Week 33 2023

 This Week in Firearms History:

August 13: In 1792 French revolutionaries imprison Marie Antoinette; in 1860 Annie Oakley is born; in 1981 Ronald Reagan signs largest tax cut in US history.

August 14: In 1851 John Henry "Doc" Holiday is born; in 1873 Field & Stream begins publishing; in 1945 President Truman announces the Japanese Unconditional Surrender.

August 15: In 1945 US wartime rationing of gasoline ends; in 1947 India gains independence from UK; in 2003 Open Range is released in theaters.

August 16: in 1777 American forces defeat the British at the battle of Bennington in Vermont; in 1942 the 101st Airborne is activated. 

August 17: In 1786 Davy Crockett is born; in 1940 Hitler orders total blockade of Great Britian; in 1943, WWII, Patton takes Sicily.

August 18: In 1846, Mexican-American War, US forces capture Santa Fe, NM; in 1940 Battle of Britain "The Hardest Day"; in 1976 two US soldiers are killed by North Korean soldiers while cutting down a tree in the demilitarized zone.

August 19: In 1692 five more people hanged for witchcraft in Salem; in 1863 Pres Lincoln & Sec of War Stanton shoot the new Spencer rifle on the Washington Mall; in 1895 John Wesley Hardin is killed in the Acme Saloon in El Paso.

Gun of the Week:  Ruger Super Redhawk

The Ruger Super Redhawk owes its existence to a lubricant.

The Ruger Redhawk (the smaller framed 44 Mag revolver) was having issues with barrel separation, while investigating the causes, one solution was a redesigned revolver with a larger frame. The larger frame was not only stronger, but it also had room for much longer barrel threads in addition it provided space for scope mounts.

The Super Redhawk used the lock work from the GP100, whereas the Redhawk used the older lock work from the Security/Service/Speed Six line of revolvers.

Once the issue with the barrels was discovered to be a faulty lubricant, Ruger decided to keep both guns in the catalog.

Introduced in 1987 with one finish (brushed stainless), one chambering (44 Magnum) and two barrel lengths (7.5" & 9.5"). Today the Super Redhawk is available in four chamberings, in addition to 44 Magnum, buyers can choose from 454 Casull, 10mm and the 480 Ruger. There is also a short-barreled version dubbed "The Alaskan".

Cartridge of the Week:  327 Federal Magnum

The story of the 327 Federal Magnum begins in 1878 with the introduction of the .32 Smith & Wesson cartridge.

Smith & Wesson introduced the 32 S&W as a defensive round for gamblers, shop keepers and "sporting ladies". In 1896 S&W introduced a longer version with a little more power called the .32 S&W Long (Colt called it the .32 Colt New Police).

Fast forward nearly 100 years and H&R lengthened the case again, creating the 32 H&R Magnum in 1984.

In 2007 Federal Premium Ammunition along with Strum, Ruger & Co developed the 327 Federal Magnum by lengthening the 32 H&R Magnum by 1/8 inch, providing double the pressure and an increase of 400fps (with a 100 grain bullet).

The Ruger SP101 was the first gun chambered in 327 Federal Mag, since then the Ruger Blackhawk, Single Seven, LCR & GP100 have been chambered in the cartridge as well.

Taurus, Charter Arms, Freedom Arms, Henry Repeating Arms and US Firearms have all produced guns in the caliber.

Gun Quote of the Week:

"He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression, for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself." -Thomas Paine

Bubba Gun of the Week:

This week's rifle comes from Dick Weiner of Big Tooth Gap, West Virginia. He calls it the Universal Modular Rifle Scope Mount, patent pending of course.

Gun Sticker of the Week:

Our sticker for this week comes from My Southern Tactical

Gun T-Shirt of the Week:

This week's gun T-shirt comes to us from the fine folks at 1776 United.