I have some scoped handguns chambered in rifle cartridges that are occasionally hauled to the field, and I suspect any notoriety I might have in the writing world, albeit minor, is associated with revolvers. I don’t mind this, as it is largely true that I do like and use them. However, in my beating heart rests a soft spot for fine rifles of blued steel and figured walnut, as well as a deep interest for the iconic lever action rifle. One of my all-time favorite rifles is the

Not just any old metal plate, but a target located 1760 yards in front of the raised shooting platform supporting the bench on which sat an MG Arms Behemoth chambered in 50 BMG, with incredibly accurate Hornady 750-grain A-Max Match ammunition sitting nearby. For those not in the know, 1760 yards equals one mile, or as I like to say as a college football fan, “Imagine 15 football fields stacked end-to-end, and then imagine hitting a target at the end of that row of fields.” Y

“There wasn’t no place I couldn’t go with a 22 rifle and a fishing pole.” Y’all remember that old Don Williams tune? I suspect we all look back on our younger years and remember them as a better time. Whether they always were or not doesn’t matter if we choose to remember the best of times. For most of us our youth was certainly less complicated by electronics. No cell phones.

On or before October 10, 1918, the Cameron County Sheriff William T. Vann got word that Delgado was going to cross a load of mescal at Los Tomates Bend not far from Brownsville. Vann put together an arrest team made up of a couple of his deputies, two customs officers, Texas Ranger Captain W. W. Taylor, Ranger Sergeant Delbert Timberlake, and Ranger Private Frank Hamer.

Recently, there has been a lot of interest and posts on “Fitz” revolvers on social media. I simply shake my head at the level of pontification and commentary by folks who have absolutely no concept of the reason they existed and what the intent was in their creation. There is a huge disconnect, so I thought I would do a post to explain the historical significance of these guns.

Some guns need a little tweaking to make them look “right.” A slight change to the grip frame or a more graceful hammer spur added to a single action or a figured piece of walnut bolted on a plain-stocked rifle and voila, perfection! Then there are a few guns that are ideal as-is from the factory. To my eye Colt’s Single Action Army is good from the get-go. Heck, I even like the plastic grips that come on them. The same goes for a 4-inch Smith & Wesson N-frame. Everything is

The pronghorn is America’s colloquial antelope. He’s known far and wide as the fastest land animal in the Western Hemisphere. They say he can run at speeds up to 60 MPH, reaching velocities that only a cheetah could surpass. This trait has earned them the name “speed goat.”

In the late 1800s, John M. Browning was on a roll. He designed the robust 1886 Winchester that was chambered for big-bore cartridges. Then, in 1892, he brought out a scaled down version that would handle various popular handgun cartridges. Later, we got the Model 1895 Winchester which was a whole new design for high-velocity ammo. But I think his crowning glory, where lever actions are concerned, was his Model 1894 rifle and carbine.

Anticipation of adventure filled the air as Charlie Pirtle and I loaded down his pickup with camping gear and enough food to survive several days in the New Mexico back country. With the chuck box situated perfectly, we carefully added cots...

In studying the gunfights of the Old West it quickly becomes clear that many of the most savvy shootists preferred using a rifle whenever they could get their hands on one quickly.  The handgun came into use when dealing with a surprise encounter or the rifle was not close at...