H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619

For $3000, you can probably get two perfectly usable Colts. Probably used, but they'd be real Colts. Or, four to six clones depending on various factors. I got these for about $2700 combined, not at the same time. Granted, they are Bisley's in .32-20 but they do illustrate how real Colts CAN be found for a reaonable price.

This was actually from the sermon, near the end.

Spoken by the pastor of the church I attend in his sermon... The peace that the Lord gives us, gives us a safety that transcends anything that we may think of that will protect us in this world. You may lay in peace at night, secure in the knowledge that the military might of our nation will keep foreign invaders from violating our land. You may go to bed without fear knowing that criminals are kept at bay by a vigilant local police force. You may rest assured that if all else fails, you can pull a pistol out of your nightstand and defend yourself in a worst case scenario. But all of that is temporary. A surprise invasion may occur. A crime wave may wash over your community. You might be a bad shot. (At this point, the congregation laughed.) But the peace that comes from the Prince of Peace, and the Safety that he provides transcends all of that. Anyway, I was just wondering what some fellow shooting pards think of this. Oh, by the way, the preacher in question is me. I'll be glad to send a link to anyone who wants to hear more of the entire service.

As crazy as it sounds, if I ever come across a dirt cheap Italian clone, I want to have this engraving replicated on a real pistol. Prolly cost a stupid amount to get it done... https://www.ebay.com/itm/116038517681?hash=item1b046f43b1:g:a44AAOSwXLhjVGL0&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwDereMc8N6WSghLFsHUwl1iswFzdYeykSgrejYdEsCRC%2BeCCDHQExOgYDX7K6ff6rvHYeK676wu09XdIGUekXlOX8vU35rWBTYtF4NHs2fxNUQQg5cKY%2FxYnvSKJutSttdQ4m0q7K8ynTxlWMjsy%2BeQ7qOMvT3o2RGfG%2FibmI8ytEW3TGvbLcagD3%2B5MXsmxa0zBRkhA3fXeY4sW%2BnBW4bpaO7KqZf1JH3x3r0i0sFH1p688zJ6bGggqyak27trdlg%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9qr35ihYw

I wonder if you can take an unengraved Colt back to the factory and have them engrave it.

I am in the process of documenting as much of my collection as I can. If I can't get a factory letter, I'll e-mail the manufacturer and ask when the gun was made, putting their response where the letter would go if they did them. Failing that, I'll use whatever online tools I can find to get information. It's been a rewarding process. I've got letters from (or for) Colt, S&W, Fox, Parker, Winchester, Marlin, Ruger, Webley and Browning. I've got e-mail from Auto Ordinance and Beretta, and letters of authenticity from the CMP, and Mitchell's Mausers, and even some info from the NRA via Dope Bag for one of my Remingtons. I'd oddly fun doing the research, if expensive when you have a big collection. (My own guns, my Dad's, my brother's, and my nephews' all included!) By far, the most difficult stuff to track down seems to be Remington, but the data is available. Anyway, that's all.

I got several S&W letters in the mail today that I ordered in early December. I am impressed by the quick turn around. I am also impressed how each letter seems to be custom written and not a form letter. Each one goes into general details about the model, and even that is not generic. For example, I got letter for 5 different M&P/Victory/Model 10s, and the "general section," of the letter was unique for each pistol. Then of course, then is the section on the individual gun itself, which goes into a lot more than just the dry stats like you get from other factory letters. For one letter, I got a copy of the original factory invoice, and one even had a copy of an article from American Rifleman about the original owner of one of my pistols! Which is the highlight of this post. Apparently, my New Model 3 Target that was made in 1887 was originally purchased by Arthur Corbin Gould of Boston, who was a champion target shooter back in the day. I never heard of him, but it's nice to know that one of my guns was once owned by someone "important" in the history of the shooting sports, and he was a local boy as well. All of this info, including the "extra details" on my New Model 3, was included in their standard price, with no premium charged for the additional information like some others do. (Hello, Colt?) Anyway, when all is said an done, I feel that S&W provides the best value for their letters. They go into a lot of detail, and are much less expensive than others who charge a lot more for less.

Long story short, a Model 94 can be made to function with pistol cartridges. But it will never work well for our game. What year was your Winchester made made? If it's a post 83 with angle eject and a stupid safety, those are what Winchester made, or more accurately, someone make for them, in the .45 Colt caliber. They are crappy guns to begin with, and coupled with cartridge that the long action is just not designed for, even crappier. To be honest, I will not own a post 83. Now, if you've got a pre-83 Winchester, that was actually made by Winchester. They are decent guns, and I'd not "ruin" it by changing the barrel to a .45 Colt. The could also be issues with the bolt face, and other parts that would make the conversion more than just a barrel swap. Which all adds up to a lot of money. On the other hand, changing it to a .38-55 would be just a barrel swap, and if I couldn't find one already in that caliber, and really wanted one in it, this is one that I'd rebarrell. Curiously, Winchester did make a handful of these guns in .44 Magnum. I've never handled one, but find the concept interesting. It would still have the problem of the action being designed for much longer cartridges, but at least it's a decently made gun to begin with. As it is, you have an excellent hunting rifle, and not a bad one for SASS long range events. Now, if you've got a pre-64 Winchester, you have a gun that is potentially "collectable." Condition is everything, of course, but a pre-64 tends to be be more valuable than a pre-83, and certainly more than a post 83. They were also, in the opinion of most, better made than the things that came later. (Although, I do have a very nice pre-83 model, so it is possible to get one.. I also have a pre-64, and it is clearly better.) I would not change anything about a pre-64. These are great guns. Bottom line, the conversion is probably possible, but not worth the effort, or the money. Hmm.. This long made short story, isn't all that short.

Big loop levers just look so cool!

Obviously, I am gonna agree that you did the right thing. Opinion has always been divided on cutting the barrels on original 97s, (or, I assume, other "original" long barreled shotguns) with neither side having a clear majority. (At least, not here on the Wire.) I have my own ideas on the matter, and other people whom I respect do not share it. But that's okay. I still think you may come to enjoy the long barrel, but if not, it's actually pretty easy to find an existing shorty, or a Chinese replica that's short to begin with. I just wish I could get a 30" full choke barrel for my 93-97! But I am a strange duck.

This might also be a part of the problem. I have found that some guns, especially my Lightnings, must be kept clean to work right. I remember once at a 2 day match, my Rossi acted a little funky on day 2. Ever since then, I clean my guns after every match, and if it's a 2 day, after day one I at least flushit out with gunscrubber and re oil it before day 2.

But how do you get your guns there? Can't drive 'em.

The only example I could think of would be trying to put a Colt Lighting hammer on a Peacemaker, or vice versa. The Lighting is in many ways, a scaled down, and DA, version of the SAA. But I don't think the hammers for the 2 guns would fit each other.

What is your overcall cartridge length? I had problems like you describe, stove pipes, live round jack out, with mine when running .44 Specials in it. Switched to Magnums, problems went away. You say you've checked, but are you at the max? Wild guess on my part.

The difference between the AKM and the AK-47 is analogous to the difference between the AR-15 and the M-16.

I go through windows and stuff at every match that has them. You quickly learn how to navigate around them. The 10ths of a second are much better lose then having to shoot again at the same target that you missed. No one is perfect, but I hardly ever miss with the long barrel. I can't say that about the short one. I also find myself getting the gun on target more quickly. Although we are very much in the minority, and there is prolly a reason for that, and while I can't count myself among them, I have seen super fast shooters with long barrels that don't seem to be handicapped by them at all. To each their own, yes. But the idea that long barrels are not good for the game is a myth.

Don't cut it! I used to use a 20" 97, and I wanted to get a long barreled one, just to have, and when I finally found one, I used at a shoot on a lark. After that, it was my primary main match shotgun. I strenuously object to the idea that long barreled shotguns are not good for our game. Try it, you just might like it. And, it is very easy to find short barreled 97's, originals and reproductions. It's getting harder and harder to find long barreled originals, and long barrel reproductions don't exist. You have an excellent, unmodified gun. Don't cut it. You can't go back if you do. And even if you decide that you don't like the long barrel for SASS, save it for cowboy trap. But seriously, long barrels are great. I almost never miss with them, something I can't say about the short barrels. I find the same to be true with my SxS's I'll take my 30" FF Parker over my 19" no choke one any day of the week.-

Did not know the delay function existed, so that's a plus. I suppose that even if all 4 rifles are owned by the same shooter, the shooter very well may do better with his or her favorite of the four. It has been argued that there is no such thing as a truly objective test. That may be true. This was just as close to one as I could think of.

1/30th or 1/60th of a second?

I found myself thinking, is there an objective way to determine which rifle is the fastest? I got to thinking that the best way to do it is have the same shooter try the guns in question, and see how they come out. Then it occurred to me that I happen to own, unmodified, an original Winchester 73, Winchester 92, Marlin 1888 and a Colt Lighting, all in .32-20. And, I am a lower mid to bottom of the pack shooter. This truly would be a test of the GUNS, not the shooter. I figure I'll go out and do 2 left to right sweeps of 5 targets, 1 doubletap left to right on 5, and 1 "dump" on a single target. All I need to find is someone to operate the timer, and record it all. Or find someone else who can do it before I get a chance. Notice that with all the guns in the same caliber, all vintage, unmodified guns, and all fired by the same shooter, (who is mediocre at best speed wise) the only real variable is the guns. Do others agree that this is an objective test?

Hello to everyone who shoots 12 gauge all brass Magtechs. Midway has 'em. Just $39.99 for a box of $25 plus tax and shipping. Does anyone else think that's over priced? https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1657554245?pid=554245&utm_medium=display&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=evergreen-dpa&utm_content=AllCategories_PageView_Overlay_NewCBO&fbclid=IwAR3r5n_asuveJe__AjRKK0EjiCCd8N6qG_cQBSa-uGa5hT3hYviNPVb2p4U

Well, I am not sure you can call them "carbines," as they are legally pistols, but there is this by Chiappa in .44 Magnum... Or, AWA made this in .45 Colt, but they are super rare. Less than 20 were made, as far as I can gather, and that's probably a high estimate... Or, if you wanna make your own, this is an Uberti, .44-40, 16" barrel, and even with the butt the way it is, its overall length is still over the minimum length, so no tax stamp needed. It's just a rifle with a really short length of pull. I guess THIS could be considered a carbine... And if you want a shotgun, Chiappa makes this little number... Not SASS Legal, but fun to shoot!

Depending on caliber, type and amount of powder, you will get more or less flame, but you always get some. If you want a LOT of flames, use black. If you want less, experiment with different smokeless powders till you find what you want. Or, don't worry about it. OR Get yourself a Sheriff's model in .44-40 and load it with black. Lotsa fire and smoke.

I have a question I'd like to ask of someone who actually owns a shotgun in the Marlin 98 family. But it has to be one that has the button release thingee on the right side of the receiver. Since this is more a question of curiosity about, added to the fact that it's not SASS legal and that I have no desire to see this turn into a thread about that topic, I ask that someone who has one PM me, and I'll send you the question,

Anyone here make them, or know someone who does?