Black Powder Cartridge News Spring 2017

By now the reality that we have a new president who is indeed a change from the old is evident to anyone who doesn’t live under a rock. It seems as if folks are either 100 percent for Donald Trump or dead-set against him. Very few “middle ground” opinions are being expressed or heard. As usual in a political scenario, common sense remains at a premium. ...Read More >

If you love Ballards – and I do – you are in Nirvana looking at this issue’s cover. Thanks to regular contributing writer Leo Remiger, we have an assortment of fine single-shot rifles to feast our eyes on. ...Read More >

We have had noticeable interest in the old-time rifle clubs of Wyoming and Colorado here at the News, occasioned most likely by the interesting articles penned by Cody Smith. The Cheyenne Rifle Club and the Denver Rifle Club were two of the biggest in the area, and the rivalry between the two clubs was intense. As Cody has researched, Peter Bergersen was the “godfather” of the Cheyenne club. By any measure, Carlos Gove was the driving force behind the Denver Rifle Club, but I’m always surprised by how many modern-day, black-powder riflemen have no idea who he was. To remedy that shortcoming, in this installment of the “Center Shot” we have included the obituary of Mr. Gove as it was published in the July 26, 1900, issue of Shooting and Fishing magazine. ...Read More >

One of the most interesting aspects of the Civil War involves the blockade of Confederate ports along the southern coastline of the United States. The blockade, ordered by Abraham Lincoln and carried out by Secretary of State Seward, had an immediate effect upon countries across the Atlantic Ocean, especially England. The textile mills in England were dependent upon the cotton produced by the South to keep their factories running. ...Read More >

I wasn’t a very good shot when I first began participating in black powder cartridge silhouette competitions in 1992. Even though my shooting career began at a very young age, and I had extensive experience shooting everything from BB guns to flintlock rifles, that experience wasn’t evident when I posted a score of 6/40 at my very first black powder cartridge rifle competition in 1992. ...Read More >

The buffalo are for the most part gone from the plains now. There are a few places left where they still roam, but they almost seem out of place in areas where they used to be common. The pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana), on the other hand, are still running the plains just as their ancestors have for thousands of years. If you shoot black powder, you are probably a history buff, and the antelope is a notable creature in the history of the West. ...Read More >

In 2015 I noticed that my color perception had begun to fade; colors were not as brilliant as before. Upon visiting the eye doctor to get new glasses, I was informed that I had cataracts in both eyes. She added that the cataract in the right eye was worse than the left. This explained not only the color problem but also lack of definition when looking at distant objects for the last couple of years. As a parting shot, the doctor told me I would eventually require surgery on both eyes. Although I wasn’t happy with the diagnosis, I took some comfort in the fact that this problem was treatable. ...Read More >

Rath and Company (represented by Charles Rath, Robert M. Wright and James Langton), Myers and Leonard, and the Cator Brothers filed suit in the U.S. Court of Claims for the recovery of losses they suffered during and after the battle of Adobe Walls. Their sworn depositions contain interesting information regarding the actual battle of Adobe Walls and the immediate events afterward. Other individuals who provided sworn depositions either in support or contradicting previous testimony concerning the events at Adobe Walls were Andrew Johnson, William “Billy” Dixon and W.B. “Bat” Masterson. ...Read More >

During the 1860s, many innovations in both guns and ammunition were developed and employed by the military powers of various countries. Breech-loading firearms were one of the big leaps in technology, and of those, one of the most interesting is the “rolling-block” rifles and handguns. An American designed the action, and Remington had the patent. The United States military evaluated them but chose the trapdoor Springfield instead, although there were military pattern rolling-block rifles produced in .50-70 and .58 Berdan rimfire. The U.S. did, however, use a .50 Army and Navy rolling-block handgun. Some other countries bought rolling blocks for military or sporting purposes as well. ...Read More >

Somewhere during the latter part of the twentieth century, my shooting moved to a new chapter, and I found myself fireforming cases for a new chamber in a Ruger No. 1. Gone was the .22 Hornet, in was the K-Hornet. It was a simple and enjoyable journey that gave justification for many trips to the range. ...Read More >

Now that it seems like BPCR Silhouette has been plucked from the brink, thanks largely to the efforts of Jim Kidwell, it would seem that the time is ripe for an intelligent discussion on the feasibility of incorporating “Hunter Class” Silhouette into the National Championships. ...Read More >

The Wm. Malcolm USMC Sniper 8x riflescope.There seems to be a growing amount of interest among black-powder shooters for the new “Vintage Sniper” matches, many being held in conjunction with BPCR Silhouette and Target Rifle competitions. This revi... ...Read More >

This has to be one of the most physically impressive set of gun books I have ever seen! It is a large format (11x141⁄2 inches) three-volume set in a slipcase, the whole set weighing 193⁄4 pounds. They are finished in luxurious black velveteen covers with relief lettering and designs pressed therein. A sense of high quality emanates from these books, and the contents, both in photographs and text, reflect this feeling in each volume. All photos – and there are plenty of them – except those from earlier periods are in vivid color. These are the type of books one likes to savor on a cold evening by the fire with a glass of sour mash at hand. ...Read More >

The Lyman Digital Lead Thermometer is a fast and accurate way to check the temperature of casting alloys. The long, six-inch probe will work with the largest casting furnaces and will keep the user’s hands away from the molten lead. The ... ...Read More >