LAGS is up to something again

[armoredman]

We are working on the timing. This will be fun.

[LAGS]

For test firing this week.
I want to try different loads.
I am going to start with the .535 lead ball and try different thickness of patches.
I also have some .54 cal Sabots that I want to try different .451 slugs.
Some cast lead , and possibly some jacketed bullets.
The main thing is to find a combination that loads quickly , and easily.

[armoredman]

Camera battery is charging!

[LAGS]

Last night we had a Micro Burst at my house.
The wind blew about 60 mph.
It broke more branches off my mesquite trees.
Too bad the thickest branch is only 4" diameter.
After I dry out the branches, I will use the wood to make Barbeque Charcoal and use some for my wood smoker.
I guess I could make some pistol grips out of some of the wood.
But these branches aren't big enough to make a gunstock out of them.
But the size of this tree and how old it is , I might end up taking out the trunk.
That wood will make good gunstocks.

[armoredman]

Hmm, Mesquite gunstocks, that might look very interesting.

[Jackrabbit1957]

Have done several myself, Mesquite is a beautiful figured wood, work it with rotary tools. The grain changes direction abruptly so planes and chisels cause lots of problems with pieces chunking out. I restocked a CVA St Louis Hawken a long time ago as well as a Rolling Block and a 94 Winchester. It's not easy to work with but worth it in long run.

[LAGS]

The problem with the sudden grain changes in the Mesquite wood was why I had mentioned defects in the wood in this stock that I built.
The small voids or natural cracks are so minor and are easily corrected with either crazy glue or epoxy.
But the finest thing I have found by using Mesquite was the Cost.
Have you seen the price of wood ?
Building a stock out of wood from trees that I grew in my property is so much cheaper.
I will probably use more of this Mesquite Tree for more stocks and grips.
Plus I have a Palo Verde tree that I am cutting down.
I will save some of that trunk wood and maybe try and make a stock out of it.
Years ago I made a stock out of a Jacaranda tree that died at my last house.
I found that by using Free wood that you have laying around saves you lots of money when you are experimenting with lots of new stock designs .

[mdatlanta]

I've really enjoyed reading about this project and seeing the pics as it came together. Good luck with the test firing!

[Hannibal]

The problem with the sudden grain changes in the Mesquite wood was why I had mentioned defects in the wood in this stock that I built.
The small voids or natural cracks are so minor and are easily corrected with either crazy glue or epoxy.
But the finest thing I have found by using Mesquite was the Cost.
Have you seen the price of wood ?
Building a stock out of wood from trees that I grew in my property is so much cheaper.
I will probably use more of this Mesquite Tree for more stocks and grips.
Plus I have a Palo Verde tree that I am cutting down.
I will save some of that trunk wood and maybe try and make a stock out of it.
Years ago I made a stock out of a Jacaranda tree that died at my last house.
I found that by using Free wood that you have laying around saves you lots of money when you are experimenting with lots of new stock designs .

I've made some stuff out of Osage Orange or Hedge as some call it locally. It's really heavy, hard and dense but I like the unique appearance.

I thought about using some Locust but I think it splits along the grain too easily. I'm going to shy away from that.

There's a lot of Black Walnut around here. I think I might give that a try especially if I run across something with some figure in it.

[armoredman]

Then the best traditional for our desert area would be a Winchester 1894 30-30, restocked with mesquite wood and inlaid with brass tacks, Indian style. Or, a Trade Rifle restocked the same way...
Battery is charged, camera and tripod are ready to go.

[armoredman]

My, my, my...now THAT was a fun morning, thank you, LAGS! Oh, wait, you readers weren't there, lets get you up to speed.

First, the new ones are ready for final range test.
1.


The victim at aproximately 10 yards.
2.


Feeding the baby.
3.


It works!
4.


I think this was the second shot - the first shot shattered the top of the target stand, but we wouldn't disover that for a little bit of time.
5.


Even a light load behind a heavy lead ball can do some damage! Half inch white pine, clean through.
6.
'

Video proof - https://i.imgur.com/0Q2UGhO.mp4

Now the other one.
7.


Yay!!!
8.


https://i.imgur.com/VVRzpoc.mp4

[armoredman]

He brought some interesting new loads.
9.

10.


And again, this time a .45ACP boolit in a sabot.
11.


A very good morning was had!
12.


The little .54 shot VERY comfortably, was a lot of fun. The pirate pistol with the severely curved grip was NOT unpleasant to shoot, something I had wondered about with that half moon grip. After LAGS replaced the trigger guard with one that was relieved behind the guard, it became much more pleasant to hold and fire. Yes, I fired them both - I got the first almost bullseye with the little .54. I did get to shoot some of my own sidearms, as well. All in all, I haven't had a morning this nice in a long time, thank you, LAGS!

[LAGS]

Most of today was a Home Made Day.
Both those pistols are home made.
The BP was home made.
The primers Lead projectiles and patches were home made.
This should give you guys something to think about doing.
Oh.
The target frame and target stand are also Home made.

[Hannibal]

Nice to see a plan come together. Excellent job!

[LAGS]

Picture 9&10 are for the .54 pistol along with #11.
9 & 10 are .54 sabots that I cut off the ears and used them as a wad with a .54 Powder coated ball.
Pic 11 is the sabot used with a 230 gr cast .451 lead slug that is PC'ed.
They both were easy to load and shot well.
I have to work on the sights for both pistols.
Both shoot about 5" high at 10 yards.
On the one pistol I can just put a taller front sight on.
Or file down that handmade rear sight to get it to hit better on the target.
The .45 pistol is a little more work.
I had installed shotgun bead sights.
It shoots high also.
So that one I need to install a rear sight and replace the front bead sight with possibly a blade front sight.
But with both pistols,
You can aim at the chin and still get a head shot to work.

[Jackrabbit1957]

Hi Lags, great work on those pistols. Just a quick comment on the Palo Verde wood, it may be way soft for gunstocks, keep me posted as to how it works. I have seen the cost of lumber and it's gone through the roof. Mesquite has always been spendy, even more so now.

[LAGS]

I agree with your thoughts on the Palo Verde wood.
If I dry it out.
It does get kind of soft.
And around the desert , if you see those broken off branches.
They seem to rot pretty quickly.
But ,Hay
I have a tree coming down.
So why not just give it a try.
But it didn't seem to be good wood for my BP charcoal.
The wood seems to turn mostly to ash rather than charcoal.
You can see that out in the wild too where there was a brush fire.
The trees seem to end up a pile of grey ash and not chunks of burn wood.

[725]

I like 'em. Fun to shoot.

[armoredman]

Still looking for a mesquite stocked 1894 or Trade Rifle...just sayin'...

[LAGS]

That is an idea for me to look into if I end up with a piece of wood large enough , if I take out a mesquite tree.
I have a spare barrel , lots of locks and other parts to make a ML Trade Rifle