Skyhunter
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Posts posted by Skyhunter
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Wish I could offer an experienced opinion, but those O/U's are all out of my price range!
I've been very pleased with the Winchester 101 I bought new back in '81 or '82. That O/U has been reliable for sheet, sporting clays, or doves. It is certainly "more classy" than any of my 870 Wingmasters - I didn't break any more birds or drop any more doves, just "looked a little cooler" doing it! LOL!
Good luck in your quest!
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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I've enjoyed the company of a CZ 452 American in .22 LR for nigh onto 20 years. I managed to snag a 455 about 10 years ago and it's a dandy. It really likes 40 gr. ammo. My son-in-law has the 457-switch barrel and really enjoys it.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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Very Cool!
Be sure to let us know how it shoots!
Thanks for posting!
WYT-P
Skyhunter-
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I've been enjoying my CZ-527 for the past 10 years, so I'm a bit prejudiced in that direction, but I also have an SKS that works as a reasonable "truck gun". My CZ is just too darn nice to bounce around in my truck! LOL!
I've read several favorable accounts regarding the "new & improved" CZ's, but the stocks leave me cold! Sorry, but I'm old and really like (accustomed to?) walnut and blued steel or maybe stainless and a laminate. A good friend of mine bought a used Howa in '39 a couple years ago for his Dad and they have both been very happy with it.
If I needed (wanted?) a bolt gun in 7.62/39 in today's market, I'd probably opt for the Ruger American Ranch rifle and if I couldn't warm up to the synthetic stock, I'd replace it. After buying the Ruger, I'd be sure to be saving up for either the CZ or the Howa - just in case you stumble onto one or the other.
Good luck in your quest and be sure to let us know what you decide.
WYT-P
Skyhunter -
I've had an interest in the Browning Hi-Power for a long, long time. However, all the of the "real" HP's that I've fired in the past have left me with a bleeding hole in the thumb web of my right hand - so I never purchased one, even when "the price was right." I didn't see the point in owning and/or trying to shoot a handgun that I knew was gonna bite me!
Enter the SA-35. I'd read good reviews and even had my name on a couple of waiting lists when the pistol was first released. So it was the ole hurry up and wait - and wait - and wait some more. Well, one finally showed up at my favorite toy store, so I had to go check it out. Overall fit & finish was good, but only one magazine (but that seems to be the current trend). In any case, it appeared that I "should" be able to shoot this one and not spill any blood. Closed the deal and took her home - that was this past Friday.
I packed the SA-35 up (along with my Sig 226), four different boxes of ammo, and headed to MSSA for some range time and familiarization with my new bullet launcher. Loaded a magazine with ten (it'll hold 15, but 10 was enough to get started) IMI 115 HP's and proceeded to tear up the X-ring at 7-1/2 tards and no blood was shed! I was impressed and very happy!
I fired a total of 50 rounds from four different boxes of ammo (two with 115 gr. bullets and two with 124 gr. bullets) and nary a hitch or hic-cup. I am beyond pleased with Springfield's rendition on John M. Browning's last designed pistol. This pistol, for me, was well worth the wait!
Oh, and the Sig 226? She performed in her usual stellar fashion!
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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I have never hunted with my Shiloh Sharps 45-70, just punched paper and did some “rock-busting” on my BIL’s ranch in NW Arkansas. I’m seriously considering hunting with this rifle in this year’s up-coming deer season. This rifle has been dedicated for use with black powder and my cast bullets only. That’s all that I ever fired in this rifle, Holy Black and my cast bullets.
The rifle shoots Ok with the Lyman #457193 - plain base bullet (~410-415 grs. with my 20:1 alloy). This is the RNFP 405 gr. (supposed to be) bullet. I can hold 2-3” at 100 yds. with this bullet from a rest. I have taken several hogs and two deer with this bullet fired from my 1895 Marlin, but propelled by smokeless powder. On the other hand, my Sharps rifle really likes the Lyman #457125 – 510 gr. Government Round Nose bullet (the muzzle velocity is 1,175 fps.) propelled by 69 grs. of FFG. Black powder. I have shot numerous 1 MOA or less targets with this bullet (Soule-type sights).
The maximum range where I hunt is ~100 yds., maybe 150 yds. so either bullet should be capable of making an effective broadside shot. I’m concerned about the RN bullet configuration of the 510 gr. RN Government bullet. I am concerned about this bullet’s effectiveness on whitetails. I have no doubt that it will kill a whitetail – I just don’t want to set myself up for a long tracking job!
Has anyone actually hunted whitetails with THIS bullet and Holy Black – at what velocity – and at what range was the animal shot? How did it preform for you? Would you use it again?
Thanks in advance for any helpful insight.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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One other thing - If you don't have a couple of reloading manuals for metallic cartridges - by all means buy a couple and read them. IMO, this is very important to the safety and enjoyment of the reloading endeavors.
I always recommend the Lyman Manual for a 1st manual because they list suggested loads for both cast bullets and jacketed ones. Also, there's good illustrations and explanations for what you'll be doing. Hornady, Speer, and Sierra also market good reference manuals.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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Interesting topic and results.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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AA2520 because it was developed for it. I used it for 55, 62, and 77 gr. bullets when I lived in Central Florida and was shooting Hi-Power Matches in the late 1980's and into the '90's. It works well, it's a ball powder so it meters well, and it's not particularly temperature sensitive.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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I've been casting bullets (and sinkers) since 1973.
I cast for everything I shoot, excepting the rimfires. I shoot more handgun bullets than I do rifle, but have a stockpile of rifle bullets as well as the data for the loads that I worked up. Now that I'm "retired" (Involuntarily! and due to that darn China virus "epidemic") I've been exercising my rifle with cast projectiles a bit more.
I prefer the iron molds from Ideal, Lyman, RCBS, or Saeco. I tried the Lee molds, but never could warm up to them.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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Bought a couple boxes of 9mm's at Nagel's Gun Shop in San Antonio back in 1971. They helped feed a buddy's Belgian Browing Hi-Power. The recoil was "snappy" as I recall, and ear plugs were a definite necessity.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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Sorry, but I haven't used any Blackout.
But I have used quite a bit of SW 4350 and Tactical Rifle and have been very pleased with both. In my AO (Memphis area/Western Tennessee) it's been available when other "more popular" brands have not.
As far as references go, I downloaded and printed the Shooters World manual. I've only heard/read good things regarding the Shooter's World line of powders.
Good Luck in your quest.
Skyhunter
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On 6/27/2022 at 2:38 PM, expendable said:
I built just the bottom portion of this one years ago, it is very sturdy.
I like to reload standing so I adjusted the leg length to match my height.
https://shotgunsportsmagazine.com/sites/default/files/default_pdf/bench_plans.pdf
I built the one described in the noted website about 42 years ago. My space was limited so my version is 2/3 the width of the one described, but it has worked well for all these years - PLUS its survived multiple moves and is still going strong. The only Issue I have had is that the cupboard and bench top need to be removed to pass thru normal size doors if you're moving.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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250 -300 yds. is about the maximum distance for where I normally hunt, so my old stand-byes still give me good results. For myself, I'll stay with my .257 Roberts or 6.5x55 Swede or .308 Win. or my tried and true 30-06 Gov.
I like to vary my hunting rifles and give them all a chance out of the safe. But if I'm just ringing steel or stump busting, my .308 Win is my rifle of choice. I've exercised it out to +700 yds. which is the farthest available to me.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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Several years ago I bought a Ruger Hawkeye in .257 Roberts. I wasn't able to work up a load for it the 1st year (I was still working then - this was before the China virus bit us). After working up a load, I did deer hunt with it in 2020.
My current load is as follows: Neck sized Nosler brass, Rem 9½ primer, 42.0 grs. of IMR 4350 powder, and the Speer 120 gr. Grand Slam bullet. This has proven to be a good load for the deer and hogs where I hunt in North Central Texas. In 2020, it accounted for two bucks, a doe, and a couple of feral hogs. My shots are typically taken at ~80 to 165 yds., but I have shot at deer nudging 300 yds.
Lately I've been thinking about working up a load using a 100-110 gr. bullet.
So my question for the other .257 Roberts shooters/hunters out there - What's your favorite load (powder, bullets, etc.) and how far do you typically shoot?
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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Good Day to ALL - !
Mr. Moderator, if I'm posting this in the wrong spot, please move as necessary.
I’ve been doing a bit of research regarding liability insurance for concealed carry. One organization that seems quite prominent for both training and liability insurance is US Concealed Carry Association (USCCA).
Does anyone have experience with these folks?
I’m interested in your experiences, experiences based on Firsthand Knowledge (not someone else's opinion based on 2nd or 3rd person thought or hearsay).
If you don’t like them, what options, if any did you go to?
Thanks in advance.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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A long time ago, Doug Wesson killed darn near every four legged game animal in the Continental USA with a .357 mag. shooting 158 gr. SWC bullets. I don't think any animal you're liable to come across has gotten any tougher than it was in the mid-1930's.
For woods walking/hiking in the S.E. USA, I am very comfortable with the same recipe. I have a 4" barreled Colt Trooper that's logged many miles either on my hip or in a shoulder holster stoked with 158 gr. SWC's.
If you reload or have access to some ammo with 180 gr. SWC's, and they increase your confidence factor, they will work well, provided your revolver likes them and you can shoot them accurately.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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After 43 years of chasing drilling rigs around the world, the Chinese virus and the 4th major industry downturn finally kicked me out'a the saddle!
Western Tennessee / Fayette County has been home for the past 15 years, so I'm planning on staying here. Me 'n the wife have kids, grandkids, and great grands scattered from Central Florida to NW Arkansas - so we're "centrally located" for visits! LOL!
I'm a long-time hunter, occasional fisherman, reloader, bullet caster, and general firearms enthusiast and am looking forward to continuing in those lines for some time to come - regardless of the shortages for components.
I look forward to swapping info, experiences, and mayhaps a few tales!
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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18 hours ago, MemHeli said:
Thank you for the comparison. I'm still on the fence as to whether or not I want to tie up the cash or just go with a CZ. Appreciate the shared experience.
MemHeli -
I was contemplating getting into metallic silhouette shooting and trying to decide what rifle to buy. A long time friend (whose entire family participated in that sport) recommended the CZ 452 American "to start". At the time, spending $450 for the CZ made sense as opposed to $1500 for an Anschutz (ESPECIALLY considering I wanted it to knock down metal animal silhouettes!). So I bought the CZ and never regretted it.
My 452 required a bit of tuning on the trigger, but that was all and it's a tack-driver with with bulk Winchester or Federal LR ammo or the high $$ Lapua or Wolf match ammo. I know that CZ has modified the 452 and it has a different model number now, but CZ's products have been Top-Notch in my experience.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
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My best friend has the repro Winchester Mod 52 made by Miroku in Japan. Whenever he pits his rifle against my CZ 452 American, sometimes he wins, sometimes I win - but the match usually ends in a very close draw.
His Mod 52 is a bit more finicky about ammo than my CZ. Either way, they're both fine rifles.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
S&W Model 22-4 Thunder Ranch
in Handguns
Posted
That .44 Spl. will make an outstanding "brother" to the .45 ACP.
Those are fine looking revolvers. "N" frame Smiths in calibers beginning with "4" - what's not to like?
WYT-P
Skyhunter