This article by Frank Marshall Jr., appeared in issue #225. Sept/Oct 2013.
To show you how money shooters kept up with what winners shot and how the word around the fire barrel, whether dead right or wrong, could affect the hopeful pil-grims, if from a very noisy source, suddenly the old reg-ular 30-30, 303 Savage, 32-40, 32 Special, lever lovers and the surplus 30-40, 30-06, 7.62 Russian, and 8mm Lebel bolt guns surprise winners, had the hots for 38-55, and up, calibers. This was fostered mostly due to my decrepit looking but very definitely lucky winner 38-55 having won a couple more pots and birds than they had over a four month turkey shoot season on Saturdays and holidays excluding a couple weeks hunting.
Speaking Frankly, Bigger Was Not Better
To show you how money shooters kept up with what winners shot and how the word around the fire barrel, whether dead right or wrong, could affect the hopeful pil-grims, if from a very noisy source, suddenly the old reg-ular 30-30, 303 Savage, 32-40, 32 Special, lever lovers and the surplus 30-40, 30-06, 7.62 Russian, and 8mm Lebel bolt guns surprise winners, had the hots for 38-55, and up, calibers. This was fostered mostly due to my decrepit looking but very definitely lucky winner 38-55 having won a couple more pots and birds than they had over a four month turkey shoot season on Saturdays and holidays excluding a couple weeks hunting.
The whole thing was based on the fact that those two closest shot wins had hinged on my 38 caliber hole touching the X-ring when a 32-40 hard holders bullet hole had not. The loud opiners disregarded all rhyme and reason in opting for that single fact regards a large hole. My quiet opinion regards the fact: That if the sea-sons targets had been studied (as I had been careful to do) with a composite of all shots also, six out of the ten top winners with calibers less than 38 had actually shot a total group a lot better than allegedly my .38 had. The thing was, my group location for a sixteen week span of time with varying temperatures, light conditions, and wind, rain twice and snow thrice, was a bit better cen-tered up over the long haul, as the only logical reason. Thus I had lucked out a couple of close calls.
Of course the competition immediately concluded that: That quiet opinion by Duke was to throw yah off the track while he stays on top of the money pile. The only further remark I had was, All else equal, a larger bore would have an advantage as you think but, for obvious reasons regards recoil, etc. etc. with bullets of equally high defined accuracy characteristics in rifles to equally utilize such, dont exist.
But hunting rifles within the spirit of the rules in cal-ibers decreed as big game legal, then a Winchester Caliber 25-35 octagon M94 small bore should clean up. That was to the listeners only further confusion so the next September, around the barrel would then appear an old Winchester, Marlin, Colt and breech loader converted musket collectors dream.
Not everyone succumbed to the big hole is better bug that bit a lot who should have known better, but enough did to make it very interesting. Some of the jew-els among the junk that showed up included a 50-95 Model 76 Winchester Deluxe half magazine, half octa-gon, 28 barrel drooler that a half hard holder had found among old Auntys attic leftovers. Another was a sporter-ized military Rem-Lee with a fine pistol grip stock, 26 barrel with express rear sights with five leaves 100 to 500 yards and a racy ramp barrel band front sight not to men-tion a barrel band front strap swivel for an all British clas-sic form.
Both of these rarities had been kept clean, if ever shot at all and, I marked them down for future acquisition if at all possible when the non-hardly holders found out big holes werent all of it. What made that Turkey Shoot/gun mart magnetic was what you might discover.
To satisfy my own certainty that a small bore, like maybe a lil ole M94, if loaded right, might prove my point aided by a normal amount of luck, I then brought out my M94 smokeless carbine, steel carbine butt, half maga-zine, plain Jane 32-40. The 32-40, at that time, was still rated as a legal deer and black bear cartridge with the original 165 grain load at only 1450 M.V. so, legal at the Turkey Shoot.
A couple others had been shooting M94 carbines with the jacketed 32-40, one with H.V. factory loads, one the old load. Both of these fair shots had won once in a while but both had gone over to tap the big hole hope with 44-40 M92 full length rifles with one shooting H.V. loads and the other the standard smokeless jacketed load. Most of my 32-40 concern til then had been for a fairly accurate, but very adequate, cast New Hampshire woods load with the #321297 G.C. seated just deep enough to feed from the magazine at near 1900 M.V. With this medium alloy 186 grains I had not yet fully explored all this 32-40s accuracy potential with its 16 twist.
However, I had been the beneficiary of close contact with 32-40 Single Shot Artists. To be able to say I did it without any resort to special tools or target bullets I decided to use the standard 165 grain plain base #329247, which mould was part of my Ideal Nut Cracker tool, this one with the adjustable bullet seating chamber to seat out to touch the leade without crimp since single shot only was the shoot rule. I would cast this bullet hard for full girth which added a nice neck fit to raise my hopes another notch, then also I could get at least 1500 M.V, with a lubed wad stuck to the bullet base. This would then not raise any doubt that this load was not up to the 32-40 standard load as some had doubted when using their handloads. This load, being legal in the coops at only 1500 with 165 grain lead bullet, I had to be certain I was sighted dead center at 50 yards under those calm conditions, then Id hold for wind outdoors.
Because my original 32-40 carbine semi-military rear sight, in conjunction with the front flat top blade had been tuned to my 1900 M.V. hunting load, which had per-formed well in the woods, I put a new, flat across the top, rear sight on with a square U notch and stepped type elevator to use with the flat top front for a sharp six-o-clock picture with sights blackened ala the top dog hand-gun shooters standard technique. Sport riflemen/hunters with open sights were slow to recognize this sighting systems advantage, especially for paper work which here was primary.
By late that summer, pre-Turkey Shoot season bench fest load check sessions, Gramps had decided I could point my 29 Ford Sport Roadster good enough for him to risk riding out to the coops utopian spread with me to, Whiff some #80 aromatic. Gramps had also ordered me to not let price deter me from getting that Mod. 76 Winchester 50-95, or the Remington Lee 45-70 Sporter Classic if ever offered. At 1500 or close M.V. using old #80 (today Id use very similar #4759) I could consistently stay inside the 10 ring of a 100 Yard Small Bore target at 50 yards with a six-o-clock hold using the square notch rear and flat top front open sights, with half the shots deep cut X ringers. This was with no crimp and seat out to leade, and it was essential to shoot with barrel cool. This worked out to about one and a half inch-es center to center or three MOA, which is slightly better than most lever/tube magazine normal capability in spite of what some may allege, with open or any other type of sights, made then by much better craftsmen.
However, with the one cold pipe shot as primary, as afield or at the Turkey Shoot with open sights only allowed, Gramps allowed, Duke, with your hawk eyes and holdin that little gun the same every time over that log on a Indian blanket pad like they do there, I cant understand how-n-hell you wont at least win three outta six shots cold even counting some luckin in on yah. I says, Gramps, no one can win more than two pots and birds, this rule to keep any one from closing up the shoot and also no one gun to keep em from borrowing a lucky winner since I showed up with that freak 38-55 you said load like a single shot, which is right there in that other case to check against this 32-40 after lunch. Gramps says, Ill shoot it with my new glass as I now see open sights pretty good again.
Gramps quite often reminded us of why he had sur-vived the Civil War and a few years out west to, calm down after the carnage from 61 to 65 using rifled arms, but still the old Napoleonic tactics. Gramps could shoot. The Winchester 44 R.F. with a brace of similar caliber six shooters was his firepower concept that had kept Gramps more or less intact for that period, til reload-able center-firers. Then it was 44-40 from there on as his primary security always ready.
He could shoot that old dog 38-55 too. He could shoot it so good that mellow day when we moved out to the cool oak grove benches with a nice cool breeze straight across with the mirage waves easy to read, that I had cause to then reconsider my determined dedication to proving an accurate small bore could beat a big bore hunting style rifle over the long haul average. Three things caused me to stay with .32. That 38-55 heavy stiff pipe was above average accurate, so was Gramps and Gramps allowed, That 32-40 is a good one.
Gramps new glass must have fit right. That was after five cool shots each imitating cool shot conditions over a blanket with rifle held in hand, and Gramps had edged me out three out of four with one tie he gave me. I decided Id make sure I had that old dog 38-55 in reserve locked in the Ford Roadsters rumble seat with my other trade or sell treasures, which was what that Turkey Shoots gun mart had extra to draw gun buffs who could shoot too.
I had almost come to the point of admitting that the shoot competition and gun buff mart was more fun than hunting, not to mention the carnival environment and banter around the fire barrel circus. The objective now was X ring cutters rather than tough flag shot sure punchers. Gramps allowed, By thinking of both in their place, you got twice as much cause to shoot for, for twice as much fun. And, I says, By also bringing you out to help in working out combos suited to both, I got another, third cause. I felt pretty good about that fat thought for another good shooting and learning excuse and so Gramps says, I just cant understand how the hell you couldnt get outa 8th grade.
That was sort of a mystery in our clan, but what Gramps never knew was, I had no intention of getting out of the 8th grade until the blonde goddess in the 7th grade caught up with me and then when she did her folks instantly shied her off into a distant private acade-my with very high walls and that was that, for a while.
At the grand opening Turkey Shoot day, sure enough, more big bores were there with confident own-ers all smiles but wondering, What unhel yah doing now Duke with a lil ole 32-40 light carbine? So I says, Well, at 1500 legal velocity with about a hundred grains less bullet weight, which is like lighter in proportion than this carbine is than my 38-55 with its 150 less 38-55 standard velocity the odds favor the easier shooter 32-40. This didnt confuse a new face in the crowd who says, Thats why I got a brand new 25-35 full weight Mod. 94 that likes factory ammo for all Ill need. My instinct immedi-ately indicated that here was the guy to watch and also the two win limit per gun per day loomed large to keep this real fun shoot healthy.
The first day started right out proving my instincts 100% correct if my gun choice was not, even tho I did win a pot and bird with a 38-55 second that round for which no second place award. The 25-35 guy was done early with two wins at a cost of only six shots, while I at least had the fun of shooting all ten rounds for pot and bird both at a cost of fifteen big bucks to make five big bucks and a nice bird, which most would have been very happy with.
But, that was not the idea that year even tho the 25 caliber guy was looking like he would prove my point bet-ter than my 32-40 would with that match heavy long spout 25-35. All his targets did look very good except all his shots were a little left of center which was the way a north wind funneled in between the hill and the firehouse at the targets but not felt at the firing line, altho five yards further out front that condensed breeze had its subtle effect. My 10 targets revealed that I also would have to watch wind closer with the 32-40.
The rest of the one pot winners various guys did not favor any of the new big bores, except one 40-82 M86 had lucked in. The 50-95 holes, altho conspicuous in the target and when fired with the white cloud revealing the wind secrets, if any one noticed, was quite a show but no turkey. The same for the 45-70 Rem-Lee with old black powder 405 grain smashers. I also made sure those fellows cleaned those rifles religiously because I was going to get those two sooner or later if at all avail-able and I had an idea it might be sooner.
It was, when on the third Saturday both fellows came to me separately but with equal ideas, that they each wanted, A 25-35 like the guy had who had won two for three shoots in a row and could I get those 25-35 rifles for them? For what? I asked, and each in his shame said, To get rid of this kickin shot gun pattern S.O.B! I says, Put em in their cases and Ill take em with me and be back next Saturday with two new 25-35s at maybe a little off list with cases and two boxes fresh ammo also. That was better than a dealer would do and ready cash gun collectors were scarce at that time and they both knew it.
Knowing Gramps would prefer the M76 fancy 50-95 to the 45-70 bolt gun Rem-Lee, I made him a present of that gem and kept the rare 45-70. After the two new 25-35 fondlers got sighted in they further proved my small caliber, light kicker theory for that particular kind of shooting at 50 yards, open sights, cool barrels. They also diluted the other 25-35 guys wine with his two wins per day now down to one and some days, none. My average was as good as any by the sixth Saturday and already the big bang boys had mostly changed their tune regards big holes.
I says to myself at such unforeseen good fortune with my 32-40 coming on strong and my detractors decidedly on the wane, Maybe now we can do some good shooting from here out, just enough to show that an average 32 caliber and gun can do it all with a prop-er cast load all within the spirit of the whole shebang and I might go with my heavy cracker hunt load.
The 32-40 original 1450 M.V. 165 grain load, while very accurate, was wind sensitive, revealed sadly at this particular shoot. From that six pound half magazine 32-40 carbine the 186 grain 321297 G.C. flat nose doing 1850 plus M.V. was thus a stout little bucker but a deer and black bear load not far behind the high repute M99 Savage 303 carbine. The 303 Savage with its 190 grain RN was held by hep hunters way above a 30-30.
Using the 9 A.M. to 10 A.M. Sighting in hour instead of a stack of hot cakes to hold me til noon, I had to drop the rear sight on steps all the way down one light tap right to center up a cool fired group before the wind started from the north that day, enough so that it was a ten sta-ple per target chore to keep targets on the frames with guys also then hurrying their shots before their target tore loose or worse. One of the windy wits then had it figured out there after whether it was a, four, six, eight, or ten staples wind whipping the range. We figured the aver-age breeze as between six and eight staples or 7.5 or 21 mph thru the breeze way. The fire barrel in the lee of the fire house remained calm thru it all. With the sun and slight wind on the south side of the firehouse, it was idyl-lic.
The 25-35 guys held too far into the wind, the slow big bores not enough and I had my limit two pots and two birds with only three shots holding one flat top front sight width off center into the 10 staple gale. The other win-ner of the first three 24 shooter fat pot rounds and an also very big bird to boot, shot a pin wheel pin up target for all to see with a 577 caliber breech load carbine using an English brass case smokeless home cut load with a regular Minie bullet over enough Unique, he said, to do maybe 1000 even M.V. I says, Whered yah hold? He says, I didnt know where to hold so I held dead center and snatched the trigger. I says to myself, An honest man and Ill bet if he held a couple of inches into the wind and squeezed that famous Dickson of Edinburgh Trigger on that 26 stiff Henry barrel Henry action drop block fusil with the right hand hammer, he might with that size hole, make a difference. However, this fellow was a collector and just wanted to shoot that rare piece once just for the hell of it with his handload in competition.
I says, What? You got a whole 28 gauge shell vest fulla those 577 shiny brass show loads and youre only gonna shoot one shot with that exotic tiger gun cause yah won a turkey already and twenty or so bucks to boot? He interpreted that as meaning that he was a poor sport to win and then run which it wasnt, so I explained it about you can only win twice with the same gun like I had done. He says, O.K. how about you trying my 577 for a few shots and if you luck one you got three birds and three pots, Im a lousy shot myself.
First we had steak dinner at the village bistro and he told about a few nice British guns he had and I told how my Gramps was very fond of that Snider 577 cartridge and would love to have that nice rifle. He says, There isnt enough money around here to buy this 577! I says, You dont know Gramps. About 1 P.M. the wind shut off suddenly and it got calm as the indoor coops. The 577 man says, Im going to shoot a shot to see about where shes hitting and Ill squeeze this one real careful. A lot of shooters had left due to the wind, so the fat 10 the guy with the 577 shoots real careful holding dead center beats a dozen others, so I dont get to try his two wins gun. I never saw that 577 rarity again, but thats how it was at that shoot.
By the end of that 16 week season two of the 25-35s were even for most wins average per day, I was a close third just barely beating a stiff 38-55 plain 94 Winchester and a 45-90 handloaded was fifth. The big hole advantage myth was firmly dismissed and the next year everything was back to normal but I never did shake off the Lucky Duke stigma.
As Ever --------
Frank Marshall Jr.
As Ever --------
Frank Marshall Jr.