Reported Raids & Recoveries ..
Angela Brazier of THE FIREARMS SAFETY AUTHORITY was recently quoted in The Bay Of PlentyTimes 29 August 2025 stating .. “It is particularly concerning that a firearms dealer is part of this investigation,” Brazier said.“Firearms dealers are subject to higher thresholds of conduct to be considered a fit and proper person to hold a dealer’s licence.
May I, as an ex firearms dealer and longterm licence holder, point-out that POLICE - as the responsible authority and enforcement agency - should also be subject to higher thresholds of conduct .. and NOT be EXEMPTED FROM ALL REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN NEW ZEALAND FIREARMS LICENCES as "fit & proper persons".
Either you ARE 'FIT & PROPER' or you are NOT .. Nobody should be exempt from these requirements.
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Regarding making 'caseless charged cartridges' or "HAZARD Bullets" for percussion firearms ..
https://flicense.blogspot.com/2024/09/hazard-caseless-boolits-4-blackpowder.html
These loads involve mixing the fff black powder with the added adhesive of around 6 or 7 percent DEXTRINE or DEXTRIN - as the glue to hold the charge together when shaped & compressed. - The question has been asked "WHICH IS IT?" and my research indicates that this modified glucose-starch is a variable product with a variable spelling so don't worry about it. - Then there is the thought that this small amount of adhesive may reduce the propellant's power - which it might or might not .. those requiring the highest possible energy and velocity might compensate by INCREASING the charge volume/mass by a small percentage to compensate.
In the Olden Days - the gum on envelopes and postage stamps was dextrin.
My guess would be that any dextrin-adulteration power loss might well be fully compensated by the use of the nitrocellulose GLUE used to stick the charge to the BALL and to laquer seal the outer surface. - Use the right glue.
Here is a link to a gentleman making hand mixed 'Corned Powder' for fireworks .. He uses dextrin as an additive to produce larger granules:
https://www.skylighter.com/blogs/how-to-make-fireworks/hand-mixed-black-powder
- Such simple hand blended powders will be GUNPOWDER - better than crude dry-mix 'Serpentine Powder' but less powerful than proper optimum propellant from a Ball Mill.
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Two of us were questioning what exactly was the difference between #10 and #11 Percussion Caps .. we couldn't agree - So I thought "My computor AI will know .."
- So #11 is larger and longer .. maybe.
I'll go back to my ignorant uninformed earlier self - and use whichever I can get andadjust the nipples to fit.
It's all down to your nipples mate.
ALL the percussion guns I've ever owned were "Pre-Loved" and the nipples had been hammered & mushroomed out of shape. As a guess I'd say that the longer cap might be more securely held on a nipple than a shorter one - BUT naturally not if it is a looser fit. These 'cones' are tapered.
If your caps keep dropping off - you can give them a squeeze to distort them and grip a bit tighter, - or you
might consider a wee dab of Nail-Polish to seal them gently in place - or I've read that the flexible clear
plastic petrol pipe sold in various sizes may be cut into short stubs and pushed over the capped nipples as
retention sleeves
Are You Fit and Proper?
Are NZ Police 'FIT AND PROPER PERSONS'?
.. not many
FIREARMS LICENCES FOR NZ POLICE.
Marty K.
