Lego Revolver Works:

I've been featuring "ridiculous revolvers" and hand cannons a couple of times - but now here's a toy one that I wish had been available when I was a kid - A Lego "Colt Anaconda" toy that works well.

That is so cool - when can I buy one for my grandson?

Please bring out a boxed kit.

Marty K.

32 Barrel Machine-Gun-Cannon:

On the club range over the weekend we were talking about "the biggest revolver" and 'hand-cannon' and how it was all getting a little extreme/odd maybe - but guys can have a great time building working cannon and firing them.

Well - here are a couple of experimental "Cannoneers" having fun and youtubing it so that we can all enjoy it too - all 32 barrels!:

32 Smoking Barrels.

Working under tough conditions - as someone forgot to bring the correct .36" calibre balls - the Guys above stayed with-it and improvised by using .31" calibre balls.

Great effort and Thank You men,

- Here are some others showing what can be done:

Looking Good.

 

I do know of a local kiwi shooter who has a cannon that he demonstrates using projectiles made from aluminium soft drink/beer cans - filled with concrete.. You must admire folk doing these fun things for others to enjoy eh.

 

Marty K.

Engraved Handguns:

I used to be indecisive - but now I'm not sure.

Another Nice Engraved S&W M60.

I dunno whether I really like or dislike engraved guns ..  Trouble is while some of them are very tasteful - others remind me of the die-cast toy "peacemakers" and 'cap-guns' that I saw as a kid.

Toy Gun

 

It's all a bit academic really as my Dad wouldn't let me have a toy gun when I was young - and now I'm old - I couldn't afford to own a quality engraved pistol anyway!

Engraved Original Colt from 1929.

 

Colt 1911. - Shame About That Grip.

 

Ruger Vaquero -Hmm Maybe?

 

Glock -Er - OK?

 

Colt .38 Super - Ooh Yuck!

 

I Guess that it is just a question of taste - like tattoos - what do you reckon?

 

- As long as they still 'function' - why criticize eh?

 

All pictures from the internet.

 

Marty K.

 

SURVIVORS - by Terry Nation:

Over three years between 1975 and 1977 - The BBC showed a very popular TV series 'SURVIVORS' that ran to 38 episodes before being cut for "lack of funding".

Written by Terry Nation - I've always thought that this original series was excellent and very thought provoking - So much so that I am the proud owner of the BBCs boxed multi DVD set!

- Mostly filmed in rural Herefordshire locations - apart from the dated '70s model cars - this primer for preppers has aged well.

Paperback Terry Nation Book:

- And now I also have a 2008 paperback of the book (first published in 1976) Terry Nation was a great writer who invented the Daleks , Doctor Who, and Blakes 7 as well as Survivors.

The book too is well worth your time - while the final section (Book3) is totally different to the TV Series.

( - The paper-backs cover-illustrations are from the much later 2008 TV "remake")

There are quiet a lot of guns featuring throughout the original series - mostly shotguns - but also rifles, military semi-autos that seem to be FN.FAL  (L1A1 SLR?) - and some handguns.. plus crossbows.

 "Greg" and "Abby" from Series One.

The later 2008 Survivors is different again from both the book and original TV Series.

- It has the  same main story characters and general pandemic disease story line - but I feel its twelve episodes suffer in comparison with the '75-'77 version and is less memorable. - And it seems that the producers felt the same - as it was chopped early.

I see that there is a audio-book available from Big Finish Productions too.

Anyone watching or reading Terry Nations story must have their eyes opened to just how vulnerable organised society might be to "the plague" - certainly it has happened before,

 - even as recently as the influenza PANDEMIC of 1918 - That virus may have killed 100 million people worldwide.

No other event has ever killed so many (8,600) New Zealanders in such a short - two months period.

Marty K.

9MM Ammo Animation from GECO:

- Well worth watching - this animation about Gecos 'Hexagon' 9x19mm precision ammo comes via 'The Firearms Blog' and Facebook.

It is really so good - that while I do realise that it is an advert - I'm not fussy.. If it tastes right - eat it.

The "Hexagon" name refers to the projectiles six nose grooves - that they claim has a similar effect to golf ball 'dimples' - and I'll even put-up a commercial photo from the Geco site as a small appreciation for the high quality of their graphics.

- that's pretty - somebody deserves a bonus.

Marty K.

Worlds Most Powerful Revolver - 600 Nitro Express:

The Pfeifer-Zeliska single-action .600" Nitro Express is a five-shot Magnum Revolver that may well prove to be the worlds all-time most powerful revolver - better called "Ridiculous-Revolver".

- However - I may question that claim later in this post ..

Meanwhile - I would like to introduce the .600 Nitro Express Cartridge that was developed in 1903 by W J Jeffery & Co. (Not Holland & Holland) This cartridge and its Express double-rifles were intended as the ultimate 'Big Game' tools for hunters intent on taking elephant ivory and other dangerous wildlife. - Just the gun to rely on when ...

this turns-up in your back-yard eh.

Loaded with a 900 grain projectile of .620" diameter that is said to be capable of penetrating 10mm sheet steel, - the early versions were propelled with cordite (a double-base propellant nitro-glycerine + guncotton) - hence 'Nitro-Express' -  "Express" because like the trains it was faster!

With a Velocity of 2,050 ft./second these elephant guns put-out 8,221 foot.pounds of energy - so they might be expected to be a little difficult to control in a revolver - But the Austrian made Pfeifer-Zeliska (P.Z) is a very large and heavy handful at 6. kilos - and almost adequately tames the recoil and upward kick.

Pfeifer-Zeliska Revolver

At 22 inches (55cm) overall length - the custom built 'P.Z .600' has a 13 inch barrel and the cylinder alone weighs more than many revolvers at 2.04 kg (4.5lb). 

- Just in case you were getting interested in buying one - please consider that each cartridge will cost you US$40. from Kynoch - That's $200. to load one cylinder full - and the P.Z Revolver  comes in a lovely fitted case at only US $17,316. each.

Note: Thanks go to 'Col' - editor of my pistol club Journal for introducing me to the Pfeifer-Zeliska. ('Col' is a magnum big-gun fan).

_____________

However - that Zeliska may not be the biggest revolver in the world because ..

 It Does look a bit Like A King-Size Ruger Old Army eh.

(- Both are based on the Remington Model 1858.)

- This is getting silly - but Ryszard Tobys from Poland has probably got the biggest revolver for now  .. until some millionaire takes-up the challenge !

This is a 28mm calibre ( that's about one and one eighth of an inch diameter bore.) black powder revolver that fires 136 gram (not grain) bullets - and Mr. Tobys took 2,500 hours to make his hand-built revolver.

- This six-gun is a forty-nine and a half inch (1.26metres) long replica of the 1858 Model Remington and weighs-in at 45kg.

- Well done that man. Mind you it really does get to be a little "academic" once you get to this stage eh - could you carry one of either of these revolvers in a belt holster?

 - and can you say that they are 'handguns'? - Hand Cannon perhaps - but wait - there's more!

Eight Foot Long Roadside Photo-Op at Mankato Minnesota

Still - Life IS good - and the world is a better place for having these nuts - oops - that should read eccentrics - in it.

Marty K.

 P.S: Here is another fairly pointless gun - this time it's a semi-auto but:

Anything For A Laugh.

- Watch the next video too.

- I bet those nice white teeth cost about the same as the gun eh,

M.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

Padded Rifle Bags - Get Rythm:

These padded Gun Bags or 'soft cases' seem to run from NZ$50 to over $100 - depending on the makers labels - but there does seem to be a shortage of bags that will fit around a modern? rifle that's got a pistol grip and 'scope or red-dot type sight, bipod etc. hanging off of a picatinny or weaver rail.

- if you then then add a nice fat silencer - boy "Have you got trouble in Gotham City?"

 But - all you got to do is look for a cheap ($20) padded electric guitar bag and "eureka" - it's something like a miracle eh.

As Advertised for $20.

 

It does fit - and it's now under-cover - discretely presented as a harmless and 'p.c'-socially-acceptable musical instrument. - And the bag has shoulder straps, and two large pockets on the cover that are ideal for your mags., targets, bipod, tool & cleaning-kit, spare parts and batteries for your electronic sights.

"It Does Get In".

-but I do have to slip-off the bipod.

- That's a 'brass-catcher' velcroed over the ejection port.. talk about "bells & whistles"

I did start-out looking at used violin cases and they come cheap enough even when complete with a full-sized fiddle - I even started to consider using the interesting shaped 'stringy-screecher' as a light fixture or work of art etc. - but decided (with the help of a tape measure) that a "geetar" was better suited size-wise.

You have to think about these things when you're cash weak and in need of amusement.

- So don't forget that tape measure eh,

Marty K.

The Worst Gun I Ever owned:

I found this good piece on 'The Firearm Blog' - written by Melody Lauer.

It is so well worth reading that you really should Google: Ten Lessons Learned From The Worse Gun I Ever Owned.

Melodys .40"S&W  Kimber Ultra-Carry.

Here's a brief summery of what it's about:

LESSON 1 – DEFENSIVE CALIBERS DON’T HAVE TO START WITH “4”
LESSON 2 – CAPACITY IS COOL
LESSON 3 – SAFETIES ARE IRRELEVANT IF YOU ARE NOT SAFE
LESSON 4 – IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE MADE OF METAL
LESSON 5 – REPUTATIONS CAN CHANGE
LESSON 6 – FIND REPUTABLE SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LESSON 7 – GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE MAKES LOYAL CUSTOMERS
LESSON 8 – IF IT DOESN’T FIT, IT FRUSTRATES
LESSON 9 – LOOKS DON’T MATTER (BUT THEY KIND OF DO)
LESSON 10 – NOTHING IS MORE FUN THAN A GUN THAT RUNS

If you spend money on shooting guns - and care about getting something that works - go read everything Melody Lauer has to say.

Common sense aint all that common eh - so have a read of what she's learned.

Life is good,

Marty K.

P.S: I've read several reviews of the new(ish) Glock 43 single stack 'compact' 9x19mm.

- It seems that Glock have got yet another winner here - despite arriving very "late for the party" with this one. - Still - 'better late than never' eh - and it sounds like they've got it right for both fit and function. - No go for NZ pistol shooters as the barrel is under four inches long

- Now if only they'd release a G17/19 sized .22"R.F. calibre they'd rule the world !

MK.

Stress Under Fire - One Third "Ineffective":

By 1835 the percussion cap was widely in use on private and sporting arms. - By 1842 the British army had converted their Brown Bess muskets to percussion - but breech loading and metallic cartridge rifles were still hard to find.

Converted Musket.

Henry VIII (1491-1547) - way back in time had a breech-loading gun for shooting birds - but not until  the 1800s were various needle-fire, paper cartridges, metallic rim-fire cartridges developed - and then centre-fire cartridges in 1857.

The New Zealand Government when faced with limited support from the "home" British government - in 1861 ordered Calisher & Terry breech-loading carbines - that fired a water-proofed paper cartridge - and in due course received between 3,000 to 4,000 guns. - Some of this model gun were used by Confederate soldiers in America.

Note:  The Calisher & Terry company closed-down in 1870 as their design could not be adapted readily to use the new metallic cartridge.

Soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War, 1861 to 1865 - largely fought with muzzle loading weapons.

QUOTE: from Guns of The Old West by C E Chapel.

"After the battle of Gettysburg, fought on the first three days of July 1863, 37,574 arms were picked up from the battlefield and sent to Washington, D.C., for examination by ordnance experts. Of this number, 24,000 were found fully loaded. One fourth of these loaded guns had only one load in the barrel, but one half had two loads, and the remaining 6,000 arms had from three to ten loads in each gun.

Some of the muskets were loaded with the paper cartridges upside down so that the powder was not exposed to the ignition. One musket was found with twenty-three loads in the barrel, some right side up and some upside down. From all this evidence of the near-hysteria and excitement prevailing during the battle, the government authorities estimated that one third of the soldiers on each side were ineffective as fighting men. With a breech-loading arm, this multiple loading would be impossible;

Gettysburg.

I read years ago that if it is possible for anyone to fit something the wrong way round - there will always be somebody who will do it - and that's without the stress and panic of deadly warfare.

When these thousands of men were released from the conflict at the end of the civil war - many headed on West carrying their muzzle-loaders as an essential tool for the settlement of the Frontier lands.

Few could afford to buy the latest metallic cartridge, breech-loading weapons, or repeaters, - that were proven as so much more effective arms. Indeed some men even clung to the flintlock as a more independent system - it not needing a supply of percussion caps.

Marty K.

Snubby Revolver - Follow-up Story:

I got this follow-up story from a dealer-gunsmith who worked in North America - in response to my piece about the merits of carrying an "old fashioned" snub-nosed revolver - when you might have a 'modern' semi-auto of similar size and shape.

 __________

My personal choice for a ‘carry gun’ has almost always been the .38 Special S&W M60, here in the US.  Whilst I have carried other guns such as the M1911, 9mm S&W M469, and even a P38, my S&W Chiefs Special has been my favourite (and I still have it).  My reasons are;  total reliability, sufficiently accurate (I used to able to clean the plates at 25 metres, double action), and adequately powerful with +P 125 grain HP’s.  I am pleased to say that in all the years I carried (here and overseas) I never once had to put my hand on my gun in a tense situation, but knowing it was there was comforting.

 

The S&W M60.

Tastefully Engraved

 

Auto pistols are OK, and some are reasonably accurate, but NONE of them compare to a good revolver for reliability, accuracy and power.  In my hands over the years I have learned that a good auto will shoot about 4-5” groups at 50 metres when I am having a good day (and many will only do that at 25 metres).  On many occasions I have double-actioned 2-3” groups at 50 metres with a revolver (and shot a few single-action, one-handed, one-hole 5 shot groups at 25 metres) and I have also shot a 1-3/4” group at 100 metres with my S&W M29 .44 Magnum, single action, resting both hands.

 I have attached a scan of a target of which I am rather proud.  I supplied a shipment of .38 Spec S&W Mod 10 revolvers to the local Police back in the 1980’s and two detectives came into my shop one day with one, complaining bitterly that it would not hit a figure target at 10 metres.  They only had three rounds left and I fired them standing, double action, in the 10 metre range at work.  All three shots seemed OK to me!

__________

The target has the three .38 Special hits at ten metres as one tight vertically elongated hole.

 

Well done and Thank You -

Here's a wee video comparison of two .357" Magnum  snubbies - one 6 shot, the other 5 shot:

 

 

Marty K.

Silenced Glocks - 9x19mm & .45":

When I did my earlier post "How to Read a Fired 9x19mm Case?" (30.03.2015) - I was conscious that I had tested my 158gn Subsonic loads in two long-arms fitted with over-barrel silencers and an un-silenced Glock17.

158gn Sub-Sonic Fired Cases
 from Just Right Carbine, "DeLisle" L.E. Rifle, & Glock17.

- Maybe I should save-up some pennies to buy a threaded barrel and get a silencer to play with on the Glock 9mm too.

 I am wary of that idea - as the thought of a big tube screwed to the barrel - that has to flick up-and-down each time the barrel breech locks and unlocks kinda scares me a bit. - However - Hickok45 shows here that it really isn't an issue.

Silenced Glock 17

"Oh - I may have a Problem Hitting The Gong - The Sights are Somewhat Obscured"

- Ting, Ting, Ting !

 

9x19mm JRC.

While a silenced Carbine or rifle is very practical - adding all that extra length to a handgun certainly changes its character & reason to be.

9x19mm Lee-Enfield "DeLisle".

And - the video clearly shows noise level is significantly lowered even on a centre-fire handgun.

Hickok45 has also done a video on a silenced Glock 21 (.45"ACP)

- Like the man says .. Life is good.

Marty K.

'The Snubby Revolver':

I've just finished reading "The Snubby Revolver" by Ed Lovette.

 - It was very good - educational and entertaining - which is about how it should be - as I've also just paid-off my credit card bill for NZ$152. -  All for books bought from The Book Depository in England!

 - that was for five books mind you, not just this one - and I'm not really complaining as I don't get through that much cash from week-to-week normally.

- Just books, gun stuff, car stuff - like insurance and petrol, tyres, servicing etc.), taxes, food, cat food, medical expenses, dentists, clothing, shoes,  house stuff like electricity bills, firewood, insurance,  plumbing repairs etc., etc.

The books theme is why both professionals and citizens should still consider the short barrelled revolver as a good choice of carry / back-up gun even in this era of compact semi-autos being out-there - with examples and great tips (for US citizens of course):

Tip 1; ALWAYS HAVE A GUN (when expecting a gunfight)
Tip2: ALWAYS GAIN & MAINTAIN A TACTICAL ADVANTAGE (CHEAT )
Tip3: NEVER GIVE UP

Ruger KCLR .357" Magnum.

 

He points-out that even if the bad guy has got a weapon - it doesn't necessarily mean that he will use it - and if he does , he won't always hit you, - and if he does, that doesn't mean that you are dead.

____________

CALIBRE:
Ed raises the subject of calibre - the bigger the better - Can't argue with that - The biggest that you can handle accurately.

My all-time number one favourite calibre has to be the 10MM Auto ( - better thought of as the .40" Auto MAGNUM) - however this is handicapped by only a few makers having a gun in this size (no snubbies? - there are derringers in 10MM) - and the ammunition sometimes being hard to find. Flat shooting and as effective as a .45  .. I guess you might cut-down a S&W 610 moon-clip revolver to three inches if you could find one?

-For law enforcement carry I'd certainly go for both main gun and 'back-up' in the same calibre for serious 'social use' - so would maybe use a  Glock 17 / 19  9mm backed-up by a 9x19mm short-barrel revolver using full-moon-clips.- Loaded with a hot modern expanding projectile.

Ruger LCR 9x19mm Reviewed

- Good Music Too!

- Or a .45ACP auto and moon-clip fed revolver? ..

- You pays your money and makes your  choice eh (if you work & live in America anyway). - Here in NZ - I have absolutely no thoughts of any kind of violence.

 - For educational and research purposes only.

Marty K.

RUBBER BAND Powered AK47:

- Well - more of a "field expedient repair" perhaps?

Either way, it all helps add another argument as to why you might prefer an AK to an AR.

Life is good !

Marty K.

Ruger 'OLD ARMY' Cap & Ball revolver Revisited:

(See my earlier post Wednesday 19 February 2014)(If you can be bothered ;-))

The late Bill Ruger Snr. was a black powder enthusiast - and when he decided to build his own version of a cap-and-ball revolver - he started with the 'Old Model Blackhawk' frame and action.

He Liked Cars Too.

The 'old model Blackhawk' was made from 1963 to 1972 - So when the new 'Ruger Old Army'  (ROA) was introduced in 1972 - it used the early ("three screw") grip-frame and action parts of the Blackhawk - while the New Model Blackhawk moved forward to use the new transfer bar system (and the new "two pin" frame.)

The great blued model Old Army was followed by the superb Stainless Steel version in 1975 - both coming with a 7.5" round barrel and adjustable sights.

Stainless Steel has to be The Logical Material to Make a Black Powder Gun.

- But You Still Have to Clean Them Properly after use.

The cylinders are produced as castings rather than machined from solid bar stock and have 'safety notches' between the chambers (- and the guns have a half-cock hammer position).  Cylinders were proof-tested by loading to maximum capacity of  'Bullseye' and then topped with a  ball!

Note: Anyone stoopid enough to be prejudiced against Rugers should note that they produce investment cast components for a SURPRISING number of other well known U.S. gun manufacturers.

Warning: It is not safe to leave a loaded and capped 'ROA' in the half-cocked condition. - you should lower the hammer with the cylinder rotated onto the 'safety notch' position.

- Sad to say but Ruger ceased production of the 'Old Army' in 2008 - despite offering it in fixed sights versions in 1994 and having brought-out 5.1/2" barrel models in 2002.

Five and a half inch 'fixed sight' Model Old Army.

So .. The Old Army cap-and-ball was based on the original 'Blackhawk' - which was itself modelled on the 'Colt Peacemaker' - but the black powder features of the Old Army were styled on the Remington Model 1858.

Remington Model 1858

  - In other words - the 'ROA' is not a replica or copy of anything - rather it is a very strongly built modern black powder revolver that will out-perform any period piece .. and it also looks very manly!

Hickok45 is Good Value Eh.

The early ROA guns were sold as being '44 Calibre' but later became .45"Calibre - but they all used the same .457" diameter balls (or conical pure lead bullets).

 Conversion cylinders have been made that let you fire these "ROA"s using brass .45" COLT cartridges.

Bootifuel - I rest my case. (except they don't make them anymore - thirty-six years of production but ).
 
Marty K.

P.S. - How about using something like these for faster loading then?

45" Calibre B.P. Paper Cartridges.

- and maybe a home-made cartridge box to hold them?

An 18th Century Cartridge box.

M.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

The Ferguson Rifle:

I've just started reading yet another 'Frontier Story' by Louis L'Amour - called "The Ferguson Rifle" and this set me to wondering just what was a 'Ferguson Rifle'.

That is a Cleaning Rod Under The Barrel - NOT a 'ram-rod'.

It seems that they were an English  breech loading flintlock rifle from 1776 that could fire six to ten shots a minute. The guns were made in 65 calibre - .650" but are also noted as being 5/8" and 3/4" bore.

The reloading breech was opened by cranking one full turn of the screw-plug using a handle at the rear of the trigger-guard.

Well designed within the technology of the day - the tapered rapid twist screw-plug gave a more gas-proof seal to the breech than had been achieved earlier - but despite successful trials of  a hundred rifles in action, the rifles were withdrawn from service and "mothballed".

British Major Patrick Ferguson was granted his English patent No.1139 in 1776 for his re-design of an earlier 1720 gun by Isaac de la Chaumette  - this earlier rifle needed three full revolutions of its trigger guard to open (- and then 3 to close the breech again.)

Ferguson successfully persuaded General Clinton to double the size of the experimental 100 man corps - but when he was incapacitated by a wound to the right elbow from a musket shot the trials were dropped.

The rifles - which were hampered by fouling black-powder residues clogging the action - were difficult and expensive to produce at that time - and the wooden stock was very weak in the area close to the action - proving unable to survive rough handling .. so much so that remaining examples have a U-shaped iron re-enforcing band to strengthen the weak point.

Firing a Replica Ferguson Rifle.
- That should be a 'Redcoats' Uniform eh)

Well done that man

Marty K.

P.S. L'Amour slips-in an interesting wee quote into his 'Ferguson Rifle' story : "It takes two people to make peace - but only one to attack".  Hmm.

 

'Tramps Terror' revolver

Way back in 1877 USA there was yet another depression that resulted in mass unemployment, wage-cuts and strike action - which sparked rioting and protest hunger marches.

 The rail-road barons and other corporate and Wall Street financiers of-course responded in a typical "Free Market" manner by sending in well armed private 'company police forces' with orders to shoot and get rid of any of the hungry lower classes who might dare to interfere with their (rolling) stock.

One Chicago business - The Western Gun Works - took this 1877 opportunity to market their small seven shot .22" revolver for "Police, Bankers, and Household use." as the TRAMPS TERROR

The urban immigrant proletariat were at this time labelled as "Un-American, communists, tramps, 'Molly Maguires', atheists, and assassins"

The Philadelphia Inquirer trumpeted  that public authority should ".. club it to death at the hands of the police or shoot it to death at the hands of the militia." - Get your Tramps Terror here.

Molly Maguire 'Coffin Notice' threatening a 'boss'

There's a good Wikipedia page on the Molly Maguires.

___________

- Sounds to me very similar to New Zealands "wharfie-whammer" club swinging farmers galloping through the streets of Auckland in 1951 to put-down striking dock workers - who were curtailing their farm export profits.

1951 Union March

 Funny enough, but when the five month long NZ "wharfies" strike collapsed under extreme emergency laws - the British ship owners posted record profits for that years operations!

- Nothing much changes eh.

Marty K.

Sub-sonic Noise v Supersonic: Video (9mm & .22"R.F):

This wee Youtube clip is excellent at pointing-out the exact reason why I favour "silenced" - moderated or suppressed firearms.. and why I am trying to develop a decent sub-sonic heavyweight 9x19mm home-brew load for use in my guns.

Great Video - thanks for taking the Trouble.

 

Interested to see that he also has the odd misfire with that cheap Winchester 555 ammo. - It is less consistent velocity-wise than it might be and it misbehaves for me too in my semi-auto handguns (Of-course it's fine(ish) in a revolver - Well the price is good anyway !)

Although the microphone used here is 'chopping' the recorded sound level - it's still perfectly clear how much less obtrusive the sub-sonic loads truly are when used with a suppresser.

Down here in "Gods-own" anything shooters can do to reduce complaints by anti-gunners has to be great value - Why wake-up the whole neighbourhood?

- And suppressed guns are much less likely to damage your own ears if someone lets fly a shot when you are talking with naked ears eh.

Of-course - short barrelled handguns will be much louder than a rifle - when using the same ammunition - as the gasses exit the shorter barrel at higher pressures. - And even sub-sonic loads will still be loud - unless moderated through a 'silencer.

I kid you not - but to have serious hearing loss with constant tinnitus - pulsing and whining inside your head is not at all amusing (divorce grounds?) - and even your most understanding companions will become impatient eventually at having to repeat what they say over & over!

-  Old soldiers never die - they merely loose their hearing!

Life is good,

Marty K.

This Years Easter Bunny Hunt (Central Otago):

This Saturday 27 teams of 12 hunters brought-in nearly 8,500 bunnies to the Alexandra Pioneer Park for counting.

The best team shot 876 rabbits on a Moa Creek property - while the lowest number presented was just 15.

The numbers this year were down on a typical number of 17,000 (- up to the record of 23,000). This is no doubt due to the rabbit population being much reduced by disease and control measures.

The annual shoot is run by the Alexandra Lions Club and proceeds were this year to benefit the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust.

Shooters also brought-in 468 hares, 44 possums, and 44 stoats - plus a few turkeys and goats.

____________

 

Next weekend sees the Kaikoura Volunteer Fire Brigade run its annual pig and stag hunt during Friday to Sunday April 10 to 12.

Around 100 shooters are expected with some 20 to 30 children also taking part - with prizes for the heaviest rabbit, hare, and possum.

The entry fees are going towards purchase of new rescue equipment for the fire brigade.

- Good work by one and all.

Marty K.

Kiwis Hunting Goats:

- This is a story about what old men get-up-to - when they retire in New Zealand!

 

Yo Rod, (by e-mail)

How's your neck? -  I suppose you've spent the morning staring skywards watching the NASA

Balloon launch ?? (- NASA launched a huge experimental scientific 'Space balloon' from Wanaka in 'Central Otago' last week).

'Our' NASA Balloon Being Inflated at Wanaka Airport.

 

 - Nothing so exciting to see up here - although it was the A&P Show last week !! - Just an excuse for bagpipe owners to make a noise. - It's a Club 'shooting weekend' here so fingers crossed that it will be decent weather to take the toys out for some fresh air.          

                                                   __________

 

Hi Marty
 Went goat shooting on Sunday and four of us got 20.  My Gun City Ranger
AR15 ..223 performed well - and the 69 grain Hollow Points are deadly on goats.
I have attached a picture of a mob taken at about 250 metres before we
opened up. You seldom see them in a 'gallery shoot' situation like this!

 - We are off to Gore tomorrow for an Aussie Muscle-Car show (taking our
2004 HSV Coupe GTO Le).

Holden HSV - Something Like This?

 It is still quite warm down here and the ground is dry as a chip. - Our neighbour across the road is a piper - but he has a crook shoulder at present and can't squeeze the bag to practice  - Bugger!  - I have no time to gaze at balloons!

 -   We went up goat shooting about 5 weeks ago in the same area and got 10, but I was carting my 14.5lb .30/06 long range rifle and we got onto them at about 150 metres.

 - When you are my age (68 in a couple of months) the steep country is bloody hard going even without carting a heavy rifle!  This time I took my Chinese .223 Ranger AR15 (from Gun City) with 20" barrel and 7" twist which shoots 69gr ADI Outback ammo into sub .5" groups at 100 metres.

  The scope is a Nikon P223 4-12 x 40 with trajectory compensation (which is spot on to at
least 350 metres).  The 69 gr Sierra HPs are deadly killers on goats.  This last trip was a goat control trip for the station owner by members of our local Rod & Gun Club.

Nikon P 223 4-12x40 Scope Mounted on an AR15.

  The country is very steep and rocky with lots of bluffs and narrow gullies so they don't have to move far to get into safety.

We saw a couple of good mobs and several smaller groups of 2-3 animals.  Two guys went up on the Saturday and got 8, and four of us went on Sunday and got 20.

  Some nice legs taken (they slow roast nicely) and back steaks (for tasty
curries) were taken from the younger animals, - and some meat for dog tucker from the
older ones.

Roast of Young Goat Leg

 - On the way out we saw a Red Deer hind and yearling on the track which stood and looked at us from about 30 metres while I went around to the back of the Toyota Hi-Lux and retrieved my rifle and magazine - but they "bolted" as I closed the bolt!

 They will keep - as they are only 10 minutes from home!

Cheers, Rod

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- It's a hard life in the South Pacific Colonies  eh.

Note: Captain James Cook is recorded as having released the first pair of goats into East Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound way back in June 1773. - Since then the feral goat has been a true asset for people here over 242 years - but has been regarded as a pest from time to time.

 - Milk, meat, skins and Angora & Cashmere fibres for clothing are all valuable produce - and that is forgetting the goats usefulness for clearing unwanted weed plants when developing paddocks in farmland.

Marty K.