The Black Powder Cartridge News – Fall 2026

Summary

Oregon's proposed PEACE Act — which would ban hunting, fishing, trapping and farming, backed by 120,000 petition signatures — draws a furious editorial from Steve Garbe in The Black Powder Cartridge News Fall 2026, Issue 135, priced at $9.99. The Marlin 1893 in New Zealand's Dingle Burn leads the cover, alongside features on the 2026 Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match, .22 rimfire twist-rate testing and Emanuel Dubbs, the hide hunter. For black-powder shooters, buffalo-rifle competitors and single-shot rifle collectors, this 66-page issue delivers 10 technical articles plus match results, rifle-club listings and product reviews.

Editor Steve Garbe opens with an alarm over the PEACE Act's third attempt as a ballot initiative in Oregon, warning that even non-lethal mouse traps at home could become illegal under the proposed language. The Marlin 1893 feature takes readers to Dingle Burn in New Zealand's South Island for a hunting story that doubles as a rifle test. Mike Nesbitt covers the Quigley match — the sport's premier long-range buffalo-rifle event — and continues his "Reflecting on the 44-40" series in Part II. Rick Moritz contributes a statistical piece on bullet run-out and small sample sizes, while Shane Berens covers target setting at Big Whiskey.

Regular columns include Center Shot (Jim Foral on The Sportsman's Expo), Industry News (Cimarron Firearms' 250th Commemorative Frontier Rifle), Product Reviews (Sharps Firearms Collector's Guide and the Case Sodbuster knife), Match Results, Rifle Clubs and an Advertisers' Index. MVA Montana Vintage Arms runs full-page ads for their Stinger bore-cleaning rod (48-inch and 36-inch, with .38/.40/.45 jags) and scope sunshades. Subscriptions and back-issue orders go through Wolfe Publishing in Prescott, AZ (928-445-7810).

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Hunting

p.6 · The Marlin 1893 in Dingle Burn
Steve Garbe takes a Model 1893 Marlin to New Zealand's Dingle Burn for a hunt that doubles as a field test of the vintage lever-action. The article covers the rifle's performance on game, its handling in backcountry terrain, and the cartridge selection for New Zealand conditions. Hunters considering a period-appropriate rifle for a red-stag hunt should study the 1893's short-throw lever and receiver sight options.

▸ Match Coverage

p.10 · Quigley 2026 Buffalo Rifle Match
Mike Nesbitt reports on the annual Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match, the sport's premier long-range black-powder cartridge event. The piece covers course of fire, competitor counts and equipment trends — notably the rise of paper-patch bullets and Creedmoor-style tang sights. First-time Quigley shooters should arrive with at least 40 rounds of match-ready ammunition and a verified 600-yard zero.

▸ Technical / Ballistics

p. · Thoughts on Bullet Run-Out & Small Sample Sizes
Rick Moritz applies statistical thinking to the reloading bench, examining how bullet run-out (concentricity error) affects group size and how small sample sizes can mislead load developers. The article argues that five-shot groups are insufficient for conclusive accuracy comparisons. Handloaders should shoot ten-shot strings when comparing two powders and track run-out with a concentricity gauge.

▸ Technical / Rifles

p.20 · Early Thoughts on .22 Rimfire Twist Rate
Steve Garbe tests whether faster twist rates stabilise subsonic .22 LR ammunition more consistently in black-powder-style rifles. The article addresses the growing interest in .22 rimfire for practice and small-game hunting. Anyone building a .22 trainer should consider a 1:16 twist for 40-grain subsónicos rather than the standard 1:12.

▸ Historical

p.24 · Emanuel Dubbs – Hide Hunter
Leo J. Remiger profiles the little-known hide hunter Emanuel Dubbs, who operated on the Great Plains during the bison-hide era. The article connects Dubbs's methods to the tools and rifles of the period. Students of Plains history will find the hide-hunting logistics — skinning rates, hide prices, transport distances — the most revealing part.

▸ Historical / Firearms

p. · Reflecting on the 44-40 – Part II
Mike Nesbitt continues his deep-dive on the .44-40 Winchester cartridge, covering its transition from black powder to smokeless loads and its use in both rifles and revolvers. Part II focuses on pressure-tested reloading data for vintage Winchester 1873 and Colt Single Action Army revolvers. Reloaders with pre-1900 .44-40 firearms should stay below 14,000 psi and use soft-cast bullets.

▸ Target Setting

p. · Target Setting at Big Whiskey
Shane Berens walks through target placement and range layout for the Big Whiskey shooting facility, covering steel gong distances, wind-reading reference points, and safe backstop requirements. Range officers setting up a new course should replicate Berens's flag-and-berm placement for consistent wind indication.

▸ Product Reviews

p.42 · Sharps Firearms: A Collector's Guide / The Case Sodbuster
Leo J. Remiger reviews a new collector's reference on Sharps rifles, while Mike Nesbitt tests the Case Sodbuster pocket knife for everyday field use. The Sharps guide covers serial-number ranges and production variants; the Sodbuster review focuses on the CV (chrome vanadium) steel's edge retention. Collectors should verify the guide's serial-number tables against their own guns before making buying decisions.

▸ Industry News

p.40 · Cimarron Firearms – 250th Commemorative Frontier Rifle
Cimarron releases a limited-edition Frontier Rifle marking the USA's 250th anniversary (1776–2026). The news brief lists specifications and production numbers. Collectors should confirm the edition size with Cimarron directly before paying premium prices on the secondary market.

▸ Regulars

p.4 · From the Editor: The World Has Gone Mad — Steve Garbe on Oregon's PEACE Act
p.46 · Center Shot: The Sportsman's Expo — Jim Foral
p.54 · Match Results
p.60 · Rifle Clubs
p.66 · Advertisers' Index

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Editor's Take

Lean, focused and unapologetically niche. Garbe's PEACE Act editorial is the most politically charged piece in the issue and earns its front-of-book placement with specific bill language and signature counts. The Marlin 1893 in Dingle Burn and Quigley match report give travelling shooters real trip-planning intel. Weakness: the Product Reviews section runs only two items, and the "Thoughts on Bullet Run-Out" piece lacks the sample-size tables that would make its statistical argument concrete. MVA product ads occupy significant real estate but are visually clean and relevant to the readership. Best for active black-powder competitors and single-shot collectors; casual shooters will find the technical articles too specialised.

Strengths
• Garbe's PEACE Act editorial names the bill, signature count and third-attempt history
• Quigley match report gives first-time competitors specific ammo and zeroing advice
• .44-40 reloading data includes pressure limits for vintage firearms

Weaknesses
• Bullet run-out article lacks the data tables it argues for
• Product Reviews section covers only two items

Verdict: Recommended — Essential reading for Quigley competitors and Marlin 1893 owners; too specialised for general-interest gun readers.