Either way, it all helps add another argument as to why you might prefer an AK to an AR.
Life is good !
Marty K.
Sunday, 12 April 2015
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.
Either way, it all helps add another argument as to why you might prefer an AK to an AR.
Life is good !
Marty K.
Saturday, 11 April 2015
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.
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.
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.
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.
- 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!
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?
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
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
Wednesday, 8 April 2015
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'.
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.
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.
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.
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)
- That should be a 'Redcoats' Uniform eh)
Well done that man
Marty K.
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
'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.
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, 5 April 2015
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.
Saturday, 4 April 2015
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.
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.
____________
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.
Friday, 3 April 2015
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!
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
____________
- 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.
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