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  P.O. Ackley, America’s Gunsmith

  $54.95 Original price was: $54.95.$49.95Current price is: $49.95.

  “P.O. Ackley, America’s Gunsmith is so extensive and so well done,
  I am at a loss to adequately describe it!”  Dennis ‘Mike’ Bellm, Bellm TC’s

  Book, Hard cover, 256 pages.

  Parker Otto Ackley left a wealth of firearms knowledge among those he trained. The eminent gunsmith, ballistician, barrel maker, teacher and writer perhaps had more influence on modern shooting and firearms than any other single man. And now his life and works have been painstakingly detailed in P.O. Ackley: America’s Gunsmith.

  Writer and gunsmith Fred Zeglin gives a never-before-seen look at the humble man whose research thrust the firearms industry forward. From improving rifle chambers for use with modern powders to developing superior barrels to designing red-hot cartridges, readers will walk away with a new appreciation for Ackley’s exploration and ideas. And his concepts on reloading, rifle accuracy, safety, cartridge choice, and wildcat use are just as relevant for today’s “gun cranks” as they were in Ackley’s heyday.

  Zeglin also delivers the most complete collection of accurate dimensions, loading data and history for the lifetime of cartridges created by P.O. Ackley, the most influential gunsmith in American history. Most shooters today know him because of his “Ackley Improved” cartridge designs. But those cartridges are only the tip of the iceberg. P.O. Ackley: America’s Gunsmith is the whole story.

  Bonus: Full-color photo section and an exclusive never-before-printed article by P.O. Ackley.

  How this book will raise your firearms IQ:

  Wildcat and standard cartridge history

  Accurate technical information

  Colorful Ackley quotes and entertaining Ackleyisms

  Descriptions and reloading data for Ackley Improved cartridges

  Now Shipping! Autographed copies.

  “Any gunsmithing student, reloader, shooter will find him or herself fascinated 
  by this work. No library is complete without it.” Gary Yee, author of
  “Sharpshooters 1750-1900” & “Sharpshooters, Marksmen Through the Ages”

  About the Author

  Fred Zeglin has been building custom hunting rifles for nearly thirty-five years. Zeglin has taught classes for the NRA Short Term Gunsmithing program at three separate colleges and is the Coordinator/Instructor for the Firearms Technology program at FVCC in Kalispell, MT. He has published two other books, Hawk Cartridges Manual and Wildcat Cartridges, Reloader’s Handbook of Wildcat Cartridge Design.

  Fred is maintaining a web site about P.O. Ackley, this allows him to keep updating as more details come to light.  https://ackleyimproved.com

  Fred has signed all the books we are shipping.

   

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• Sale!

  Chambering for Ackley Cartridge (booklet)

  $29.95 Original price was: $29.95.$24.95Current price is: $24.95.
  

  Gunsmithing Student Handbook Series #1

  This booklet is the first of many planned works that provide instruction in the correct and safe methods of gunsmithing. Specifically, this essay discusses Ackley Improved cartridges.  In it, we will not teach you how to install and chamber a barrel, we handle that information in another title, “Chambering Rifle Barrels for Accuracy”.  In this book we will in detail help you to understand the special details related to chambering for Ackley Improved designs, specifically we explain headspace for Ackley designs.

  If you are not familiar with how headspace applies to firearms and ammunition you may want to consider another title we offer, “Understanding Headspace for Firearms”.

  Fred Zeglin along with other well-known Gunsmiths has begun the task of creating a series of instructional manuals.  Each book will focus on one narrow subject in Gunsmithing.  Written with an audience in mind who want to know every detail of the how and why of gunsmithing.

  Each book in the series will provide a highly detailed and Technical explanation of the subject at hand in a way that any gun lover will be able to understand, whether professional or hobbyist.

  44 pages, soft bound.  Printed in the U.S.A.

  

  Back Cover of Chambering for Ackley Cartridges.

  “The material and information inside will last you a lifetime. This is a PRACTICAL handbook.”  Gary Howes, GunsAndGunsmiths.com

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• Sale!

  Hawk Cartridges Manual

  $32.85 Original price was: $32.85.$28.75Current price is: $28.75.

  Hard cover reloading manual for Hawk Cartridges.

  180 pages.

  10 years of research went into the collection of data for Hawk Cartridges.  This book includes all the data collected for all calibers.  This unique line of wildcats is base on the concept of non-belted cartridges that deliver magnum velocities at pressures that are appropriate for the available brass.  Most of the data includes pressure test results.

  Fred Zeglin of Z-Hat Custom took the time to carefully assemble this data in a format that is useful to the reloader and student of ballistics.

  Several articles both old and new are included to illuminate the Hawk Cartridge line-up.  History and technical information, including how to form brass is all included.  Very specific information about selecting correct brass for the cartridge you like.

  Dimensions for all cartridges are included, no secrets here.

  Everything you need to know to be successful with this line of Cartridges.

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• 

  Taming Wildcats, DVD (AGI gunsmithing instruction)

  $69.95

  A wildcat cartridge is a cartridge that is not commercially loaded by a major ammunition manufacturer, but could be loaded by a specialty or contract reloader.

  Taming Wildcats: How To Design & Fabricate Custom Cartridges.  Is one of AGI’s courses, taught by custom gunsmith Fred Zeglin, renowned cartridge designer and builder of the well-known Hawk series of cartridges, will get the viewer on the road to a thorough understanding of Wildcats and Wildcatting.  Great material for any gunsmith or do-it yourself-er who want to make the tools themselves.

  One doesn’t need to be a master machinist or tool and die maker to be able to turn out the blank resizing / forming / chamber reamers on the lathe; a tool post grinder is not needed. A bench grinder with a good fine grinding wheel and some practice will, with Zeglin’s expert and easy to follow guidance, will enable the viewer to turn out reamers that will equal anything one can buy! Talk about self reliance.

  This video is a valuable addition to your library if you want to know how to design and build  custom cartridges, reamers and reloading dies. It provides detailed explanations and demonstrations.

  This DVD includes:

  Introduction to Wildcat and Wildcatting
  The Five Design Steps
  Canon Reamers
  Resizing Die Reamers
  Making a Reamer
  Heat Treating a Reamer
  Relief Grinding
  Sharpening a Reamer
  Forming the Brass
  Making a Chamber Reamer
  Using the Reamer
  BONUS – Pages of information on resource material, tools, lubes and more!

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