New ammo and gun accessory search engine

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Oleg Volk

Iron Sights is run by my friends from another, unrelated site. They web-crawl retail sites and organize the best deals for you.

Posted in ammunition | Tagged | 1 Comment

Selecting a black powder revolver

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Oleg Volk

I got the black powder bug last year. Wanted top play around with cap and ball, but the loaners available to me were not quite what I wanted. For one, I didn’t want to ruin someone else’s gun by accident if I ever failed to clean it properly. For another, it’s not much fun to shoot a gun that doesn’t shoot close to point of aim and, with fixed sights, the chances of either .36 or .44 I had in the studio having POA=POI were not great.

Enter Pietta .44 Target model, imported by Traditions. A fairly close replica of the  Remington New Army produced from 1861 on, it’s not completely authentic and I am OK with that. For one, none of the originals were stainless. For me, this is a big plus, as gun cleaning isn’t my greatest competency.

For another, I am pretty sure that none of the originals had adjustable target rear sight or Patridge front sight. Typical cap and ball revolvers either use a notch in the hammer or in the topstrap. Topstraps are usually convex and shiny, leading to specular highlights right in the sight picture. Eight inch octagonal barrel gives ample sight radius: if I am going to deal with slow reloads, I might as well make each shot count. The choice of .44 caliber was made with the same thought.

I am also not a fan of loading five chambers out of six available for safety. This gun has historically accurate safety slots between chambers, so loading all six is just fine. The gun design makes cylinder removal fairly each, so I would be able to use an external loading stand for added convenience.

The basic load is a Pyrodex pellet equivalent to 30 grains of powder: by a happy coincidence, that’s the recommended load for 140-grain roundball with this gun. I am lazy and somewhat clumsy, so one pellet is easier for me to handle than loose powder. 0.454″ ball is slightly oversized to ensure tight obturation. And a percussion cap to set all this off. Expected muzzle velocity would be just under 900fps. Not much velocity is gained by going with round ball over a heavier, more effective conical bullet…but I am doing pure target shooting at moderate ranges, so easier loading and less recoil win over better terminal performance.

In theory, Pyrodex is a bit less sensitive than black powder. In my use, that’s a minor issue amply compensated by increased convenience.

For the same reason, pre-cut Wonder Wads are preferred as a sealant over messing with petroleum jelly. Just as I prefer digital cameras to film, I am a fan of results over process and not willing to go beyond what little concession I am making to historic authenticity by using a cap and ball in the first place.

Given the unusually cold weather around here, I wonder how much success I would have trying to cap a nipple with gloved hands. I now have enough ingredients for 100 shots. Since the solid topstrap makes the revolver more sensitive to fouling around the forcing cone, I wonder how  many times I would have to clean it to go through all that powder and ball. The mildly OCD side of my mind also notes that 100 isn’t divisible by 6 without a remainder.

 

 

 

Posted in ammunition, pistol, weapon | Tagged , , , | 29 Comments

A theory about bad laws

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Oleg Volk

There’s a perception among the Democrats, that gun laws affect Republicans most. In a 50/50 state, passing anti-gun laws harasses enough Republicans into leaving to guarantee future electoral majority for the left. There’s also a perception among Republicans that most drug users and sellers are Democrats, so prosecuting the “drug war” brands enough of them as disenfranchised felons to guarantee future electoral majority for the Republicans.

These perceptions are probably cultivated by those who have something to gain from enforcing these laws, just like the Inquisition got a new lease on life once asset forfeiture became a standard practice. So these ridiculous laws criminalizing possession of plant leaves or bent metal washers more harshly than assault or rape are probably here to stay. Too many cops, lawyers, propagandists and bureaucrats are playing into the worst prejudices of bigots who are convinced that they won’t get swept up in the frenzy of vicious prohibition enforcement.

With guns, there’s also an angle of control. Firearms are subject to excise taxes, which are presented as a sort of “luxury tax” but historically have been levied on life-sustaining essentials. For example, salt and alcohol have been highly taxed through most of modern history. Both taxes were collected with deadly force readily used, and both untaxed salt and alcohol have been poisoned by tax collectors to prevent their use by humans.

The importance of salt before refrigeration cannot be overstated. Likewise, alcohol was once the only available method of disinfecting water besides less field-expedient boiling. So restrictions on these substances were meant to affect essentials for healthy living. Guns fit right into that category, being extremely useful for maintaining personal safety. Unlike salt and alcohol, guns are also useful for fighting the tax collectors and other government impositions, so the main fury of modern revenuers is on weapons more than it is on salt or alcohol.

When we see bad laws viciously enforced, we need to look past the official justifications and see who profits…or merely think that they profit. Blue laws have more trade than religion behind them, as do other apparently nonsensical restrictions. Without an understanding of evil, it’s difficult to eradicate it.

Posted in civil rights, food, rkba, weapon | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Unexpected terminal ballistics

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Oleg Volk

A year and a half ago, I reviewed Rossi revolving 45LC carbine (also capable of chambering 410 shotshells). I wan’t all that impressed with the accuracy, the handling or the terminal ballistics.

Yesterday, one of my models brought her Circuit Judge to the range and we shot a few rounds through it. Shooting 45LC lead bullets with a red/green dot sight, I was able to overlap all five shots at ten yards. That is substantially better than my results with the previous gun using the same ammunition.

We also tried Winchester PDX 225gr JHP load in Clear Ballistics gel. From 18.5″ barrel, velocity was just over 1000fps, and this was the terminal result. Much better!

About 13″ straight line penetration with 11/16″ expansion from the original .45″. Minimal felt recoil and dull report. Empties extracted easily, though the one closest to the receiver sometimes butted up against the wood of the stock.

We also tried two 44Mag handloads for Henry Big Boy first mentioned a couple of years ago. One load used 240gr Hornady XTP, the other Sierra 240gr JHC, both provided by Brownells. 24.5 grains of H110 move either at just under 1750fps. The impacts on gel were pretty spectacular with both loads: explosive fragmentation upon impact with about 15 degree spread. I am generally not a fan of fragmenting bullets for defense, but these loads had one important difference — deep penetration ranging from 16″ to 24″! Apparently, the relatively large size of each fragment combined with efficient cutting shape and high initial velocity of impact made all the difference. When I cut the block for re-melting, the “wound track” parts of it were not re-usable. For close-in defense against soft-skinned foes, this appears nearly ideal.

Hornady lists recommended velocity for 240gr XTP as 1350fps from a 7.5″ revolver. So, fired from a carbine, this load would have conventional expansion at 100 yards. Given the impressive accuracy of this lever action (under 1.5MOA), it can be used to good effect out to at least 150 yards. With 100 yard sight-in, the trajectory doesn’t rise above 2 inches nor drops below 6.

Posted in ammunition, rifle, weapon | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Good government is like a strong immune system.

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Oleg Volk

It protects the body from external aggression. What most countries actually have is a raging case of auto-immune disorder, with the putative protector preying on the members of its own body.

Posted in civil rights | 3 Comments

Firearm designer position open in NH

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Oleg Volk

My readers may find this help wanted listing useful.

Posted in weapon | Tagged | 7 Comments

A mix of classic and new

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Oleg Volk

Last year, I was curious what happened to KD Holsters and discovered that the brand was no longer. But some of their designs live on through Nelson Holsters. James Ervin Nelson took the most popular designs from several old brands, improved them, added several of his own, and now makes comfortable and well-made leather for everyday carry.

Making a comfortable but discreet holster for an L frame revolver is a tough task. This one worked out great.

The main advantage of custom makers is their ability to make something unusual for a common gun or to accommodate something uncommon. Boberg XR9-S in a concealment holster.

Very stable despite the short slide which proved a challenge to some other leather-workers.

 

This is how it sits on a curvy hip:

It disappears under shirt or a blouse.

Posted in holster, pistol, self-defense, weapon | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Ruger PC9 carbine: new on AllOutdoor

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Oleg Volk

Police Carbine that works for everyone. Written by my friend Frank Stratton, illustrated with my photos.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Vintage “Terrorist Alert” posters

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Oleg Volk

terrpostersample

A friend is selling off a small number of vintage posters that he designed during the 1980s. These posters are inexpensive (three for $13 shipped!) and their message is pretty sensible. Take a look.

Posted in self-defense | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Update on 22TCM

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Oleg Volk

While I hope to try a 5″ pistol, a bolt action rifle and a semi-auto carbine in that caliber, I do not have them on hand yet. What I have is a 4″ 1911.

I brought it to the range to test penetration on armor plates and had a chance to chronograph it. The 40-grain soft point exits at around 1910fps and consistently expands to about .3″ in gelatin. Penetration is about 17.5″ with a mostly straight path and the bullet remaining mushroomed front first.

Considering that 9mm Luger ball penetrates considerably further and starts about at .355″, 22TCM would seem an inferior performer. The magazine capacity is the same between the two calibers. The difference is in the felt recoil and speed of follow-up shots. 22TCM has no muzzle flip to speak of and can be fired very rapidly. It also has a flatter trajectory, with nearly half the drop of the 9mm at ranges under 300 yards. It’s a niche round but appears quite useful for small game hunting using the same 9mm sidearm with a different slide, or for self-defense by the recoil-sensitive.

Posted in ammunition, hunting, pistol, weapon | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Bullpups Unlimited 870

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Oleg Volk

If you have one of these shotguns, please email me privately.

 

Posted in advice requested, shotgun | 1 Comment

G2 Ammunition Range Report: new on AllOutdoor

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Oleg Volk

Clarifying the brand image of a controversial ammunition maker. 

Posted in ammunition, pistol | Tagged , | Comments Off on G2 Ammunition Range Report: new on AllOutdoor

Movie review: St.Ives

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Oleg Volk

A very approximate adaptation of Stevenson’s book, this movie is a modern romantic comedy in Napoleonic era trappings. What it lacks in authenticity, it makes up in the sheer amusement and cute acting.

Acting: 10
Visuals: 8

Overall: recommended.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments Off on Movie review: St.Ives

A point worth re-visiting.

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Oleg Volk

The only question worth asking about any gun control push is: “What’s their end goal?” The answer is usually a subjugation of a disarmed people along with imprisonment or extermination of defenseless dissidents. Sometimes disarmament is pushed along ethnic, religious or political lines. More often, it’s government on a warpath against the governed.

Posted in civil rights, rifle, rkba, self-defense, weapon | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Old infrared portraits

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Oleg Volk

False color IR.

B&W conversion.

Posted in interesting people | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Old infrared portraits

Brown Bess and another surly wench

Posted on February 7, 2015 by Oleg Volk

Posted in shotgun, weapon | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Cool vz58 tshirts

Posted on February 7, 2015 by Oleg Volk

If you like vz58 rifles, this tshirt is for you:

Get it from Czechpoint.

 

Posted in rifle, weapon | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Cool vz58 tshirts

Browning Black Label 1911-380: new on AllOutdoor

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Oleg Volk

The combat-ready Bantam

Posted in pistol, weapon | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Can we compromise with anti-gun activists?

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Oleg Volk

Let’s look at one of the simplest, least powerful guns on the market, a Crickett Hunter. Manually cocked bolt action design dates back to 1820s, nearly two hundred years ago. Rimfire ammunition is uses postdates the action by only twenty years, and even the more modern .22 Long Rifle cartridge dates back to 1887. The telescopic sight on it is an equally old invention.

While it can be used for sport shooting, the main purpose of the Crickett is hunting small game. That, in itself, is a bad thing to many of the mostly left-wing prohibitionists, as it makes individuals less dependent on government handouts of foodstuffs.

The telescopic sight in particular scares them because, having unclean conscience, every prohibitionist considers himself worthy of assassination for cause. The suitability of the Crickett to the game not much bigger than a hare doesn’t matter to them, as such trivial technical considerations are beneath their dignity to consider. The same people who wish to ban “assault rifles” for supposedly being too inaccurate for hunting also wish to ban anything with optics for being too accurate for their peace of mind.

In the end, the training matter more than the weapon. With that in mind, German laws prohibit training kids, severely restrict training of minors up to the age of 25 and completely prohibit defensive training of adults. Playing Airsoft is considered war training.

Since even single-shot manually operated firearms that cannot be easily concealed are too scary for the prohibitionists, I don’t think much of a compromise is possible. They might claim not to be after such simple, low-powered arms but they don’t bother hiding their efforts to expand the definition of “prohibited persons” as much as possible, or their efforts to prohibit acquisition or defensive use of any weapon, however antiquated, in areas where they have control, like Washington DC. The perennial bills to prohibit private ownership of body armor serves the same nasty goal: a complete fire superiority of the elected and unelected bureaucrats over the rest of the population. And their angry reaction to such a non-military firearm as a single-shot smallbore pistol for hunting small game is a clear tip-off to the wise.

 

Posted in hunting, pistol, rkba, self-defense, training, weapon | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Ballistic questions about pistol caliber carbines

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Oleg Volk

Has anyone tried 60-95 grain bullets in 9mm Luger from carbines? What kind of accuracy, external and terminal ballistics should I expect?

Has anyone shot 22TCM into gelatin from a rifle? Photos?

I should have a chance to test these eventually, but would be curious as to the experiences of others.

Posted in advice requested, ammunition, rifle | Tagged , | 7 Comments