Thursday, April 16, 2015

Firearm Forum Question: Review and Testing of the Henry Big Boy Mare's Leg Lever Action Pistol

Ask A Firearms Question:
No question today ...
This is my personal 'Review' of the Henry Repeating Arms Mare's Leg 45 LC (Long Colt) Lever Action Pistol.
This is essentially a cut down Big Boy Henry Lever Action Rifle.
This was made famous in the TV Show called 'Wanted Dead or Alive'
staring Steve McQueen:



Here are some photos of my Henry 45LC Mare's Leg with Holster:











Henry Mare's Leg Specifications ....

The Henry Mare's Leg .... 

Here I am wearing my Black Cowboy Dustcover with my Henry Mare's Leg
strapped to my side, the Cowboy Dustcover hides the Mares Leg ....


Here I am wearing my Henry Mare's Leg strapped to my side in plain view ....

My Cowboy Scabbard I use when riding my horse carrying the Henry Mare's Leg 45LC Lever Action.
Note: This Scabbard can be used as an attachment to your saddle while riding a horse or on your motorcycle ....

Answer / Review:
Blog Administrator -
I purchased a Henry Mare's Leg 45 Long Colt Lever Action with Authentic Mare's Leg Holster sometime back.
Essentially It's more of a collector's piece.
I just took it to the gun range and fired my 45LC Mare's Leg for the first time, see target below.
It holds five 45 long colt rounds in the tube plus one in the chamber.

Note: Since this is cut down version of a lever action rifle it is sold as a handgun (pistol).

Henry offers this in 45 Long Colt; 44 Magnum; 357 Magnum; and 22 Caliber.
This is 100 percent American Made.

Comments about the Henry Mare's Leg:
Favorable -
1/ The firearm handles well and is accurate, no issues.
2/ Cowboy Shooters will love this firearm so will Steve mcQueen buffs.

The Downsides to the the Henry Mare's Leg are -
1) Using Brass is a bad idea, it scratches easily and is hard to maintain. Blued or Stainless Steel would be better choices.
2) It is too heavy.
3) The Henry Holster is poorly designed. I had to have a leather shop rework it before I could even use it. There are better after market holsters available now that were not available when I bought my Henry.
4) It has the same draw back that all Lever Action Rifles have, hard to clean and maintain. See Youtube Video below on Disassembly and Reassembly of The Henry Mare's Leg 45LC Handgun.
5) The Henry Mare's Leg has no half cock safety position on the hammer.

=> My Test and Review Rates this Firearm as a - BUY for Cowboy Shooters and Collectors but NOT for novice or target shooters.
=> I Rate the Henry Mare's Leg Holster as a - NO BUY. Get an after market.

The Target below shows me Test Firing my Henry 45LC Lever Action Mare's Leg Pistol at the Indoor Gun Range using Ultramax 45 Long Colt Cowboy 250 Grain, Round Nose, Flat Point Ammo.
This was my First Test Firing with 6-rounds (Five in the Tube, One in Chamber).
Fired from the hip at 30-Feet using a Target Size of 24h x 17w Inches....


The Target below shows me Test Firing my Henry 45LC Lever Action Mare's Leg Pistol at the Outdoor Gun Range using Ultramax 45 Long Colt Cowboy 250 Grain, Round Nose, Flat Point Ammo.
This was my second Test Firing with 10-rounds (Five only in the Tube, reloading once).
Fired aiming the Mare's Leg at 75-Feet (25 yards) using a Target Size of 33h x 22w Inches....

Ultramax 45 Long Colt Cowboy 250 Grain, Round Nose, Flat Point Ammo ....


Hera re some Youtube Videos of the Henry Mare's Leg 45 Long Colt Pistol:
Youtube Video: Test Firing the Henry Mare's Leg 45 (LC) Long Colt Lever Action Pistol ....


Youtube Video: The Henry Mare's Leg ....


Youtube Video: Disassembly and Reassembly of 
The Henry Mare's Leg 45LC Handgun ....


Please ADD Your Comment to this Blog.

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Attention Firearm and Ammunition (ammo) Manufacturers, and Makers of Firearm Accessories. I am now Testing Products and issuing reviews on the Firearms Forum (Ask A Firearms Question) site.
If you want your Product TESTED, Reviewed, and Posted here, please contact me.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Firearm Forum Question: Shooting Aluminum Cased Ammo

Ask A Firearms Question:
Any insight into shooting Aluminum Cased Ammo? I have seen a lot of this lately for very good prices at Wal-Mart. 
Thank you, The Joker Man.

Here are some boxes of my personal Aluminum Cased Ammo in 9mm and 45acp that I bought at Walmart ....




Answer:
Blog Administrator -
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Aluminum cased ammunition (ammo). I shoot it myself. I frequently buy 9mm and 45acp at Walmart. 

The downside to Aluminum Ammo is it should not be reloaded.

Aluminum Cased Ammo, however, makes for great inexpensive Target Shooting.


Helpful Hint: I highlight my Aluminum Cased Ammo so I don't mixed it up with my reload empty cases, see pictures above.


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Attention Firearm and Ammunition (ammo) Manufacturers, and Makers of Firearm Accessories. I am now Testing Products and issuing reviews on the Firearms Forum (Ask A Firearms Question) site.
If you want your Product TESTED, Reviewed, and Posted here, please contact me.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Firearm Forum Question: Review and Testing of the CAI 7.62x39mm AK47 Centurion Model 39 Assault Rifle

Ask A Firearms Question:
No question today ...
This is my personal 'Review' of CAI (Century Arms) Model 39, 7.62x39mm AK-47 Assault Rifle.
Here are some photos of my CAI AK-47 Model 39 ....











Specifications ....

Answer / Review:
Blog Administrator -
I purchased one of these late last year. Unlike most AK-47s these CAI Rifles are 100 percent made in the USA. They are Mil Spec.
The Model 39 I selected has a black synthetic stock with a forward picatinny rail and front and rear iron sights.
The AK came with one Black Tapco Polymer and six Black Steel Korean 30-round magazines. The total cost of my AK was $650.00 including tax and shipping and handling from J&G Gun Sales in Prescott Arizona.

I upgraded my AK as follows:
1) I replaced the standard dust cover with an original Russian Dust Cover and Rear Rail Mount, and added a 3 x 9 Scope, see pictures above.
2) I added a Black Forward Grip with Bi-Pod. 
3) I have since purchased two Black 75-round Romanian Steel Drum Magazines, and two Black 40-round Polymer ProMag Banana clip style magazines.
4) I purchased one Black Fieldline Tactical Assault Rifle Case from Wal-Mart.

This AK-47 Rifle has two downsides.
1) Because it is 100 percent Mil Spec the bottom plate under the pistol grip has been modified and reinforced therefore a Bum Fire (Slide Fire) Stock will not work on this particular model.
2) The front mounted Picatinny Rails are short so using any heavy optics or scope is out of the question. I tried several optics but they all make the rifle front heavy. A lightweight Green Laser mounted on the underside of the picatinny rail would work fine.

My primary compliant about the CAI AK-47 Model 39 is the Rear Sight Adjustment uses an alan wrench, which was not furnished with the weapon and it is an odd size. I also had to soak the alan screw for about 3 days in WD-40 before it would loosen and turn, the main reason I changed out the dust cover and added a rear scope. Almost everyone who buys this rifle has this complaint and notices that out of the box it shoots off center and needs to be adjusted. I would recommend to CAI changing to a larger Alan Screw and including the alan wrench with the purchase, a small cost factor for a great firearm.

Below is my Target sighting at the Indoor Gun Range of the CAI Model 39 AK-47 with Iron Sights at 35 Feet:
Right at of the box the CAI AK fired way to the top left as shown, with adjustment it shot to the upper and center right. It took only 15 shots to get center.

Below is my Target sighting at the Outdoor Gun Range at 50-Yards (150 feet) with the CAI Model 39 AK-47 with a 3 x 9 Scope mounted on a Russian Dust Cover and Picatinny Rail:
Scope was off slightly shooting up and to the right as shown in upper target.
Two adjustments and it was hitting dead center as shown on the lower target,

In Testing the CAI Model 39, AK-47 Assault Rifle I have tried all kinds of ammo and the weapon shoots flawlessly without jamming or issues of any kind. So far I have about 650 rounds through this weapon.

Types of 7.62x39mm Ammo Tested so far: TulAmmo; Wolf Hollow Points, Wolf FMJ; Wolf Jacketed Soft Points; Yugo Brass Cased; Arsenal; Remington UMC; Winchester Super-X SP Hunting Ammo; and Red Army from Ukraine, FMJ and HP (highly recommend the Red Army FMJ, my favorite). 

I Rate this American Made CAI Manufactured AK-47 as a ... BUY

Here are some additional AK-47, CAI Model 39 Photos ....



An Original AK-47 ....

7.62x39mm Ammo Specs ....


=> Other Related Topics Posted to The Firearms Forum Site:
Care and Cleaning of the AK-47 Assault Rifle -
Please ADD Your Comment to this Blog.

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Attention Firearm and Ammunition (ammo) Manufacturers, and Makers of Firearm Accessories. I am now Testing Products and issuing reviews on the Firearms Forum (Ask A Firearms Question) site.
If you want your Product TESTED, Reviewed, and Posted here, please contact me.