It is the 'Duck Shooting Season' here.
Last weekend there were TWO tragic 'accidental' shootings that resulted in the deaths of two young New Zealand men. - One was a fifteen year old youth, who died while climbing a wire fence with his gun.
- These men should have been part of the future of sporting gun use here for many years.
- Instead their families will need to cope with the sad loss of life - and the Government Associate Conservation Minister Peter Dunne has announced he will review "unsafe and illegal gun use."
A Green Party spokesperson says they doubt that this is an effective way to deal with this matter - while an ACT Party spokesman thought that it might be useful.
I feel that New Zealanders definitely need to take a more serious approach to ALL forms of accident prevention and personal safety - and if these recent tragic deaths can result in improvements in our accident rates - that will be a small blessing.
- But my guess is that this review will be yet another excuse for publicity seekers to call for more "Gun Bans".
Marty K.
Tuesday, 12 May 2015
Sunday, 10 May 2015
'Percussion Revolvers' by Cumpston & Bates:
Here's a novelty - this paper-back book noticeably weighs nearly twice as much as others of the same size and thickness! - This is because of the dense high quality shiny paper used.
Percussion Revolvers - A Guide to their History, Performance, and Use - written by Mike Cumpston and Johnny Bates. - It is available as an e-book, but much better you get the dead tree version as it has excellent glossy photos and is a quality book - maybe to treasure & keep.
This books second novelty feature is that they tell it as it is:
- eg. Chapter 2: Replicas: The Good, the Bad, and the Awful.
- So many gun books / magazines I've read are not much more than re-prints of the manufacturers advertising agency bullsh*t and only repeat the good news - while keeping quiet about any faults.
These guys appear to be honest and have actually tested and tried the replica black powder guns and then report and compare them to the originals - and they call rubbish RUBBISH. - They detail the weak points such as the old flat leaf springs and suggest remedies and 'tuning' modifications.
- Lots of loading information and velocities with accuracy results all charted.
They describe the Ruger Old Army (Chapter 17) as ".. neither fish nor fowl. It is not a curio, relic, or replica of such." - That is fair enough too, as they shoot it and like it - recognising its strengths and use-ability.
Interesting to note that while reviewing powders and the black-powder substitute propellants (Pyrodex, Goex, H777 etc.) - the authors (and others) use the name 'Replica Powders' - that can be a bit confusing in a book focussed on replica firearms.
- Good book - very informative.
I understand that this style of replica percussion firearm may still be owned and shot in U.K. - not firing a self contained cartridge.
Marty K.
Percussion Revolvers - A Guide to their History, Performance, and Use - written by Mike Cumpston and Johnny Bates. - It is available as an e-book, but much better you get the dead tree version as it has excellent glossy photos and is a quality book - maybe to treasure & keep.
This books second novelty feature is that they tell it as it is:
- eg. Chapter 2: Replicas: The Good, the Bad, and the Awful.
- So many gun books / magazines I've read are not much more than re-prints of the manufacturers advertising agency bullsh*t and only repeat the good news - while keeping quiet about any faults.
These guys appear to be honest and have actually tested and tried the replica black powder guns and then report and compare them to the originals - and they call rubbish RUBBISH. - They detail the weak points such as the old flat leaf springs and suggest remedies and 'tuning' modifications.
- Lots of loading information and velocities with accuracy results all charted.
Rogers & Spencer - Chapter 14
"often cited as the best percussion revolver ever designed."
They describe the Ruger Old Army (Chapter 17) as ".. neither fish nor fowl. It is not a curio, relic, or replica of such." - That is fair enough too, as they shoot it and like it - recognising its strengths and use-ability.
Interesting to note that while reviewing powders and the black-powder substitute propellants (Pyrodex, Goex, H777 etc.) - the authors (and others) use the name 'Replica Powders' - that can be a bit confusing in a book focussed on replica firearms.
- Good book - very informative.
I understand that this style of replica percussion firearm may still be owned and shot in U.K. - not firing a self contained cartridge.
Marty K.
Friday, 8 May 2015
Tavor .223"(5.56x45 NATO) & Aimpoint Sight Video:
- I don't know of any IWI Tavor Bullpups in New Zealand yet - so I am limited to seeing what I can find on-line. - So far everything I've seen and read points to it being my next 'wish-list machine'.
- At US$2,000. odd over there in the USA - I'd expect them to arrive here in NZ eventually costing NZ$4,000 plus - So if I want to get serious I'll have to start saving my pennies now.
Meanwhile, check-out this video:
They give the Tavor a decent work-out with a range of different ammunition and magazines.
Just talking 'off the top of my head' - I'd say that the NZDF might well be advised to consider these Israeli designed arms in their search to 'upgrade' from the Steyr AUG. - but there is talk that an AR15 clone will likely be the choice.
The one single feature that I see as a problem with bull-pups is the location of the ejection port for lefties. - maybe there might be a compromise answer - I know that they are convertible right-to left but how about a thicker butt pad option to shift the port forward a bit? - maybe there is.
On a quick look - The Tavor seems to be slightly shorter and lighter than the Steyr AUG.
Marty K.
- At US$2,000. odd over there in the USA - I'd expect them to arrive here in NZ eventually costing NZ$4,000 plus - So if I want to get serious I'll have to start saving my pennies now.
Meanwhile, check-out this video:
They give the Tavor a decent work-out with a range of different ammunition and magazines.
Just talking 'off the top of my head' - I'd say that the NZDF might well be advised to consider these Israeli designed arms in their search to 'upgrade' from the Steyr AUG. - but there is talk that an AR15 clone will likely be the choice.
The one single feature that I see as a problem with bull-pups is the location of the ejection port for lefties. - maybe there might be a compromise answer - I know that they are convertible right-to left but how about a thicker butt pad option to shift the port forward a bit? - maybe there is.
On a quick look - The Tavor seems to be slightly shorter and lighter than the Steyr AUG.
Marty K.
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
Earliest Flintlock Revolvers and Repeaters ?:
To start - I should say that I don't know any of this stuff myself - I just came across it and feel that it's well worth passing forward.
- But SO many people think that Samuel Colt invented the revolver ... (Colts first patents 1835, 1836).
However - Elisha H Collier made a five shot flintlock revolver in 1814 (1818 patent) that worked well by the standards of the day. The cylinder had to be turned by hand and the 'frizzen' contains a reservoir for powder to self-prime the pan.
- Now, going back in time - I recall that the Ferguson Repeating Flintlock rifle dates from 1776 (see my piece 8 April 2015) - and could be fired some six times a minute.
Next I'm going to mention here the Lorenzoni Repeating Flintlock Pistol of 1680.
- Not a revolver but this amazing gun has a powder magazine in the stock above the trigger and another mag. for the balls - the video shows how it worked (six to ten shots) better than I can try explain:
- And then there was the Hans Stopler 8 shot revolver of 1597 ..
- But SO many people think that Samuel Colt invented the revolver ... (Colts first patents 1835, 1836).
However - Elisha H Collier made a five shot flintlock revolver in 1814 (1818 patent) that worked well by the standards of the day. The cylinder had to be turned by hand and the 'frizzen' contains a reservoir for powder to self-prime the pan.
Collier 5 Shot Flintlock Revolver.
This was no 'one-off' prototype - more than 10,000 of these were made between 1819 to 1824 by John Evans & Son, London - and widely used by the colonial British forces in India.
Note: Rod has e-mailed: "There are a very small number of Colliers in NZ (pistols and shotguns). Tuawhaiki, the chief of the southern Nga Tahu and based on Ruapuke Island near Bluff, was a lover of good guns and the visiting whalers and sealers soon learned to give him nice examples in order to get their concessions granted. A Collier revolver (which I believe is at the Southland museum) is one of these gifts."
Note: Rod has e-mailed: "There are a very small number of Colliers in NZ (pistols and shotguns). Tuawhaiki, the chief of the southern Nga Tahu and based on Ruapuke Island near Bluff, was a lover of good guns and the visiting whalers and sealers soon learned to give him nice examples in order to get their concessions granted. A Collier revolver (which I believe is at the Southland museum) is one of these gifts."
Another Collier viewed from the other Side.
- Now, going back in time - I recall that the Ferguson Repeating Flintlock rifle dates from 1776 (see my piece 8 April 2015) - and could be fired some six times a minute.
Next I'm going to mention here the Lorenzoni Repeating Flintlock Pistol of 1680.
Lorenzoni of 1680.
- Not a revolver but this amazing gun has a powder magazine in the stock above the trigger and another mag. for the balls - the video shows how it worked (six to ten shots) better than I can try explain:
(- In the United States the Cookson Repeater of 1750 used the same system..)
____________
- And then there was the Hans Stopler 8 shot revolver of 1597 ..
Hans Stopler 8 Shot Arqubus Revolver of 1597
I'm not qualified in any way to write about these very early firearms - other than to say that the history of gunpowder and guns is still being researched and discovered by better brains than me.
Don't you love this shooting history ? - A good starting point is to read the Wikipedia entry for "Revolver" - but who'd have thought that they go back more than 400 years?
- I'll take one of each please. - Dream on eh.
- I'll take one of each please. - Dream on eh.
Marty K.
Monday, 4 May 2015
.50 cal Self-Steering Bullets:
US Defence Advanced Research Progress Agency, DARPA have announced that the self-steering Sniper bullet has arrived.
The details remain classified but it seems that the .50" calibre projectile has optical sensors that adjust the flight direction to the target by using flexible rubber rings.
- where to next?
- History strongly suggests that every 'measure' leads to the development of 'counter-measures'.
- any ideas?
The details remain classified but it seems that the .50" calibre projectile has optical sensors that adjust the flight direction to the target by using flexible rubber rings.
- History strongly suggests that every 'measure' leads to the development of 'counter-measures'.
- any ideas?
CNN Video Report.
It looks a lot like 'magic' to me - but I guess 'science' covers it . I'm still waiting for ray-guns to appear next!
Marty K.
Marty K.
Sunday, 3 May 2015
Silenced Heavyweight 9mm = .38"Special:
I again ran some more of my 158gn copper-plated loads through the Just Right Carbine and my Glock 17 last weekend and continue to be 'well pleased' with how very quiet they are when pushed-out of the silenced carbine - truly they DO sound very like an air rifle.
Just Right Carbine - with New York Legal Stock & Magazine - Plus Silencer.
"Cutters" commented that the guns quietness was being enhanced by this lower velocity - some 300ft/sec. below the speed of sound (1,127ft/s).
- This load of-course also works fine through the Glock 17 pistol.
Load Details - For Information Only:
I am loading copper-plated 158 grain flat-nose .358" bullets after re-sizing them through a .356" dia. Lee die.
The ADI Sporting Powders AP70N smokeless Pistol Powder is volume metered through a Lee #32 disc cavity and weighs approx. 3.1grains and when fired from the carbine are giving a sub-sonic velocity of 820 - 830 feet per second.
That 825 ft/sec average velocity with a 158gn pill looks very much comparable to .38" Special performance.
- With my head down on the buffer tube all I hear is the "spong" of the action spring - followed by the "ting" down-range from the steel target.
158gn Subsonic 9mm Reloads - Nice Yogurt and Tomatoes eh.
Comment: Currently I feel that while this load is working fine - I do think that I will in future use a more 'standard' load with 9mm 147gn bullets. - This would eliminate the resizing operation and help further reduce internal pressures.
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
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
Friday, 1 May 2015
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