Albroswift

Crazy what they are going for. One in good shape on GB went for over $2000, saw another one go $2200. Those were actual final bids, not reserve price / 0 bids. Got a half a case of 00 Buck burning a hole in my closet, going to have some fun next weekend or so. Let's see, what can I destroy...

They really went up in value. This one never had the lever safety replaced with the bolt safety (replacement no longer available) so that drops the value a little. Has the folding stock, hook, long tube and the forward front sight all upping the value. With the beat up receiver and old safety probably in the $1300-$1800 range. I've been watching a couple SPAS15's on GB, $7,000- $9000! Only a hundred or so made the shores before the import ban.

Well, the moles are here. Figured it was the lords way to tell me to get going on my latest project. Recently took over care and feeding of a SPAS12, been rounding up parts and pieces to repair it's "Shot to S*&T" condition. Upon first inspection, the recoil buffer had broken, and the steel pad had actually flipped over and been slammed back into the hole the buffer should reside, backwards. What was left of the old buffer. Buffer pocket cleaned out. Not much I can do about the beating the aluminum receiver took. New buffer installed, SPAS12.com aftermarket part. Next go over the gass system New o-ring and a little Brian Enos Slide Glide on the piston What was left of the old stock buffer New parts, SPAS-12.com (Not to be confused with SPAS12.com) New stock buffer installed, think I put it on the wrong pin the first time. Goes on the pin with the detent. Originally designed as a battle shotgun, best fed a steady diet of hi-base 2-2/4" double 00 or slugs in semi-auto mode. Can also feed lighter loads in pump mode. Moles aint gonna know what hit em.

Worked up a new load for the 300 Weatherby Mag, had been shooting 200 ELDX but really liking the BC and terminal performance of the 180 Barns TTSX, loaded 4 each starting at 81 grains H4831 at 81.5 about out of case volume, got some loaded at 82, 82.5, 83 (82.5 and 83 very crunchy, compressed load). At 82 hit a 3 shot string that was pretty nice, SD's started to open up a bit at 82.5, more at 83. I know, only a 3 shot string, but pretty tight nonetheless. I'll load a batch and see if it's repeatable.

Started carrying 2 full size spares on the rig and 2 on the travel trailer, haven't needed one since...

We were telling the RM we hunt in exactly the same conditions but he wasn't buying it. Took the woman to one of the local indoor ranges today shot the replacement MP Shield, put a couple hundred rounds through it (no cracks in the frame) , also shot the new Single Six 22, Smith E Series 1911, Super Redhawk (love torching off 20 or 30 grains of H110 at an indoor range!) And of course a half a bucket of glocks.

Report on the range-- Jonsin' for some shooting, been snowed in last couple weeks, made it out this morning Rifle range melted snow and mud-- Closed 50 yard Bullseye snow over ankle deep water- Closed 25 yard Bullseye- OPEN! Thank the good lord for pistols, revolvers, and pistol caliber rifles

Accuracy: 1 for 10+ on a full sized steel wolf at 75 yards. Good for self defense inside your car, living room, or the bad guy in the bushes/ cash machine drill...

Hello, Sisco Keep an eye on the rear of the frame, I sent one back to S&W and they sent me a new one after it cracked, <200 rounds. Don't have 200 through the new one yet. No +P's or anything like that, S&W said it was a factory defect.

the Dillon RT1200 (now1500) trimmer motor is spendy, I set it up originally for 308, 338, and 556. The 44 is just a bonus. I think with a little ingenuity you could fix something up, but the RT works very well with the Dillon trimmer dies. Don't know why it wouldn't work with any press.

Been working on this for a couple weeks so far, ran 450 rounds 44 MAG today no issues +/- .001 or so. Pretty fair results. (The dominant paradigm over on Brian Enos forum is there is absolutely no reason to trim pistol brass, but they are all taper crimp people!) Challenges with the RT1200 setup: Cutter needs to be 1/2 way down into the the tool head Trim die not available. Not enough room for 2 locknuts. 13/16x20 thread on the trimmer, 7/8x16 on a die/ toolhead Pile of parts, different thickness of locking rings to set height. 2 part die, cut sizing die to hold shell, turned 13/16x20 on the end of a shortened Dillon powder die. First attempt was to turn the 13/16x20 thread on end of sizing die, but waste diameter on the die was too small/ wall thickness wan't adequate, which is to bad, die steel mills way nicer then the metal Dillon uses on their powder measure. 1/4" FIP hole for vac attachment Setting final height of locking ring thickness First attempt, turns out the cutter does not make a large enough orbit for 44 mag. Needed new cutter design. Cut one out of a parting tool. Start over setting height. Final iteration.

Just curious, looking at the photo, ammo seems to have no crimp. What brand?

Sweet! Love old Rugers Besides the Hamilton I have an early 44 Flat Top BH, un converted, a 44 SBH and a 45 Colt/ ACP BH convertible 3 screw, both lawyered up but have the original parts also. (Also a couple single sixes, 22/ 22mag) Do you know if they made a .357/ 9mm convertible in a 3 screw? I had a new model 357/9mm convertible but didn't like it, traded it off. My hunting sidearm, Ruger 45 Colt 4-5/8" W/ full blow H110 loads 300 gr XTP clocking a little over supersonic. (and the biggest ball of flame you ever did see!)

Keeping my eye out for an old Ruger Blackhawk 3 screw in .357, and an HK Mark 23. Ahh, the duality of man...

Them were the days...

Sweet.

Thanks. Got a bunch more in the safe, not too many to shoot in a day but way to many to clean in a day!

It is one of the nicest shooting "out of the box" 45's on the market. I fitted the ambi safety, other then that nothing. Has cycled everything I've thrown at it. Stupid tight offhand groups at 50 yards. The milling inside the top of the slide is really rough looking, I mean really rough. Other then that no criticism.

Oh, Knew I was forgetting something, the E-Series S&W 45

Sunny Morning here on the left coast, headed out to the range with several of my favorite shooters. Then to the shop for a less favorite sport, cleaning. (Damn those wheel guns have a lot of holes!) Bucket O Glocks Bottom left Model 24/ 40S&W, Bottom right M24 w/ wolf 9mm barrel, extension, porting, beaver tail, and slide lightning by yours truly, Top Left Model 34, Top right 17L Freedom Arms 454 Casull and a Hamilton Bowen custom 44 Mag built on a 50th anniversary Ruger Flat Top frame, Herrett grips, Turnbull case hardening. 260g Freedom Arms FP bullet out the pointy end at just under 1850 FPS. Enough room in the cylinder for 2100 FPS worth of case and powder but this is plenty brutal enough on the cowboy gun sized frame! Smith and Wesson 629 Classic 44 Mag built by an old boy for me over in PA and a Rossi Cyclops 357 Mag, hand made grip, new unfluted cylinder, timing and tuning by yours truly.

3 times to the range so far performing flawlessly

Dillon: The dillon trimmer is too short/ too fat to reach down into the tool head for the pistol length cases, but I agree, it could have been designed (or re-designed) a little differently. It's good at what it is designed for. LEE: I ran a couple last night, just messing around, first trial in the Rock Chucker, worked perfectly but no case feeder/ progressive features obviously. The Lee trimmer depends on the shell holder (or plate) being forced against the die base otherwise the inner collet and shell spins.On the Dillon the tool head is just about 1/16" too thick, kind of a boss around where the die meets the tool head. Flipped tool head over, reinstalled die, worked great, so need to mill the boss off one of the stations (or just run tool head upside down) rig a vac attachment, good to go. The Lee produced a trim length +/- half a thou variance on the 5 cases I played with, and chamfers/ bevels to boot. Mickey Mouse having a drill motor hanging out the top of the die but awesome looking results.

I use a dillon electric case trimmer on my .223, .308, '06, and belted mag cases in my progressive press. Sets up on a caliber specific die, vac attachment, very fast and accurate way to mass produce trimming. Unfortunately doesn't work with pistol length brass. Just got a Lee Deluxe Quick Trim trimmer, a caliber specific die setup, came with a drill motor adapter. Trimming a batch of 44 Mag this weekend, going to see if I can get that run that on the Dillon.

Lee factory crimp die is my go to die, just about every caliber I reload. a lot less case length sensitive then typical dies. Ram fully up, screw in until the collett completely closes (no more) without a round. Put a round in, ram up, and look down the die, if the collet is closed you are good. Inspect round afterwards of course, nothing wrong with a small amount of in or out to taste, but you can damage the die by over crimping. If you run max length cases it will look like a collet crimp, "Trim To" length brass it will look like a nice roll. On my 300 Weatherby loads, non cannelured (ELD-X) bullets, I back off about 1/8 turn. As with collet pullers, a little grease between the collet and the die body sure doesn't hurt.