BIDDING ON HISTORY
Annie Oakley’s $207K Shotgun, General Custer’s Hair & More
3 GUN REVIEWS Smooth & Stylish Henry Octagon In .45-70 Guns from SIG & Pedersoli
ALSO INSIDE
Peregrine Lead-free Bullets Bad Boy’s Stampede 4x4
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A MERIC A N
SHOOTING JOURNAL Volume 6 // Issue 3 // November 2016 PUBLISHER
James R. Baker ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Dick Openshaw
GENERAL MANAGER
John Rusnak
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Andy Walgamott EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Craig Hodgkins
LEAD CONTRIBUTOR
Frank Jardim
CONTRIBUTORS
Tom Claycomb, Brad Fitzpatrick, Phil Massaro, Mike Nesbitt, Oleg Volk SALES MANAGER
Katie Higgins
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Mamie Griffin, Steve Joseph, Garn Kennedy, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold
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ON THE COVER Taken shortly before 1944’s D-Day invasion, this photo shows a group of American troops – some bearing the insignia of the 1st Infantry Division – after loading their equipment onto an LCT (Landing Craft Tank) in preparation for the amphibious assault against Naziheld Europe. Note that some soldiers have their rifles wrapped in plastic bags. (NATIONAL ARCHIVES)
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CONTENTS
76
VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 3 • NOVEMBER 2016
READY FOR LEVER ACTION
Meet the stylish Henry Octagon in .45-70 Government, a hard-working, short-range rifle with a quick, smooth action, and one of three Henry models available for this classic cartridge. Oleg Volk reviews the new lever gun.
(OLEG VOLK)
FEATURES 40
VALOR BEFORE VETERANS DAY On July 18, 1918, Corporal Arlie Oppenheim of the 28th Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division fought at the battle of Soissons in northern France. Learn how he earned the Distinguished Service Cross for valor in the field.
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BONHOMIE FOR LA BOHEMIENNE Pedersoli’s new 12-gauge side-by-side is a modern shotgun with a classical twist. Mike Nesbitt put the Italian smoothbore through its paces, and shares his findings.
125 DOUBLE DUTY 58
HONORING OUR VETERANS This photographic montage salutes a wide variety of American military veterans for their service to our great nation though the decades.
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TRIPLE PLAY For more than 50 years, Triple K has been a “go-to” manufacturer for both popular and hard-to-find magazines, grips and leather goods. Frank Jardim takes us behind the scenes of the Krasne family’s multigenerational business.
SIG Sauer’s 1911 Max Michel BB pistol is a perfect training partner for the company’s Max Michel 1911 in .45. Tom Claycomb tested both pistols recently, and came away impressed with the pair.
AMERICAN SHOOTING JOURNAL is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Ave South Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2016 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A.
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CONTENTS ALSO INSIDE 69
Score A Gun, Prizes With Our SHOT Show ‘Golden Ticket’ 95 New Column! BULLET BULLETIN: Peregrine Bullets 139 PRODUCT REVIEW: Lyman’s #2 Tang Sight Reintroduced 145 BLACK POWDER: Vigilante Bullet Lube 171 GETTING THERE: Bad Boy Off Road’s New Gas-powered ‘Stampede’ Side-by-side ATV (NATIONAL ARCHIVES)
DEPARTMENTS 17 19 21 25
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Editor’s Note Competition Calendar Gun Show Calendar Industry News: Giant Fall Firearms Auction; Nikon’s Monarch 7i VR Laser Rangefinder
American Shooting Journal // November 2016
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VETTING VETERANS DAY
Although World War I unofficially ended on November 11, 1918, it took nearly 20 years before the holiday we now know as Veterans Day became official.
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EDITOR’S NOTE
C
alifornia’s Napa Valley is known as the heart of the state’s wine country, but the region also has some strong historical connections to veterans and the military. When I was growing up in Napa in the 1970s, several of my friends’ parents or relatives worked at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, located a few miles south along the Napa River in nearby Vallejo. Mare Island became America’s first West Coast naval base when it opened in 1853, and shipbuilding commenced a year later. In the mid-1930s, Mare Island shifted from specializing in destroyers to submarines, and reached peak capacity during World War II, employing more than 50,000 men and women. In 1970, Mare Island workers built their last submarine (the USS Drum). The facility was decommissioned in 1996. Today, portions of the old base have been designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark District. Just north of Napa is a different sort of military facility, the Veterans Home of California. Located in Yountville, it
was founded in 1884. Today, it is the largest facility of its kind in the United States, and provides housing for nearly 1,200 aged or disabled veterans of both genders. My favorite memory of the “Vet’s Home” is of playing baseball at Cleve Borman Field, one of many quality recreational facilities on the property. Borman Field hosted a variety of high school ballgames and summer tournaments, and was also home to the local American Legion and Joe DiMaggio youth league teams. The stadium itself is classic, but the best part of playing there were the resident fans who came out in droves. They didn’t even need to know who was playing. Sometimes you’d hear them yell, “Go, red,” or “Go, blue” based on our uniform colors. After games, I’d chat with some of them, and many were anxious to share their experiences. It also gave me the opportunity to thank them for their service. As Veterans Day approaches, I can still picture their faces, and remain thankful to men and women just like them, who continue to serve on our behalf.–Craig Hodgkins
americanshootingjournal.com 17
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INDUSTRY NEWS
BIDDING ON HISTORY
Annie Oakley’s personal shotgun and other classic pieces sell at Maine firearms auction. COMPILED BY THE EDITOR • PHOTOS BY JAMES D. JULIA
E
ach October in Fairfield, Maine, the James D. Julia and Poulin Auction Companies join forces to host back-to-back events over seven consecutive days. The cool $18 million generated this year represents the largest sale gross for a firearms auction event anywhere in the world. Included among the diverse offerings from numerous outstanding collections was Annie Oakley’s personal 12-gauge William Cashmore boxlock shotgun, a Vietnam War trophy Chinese type 56 machine gun, a Colt 1883 U.S. Navy Gatling Gun on an original bronze base and a Krider LeMat Revolver SN 2 believed to be the personal firearm of Col. LeMat himself. As expected, the top sporting arms lot was Oakley’s scattergun. There are numerous photographs of Annie holding this exact gun, and it came to
the auction with a presale estimate of $125,000 to 175,000. But after a fierce bidding battle, it finally topped out at $207,000. The second day of the Sporting tion started off with & Collector auction ck Collection of the Allen Hallock chuetzen rifles. extraordinary Schuetzen The very first lott up was the
ultimate Schuetzen rifle, and it generated $37,375. This year’s sale was extremely strong for Class-3 weapons, which
(Right) Annie Oakley’s personal 12-gauge William Cashmore boxlock shotgun sold for $207,000. (Below, top) Fantastic Vietnam War trophy Chinese type 56 Machine gun. The final selling price of $132,250 was more than three times the top presale estimate. (Below, bottom) Superb Mauser Conehammer Carbine SN 12 with period scope from the FriedrichWilhelm Dauphin Collection of Germany sold for $51,750.
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Rare Colt 1883 U.S. Navy Gatling Gun on original bronze base brought $174,800.
includes machine guns, shortbarrelled shotguns and shortbarrelled rifles, among others. An early “Square Slot” Colt 1921A Thompson Machine Gun estimated finally sold for $57,500. An ultrascarce, vet-bringback Koreanmanufactured Type 58 AK-47 machine gun created a long bidding battle, and generated $54,625. But the 26
American Shooting Journal // November 2016
real surprise of the day in Class-3 was a Vietnam War trophy Chinese type 56 machine gun estimated at $20,000 to 40,000. Bidding on this gun seemed to go on forever and finally topped out at $132,250. A number of fine Model 1911 pistols were offered at auction, including a Singer Manufacturing Co. 1911A1 that sold for $57,500. One of the
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INDUSTRY NEWS S more valuable pieces was a Mauser Conehammer Carbine SN 12 with period scope. It generated $51,750. The final day of the sale started out with fine Winchesters and Volcanics. A factory-engraved Winchester Deluxe 2nd Model 1876 signed by John Ulrich generated $40,250, and a rare specialorder Model 1886 Deluxe with fabulous case coloring sold for $40,250. Winchester cartridge boards did better than the rifles compared to presale estimates. A rare and desirable Inverted V 1888 Cartridge Board was hotly competed for until it finally realized $37,375. A number of quality antique percussion Colts were offered. A rare Colt 1883 U.S. Navy Gatling gun on its original bronze tripod generated $175,000. The high price realized was for a rare cased Ehlers Baby Paterson, which went out at $115,000. A number of quality Colt single-actions included a mint engraved SAA by Cuno
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A mint factory-engraved Colt SA by Cuno Helfricht. This exquisite example, in outstanding condition, sold for $57,500.
The ultimate Schuetzen rifle, an ivory inlaid masterpiece with deep chiseled engraving and gold embellishments had been made for a special shooting prize in the late 1880s. It generated $37,375.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
This factory-engraved Winchester Deluxe 2nd Model 1876 with engraving by John Ulrich sold for $40,250.
Helfricht, which sold at $57,500. One truly spectacular work of art was the magnificent Royal Wheelock sporting rifle by Samuel Kluge of
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Landshut, Germany, and which sold for $115,000. It is believed to be one of the highest-priced Wheelocks sold in many years.
americanshootingjournal.com 31
INDUSTRY NEWS (Above) This Royal Wheelock Sporting rifle by Samuel Kluge of Landshut, Germany, was made for either King Charles XI of Sweden or King Christian V of Denmark. It sold for $115,000. (Below) A massive 4-bore H&H Hammer Double rifle with case and accessories took in $103,500.
Other areas that Julia’s has performed exceedingly well with for many years is with rare Civil War and Confederate items. A rare and historic pair of fluted Armies of Lt. John Low, CSN, used on the CSS Alabama flew to $51,750 because of the Confederate association. The most exciting Confederate lot of the day, however, was a Krider LeMat Revolver SN 2. It came to the auction with a presale estimate of $60,000 to 80,000, but because of its strong connection to the gun’s conamesake, it soared to a final bid of $120,750. In addition to the wide variety of firearms, a number of rare Bowie knives were offered, including an American Gravely & Wreaks Guardless coffin-handle Bowie knife, which generated $40,250. Another notable lot was a personal grouping of items formerly owned by General George Armstrong Custer, including his map of the Indian Territories, a camp chair, various images and an actual lock of his golden hair. The grouping had been consigned directly
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American Shooting Journal // November 2016
from Custer family members and had previously always been in the family. Here it brought $45,000. Julia’s next firearms auction is scheduled for spring of 2017 and will again include a fabulous collection of spectacular arms. For more information on James D. Julia, Inc., please visit jamesdjulia.com.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
HOLDING STEADY Nikon Sport Optics releases the Monarch 7i VR Laser Rangefinder.
The new Monarch 7i VR offers the user a steadier image, even when holding it with one hand. (NIKON)
N
ikon Sport Optics recently announced the release of the Monarch 7i VR Laser Rangefinder, a product the company is touting as the “world’s first laser rangefinder to compensate for the human body’s physical inability to be completely still.” According to company literature, their proprietary VR Technology “reduces the effect of external vibrations caused by unnecessary hand movements while ranging distant objects. For hunters, this means the target mark on the rangefinder remains stable, even when the body of the rangefinder is being moved. Not only does this provide the user with a steady image, it also stabilizes the activated laser, allowing it to maintain greater alignment for enhanced measurement performance.” Nikon’s release goes on to explain, “the VR Function begins immediately when the laser rangefinder is on, meaning there is no extra time spent trying to toggle between settings. Holding down the ranging button allows the user to continuously scan for 8 seconds. A fast measurement is received (in approximately half a The new-for-2017 Dodge Ram Power Wagon is well equipped for second), regardless of you the just distance, thanks to off-road work, and can get about anywhere youNikon’s need to go.
hyper read technology. The Monarch 7i VR has an effective measurement range of 8-1000 yards and displays measurements in .1-yard increments.” The rangefinder also boasts an uncluttered display and ID (Incline/Decline) technology to compensate for uphill or downhill shooting angles by providing the one number that is needed to make the shot – the horizontal distance. Another feature of the Monarch 7i VR Laser Rangefinder is the ability to switch between first target priority mode (provides reading of the closest target among a group) or distant target priority mode (provides reading of the farthest target among a group). Whether your subject is in front of or behind a patch of brush, this setting can greatly improve your ability to get the most accurate reading depending on the situation. The product come in a compact and lightweight body, and is also waterproof for those unexpected wet conditions (the battery chamber is rainproof). MSRP of the Monarch 7i VR Laser Rangefinder is $399.95. For more information on Nikon’s full line of riflescopes, binoculars, fieldscopes and laser rangefinders, visit nikonsportoptics.com. americanshootingjournal.com 35
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American Shooting Journal // November 2016
British, Italian, French and American leaders gather at Versailles to sign a peace treaty to officially end what became known afterwards as World War I. (U.S. SIGNAL CORPS)
VETTING VETERANS DAY
A brief history of the long journey from the Great War armistice to an official U.S. holiday.
STORY BY CRAIG HODGKINS
T
ime may march on, but that trek can be easily bogged down when it passes through governmental circles. This certainly seemed to be the case from the end of World War I to the creation of an official U.S. holiday recognizing the men and women who have served in our nation’s military. The official end of the Great War came on June 28, 1919, when four allied leaders – U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, French Premier George Clemenceau and Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando – signed a peace treaty with two German representatives at the Palace of Versailles, outside the town of Versailles, France. But despite all of the pomp and
circumstance surrounding the signing, hostilities had ceased seven months earlier, on November 11, 1918, and that date had already been adopted in popular use as the end of “the war to end all wars.” On the first anniversary of that armistice, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as “Armistice Day,” one that “will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory ...” In 1926, after 27 U.S. states had already enacted similar legislation, the U.S. Congress officially got around to passing a concurrent resolution, which stated that since “the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals … it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be
commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations …” This legislation did not create a legal holiday, however. That came a dozen years later, on May 13, 1938, when a congressional act made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday “to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.’” The subsequent escalation of both World War II and the Korean Conflict changed things, and on June 1, 1954, the 83rd Congress amended the Act of 1938 by replacing the word “Armistice” with “Veterans,” and November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars, past and present. americanshootingjournal.com 37
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Two decades before Armistice Day became an official holiday, Corporal Arlie Oppenheim earned the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery on the fields of France.
The 28th Infantry Regiment charges over the top near the village of Cantigny, in northwestern France. (COLONEL ROBERT R. MCCORMICK RESEARCH CENTER, FIRST DIVISION MUSEUM AT CANTIGNY)
STORY BY FRANK JARDIM
A
t the time I became seriously interested in earning a master’s degree in military history, the youngest surviving World War I veterans were in their early 90s. I made a point to talk with every one of them I encountered, knowing that the window to the past they represented would soon be closed for good.
Among the most remarkable of those interviews is the one I had with Arlie Oppenheim in July of 1991, at a county fair in Limerick Township, northwest of Philadelphia. I have retold his story hundreds of time since then, and This portrait of Col. Arlie Oppenheim was every time I do, in my taken in Europe shortly after the war. mind’s eye I see Arlie (COLONEL ROBERT R. MCCORMICK RESEARCH CENTER, again standing in front FIRST DIVISION MUSEUM AT CANTIGNY) of me on that hot summer day, wearing a suit, tie and fedora. We talked outside for an hour and he never suggested we sit down or get out of the heat. One time he took off his hat to wipe his forehead. Even at 94 years old, he was still tough. An old black-and-white photo of him on his modest display table showed him in his youth, a rugged and jaunty fellow wearing an Army tunic with three overseas chevrons on his left sleeve. That meant he spent 18 months at war overseas. BORN ON May 28, 1897, in Statenville, Ga., to sharecroppers
Arlie in the 1980s, wearing his original service helmet and medals. (COLONEL ROBERT R. MCCORMICK RESEARCH CENTER, FIRST DIVISION MUSEUM AT CANTIGNY)
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American Shooting Journal // November 2016
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Mose Oppenheim and Cassie Dyess, Arlie grew up working a farm in nearby Lake Park. Shortly before his 18th birthday, he struck out on his own and made his way to Jacksonville, Fla., seeking new opportunities. He had no intention of joining the military until he saw some soldiers wearing nice boots and olive drab wool shirts. Winter was coming, his shoes were worn out, and those Army shirts looked warm. He enlisted in the Army on April 26, 1915, and so began his military career. He was sent to Texas for training and got his feet wet helping to relieve Galveston after a massive August hurricane drove a storm tide 16 feet high through the city. Nearly 400 people perished in the wave, but that devastation would only be a harbinger of things to come when the U.S. entered what was known then as the Great War in April of 1917. Arlie was in the 28th Infantry Regiment, and was on duty at the Mexican border when he received the news that the United States was at war with Germany. His regiment became part of the newly formed 1st Infantry Division, which was the ďŹ rst to arrive for duty in France. His 28th Regiment soon
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Arlie poses with World War I historical re-enactors at a Pennsylvania county fair in July of 1991, on the day author Frank Jardim interviewed him. (FRANK JARDIM)
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In this ultra-rare photo, a gypsy circus parades through a French town. Arlie was assigned to escort this traveling troupe following his recovery from wounds suffered in battle and release from a field hospital. (COLONEL ROBERT R. MCCORMICK RESEARCH CENTER, FIRST DIVISION MUSEUM AT CANTIGNY)
became the first American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) combat unit to mount an independent offensive led and fought by Americans against the Germans, at the village of Cantigny, which is 60 miles north of Paris.
THE BATTLE FOR CANTIGNY began on Arlie’s 21st birthday. The 28th took and held their objectives 2 kilometers into the German lines at a cost of more than 3,500 casualties, most of them from Arlie’s regiment. In his first action, he
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killed a German infantryman who came charging toward him through waist-high grass while he was digging in with his entrenching tool. When he saw the German, he dropped his little shovel and grabbed for his 1903 Springfield rifle with its 16-inch bayonet affixed. He had barely enough time to swing it around and plant the butt on the ground between him and
In the Marne salient in northeastern France, vast numbers of German troops relied on the roads leading through the city of Soissons for supply and communication. Penetrating the enemy’s front and taking control of those roads would put the Germans in an untenable position, and this opportunity fueled the AEF’s strategic objective.
“AS ARLIE SPRAYED THE GUN CREWS WITH THEIR OWN BULLETS, THEY TRAINED THEIR PIECES ON HIM … “ the charging man, who ran directly into his bayonet at full speed. The blade was so deeply imbedded in his body that Arlie had to shoot his rifle to get it free. It was a small battle by Great War standards, but it was big event for him and the AEF. His unit’s small-scale success at Cantigny demonstrated the AEF could fight competently on its own. Over the next 18 months, the 1st Division earned a reputation for toughness and courage, at the cost of 20,000 killed, wounded and missing. THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS is the U.S. Military’s second highest award for valor, and Arlie earned his on July 18, 1918, during the first day of the Aisne-Marne campaign in the battle for Soissons.
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At the time of the Soissons battle, Arlie was a corporal in I Company, commanding the seven riflemen in his squad. The official citation for his award reads: “The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal Arlie C. Oppenheim (ASN: 58091), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Soissons, France, 19 July 1918. During the attack on this date, Corporal Oppenheim assisted his platoon commander in pushing forward the attack against strong enemy resistance. Later, when the advance of his platoon was halted by machine-gun fire, he, with three others,
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advanced ahead of our lines and silenced the enemy machine gun. Due to his gallantry, his organization was enabled to continue the advance. Later in the engagement, he was seriously wounded and evacuated to the hospital.” In Arlie’s recounting of the action, he told me his squad was advancing during the attack under enemy artillery fire and got pinned down by direct machinegun fire from a bunker. They were forced to take cover in some shell holes. Many were already wounded, including his close friend Sam Ervin (the future U.S. senator famous for his role in the Watergate hearings), who took shrapnel to his hip and could not move. Arlie dragged his pal to cover and marked the spot for the medics in the usual way. He tore a
AUTHOR’S ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS During the preparation of this article, I had the good fortune to meet Andrew Woods, research historian at the McCormick Research Center, which is part of the superb First Division Museum at Cantigny, in Wheaton, Illinois. He kindly provided me with a transcript of an interview with Arlie from their collection that yielded some interesting details that I have threaded into this story. I encourage you to visit the museum once it completes its new exhibits and reopens in summer of 2017 in observance of the centennial of the 1st Infantry Division and World War I. You can visit their website at firstdivisionmuseum.org.
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Arlie’s friend and future U.S. senator Sam Ervin, whose life Arlie helped save in France, as he looked during his WWI service. (COLONEL ROBERT R. MCCORMICK RESEARCH CENTER, FIRST DIVISION MUSEUM AT CANTIGNY)
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piece of Sam’s shirttail off and tied it to the injured man’s rifle, planting it bayonet first in the ground like a flag. Years later, Ervin shared his appreciation for Arlie in his 1983 book, Humor of a Country Lawyer. Arlie then formulated a plan to knock out the German bunker. He gathered a bag of hand grenades from the squad, and when he felt the enemy gunners were distracted, he dashed from shell hole to shell hole to close the range. There was still poison gas from an earlier attack lingering in the bottom of one of the holes he dove into and he got a big breath of it. “I was young and strong and able to shake off the effects of the gas,” he told me. Undeterred, he finally made his way to the top of the bunker. Knowing he wasn’t likely to be in this advantageous position very long, he began pulling the grenade pins and throwing them inside the German bunker. When the last one exploded, he dove inside the smoking bunker, 1911 pistol in hand, and finished off the survivors. With the most direct threat to his squad neutralized, he left the bunker to scout ahead.
guns that were shelling them. He quickly returned to the bunker and inspected the enemy belt-fed Maxim light machinegun therein. Finding it serviceable, he hauled it and all the ammo he could carry back to the crest and took the enemy artillerymen under direct machinegun fire. It didn’t take them long to respond. As Arlie sprayed the German gun crews with their own bullets, they trained their pieces on him and returned his shots with shells. He told me he saw one explode 50 yards to his right, and thought, “Wow, that was pretty close.” Then another round exploded 50 yards to his left and he thought, “Damn, they’re bracketing me,” but before he could act, or even fully complete that thought, there was a white blast in front of him, and he woke up battered and bandaged in a completely silent Army field hospital. Wounded and deaf from the artillery hit near his position, the doctors told Arlie his injuries would heal, but his deafness was permanent and the war was over for him. He would be sent home. Though unhappy about losing his hearing, at least he was done with the war. No more artillery barrages, bayonet charges, murderous machinegun fire, poison gas, trenches, mud and barb wire.
“HIS REGIMENT BECAME PART OF THE NEWLY FORMED 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION … “
TOPPING A NEARBY CREST, he saw a battery of enemy field
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The soldier in the bed next to him had lost his mind at the front. Looking at the unhinged man, it was apparent to Arlie that there were a lot of wounded men much worse off than he. One night he snapped awake to the sound of a woman screaming and opened his eyes to see the shell-shocked man in the next bunk attacking a nurse. He jumped up and wrestled the man off of her as hospital staff ran into the ward in response to the commotion. The nurse was thankful for his help and he was amazed at the return of his hearing. His doctors were likewise amazed and cleared him for return to active duty at the front. Fortunately, Arlie arrived on the Meuse-Argonne battle line only three days before the armistice. THE WAR OFFICIALLY ENDED on November 11, 1918, but Arlie’s European adventures didn’t. During the occupation period that followed the armistice, he “joined” the circus. Wars always create difficult situations for civilians, and at some point during the four years that WWI raged on in the trench lines stretching across Europe, a traveling gypsy circus was trapped on the Central Powers’ side. Arlie told me that some thoughtful AEF officer figured the doughboys might really enjoy seeing a circus, and he was assigned to escort them as they took their show from unit to unit. It was a fun diversion from the horrors of the recent war. After the war, Arlie opted to get married rather
than march with his division in the Washington, D.C., victory parade. He settled in Pennsylvania and worked as a deliveryman for John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company, hand-carrying oil casks before tanker trucks became common. He also participated in one of the many post-war shooting competitions sponsored by the AEF to keep up troop morale and shooting proficiency. He was very proud to have won a silver medal for his rifle marksmanship. Later, he worked as foreman in the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company until he retired in 1962. He was a contributing member of the Society of Lubricating Engineers of Philadelphia. He married three times, and outlived two wives, but had no children of his own. Arlie Council Oppenheim died on August 11, 1993, at the age of 96. LIKE MANY COMBAT VETERANS, Arlie’s war experience was comparatively brief when compared to the totality of a human lifespan; but the events of war leave indelible marks. Whether good or bad, the impressions of those experiences are often unforgettable. Whenever I share Arlie’s story, I think back to that summer day he first told it to me. He described the events with such vibrancy and detail that he might as well have been talking about something that happened that morning instead of 74 years before. I suspect that for him, that was just how it felt.
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PAGES 58-59 í˘ą A platoon sergeant orders Marines to clear a building in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004. í˘˛ These airmen are all smiles after returning from Europe in 1945. (NATIONAL ARCHIVES) í˘ł Marine Corps recruits prepare for a martial arts training session. í˘´ Newly freed prisoners of war celebrate as their C-141A aircraft lifts off from Hanoi, North Vietnam, on Feb. 12, 1973. í˘ľ Bernice Haydu, a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II, stands next to an AT-6 Texan. í˘ś World War II-era P-51 Mustangs fly in formation. í˘ˇ Army Major Zach Rolf poses for a photograph with his father and Vietnam War veteran, Lynn Rolf. í˘¸ Marines and sailors serving in Iraq hold up Thanksgiving Day cards made by a kindergarten class from Island Creek Elementary School in Alexandria, Va., in 2007. PAGE 60 í˘š Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class William Holland drives an inflatable boat in the Caribbean Sea as part of relief efforts following Hurricane Matthew last month. ě?… Edgar Harrison and Delton Walling, Pearl Harbor survivors, applaud during a Dec. 7, 2012, remembrance ceremony at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Honolulu. ě?ˆ Rolling Thunder participants gather on May 29, 2016. The annual ride brings together veterans and others seeking to pay respects to those who have served. ě?‰ A look through the cockpit of a World War II B-29 bomber sitting on display. ě”ˆ Captain Louis Zamperini (left) makes a broadcast to the United States after spending 28 months in a Japanese prison camp. (NATIONAL ARCHIVES) americanshootingjournal.com 59
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The Henry Octagon in .45-70 Government is one of three models the company manufactures for that classic cartridge.
READY FOR LEVER ACTION The stylish Henry Octagon in .45-70 Government is a hardworking short-range rifle with a quick and smooth action.
STORY & PHOTOS BY OLEG VOLK
F
or a cartridge introduced in 1873, the .45-70 Government has enjoyed some serious staying power. The same may be said of lever-action rifles that date back a decade further. The combination of the two, first made in 1881, logically joined two good things into something perennially popular.
Bone Orchard offers a .45-70 Government cartridge with a 300-grain bullet.
Today, several companies make such rifles. Henry offers three models, with the Octagon being the most visually striking of the lot. The fit of the metal and wood is tight, and the finish is even and well applied. A 22-inch blued octagonal barrel is installed on a brass receiver, with brass buttplate on a straight-grip stock of quality walnut completing the first impression. Weighing
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in at about 8 pounds, the rifle feels substantial without appearing heavy. For field carry, it comes with sling swivel studs already installed. The magazine tube holds four cartridges and loads from a port underneath, the same as Henry’s rimfire rifles. While slower than gate loading, this approach is easier on the shooter’s fingers and doesn’t damage soft bullet points.
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The Octagon sports a quality American walnut grain stock and checkering on the grip.
And, considering the power of the .45-70 cartridge, 4+1 capacity is generally sufficient. WHILE HISTORIC .45-70 LOADS used bullets in the 405- to 500-grain range, most modern hunting ammunition is 300 grains. Loads such as Winchester and Federal with expanding bullets develop velocities in the high 1,800s, and recoil is correspondingly brisk. For this reason, a slipon Before recoil you hit pad theisfields, a recommended woods or marshes, accessory. tune up your aim with some clay targets.
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For people who use .45-70 for fun rather than hunting, such as cowboy action shooters, Velocity Munitions sells a mild 1,100-foot-per-second cast-lead load that makes this rifle an absolute pleasure to run. Other companies make more specialized loads, including Hornady with Leverlution polymer-tipped 325-grain, Lehigh Defense with Xtreme Penetrator fragmenting and multiple projectile rounds, and Buffalo Bore with several hot-loaded magnums in the 3,600-foot-pound muzzle-
americanshootingjournal.com 81
The magazine tube holds four cartridges and loads from a port underneath.
energy range. The magnum loads, however, are not recommended for use in Henry rifles, as regular 300-grain loads only develop 2,600 to 3,000 foot pounds. The intensity of recoil and muzzle rise with the extraenergetic ammunition can get unpleasant. Accuracy was the same for all three loads tested, an even 3 minutes of angle. Points of impact differed significantly between the full power and the plinking cartridges, as was to be expected. It appears that the barrel band holding the magazine to the barrel has some
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impact on overall point of aim. When we single loaded each round – cycling them through the magazine – for accuracy testing, the groups were roughly circular. When 4+1 were loaded up, the first shot was always low right, the next two would overlap each other about 1.5 inches away, and the last two would again overlap, another 1.5 inches away, with the three holes forming a straight diagonal line. While the rifle comes with open sights – brass-bead front post and semibuckhorn rear – the receiver is also tapped for a Weaver 63B or EGW Marlin Picatinny Rail. Having conducted accuracy testing with a 1-4x Trijicon Accupower scope, I would recommend a mildly magnified optic only if you intend to hunt past 75 yards. Up to that distance, and especially for dangerous game, a red dot would be slightly quicker, a little closer to the bore, and more appropriate to the mechanical accuracy of the
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The rifle comes with a brass-bead front post and a semi-buckhorn rear sight (shown).
firearm. Since the Henry Octagon is intended to be a short-range rifle, the 3MOA dispersion is irrelevant. At 25 yards, it amounts to a /-inch maximum deviation from the point of aim on targets that have much larger vital zones. THE LEVER ACTION ITSELF is quick and smooth, with the trigger crisp but a bit on the heavy side. Again, for a dangerous game rifle, that’s an appropriate design decision that makes accidental discharges under stress less likely. At the same time, it’s unburdened by the dangerously senseless “lawyer” cross-bolt safeties that plague the current Winchester and Marlin competitors. Those block only the striker, making a trigger pull while on safe appear
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to be a misfire. The Henry has a transfer block, so “safe” is carrying with the hammer down on a live round. Of the three models Henry offers in .45-70, the AllWeather, the round barrel carbine, and the brass-receiver Octagon, the last is the most stylish. It also brings 4 extra inches of sight radius to the game, along with a slight uptick in velocity and less glare in backlight, thanks to the
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The receiver is also tapped for a Weaver 63B base or EGW Marlin Picatinny Rail.
faceted barrel. It’s also the only one with the oversized lever look for easier use while wearing thick gloves. Strictly from the stylistic perspective, it would look best
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with some traditional-looking low-magnification scope. Among the rifle’s appeals is its simplicity of maintenance: just open the action and undo the lever
americanshootingjournal.com 87
The American Shooting Journal and American Tactical salute all members of the Armed Forces who have served, fought and currently fight to protect our nation’s freedoms.
WE THANK YOU!
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A U.S. soldier assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) salutes his fellow soldiers while jumping out of a C-130 Hercules aircraft over a drop zone in Germany. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY VISUAL INFORMATION SPECIALIST JASON JOHNSON)
The Octagon feels substantial without appearing heavy, and weighs in at about 8 pounds. For field carry, it comes with sling swivel studs already installed.
retention screw. The lever then comes out, and the bolt follows. For normal cleaning, that is the full extent of the disassembly required. The Octagon .45-70 is a fashion statement as much as
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it is a capable tool. But unlike most fashion statements, it’s timeless, eminently practical, and will most likely become a multi-generational heirloom. MSRP is $950. For more, see henryrifles.com.
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THE BULLET BULLETIN
SLEEK AND SOLID
A hearty selection of all-copper projectiles from Peregrine Bullets provide a distinctive and destructive solution for hunting North American big game. STORY AND PHOTOS BY PHIL MASSARO
Peregrine BushMaster bullets, with their signature brass insert and flat meplat.
L
ead-free projectiles have been available for decades, but early developments in this direction yielded a wide range of quality and success. They often provided fantastic penetration, yet this was frequently offset by unreliable accuracy and expansion. But the concept has remained sound, and the issues of the past continue to be ironed out, so the lead-free projectiles of today are often as accurate as their lead-core counterparts while being terminally dependable. Availability of this style of projectile has also increased, especially in Western states where recently enacted laws have prohibited lead projectiles. Now, most of the major ammunition manufacturers are offering at least one lead-
free choice. There are some excellent boutique bullets companies here in the U.S. specializing solely in copper and bronze
“ … THEY ARE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR NORTH AMERICAN HUNTING … “ bullets, but I’ve recently been introduced to Peregrine Bullets, a South African company, that is also making some americanshootingjournal.com 95
THE BULLET BULLETIN The author’s friend Dave deMoulpied and his trophy kudu, taken with Peregrine BushMaster bullet at over 200 yards with his .416 Rigby.
unique and excellent products. IN A LOOK-ALIKE WORLD, these projectiles stand out as truly
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distinctive designs, and while they were developed in South Africa, for African game, they are an excellent choice for North American hunting as well. Any expanding bullet needs to open reliably, whether it strikes hard bone or soft flesh, and a lack of expansion was a definite issue with the early monometal hollowpoints. They would sometimes pinch shut and whistle through an animal, much like a nonexpanding full metal jacket. While that gave excellent penetration, it didn’t do a whole lot of damage, as the wound channel remained nearly at caliber dimension. The Peregrine design uses a brass plunger at the nose – seated on top of a hollow, air-filled chamber – and this
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THE BULLET BULLETIN chamber is driven rearward on impact. Air is not easily compressed – if you’ve ever been forced to fill a car tire with a bicycle pump, you’ll attest to that fact – and the resistance pushes on the sidewalls of the bullet for immediate expansion. This design works very well, irrespective of where on the animal the bullet strikes, and that consistent expansion is very attractive to us hunters, as we want to create as much trauma as possible for a quick and humane kill.
The flat-shooting Peregrine Rangemaster, perfect for punching steel in the next area code.
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THE PEREGRINE DESIGN is the brainchild of Adriaan Rall and the late Louis Nel, who decades ago set out to make the best monolithic bullet available. Nel passed away before the design came to fruition, but Rall refused to give up on the idea. Teaming up with Corno van Rooyen – who has extensive experience in designing artillery projectiles - Peregrine bullets finally
americanshootingjournal.com 99
THE BULLET BULLETIN came to market in 2009. These bullets are all copper, and since copper is a lighter material than lead, they are longer than their cup-and-core counterparts, when comparing two bullets of the same weight. They also take up a bit more room in the cartridge case, but because of the integrity of the construction, you can often get away with using a bit less bullet weight than you are used to, while still achieving the terminal ballistics we’re all after. Peregrine bullets are made to extremely tight tolerances; their bullets weighed out to be within 0.2 grains of the advertised weight for my 6.5284 Norma, and just as tight for the projectiles in .308, .375, .416, and .423 (for the
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The .416 Rigby loaded with 400-grain Peregrine BushMasters.
American Shooting Journal // November 2016
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THE BULLET BULLETIN
The 100-yard accuracy of the .416 Rigby with Peregrine BushMasters is impressive.
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.404 Jeffery). For the hunter, Peregrine has two designs that I like very, very much. If you are the type of hunter who keeps most your shots within 200 yards or so, look long and hard at the Peregrine VRG3 BushMaster. Available in calibers from .223 up to and including the behemoth .500s, the VRG3 uses a flat nose to immediately dump its energy on the animal, and to create a huge wound channel. My pal Dave deMoulpied used the VRG3 in his .416 Rigby to absolutely crumple a huge-bodied kudu at over 200 yards, and the bullet couldn’t be recovered. This rifle will put three of the 400-grain BushMasters into a ¾-inch group at 100 yards. I can totally see where I’ll be using this bullet for black bear over bait, or for moose in the thick swamps. Uniquely, the BushMaster uses a boat tail at the rear of the
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THE BULLET BULLETIN The 6.5-284 Norma can take full advantage of the high ballistic coefficient of the Peregrine RangeMaster and PlainsMaster.
bullet, even though the nose is flat. THE VRG4 PLAINSMASTER is another excellent choice, and a bullet that will serve you well at any sane hunting distance.
The PlainsMaster is high ballistic coefficient boat-tail bullet, which will retain its energy well down range, while giving consistent expansion right down to 1,600 feet per second. The 132-grain 6.5mm bullet has given excellent accuracy
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Mack Brothers CenterďŹ re Suppressors are lightweight, accurate and with class leading suppression. With our innovative ratchet locking cam for quick mounting, superior holding and alignment. Mack Brothers suppressors utilize Grade 9 tube with heat treated 17-4 bafes. Rated up to 300 RUM. The MB 30 cal. series of suppressors are designed for the long range shooter.
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THE BULLET BULLETIN and velocity in my Savage 6.5-284 Norma, and I’m looking forward to taking this bullet to the hunting fields this fall. In addition to the two bullet types I’ve described above, Peregrine offers the ultra-sleek RangeMaster bullet for the long-range crowd who prefer four-digit distances, as well as the VRG5 Match bullet – a nonexpanding version of the
The VRG3 BushMaster in a .404 Jeffery cartridge.
An expanded PlainsMaster bullet.
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PlainsMaster at a lower cost – for load development and range practice. There are also flat-point “solid” bullets, in both brass and copper, for use on the thick-skinned dangerous game. If you enjoy the monometal bullets, or are forced by law to use them, you’ll want to give the Peregrine bullets a try; they’re well respected by seasoned African professional hunters, such as my friend Johan Calitz, who are able to use these projectiles on a daily basis.
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BONHOMIE FOR LA BOHEMIENNE
Pedersoli’s La Bohemienne is a classically styled, double-barreled 12-gauge shotgun with double outside hammers. Below its trigger is a black powder load from Buffalo Arms Company.
Pedersoli’s new side-by-side is a modern shotgun with a classical twist, and it will be right at home for you at the range or afield. STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE NESBITT
D
edicated scattergunners have probably realized by now that, although I’ve shot their preferred choice of gun for many years, I’ve never considered myself a shotgunner. It’s not that I have anything against them; it’s just that for me, shotguns have always taken a backseat to rifles and rifle shooting, especially when it comes to using black powder. But after seeing, handling and shooting a fine Pedersoli 12-gauge double with twin outside hammers, I think my priorities might start to shift a bit. Pedersoli calls this side-by-side their “Bohemienne,” or Bohemian.
Comparing it to the standards of today, this shotgun is definitely nonconformist, and it is good enough that we can refer to it as being somewhat irregular. It is a cut above many others, and for me it is delightful in many ways, especially with its double outside hammers. I want to emphasize one point right from the beginning. In most gun reviews like this one, contact information is provided so consumers get more information about the gun can described, but all too often the dealers at local gun shops don’t receive guidance about how to stock them. But this fine shotgun is available through the Italian Firearms Group,
a partnership that supplies the U.S. dealer network with the best products of multiple Italian gun makers. The Italian Firearms Group was established in 2010, and represents some of that country’s top firearms craftsmen: F.A.I.R, Sabatti and Pedersoli. By going directly to IFG, dealers can make rather quick contact to get wholesale pricing and other useful information in regard to getting firearms to sell. THE PEDERSOLI LA BOHEMIENNE is a striking piece, to say the least. It is a classically styled, double-barreled 12-gauge shotgun with double outside hammers. The 28-inch browned barrels have 3-inch chambers, and are equipped with interchangeable chokes at the muzzles. The pistol grip and the fore-end each offer checkering for comfort, a good grip and, quite americanshootingjournal.com 111
This finely crafted firearm features fine engraving, color casehardening, browned barrels and blued trigger guard.
honestly, beauty. And speaking of, the frame is color casehardened and features hand-finished engraving. Overall length of the shotgun is just under 46 inches, and it weighs about 7¾ pounds. The hammers are rebounding, so they don’t have or use half-cock
notches. Rebounding hammers are, in my opinion, a good safety measure. If the gun is cocked and the hammer needs to be returned to its “down” position, you just hold the hammer back, pull the trigger, and slowly ease the hammer forward while releasing the trigger. The hammers cannot go
The La Bohemienne is right at home with modern loads and with steel shot.
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A cloud of black powder smoke obscures the target, but it was a hit. (JERRY MAYO)
far enough forward to hit the firing pins unless the triggers are held back. In addition to that, the gun is also equipped with a sliding safety, the very same as on a hammerless
double, so the gun can be put on safety while the hammers are in the cocked position. The sliding safety does not move to the safe position when the gun is opened.
This gun is not specifically a black powder shotgun, not like a muzzle-loading shotgun would be. Instead, the Bohemienne is a finely made modern shotgun with modern
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This close-up of the side-by-side’s muzzles shows the changeable chokes.
steels in the barrels, so it is right at home with modern loads and with steel shot. While using steel shot, however, the changeable chokes should be used with only cylinder or improved-cylinder at the muzzles because the steel shot is simply not as compressible as lead. At the same time, in my most humble opinion, this gun is such a classic that it had “black powder” written all over it, and my choice for shooting it immediately fell to black powder loads for ammunition. That ammunition came from Buffalo Arms Company in northern Idaho. They offer a variety of shotgun loads with black powder, and the one I selected to use the most was loaded with 3 drams (82 grains) of black powder under 11/8 ounce of size 7½ lead shot.
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The author says, “This fine shotgun can ride my shoulder anytime.” (JERRY MAYO)
THE BLACK POWDER SHOT SHELLS from Buffalo Arms Company are rather classic themselves. They are loaded in good old-fashioned paper hulls, and are nicely star-crimped at the mouth. Inside, these shells are loaded with what we might call “old style” components. Dave Gullo, owner of Buffalo Arms, described the loads this way: “An important feature to our shotgun ammo is that it’s loaded with nitro overshot wads and fiber overpowder wads, not plastic wads, so that the shooter is not needing to scrub plastic out of their barrels when they are done shooting.” At first, I couldn’t help notice what I will call rather heavy trigger pulls. I know that “rather heavy” is a relative expression. I’m most comfortable with the very lightly set triggers on muzzle-loading rifles and my favorite Sharps, so perhaps I wasn’t the best prepared for what this shotgun required. When I called for my first bird on the sporting clays range, I followed it until it was out of sight and the gun hadn’t fired. For my next try, I was more prepared. The trigger pulls were actually quite fine, breaking very sharp and crisp, while remaining a bit on the heavy side. I realized that one reason for those trigger pulls being “heavy” is so the gun can be fired while both hammers are cocked. In this way, with its associated recoil, the jarring of one barrel going off will not release the second hammer. In other words, this gun will not “double” on you, which could be a memorable experience you wouldn’t want to have. After I “caught up” with the gun, the good hits began to come one after the other. As you can guess, that’s when the fun really took over, and using this shotgun 118
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became a delight. Our muzzle-loading club has a target known as the “slice of pie” that is used for a particular match with flintlock smoothbores during our Trade Gun Frolic. The slice of pie is used in a luck shoot where each shooter gets just one shot at 25 yards while using buckshot. It’s hard enough just to get some hits on the paper, and a shooter must be lucky to get any score at all. Just to give this Pedersoli 12-gauge a chance, I took one shot at the slice of pie while using 00 buckshot. This was done with the Pedersoli’s left barrel, with the modified choke, and six hits are seen on the target (see photo at left) but with zero for a score. That shot was just another part of the fun. There isn’t a whole lot more I can tell you about the Pedersoli La Bohemienne that wouldn’t simply be echoes of what I’ve already written. It is a very fine classic double-barreled 12-gauge, priced in the neighborhood of $2,100. And with the black powder loads, it provides classic shotgun shooting at its best. For more information about Pedersoli, the La Bohemienne, and other finely crafted shotguns, visit italianfirearmsgroup.com. To learn more about the Buffalo Arms Company’s black powder shotgun loads in 10 and 12 gauges, visit buffaloarms.com. This shows the “slice of pie” target with the six holes from the buckshot load.
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gun reviews
Carrying the name of the company’s shooting team captain and 2016 world speed-shooting champion, these two fine SIG Sauer Max Michel handguns make an excellent pair. The .45 is on the left, and the BB pistol is on the right.
DOUBLE DUTY
SIG Sauer’s 1911 Max Michel BB pistol is a perfect training partner for the company’s 1911 in .45. STORY AND PHOTOS BY TOM CLAYCOMB
A
lthough I often shoot and write about airguns, you may have noticed that my testing has focused on a few different SIG Sauer models recently. That’s because I believe SIG is on to something, making airguns modeled after their “real” guns, including the use of comparable controls and full-blowback metal slides on the handguns. Not long ago, everyone suggested practicing with a .22, what with the caliber’s light recoil and lower ammo cost.
“I WAS IMPRESSED BY HOW CLOSELY THESE TWO RESEMBLED EACH OTHER.” That may have been sound advice, but with the astronomical jump in the price of .22 ammo, it is no longer that much americanshootingjournal.com 125
gun reviews of a savings, even if loads are available. I don’t know whether SIG’s plans were prompted by the higher prices or it was just lucky timing, but I’m glad they did what they did. It is easier to practice your drawing techniques using a gun that is nearly identical to your real weapon, for example, and it’s much more fun than dry firing your real pistol. And, if you live in a suburban setting, an air gun is much quieter and there are no powerful flying projectiles.
A close-up of the SIG Sauer 1911 in .45
IN THE JULY ISSUE of this magazine, I wrote a review covering the SIG Sauer 226 airgun, and the following month did a feature on their MCX AR airgun. Since each of these is a near copy of a full-caliber gun in the SIG Sauer line, it gave me an idea. For this third and final SIG airgun piece, I decided to do a combination
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American Shooting Journal // November 2016
review of the airgun and the pistol it was designed to mimic. And, since SIG’s 1911 Max Michel BB pistol is set to hit the market later this month, this will probably be one of the first published reviews of it.
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gun reviews As with the first two SIG airguns I tested, I was impressed by how closely these two resembled each other. In fact, if you lay them on top of each other, they are basically the same size. There are just a few small, understandable differences. First, the sights on the air gun are not as nice on the actual .45, which makes perfect sense. Second, the airgun has a Picatinny rail, while the .45 doesn’t. Third, there is a slight difference in the butt due to the differences in the clips. And finally, although they each appear to have ambidextrous safeties, the “left-handed” safety
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A close-up of SIG Sauer’s Max Michel BB pistol.
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American Shooting Journal // November 2016
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gun reviews on the airgun is nonfunctional. I mentioned that the airgun sights are not as good as on the .45, but I should add that they are adjustable for windage and elevation with a flat-head screwdriver. To really make this a family affair, I did some of the testing of the .45 alongside my wife, Katy. I shot my normal mediocre groups, but she obtained some good groups. Normally, I recommend a .357 Mag for smaller shooters. That way, in town they can load up with .38s, and in the mountains they can shoot .357 magnums for bears, wolves and cougars. But although Katy is somewhat recoil-sensitive, she loved shooting the .45. Needless to say, our pace of fire was nowhere as intense as that of the handgun’s namesake, Max Michel, the
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The author’s wife Katy thoroughly enjoyed shooting the 1911 Max Michel .45 pistol.
captain of SIG Sauer’s shooting team and recently crowned world-speed shooting champion. It is rare, but occasionally I hear someone dissing a 1911. How can you do that to one of the most popular pistol models for more than 100 years running? My dad, who was a B24 pilot in World War II, carried one, and I’ll bet your dad or grandfather did too at some point. If you can handle the recoil and obtain adequate reset times, the .45 is the ticket. And if my wife and my 110-pound daughters like shooting a 1911, then I think that it is safe to say that you can probably handle the SIG Sauer .45. I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED shooting both guns. For our test we used SIG 230-grain FMJ ammo for the .45, and with the airgun we used SIG BBs. Airgun ammo can vary wildly in accuracy, but in all of my tests, SIG pellets and BBs grouped as good as any of the leading manufacturers other than JSB, which are match-grade pellets. Like many of SIG’s airguns, the 1911 version has a detachable 16-shot clip that is released by pushing a button identical to the one on its larger and more powerful cousin. You pull down a slide knob and load the BBs into a hole. Then slide the clip back into the bottom of the grip. To load the 12gram CO2 cylinder, you remove the clip and pull out the back of the grip. Insert the gas cartridge and close the handle, and that snaps it into place. Slap in the clip and you’re good to go. The airgun is not only great for training purposes, but also fun for shooting small varmints. It is a semiautomatic, so it would also be a great tool to run deer and other pests out of your garden. It would sting them enough to make them leave but not cause any long-lasting damage. As with all SIG semiautos I have tested, the .45 is a great pistol. And once again, I think that in developing the airgun to go along with it, SIG has come up with a great training tool. So there you have it – several really good reasons to buy two guns instead of just one. Tell your spouse that I said so, and let me know how that goes! 132
American Shooting Journal // November 2016
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Product FEATURE
A TANG SIGHT BETTER
Lyman has reintroduced their popular #2 for the Uberti 1873 and other lever-actions.
After installing Lyman’s #2 Tang Sight on his Uberti 1873, the author shot a nice five-shot (inset) group.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE NESBITT
T
he current sustained popularity of the guns of the Old West convinced Lyman to reintroduce some of the fine accessories they used to manufacture in the 1800s. That’s a general statement, but it also leads us right into this short conversation about their #2 Tang Sight, which is made especially for the 1873 lever action as manufactured by Uberti. Lyman patented their #1 Tang Sight in 1879. The #2 followed either very shortly after if not at the same time. The only difference between those two types of sights is that the #1 had the combination apertures, with the fold-
down small aperture, and the #2 came with removable discs, a feature that came to be favored by target shooters. Putting one of these sights on an Uberti copy of the 1873 Winchester will usually require drilling and tapping for the forward sight hole, and Lyman includes directions on how to do that, including tapping the hole for 10-32 threads. I needed that to be done on my Stoeger/Uberti rifle, but that was the only modification I had to make before the sight was installed. Then it was lined up with the open sight before the open sight was removed. Let me give one tiny warning: be sure the very small Allen screw on the lower part of the upright is good and tight. That’s what holds the sight
stem in place. Shooting with the new tang sight was a blast! I used loads with 200-grain cast bullets over 33 grains of Olde Eynsford 2F black powder. My first group was a bit high, so the sight was lowered. The next group is what you see pictured, five shots in a very tight group. I was aiming at 6 o’clock so the sights were left as is, to hit with a dead-on hold. Lyman’s list price for one of its #2 Tang Sights is $99.95 and they are available directly from Lyman or most sporting goods stores. The sights are also made for the 1866, 1886, 1894 models, and the Marlins. For more on the entire Lyman line, visit lymanproducts.com. americanshootingjournal.com 139
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BLACK POWDER
NEW LUBE FOR BLACK POWDER RIFLES Montana company producing blends for shooting in warm, cold weather.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE NESBITT
Vigilante Bullet Lube is intended for use in black powder cartridges.
B
ullet lube in a black powder cartridge can function in two ways. On grease-groove bullets, it helps keep the bullet from rubbing the gun’s bore to reduce the chance of leading. In a load with a paper-patched bullet, it coats the bore with lube to help prevent hard powder fouling from being too hard or stiff. In other words, with grease-groove bullets, the lube is primarily for the shot being fired, but it also leaves the bore somewhat coated with lube to keep the black powder fouling soft for the next shot. When shooting paper-patched bullets, the lube largely prepares the gun’s bore by softening the black powder fouling for the next shot. To expand on the history of paper-patch bullet shooting just a bit, in the mid-1870s, international teams competed
in the Creedmoor matches, probably the most famous longdistance shooting events up to that time. There, paper-patch bullets were the normal projectiles used and they were used without any lubrication. In that era, hunters used tallow or wax lubricating “cookies” underneath the paper-patched bullets, so the hunter’s rifle barrel didn’t require cleaning as often. But at the Creedmoor matches, shooters cleaned their barrels after every shot. WHILE GREASE-GROOVE BULLETS and paper-patch bullets are lubed in different ways, they still can use the same kinds of lubes. And although these have very slightly different actions by either lubing for the shot being fired or for the next shot, they still perform the same duty (to keep the americanshootingjournal.com 145
BLACK POWDER Note the “lube starâ€? on the muzzle of this .44-40 rie’s barrel, a good sign.
black powder fouling soft). Black powder cartridge lube actually does the same thing as lubes for muzzleloading arms too, but the recipe for such lubes is different. That difference relates to the way it is loaded, and the higher pressures found in black powder cartridges when compared to muzzleloaders, so “stiffer� lubes
“I WOULD RATHER SEE A GENEROUS LUBE STAR AT THE MUZZLE THAN A LIGHT ONE.â€? are more often used. And, just like the difference between grease-groove bullets and paper-patched bullets, the reason for lubrication while shooting muzzleloaders is still the same, to keep the fouling soft for following shots. For black powder cartridge shooters today, we almost always use lube with the bullets in our loads. That can be said as “alwaysâ€? with grease-groove bullets and “usuallyâ€? with paperpatch bullets. One area where I’ll use paper-patch bullets without lubrication is while breaking in a new barrel. I’ll load 20 rounds with paperpatched bullets and no lubrication, Since 1998 • All Products Made In The USA ďŹ ring those bullets while cleaning the ÂŽ bore after every shot. Those dry paper EEZOX patches might have a slight bit of abrasiveness to them, and if so, they’ll add a ďŹ nal bit of polish to that new Cleans, Lubricates, Protects Against Rust and Fingerprinting. barrel’s bore. In loads for my general :RUNV IURP ) WR ) 1R RLO\ Ă€ OP ² GU\ WR WRXFK shooting, both for target and hunting loads, I use lubricants in all of my One Hole Sights black powder cartridges. • Relieve Eye Strain There are several good lubricants • Shoot More Accurately Without The on the market for black powder Weight & Bulk Of A Scope cartridges and, although they are not all alike, they are all good. The one that is the “bestâ€? for you will depend Mag Spark on a variety of factors, including the likely weather conditions in your area, the caliber and the amount of powder used in your loads. I can’t specify here what is best for your shooting. As with many other aspects of our sport, each DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME shooter needs to determine what is best for them, and quite likely for each 330-898-1475 black powder cartridge rie used. warrencustomoutdoor.com • eezox.com
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American Shooting Journal // November 2016
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BLACK POWDER I WILL OFFER ADVICE, however, on what to look for in your own rifle(s) to help you choose which lube to use. For instance, if you do not find a “lube star” on your rifle’s muzzle after shooting, the lube is either too soft or, as with paper-patch bullets, you didn’t use enough lube. The lube star is simply excess lube that forms the star This group was shot with the .50-70 Sharps with Vigilante Lube on the bullets.
148 American Shooting Journal // November 2016
on the gun’s muzzle, shaped by the lands and grooves of the barrel. That is excess, yes, but without it you simply don’t have enough. Lubrication in black powder cartridge loads is one area where we can generally say that too much lube is plenty. I would rather see a generous lube star at the muzzle than a light one. That’s just a guarantee showing how more than enough lube is being used. The different black powder cartridge lubes I have used could make an interesting list. They include Lyman’s Black Powder Gold (a “stiffer” lube designed for long-range shooting), SPG, BPC from C. Sharps Arms, DGL (Damn Good Lube), and, more recently, a new one called Vigilante Bullet Lube. All of these are good, but some are better than others in specific circumstances, and I must admit that I have not kept the notes required to make authoritative statements about which is best in what calibers during which kind of weather. However, I know shooters who use one kind of lube such as SPG during the summer, but switch to the slightly softer DGL for winter. As I mentioned, the new kid on the black powder cartridge lube block is Vigilante Bullet
americanshootingjournal.com 149
BLACK POWDER Lube. The owner of the company, Dan Highley, introduced his new lube to me while I was cruising traders row with Allen Cunniff at the last Quigley Long Range Buffalo Rifle match. We each received a tub of it, and I started giving it a workout shortly after returning home. That activity began with a wide list of black powder cartridges, from the .44-40 up to the .50-90. Somewhere in the middle was the .44-77, and that is the cartridge that has given me the most experience, so far. VIGILANTE BULLET LUBE is for paper or metallic cartridges. I don’t personally know any shooters who are using paper cartridges these days, although I could probably find some who are shooting Sharps percussion rifles where they could be used. In those percussion breechloaders, such as the Model 1863 Sharps, the bullets still need lubrication with or without the paper cartridge. I own an 1863 percussion breechloader, and
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American Shooting Journal // November 2016
Dan Highley (left) of Vigilante Bullet Lube and Allen Cunniff on traders row at a recent Quigley Long Range Buffalo Rifle match in eastern Montana.
when I get around to using it, I’ll be sure to have some Vigilante lube on hand. First, the .44-40; my loads used the standard bullet for the .44-40, Lyman’s #427098, over 34 grains by weight of Olde Eynsford 2F with no wad between the bullet and the powder. Those bullets were lubed with Vigilante and sized to .429 inches before being fired in my new Model 1885 Low Wall from C. Sharps Arms. That load worked very well, giving tight groups at 50 yards, complete with a fine lube star on the rifle’s muzzle. No leading or evidence thereof could be found during cleaning. The .44-77 used both “naked” and paper-patched bullets. The paperpatched 400-grain bullets were loaded over 75 grains by weight of the Olde Eynsford 1 1/2F with a Walters’ .060inch wad, plus a 3/16-inch grease cookie of Vigilante under the bullet. Those were fired in two five-shot groups, back to back with no cleaning. The last couple of cartridges began to feel “sticky” when they were chambered but not stiff, and all ten shots scored nicely. When I cleaned my Remington rolling block rifle, it was obvious that the bore was still coated with a layer of Vigilante and, again, no evidence of any leading at all. The .50-70 and .50-90 also showed a quick acceptance for Vigilante lube, showing generous lube stars. Now before any (or all) of you remind me, let me quickly point out that all of my shooting with Vigilante Bullet Lube was done during the summer, and it was a rather hot one at that. That’s when I learned that Vigilante Bullet Lube is available as Lube #1 and Lube #2, with #2 being a somewhat softer lube designed for use in cold weather. I’d say that covers all of the bases. To learn more about Vigilante Bullet Lube, email Dan Highley at vigilantebulletlube@gmail.com. You can also check out the Vigilante Bullet Lube page on Facebook. 152
American Shooting Journal // November 2016
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TRIPLE PLAY
For more than 50 years, Triple K has been a ‘go-to’ manufacturer for American-made magazines, grips and leather products. STORY AND PHOTOS BY FRANK JARDIM
Kurt, Kasey and Jerry Krasne represent three generations of Triple K.
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cores of firearms-related businesses have come and gone, but family-owned Triple K has produced their American-made core product line for more than 50 years. Many shooters know the California-based company for their popular civilian and police holsters and leather equipment, and gun collectors worldwide know them as the first, best and often only source of replacement
magazines for vintage autoloading pistols and rifles. More recently, they’ve developed an equally solid reputation for reproduction rubber and wood grips and buttplates for all manner of historic handguns and shotguns. The company’s slogan is “If it’s rare, obscure or collectable, Triple K has you covered,” and they truly do. I called them once for magazine for a century-old Belgian Bayard pocket auto. Not only did they have it in stock, americanshootingjournal.com 157
AMMO/RELOADING company president Kurt Krasne knew the part number by heart.
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e-mail: brassmanbrass@gmail.com web: www.brassmanbrass.com 158
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HIS FATHER, JERRY KRASNE, CREATED Triple K in 1963, and named it after his children – Kim, Kurt and Karen. In 1946, Jerry’s father and grandfather had started a family department store that sold inexpensive men’s clothing and World War II military surplus, and Triple K was originally an offshoot of that business. Jerry graduated from Stanford with a BA in economics and joined the business in 1952. He expanded the store to include firearms and sporting goods. They were increasingly successful, but Jerry recognized there were bigger business opportunities outside their local retail market in manufacturing. The early 1960s were the heyday for the importation of collectible firearms, and Jerry saw barrels of otherwise great World War I-era Spanish Ruby automatic pistols coming into the country that were virtually unmarketable for lack of magazines. He decided to get into the magazine manufacturing business and sought out the skilled workmen and machinery he needed to do it. The first magazines he manufactured included models for Beretta 1934, Browning 1910, and Walther Model 4, and he sold them from a one-page catalog sheet. Today, Triple K makes and stocks about 1,100 different magazines, and continues to seek out vintage pistols so they can reverse engineer the magazine and add it to their line. They have produced over a million magazines and are the largest maker of obsolete magazines in the world. Triple K’s next major product line was leather cowboy holsters and gunbelts. At the time, the Western was the most popular film genre in America and it seemed like a good idea to feed the market Hollywood had created for buscadero rigs. Jerry bought a single sewing machine and
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A Triple K employee creates one of the company’s leather holster products at the factory in San Diego, Calif.
hired a man to run it, and gradually acquired more equipment and know-how by buying out closing businesses. The family department store also had a lot of police customers from the local station on their street, and soon Triple K was manufacturing all types of leather duty holsters and equipment for law enforcement. ALL OF TRIPLE K’S LEATHER PRODUCTS begin as 100-percent American vegetabletanned leather hides, which are inspected and laid out by hand on pneumatic
“THE EARLY 1960S WERE THE HEYDAY FOR THE IMPORTATION OF COLLECTABLE FIREARMS … “ presses for die cutting, then dyed, and sewn into holsters, belts, slings, saddle bags, cartridge belts, ammo pouches, shooting bags, concealed carry purses, rifle scabbards, handcuff cases, baton carriers, and dozens of other finished leather products for shipment to distributors worldwide. They offer most leather products in walnut oil (brown), plain (natural), and black finishes, and in plain or basket-weave pattern. Not only do they still make those low-slung cowboy-movie buscadero rigs, 160
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COMPANY SPOTLIGHT This pair of replacement grips for a vintage Colt pistol is one of thousands available from Triple K.
but they also make a replica of the holster worn by Han Solo in the Star Wars movie franchise. You won’t find that one in their catalog, though; it’s one of many private-label leather products they manufacture for many other retailers, including Cabela’s. In 2013, Triple K acquired Vintage Gun Grip Industries Inc., a Florida company that specialized in reproduction grips for collectible firearms. Vintage
“FOR FOUNDER JERRY KRASNE, THE BUSINESS WAS SIMPLY AN EXTENSION OF HIS HOBBY … “ had even more grips products than Triple K had magazines. Each grip set is hand-poured and cast from precise molds made from the thousands of original historic grips in their reference collection. Need a set of black hard-rubber grips for your 1892 Colt New Army Revolver, Frommer Liliput, M1934 Beretta, or Remington .41 rimfire double derringer? Triple K will make them
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COMPANY SPOTLIGHT for you, and if you need the screw hardware, they can sell you that too. Screw hardware cost between $5 and $16. Most grip sets cost $34, which represents the labor to make them more than the material. Many are in stock, but if they have to pull out the molds, it will take a couple days to get them poured, cured, sanded, cleaned and shipped to you. Be patient. You could not do it yourself for less or any faster. MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES don’t typically run three distinctly different operations, but Triple K is far from typical. For founder Jerry Krasne, the business was simply an extension of his hobby, and to this day the company mirrors his passion for gun collecting, shooting and hunting. In order to make a magazine properly, you need to have the gun it ďŹ ts into, so Jerry sought out examples of every vintage autoloading pistol in existence and created one of the largest and most varied reference gun collections in private hands. Eventually, he started recording information on the weapons, along with excellent line drawing, and published them in The Triple K Encyclopedia & Reference Guide For Auto Loading Guns. Now in its 16th edition, it remains a key reference guide for collectors. Looking through the book, it is nothing short of astonishing to realize that
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Triple-K makes magazines for virtually every pistol and rie in it. Magazines vary in cost but generally run around $38 to $44 for the rarer vintage guns. These are usually made up in runs of 40 to 50 magazines and stamped from laser-cut blanks, which are then hand-welded. I asked how many years it would take to sell 50 1910 Izarra magazines, and Kurt informed me that sometimes he is quite surprised at how quickly what seems like a lifetime supply is depleted. They will sell one or two now and then, and out of the blue collectors can start ordering ďŹ ve at a time and then the company has to make more. Fortunately, their manufacturing process is now so reďŹ ned they can quickly set up the tooling to efficiently make small runs. Magazines for more common guns generally cost less because they make a lot more of them and use more efficient production methods, like ďŹ ne blanking and automatic welding. For example, a standard magazine for the 1911 Colt is $16 and $30 for the German P08 Luger. Triple K also has magazines for weapons still in current production (for example, Glock, SIG, Beretta, Smith & Wesson, AR-15 and AK-47). They stock no fewer than 17 different magazines for .45 ACP Colt 1911s. For more information, visit triplek.com, or call (619) 232-2066. Â?
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YANKEE KEE HILL MACHINE Model: Nitro 30 Weight: 18.2 ounces/20.2 ounces es Diameter: 1.562 inches Length: 6.93 inches/7.75 inches Construction: 17-4 PH stainless steel Direct thread: 5/8-24/ 1/2-28 Decibel rating: .308 WIN 135 decibels MSRP: $890 More info: yhm.net americanshootingjournal.com 169
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Getting there
A ‘STAMPEDE’ HEADED YOUR WAY? Bad Boy Off Road has a new name to go with its new gas-powered side-by-side. STORY BY BRAD FITZPATRICK. PHOTOS BY BAD BOY OFF ROAD
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ad Boy Off Road, formerly Bad Boy Buggies, has a new look and a new side-by-side that is the company’s first all-gas four-wheel-drive model, the Stampede. And the Stampede has a ton of features that hunters and shooters are going to appreciate. “We designed Stampede to be industry-leading on the features that drivers told us matter most – power, a comfortable ride, and the ability to haul and store everything they need,” says John Collins, vice president of consumer marketing and sales at Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., Bad Boy Off Road’s parent company. “We tested Stampede extensively in extreme conditions to ensure it can handle whatever you throw its way. And we’re building it in a brandnew manufacturing line, with state-of-the-art processes and equipment. As a result, we’re backing Stampede with a robust two-year warranty.” At the heart of the all-new Stampede is a German-
engineered, precision-tuned 846cc liquid-cooled, 80-horsepower engine with electronic fuel injection that turns out 59 foot-pounds of torque that provides smooth, powerful acceleration and the ability to crawl through the roughest country. The crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons are all forged for maximum reliability over the roughest terrain, and a dry-sump oil system – usually reserved for high-performance engines – helps keep oil operating temperatures low and provides a high level of lubrication and protection for the motor, further enhancing engine life by reducing wear. The new CVT transmission (high, low, neutral, reverse and park) has a selectable locking rear differential in EPS (Electronic Power Steering) and EPS+ (EPS plus alloy wheel package) models. With a fuel capacity of 9.5 gallons you’ll be able to get deep into the wilderness, away from other hunters, and where the big bucks and bulls roam.
All three models of the new Stampede from Bad Boy Off Road offer plenty of four-wheel-drive options for the money. The Stampede EPS is shown here.
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Getting there Over the past decade, the side-by-side market has become more competitive, and new models offer better handling and an improved ride over previous models. To improve ride and handling, the Stampede has durable springs, high-performance shocks and a four-wheel double-A-arm suspension that allows for an impressive 9.5 inches of travel in the front and 10.5 inches in the rear. Combine that with front and rear sway bars and the grunt from the motor and you have a side-by-side that’s capable of crawling through some of the roughest hunting terrain
design and 24 cubic feet of storage space you’ll have plenty of room in the cab, and the ample interior room is one of the first features you’ll notice when you get behind the wheel. Drivers can keep track of what’s going on via fuel level, engine temperature, RPM, gear position and diagnostic displays that are easily seen on the Stampede’s industryleading 3.25- by 5.25-inch LCD screen that’s visible in any light conditions day or night, and there’s a 12-volt outlet in the cab for electronics. The comfortable, supportive seats have durable covers that are easy to clean and designed to
“ … THE STAMPEDE OFFERS SOME PACKAGES THAT ARE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR HUNTERS.” imaginable, making it easier to haul your gear in and haul your trophy out. ALL THAT HARDWARE is accompanied by a spacious cabin designed with hunters and shooters in mind. The doors offer 10 square feet of entry and exit space, which is ideal when you’re wearing bulky clothes and heavy boots, and the interior is designed to be easy to wash, so cleaning out mud and snow after the hunt won’t be an issue. With its spacious
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last, and the full windshield protects occupants from lowhanging branches and other obstacles that stand between you and your hunting area. Safety is a top priority with any off-road vehicle, and to that end the Stampede features full-coverage, impact- (and corrosion-) resistant doors that come standard. Additional safety features include four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes, three-point seat belts, steel-tube rollover protective structure, front-mounted steel brush guard and a passenger
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Getting there grab handle, all key components to keep you and your passengers safe. MOST SIDE-BY-SIDES are customizable, but the Stampede offers some packages that are designed specifically for hunters. In fact, there’s a “Hunting” package that features a hard-top roof, split windshield, plate brush guard, plate rear bumper, gun mount and bow mount, a Warn ProVantage 4500 winch with wire rope, hood rack, light bar mount, 42-inch LED curved light bar and two 6-inch flush-mounted LED light bars. With all that extra equipment, your Stampede rolls off the showroom floor ready for the field, and nifty bow and gun holders help keep your equipment safe and secure while both hands are free to navigate. You’ll have plenty of storage space, plenty of power, and ample lighting for those early-morning trips to the field. If you’re looking for a more utilitarian model for the farm, ranch, worksite or shooting range (or all of these), check out the “Workman” package that includes a hardtop roof, full windshield, tubular brush guard, tubular rear bumper, Fast-N-Latch toolbox, bolt-in front receiver, Warn ProVantage 4500 winch with synthetic rope, light bar mount and 42-inch curved light bar.
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RELIABILITY IS A MAJOR CONCERN for anyone planning on spending thousands of dollars on a side-by-side, and the team at Bad Boy knows that. The company’s new Augusta, Ga., manufacturing facility features state-ofthe-art equipment with laser wheel alignment and fully automated manufacturing processes for a robust build quality. Plus, Bad Boy subjects their side-by-sides to some demanding real-world testing. According to company literature, the Stampede “endured 800 hours/10,000 km (6,213.7 miles) of nonstop use in temperatures from 0 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and each component was separately stress-tested to strict standards.” Three basic models are currently available: the Stampede 4x4, Stampede 4x4 EPS with electronic power steering and selectable locking rear differential, and Stampede 4x4 EPS+ with alloy wheels, 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires and color-accented seats. MSRPs start at $13,799. The base model is available in forest green and inferno red. Stampede EPS colors include forest green, black and inferno red, with Realtree Xtra camouflage as an option. The Stampede EPS+ is available in platinum, black and inferno red. For more information, or to locate a dealer, visit badboyoffroad.com.
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