AzRednek

I followed Barnes’ Cartridges of the World for years. He provided loading data from long obsolete cartridges. I used Barnes’ loading data for 308 Norma Mag as it was a bit more generous than I had in loading manuals. I read on the net so it has to be true. There were some lawsuits dealing with COW misprinted loading data. I personally found one in the 41 Mag data. To be fair, I found out the hard way loading data in a Speer manual for 38 Super was way to high and corrected in the next edition. Cost me a magazine and a factory grip. Unfortunately the loading data was removed from later COW editions. I’ve also read Barnes was used as an ammunition expert witness in court trials. When I toured the FBI building in Wash DC I noticed as we passed the lab area all the COW books sitting on a shelf. 
 

One of my favorite stories in Barnes’ COW books. He was taking a college coarse in metallurgy. The prof claimed it was impossible to drive a softer metal through a harder metal. Days following Barnes showed the prof a frying pan he shot pure lead bullets clean through to prove him wrong. I believe it was Barnes that challenged known to be impossible to alloy certain metals. During the early USA nuclear testing some metals were alloyed that were thought to be impossible to do. It’s been a lot of years going all the way to the 70s I read one of his earlier editions cove to cover. Barnes is one man I would have loved to met. The last edition I only partially read was authored by Barnes’ replacement after his death. I wasn’t to impressed with it. 

Doc when I got my Blackhawk Convertible as a gift. I was really into bullet casting. Before even shooting it I slugged the cylinder bore size. It was all over, not any two in the same cylinder the same size. I was really disappointed with the shot to shot accuracy. Shooting FMJs in the ACP cylinder being the best but still mediocre. My hard cast with gas checks in the 45 Colt cylinder was pathetic. 
 

A few months later at the NRA Convention in Phoenix I cornered a Ruger rep in the display area. I was hoping to get prepaid postage return labels to avoid the FFL or over priced overnight fees and hassles. In an apologetic tone he told me all Ruger would do is test fire it with jacketed factory ammo. Telling me it would be returned claiming it met their specs. I later had all the cylinder mouths reamed to .452 then had the forcing cone elongated to eliminate a tight spot under the strap. It was a night vs day improvement. With the then sturdy hands I had I could shoot clusters at shorter ranges out to about 20 yds. Adding Hogue rubbers helped considerably with my shooting as I could get all my fingers on the grip. I hand loaded some of the so called Ruger Only powder charges with  heavy cast bullets. Glad I had the Houges as it kicked like a 44 Mag. The Ruger Only hand loads also worked well in my 45 cal Rossi lever action. 

4 hours ago, karlunity said:

It should be clear to the Ukrainians that they are NOT going to get Nato armies or a no-fly-zone or ww lll. It should also be clear to the Russians that the Ukrainians can fight. So..NOW is the best time for the two to make a deal. If the Russians pay a blood price for taking Kiev, Ukraine has nothing left to deal with. But Russia does not want to lose more troops. So both sides have more to lose the longer this goes on.

I don’t know Karl. Yeah it would outright stupid for NATO to engage the Russians in a shooting war. However it might be a good tactical move on NATO’s part that it’s being considered. Might help keep Putin looking over his shoulder toward Poland. 

2 hours ago, z1r said:

When we were young, and I mean, high school young, my buddy's grandmaw and uncle used to make wine out of mustang grapes grown in Fredericksburg. Dang good stuff. I always wanted to brew my own but alas, I don't drink enough anymore to warrant the effort.

Hey Z, both my deceased brothers made wine. My younger brother’s wine was especially good. He also made a very sweet wine he claimed helped him get lucky with dates. He said they’d put it down like Koolaide. My only attempt making wine stunk up the house so bad I had to dispose of it. The odor lingered in the garbage can long after the garbage truck. Don’t know what I did wrong but I never tried it again. 
 

Back to bolts. Years ago after a bud and I both bought German 09 Argie sniper rifles from SARCO. We both searched quite diligently in Shotgun News for the German factory turned down bolts to no avail. Mid 80s only found one and the gun show vendor wanted way to much. I think he was asking $150. At that time one could buy a surplus Mauser for under 100. I was buying Czech 98/22s for about 80 bucks from J&G. We did find a local smith that did an excellent job and he also chrome plated the body and extractor. The old guy died before completing my Turk Kkale bolt. It took several months getting it back from his son. 

Dam you’re good Doc. A few years ago I took a Ruger Redhawk to gunsmith to have the barrel recrowned. I had to pony up some xtra bucks when the smith’s side kick said they’d have to remove the barrel to do it right. First trip to the range I discovered the barrel was not clocked right. They fixed it no charge but I had to argue with the side kick claiming my front blade was the problem. I’ve shot it plenty since but mostly with 44 Specials. I fear it may move again with a steady diet of Magnums. I got the Redhawk in a multi gun trade. It previously had an amateurish crowning and barrel shortening. Just curious Doc, did you use any special tools to clock the barrel or did you eyeball it?
 

I’ve only once removed a revolver barrel from a Brazilian Model 1917. I borrowed the wood blocks from my uniform customer. Not caring about the badly rusted and pitted barrel I used a pipe wrench to remove it. I chickened out and left the installation up to my customer fearing I’d somehow botch it up. He was thrilled that I found him a new barrel I likely sold for only cost plus 10%. 

Found my book. Long one short, a few years ago I was reading it in my backyard. I was distracted for some reason left the book outside and didn’t remember it until the next day. My dog got ahold of it and it’s now in three pieces.

Anyhow I couldn’t find much on the 29-3. Going from -2 to -3 was when S&W eliminated the pinned and recessed. It also mentioned the length of the cylinder was changed in the transition. I think it was 1988 but I’ll double check. I read something about some -3s made with 5” barrels. Doc is yours marked Classic Hunter or Lou Horton? I couldn’t find anything about the sights. Anything is possible if S&W was looking to cut labor costs with the -3 by eliminating pinned and recessed might have gone cheapskate on the rear sight.

About 2-3 years ago I met a shooter at the range with a model 29 but I don’t recall the dash number. It was a bare bones model and not pinned or recessed. Plain Jane wood service grips, no Ts and the bluing and finish was poorly done. I recall while looking down the sights pointed down range the sight picture was different. I just can’t recall what it was but the entire rear sight assembly look different. I’ll read some more and see if I can find anything specific about sights. 
 

We began dickering as he offered to trade his with a 6” barrel for my 4” 29-2 after I mentioned wanting a 6 or 8 3/8” 44.  I declined, offered him 400 for his willing to go 450 in my mind but he started at no less than 650. I countered with a straight across for my 4” Model 28-2 but he wanted an additional 150 so we never cut a deal. Gave him my number but never heard from him. I eventually got me a 6” 44 but it’s a nickel plated 24-6 chambered in 44 Special.

Doc my 29-2 and other N-frames all have windage and elevation rear sights. Sounds like you have an oddball of some sort. Maybe I’ve just missed it but I don’t recall ever seeing S&W rear sights without an elevation adjustment. If I can find my S&W book I’ll see if it has anything on the -3. Sparked my curiosity is your 29-3 pinned and recessed??

On 3/9/2022 at 5:59 AM, FC said:

Are the bats still up there?

Doesn’t appear to be any. I’m about a half mile from some mountains and it might have come from that area. I’ve lived here off and on since 75. Over the years I’ve seen several Coyotes and one Bobcat in my hood. It is the first time I ever saw a Bat in the daytime. Shortly after I moved in, August 75. I saw three Bats scarf up bugs flying around a street light. About 30+ years ago when I moved in with an X about five miles north. After sundown Bats would occasionally hover over the swimming pool then dive down for a drink then take off like they say, a Bat out of hell. I suspect my visitor may have been a Bat looking for a place to give birth. Can’t think of any other reason to see one in the daylight but I do worry it might have been rabid.
 

I have a vague recollection in early grammar school, mid 50’s. An older student was bitten by a Bat on a family hunting or camping trip. Kid had to go through painful injections into his stomach. If I remember right Drs weren’t sure if the kid caught Rabies but was given the injections as a precaution. I have a better recollection of the bake sale the PTA did to raise money for the family. My brother won a cake in a cake walk is the reason I remember it. 

The exterminator showed up, charged me $65 to look for Bats. He tried to sell me on a process of smoking any out that might be in my attic. He did discover a small opening I had forgotten about where Bats could get into my attic from outside. About 20 years ago I put in a couple of bug bombs and killed a carpenter ant colony. I sealed it up with wire mesh and it came loose. I wonder if the exterminator helped it along. I declined the $199.00 smoke out job. 

Sorry I was feverish again, back to normal now Oxygen back in the 90s. Chemo and Covid suck and incidentally so do Bats!! Got an exterminator coming tomorrow afternoon.

The Houges can be a real PIA to install on a S&W testing your patience but well worth the trouble. I have a set on a Ruger S/A boomer about 15 years old. They still remain soft and cushiony and best of all with S/A Rugers is my pinky finger stays on the grips.

A few years ago had a Rossi 357. The grips had attractive wood panels on the side inside a plastic frame. What felt like silicone rubber over the back strap. The Rossi factory grips with Rossi medallion looked like Pachmeyers really sucked up the felt recoil and were very comfortable to shoot with my hot 357 hand loads. The Rossi revolver I bought from J&G was from a bankrupt California security guard company. I don’t recall the numbers, they were dirt cheap but I had to pay I think an additional 5 bucks for the fancy grips. 

On 2/28/2022 at 6:17 AM, FC said:

Some Americans move to the Columbian mountains, where it's cooler, but I don't think I want to be in a druggie country. Those Americans who moved to Nicaragua sure have Ortega problems now!

Seems to me I recall reading about some innocent America tourists that were forced to smuggle Cocaine back to the USA. The Colombians kidnapped and held their teenage daughter as a hostage until they did the deed. 

Th so called football cut out is a PIA to use with a speed loader. If you intend to use a speed loader get the grips without it. Not my photo, stole it from eBay.

I like the JM or Jerry  Miculek grips on the square butts especially for D/A shooting. The grips in the photo are Siamese clones  identical  except  there is no JM stamp.  For cushioning rubber grips I prefer Hogue over Pachmeyer for shooting the boomers. Guess it depend a lot on one’s hand size. However being a persnickety old man you just can’t deny the beauty of the older S&W target grips. Being that the  genuine S&W target grips now sell used for 100+ I’ve purchased a few of the clones from Thailand via eBay. A few years ago I got the manufacture to cut a round butt grip I liked to square butt.  They weren’t exactly as  he had pictured but close enough I was satisfied.

Any chance you have the original S&W K-frame wood grips?? For S&W grips, do an eBay advanced search and limit it to Thailand. There’s a grip maker there that makes some very good grips. Possibly he makes Herritt clones. If not send him a message asking him for what you need.  Prices are decent but check out postage before committing. I’ve ordered several S&W clones from him and haven’t been disappointed. If you can’t find a trade put them on EBay. eBay won’t allow you to ask for a trade. Keep the word “trade” out of the details and mention what you’re looking for might pass.

On 2/25/2022 at 5:21 AM, karlunity said:

If you mean  SELL  not  us pay  and  give   I agree

karl

That will never happen but they can get a good deal from the Afghanis on American arms. If what my high school teacher said is correct. No country, Briton especially reimbursed us for the arms we sent them in WW2. My teacher claimed the only country that paid us back for WW2 debt was Finland.

During the war the Brits begged for civilian weapons with a promise to make every effort to return them after the war. With just a few exceptions when a few Brits on their own returned them. The UK govt rounded them up and destroyed them. According to my first father in law. He claimed his dad carved his name and address into the stock of a sported Krag, along with some ammo and donated it. He never got as much as a card or letter or the rifle returned. 

11 hours ago, FC said:

A funny comment I read: “Sure, the Russian Army has a lot of tanks, but do they have diversity training?”

Thx Tony, I have been feeling like sh!t recently after starting Chemo then catching Covid. I needed a good laugh and you provided it, THX!!

I wonder if the US Grease Gun fared any better in accuracy?? My former father in law a WW2 engineer cussed them gladly giving his up for an M1 Carbine. He said something to the effect. You couldn’t hit a dam thing with them. The Brits were in desperate need of anything that could spit lead down range fearing a German invasion. I can’t recall the numbers but the Sten was remarkably cheap to build. 

Wish I had bought a bunch when they were 79 bucks.

https://www.jgsales.com/mauser-k98k-wwii-bolt-action-rifle,-8x57,-yugo-rebuild,-c-r,-good,-no-mag,-used.-p-107197.html?osCsid=0f2995c5d26132bfc1aaf9efe419daec

8 hours ago, Dr.Hess said:

ZOMG!!! The collector value is RUINED!!!!11!!

Got that right but it’s value as art is hard put a price tag on. Whom ever built those sporters the dollar value could be priceless. I’m reminded of a sporterized  Mannlicher I saw about 30+ years ago in a pawn shop. Stamped into the barrel and I’m paraphrasing. “To my beloved son Christmas 1965. Kinda sad thinking how it wound up in a pawn shop but to the father that sported it, it was priceless. I just can’t remember much about the rifle other than the high polished bluing that caught my eye. 
 

The hard core military rifle collectors that desire everything to be original. We are probably perceived as weirdos. The very hard core collectors in my gun club never use the word sporterized or a phrase like sporter project, it’s butchered or cut up. The only sporterized Mauser that I ever saw get any attention was a K98 left hand conversion.. 

6 hours ago, rjhans53 said:

I have a few "good rifles Sakos) that my mauser builds will never be as smooth and only about 50% of them will shoot as accurate but there is something about "I made it that that pleases me

That’s something the hard core mil-surp collectors just can’t see. I have no regrets despite the loss in value of any i sporterized. One rifle I’m glad I didn’t, an all matching numbers German made 09 Argie sniper rifle. I later got a straight across trade for it getting a 1950’s M-1 Garand for it. It was tempting as the action was silky smooth, felt like it had trigger work and it had a factory turned down bolt handle. At the time in the mid 90’s SARCO and Numrich were selling the turret scope mount set for $550.00. The mounts were the same as used on early WW2 German K98 sniper models. The price of the original mounts did come crashing down after SARCO connected with somebody making forced match number reproductions. I wound up sporting a Czeck BRUNO instead. The BRNO’s exterior looking near mint had a dark bore and the accuracy was a click or two below mediocre shooting Turk ammo. 
 

I’m now sitting on two complete Mauser actions. A FN and a new old stock in the white Santa Barbra Mag action. I’m now to old and crippled up to do any hunting and have been trying to get trade offers for Smith & Wesson revolvers. I was going to build the FN into a 270 or 06 for my grandson but it went by the wayside after discovering he is a lefty. 

I very seriously doubt we will see a revolution in my lifetime. Especially one started by the right as mentioned in the article. What we might see are states wanting to succeed from the US. It would likely be fought in the courts not with bullets. Don’t know if it possible but some state legislatures may get frustrated with the feds bailing out California and New York while their state stays fiscally responsible while their citizens foot the bill with high federal taxes.  A serious shooting war will never happen. The feds could level most homes with a 50 cal machine gun in a few minutes. If it did happen there wouldn’t be an honorable discharge of soldiers as what happened in the War Between the States. There would likely be blood spilled in the military as what happened when the Shah of Iran was given the boot. As Biden said we have F-14’s but how many pilots would actually fire on US citizens. Many pilots would turn on their leaders ordering them to shoot Americans. I think a right wing revolution is a fantasy in the minds of the left. Likely another “gun safety” excuse to begin gun control and confiscation. I can almost see it now, Piglosi and company will say. “We must to preserve our democracy”. 

On 1/30/2022 at 7:22 PM, Dr.Hess said:

$329 for Shilens.  Certainly a good barrel, but yeah, pricey.  Not sure what a rifle costs at Walmart these days, but $329 would be a significant fraction of that.

Years ago when somebody would buy a single rifle. It was intended to last a lifetime. The consumer was more concerned about quality. Today it seems there is not many one rifle owners. They, myself included have more than one. Separate rifles for varmints, deer, elk, pigs etc. Then there are fun guns like AR’s, 22’s or lever actions. I guess owning multiple rifles we are more conscious of price and willing to live with plastic stocks and without iron sights. I have two older bolt actions from the 60’s I got cheap. One is a Sears Model 50 which is a FN Mauser with a chrome lined barrel. The other a JC Pennys Foremost which is really a Parker Hale Mauser. Both are 30/06 and very accurate. I just can’t guess what they might cost today with walnut stocks and adjustable iron sights. 

8 hours ago, FC said:

I can't believe it when I read the average cost is about $40,000!

I have a feeling that figure might come from wedding planners to fool one into believing they are getting a bargain. I’m not saying a wedding couldn’t cost that much or even more but as an average I just can’t buy it. As a young teen I attended a wedding of one of my mom’s wealthy friends daughters. It had to have cost mega bucks and the couple got a lot of expensive gifts. They managed to some how get the initiation list published in the paper. There were numerous celebrities names on the list but they were mostly no shows. Some people say Jewish weddings are the best. IMHO it’s Mexican weddings, a lot of beer, drunks, dancing, celebrations and simply a lot of fun.
 

I had to pay for one of my twin’s wedding as the bride’s family couldn’t afford it. Cost me a bit less than 2 G’s as I eliminated the sit down meal at the reception. Had a friend in the catering business kept the food costs way down. For the reception I furnished a beer keg and if the guests wanted hard liquor they had to pay for it. My catering friend got me good price for a fairly large reception room at a hotel. I know I was being a cheapskate renting the room on a week day. Paid about 1/3 of the Saturday and Sunday rent. I did the photography, film and lab cost a hair over 100. They got the negatives, two each of the photos. I passed them coupons from the lab for copies and enlargements.
 

My last wedding cost me about $40-50.00. License, 20 to the JP and dinner at Dennys for the couple I needed as witnesses. The couple followed us home where I opened a bottle of Champagne one of my postal patrons gave me at Christmas. The majority of the Champagne went down the sink as it tasted like sh!t.