Things might be getting a bit quieter in Minnesota if one of piece of legislation makes it into law. Rep. Mark Anderson (R) introduced a bill Wednesday that would repeal the Gopher State’s long-standing suppressor ban.
Similar to most states that have repealed bans on the device in recent years, the motivation has been noise control. As pointed out by Anderson in the above video from Minnesota’s KARE 11, suppressors don’t mute firearms, but do deaden their report. This virtue has won favor of frequent shooting range patrons and some hunters, particularly those who stalk more wary game.
The bill has the potential to bring Minnesota into lockstep with the majority of the nation. Presently, according to information on SilencerCo’s website, there are 39 states that allow civilian ownership of suppressors, though it is a NFA device and requires registration with the BATF and a tax stamp.
If Anderson’s bill passes the only remaining states that will have suppressor bans on the books are: California, Iowa, Illinois, Hawaii, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont. The District of Columbia also has a ban on the device.
Legacy Sports always seems to have something cooking with its brands. And 2015 appears to be no different for the Nevada-based importer. Nearly every one of the company’s shotgun, rifle and pistol lines have expanded in one way or another. Here are four firearms that jumped out at us. There is a little of everything for nearly every stripe of shooter, from tools for breaking blue rock to setup for chasing high-country game.
There have been a number of advancements in bullet design in the modern day. One of the most elegant and effective has been the advent of the bullet groove.
The bullet is changing. It is happening slowly, but it is happening. Take for instance the bullet groove.
The last twenty or so years have seen a couple of trends: firstly, the perfection of the monometal bullet, and secondly the adoption of the bonded core. Let’s talk monometals first.
Initially, I loved the concept. You have a projectile that is built of solid copper, much harder than lead, which simply won’t come apart. The problems associated with jacket separation were a thing of the past.
The only problem with these early monometals was the fact that they didn’t shoot well at all. The problem was solved by cutting grooves into the shank of the bullet, to reduce the bearing surface, and thereby reducing pressures and coincidentally increasing accuracy. The hollowpoint opens reliably, and it gives us hunters something to ponder.
The acceptable minimums, set forth by the shooting experts of 50 or more years ago, need to be reestablished. In other words, the rifles and cartridges, and even bullet weights for that matter, that were considered marginal in years past, are no longer marginal.
A good example is the .270 Winchester as an elk cartridge, which in the past has been considered too light. The monometal bullet has changed that idea; a good 140- or 150-grain monometal bullet will neatly dispatch any elk God ever put on earth. Another way of looking at it is from the bullet weight perspective. The performance of a .308 caliber, 150- or 165-grain monometal will be on par with a 180-grain cup-and-core. That changes things.
Now, about those bonded core bullets. By chemically bonding the core to the jacket, you get a bullet that will expand reliably, but the bonding process prevents any separation.
The shank with a bullet groove shows its face again in the bonded core realm in the guise of the North Fork bullet. There are many little grooves along the shanks of these bullets, again reducing pressure and showing fantastic accuracy. My 6.5-284 Norma has put five 140-grain North Fork hollowpoints into ½ MOA routinely.
The dangerous-game solids also have this bullet groove feature, with the Woodleigh Hydrostatically Stabilized Solid coming quickly to mind. You’re starting to see a trend here.
How does this affect us handloaders? Well, in a couple of different ways.
When loading for these bullets you’ll see that the lower pressures they deliver can lead to a change in required powder loads. North Fork recommends lowering the powder charge by 4 percent or so to arrive at the same ballistics associated with bullets that have a smooth shank, while Woodleigh recommends using identical load data will give good results.
If you take a glance at the Barnes Reloading Manual, you’ll notice quite a few of the loads are compressed. This is mainly due to the fact that the copper bullets are longer than the cup-and-core bullets, and eat up a bit more of the case capacity. However, the manner in which the TSX and TTSX build pressures allow you to achieve the same velocities with less powder.
I have found the best accuracy with Barnes bullets while using the faster-burning powders. When it comes to grooved North Fork bullets, they are a bit of a different animal. They keep their weight forward, allowing for more case capacity, rather than less, and the tiny grooves will actually help to keep your barrel cleaner, longer.
As a matter of interest, the folks at North Fork have told me stories of bench rest shooters using the North Fork bullets as a ‘cleaning round’ to keep the bore clean in between round of match grade bullets. The North Fork company does not produce a reloading manual, so you’ll have to use other data and start from the bottom end of the spectrum until you find your accuracy level and speed you’re after.
These newer designs are here to stay, and I’m glad, because they have proven to be both very accurate, and to perform well on game animals. They just need to be handled with a bit of a different mind set.
AR rifle shooters can heave a sigh of relief, at least for the moment. On Tuesday the BATF pulled back from one of its most controversial proposals in a spell — the ban of M855 ammunition.
As was reported in The Hill, the Federal agency retreated from its effort to shelf the surplus military ammo due to a resounding grassroots and political outcry:
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) said it will not seek to issue a final framework for the rule “at this time” after receiving more than 80,000 comments on the proposal, the “vast majority” of which were negative.
“You spoke, we listened,” the ATF tweeted.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) and other gun-rights groups assailed the proposal, and were joined by Republicans in demanding that it be withdrawn.
However, the BATF’s entire tweet announcing the pull back should do little to soothe gun owners’ hearts. It insinuates the 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition is still very much on the agency’s radar:
You spoke, we listened. @ATFHQ plans more study on the proposed AP Ammo exemption framework. See more https://t.co/SmRKMYvw7J
The Federal agency predicated the proposed ban of the ammunition on Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act of 1986. The legislation defined and banned the use and manufacturer of armor piercing ammunition.
The BATF’s claim was the M855 round met the act’s definition of armor piercing, due to its steel perpetrator and the fact it could be fired out of a pistol. As was pointed out by many commentators, the agency’s interpretation of this definition was wildly off the mark.
In addition to gun-right activists and politicians, the proposed ban of what is also known as green tip ammo also drew the ire of law enforcement. On March 3, a representative of the Fraternal Order of Police stated to the Washington Examiner there was no history of the round being used against police, undermining one of the BATF’s main arguments why the ban was needed:
“Any ammunition is of concern to police in the wrong hands, but this specific round has historically not posed a law enforcement problem,” said James Pasco, executive director of the Washington office of the Fraternal Order of Police, the world’s largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 325,000 members.
The concept of modular firearms is gaining a toehold in the shooting world. For some, the idea of having multiple calibers based off one platform has plenty of tactical and practical allure.
Colt is among the companies that have embraced the notion with its M.A.R.C. 901 series. The Connecticut manufacturer’s three models of Modular AR Carbines are sold as AR-10-style rifles, which shoot the hard-hitting 7.62x51mm NATO/.308 Win. round. But they can be switched over, lickity-split, to any AR-15 caliber.
In addition to thumbing off rounds in the above video, Hickok45 also demonstrates exactly how simple the caliber conversion process is on one of the M.A.R.C. Models. In this case it’s a Colt LE 901 16S. While it’s not a procedure that can be done on the fly, it’s a simple one, requiring little material and absolutely no tools — save a bullet to push out the retention pins.
The M.A.R.C. 901 is an intriguing series of rifles and it’s a fairly safe bet shooters will see the modular concept continues to be applied as the years go on.
One of the most innovative designs in the history of handguns is the striker-fired semi-automatic pistol. But what does that mean?
Having said this, the term used to describe these guns isn’t quite correct, or perhaps it isn’t quite complete.
With the modern guns we now designate as striker-fired pistols, the energy for the striker is stored when the slide comes forward and the striker hooks on the sear, much like the tail-hook of an aircraft landing on a carrier. When the trigger is pulled, the sear lowers and allows the striker to spring forward and fire the gun.
In some guns, like the Glock, the sear moves both to the rear and then down, the slight extra rearward motion completing the cocking process and then firing the gun as it moves down.
The first commercial success in this type of pistol was the Glock 17. But the Glock wasn’t the first striker-fired pistol, or even the first polymer and striker-fired pistol. H&K produced a pistol that was polymer framed and striker fired in 1970 but it saw little commercial success.
Whether you like striker-fired guns or not, the system is here to stay, and as an enduring fan of the 1911, I’ve come to realize that striker-fired guns are much more suitable than other systems for military, law enforcement and civilians for almost every application.
John Ulrich engraved Winchester 1866. Photo: Rock Island Auction
RIA’s first four-day auction in its history had a slew of intriguing firearms cross the block. But the one to steal the show was a Winchester rifle, engraved by one of the 19th-century masters.
In the realm of 19th Century firearms engraving, few name carry the weight of the Ulrich brothers. This was a point driven further home recently at the Rock Island Auction Company.
One of the top drawing items of the Illinois auction house’s first event of the 2015 staged Feb. 19-22, was a beautiful specimen of John Ulrich’s work. The silver-plated Winchester Model 1866 rifle, complete with a factory letter of authentication, drew one of the top bids of the historic event.
The lever-action featuring magnificent scroll work surrounding an elk on the left side panel crossed the block for $28,875. But it was not the only classic American firearm to demand top dollar at RIA’s first ever four-day event.
When everything was said and done, the company had moved $5.6 million in firearms, firearms accessories and military collectables.
Civil War Henry Rifle. Photo: Rock Island Auction
Early in the auction, a Civil War Henry Rifle drew a winning bid of $25,875. Manufactured in 1864, the .44 caliber rimfire was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company and was of a vintage to have perhaps seen action in the American Civil War.
As a sidenote on Henry rifles, while the U.S. Army did buy a number of them, few were ever issued. The soldiers themselves privately purchased most, many with money from reenlistment bounties, according to some sources.
While not commanding as high a price as the lever-actions, another American icon did catch plenty of eyes. A gold-finished Thompson 1927A1, or Tommy Gun, initiated a fierce bidding war before finally being captured for $5,175. The rather flamboyant firearm came with all the accouterments, including 50-round drum magazine and violin carrying case.
Gold-finished Thompson 1927A1. Photo: Rock Island Auction
Of the pistols RIA moved at the auction, a pair of Colt Diamondback revolvers far exceeded their estimated price. The double-action handguns, chambered in .22 Long Rifle, found a new home for the princely sum of $4,025.
It was a Borchardt C-93, however that turned out to be the bell of the ball for handguns. The Ludwig Loewe semi-automatic pistol commanded a $10,925 sale price, nearly $3,500 more than expected.
The C-93 was a particularly desirable example given the toggle-lock pistol’s (chambered 7.63x25mm Borchardt) serial number. With just three digits, the pistol was certainly one of the early one to roll off the Ludwig Loewe line.
Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Rifle. Photo: Rock Island Auction
RIA also moved some obscure – at least by modern standards – firearms. In this category, a Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Rifle took the cake, exiting the door for $12,650. The company also moved a U.S. Ordnance semi-auto replica Vickers Machine gun with tripod and accessories for $7,475.
There were also a number of knives and artifacts that came across the block, including: Nazi-style daggers ($8,625), German dagger and sword accouterments ($8,625) and a flintlock pistol axe combination ($5,462).
Get Your FREE Download to Find the Best Handgun for Concealed Carry! This 54-page download covers all the newest and most advanced semi-auto pistols for concealed carry that are available on the market today, as reviewed in the Gun Digest annual book. It also includes a 44-page autoloader pistol catalog featuring concealed carry handguns from all the major manufacturers with photos, specs and MSRPs. [form id=”199473″]
Concealed carry courses are offered at Rich’s Gun Shop and are well attended.
So, it’s no surprise that smaller handguns are the number one items here. Owner Lee Richeson says the Smith & Wesson Shield continues to be his top-selling handgun, in 9mm and .40 S&W, at just a shade over $400.
Smaller .380 ACP’s move well, too, including the Ruger LCP at $460, and the Diamondback DB .380 at a price-point-friendly $290.
For optics, rifle shooters here favor Nikons and Leupolds. A standard Nikon Pro Staff 3-9x40mm can be had for $170, while the Leupold VX-3 sells well at $591, and the Leupold FX-1 rimfire scope is steadily gaining adherents.
“It’s still a struggle getting all the centerfire rifle ammunition we would like to have on hand,” Richeson notes. “Especially 7mm Magnum and .308 Winchester. It’s out there—don’t get me wrong. But where you used to be able to put in an order with a distributor and get eight or 10 different varieties of the same caliber, in different bullet weights and types, now you pretty much have to grab whatever they have on hand.”
Rich’s also does a steady business in collectible firearms and estate collection guns.
Colt Diamondback and Python revolvers are hot right now, he notes. A Python in decent condition, he notes, commands $1,200, while a higher quality specimen can push up against the $3,000 mark.
Editor’s Note: This brief originally appeared in the January 1, 2015 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
One of the most important components of an armed encounter is what happens after the actual event. Maintaining an awareness of self-defense laws – not just in your home state but others as well – is crucial in order to avoid possible arrest, trial, and even conviction or sentencing via the justice system. Ensure a well-rounded understanding of your right to self-defense with this exclusive collection. Get Educated!
Sure you can trust this guy and that AR he’s selling you is totally worth $5K.
It might be a New Ithaca Double or a pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 or even a first-generation Glock 17. Whatever the firearm is that’s grabbed your attention at the gun show, shop or swap it’s priced to move.
Or is it?
Sure seems like it, at least from what you remember the last time you thumbed through a price guide. Of course the gentleman with the snap-button western shirt and pomade in his hair looking to hock this potential deal of the century is no help.
In fact, the more the convention center’s fluorescent lights glisten off his hair, the more you wonder if he’s getting the better end of this bargain. Then again, you think to yourself, maybe you’re just being paranoid.
Question is do you roll the dice? Either way there is a good chance you’ll come up snake eyes. Don’t buy and miss a cherry deal on a hot number; or go home and find out you’ve sunk your hard-earned cash into a real clunker.
It doesn’t have to be this way, you know. There is an easier way to make certain you’re getting what you pay for when hunting out new and classic guns.
Discerning and penny wise gun buyers and collectors make The Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices their constant companion. That’s because the authoritative reference has a nose for deals and is always ready to help you sniff them out.
This little gem should be your full-time gun-buying buddy.
What makes this gun price guide the ideal buddy to drag to the next show or shop isn’t just the more than 15,000 firearm values listed in its pages. Though, admittedly, that does earn it points.
It’s The Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices streamlined size that gives it an edge as a shopping companion. At around 5″x8”, the book is no more trouble to throw in a backpack or tuck under your wing than a pistol in a hard case.
And you’ll be glad you did, because the wealth of information between its covers will have merchants quaking in their Tony Lamas. With prices for six condition grades (NIB, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor) for each of the firearms listed its ready to negotiate the best deal for you.
If you’ve been keeping up and doing a little back-of-the envelope math, the number of firearms and grades adds up to around 46,000 condition-based values. That covers a whole arsenal and more worth of pistols, rifles and shotguns.
Don’t miss out on making the deal-of-the-century or at least knock that smug smile off the gun show guy’s face. Make The Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices your constant companion whenever you hunt for a new gun.
The Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices has a nose for deals and is always ready to help you sniff them out. Save Big
The S&W 340 M&P is an updated, lightweight version of the famed Model 36 Chief’s Special.
The author puts three great compact carry revolvers through a little side-by-side testing.
We all understand the stopping power of the firearm can have a profound effect on the number of rounds required to stop a determined assailant.
Certainly, most would agree that a single, well-placed, highly effective round would be more likely to stop a bad guy than one from a .22 rimfire. Because of this, I advocate carrying the most potent firearm you can handle. My choice of a five-shot compact revolver is the lightest and most powerful I can obtain.
Very Worthy Carry Revolvers
The five-shot Ruger LCRx revolver is the newest of the test class and performed quite admirably.
Three such Noisy Crickets are the Ruger LCRx and the Charter Arms Undercover Lite, both chambered in .38 Special +P, and the Smith & Wesson 340 M&P chambered for the .357 Magnum round. I chose these guns for this comparison because they’re both powerful and lightweight, and have excellent triggers that are light and manageable.
I chose the .357 in the S&W because it represents, as do the other guns, the highest power-to-weight ratio in their product line. Other companies make similar guns in .357, but those guns are heavier. The Charter Arms Mag Pug and the LCR both are available in .357, but both are based on heavier frames, the extra mass taking them up and into another weight class.
All three guns are similar in concept. The S&W is an updated, lightweight version of the time-honored Model 36 Chief’s Special, using the small J frame and made of lightweight Scandium alloy with a stainless steel cylinder. The 340 M&P is the double-action only, shrouded hammer version. At 13.3 ounces, it’s a powerful lightweight with a good trigger pull and unobtrusive, yet it has effective sights consisting of an integral U-notch rear and a pinned, round tritium front sight.
The Charter Undercover Lite is a lightweight version of the standard Undercover I carried for about 20 years. It served hard duty, having the undesired experience of going swimming twice, not by choice. It traveled thousands of miles, endured minimal care and never even thought of malfunctioning. It still serves my son-in-law faithfully. The Undercover Lite has a lighter trigger pull, though not as smooth as the other two guns. It has a machined-in ramp front and the same integral notch rear sight as the other guns.
The Ruger LCRx was chosen primarily because it’s new in the Ruger line this year. While the S&W and Charter Arms designs have a long and storied history, the Ruger is a relative newcomer. The LCR product line was introduced in 2009. In spite of being a newcomer, the LCR series has received a warm reception in the world of personal protection revolvers. My sample version weighed the exact same amount on my scales as the S&W at 13.3 ounces, both guns being a half-ounce heavier than the Undercover.
The Ruger uses less conventional materials to reduce overall weight. The functioning part of the LCR frame is aluminum, but the grip frame and trigger guard are of polymer. A conventional pinned ramp front sight mates up with an integral notch rear sight providing adequate sights for a short-range carry gun. The Ruger has a less traditional look with the cylinder sculpted for weight reduction rather than the more conventional fluting on the Smith.
With .38 Special +P and .357 Magnum chambers, and weighing less than 14 ounces, these guns generate levels of recoil that’s not for the faint of heart. They’re not the kind of gun you want to burn a lot of defense level ammunition through.
Recoil, though stout, is manageable. I’m a mid- to back-of-the-pack guy at an action shooting event, and I could manage five shots into the A zone of an IDPA target at seven yards within four seconds, with both .38s using Remington Golden Sabre defense ammunition, though I lost an additional second with the .357 S&W.
While there’s room for argument that follow-up shots would take more time with such a powerful combination, the most important shot is the first and a well-placed shot from a +P .38 or .357. Even one with a short barrel should discourage even the most determined attacker. And while we’re on the subject, yes, I do know a 2-inch .357 isn’t as powerful as one with a 6-inch barrel, but it’s considerably more powerful than a .38 Special with a 2-inch barrel.
Of course, there are guns with more weight that are easier to handle than these super light thumpers, but the primary issue with civilian everyday carry is comfort, and the plain fact is that you’ll carry the gun far more often than you’ll shoot it. For a civilian to use deadly force, there must be a real threat of loss of life, serious bodily harm or sexual assault. Under those conditions, the defender won’t be likely to remember feeling any recoil at all.
Seven-Yard Standard
The Charter Arms Undercover Lite not only shoots well, but comes in a variety of finishes.
In teaching the North Carolina Certification, our curriculum requires a discussion of the seven-yard standard of the Tueller drill, involving an assailant without a firearm.
Though civilians using firearms for defense are almost never criminally charged, most defense with a firearm eventually involves a lawsuit, and shooting an assailant without a gun at ranges of less than seven yards will put the defender in a bad position in a civil suit. Having said all this, all three guns tested delivered quarter-sized groups at seven yards, more than enough accuracy for 99 percent of all civilian/aggressor confrontations.
Accuracy levels of guns like this are more dependent on your ability to achieve good sight alignment and manage the trigger than on the actual accuracy capability of the gun and ammunition. Recently, I did a video with Chris Cerino, of Top Shot fame, and Chris hit a 12×16-inch target on the third shot double-action at 100 yards with a 2-inch S&W .38.
A couple of years back, I shot a 25-yard, five-shot group with the S&W 637 I was carrying at the time. I shot the group in low light, using a Crimson Trace grip laser rather than the sights on the gun. Off a sandbag, the 2-inch barreled belly gun produced a 3-inch group, centered in the target.
The average distance in defensive shootings is generally agreed to be less than three yards; anything beyond seven is rare indeed.
Adding a laser contributes both to low light capability and accuracy, though the laser should be set to be below the shooter’s line of sight for practice purposes. Lasers are great and the reliability levels are spectacular, but depending solely on a battery in a life or death situation might not be the best practice. Of course, grip laser systems are available for all three guns tested.
It still makes sense to carry ammunition for a possible reload, and reloading should be a part of your training exercises and drills. Speed loaders and speed strips are assets in fast loading, and they make the extra ammunition less fumble proof, an important factor when your life is in danger. Since the extractor rod is shorter on the 2-inch guns, making sure ejected rounds clear the gun is important.
The ejector stroke on the Ruger is .656, compared to .618 on the Smith and .616 on the Undercover, but all three guns require a strong ejection stroke with the muzzle pointed skyward to assure that brass clears the chambers. Even then there’s a possibility of a case or two needing removal.
Between these three guns, there’s no bad choice. Your wise choice depends more on your product preference than on quality of features. I carry the S&W because I like the .357 round. I admit it’s hairy to shoot, but I manage it just fine.
My wife carries a Charter because they make it in pink. The Ruger is as good as either, just a little different. Yes, a five-shot revolver gives up magazine capacity and speed of reloading, but is as reliable as a hammer and offers a lot of power in a small package. In spite of the clichéd name, the snub-nose .38 is still a viable choice.
The Charter Arms Undercover Lite “Pink Lady.”
Ruger LCRx .38 Special+P 5 rounds 1.875 in. U-notch Aluminum & polymer 6.50 in. 4.50 in. 13.5 oz. Crimson Trace $545 ruger.com
Charter Arms Undercover Lite .38 Special+P 5 rounds 2 in. U-notch Aluminum 6.4 in. 4.25 in. 12 oz. Crimson Trace $410 charterfirearms.com
S&W 340 M&P .357 S&W 5 rounds 1.875 in. U-notch Scandium alloy 6.31 in. 4.375 in. 13.3 oz. Crimson Trace $869 smith-wesson.com
A clover-leaf grouping sends nearly any benchrest competitor’s heart soaring, except one perhaps. Linking shots together is really just the tip of the iceberg for rail gun shooters. Putting them all through the same hole is the goal.
Simply put, these firearms are custom built onto a platform that provides the utmost stability, among other extreme enhancements. As Jeff at Taofledermaus (German for bat) points out in the above video, there isn’t a stone left unturned in these shooters’ quest for accuracy and precision.
How well can these one-of-a-kind firearms deliver? Well, as the video shows, a micrometer is sometimes required to determine who takes the day. I suppose on a rig such as a rail gun, a finish with any wider margin would be disappointing for everyone involved.
Ever wonder why some company’s brass lasts longer than others. Simply put, theirs is annealed brass.
There is a simple technique that adds a ton of life to your cases – annealing. Of course, there are some tricks to annealed brass, which custom ammunition manufacturer Phil Massaro unveils in this blog.
Have you ever noticed when you’ve purchased some premium cases, they have a bit of a “rainbow” color around the neck and/or case mouth? It’s not just there for looks, it’s totally there for a reason.
What you’re seeing is an annealed case. Perhaps you’ve read about the technique, or maybe not, but it warrants an explanation.
For years, I’ve enjoyed the consistency and longevity of Norma, Hornady and Lapua brass, and didn’t really know why. I mean, there is the fact that you can pretty much load them straight out of the box, with little or no working. But it dawned upon me when I picked up some once-fired brass from these three companies that they could be reloaded more times than the other cases from the big three manufacturers.
The fact of the matter is that all three companies anneal their cases. The act of annealing brass is a technique which will soften the neck and case mouth, so as to keep the brass soft, and able to be reworked time and time again before becoming so brittle as to split or crack.
So why don’t all cases come with annealed necks and mouths. Well, it’s a process, and the more processes that are involved with any item, the greater the cost. Is it worthwhile? Can we anneal brass that doesn’t come from the factory already annealed? Yes, and yes.
Producing you own annealed brass is a simple process that can be done at home and save you money.
Unlike steel, and pretty well the exact opposite of its properties, brass becomes more malleable when heated and quickly quenched. This technique will ‘temper’ steel (hence the phrase “don’t lose your temper”), but will soften brass.
Once softened, or annealed, the brass will soften where the steel becomes much harder. So, how do we anneal brass that isn’t delivered to us already in that state? Here’s how, but there are caveats, and please heed them.
First, it involves fire, so don’t go getting all Beavis and Butthead on me. Second, it should, under no circumstances, be performed in your home. Like casting your own lead bullets, it is a practice that is best done in the great outdoors, free from distraction and in a place where you won’t start a fire on the scale of Mrs. O’Leary’s fabled bovine arsonist.
You’ll need a cookie sheet, a bit of water and a blowtorch. Yes, Beavis, a blowtorch.
Set your cases upright in the cookie sheet, which should be filled with water almost to the rim. Use the blowtorch to heat the cartridge neck and mouth, or top third, in the case of a straight-walled case, not to the point of melting it, nor to the point where it’s just blackened, but until it’s good and hot, and then use the tip of the blowtorch to knock the case over into the water. The water will quench the brass, and thereby anneal it. You should see that aforementioned rainbow in the area you’ve heated.
There you have it: a rather simple process, yet it takes a bit of responsibility (it’s a blowtorch after all), and your case life should increase two to three fold.
This comes in especially handy when you’ve got cases that are fire formed to an Ackley-Improved chamber, or cases that are so rare that you have no guarantee or being able to obtain them again. Use common sense when using that blowtorch, so I can sleep soundly, please? Happy annealing!
Anybody who knows their way around the business end of a sixshooter knows the name Elmer Keith.
The crusty old cuss was one of the most prolific gun writers of the 20th Century, not to mention firearms innovator. It is because of Keith, in part, we have the .44 and .357 Magnums today. This fails to mention his custom handloads and cast bullets, of which he was also well known for developing.
In addition to writing about and working with firearms, Keith was also an inexhaustible gun collector. And now fans of firearms and the Keith himself, have a shot at owning a piece of his collection.
James D. Julia, Inc., a Maine-based auction house, is putting Elmer Keith’s collection on the block at its March 11-12 and 15-16 events. And it appears the sale has some incredible opportunities to own this unique man’s unique guns. Here are 10 that caught our eye.
“The Last-Word – Old No. 5″
Custom designed by Keith and Harold Croft, the Colt Single-Action Army .44 Special gained fame in a 1929 article in the American Rifleman titled “The Last Word” where Keith detailed the specifics about the ornate handgun. Expected sale price: $30,000-50,000.
Jim Corbett’s W.J. Jeffery .450/.400 3” Nitro Express
Anyone who has read Jim Corbett’s exploits hunting tigers in India mind will be set reeling by this rifle. This boxlock double rifle was detailed in his book Man-Eaters of Kumaon, where he hunted the deadly feline for the Indian government. One was purported to have killed some 400 people. Expected sale price: $75,000-150,000.
Elmer Keith’s Personal Sidearm and Holster
As the title suggests, this is no ordinary Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum. Yessir, this is the piece of iron that hung off the old cuss’ side, originally shipped to the Idaho Hardware Co., Boise, ID., in 1958. The Model 29 features beautiful ivory grips, engraved with a longhorn steer’s head. And the handgun appears well used, note the wear on the barrel from repeated un- and re-holstering. Expected sale price: $7,000-10,000.
First Ithaca NID 10-gauge Magnum of Col. Charles Askins
There is so much history in this gun it is almost frightening. In addition to being owned by two of the 20th Century’s foremost gun writers – Askins and Keith – the shotgun also is the collaboration of two gun industry giants. Spencer Olin of Winchester-Western Cartridge Company developed the 3 ½-inch loads and had Lou Smith of Ithaca build the monstrous scattergun to chamber it. This is the very first one to roll off the line. Expected sale price: $15,000-25,000.
Consecutively Numbered Smith & Wesson Model 57 Revolvers
Keith and the Smith & Wesson had a long history together and these guns are a testament to their collaboration. The .41 Magnums look to be gifts from the company to Keith, perhaps in celebration for his help in developing that caliber. The double-action revolvers are beautiful in and of themselves, but are made truly unique with Keith’s signature in raised script on the ivory grips. The frames and triggers also have his name engraved upon them. Expected sale price: $10,000-20,000
Hoffman Arms Custom Springfield Rifle
Hoffman Arms Company built renown as one of the top precision bolt-action rifle makers in pre-World War II America. For many collectors that’s enough to set them on the path to putting one in their gun safe. The one for auction from Keith’s collection takes this pedigree to the next level. The .400 Whelen chamber rifle has “No 1. Hoffman Arms Co, Cleveland, Ohio,” engraved across the top of the barrel, making the unique rifle one of a kind. Expected sale price: $10,000-20,000.
Colt Model 1905 Pistol with Original Holster
Keith is better known for his affinity for revolvers, but that doesn’t mean the man didn’t appreciate a good semi-automatic pistol. This specimen from the Keith collection is rare and important, with the .45 ACP being a step in the path to the famed 1911 pistol. There were only around 6,000 of the model made between 1905 and 1911. Expected sale price: $10,000-15,000.
Gold Inlaid W.J. Jeffery .500 Nitro Express
Of all the dangerous game guns, there are few as legendary as the .500 Nitro Express. This Jeffery sidelock double rifle is as spectacular as the caliber. The rifle has exquisite gold inlay, on one side depicting grazing elephants, the other a tiger pouncing on a Sambar stag. The trigger guard has a gold leopard stalking a gazelle. The toe of the rifle boast a gold oval, engraved in English and Sanskrit around what is believed to be the crest of the Raja of Miraj Junior State. The English reads “Chief of the Miraj Junior.” Expected sale price: $50,000-80,000.
Custom Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Bridgeport Style Belt Rig
This is another sidearm that is easy to insinuate Keith had an affinity for, give the wear on the finish. The Colt .45 was originally a U.S. Cavalry gun, but was customized with a blue finish, adjustable rear sights and ivory grips. The engravings on the grips are of particular interest; one side boasts Keith’s initials, the other the Masonic compass and square, as the owner was a well known Mason. Expected sale price: $3,000-5,000.
Sharps Model 1874
This converted .45-120 Sharps might be the bell of the ball for Keith fans, given it’s personal history with its owner. The heavy buffalo rifle was used by Keith to harvest his first bison. Really, little more to be said about a historic rifle with a historic owner and a historic event of which it took part. Expected sale price: $8,000-13,000.
Remington Model 40 sniper rifle of the type used by the US Marine Corps in Vietnam, in original, unmodified condition, $26,400. Morphy Auctions image
Record turnout for Morphy’s Jan. 31-Feb. 1 firearms auction yields $1.2 million result, including fierce bidding for a Vietnam-era marine sniper rifle.
Never-fired Model 1877 ‘Lightning,’ also known as a ‘Shop Keeper’ or ‘Sheriff’s Model,’ $8,400. Morphy Auctions image
DENVER, Pa. – A packed house and aggressive phone and Internet bidding all contributed to the $1.2 million result at Morphy’s Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2015 Firearms Auction. The 1,270 lots of guns, edged weapons and collectible ammunition boxes attracted the largest turnout ever seen at Morphy’s gallery for a firearms sale, said Dan Morphy, founder and president of the south-central Pennsylvania auction house.
In today’s auction marketplace, few collecting categories have the firepower of antique and vintage guns. “We handle many, many categories of antique and vintage items, and do well with all of them, but none of our divisions has grown or developed a following quite as rapidly as Firearms,” Morphy said.
Prior to the event, there had been predictions that a Remington Model 40 sniper rifle of the type used by the US Marine Corps in Vietnam, would finish at the top of prices realized. Those expectations were validated. In original, unmodified condition, the rifle was hotly pursued and finished near the top of its estimate range at $26,400. All prices quoted are inclusive of a 20% buyer’s premium.
Winchester .44 caliber Model 1873 manufactured in 1892, $8,400. Morphy Auctions image
Morphy Auctions’ Firearms Division expert Dave Bushing observed: “The sniper rifle appealed to a whole other breed of collector. Because of the movie ‘American Sniper,’ a lot more people are getting into this category who may not have been gun collectors before.” But veteran collectors and those who favor military arms were just as interested in the gun, which came with its case and documentation. “To my knowledge, it’s only the second one the government ever released to the public,” Bushing said.
Some collectors drove long distances to attend the preview and auction, which contained the largest grouping of Winchester and Marlin lever-action rifles ever presented in a Morphy gun sale – many of them high-condition examples. “Winchesters, Marlins and Colts are the Coca-Cola stock of firearms – they’re the blue chips. As I see it, the future is open ended for guns of that type,” Bushing said.
Winchester rifles finishing in the top 10 included a .44 caliber Model 1873 manufactured in 1892, $8,400; and a .405 caliber Model 1895 made famous by Teddy Roosevelt and nicknamed “Big Medicine,” $7,800. Too, a Winchester 28-gauge Model 12 single-shot shotgun reached $5,100.
Custer-era 1875 Springfield US Officers Model trap-door rifle, a type made under special order for commissioned officers only, $13,200. Morphy Auctions image
A fine 1875 Custer-era Springfield US Officers Model trap-door rifle, was described in the auction catalog as being of a type considered “one of the crown jewels in every US martial collection.” Such firearms were made under special order from 1875 to 1885, and only for commissioned officers.
“That Springfield rifle had never been fired. It ‘walked’ into a Chicago police supply shop, and after I found out about it, I drove to Chicago to check it over and make sure it was legit,” said Bushing. “It turned out to be the finest and earliest of its type in private hands. It was made during the second month of production.” The gun surpassed its high estimate at Morphy’s to settle at $13,200.
A Johnson Model 1941 US.30-.06 caliber semi-automatic rifle came equipped with a particularly rare bayonet and “frog.” It sold within estimate for $7,800.
Sharps New Model 1859, Civil War era, one of 2,000 such rifles issued in 1862 to Hiram Berdan’s 1st and 2nd Regiments of the US Sharpshooters, $10,800. Morphy Auctions image
The event featured a rare Sharps New Model 1859, was one of 2,000 such rifles issued in 1862 to Hiram Berdan’s 1st and 2nd Regiments of the US Sharpshooters. Its serial number fell within the range confirmed to have been used in the Civil War by a specially organized sniping unit documented in many articles and books. Accompanied by a Springfield Research letter, the rifle was bid to $10,800.
Antique and vintage handguns were led by two Colt productions: a cased and exceptionally well-documented Colt “Banker’s Special” that had been presented on Feb. 22, 1932 to then-Governor Joseph B. Ely of Massachusetts; and a never-fired Model 1877 Lightning – also known as a “Shop Keeper” or “Sheriff’s Model.” Each of the guns realized $8,400.
Commenting on the latter gun, Bushing said he believes the price paid for it at Morphy’s was “a world auction record for a blue Colt Lightning not associated with a famous person,” adding, “It was a ‘plain Jane’ gun that was shipped to Denver in 1886, when that part of the country was still the wild west. It sat in a drawer for a hundred years, which explains its remarkable condition.”
Johnson Model 1941 US.30-.06 caliber semi-automatic rifle with rare bayonet and ‘frog,’ $7,800. Morphy Auctions image
Bushing said the current market for antique, vintage and collectible guns is “on fire…Guns generate more interest and more questions than anything else, both online and in person. It’s a category that doesn’t exclude anyone. In the gun world, there’s something for every budget.”
“Sometimes I’m asked, ‘What’s the fascination with guns?’” Bushing continued. “I always reply that they’re associated with war, and American history is defined by wars, going all the way back. Even people who are opposed to guns can still appreciate their history and artistry. When I show people the beautiful workmanship, how even the insides of some guns are engraved like a Swiss watch, they understand. Guns are regarded as heirlooms. People may go through their house and get rid of clothing and furniture, but they’ll keep their guns to pass on to the next generation. Many collectors look for guns that they remember their fathers or grandfathers had.”
Consignments are currently being accepted for Morphy’s May 23, 2015 Firearms Auction. To contact Morphy’s, call 717-335-3435 or email[email protected]. Visit Morphy Auctions online at www.morphyauctions.com.
One of the most important components of an armed encounter is what happens after the actual event. Maintaining an awareness of self-defense laws – not just in your home state but others as well – is crucial in order to avoid possible arrest, trial, and even conviction or sentencing via the justice system. Ensure a well-rounded understanding of your right to self-defense with this exclusive collection, which includes: Deadly Force (Massad Ayoob), The Law of Self Defense (Andrew F. Branca), Self-Defense Laws of All 50 States and Citizen’s Guide to Armed Defense. Get Educated Now
Interest in concealed carry permits continues to be the number one driving force behind firearms sales in this country.
That fact was driven home at a recent joint press conference conducted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and industry-leading researcher Southwick Associates. There, speakers noted how concealed carry permits in the United States had grown by as much as 70 percent in the relatively short time frame between 2010, when there were an estimated 6.9 million CCW permit holders, and 2014, with an estimated 11.7 million permit holders—numbers that continue to climb.
Amidst the growth, there has also been a shift of public opinion with more households saying a gun in the home is apt to make it safer, not less so. More guns in citizens’ hands have not lead to more crime, either. Department of Justice statistics prove that citing how homicides with firearms have dropped 39 percent between 1993 and 2011 and other crimes committed with firearms have dropped a whopping 69 percent in that same time frame.
Still, being a victim of random crime, while statistically in most individual’s favor, does occur everyday as witnessed on the news. Terror attacks such as the one that recently rocked Paris and threats of more violence in Europe and the United States by groups such as ISIS are now a real concern. Even anti-gun Sen. Dianne Feinstein was quoted by CNN as saying, “I think there are sleeper cells not only in France but certainly in other countries and, yes, in our own. This calls for vigilance … ”
The vigilance she called for centered on obtaining intelligence and remaining watchful. But CCW holders take this vigilance to the next step as an effort to protect themselves.
While most self-defense experts will tell you the first and often wisest course of action in any violent encounter is to retreat from the situation, sometimes that’s simply not an option. Being armed and trained to use a gun can be the best insurance policy anyone can own. It may give you a fighting chance where none before existed. Such is the power and utility of firearms.
There is only one way to stay on the cutting edge, the BLADE Show.
It’s time to get your blade fix for the year! BLADE Show is coming back to Atlanta this June 5 – 7 and it’s going to be packed with sellers of all kinds. Thousands of gear fanatics—hunters, gun and knife collectors, outdoorsman— make the trip every year. It’s a chance to get away and talk shop, improve your craftsmanship and find the blade you’ve been searching for but just couldn’t find.
But BLADE is different from smaller gun and knife shows. It’s 300 booths, 700 tables and the best selection of hunting knives you’re going to find anywhere.
So here’s what’s new this year: BLADE University is coming back. If you didn’t see it in person last year, here’s your chance. It’s three packed days of classes all taught by masters. These are people even seasoned knife collectors and makers rarely get the chance to learn from, and they’ll be here sharing their tips.
You sign up for your favorites class-by-class so you’ll still have plenty of time to be out on the Expo floor talking, browsing and buying.
With knives as far as the eye can see, it’s easy to see why the BLADE Show is the World’s Greatest Knife Show.
Here’s a few of the classes we expect to sell out quickly:
Knives the ABS Way | Multiple Sessions | The American Bladesmith Society
How To Sharpen Any Blade | Big Knives, Axes/Tomahawks, Razors and More | Murray Carter
Bushcraft Knife Survival School | Multiple Sessions | Abe Elias
And one of the best things about BLADE Show is that you can come back every year and always see something new. Get a preview of 2015’s Booth and Table Exhibitors and start planning your strategy.
It’s become the world’s largest knife show for a reason. If there’s a blade you want, odds are good it’ll be here. Come get it.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 of the best concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
