Mojave Lever Crew - Roll Call!

[BOBGBA]

Here's another one that I was watching, it was in Simi Valley.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1061997955

I just can't rationalize $3K +/- out the door for for a lever gun.

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[Calif Hunter]

I watched an online auction yesterday for a little while. I was surprised to see a late 1970s vintage model 94 Winchester go for $400, plus fees, taxes, etc. I didn't want to be tempted to spend any money so I stopped watching. It was somewhat local, too, so it would have been very easy......

[BOBGBA]

Put a brisket on this morning at 5:15.
Started off a little under 13 pounds, trimmed some fat off, now it's a little over 10.

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[BOBGBA]

...Last night's CRPA dinner was a success - we had around 100 people there. I was too busy in the kitchen to get the real headcount. Everyone loved the food. I hope we raised a good chunk of change for the CRPA. It was was a long day, as I left Apple Valley a bit after 4 AM to cook breakfast at the club for the workparty. Then started on prep for the CRPA dinner. I left the club about 9:45 PM, one tired puppy.

Great job Rick, sounds like it was a 20+ hour day for you. Not sure that I could do that.

That's a bunch of money to raise for a great cause.

Hope you're recovered from that long day and from that pesky covid.

[BOBGBA]

Here's how it turned out......

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[Calif Hunter]

Range day, finally! I took my "new to me" .45 Colt Mountain Gun and Model 29, along with my custom Commander and Hellcat, to the range this morning early as it is going to hit 90 today. The Model 29 shot great! The Mountain Gun kept them all in the black but not outstanding. The Hellcat was headshot size groups at 10 yards. Previously the Commander had been stovepiping - not having shot a big handgun in far too long, I was limpwristing it before. Now it was failing to feed that cartridge fully...the recoil spring is fairly new. This was with both new factory hardball and my "factory crimp" sized handloads. It had only done that before I starting using the Factory Crimp die as it has a match chamber. Hmmm...
The group is from the model 29 at 15 yards - that is all six rounds. A 6 o'clock hold.

[Spyder]

What I read ^ is that you're going to give me a real good deal on that mountain gun since you're not happy with it.

[Calif Hunter]

Wow! I just came into possession of a few hundred .44 SPL brass - 0nce fired. I haven't counted it, or examined headstamps but I threw about 100 into the tumbler to clean up as it is pretty dusty. It has been sitting in my buddy's garage for several years. In my .44 Rossi 92, it will hold one more round with Specials than with mags. Other than that, I am not sure what I will do with it - I guess I will need to buy a .44 SPL revolver.

[200Apples]

You know how much I love the .44 Special, but not the mild OTC loads.

I'm talkin' Skeeter loads, then with another .2 grain I get a true 1000 fps from a 255 grain Keith LSWC from a 4-5/8" Ruger flat top New Model Blackhawk.

It's a real sweet spot. Brian Pearce once said these will run through an elk from one end out the other inside 75 yards.

[Calif Hunter]

Chris - I just read an article by Brian Pearce wherein he writes that Power Pistol will beat the Skeeter load and with less pressure. (A friend gave me a bunch of Rifle and Handloader magazines so I have kept myself entertained on these hot afternoons.)

I am still tumbling and counting the .44 SPL brass. I have a couple more batches to run through the tumbler but so far I am at 401 pieces.

I can hit 1,000 FPS with a 310 gr bullet out of my .45 Colt Ruger Flattop, but I enjoy shooting a 250/255 gr bullet at 900-1,000 FPS much more and it is easier on me and the revolver. Even out of my .44 Mags, I prefer a 240 gr at that speed for pleasant shooting. Old age, I guess.

Edited to add that Longshot also works to exceed the Skeeter load with less pressure.

[golfish]

You's guys are good

[BOBGBA]

I don't think I've seen one of these before.....

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1065567975

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[200Apples]

^ ^ ^ Cool Blackhawk, Bob. I like that one a lot, but not enough to invest in any new caliber.


Rick! That's some good news. Have fun w/ those loads. I have plenty of fresh Alliant Unique and no more room in my reloading cabinet for anything new. I invested awhile back in some traditional loads, they work great. I have the Blackhawks to handle them for years.

[Calif Hunter]

Thanks, Chris - like you, I have a good supply of "older" powders that have worked well for me, having stocked up after the previous panic abated. As I said, I find a stout (but not hyper) or even mild load is enjoyable for me. I also found an article in a recent Guns magazine about using Unique, Bullseye or Titewad in mild .45-70 loads. The author used 12 gr of Unique or 10 gr of the other 2 powders under a 292 gr cast bullet for 1174 to 1240 FPS. He also used the same loads under a 405 gr cast with a slower velocity of 100-150 FPS. He decided upon using Bullseye as it had the lowest standard deviation.. He tried both magnum and standard primers, but the magnum primers had a higher standard deviation so he settled on standard primers. He was surprised by how consistent ignition was and not impacted by powder position - with a round chambered, he tried pointing the barrel up and chronographing and then doing the same after pointing the barrel down. There was no real difference. He said he shot 100 rounds in about 90 minutes with no pain or bruising. I am going to try the Unique load.

I picked up a Rossi M92 in .38/.357 for a great price in an auction. Used but like new. I would have preferred a Marlin, but the deal was too good to pass up. I think this will be a very fun plinker and I look forward to ringing some of my steel with it. Maybe out some steel waaaay out there and lob some .45-70s at it.

[pennstater]

Site working again? Wondering.

MLC