Josh Smith
45 Cal.
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2010
- Messages
- 907
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I heard rumors of a lil' hole-in-the-wall gunstore out by the county line opposite of the one I'm near.
Actually it was supposed to be fairly close to where I used to live out in the country, as a boy. Farmland.
Anyway, this place was supposed to only be open 6-8pm Thu, then Fri and Sat by appointment.
I felt like taking a drive anyway, so I hopped in my Blazer and lit a shuck.
Found the place - lil' sign out front advertising that it was a gunstore, and there was a nice lil' garage out back that looked like it might sell stuff. Lights were off.
The other building looked like someone's house.
Went up to the house door and knocked. A lady answered and I said "Hi Ma'am. I heard there was supposed to be a gunstore 'round here someplace." (Yep, I really talk like that). She replied that he was changing clothes and would be right out.
Walked in and I'll be damned if that fully half the place isn't dedicated to muzzleloading. First thing I noticed was a nice powder horn laying on the counter by the door. Second thing was he had most stuff I've been wanting but didn't think I could get locally. CCI musket caps on the cheap, about every nipple ever made - including some locally made from stainless which look to be at least the equal of anything made on a larger scale - moulds, old stock, new stock, all crammed into one lil' store. Of course the other half was smokeless, and I guess maybe we had some conversatin' to do.
I asked about the place - how long it had been there (six years), that I'd heard it was just a retirement thing (nope, he's got a "real job" too, does this on the side, and only has the energy to be open those hours, he's not planning on going anyplace). Funny thing though, I one thing of sub powder in the place, Triple Se7en.
However, when I asked about rumors that he had Holy Black, his face lit and he opened this nice lil' homemade safe - wooden on the outside so to give a good appearance, but reinforced. Asked me how much I wanted.
I told him I only had enough for a pound. He told me 21 bucks even - he already includes tax in his prices, no calculators or guess work!
I invented a proprietary "J.S. Lube" for use on smokeless pistol bullets a while back, a dry lube, and he was very interested in trying out a few. They're being made right now, on the second step of three.
Had a .45 T/C Hawken in the corner.
Talked for a bit, he likes my gunsmithing work, wants to see more, especially the single set trigger I made for my Savage Squirrel Sniper.
But man... a source for Holy Black! Yes! He "only" carries Goex (I asked about Swiss) but he says he can get any I want at the same price. Might have to take him up on that one of these days.
I plan on accumulating the Goex faster than I can shoot it. Right now I'm at a pound and a half.
One thing I did NOT see were many balls or ready-made bullets. Just one or two blister packs of .490" balls.
I cast a LOT of balls. Cast 10 .490", alternate to 10 .440", 10 .452" conical for CF handgun, then back again when the .490 mould has cooled. The moulds have their sprue plates modified so as to reduce any voids, and a cutting and tumbling process I use takes out any further voids and gives real accurate balls.
I think I might give him a few of those too.
Might be able to wheel and deal some. I'm hopin', anyway.
Very nice guy, soft spoken, not opinionated. Talks like you're, you know, his equal. Not a gunshop commando at all.
I can't say enough good about that place. Folks, you come up near Wabash, call me and I'll take ya'll out there.
Josh
Mods: The inclusion of the smokeless items in here are only to set the tone for the store and not make it sound like I'm describing a wholly dedicated-to-muzzleloading place, though that's a big part of it. I therefore put it in the General Muzzleloading area. Figure it will do more good here anyway, than it would down below where folks looking for powder and such may not see it. J.S.
Actually it was supposed to be fairly close to where I used to live out in the country, as a boy. Farmland.
Anyway, this place was supposed to only be open 6-8pm Thu, then Fri and Sat by appointment.
I felt like taking a drive anyway, so I hopped in my Blazer and lit a shuck.
Found the place - lil' sign out front advertising that it was a gunstore, and there was a nice lil' garage out back that looked like it might sell stuff. Lights were off.
The other building looked like someone's house.
Went up to the house door and knocked. A lady answered and I said "Hi Ma'am. I heard there was supposed to be a gunstore 'round here someplace." (Yep, I really talk like that). She replied that he was changing clothes and would be right out.
Walked in and I'll be damned if that fully half the place isn't dedicated to muzzleloading. First thing I noticed was a nice powder horn laying on the counter by the door. Second thing was he had most stuff I've been wanting but didn't think I could get locally. CCI musket caps on the cheap, about every nipple ever made - including some locally made from stainless which look to be at least the equal of anything made on a larger scale - moulds, old stock, new stock, all crammed into one lil' store. Of course the other half was smokeless, and I guess maybe we had some conversatin' to do.
I asked about the place - how long it had been there (six years), that I'd heard it was just a retirement thing (nope, he's got a "real job" too, does this on the side, and only has the energy to be open those hours, he's not planning on going anyplace). Funny thing though, I one thing of sub powder in the place, Triple Se7en.
However, when I asked about rumors that he had Holy Black, his face lit and he opened this nice lil' homemade safe - wooden on the outside so to give a good appearance, but reinforced. Asked me how much I wanted.
I told him I only had enough for a pound. He told me 21 bucks even - he already includes tax in his prices, no calculators or guess work!
I invented a proprietary "J.S. Lube" for use on smokeless pistol bullets a while back, a dry lube, and he was very interested in trying out a few. They're being made right now, on the second step of three.
Had a .45 T/C Hawken in the corner.
Talked for a bit, he likes my gunsmithing work, wants to see more, especially the single set trigger I made for my Savage Squirrel Sniper.
But man... a source for Holy Black! Yes! He "only" carries Goex (I asked about Swiss) but he says he can get any I want at the same price. Might have to take him up on that one of these days.
I plan on accumulating the Goex faster than I can shoot it. Right now I'm at a pound and a half.
One thing I did NOT see were many balls or ready-made bullets. Just one or two blister packs of .490" balls.
I cast a LOT of balls. Cast 10 .490", alternate to 10 .440", 10 .452" conical for CF handgun, then back again when the .490 mould has cooled. The moulds have their sprue plates modified so as to reduce any voids, and a cutting and tumbling process I use takes out any further voids and gives real accurate balls.
I think I might give him a few of those too.
Might be able to wheel and deal some. I'm hopin', anyway.
Very nice guy, soft spoken, not opinionated. Talks like you're, you know, his equal. Not a gunshop commando at all.
I can't say enough good about that place. Folks, you come up near Wabash, call me and I'll take ya'll out there.
Josh
Mods: The inclusion of the smokeless items in here are only to set the tone for the store and not make it sound like I'm describing a wholly dedicated-to-muzzleloading place, though that's a big part of it. I therefore put it in the General Muzzleloading area. Figure it will do more good here anyway, than it would down below where folks looking for powder and such may not see it. J.S.
