The late Jim Cirillo was one of the better known gunfighters of the late 20th Century. While assigned to the New York Police Department’s infamous Stake Out Unit (SOU) from 1968 to 1973, Cirillo was involved in 17 shootouts. After retiring from the NYPD in 1976, Cirillo became a firearms instructor for the US CustomsContinue reading “Cirillo SafeStop Data Dump”
Category Archives: Historical
History: Rigby
As we know, the Irish rifle team that traveled to America in 1874, and later, used rifles made by John Rigby of Dublin (for more information on those matches see The Story of Creedmoor and in the Historic Shooting Books article, select Irish Riflemen in America by Leech). Subsequent to that time, Mr. Rigby moved toContinue reading “History: Rigby”
The Sad Saga of the .356 TSW
By all rights, the .356 TSW should have killed the .357 SIG in childbirth. Since it could use 9x19mm magazines, the .356 TSW would have offered a much higher ammunition capacity in many models over the fatter .357 SIG, which required .40 S&W type magazines. Alas, it was not to be. Just as the .356Continue reading “The Sad Saga of the .356 TSW”
Connecting the Dots: From the .338-378 KT to the .338 Lapua
Not long after the .338 Lapua was introduced, Ross Seyfried quickly wrote of the uncanny similarity of the new cartridge with his mentor’s .338-378 Keith-Thomson, albeit without the latter cartridge’s belt. It appears that Seyfried was closer to the truth than most imagine. The .338-378 KT was based upon a shortened .378 Weatherby case neckedContinue reading “Connecting the Dots: From the .338-378 KT to the .338 Lapua”
The Matewan Massacre
I wrote about this bit of local history back in 2020 for the 100 year anniversary for it but that was on the LooseRounds website which is now pinning for the fjords as Hognose was wont to say. Over the weekend I went back to the yearly anniversary event to check it out again. TheContinue reading “The Matewan Massacre”
Browning, the Gun Wizard
By Edward C. Crossman, 1918 Old John Browning has produced the finest machine guns for our army ever invented AMERICA has finer guns in the AA Browning light and heavy type than any nation now at war. While the members of Congressional military committees vapored and fumed that blue print guns never killed an enemy,Continue reading “Browning, the Gun Wizard”
Colt Factory AR15 Finishes
The Colt firearms in these photos belong to a friend of mine and fellow collector. You get a look at various finishes/camouflage patterns used by Colt over the years. Here is his description… “The top rifle is a new acquisition and is a hunting camo made by ‘Vista’. Serial states it was a Colt VPContinue reading “Colt Factory AR15 Finishes”
Ed McGivern’s World Record-Setting .38 SPL
RIA is about to auction of McGivern’s most famous 6 gun. I’ve seen a lot of his collection at the NRA museum in DC but they did not have this one that I can recall. Seems like they did at the time but that was back in 2010. They sure don’t make’em like him anymoreContinue reading “Ed McGivern’s World Record-Setting .38 SPL”
Unertl Bv20
One of the later Unertl scopes is the Bv20. A smaller more compact optic for those who apparently wanted such a thing. In 20X it wasn’t as popular. My first Unertl was a Bv20 and I can’t say I cared for it much. The focus was in the rear instead of the head like normalContinue reading “Unertl Bv20”
Dr. Franklin W. Mann: Father of Ballistic Science
Doctor Franklin W. Mann, author of the seminal treatise on ballistics: “The Bullet’s Flight” is for most of us a mysterious figure in shooting history. Working on his experiments in relative isolation for many years, he was not one to seek the limelight; his interest was science, not fame or fortune. A contemporary and close friendContinue reading “Dr. Franklin W. Mann: Father of Ballistic Science”
Scattered Shots 