Marlin 1894 Cowboy

My Marline 1894 Cowboy, chambered in .45 Long Colt, was a gift from my wife last Christmas. It is an exceedingly beautiful rifle, that I will cherish forever. As of this writing, I have not shot it yet, but look forward to doing so in the near future.

The fit and finish of the rifle are excellent, and the action is tight and smooth. The gun points well. It has a good heft, while not being overly heavy, and the skinny forearm is perfect for my smaller hands.

The stock sites are very nice as well. They should allow for rather fine target acquisition. I will most likely have a tang peep sight installed in the future however.

Manufacturer's Website:
Marlin Firearms

Pics:


Links:
Marlin Owners
Chuck Hawk's Article
Kim du Toit's Article

Specs:
Caliber: 45 Colt
Capacity: 10-shot tubular magazine
Action: Lever action with squared finger lever; side ejection; deeply blued metal surfaces; solid top receiver; hammer block safety.
Stock: American black walnut straight-grip stock; hard rubber butt plate; tough Mar-Shield® finish; blued steel fore-end cap.
Barrel: Tapered octagon with deep-cut Ballard-type rifling (6 grooves).
Twist Rate: 1:16" r.h
Sights: Adjustable Marble semi-buckhorn rear, Marble carbine front sight. Solid top receiver tapped for scope mount; offset hammer spur (right or left hand) for scope use. Serial number is on left side of receiver instead of tang, allowing custom installation of a tang sight by a competent gunsmith.
Overall Length: 37.5"
Weight: 6.5 lbs.

Talo Inc. Advertisement for The Last Cowboy

Apparently around 1,000 of these were made. Mine is the one with the white handles and gold markings.

Marlin 917vs

Man, what a wait. This gun has been nearly three years in the making, and I am finally going to be able to shoot it in a couple weeks. It is ridiculous really. My beloved fiancée bought me this rifle for Christmas '05. It is a beautiful gun really. Nice stainless bull barrel, and green laminate stock. It shoots the .17 HMR round. I have been wanting to try this round out since I first heard of it's release, and I will finally be able to.

The rifle has no sights on it. This is the main reason I have not fired it. I really wanted to put together a nice affordable shooter with this one. Kim bought me a Mueller APV for it last Christmas. This is a nice affordable scope. The users at Rimfire Central helped design it. I have heard nothing but great things about it. Kim also said their customer service was excellent.

So I have had the scope for nearly a year now. I finally found the perfect mount for it I think. A BKL 261. This piece should be shipping today, and I will hopefully get it next week. I am busy next weekend (dang it!), but I WILL be taking it out to the range the following weekend.

From everything I have seen and heard over the last couple of years, this setup ought to be one heck of a shooter for the price. I plan to hit up the 100 yard range to see what I can do with it. Undoubtedly it will outshoot me, so hopefully I can get some respectable groups going. Look for a range report in a couple of weeks.

Manufacturer's Website:
Marlin Firearms

Pics:


Mods:
Mueller APV
BKL 261 Scope Mount

Links:
Fun Range Trip

Specs:
Caliber: 17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire
Capacity: 4-shot and 7-shot clip included
Action: Bolt action; thumb safety; red-cocking indicator.
Stock: Monte Carlo laminated gray / black hardwood with nickel-plated sling swivel studs; full pistol grip; rubber rifle butt pad; tough Mar-Shield® finish.
Barrel: Heavy 22" stainless steel (4 grooves)
Twist Rate: 1:9" r.h.
Sights: No sights provided, but receiver is grooved for scope mount; drilled and tapped for scope bases (scope bases included).
Overall Length: 41"
Weight: 7 lbs.

Ruger Mark II 22/45 Bull Barrel

This is actually Kim's pistol. She loves it! I bought it for her as a starter pistol, so she could learn to shoot a 1911. Unfortunately she can't stand the kick of my 1911, so she is sticking with the 22/45 for now.

The gun itself functions flawlessly with CCI Mini-Mags. You can shoot it all day long with no problems. It is also a very accurate pistol. It just hits were you aim. I personally like the traditional Mark I/II/III grip angle better, but this one does simulate the 1911 very well. The plastic grip is kind of subpar IMO, but it does not affect the functioning of the pistol at all. The bull barrel, undoubtedly contributes to the accuracy, as well as making the gun a pleasure to point.

Overall I would buy it again for her. At some point I will buy a Mark II Hunter for myself.

Manufacturers Website:
Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.

Pics:


Links:

Specs:
Caliber:.22 LR
Capacity:10 Rounds
Finish:Blued
Grip:Black Synthetic
Barrel Length:5 1/2"
Groove:6
Twist:1:16" RH
Overall Length:9 1/2"
Weight:2 lbs
California Approved:Yes
Massachusetts Approved:Yes
Front Sight(s):Fixed
Rear Sight(s):Adjustable

Winchester 1200

This gun means more to me than all the rest combined. It is my Grandfather's shotgun. What else needs to be said? My Pa is living in a nursing home now. I took his shotgun from his house for safekeeping, and took my Remington 870 up there so my Dad, who is staying at the house would have a shotgun around. The Wal Mart special 870 would not be a great loss. The 1200 would kill me.

I remember this gun from childhood. Back when Pa could get around and had his little farm it was a fixture. He used it to "hunt" with. I believe all he ever killed while hunting was an unfortunate jackrabbit that hopped into his path. He brought it home and told my Grandma, "Dot look! It blew it's head clean off!". Another memory involved a tarantula on the front porch. He somehow managed to miss the tarantula on the first shot, blowing a big hole in the porch. I remember yelling, "How you gonna miss from 10 feet away with a shotgun?!". A few seconds later another hole appeared where the tarantula had been. While he accomplished his goal, I think he thought better of it when he was replacing those boards on the porch and repainting the whole thing.

I was allowed to use the gun for a few rabbit/dove/shooting objects in the pond excursions once in a while when I turned 15. I must have put 30 boxes of shells through it in a couple months.

This old shotgun is nothing special. It has a decent wood stock and forearm with a few scratches. The bluing is in great shape except for a couple of small dings, and their was a few small rust spots on the barrel which I took care of. Honestly though, it may as well be a fine European model as far as I am concerned. The memories of Pa and his land, that he later lost, are some of the best of my childhood. I wish Grandma would not have had that heart attack that bankrupted him at the time. I would have loved it if he could have spent some more years out there on his beloved patch of North Texas. He had 25 acres, but to us kids it may as well have been 5,000. We roamed it, along with most of the adjacent larger properties for years. Several deer were even taken out there. None by Pa though. He was always to worried about hitting some non-existent person a mile away if he took the shot. Either that, or he just couldn't bring himself to destroy what he saw as God's creative beauty at work.

My Pa is the best man I have ever known. I have never heard him cuss, drink, or smoke. He has served God as well as he could since he was a teenager, and worked hard selling auto parts for a long time to support his family. He has a youthful innocence and sense of humor that makes me weep when I think about losing him. This old shotgun ain't much, but it is worth the world to me.

Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle

Ah, the gun that started it all. This is the first gun I ever bought. That is excepting a 10/22 I got at 18 that was promptly stolen. I have had a love/hate relationship with this gun. It was purchased from a former roommate's father for $450. The price, I would find out, was probably a bit high, but it did come with extra mags, all of which were complete crap.

The rifle was a dirty, inaccurate, and a jamming PITA.

I learned how to take it apart and gave it a thorough cleaning. This took care of the first problem. It was the only easy fix.

I shot it once or twice, and could barely hit the target at 50 yards. Admittedly some of this was my poor marksmanship, but most of it was the gun. The "adjustable" peep sight was loose for one thing. Duh! So I tried to tighten it up and one of the screw's head split while I was tightening it and fell off. Doh! After a couple of months I got the screws replaced and got it adjusted. At this point I was able to put most rounds on a 12" target at fifty yards. Better, but still horrible. My latest endeavor was installing an Ultimak rail and a cheap red dot. This vastly improved the rifle's accuracy. Check out the mod section for more info on this little project. Let's just say, it followed the M.O. for the rest of the rifle.

As for jamming, it doesn't jam anymore. I quit using all the crappy mags it came with, and found a couple Ruger factory 30 rounders. These have functioned flawlessly.

The gun is now a fun gun to shoot. It is not as accurate as my AR, but it is acceptable. The Boy prefers the Mini to the AR. Go figure!

I have more in this gun than it is worth, so it will always be mine. Right now it is serving SHTF duty at the lake house.

Manufacturer's Website:
Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.

Pics:

Mods:
Ultimak Scout Rail

Links:
Perfect Union Mini 14/30 Forum

Specs:
Caliber: .223 Rem
Capacity: 5 Rounds (up to 30 with other mags)
Finish: Blued
Stock: Hardwood
Barrel Length: 18 1/2"
Groove: 6
Twist: 1:9" RH
Overall Length: 37 1/4"
Weight: 6 3/4 lbs
California Approved: N/A
Massachusetts Approved: N/A
Front Sight(s): Protected Blade
Rear Sight(s): Ghost Ring Adjustable Aperture
Other Features: Garand-Type Safety

Henry H003TM

This gun is just flat out fun to shoot! I am a big fan of Henry's rifles. They are a family-owned company that makes some good quality guns at pretty affordable prices. This octagon-barreled beauty was a gift from my dear fiancée for Christmas 2006. It was an accidental purchase. I asked for a lever action .22 Mag, and Wal Mart shipped this gun instead. She must have ordered it, as it costs about $200 more than their bottom of the line lever WMR gun.

She was so upset when she realized it was not the right gun Christmas morning. We discussed taking it back, and decided to. I spent the rest of the day looking at the gun and handling it. Man this little guy sure does point nice! The short stroke on the pump is a bit weird, but it sure is comfortable! That octagon barrel, nice sights, and pretty wood sure are neat! After fondling it all day, I decided to keep it. I am so glad I did. It is a joy to plink around with.

The gun is more accurate than I am. I am fairly certain that it would do some really nice groups at 100 yards or more with a scope on it. I will never put one on it though.

Henry rifles are not fine bespoke guns by any means. They are affordable reminders of our past history however. The company has captured the nostalgia of the old American west so many of us are infatuated with. You can get into a standard lever action .22 from them for less than $250. The action they have created is incredibly smooth for the price. This is not a Marlin Golden 39a, but it is in my opinion the next best thing. My pump WMR will not be the last gun I purchase from Henry.

The company's customer service is second to none. Emails from the company president are not uncommon, and I hear he answers the phone quite a bit as well. They seem to go out of their way to make sure the customer is happy with their purchase.

Henry's trifecta of good quality, good value, and good service make them a winner.

Manufacturer's Website:
Henry Repeating Arms

Pics:


Links:

Specs:
Model: H003TM
Action Type: Pump
Caliber: .22 Magnum
Capacity: 12 rounds
Barrel Length: 20 1/2"
Length: 38 1/2" Overall
Weight: 6 lbs.
Stock: American Walnut
Sights: Fully adjustable rear, beaded front
Receiver: Grooved for scope mount
Finish: Blued barrel and receiver

Bushmaster XM15 Heavy Barrel Carbine

This is my first Guns That I Own post. I can't think of a better subject than my first (for now only) black rifle. I LOVE this gun. I have put about 1,000 rounds through it so far, and have not had a single hiccup. She just throws ammo downrange in a quick and accurate manner.

The heavy barrel on this gun works great. I like the additional heft. It is easier for me to aim accurately than a lighter gun.

Manufacturer's Website:
Bushmaster Firearms

Pics:


Links:
The Wonderful Evil Black Rifle

Specs:
A rugged, telescoping buttstock adds to the versatility of this .223 Remington caliber carbine, and the ribbed handguards keep swing weight to a minimum. Its handguards, pistol grip and "tele" stock are molded of hard thermoset polymer composite. The heavy barrel, with chrome lined bore and chamber, offers exceptional accuracy for its length and is externally manganese phosphate finished for complete protection against corrosion and rust - as are all steel parts of the weapon.
The barrel incorporates a "birdcage" style flash suppressor/compensator with closed bottom to eliminate dust signature when firing in the prone position. The M16A2 sight system, with two flip-up apertures designed for either short range shots at moving targets or long distance accuracy, offers adjustment for windage and elevation. The elevation adjustments are graduated from 300 to 800 meters and automatically compensate for bullet drop. Forged, lightweight 7075T6 aircraft quality aluminum receivers have all M16A2 design improvements including cartridge case deflector, last round bolt hold-open and raised ridges for magazine release button protection.
The A3 Type differs in that it's Upper Receiver is "flat-top" style with an integral Picatinny rail to offer a variety of sight, scope or night vision mounting options. A 1/2 M.o.A. rear sight is incorporated into the Removable Carrying Handle.The carbine is shipped complete with 30 round magazine, instructional manual and carrying sling, all in a hard plastic shipping case..

Should I abandon the venerable 5.56?

We were watching Futureweapons last night and I saw something rather interesting. This is a great show. Of course not a lot of the stuff is actually futuristic, and the host kind of makes me giggle with some of the stuff he says. It is good entertainment nonetheless. Last night they were showing the difference between the 5.56x45 and the 7.62x39. These of course are the two rounds used by the M-16/M4 and the SKS/AKM. The basic thesis was the 5.56 is very accurate and fast, while the 7.62 is slower and less accurate. His conclusion was the 5.56 doesn't have the knockdown power needed by our soldiers and Marines. The AK round has the knockdown power at shorter ranges, but struggles with accuracy at longer ranges. As everyone has heard before, shot placement is the most important factor when you are trying to kill a deer OR a human. There is something to be said for hitting something real hard though. More energy hitting your target is always a good thing. The 5.56 doesn't have the punch. It was thought, when the round was made standard, that it's high speed created devastating wounds. That turned out not to really be true. It has killed many, many people, but it is not all that hard hitting. Terrorists fight until they are no longer breathing quite often. You need a round to put them down.

The conventional wisdom has been to step up to the 7.62x51 when you need more firepower. It is an awesome round. No doubt. It has killed lots of Nazis and Chicoms to be sure. It is a knockout punch. It is also has a large casing and is heavy. This limits the amount of ammo the common soldier can carry due to weight and bulk.

The 6.8 Remington SPC was brought up in the show as the perfect solution. It combines knockdown power with high velocity and accuracy. It shoots as flat as the 7.62x51! The round it fits the AR-15. All you need is a 6.8 upper, and slightly different magazines. That is a huge benefit to me and of course our military. You can load 15 rounds in a 5.56 20 rounder and 25 rounds in a 5.56 30 rounder apparently. The round has lower chamber pressure than the 5.56. It apparently is a big enough round to take out medium size game easily according to some of the hunting crowd. The round was derived from using the old .30 Remington case, and necking it down. It uses a .270 bullet. The .270 is a very popular hunting round. Not as popular as it should be perhaps. We Americans tend to think anything less the 30 caliber won't get the job done.

Brass and bullets are available, though quite spendy. Of course what ammo is not expensive as hell right now? I paid $118 for 500 rounds of Wolf .223 this past weekend. That is a $25 price jump in the last month.

I will not be 'switching' to this round for a couple reasons. First I have two 5.56 rifles. They are accurate, ammo is relatively cheap, and available. I am confident any bad guy I have to deal with will be dispatched fairly well with either rifle. The other main reason I won't switch is the US Armed Forces have not switched. I believe it to be a good idea to use the same round they do for emergency situations. The .223/5.56 is the most available round in the country, and will continue to be so for some time.

At the same time, I do plan to build up a rifle using this round. It is a neat round, and I think I will use it to fill the intermediate slot in my arsenal of black rifle goodness. It will make a good lead weapon if the FreeFor ever needs to be put into action.

Here is a pic of the 6.8 Bushy upper. Sure would look good on top of mine! Actually it would look even better on top of another lower! :)



For some history behind the round check out Chris Byrne's excellent article over at Anarchangel.

http://anarchangel.blogspot.com/2007/02/okay-so-why-did-we-choose-556.html

The wonderful evil black rifle

As most people that pay attention to the goings on in Congress, I noticed that a new AWB was introduced a few weeks back. It is HR 1022 (ironic isn't it). For anyone interested (if you value your God-given rights you better be), check out the text here.

This abomination will outlaw many, many guns that millions of people legally own now. It goes much farther than the Clinton Gun Ban. It apparently would make it illegal to transfer the banned weapons from owner to owner. They of course don't have the balls to try to confiscate existing weapons, so they would be grandfathered in. You would never be able to sell them though.

In the spirit of 'fuck you, you won't trample my rights', the better half and I decided to buy an AR this weekend. Specifically a Bushmaster XM15. This one in particular.



Actually ours is slightly different. It has an A3 detachable carry handle. It came with one 30 rounder(which would also be banned), a sling, manual, and case. We took it out to the range Sunday. It shoots great! I managed to put about 40 rounds in a 4" circle. Pretty good for iron sights and my bad eyes. I was shooting cheap commie ammo, so I am sure I can improve the performance with some more practice and better ammo.

We bought an extra mag for it as well. I plan to buy a few dozen mags for it, and hopefully another rifle or two.

I will do all I can to fight the new AWB(Assault Weapons Ban for the uninitiated), but if it does go through I will be somewhat prepared. I won't be stuck with 10 round bolt actions for my family's self defense.

I also plan to buy quite a few mags for my XD-45. They hold more than 10 rounds so they would be illegal as well.

We will most likely get an AK or two when funds allow as well. These will be cheapo WASR-10s most likely, but they will kill just as well as the $800 Ruskie versions.

I love my black rifle. Eugene Stoner was a genius, and we must do what we can so that future generations will be able to enjoy his wonderful rifle.