DESERT MARKSMEN & PISTOL CLUB ANTELOPE VALLEY, CA 2019 FALL EDITION

*WHAT’S HAPPENING AT DMRPC?*

FIRE WEATHER CLOSURES

Recently the DMRPC complex has been temporarily closed in periods of extreme fire danger, something that rarely occurs. This decision was made by DMRPC leadership based upon extreme fire danger levels (Red Flag), fire incidents that were ongoing at the time, and the reduced availability of resources from local fire management agencies. Weather data gathered at the DMRPC onsite weather station recorded single digit humidity levels, and sustained wind speeds at fourteen MPH. Frequent wind gusts were over twenty-five MPH as measured using a Kestrel meter. Currently, the DMRPC complex still has a large volume of brush clearance work to be done, in spite of a recent USFS fire inspection report that showed good progress on our part. That is commendable, but let us not forget that brush clearance is a year-round requirement that entails constant maintenance. This large volume of highly flammable brush, coupled with dry, windy, fire weather conditions, and poor emergency vehicle access with delayed response times, are all factors that were taken into account with regards to the range closure decision. This decision was not taken lightly, as DMRPC members and associated activities were disrupted. As DMRPC is currently in negotiations with USFS in an effort to renew our lease agreement, it is especially prudent that we demonstrate good stewardship of the land entrusted to us, and that of course means we not be the cause of any fire incidents. At this time, we do not know if these closures will be repeated; we do ask members and their escorted guests to be ever vigilant about the potential for wildland fires and to take precautions. More information will be available as the process continues; attending a DMRPC monthly meeting is the best way to keep up to date with DMRPC happenings, events, news, and to let your voice be heard.

FIRE RESOURCES USE DMRPC COMPLEX

In the event of a wildland (brush) fire incident near or on the DMRPC complex, be aware that local fire agencies may use our complex for equipment staging or incident management. If this occurs, DMRPC will update the Range Alerts tab on the club’s webpage with further info ASAP. (Continued from previous page)

SAFETY WARNING AND TIP

Reloaders: Do you understand how pressure levels, component selection, and the type of firearm you are loading ammunition for are all considerations to be taken together? Earlier this summer an incident occurred at DMRPC that resulted in the destruction of an M1 Garand service rifle; the likely cause was ammunition not suitable for that particular firearm. Luckily in this particular case, the shooter/owner of this historic rifle was not seriously injured, despite the fact that the M1 Garand he was using blew to pieces. It is likely that the reloaded ammunition in question was not specific to the needs of the M1 Garand platform; too much pressure often leads to over-speed conditions that the action is not capable of sustaining, and eventually a catastrophic failure such as that pictured below results. When loading ammunition specific to the M1Garand (and some other semi-auto platforms as well), reloaders MUST carefully follow established guidelines particular to that platform. The problem is that not much published data is out there in older manuals. For example, of my five different reloading manuals, only one makes minor mention of special considerations for semi-automatic rifles, and that single page advised that the use of medium burning rate powders worked best. When searching the internet, much more info abounds. There are many videos, web forums, and links to various manufacturers listings. What I have learned is that IMR 4064 and IMR 4895 seem to be the most popular. Choose your loading data carefully.

M1 GARAND EXPLOSION: USE CORRECT AMMUNITION, KNOW HOW TO RELOAD PROPERLY, ALWAYS USE EYE & EAR PROTECTION. (Continued from previous page) RANGE ETIQUETTE & CEASEFIRE

As a reminder to all DMRPC members, the carrying of loaded sidearms (handguns) in properly fitted holsters, either in the open, or concealed upon the person, is specifically allowed at all times while on the DMRPC complex. This includes called “CEASE FIRES” while on any range, so long as the member (or their supervised guest) does not handle the sidearm while it is secured in their holster. This policy does not differentiate between the employment status (past or present) of anyone. Please remember to always be polite, courteous, and respectful, of others. One of the great aspects of DMRPC is that we have members from all over, and who have diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Working together we can accomplish a lot for the club, and make good friends in the process. —————————————————————————————————————- COWBOY ACTION:

From our DMRPC Cowboy Action leader Doc Silverhawks comes the third installment of “The Gun That Won The West” (see the last newsletter for part 2).

Hello and welcome, what a treat is to get together to discuss life’s more important details, and see if we can’t uncover more facts about the “Gun That Won The West”. So, make yourself comfortable, pour yourself a cold one, or maybe a shot of fine Whiskey, and lets see where this conversation takes us. When we last got together, we discussed a loose “State of the Art” so to speak, of some of the firearms and ammunition technologies that existed in the years leading up to the onset of the Civil War. I realize that hindsight is 20-20 and it makes it relatively easy for us to see all of the advancements from then until now, in one big eyeful, but try to consider for a moment, the massive amount of work that was being done by many inventors, tinkerers, and entrepreneurs toiling to push forward, the leading edge of firearms and accuracy, increased weather resistance, and increased speed of reloading. The percussion ignition system, some 40 years old by 1861, really opened the door for the development of the repeating firearm. The “Cap and Ball” , with its multiple chambers, did much to increase firepower and rate of fire, but reloading was slow and cumbersome to say the least. It was obvious that what was needed was a self contained , that would hold powder, bullet, and ignition source all in a weather resistant package. By 1846 there was some success with the pinfire cartridge system that, while not really successful on any large scale, proved that the idea of a self contained cartridge was very sound. Two key players in the development of the self contained cartridge were an inventor named Daniel Wesson, and a businessman named . They spent a few years as partners, working on a , repeating pistol so as not to infringe upon Colt’s revolving cylinder patent. The cartridge they developed however, was a hollow based, conical lead bullet with the powder and primer in its base. While it did work to some degree, it (Continued from previous page) was severely under powered and unpractical for Military use. They did all of this work while eagerly awaiting for Colt’s revolving cylinder patent to expire in 1857. Disappointed at the less than warm reception of their Volcanic Repeater and ”Rocket Ball” ammunition, they sold their repeater design to a shirt manufacturer who, over time, took the design much further. His name was . Smith and Wesson’s next design was a diminutive .22 revolver but, more important than the gun, was the cartridge it fired. A copper “cup shaped” casing with a hollow rim at the bottom that contained a priming compound. The case was filled with gunpowder and capped with a lead bullet. When the soft case was struck by the hammer of the revolver, the priming mixture was ignited which in turn ignited the powder, driving the bullet out through the bore, leaving an empty copper case in the revolver’s chamber. That cartridge, based on Louis Nicholas Flobert’s design of 1845, which, by the way, was nearly identical to the not as yet invented .22 short rimfire, was the great Grandfather to all of the cartridges that we enjoy today. Much the same way that Colt patented his revolving cylinder, Smith and Wesson acquired the patent to their revolutionary innovation, a bored through cylinder, by masterfully purchasing the rights from the inventor Rollin White. Smith and Wesson used those rights to monopolize on cartridge firing until 1869. The number of infringements and evasions on and of this patent proved without a doubt that the metallic cartridge was here to stay. I know that many of us would support the idea that it was the Colt Peacemaker or the 1873 Winchester that should always rightly hold the title “The Gun That Won The West” but, please allow me to give you some food for thought on this matter. As we discuss this, let us find ourselves standing on the timeline of history, right at 1861-1862, as a combatant in the Civil War, an Indian fighter, or an explorer, pushing back the edge of the Frontier. I believe that from this point of view, it is entirely possible that “The Gun The Won The West” just might be a rimfire repeater! I’m sure that many of you already know of the firearm and of the rimfire cartridge of which it is I speak but, if not, please feel free to check in very soon for part 4 of this series.

All my best, Doc Silverhawks SASS Regulator # 24427

DMRPC Newsletter compiled by SplitHoof, #282