Search found 330 matches

by Mike Armstrong
Sun Feb 11, 2024 2:34 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: 410 too little for any game you say?
Replies: 39
Views: 1832

Re: 410 too little for any game you say?

The first two bucks I ever killed were with a Winchester Model 37 .410 single shot loaded with Remington "Foster" slugs. Both were little Columbian Blacktail meat bucks with forked horns and went at abuut 85 # with the blood and guts out. I shot each at about 20 yards. One just fell dead r...
by Mike Armstrong
Mon Jun 12, 2023 9:26 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: New gun day.
Replies: 18
Views: 612

Re: New gun day.

I'm with TraderVic--the Savage 220 is the best single shot in any guage. My .410 has an added Savage 219 .22 Hornet barrel that I found in a "barrel of barrels" in an old gunshop in northern Maine. Outside was near cherry; bore was a mess. Once I found out that it would drop onto the recei...
by Mike Armstrong
Thu Jun 01, 2023 11:46 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Frankly, I am puzzled
Replies: 23
Views: 1046

Re: Frankly, I am puzzled

When I see a gun described as "good bore; strong rifling" or "some bore darkness; will probably clean to excellent," or even "shiny bore," I run away from the deal and the seller ever after. Most such sellers won't even talk to you about a refund when the bore ultimatel...
by Mike Armstrong
Tue Feb 28, 2023 8:23 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Warmed up the 410
Replies: 13
Views: 427

Re: Warmed up the 410

I used to hunt chukars along the Snake River gorge in WA State....bumper sticker version is "Chukar hunters= huge thighs and tiny brains!" Some of those places I wished I had worn a parachute! I love .410s and hunt quail and doves with one. But for WILD chukars in their adopted habitats, y...
by Mike Armstrong
Thu Feb 02, 2023 1:13 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: WA gun law minutia
Replies: 3
Views: 288

Re: WA gun law minutia

Thanks, that IS good to know!
by Mike Armstrong
Sat Jan 28, 2023 11:14 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: I ran across an article by my Dad written years ago ....
Replies: 12
Views: 514

Re: I ran across an article by my Dad written years ago ....

Your Dad was a pretty good educator--his article still has plenty 0f value!
by Mike Armstrong
Sat Jan 21, 2023 10:44 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Colt New Frontier .22LR/WMR
Replies: 25
Views: 1224

Re: Colt New Frontier .22LR/WMR

Have the same 6" New Frontier with both cylinders and a blued Colt-marked screwdriver, but no box or papers. Same condition, too; only bluing wear is at the muzzle from drawing out of a leather holster. Shoots great, except that it doesn't like the non-lead .22 WMRs that we are now required to ...
by Mike Armstrong
Thu Jan 19, 2023 3:51 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Shasta......?
Replies: 4
Views: 353

Re: Shasta......?

Shasta, are there still any Kokanees in Whiskeytown? Last time I was up there before the drought got bad the feeder stream by the main campground was bright red with spawners and you had to watch your step because of all the bear stuff around it. Wonder of any of the little guys made it through the ...
by Mike Armstrong
Tue Jan 17, 2023 11:39 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: The extraordinary 410
Replies: 61
Views: 2654

Re: The extraordinary 410

I recently looked at a Henry .410 lever action. Looked nice, worked nice (just like any decent lever action!), but had the ergonomics of a steel fence post. Guess I'll stick to my Win 37, Savage 220, Wingmaster, and T-C G2 .410s. (At least the T-C has an "underlever"....).
by Mike Armstrong
Sun Jan 15, 2023 5:22 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: The extraordinary 410
Replies: 61
Views: 2654

Re: The extraordinary 410

Win40-82, if your Model 37 has "WINCHESTER" in bold letters stamped on the base of the receiver, it was made between 1936 and 1948; if not, it was made between 1949 and 1963. None of them has serial number, so that's about the best you can do to date them. My first gun was a .410 Model 37 ...
by Mike Armstrong
Fri Jan 13, 2023 11:10 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Colt barrel
Replies: 11
Views: 425

Re: Colt barrel

That Shooting Master .44 combo is just plain delicious. I've seen and handled a few Shooting Master .38s and a factory .45 ACP;, but that one must be nearly unique!
by Mike Armstrong
Mon Jan 02, 2023 12:22 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: .35-30-30 cartridge?
Replies: 13
Views: 682

Re: .35-30-30 cartridge?

It's a very good and versatile round. I had one that was a rebored Savage 219 single shot that had a REALLY wrecked .22 Hornet barrel originally but cleaned up perfectly to .35-30 and was very accurate with handloads using everything from 125 to 180 gr. bullets. In those days you could find a bucket...
by Mike Armstrong
Mon Oct 31, 2022 11:20 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Marlin Model 1888 38-40
Replies: 35
Views: 1624

Re: Marlin Model 1888 38-40

Beautiful! I've always found the original 38-40s made by American mfrs. significantly more accurate than the same models in .44-40, and I've had about all the action types that were made, save rare ones like that '88. Even the pumps were more accurate in .38-40, Remingtons and Colts both. The only ....
by Mike Armstrong
Sun Sep 11, 2022 12:06 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: About those atlatls
Replies: 24
Views: 1130

Re: About those atlatls

Grizz, I'm no linguist; most of my "facts" are heresay. I do know that Nahua, also called Nahuatl (pronounced "Nah-WOT") is a member of a HUGE language family that is usually called "Uto-Aztecan," and was originally present from about the Arctic Circle to near Panama. T...
by Mike Armstrong
Sat Sep 10, 2022 10:16 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Winchester 1885 In 25-35
Replies: 35
Views: 2095

Re: Winchester 1885 In 25-35

Just lovely! I think that Colorado museum '85 carbine has a factory 14" barrel and lived behind bar for much of its life, according to Campbell's first volume on the Winchester Single Shot. I was raised on the old myth that a .25-35 wouldn't kill deer reliably, but the next ranch had a lady who...
by Mike Armstrong
Sat Sep 10, 2022 10:04 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: About those atlatls
Replies: 24
Views: 1130

Re: About those atlatls

I have a Mexican friend who speaks Nahua, the Mexican language spoken by the Mexica, the people we call Aztecs and still spoken by about a million people from Mexico to San Salvador. Atlatl is derived from their language. Unfortunately (or maybe not) it has several sounds that are VERY common in Nah...
by Mike Armstrong
Tue Aug 02, 2022 11:41 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Was attacked by a wild dog today
Replies: 12
Views: 889

Re: Was attacked by a wild dog today

My Marine favorite uncle always told us to beware of little dogs and little Marines....I've experienced both and he was so right! Their bites tend to be even worse than their barks.
by Mike Armstrong
Tue Jun 28, 2022 11:45 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Unbelievable moment in Ukraine war!!
Replies: 14
Views: 1312

Re: Unbelievable moment in Ukraine war!!

I remember a shot of an Iranian soldier following too close behind a buddy's RPG-7 in an assault on an Iraqi position in their "war before all the other Iraq wars". Ugly. Hard to figure out who to sympathize with in that war.... Not so hard in this one, but I agree that the ordinary people...
by Mike Armstrong
Tue Jun 28, 2022 11:38 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: J stevens arms 32 long
Replies: 12
Views: 2534

Re: J stevens arms 32 long

Dang, that cottingtail makes my mouth water! And the kid won't break his back teeth on a birdshot either!
by Mike Armstrong
Tue Jun 21, 2022 10:12 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Stevens 425
Replies: 17
Views: 1562

Re: Stevens 425

The most info on the 425 I've seen is on the "Savage Collectors" forum of www.24hourcampfire.com. I think the guy that was collecting serial numbers of 425s is on that forum. Decent guys there, too.

Mike Armstrong
by Mike Armstrong
Tue May 17, 2022 7:57 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: An interesting video on 38 Super
Replies: 12
Views: 1150

Re: An interesting video on 38 Super

When I was a kiddie wandering around "the other Californias" and Sonora MX, there were lots of .38 Supers around, mainly carried by LEAs private and public. And guys who had .38 Spls (mainly S&W Model 10s) seemed to try .38 Supers in their revolvers and used them if they fit. The only ...
by Mike Armstrong
Sat Apr 16, 2022 10:40 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Making .22 Longs out of .22 Long Rifles?
Replies: 22
Views: 1986

Re: Making .22 Longs out of .22 Long Rifles?

Thanks! I wonder if any of Paco's ".22 bullet improvement tools" might be adapted for this purpose. I'll look at 'em. 11 grains of lead (27.5%) really doesn't seem like that much, but I remember that smallbores are pretty touchy about bullet weight/twist! Also MIGHT make some of those clas...
by Mike Armstrong
Sat Apr 16, 2022 9:54 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Making .22 Longs out of .22 Long Rifles?
Replies: 22
Views: 1986

Re: Making .22 Longs out of .22 Long Rifles?

thanks for the replies. Rifles aren't the problem for the most part. The majority of them aren't gonna get stretched or busted by any regular LR, and many of them will chamber LRS with a little elbow grease. But all of them are a different twist than LRs and some may not be accurate with 37-40 gr. b...
by Mike Armstrong
Sat Apr 16, 2022 3:38 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Making .22 Longs out of .22 Long Rifles?
Replies: 22
Views: 1986

Re: Making .22 Longs out of .22 Long Rifles?

I'm gonna experiment with taking "quiet" LRs which are subsonic and cutting off the bullets to various lengths til I get one that's 29 gr, hoping to get a nice little wadcutter that won't break my "Baby" and will still motivate her slide. Hoping that my powder scale will be accur...
by Mike Armstrong
Sat Apr 16, 2022 12:51 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Making .22 Longs out of .22 Long Rifles?
Replies: 22
Views: 1986

Making .22 Longs out of .22 Long Rifles?

I have several firearms chambered for .22 Long ammo ( a Win Lo Wall 1885 single shot, a Win 1890 pump, and a Vicenzo Bernardelli "Baby" .22 automatic pistol). I've been having problems finding .22 Long ammo in recent years--it seems that the manufacturers run it about as rarely as they run...
by Mike Armstrong
Thu Mar 24, 2022 10:48 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE B.....
Replies: 34
Views: 2482

Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE B.....

Buegrass, Nugrass, Anything by Tony Rice. "Musica Andina" from Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador--used to love the group "Andes Manta."

Don't much like instruments with wires stickin' out of 'em!
by Mike Armstrong
Sat Mar 19, 2022 10:09 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine Argentinian
Replies: 32
Views: 2430

Re: Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine Argentinian

If it was chambered for .45 Colt (not ACP) in Argentina, then there's a whole story there that I never heard about, but would really like to! For example, why would the Argentines chamber for a cartridge that they never, to my knowledge, used as a service cartridge? Or did they use it and I just nev...
by Mike Armstrong
Sat Mar 19, 2022 11:53 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine Argentinian
Replies: 32
Views: 2430

Re: Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine Argentinian

Provincial Police of Santa Fe Province. The term "reformado" usually means "modified," which I presume refers to the rebarreling to .45 ACP. I've seen ArgentineBallester-Molina .45 auto pistols that were also issued to this LEA (basically an Argentine modification of the Spanish ...
by Mike Armstrong
Fri Mar 18, 2022 10:58 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Ruger Red Label 20 ga
Replies: 15
Views: 1049

Re: Ruger Red Label 20 ga

I have a 28 ga. Red Label that I like for upland hunting, but use it only when I'm not going to be a lot of hiking. Almost all Rugers are what the Brits call "heavy for guage" because they are "a bit overbuilt". They last, but will you? For long hunts I use my old Beretta 685 20 ...
by Mike Armstrong
Fri Mar 18, 2022 10:36 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine Argentinian
Replies: 32
Views: 2430

Re: Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine Argentinian

As I understand it, the story when these were first imported was that some police agency converted '92s that they already had to fire the .45 ACP Colt and Ballester-Molina sidearms they were adopting. I've always wondered how they got a '92 to feed a rimless ctg. reliably...does yours? What are the ...
by Mike Armstrong
Sat Feb 19, 2022 7:41 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Marlin 39A w/floppy lever--any fixes?
Replies: 8
Views: 1369

Re: Marlin 39A w/floppy lever--any fixes?

Well, I didn't get to try my strategy to weasel the price down....the guy listed the gun on Gunbroker at a price that puts it beyond my means. No mention of the floppy lever in his "description" I see. I'll keep lookin' and this thread at least educated me about floppy Marlin levers! THANK...
by Mike Armstrong
Wed Feb 16, 2022 10:38 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Marlin 39A w/floppy lever--any fixes?
Replies: 8
Views: 1369

Re: Marlin 39A w/floppy lever--any fixes?

thanks, guys! I'm lookin' at it tomorrow and will try to get the guy to come down a bit on price because of this major gunsmithing bill in the making! Probably won't work but you can't blame a guy for tryin' (specially if he's of the Scottish persuasion....).
by Mike Armstrong
Wed Feb 16, 2022 8:27 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Marlin 39A w/floppy lever--any fixes?
Replies: 8
Views: 1369

Marlin 39A w/floppy lever--any fixes?

I have the opportunity to buy a 1960's vintage "Golden 39A" in excellent shape except for one big "flaw"--the lever is loose in all conditions of the action: action closed with hammer at full cock, half cock, and fired position, and action open. Lever is floppiest (is that a word...
by Mike Armstrong
Sun Feb 06, 2022 5:49 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Anyone loading for the .327 Federal?
Replies: 63
Views: 5360

Re: Anyone loading for the .327 Federal?

Scott, did you eat that nopal cactus you shot the neat cloverleaf in? (My momma said you should always eat what you shoot....unless it's a beer can). Great shooting and a great post--learned a lot. Now all I need to do is find a .327 I can afford. Or even one I can't afford. Scarce as hen's teeth ri...
by Mike Armstrong
Sat Jan 29, 2022 3:53 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Seeking Savage 1899 Expert Help
Replies: 41
Views: 2568

Re: Seeking Savage 1899 Expert Help

Collector, I'm very glad you posted and shared the pix, questions, and answers here! And a 26" .30-30 should be a real pleasure to shoot, not to mention a reliable killer of anything that needs killin'!
by Mike Armstrong
Fri Jan 28, 2022 2:12 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Seeking Savage 1899 Expert Help
Replies: 41
Views: 2568

Re: Seeking Savage 1899 Expert Help

The most 99 experts I've found yet are on www.24hourcampfire.com's "Savage Collectors" forum. Pretty civil lot, too. So try them if you don't get answers here. I'm not much use for that--I love 99s but only know how to kill stuff with them....
by Mike Armstrong
Wed Jan 05, 2022 2:14 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Steppin back in time
Replies: 23
Views: 2159

Re: Steppin back in time

Speaking of "heads up," there's a late-model 1890 WRF for sale on Joe Salter's website today. It is item #41723 on the "Arrived Today" list. What caught my eye was the alleged great bore condition. Salter is expensive but honest as far as I know, at least the couple of deals I've...
by Mike Armstrong
Wed Jan 05, 2022 2:05 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Your first (and I hope only) accidental discharge
Replies: 17
Views: 1866

Re: Your first (and I hope only) accidental discharge

First time I went hunting alone with my then-new Winchester Model 37 single shot .410 in 1952 at the age of 8, I approached a stand of brush that was perfect quail and bunny habitat and got ready to shoot if anything scooted or buzzed out of it. Cocked the hammer in anticipation of shooting without ...
by Mike Armstrong
Thu Dec 30, 2021 3:32 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Steppin back in time
Replies: 23
Views: 2159

Re: Steppin back in time

Got one of these from a neighbor for cleaning out their chicken house (about 1953). It was brown patina mostly but with no pitting or active rust, but the bad news was that the bore was almost blocked with stuff. Took it to my favorite gunsmith (I'm sure kids weren't his favorite customers....) and ...
by Mike Armstrong
Sat Dec 11, 2021 10:29 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Not Lever but need Winchester 1903 help
Replies: 19
Views: 1948

Re: Not Lever but need Winchester 1903 help

I'd try to find a contemporary (same serial number range) blued 1903 and compare the printed markings on the two. Not easy to find one but it would give you a pretty clear idea if your nickeled one has been buffed before refinishing. The close-up pic you supplied certainly doesn't look like it to me...
by Mike Armstrong
Fri Dec 10, 2021 1:20 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: POLL ON 357 MAG
Replies: 42
Views: 7693

Re: POLL ON 357 MAG

I'm with Rexster--prefer Ruger DAs to everything else in the price range. But "carry" guns and "hunting" guns are different beasts to me--one gun won't do both really well. So when I was hunting whitetails and pigs with a handgun, I started with a Ruger Bisley .357 on the Super B...
by Mike Armstrong
Wed Dec 01, 2021 9:44 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Need new holsters or larger pockets
Replies: 17
Views: 2973

Re: Need new holsters or larger pockets

I love me some Colt New Services, including the military ones: US 1917 and 1909, and Brit .455s. While many are in lousy cosmetic shape outside and with eroded, ringed, or otherwise neglected bores, I've never found one that wouldn't cycle, lock up, and touch off a round, as long as it had a firing ...
by Mike Armstrong
Tue Nov 30, 2021 12:09 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: I love osage
Replies: 12
Views: 1527

Re: I love osage

I have smooth Osage Orange inserts in the Ruger rubber grips on my 6" blue half-lug GP-100 .357. They have worn not at all since I bought them from a member of www.rugerforums.com back in 1990. They are actually almost orange! I used this gun as my tree stand "deer rifle" for about 20...
by Mike Armstrong
Sat Oct 30, 2021 10:32 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: British Military Revolvers
Replies: 23
Views: 2581

Re: British Military Revolvers

I had a Mark VI made in 1918 that had an Irish Republic "harp" acceptance mark on it and was in near mint (probably unissued) condition. Got it in an odd deal from a gunshop in Oakland CA back in the mid-1960s when I was a student. Was hanging around the shop and the proprietor was cussing...
by Mike Armstrong
Thu Oct 21, 2021 10:44 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Finest revolver 20th century.
Replies: 60
Views: 9664

Re: Finest revolver 20th century.

I don't really consider the elegance or beauty of revolvers much. I note those factors, but they don't stimulate me to actually own such guns--if I own one of those it's because it WORKS for me. So I'm with Sarge on the Colt "New Service" because of its durability and reliability--I once o...
by Mike Armstrong
Wed Sep 01, 2021 6:55 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: A lot of us Old Guys
Replies: 31
Views: 2964

Re: A lot of us Old Guys

I still have a bunch of letters from Ken Waters about my various single shot rifle projects. He knew a lot about them and was very kind to write so much to a "kid." I miss letters--they were worth waiting for and taking the time to write. We are drowning in the stuff that goes with "c...
by Mike Armstrong
Wed Sep 01, 2021 6:46 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Favorite Double Action Woods Bumming Gun
Replies: 32
Views: 4551

Re: Favorite Double Action Woods Bumming Gun

If I'm in the flats, I carry an S&W 651 stainless 4" .22 WMR "Kit Gun." If I'm in a place where there are lions (just about any mountains in CA), I carry a Ruger Police Security Six .357 w/a 2 3/4" bbl. Easy to carry and stands up to full-blast Magnums just fine. These are st...
by Mike Armstrong
Sun Jul 25, 2021 1:54 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: RE: Paco's Rare Find
Replies: 1
Views: 665

RE: Paco's Rare Find

I don't go to the "Articles" section often enough. Went there today and found Paco Kelly's article on an Uberti SAA he found--in .22 WRF, of all things! Where I came from that ctg. was always called by its Remington designation ".22 Special," which sounds more powerful than just ...
by Mike Armstrong
Fri Jun 25, 2021 10:00 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Who fiddles with a .32 ACP these days?
Replies: 44
Views: 4747

Re: Who fiddles with a .32 ACP these days?

I've had an Astra "Constable" 7.65 for many years. It's a medium-sized DA auto much like a Walther and obviously inspired by the PP/PPK. Don't shoot it much any more because of the cost and scarcity of ammo, but shot it quite a bit in the past, and found it very accurate, especially in SA ...
by Mike Armstrong
Fri Jun 18, 2021 10:41 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Shovels and Rakes and.....
Replies: 36
Views: 6921

Re: Shovels and Rakes and.....

Most of the urban and suburban inhabitants of SoCal don't have much of anything to do with nature so are unaware that we have TONS of rodents and therefore lots of snakes. The few times they go out into the not-very-wild lands they seem to be unaware of anything except getting their clothes dirty. F...