Winchester's Model 1894 32 Winchester Special Part II
Before launching into a 32 Winchester Special handloading odyssey, I thought I’d better mention that it is a cartridge that has meaning to folks who like old time rounds and the sense of nostalgia they bring. It also has meaning to folks who just like to work with other than […] [Read More]
The Ruger Hawkeye African in 6.5x55mm Swede Part II
In the last installment… I guess that would more correctly be the “prior installment” as “the last installment” would suggest this one would not exist… the Ruger Hawkeye African was deemed to be an excellent rifle and images and detail were offered up in evidence. Not perfect; not enough to […] [Read More]
6.5x55 Swedish Modern Rifle
Warning: Bullet selections are specific, and loads are not valid with substitutions of different bullets of the same weight. Variations in bullet length will alter net case capacity, pressure and velocity. Primer selection is specific and primer types are not interchangeable. These are maximum loads in my firearms and may […] [Read More]
Ruger's SR1911 Meets Cylinder & Slide
In “A 1911 Trigger Clean Up…. In a Couple of Parts“, the SR1911 factory sear, disconnector, hammer, and sear spring were reworked and the main spring was changed. The result was a pretty spiffy and very crisp 3 3/4 lb pull with no creep and set with no noticeable overtravel. […] [Read More]
Ruger's No.1 in 450 Marlin Part 1
The Ruger No.1 hold a unique place place of honor at Real Guns®. It served as the basis for wildcat cartridge development, like the 358-378RG with 280 grain 35 caliber bullet zipping along at 3,100 fps. Ruger No.1s wired for strain to monitor chamber pressure were used in our development […] [Read More]
Ruger’s No.1 in 450 Marlin Part 2
The 450 Marlin is the child of convenience between the 45-70 Gov’t cartridge having great potential with pressures well in excess of the SAAMI pressure standard and manufacturers that had no modern standard to use as the basis for warranting their current firearm designs. While maturing at eighteen years of […] [Read More]
Ruger's SR1911 Lightweight Officer-Style 9mm
My theory on carry guns and an egg analogy… As we get older, our waistline spreads, are hips narrow and our butts disappear. In short, we begin to morph into nature’s perfect shape, the egg. Consequently, the four pound forty-four mag that once rode proudly at our waist, now progressively […] [Read More]
Ruger's 10/22 Target Lite
More than a rifle, I like to think of the Ruger 10/22 Target Lite rifle as a poorly employer paid, yet exceptional vacation. My job at Real Guns pays squat, but the Target Lite is so much fun to shoot. If asked for comment, I am sure Real Guns would say, “We pay you what you are worth” and Ruger would say, “Of course the Target Lite is fun to shoot. Why do you think we make it?”. All fair points. [Read More]
Ruger's 77 Series Model 77/17 17WSM
Some of the most significant firearm related information I’ve encountered came with the purchase of a spiral bound copy of Ackley’s “Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders”. Originally published in 1959, my copy was a 1961 10th printing. I was fifteen years of age; five years a shooting enthusiast, three years […] [Read More]
Ruger’s No.1 in Stainless Steel and 257 Roberts Part III
Just enough time to get in some handload development before wrapping up the Ruger No.1 257 Roberts project and to update the 257 Roberts reloading page. Pictured below in the order they appear on the table. Warning: Bullet selections are specific, and loads are not valid with substitutions of different […] [Read More]