Queen fires opening Shot at London Competition:

Royal Patronage for the shooting sports continues to this day - but is kept low-profile by anti-gun media.

Her Majesty the Queen fired the opening shot at Wimbledon on July 1st, 1860.

Queen Victoria fired the first shot in the National Rifle Association Competition - using a Whitworth rifle mounted in a machine rest and struck a bulls-eye at 400 yards.

The muzzle-loading Whitworth rifle won most of the important prizes at the competition - indeed it won most of the prizes in the next eleven years up to 1871 - being the rifle competitors were required to use through-out most of those years.

Whitworth Rifle (muzzle loader)

Note: This was 12 years before the American NRA was formed.

Following the Boer War - British society became very aware that security of that nation relied on its military fighting skills - leading to the establishment of many rifle ranges and the subsequent development of shooting technology aimed at constantly improving performance.

The 1800s were a critical time in development of firearm technology with much new science being successfully applied. From black-powder to nitro, (white powder or smokeless), - breech loading systems, - refinement of barrel rifling, development of choke-boring, metallic cartridges, and longer bullets - and improved sighting systems all came from this era.

Often the peak developments of the old technology managed to out-perform the new - until the new was also refined and perfected to the extent that it dominated.

- Smokeless powder caused the projectiles to come-down in calibre from the lead ball above half-an-inch in diameter to under .4" - and the black-powder .303" became the British military calibre (1888) in the Lee-Metford rifle.

Lee-Metford 1888

 

.303" British Cartridge (1945)

The fast growing cities eventually pushed-out the big outdoor ranges from their localities and forced the building of many smaller indoor ranges - often using the new .22 Rim-fire cartridges in various lengths for bulls-eye target shooting - 'Miniature Rifle'. - The Bisley complex survives to this day as the shooting centre of Britain.

Anti-Gun sentiment currently dominates the hysterical Media rants while ignoring that skill with arms is what maintains our modern western society's standard of living. - Without the use of firearms by our military and law-enforcement forces we'd be rapidly thrown into the chaotic dark-ages again.

- Never mind, - mustn't grumble eh!

Marty K

Cartridges - .22"RF. Effectiveness on Windscreen:

The .22" RF is way down on power and bullet weight - but can still perform well if used sensibly.

So much depends on the angle of impact - but penetration  isn't an issue in this experiment.

- Not for one minute am I saying that a 22 Rim Fire is good for everything .. but If it's all that you have to hand and you know its limitations - you can do a lot of useful work with one.

Further more, 'two-twos' are the cheapest to run and can be used by just about everyone - making training developed skills available to all. - You've got to have a couple of them in every gun-safe together with a few bricks of ammunition.

- My Ruger 10-22 "Shiny-thing" has proved to be reliable and accurate - while not at all fussy about what brands it will accept. - Here in New Zealand you have to remember that if you want to use a higher capacity magazine such as a 25 or 30 round 'banana' - you'll need to first register the rifle as a restricted category 'E-Cat' weapon - and install a higher police approved grade of security in your home first. -

The cost and delays in registration are a pain - but the enhanced (and approved) certified security is very expensive to buy and install. - Still once you've been down that path - you can buy further 'E-Cats' without too much hassle.

Marty K.

Precision Target Shooting Not Best Training For Serious Social Work:

Way back in 1896 - a Mr Walter Winans shooting at Bisley England won 10 of twelve Revolver competitions (drew one -lost one) - using a Service Revolver.(- No I wasn't there)

Talking about "When a revolver is used practically, either in war or self-defence .." Winans stated - "It therefore seems to me that deliberate shooting at the revolver clubs and at Bisley is worse than useless, because it teaches a man to shoot in the wrong way."

He goes on to describe how rapid-fire and 'snap shooting' are more suitable training for 'serious' use - and suggests that large bore revolvers should be replaced by the .38" as being more practical.

- This year - 118 years later - I am seeing very similar urgings from Greg Ellefritz on his Web-site 'Active Response Training' - the idea is that training can be made more relevant by using simple close range targets with circles drawn (around cups or cans with a felt pen) and numbered 1,2,3 and A, B, C etc. and firing one or two shots only at called selected marks.

'Surprise' called marks.

 

Grant Cunningham in his 2013 book 'Defensive Revolver Fundamentals" urges similar training for anyone who's life may depend on effective fast shooting.

 

His system involves training with a friend using targets at short range. These home-made targets use circles or squares numbered and lettered and also maybe coloured differently - perhaps drawn on more than one IPSC target - and are used by your shooting mate calling-out "TWO" or "C" or even "GREEN" etc. to give a surprise target for the shooter to hit - maybe also instructing something like "TWO SHOTS - BLUE"

 

- The aim is not competing for highest score - but to improve ones stress performance.

 

Paper (disposable) Plates make Good Targets for 'Action' Shooting

 

I saw a quote some time ago (US Marines?) that said something like " Train to fight as if you mean it - because you'll fight the way you train."

 

- Seems to make sense to me - If you only use your target shooting to focus carefully on getting an X ring score - that should be how your reflexes eventually lead you to shoot always. - That's what training is meant to achieve.

 

This same idea about 'surprise snap shooting' can also be tried when dry firing or using 'soft-air' guns.
 

 - Their 'self-defence' training advice is aimed at overseas readers in free nations - while I fully know that here in New Zealand we are not permitted to have firearms for self-defence purposes - it does strike me that practical shooting competition for licenced shooters might be made more fun and testing by introducing a greater element of surprise somehow.. reactive targets, turning targets timed to only a couple of seconds - targets called to be shot in changing sequence, etc.

'Bulls-eye' ISSF shooting is a testing set of worthwhile precision skills of a whole different nature & challenge to 'speed shooting' against a shot-timer. - Both are challenging personal skills.

Grant Cunninghams "Defensive Revolver Fundamentals" is a good read with some very different ideas that I've not read elsewhere. - It is almost a "Vol.2" to his earlier "Book of The Revolver' - I had expected the earlier book to be more about revolver mechanicals and tuning work rather than usage but even one decent idea picked-up from a book is a bonus..

 

-Life is good.

 

Marty K.

W (&WW) GREENER - Historic Gunmakers:

I'm not much of a shotgunner - well - to be frank - I'm bloody useless. But I can hit a stationary large target -say the size of an IPSC target at close range.

 - Well you've only got to check with my fellow competitors and they'll confirm that it was me that put a 12 gauge slug through the A zone of a steel boiler-plate target that was meant to be shot with buck-shot.

 - Well it's easy to do if you forget that you need to load the tube magazine in reverse order for the 3-Gun Match course of fire - Sorry Mr PSI.NZ Director (Jim - mate).

Mossberg Drills a neat hole in Steel Plate.

That aint no Greener.

But even I am sure that I'd heard the "Greener" name in connection with quality collectible shotguns.  W Greener of Newcastle and Birmingham served his time with another (should be familiar) name 'Manton' in London and Greener made excellent quality muzzle-loading guns - but refused to make breech-loaders maintaining that they were inferior performers - so much so that his son WW Greener left him and started up his own factory (The two concerns were united later).

William Greener 'Damascus' 7 Bore Pigeon Gun Detail.

But dad, W Greener also invented lots of other useful stuff - for example his was the first British patent for the electric light (1846), He improved the Miners safety lamp, Invented a self-righting lifeboat that used water ballast, and won a prize for machinery that opened all four gates at a railway crossing simultaneously.

WW GREENER Shotgun.

He may not have been an easy man to get along with - but in all fairness - many of the early breech-loaders were not very good gas sealers and may well have justified being called "trash" - as he said!

The WW Greener gun-making business became 'legend' to collectors. - I'm sure that my short barrelled "Tupara" would deserve to be called 'trash' in such company - but I  never did have good taste (in clothing etc. - I once owned a treasured orange day-glow tie as a teenager 'Ted'.)

I know - But I like it!

 

That Harp cap-badge is a reproduction badge for the New York Irish Brigade.(Union Army Volunteers).

 

Marty K.

Gun Club Cows Killed by Lead?:

- Back in July 23 there were media reports of a dairy herd of 100 animals dying from "lead poisoning" after being grazed on land belonging to a Southland gun club ('NightCaps Clay Target Club')

As the story grew it was disclosed that only 17 animals had died and been diagnosed by a vetinary as having 'lead poisoning' after eating fodder beet grown on the paddock.

 This "shocking disaster' was blamed on the shooting club having contaminated the earth - and an anti-gun 'spokesperson' stated that all lead must be immediately banned from use by shooters.

These unfortunate dairy cattle are reported as having previously been fed swede as a winter feed and were not milking - but their milk(!) - when tested - was found to be free from lead. - The dead animals were buried in an on-farm pit.

That's Another black mark for "cow killer"  - shooters.

- Later - September 15 - The media were horrified to report that up-to 300 Southland (and Otago) cows had died after being fed on HR Swede (herbicide resistant). The Dairy cattle sickened and many had to be 'put-down' after eating PGG Wrightson Seeds latest advance in seed - that has been modified to resist being sprayed with herbicides such as 'Roundup' - to kill any weeds without killing the genetically modified swede plants.

Wrightsons believed that the mild winter was to blame - having caused the swedes to grow more top leaf greenery than normal.

The story goes that the mild weather made the swedes less palatable causing the cows to eat more of the leaves that might have a high concentration of glucsinolates.

Spokes-persons are avoiding the possible consideration that the swede crop may have been poisoned by spraying with glyphosate (Roundup) - a toxic herbicide poison linked to autism and multiple systemic diseases.

Dairy NZ is working with vetinary scientists, The Government Ministry of Primary Production, and PGG-W to determine the exact nature of the problem.

Meanwhile farmers are advised to stop feeding swede crops to cattle. New Zealander shooters have not (yet) been blamed for these later cattle deaths in "Clean, Green New Zealand".

- Perhaps New Zealand authorities will consider looking more closely at the July gun-club cow deaths and conduct post mortems to verify the causes of death.

Lead Poisoning my a$$e - anyone for a milk-shake?

Marty K.

Josselyn Revolver - Patent Prototype:

I was sent an intriguing attached photograph of this 'revolver' by "Neville":

Josselyn Chain Revolver.

- A twenty shot 'revolver' where the mechanism is a loop of chambers linked together as a chain that feeds through the frame / action. - Several online folk observe that it would be a pig of a thing to holster!

Patent No. 52248A from 1866

 

This interesting (odd?) design obviously failed to make it commercially - but it seems to hold promise to me - something about the individual chambers being linked flexibly.  Hmm ? - Maybe it just seems to look a little like a 'drum' magazine or looks familiar to a user of the Ruger rim-fire rotary magazines?

 

- Maybe it's a 'halfway house' between the harmonica design and the cylinder revolver - or perhaps that the 'roller-chain link' chambers might make for a more positive and accurate location of the chamber- barrel alignment?

 

- Dunno, but it's intriguing ..

 

- The web also tells of a 'Treeby" chain gun - another 'also ran' failure.

 

Marty K.

Handgun Recoil - worth using MAGNUMS?:

I know that I do tend to go-on a bit about some issues (nag-nag-nag!) - one of my favourites is about using 'big-boomers'. -I just don't enjoy shooting full-house magnum loads like the 44 Magnum and even the 357 Magnum - they hurt me! - both in the hand and in the head - causing me to flinch and blink.

Down-load them a little and I love them heaps. - Mind you, I never had a problem with 10MM (The .40" Auto Magnum) in my Glock 20  although my routine load was down-loaded to meet IPSC Major Power Factor.

 

Greg Ellefritz  of 'Active Response Training' posted this video comparison of 38 Special / 357 Magnum recoil in slow-motion with the comment that he feels the considerably slower split times negates the possible extra power benefits.


- If you also try to factor-in the huge muzzle flash in low light conditions and the 'shock-effect' on the shooters ears at close proximity to the muzzle and the cylinder gap flash in your eyes - is it all worth it?

- Here's a story for you .. In my early days target shooting with handguns, a quarter of a century ago - I read everything I could to try improve my accuracy but didn't get much better. One book said that I should observe how my front sight moved as the shot was fired. - does the sight move straight up and down - or does it rise at an angle to the left or to the right? - as this kind of sideways bias can indicate various grip or stance faults.

Well, I couldn't remember seeing any sight jump! - but carried-on reading. - Several paragraphs later the 'champion' wrote - "If you can't recall what your front-sight does - it may be because you are shooting with your eyes shut !"

Yup, - that was the story - and when I made an effort to keep my eyes open and not blink - my accuracy did improve (not all that much though!). - So OK, I admit that I'm a Nervous Nelly. But..

I fully accept that if you are expecting to need to shoot charging Grizzly Bear or African Lion with your revolver - you definitely do need the biggest calibre and heaviest loading available - Me? - Can I stand behind you ( - about ten miles behind?)

Joke: Two guys in tiger country - one insisted in wearing his best running shoes - and his mate scoffed "You're not going to be able to outrun a bloody tiger" - He replied - "It's not the tiger I've got to out-run - only you"

Greg E also posts research that shows that victims of Firearms Assault (in six different states surveyed) - having reached hospital - have only a 6.5 percent chance of death .. Saying that's how ineffective gunshot wounds are.

Marty K.

Long Handled Tomahawks - 'Kakauroa':

That excellent 1920s book that I'm currently working-through -  'THE NEW ZEALAND WARS and the PIONEERING PERIOD'  (Volume 1) by James Cowan tells of Maori favouring the use of both short-handled hatchets and the long-handled version as weapons in close combat or when the warrior couldn't use a firearm.

Two long handled 'KAKAUROA' (lower)
 - and two 'POUWHENUA' - used as a fighting staff (not spear)

 

Many "resistance" fighters simply did not have a firearm until they might win one in combat - and of-course using a muzzle loader - when you had fired your single shot you were vulnerable - until able to reload - and your back-up  hatchet arm might be needed.

 

 "PATITI" or Hatchet.

 

The "tupara" double barrelled guns were a definite step-up in performance ability over the musket for the warrior - the second barrel could be held in reserve - but reloading still required time and raising your body into view - although they learnt to load the projectiles and seated them without use of the ram-rod - by rapping the butt sharply on the ground.

I don't think that you'd want to use that method with your double barrelled tupara if one chamber was already loaded eh.

 

 

From the several accounts in this book - the maori hatchet was not found to be a good match when confronted by well drilled colonial troops with the 'fixed' bayonet.

 

Rifled Musket (cut-down) with Bayonet.

This old 'New Zealand Wars' book is a real 'eye-opener' and free of modern 'politically correct' BS amendment. It refers to cannibalism, - and savage practices of both sides in conflict (normally "glossed-over" nowadays) - not sparing any-ones feelings (unlike our current media reportage where we here are not even allowed to be told that some-one has suicided ("- died suddenly" !).

It is  a free book on Kindle - but it does suffer from not being properly configured or 'proof read'.

Marty K.

"Blow-up" on 9MM Carbine - Norinco Factory Ammo:

Last Sunday my happy mood was wrecked by a factory loaded 9mm cartridge blowing-out in my JRC Carbine and destroying the magazine and my enjoyment of the day.

 

 

I had found six left-over rounds of Norinco FMJ head-stamped 9x19 C J 92 and planned to fire them off in the carbine to tidy-up my ammo stocks. The bulk of this ammunition had been fired in my Glock 17 previously with no issues.

 

I first loaded and fired four of my normal re-loads at the paper target and they are the lower group on target - I then loaded the four Norinco rounds and fired them (the upper four holes on target) - observing that these were louder than my light re-loads - the fourth shot was much noisier and did not cycle the carbines action. I released the magazine and was immediately shocked by its condition -below:

 

The magazine 'follower' was shattered and the end cap of the pistol grip was found on the concrete floor having been blown-out.

 

I had to use some muscle to open the action - then I could see the blown case exposed partly out of the chamber.

 

That is Scary - Factory Ammunition.

 

The JRC Carbine does not appear to be damaged in any critical area other than destroying the pinned magazine - But I am returning it to the gun-shop to be examined by their gun-smith and to replace the pinned 'A-Cat' magazine.

 

The Gun Shop owner has 'phoned me to tell how he was aware of "four or five" hand-guns that have been badly damaged by this make of ammunition but didn't think there was any of it still in use in New Zealand.

 

Take a warning from this and discard any such ammo that you may have - as using it may be dangerous.

 

 

 This is the first time that I have any indication of any quality issues with Chinese ammunition or firearms.

 

Marty K.

Sub-Sonic Loads for 7.62x39 and 300 Blackout:

My mate "Cutters" has been busy lately working-up sub-sonic loadings for his Saiga Semi-auto 7.62x37mm and for his Remington 700 B/A rifle chambering the .300 Blackout. - Both of these particular rifles are 'A-Cat' firearms here in NZ.

Along the way he has responded to a Remington factory re-call notice that required the fitting of a replacement trigger assembly to the 700s action for safety reasons.

The sub-sonic loads for the Russian Saiga mean that he is permitted to use it on our pistol club range. - Our range site is certified for use with all New Zealand legal firearms - but out of consideration to neighbouring properties we have restricted to use of centre-fire rifles (supersonic) and shotguns.

'Cutters' Silenced Saiga 7.62x39mm Russian.

And 'Cutters' - like me - fully appreciates the use of  a silenced firearm with its obvious benefit of causing much less disturbance to hunted game, pests and neighbours.

It needs to be said that there is no such thing as a silent firearm - all those movies showing a revolver fitted with a screw-on "silencer" that goes "phttt" when the trigger is squeezed are total works of fiction. - However a generously sized well-made sound-moderator can be very effective in taking the BANG out of bang when fitted to the most suited firearms action.

 Revolvers are not suitable because of the leaky cylinder gap - and semi-autos have actions that cycle open before the gas pressure has dissipated allowing noise to escape (unless you lock the action shut).

For best effect with a conventional moderated firearm - select a manual or bolt-action.

  - All that being said is as a general rule - However there is a system (Russian) that uses 'captive-piston cartridges' that is very close to silent for covert use.( See my post 10 July 2014).

Sub-Sonic 7.62x39mm:

 - Cutters has worked-up a satisfactory load that works in his Saiga when fitted with his 'silencer'.

First drill-out the flash hole from the primer pockets to 9/64 of an inch (and de-burr) keeping these cases solely for sub-sonic loading. The cases are primed using Large Rifle Magnum primers. He is using cast-lead gas-checked flat-bottomed projectiles with a pointed nose weighing 186gn that he buys for 27cents NZ each. He applies a light taper crimp.

The bullets are seated in front of 11.5gns of AR2205 powder (as thrown) and this loading - in his gun - works well and cycles the action when the silencer is mounted. - It does not cycle the action if the silencer is removed.

 - Warning: This is an example of a safely developed hand-load - do not copy it and presume that it will be safe in your rifle.

Photo Shows Standard Cartridge & pulled Bullet then Cast Lead Projectile & Subsonic 'Russian' (- .22R.F Long-Rifle for comparison.)

Here in New Zealand this load works-out cheaper than imported Chinese military surplus ammunition.

______________________________

.300" Blackout Sub-Sonic:

'Cutters' .300 Blackout gun is a pre-owned Remington 700 'SPS Tactical' with 5R rifling in 1:7 twist suitable to stabilise heavier bullet weights.

'Cutters ' is developing loads using a range of projectiles for the 300 Blackout all intended to make sub-sonic velocities (as well as normal super-sonic loads). He has a selection of bullets weighing 120gn, 150gn, 166gn, 186gn, and 235gn .

Cutters comments that the limited case capacity of the 300 Blackout suggests that there likely would not be any issue with too much air-space behind the loaded pills - as the cases are roughly similar in size to a .357 Magnum pistol round - but may be fitted with larger/longer pills.

300 Blackout Case compared to .357"Magnum Revolver Round.

You'd best be warned that fitting "silencers" to guns is not always a simple job - Cutters has an issue with deflection (alignment) on one of his after-market fitted moderators - and I have a semi-auto .22" pistol that tends to destroy silencer baffles repeatedly (that's again & again & ..)!

Note: Rod (gundoc@xtra.co.nz) says that misalignment problems are readily corrected by a decent gunsmith - even my sloppy muzzle thread issue on my Browning Buckmark can be resolved.

- It all adds "spice" to life eh!

Marty K.

P.S. I've just viewed my "Audience Stats" and for the first time ever the American readers have been exceeded by France  - Wow - Bonjour mes amis.

After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

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"Interesting" Day at The Range - Ruger Revolver is Great !

I had an interesting day at the pistol club range on Sunday - Very happy with the first live fire session with the Ruger SP101 .22. - I focussed on using it double action only and truly have no complaints about the way it performed. - Very happy with its accuracy and function.

My First 8 Round cylinder-full - Double-Action at 7 Metres.

 

As normal for me - I tend to shoot as fast as I can find the sights and probably could reduce the group size by being much more deliberate and by using the reasonably light single-action trigger - but I'm happy.

 

My mate 'Cutters' also brought his latest purchase to the firing-line  - also a .22R.F revolver - but his is a S&W 'K-Frame' using a ten shot cylinder.

 

Smaller Ruger Snuggles-up to Big Brother 'K-Frame' S&W (Both wearing Hogue Grips)

 

I'm trying to be cool about the S&W having two rounds more than me - well it's a much bigger and heavier lump so it needs some reason to be that way! (A 'K' Frame big?!) - Cutters bought the whole ensemble complete with speed-loaders and loading block for an excellent price. - The "shmiff" has perhaps had its trigger overworked and is rather hair-trigger single-action - it may need a little corrective surgery.

 

Two SP101 cylinders-full of .22 Short R.F fired D/A at 7 metres

 

These 16 Winchester  29grain .22" Shorts were again shot 'rapid fire' double-action (well - rapid-fire for an old fart) and I'm plenty happy with the result - straight out of the box.

 

Ruger and S&W On-The-Line.

You can see the 'day-glow' optical sight working.

 

- So the revolver debut was good-interesting eh - but the day turned to s**t when I took the 9mm Carbine to the line ..

 

Sighs ...

 

Marty K

 

 

 

Weapons of the New Zealand Colonial Forces - 1860(ish):

The Colonial government of New Zealand (basically run from Sydney Australia) had armed forces equipped with muskets and later - the 1853 Enfield - a rifled musket.

The 1853 Enfield rifle was much more accurate than the earlier smooth-bore muskets. It weighed about 4kg and was about 4 foot 9 inches long plus a 21 inch socket bayonet.

Model 1853 British Enfield - Rifled Musket.

These Enfields were also widely used by both sides in the American Civil War.

Taranaki 1868

In 1861 the New Zealand Government ordered Calisher & Terry Carbines from Birmingham UK as the longer Enfields were poorly suited to warfare in the dense wet bush here.

Calisher & Terry Carbine. (Percussion).

These "Terry" carbines were a step forward as they were better in heavy bush conditions, could be reloaded while lying down - or even while running forward, and were lighter. They were much favoured by the Forest Rangers irregular forces. The Rangers were first formed following a recruitment invitation in the Auckland Daily Southern Cross  31st July 1863 - seeking ''Active Young Men" to join and enjoy " a comparatively free and exciting life for themselves."

Action open for reloading.

The Forest Rangers also preferred the 1851 Colt Navy to the widely used British built Beaumont Adams five shot .44 percussion revolver - as it was lighter.

1851 Colt Navy Revolver.36" Calibre

Beaumont Adams .44" 

Major G F von Tempsky personally ensured that the men under his direct command in the 'irregular' Forest Rangers were also armed with large Bowie style knives (blacksmith made from cart-spring steel) and he organised training in the combat use of these edged weapons. Rangers were taught to carry their knife held in their left-hand laying back along the wrist / arm ready to block blows but able to snap-out to stab. The right hand was of-course filled with the revolver.

Only Known Remaining 'von Tempsky' Bowie Knife.

Von Tempsky was well travelled and worldly-wise -  who had been military college educated in Prussia Europe and had 'worked' in pioneering parts of the world before landing-up in New Zealand. - Well worth reading of his life. - Sadly he appears to have lost his life striving to earn a medal that he felt he should have been awarded earlier, - that went to a colleague (Charles Heaphy V.C.).

The Forest Rangers found their knives performed duty as 'bush knives' - being much used for clearing the way through dense bush and also for digging shallow shelters and throwing the earth up in front as some protection against bullets.

Two other critical items the 'irregulars' found essential were the blue army issue blankets carried two for every four men - which were fastened together and thrown-over a ridge pole to give shelter in the fern for the four men - at least from the dew.

The other essential item for the Rangers was the Rum Bottle - cased in leather for protection from breakage. When camping on the trail of hostile Maori they could not light a fire for cooking or warmth as this would invite volleys of lead sniper fire - " So we just lay down as we were, wet and cold, and we'd have been dead but for the rum."

Marty K

After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=16618870

Volcanic - Henry Lever-Action Rifles - Winchester - Hickok45 Clip added:

The Volcanic pistols and rifles had a short commercial life as a consequence of Smith & Wessons and Winchesters successful and aggressive competition in 1857. There was much rapid development and competition in this era.

Volcanic Lever Action Pistol & Rifle 1856

The Volcanic design was itself an improvement of the Volition Repeating Rifle designed by Walter Hunt in 1848.

 . Benjamin Tyler Henry who was appointed supervisor at the New Haven Arms Company helped develop the Volcanic designs ( that he had worked with earlier)  and later further developed it to be sold as the Henry Rifle. 

It was the use of the Henry rifle against the Confederate army that earned the 16 shot Henry Repeaters the familiar phrase " That damned Yankee rifle that they load on Sunday and shoot all week!"

.44" Rim-fire Calibre Civil War Henry.

 

The New Haven Company became the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1866 after Henry tried to have the business put in his name. They then made the Winchester Model 1866 'Yellow Boy'  and then in 1873 they released the new Model 1873 that became known as " The Gun that won the West."

 

Winchester 1873 in 44-40 WCF Calibre.

 

This history about the lever-action repeaters is all new to me and I'm learning all of it fresh off the net - perhaps I need to own one of my own - maybe in 357 Magnum as a partner to my big Ruger revolver.

 Hickok45 Knew about it All The Time.

 

Marty K.

.45"ACP Fans Rejoice - Double Barreled auto 2011:

Hmm, - well I am a fan of throwing two or more bullets down range simultaneously - hence my duplex 10MM load that is very practical from my Glock 20. - I suppose it's not totally unexpected that Colt 1911 fans should get all excited that while they can't fit two projectiles into the short .45" brass case they can weld two 1911s together side-by-side and get two holes down-range for one pull of the trigger.

- But wait - there's more - Not only do you get two barrels - but you also get two magazines to fit side-by-side.

Made in Italy and marketed by Arsenal Firearms in USA this has to be the gun for the 1911 fan with everything - especially with very big hands!

Think about it - you'll be able to pay twice as much for tuning and exchanging aftermarket parts for all those parts that normally don't work on a standard 1911. - new accuratised barrels, bushes, frames, springs, sights, magazines, squeeze grips, de-cockers, extended this and that, ambidextrous others - Gold plating would be great and you might have sights fitted on the side of the slide(s?) for home-boy cool dudes. - There's no end to it. - you might be able to fit two red-dot sights on-top.

WOW

 They are quoted online as costing US$26,000 plus a $200 BATF fee - cheap at twice the price.

- With ejection ports on both sides it would make finding your brass much more interesting eh.

 I think that kiwis who are known for being able to repair and modify anything with a length of No.8 fencing wire down here - may be able to build a local variant using duct-tape:

 

Marty K.