American Handgunner articles from January 2005

American Handgunner archives from January 2005

Sixguns rule.(Speak out: your forum to pontificate, ponder and probe)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Don't ever let anyone tell you revolvers are dead. That .44 Special on your last cover stopped me in my tracks. More please?

Skeeter's .44?(Speak out: your forum to pontificate, ponder and probe)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Your article on Clint Smith's success in getting S&W to resurrect the Model 21 .44 Special (Nov/Dec 2004) gave me chills. It reminded me of a day in March, 1983 when Skeeter Skelton announced S&W was coming out with a limited run of Model 24s...

Special specials.(Speak out: your forum to pontificate, ponder and probe)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... WOW, WOW, WOW!!! That was my reaction to the cover of the Nov/Dec 2004 issue. My heart went to my throat and tears welled up in my puffy eyes. What a thing of beauty. I just kept my eyes on the cover. When ! did pick up the issue, I carfully...

Clint? BS?(Speak out: your forum to pontificate, ponder and probe)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I see that teachers, history buffs and those addicted to the shooting range and reloading bench, such as John Taffin and Clint Smith, have a sentimental fondness for large frame .44 Special revolvers loaded with lead semi-wadcutter solids, to...

Angry senior citizen.(Speak out: your forum to pontificate, ponder and probe)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I am a senior citizen. During the Clinton administration I had an extremely good, well-paying job. I took many vacations and had several large homes. Since President Bush took office, I have watched my entire life change for the worse. I lost...

Mad at Colt.(Speak out: your forum to pontificate, ponder and probe)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... In a move sure to anger consumers, Colt has sent a letter to its distributors stating it will only sell high capacity magazines to law enforcement and the government despite the sunset of the law on September 13, 2004. In the same statement,...

Pocket power.(Speak out: your forum to pontificate, ponder and probe)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Always nice to see a new pistol hit the market ("The Professional's Pistol" Sept/Oct 2004), but am a bit disappointed Mr. Huntington didn't make mention of the only other pistol to come close to the Rohrbaugh pistol. I've owned my KelTec P-11...

Fart zone.(Speak out: your forum to pontificate, ponder and probe)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I couldn't help but laugh like the proverbial hyena when I read about the "Feuerwehranfahrtzone" (Insider Nov/Dec 2004). If you speak German, the term generally refers to where the fire department (Feuerwehr) parks or approaches or enters...

Who needs an auto, anyway?(Shooting iron: thumb bustin' musings from the duke)
January 1, 2005... I can already hear some readers saying, "Roy, did you bring this yokel aboard so he can feed us that same old revolver versus autoloader crap?" Well--yes and no. I'm not here to repeat the same old arguments, but since I've attended classes at...

Deadly duke.(Shooting iron: thumb bustin' musings from the duke)
January 1, 2005... I thought, "Great, Clint put me on the hot seat!" I'd never done such a thing before and had no idea how it would go. To the surprise of the entire class--including me--they couldn't tell which of us fired fastest. Clint had us do it again, and...

Shootin' yer foot off.(Shooting iron: thumb bustin' musings from the duke)
January 1, 2005... In the beginning, the phrase "first five rounds" was used. Aren't we talking about "sixguns" here? Absolutely, but if I thought that extra round was needed it most certainly would be in there. But for packing a traditionally styled single...

.45-70: 150 yard sledgehammer.(Handgun hunting: tips, techniques and political-incorrectness)
January 1, 2005... Ever since the invention of matchlocks, large caliber handguns have always been favored by most handgunners. Early handguns were all of very large caliber compared to today's pistols. For perhaps centuries their use was closely linked to close...

Big and brawny.(Handgun hunting: tips, techniques and political-incorrectness)
January 1, 2005... The .45-70 cartridge is a good example. In the late 1800s the .45-70 was one of the first cartridges for rifles, and adopted by the US Army in the single shot Trapdoor Springfield. Shortly thereafter, Trapdoors were converted to pistols. Today...

Six-foot penetration.(Handgun hunting: tips, techniques and political-incorrectness)
January 1, 2005... In the early 1980s a number of us hunted Africa with the .45-70 Contender quite successfully. SSK Contenders took all of the big animals including eland, buffalo, rhino and elephant with the 500 grain bullet. I believe Ray Guarisco was the...

KBI's 'Bully' M5 pistol.(Winning edge: solid advice to keep you ahead of the competition)
January 1, 2005... The Bul M5 is a 191-style pistol, made in Israel and imported by KBI under the Charles Daly trademark. It's built on a fiber-reinforced polymer grip frame to accept double-stack, high cap magazines. An earlier version of the Bul high-cap frame...

Good iron.(Winning edge: solid advice to keep you ahead of the competition)
January 1, 2005... Our test M5 in .45 ACP gives an impression of solid quality. Barrel fit and slide-to-frame fit are both very good. The steel slide shows excellent workmanship, polish and finish. Even the markings stamped into the slide are even and straight....

And it runs.(Winning edge: solid advice to keep you ahead of the competition)
January 1, 2005... Reliability of the test gun was outstanding, with no malfunctions of any kind during the firing of some 400 rounds of assorted Black Hills, Winchester, Federal and Speer ammunition. It made no difference whether the ammunition was 200 grain...

Integral locks: necessary for safety?(Cop talk: opinion and facts from the mean streets)
January 1, 2005... Cops have always been concerned about firearm safety. Guns are tools of their trade, and they get brought home after work, intruding into the family environment. Safe storage of weapons is part and parcel of introductory training at the basic...

Gun lock failure.(Cop talk: opinion and facts from the mean streets)
January 1, 2005... Integral locks trigger a primal fear among those who know their lives may depend on their gun: "What if it locks by itself?" I know cops who stopped trusting Remington 870 pump guns the day they started coming with a key lock integrated with...

Cops exempt.(Cop talk: opinion and facts from the mean streets)
January 1, 2005... Ever notice that when legislation is put forth demanding "smart guns," or just guns with internal locks, police are always exempt from the law? Does this mean the lawmakers hate cops and want them to have unsafe guns? No, it means the police...

Gossip, finger-pointing and whispers.(Hand loading: sage advice from the handloading guru)
January 1, 2005... Sometimes I think we are a nation of sheep, too lazy to investigate things for ourselves. We're often content to take advice on just about anything--especially guns and ammo--from people Who may be doing nothing more than parroting something...

Smoke and mirrors.(Hand loading: sage advice from the handloading guru)
January 1, 2005... But sometimes, the companies are their own worst enemies and obfuscate or lie when the truth would better serve. Not too long ago I was asked to look at some guns that were experiencing stoppages with one specific load. The ammo ran perfectly...

An investigation.(Hand loading: sage advice from the handloading guru)
January 1, 2005... Still, the stoppages were real and sometimes I'm too curious for my own good. I managed to come up with a couple of guns and some of the ammo and tried it myself. Out of three identical pistols, two worked perfectly but one had six stoppages...

Del Fatti finesse.(Handgun leather: from classics to cutting-edge in carry methods)
January 1, 2005... I'm at the range every work day for ten hours and I can't think of a better job. I get to shoot when I want, and within reason, how I want. I'm allowed to come-up with challenging courses of fire and have fun running students through them. All...

Mentor-guys.(Handgun leather: from classics to cutting-edge in carry methods)
January 1, 2005... Now, I can answer with, "Oh, Matt Del Fatti put this together." Matt makes holsters for the individual customer. I told Matt what I do for a living and some of my thoughts on what I wanted in a holster. He gave me some of his ideas and I...

Dave's understatement.(Handgun leather: from classics to cutting-edge in carry methods)
January 1, 2005... While Matt normally sticks with cowhide, horsehide, elephant, shark, and French waxed calf, he also enjoys using contrasting materials and textures in his rigs. This attention to detail is evident in my rig. Aesthetically, he used contrasting...

Broken Gun Ranch Custom Rugers: there ain't anything 'Broken' about these guns.(Taffin test: the sixgunner himself: guns, gear and more)
January 1, 2005... "Gee Papa, you really can't miss with this gun!" It was 11-year-old grandson Brian John emphasizing the radar-like quality of the custom Ruger .22 he was shooting. Two years earlier he had discovered the wonder of shooting a MKII Ruger with a...

Families and .22s.(Taffin test: the sixgunner himself: guns, gear and more)
January 1, 2005... The Taffin Test Trio, Brian John Panzella, age 11, and the two 16-year-olds, Jason Michael Seals and John Christopher Taffin, had been brought together to burn up a couple of bricks of .22s through the barrels of four very special Ruger .22s,...

We all know what sissies are, right?(Guncrank diaries: excuses, alibis, pithy observations & general ephus)
January 1, 2005... You know what I mean. They're like Idjits and Morons, comin' in all colors, flavors, "life-style preferences" and two, three, or five genders, depending on what state you live in. For instance. This burglar-alarm company has a commercial out...

Sissies, Idjits, Morons, & the Memsaab Mug-Wipe.(Guncrank diaries: excuses, alibis, pithy observations & general ephus)
January 1, 2005... Dudes, I'm disappointed. Remember that thing I wrote on "Gun-Rich Zones"? Hey, it's cool that so many of you liked it, but outta all those responses, we only got ONE professing to be deeply offended? Are you kiddin' me? ONE? What's wrong with...

The patented Memsaab Mug-Wipe.(Guncrank diaries: excuses, alibis, pithy observations & general ephus)
January 1, 2005... Now, not all sissies are professional victims. Some of 'em are predators. They just tend to prey on weaker sissies. And sometimes, they get their "victim selection" criteria wrong--like, really, really wrong. Here's a good example, and I also...

Turd-suckers.(Reality check: first-person thoughts on surviving in the real world)
January 1, 2005... Ever meet someone, or talk to a friend and you start with "What a great day, the sun is shining, it's 70 degrees, with a soft breeze, clear skies, I mean is this great or what?" Their response "Yeah, but it's supposed to rain on Friday." A...

The black-cloud crowd.(Reality check: first-person thoughts on surviving in the real world)
January 1, 2005... This whole year I've been working with Smith & Wesson to nurture, develop and otherwise slick them into building a revolver. Not just any revolver, but a blue steel, 4", fixed-sight .44 Special. In case you don't know, S&W hasn't built a gun...

The rest of the story.(Reality check: first-person thoughts on surviving in the real world)
January 1, 2005... So then we start with, "What happens if I get shot." Well, I would suggest a look at the use of better cover and personal awareness, and/or tactics when your fight starts. Look at the bright side, if you know you have been hit then keep...

Finding your gold standard.(Pistolsmithing: the inside scoop on pistolsmithing techniques)
January 1, 2005... Collecting guns and shooting started at an early age for most of us. Some just buy and never sell, some of us love to trade and make deals, a few grow their collections into large stores of historical importance, and thousands turn their hobby...

A three-screw hawk.(Pistolsmithing: the inside scoop on pistolsmithing techniques)
January 1, 2005... This old three-screw .44 magnum Ruger began life alter a search for just the right one at the right price. The three-screw Blackhawks aren't really the best quality in the world and can be difficult to work with, but simple action--where the...

Fishpaw grips and Tommy Kaye gold.(Pistolsmithing: the inside scoop on pistolsmithing techniques)
January 1, 2005... The elaborate, gold inlayed engraving by Tommy Kaye of Yoakum, Texas [(361) 293-6168] is the real centerpiece of this "shop gun." Tommy is a long time Texas saddle maker who has been exquisitely chisel-engraving shootin' irons for over 35...

A sudden flash: the John Skaggs incident.(The Ayoob Files)
January 1, 2005... Situation: You're trying to calm a man believed to have a knife, when suddenly he's on top of you with metal flashing in his hand... Lesson: Training pays dividends when the timeline between survival and death is razor-thin... and,...

Trigger-meister Jerry Miculek.(Better Shooting)
January 1, 2005... Jerry Miculek is a fine rifleman, a wizard with a shotgun and adept with any type of handgun. His skill with a revolver is legendary. Simply stated, he's the best revolver shooter in the world, arguably the best who has ever lived. And he's...

Just a .44 special? It's a Fitz special!(The Sixgunner)
January 1, 2005... It was a rare privilege that had been accorded me, as I was about to receive a personally guided tour through the private museum of Col. Rex Applegate. Actually there were three of us being hosted by the Colonel. I had traveled to the Oregon...

The Silver Knight: the ultimate tactical folder.
January 1, 2005... We've gotten many calls here at FMG about the unique knives appearing in Ichiro Nagata's photographs. It's due time we revealed the secrets about one of Ichi's favorite knives. You may be thinking this one looks familiar, and you'd be right--a...

Old west pistol power: a baffling experience.
January 1, 2005... A gunfight breaks out in a saloon, and one of the gunslingers up-ends a card table to fight from behind it. Bullets fly, usually from Colt Peacemakers, and hit the table--but fail to penetrate. I DON'T THINK SO! Old West handguns may have...

P345: extreme makeover: Ruger's 2x4 grip days are gone!(Cover Story)
January 1, 2005... In spite of all the dozens of articles written over the past several decades concerning the age-old debate of 9mm vs. .45 ACP vs. .40 vs. .357 Sig and now with the new player thrown into the argument, the .45 GAP the fact still remains true....

Kimber three-gun test: 6,000 rounds and a surprise or two.
January 1, 2005... Ever since Kimber made their first 191 l-style pistol I've been watching and studying their guns. I have no idea how many of their pistols I've tested, and while they haven't all been perfect, the quality has been consistently excellent. One of...

Check out how the big boys do it!(Kimber Factory Fun)
January 1, 2005... From the moment I first set foot in a plant where guns were made I've been fascinated by the process. Don't misunderstand, shooting is still my first love, but how we get from hunks of steel to something we can shoot remains one of the coolest...

A Janis royal flush: peacemaker specialists' classic masterpiece.
January 1, 2005... This is not a 1911. This is not a plastic pistol, a hi-cap anything or even a cutting-edge marvel. There's no glowing sights, polymer-profoundness or even titanium. Not a lick. Batteries are non-existent here. There are no rails to clip lights...

Evolving edges: Strider knives get better and badder!
January 1, 2005... Somewhere out there in the war zones of the world there are a bunch of heroes sleeping a little bit better knowing they've got a Strider knife strapped to their sides. These are the warriors who depend on edged steel for tough-ass field chores...

Louder than words: custom pistolsmiths join forces for kids--and you can own the final result!
January 1, 2005... Sometimes you get the opportunity to take part in something that is genuinely good. Often it can involve donating time or money to a cause that is a departure from your everyday life; with the sole benefit being the prosperity of others. Then...

Can a porcupine save your guns?(Gun Rights)
January 1, 2005... Porcupines are not aggressive animals, but never tread on these quill-bearing creatures. The porcupine is the symbol of the innovative and exciting Free State Project, "FSP" (www.freestateproject.org). FSP is a ground-breaking political...

Advanced tactical folding knife--ATFK.(Check It Out)
January 1, 2005... MOD's motto is "Tactical Knives, For Professionals, By Professionals." When looking at this knife, you can tell it was indeed made by professionals. The ATFK is strong and crafted for excellent penetration (No... Really). The ergonomic design...

Thor X.(Gunnysack)
January 1, 2005... Okay, so do you really need a 10,000,000 candle power flashlight? Yup. This one immediately makes you the king of the hill. Break out the Thor X, put it on "High" and sit back and enjoy the "holly cow" comments. With two modes (a low power sort...

Kimber anniversary pistols.(Gunnysack)
January 1, 2005... This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Kimber name but today's shooter may not even know they began making very classy little .22 rifles. To celebrate, they are making a limited edition of anniversary edition of their 1911 pistol which is...

Caspian Pocketsmith.(Gunnysack)
January 1, 2005... Even though the 1911 pistol is simple and reliable there are still times when we need to work on it in the field. I'm sure you are familiar with the very popular belt gadgets that combine a number of tools into what looks like a simple pair of...

Brownells Moonsetter.(Gunnysack)
January 1, 2005... If you've ever seem anyone who was really fast. reload a .45 ACP revolver with full moon clips you've probably thought--as do I--that it was faster than loading a pistol with a magazine. Speed tests have shown this to be true. The downside of...

Life jacket.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... Mogul Security Equipment Company, LLC Spot always wonders why anybody would want to stick with a short name when they could have a really long one. Former Mogul Co. LLC was re-named Mogul Security Equipment Company, LLC to better define...

The Outpak, Model OT-1.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... Outdoor Edge Cutlery The new Outpak by Outdoor Edge is the most complete big game hunting set around. The package includes a Gut-Hook Skinner/Caper combo, Axe, Wood Bone Sow, Ribcage Spreader, Folding Boning Knife, Ceramic Sharpener, Pen,...

Mountable handgun holsters.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... Grassburr Leatherworks, Inc. Spot being a little guy always likes to see the little guy win so here's a shot at making that happen. Johnny Gardner and his Partner own a leather shop down Mckinney, Texas, way and they've come up with a...

SP11/SP11B.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... Fobus USA Seems the good folks at Fobus ere never content to just run with the pack. They always have to be the innovators and they're doing it again with the introduction of their SP11 series holsters for the Springfield XD Pistols. The...

H-2, H-3 Waistpack.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... Maxpedition Hard Use Gear Maxpedition scores o double with the new H-2 and H-3 Waistpacks. The H-2 combines a single sheath and a double zippered mini soft box into a low profile package set on a flexible panel that conforms to the curves...

Plingers.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... Salute Products Inc. Salute Products introduces a fun new twist to target practice with spring loaded resetting reactive steel targets. The targets are AR 500 hardness, 3/8" thick, laser cut and etched for detail. Designed and extensively...

The SeaMaster.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... A.G. Russell Company A.G. Russell's SeaMaster has a flat ground 3 1/4" blade of ATS-34 stainless steel, with a 2 3/4" marlin spike. Both are coated with titanium and aluminum, and the handles are titanium. The SeaMaster's locking mechanism...

Four-Gun Pistol Pack.(Spotlight)
January 1, 2005... Elite Survival Systems The new Four-Gun Pistol Pack from Elite Survival Systems holds up to four guns plus amino and accessories in a unique, compact design. The case has two main compartments, each of which holds two guns with plenty of...

Add it up.(The Insider)
January 1, 2005... 99 MILLION .50 cal. Rounds fired by U.S. bombers in WWII. 18 THOUSAND Enemy planes destroyed by U.S. bombers. $16 BILLION Spent by shooters and hunters yearly on equipment. 99.9986% Assault weapons NOT used in crimes. $50...

Duke's here!(The Insider)
January 1, 2005... If you look carefully in this issue, you'll notice a new name. And, I might add, it's a big name, to match a big guy. Mike "Duke" Venturino, an old friend and long-time icon of the shooting game, has jumped ship, leaving Primedia and coming...

Kitchen knives?(The Insider)
January 1, 2005... William Henry has about single-handedly re-written the book for "production" knives. Their line of gentlemen's (and ladies) knives have won awards all over the place, and for good reason. Their single-minded quest for elegance, function and...

Rollypoly power.(The Insider)
January 1, 2005... I've touched on Maxpedition before, but their stuff is so good it's hard to leave it be. These little pouches are so useful I can hardly live without 'era. Called "Rollypolys" they come in a couple of sizes and stay all rolled-up on your waist,...

Pukka Power.(The Insider)
January 1, 2005... You're right, it's not a pistol. But, like many handguns you see in Handgunner, it's cool, has plenty of power, is compact and is just plain too much fun to admit to. Shades of those mini-bikes we all lusted after when we were kids, but...

SIG nails contract.(The Insider)
January 1, 2005... The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security just gave SIG a tidy 5-year contract for about $23.7 million in SIG pistols. From the P239 to the P226 and P229 with various rails and widgets, our boys will be well-armed now. Speaking of SIG, they're also...

Making thunder.(The Insider)
January 1, 2005... In the Nov/Dec issue the feature gun was S&W's .44 Thunder Ranch Special. Well, the plot thickens now. If you go to www.americanhandgunner.com and click on the "Making Thunder" link, you'll get to see a video of "Roy and Clint's Big Adventure"...

Goodbye young friend.(The Insider)
January 1, 2005... A good thing about our avocation is we all make sound friends among our fellow shooters. One of those I call a friend is Mac Scott, formerly of Scott, McDougall and Associates. Their work on pocket pistols broke new ground and both Handgunner...

Glocken-graving?(The Insider)
January 1, 2005... In the "This just ain't right" department, we have this photo from Glenn Barnes. Not only was Glenn particularly proud of this engraved Glock (note the plastic stock is also engraved) but admitted to having one similarly done, but gold plated...

Motorcycle pistolero.(The Insider)
January 1, 2005... Mark Morris (of Morris Custom) likes 1911 pistols--and motorcycles. When his friend, whose son was diagnosed with kidney disease, invited Mark to ride in a race/endurance event to benefit the Nephcure Foundation (supports Kidney disease...

The big fifty.(The Insider)
January 1, 2005... And, I don't mean caliber. I hit the big one not long ago and just to show you how much (little?) respect I get around here, I submit the photographic proof of abuse. It's not just Connor (Gun Crank Diaries) who takes liberties, but my own...