The Brass Bag

PREFACE: Over the years, it has become something of a habit before I begin pouring powder charges to ask around to learn whether anyone else has tried the loads I’m considering and learn from their experience.

After all, handloaders are among the best folks around when it comes to helping out a fellow reloader, and there is nothing wrong with doing a little research. Once or twice, I’ve learned about some loads that turned out to be superb. A couple of other times, they were less-than-impressive, but so far, I haven’t blown up a gun. The moral: Never be shy about asking for information.

That said, when I started tinkering around with a new combination involving H110 and cast-lead 215-grain semi-wadcutters produced by Rim Rock Bullets in Polson, Mont., checking online seemed prudent. These pills have proven to be accurate over 16.5-17 grains of Alliant 2400, but before I recently tried them over a charge of H110, I asked around to see what others might have done. It paid off.

All of this contributed to a recent trek over a mountain pass to a little small-town powder and bullet shop I discovered a couple of years ago, and actually wrote about in this space. Three Forks Ammo and Reloading is a great place to visit, and there are always surprises in places like this.

It was also an opportunity to share some time with my younger son in his new 4×4 pickup, cruising some backcountry excuses for mountain roads, where high clearance is a must. He learned how to turn around on a very narrow road, moving back and forth maybe a foot or two at a time, and to stay away from ditches and potholes, drive slowly and to always go gently around a blind corner because other people don’t. And we burned some powder along the way.

He needs a little more time with his .45-caliber Springfield Model 1911, and I need to tighten my groups with my 4-inch Model 57 Smith & Wesson .41 Magnum, for which the ammunition research is being done.

I went looking for primers and propellants but came away with something else more delightful. Three Forks didn’t have the primers I was looking for, but they did have something I haven’t seen anywhere else for a while: a 100-count bag of Starline unprimed .41 Magnum brass, hiding between bags of .44 Magnums and .357 Magnums. Always be prepared to make an impulse purchase at a place like Three Forks. You will never be disappointed. I grabbed that bag with the speed of a rattlesnake and plunked down some cash.

I’ve never had a bad experience with Starline Brass. A fair amount of my .41 Magnum ammunition is loaded in Starline cases, and maybe as many in .45 Colt, but this bag was something I didn’t expect.

I believe it is a good idea to replace old brass incrementally. I know some folks have successfully reloaded and re-sized brass multiple times without a glitch. I’ve done it as well, but gradually working new brass into my available ammunition stores has always made sense.

There is another important benefit. During ammunition shortages, I’ve never suffered along with the crowds.

At least some of this brass will be loaded up with the 220-grain Speer half-jacketed semi-wadcutters I discovered recently on a back shelf. This is a grand bullet, and over 19.0 grains of H110 it strokes along at better than 1,200 fps out of my 6 ½-inch Ruger Blackhawk.

Returning Fire

Recently, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy made headlines by declaring “gun violence” to be a “public health crisis.” Anti-gunners have been making this nutty argument for years, and now a Biden administration bureaucrat has made it official.

Well, not so fast, Skippy. The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms cut loose with a statement which, not surprisingly, was conveniently ignored by many in the establishment press.

CCRKBA’s admonition went like this: “Gun ownership is not a communicable disease, it’s a constitutional right.”

Alan Gottlieb, who heads this group, issued a statement declaring, “The real crisis in America is the failed policies of the Biden administration. Instead of focusing on locking up felons and disarming criminal gangs, he wants to disarm millions of honest gun owners whose only crime is that we exercise our right to keep and bear arms … Dr. Murthy says firearms should be treated like other regulated consumer products such as cars or pesticides. In that, he fails even high school civics, because cars and pesticides are not specifically protected by the Bill of Rights, but firearms ownership is.”

Gottlieb didn’t want to be invited to the White House Christmas party this year, anyway.

SIG Sauer Appeal

Last month, when SIG SAUER lost in court against a Georgia man who sued the company over an alleged unintentional discharge resulting in a leg wound, thanks to a SIG P320, attorneys for the legendary company immediately began planning an appeal.

The court awarded the plaintiff $2.3 million, according to NHPR.org. In its statement, SIG SAUER asserted the plaintiff, Robert Lang, “initially admitted to the police that he accidentally discharged his gun while pulling it out of the holster, then later changed his story, stating that the firearm discharged without a trigger pull. However, the Plaintiff’s story notably changed again, after hiring trial experts who agreed that the SIG SAUER P320 could not discharge without the trigger being pulled.”

In his lawsuit, filed back in 2021, Lang asserted that SIG SAUER failed to use “due care in designing and manufacturing” the P320 to prevent “un-commanded discharges” and by omitting a mechanical disconnect switch to prevent such discharges. He said the company also failed to issue a recall on the P320 pistols already in circulation. This will be an interesting case to follow.

A Story Worth Hearing

Recently, the Second Amendment Foundation released the first segments of a video series titled “Reflections: Five Decades of SAF’s 2A Advocacy,” marking the organization’s 50th anniversary.

The videos will be shared weekly on SAF’s website and social media platforms, leading up to a longer-form video scheduled to release on Aug. 26, SAF’s official anniversary date, according to Matt Coffey, SAF vice president for communications.

Mailbag

Dave, you have done it again. Your story, “If Guns Could Talk” is an article I greatly enjoyed. I am convinced you and I have known each other in some sort of a past life (no I don’t really believe that) because we think so much alike. I have identical guns to the ones you write about and care about so much. The .357 is such a perfect cartridge for 90% of the purposes a handgun is made for and no handgun fits the cartridge better than the Smith M-19. Yes, the L-framed guns are claimed to tolerate lots of magnum rounds fired, but who wants to carry one of those on their belt in the mountains all day for several days in a row, when a M-19 will do the same mission? If I am going to carry a gun as heavy as a M-586, I’ll grab either the Ruger Blackhawk in .41 Mag or a Smith M-57. I have a couple of older guns that I wish could talk. They can’t so we must tell the stories for them. That is why I keep a diary of what I have done with practically every firearm I own. Someday they will talk to those who own them in the future. Dave, keep thinking like me and telling the stories I like so well.

Thanks,
Philip Gregory

Dave replies: Phil, older handguns often have history written all over them. They can be great conversation-starters, especially around the campfire. Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts and kind remarks.

I was deeply saddened to read your article in Monday’s online American Handgunner on Mike Venturino’s passing. It was very well written and brought to light life’s realities …

I felt reassured reading Duke’s articles, yours in Fishing and Hunting News and John Taffin’s articles. It seemed the Elmer, Skeeter and Bill’s shoes would be filled by quality guys that above all were honest about reviews.
At 72 now, I feel lucky to have had all y’all to fill that giant hole. Never met Mike but through emails he got me turned onto some quality industry folks such as Rick Bachman.
John Taffin and I did some book trading about 12 years back.
You are all really sharing in giving me good knowledge in all facets of firearms, reloading and gunleather.
All that and life lessons.
Keep up your great work.

— Jack Kellum

Dave replies: Mike’s loss will be felt for a long time. As I noted in the remembrance, I didn’t know him as well as I would have liked to. Others knew him much better, and I suspect they are much better for it. Duke cast a big shadow

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