NGC: Any gun collectors here?

[Frulk]

Winter is for casting bullets and loading them up for the first long range buffalo gong shoot next spring with the .45-110 Sharps. Tomorrows forecast is for 30 mph winds and 8 to 10" of snow.

I've been toying with the idea of getting into casting but I have too many other hobbies that it would require me to cut back on to make time for it. I'm still able to get hard cast lead bullets (which I shoot quite a bit vs. jacketed) at very reasonable prices. Currently have a source in Dillon, Montana casting some very nice .357 mag 158 gr SWC's. On my travels through the Montana and Wyoming backcountry I've developed a little network of local sporting goods stores that I hit when coming through. In that fashion I've been able to acquire hard to get stuff like Unique, Accurate 5/7/9, 2400, that is almost never on Sportsman/Cabela's shelves and I have enough Trail Boss now to last me the rest of my life.  For brass I go directly to Starline's website which ships for free and is about $6-8 less per hundred than the franchise sporting goods stores When they have the popular pistol calibers...(which is almost never these days around here).

[Chuck in Indiana]

Thanks for that..

[Waterbottle]

Nice Christmas gift!  I've bought a few airguns recently to goof around in the backyard with.  The broomhandle Mauser is a hoot in full auto but empties the mag in about 2 seconds.  Hopefully the neighbors remain calm, I turn my stereo up real loud first! 

I love those Broom Handles    A friend bought one from the widow of his old mate recently, no one even knew he had it until they had a tidy up. 

[cruzziguzzi]

^^^ "Broomhandles" and Lugers... There's a collecting virus I don't wanna get. Too dear. I have one 1918 matching numbered Luger and that's one too many. It keeps crying out for series mates but more particularly, an Artillery Luger.

Back in the Eye-Talian realm, I had forgotten about these Spaghetti Western staples from Italy:



Two Remingtons (may favored) and a Colt in bits slowly becoming a pistol.

They really speak to me these days. If my bevy of 1911s feeds my Ludditious carburetor side, than these cap &ballers tickle my distributor bone! Got a Hawken coming together in the shed too... "... couldn't go no better."

Todd.

[WitchCityGuzzi]

My next piece will probably be one of these. I have a thing for the Schofield's. To my eye, they're just gorgeous.

[charlie b]

We have a nice broomhandle Mauser, made in 1896, carried in the Boer War, then again in WWI.  But, did not see much action in either.  Father-in-law inherited it from a friend's family and now wife has it.

We shoot it on a regular basis.  Figured out the right loads for it so it cycles reliably.  Really nice little package and as accurate as any carbine with the stock attached.

[Waterbottle]

We have a nice broomhandle Mauser, made in 1896, carried in the Boer War, then again in WWI.  But, did not see much action in either.  Father-in-law inherited it from a friend's family and now wife has it.

We shoot it on a regular basis.  Figured out the right loads for it so it cycles reliably.  Really nice little package and as accurate as any carbine with the stock attached.

Very nice Charlie, Cycles reliably ? Would you share your loads so I could pass it on to my friend, it would save him some grief I think. I have no hand guns myself as to own one here in Australia you must be a member of a registered pistol club, hold a current gun owners licence, attend x number of club functions per year etc etc. All to painful for me at the moment. In my time off work I'm ether fixing or riding bikes 

[ohiorider]

Going back 50 years .... a college buddy of mine purchased a broomhandle Mauser from a friend for $40.00.  Keep in mind it didn't come with the removable 'rifle' stock.  My recollections about the gun were:
- you used the nose of a bullet to open the magazine
- it had a very precise mechanism to raise and lower the sight for changes in elevation
- it was one brutally ugly firearm .... all business
- it was great fun to fire

Bob

[davedude]

Quote from crafty:

Well it still isn't Motoguzzi but is Italian so getting closer  . My Uberti El Patron .45. The Sharps replica I shot was also an Uberti.



GliderJohn

Uberti makes quality pieces. I too have a couple of colt clones including a 5.5" patron. Their Winchesters are high quality and not inexpensive.

[Gliderjohn]

Quote from davedude:

Uberti makes quality pieces. I too have a couple of colt clones including a 5.5" patron. Their Winchesters are high quality and not inexpensive.

I am very impressed with my El Patron. Cost less than a Ruger Vaquero, has much better fit and finish than my Blackhawk, and a factory custom tuned action with Wolfe Springs. Shoots great and to POA @ 50'. The .45 is just a fun cartridge and easy to reload along with being a piece of history.
GliderJohn

[charlie b]

Going back 50 years .... a college buddy of mine purchased a broomhandle Mauser from a friend for $40.00.  Keep in mind it didn't come with the removable 'rifle' stock.  My recollections about the gun were:
- you used the nose of a bullet to open the magazine
- it had a very precise mechanism to raise and lower the sight for changes in elevation
- it was one brutally ugly firearm .... all business
- it was great fun to fire

Bob

Yep.  But, you only need to open the mag if you get a lot of dirt/grime in there.

[charlie b]

Very nice Charlie, Cycles reliably ? Would you share your loads so I could pass it on to my friend, it would save him some grief I think. I have no hand guns myself as to own one here in Australia you must be a member of a registered pistol club, hold a current gun owners licence, attend x number of club functions per year etc etc. All to painful for me at the moment. In my time off work I'm ether fixing or riding bikes 

I've been using 6.3gn AA#5 with the Sierra 85gn bullet (that is the max load) but it cycles well.

Do not use the Tokarev ammo as it is quite a bit hotter.

[Waterbottle]

I've been using 6.3gn AA#5 with the Sierra 85gn bullet (that is the max load) but it cycles well.

Do not use the Tokarev ammo as it is quite a bit hotter.

Thanks Charlie, I'll pass it on   Cheers

[MotoG5]

This long range set up is my Italian connection. Pedersoli reproduction of a Remington Rolling Block in 45-70. Casting is the only way to get the specialized long heavy bullets that are soft enough to work with black powder loads. One can shoot smokeless in these reproductions but its not allowed in quite a few of the long range matches and in the longer high case capacity rounds like 45/90 and 45/110 you have to be very careful if you do so.

[charlie b]

I do love the black powder guns.  My next one will be a long range muzzle loader.

[Gliderjohn]

Any person much interested in firearms should at least fool with black powder a bit. Fairly inexpensive to get into.
I compare it to learning to fly with gliders. It just does a good job of teaching the basics plus fun to shoot.
On the flip side of the coin I cannot imagine going to war as like in the civil war using the black powder weapons. Pull trigger, boom, Oh wait! Oh wait! I need a half a minute on a good day to reload this thing while having to stand up to do it. Even the revolvers were only good for about 20 shots or so before they became to gummed up to function.
GuzziJohn

[Farmer Dan]

And if you get into black powder you need a good pistol.  This is a .69 cal that my Father made when he was 17 years old.  It still shots like a dream and is dead on at 50 yards. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Dead on meaning "bushel basket" @ 50 yards.. 

[Sheepdog]

Uberti makes quality pieces. I too have a couple of colt clones including a 5.5" patron. Their Winchesters are high quality and not inexpensive.

I have an el Patron CMS (lowered hammer, 3.5" barrel. .357 Mag). The trigger is a dream and it is beautiful to look at. Excellent in the field or at a bar-b-que!