A Few Cast Bullets Launched Again This Year

[shrapnel]

I got a few new rifles this year and had to take them out and shoot something with them. First i test them on dangerous game, then I take them hunting. An original Colt Lightning large frame 50 Express and an original 1895 in 38-72...

http://i.imgur.com/7Az4scI.jpg (https://imgur.com/7Az4scI)

http://i.imgur.com/UFBus16.jpg (https://imgur.com/UFBus16)

http://i.imgur.com/PsbWNQi.jpg (https://imgur.com/PsbWNQi)

http://i.imgur.com/vbrGRIz.jpg (https://imgur.com/vbrGRIz)

[Thumbcocker]

Use enough gun. Neat old rifles.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[444ttd]

oh my God!!!!! your lucky you didn't blow yourself up!!!!!!!! you need a 329 super dooper remchester magnumitis!!!!! with a 239gr remchester bullet it goes 80,000fps and nearly 1600 tons ft/lbs!!!!


very nice!!!!

[Winger Ed.]

Good thing ya had enough gun.
The varmint cong are known to drag off their wounded, and patch 'em up so they can fight another day.

[smithnframe]

Very cool old rifles! Where’s all the snow?

[45workhorse]

they will kiiiiiillllll!
nice job
Neat old rifles!

[ChristopherO]

Excellent service you eeked out of those two long guns. Is the 1895 a Marlin? I don't know the history of lever guns as much as I do bolt rifles, but I do have a modern Marlin 1895, but that doesn't look like what I have. Did you happen to load Blackpowder for the 50 caliber, by any chance? Either way, that is fine history you were sporting in the field to collect the meat. Thank you for sharing with us.

[shrapnel]

Excellent service you eeked out of those two long guns. Is the 1895 a Marlin? I don't know the history of lever guns as much as I do bolt rifles, but I do have a modern Marlin 1895, but that doesn't look like what I have. Did you happen to load Blackpowder for the 50 caliber, by any chance? Either way, that is fine history you were sporting in the field to collect the meat. Thank you for sharing with us.

I don't shoot black powder in my original guns, I use 5744 reduced loads and they work great with that powder. The 1895 is a Winchester, that's why it doesn't look like your Marlin...

http://i.imgur.com/INjktJ7.jpg (https://imgur.com/INjktJ7)

[ole_270]

Good to see you're still at it Shrap. Sorry to say that the only rifle I've got in that age range is my old Marlin '94 25-20. It gets a strict diet of cast at moderate speeds, but the bunny population here is on the bottom of the cycle so it's been living on backyard gongs. A newer rifle, 1979 Marlin 336 that was rebored by JES to 38-55 did put a doe in the freezer this year. Accurate 38-250B over 21-4198 took out the far shoulder joint and kept flying. The doe didn't

[shrapnel]

Last year with a Winchester 1894 takedown 32-40...

http://i.imgur.com/McElPfCh.jpg (https://imgur.com/McElPfC)

[RU shooter]

Nice old rifles and good shooting with them ! Guess you didn't hunt them from a tree stand by the looks of that land in your pictures there ain no trees ! this eastern woods hunter would be completely out of my element in terrain like that . about what range did you shoot them deer ?

[ChristopherO]

That is fantastic. Been since the late 90's since I've had the privilege of enjoying Bozeman, or any of Montana for that matter. Love that country tremendously. Since a brother, and until recently a son, inhabit Colorado my western foray's have concentrated there. Still beautiful landscape, but not the same as Wyoming or Montana, in my mind. Thank you for the history lesson on the Winchester 1895. Didn't Teddy Roosevelt take one of those to Africa in 405? I believe WM Bell thought little of the 405 as a lion cartridge, whilst Theodore made good use of it on his safari.

[rockrat]

The 38-72 is a neat old round. I chambered a NEF 38-55 to that caliber. Quite surprising what that thing would do, as far as performance. Made my rounds out of 405 brass trimmed. The reamer was cut for the 405 rim.

[Screwbolts]

@ shrapnel, I to have had the privilege to shoot a 95 in 38-72. A late friend of mine had one that was passed down from his Dad. We shot 18 gr of 4759 under a 250 gr Lyman design. It was a privilege to be able to pop primers with it. The brass we were using was reformed 405 brass also.

Ken

[shrapnel]

@ shrapnel, I to have had the privilege to shoot a 95 in 38-72. A late friend of mine had one that was passed down from his Dad. We shot 18 gr of 4759 under a 250 gr Lyman design. It was a privilege to be able to pop primers with it. The brass we were using was reformed 405 brass also.

Ken

We did an article a couple years ago with the 40-72 and 405 Winchester. The problem with 405 Winchester brass is due to a thicker rim that won't allow you to chamber a 405 in a 40-72 and blow it up. You must have had brass with a thinned rim to fit in the 38-72.

http://i.imgur.com/wTw7Qyv.jpg (https://imgur.com/wTw7Qyv)

[Screwbolts]

If memory serves me correctly, I cut them down for Neal in my lathe.

Ken

[shrapnel]

If memory serves me correctly, I cut them down for Neal in my lathe.

Ken

That would be the best brass if the primer pocket stays in conformity with the correct primer depth. I'm not sure how much I trust the 444 Marlin brass that has been lengthened to make most of what I have...

[skeettx]

Great postings
Thank you
Mike

[shrapnel]

Nice old rifles and good shooting with them ! Guess you didn't hunt them from a tree stand by the looks of that land in your pictures there ain no trees ! this eastern woods hunter would be completely out of my element in terrain like that . about what range did you shoot them deer ?

Half the fun of shooting game with these is how it makes you a real hunter. I have to get fairly close because of sights and trajectory. The deer with the 32-40 I got to 100 yards, the year before I got both the deer and antelope with my 1877 Sharps at 209 and 210 yards...

274248

274249

[elk hunter]

OK, it's official, I'm jealous.

I saw a 95 in 35 Winchester a few years ago at a small sporting goods store in Burns, Oregon. I thought it was a common steel model 95 but apparently I was mistaken, it had to have been solid gold according to the price. Maybe some day I'll find another model 95 in some wonderful old caliber like 38-72 Winchester.

[rockrat]

Find one of the 30-40 krag Brownings and send it to JES and have him turn it into a 38-72 or 35 winchester!!!

[elk hunter]

Find one of the 30-40 krag Brownings and send it to JES and have him turn it into a 38-72 or 35 winchester!!!

When I can find them I much prefer originals. Of the Winchesters I have there are two model 95's, a takedown in 30-03 and a 405 but, I'm always looking for the next old treasure. I do shoot the old ones and hunt with them, here's a mule deer I took with my model 71 deluxe a few years ago.

274394

[shrapnel]

When I can find them I much prefer originals. Of the Winchesters I have there are two model 95's, a takedown in 30-03 and a 405 but, I'm always looking for the next old treasure. I do shoot the old ones and hunt with them, here's a mule deer I took with my model 71 deluxe a few years ago.

274394

Absolutely! Using these old guns makes the hunt way more fun and interesting...

https://i.imgur.com/8pNybCZ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/TIlfJQn.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/E38aOKa.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/RZHAjI5.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/EDqGD89.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/McElPfC.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/k50khWB.jpg

[memtb]

Having been away from casting and shooting cast bullets for almost 30 years....I did a reset this year, and have re-entered the game. Rest assured no animals were harmed with my shooting.....but, burned some powder and put a few holes in paper!

If I ever get my 460 S&W working with my cast bullets.....perhaps the “no animals harmed” issues will be resolved this year! memtb

[elk hunter]

Bison with a Sharps, now I'll really jealous.

I've taken a couple of Mule Deer with my 1874 45 2 1/10th and hope to some day take an elk with it. No bison available here in Oregon since sometime after the last ice age. Our elephants went away before my time too, mores the pity. The only hunts for Bison that I've located are of the canned variety. I want a true free range Bison or not at all.

[kootne]

Hi Shrap, glad to see you are still kickin'. I drive all over the county with my gun looking for good road kill to pose by but didn't find any nice ones this year. So I settled for sniping one in my yard. Hope we are both still ambulatory when they restart gun shows, we can catch up on things.
274404

[memtb]

Hey Shrapnel, been trailing you for a while, before finding ya. Miss ya over at the “fire”! :smile: memtb

[shrapnel]

Hey Shrapnel, been trailing you for a while, before finding ya. Miss ya over at the “fire”! :smile: memtb

The campfire became such a cesspool and nothing but turds are left over there.They got what they wanted by running a bunch of good people off of that site. I hunted with Rick Bin, talked Campfire with him, but he is more interested in views than content and the site shows it.

[shrapnel]

Hi Shrap, glad to see you are still kickin'. I drive all over the county with my gun looking for good road kill to pose by but didn't find any nice ones this year. So I settled for sniping one in my yard. Hope we are both still ambulatory when they restart gun shows, we can catch up on things.
274404

I'm still out there killing stuff and love the old guns. I sent you an email with some pictures.

Here is a road kill we stopped for a photo op...

https://i.imgur.com/LRmRbAo.jpg

[memtb]

The campfire became such a cesspool and nothing but turds are left over there.They got what they wanted by running a bunch of good people off of that site. I hunted with Rick Bin, talked Campfire with him, but he is more interested in views than content and the site shows it.


Ouch! I resemble that remark! :smile: Well, you are fondly remembered and missed by many! memtb

[kootne]

Did you happen to buy that Centennial '86 from Matney? He sold mine for me when I moved down with the Wyoties.

[JDL]

shrapnel, you have some really nice rifles and you hunt them too! That old Colt Lightning brought back memories of when I was a kid back in the '50's. My Granddad had a piece of one in his junk box. No stock or sights and only one half of the pump. Dirt dobbers had stopped up the barrel completely. IIRC, it was chambered for .32/20.

[shrapnel]

Did you happen to buy that Centennial '86 from Matney? He sold mine for me when I moved down with the Wyoties.

Nope, I had this gun since they first came out. Traded Gary from Debo's pawn a new unfired rifle for this one so I could shoot it and not hurt the value of it. The Centennial my son is holding we got from the Powderhorn a couple years ago. I shot my biggest deer with it years ago....


https://i.imgur.com/eI2QNAA.jpg




I just ordered this original, it should be here the first of the week...

https://i.imgur.com/aIEPUnn.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ufMJSDp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/tLs8dw8.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Qvcx5pE.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ZRGy1Ic.jpg

[ChristopherO]

Posts such as these keep me coming back to see more beautiful old rifles and the men who put them to good use.

[Iowa Fox]

Thanks for sharing with us. We just never saw many rifles like that in this state in the old days.

[wc870]

Very nice to see them being used!! I run across plenty of old gems like that but just on shelf or in safes collecting dust.

[selmerfan]

shrapnel, it is GOOD to see your face here at Castboolits! I know you from the 'fire and you've sold me a thing or two. I pretty well gave up on the 'fire a few years ago when it devolved a bit. Castboolits is my favorite gun/hunting/shooting forum. Great community here!

[selmerfan]

The campfire became such a cesspool and nothing but turds are left over there.They got what they wanted by running a bunch of good people off of that site. I hunted with Rick Bin, talked Campfire with him, but he is more interested in views than content and the site shows it.

Yeah...we arrived at the same conclusion.