17 March 2024

Weird Gun Idea - Triple Seven in .357 Magnum and .38 Special

 Since I've been on a kick lately on stuffing Triple Seven into whatever case, I figure that maybe I should try .357 Magnum and .38 Special. I would very much like to try it with my favorite 160 grain bullets to see how those work from a .38 Special case. I will need to figure out what bullet to use with the .357 Magnum case since the crimp grove makes things tricky. If I do though, the result is more velocity.

So far, it looks like a safe load of Triple Seven is around 25 grains by volume using a .38 Special case and around 30 gr in a .357 Magnum case. Both of these appear to be in compression but I will need to confirm with the correct bullets. Instead of the 105 grain cast bullets I have, I'm thinking about finding some generic 158 grain LSWC. 

The original load of 38 Special black powder was a 21.5 grains by volume of FFFg and a 158 grain bullet. So I've already got a hotter load. A 6 inch barrel revolver should get us somewhere around 950 fps. Finding reliable data for rifle data has been a little tricky. Someone had posted they tested a black powder load from a rifle that was around 1230 fps. I ran that number through a calculator and found that the velocity would be at 1000 fps at around 108 yards. With the correct lead alloy, I think we can make the short range work. I suspect that a soft lead alloy with a BHN around 5 to 6 would be around what we're looking for if we still want to be able to have expanding hollow points from my Lyman mold at distances under 100 yards. This will be a very short range setup.

A 357 Magnum case holds more powder, so I figure I can add a few fps to that rifle data. What could really help is a new mold that has a crimp groove setup for 357 Magnum instead of 38 Special but I can work on that later. I have a few of the 160 grain bullets from GT Bullets that I found in a box, I figure I can load up a few 38 Special cases and try to get velocity data from the Marlin 1894 CST.

13 March 2024

Canada - My Thoughts on the Next Western Genocide

 I would recommend reading this article before you read this one. Over the last few years, I've been loosely keeping an eye on what's been going on with our neighbors and allies. I'm no Peter Zeihan, though, to be fair, I don't know if he's right about anything he says. Canada seems like they are on the verge of something that future history books would portray as evil. The Justin Trudeau lead government, in my opinion, is the most likely to commit a genocide of any Western government. I put Australia as number two.

My reasoning is many of the actions taken by his Leftist government against Canadians along with the C-21 gun control bill seemingly have the hallmarks of what fascism or authoritarianism looks like today. Such sweeping gun control has been pointed to as indicators or precursors in the past to what ends up in genocide. There are plenty of people who reference this but I would recommend Stephen Halbrook. He has several books and is published on the topic of gun control before genocide. The linked article should be a good primer on the subject.

Arresting protestors and using government power to financially restrict and imprison political opponents and people who speak out against you seems like pretty good indicators as well that Canada is heading toward something very evil. 

The protestors I am referring to are the truckers from 2022 who were protesting the COVID-19 related mandates. The PM, Justin Trudeau, or at least his administration used the Emergencies Act from the 1980's to target those protesters. So far, a Canadian court has found that administration to have been in the wrong. When I hear about a government, either national level or even state level, I think of the fascist party, the National Socialist Party of Germany (NAZDAP or NAZI) that used emergency powers to take over the German Republic in the 1930's. New York as also used emergency powers to restrict the power of the People with the SAFE Act. 

What I haven't settled on is what reasoning the Trudeau government would use to start killing people like the Nazis did to the Jews and other groups. My first thought was climate change. Many people claim there are too many people on the planet. The Canadian government (Parliament) funded news group, CBC, has an article that has suggestions of population should be regulated or considered when discussing climate change. I suspect that, should someone be fanatic enough, a Nazi-inspired attempt at de-population of Canada for climate reason could be expected, even if it seems insane. Thankfully, there are people who advocate against some sort of Chinese-esque child-limiting policy that are found in the CBC article. 

That said, it's starting to look as if a genocide wouldn't be needed. Many Western nations are seeing birth rates that are scary low. Peter Ziehan's book "The End of the World is Just the Beginning" he covers demographics and birth rates. Without an increasing population, economic growth can be negatively impacted. The economic woes of post-WW1 Germany could be looked at as part of some of the German people's support of the Hitler-lead government. Should Canada enter a severe economic downturn, it's possible something unexpected could occur. As it were, Canada is seeing poor economic situations. If that plays out, it could lead to severe political tensions like found in 1920's and 1930's Germany. 

I have no idea what will play out in the future but it does pay to pay attention. Thankfully, here in the U.S. we have the Second Amendment protected right to firearms ownership. While many people dislike that, it will continue to protect minorities, "undesirables" and "deplorables" from great evil. 

08 March 2024

The Benelli SuperNova Tactical - Too Old to be Upgraded?

Thankfully, we live a world where we can purchase purpose driven, optics mounts for firearms. The Beretta 1301 and A300 along with other newer tactical shotguns are helping to drive that. While the Benelli M4 is arguably the king of the GWOT era tactical shotguns (is it though?), you would think that by having the same mount pattern, the Benelli SuperNova pump action, 12 gauge would be easy to setup. It's not.

I have had a desert camo Benelli SuperNova Tactical since around 2010. I have done almost nothing with it except add a Nordic Components +2 extension. Back then, picatinny rail and universal mounting was acceptable. Today, it's for people who don't care how they setup their gun. Well I care. Call me a snob if you want. I want dedicated, purpose driven solutions to how I do things. That includes attaching red dots and weapon lights. Both of those are things a home defense shotgun should have.

The goal I'm attempting to achieve is to update my Benelli SuperNova to use a red dot with a T1 footprint along with a good scout light.

Many of the Benelli shotguns, along with their sister brands, have the same hole pattern for attaching rails. They use 2 pairs of holes drilled 2.05 inches away from each other. The front pair are 0.86 inch apart and the rear pair are 0.6 inch apart. It's the same if you have a SuperNova, a Franchi Affinity 3 or a Steoger M3500. As it turns out, the dedicated rails that one would use in place of a picatinny rail, are unusable for the SuperNova. I will note that the M4 pattern has a fifth hole in between the pairs. 

The first company I spoke with about this said the screws their mount uses don't work with the SuperNova receiver. Another company said the rib line on top of the receiver prevented their mount from working. What's funny is the Benelli website sells a picatinny rail dedicated to the M4 and Supernova models. It's the same part between the two. Part number 70123B is a replacement screw for that rail and it's labeled for both models. I'm thinking the screws aren't long enough enough to match. 

I had seriously considered selling the gun because I couldn't set it up the way I want but couldn't get enough of an offer to justify selling. In the end what I did do though is kept looking for a solution. 

There is a company called Monstrum that sells really cheap mounts for guns and optics as well. I don't really trust their stuff. I have a few pieces from them and one is total junk. I did see on Amazon they have an Aimpoint T1 mount for the rest of the shotgun family but they don't list the SuperNova. For $30, I figured that maybe I could rig up a solution to mount a SIG Romeo5 or similar. In the end, the mount did match and it came with several bags of screws. I found that the #8 screw pack was the correct thread pitch but they aren't very long and didn't enter into the receiver hole very deeply. It holds but there is plenty of room for longer screws. Finding the correct screws could be tricky. Amazon did have a very similar looking screw; 8-40 with Torx head that could be had in a 1/4, 3/8 or 1/2 length. I tried the 3/8 first. Turns out my idea was correct and the 3/8 length did work. Those screws fit just under flush with the inside of the receiver. This means the bolt can pass without interference. 



The mount works even with a cheap Chinesium red dot

This setup is great as the aperture sights co-witness with the dot in the lower part of the window. The current dot is a cheap option off of Amazon. It should work for now until I can source a better unit.

The weapon light mounting was just as difficult. Normally, I would use something like an MLOK slot with an Arisaka Defense angle mount with a scout light. I like having the light tucked in closely. There are no MLOK slots and the forend can't be updated to have one. So far, the only light mounts are ring mounts that index off of the magazine tube or are a clamp system. Either way, they use a picatinny rail. 

If I want to use a pressure pad I have to find a way to mount that as well. The only thing I've seen is people directly screwing the tape switch into the thumb grove. Many of the solutions I have seen people use involve making a hole in the forend. Not exactly clean.

To be fair, while few, companies who make dedicated parts for the SuperNova do exist. The primary company seems to be GG&G. They make the light mount I ended up using but also have an RMR footprint red dot mount. If that's the direction I wanted to go, that would work great but I wanted the T1 footprint. I like the enclosed optics and the unit tend to be cheaper than the tiny pistol dots.

In this instance, I chose a ring-style mount that sandwiches between the magazine tube extension and the barrel ring. It has a picatinny mount out to the 9'o-clock position and a sling hole at the 11'o-clock.

I mounted a cheap scout light that uses the Surefire M600 pattern body with a knockoff KE2C head. The output isn't great but I can use a real head later on. It'll do. What I don't like is how far out the light sticks out to the left. That said, I do like having a clipping point for the sling. I used a sling I had already by removing the clip from one end and threading the strap though the sling loop on the right side of the stock. In this setup, the shotgun hangs nicely and is still quickly usable. Basically, I duplicated a setup similar to what you would see on a Beretta 1301.

I did end up using a tape switch I had and just coiled the wire up in such a way as to tuck it between the light and barrel. The switch is now stuck into the thumb pocket on the forend with hook and loop. I may just replace that with 3M tape. 

The whole build came out okay but I have a few things I don't like. First is that the Monstrum mount doesn't seem to actually have any recoil support for the red dot. Normally, the center lug on the T1 mount is supposed to provide a recoil lug but either the dot's pocket is too large or the lug is too small. Either way, their is no recoil support and only the cheap screws are what hold the red dot in place. 

If I was going to revisit this, I would replace the dot with a SIG Romeo5 or Holosun. I just don't trust the quality of the "CVLife" unit. Only time will tell if it actually lasts. Second is the mount. Now that I know the only issue with the other options is the screws, I would like to replace the Monstrum mount with the Scalarworks SYNC mount and just use my own screws. Scalarworks did confirm that I would need longer screws than what they provide. The other change would be to find a mount that relocates the scout light elsewhere. There are extensions one can buy or maybe a combination or adapters from Arisaka to push the light upward or forward.

In the end, the only thing left to do is run this shotgun hard and test it out. 




07 March 2024

Constitutional Carry - 20 States! And That Makes 29

Of these United States, 27 have officially enacted laws that remove the requirement to have a permit to actively carry a firearm in public.

2021 has seen advancement of constitutional carry laws in several states with Iowa and Tennessee being successful in passing the laws off to their governors who signed them. They join the ranks of the several States such as Alaska, Kentucky and my home state of West Virginia who have chosen to return the power and control back to the people at large. These states still maintain permit systems so that residents may apply for a permit that is recognized by external states giving legal recognition to the People that travel outside of their resident state and exercise their natural right to self defense. I'll explain why this setup is important and a huge benefit to the free People at large. 

The process of applying for a permit can be time consuming and expensive. In Georgia, our carry permit application costs around $70 to $80 and takes several weeks (my original application took about 3 weeks before I had my permit). You are required to have a permit for both open and concealed carry. While the application in Georgia isn't difficult, you are still subordinate to the bureaucracy before you can defend yourself with a firearm in public legally. If you are one of the people who don't have a permit and your life is in danger, you probably want the permit NOW and not 3 weeks from now. Dying because you had to wait around is not ideal. With COVID creating havoc in 2020, it took my resident county 2 months to renew my permit and it technically expired even though I had applied weeks before the expiration date. I have friends whos process took longer. Do your rights end just because a printed date on a plastic card has passed? No. No they do not. 

The above is why I have and will always advocate for a system that, if you need the gun now to defend yourself, you have an option or method of carrying that gun that is legally recognized while you wait for your permit application to get through the system. Most people who get a permit don't do so preemptively. There is usually a trigger in their life that says "maybe I should do this." Thankfully for many people, they are able to get one before something bad happens. When I talk to new shooters who start down this path, I explain that they need to start the permit process right now before they even choose the gun because of the time involved. 

If you have ever thought about buying a gun for personal defense, you need to go apply RIGHT NOW for concealed carry permit because the time it takes you can take longer than you may have.

Even if you never buy a gun, you'll at least have the carry permit so that SHOULD you purchase the gun, you'll be able to carry it. In a constitutional carry state, you'll be able to carry your newly purchased gun immediately. You've already done a background check to buy the gun and the likely chance is that, the background check system used to buy the gun is the same system used to run your information for the carry permit. Why not just run them at the same time or just use the original check for your authorization.

BUT ISN'T THAT DANGEROUS?

Not really. Most people's idea of a carry permit is based on the idea that maybe you shouldn't be allowed to do so as if you are a dangerous person. If that's the case, you shouldn't have the gun in the first place. If you are barred from a carry permit for criminal reasons, then you're barred from ownership. 

Simply put, if you can own the gun, you can carry the gun. 

I know that many people like the idea of requiring a demonstration of competency before authorizing carry, however, learning to use a pistol correctly is time consuming and could take longer than the process of the application. Not every person has the time to go to the range every week for the next 2 months and take classes to learn. It also interferes with the concept of immediate need. If you are in danger now, NOW is the time to carry the gun. You can learn as you go. It's why I advocate constitutional carry for domestic violence victims. If someone finally breaks away from a bad relationship, I don't want that victim to have to wait for the State or county to give them a permit. Go buy the gun, ammo and a holster then immediately go into the range and start learning. 

So in short, I am very excited to see that two fifths of our Free Nation have removed the control of the People's rights from the State's regulation under the control of bureaucrats and restored the power of choice back to the People. 

UPDATE June 2021 - 21 States thanks to Texas! 

UPDATE March 2022 - Several states are moving toward constitutional carry. Ohio just sent theirs to the Governor after clearing both chambers. Georgia's passed the Senate and has gone to the House committee for review and I'm hoping they get it done soon. Alabama just sent one to the Senate floor and Indiana has one but I haven't done any research about it. 

15 MAR 2022 Update: Ohio makes 23! On 14 March, the governor of Ohio signed their bill removing the need for a permit! Georgia has two competing bills currently. I'm hoping the Senate one gets passed by the House. 

24 MAR 2022 Update: Indiana signed theirs into law on the 21st which makes 24! 

01 APR 2022 Update: The Georgia House had been playing games with the SB 319 but the two chambers got a neutered-but-still-good bill passed and Georgia will send a Constitutional Carry bill to Governor Kemp soon.

08 APR 2022 Update: Kemp is expected to sign SB 319 into law as of next week. Additionally, Nebraska has sent their permitless carry bill to the Senate. If it clears, it'll go to their governor for signing which, if passed, would make it so more than half of the US states you can carry a pistol concealed with out permission from the State first. Huge retaking of freedoms going on!

18 APR 2022 Update: Louisiana is trying again and moved a bill out of their House committee. Here's hoping LA can get it done. I hear Florida is trying again as well. 

22 APR 2022 Update: Louisiana's attempt passed the House and it off to the Senate. The Senate tried in 2021 but their Governor doesn't like freedom so he vetoed it. The Senate didn't override. Here's hoping they get it right this time. No update on Florida. Mini update. I was wrong, the FL bill died in committee. Lame.

04 MAR 2023 Update: Florida is back at it along with Nebraska, South Carolina and North Dakota. So far, those states have active bills in play to make Constitutional Carry a thing. If all 4 get it this year, that would make 29 states where you don't need to ask permission to carry a pistol.

1 APR 2023 - This isn't an April Fools Day joke, Florida finally passed a bill out of their Congress and sent Constitutional Carry to the Governor. As it sits now, DeSantis will likely sign it making Florida number 26.

03 APR 2023 - DeSantis signed permitless carry. 

07 APR 2023 Update: Looks like South Carolina is getting a bill in the mix with S109. It has to be passed and go to their House for passage before it can go to their Governor. 

20 APR 2023 - Nebraska is poised to become number 27 as their permitless carry bill has left their unicameral (one Chamber instead of a House and Senate) after being passed and is on it's way to the Governor who says he'd sign it. Once completed, Nebraska will become the 27th state in this Union to return to the traditional ways of firearms. Remember that permits weren't really a thing until the early 1900's. That statement is ignoring the restriction of concealed carry and preference of open carry in the mid 1800's. Which still highlights that both options were available at founding in the late 1790's.

12 SEPT 2023 - Nebraska did sign that bill and it has gone into effect on 02 SEPT. 

24 JAN 2024 - South Carolina introduced a bill and will start debating it soon. Here's hoping SC gets permitless carry soon as the last one didn't get out of their Senate. HB3594 is this year's bill. 

MAR 2024: Louisiana has completed the process to get constitutional carry out of their Congress and off to the Governor to sign. I don't know when he will sign it but the current expectation is that he will. Number 28, folks. Praise the Lord, We the People are clawing back our Rights. SC is making some amendments to their bill HB3594. We will see how this goes.

MAR 05 2024: Louisiana has officially restored completely, the Rights of the People to Keep and Bear Arms. Permitless carry goes into effect on July 4th, 2024. That makes 28 folks. God bless these United States. 

MAR 07 2024: South Carolina also passed and signed constitutional carry. I honestly hadn't expected it but they got it.

05 March 2024

Weird Gun Idea - 350 Legend As A Possible Reduced Logistics Cartridge

 I've been mulling over putting together a rifle and ammunition combination that could use black powder or black powder substitute for deer hunting. The idea was, if I can't get appropriate smokeless powder, could I use BP or a  BP sub to load up. .45 Colt for sure can do that, especially with the correct gun but .357 Magnum isn't a good choice as there just isn't enough case capacity. I had wondered though if .357 had a longer case, could it be used? The .357 Maximum case isn't long enough but the 350 Legend case could be. The new .360 Buckhammer would probably be even better. 

Since 350 Legend was the original cartridge for the WWSD Hunter project, I still have the barrel and a plenty of empty cases. I pulled out a case and my powder measure and some Triple Seven. What I found was that the 357 Legend case can handle around 40 grains of powder if it's compressed. That's about what you can stuff into a .45 Colt case by the way. 

The next question is about performance. What sort of velocities can we get? Well, at the moment, I don't have a way to answer that guess for sure but what I do have is some projections. The YouTube channel, Everything Black Powder has run a few experiments with both .45 Colt and .30-30 using different powders. 

The one that caught my eye was his .30-30 loads using a 165 grain case bullet and 35 grains worth of Swiss black powder. I believe it was FFg rated. From a 20 inch barrel, he was getting low 1400 fps velocities. Triple Seven would be a little faster or very similar, if I understand correctly. 

What I think is interesting, the bullet I was considering for this idea would have been bullets dropped from my Lyman 358439 HP that I suspect will drop cast lead bullets around the 160 grain weight. The cast bullet used in the .30-30 was 165 grains.

Unless there is a boost from the bottlenecking or something else, the 40 grains in the 350 Legend case should push my proposed bullets about the same or better velocity from a longer barrel. I'm hoping for around 1500 fps from a 16 inch barrel.

That would be right around .357 Magnum velocities from an 10 or so inch barrel with today's loads. If we wanted full power, original .357 Mag, that would be from an 8 inch revolver. 

With the correct lead alloy, this idea should work. 

The last thing I can think of is getting the correct twist rate for the barrel. Thankfully, the AR Stoner barrel I got for the WWSD Hunter project is a 1:16 twist rate which is the same twist rate as the 16 inch barrel in my Marlin 1894. 

At this point, the only thing left for me to do is to get reloading dies for 350 Legend and put the barrel on an upper receiver to try it out. 

Ultimately, I think a different gun would be a better choice. I'm thinking about a Rossi R92 in .45 Colt but the idea that the 350 Legend could work in a pinch was pretty interesting. If I ever do this, I'll post what I find here.