| Author | Message | ||
     Blake |
If you could have only one cartridge/caliber, but as many firearms as you like that can shoot it, what would it be? It would seem tough to beat .45/.410 for available range of firearms, from .45 ACP/.45 Super/454 Cassul/.45 Long Colt in pistols & carbines, to .410 shotguns, to .45-70 rifles and revolvers. No, that's not a typo; Thomson Centerfire makes .45-70 revolvers. | ||
| Blake |
The Glock 48 is an interesting new entry to the market. Full sized, 10+1, single stack 9mm, slim and trim. Meh? If you conceal-carry, try forcing yourself to constantly carry a big ol' revolver or a Glock 20 or 21 or equivalent around for a month or two. After that, swapping back to a full-sized let alone a compact 9mm or .40 S&W will seem like butter. | ||
| Pwnzor |
.357 Magnum for me | ||
| Ourdee |
I would choose .460 Rowland in a Colt 1911. You can still fire .45ACP in it. The .460 Rowland set up will allow you to also shoot .45 SUPER. You should swap out Springs from ammo type to ammo type. | ||
| Thumper74 |
The Glock 48 is their answer to the Sig 365, but ended up being bigger and with less capacity. D'oh. I EDC a Glock 43. It holds 7+1 with an aftermarket baseplate. I have a spare mag that goes with it. If I 'think' I may need more, G19 more than doubles the capacity in something not substantially larger. | ||
| Aesquire |
The One Cartridge idea is self imposed limitations, but it's a way to simplify reloading and logistics. The American frontier solution was the .44 WCF aka .44-40. That's still a ballistic solution that is good for up to deer/horse/human sized game/threats. ( horse as anti-cavalry, not dinner hunting ) Out to 150+ yards, too. But there aren't many concealed carry options in .44-40. And ammo availability is not good. ( better than before Cowboy Action competition ) Pistol caliber carbines, like submachine guns, have been mostly replaced by the AK-47/74 & AR types in most military service. Reduced power & recoil rifle cartridges. They give better range & lethality than a 9mm carbine. ( .45 ACP is even worse ) So the logical solution, and current state of the art, is a 5.56 carbine or rifle, and your choice of handgun. I don't even mind 10mm except for cost. And if I lived elsewhere, a 10mm carbine still lets you play the "one cartridge" game. I'm trying to make a virtue out of a necessity. That the necessity is the work of evil, racist, authoritarian liars sucks, but it's the hand I've been dealt. | ||
| Tootal |
Has 41 magnum been discussed? I just sped red back to the original post and didn't see it. I've seen it used in short barreled revolvers and lever actions. A friend had a revolver and we compared to my 44 and it was easier to shoot and still packed quite the wallop! Henry, Marlin and Winchester all made a lever gun for it. | ||
| Ourdee |
My Father-n-law had a few pistols in .41 MAG. They were some straight shooters with factory ammo. | ||
| Aesquire |
A great cult cartridge. Hard to find both guns and ammo. Arguably the "best" high power revolver cartridge. Less kick than a .44, flat shooting, and good for any N. American game. I'm also a fan of the .280 Remington. Especially the Ackley Improved version. Find that at Walmart. | ||
| Zac4mac |
My "long gun" is a 7mm Rem Mag. It's last kill was a fork-horn mulie at 300 yds. Then I had to carry it out, 150# or so field dressed. Could NOT do that today... I do like my .44s Marlin 1894 and a Henry brass Mare's Leg. At the range .44Spl is cheaper and less recoil. Wish I could EDC the Henry.... Just had some artillery therapy a couple of days ago. Psycho neighbor bought a S&W 500 Mag. Almost as bad as a Thompson Contender in .270. I feel relaxed today, even put 10 or 15 miles on the Uly(plates expired in August) Z | ||
| Aesquire |
If I win the lotto! ( sung to "If I Were A Rich Man" preferably by Zero Mostel ) I'd build a clone of the Winchester 1895 in 5.56 x 45mm. Leave room in the action for slightly longer cartridges. Luckily I live down the road from https://www.turnbullrestoration.com And they'd love to take my money. It's metal porn. Used to be, you had an old gun, & the smart word was don't have it refinished. Ruins the value, and no one does it right. There were a handful of experts to take your Colt to get it fixed and tuned, some S&W specialists, and so on, but an old Fox double, etc., leave it be. Then Turnbull did decades of research on case hardening, until he could accurately reproduce the blues and reds from the old days. Really using bone & other techniques. And his shop? You could eat off the floor. I should see if he'd use a floor sweeper. ( I was a precision machinist & metrology lab & QC guy. Their hand work is art. ) Now? You want grandfather's Purdey made like new? Colors perfect? Dad's '94 to look like it was shipped out of New Haven in 1897 and delivered by TARDIS? Contact Turnbull. He'll even put Fox colors on your old Stevens, and document it as his custom work, and when your grandson sells it at auction there'll be a bidding war. | ||
| Tootal |
Ahh, 7mm mag. Nice rifle. I have the less abusive but highly accurate 7mm 08. A Savage 110S. The barrel starts at 1-1/8" and tapers to 7/8". With hand loads it does 1-1/8" 5 shot groups at 200 yards. Strictly a target rifle as it weighs Way to much to hunt with. 7mm's and 270's are very flat shooters. | ||
| Aesquire |
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/04/hous e-democrats-introduce-bill-criminalizing-private-g un-sales-tuesday/ https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/04/virg inias-democrat-gov-pushes-gun-confiscation-orders- criminalization-of-private-sales/ Virginia is off my list of future homes. Joining Maryland and New Jersey and..... | ||
| Ratbuell |
Despite these myriad failures, Northam claims his gun control package will work if tried in Virginia. Just like Socialism will work, if tried in the USA. These mental midgets need to try this themselves. Sequester themselves from the public at large, in their own compound. Ban their own guns. Live on socialism on their own. See how it goes. Although...it won't be much of a compound - they (by their own rule set) won't have any walls or barriers to keep people out; they won't have any weapons to defend themselves; and people will simply come in, anytime, help themselves to all the "free" whatever (food, medicine, college)...then leave before they have to contribute anything to the system. | ||
| Hootowl |
This should be interesting. https://www.foxnews.com/world/brazil-to-combat-cri me-by-loosening-gun-control And instructive. | ||
| Aesquire |
https://babylonbee.com/news/in-response-to-growing -number-of-fistfights-london-mayor-bans-hands | ||
| Ratbuell |
Went to the range yesterday to sight in my new Viridian Reactor5 GenII green laser. I feel like it's cheating...I LOVE it! There's a hard power button to turn the whole thing on and off (for storage), but anytime it's in the holster, it's on. There's a magnet in the holster (it comes with a tuckable IWB) - like an iPad cover - that turns the laser off when holstered, and it turns on automatically when you draw. No button-fumble in a potentially stressful situation. Not a hard-shell holster, so re-holstering is a bit of a hassle (it does draw smoothly though), but overall I'm extremely happy. And...It.Is.BRIGHT. Supposed to be 3h usage life in the "steady-on" position, and 5h usage in "flash" mode (and it came with a spare battery set). I think I might order the Galco IWB they offer, with the magnet setup. It looks to be a bit more rigid for re-holstering...and if you order one, they send another free set of batteries. If anyone's been considering getting a laser, I highly recommend this. Compact, light, rigid-mounting (clamps to the under-rail as well as the trigger guard), stays on target after repeated firing, re-holstering, and drawing, and as far as handling the pistol...I don't even know it's there, it's so balance-neutral. Retail is $210ish, but I did a quick ebay search and found a vendor with them brand-new for under $100. | ||
| Aesquire |
The only real advance in the last century is in optics. Polymer has replaced stamped sheet metal and milled metal for body parts, grips, frames, but that process was underway after the Civil War with plastic grips, the Nylon 66, then Glock.... Red dots, no eye relief optics, & now lasers. The first gen of laser range finder integration in scopes is available. The second gen is too, and the third, that uses lidar for wind adjustment, should be out by the time the fictional version from Earth, Final Conflict ( in the pilot episode ) was used. https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/eliminator-iii -laserscope?hp-t2. $1500! I was going to get one for my AR, but it's gone. Need to get a new ( to me ) rifle first. http://www.tracking-point.com Remington's version eliminates the auto trigger, and used a flashing reticle to tell you the perfect aim. There's a philosophical safety question on the Tracking-Point version. At $10k for a bolt gun it can stay a curiosity for me. Still, impressive. The Burris, otoh, isn't crazy expensive, lots of high end scopes are over a grand, and has just enough tech to be an edge, without cheating.  The rifle? How about a Winchester 1895, or a Henry? Programmable ballistics. Anachronistic action. I gave my brother in law a laser rangefinder. Good him to take it when he walks the dog, and range..... Everything. Heck of a training aid. But lasers? That's the performance edge John Browning never dreamed of. | ||
| Aesquire |
Well, well! My lever gun project just got more interesting. https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/the-long-ranger/ 5.56, .243, .308 & 6.5 Creedmore. Magazine fed, free float barrel, optics ready. Everything you want in a "tactical" sporting rifle for the folk living in states where rights have been violated. Eventually any magazine fed repeater will be outlawed, but as of today, this is a loophole in N.Y., Not sure about California or Joisey. Check your local laws. Going to be hard to find used, but the $1k price tag is in line with many AR Offerings on the market. I'd rejected the Henry based on the pistol caliber versions having a slow loading method with out a King's patent gate. Glad I looked again. I also didn't know anyone made a .223 lever gun. Oh frabjous day! For the survival fans, the AR-7 in "improved" format , is still available. https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/u-s-survival-ar-7/ The stock is a bit clunky, but workable, the original was foam filled, & the rifle floated, stored or assembled. The new molded insert stores 2 magazines instead of 1 on the original. Floats? Not so much. The barrel has gone through a few variations. The original had a very thin stainless steel liner in an aluminium sleeve. My old one, ( and I regret trading it ) was an early Charter Arms model, actually made by Armalite, over stamped with the Charter Arms logo with the light stainless/aluminum barrel. Charter Arms went to a solid steel barrel to save money. Those didn't float. Henry has gone to a steel barrel lining & polymer sleeve, as well as changing the stock insert. Looks to be a larger diameter sleeve than the original, & different steel alloy. With the caveat that it's iron sights only, it you want to retain the stored configuration, it's ( or mine was, anyway ) a pretty accurate rifle. Free float? No handguard! No sling! Nothing to ruin zero. The sights are basic aperture, and adjustment is 17th century. One screw to loosen the aperture plate, and no markings or clicks. You just twiddle it till it's perfect, and leave it alone. Took me a 20 rd. box of ammo. Or three..... Had fun doing it. You can easily make or have made a replacement aperture in any diameter that suits you, it's just a piece of sheet steel with 2 holes. Never lost adjustment. Sturdy & protected by the aluminum receiver. It's no Lyman aftermarket sight when it comes to adjustability, and if you change ammo, it's relatively slow to twiddle, but it functions while shooting as well as a Garand or any other. And for the folk still in free States that allow NFA sales.... https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/frontier-model-thr eaded-barrel-24/ Seems ideal for hunting, plinking, or target practice. Should be a good companion for a suppressed AR. I want one. Have a nice day. | ||
| Aesquire |
Note on the AR-7. It functions with abusive lack of maintenance. The guy I traded it to complained it was busted. I tried it at his home range, and it was doubling! Opened the receiver, and it was packed full of powder fouling, solid, to the point it was hanging up the interrupter. Several thousand rounds without any cleaning, at all. You literally couldn't see the moving parts. A solid block of carbon. Smooth where the side plate was removed. A can of gumout, a toothbrush, and 3 drops of Hoppe's #9 cologne later, it ran like a Swiss watch, without the $1000 yearly repair bill. Complete disassembly required one screw and fingers. The barrel looked furry inside. Dang. Cleaned up fine with Hoppe's and a brass brush. It's not the perfect gun. It's not for everyone. But it's a good gun to have handy, and they offer it in a basic run away bag. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Hoppe's #9 cologne I'm glad I'm not the only one who LOVES that smell!  Took me over an hour to (first time solo) clean the XDs the other day. Partly the learning process on a new piece of equipment; partly because I just love the smell. | ||
| Tootal |
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| Zac4mac |
I have seen car freshener cards that smell like Hoppe's #9. | ||
| Gregtonn |
I have seen car freshener cards that smell like Hoppe's #9. Probably illegal in CA and NY. Can you imagine getting pulled over in LA or NYC and the cop smells Hoppe's #9? "Face down on the ground hands behind your back NOW!" G | ||
| Aesquire |
https://www.wsj.com/articles/put-down-the-kombucha -and-pick-up-a-crossbow-hipsters-are-the-new-hunte rs-11547052935 | ||
| Gregtonn |
I'd rejected the Henry based on the pistol caliber versions having a slow loading method with out a King's patent gate. Glad I looked again. Soo...let me get this straight, you would give up the pistol caliber project so you can have a non-pistol caliber rifle that will shoot four or five rounds? You could likely shoot fifteen rounds faster but certainly not as fast as ten rounds of .357 with the tube magazine. If you need that many rounds you are in a fire fight not a defense situation. G | ||
| Gregtonn |
...slow loading method with out a King's patent gate. FYI: Preloaded cartridge tubes are very fast with the Henry setup. G | ||
| Aesquire |
Tube loading tubes are gamer gear. Sometimes that translates well in the real world. 3 gun competitions give us shotgun reloading with such tubes. Are they in use in the Rock Pile? They existed in the Civil War, but never successful in real use. Too fragile, poor metallurgy, bulky to carry. Modern shotgun systems are polymer and function pretty well, with practice, but are still bulky. The King's patent gate allows topping off the magazine while curled in a ball in a ditch. Or prone. Slower than a speed loader tube, but not as disruptive to position or aim. This argument, the systems for single round top off, vs. En bloc clips, vs. Removable box, raged for years. Thus my preference for the 1866 vs. the 1860 pattern. (Message edited by Aesquire on January 10, 2019) | ||
| Aesquire |
Until the new Henry, your choice for pointy bullet lever guns was the 1895 & the Savage 99. Both out of production. Neither available to my knowledge in .223. Rifle caliber choice is guided by availability then ballistics. Availability is the big one. So my previous choices in available calibers were rare used guns in .308 & .30-30 ( Savage ) or .30-06 & 7.62 x 54R, ( Winchester 1895 ) or .30-30 ( Winchester '94 & Marlin 336 ) I'll point out that .30-30 has zero surplus ammo around, but does have flex tip ammo ( premium priced ) and a decent range of bullets. "Power" roughly between the AK-47 and Garand. ( 7.62 x 39 & .30-06 ) Arguably an intermediate cartridge, but at the high end, arguably full power. The stocks of .30-06 surplus are pretty much gone too, so expensive ammo, but the widest bullet & loading range. 7.62 x 54R is roughly equiv to the .308, is temporarily cheap, but is rimmed and well over a century old. .308, some surplus, but fading, excellent bullet and load choices. So... a .223 offering gives the cheapest ammo, the lightest ammo load, and cross compatibility with ARs etc. The 4 round magazine is a limiting factor, but since I may be limited to 7 next week, not a huge one. I agree the 10 rounds of .38 or .357 would come faster than with a small magazine rifle.... and hasn't that been the tug of war between battle rifles and submachine guns, for over a century? | ||
| Aesquire |
Ideally, I'd want M-16 compatible mags. It might be possible to make a replacement lever for the Long Ranger that yokes around a magazine. ( like the Winchester 1895 ) The only other choices seem to be single shots.... A bit slow. Or a rare Remington 7600 variant, the 7615 Police Patrol pump action rifle. I'll have to look for that one! It might be the most logical choice. So keep questioning my assumptions! By the time I'm done, I may have completely changed them. |
