The Black Powder Cartridge News Spring 2024

It’s really not surprising to anyone, who even half-heartedly watches the news that the NRA is having some serious problems, many of which appear to be self-inflicted. I’m not going to launch into a discussion about that situation because at this juncture it is not appropriate, and would also be negative “piling on” that solves nothing. The controversy will be resolved one way or the other, and we as gun owners first, and NRA members second, will assess what kind of organization comes out of the ashes. Whether or not we chose to continue our support will most likely be a personal decision, hopefully based on actual performance and not promises. ‘Nuff said. ...Read More >

This issue’s cover features a statute of frontiersman and buffalo hunter extraordinaire, Jim White. The statute of White is currently on display at Old Trail Town, in Cody, Wyoming, where Jim White’s remains were eventually interred. Leo Remiger has provided us with another of his excellent articles on this famous hunter who seemed to be involved with more than his share of notable happenings and adventure on the western frontier. If one was looking for a larger-than-life character for an action-packed novel, Jim White surely fits the bill. ...Read More >

The restless folks at SPG Sales have come up with a great new product called “SPG Gun Wax.” The name is self-descriptive but I would describe it as a “top-dressing” for gunstock finishes, as well as a preservative. We gave the new wax a thorough test on several finished stocks and are very enthusiastic with the job that it does on dull, worn finishes. ...Read More >

Guys like us are familiar with the story of the Irish Rifle Team as “Champions of the British Isles” in 1873. Puffed up with pride and aggressive energy, and on the hunt for far-away teams to beat, they found one in America that was willing to compete. The ensuing match’s victory or loss finally hinged on the hit or miss of one final clutch shot, squeezed off by the bleeding hand of John Bodine, which brought instant and lasting glory for the American Rifleman, and instant and lasting notoriety for Mr. Bodine. No other shooting story has ever ended quite that dramatically, but in terms of poignancy, it rivals the untold and unconsidered tale of the Irish rifle team and its representatives that crossed the ocean with their team in September of 1874. ...Read More >

Wow, what a match! I had a really enjoyable day and I hope everyone else did too. We came out of the deep freeze we had been experiencing and had a relatively nice day for late January, in Wyoming. Temperatures never got above the low 20’s, but the sun shone bright and the wind stayed calm and steady. The conditions were actually quite good and I always kind of chuckle that scores are not higher than they are. Then we shoot on some crummy days and scores will be significantly higher than they were – I don’t have an explanation. ...Read More >

Gun and pistol clubs with contact information. ...Read More >

We started a new rifle project a while ago and at its heart was one of the fine High Wall 1885 single shot actions from Montana Vintage Arms. After woodwork and barreling were completed, it was time to think about final finishing. As I prefer browned rather than blued barrels that process would be done in my own shop, but the action needed to be finished. Casehardening was in order and so the action was delivered to Wyoming Armory in Cody, Wyoming, for one of their excellent bone charcoal casehardening jobs. ...Read More >

A 150 years ago, individual matches between professional shooters were relatively common. Adam Bogardus and Doc Carver, who both billed themselves as the “Champion Rifle Shot of the World” met each other more than a score of times, and by themselves with a long list of contenders. Showmanship, as an end, wasn’t the primary reason they were in the business. They had a living to make. Bogardus once challenged Capt. Andy Meaders, “The Champion of Tennessee”, to a 100-shot live bird match in 1887, with a pot of $500. Annie Oakley, shooting with the same incentives, was just as guilty, and not above the example of her male peers. ...Read More >

This year we began a new chapter here at the Worland Shooting Complex by adding the first annual .22 BPCR Midrange Match. Not knowing if it would be widely received, the match was going to be a “trial and error” process. For the first year we had 19 participants; it went over great and I would expect it to grow moving forward. ...Read More >

It was sad news indeed when Sharon Cunningham let me know that Miles Gilbert had passed away in his sleep, on the morning of November 28, 2023. Sharon had received the original notification from Amanda Lane, Miles’ daughter. ...Read More >

For many years we have noticed the excellent quality firearms marketed by Cimarron Firearms Company. Mike Harvey, Cimarron’s president, has been in business with his company since 1984. Focused on providing finely finished reproduction firearms of the Old West, Mike has brought his love of antique rifles, pistols and shotguns to the marketplace. Cimarron firearms show closer attention to original specifications and detail along with excellent fit and polish. Many of the guns that Cimarron markets are copies of firearms that would simply be beyond the reach of average enthusiasts, and offer a viable alternative to those of us who actually want to use our guns. Made from modern steels, the Cimarron line of firearms also alleviates the safety concerns that come with shooting many old originals. ...Read More >

Reading the wind and learning to read the wind is a never-ending process. On a good day, I am a decent wind reader. What has helped me the most is having the opportunity to shoot with three very gifted wind readers and paying extremely close attention to what they had to say, as well as their methods of “dancing” with the wind. What is interesting was that each of the three individuals has a different method for how they read the wind and what they focus on. I started shooting Black Powder Cartridge Target Rifle matches with Lige Harris, of New Mexico, who has won multiple Creedmoor Nationals. I have continued to shoot with Jack Odor of Colorado. He has won many Schuetzen matches and holds multiple national records. I also have been extremely lucky to shoot with Hugh Wilson, of Trinidad, Colorado. ...Read More >

Born in Illinois in approximately 1828, (Collinson mentions the date 1835, in his book, Life in the Saddle), Jim White led an adventurous life. Jim Wilson was his name until an encounter with authorities in Moro, New Mexico, but for the purposes of this article, we will refer to him as Jim White. In April, 1855, he was on the Cimarron River when the freighting outfit he worked for was attacked by Cheyenne Indians. Half the bullwhackers were killed in their beds, while the others were killed fighting. White and another man were night-herding the oxen and ran for some high bluffs along the river. Here they hid in a cave and ultimately were the only two who survived the battle. ...Read More >

Colt’s revolving rifles were introduced prior to the Civil War and were utilized in combat, most notably by Berdan’s Sharpshooters. However, early on in that war, they converted to using Sharp’s Infantry breech loading rifles utilizing a paper cartridge with a separate cap. Remington, who had a very successful line of percussion revolvers, introduced a “Revolving Rifle” based on the action of their revolver in 1865. Uberti currently makes a replica of the Remington revolving rifle in .44 percussion with an 18-inch barrel. Conversion cylinders, chambered for the 45 Colt cartridge in the Uberti Remington-type revolvers, also fit this revolving carbine. A comparison will be made between the performance of this replica revolving carbine and a Marlin Model 1894 Cowboy Competition Carbine in 45 Colt with a 20-inch barrel. ...Read More >

Shooting authentic black powder cartridge guns is simply the way to do it for me. I like using Sharps, Rolling Block, and lever action rifles and sometimes pack a six-gun to go along with them. One of my favorite revolvers to carry is the Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 and Uberti makes a very good copy of that gun. To my joy, Taylor’s & Company recently brought that Uberti copy to our shores barreled and cylindered for the 44 Special cartridge. I’d have to say that it is almost perfection. ...Read More >

Previously, I ran a series of tests with four different neck tensions that ranged from 0.001 to 0.004 inches under the bullet diameter. The findings were that the lightest neck tension with my 38-50 CPA Stevens 44 ½ rifle resulted in the best accuracy with 99 percent confidence. This was reported in BPCN Issue #118, A Black Powder Cartridge Neck Tension Test. I continued to think about the test and did not try anything beyond neck tension 0.001 inches under the bullet diameter. Perhaps no neck tension would result in better accuracy. I tried the no-neck tension many years ago but decided to give it another test to ensure there wasn’t an optimal neck tension I was missing. ...Read More >

KILLING OFF THE BUFFALO – I know it was shameful to kill the buffalo just for their hides, but when all the hunters were doing it, what was the use of one staying out? The slaughter lasted about four years, from 1880 to 1884; that is, in the part of the country that I was in, and that was Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, all of which were territories then. The buffalo were killed by the thousand. It was no trick at all for one man who understood his business to kill from fifty to one hundred in a day, and at times, with a good stand and in a good location, it was just as easy to kill two or three hundred. ...Read More >

One thing leads to another. First, I read about using straight beeswax as a bullet lube, in Paul Matthews’ book called Bullet Lubricants for the Black Powder Cartridge Rifle, where he gave it some pretty high marks. Then, I asked some other shooters about using straight beeswax and got replies ranging from “It will be too stiff,” to “Never tried it.” So, as curiosity bit deeper into my skin, I mentioned to Steve Garbe that I was going to try lubing bullets with straight beeswax for my 50-70, thinking mainly about using it with grease groove bullets. Steve replied, “Give it a good try and send me the story.” ...Read More >