klausg
02-24-2009, 02:58 PM
Gang-
My local gun shop is trying to kill me. Two weeks ago as I was checking to see if they had any powder other than Green Dot or Pyrodex, I innocently decided to peruse the used rack, (a grave tactical error on my part). There, amongst the rifles that I haven't been interested in for at least five months was this nifty little Winchester 94 in 30-30. So I borrow a bore light from Jeff and proceed to take a look. The bore is in great shape, i.e. damn near new, other than about three pennies worth of copper stuck in it, the stock shows use, not abuse; there are two scratches in the receiver blue and normal bluing wear. Did I mention it was made in '58? Needless to say, I bought it. So, I spend the interim trying to get all of the copper out of the bore, lots of Hoppe's and JB's paste. Last Friday, I get a call from them that some of the powder I have on order has arrived; I say okey-dokey and stop in on the way home from work.
I am a happy man, I've got two pounds of H4350 in my hot little hands, but, like an idiot, I decide to again check out the used rack...and there, sitting next to a 7mm-08 that I've already picked up at least 150 times, is something new. It's a Marlin 1889. My interest is picqued; Jeff recognizes the look on my face and comes running over with the handy-dandy bore light. I am trying to be strong so I tell him I don't want to look, but I do anyway. The bore looks brand new; I feel my resolve weakening so I break out my cell phone to call a buddy and let him know about it. Turner was a bit miffed at me for buying that 94, so I figure this one is a natural for him. He is still at work, but says he'll check it out on his way home. I feel safe and am able to leave the gunshop with my checkbook intact. I spend the weekend waiting for Turner to call and crow about his new toy; by Sunday I can't stand it anymore so I call him. He tells me SWMBO had nixed the idea; I am now in agony, that poor lonely Marlin may be sitting there all alone on the used rack or worse yet, someone I don't know might have bought it. I can barely sleep Sunday night. I go into work yesterday and I'm on pins and needles until the gun shop opens at 1000. I give them a call a little early and lo and behold it's still there! I tell them to hold it for me, and I'll stop in on the way home. It's an 1889, built in '90, 44-40 and it's been re-blued so I'm allowed to shoot it. So now I've got two bores to slug; I've also got to locate some .44-40 dies and brass and I'll probably have to get another H & I die for it (I've got .430 & .431 which IIRC is probably going to be a bit big for it). Oh well, I guess worse things could happen...
-Klaus
My local gun shop is trying to kill me. Two weeks ago as I was checking to see if they had any powder other than Green Dot or Pyrodex, I innocently decided to peruse the used rack, (a grave tactical error on my part). There, amongst the rifles that I haven't been interested in for at least five months was this nifty little Winchester 94 in 30-30. So I borrow a bore light from Jeff and proceed to take a look. The bore is in great shape, i.e. damn near new, other than about three pennies worth of copper stuck in it, the stock shows use, not abuse; there are two scratches in the receiver blue and normal bluing wear. Did I mention it was made in '58? Needless to say, I bought it. So, I spend the interim trying to get all of the copper out of the bore, lots of Hoppe's and JB's paste. Last Friday, I get a call from them that some of the powder I have on order has arrived; I say okey-dokey and stop in on the way home from work.
I am a happy man, I've got two pounds of H4350 in my hot little hands, but, like an idiot, I decide to again check out the used rack...and there, sitting next to a 7mm-08 that I've already picked up at least 150 times, is something new. It's a Marlin 1889. My interest is picqued; Jeff recognizes the look on my face and comes running over with the handy-dandy bore light. I am trying to be strong so I tell him I don't want to look, but I do anyway. The bore looks brand new; I feel my resolve weakening so I break out my cell phone to call a buddy and let him know about it. Turner was a bit miffed at me for buying that 94, so I figure this one is a natural for him. He is still at work, but says he'll check it out on his way home. I feel safe and am able to leave the gunshop with my checkbook intact. I spend the weekend waiting for Turner to call and crow about his new toy; by Sunday I can't stand it anymore so I call him. He tells me SWMBO had nixed the idea; I am now in agony, that poor lonely Marlin may be sitting there all alone on the used rack or worse yet, someone I don't know might have bought it. I can barely sleep Sunday night. I go into work yesterday and I'm on pins and needles until the gun shop opens at 1000. I give them a call a little early and lo and behold it's still there! I tell them to hold it for me, and I'll stop in on the way home. It's an 1889, built in '90, 44-40 and it's been re-blued so I'm allowed to shoot it. So now I've got two bores to slug; I've also got to locate some .44-40 dies and brass and I'll probably have to get another H & I die for it (I've got .430 & .431 which IIRC is probably going to be a bit big for it). Oh well, I guess worse things could happen...
-Klaus