Boy is she proud of this!!! Teaching a Senior Citizen to Shoot

Through out quite a number of years I have taught a lot of people basic handgun shooting. Most of them were in their 20’s or 30’s and have good hand to eye coordination which makes the job of instructing them relatively simple. As a rule they learn rapidly and progress to decent to good shots in a relatively short period of time. Some went on to become really good shots. I worked at a prison and everyone had to qualify in order to maintain employment and I worked with them on this endeavor.

Intruders are in for it

A new and interesting challenge came my way when an 80 year old woman wanted to learn to shoot a handgun for home defense as she lives alone. While she is pretty healthy for her age there were some problems not encountered with younger shooters. I found out that you have to deal with diminished coordination and eyesight among other situations. Like everything I do I regarded it as a challenge rather then a problem. When working with an 80 year old person you have to remember that they move slower, have less strength and coordination plus are sometimes forgetful. Once you understand the limitations you can successfully teach them to shoot well enough to defend them selves in case of a break in by an intruder. Since most intruders are much younger and stronger then a senior the handgun tends to level the playing field.

A S & W model 15 ideal for beginners

Like any new shooter I always use a double action revolver in a 38 special caliber. While there is nothing wrong with a semi auto pistol it does take more training to safely master it. A 38 has several advantages including ammo supply and is economical to shoot especially with lead bullet handloads. The gun that we are using for these lessons is a S & W model 15 with a 4” barrel. It is a good compromise between weight and controllability for this individual to handle. We tried several other handguns but she felt more comfortable with this one. Feel and weight are very important factors when teaching an 80 year old to shoot. Self confidence has to be built up and maintained through out the lessons.

Shooting is about fun!!

Before we did any shooting we went over the various aspects of shooting especially safety. She was instructed in how to load & unload the gun and where to point it at all times. Safety was repeatedly emphasized. We went over stance, sight alignment trigger control and other aspects of shooting successfully. Dry firing was done to give her a chance to get the feel and to allow me to tweak her habits. This was done to an extent as she needed this more then a younger shooter. Because of hand strength limitations we shot two handed most of the time. She also had some issues shooting double action though we are improving on that to an extent. We spent a lot of time dry firing and operating the gun before we shot live ammo. This was necessary and beneficial to her and anyone teaching a senior will do well to remember that they have limitations that the rest of us might not have. Patience is a virtue in this exercise. She dry fires at night which helps with trigger control and hand strength. We also went over some of the other do’s and don’ts such as never allow an intruder to get closer that about 12 feet away and if he attempts to get closer shoot him and other tactical things to do though I tried to keep it as simple as possible.

Wearing Sensgard hearing protection

The day came when we went out with live ammo. I used a b-27 target at 7 yards. Right off she had trouble seeing the X ring with all the rest of the black on the target so I pasted a white piece of paper over it to help her focus on the target better. I use a 158 grain semi wadcutter loaded to 800-850 feet per second. This load produces some recoil but not enough to bother her. You might have to adjust that load for someone else. Anyway it is fairly close to a good home defense load. We worked at 7 yards because it isn’t too difficult and is usually the longest distance you will likely have to defend your home at. Again you might have to adjust the distance and target type to suit your trainee.

We started shooting and as expected she didn’t start off real well but she never shot a revolver before so it was a new experience on top of everything. I went over her stance, trigger control, sight alignment and other things like positive thinking. Never underestimate attitude and confidence as without them it will be impossible to be successful in training any new shooter. The prevailing opinion among new handgun shooters is that it very difficult learning to shoot a handgun well so you have to work on that as well as the physical stuff. We got her confidence up and after a couple of range sessions she started to show real improvement. Also a bell went off. She realized that shooting is fun! That happens a lot doesn’t it? She has arrived at the point where she can hit the white all 6 shots and expects to do it all the time. It took a few sessions but we are successful in what we wanted to achieve. If she misses it then she gets mad at herself because she realizes that she is capable of doing that feat of marksmanship. While she will never be an expert in the common way of describing one she is confident of her ability and an intruder breaking in is in for a nasty surprise.
Bob Shell

Discussion of Pressures

2009-02-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

A sure sign of a dangerous overload

Double barrel blown up by overload

A Discussion on Pressure

Some people think that all pressure in a gun is bad. Nothing can be further from the truth because without pressure the bullet wouldn’t exit the muzzle. When a gun is fired the primer ignites the powder which turns into gas. That process pushes the bullet out the end of the barrel as that is usually the point of least resistance. When the proper amount and type of powder are employed the gun goes bang and you hit your target without any problems. Or at least the gun goes off ok.

Muzzle loader blown up due to bullet 1" away from powder

What then is the proper amount and type of powder? That would depend on the age and strength of the firearm. A good example of a cartridge to look at is the 45-70. It came out in 1873 as a black powder round in the Trapdoor Springfield and has been loaded in almost any style of rifle ever since. It is more popular today and deservedly so. The Trapdoor while a quality rifle for its time is limited to loads producing pressures of 25,000 lbs. The design and metal technology of the day won’t allow much more then that without coming apart. However there are modern guns that will take twice that pressure without a whimper. The Ruger # 1 and the Siamese Mauser are two that come to mind. With full loads they are junior 458 magnums but if you shoot those loads in the Trapdoor it will certainly destroy it and probably injure the shooter. The Marlin is also a strong rifle capable of heavy loads but the limiting factor may be how much recoil you are willing to accept. If you are in doubt as to the strength of your rifle check with a qualified gunsmith or the manufacturer to ascertain what ammo is safe to use.

Bullet stuck in revolver can destroy it

Another old wives tale is that the 308 Winchester will equal the 30-06 in power. In your dreams! It started with the original 30-06 load which was a 150 grain bullet at 2700 feet per second. In the 06 that is mild while the 308 can achieve that velocity it does so at a higher pressure. In reality the 308, which is a fine cartridge, can achieve 2700 of so with a 150 grain bullet without excessive pressures. The 30-06 can go over 3000 with careful load development without a problem. I did some experiments with a 308 with a 24” barrel and achieved 2900 plus with the 150 but it was a load that I would not use or recommend as it had definite signs of excess pressure. A good friend of mind achieved the same results with his rifle using a different powder and like mine had excessive pressures. With 180 grain and heavier bullets there is even more of a difference between the 308 and the 30-06. My point is if you have a 308 don’t try and make it a 30-06. And if you have a 30-06 don’t try and make it a 300 magnum.

300 magnum showin overloaded case

What then is excess pressure? Some things are obvious such as damaged gun or a blown case. There are less obvious signs but they should be observed and dealt with. While this primarily deals with handloads factory ammo can occasionally be included. If you have sticky extraction that can be an indication of a hot load but not necessarily true. The other possibilities are a rough chamber or bad brass both is unlikely with a new gun and good brass. If I have sticky extraction with a handload that I think is normal I will check & clean the chamber and fire some factory or light loads in it to see if the problem persists. I did have one gun with rough chambers it was a S & W 38 and even with wad cutter loads the empties were difficult to extract. Polishing the chambers cured that problem. If the problem persists I will either reduce the powder load or change the powder altogether. I have a 270 that doesn’t like IMR 4350 for some reason. Even with moderate loads it shows signs of pressure but if I switch to H-4831 it becomes a different rifle all together using a 130 grain bullet in both loads. If you are shooting an old gun with the proper loads and you have hard extraction check for bulges in the case. That is fairly common and you shouldn’t continue to shoot it because a case might rupture. I am assuming that you are using good quality brass. As I am writing this I have a 22 Savage Hi Power that has a chamber so bad that the cases do rupture. The cure for that is to set the barrel back and rechamber which will be done prior to shooting it any more. Other signs to look for are shiny ejector marks on the cases or creatured primers. The primer thing is problematical because some primers have soft cups and may show that with normal loads. Also a sharp firing pin can cause that. If you have fired the cases once or twice and the primer pocket is loose that is probably an indication of hot loads. Soft brass can cause that though with modern cases that’s unlikely. If you blow the primer out of the case that is a very good time to stop and evaluate what you are doing. That is a good sign that you are way over the line and should disassemble the loads rather then shoot them. Shooting overloads in a gun is like speeding all the time in your car. Both will accelerate wear and shorten the useful life of the implement. Most modern guns have some protections in case your ammo ruptures. They have provisions to route the harmful gas away from your face in the event of a case failure. However you should not rely on that entirely but use common sense in reloading and wear safety glasses when shooting.
Another cause of high pressure is shooting a gun with an object such as a bullet or wad lodged in the barrel. Engaging in such activity is the height of stupidly. If there is any possibility of something lodged in your barrel STOP and check it out before shooting again. A wad in a shotgun barrel will destroy it and injure anyone who might be unfortunate enough to be standing alongside it. If you are shooting and the round sounds or feels funny there is a reason and you should check it out. A bullet lodged in a rifle or handgun barrel will at the least leave a bulge and can destroy the weapon. It has happened where a bore sighter has been left in the barrel and a round shot. That will generally destroy the barrel and injure the shooter and spectators. I have seen that happen with bullets lodged so I know it can happen.
A good way to destroy a gun is to shoot the wrong ammo in it. If you shoot an 8 X 57 Mauser round in a 30-06 your day will quickly go downhill from there. First of all you have a partially unsupported case and you are shooting a 32 caliber bullet down a 30 caliber barrel. You always need to make sure you are shooting the proper ammo to avoid such unfortunate accidents.

Pay attention to labels to avoid a tragic mistake

What affects pressures? First of all it would be the powder. If you are using a correct powder but put in a grain or two too much it might show pressure signs but probably won’t hurt the gun. The real problem is if you use the wrong powder. For instance if you were supposed to use Hodgens 1000 and picked up Hodgens 110 instead that could be a major disaster in the making. The 1000 is for magnum rifles while the 110 is a magnum pistol powder. The labels look similar and if you aren’t paying attention you could pick up the wrong can. Another thing is if you are using loads that are maximum or a bit above any small change of components will cause a change in how your ammo behaves. If you change primer or bullet brands that can have a negative affect on your ammo. Changing case brands or even a rise in temperature can spike your pressures above where you might want them. If you reduce your loads just a bit these things probably won’t change your ammo as much. Another benefit in cutting back just a bit is your rifle will probably be more accurate and it will certainly last longer. If you do change components be sure to check your rifle for accuracy and point of impact. Make no mistake about it changing components can change your group size and your zero setting.

2 bullets same weight & caliber but can produce different pressures

Don’t labor under the impression that case separation is a result of pressure. It is caused by excess headspace. Either the gun itself is at fault or your loading technique. It is easy to have the gun checked and if it is ok then reevaluate your loading procedures. You may be pushing the shoulder back each time you size the case and that in itself will produce excess headspace. To fix that just back off the sizing die and set it to where the case will chamber ok but not any more. If you have excess headspace high pressure will aggravate it but not cause it. Normally a case that separates due to headspace isn’t dangerous but will certainly cause you a problem as the front of the case will stay in the chamber. If you just shot and wounded a bear that could be a serious problem. To get it out you can insert an empty case in the chamber via the bolt and close it somewhat to put pressure on the bad case. Then just extract as normal and both cases should come out ok.
Bob Shell

A sure sign of a dangerous overload

Handicaped Hunters

2009-01-20T08:49:00.000-08:00

There are organizations out there who can help a handicaped hunter or shooter enjoy the sport they love. Pictures of people in wheel chairs harvesting game should inspire anyone who wants to hunt or fish can do so with a little help.

http://www.afarcry.info/ Here is a site to check and also
www.outdoorswithoutlimits.com

These are just a few pictures showing what a determined person can do to overcome a handicap. Check with those great organizations for more information.
Bob Shell

African Hunting

2008-12-17T09:53:00.003-08:00

At some point in our lives we all dream of going to Africa for a once in a lifetime hunt. Unfortunately it has been too expensive for most of us to take that trek. However here is an outfit that will make it financually possible for that dream hunt. They are nice people and will do what ever they can to make it happen for you. You can contact them at the info provided below if you have any questions.

Tall Grass Safaris is a small new safari company based in South Africa and specializing in comfortable South African plains-game safari’s and tours as well as Zimbabwe dangerous game.

The business is currently steered by Dr. Peter Harris – a veteran of 26 years in the safari industry, his son Dirk, brother-in-law Tom and Frans Gresse, a friend of 30 years with great hunting and administrative skills.

The focus of Tall Grass Safaris would be to allow the serious hunter and the family man with kids the opportunity to get to know the South African environment , its people, cultures, traditions, food and wine while at the same time experiencing the fun of hunting in Africa. TG offers a balanced approach to the hunting experience allowing the client and his family/friends time to enjoy the experience while being put in areas where the is abundant game and scenic splendour. We offer exposure to the preparation of traditional SA meals such as koeksister, pofadder, malva , biltong, wine, and activities such as trophy prep & meats processing (biltong, skinning etc) as part of the fun.

We will be in the United States during January and February 2009 and where possible will meet with interested parties – an itinerary of places we intend to visit will be e-mailed to our newsletter subscribers and also posted on our website.

I have also attached a map of South Africa indicating our main hunting areas – if you’d like a little more information on each area – I’ll send it your way. (Think I’m gonna include it in our next newsletter.)

Please let me know if there is anything else.

Kind regards

Dirk Harris

Telephone:

+27 (0) 82 394 3280 – Dirk

+27 (0) 82 562 6951 – Tom

+27 (0) 82 566 7300 - Peter

+27 (0) 83 457 7892 - Frans

Fax: + 27 (0) 86 663 4932

E-mail: mailto:info@tallgrasssafaris.com

Web: http://www.tallgrasssafaris.com/

Watch our video on YouTube!

Bob Shell

Weatherby Vanguard 30-06

2008-11-20T07:47:00.000-08:00

Shooting the Vanguard with Sensgard Hearing

The Weatherby Vanguard

At my request I received a Weatherby Vanguard rifle in the 30-06 caliber which I consider the best all around caliber baring none. The Vanguard comes in a verity of calibers from the 204 to the 338 Win magnum so there is something for everyone. They offer it in the 300 Win & Weatherby mags as well as the 7mm Remington mag all which are proven hunting rounds. The 7 mm 08 and one of my all time favorites the 22-250 are also on the list. There are 120 caliber/model combinations from $399 to $931 advertised prices so you would have a hard time not finding something to suit your needs. They offer stainless versions, youth models, varmint and SUB MOA models. Of course some of them will go over the $399 price tag. You can hunt anything from groundhogs to large bear with the wide caliber selection. As an example the 338 is great for anything that walks in North America and much of Africa. Recently at a writers’ conference I shot one in the 257 Weatherby mag which while impressed me that caliber is somewhat specialized and factory ammo would be very pricey. I wanted a caliber for the average hunter to relate to. If I want a good long range antelope rifle the 257 would get serious consideration. A good friend of mine uses the 257 on antelope and really likes it as he has tagged a couple at 400 yards or so. I chose the 30-06 because of its effectiveness and ammo availability and pricing. With the cost of everything going up I want to show hunters a good low price rifle and a practical caliber for them to use. For a one rifle hunter the 30-06 is the best all around caliber in my view. At an advertised price of $399.00 it would be affordable to almost any one wanting to buy a quality rifle.

Bushnell camera mounted on Redfield scope

It came with the black synthetic stock which I consider more practical for hunting then wood. While wood looks better it is subject to the elements. It might swell during a rain storm which would change the -0- plus it can be scratched or broken during a fall. Without much doubt the synthetic stock helps keep the price down. The barrel is nicely blued but not shiny which is a plus. Any glint spotted by a deer will spook them to the next county. A factory target came with it showing a 3 shot group at 100 yards a little less then an inch. They used a 150 grain bullet but there were no other specifications. They are the only rifle in that price range that provides a target as far as I know. There is a lot of competition out there for low price rifles and any little thing that can be provided might give one brand a leg up on another. I have shot several brands and for the most part they are well made and provide good value for the dollar. It might be one feature that one has over another that might sway the buyer. A factory target is a novel and appreciated feature in my view as you know that you are getting an accurate rifle. There are no sights provided which isn’t a problem since everyone uses a scope these days. Not a big deal but I feel that they could provide scope bases with the rifle. The owners manual and trigger lock came with it as is the usual case. The barrel is 22” which is adequate for the 30-06 though the magnums should have a 24” for best results.

Trigger assembly on Vanguard

The bolt head has 2 large locking lugs with visible gas escape ports in the unlikely event of a case rupture. It gives you confidence that you are shooting a strong and safe rifle that has the ability to protect you in the event of an ammo mishap. That doesn’t mean that you go crazy on the loading bench. It has a plunger ejector and a good looking extractor. It has a magazine release enabling the shooter to drop ammo through the bottom. While some might like that feature I don’t consider it a big deal but that is my personal thought. It is a bit hard to open which is a plus because if it was easy it might dump your ammo out at an inopportune time. The safety is a two position type and the S & F are very prominently marked which is a very good feature. The trigger on my sample was a joy breaking like glass and set at 2 & ¾ lbs. Such a good trigger enables you to shoot good groups per the rifles ability. I did not attempt to adjust it as that wasn’t a necessary task. I took the rifle apart and didn’t see any tool or rough marks that would indicate poor quality control. Everything fit well and looked like it belonged there. The rifle weighs about 8 lbs before mounting the scope. For me that is a bit heavy for carrying as my running gear isn’t the best weighing 8 & 1/2 lbs with scope. For bench rest shooting and out of a blind that extra weight would come in handy. That is a good reason to buy an extra rifle. You need one for carrying weighing around 6 & ½ lbs and a heavier one for shooting out of a blind or bench rest shooting. Believe me 2 lbs makes a difference at least to me. At the Vanguard prices you can probably afford two. To look at all the available calibers and options just go to the Weatherby website.

TRI?CORS & 165 grain Sierras

The Weatherby brand has been around since 1945 and they wisely the brought out the Vanguard about 20 years ago. As a note I had one in wood about 10 years ago and it was a beauty. Some hunters just don’t have nor want to spend a lot of money on a fancy rifle. The Mark V and it variations have a lot of shine and glitz but that doesn’t appeal to a lot of hunters including me. I have shot them and if you like them then you can’t go wrong with one. They do shoot well and are chambered in cartridges that can take a T-Rex. The low cost quality rifle isn’t a new idea. Remington came out with the 721 and 722 many years ago and dollar for dollar they were one of the best. I have a couple and they are great shooters despite their plain looks. Who can forget the 788? Weatherby brought out their version and it is a worthwhile addition to any hunters’ rifle collection.

Factory target shot with 150 grain load

I mounted a Redfield 3 X 9 Tracker with Redfield bases and rings which I had on hand. Shooting it at a hundred yards revealed that it likes some bullets better then others. Anybody that has any experience shooting rifles has observed that phenomenon. It is very rare that a rifle will shoot everything the same which shows that you have to work up the load for your particular rifle. If you don’t reload then you might have to try several brands and types to get the desired results. The Remington 180’s were the most accurate grouping just under an inch on average. The 185 grain Tri/Cors and the 125’s were close seconds averaging just around an inch. Surprisingly the Sierra 165 grain Game Kings were the least accurate in this test averaging around 1 & ¾”. I shot quite a few loads and most went from about ¾” to 2” groups depending on load. The factory provides a target in this instance showing a good group with 150 grain bullets. There are so many bullets and loads out there for the 30-06 that I have no doubt those groups can be shrunk a little with this rifle with some load development. Without a doubt some commercial loads will do as well. Keep in mind most rifles including this one will outshoot their owners especially from a hunting position. Most of these groups are good enough to anchor an animal at 300 yards or so, keeping in mind that most animals are shot within 200 yards or less. Shooting this rifle off the bench was a pleasure because of the weight recoil was mild. The good trigger pull helped also. I did notice that you had to be careful how you put them in the magazine to get reliable feeding. They had to be put in just right or sometimes two would come out instead of one. With more load development I plan on checking that out some more in case I was doing something. I will take this rifle on future deer hunts where I don’t have to carry it very far as it is a quality product. For someone contemplating buying a low cost quality rifle I would suggest that you give this one serious consideration.

Bolt Head Showing Locking lugs

Bob Shell

Trick Loads for Shotguns

2008-10-19T13:12:00.001-07:00

Shooting black powder in the destert

Trick Loads for Shotguns

Making trick and unusual loads for shotguns isn’t as easy as it seems. There are several criteria that you have to keep in mind. First of all safety has to be observed as in all reloading. Shotguns have thinner barrels and breeches then rifles so they won’t take as much pressure. Shotguns in one respect have some versatility but there are limits. You won’t be able to make a load that would perform at 300 yards for a couple of reasons. Shot simply won’t carry that far effectively because it’s too light and spreads too far. Slugs would drop too much to warrant serious consideration for long distance shooting. Because of the diameter of the 12 gauge a slug would have to weigh several ounces and be launched at quite a bit of velocity to be effective at long range. Such a projectile would produce horrendous recoil and I for one wouldn’t do that to my shoulder. Then you have to decide what use the load will have if any. Is there something it can be used for or are you trying to impress your shooting buddies. The latter is ok as long as it is done in a safe and responsible way.

3 balls at 10 yards

I can remember talking to quite a few people who claimed that they got shot with rock salt at one time or another. They were usually doing something on a farmer’s land that they weren’t supposed to be doing. Anyway they claimed that it left some welts or penetrated in a couple of instances. I got curious because I never saw commercial rock salt loads for sale. I was told that the farmers dumped out the shot and substituted the rock salt before recrimping the shell. I doubt that for a couple of reasons. When a shotgun shell is made the powder charge is adjusted for the amount of shot loaded in order to give the best results. Rock salt is much lighter then shot so with a substitution the powder won’t burn correctly meaning the salt won’t have enough velocity to harm anyone. As with working up any load the powder charge has to be adjusted to the weight of the projectiles to get satisfactory results. The only way that I made it work ok was to use an Active brand shell because they have a lot of volume and put a cut down wad tightly against 15 grains of Red Dot or Bullseye. You may want to adjust the powder charge a bit to meet your needs. You can substitute any hull that doesn’t have inside wadding or use a 3 or 3 & ½’ casing. Pack the rock salt in tightly and use a good crimp and you should be in business. A good load will penetrate both sides of a cardboard box at 15 feet with the bigger pellets. I have done some pattern tests and at 5 yards it has a pretty dense pattern while at 10 yards it scatters quite a bit. Much past that it’s useless and at 25 yards forget it. Once you have them then you have to figure out what they are good for. I would not use them for home defense because they are not lethal in most cases. You can injure someone and possible discourage them from any wrongdoing but the problem is they will be back with their lawyer. If you put their eye out they will own everything you have in this litigious society where the rights of criminals are put above yours. If you have a neighborhood dog getting into your trash and you don’t want to kill him then this may be your answer. A dose of rock salt should discourage most animals from trespassing a second time.
The information in this article is for reading and entertainment purposes only. Do not attempt any of this yourself as serious injury can occur. It takes a lot of experience and knowledge to do this type of experimenting. Since I have no control I can not be held liable for its use.

2 - 2 &1/2 & 2 & 2/4" shells

You can make shotgun blanks fairly easily. Most of the ones that I make have either black powder or a substitute. The load is from 50 to 60 grains of FFFG powder and a wad put over the powder to hold it in. You need a wad that fits tight enough to hold the powder in but excessive wadding isn’t needed or desired. I frequently cut a styrafoam wad and use it. Too much wadding will cause a projectile to be expelled from the barrel making it much more dangerous. You can substitute 20 to 25 grains of blank powder or about 40 grains of something such as Bullseye. You can experiment to obtain the noise level and performance that you want. You might need a tighter wad to enhance the powder burning and make enough noise. Smokeless powders generally require more confinement to burn properly. I have some old powder that was pulled from military rounds that was lying around. I filled up some regular 2 & ¾” cases to the top and crimped them as normal. Upon firing them I discovered that they made nice loud blanks. Since there is no projectile pressure wasn’t excessive but they are definitely outdoor use only as they are loud and powerful. I use the dies on my Mec 600 to load these shells as I do with all my shot shell loads. I push the crimp down inside the casing much as a roll crimp. You should never shoot a full power blank in an enclosed area as the noise is quite loud. Also they are pretty powerful and you should never fire a shotgun blank at anyone at close range. Doing that can seriously injure or even kill someone. Besides reenactments they can be used for signaling or perhaps scaring an unwanted animal away.

Nail load at 5 yards

A reduced recoil load would be effective as a house defense load. A slug that weighs an ounce shot out at 1000 feet per second would be an effective load because the reduced recoil would enable you to control your shots easier and would be less apt to over penetrate. Another advantage to reduced recoil loads is the lack of the intimidation factor which will encourage most folks to practice more. If a 45 Colt with a 250 grain bullet at 900 feet per second is a good defense load imagine what a 1 oz slug at 1000 feet per second will do. The slug is a 69 caliber projectile plus weighs twice as much as the 45. Shooting the Aguila slugs showed a practical house load with all the desired attributes of a defense load. The recoil was very mild and there isn’t over penetration which is a serious consideration in most neighborhoods. I shot a thick propane container that had about ¼” thick sides. The slug dented it about an inch but didn’t penetrate the side. I recovered one of the slugs and it had expanded quite a bit. I chronographed them at 950 fps. I also obtained some slugs that weigh 410 grains. After loading them with 18 X Red Dot they produced a similar size dent in the gas container. Like the Aguila it expanded quite a bit. Either slug should be a good house defense load where over penetration is a consideration. Another plus for the short Aguila slugs is you might be able to put more rounds in the magazine of your gun if they feed which they did ok in my Mossberg. Accuracy at 15 yards with either is more then adequate for defense purposes.

Rock salt at 5 yards

Aguila makes special shells that are shorter then normal and produce less recoil. They are 1 & ¾” long and come in slugs, buckshot and birdshot. They can be bought at Zanders www.gzanders.com that’s where I obtained my samples. Other loads that are offered on the specialized market include flares and flame throwers. The flares can be useful if you are out in the woods and are lost or injured it could help rescuers locate you. A boat stranded could also benefit from flares. Personally I can’t imagine going out in a decent size boat without a good shotgun and various types of ammo. I can’t imagine much use for a flamethrower shell that shoots flames out about 250 feet. It would be extremely hazardous to shoot such ammo in the desert where I live. The fire hazard would be way too high and I wouldn’t try them unless I knew it was entirely safe to do so. When buying some of these shells read carefully the hazard warning labels before using. Some of the specialty shells require an expensive hazmat fee and are not allowed in some areas. I strongly urge against anyone trying to make these types of shells as the chemicals can be extremely hazardous to your well being. Fooling around with incendiary and explosive shells might get you a Darwin award.

Components for bolo load

There are other loads that you can produce that may not be available from the various manufacturers. You can make a spreader load quite easily. Just take a thin piece of cardboard cut it to size and insert it in the middle of the shot load. You can do it with 2 pieces in a cross fashion and it will enhance the spreading of shot. It may be useful for shooting small game at close range of as a self defense load. The only problem with using any handloads for defensive purposes some jurisdictions may give you a hard time. They feel that if you concoct your own loads that you are willing to shoot some one with a more deadly load then the factory offers. While it sounds like nonsense it is a real concern for anyone interested in self defense law. Quite honestly a load of 6 shot will take care of 99% of any self defense situation you will encounter.

Business end of 12 gauge

For testing most of these loads I have a Mossberg that I bought some years ago for $18. The barrel looks like someone cut off the end with a wood saw and the rest looks rough. However after cleaning up and putting in a magazine spring it turned out to be a decent hunting gun. I later bought a barrel with the screw in chokes for doves etc which works well. Anyway the old barrel is perfect because the nails and various other items that I shot through it might scratch the inside. While not hurting the old barrel I wouldn’t think of doing it with the new barrel or one of my other shotguns.

Botton of brass case

One of the shells that I made up has some 1” finishing nails. I have a 2 piece wad and removed the red bottom piece to give the nails enough room. I packed them in tightly and it held 400 grains of them. I started with 18 X Red Dot and a Remington hull. Shooting at a target showed some individual nails plus a large hold at 5 yards. Past that they scatter a lot. It’s another load that doesn’t have much practical use. If you shot an intruder with that load you would probably have a difficult time explaining to the local District Attorney why you used such a load. In fact you might have some problem staying out of jail using that or another exotic load that you cooked up. You can shoot it at a paper target and have your buddies trying to guess what it was you shot. Other then that it is totally useless.

Good deer slugs 1 & 1/4 oz

Another unique load has paint balls as the projectiles. The ones that I bought fit inside the casing with very little side space which is perfect. The paint balls weigh 40 grains each. In a regular shell 3 will fit while the short Aguila shells will hold 1. I started out with 10 X 231 with a thin wad in both cases. They made little noise but the balls came apart before hitting a target. A couple of times I saw a blue mist about 10 to 15’ from the muzzle. I imagine that the powder produced too much shock for the balls. I tried shooting the paint balls with just primers but they busted inside the hulls and made a circle of paint about 5” in diameter at 6’ making an impressive spot on the target. I am sure glad that I am using a junk barrel as it had a pretty decent coat of paint inside.

Different wads for different loads

A catalog that I ran across advertised bolo loads. They have 2 round ball lead ends attached by a piece of wire. I though that I could duplicate that by getting some lead split shot sinkers and using a piece of thin wire to hold them together. The split shot was about the size of 00 buck and is held together with a wire about 1 foot long. Each finished projectile weighs 140 grains and I put 3 of them in a shell with 18 X Red Dot and a bottom piece of wad. Some of the bolo loads showed on the target that the wire held and others didn’t. Since they are not practical for anything that I can think of I probably won’t pursue them any further.

Paintballs at 3 yards

I wanted some ultra light loads so I put 10 X 231 and a thin wad behind 280 grains of shot. The load was a bit too light so will have to increase the powder a little until you get a satisfactory result with 12 grains being better. To properly crimp the shorties you need a special plate that can be used on a MEC loader. You can load short shells with it. The Aguila shells will need two of those plates to get a good crimp. Precision Reloading carry those items and many other shotgun accessories. Such a load could be used to dispatch pests at short range where excess noise and shot might be a problem. If you could find some #12 shot to load it would be a great short range rat load.

Good powder for shotguns

Wanting to try some multiple ball loads I obtained some Hornady 58 caliber round balls. After some research I put 27 X Blue Dot behind three of those balls each weighing 280 grains. I used a thin cardboard wad between the powder and balls. Upon shooting I found that the 27 grain load was too light with some being squib loads. I went up to 34 grains as I wanted to obtain about 1000 to 1100 feet per second with that load. Since the total payload weighs 840 grains that would be about all I wanted to avoid excessive recoil. In a strong shotgun they can be driven faster probably up to 1400 feet per second or so. Besides generating a lot of recoil it may strain some shotguns so keep that in mind when developing loads. They could be useful for self defense especially against a wild pig or mountain lion. I imagine that three balls launched at 11 to 1400 feet per second would discourage most attacks from the two and four legged predators. They may not have the necessary penetration to use on the big bears though testing would have to verify that. I didn’t have any large bears available for testing so I passed on that one. The 34 grain load worked better producing more consistent ammo and would make a good defense load for certain situations. After I got done putting all that ridicules stuff through the gun I cleaned it up with Bore Paste www.uspborepaste.com which always does a great job on old guns and tough clean assignments.
When experimenting with special loads for shotguns keep in mind that they aren’t as strong as a typical rifle. The barrels are thinner which while entirely adequate for normal loads aren’t suitable for loads at rifle pressures. Another thing that I encountered was a piece of a wad stayed in the barrel. Luckily I saw it before shooting something in back of it. If I missed the piece it may have produced a ring in the barrel.

Shotgun is good for self defense

The information in this article is for reading and entertainment purposes only. Do not attempt any of this yourself as serious injury can occur. It takes a lot of experience and knowledge to do this type of experimenting. Since I have no control I can not be held liable for its use.

Special plate needed to load shorter then normal shells

German 8 MM Commission Rifle

2008-10-13T16:11:00.000-07:00

Full length 8 X 57 Commission Rifle

The Commission Rifle
In 1886 France came out with possibly the most important development in small arms which was the first successful smokeless cartridge the 8mm Lebel. It made everything up to that time obsolete immediately. It shot a fairly small projectile at velocities that were not obtainable with black powder. They were shooting bullets at 2000 feet per second as opposed to 1400 or so with the black powder rifles of the day. That was revolutionary at that time. Another advantage is the ammo was lighter so a soldier could carry more. As much as they would of like to they couldn’t keep the secret of smokeless powder to themselves for long. In those days France, England and Germany were in competition and any development in weapon technology was eagerly sought by them. They had vast empires in those days and needed the best weapons to maintain the status quo. Another advantage to smokeless powder is it didn’t give away the shooter as black powder does. There were no longer vast clouds of smoke coming from the rifle. It is also easier to clean up after and doesn’t foul the bore like black powder does. Of course all of these advantages weren’t lost on the various militaries. So in a matter of a generation we went from muzzle loaders to smokeless repeaters.

Reciever of Commission Rifle

One of the earlier countries to bring out a smokeless round was Germany. They came out with their own 8mm rifle in 1888 known as the Commission Rifle. It was designed by a commission hence its name and was one of the earlier smokeless powder rifles. They took features from other guns plus a couple of their own. I imagine it was an interesting experience to be on that commission. Their case was a rimless design as opposed to the rimmed Lebel. A rimless design would be more desirable for feeding and use in machine guns and many bolt actions so it was a step forward. It came out with the J bullet which is 318 in diameter weighing 227 grain round nose also at around 2000 feet per second while the later S bullet has a 323 diameter. There are some Commission rifles that were re-rifled to the 323 diameter bore so it might be a good idea to slug the bore. You can shoot 318 diameter bullets in a 323 bore but they won’t be very accurate but the reverse isn’t true. The Commission rifle used a magazine with Mannlicher features while the bolt resembled the Mauser design with the two front locking lugs. The magazine needs a special clip in order to be a repeater. The clip is the same on both ends so it can’t be put in the wrong way which would be a desirable feature in combat. Since the clips are scarce now that they are long out of production I consider that and most other detachable clips a liability. For target shooting using it as a single shot is no big deal except in a few cases. The 7.35 Carcano, one example, is a real pain to load without a clip. It also has a hand guard around the barrel which in theory gave it more accuracy but was difficult to produce and install. It also collected water inducing rust on the barrel. It was a well made product for its time but isn’t as strong as the 98 Mauser which replaced it. We must remember that in 1888 smokeless powder was in its infancy and the gun makers didn’t fully understand the requirements for heat treating and other requirements for the higher pressure powder. The workmanship appears to be typical German meaning that it was good with few or no tool marks. The extractor and ejector look puny as compared to the Mausers of that period but I didn’t have any problems with my specimen which I shot 2 or 300 times during my tests. There is a release on the side of the receiver to remove the bolt which works well. The safety is a wing type located on the rear of the bolt and it works ok. The bolt handle doesn’t touch the receiver when closed which could have gave it some extra strength by providing extra lockup. You should not shoot the later military ammo in it as it’s loaded too hot for this weapon and it may be corrosive not to mention the .323 diameter bullet which was adopted in 1903. If you have shot American commercial 8mm ammo you will note that its loaded relatively weak. Probably one of the reasons is that if its shot in the Commission Rifle it won’t wreck it although I don’t recommend that practice since the factory ammo has a .323 diameter bullet. If nothing else accuracy may suffer. If you stumble across some original military ammo I wouldn’t shoot it as it would be too old and may have some collector value as well. As a note if you attempt to shoot old ammo and it doesn’t go off keep the bolt closed for at least 30 seconds. Failure to do that can cause a serious accident as if the bolt is partially opened and it goes off there is no support for the round and hot gasses among other things can become missiles. I have run across old ammo that didn’t go off for several seconds after firing so it is not a theory. I have also spoken with other people who have experienced the same action with old ammo. If you encounter such ammo dispose of it in a safe manner as its way too dangerous to shoot. In many cases the powder may be deteriorated and the ammo is very unstable. I usually pull the bullets for future use and dump the powder.

Bolt for Commission Rifle

The Commission rifle replaced the hard hitting 11 mm Mauser 71/84 rifle that was in service since 1871. For some reason a Mauser rifle wasn’t adopted by Germany again until the 98 Mauser, which is the most successful design of all time for bolt action rifles. I imagine Paul Mauser wasn’t happy about that but he went about his business making various Mauser rifles for many countries. Anyway the 88 saw service for some years and China among others purchased some and used them. Like many obsolete military weapons they were used for years after production ceased by secondary units. My rifle has an 1896 date on the receiver which is near the end of the production run. There was a carbine and rifle version of these with barrel lengths of 17.6 and 29.1” respectively. The Karabiner has a spoon type of bolt while the rifle carries the straight bolt handle. They were sporterized to some extent and rebarreled to various cartridges not exceeding the 8mm in length. Also pressures had to be confined to about 45,000 psi to be considered safe. Another 8 X 57 to be careful of is the model 93’s that were rebarreled to the 8. The 93 has 2 locking lugs as opposed to the 3 that the 98 has. I know that a lot of them have been shot with hot ammo with no consequences but I don’t recommend it. Actually I consider the 93 action superior to the Commission Rifle in strength and function but it’s no 98. Keep in mind that these rifles are over a century old and not getting any younger. Another attractive feature of the Commission rifle is its price. You can get a good specimen for a couple of C notes or less. They can be found at gunshows or online auctions such as www.gunbroker.com or www.auctionarms.com.

Good bullets for reloading

Shooting the model 88 rifle is no big problem. The standard 8mm cases should be used and 318 diameter bullets are fairly common. They can be swaged down from 323 bullets without much effort. The swaging die that I use to reduce the diameter of the bullets comes from CH Die http://www.ch4d.com/ and it works with a standard press. The 318 loading dies are available from several makers and medium powders work the best. Common sense loads should be used as not only the action isn’t as strong as the 98 also it doesn’t have the ability to vent gas as well either. That’s a good reason to wear safety glasses and ear protection when shooting these old guns. Cases seldom rupture but you never know. If your gun has excess headspace or an enlarged chamber those conditions will enhance the possibility of a case rupture. That would be especially true if you are using heavy loads as they tend to aggravate an already bad situation. If in doubt about your rifles condition it’s never a bad idea to have it checked out by someone who is qualified to do so. The headspace and chamber dimensions can be checked out by a knowledgeable person with the right tools. It might be the best investment you made. As with all old guns there is a possibility that some basement gunsmith altered it in a manner that will render it unsafe to shoot. It’s better to find that out sooner rather then later. They have been rebarreled to similar length cartridges such as the 257 Roberts but you still have that pressure ceiling to work with and in my view there are better actions to work with. Your better off using it as an original and enjoying it as such. Unless you do the work yourself it isn’t economically feasible to convert a military rifle to a full sporter. The labor cost not to mention the materials will cost more then a commercial rifle. The commercial rifle would be stronger and safer especially if you use an action such as the model 88.

Good powder for reloading

Accuracy is good for a military rifle with the original sights. They are a flip up ladder type which is fairly good for the period. With good eyes and a bench rest groups at 50 yards can be smaller then 2” with five shots. The 100 yard groups can be 3 to 4” with good ammo and a good shooter. The trigger is a typical military which I am use to since I shoot so many of them. Of course a scope will shrink that somewhat though it might be somewhat costly to install one. I did work up some loads for this gun and I found that like most military rifles weren’t fussy about what it took. The rifling in my specimen is deep and sharp. Here are some loads that I used I would approach the top loads from a couple of grains below and work up carefully. Since myself and the publisher has no control over how this data is used we can not be held liable for its use. Some of the velocities I recorded were higher then expected however the 29” barrel would have something to do with that. Also I may have a fast rifle and yours may or may not record the same velocities. All bullets were sized to 318 in keeping with proper loading practices. The medium to medium slow powders work best with bullets weighing 150 grains or heavier. Cast bullets also work well in this rifle with a pinch of Unique or a similar powder. Standard large rifle primers are used in all of the loading data. Round nose bullets may be required for feeding if you have one of the clips and want to use it as a repeater. Velocities were recorded 10’ from the first screen using 7 shots. I did other loads but these are the most accurate. As with any loading data approach it with caution from below. The full loads should be reduced by 2-3 grains and carefully worked up. Since I have no control of methods employed by someone else I am not liable for its use.

Swaging die is good way to get 318 diameter bullets

LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
10 X Herco 125 grain Hornady 1402 ok
47 X H 4895 150 grain Sierra 2722 consistent
50 X IMR 4350 150 grain Hornady 2418 mild
10 X Unique 165 grain cast 1414 accurate
45 X H 4895 170 grain Hornady 2671 deer load
10 X Unique 170 grain Hornady 1166 quiet
45 X H 4895 175 grain Sierra 2641 accurate
44 X H 4895 185 grain Remington 2532 good load
50 X AA 4350 185 grain Remington 2466 mild

Closeup of bolt head model 88 Commission rifle

All these loads are accurate with the 175 grain Sierra having a very slight edge at least in my rifle. It would be a competent if unusual rifle to take hunting though I would prefer the carbine for convenience sake. You would lose a little velocity but at the ranges to be used it wouldn’t matter much. Shooting these old guns is much more interesting then the new ones to me at least as you are shooting a part of history. Who knows where these guns were a hundred years ago or so. Were they in a trench fighting a war? Did they actually shoot anyone? What part did they play in history? Did my great grandfather use one? I don’t know but it’s nice to wonder.
Bob Shell

The Russian 7.62 Nagant Revolver

2008-09-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

Typical Nagant Revolver

The Nagant Revolver
During the course of firearms development there were many strange and unusual designs submitted and used. That’s what makes this hobby so fascinating is the history of these sort of weapons. One of the stranger revolvers was the Russian Nagant. Everything was strange about it from the chambering to the 7 shot cylinder. One thing about military pistols of that period was that power apparently wasn’t a priority. Some of the contemporaries of that period like the Nagant lacked serious power such as the French 8 mm Lebel revolver and the 9 mm Jap. Apparently the sidearms of that period were more for decoration then actual combat. The 38 Colt brought out by the U.S. is another example of the underpowered side arms of that period. One advantage of this revolver over some of the others is that it’s cheap and plentiful like the Mosen Nagant rifles. It could be appealing to a beginning collector.

No flash gap when Nagant is fired

The original patent was brought out in 1879 by Emil Nagant a British citizen. The model 78 was adopted by Belgium in the 9 mm and the 83 by Sweden in the 7.5. Norway also adopted it in 9 mm then the 7.65 caliber. The model 83 was made in both double & single actions. The double actions were made for NCOs and officers while the single action was reserved for privates. The 7.5 Nagant cartridge was similar to the 32 S & W being a bit shorter and larger in diameter. A 32 S & W can be fired in it but the case will split full length. While probably not dangerous I would advise against the practice as accuracy will be nill and it may be hard to extract. Do not fire 32 H & R magnums in any Nagant as they have higher pressure and could be very dangerous providing they fit. Proper brass can be obtained from Buffalo Arms in Idaho. Buffaloarms.com They make brass for many obsolete calibers and I have found their brass of high quality without exception.

Nagant ammo from 32-20 cases

The revolver that was brought out in 1895 for the Russians chambered for the 7.62 caliber. It was patented by Leon Nagant the brother of Emil. It was in general use until 1930 when the Tokarev was adopted. They were made and used as late as WWll for some units. There was a smaller model for police use as well as a 22 caliber training model that were available. The cartridge looks something like a blank with the bullet fully in the case. They came out in single and double action models. When cocked the cylinder moved forward making it airtight unlike most revolvers. The gas sealing idea was in use years before the Nagant came out with it however. Among others using it was the Lang and Parker Field percussion revolvers. Patents dating from 1852 and 1858 by Moore & Harris as well as Webley covered the gas seal principal so there is nothing new under the sun. Others tackled the problem but no one made the gas seal revolver in any quantities. While it is an interesting idea due to the low power of the round and complexity of the action there would be very little ballistic benefit to this round. With a 357 magnum or some other high power round the forward moving cylinder might have some merit if the technical problems could be resolved.

Bullets can be seated out in 32-20 cases

The Russian version is available at various places advertised in the Shotgun News. They are inexpensive and plentiful. Gunshows are another good source to pick up the Nagant as well as other odd ball guns. If you are looking for an odd gun to own and accuracy and power isn’t important then this could be your weapon. The sample that I have was made in 1944 according to the date on the barrel. It is somewhat crude looking showing tool marks on various parts of the frame. It is blued and the bluing is fairly decent looking. It is a double action but the trigger pull is so heavy in the double action mode I did all my shooting single action. A trip to the gunsmith may help with that problem but for various reasons I chose to leave as is. The single action pull is estimated at between 12 and 15 lbs somewhat heavy but workable. Since I don’t plan on using this revolver for any practical use the trigger is fine. Loading and unloading the Nagant is a slow operation again not a problem for a toy. You pull back the loading gate and drop in as with a conventional single action. To unload move the rod located beneath the barrel and knock them out one at a time. The rod rotates to line up with the chambers. I sure wouldn’t want to manipulate this gun in cold weather with stiff hands. It makes you wonder how much it was used during the Russian winters which are famous for being super cold. There was a swing out cylinder model made to alleviate this problem but they are not real common. The sights are very rudimentary and crude. There is a notch in the frame for the rear while the front has a blade sight that is dovetailed in. It looks like it could be adjustable for windage by tapping it one way or the other. Remember when moving the front sight that it is moved in the opposite direction that you want the bullet to hit. The barrel is 4 & ½” long and is slender. There are various markings on the frame including the date and serial number. There is a star on the hammer. The firing pin is attached to the hammer and is about ½” long. The ATF defines it as a curio and relic for legal purposes.

A closeup look at Fiocchi ammo

Ammo for this gun is available though pricey. Fiocchi makes factory ammo but sometimes it’s hard to find. Graf makes empty cases for the reloader and they are available from Huntington Die among others. Huntington also provides the loading dies. The 32-20 case can be used also but it is a bit short. SOG International also sells Nagant ammo made in the 1970’s in Russia. The situation is getting better for the reloader and non reloader alike. The best bullets are 32 caliber wad cutters or other lead bullets sized to 311 to 313 weighing from 85 to 90 grains. This gun is not a power house nor should a reloader attempt to make it one.

Undersize bullets produce poor accuracy and keyholing

Shooting the Nagant is an interesting experience. Due to the balance and trigger it takes some getting use to. Once you shoot it for a while it can be made to shoot pretty decently. Recoil is not a problem due to the low power of the cartridge. It would be a fairly decent small game gun if you could hit the target. I put it on sandbags at 10 yards at the local range. My best groups were 3” or so as the trigger was heavy and the sights weren’t the best. The groups were consistently 3 to 4” high and to the left with my reloads or the Russian ammo that I had. Probably someone with better eyes and hands could shrink the groups a little but I doubt by much. Recoil was mild but the muzzle jumped somewhat due to the light weight of the gun. Under no circumstances would I entertain the thought of shooting a deer size animal. It just doesn’t have enough steam to do the job. I doubt that it would anchor a coyote with any consistency. If you reload it can be pretty economical to shoot once you get the dies and cases. A pinch of powder and a lead bullet of the correct diameter and you are in business. I would strongly advise against trying to soup up the loads as the gun isn’t designed for hot ammo. Besides why try and make it something it isn’t. It’s a fun gun to shoot and let it be at that.

Fiocchi ammo is sometimes available

Reloading the Nagant round is fairly normal except that the bullet is seated down inside the case. Most of your powders such as Unique and Herco work well. Powders such as 231 can also be used to good effect. Slower burning pistol powders such as 2400 or WW 296 should not be used at all. A small amount wouldn’t burn cleanly and a larger amount may create excess pressure. If you use 32-20 cases the bullet can be seated out about ¼” or so depending on what type of slug is utilized. I would not attempt to shoot regular 32-20 ammo in it as may be too long and may be too hot in some instances. I ran across some references indicating that the correct bullet diameter was .295 which I found curious. Anyway I slugged the bore and it came out at .313 which would explain if a 295 or similar diameter bullets were used why accuracy would be poor. The openings in the front of the cylinder measured .330 to .331 which would do nothing for accuracy either. When I was loading some of the bullets in the Nagant cases I noticed that some of the bullets were slightly swaged down when going into the cases. That is another factor that would not help much with accuracy. Hornady makes a hollow base wad cutter which may help with the accuracy problems. In any event they are worth a try. A 32-20 115 grain bullet can also be utilized as long as the powder charge is adjusted downward. Anything heavier shouldn’t be used as velocity will drop quite a bit with safe loads. Hornady makes .310 diameter round balls if you want something to shoot that is different. There are a couple of jacketed bullets that can be used but I don’t see the advantage of that. Besides being more expensive they probably wouldn’t be as accurate. As with any loading data approach with caution. Since I have no control over methods or use of data I can assume no responsibility for its use.

Dies for reloading Nagant ammo

LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT
4 X Herco 2-47 grain balls 1058 Nagant case very consistent
4 X Herco 86 grain wad cutter 962 32-20 case very accurate
4 X Unique 77 grain round nose 1012 32-20 case accurate
3 X 231 48 grain round ball 709 32-20 case very mild
4 X Unique 90 grain swc 1052 32-20 case accurate
4 X Herco 77 grain round nose 1142 32-20 case good load
4 X Herco 86 grain wad cutter 1051 consistent
4 X Unique 90 grain Hornady hbwc 1003 backwards ok
4 X Unique 90 grain Hornady hbwc 988 forwards accurate
3 X Herco 115 grain round nose 785 fair
3 X Unique 118 grain flat point 948 low es
Russian Load 90 grain 1038 high es
Fiocchi 98 grain full metal jacket 669 mild

Russian Nagant ammo

Muzzle energy for an 86 grain bullet at 962 feet per second would be about 175 foot pounds. While that can be lethal it’s hardly earth shattering. Power wise it is between a 32 Smith & Wesson long and a 32 H & R magnum. However like any firearm it should be treated with respect at all times as it can kill someone. The loaded Russian ammo was 1.522” long while the Graf brass I loaded was 1.461” long. As a comparison the 32-20 ammo with a 118 grain lead bullet was 1.559” long and barely protruded beyond the cylinder. While they could possibly fire in some guns I wouldn’t recommend it. As a thought I loaded 4 X Unique in the 32-20 case with the 77 grain 313 diameter round nose seated just deep enough at 1.521” to allow the cylinder to rotate. The idea was an attempt to produce better accuracy as the bullet was closer to the rifling then the others. Also it allowed me to use the correct diameter bullet as opposed to the 308 slugs. The idea worked quite well. Hitting small targets at 15 yards was not much of a problem except for the sights. Paper targets show smaller groups with .313 diameter bullets especially the wad cutters. I had some groups that had 3 or 4 bullets touching at 10 yards with the rest from 1 to 3” away. That was measurably better then the Nagant factory or my Nagant ammo. With target sights and a better trigger I have little doubt that I could of done even better. Of course this ammo can be safely shot in a 32-20 revolver. Is it worth the trouble to get better accuracy out of the Nagant? You bet! One of the reasons to handload your own ammo is to improve accuracy. Another advantage in using 32-20 brass is that it’s cheap and plentiful. I also obtained some Hornady round balls to produce some novelty loads. They were .310 and .314 in diameter weighing 47 and 48 grains respectively. I put 2 -.310 diameter balls in the regular Nagant cases as they easily fit and 1- 314 diameter in a 32-20 case seated out. Another novel load I used was 80 grains of 7 & ½ shot in the full length Nagant case. Using 4 grains of 231 behind ½ of a 38 caliber styrafoam blank wad worked out real good. Holding the shot in was a Hornady 30 caliber gas check. It would kill a mouse at 15 feet away without blowing a hole in a wall. At 10 feet it made a nice round circle and had an even pattern. Loads like these just show what a person can do with a little imagination to broaden the use of a gun such as this. If you want a blank pistol then blanks can easily be made from 32-20 cases see Shotgun News 8/15/05 on how to make blanks. I used a round ball loaded light such as a gallery load. At 10 yards I was able to hit a soda can every time as long as I did my job. I tried the Hornady 90 grain hollow base wad cutter loaded backwards an old trick in 38 specials. While not the most accurate load it expanded well in catalogs and retained all its weight. If you were going to use the Nagant for a home defense load that along with the 2 ball load would be the best. During the test for this article I fired the gun over 500 times plus some shooting by other shooters and I had no misfires or other functional problems associated with the revolver. During the tests I did not clean the gun in any way just to see how it would function. Brass loss with all cases was nil because I didn’t try to make a magnum out of it. Such reloading practices would also extend the life of the gun. While not as smooth as a good quality revolver in will none the less give good service life given proper care.

Good bullets for Nagant 312 in diameter

The revolver can be disassembled fairly easily. A screw up front holds in the rod that when removed can be used to knocks out the empties. Actually when I shoot it I carry something else with me to knock out the empties which is more convenient. A ten penny nail is perfect. There is a shroud that turns enabling the cylinder pin to be removed thus taking out the cylinder. The cylinder can be removed for cleaning or replacement. There is a cylinder available for the 32 auto pistol cartridge. However I have had a hard time finding one with anyone who advertises them. SOG advertises the cylinders a well as a verity of other models including a sporter model. I suppose that would make the Nagant marginally more useful as 32 ammo is easy to get. The grips are made of a hard brown plastic and deeply checkered. They are fairly comfortable and would be easy to hold on to during bad weather. Since recoil is light the checkering won’t hurt your hands during shooting. Since it weighs only1lb and 12ozs its easy to carry. A holster comes with it that revolver has a small pouch for carrying ammo.

Bullet seated deep in case as a typical Nagant load

There are various markings on the gun. On the left side of the frame is the date below a circle with a triangle inside with an arrow pointing up. There are stars on the hammer and trigger. Right above the trigger guard is a star and some symbols. On the right side of the frame is the letters kb1 hbg , pa Russia and M1895 7.62 Nagant. The serial number is located just above the trigger guard on the right side of the frame. The left front of the frame sports some more numbers and some sort of a symbol. To be honest I don’t know what all the markings mean though some are obvious. I imagine that they are inspector and arsenal markings. There are index marks on the barrel and frame. There is a lanyard on the grip with some sort of markings. The front of the cylinder has some markings on it. If nothing else the gun is well marked and other specimens that I examined had similar markings.
All in all it’s not the most useful gun in the cupboard. However if a person wanted an inexpensive gun and reloaded this could be a winner for them. Would I use it for self defense? Only if I couldn’t get my hands on something else except a 25 or 32 auto. With a couple of the better loads I developed it just might do the job. If I just wanted to go out and have some fun plinking I would most certainly consider taking it along.

Bob Shell

A 7.62 Swedish Nagant