BradD

Gn, thanks for the info. I'll give it a try. Don't have any around so will pick some up. Brad

724, I feel your pain, although we have become cat people in our old age. When old Sam died in 2000 we had him cremated and spread his ashes in the Klamath River. Cost about $125. When Buster (only 4) our boy bengal cat suddenly fell ill in '04 and couldn't make it we buried him on a hillside here and bought him a little cat headstone. $75 for a headstone. When each had to go we went in with them and held their paws until they passed. I don't know, but it seemed like it mattered a lot to them, although it was heart wrenching for us. How could you do any less for such great friends and family members? Tough call what to do, but each of these creatures gave up their "animalness" to be a part of our lives and to be a part of our families and they would have died for us if they had to. You never stop loving them. It's strange. Brad

I don't know, Dale. You know there is wild pigs running all over that country, not to mention deer.

Gun nutty, IMR 4198 has always been a fantastic powder for me in the 45-70. I will probably start with my 45-70 loads and then work up to whatever I can get away with. If it doesn't put out I will probably switch to Benchrest or Varget. No luck there, I'll go 'splorin. Get back to you, Brad

Sonic, appreciate the offer on the reamer, I may take you up on it. My barrel guy said "What!" when I brought this whole matter up to him. I may need yours. Just like the 45-70 the 45-90 is an old buffalo cartridge in black powder. And just like with the 45-70 I'm going to to do a switcheroo into smokeless and develop some real man sized smokeless loads in a heat treated Siamese. The 45-110 is out of the question for future events, at least in a Siamese. I appreciate Dale's info, but I don't think a 45-whatever Sharps is going to be a part of this adventure. Action goes off to my poor head-shaking barrel guy (IT&D Custom Gun) on Monday. I will still have the whole stocking proposition ahead of me when it gets home so may be a while till I report how it works or how many fingers I lost. One more item, the Hornady 350 gr. RN was a beautiful bullet in this ctg. The 350 gr. Barnes TSX sucked. As most of you know, I live in the condor-approved-bullet zone. I opened the mag well some (lots of meat to remove there) and squished to bullet down more than I wanted and made it function. I think the sissy-assed 300 gr may be the way to go on the Barnes bullet. I hate being under gunned. Brad

Oh Dale, please don't confuse me with too much info. You know I'm getting old. As far as I know I'm going with 45-90 Win. Is the Sharps round really different or just have a third lube ring on the bullet or some such thing? The one I'm doing is 1/4" longer than the 45-70, otherwise SOS. Appreciate the intense questioning, even if I can't cope with it. Seriously, I'm hoping to up an already great chambering by a few hundred feet. The RCBS dies weren't out of sight as they listed them as "Legacy" dies instead of Group F as they used to be and Starline brass is less than a buck a piece. My barrel guy thinks I'm goofy, but is willing to do it. Should be an E Ticket ride. Brad

Doc, I escaped from PRC in 1954 and live in the unoccupied territories. Some day we'll take back our state from the foreign invaders. B.

I am starting a new project (finished my 9.3x64 and am getting bored). I had couple Siamese Mausers which have had much done to them including reheat treating and they have just been staring at me ever since. I've built three 45-70s over the years and couldn't think of much more to do in that vein. They have been great hog guns and I think the world of them. Just don't need anymore, thank you. Then I discovered the 45-90. Same cartridge 1/4" longer. With the 350 gr Hornady or the 325 gr Barnes Condor-approved bullet it fits with room to spare in the mag and seems to function just fine. This could be a real beast. My 45-70s are churning up about 2100-2200 fps. Although there is no loading data to even start from, except 45-70, I think I can reach 2500-2600 fps with the 45-90 and 325-350 gr bullets. 458 Win Mag get your fat butt out of the way! Has anybody done this or heard of it being done? Will be awhile till it gets back and I get it stocked but will let you know how it goes. Heck, I may do a 45-100 next. Brad

Whoa! Pacrat's hyberbole is up there, but what he says is pretty much true. I don't know if opposites really attract that much, but I do know that money attracts. PR's right, they ain't that opposite. Looks like we'll probably get another Republowhatsit for gov this time around, who'll sign every lame gun control bill that someone throws in front of her. Brad

Happy birthday, Jerry. Keep on cranking them out. Brad

Don, lows and mediums. Am I doing something wrong? Brad

My understanding, and experience, is the same as Mike's. Eddystones are the only ones to worry about. Brad

Roger, Just curious, will that bolt handle clear a scope as is, or will you have to dish it out? It looks really good and is remeniscent of a Talley. I'm on my fifth Talley and have had to dish each one out, even for a Leupold. Doesn't really matter much, I guess, just wish I didn't have to do it. You rifle looks really good. Great job! Brad

They make great DGRs in just about any caliber you can think of. Are you going to shoot a DG? I'm still jealously guarding mine, getting ready to do something or other with them. Want to see what a really slicked down action looks like with all the crapola off? If so, I'll see if I can get FC or Roscoedoh to post a pic. I never figured it out. Brad

I would say 724 seconded two motions. Hope you had a good day and got out of CA before Pelosi found you. Brad

You don't need that at that price. $450 is insane.

You NEED it, bad. Just buy it. You need it. Think of holding it... Buy it now. I still have two in my safe that I need. I don't know what for, but I need them. Mike's wrong, if you get all the junk off they look really good, but there's a whole lot to take off. Well, okay....maybe still not as good as a Mauser, but pretty good. You need it, buy it now.

AZ, You're right, the action is a Santa Barbara. I still have it laying around. Spent some time and money on it heat treating and tuning up, but it's almost an FN now. Never heard of the outfit until I found the barrelled action at Del Mar. Thanks for the info. Brad

We're in deep trouble.

The loons moved here from other places so they could have the good life (right before they trashed it). Now they reproduce here, except for the gay folk, we still have to import them. Sure isn't the place it was when I was a kid...but I'm up in the mountains in good old Kern County where there's not quite as many nuts, but they still rule the state even though 3/4 of the state hates them. Maybe a Scott Brown will show up here someday (instead of Willy or Jerry). Dudes. Brad

, 'Where Have All The Leaders Gone?'. Lee Iacocca Says: 'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage with this so called president? We should be screaming bloody murder! We've got a gang of tax cheating clueless leftists trying to steer our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even run a ridiculous cash-for-clunkers program without losing $26 billion of the taxpayers' money, much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'trust me the economy is getting better..' Better? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned, 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the Democrats out along with Obama!' You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.. The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs.. While we're fiddling in Afghanistan , Iran is completing their nuclear bombs and missiles and nobody seems to know what to do. And the liberal press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the ' America ' my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you? I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have. The Biggest 'C' is Crisis! (Iacocca elaborates on nine C's of leadership, with crisis being the first.) Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with thumb up your butt and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down. On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A hell of a mess, so here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody war now with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. But our soldiers are dying daily. We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the world, and it's getting worse every day! We've lost the manufacturing edge to Asia , while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs. Gas prices are going to skyrock again, and nobody in power has a lucid plan to open drilling to solve the problem. This country has the largest oil reserves in the WORLD, and we cannot drill for it because the politicians have been bought by the flea-hugging environmentalists. Our schools are in a complete disaster because of the teachers union.. Our borders are like sieves and they want to give all illegals amnesty and free healthcare. The middle class is being squeezed to death every day. These are times that cry out for leadership. But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point. Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened. Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping the government will make it better for them. Now, that's just crazy.. Deal with life. Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, look what Obama did about it! Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debit, or solving theenergy crisis, or managing the health care problem.. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry. I have news for the Chicago gangsters in Congress. We didn't elect you to turn this country into a losing European Socialist state. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on NBC or CNN news will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change? Had Enough? Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope - I believe in America . In my lifetime, I've had the privilege of living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: The 'Great Depression,' 'World War II,' the 'Korean War,' the 'Kennedy Assassination,' the 'Vietnam War,' the 1970's oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years since 9/11. Make your own contribution by sending this to everyone you know and care about. It's our country, folks, and it's our future. Our future is at stake!! ***********************************

Dudes, You're just way too intense, dudes. Lay back, eat green stuff, smoke green stuff, put green stuff in your ears. We've found the way to new hope and new change, dudes. Obama will save us, Obama will lead us to the light, Obama will give us free stuff. You're just too intense, dudes. You might want to take a Spanish class, dudes. Brad (yes, I'm armed)

Brenden, I used to do my own checkering, but now my hands are too shaky, eyes too weak, neck too sore and disposition too crabby. Good you learn while you are young. There was a place or two that sold premade patterns, but there was always a problem of some kind fitting them, so I always made my own. 1. All grip patterns are based upon some partial circle. I soon discovered that the kitchen was full of circular things; plates, pots, jars, cups, etc and I could try them out until I found the right circumference for the upper and lower radii (they won't be the same) and lay them out on paper and cut them out when satisfactory. Scotch tape them in place on the stock and first pencil, then use a blade to trace the outline onto the stock. Once the outline is in place start filling it in. If you are going to put a border on it, do that after the checkering is all done - will cover the booboos. Most folks don't like borders anymore. Use the same pattern on both sides, don't try to make two (one for each side). 2. All forearm patterns are based on triangles or rectangles, even if you are doing fleur d'lis. Experiment with different triangle patterns until you find what fits well and you like. You may also find a need for diamond patterns, but they are just double triangles. Good luck, let us know how it goes. Never, never hurry or work at it too long! Brad

Ken, I've used quite a few of them and kind of like them. A little pricier than just upping the spring weight, but I think they make a much nicer feel and the springs that come with them are forever bombproof. The red color kind of helps, that way I can just look at the rear of the bolt and tell if the gun has one in it, so I don't polish the rear end white. How much do they actually speed up the lock time? I'm not sure. It feels faster and more positive, but I sure couldn't say how much. There is a good chance that you will have to adjust the fp protrusion. I called them about it some years ago and they said don't worry about it, just drop 'er in. I worry about it and I still adjust them. Same as with any other fp in a 98. Brad