I'm a hopeless addict

[AGE]

Guys,

Believe it or not, there's a lot of cowboys here in Florida. There are lotsa ranches and the cows have something here to eat--lots of grass (not like Texas). There are cowtowns in the interior of the state. the tourists are all along the coasts (and Disneyland). With the new FL self defense law we'll probably have gunfights in the cowtowns and a run on SAAs.

[G.W. Gill]

You tell Em! Florida Rocks! We were the Beef supply to the Southern Armies. Our Capitol did not fall. Our Northern POW"s were sent to all the POW camps and had a better chance of survival than any Southern soldier in a camp up North. I would rather have been in andersonville than elmyry or the chicogo Stock Yards, Those guys were bastar.... Look at the statistics. No Southern Commandant had funds left over!!! While his charges were dieing of starvation!!!
I will admit that as the North was going to win the savvy man sold his beef to Cuba. He still sent large amounts to support his army. Virginia and Florida were the most rebelious states and lost the most young men to battle. Other states were more boisterous but VA and FL gave thier all.
MY rant being over. I humbly ask you to research Civil War POW stats so our kid don't believe TV and stuff.

[AGE]

Sorry G. W., I am not a native although my 11 year Florida residence is a lot longer than many (most?). I'm not much of a civil war student either. HOWEVER, I LOOOVVVE SINGLE ACTION ARMIES which arrived maybe 10 years afterward. I think the Yankees won that war anyway.

Horrors, my new unmolested 4 3/4 .45 beauty won't take any prizes for competition at the minute. Shot it this morning. Rats, at 20 yards it shoots nice groups 5" to the left and 2" low with 250 grain PMC ammo and even lower with light cowboy loads. I need to tighten the barrel and file down the front sight. I don't know if I can bring myself to do that on this BEEEAAAUUUTY.

Oh well, this isn't a serious life decision, just a hobbyist rant.

[G.W. Gill]

Guys, I get carried away sometimes. I would truly like to get crazy over a Colt single action. Do you guys load your own cartridges? The older ones would be black powder. Is it the same charge as a .44 percussion Colt. 20-25 grns fff?

[AGE]

G.W.,

I do load my own (most everything I shoot). It is getting to take more time than I want to devote to reloading (when I could be shooting). That's why I like my recently acquired (2 years ago) Colt 1911 9 mm. Uses cheapo Wallymart 9 mm just like the Loogers.

I'm not a black powder shooter but I've read articles by such people. I think the .45 Colt can go up to maybe 40 grains, after all that's what the .44-40 used. I had a .44-40 Colt clone a few years back. It shot well (smokeless powder) and I didn't hesitate to attack it with a dremel tool to sight it in. I widened the frame groove on one side only, ground the side and top of the front sight. Touched it up with flat black paint. Shot right to point of aim after that. Don't want to do that with my expen$ive Colt.

Elmer Kieth preferred the .44 special to the .45 because the cylinder walls are a little thicker. I wonder how hot he loaded his .44s. I really don't care because I have a Ruger Blackhawk .44 magnum. I also have a .44 Colt but it currently is residing in a safe in WV at our summer home. I'll have to do some shooting of the .44 and .45s (I have another one also) side by side this summer.

[G.W. Gill]

AGE, I was just thinking ( a dangerous thing). Could your accuracy problem be the muzzle crown? I would hate to see you file and grind to chase the ball. When the ball could be sent on its way properly. I am no gunsmith , just a thought. It might settle down and center if the gun has not been fired. The people that owned it previous could have used a steel cleaning rod and in thier haste could have damaged the crown. It just seems to be way off for so close. Again, I am no gunsmith. I drink to much to play with pressures that could hurt me. I hope you run another hundred round through it before you make your decision.
P.S. After I retired and realized I could not afford new toys, I decided to shoot my collection as if they were shooters. My Colts shot straight. Very straight. My most recent one was made in 1863. Even the 49's shot straight. They were right on or within an inch at 25 yds with a rest.

[G.W. Gill]

Hi Mr. Tacfoley! I followed your trip from notes on the forum. Glad you had a good holliday. I am ingnorant about the Palace of Westminister, are they a rowdy group?

[G.W. Gill]

Thanks. Similar to our Executive Offices.

[AGE]

G. W.,

I don't think anything is wrong with the my new SAA .45. I understand most of them need some tweeking to get them sighted in. The new .45 shoots 1 1/2 " 25 yard groups just like my accurized 1911. However, there are no screws to adjust to get the bullets to hit where the gun is aimed.

I admit I have only put about 45 rounds of ammo through it. I do want to shoot it out of doors in better light, maybe one handed also. As I remember, my .44 doesn't hit too close to the aiming point either. Mike Venturino (however he spells it) has authored articles on sighting in the SAA. I guess I have a project coming up. As I understand it the barrel needs to be tightened up and the top of the front sight ground down a little.

Tac might know a good bit about black powder shooting in the old old ones. He has mentioned that he has a Ruger Old Army (he once probably had a cap pistol also but his gubbermint took it away from him. Tac, I am taking liberties teasing you, I am really sorry about the sad state of firearms ownership in England.

Tac,

They raise a heck of a lot of beef in Florida and there are still working ranches with thousands of acres of land (also tons of gators and moccasins--water type). Also, Florida has recently passed a law stating that you can shoot someone that you reasonably feel is a threat to you. You can do this anywhere, not just in your home. Previously, you had to retreat and couldn't defend yourself unless you had no escape. That's why I made references to shoot-outs. I really think the new law is great, of course I'm a 70 year old overweight slob incapable of outrunning anything. But I can and do carry and I'm a decent shot, at least at paper and metal plates. Hope I don't have to shoot at anything more threatening than that.

[G.W. Gill]

Age, When you said 44-40, I could have hit myself in the side of the head. It became clear. You do realize that I am now going to learn about 44's?. The black powder era ones. Thanks for the kick in the butt. As all the guys say " educate , read, buy the reference books! ) As for the 49's, only one truly shot straight. Three made good groups at 15 yds. One was tight and excellent to 25. All were straight though. The three were traded out to a guy talking on a cell phone for a C-96, with matching stock/ holster. I shot it for a couple of years and then ruined it with a hot load of ammo. Bent the bolt badly. I then wen't to a show and traded it to another guy on a cell phone. It was the third time I tried to talk to him (he was very aloof) I pointed to two pistols and he waved acceptance and shook my hand. I walked away with 300% bargining position. If he reads this post he now has just broke even. Back to your gun, I did not realize it was new. If it groups then it has settled down. My lesson learned is stay of the phone and read the posts more carefuly. I felt like a crook, but I did wait at least an hour and a half to talk to him about the trade. Walking round and round with a Lady with me. She said he looked squirlley(SP) and not to worry about it.

[AGE]

Tac,

Has the Redhawk been deactivated or is it still legal to posess and shoot over there? I guess if it's long enough it evidently becomes a harmless .44 magnum--there is something illogical about that.

G. W.

Yup, the new .45 (and my .44 special) are fairly new guns (made in the last 25 years or so) in essentially brand new condition. I prefer these to old antique guns that are well used, somewhat deteriorated and much more expensive. As I said before, I am really a shooter not a collector. Love these SAAs and still believe they are as good as anything (and maybe better than a Looger) for serious social use.

[G.W. Gill]

Al, Like all the guys, I have a backup. A .44 Mag American Derringer. Stag grips. These are cool. I believe if you you need more than a couple of shots you might be the bad guy. My wife looks at me funny with the two bullets. You are way down south. I wish we could get together at a good range for the day.

[AGE]

Tac,

Your laws are strange. Glad to hear your elongated Redhawk is harmless. Wouldn't want anybody to get hurt by it. Also, the fact that your BP muzzleloaders are OK. After all, they killed people for many years including our civil war period. Very illogical.

G.W.,

We are now living in Lady Lake just north of Leesburg. Our Charley damaged house is almost rebuilt now--and we sold it last weekend (if the buyer doesn't back out). Where are you located?

I haven't found a handy outdoor range in this area yet. I do my shooting here at a local gunshop indoor range. That's just as well for now since it's warming up quite a bit.

[AGE]

Tac,

We are now living in a gated community right on a rifle ran... ah goof course (maybe it's called a golf course these days). Anyway, there are a lot of guys with visors, go carts, funny looking weedwhackers, and small white balls out back in our yard. Wonder why they hit the little balls and then go chase them. I'm thinking about putting a target stand out back at the number 3 gopher hole. Bet that would get some attention. Guess I'd better not. Maybe I could shoot at night--nah, I don't have any lazers or night sights. Oh well, back to the telly--at least it's not taxed here--unless you count the cable costs.

Good luck and hope you get back to the good old US of A while you can still shoot here.

[thegundude]

ROTFLMAO!!! Good story Ron... :-)

[G.W. Gill]

Hi, Age and Tac. I have always admired the Whitworth. A fine rifle. I keep my eye out for the 1850's target Enfield.
Age, I am way up at the beaches near Cumberland Island. I lived in Winter Park for thirty years. The family place in Lake Wales. I hope you can find a place to shoot under the spanish moss with a cool glass of tea.