The 17-357 RG - Real Guns Project Cartridge - Finished Good golly, a 3,300 FPS handgun!
It was a little chilly at the range, and a little overcast and the 17-357 RG prototype was a little uncooperative, but all and all, the combination performed admirably. The combination was able to push a 20 grain bullet over 3,300 fps and a 25 grain bullet at slightly over […] [Read More]
The 17-357 RG - Real Guns Project Cartridge Part VI When things go terribly wrong...
I arrived at a point in the project were things didn’t work and the problems and correctives actions were not obvious. I had to decide if all would end up in a box at the back of a shop cabinet or if I had enough retained enthusiasm to see it […] [Read More]
The 17-357 RG - Real Guns Project Cartridge Part V And the other half, the T/C version
Before moving on to the cartridge and load development phase of this project, I wanted to cover the converted T/C Contender, a firearm I believe is optimal for the 17-357 RG. The barrel began life as a 357 Magnum chamber, a configuration which is of no practical consequence, as the […] [Read More]
The 17-357 RG - Real Guns Project Cartridge Part IV The P229 is in, one down, one to go...
This has not been a particularly fun filled project. There is an odd phenomena that occurs with skilled crafts people when they progressively miss their own commitments; first they are apologetic, then they are resigned to corrective action, then they stop answering the phone or start blaming their customer. I […] [Read More]
The 17-357 RG - Real Guns Project Cartridge Part III And then the dies arrived....
I was really surprised at the amount of mail I got from people who thought the 17-357 RG was just me goofing around again with a fictitious cartridge. Well, if you’ll forgive the pre fire formed shoulder, it looks a lot like the gem to the right and it is, […] [Read More]
The 17-357 RG - Real Guns Project Cartridge Part II and other updates and information
While the .45 SAP was the subject of a parody, the 17-357 RG was not, honest. I thought an update would dispel the rumors that the 17-357 RG was little more than the product of my imagination and too much time on my hands. The chamber reamer and go gauge […] [Read More]
The Swiss K31 Part 2
The intention was to shoot a few rounds of factory ammo to baseline accuracy, but that turned into a few boxes of factory ammo while I got a better feel for the rifle and thought about an approach to take with handloads. Recoil was light, accuracy was decent, cycling was […] [Read More]
The 17-357 RG - Real Guns Project Cartridge Part I
I was staring at a couple of 17 HMR and 357 SIG cartridges, while trying to scrape some recently fallen tuna and mayo off of my keyboard, when my brain merged the images of the two rounds into what looked like a miniature WSM. I opened RCBS.Load and QuickLOAD, working […] [Read More]
The AR 15 & AR 10 - The Case for Vacuous Beauties?
Every so often, I dredge up the idea of a project based on the AR 15 or the AR 10. The hardware appears to be more fun than any other firearm I can think of, accessories and performance pieces are numerous and owner installable to a great degree, and these […] [Read More]
How Many Internet Users Actually Own Guns?
I have not been able to determine if, just like country western performers, the politics and views of gun owners have changed dramatically, taking a giant step left. If various forms of Internet communication are a realistic indication, I would have to assume this is so, but I keep thinking […] [Read More]