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Inside This Issue: – BlackMag XP Super Hot Powder. With new ownership and a new recipe, BlackMag wants to be the bang behind your buck. – Before You Buy. Tales of four lever-action .30-30s. – Towsley on Shootin' Steel. – On Handguns. John Wayne had it right.
Plus! – Firearms Update – Trends of Values – Rifles, Shotguns, Handguns – New Products – Classifieds Guns for Sale – Auction listings
Click Here to read Kevin Michalowski's Editor's Shot column on youth hunting, The Long Wait is Over.
“Little did this kid know that this 72-year-old man was a licensed CCW (carrying a concealed weapon) carrier and he produced his own firearm and defended himself because he was in fear of his life,” said Sgt. John Sullivan of the Dayton Police Department.
Sullivan said the 24-year-old cut in front of the 72-year-old in the area of Brooklyn Avenue in Dayton. He said the 24-year-old got out of his vehicle with an assault rifle, pointed it at the 72-year-old and tried to rob him.Read more
Petros, Tenn. – She may be 75, but she's still a mom.
Jesse Williams, 28, discovered that truism Thursday night when the mother of a man he allegedly was fighting shot him once in the leg to stop the assault on her son.
According to Morgan County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy William Angel, Williams broke into David Brandenburg's residence at 905 Back Petros Road. The 43-year-old Brandenburg was home and began struggling with the intruder.
The fighting men spilled out from the house and onto the yard, where Brandenburg's mother, Ruth Robbins, heard the commotion. Robbins lives next door, Angel said.Read more
Side view of the .32-caliber Pieper Volley Gun in the collection of the LaPorte Historical Society.
Sometimes it seems like I live my life in a small cardboard box in the middle of a swamp. There's just no other way to explain how I manage to miss things that are right under my nose. Things like the LaPorte County, Indiana, Historical Society Museum, for example.
I first heard of the LaPorte County Historical Society's William A. Jones Firearms Collection from my brother, who casually mentioned it during a conversation two years ago. Had I ever been there, he asked? Nope. Tell me more. And this is what he told me:
Back around the turn of the century, Laporte, Indiana, was a popular playground for Chicago's industrial elite. With its clean air, tranquil lakes and small-town charm, it's no wonder that LaPorte eventually attracted the attention of a fellow named William A. Jones, owner of a sizable iron foundry in the Windy City. When Jones visited LaPorte near the close of the nineteenth century, he fell in love with the place.
When he retired from the foundry business, William A. Jones was free to indulge his three passions: travel, firearms, and LaPorte, Indiana. First things first: he immediately built a mini-mansion on the shores of LaPorte's Pine Lake. Then he set off to search the world for rare and interesting guns, eventually amassing a collection of nearly a thousand of the coolest guns you've ever seen. When Jones died in 1921, he left his collection to the City of LaPorte, which in turn donated them to the Laporte County Historical Society.
Intrigued, I wasted no time in visiting the museum and found that my brother was right on the money. What a collection! I was so impressed that I photographed several of the museum's guns for the 16-page color section of the 17th edition of Standard Catalog of Firearms. Later, the museum invited me back to give tours of the Jones Collection.
During these tours people would frequently ask me, “What's the most interesting gun in the museum?” And I'd say, “That's simple. To me, it's the seven-shot Pieper Volley Gun.”
Never heard of the Pieper Volley Gun, have you? Neither had I until I stumbled across it in the LaPorte museum. If the LaPorte museum's W. A. Jones Collection of Antique Firearms contains the damndest stuff you've ever seen, then their Pieper Volley Gun has got to be the double-damndest.
Most of us know the name Pieper from the variety of inexpensive, single-shot Flobert rifles that Pieper and other Belgian gunsmiths churned out by the boatload. There's a tendency to dismiss these rifles, and all vintage Belgian arms, as junk, which they're not. After all, when John M. Browning was looking for someone to build his Auto-5 shotgun after Winchester gave it a thumbs-down, he chose Belgium's Fabrique Nationale.
And, more tellingly, American shooters embraced Pieper's little .22 Flobert rifles so enthusiastically that Winchester Repeating Arms felt compelled to go into the low-end .22 market with their Models 1900 and 1902 single-shots. If shooters back then didn't turn up their noses at Belgian guns, I'm not so sure we should do so now.
Were all turn-of-the-century Belgian guns top-quality? Certainly not. Neither were all American guns. My point here is that it's dangerous to dismiss an entire class of firearms unilaterally, because sooner or later (usually sooner) an exception will pop up and prove you wrong. The Pieper Volley Gun is just such an exception.
Henri Pieper was born in the German town of Soest in the Westphalia region on October 30, 1840. After receiving some basic training in machining and a stint at a woolen mill, he apprenticed with a gunsmith named Warstein. A telented metalworker with an interest in firearms, Pieper emigrated to Belgium in 1859 and subsequently mastered his craft in Herstal, Verviers and Liege.
Around 1866 Pieper opened his own firearms factory at #12 Bayard Street in Liege; he made rifle barrels. Apparently business was booming, for by 1870 his shop had grown to occupy 6,000 square meters. That same year he partnered with a barrelmaker named Nessonvaux in the Vesdre valley.
The business end of the Pieper Volley Gun.
Henri Pieper seems to have a pretty good head for business. In 1887, he joined a conglomerate of high-profile Belgian arms makers including Jules Ancion, the Dumoulin brothers, Joseph Janssen, Pirlot-Frésart, Draws up-Laloux & Co., Albert Simonis and Emile and Leon Nagant. (Of these, American shooters are probably most familiar with the shotguns, cape guns and double rifles of Dumoulin and the famous Nagant gas-seal revolvers, which were probably designed by Pieper.) Along the way, Piper found also manufactured bicycles and one of the earliest automobiles, the so-called Pieper “Bicyclette.” As if that weren't enough, Pieper also found time in his schedule to act as one of the co-founders of Fabrique Nationale, the largest armsmaker the world has ever seen.
Most Pieper firearms are stamped with the “ELG” proofmark that indicates Belgian origin, and often with other proofs as well. In addition, Pieper marketed firearms not only under his own name but under the following trademarks: Bayard; Eagle Gun Works; E.Leroy; Modified Diana; Diane; The Leader; Bayard Arms Company; Pieper Arms Company; Premier Arms Company; Damascus Compound; National Arms Company; Henry Arms Company; Royal Gun Works; Le Rationnel (sometimes seen as “The Rational”); Pieper Top Bolt; Schutz Marke; E-K; Eclipse Company; Metropole; Pieper's Compressed Steel; Monarch Arms Company; and probably many other trade names as well.
Although Henri Pieper held 69 Belgian patents, much of his firearms production was based on existing designs such as the Flobert rifle, the Warnant rifle, the Remington Rolling Block Rifle, and the Nagant revolver. I have also seen copies of the Stevens single-shot Lord pistol that bore the Pieper name, and it seems fair to say that Pieper was primarily a firearms maker and only secondarily a designer. After an all-too-brief lifetime of churning out hundreds of thousands of sporting arms and military weapons, he died (probably from overwork) on August 23, 1898, at only 57 years of age.
The Pieper company was subsequently reorganized as “Etablissements Pieper” and continued for a time under the direction of Pieper's son Nicolas. The strain of diversification, particularly in the area of automobiles, brought the company to its knees, and in 1905 the board of directors invited Nicolas Pieper to take his hat and go. The company was once again reorganized, this time as “Les Anciens Etablissements Pieper,” and moved to an entirely new factory in Herstal in 1907.
The thrice-born company concentrated solely on the manufacture of weapons and sporting arms; it's estimated that at its peak, Les Anciens Etablissements Pieper was turning out 60,000 shotguns, 30,000 automatic pistols, 30,000 rifles and 12 million cartridges a year! This may explain why we find so many Pieper guns floating around. Les Anciens Etablissements Pieper actually survived both world wars — no mean feat when you're headquartered in Belgium — and continued making arms of nearly every description before winking out for good in 1956.
The Pieper Volley Gun that resides in the Laporte County Historical Museum (www.laportecountyhistory.org) is an odd duck indeed. It is based on the Remington Rolling Block Action, which was one of the simplest, strongest single-shot actions of the late 1800s and one that successfully bridged the blackpowder and smokeless eras.
Henri Pieper, a giant in the Belgian arms industry. From an old engraving.
If you ever get the chance to see the 1960 movie The Alamo starring John Wayne as Davy Crockett and Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie, take a good look at what Richard Widmark is dragging around. It's a volley gun. To be specific, it's a Hollywood replica of the Nock Volley Gun, a seven-barrel .52-caliber flintlock boomer that fired all seven barrels simultaneously when the trigger was pulled.
The original Nock Volley Gun was built in 1779 for the Royal Navy. It was used to shred the sails of enemy ships at close range and to clear their decks by firing it, more or less indiscriminately, into the ranks of enemy sailors. I can't imagine what it must have been like to shoulder-fire seven 52-caliber barrels all at the same time, but it couldn't be an experience I'd care to repeat. Wow.
Actually, most of us have probably already seen a volley gun of sorts in person. Remember the old three-barreled percussion “Duck's Foot” pistol that was offered in magazine ads in the '70s and '80s? The Duck's Foot was a volley gun. It fired three .36-caliber balls all at once from three separate barrels arranged more or less in the shape of a duck's foot.
The pistol was usually offered in kit form and still shows up in the Dixie Gun Works catalog from time to time. The original eighteenth-century Duck's Foot pistol was intended for use aboard ships, where a captain might need to keep a murderous mob of mutineers at bay.
Naval warfare wasn't what Henri Pieper had in mind when he built his volley gun. More likely he intended it as a market gun. Back before 1918, there were no bag limits on waterfowl, and many hunters made their living by shooting as many ducks as they could in a single day and taking them down to the local meat market to sell. Most market hunters used plain old everyday shotguns, but hardcore market hunters used punt guns or volley guns.
A punt gun, of course, was an enormous smoothbore with a caliber frequently larger, sometimes much larger, than one inch. It was loaded with as much as a half-pound of shot and lashed to the gunwale of a punt, a small skiff-like boat. You'd paddle or pole the punt gun toward the birds, point the front of the boat at them, then — Ka-blooey! Afterward, you'd pick up the dead birds with a long-handled net and bundle them off to market. (The LaPorte County Museum also has two punt guns in its collection.)
The Pieper Volley Gun must have served the same purpose. It has seven rifled .32-caliber barrels, all of which fire at once. There's a single pair of sights on top of its barrel cluster, which meant you couldn't do much precision shooting with it. When you saw a bunch of geese or ducks on the water, you simply aimed at the unlucky one in the middle and squeezed ‘er off. You were bound to bag two or three birds at the least.
All of this sounds terribly shabby to us today, but the market hunter of the past never claimed to be a sportsman. He was a meat hunter, pure and simple, and if a punt gun or volley gun helped him put a roof over his head and bread on the table, he'd use one if he could afford it. But market hunters nearly wiped out several species of waterfowl, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 put an end to the practice forever.
A cut from the 188-89 Great Western Gun Works Catalog showing the .22 version of the Pieper “Mitrailleuse” or Volley Gun.
In a rare print reference, the Pieper Volley Gun was advertised in the 1888 – 1889 Great Western Gun Works Catalog as “Pieper's 7-Shot Mitrailleuse,” “mitrailleuse” being an old French word for a multi-barreled firearm. It was said to be “an accurate gun for 125 to 150 yard shooting” and “an excellent gun for wild geese and other wild game.” The catalog boasted that the Pieper gun, which was available in .22 or .32 rimfire, “will throw bullets farther than any other shot gun will throw buck shot, and persons who only want a gun for geese, crane, turkey, etc., cannot get anything that will do the work as well.”
Further, the Pieper Mitrailleuse was said to have a spread of three feet at 125 yards, so it was admirably comprehensive. The gun retailed for an astounding $70, whereas you could order a Winchester Model 1886 Express Rifle in .50-95 for “only” $20.25. That makes the Pieper Volley Gun one of the most expensive guns of its day.
I didn't have an opportunity to shoot the LaPorte Museum's Pieper Volley Gun, of course, as museums tend to frown on that sort of thing. But I was permitted to handle it and examine it rather closely.
As near as I can tell, to fire the Pieper Volley Gun you opened the action by thumbing back the hammer and operating the action lever, which also serves as a trigger guard. (This is different from the action of the Remington Rolling Block rifle, on which the breechblock is retracted by a thumbpiece.) You'd then remove the disc-like cartridge carrier, insert seven cartridges into its chambers, put the whole thing back into the chamber and close the action lever to bring the breech into battery. You could then put the gun on half-cock or just squeeze the trigger.
Then — blammo! Seven at a single blow, just like the Brave Little Tailor.
To extract the fired shells, you had to open the action and remove the entire carrier, which is a separate piece fitted tightly to the barrel group. I guess you then had to poke out the empties with a stick or something.
I had supposed the Pieper Volley Gun in the LaPorte collection was a very rare piece, but it turns out that a similar Pieper Volley gun was recently offered by C. W. Slagle Antiques of Phoenix, Arizona. The Slage gun was chambered in .22 rimfire (known in Europe as the 6mm Flobert) and shows sign of use. The one in the LaPorte museum, however, looks as though it just left the factory. It's in virtually new condition and doesn't appear ever to have been fired.
As so often happens when I get to researching a particular firearm, now I want a volley gun. I wouldn't ever use it on waterfowl, of course, but for those 150-yard shots on turkey it'd be just the thing.
A DEFINITION, AS APPLIED IN THIS ARTICLE EXTRA: Above normal product demand, usually for something intended to be stockpiled for that proverbial rainy day.
In 1973, a US Navy procurement officer asked the Navy’s toilet paper provider what would happen if the Navy needed to simultaneously re-supply all ships. The person he asked made some calls to find out how long it would take industry to supply that much EXTRA demand.
Someone involved told some friends the Navy was actually planning to buy a huge supply of toilet paper, warned that this would lead to a temporary shortage, and suggested that everyone should buy a few EXTRA rolls to avoid running out. Each of those persons told several acquaintances that story, each of those told several others, etc. Within days, that story was a nationwide rumor, and everyone knew a shortage was immanent — the ultimate self-fulfilling prophecy.
Within days, a panic run on toilet paper occurred. For months, it was impossible to routinely buy toilet paper. Retailers imposed strict purchase limits. Throughout the country, millions stood in line for hours awaiting delivery just to buy any toilet paper. Similarly, in the early nineties, some government thug wondered if it would be possible to manufacture ammunition with a limited shelf life. They asked someone in the industry to consider that possibility. Even though doing so was impossible, a rumor spread that shelf-life-limited primers were coming. Shooters and handloaders wanting to stockpile EXTRA supplies created a shortage.
DBI Books asked me to investigate that shortage. I spoke with representatives of every free-world primer manufacturer. Those conversations were most enlightening. Many of those revelations are basic to understanding the current shortages of ammunition, components, and related items.
One of those conversations revealed a fact that will surprise many readers: One of the largest primer producers in the US told me in confidence that his company was making less quarterly profit on primers during the primer shortage than it had made before the panic-driven shortage began.
While it had stepped up production to the extent feasible, its production costs had increased so much that both profit margin and absolute profit had decreased. This really surprised me because retail primer prices had doubled.
Recently, we had a situation that created a similar run on certain guns and magazines. That panic-driven run fizzled out when it became obvious that the underlying, unconstitutional law would expire.
Last fall, the obamination occurred. This event created a panic-driven run on guns and all related items. Unlike the previous panic-driven runs, this run is not based upon rumor or perceived threat; every real American should intuitively understand that this threat is very much, very real.
If you do not believe this, you are part of the problem — one of those who would sacrifice freedom for the illusion of a little temporary safety and, as Benjamin Franklin noted so acutely, you deserve neither.
When will this shortage end? Before I offer a pessimistic partial answer, consider that in 2007 and 2009 the Cortez Rifle and Pistol Club held Gun Shows. In each of those events, we had a similar number of vendors who, in total, displayed a similar number of rifles. In 2007, two M-99 Savages were exhibited; in 2009, I counted 26 before loosing interest. Why such a difference?
In 2007, short of a total economic catastrophe, few would have considered selling a family heirloom; in 2009, many viewed that family heirloom as a source of money with which they could buy something perceived as being far more important (e.g., primers, ammunition, etc.).
When will this panic driven shortage end? Not until panicked people run out of money.
Why does demand-side panic lead to such an obvious and startling shortage of guns, ammunition, handloading components, and handloading tools and why does it increase costs? The answer falls directly from analysis of free-market supply and demand.
Here is the critical fact: Before the obamination, no related manufacturer had the facilities to increase production more than about 40%. Moreover, even if a company did have such capacity, it could not expect to be able to affordably obtain raw materials needed to do so — companies that supply raw materials cannot increase capacity more than about 40%!
Moreover, spending money to add facilities in order to increase production beyond 40% — in response to a special situation that could end any time (one way or another) — is economically foolish. It would not work unless the entire supply chain could support that increase, which is far from certain.
For example, a primer manufacturer ideally runs two production shifts at eight hours per day, five days per week. The remaining time would be used to clean, maintain, and repair equipment, and to do associated work necessary to maintain production throughput.
This situation holds true for all related manufacturers, and applies to manufacturers providing raw materials as well. No glaring supply-side exceptions or variations exist, but variations in degree of EXTRA demand do exist (shortages vary accordingly). Read more
The Turkey Shoot at the Shirley Rod and Gun Club is not what you might expect.
First, the club buys some frozen turkeys at the supermarket. Then there are target-shooting competitions for hunting rifles, shotguns, and pistols. The winners take home the frozen birds. Last year, the club gave away about 300 of them.
Still, the club’s Thanksgiving tradition, its largest fund-raiser of the year, has been around for as long as anyone can remember. But this year’s Turkey Shoot might not happen if new regulations for gun clubs are adopted.
The change is being proposed by Governor Deval Patrick’s administration in the wake of a tragic accident last fall, when an 8-year-old boy died after shooting himself with a machine gun during a “pumpkin shoot’’ at a Westfield gun club.
If adopted, the regulations would prohibit machine guns at all public sporting club events, and require clubs to obtain special licenses, hire a police detail, and have one certified firearms safety instructor for every 20 people in attendance (or one for every five attendees if children are present) at all public events. The regulations would also require clubs to submit a safety plan to their local police department 30 days before each event.
A state official said the regulations are aimed at improving gun safety and are long overdue. And a gun-control advocate doubts they would lead to the demise of events like the Turkey Shoot.
But local gun club members have expressed outrage over the proposals, saying they would make it financially impossible to continue such traditional events.
“That tradition is going to go away because the public is invited to this event,’’ said Jim Finnerty, the Shirley Rod and Gun Club’s only certified firearms safety instructor. Based on the number of people (including children) who turn out for the Turkey Shoot, the club would need to have as many as 60 safety instructors, plus a police detail costing more than $40 per hour, to meet the regulations, he said.
“For a small club like Shirley, it’s tough. It’s not like we have extra money to get police details,’’ Finnerty said.
At the Ayer Gun and Sportsmen’s Club, its annual Military Demonstration Day featuring World War II machine guns, which is scheduled to take place at the end this month, may also cease to exist, said the club’s assistant range officer, Dan Damato. At the club’s event, held to honor veterans, only one person is allowed to shoot the machine gun, while everyone else stands behind, Damato said. But if machine guns are banned from all firearms exhibitions, the tradition will end.
“I think the regulations are unnecessary and they will essentially close down the small clubs,’’ Damato said.
In Hudson, Boy Scout camps, where youths between the ages of 12 and 15 learn to shoot guns at the Riverside Gun Club, will most likely end, said club member Andy Massa. “If the regulations pass, then their activities will become firearms exhibitions and we can’t have them,’’ he said.
The logistics of submitting a safety plan to police 30 days in advance will make it too difficult, he said. Read more
Among Americans polled, 75% said the Constitution guaranteed the right to own a gun. The percentage of “yes” answers was higher among Republicans (92%) and lower among Democrats (64%). Among others, 71% answered yes.
As for the second question, 57% of those polled cited fear of increased government restrictions as the reason for a spike in gun sales; 23% said it was because of a fear of crime, while 20% were unsure.Read more
With the recent case of a man from Springfield who shot at a purse thief, many viewers asked about the rights of people with conceal-and-carry weapon (CCW) permits, along with the Castle Doctrine.
Goodman authored the law. He says the most recent version of the Castle Doctrine states a law-abiding homeowner can assume that someone who breaks into his home is there to do him bodily harm and can fully defend himself against that intruder.
Prior to this state law passing in Missouri, a homeowner had a duty to retreat or had to wait for a physical attack to be initiated before defending himself. Goodman says, too often, homeowners were finding themselves in the middle of a court battle, and sometimes facing civil lawsuits while only trying to protect their families. Read more
A North Syracuse resident shot and killed two Syracuse men after they kicked in the front door to his home and entered early Saturday morning in what police are calling an apparent home invasion.
Dead are Thomas R. Lashomb, 23, of South Midler Avenue, and Wade A. Brown, 26, of West Matson Avenue, Officer Jeffrey Tripp, of the North Syracuse police, said.
Jeffrey J. Bush, 22, shot both men with a pistol-grip shotgun as Bush and others struggled with Lashomb and Brown inside the house at 115 Elm St., Tripp said. During the struggle, Bush’s 2-year-old son slept in another room.
The two men targeted the Elm Street house, Tripp said.
“This isn’t a random act.” Tripp said. “They were at this house for a reason, we just don’t know why yet.”
Here’s the account police gave of the incident:
A resident of 115 Elm St. called 911 around 1:03 a.m. and said two men kicked in his front door and attacked him. One of the intruders, later identified as Lashomb, was reportedly wearing a ski mask.
Bush and three friends were in the living room playing video games on the Playstation when the intruders broke in, Tripp said.
Bush said he was attacked by Lashomb and Brown and they began to fight. One of Bush’s friends jumped in to help him.
Bush fought with Lashomb and subsequently shot and killed him. Brown was also shot by Bush and died while being taken to a hospital. Neither man made a statement before they died, Tripp said.
With proper shot placement and good bullets, the .308 will always do the job.
I can’t shoot that buffalo with a .308, Ian. Nobody does that.” I still remember that conversation with a good friend about his upcoming opportunity to shoot a big, old bull. He sells rifles by the score, but his inventory was depleted at the time. I had recently helped him set up a great-shooting heavy-barrel Remington Model 700 in .308 Winchester, so I grabbed a box of Federal 180 Trophy Bonded Bear Claws and said, “These are ideal. Give them a try. You can place the bullet perfectly with that Remington, what more do you want?”
A few days later, he called and told me the bull died instantly from one Bear Claw to the forehead. Although he still won’t hunt with a .308, my friend admits the little cartridge did a fine job. I’m always amazed when he tells me how difficult it is to sell used .308s and how nobody in their right mind orders one anymore. The little cartridge is by far my favorite for hunting in Saskatchewan, and I would have no concerns using it farther afield. I know it’s a great caribou killer, even at fairly long ranges.
Against the Magnums I admit to shooting my share of magnum ammo through the years, and I still play with the .300 and .325 WSMs and other magnums. There is a place for more reach and smack, and I get just that from my magnums — at both ends. My .308 rifles do not beat me up, and they are much easier to shoot with extreme precision. It’s as simple as that. Granted, a really light .308 will let you know when it goes off, but the recoil energy and muzzle jump is nothing compared to that of larger cartridges.
One reason the .308 is such an effective hunting cartridge is the choice of excellent bullets and bullet weights. Bonded bullets allow flatter trajectories and more energy. I rely on 165-grain bullets instead of 180s since switching to the bonded designs. My rationale is that 85 percent of 165 grains is better than 40 percent or 50 percent of 180, because many lesser bullets break up and shed their jackets and cores. Swift Sciroccos, Hornady Interbonds and Bear Claws do the job. More recent bullets — such as Nosler’s E-Tips, Winchester XP3s, Barnes Triple Shocks and Remington’s Bonded Core-Lokts — are also fine choices.
No doubt, the main reason I favor the .308 is because I shoot it so much. I enjoy the challenge of hitting distant targets, and the .308 is the ideal platform to learn the necessary skills and gain confidence at fairly long ranges. There are excellent reasons for that, the first of which is that the little cartridge is inherently accurate. I do not care about blistering velocities and flat trajectories as much as accuracy, shooting costs and barrel life. My .308 barrels will last for several thousand rounds compared to 1,500 or fewer with many magnums.
The .308 is Ian McMurchy’s favorite hunting Cartridge, mostly because of the great bullets and solid information available for the caliber.
My 168- and 175-grain bullets might only be flying about 2,600 feet per second, but they follow the same arc with amazing precision. I really don’t care about how many inches of drop I have compared to other cartridges, because my drop charts are extremely accurate and repeatable. The military has studied the .308 to perfection, and there are almost no secrets concerning drop and wind-drift.
Actually, wind drift is relatively easy to handle if you know the velocity and direction, again using military-developed charts.
.308 Vs. The Ultimate Enemy In a 10-mph full-value wind (3 or 9 o’clock), I simply apply one minute of angle less than the first digit of the distance. At 600 yards, that would be five minutes of angle — simple as that. The interesting thing is, this works. Drops are a little more involved, but not much. I use various aides to ensure that I have quick access to the necessary numbers. Some of the more common settings are engraved in my memory, but I don’t trust that source nearly as much as the written dope-charts.
How do you keep track of elevations? I use a slick little device that attaches directly to the tube of my scope. I simply grab a tab and unreel a small tape-measure-like device with my drops and drift written on it. I also use commercial Ballisticard drop cards that provide even more data. On some of my rifles, I’ve applied simple labels with the info in rows. As you can see, drop info is crucial for long-range shooting success.
I should mention that wind considerations can be more complex than merely knowing speed and direction. Winds gust and swirl and do weird things in rough terrain. Wind is our ultimate enemy, but it can be handled if you work hard at understanding its properties. My friends and I almost always shoot with a spotter in charge, so the onus is on him to make good calls. That lets the shooter concentrate on marksmanship.
What can you expect from a good-shooting .308 at longer distances? We practice out at 700 yards a lot. If the spotter can handle the wind, our groups will stay close to one-half MOA at that distance. I have seen the little .308 overlap bullets on my steel targets many times when we are holding well and the wind is steady. Why practice at 700? If I can hit consistently at 700, I should be able to hunt to 450 or 500 yards if necessary. I like to shoot as close as possible, but I also want to use the full potential of my equipment. My .308s are deadly on deer out to 500 yards, so why not use the full capability of my cartridge?
Always There I have killed my share of game with the .308 Winchester, including the odd moose and large black bears. With proper shot placement and good bullets, the .308 will always do the job.
-Sadly, Ian McMurchy passed away recently. He will be missed by the shooting sports community.
Criminal charges against Jamie Chen, 41, are “highly unlikely,” Blanchard said, adding that the shooting appears to have been “a tragic response to what (Chen) was experiencing in the moment.”
The Dane County Coroner's Office identified the man killed as Roberto Vega-Gil, 42, of Madison.
Police said they believe Vega-Gil broke into the Seminole Hills home at 2969 Osmundsen Road intending to burglarize it when Chen shot and killed him shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday. Preliminary autopsy results indicate Vega-Gil died of a single gunshot wound, said interim Coroner Kurt Karbusicky.
There is no evidence that Vega-Gil was armed, said Fitchburg Police Lt. Chad Brecklin, and Chen used his own shotgun.
It does not appear Chen intended to shoot or kill Vega-Gil, Blanchard said. “He went out with the shotgun to defend himself,” Blanchard said. “He doesn't have a conscious memory of deciding to shoot.”
Police said Vega-Gil was wearing gloves and there was evidence of forced entry to the residence.
Brecklin said a glass patio door was broken on the lower level of the home, where Chen lives with his parents, Peter and Mei Chen. The home does not appear to have been targeted for any specific reason, he said.
Vega-Gil has prior convictions in Florida dating to the mid-1980s for burglary while armed, aggravated stalking, carrying a concealed weapon, theft and possession of burglary tools, police said. Read more
HB1988 currently has 48 additional co-sponsors, and according to FirearmsFreedomAct.com, is similar to bills recently enacted into law in both Montana and Tennessee.
While the bill seems to focus solely on federal gun regulations, it has far more to do with the 10th Amendment’s limit on the power of the federal government. It specifically states:
The regulation of intrastate commerce is vested in the states under the 9th and 10th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, particularly if not expressly preempted by federal law. Congress has not expressly preempted state regulation of intrastate commerce pertaining to the manufacture on an intrastate basis of firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition.
Rohrer, in a recent letter to Pennsylvania House Members, addressed the issue of the commerce clause:
Under the current, expansive interpretation of the Interstate Commerce Clause in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, it is permissible for the federal government to regulate the sale of goods that are manufactured and sold exclusively within a state’s borders. Effectively, the federal courts hold that if a product might possibly find its way into streams of interstate commerce, federal laws to regulate that product are appropriate. The product need not actually be sold between states.
In 1942, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against a farmer who was fined by the federal government for growing too much wheat. Effectively, the argument in Wickard v. Filburn was that the wheat he grew and consumed himself would lead to decreased wheat sales in other states, so it fell under federal jurisdiction because of the interstate commerce clause.
As recently as 2005 (Gonzales v. Raich), the U.S. Supreme Court cited Wickard as standing for the proposition that “Congress can regulate purely intrastate activity that is not itself “commercial,” in that it is not produced for interstate sale, if it concludes that failure to regulate that class of activity would undercut the regulation of the interstate market in that commodity.”
According to the U.S. Supreme Court, wheat (in Wickard) and medical marijuana (in Raich) are completely indistinguishable from such products made and sold in interstate commerce, so federal regulation is appropriate.
Under my bill, the policy of this Commonwealth would be that firearms and firearm accessories manufactured and exclusively sold in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, carrying the brand “Made in Pennsylvania” (all clear indicators of intrastate commerce), would be subject only to state law. Read more
Earlier today, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) offered an amendment to the 2010 Transportation-Housing & Urban Development Appropriations bill.
A nearly identical amendment, also offered by Sen. Wicker, passed the Senate in April by a vote of 63-35.
Current Amtrak regulations prohibit firearms in both checked and carry-on baggage. Sportsmen who wish to use an Amtrak train for a hunting trip, therefore, cannot include a shotgun even in their checked luggage.
Likewise, travelers who have a permit to carry a concealed firearm cannot include a self-defense firearm in their checked luggage, even if they are allowed to carry in both the states of origin and destination.
But if such travelers were to take the trip by air, they could check a gun onto the aircraft by simply declaring the firearm and transporting it in a prescribed manner.
Of course, very few people use Amtrak — and many question why that entity receives any tax payer money.
Regardless, a transportation entity that receives billions of federal taxpayer dollars should not be allowed to prevent law-abiding citizens from hunting or defending themselves when they travel on vacation or personal business.
Sen. Wicker’s amendment prohibits any federal taxpayer funding of Amtrak if it does not allow gun owners to transport firearms on trains in a manner similar to that of airlines.
Under this amendment, travelers would be able to transport a firearm from Amtrak stations that accept checked baggage as long as the firearm is declared and carried in a hard-sided, locked container. Read more
The Grays Harbor Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday it will not seek charges against the shooter, Gary Bowers, 38, of Port Orchard, in the death of Westin Wolff during the tragic Aug. 29 camping trip.
Prosecutor Stew Menefee said all the evidence indicates Bowers fired the fatal shot only after Wolff ignored several warning shots and attacked him with a machete.
“We found that the evidence would support it was a justifiable homicide committed in self-defense,” Menefee said this morning.
Grays Harbor Undersheriff Rick Scott said Wolff and two friends set camp near Wynooche Lake early in the afternoon, finding a remote spot away from any established camping grounds.
Drinking heavily
Wolff started to drink a “significant amount” of alcohol, Scott said. Another 25-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy with Wolff told investigators he became “quite intoxicated” before deciding to go for a hike at about midnight.
Scott said Wolff and the 16-year-old started walking along a road when Wolff stumbled into Bowers’ nearby campsite, knocking over camping gear and throwing things in frustration. Bowers’ family, including his wife and two young children, awoke and he fired a shot in the air to scare off what he believed was an animal, Scott said. When he found Wolff and the teenager in his camp, an argument broke out with Wolff becoming aggressive and Bowers firing two more warning shots.
“The victim, who was intoxicated, was refusing to leave,” Scott said.
Shortly before 1 a.m., Wolff returned to his campsite and for unknown reasons pulled off all his clothes except his shorts and a T-shirt.
“He picks up a black machete,” Scott said, “and took off into the dark.” Read more
Whether you want red-dot performance, like the STS (bottom) or the STS4x32, the BSA line offers scopes that are durable, easy to use and affordable. That adds up to a great value.
Although BSA Optics was formed in 1996, the company has deep roots in British history. The company was conceived by Royalty feeling the need for weapons to protect Britain. They produced whatever was needed throughout history making weapons and machine work for weapons.
They became munitions manufacturers when the need arose and in 1866 they became known as Birmingham Small Arms and Metal Company and were the largest arms manufacturer in Europe. That was short lived because as wars end, so do the need for arms. Fortunately we still have them around making high quality optics at affordable prices.
My first experience with BSA Optics was a 3-12x50mm Huntsman Scope. BSA has a large variety of hunting scopes and they have tactical equipment also. I was looking for a quality scope but didn’t want to have a large investment in it. I needed it to use on rifles that I was building or re-barreling to sight with during testing. It wasn’t going to remain on any of the rifles as they would be scoped later with equipment that fit the rifle’s intended use. The Huntsman was the perfect choice for that purpose and I now have it on a Winchester Featherweight that I recently re-barreled to a .308 Win. I planned on using the rifle as a medium weight hunting gun and the scope might just stay right where it is. I will most likely replace the first scope with another BSA.
Of the things I like about the Huntsman, the first, of course, is the price. The quality is way more than acceptable and the multi-coated lens gives high definition and clarity with very little reflection. Usually when talking about 50mm objective lenses you will talk about a substantial increase in price. Not so with the BSA and I used it on a wide variety of calibers up to .300 WM with no adverse effects. I also like the long eye relief. I like my face as far away as I can get with proper cheek weld, especially on the heavier calibers. For a hunting rifle, it is helpful also to get on game that is moving.
The scopes come with a variety of reticules and this one has MilDot which was suitable to me for a testing scope. I have used MilDot quite extensively and am comfortable using it to range and adjust for drop. It works well for me on my hunting guns. The turrets are easy to use and have plenty of windage and elevation adjustment for longer ranges. They also have illuminated dot reticules if that is allowed for big game in your area.
Picatinny rails on the sides of the BSA STS allow for the mounting of additional hardware.
I also have turned to BSA for tactical equipment. They produce a generous variety of AR friendly scopes, lasers and red dot sights. The Stealth Tactical Series (STS) has just about anything the tactician could possibly need for his or her next mission or competition. I really like the STS Illuminated Sight that not only has a red dot, but a blue and green dot also. Each color has three intensity levels for varying lighting conditions and the three colors will not only accommodate different conditions but also operators that may have less than perfect color vision.
The adjustments for windage and elevation are sizeable, easy-to-operate knobs with graduation marks clearly visible. One click equals half inch is the calibration that works for this type of sight. They are mounted towards the rear of the sight for easier manipulation. The dot control is mounted slightly forward and on top and is easily seen and operated with the weapon shouldered. The red adjustment is toward the front of the sight but if that is the color you are using the intensity can be adjusted while looking through the sight.
One of the new things BSA has added to their sights and scopes is the shudder-like lens protector. I consider it a lens protector but it also can be used to adjust the light intensity allowed into the glass. They are adjusted by a knurled ring fore and aft and can be completely closed or opened to any diameter just like a camera aperture. I have always been a fan of Butler Creek lens covers, but this applies two functions to the same utility and will not accidentally get flipped open. The BSAs are not as quick to get into action if the weather forces you to travel with them closed like the Butler’s quick flip.
The sight is equipped with picatinny rails on either side and come with a light and laser sight that can be added if needed. Both options come with pressure switches for activation or can be operated with rear button activation. If your AR is not equipped with a railed forearm, the light and laser can be left right on the sight as a complete unit. I like the added versatility. There is adequate amount of cord to mount the switch just about anywhere on the carbine or rifle. The push button feature allows always on or intermittent option. The sight is finished aluminum with a matte black coating. It has a solid and rugged feel.
Also in the STS series is the low power scopes. On the carbines for CQB work, the 1X Red Dots and lasers are preferable. The utility of the AR also includes longer ranges and BSA also produces scopes for a variety of missions. The STS4X32 is perfect for a close to mid-range tool. BSA supplies the scope with a set of rings to go directly on a flat top receiver or it also comes with mounts for carry top AR or AK platforms. I mounted it on a flat top upper that I interchange with a carbine upper, depending on use. It is compact and rugged for any mission.
The glass, like the red dot, is crystal clear and gives a bright transmission of light. The lenses are also protected with the aperture light adjustment like the red dot and their other STS equipment and they have come up with a preferable turret design for the tactician and sniper. I much prefer turrets with large numbers exposed on the scope for quick adjustment in the field. When working with a MilDot reticule, if the crosshair is going to be the point of impact, the elevation needs to be adjusted to the yardage.
Gun Digest tactical gear spring 2009 download. Buy Now »
Some of my older target scopes have large turrets but they are covered with a screw on cap. They also seem to have about 50 more threads than they need and take forever to remove, especially if you’re in a hurry. This is inconvenient to move for an adjustment, but without the cap, the turret could bump off, throwing the shot. BSA has a solution to the problem. They designed a push pull turret that has nice readable numbers and lines. The turret is pulled out to adjust the elevation and then pushed in to lock the adjustment down. Once the scope is sighted in with the rifle, the turret can be re-zeroed to the sight in preference. This is nice on the AR scope, but really comes in handy on the precision scopes.
The Ranger reticule in the STS4X32 is designed with the AR in mind. It has hold over marks for elevation adjustments through the scope. It has 100-, 200-, 300-yard distance marks and lines for closer battle. It gives the operator full range use of the weapon. The top two lines represent 3.6 inches at 100 yards and 36 inches at 1000. This can help with quick ranging if the operator knows the size of the target. It also has windage markings for estimated value compensation while aiming.
BSA has a long history of serving the shooting industry for both military and sporting purposes. Most recently they are extending this heritage by offering high quality optics and innovation for both professional and competitive shooters alike. Their variety of equipment and quality cannot be overlooked. Check them out at bsaoptics.com. GDTM
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
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