A trip to the NRA Museum in Springfield, MO

duelist1954 · January 5, 2014, 10:22 AM

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the new satellite location of the NRA’s National Firearms Museum. It is located in Bass Pro’s headquarters store in Springfield, Missouri. The museum has an outstanding collection of military, sporting and personal defense firearms spanning history from the late Middle Ages to the present. This video has just a small sample of the collection on display.

I mostly filmed nineteenth century revolvers, both cap & ball and cartridge guns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKtJBzmeYCE

noelf2 · January 5, 2014, 10:44 AM

Thanks Mike! Makes me want to go back home to Springfield and check it out myself.

Rigmarol · January 5, 2014, 02:17 PM

Great info. Wish I was close enough to check it out. Thanks.

Kappe · January 5, 2014, 03:13 PM

I can't believe Colt didn't think the .40 caliber Navy was worth it. I would love to have one.

Hornady makes .40 caliber (.395) round balls, and molds are available too. How difficult could it be for Uberti or Pietta to bore some of their Navies out to .395 or thereabouts instead of .375?

**4V50 Gary** · January 5, 2014, 05:47 PM

Thanks.

noelf2 · January 6, 2014, 09:08 AM

Quote:

I can't believe Colt didn't think the .40 caliber Navy was worth it. I would love to have one.

I would too, but I have to agree with Colt's decision. Just no real advantage over the 36 cal.

Rifleman1776 · January 6, 2014, 10:07 AM

I live not far from Springfield and need to get to the museum.
Good vid, shame he only focused on the handguns.

Kappe · January 6, 2014, 06:16 PM

Quote:

I would too, but I have to agree with Colt's decision. Just no real advantage over the 36 cal.

A .375 diameter round ball weighs about 80 grains. A .395 round ball should weigh around 93 grains. That's a 16% increase in bullet mass, plus increased chamber powder capacity.
Not as big as the difference between .36 and .44, for sure, but noticeable.
Let's not forget in the 19th century they mostly used conicals. I don't know how much a .40 caliber conical would've weighed.

noelf2 · January 6, 2014, 07:48 PM

It's a bit heavier, but not practical vs. the .44 already available. Kind of like a 16 gauge shotgun. They are damn useful in that you can get almost 12 gauge performance from a gun not much more weight than a 20 gauge. But there's just not a big enough market for them. Just because it makes sense, it doesn't necessarily sell. That's probably what Colt was thinking.

JimSupica · January 7, 2014, 07:32 AM

Really nice video Mike - good photos (it's not easy through glass) and great narration. You know your stuff when it comes to old revolvers. Hope you don't mind if we link to it from the Museum's YouTube channel.

Thanks
Jim Supica
NRA Museums

duelist1954 · January 7, 2014, 09:57 PM

Jim

Please do. It would make me proud to be linked to the museum.

January 5, 2014, 10:22 AM	#1
duelist1954 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2011 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 567	A trip to the NRA Museum in Springfield, MO Recently I had the opportunity to visit the new satellite location of the NRA’s National Firearms Museum. It is located in Bass Pro’s headquarters store in Springfield, Missouri. The museum has an outstanding collection of military, sporting and personal defense firearms spanning history from the late Middle Ages to the present. This video has just a small sample of the collection on display. I mostly filmed nineteenth century revolvers, both cap & ball and cartridge guns. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKtJBzmeYCE

January 5, 2014, 10:44 AM	#2
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	Thanks Mike! Makes me want to go back home to Springfield and check it out myself. __________________ Liberty and freedom often offends those who understand neither.

January 5, 2014, 05:47 PM	#5
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	Thanks. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

January 6, 2014, 07:48 PM	#9
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	It's a bit heavier, but not practical vs. the .44 already available. Kind of like a 16 gauge shotgun. They are damn useful in that you can get almost 12 gauge performance from a gun not much more weight than a 20 gauge. But there's just not a big enough market for them. Just because it makes sense, it doesn't necessarily sell. That's probably what Colt was thinking. __________________ Liberty and freedom often offends those who understand neither.

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January 5, 2014, 02:17 PM	#3
Rigmarol Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 344	Great info. Wish I was close enough to check it out. Thanks.

January 5, 2014, 03:13 PM	#4
Kappe Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2013 Location: New Jersey Posts: 149	I can't believe Colt didn't think the .40 caliber Navy was worth it. I would love to have one. Hornady makes .40 caliber (.395) round balls, and molds are available too. How difficult could it be for Uberti or Pietta to bore some of their Navies out to .395 or thereabouts instead of .375?

January 6, 2014, 10:07 AM	#7
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	I live not far from Springfield and need to get to the museum. Good vid, shame he only focused on the handguns.

January 7, 2014, 07:32 AM	#10
JimSupica Junior Member Join Date: July 25, 2008 Posts: 4	Really nice video Mike - good photos (it's not easy through glass) and great narration. You know your stuff when it comes to old revolvers. Hope you don't mind if we link to it from the Museum's YouTube channel. Thanks Jim Supica NRA Museums

January 7, 2014, 09:57 PM	#11
duelist1954 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2011 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 567	Jim Please do. It would make me proud to be linked to the museum.