American Handgunner articles from January 2004

American Handgunner archives from January 2004

November / December.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... I am a supervisor for a security company with several client-posts in Nogales, AZ. I gave one of my guards a copy of American Handgunner along with several other firearms publications. He is a U.S. citizen of Mexican descent, who, for family...

Gun-grabs down under.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... It was with deep sadness my wife and I attended the "Handgun Buyback" yesterday. The prices given were quite fair, and in some cases extremely good, but when you saw all those collectible Colts and others, (many with engraving); and still...

Genetic mutations?(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... I always look forward to Dave Anderson's "Better Shooting" department and his looks back at the way USPSA used to be. I've even noticed in the Nov/Dec issue how much some of the old shooters are starting to look alike. On page 40, Mike Plaxco...

Keith, Taffin & 1911s.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... I read John Taffin's "The Sixgunner" (Sept/Oct 2003) regarding Elmer Keith's revolvers (Gads... I almost said "pistols"!). I noted one of the revolvers, a 4.5" .45 Colt had the symbol of Freemasonry, the "Square and Compass," inscribed on the...

Ichiro rules.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... If Detroit made cars of the same quality as American Handgunner, most folks would think that names like Mercedes, BMW, and Saab refer to German rock groups. Also, no one in the field tops your photography editor. If he was a rock band, this...

Down-range operators.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... I feel compelled to weigh in on the "'Stupid is as Stupid does" letter by Randy Skaggs (Nov/Dec 2003). I am a tactical team commander and head firearms instructor for a well-funded Metro-Detroit police agency. In the course of my duties I've...

Nasty words work.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... Just read your scintillating reply to Harwood W. Loomis, re: your previous response to Mr. Webber--way to go! Guns are not for weenies who think it does not require intelligence and knowledge to know when and where vulgarity, even profanity,...

Prissy folks.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... I noticed a letter in the Nov/Dec issue taking exception to the vulgar language that had been used in the May/June issue. I know I read that issue, but I never noticed what he was talking about. The guy made a couple of statements I certainly...

Hates us.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... The "Insider" column is being used to tell dog stories and to promote editorials on personal views on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Please stick to handguns and related stories about what is going on in the gun industry. ...

Loves us.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... I usually don't write to magazines, but I feel compelled to do so as a result of reading the Nov/Dec issue. This latest issue is the best one I have read since initially subscribing to Handgunner and Guns a year or two ago. Each edition of...

Liberty Bell.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... Just got my latest Handgunner yesterday and last night I read the "Insider" on "American Exceptionalism." I have to tell you, that's the best article I have read in any mag in a long time. I'm not blowing smoke up your skirt, and maybe it's...

Arguing details.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... In regards to "The Insider" in the Nov/Dec issue I have only one question. What are you talking about? While I certainly agree we have become a nation of whiners, complainers and blame-shifters, we have not always been a nation that steps up...

Muddy ethics.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... I agree with your editorial (Nov/Dec 2003). I believe the teaching of "Situational Ethics" in public schools for the last two generations has helped generate the problems you described. We have been taught, what is right or wrong is not based...

Taffin, Smith the best.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... Handgunner is the best magazine on the market today. I always enjoy the articles by Taffin, and Clint Smith's writings are always thought-provoking and entertaining. Keep up the good work and you'll have subscribers like me for life. Dan...

Clint's crazy.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... In reference to "Reality Check" (Nov/Dec 2003), Clint Smith must live in a wilderness. If I were to walk down Main Street carrying a rifle for self-defense, I'd be arrested in about fifteen seconds. If I were the victim of a home invasion and...

Beretta's nifty 92.(Winning Edge)
January 1, 2004... The Beretta 92 has proven to be extremely reliable, accurate and durable. Operating controls are well placed and the gun balances and handles well. A legitimate concern is the grip frame which is a bit large for shooters whose hands are average...

Before it breaks.(Winning Edge)
January 1, 2004... No one knows more about shooting, modifying and maintaining the Beretta 92 than Ernest Langdon. Langdon was chief instructor at Marine scout-sniper school and is a Marine combat veteran. After resigning from the Marine Corps he was employed...

Go-fast mods.(Winning Edge)
January 1, 2004... Most of the stuff you need to do to a GI 1911 is already done on the Beretta. There is no need for extended safeties, beavertails, lowered ejection ports, polishing feedramps, throating or other reliability work. The Beretta is reliable,...

Ninjas?(Reality Check)
January 1, 2004... The hard part to accept about training is if it's done correctly, the skill you acquire is hardly ever used. As a matter of fact I believe the purpose of training is to acquire enough skill so you probably won't have to use what you learned...

The easy stuff.(Reality Check)
January 1, 2004... Who? Who is that guy at my door or approaching me on the street? If I don't know them or their intent, why would I allow them access to me or my home? What? What's that noise? What's going on at that intersection? What's that guy doing...

No hi-speed, low-drag ...(Reality Check)
January 1, 2004... You can read the gun-rag-talking-heads and hang around the gun store commandos who talk of "real training" and "big boy" training for big boys and what "real men" do, etc. and you'll find they often come up with quaint, catchy sayings. There...

The .500 S&W Magnum cartridge.(Taffin Tests)
January 1, 2004... Ten years ago I boldly wrote the following, truly believing sixguns could not get any more powerful: "I will say we simply cannot get any bigger. We have reached the ultimate top. There is no way to get any more power in a portable revolver and...

Loading the beast.(Hand Loading)
January 1, 2004... Without a doubt the biggest thing in handguns--pun intended--is the giant 500 S&W Magnum. S&W says it's the most powerful production handgun and that's true, but it also has more recoil than most of us have ever experienced. And that recoil can...

Twice as fun--ouch!(Hand Loading)
January 1, 2004... The final issue is "doubling," where the shooter simply pulls the trigger twice real fast. The new Smith is the first double-action revolver to shoot such a powerful cartridge and high speed video studies have shown that recoil forces can...

Charley? A wimp?(Hand Loading)
January 1, 2004... I'm sure someone is going to call me a wimp over this but the full-power Cor-Bon 400 and 440 gr. loads are just no fun at all. We shooters tend to think we know more than we really do sometimes but there really is such a thing as too much...

The Ayoob files: when your gun jams in a firefight.(Massad Ayoob)
January 1, 2004... Situation: Someone is trying to kill you. You attempt to return fire, and your defensive weapon jams. Lesson: Carry (or, if it's your decision, issue) equipment of the most proven reliability. Be familiar with malfunction clearance drills....

What's this "essence" crap?(Guncrank Diaries)
January 1, 2004... There was silence. Then the editor says, "Write me an intro. You know, for your column." I thought for a second. "Whaddaya mean?" I asked. Sometimes I'm so intuitive and articulate it's scary, huh? He got that kind of indulgent, I'm...

Mining gunsmith gold.(Pistol Smithing)
January 1, 2004... There's silver in the brains of gunsmiths who have been cutting and bending tool steel for twenty years or more, and gold in the brains of those who have been doing it for thirty years or more. Richard Heinie of Heinie Specialties, is one of...

School daze.(Pistol Smithing)
January 1, 2004... The charge for a one day, eight hour course should be $250 to $295 with only five students per class. That translates to $1,000 to $1,475 for a very pleasurable days work, equivalent to severn days work to make the same amount of money doing...

Spring--tester-thang.(Pistol Smithing)
January 1, 2004... Scott Mulkerin, of SDM Fabricating [330-723-3098] has come up with a neat little tool that, at first glance, I thought had little use. But, after using it, I found it paid for itself in less than 30 minutes. Gunsmiths collect recoil springs,...

Doug Koenig on trigger control.(Better Shooting)
January 1, 2004... Doug Koenig has the best all-around record of any competitive pistol shooter. His major victories include an IPSC world championship; three Steel Challenges; six Sportsman Team Challenges: seven Bianchi Cups; and nine Master's championships....

Leather leaders: Milt Sparks.(Handgun Leather)
January 1, 2004... Milt Sparks is a name synonymous with high quality concealed leather gear. But why? Milt was a ferry pilot during World War II, flying bombers from the manufacturer's plants in the United States to receiving units in combat theaters all over...

Good Holster--fair price.(Handgun Leather)
January 1, 2004... Concealed holsters are the Milt Sparks Holsters, Inc business and they'll make them for just about any handgun. The resurgence of the 1911 type pistol has made the guys at Sparks very happy, since it's their hands-down favorite. The IWB rigs...

Small is good.(Handgun Leather)
January 1, 2004... designing holsters for concealed carry, and tooling leather, are the kinds of endeavors you are either really good at--or really bad at. There's not much "in-between" latitude. I happen to be really bad at it. Maybe my envy and inability is...

Peacemaker specialists: perfecting perfection.(The Sixgunner)
January 1, 2004... Everything about the original Colt Single Action Army is perfection. The cartridge that came forth, the .45 Colt, is not only a proven man stopper going all the way back to the original black powder loading, it also has become an excellent big...

"There is room for almost all of gods four legged creatures on this planet--preferably right next to the mashed potatoes.".(Handgun Hunting)
January 1, 2004... Actually at one time or another, all four-legged critters have been eaten by humans. Yep, even rats have been--in this century--and are a real delicacy to starving people. PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals), in accord with religious dogma,...

Vegan vagarities.(Handgun Hunting)
January 1, 2004... A quick jump in time and place to today reveals a general population who loves meat and fowl--as long as it is pre-packaged and no one has to think about how it got there. A significant number of these people have been brought up on cute little...

Heed the call to feed.(Handgun Hunting)
January 1, 2004... An overabundance of animals, primarily deer, gave rise to crop damage, lawn damage and high insurance collision rates. The cost of repair per vehicle in Ohio recently averaged around $2,600 each to repair the 30,000 or so vehicles involved in...

S&W cop guns.(Cop Talk)
January 1, 2004... Once the undisputed premier provider of law enforcement handguns to America, Smith & Wesson found itself an also-ran in a few short years. They're back from the precipice of bankruptcy thanks to the take-over by Bob Scott's team, with Bob now...

Stretching the polymer ladder.(Cop Talk)
January 1, 2004... S&W's first attempt to catch market front-runner Glock was the Sigma. That dog didn't hunt. Early problems with the Sigma left US law enforcement decidedly cold to it. Smith isn't ready to put down the Sigma yet, though. They're keeping it in...

S&W 1911.(Cop Talk)
January 1, 2004... Cocked and locked .45s are still found in police holsters in Denver, Las Vegas, and a host of smaller PDs. S&W's new one takes reg- ular 1911 magazines, and is made up of the best 1911 after-market parts on an in-house frame and slide. Though...

Born again.(An Ex-Cop's Model 29 Gets Elegant)
January 1, 2004... Sit down, hang on and think back. Picture climbing inside a Granada Gold L78 SS 396, 375 horsepower 1967 Chevelle. At tile start the dual exhausts have a throaty rumble as the engine coughs to life. Gas hog? Not to worry, gas is only 33-cents a...

Sunrise or sunset for Silhouette?
January 1, 2004... Started in the mid-1970s, Handgun Silhouette has shown an enduring appeal to long range shooting aficionados. Unlike the many popular action pistol competitions, Handgun Silhouette, with its longer firing periods, is both meditative as well as...

Handgun silhouette: shootin" what you got.
January 1, 2004... Although it might seem some of the silhouette guns shown in the accompanying article are exotic or expensive, mast of the owners of the fancy Unlimited guns started out in the sport with minimal equipment and built the wander gun collections...

The thrill of the chase: hundgunning for mountain lion.
January 1, 2004... Few hunts will elicit as much controversy as a mountain lion hunt with dogs. The Antis in California were successful in outlawing all lion hunting. In Oregon, lion hunting is still legal, but not with dogs. Even within the hunting community,...

Cutting class: William Henry's top-shelf tacticals.
January 1, 2004... As the modern-era tactical folder enters its second decade it's interesting to note that not only has it become a refined piece of machinery, but also much more publicly accepted. Just five or so years ago, when most of the cutlery...

CZ P-01: the legend lives.
January 1, 2004... The legendary CZ 75 was born in the '70s in the midst of the Cold War. The handgun was virtually unknown in the states and there were only a pitiful few available. Nonetheless, the aura was strong, and the mystery surrounding this gun from...

King of the magnums: S&W's .500 master-blaster.
January 1, 2004... Real handgun power began when the two Sams, Colt and Walker, put their heads together to produce the 1847 Walker Colt. For nearly a century, 88 years to be exact, Colt stood alone as the maker of truly powerful pistols, the Walker followed by...

To Africa with a .500 S&W.
January 1, 2004... The Smith & Wesson 500 is creating quite a commotion in the shooting industry these days. And, rightfully so I suppose, launching a .50 caliber slug that's big enough to take any game on planet earth. Being from Missouri, the Show-Me State, I...

Kimber custom pro: plus a strider MFS back-up knife.(Win This)
January 1, 2004... Kimber rocked the boat when they begun to market factory 1911s held to tolerances never before seen in a factory gun. Since then, Kimber has continued to stay in the fore-front of 1911 design and innovation, turning heads regularly with the...

That rifle-pistol thingy: Mech-Tech's 'non-gun' gun.
January 1, 2004... Need a carbine? Don't have a $1,000 to spend on a AR? If you have a 1911 or a large-frame Glock, you can have that carbine for about one third the cost. Mech-Tech Systems, Inc. of Kalispell, Montana, can do the trick for you. Mech-Tech has been...

Grip bushing overkill: put the pliers away!
January 1, 2004... Never understood it--never will. If there's anything mildly delicate about a M1911, or any M1911 clone, it's these little inserts for screws that fasten grips to frames. In spite of their comparatively tender nature, when bushings loosen, all...

Not crazy after all.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... Thanks for your lengthy responses to my e-mail and for your genuine concern for your readers' opinions. And, thanks for all of your information and advice, and the time you took to respond. I am renewed to Handgunner through March 2009. This is...

Rifle vs. bear spray.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... Having once been invited to write six guest editorials in six months for a professional journal, I can empathize with Clint Smith if he is having difficulty thinking of gunstuff about which to write. But as one who holds a Montana CWP and...

Rifle confusion.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... Clint Smith seems to imply in the latest Handgunner what I've heard before as "The best gun to bring to a gunfight is your rifle." Quite true for the military or police, but could Mr. Smith please explain how a civilian, with or without a CCW,...

Back-shooter askins.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... As a long time subscriber I've enjoyed your mag for its attitude and content since I first read it, and it looks like things are as good--or better--than ever. Thanks for the heads-up on Stephen Hunter's great books too! On a side-note, 30...

Rifles right-on.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... "Handguns for fun, RIFLES for REAL!" Clint, never a better word spoken to all of us gun owners. I'm a 20-year Air Force Security Police veteran and a highly successful competitor and trainer, as well as a very successful big game hunter. I...

Use enough rifle.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... Clint Smith's very thought-provoking article on rifles vs. handguns cries out for a bit more information. Is a .30 Carbine enough gun? What about the handguncaliber rifles? I urge you to have Clint continue this article. Noel Young ...

Guide rod rantings.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... I would like to comment on Charles E. Petty's article, "Full Length Guide Rods--Myth Or Magic?" (Sept/Oct 2003). I agree with his statement there is no room in a stock 1911 for a recoil spring to kink. Full length guide rods do indeed make...

Old fashioned.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... I applaud Mr. Petty's article on guide rods, but feel I must comment on the most important reason not to use a full length guide rod in any 1911 that is designated primarily for the defense of one's life. Having carried a 1911A1 as a sidearm...

A Cowboy lynch'n.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... As a Cowboy Shooter and Range Officer, I feel the need to respond to Mr. Hall's letter (Nov/Dec 2003) regarding his bad experience at a local match. The response he received about not being able to shoot at a local club match because he was not...

Spawnin' a new game.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... In reference to Allan J. Hall's letter about cowboy action shooting clothing issues, he's not alone. I've come across similar instances to what he described, here at my local matches. When too much emphasis is put on playing dress-up than on...

1911 = Boring?(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... So, I retract my criticism about not reporting on "wheelguns." Your last issue clearly did that. Yet, I stand proud and firm on your failure to report on lesser-calibers, your failure to report on ballistics and defensive information, your...

Lonely in Canada.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... For the last 8 years, I was a regular reader and fan of your superb magazine, while I was still residing in my native land, Cebu City, Philippines. It was stopped, until I decided to migrate to Toronto, Canada in July 2002. For 12 months I...

Black Powder CCW.(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... I too have a Taurus Model 450 and I found Smith's article (Black Powder Boomer, Sept/Oct 2003) entertaining. I'm a big fan of the .45 Colt and a handloader too. I also have a concealed weapon permit, so I bought the Taurus as a concealed carry...

Gunsmoke? Violent?(Speak Out)
January 1, 2004... I thoroughly enjoyed Taffin Test's ("A Real Saturday Night Special", Sept/Oct 2003). I especially enjoyed his mention of the Gunsmoke series. While younger than Mr. Taffin, I remember our ritual Saturday night watching Gunsmoke. Taffin's...

P 500 Universal Sight Tool.(Gunnysack)
January 1, 2004... Adjustable sights have generally fallen from favor on automatic pistols unless they are purely used for target shooting. The knock is adjustable sights are fragile and may not stand up to the rigors of daily carry. I don't think that's entirely...

Click-n-shoot target CD.(Gunnysack)
January 1, 2004... Down in my basement is an old bookshelf. There's not one book there, but it's full of paper targets of every shape and size. They represent a fairly substantial investment and may well stay there forever. Now, when I need a paper target...

I-Sshot range bags.(Gunnysack)
January 1, 2004... One thing all shooters do is carry too much stuff to the range. There is a big long list of things that go with me I have never used, but go along because I might need them someday. The easiest way to keep all our junk properly organized and...

Nikon Monarch dot sight.(Gunnysack)
January 1, 2004... Red dot sights have truly changed handgun shooting. Go to a bullseye match and almost everyone will be using one. Rules were changed, new classes and even matches were established in practical shooting because of them. The reason for their...

Smith & Wesson safes: Heritage Safe Company.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... Heritage Safe Company now offers a distinctive brand of Smith & Wesson gun safes. Heritage Safe represents excellence in vault manufacturing and craftsmanship, and its line of highquality, hand-crafted security safes promise the Smith & Wesson...

Sub-compact external extractor 1911: pistol dynamics.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... Pistol dynamics introduced a target grade sub-compact 1911 carry pistol designed and built by Paul Liebenberg. It utilizes a 3.5" match grade barrel with a spherical barrel bushing and multi-caliber capable external extractor. These pistols...

Quick safe gun box: Safari Safe Company.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... Safari's Quick Safe Gun Box is constructed of 16 gauge steel and features a heavy duty, push button combination lock. The lock even tells you if someone has tried to gain unathorized access. Inside is a foam padding that molds to your firearm,...

The Mel Pardue 520 SBT: Benchmade knives.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... From Benchmade comes the 520 SBT, a Mel Pardue designed knife with the AXIS lock and serrated edge. The AXIS lock has been called the strongest ambidextrous folding mechanism available. Benchmade has developed some unique collaborations with...

Custom Laser Etched Grips: GunGrips.net.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... www.GunGrips.net is a source for great artwork on grips. They specialize in custom Laser Etched images on anodized grips for the 1911 series, however they also offer Custom Laser Etched Polymer grips for other guns. In addition to their...

Deluxe Gun Guard Safe: DaskoSport products.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... DoskoSport's new Deluxe Gun Guard Safe combines the security of a safe with the speed of a holster. The Safe keeps children away from firearms while giving adults fast, convenient access without fumbling with a key or combination lock. The...

Taurus Tracker Manual and Taurus 24/7 auto: Taurus/Benchmade.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... Taurus International introduces the Taurus Tracker Manual and the Taurus 24/7 Full auto knives which are born of a collaborative effort with Benchmade Knife company. The Tracker, modeled after Benchmade's 921 Switchback, which won the Shooting...

Chest Rig: Survival Sheath Systems.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... The Chest Rig from Survival Sheath Systems works with guns or knives to provide the user a method of concealment that offers a lightning fast, reflexive draw, without the normal mechanical devices for retention, or the need for a belt. Worn...

Timberpig: Spectre Products.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... As rugged as the great outdoors, the Timberpig Hatchet Knife is made of 1/4" 1095 Carbon Steel and has a 7" blade with and overall length of 12". The blade is heat treated to 57/59 RC and has a black powder epoxy coat with durable ABS handles...

Life Jacket LJ2: Mogul Company, LLC.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... Spotlight thinks it's hard to beat the Life Jacket LJ2 for safe, quick access, to your semi-auto or large frame revolver. The LJ2 is a Steel reinforced enclosure that features a Heavy Duty locking mechanism, Double-Pin Hinge, Soft Foam Padded...

Acuflex AF-1 Buttstock: Perfect Target.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... The AcuFlex AF-1 Buttstock is the ultimate in customizing your AR-15 or M-16 rifle for accuracy. The buttstock is designed to reduce muzzle climb allowing the shooter to shooter tighter groups. The AF-1 uses patent-pending technology consisting...

Ballistic Polymer Reactive Target: Just Shoot Me Products.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... Just Shoot Me Products introduces the Ballistic Polymer Reactive Target that is safer than steel, reduces or eliminates penetration and can be shot with air guns, pistols, rifles, black powder, and shotguns with any caliber .117 through .50...

GV 1000 MiniVault standard: GunVault.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... The GV 1000 MiniVault from GunVault has an outside construction of 16-gauge steel. Its unique No-Eyes keypad allows for quick access, but if there are repeated invalid entries the built in computer blocks access. The omni-directional...

Range Case Package: Upland.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... New from Upland is the Range Case Package for handgun owners who need more room than a basic pistol case, but don't want the bulk and size of a range bag. It features a carrying case with exterior pocket, a padded handgun pouch with sleeves to...