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Black Rifles & Green Eyes | Night Vision History & Evolution Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

On today’s show with GunBroker.com, we’re talking black rifles and green eyes, otherwise known as night vision. We start out talking about the first true generation of night vision – the starlight scope. Usually used in special purpose missions, they looked like a giant spotlight and mounted generally on an M1 Carbine. Thankfully, we’ve made huge advancements through today’s 3rd generation night vision. Make sure to listen in to this episode brought to you by GunBroker.com, to hear an in-depth conversation on night vision and thermal optics!

Next, we dive into night vision hunting which has skyrocketed in popularity for game like wild hogs. Make sure you check into your local game laws however, because this isn’t legal everywhere and there are some rules you need to make sure you follow. We also dive into the difference between green and white phosphor, which have major differences between them. White phosphor provides a large jump in optics with visuals being way more crisp compared to green phosphor. We also discuss the differences between night vision and thermal optics. Night vision optics absolutely cannot be used during the daytime due to how they process light, but thermals absolutely can be used during the daytime. However, your image will certainly not have as much clarity on your targets if the temperature differences aren’t as high like during the nighttime. A huge use case for thermal optics is in the recovery of game animals. Thermal optics provide terrific blood tracking capabilities that can help provide trackers with fantastic recovery efforts, including seeing the downed animal.

One of the downfalls of night vision is that depth perception gets thrown off quickly. However, with that being said, a lot of that can be trained out with serious training time and as always, it’s way better to have night vision if your enemies do not! Closing out, Allen dives into the different options for night vision at GunBroker.com. He covers a multitude of different options from the cheap end to however much you’d like to spend, there are options out there for you whether you want to outfit your helmet or your firearm.

The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Most Controversial Round – The 6.5 Creedmoor Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

On today’s show with GunBroker.com, we’re talking one of the most controversial rounds out today – the 6.5 Creedmoor, with both Chris Powell from Houndsman XP Podcast and Rick Larnerd from Gobbler Knob Long Rifles. No matter what side of the fence you sit on pertaining to the 6.5, we may make you mad by the end of this episode! Starting off, Allen goes into a little background on the 6.5, its creation, and how it got to where it is today. Out of the gate, the 6.5 was touted mostly as a long distance paper punching round, but not very much beyond that. Well, Hornady got their hands on it and flipped that stigma on its head. Listen in to this episode presented by GunBroker.com to hear our entire in-depth conversation on the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Up next, Logan dives into the 6.5 even being used for plains game over in Africa, to be clear, for the smaller plains game, definitely not most of the larger ones! We get into how people feel about taking elk with the 6.5, with the general consensus being that the .30 caliber cartridges still reign supreme there, however it is most definitely something that you can do. We go over long range shooting with one of the biggest caveats on the 6.5 being some people overlook shot placement because they believe the 6.5 is the magic round, which may be a large reason why the 6.5 receives so much criticism.

Closing out we go over everyone’s first rifle cartridge, with a few very interesting answers from the crew! We also debate how the 6.5 managed to blow up to be as popular as it is today. From launch, the 6.5 seemed to have the perfect storm for success, and in many ways it most certainly has been. We also go over some other rounds that may be the next sleeper round to blow up like the 6.5 Creedmoor. Do you think the 6.5 Creedmoor is just a fad or around for the long haul?

The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

Wild Hunting & Poaching Stories With 2 Game Wardens Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

On today’s show with GunBroker.com, we’re talking hunting and conservation. Both Chris Powell from Houndsman XP Podcast and Rick Larnerd from Gobbler Knob Long Rifles have backgrounds in serving as a game warden in some point of their lives. We start out this episode diving into poaching. Rick goes into the game warden side of things which includes a conversation on how and what deer decoys they could use to potentially attract a poacher. You may be surprised at the style of decoy they have to use! We talk hunting accidents in different types of hunting for different game, with many of those being firearm related. Make sure to listen in to this episode sponsored by GunBroker.com to hear us dive into how to avoid putting yourself in one of these situations.

Up next, Rick dives into a poaching story from his time in rural Pennsylvania. Having to make a quick stop off the road, he pulls next to a barn that had multiple whitetail hanging. A little while later after a stakeout, he had some fast action that led to an arrest. You have to listen to how crazy this story is. Chris also gives us one of his most memorable cases, when a guy shot fourteen turkeys during spring turkey season. A multi-state investigation led to this guy landing himself in some major hot water!

Closing out, Chris talks about the parts of the job that are gratifying versus the parts of the job that really weigh on you after multiple years as a game warden. A lot of it may not always be black and white even though that’s how it’s presented most of the time. Chris gives an excellent example on this episode, make sure to listen to this fantastic story of his. Allen gives us the rundown on hunting rifle sales on GunBroker.com with most bolt action rifles moving super quick, but if you need that last minute new hunting rifle, head over to GunBroker.com to pick yours up today!

The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

Frontiersmen & Flintlocks Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

On today’s show with GunBroker.com, we’re talking the frontier time period and the firearms that belong to it. When we talk frontier time period a lot of us think about flintlock rifles. Absolutely beautiful pieces of history and surprisingly efficient, even though most people would think otherwise. We talk with Chris Powell from Houndsman XP Podcast and Rick Larnerd from Gobbler Knob Long Rifles – we start in with how Rick actually makes flintlocks, and how that has influenced the way he hunts. He goes in depth about his journey that led him into the love of creating flintlocks. Rick shares with us some really nice examples of flintlocks that he has built himself, so make sure you tune into this episode Sponsored by GunBroker.com to see the beautiful examples he brought with him.

Chris brings up the style or school of each long rifle we have on today’s show. The architecture is one key example on how to figure out what school these guns belong to as well as the maker’s signature being on the barrel flat. The style of the gun is a huge factor in finding out where they were created or even where the lineage of the owner came from.

We then delve into hunting with flintlocks. Rick tells the group about Pennsylvania Flintlock only deer season which runs for a two-week span. Most at the table today has at one point in time hunted with a flintlock and Rick tells the group that for the past thirty or so years he has specifically hunted with flintlocks. Chris goes in depth telling about not only hunting with a flintlock, but hunting with a flintlock and a dog. He’s very involved with period hunting and has spent some time using flintlocks with mountain cur dogs. Some of the earliest depictions of flintlocks are drawn with dog chasing game during the hunt.

In closing, Rick goes through the process of creating a flintlock. He delves into how he does the process from cutting the blank wood to hand engraving the finish. He spends countless hours building these beautiful examples of flintlocks. Check him out over at Gobbler Knob Long Rifles to see some of his beautiful work. Make sure you tune in to this episode and listen to his expertise on flintlocks.

The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

National Firearms Act (NFA) & SUPPRESSORS Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

On today’s show with GunBroker.com, we’re talking the National Firearms Act and suppressors. When suppressors were first created you could actually order them by mail or even create your own at home if you had the know-how. That sounds absolutely fantastic but, unfortunately, 1934 rolled around and in came sweeping regulations from the American government. While the publicly stated reason for the NFA was the mob, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Allen goes into the creation of the NFA with the case of the United States vs. Miller, which is where this all stemmed from. With the case being thrown out a few times, it slowly crept through the justice system. Listen in to this episode sponsored by GunBroker.com to hear in depth exactly how the NFA came to be.

In this episode we talk more about suppressors and the government regulations behind them. One of those being the requirement for a Tax Stamp for EVERY suppressor that you purchase. Unfortunately, it is not a one-time fee. This amount has been the same since it was first initiated in 1934, which at that time was an astronomical amount of money. Attached to this is the wait time to get it back after it’s submitted, with many people having to wait 8-10 months, which drives some consumers away from trying to own a suppressor. This along with having to get your fingerprints done and sending in forms for every single suppressor you’d like to own, it really makes consumers jump through a ton of unnecessary hoops.

Closing out, we cover moving a suppressor to someone else if something were to happen to you. The real only true way to do this without having to go through the process again is to set up that person in a trust. We also cover the two major changes that happened after the NFA; the Gun Control Acts of 1968 and 1986. These completely changed the way firearms were purchased, with consumers no longer being able to purchase firearms through the mail. It also created a limited supply of machine guns, artificially inflating the cost. Make sure to listen to this episode to get a deep dive into the National Firearms Act and all the changes over the years. If you’d love to get your hands on firing a suppressor without having to purchase one yourself join us coming up soon at CANCON!

The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

Silencers: How They Work, Their History & How To Make Them Last Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

On today’s show with GunBroker.com, we’re talking silencers and their development throughout the years. Allen dives right into how the original silencer was created and where the inspiration for them came from. He goes into just exactly how a silencer makes a firearm quieter and the science behind it. Jacob brings up the applications of hunting with a silencer. From whitetail or even hog hunting, a silencer opens up a ton of different options for you to hunt, with an added bonus – it’s way better on your ears in the long run. Check out this episode sponsored by GunBroker.com to hear all about how silencers have changed the way a large majority of people hunt today.

We talk about the materials that a suppressor is made from now compared to originally. From stainless steel, which could’ve probably been used as a boat anchor, to now being made mostly with titanium or other lightweight materials, the weight on the end of your rifle has dropped dramatically with a silencer attached. We go over how they are manufactured including some that are even 3D printed today. Many of us are looking forward to seeing if manufacturers start making firearms with silencers built in versus having to buy a separate one to put on afterwards. With many other countries actually requiring silencers at ranges, we’re all very interested to see if the U.S. will ever follow suit.

Closing out, we talk maintenance and lifespan for suppressors. Allen goes over how many people are led wrong when it comes to the lifespan side of that. Many of them can last long enough for you to pass down to your children, if taken care of and cleaned correctly. Speaking of cleaning, Allen goes in depth on how he cleans his personally, but highly recommends you follow your manufacturers recommendation for cleaning. He also goes in depth on what silencers you can purchase currently on GunBroker.com, with thousands of listings you should be able to find whatever it is you’re looking for!

The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

Trench Warfare – Weapons of WW1 Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

On today’s show with GunBroker.com, we’re covering anything and everything in trench warfare. First up on the slate? The big guns – artillery. Artillery was used mainly to bust up troops bunkered down in trenches. As the design of trenches evolved so did the artillery, during WW1 the proximity fuse was refined for artillery to pepper the troops below with shrapnel. Artillery was used in conjunction with trench mortars which were lobbed super high to hopefully come down in the trenches and rain down molten hot shrapnel directly inside. Shrapnel from artillery and mortars was absolutely devastating on the battlefield, causing all sorts of flesh tearing, bone crushing wounds.

Next up, we get up close and personal. You guessed it, bayonets. A common misconception on bayonets is that they’re just a giant knife, but they are not made for that at all. They can somewhat take an edge but the type of steel they are made from is more designed for thrusting and penetrating through body armor. While still holding a place on the battlefield today, it seems that it has migrated more towards being a traditional piece, with a much more diminished role. Post-WW1, standard bayonet size has shrunk dramatically. Starting at a 16” blade standard issue in WW1 all the way down to a 10” blade in modern warfare. The shrinkage in blade size caused many of these to be ground down to a 10” blade, which created a very large subset of collecting in bayonets with original Model 1905s still in their 16” configuration quite rare to see!

Closing out our episode we dive into “Trench Shotguns.” If you’re shopping for a WW1 shotgun on GunBroker.com, you may want to listen in to this episode beforehand. On the flip side of that, if you’re a seller of a Model 12 or 1897 we apologize ahead of time! A long standing belief of WW1 shotguns were that they were used as a “trench broom” to go through and clear trenches of enemies, but due to new research it seems that the primary use of WW1 shotguns was actually rear guard duty for guarding prisoners in camps. Allen goes into the top Model 12s and 1897 shotguns from the WW1 era sold on GunBroker.com and the price range that they went for recently.

The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

Famous Firearm Flops Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

On today’s show with GunBroker.com, we’re talking famous firearm flops! Guns that had huge potential to change the industry, but just could never gain the steam. We start off with the Colt Model 1855 Revolving Rifle, which was a super interesting concept, but design flaws kept it from really taking off. One of the biggest problems was cased ammunition not being invented yet, as well as manufacturing issues straight from the factory. Now, remade with a modern take in the Heritage Rancher Carbine, these guns have gained some popularity and there’s still one common problem, no one knows how to hold them when shooting!

Next up, we delve into the 1960s, The Great Space Race! Astronauts, rockets, and Gyrojet Rocket Pistols! A rocket fuel powered firearm that was extremely complex and awesome, but just too early for its time. Arguably one of the best names for a handgun ever, it was hammer fired, but the hammer was in front of the cartridge that then drove it into the firing pin. The downside is that you didn’t get your maximum velocity until the bullet was downrange.

The Remington Model R51 had an absolute fantastic lead up to its launch, tons of good content and marketing hype that really made this gun a must have, but there was a downside? The gun was subpar at best. Different from the original R51, it was unfortunately a complete flop for Remington, who swiftly buried any evidence of its existence under the rug. A great conversation piece in firearm history, however, they can be picked up for a fantastic deal on GunBroker.com.

Closing out, we talk about the Heckler & Koch G11. Caseless ammunition has stumped manufacturers for years and with the H&K G11, it was no exception. Ahead of its time, with a large failure to launch these guns are extremely hard to find, however other caseless ammunition does sometimes pop up on GunBroker.com. Still to this day the caseless ammunition has not been figured out or mastered, hopefully one day in the future! Allen goes over some of the examples of these guns and ammunition you can find today on GunBroker.com.

The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

Smith & Wesson Innovations Through the Years Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

In this week’s No Lowballers podcast by GoWild presented by GunBroker.com, we’re talking Smith & Wesson innovations through the years with Mike Helms and Vince Perreault. We dive right into it with Mike giving us a rundown of the .357 and .44 magnums that came from Smith & Wesson early on. We talk about the history of the .357, how it was created, and how every other cartridge today is still measured up to it, especially in the law enforcement world. Smith & Wesson get a lot of their inspiration from ammunition partners who approach them with a cool new round looking for a firearm to match it, with the 30 Super Carry being a recent example of this.

Next up Mike shows us a Smith & Wesson Model 39. After a failed attempt with the Model 1913, Smith & Wesson pivoted and came out the gate strong with the Model 39. The Model 39 was the first 9mm pistol built in America. The Model 39 was the single stack variant with Smith & Wesson quickly producing a double stack variant in the Model 59. Although never officially adopted, the Model 39 does have some military history in a suppressed version dubbed “The Hushpuppy.” With a suppressor and a slide lock, it completely took the innovation of a double stack semi auto away turning it into a single shot but it was almost one of the quietest handguns ever made. While not as popular in the collecting world as revolvers from Smith & Wesson, Model 39’s have slowly started to build a collectible following with prices rising on the market on GunBroker.com. Vince has noticed a trend in the “nostalgia bump” with many people requesting these style guns remanufactured in today’s market as new.

Closing out, we cover a really exciting topic for Smith & Wesson. After almost 160 years in Springfield, Massachusetts, Smith & Wesson has relocated to Maryville, TN. While an extremely tough decision, Smith & Wesson did their research to make sure the new location ticked all their boxes for just where exactly they wanted to be. With the grand opening party coming up this Saturday, October 7th, 2023, they sold out all their tickets in less than a day. Distribution, plastics, assembly, and front office are all moving to Maryville with some manufacturing processes remaining in Springfield, where there is generational talent at the revolver and 1911 level for Smith & Wesson. The maiden guns coming out of Maryville should start rolling off the line at the end of October. With over 600,000 square feet of state of the art space that is laid out for maximum efficiency, Smith & Wesson absolutely cannot wait to start their engines in their new space.

The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

The OLDEST S&W Revolver In Existence & Smith & Wesson Founding Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

In this week’s No Lowballers podcast by GoWild presented by GunBroker.com, we’re talking with Mike Helms from Smith & Wesson about the history of the company and how it became the company it is today. We start out talking with Mike on the shadowy history of when Smith & Wesson was originally founded. A few different dates float around, but Mike gives us a good estimate on when he believes the company actually started.

Next up, Mike dives into the Smith & Wesson Model 1. We talk all about how it jump started the company into loads of success basically unheard of in the time period. Mike shows us an amazing example of an EARLY Model 1…you won’t even believe how low the serial number is on it!

We swap over to talk about early top-breaks by Smith & Wesson. Mike brought an awesome .38 single action example, that’s actually the first ever .38 caliber Smith & Wesson ever created. Nicknamed the Baby Russian because of its resemblance to the larger Model 3 Russian, the medium-framed S&W .38’s biggest difference to its big brother is a spur trigger compared to the traditional trigger on the Model 3. The Smith & Wesson .38 came equipped with an automatic extractor, with many arguing that this firearm is some of Smith & Wesson’s finest manufacturing ever.

After the top-breaks we get into hand-ejectors, which in layman’s terms is a regular revolver. Logan goes over an example of one in the Smith & Wesson Model 1896. This Model 1896 is unique because it doesn’t have a cylinder release button on the side, but instead has a pin you pull on the front of it. Mike goes into how the Model 1896 regressed in a sense, going from an automatic extractor to a hand-ejector. Logan and Allen talk about examples of the 1896 and other Smith & Wesson firearms that are listed on GunBroker.com and what you can expect to spend on examples of some of these.

Closing out, Mike shows us an example of a 2nd Issue Model 1, “The Fancy Gun." Not sure exactly where this example came from, it was shipped from the factory either to the mayor of Springfield, Emerson White, as a gift or if it was sold to Emerson White and he gave it to someone else as a gift. Mike also gives us a rundown of joining Smith & Wesson’s Collector Association and how they try to welcome everyone no matter what sort of collecting you’re into!

The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.The show launches every Thursday morning. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

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