1998 brings out-of-the-box moly coating and back-to-the-past rifles - Outdoor Marketplace

Shooting Industry, March, 1998 by Jon R. Sundra

A couple of years ago I predicted that, where premium-type ammo and reloading components were concerned, moly-coated bullets would soon be the role rather than the exception. The way I had it figured, it didn't take a rocket scientist to see that it would only be a matter of time before the messy and time-consuming coating process was improved to where it could be done economically and on a high-volume production basis. Winchester has done that very thing with its new Lubalox II proprietary coating being used on its Supreme Partition Gold ammo introduced this year.

Partition Gold represents another phase in a cooperative effort between Winchester and Nosler that began last year with the introduction of the Supreme Ballistic Silvertip line of ammunition. Now they've put their heads together again and have come up with Partition Gold, a bullet that combines the best features of the Nosier Partition and Winchester's Fail Safe bullets. I had the opportunity to try this new ammo on a deer hunt in south Texas in December and it looks very promising. Nosier will be offering these bullets as components under the "Combined Technology" label showing both the Winchester and Nosier logos on the box.

I had no sooner returned from the hunt when I learned that Hornady had also jumped aboard the moly-coating bandwagon for '98. They too have developed their own proprietary moly-coating process and will be offering it in 11 different Varmint Express loadings spanning .222 Rem. to .243 Win., and in two match loadings in .223 and .308. For handloaders, Hornady will offer moly-coated bullets in .22 and .30 calibers, with more to be added throughout the year.

The writing is on the wall. Surely other ammo and bullet component makers will be joining the fray, if not this year, then next. And why not? Moly-coated bullets work! They reduce friction, increase barrel and accuracy life, reduce fouling, and make a bore easier to clean when it does need it - which ain't often!

Chalk up another victory for technology!

From The Past

Judging from some of the new gun variations being introduced for '98, it's evident that the industry is once again in the midst of a love affair with the past. I say "once again" because it seems every generation or so there's a decided increase in the buying public's interest in older guns and cartridges.

I recall how 25 years ago the .45-70, .22 Hornet and the .220 Swift were rescued from the brink of oblivion when Ruger, Browning, Savage and Marlin introduced rifles chambered for them. Some that specifically come to mind are the now discontinued Ruger No. 3 in .22 Hornet and .45-70. I also recall how Ruger and Savage did a lot to revive the .220 Swift by chambering their respective heavy-barreled varmint rifles for this hottest of .22 centerfires.

Of course with cowboy action and black powder cartridge rifle silhouette competitions gaining in popularity, that alone could be reason enough for the heightened interest in older guns and cartridges.

Let's not forget the manufacturers. I'm sure some of the interest is being generated by them. After all, new products do not always appear in response to consumer demand. Indeed, most often it's the manufacturers who, by gambling on some unlikely new product, hope to create a demand. When Bill Ruger introduced his No. 1 rifle, it wasn't in answer to legions of shooters demanding that someone offer a falling-block, single-shot rifle. He was gambling that when shooters saw the rifle, they would want one simply because it was a beautifully designed and executed gun that brought a new dimension to shooting and hunting.

A couple of examples can be seen in the new offerings of Browning and Marlin. This year Browning is adding to its growing line of 19th century variations of its Model 1885 High and Low Wall falling-block, single-shot rifles. New this year is a 34-inch barreled Creedmore-type 1885 chambered in the old .45-90. This gun features a tang-mounted vernier rear aperture, and a spirit level front sight with wind gauge. This latest addition to the 1885 lineup has, between the High and Low Wall variants, brought the number of 19th century cartridge chamberings to six: the .30-30, .38-55, .40-65, .45 Colt, .45-70, and .4590. In looking at pages 46-48 in the new Browning catalog, you almost get the impression that it's 1898 rather than 1998!

As for Marlin, they've introduced a Model 1897 Annie Oakley, a take-down variation based upon the current Model 39A lever action which can be traced all the way back to the Marlin Model 1891. The design was modified slightly in the form of the Model 1892, then further modified to a take-down version in the Model 1897. This was perhaps the best-known of several Marlins that Little Miss Sureshot used during her exhibition shooting career that spanned nearly 60 years.

One of Annie's most celebrated feats was with a Model 1891 - the firing of 25 shots in 27 seconds from a distance of 36 feet. The entire 25-shot group could be covered with a nickel.

The Annie Oakley commemorative Model 1897 sports an 18 1/2-inch octagon barrel, a straight-grip buttstock of highly figured Walnut, and a roll-engraved receiver with Ms. Oakley's signature in gold on the breechbolt. It's a neat-looking little rifle.