A Five Doller SLINGBOW:

- Way back on 20th March 2014 I showed how I had built two working bows from PVC pipe in a post called "A Low Cost ($10.?) PVC Pipe Bow."  working from online video instructions. Those bows are still working fine after close to a year and still get taken out into the yard now and again.

 - Well here's another home build project that should cost a similar handful of loose change to make and may be easier to move around and use accurately. - Once again I was shown the way to this by 'All Outdoors'

The video is interesting and clear and has got me thinking about my next project.

This guy sounds like he comes from just across 'the ditch' - in Australia (our western island).

- You might like to have a look at some more of his stuff on Backyard Armoury on You-tube.

Marty K.

Incendiary "Zeppelin" Bullets WW1.

Germany, early in The Great War sent its huge "Zeppelins" across the English Channel and bombed targets around 'The Wash' (Norfolk) - I watched a 'centennial' TV program the other night focussed on this.

and later reached as far as London. - My mums family come from near Wisbech.

Six months later on the night of 6/7 June, 1915, there was a major breakthrough in the war against the Zeppelin, Sub-Lieutenant RAJ Warneford RN of No 1 Squadron RNAS was off to bomb the Zeppelin sheds over The Channel in a Morane-Saulnier Type L parasol-wing monoplane.

He saw a returning Zeppelin (LZ.37) and attacked from below, only to be driven off by machine gun fire. He followed and waited until it descended to land, then hand-dropped six 20lb Cooper fragmentation bombs on it. Only the last one reached its target, but it caused the huge hydrogen filled craft to burst into flames, falling near Ghent. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for this victory but was killed in the air only days later.

1918 Sopwith with two Lewis Guns.

Brock, Buckingham and Pomeroy:

By the middle of 1916, there were new developments in incendiary/explosive ammunition for .303" Vickers and Lewis Guns. Initially, there was a reluctance to use them as they contravened the Hague Convention, but Germany's first use of poison gas in April 1915 hardened the resolve to beat the 'Hun' by any means possible. There were three types used together as 'mixed incendiary' the effects of which complemented each other.

Brock & Pomeroy Cartridges

Pomeroy

New Zealand (Invercargill) engineer John Pomeroy (born in August 1873) - developed in 1902 this explosive bullet which was quickly adopted by British defence services as a means of combating the growing Zeppelin threat. Filled with nitro-glycerine the bullet ignited the hydrogen gas which escaped from the tear in the Zeppelin gas bag created by the bullet's passage. - Later Pomeroy moved to Melbourne where he was well known for his night-time pie-cart drawn by a white horse, - "Pops Pie Cart" operating outside Flinders Street station where he sold plates of peas and pies, pasties and steak'n'kidney on toast etc.. 

Flinders Street Station Melbourne 1927.

His explosive bullets proved to literally need cotton-wool handling to avoid accidental explosion.

Buckingham

The Buckingham bullet (Mk VII bullet) was an incendiary/tracer bullet based on phosphor, invented by James Buckingham in 1914. The bullet contained an incendiary filling of between 10 to 14.5 gns phosphorous which percolated through annular weep-holes, the seal of which melted on firing - the phosphorus igniting on contact with the air leaving a white smoke trace.

 

Brock

An explosive bullet developed by Commander Frederick Brock RN and first successfully demonstrated in 1915, the Brock bullet was designed to explode between the outer covering and gas cells of an airship. - Brock was a member of the "Brock Fireworks" family and designed his explosive bullets initially as a .45" calibre but it was modified to .303 and used by the RFC until 1917 and the RNAS throughout the Great War.

I recall buying "Brocks Bangers" in London as a kid in the 1950s and dropping them down street gutter drain grills!

 - I also well remember - as a spotty teen-ager - being dealt with by a beat Constable who put the fear of everything in me by lifting me high against a wall with one hand under my chin and telling me what he'd do if he caught me with penny bangers again ! - Good Man.

Marty K.

P.S. looking at the photo of Flinders Street Station - the last time that I was there - the area diagonally opposite the station (a church?) was a hang-out for aggressive junkies & "street people'" - no pie cart to be seen any more.

M.K.

Colts Revolving Shotguns:

I'm exposing my ignorance again - but until reading 'Chancy' by Louis l'Amour I'd never heard of these guns - The Model 1839 and Model 1855.

I'd heard of revolving rifles for sure - but had no clues at all about these early percussion shotguns.

Model 1839.

Maybe that's because they were a bit dodgy to use - with the habit of powder leakage causing all cylinders to go-off together in a "chain-fire" when one cap was struck! - Kaboom.

Model 1839 Detail.

Again - maybe the later Model 1855 made as rifles, carbine and shotguns was better.

The late Louis L'Amour was an accurate Frontier Historian and his books are generally known as realistic and factual. Our hero Clancy in the book certainly is using his Colt Revolving Shotgun quiet effectively.

The Model 1855 shotgun seems to have been made in 10 gauge, 16 gauge, and 20 gauge.

So rather slow to re-load, - Keep your hand away from that cylinder gap flame, and kiss your ass good-by if you get a chain-fire. - Apart from that they look great.

Circuit Judge  45 Colt /.410 -A Modern Revolver - Shotgun.

The 'metallic' cartridge has made shooting so much safer and more convenient eh.

Circuit Judge Open For Re-Load

Below is an interesting and honest test of this wee revolving carbine - are they permitted as imports into NZ?

PS: from Rod  gundoc@xtra.co.nz

Hi Marty

 The only safe way to shoot ANY revolving long arms is to have your support hand on the trigger guard and not on the fore-end.  This avoids the many high-velocity small particles that come out of the cylinder gap.  A chain fire in a percussion revolver is not dangerous from the pressure point of view and will do no damage to the gun.  If, however, the shooter has chosen to put their support hand on the fore-end then that is a different matter altogether!  In my younger days I experienced a couple of chain fires with an old .44 Colt 1860 Army, caused by not putting a good seal of bullet lube over each projectile.  It is the flash over from the cylinder gap that causes chain fires, not anything to do with the caps which are protected by a steel fence.

As a matter of interest, .56 cal. Colt revolving carbines were issued to the Otago Goldfields Mounted Police in 1864 (sadly, I haven’t located any around here!), and also the NZ Government purchased some .56 Artillery carbines about the same time.  They were all ultimately withdrawn because of injuries caused by multiple discharges, something that could have been avoided with proper training (where have I heard that before!).< o:p>

Cheers

Rod

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

New Zealand Firearms Ltd.:

My shooting mate "Cutters" has sent me a link to NZ Firearms Ltd as being a good source of well priced shooting stuff here.

I've had a look and their online site offers a wide line of shooting gear - re-loading components, clothing and shooting accessories. They have a selection of Glock pistols in stock including the G20 10MM and G21 .45ACP.

- It seems that Glock Ges. have stopped making these two larger models - so now is the time to grab one if you've been thinking about those calibres to add to your safe.

www.nzfirearms.co.nz

Their prices do appear reasonable and they say they have their items in stock for immediate delivery.

Looking Good,

Marty K.

Ruger Pistol Calibre CARBINES:

All Outdoors have just reviewed the Ruger carbines in 9mm and .40" chamberings. Does this review suggest that there is renewed interest in this model?

 If listed again as the PC9 these would I think be welcomed by shooters for both serious social work and for their acceptability for target practice on pistol ranges.

I'd say that they'll be a winner down here for the importer - provided they came with a magazine that meets our 'A' Cat. requirement of under seven rounds capacity for semi-autos.

 

I know they don't come with all that "mans Barbie doll" stuff like picatinny rails and collapsing butt-stocks etc. but at the right price that should help their sales here in NZ where guns are assessed on looks by our authorities. - Their less threatening  'civilian cloths' would make them easier to import.

 

- Handy rifles for pigs, possums, hares, and other feral animals at medium ranges.

 

- Come on Ruger - how about a short re-run for export to NZ and places like California & New York?

 

Marty K.

Guns Tied-Down on Toowoomba Range:

An enterprising Australian gun-shop has jumped through all the police hoops and now has their indoor range open to the public.

The issues here in New Zealand were different in detail when I did this in Christchurch - but I have some understanding of the hurdles this facility will have overcome to arrive at "OPEN".

Of course, the tethering of firearms does restrict the misuse only somewhat, as there have been instances of range customers committing suicide - even with tethered guns - by climbing or leaning forward to end it all - and there is little to prevent a determined person bringing a pair of wire cutters onto the range hidden in their clothing. - The main control is an alert range officer at the side of any shooter.

But when faced with restrictions and lots of rules one needs to be brave and determined to move forward while complying with every sensible regulation.

Marty K.

PolyCase Ammunition - Plastic Bullets:

PolyCase Ammunition are an injection moulding company in USA  that has developed a range of nylon/copper filled polymer bullets . The raw plastic has copper particles blended in that provide some mass to the self lubricating projectiles - then the melted material is squirted under pressure into the mould cavities.

They say that they are currently producing their bullets at a rate of 90,000 per eight hour shift from two 80 ton presses and they come in eight different sizes that can be loaded into conventional brass cases.

I make that 18,900,000 a full week - running round the clock.(19M)

 

Injection Moulding is a way of bulk producing plastic components cheaply. The moulds or 'dies' are expensive precision engineered tools that are fitted into big heavy powerful  machines that can run continuously with little attention when set-up right. - I should know - as I worked in the UK plastics industry for decades as a machine setter / supervisor!

 

 

 

A Multi-Cavity Injection Moulding Tool.

 

It costs a lot to set-up - but once running the unit cost is negligible (- peanuts cost much more!)

 

So this range of light-weight ammo should eventually be on sale as a low cost choice - once the initial investment cost has been amortised - it's all profit.

 

 Screw caps x96 every 3 Seconds

- Yeah, that's the kind of stuff I used to do before NZ

 

 

As the name 'PolyCase' suggests - they also produce plastic cased ammunition.

 

 

I'm not able to say if this stuff is any good - but I don't doubt that it will be fine once all the wrinkles are sorted.

 

 - Well, - plastic bullets in plastic cases to fire from plastic guns - what will they think of next?!

 

Marty K.

High Speed Ballistic Photography:

Wow!

I was pointed at this interesting site by The Firearms Blog and I am truly impressed.

www.kuulapaa.com

This quality of firearms related photos is a rare thing - and Herra Kuulapaa qualifies as an expert in my eyes.

I've included this shot of a Glock 17 from his web site to illustrate what we are talking about.

 

Herra posts some images in stereo. -  & Don't miss the superb shots of airgun pellets shattering pink vitamin pills - truly spectacular.

Life is good,

Marty K.

Truglo TFX Sights for Glocks / US Army History:

I've just received Brownells "new products" e-mail and they've now got the new TRUGLO TFX sight sets in stock.

These sights neatly combine the glow-in-the-sun fibre optics with tritium glow-in-the-dark technology.

The front sight blade also incorporates a lock-ring that works as a white hi-light. Brownells are pricing these replacement sights at US$133.39
This looks well designed to me and I'm tempted to upgrade my G17.

Trouble is - I resent paying the extra shipping fee and then - our NZ Customs have got me running scared that they'll impound them!

----------

Here's a link to an interesting piece of video about a large US Army store of historic weapons and artwork - Sent to me from the NZ AAA (Antique Arms Assoc.).

http://www.buzzfeed.com/bennyjohnson/inside-the-armys-spectacular-hidden-treasure-room 

Marty K.

Stewart Island - Down South NZ

I asked a cobber had he ever shot white-tail deer on Stewart Island. - It is densely bush clad and can be wet and nasty - This is, after-all the Sub-Antarctic and the weather can change very quickly:

Hi Marty
I have been over to the island a couple of times but have never shot in the
bush over there.  I used to go out for a few days every now and then with a
mate who was a cray fisherman and we would go around the island dropping and
collecting pots.  I got a few deer on the beaches in the early hours of the
morning by shooting  in the moonlight from the top of the wheelhouse when we
were anchored up.  I only lived down there for a couple of years and did most of my hunting in Fiordland .

Fiordland bush is Beautiful in Good Conditions.

- mostly you need web-feet, blubber, and thick fur.

- Stewart Island is a nice place to visit and it can get quite hot there in
the summer so you can take advantage of the many nice swimming beaches near
Oban.  I know people who have a hunting trip there every year and love it.

I used to row over to Te Wai (where the Bluff smelter is now) with a couple of
mates in a dingy and shoot rabbits, and we also had on old fishing boat that
we would take out over the bar into Foveaux Strait behind the freezing works
and shoot sharks (not very PC these days).  They were mainly White Pointers
and there were lots there.  Most were 6-8 feet but the biggest I ever saw
was longer than our wee 16 foot boat so we left it alone!
Cheers

Those were the days - 1960s - the NZ population has doubled ** since then and the wild empty places are getting busier. Anyone venturing into these remote areas really needs to know what they are doing and be fit and well kitted-out. - Not to be taken lightly - as to this day there are five or six unrecovered bodies on Mt. Cook alone.

** note: New Zealand's population is currently estimated at just over  4.5 Million.
- "Rounding Cape Horn" in the old days was well known for its foul weather. - Check-out this map of the world and see that the arse-end of  'Gods-own' is just about as southerly and wind shredded as 'The Horn' and sits well into 'The Roaring Forties' and near the 'Furious Fifties'.

 

 

Marty K.

Less Than Lethal - Handgun Add-On:

I'm still trying to put together a considered reaction to this new product from USA (San Diego) 'Alternative Ballistics'

This is really different - and they won't come cheap either - US$50 / 60 each?:

I saw this attachment described on 'The Firearms Blog' - This fixture captures the standard lethal bullet into the large diameter lightweight alloy projectile and propels it onto the target delivering a shocking but non penetrating blow - "less than lethal".

Check out the publicity video simulation:

I really don't know what to say - this is a nightmare. - There are just so many aspects of this single use fixture that could cause a failure to achieve desired function - that it must have been developed in California where they do seem to be so confused about firearms.

- How long will it be before the first officer shoots himself in the hand?

 -  Consider the mental torment this equipment will cause serving officers in Departments that purchase it.  - "clever" though - but..

"Clever" is not the same as wise 

Further commentary from 'Fox News'

- Turn your ray-guns to "stun only' !

__________

 

- I got a parcel this morning from "The Book Depository" in UK with 'Fighting Handguns' by Jeff Cooper  - re-printed 50 years after it was first published - I'm looking forward to reading some authentic opinionated views on how The Colonel - "The Father of Modern Pistol Shooting" saw things back when.

 

I don't expect to agree with the late Gurus' every thought - but I do look-forward to absorbing his expert insights from all those years ago - 1958. The book is NZ$23. worth of illustrated shooting history - sent around the world postage free!

 

Marty K.

Less Police - Bluff:

- Hmm - it just seems to go-on.

Last night, Monday - the small port town of BLUFF at the bottom end of New Zealands' South Island held a Community Board meeting to protest a proposal by NZ Police to reduce the number of officers based in the town from three to one only.

Crime in Bluff has been dropping and this is an indication that the current level of policing for the population of 1,800 is at an appropriate level. - If the reduction to one only goes ahead - there will be no effective policing in the town once that lone officer finishes for the day.

Southern Area Commander Inspector Lane Todd is reported as saying "Should the proposal go ahead, and the need for staff adjustments arise, the situation would be reviewed."

Bluff has a sizeable fishing fleet - and a ferry service operates regularly to Stewart Island.

The Ferry at Halfmoon Bay Stewart Island.

 

Stewart Island waters are warmed by a current that sweeps around the island from the Australian Barrier Reef. The island is well known in NZ for its superb diving, fishing and hunting of Virginia White Tail deer.

 

 

 

Life is good.

 

Marty K.

NZ Rural Officer Says "I Carry":

Radio New Zealands 'Panel' today (Monday) discussed a letter from an unnamed Police officer to the Police Association journal 'Police News' . This rural based officer said that he "routinely breaches regulations by carrying a firearm and will continue to do so" - saying he needs to for protection.

I am pleased to report that the radio panel were generally supportive and unsurprised. - I guess that this is a case of real people responding to the thunder while their administration is still looking for the lightning flash.

" I work on my own in a remote area which is why I am able to do this". - I have not had a complaint, if anything, very few people even notice."

- nobody said that the officer was male.

I very much wish to add my full support to this sensible officer - who has understood the reality of  this lone posting and seeks to perform at the best - in a realistic manner.

-  WELL DONE THAT OFFICER.

However, Asst. Police Commissioner Mike Rusbach said that police policy did not allow for firearms to be carried as a matter of course.

We all know that the support of senior officers is of course always necessary for frontline personnel.

 - The Police Minister said that he backed the official police position .

Thanks guys.

Marty K.

Pistol Grips & Pistol Barrel Lengths:

I've never actually read a properly presented legal argument stating why a rifle that has a 'free-standing pistol grip' is more undesirable than any other from a law-enforcement viewpoint.

- This is almost certainly because there is no such argument.

- My guess is that the whole idea of trying to impose limitations on what 'style' of gun is allowed is based purely on well meaning but misguided ideas that how a guns looks make it more dangerous.. plus the idea that any restriction is a good thing!

It certainly seems that a 'free-standing pistol grip' is acceptable on any actions other than semi-auto.

It appears that "They" are themselves so impressed by the look of "military" style black rifles and choose to equip their own SWAT teams with them and dress them-up in black ninja style gear - maybe hoping to scare the baddies into diabolic diarrhoea.

 

Logic suggests that they are scaring more ordinary folk than any scum they can hope to impress from the criminal element. Surely a more effective police 'look' would be a standard easily recognised police uniform with small modifications to make the deployment of arms easier and safer .. er - wouldn't that be a better standard uniform anyway?

 

Might I suggest some light protective padding (armour) at the elbows and knees similar to motorcycle wear for a start. If the standard police uniform is unsuited to active duty - then change it.

----------

Here in NZ target shooters are limited to handguns having four inch minimum barrels measured from the breach face - on the basis that this is a suitable minimum length for target shooting. - but when considering revolvers, our authorities - measure the barrel length in the standard 'industry' way - by ignoring the cylinder length from the breach face.

357" Revolver (with 4" barrel) measures close to 6 inches from breach face

- when NZ Police measure it.

 

This "disparity" in my humble opinion doesn't actually upset the usefulness of either handgun - because the actual difference in sight radius is slight - Check-out the photo comparing the Ruger GP100 that has a 4.2 inch barrel to the M&P s/a with a 4.25 inch barrel.(only fifty-thou different)

 

 

 The revolver sight radius is actually less than the similar semi-auto - So those of us who'd like to be able to shoot shorter more compact handguns will need to argue a different point.

 

(The semi-autos firing mechanism is behind the barrel taking-up a similar length to the revolvers cylinder)

 

Marty K.

 

Pistol Grips on Rifles - Problem??:

I was grumbling inside my head about stoopid rules imposed by morons on legal shooters - such as the bans on stocks with "free-standing pistol grips" that apparently make a rifle "unsuitable for sporting purposes".

Early 'gonnes' had a straight pole used as a stock.

- this next one is dated 1426..

Check-out this antique Jezail matchlocks curved stock:

- reminds me a little of the "New York Approved Stock" as per my JustRight Carbine.

- And a European effort ..

A 'Brown Bess' Musket. 1722 ..

 

The weapons have become so sophisticated as to no longer be tucked under the arm or held against the torso - the lump of wood forming the handle has become a 'shoulder stock'.

 

Then the stocks held by the firing hand started to be more comfortably shaped to fit the hand:

 

Greener Shotgun with "Prince of Wales Grip'.

 

Then:

 

A lovely piece of walnut 'treble-grip'.

 

Once the industry started to move forward in stages from timber furniture it was an easy step to increase the hand-grip angle to a completely 'ergonomic' and comfortable free-standing grip:

 

Winchester M70 Stocks.

Via the next obvious move:

Through thumbhole stocks to:

 

 

Uhh-Ohhh - The dreaded 'FREE-STANDING PISTOL GRIP.

 

How could we be so stupid as to think that our masters ( sorry - that should read 'our democratic representatives') could be fooled into letting us get away with such an obviously evil development?

Classic AR15 with very bad free standing Pistol Grip

 

 In order that these deadly details are limited and controlled from being unleashed on the innocent public - we now have such safely designed stocks as these recent  police approved examples:

 

'Druganov' Stock on AK.

 

'New York' Stock on Just-Right Carbine.

 

-  Nothing free-standing to see here - And not a bayonet lug in sight !

 

- The world is now a safer place - Thank The Lord - Alleluia!!

 

Marty K.

 

Rod - my all time favourite Gun-smith and expert witness - has e-mailed in to say that pistol grips were adopted by target shooters in the 1800s and the purpose is to serve as a means of better control & comfort - and add to the safety of using long-arms. The military did not adopt pistol grip designs until 100 odd years later.

 

 

 P.S.  I couldn't resist adding this photo of Winston Churchill with Eisenhower shooting  Thompson sub-machine guns .. double-dangerous because they have TWO pistol grips!