13Sept06

On Kalashnikovs, from a friend in SA:

"We ran an Urban Rifle Course here last weekend. A student (complet e amateur) arrived with a dirty, rusty, beat-up, bone-dry, Chinese AKM and nine-hundred rounds of steel-case, Russian ammunition, dated 1963. It was all badly corroded, and I was skeptical, but, in the end, allowed him to use it anywa y. Out of nine-hundred rounds, not one failure to fire! He had three failures

of feed, as the cases involved were rusted to the point where they no longe r fit in the chamber."

Comment: Even under the worst conditions, Kalashnikovs, no matter where the y were manufactured, usually come through. Rude and crude, by American standards, the Kalashnikov still proudly claims the title of a significant milestone in firearm history!

/John

13Sept06

Many have asked about my recommended modifications to the Beretta CX4. Her e is a summary from my riflesmith, Colby Adler:

"The pistol grip should be cut flush with the actual magazine well t o allow normal seating of a magazine. The back of the pistol grip can then be radius ed for appearance and comfort.

Cut the stock loop off with a hacksaw. You can then profile the stock with

a wood rasp or coarse file. Don't worry about making the stock perfectly smooth, as you will have to fill in voids with epoxy or fiberglass anyway, a nd then file off the excess.

I also trimmed one-third of the bolt-lock/release lever. As it comes from the factory, the lever is too long. When you trim some of it off, there wi ll be less likelihood of the bolt locking to the rear prematurely when the shooter uses a thumbs-up grip.

John's copy of the CX4 also had a spacer in front of the recoil pad. Unless

you have unusually long arms, get rid of it! The recoil pad just snaps on, a nd the spacer can be removed with one screw."

Comment: These relatively simple modifications make this handy carbine even

handier and easier to use. Recommended!

/John

13Sept06

Excellent bullet performance from Federal, from a friend who just returned from a Cape Buffalo hunt in Zimbabwe:

"While some consider the 375 H&H marginal for Cape Buffalo, the one I used performed just fine. In the hands of competent riflemen, it is more than enough.

I shot two buffalo, the first at fifty meters with a Federal 300gr =80

Trophy-Bonded-Bear-Claw.' It transverse penetrated the entire chest cavity on a broadside shot, fully expanding, and retaining most of its weight. It came to rest just under the skin on the opposite side. The buffalo staggered and w ent down on the spot.

The second was an old bull. I used a Federal 'Trophy-Bonded-Sledge hammer,' also 300gr. This buffalo, at ninety meters, was quartering away. The bullet penetrated the rear ribs, went all the way to the heart, penetrated it, and, once more, lodged just under the skin near the shoulder. The ageing bu ll ran thirty yards and then laid down for the last time.

I like these Federal loads! Both worked as advertised."

Comment: In all my African hunting, I've mostly used Barnes, all-copper bullets, and have become sold on them. This heartening report indicates to me that Federal has pretty good bullet designs too. When I finally get to hun t Cape Buffalo, I'll have to decide!

/John