Easing Dirty Gun Guilt
This is my personal Ruger Redhawk; Stainless, 4″ barrel, 45 Colt, Hogue Monogrip… grips. I had three pass through my hands until I found one that felt and looked just right before I bought this one. It’s tough and accurate and it stands up to even the handloads I push […] [Read More]
DuraCoating A Milsurp Mauser...
Not many people know that I have one hundred thirty-six Brownells’ bluing tanks in the loft at the shop, just like the one pictured above, filled with the remnants of “pending” projects. Pending not because of a modification that has gone awry, but rather because I am lousy at final […] [Read More]
The Minox ZA 5 2-10x40 XR-BDC Riflescope
We were putting together a review of a Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Synthetic and went searching for a scope that would deliver solid optical performance, complement the good looks of the rifle and carry a price that would not induce sticker shock. Attributes not easy to find these days as […] [Read More]
460 Rowland
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,Ā pressure and velocity. Primer selection is specific and primer types are not interchangeable. These are maximum loads in my firearms and may […] [Read More]
Weatherby's VanguardĀ® Series 2 Synthetic DBM Part II
Lots of spring rain in our part of the Maine woods, so I had to keep looking for opportune moments between downfalls to set up a chronograph and get in some live fire time. It took a few days, but eventually we got there. The first task on the agenda […] [Read More]
Weatherby's VanguardĀ® Series 2 Synthetic DBM Part I
It is interesting to find a company with a sixty-six year operating history that projects such a modern and progressive image. Perhaps the company’s start with new, high velocity cartridges, or marketing taglines such as “Tomorrow’s Rifles Today” always stood in contrast to the more typical stodgy industry participants. The […] [Read More]
Reloading the 303 British
The 303 British round and No.5 Mk1 carbine as a combination are a lot of fun and exhibit virtually none of the shortfalls or negative behavior parroted or portrayed on the Internet. With pressure levels at or below 49,000 psi, cartridge cases didn’t measurably stretch, the little rifle did not […] [Read More]
The Enfield Rifle No.5 MK 1
I have always passed on owning a British Enfield for a variety of reasons. The first is the two piece stock that can never be made to look slick as a sporter. the second is the anemic 303 British round and the third is the rifle’s reputation for having a […] [Read More]
The Mannlicher M.95 - Straight Pull Rifle Part II
The Austrian M.95 Mannlicher cleaned up and slicked up and turned into a terrific seven pound chunk of time worn, blued steel and oil soaked walnut. With so many conflicting and unsubstantiated pieces of information on the internet relative to the M.95’s origins, I decided to pick up a copy […] [Read More]
Straight Pull Rifles, Hold the Swiss... Part I
Projects based upon military surplus rifles are always an interesting challenge. Each type seems to ride a wave of popularity that begins with availability of low priced, best quality, all matching number guns and ends with higher priced, parts bin born Frankensteins. Tracking to that curve is the level of […] [Read More]