The Black Powder Cartridge News Summer 2025

Recently the news has been covering the efforts of several Republican lawmakers to promote a bill abolishing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The lawmakers claim that the BATF has made numerous unlawful and infringing restrictions to the Second Amendment, attempted to bypass Congressional and judicial oversight on new firearms law and has generally gone far beyond their designated authority and responsibilities. Operation “Fast and Furious” and the recent over-stepping of BATF’s regulatory role in the “Pistol Brace” controversy are but two prime examples of a government agency that seems to have seriously lost its way. ...Read More >

Our long-standing writer, Leo Remiger, sent us this text below concerning the Maynard No. 14 Long-Range rifle that is featured on this issue’s cover and in his article on Charles E. Dwight. Professor Dwight used his Maynard to good effect and turned in some surprising scores while in the company of the best shots of the day. ...Read More >

Nurturing a legacy, honoring it and finding ways to carry it into the future while respecting what has been achieved. Aja Gullo’s journey is about more than following in her father’s footsteps; it’s about redefining what that legacy means today, bringing it into the modern world and shaping its next chapter. She’s doing what so many in her position might not have the courage to do: competing with the weight of legacy on her shoulders while making her own mark. ...Read More >

I would like to offer my compliments to Jim Floral on his article Bears, Buckskins and Brawling – 1899 Style. When I started reading the article, I admit I was completely perplexed about where he was going with the story but I am glad I continued and finished the read. Obviously, there has been a lot of research spent on tying this article together. ...Read More >

While attending the 2024 Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle match, I spotted some cloth or blanket padded rifle cases, and there were some pistol cases as well. Those caught my eye because I had just purchased a new Model 1874 Sharps (by C. Sharps Arms) that was equipped with an MVA scope, so my usual blanket gun covers would not fit. The maker of these zippered gun cases has versions for both scoped and non-scoped rifles. ...Read More >

Like many of the shooters reading this article, many of my earliest and fondest memories involve shooting guns. From toy guns, to rubber band guns, BB guns, and then on to 22’s and bigger; whenever there were two or more of us there, a contest would soon begin. I guess it’s just something about my competitive nature, but I love a shooting match! ...Read More >

Rifle Clubs locations and events. ...Read More >

Charles E. Dwight was the only son of Henry L. Dwight, and a descendent of the late Rev. Timothy Dwight, a famous divine, author, and one-time president of Yale College, Massachusetts. Charles was born in 1849, in Somers, Tolland County, Connecticut, and first entered the drug business in 1867, at Greensville, Pennsylvania, where he remained three years and then relocated to Wheeling, West Virginia. Mr. Dwight was married on January 28, 1875, to Lizzie, fourth daughter of the late Thomas Neill, originally partner in the firm of Neill & Ellingham (wholesale grocers) and their family consisted of two sons. ...Read More >

Although it was 2010, when the .22 Black Powder Rifle Association was officially formed, there was considerable interest in .22 competition with the “old style” rifles long before that. The .22 Black Powder Cartridge Silhouette competitions have gained significant momentum since 2010. Now, the .22 BPCR silhouette game has eclipsed big-bore black powder cartridge rifle shooting in many parts of the country. Many of us “old timers” have found refuge in the low recoil of the 22 Long Rifle cartridge and off-the-shelf ammo. In recent years, more shooters have participated in the .22 BPCR Silhouette National Championships than in the BPCR National Championships. ...Read More >

The old master gunsmith, barrel maker, and Schuetzen shooter, H.M. Pope, wrote an essential article on offhand shooting over 100 years ago. Upon re-reading the article, I came upon an item of interest, so I decided to investigate further and see if I could better define some comments made by Pope for my enlightenment. Pope dealt predominately with Schuetzen rifles, where the palm rests were commonly used. Our Black Powder Cartridge (BPC) rifles are not so different in offhand shooting; rather than using a palm rest, we place our hands and fingers directly under the rifle for support in essentially the same place on the rifle. Typical hand placement is near where the forearm meets the receiver. ...Read More >

I’m going to start this article with a quote from none other than Harry Pope, famous super-accurate barrel maker, Schuetzen competitor and rifle crank of high order. These are his comments, taken from his catalog, regarding the accuracy of his barrels, his testing methods and technique: ...Read More >

History has certainly not been kind to the 32 Winchester Special, a cartridge that was born in the early days (1902) of the smokeless powder era. Too many people have called it a “useless” cartridge, but I will venture to guess that none of those shooters who make such negative statements have had much experience with the old 32 Special. Most shooters who used the 32 Special liked it, and if they had used it as it was actually intended, they’d probably call it the most useful cartridge in what we refer to as the “30-30 class.” ...Read More >

For a very long time, I have wanted to own a .41 caliber Remington derringer, maybe because of watching 1950s-era TV and movie westerns, or from having the cap-gun version when I was 10 years old. Whatever the cause, a derringer never came my way because the prices always seemed to be just a little more than I could justify paying. But then, what was advertised as a “mechanically sound example with very little finish left” came up for sale in the Spring 2022 Poulin auction at an expected price range that sounded reasonable. I placed a bid on it and, to my surprise, got my derringer. ...Read More >