Recent content by cmj8591

Generally the 500 is loaded with large rifle primers which require a pretty stout hit. Make sure that the strain screw is tight. You could also try replacing the main spring. It might be a little tired. I can't say I've had a problem like yours but then I don't think I've ever fired mine DA...

This is after 9 reloads. I would have attempted 10 but there wasn't enough neck tension to hold the bullet. I wrote up my little experiment on this forum if anyone wants to look it up. There is a lot of information out there about the military testing aluminum small arms ammo. The big reason why...

The length of your barrel doesn't matter.

For the exact reason that this incident illustrates. You need to know that the ammo you are betting your life on one, works and two, is able to hit where you are pointing. Then of course number three, which is that you want to be familiar with the characteristics of your system. That includes...

You are right about shot placement but you still need a bullet that will do it's job. I will relate a story about bullet failure that happened to me. Back around 1981, Nosler first came out with their polymer tipped, Ballistic Tip bullet. I loaded some 165g 30 caliber in my 30-06. They were...

This gun has about a million miles of CC on it and more rounds through it than I can count. It is without doubt, the most uncomfortable handgun I have ever used with full loads. On the other hand, I never felt under gunned when I was carrying it.

I'm going to bet that he wacked the extractor rod to get that stuck case out. I'm also going to bet that extractor rod is now bent. That's about the only way that an extractor star would experience the force necessary to break one of those arms. As counter intuitive as it may seem, the way to...

These shoot great in my gun and even though I've never shot a cape buffalo, I'm thinking they'll do the job. Their construction is a lot like the FMC rounds for the 458 Winchester. https://barnesbullets.com/0-500-500-s-w-buster-400-gr-fn-fb/

I did the Mike Heffron component trigger job on this one. The SA was about 7lbs. when I brought it home. I did a little stone work and got it down to about 5lbs. before I lost my nerve. There are no replacement parts available so if I fouled it up, I would have been out of luck. The Heffron...

Did the extractor star break when they were trying to eject the bad round? Hindsight is always 20/20 but I tend to keep my Buffalo Bore ammo restricted to the big, steel N frames. I have kept the 357 ammo that I use in my 360 limited to 158 grain, SWC rounds. I have had no issues with normal...

A lot of people seem to subscribe to that premise but the reality is that a wad cutter can not be depended upon to get enough penetration to get to where it has to to shut down an attacker. Especially if the path to the boiler room is impeded by clothing or heavy bone. That's why if you look...

How about .358 Ultra Mag Towsley (UMT)? It is a 300RUM necked up to .358 with no other changes to the case. You might find more info if you have a copy of Cartridges Of The World. I don't have access to mine right now but will see if it made the last version when I get back to home base.

If you've been shooting S&W's for 60 years then you would know that the present guns are not the worse ones they've ever produced.

The main purpose in the development of the wadcutter was the ability to make a neat hole in the paper target to facilitate scoring. Over the distances that the bullseye matches were shot, the blunt bullet shape really didn't come into play. It's the same with the H&G style SWC's for 45's except...

Yikes! I just realized this is a 14 year old post! I guess it is still a valid conversation none the less.