Author Topic: Rex Merrill/RPM XL Pistols  (Read 3456 times)

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Offline RonF

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Rex Merrill/RPM XL Pistols
« on: March 23, 2008, 04:13:26 AM »
I know I'm a little off topic here, guys, but bear with me.  I'm hoping that some of you are, as I am, interested in other single shot pistols besides Contenders/Encores.  I am looking for a lead on contacting the current maunfacturer of the RPM XL, if one exists.  The latest Blue Book of Gun Values lists Gateway Arms in Affton, MO, but the email comes back unknown and there is no current phone listing.  They apparently took over from Jim Rock.  Rock's internet page is still out there, but I think I heard he died a few years ago.  Does anyone know anything about this outfit, or maybe know where I can go to ask some questions?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me, and I'll not intrude off topic again.  If you want, you can email me at drfannin@fidnet.com .  Thanks again.

RonF

Offline WayneS

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Re: Rex Merrill/RPM XL Pistols
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2008, 08:13:41 AM »
your best chance for info on the XL pistol will be  www.IHMSA .net , or www.IHMSA.org

Offline RonF

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Re: Rex Merrill/RPM XL Pistols
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2008, 08:19:30 AM »
Of course; why didn't I think of that?  Thank you!

RonF

Offline Ladobe

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Re: Rex Merrill/RPM XL Pistols
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2008, 03:03:16 PM »
Ron,

There was a lady on those hunting shows killing some pretty impressive game on several continents with a 30 Merrill.   I tried to reach Jim for years down in Tuscon to get the cartridge specs for the 30 Merrill, Gateway later, all without luck. 

Both are out of business is my guess, so I finally gave up on building a 30 Merrill Contender.
 
FWIW

L.

   
Evolution at work. Over two million years ago the genus Homo had small cranial capacity and thick skin to protect them from their environment. One species has evolved into obese cranial fatheads with thin skin in comparison that whines about anything and everything as their shield against their environment. Meus

Offline WayneS

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Re: Rex Merrill/RPM XL Pistols
« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2008, 06:33:10 AM »
The 30 merrill is a 225 Win. case necked up to .30 Cal., It probably won't gain anything over a 30-30 or 30-30 Akley Improved in a 15" bbl

Offline RonF

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Re: Rex Merrill/RPM XL Pistols
« Reply #5 on: March 24, 2008, 10:09:52 AM »
Ladobe,

If you decide to pursue this, Jim Rock responded to my email within 24 hours.  I am sending you his current email via a PM.

RonF

Offline Ladobe

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Re: Rex Merrill/RPM XL Pistols
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2008, 10:39:30 AM »
The 30 merrill is a 225 Win. case necked up to .30 Cal., It probably won't gain anything over a 30-30 or 30-30 Akley Improved in a 15" bbl

Thanks, but I know what a 30 Merrill is based on and about what it is capable of after having/shooting 226, 6, 257, 6.5 and 7JDJ's on the same case.   I was looking for exact case drawings on the 30 Merrill so I could have a chamber cut to it's specs rather than just using a close guess.

Ron - thanks for his email addy.   I'll drop a line to Jim and see if he is willing to provide case specs.

Evolution at work. Over two million years ago the genus Homo had small cranial capacity and thick skin to protect them from their environment. One species has evolved into obese cranial fatheads with thin skin in comparison that whines about anything and everything as their shield against their environment. Meus

Offline Ladobe

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Re: Rex Merrill/RPM XL Pistols
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2008, 10:44:17 AM »
Ladobe,

If you decide to pursue this, Jim Rock responded to my email within 24 hours.  I am sending you his current email via a PM.

RonF

Quote
Ron - thanks for his email addy.   I'll drop a line to Jim and see if he is willing to provide case specs.


Update:

Finally got around to dropping a polite and friendly note to Mr. Rock explaining what I was trying to do (and why), and asking for help with the case drawings.   

His unfriendly two-line reply - "When you stop and think about it, the question arises, why would I promote T/C?  My suggestion is order an XL and you will have the best of both worlds."

Best?   An RPM?   Not in my opinion. 

So the bottom line is, if there isn't something in it for Mr. Rock... the REAL answer is no I will not help you!   That is certainly his choice and his right, but it speaks volumes.

If I do go forward with a 30/225 it will be a JDJ spin-off.   JD may be an ornery old cuss more often than not, but he has ALWAYS given me help for the asking EVEN when there wasn't a buck in it for him.   I have owned a lot of very fine barrels he built over the years and there might just be another one on the horizon.   I'd much rather give him the money than give it to Mr. Rock. 

RIP RPM - you reap what you sow.

All IMO - YMMV.

L.

 
Evolution at work. Over two million years ago the genus Homo had small cranial capacity and thick skin to protect them from their environment. One species has evolved into obese cranial fatheads with thin skin in comparison that whines about anything and everything as their shield against their environment. Meus

Offline Austin from NC

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Re: Rex Merrill/RPM XL Pistols
« Reply #8 on: September 06, 2011, 07:25:44 PM »
Man there is some greedy people out there. If I had a cartridge with my name on it I would want everybody to have one no matter what gun it was for. With an attitude like that I bet that round never becomes very popular. Greed is a SIN!

       Austin
(choot it, choot it Elizabeth, choot it) Troy Landry

Offline Keith L

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Re: Rex Merrill/RPM XL Pistols
« Reply #9 on: September 06, 2011, 08:05:43 PM »
Just so there is no misunderstanding,  I removed a post that made a personal attack on another poster.  That is not the way we behave here, and will not be tolerated.
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."  Benjamin Franklin

Offline Ken ONeill

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Re: Rex Merrill/RPM XL Pistols
« Reply #10 on: September 07, 2011, 03:47:00 AM »
The name of the man who took over the manufacture of the RPM when Jim finally retired (about 2004) is Gary Wrigley. I believe that Gary lived in or around St. Louis. He's Jim's son in law.
 
There was a long time serious rift between the IHMSA and RPM going back to the price ceiling days, thus I doubt you'll get any leads from them, even though Gary was once VP of IHMSA, following the origins of the rift under Elgin Gates.
 
All of the RPM .225 wildcats involved a simple neck-up, without "improving" the case. Jim once told me he wanted "simple, easy to form" wildcats. I own a 15" RPM XL in .30 Merrill, and like the cartridge a great deal. I think I once asked JD if he was interested in such a cartridge, but as I recall, he wasn't.  JD's machinist Dennis Lawrence handed me a .30-30 AI at that time, and commented that "this will give the same performance". I agreed, but commented that the .225 brass is a bit stronger, to which he agreed.
 
As to your comments about personalities, I have called both JD and Jim my friends over the years. I have known both of them (and many, many others) to come across as gruff from time to time, as well as to be extremely friendly and courteous at other times. I'm sure some people would say the same about me.
 
My own view is that asking a person to supply drawings or information , without compensation, for products that help supply a living and livelihood for him and his family will vey likely not meet with success ... and I for one, certainly understand that.

Offline Dezynco

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Re: Rex Merrill/RPM XL Pistols
« Reply #11 on: September 07, 2011, 08:18:49 AM »
Some how I lost the intent of the OP....
 
Rock Pistol Manufacturing is fitting a 375 Winchester barrel to my old Merrill Sportsman even as we speak!
 
The website is www.rpmxl1.com
 
Jim Rock so far has been very prompt in returning my emails, so I can't complain.