American Handgunner articles from July 2008

American Handgunner archives from July 2008

Jack Weaver.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You did it again ("Jack Weaver," May/June 2008). Excellent article and an outstanding photo spread. You gave it to the right writer, and he did splendidly. People like Mr. Weaver should be recognized for what they...

More on Jack.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I was filled with nostalgia reading the great article on Jack Weaver. Having read Jeff Cooper throughout my formative years of the 1960s, it was great to read about Jack Weaver and the history of what we now call modern pistol craft. The...

Offensive? Us?(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I find the article by John Connor (Guncrank Diaries, May/June 2008) and pictures/illustrations depicting sexy women in American Handgunner inappropriate and offensive. With a growing female and youth following in the shooting sports, shooting...

Guncrank.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... Who would have ever thought you would read a love story in a gun magazine ("Guncrank: Guns & Men," March/April 2008)? As a recent new subscriber, I've enjoyed your magazine more than any others I've read over the years, but the story by Helena...

The finger.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... As a subscriber to several of the most prominent firearms-related publications, I often notice criticism of ads or pictures in which the model's finger is shown on the trigger. Such was the case in a letter which criticized the Kahr Arms ad in...

Lady shooter.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I keep pawing through the March/April issue of American Handgunner, concentrating on the cover story on the S&W TR 325 .45 ACP revolver. Nobody in my neck of the woods has one in stock, so I can't put my hands on the real deal unless I special...

Pretty pictures.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... Got the latest issue (May/June 2008) and wanted to compliment you on your new photographer, Mr. Pittman. I've always admired Mr. Nagata's work, and found Mr. Pittman's to be something new and subtly different. I can see the standard remains...

The dark side.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... For years I've been firmly in the auto camp, barely tolerating pictures of wheel guns on your pages and lamenting them taking up space at my favorite local gun shop. Oh, what a happy life I was enjoying. Then, one dark and stormy day the...

Personal defense.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... A perfect score and standing ovation for your first time at the "firing line" with the American Handgunner Personal Defense Special Edition on the newsstands. If I had to pick Just One issue of any "gun" magazine to read, reread, keep, share...

Blow hards.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... First, I wanted to compliment you in general on the continued excellence of American Handgunner magazine, and in particular the article, "Who are these guys?" (March/April 2008). It was interesting to read about the different backgrounds/career...

Blow hards. <TIGun porn.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... When I came across your March/April 2008 cover story on S&W's collaboration with Clint Smith on the Thunder Ranch Defensive Revolver, I knew I was seeing gun porn! This is a good lookin', hard hittin' personal/home defense wheel gun from the...

Poor triggers.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I read a number of lesser gun magazines, all of which too often anger me when they publish a two-page article on some new whiz-bang super-gun, using nothing more than the manufacturer's advertising blurbs and fantastic claims that this is "the"...

Killing machine.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I found myself chuckling reading Mike's article on his fun with airsoft guns (Shooting Iron, Jan/Feb 2008). I too thought at the age of 56 I had grown out of playing with toys till one day I was working in my shop and a pesky horsefly was...

Met Connor.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I was on a plane in the business section last week and as I got settled in I started looking around at my fellow passengers. In amongst the usual suits tied to the latest new fangled phone/PDA/laptop combo-with-earpiece I noticed a rather large...

Arm's-length.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I'm writing to ask you a question I haven't been able to find an answer to. Back in 1975 when I went through the Arizona Police Academy, we were taught to keep the flashlight out to the side, arms length for night work. It has changed so the...

Nyle remembered.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)
July 1, 2008... I worked at the newspaper photo lab with Nyle Leatham starting in my sophomore year in high school in 1959 and through college. I completely agree with Dave Anderson (May/June 2008) when he wrote, "I came to respect him as much as any man I...

.50 B&M AK.(HANDGUN HUNTING: TIPS, TECHNIQUES AND POLITICAL-INCORRECTNESS)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I was 13 years old when I fired my first .50 BMG at Camp McCoy Wisconsin, courtesy of a friendly Lieutenant. I shot most of a belt and destroyed a large hunk of concrete. I can still shut my eyes and visualize the...

5-shot bulls-eye.(CARRY OPTIONS: FROM CLASSICS TO CUTTING EDGE IN CARRY METHODS)
July 1, 2008... Some people are born with talent, others with desire--a rare few both. John Ralston isn't a well known name, yet. However, when the world gets a look and feel of his custom made holsters, he won't have a moment of free time. Both John and...

Simply great quality.(CARRY OPTIONS: FROM CLASSICS TO CUTTING EDGE IN CARRY METHODS)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I've said it before and probably will say it again, the smells associated with finished leather holsters are almost as good as the smell of baking chocolate chip cookies--well, almost. I'm not alone, American COP...

Ruger 22 charger!(TAFFIN TESTS: THE SIXGUNNER HIMSELF: GUNS, GEAR AND MORE)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The .22 is our oldest cartridge, dating back to 1857 when the first cartridge firing revolver, the Smith & Wesson seven-shot, tip-up, Model #1 chambered in .22 Short was introduced. Over the past century and a half...

Movie nonsense.(REALITY CHECK: FIRST-PERSON THOUGHTS ON SURVIVING IN THE REAL WORLD)
July 1, 2008... Most of the western movies of our childhood showed heroes and villains heeled with two handguns. Carrying two handguns could have been a good thing. Sixguns, then, required the prudent to load only five, making l0 at-hand. This 10-round concept...

Carry two.(REALITY CHECK: FIRST-PERSON THOUGHTS ON SURVIVING IN THE REAL WORLD)
July 1, 2008... If one is none, in the sense of mechanical failure, then why not carry two? Cops have often carried two guns where permitted, as back-ups to their primary duty rig. Which might have caused His Editorship (former two-gun carrier as a cop) to ask...

Stupid.(REALITY CHECK: FIRST-PERSON THOUGHTS ON SURVIVING IN THE REAL WORLD)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In reality, the street application of the second or third gun is a good one. I recommend the concept to all my students. I also tell them to practice shooting with one hand, and with both strong and opposite hands to...

The death of John Dillinger.(The AYOOB FILES)
July 1, 2008... Situation: Public Enemy Number One runs to the end of his trail outside a Chicago theater and a legend is born, only to be twisted again and again. Lessons: Inter-agency operations are tricky. Poor documentation of officer-involved...

Colt's cartridge conversions that weren't.(SHOOTING IRON[TM]: THUMB BUSTIN' MUSINGS FROM THE DUKE)
July 1, 2008... Among avid single action revolver shooters there is a sub-genre of handguns well respected but often misunderstood. Those are the Colt Conversions of cap & ball six-shooters. The interesting fact is Colt's Conversions weren't converted; at...

The next-to-last man standing.(GUNCRANK DIARIES[TM]: EXCUSES, ALIBIS, PITHY OBSERVATIONS & GENERAL EPHUS)
July 1, 2008... I told you guys to knock it off, didn't I? Go back an' re-read the Jan-Feb 2008 issue--it's right there: I don't wanta be President! Seems like that was your cue to start crankin' out petitions, slappin' on bumper stickers, and jammin' "Connor...

S.H.O.T. show goodies.(WINNING EDGE: SOLID ADVICE TO KEEP YOU AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Recently this column featured my best 1911, a custom by Richard Heinie. I mentioned that Heinie has long since stopped taking new orders. Not many full-house Heinie pistols were ever made, and very few owners will...

Size matters.(HAND LOADING: SAGE ADVICE FROM THE HANDLOADING GURUS)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In my early sixgunnin' years I religiously measured the groove diameter of sixgun barrels by tapping a pure lead slug down the barrel with a wooden dowel and then trying to measure the diameter of the bullet....

Beretta's: new police pistol incentive.(COP TALK: OPINION AND FACTS FROM THE MEAN STREETS)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] So, let's say you're in the gun store or the cop shop, ready to purchase a new off duty weapon. You've decided on a polymer frame .40 compact. You have it narrowed down to, in alphabetical order, a Beretta Px4-C, a...

Tom Campbell.(BETTER SHOOTING)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tom started out shooting bullseye matches in the early 1970s. Around 1976 he tried metallic silhouette competition and found it pretty cool. Then came practical shooting competition and knew he had found his sport....

The fabulous Model 41.(PISTOL SMITHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP ON PISTOLSMITHING TECHNIQUES)
July 1, 2008... There's a lot of history under the bridge with S&W's Model 41 .22 pistol. It was prototyped around 1947, with the first real factory models rolling out in late 1957. It is, in my opinion, the finest match-grade rimfire pistol on the market...

The sixguns of Brian Cosby.(THE SIXGUNNER)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Last summer when several people complained on Web sites they simply could not find any old Ruger Blackhawk .357s for conversions, I checked two local gun shops and found each one had two Old Model .357 Blackhawks....

The art of more: Bar-Sto's Hi-Cap shooter.
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] High-end 1911s, like high performance engines, are known by their components. Of those components, the barrel is perhaps the single most important; and of the aftermarket barrel makers, Bar-Sto is arguably the best...

Bar-Sto's semi-secret .25.
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] It was 1970 or so when Irv Stone Senior and his brother decided to make a hand-crafted .25 auto. It was modeled after the classic Baby Browning, and was actually made by hand, on manual milling machines and lathes....

Alternative pistol-packers.(WEB BLAST: AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Before Maxpedition Hard-Use Gear introduced their original and now famed Fat Boy Versipack, my backup blasters got stuffed into a drab array of sad sacks and clumsy carry-alls. The Fat Boy changed all that, providing...

EAA's EZ9: easy to like.(WEB BLAST: AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In the April of 2007, Zastava Arms of Serbia. formerly Crvena Zastava, introduced the forth generation of the CZ99 pistol. Tagged the CZ05, this double action pistol differs from earlier variations by addition of a...

Thirty eights.(FROM .35s TO. 40s--THEY STILL CALL 'EM.38!)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] There has been a passel of .38s since the first metallic cartridge one was introduced in the early 1870s. There have been puny ones and snorty ones; rimfires and centerfires, civilian ones and military ones. Some...

Don't gripe, get grips.(WEB BLAST: AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "You wrote some drivel about the importance of a good grip," the bored voice sneered. "You're a grip freak. So get freaky about grips--due yesterday. You tell 'em what you like, and I'll tell 'em why that's stupid."...

Rohrbaugh R9 series.(MUNCHKIN-IZED FIGHTING PISTOLS)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] I call these "dream" guns. When I was a cop in the late 1970s through the 1990s, most guys like me would have gladly paid a thousand dollars for a gun like this. Tiny, powerful, light and reliable. the idea was...

Trigger jobs in a jar?
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thanks, or no thanks, to the legal departments of a growing list of manufacturers, some gunsmiths have found a new use for "Polish-O-Ray," a Brownells' standby, long favored by gunsmiths to prep the surface of guns...

EAA Corporation: Zastava EZ 9mm auto.(HANDGUN OF THE MONTH)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Who says you have to spend thousands for reliable personal defense? Not EAA! Their Zastava EZ has most of the features of today's modern high-cap defensive pistols, hut in an astoundingly affordable package. At an...

Violence and nonviolence part 8.(Gun Rights)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... In April of 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was arrested and put in jail in connection with protests of segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. Shortly after his incarceration, eight clergymen from Alabama published a statement in the Birmingham...

1917s.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I enjoyed reading Mike's article on the SW 1917 old warhorse in .45 ACP ("1917 Classics," May/June 2008). I bought one a few months back when I ran into a display of them in a store. I had no intention of getting one but the feel and looks of...

Us? Nazis?(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I own a Kimber Custom Eclipse II, which I love, and maybe it's just me, but I don't think Kimber will be getting great press when the "SIS" printed on the slide of their new LAPD pistols looks eerily similar to the Nazi "SS" symbol (Cover...

Nuts to 'em.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... What type of defense is acceptable to college administrators, but still effective? My thoughts are to use moderately dense, inexpensive, non-threatening and easy to throw objects--lots of them--to occupy an attacker and suppress his fire until...

Taxed CCW?(Speak Out: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)
July 1, 2008... As a long time reader, I ask a simple question I surely do not know the answer to. If I wish to go to church, speak my mind, refuse a search unless legal, refuse to house military, refuse to answer any questions that may incriminate me, without...

Ay up lights.(GUNNYSACK)
July 1, 2008... These are what I like to call "cross-over" ideas; goodies we think we could use a different way. About a year ago, I "found" road-bicycle tiding. Not only is it a good way for a semi-old guy to stay fit without beating himself to pieces, but it...

Boker cutters.(GUNNYSACK)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In he expression "big things come in small packages" is perfect when describing the Boker Subcom F and Rescom knives. These knives are made in collaboration with Hawaiian knife maker Chad Los Banos. When I first saw...

Kissing Crane knives.(GUNNYSACK)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Call me old school, or just call me old, but there's something magical about a classic pocket knife, the kind our dads or grandfathers used to carry. My dad always had a Barlow Electrician's knife (the one with the...

Blackhawk! Warrior wear.(GUNNYSACK)
July 1, 2008... This is truly one of those "Geez... why hasn't anyone thought of this before" things. BLACKHAWK!, long-time friends of cops and soldiers (and even we regular guys and gals) have come up with an idea that will definitely save lives. Called...

VOLTA Battery Case.(SPOTLIGHT)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Maxpedition Hard-Use Gear The Maxpedition VOLTA Battery Case has interior dimensions of 4/5" x 3" x 0.75" interior dimension and comes with a Batuca Battery Insert. The nylon case features 1000-Denier coated...

Artistry in aluminum.(SPOTLIGHT)
July 1, 2008... Alumagrips Alumagrips offers artistry in aluminum to create a truly custom, serviceable, and affordable grip for your 191] pistol. They combine the durability and good looks of light weight metal finished to perfection. The manufacturing...

50 GI conversion unit.(SPOTLIGHT)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Guncrafter Industries Guncrafter Industries announces the 50 GI "Controllable stopping power" conversion kit on a Glock Platform. The conversion kit fits the Glock 20 and 21 pistols with drop in installation. The...

Pro-ears gold series hearing protection.(SPOTLIGHT)
July 1, 2008... Ridgeline Ridgeline has introduced the new Gold Series electronic hearing protection that features the High Tech, 8 Bit Micro-Processor which runs a complete electronic diagnostic just like your computer. You can experience the highest...

Custom 9MM.(SPOTLIGHT)
July 1, 2008... Fletcher Custom Pistols Fletcher Custom Pistols, LLC is a one men custom shop dedicated to providing quality custom work on 1911s, Browning Hi-Powers end Smith and Wessan revolvers. Catering to individual needs for concealed curry and...

Nitesite dots.(SPOTLIGHT)
July 1, 2008... Nitesiters Nitesiters are small dots of super photo luminescent material on an industrial strength adhesive backing that can be applied to the existing sights of nearly any handgun to make it effective in low light situations. Nitesiters...

Discreet security pack.(SPOTLIGHT)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Elite Survival Systems The DSP has two comportments, which fit most small to medium frame handguns, and is a convenient concealed carry option with a very discreet look. Easy access to the compartments is...

.327 federal (the Patriot).(SPOTLIGHT)
July 1, 2008... Charter Arms Charter Arms introduces the new Patriot in .327 Federal, a 2.2" Fixed barrel sight and 4" barrel with adjustable sights to their already extensive Line of revolvers. The Patriot .327 features e stainless finish and full sized...

More fun at S.H.O.T.(THE INSIDER[TM])
July 1, 2008... We did it again, spending four frantic days walking thousands of miles on endless aisles at the Shooting and Hunting Outdoor Trade Show in Lost Vegas. Here's a small taste of at least some things I thought you'd like to check out. Seems like...

Add it up.(THE INSIDER[TM])
July 1, 2008... 34 MILLION Hunters and Fishermen in U.S. $76 BILLION Amount they spent on their sports in 2006. 1.6 MILLION Jobs those sportsmen/women support. $3.6 BILLION Amount California hunters/fishermen spent. $3.0 BILLION Amount...

Supporting our troops.(THE INSIDER[TM])
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I get pictures of soldiers from all over the world and like to take the space whenever I can to honor them for no other reason than we like to. Got this from Team Pegasus and wanted to share it. According to the...

Hondo hits hard.(THE INSIDER[TM])
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lest you think we've lost our minds, yes, this is a six-year-old shooting a full auto H&K 53 (the .223 model). But the "rest of the story" is Mason "Hondo" Reese (son of Special Editions editor Sammy Reese and...

Dave sample passes.(THE INSIDER[TM])
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You may not have known Dave Sample, but this kindly soul helped hundreds (thousands?) of friends over the years in as many ways. I got to know Dave due to his pistolsmithing talents and ultimately, his on-line class...

Joined forces.(THE INSIDER[TM])
July 1, 2008... Got these fun pics from some front-line tough guys. Shows you Handgunner is in the thick of it too! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "We are the Brigade Headquarters for an Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) for the 1st Brigade. 201st...

Ladies and rifles.(THE INSIDER[TM])
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jon Weiler, owner of Professional Marksmen Inc., wants to introduce women to the fun of long-range rifle shooting. Jon is a US Army veteran who served in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division, and later developed...

Old School Gunology.(THE INSIDER[TM])
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With the explosion of polymer pistols and a general movement to a more synthetic life, I've still found many old-school sixgunner/revolver guys--like me--keep getting our hearts tugged back toward wood and steel. I...