Each year, around Christmas time, Real Guns pulls out all of the stops, and uses it’s incredible public opinion forming clout to shake early release product information out of the industry. This year is no different. Some of these items may be startling, unless you’ve been paying attention to product releases throughout the past 12 months.
The Vari-Velocipator
The Vari Velocipator was designed by the editor of “Shootin’ & Ammo”, Ernest Julio. The system allows various capacity cases to be screwed onto belted, as well as beltless, bases and matched to a variety of .338-378 chamber inserts (rifle not included). It is only with the Vari Velocipator you will assured of keeping up with every gun writer created trend in the coming new year.
The 120 grain capacity unit drives a 250 grain bullet 3200 fps, the 30 grain capacity unit drives a 250 grain bullet to a subsonic 700 fps. Velocipator belted and beltless rims can be purchased for $5, cases run between $1 to $3 dependent upon capacity, and all chamber inserts at the time of this product announcement are priced at $75. Powder, primers and pipe thread sealant are sold separately.
The 330 Marlin
While we haven’t actually been told that this little hummer exists, through clever analysis and biased forecasting, much like the statistical analysis employed by Al Gore in his bid to continue campaigning for the presidency through 2002, we believe the 330 Marlin can be expected in the coming year.
We all know handloaders have been able to get exceptional velocities from the .30-30, perhaps as much as 4 – 5% over factory loads. The 330 Marlin will almost approach this level of performance, but only with some differences in cartridge dimensions.
Where the .30-30 has about 36 grains of capacity, the use of thicker brass and reinforced web, will reduce the 330’s capacity to just about 20 grains. Marlin feels confident, however, that writers from the leading gun magazines will help to overcome the cartridge’s factual deficiencies. A more subtle change, the rim has been slightly expanded to prevent the 330 from being used in rifles chambered for the standard .30-30, or .50 BMG. We understand Hornady will be producing the factory ammo for this cartridge on equipment originally slated for .376 Steyr cartridge production.
.45 SuperDuperRolandAmerican
The .45 SuperDuperRolandAmerican should be released prior to the first meet of the 2001 slide hammer season. The prototype, seen at the bottom, was originally designed to use a 476 lb recoil spring, which required some minor face lifting of the basic 1911package. This particular prototype also employed a trigger lock approved by the BATF and the current Democratic leaders in Congress. Another fine example of combined Colt and S&W technology.
The cartridge case for the SuperDuperRolandAmerican is approximately twice as long as the standard .45 ACP, and can be purchased from Sunshine Brass or, alternatively, created by placing way too much powder in standard .45 ACP cases. Pressures for the SDRA should come in around 80,000 c.u.p and a 185 grain hollow point will typically reach a muzzle velocity of 3,000 fps, at least once. Body armor sold separately.
Real Guns
I have no significant announcements to make about Real Guns, other than to say thank you to the folks who visit the site, and to those who take the time to swap e-mail and talk about guns and other things. It’s been a lot of fun so far, and I hope this will continue in the new year. In the mean time, I’d like to extend a Merry Christmas and best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season to everyone.
Thanks
Joe
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