Back into Reloading......

I loaded up about 50 rnds of .308 with Accurate 2520 and 168gr. Unfortunately I was too angry to do any load verification, did a couple mag dumps and got it smoking hot and felt better and went home. The seemed to shoot well though.
 
Good old mag dumpin'. I dont waste ammo. I kept fast shooting a 10 inch or so maple tree until it fell down with the SKS's. Maybe 80 yard from the porch at my old house.

Kinda pumped to get my BLR shootable again.

Speaking of mags. You guy feel you need a 2nd magazine for your hunting rifles? Was tempted to ask santa for a 2nd mag for the Savage Axis. I bought a 2nd mag for the BLR years ago, didn't feed well.
 
Good old mag dumpin'. I dont waste ammo. I kept fast shooting a 10 inch or so maple tree until it fell down with the SKS's. Maybe 80 yard from the porch at my old house.

Kinda pumped to get my BLR shootable again.

Speaking of mags. You guy feel you need a 2nd magazine for your hunting rifles? Was tempted to ask santa for a 2nd mag for the Savage Axis. I bought a 2nd mag for the BLR years ago, didn't feed well.
No on the mag. I typically carry 3 rounds. If I don't get a good one with the first, I am not likely with 2-10 either.
But back in the day I did rip off a couple full auto bursts on an opening morning just to make people wonder.
 
Good old mag dumpin'. I dont waste ammo. I kept fast shooting a 10 inch or so maple tree until it fell down with the SKS's. Maybe 80 yard from the porch at my old house.

Kinda pumped to get my BLR shootable again.

Speaking of mags. You guy feel you need a 2nd magazine for your hunting rifles? Was tempted to ask santa for a 2nd mag for the Savage Axis. I bought a 2nd mag for the BLR years ago, didn't feed well.
Lots of folks hunt with a single-shot gun. I have a sling that carries two extra rounds on my Henry single-shot (and I do keep some more in my back pack). But, I've not needed a second round in quite a few years. We only take high-percentage shots from our blinds. I normally reload after shooting....as you never know what else may show up (yeah, we do party hunt).

I don't track deer very well (color blind).....and for me a high shoulder shot anchors deer almost every time.
 
Speaking of mags. You guy feel you need a 2nd magazine for your hunting rifles? Was tempted to ask santa for a 2nd mag for the Savage Axis. I bought a 2nd mag for the BLR years ago, didn't feed well.

I always want at least 1 spare mag for a bunch of reasons.
- Lose one or have one start not functioning properly you have a backup
- It's a great way to carry any extra ammo not in your rifle when hunting
- at the range, nice to load multiple
 
I passed up many deer too far away, behind some brush, running, or sometimes they're just aware of me or nervous. I always load after the 1st shot, flintlock, rifle, or bow. If the deer is up I put a 2nd shot in right away. If I believe the deer is not badly wounded, but is down I shoot again.

Think I'll get a 2nd magazine for her.

Foggy,

Have you tried the multiple color lights. Might give you some more contrast. Even with a well shot deer, try one out on the blood trail.

Seems my shot issues lately is trashing the shoulder up. Wreckin' some meat. My brain doesn't wait for that nearside front leg to extend forward. Last 3 deer have been cutting through beat up meat.
 
I passed up many deer too far away, behind some brush, running, or sometimes they're just aware of me or nervous. I always load after the 1st shot, flintlock, rifle, or bow. If the deer is up I put a 2nd shot in right away. If I believe the deer is not badly wounded, but is down I shoot again.

Think I'll get a 2nd magazine for her.

Foggy,

Have you tried the multiple color lights. Might give you some more contrast. Even with a well shot deer, try one out on the blood trail.

Seems my shot issues lately is trashing the shoulder up. Wreckin' some meat. My brain doesn't wait for that nearside front leg to extend forward. Last 3 deer have been cutting through beat up meat.
You might be able to add some weight to reduce recoil. Your brain may not be waiting for that front leg because it anticipating what comes right after that.
 
You might be able to add some weight to reduce recoil. Your brain may not be waiting for that front leg because it anticipating what comes right after that.
The gun is going to get a rebuild of sorts. I have a new recoil pad for it. The butt has some room in there for lead. Its been a long time since I took the forend off, not sure if theres a spot over there.

Got a burrris red dot scope for it. One of those AR ones. Burris RT-6. Grey n black smoke camo pattern.
 
I passed up many deer too far away, behind some brush, running, or sometimes they're just aware of me or nervous. I always load after the 1st shot, flintlock, rifle, or bow. If the deer is up I put a 2nd shot in right away. If I believe the deer is not badly wounded, but is down I shoot again.

Think I'll get a 2nd magazine for her.

Foggy,

Have you tried the multiple color lights. Might give you some more contrast. Even with a well shot deer, try one out on the blood trail.

Seems my shot issues lately is trashing the shoulder up. Wreckin' some meat. My brain doesn't wait for that nearside front leg to extend forward. Last 3 deer have been cutting through beat up meat.
Yep, I have a light that shines in a red and green and white beam. The best light I have found for tracking has been an ultra bright LED spot light. For some reason I can do a fair job of tracking with that light. I did find a deer for my BIL with a bright light.....and toilet paper to mark the found blood. The TP makes it easy to look back at the trail and determine the next place to look for blood. The bright white light seems to help me allot. I think I see the difference in the texture (over the color)of the blood droplets.

One thing for sure.....is that I am a big believer in the high shoulder shot (and shooting to the "off" shoulder). If you have trouble tracking deer.....this is for you. There is so much right about the high shoulder shot....yet so few use it. I almost never have a tracking job when shooting an animal that way. The drop like a box of rocks. I'm gonna find a video and add it below.

EDIT: Here you go: Watch this and beleive.

 
Got any picutres of the henry single shot. When I am done with my next flintlock I was thnking of building the stock for a sharps 22lr.
 
Got any picutres of the henry single shot. When I am done with my next flintlock I was thnking of building the stock for a sharps 22lr.
No pics of mine....but here is Henry's site on this rifle. They are a pretty well put together rifle with a decent trigger (after a bad intro with their triggers - they got it right).
 
They definitely look nice. $600 for a single shot though.... Never heard of the 360 buckhammer before. Sounds like straight walled gun for muzzleloader seasons for some states. Don't think thats ok in NY for muzzie season though. Think 350 legend will drown the buckhammer into extinction. What cal did you get?
 
They definitely look nice. $600 for a single shot though.... Never heard of the 360 buckhammer before. Sounds like straight walled gun for muzzleloader seasons for some states. Don't think thats ok in NY for muzzie season though. Think 350 legend will drown the buckhammer into extinction. What cal did you get?
308 Winny. The prices were about $400 IIRC....when I bought mine. Henry does make a nice gun. Not sure any gun is worth the prices I see these days. Cost of things is nuts.

Went to dinner with 8 friends last nite. Really nice place that has often been hard to get into other years. High priced place / great food / great service / yadda yadda. Hardly anyone in there. We have known this waitress for years....and she is like a fixture there. Asked about the low numbers of people. She said "prices...people cannot afford to pay the prices we get for our meals these days. people go out much less....or not at all. They cannot afford it."

I think that's true. My wife and I had two drinks each (three wines and one Old Fashioned).....and some relatively low-price "specials" for meals. Still....the price was $150 + for the two of us. The drinks, food and service was quite good....but not worth that price to us. Gonna take some changes to get me back there anytime soon.

I've been told that restaurants are roughly: 1/3 food cost / 1/3 labor cost / 1/3 facility overhead and profit. That said.....I can eat and drink at home for 1/3 the price of a restaurant (and enjoy doing it).....and not feel raped when I go to bed.

That said.....used guns are just as good as new guns....maybe better. Most of the used guns have seldom been shot. Look there?
 
308 Winny. The prices were about $400 IIRC....when I bought mine. Henry does make a nice gun. Not sure any gun is worth the prices I see these days. Cost of things is nuts.

Went to dinner with 8 friends last nite. Really nice place that has often been hard to get into other years. High priced place / great food / great service / yadda yadda. Hardly anyone in there. We have known this waitress for years....and she is like a fixture there. Asked about the low numbers of people. She said "prices...people cannot afford to pay the prices we get for our meals these days. people go out much less....or not at all. They cannot afford it."

I think that's true. My wife and I had two drinks each (three wines and one Old Fashioned).....and some relatively low-price "specials" for meals. Still....the price was $150 + for the two of us. The drinks, food and service was quite good....but not worth that price to us. Gonna take some changes to get me back there anytime soon.

I've been told that restaurants are roughly: 1/3 food cost / 1/3 labor cost / 1/3 facility overhead and profit. That said.....I can eat and drink at home for 1/3 the price of a restaurant (and enjoy doing it).....and not feel raped when I go to bed.

That said.....used guns are just as good as new guns....maybe better. Most of the used guns have seldom been shot. Look there?
I have always looked at used guns as someone else's problem. Why would someone sell a good shooting gun? But then you find out that its a slow twist rate and they were shooting to long of bullet, poorly mounted optics, fouled barrel, etc. Some poor performing guns can be gems with a little elbow grease, or at worst a new barrel.

And then you look at the quality today. Sure machining is vastly improved, but so are cost savings by the manufacturer. A ruger mkiii is not the same quality as a mkii. Totally different in my opinion.
 
Pumped more quarters in this game. Bought AA1680, Reloader 10X, IMR 4227 for the 450 marlin. Think the IMR might be the winner. 1900fps will be 68% of the energy of factory ammo. Also, can learn wind and drop that pretty much matches the modern inline muzzleloader.

Ive sold a few guns that worked just fine. IF they did not, I tld the next guy. Many people have way more intentions and extra money than free time and energy. Also, guns are often blamed for poor shot and judgement in the field.

I have been given 3 different marlin 336's for cheap or free. Cleaned them well insdie and out and handed them back to their owners. Often the gate safety pin is dirty inside the bolt causing FTF. Rifling loaded to the gills with fouling. Rust in the magazine tube is another issue with jamming while cycling on marlins. Guns take alot to wear out.
 
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Pumped more quarters in this game. Bought AA1680, Reloader 10X, IMR 4227 for the 450 marlin. Think the IMR might be the winner. 1900fps will be 68% of the energy of factory ammo. Also, can learn wind and drop that pretty much matches the modern inline muzzleloader.

Ive sold a few guns that worked just fine. IF they did not, I tld the next guy. Many people have way more intentions and extra money than free time and energy. Also, guns are often blamed for poor shot and judgement in the field.

I have been given 3 different marlin 336's for cheap or free. Cleaned them well insdie and out and handed them back to their owners. Often the gate safety pin is dirty inside the bolt causing FTF. Rifling loaded to the gills with fouling. Rust in the magazine tube is another issue with jamming while cycling on marlins. Guns take alot to wear out.oo
I'd agree with you on the wear....taken care of....most guns will never wear out from shooting. Today.....I gave away 9 guns to my grandchildren. Many are old (some up to 100 years and more). Slimming down. From a Savage 99.....to a Ruger Bolt action 77, to an old Model 12 Winchester, a Marlin 94, old Savage pump 22 LR, Win 94, Marlin 94, Daisy / Hedon 22 caseless ammo, Savage 223/20 ga O/U....and many more interesting pieces. We drew cards to decide who took the frist one....and went from there. Worked out pretty well....and everyone took what they wanted and could use. I got 9 less guns to maintain. Win / Win. Fun to see my grandkids get some nice, and some was unusual stuff for these times. Got a few more planned for next year.....it's all good......and been looking forward to this day for a long time. Gave away some ammo to go with those guns too. Made me smile.
 
360 Buckhammer is a rimmed case, better for single shots and lever guns. Though I still don't think it's going to be a huge success.

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.40-65, .375 Winchester, .356 Winchester, .35 Remington, .360 Buckhammer, .30-30 Winchester




(that bugs me to even type. It's .30 Winchester Center Fire (AKA .30-30) lol
 
NY out is the western side of the state allowed straight walled cartridges for a few years before finally making it from shotgun only to rifle. IF I recall right. My county was rifle, 5 miles south of me is duchess county which was shotgun only. I just went out with the modern muzzleloader. I forgot if the gun had to be single shot or not.

I was actually digging around the house for enough 450 marlin and 30-30 shells to start reloading. Going to see If I can borrow someone lead sled to get enough 450 marlin brass. Don't wanna shoot those 325 FTX's to much.

Looks like you made some kids pretty happy there foggy. I had a savage 24V. Had all sort of issues getting the 30-30 to fire reliably. Finally got it by replacing the firing pin and spring, shimming the new spring, and making the pin a little thinner. I had to use federal primers too. After about a year of fussin' I found out I couldn't use the gun the way I wanted. Stalk hunting deer on the way out, and grouse hunting on the way back to the car. Single projectile guns only for deer hunting in NY. Even if the bottom barrel is birdshot and not buckshot.

Since I am turning a big gun down. I might as well turn a small gun up, the 30-30 marlin. Maybe not more speed, but this cartridge could appreciate premium bullets more than the average deer caliber.
 
If any of you guys go to mom n pop gunshops often, If you see any 450 marlin brass, can you pass the info to me. They want like $200-250 for 50 new cartridges on gunbroker. It cost more than buying the ammo........ Might be getting a lead sled and shooting my own brass.

Anybody own a lead sled? They reduce recoil alot? Part that touches your shoulder don't look too friendly.
 
I had a 24V that liked factory ammo just fine, handloads not as much. I assume it was a headspace issue with the chamber, sharing it between the rim and the shoulder rather than just the rim.

There's a couple reasons 24's don't like to go off. The main spring strut on them bends over time causing geometry issues, as well as other mystery issues related to the rebounding hammer. Older side selector guns wear out and get fussy. (when they don't break all together)
 
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