I carried some dies, a press and reloading supplies into Brazil and paid for the whole setup loading for the police. Selling reloads in Brazil is illegal (as I found out later), but the police didn't care as they could get their ammo from me for half the price the stores charged them. The stuff I loaded was far superior to the store bought ammo in quality, power and accuracy so I quickly paid off my investment and then actually made a bit of money.

Folks thought I was rich since I shot so much. Most would go a year or more without firing more than six shots or so. And that only when drunk, to celebrate. They'd repent the next time they bought shells since the .38 specials went for about two U.S. dollars a pop. The .38 was the most popular caliber with the .32 SWL being second. Then autoloaders started coming in and the lowly .32 auto gained legendary status. You could get a Taurus auto with a 15 round clip and have a blast, if you could afford the ammo. By law you could only buy six shells a month, but folks found ways of getting around that one.

Everyone in the area we worked in knew I was a gun nut. I got a good stock of brass by trading one loaded round for every six empties. Since most folks just threw them away anyway I had a good deal going. A lot of the older stuff would have berdan primers. Ever wonder how to load them suckers? A proper sized drill bit will give you a case with three flash holes. You carefully drill the center pin out through the mouth of the case then punch the primer out carefully as normal. I only used those shells for target level loads, they worked fine with a regular small pistol primer.

A lot of foreign ammo started showing up in the area, could even buy it in the local gun store. I got to asking around and found out that some cops with family in the area were working in contraband control along Brazil's border with Paraguay. When they came up to visit family they'd bring a few boxes of ammo they's confiscated along the border as well as the occasional pistol or other firearm. They'd then sell this stuff and finance their trip. So much for gun laws and those charged with enforcing them.

One fellow showed up at the house and wanted to know if there was some way I could load some .223 ammo for a nice little Sako he had. A friend of his had some 4895, another carried in some Hornady bullets, a set of dies "accidentally" got mixed in with a load of legal pistol caliber dies from the U.S. and shipped up from the distributor. The old Lyman manual gave a load for 4895 in the 223 with the 55 grainers and we were in business. That rifle was very accurate with that load. The fellow shot a rhea (south american ostrich-like bird) in the neck at over 200 counted paces. Nice rifle. No telling where it came from.

One fellow carried a Thompson Center Hawken rifle into Brazil. Carried it in the suitcase with the barrel sticking out through a hole in the corner. Once he got it in he even managed to register it. Had to try several times since the Army kept insisting there was no such gun as a .54 caliber Hawken. He finally got his papers and the right to legally buy powder and primers for it. That was quite a conversation piece. He shot a steer in the head with it which caused a lot of admiration since the bullet apparently cut one of the major arteries bringing a finger thick jet of blood pumping several feet spurts from the wound.

My own muzzleloader was a CVA Blazer in .50 Caliber. I didn't bother to try registering it since I lived far away from curious officials. That rifle was quite accurate, I have no idea why CVA stopped producing them. I'd buy another if I had the chance. We'd load it up with a 100-120 grain load of fffg and a round ball. That would set you back on your haunches and punch quite a hole in the target.

There was a doctor who I'll call "George" who had quite a collection of all kinds of firearms. He had quite a network of folks finding him odd pieces here and there and a skilled craftsman or two who would recondition them for him. He had a Colt 70 series 1911 which he bought from some gold miner who got it who knows where. He also had a nice Czech 30-06 which he used for buffalo hunting. Over near the Araguaia river there were some ranches raising water buffalo. Some would go feral and could be quite dangerous. He'd hunt them with that 30-06. A feral bull brings an awful lot of meat on it, but careful shooting does the trick. He had a full jacket bullet he'd recovered which looked like it could be loaded and shot again. The local police chief gave him about a bushel basket full of .308 brass they had shot up in practice. It's amazing how friendship will overlook such a small thing as laws and regulations.

When I left Brazil I sold all my gear and guns except the two which my wife and I had registered under our names. By law you have to own a gun for six years before you can sell it in Brazil. You can also only have two handguns, two rifles and five shotguns, total. Most folks can't afford that many, but it still puts a crimp on those who can, if they care to follow the laws. Most don't seem to worry about such a small thing as some piece of paper back in Brasilia. So I sold off 'most everything, stored what I didn't sell and left the country.

As I continue in my quest for knowledge of things that go bang I'm now hampered by the restrictive laws of another country. Once more it is difficult, even impossible at times, for an honest law abiding citizen to obtain firearms. But punks, junkies and gang members can obtain them at will. The country is flooded with illegal AK 47's, SKS's, M 16's and other military weapons, all in the hands of the criminal few who seek anarchy and destruction. This country's people are disarmed and helpless at the hands of the raging forces of an undeclared civil war. If only they were free. Free to fight for their rights, their homes and their land. If only they hadn't been enslaved by those who claim to be seeking peace.

One thing I've learned. If a violent man invades your home intent on doing bodily harm, he won't turn away from pretty words and he won't trade his gun for a bundle of roses. You'd better be prepared to demand your right to a peaceful existence and to back that demand with lethal force if necessary. May it never be necessary for you.

RKBUG!