leroy

Sorry im late. Got sidetracked last nite. Looks like about a $300 investment in round numbers. Check the rcbs stuff out here; it has everything you need (..thats what i use...): RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Single Stage Press Master Kit - MidwayUSA. I also like lyman and redding. All about the same price. Lots of folks like lee stuff. The only lee stuff i ever used was their hand priming tool. The cost of the brass is about $35 per 50 from midway, bullets about $25 per 50 (hornady), powder about $20 per pound (probably will load 175 rounds per pound), small rifle primers at about $35 per thousand (...or cheaper; they are finally coming down...). RE: "Big boy pants": You and i see eye to eye on this one. I dont hunt much either; mine is sitting in the bedroom next to my pump shotgun. These "big bore" AR's combine the best of both worlds with regard to finishing what bad guys may start. They combine powerful balistics with capacity. That's a hard combination to beat. Hope this helps Leroy

I'm like some others; i think this is a "tempest in a teapot" and an imaginary construct of some of the gun magazine "intelligencia" and their consultant buddies that are paid to give advice to the foolish. Remember this: When the Germans marched to Stalingrad they were carrying Smeisser Machine pistols, P-38's, and Lugers. They are all 9 mm. It seems to me like a hot loaded 9mm would go thru the average commie (...who was wearing a big coat; its cold in Russia in the winter...). My bet is that it will go thru a bad guy too. I say: "Dont worry about it. Shoot straight...". Food for thought. Leroy

Jamie:___________ What kindness and devotion. Our prayers are with you. I lost my old Golden Retriever on May 30; and im still crying from time to time. Cant hardly go to the kennel without crying. Condolences, Joe

To add to Warbird's post: I've never actually seen one broke; but i dont have any buddies (....or myself, for that matter...) that have put more than a thousand or so rounds thru one (...we have 3; 2- 45's and a super...). My Government Model and Commander shoot better than i can (...which aint too good...). Regards, Leroy

Thanks Tim. The "bad idea" is that on some guns (....those shot a lot; which is a relative term...); sometimes the fingers would break and you would have to redo the barrel and bushing. As i remember, the Gold Cups had solid bushings. Leroy

I believe they do. When i got the barrel done; i ordered the bolt headspaced to the barrel. You also have to open the ejector port on the upper too. It's not a big deal to the machinists. I_Like_Pie's advice here is the way to go on ammo: The problem right now with these big calibers is finding brass. 450 Bushy ammo can be bought for about $27.00 for 20 rounds (...which i think is idiotic...). The brass aint much better though; about $35.00 for 50 rounds. The good news is that you can make bushmaster brass out of 284 winchester brass if youv'e got the time and tools. Lots of good info here: http://450bushmaster.net/ Hope this helps. Leroy

Longshot:____________ We like them big caliber AR's too. Just built a 16 inch H Bar 450 bushmaster carbine (...got the barrel from "Ballastic Advantage, LLC."...Ballistic Advantage, LLC - Home....). I've got all the stuff for reloading rounded up; but havent got anything together yet. I like the idea of an AR carbine with a "big" punch. The 50 Beowulf, 458 SOCOM, or the 450 Bushy do that job nicely. PS-- YOU CAN FIND BUSHMASTER AMMO PRETTY EASILY. Congratulations. Leroy

Adding to what Tim said; It probably aint a bad idea to use "hardball" rounds in an unmodified pistol. I like the hornady 230 grain truncated flatnose rounds. Evidently, the hollowpoint stuff (...probably the stuff that didnt wrap the jacket all the way into the hollowpoint...) or the 'serrated" or "folded" type rounds can cut the ramp portion of the frame over time. Leroy

Tim:_____________ RE: Series 70 Colt "fingers". If you ever saw one of the "old"(...original...) series 70s barrel and bushing assemblies taken out of the slide; you would see a "fingered" bushing sitting on a rounded hump machined into the series 70 barrel. It had 3 or 4 prongs (...cant remember how many...) about 3/32 wide with a short solid bushing (...abour 3/16 or so...) long similar to a "flat" or cylindrical bushing. The "fingers" sit on a rounded hump machined on the barrel. The idea was to have the "fingers" reach and squeeze the barrel a bit when the slide went into battery (...it put tension on the barrel and link assembly and shoved the barrel lugs snug against the slide...) and "improve" accuracy. It appears to me it was a "quick and dirty" way to claim improved accuracy. The "real story" (...looks like to me, anyway...) was it eliminated the need to hand fit the barrel and bushing. Leroy

Amen to both points. Link is exactly right. Crime is about opportunity. It can happen anywhere. I (...like many others here...) believe you should be ready. Keep your "equalizer" at easy reach all the time. Keep your powder dry and your tools at hand. Leroy

Agreed. I think Haslam with sign whatever the Republican State House puts in front of him. I believe he will be afraid not to. The state house will call the shots on the gun and hunting issues. Remember, there was a 6 term senator from tennessee that was voted out for voting for one anti-gun piece of legislation; the 1968 Gun Control Act. His name: Albert Gore, Sr. Leroy

I'll add a plug for the CZ too. They are a great shotgun. The build quality cant be beat. Sadly, like lots of other things, the price is commensurate with the "build quality". Having said that, they are a great shotgun, even considering the price. Leroy

Carbon:____________ I've got the "original" lightweight, the Colt Commander. The only difference i can see is that they tend to climb a bit higher in recoil. No appreciable difference in shooting. The carrying difference is the big thing. The aluminum frame makes the gun quite a bit lighter. If you carry them a lot (...the old ones, that is...); they tend to wear on the frame a bit quicker than the slide; but i suspect the newer finishes may have fixed that. I've seen the old ones that were carried lots wear all the way down to the aluminum. Some folks worry about durability with the aluminum frame; but i see that as a "no, nevermind"; the frame is forged and plenty tough. I doubt that the average gunner could shoot one enough to batter or crack the frame. For what it's worth; i really like the full size aluminum frame pistols. I'd like to find a "lightly used, but lovingly cared for" one myself. If i remember right, the lightweights weigh about 28 to 29 ounces. When you put that up against a 35 to 40 ounce full size colt; the difference is pretty good. Hope this helps. leroy

Blue "thread locker" locktite. You can still take it apart if you need to. Regards, Leroy

I like it!! I been thinkin about a 1.25 to 4 myself; but i just cant seem to talk myself into turning the dollars loose. I like the IOR stuff too; like the 3 X 25 fixed power; but they are a bit "pricey" too. I need something for our 450 bushmaster H bar carbine. Congratulations on your purchase. It looks good!! Trijicon is hard to beat. Leroy

Will:____________ DMark is giving some great advice here: The "pinned and recessed" models are the greatest of all the smiths. I would never sucumb to buying anything other than the "old" ones (...look for an 'N" or "S" beginning s/n...). Nothing is greater than these "first of the magnums". DMark: Thanks for the info on the 4 inch 27's. I had no idea they were so rare. No wonder you cant find 'em! When we were looking for them (...long ago...) the 3 1/2, 5, and 6 1/2 inch guns were what everybody looked for. Keep up the good work! Leroy

DMark:_____________ What a great collection. I (...like you...) love the model 27's. I think that they were (...in the old days, at least...) the "pride" of the S & W shops. They were the oldesd "magnum"; and they look the best due to the crosshatched topstrap. I really like the 4 inch; they are getting hard to find. PS-- I LOVE THE "SLICK" GRIPS TOO! THEY ARE A VALUABLE COMMODITY TODAY. Again, thanks for posting that great collection! Regards, leroy

I like Midway. That is exactly what i would expect them to do. I've been doing business with them so long that i have some "midway" marked pistol brass (...44 mag, i think...). They are great folks. Their prices may not be the absolute lowest (...but they are always reasonable...); but they most always have everything you need in stock and ship it pronto. It is generally 3 days from their place to my front door. leroy

I understand. We got one of 'em here too. Made one trip; wont go back. Didnt buy anything (...im a skinflint!!...). I always walk around, look at the prices and ask dumb questions. If i dont get the right answers i just tootle on out. Leroy

It seems to me that the biggest problem with the "homegrown gunstore" vs "internet store" are the issues of price, inventory, and sales tax. I been watchin and buying gun stuff for about 35 years now; and ive come to the conclusion that the mom and pop local folks just cant compete with folks that have a large inventory and lots of cash. The local guys simply cant buy the "consumables" like primers, powder, cleaning stuff, bullets, kroil as cheap as the big guys can. Once they mark it up to a liveable (...for them profit margin...), they price themselves out of the range where most folks that buy that stuff regularly are willing to pay (...except where friendships or convenience issues are involved...). Said another way, a guy may run down to his buddy's place and pay $4 or $5 more for a pound of powder to load his hunting rounds for a year. He wont (...at least i wont...) buy 8 lb of powder, 1000 bullets, and 5000 primers at those prices. He will order them where they are the best deal. I'm far more apt to buy used stuff (...firearms...) from the local guys (....assuming the price is right; and he is a good guy or gal...) than consumable stuff you need regularly. I'd like to help the local guys as much as i can (...if they are worthy; some arent...). But it's just hard to do when you consider the cost and convenience difference. Sadly, many mom and pop operations cant make it on the occasional purchase. It would be nice if some of you gun store entrepeneurs would wade in on this issue. Let us know what you think. Leroy

Thanks Tom!! Very interesting and informative. I really like the 3.5 inch setup; and i bet the 4.25 would work real well in a hip holster. Again, thanks for the great information. Kind regards, Leroy

Dear folks:___________________ Finally got my 450 Bushmaster carbine upper built and am looking at a low power scope for it. Been lookin around and i really like the IOR stuff. Specifically these two models: IOR 3X 25 scope. link here: IOR 3x25 Tactical 30mm Rifle Scope IOR 1 X 21 reddot. link here: IOR 1x21 Micro Edge Red Dot Sight Please drop me a line with your thoughts. Thanks in advance. leroy

Amen!! I like it. leroy

Just voted "YES" to the constitutional amendment! Take that you PETA chumps!! Mad dog Leroy

I think Dave and Fallguy nailed it. I think it's baloney and a 'tempest in a teapot". Leroy