'Blunderbuss' Blog

Metallic Silhouette Shooting, Reloading Bench, Ammunition, Firearms Maintenance & Marksmanship Techniques

Yearly Archives: 2011

Dry Firing – Something We Should Do More Often

Dry Firing Is Just As Important As Live Firing For Improvement

Recently I was reading an online article in Rifle Shooter Magazine that “David Tubb a High Power Rifle Champion in the USA” had contributed towards, where he talks about Dry Firing and how important it is as part of any training or changes you make in your shooting. 

I know many of us do Dry Fire at home or at the range but I thought that I would post this article for the readership that may not be aware of the benefits of Dry Firing.

This is a preview of Dry Firing – Something We Should Do More Often. Read the full post (338 words, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)

Realigning Steyr Action Bushings

Action Bushings

Whilst using the Sinclair Action Cleaning Kit with a cotton swab attached in the Action of my Steyr Pro Hunter Rifle, I discovered that when I am turning the cleaning swab in and around the Action the swab ‘due to its size and tight fit’ will snag onto the Action Bushing and actually turn the Bushings in the Rifles Action out of alignment.

Once out of alignment the Bolt will not fully slide into the Action as the Bolt Locking Lugs are hitting against the Bushings that have now become misaligned.

This is a preview of Realigning Steyr Action Bushings. Read the full post (277 words, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)

Examine Your Cases Everytime

Range Brass

Just recently I was donated 100 cases of Lapua 6.5×55 fired range brass from a friend who bought a similar calibre.  Yep it’s always nice to get quality Lapua brass as a present.

Visual Inspections Are A Must

The other day I popped the cases into the media tumbler for a good cleaning so that I could De-Prime them and run them through my Neck Sizing Die and Prep them for loading.  After the cleaning process I started to examine the cases to check for any signs of damage in the case neck, body and head.  In all honesty I wasn’t expecting to see any signs of fatigue in the cases.

This is a preview of Examine Your Cases Everytime. Read the full post (247 words, estimated 59 secs reading time)

Sooted and Booted Part IV

One Swallow Does Not A Summer Make

My last range visit looked like I was onto a winner when my hotter loaded test ‘cases’ began to come out with less carbon fouling along the body and head.  With this positive outlook I handloaded 30 rounds of my prep’d cases that were neck trimmed to a uniform length, ‘see my previous post Sooted and Booted Part III for details of my test subjects’ and off to the range I went.

This is a preview of Sooted and Booted Part IV. Read the full post (240 words, estimated 58 secs reading time)

Barrel Maintenance – Bore Cleaning

Cleaning Is Not Always A Bore

I have watched and read many Barrel Cleaning Regime’s that are offered up online and on the printed page.  Some I have been happy with and others I was not so impressed with due to the lack of care with the Firearm.  Some cleaning methods were even said to take up to and beyond 24 hrs to clean a barrel, with a first clean at the range and for the second or third cleaning solvents were left to soak in the barrel overnight and brushed and patched out the next day.  ‘When would you find the time to shoot if you were using these exhaustive cleaning programs!!!’ I wanted a complete refined cleaning regime that allowed me to clean my rifle both inside and out with minimal interuption to my range visit and shooting time.

This is a preview of Barrel Maintenance – Bore Cleaning. Read the full post (366 words, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)