MONTANA MUSINGS

When countries can’t supply the number of weapons needed by their armed forces for the wars in which they engage, most must resort to buying them from...

In my gun’riting career I’ve tried to experience all of the Old West sixguns and their most noteworthy cartridges.

An old saying goes, “Don’t let your mouth write checks your butt can’t handle.” In bygone days I used to brag to my friends in the BPCR Silhouette game

Hey John Taffin, remember a couple years ago when I told you in a column I was sort of eating crow?

One of World War II’s most successful infantry weapons was the U.S. Carbine Caliber .30. It was manufactured by no fewer than 10 factories to the tune of...

Because paychecks are important, when an editor asks me to cover a semi-auto black rifle, I agree albeit with little enthusiasm. The same was true with this...

If there is a firearm using metallic cartridges that operates without a firing pin, I’m completely unaware of it. In fact, the firing pin is the most...

Is the BPCR Silhouette dead? BPCR stands for Black Powder Cartridge Rifle and Silhouette is the game of shooting metallic targets at 200, 300, 385 and 500...

Want to know something that’ll set my teeth on edge just like chalk squeaking on a blackboard? It’s when someone says they bought a mechanically perfect...

The Spencer carbine played an important role in the Plains Indian Wars yet it’s almost been forgotten by modern shooters. Its cartridges came with...

Since my pre-teens I’ve been an avid student of World War II. About a thousand times in my reading I’ve encountered something like this, “Sadly so and...

I’m a lifelong student of the “Custer Battle,” otherwise known as the June 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn. There, the U.S. 7th Regiment of Cavalry...

Since my pre-teens I’ve been an avid student of World War II. About a thousand times in my reading I’ve encountered something like this, “Sadly so and...

I’m a lifelong student of the “Custer Battle,” otherwise known as the June 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn. There, the U.S. 7th Regiment of Cavalry...

Like so many shooters my age, I began handloading with the .38 Special in 1966. Throughout life I’ve been a “lister” — my made-up word for someone...

If it were conveniently possible, I’d have peep sights on every rifle I own. Even if they’re already scoped. Peep sights are fast to use, capable of...

In 2018 I managed to achieve a goal of mine: gathering at least one Colt SAA chambered for each of the cartridges for which the Second Generation of...

Two days after this writing I’m going into the hospital for a full replacement of my right knee. There’s no reason to mention it in these pages except...

In the time span between 1892 and 1906 the US Army adopted three .30 caliber cartridges for their various infantry rifles. Two also became popular among we...

Hey, John Taffin! I’m about to eat some crow here so I want you to pay attention. Some years back you got a mite upset at an article I wrote saying the...

When planning my book, Shooting World War II Small Arms, I almost didn’t include the Swedish Model 1896 Mauser chambered for 6.5x55.

Two cartridges changed the entire planet’s military organization. Until they were developed, most armies used rifles chambered for full-size rifle...

How’d you like to engage in an utterly relaxing endeavor while building up your stockpile of expensive reloading components? Sounds good? If so, do what I...

Some people say my luck is uncanny in finding good-shooting specimens of historic firearms to add to the collection. “Nah,” I reply, “Sometimes it’s...

What does a fellow do to alleviate boredom when it’s 20-below outside and you’re recovering from a full knee replacement? This was my question when the...

With my renewed fascination (more like obsession) with the Colt Single Action Army came a renewal of a friendship developed over 20 years ago with Eddie...

Reloading tool companies like Lyman, Redding/SAECO, RCBS and Lee do a fine job of supplying quality bullet molds. That’s if you stick more or less to the...

Without a doubt the most denigrated American military handgun cartridge ever is the .38 Colt (aka .38 Long Colt). It is said to have been the cause of death...

When the United States declared war on Germany in April 1917 the country was woefully unprepared. The US Army didn’t have fighter planes, artillery,...

In the beginning of metallic cartridges their names had meaning. As in .44 Henry Rimfire, where “.44” for bullet/barrel bore diameter, “Henry” for...

Upon learning I have spent my entire life with firearms starting with my first .22 rifle at about age 8, people often ask interesting questions. Interesting...

Don’t let the title throw you. Up front I want to state Yvonne and I are both cat and dog lovers. This is not about shooting lost or discarded house cats...

One military Mauser has been torn apart and the action used for high dollar custom sporting rifles more than any other. At least in my considered opinion....

Yes, the title is correct. Even me, a lover of Winchester lever guns, Colt SAA’s, Sharps and Remington buffalo rifles, has decided to have a keeper AR....

Where in the world did the name Bisley come from in reference to handguns? It was simply the name of a shooting range in England and some Americans were...

After a 20-year near-total hiatus away from Colt SAA’s so I could focus on doing books on other types of historical firearms, I’ve returned to my first...