American Handgunner articles from November 2006

American Handgunner archives from November 2006

Thell speaketh.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... As a reader of American Handgunner I thank you for the kind words in the Sept/Oct 2006 "Collector's Issue" ("The Way We Were?" by Roy Huntington), except I don't understand the dress code caption--I still dress like that! Thell Reed ...

Stuffed Taffin?(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... Just picked up the latest American Handgunner (Sep/Oct 2006) and am in the process of scanning through it. Okay, it's time for you to fess up--John Taffin is either "stuffed" or is a mannequin and you just change his outfit and location when...

Smut and porno.(SPEAK OUT)
November 1, 2006... Okay, where's all this smut, porno and other unwholesome, anti-family-values stuff you're supposedly inflictin' (left off the "g" in honor of Connor) on your readers? I've been lookin' (Connor again) and lookin' for it, and darned if I can...

Happy 30th.(SPEAK OUT)
November 1, 2006... As I am of an age with His Editorship it was nice to look back on some history in the Sept/Oct 2006 issue. Just as those of us who were educated and entertained by Skeeter Skelton, Jeff Cooper and Elmer Keith found them of note; future...

Good old days.(SPEAK OUT)
November 1, 2006... Reading your 30th anniversary issue (Sept/Oct 2006) got me thinking about items you could put in a gun magazine 30 years ago, but not today. In the days before PETA, I think it was J.D. Jones who said in print that EVERYBODY KNOWS feral cats...

Anti-Whiner.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... I'm tiring of all the whining in SpeakOut about 1911 articles. I'm partial to the 1911 and have been for 20+ years. I even survived the 1980s and all the wonder-nine articles. Right now the 1911 is shining and rightly so. I relish every article...

A whiner speaks.(SPEAK OUT)
November 1, 2006... I just picked up a copy of your magazine off the newsstand (Sept/Oct 2006). I read Coptalk, where Ayoob was writing about how your magazine broke the story of the S&W M66 locking-up under long strings of fire with magnum ammo. Mas explained how...

Life's lessons.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... I'm writing this as a wife and a mother. My family makes its living through the gun industry and in Cowboy Action Shooting in particular. A lot of firearm publications cross my desk every month, but Handgunner is truly a unique publication. I...

No lessons.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... Once again the editor takes magazine space to try to correct the wrongs of society, when he should be concentrating on giving us statistics and solid information about guns. This waste of what I know is valuable space as he tries yet again to...

S&W lock stuff.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... I thought about sending a note applauding Charles Petty's assessment of the S&W lock "issue" (i.e., non-issue) when the article first appeared. Sloth and indolence once again overwhelmed my good intentions then, but now, given the ongoing...

Another angle.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... I've had only S&W two lockups, both with old guns, without locks. A Model 10 K-frame was locked up by my manipulating the lock-work. Either holding the hammer back and cycling the trigger, or vice-versa. It cleared when the internal works...

Gads, More Porno?(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... The letter written by Ms. Linid Town (SpeakOut, Sept/Oct 2006) was answered with grace and diplomacy, which I can appreciate. However, I am required to be neither graceful or diplomatic when I say Ms. Town really needs to get a life. Frankly,...

Nifty Nighthawk.(WINNING EDGE: SOLID ADVICE TO KEEP YOU AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION)
November 1, 2006... There's a new superstar in the high grade 1911 world. Nighthawk Custom got going in 2004 and already has established an outstanding reputation for quality of design, materials and workmanship. This success is hardly surprising. Four of the...

Say no to Mexican carry.(HANDGUN LEATHER: FROM CLASSICS TO CUTTING EDGE IN CARRY METHODS)
November 1, 2006... The first day of the class I was standing on the firing line with 10 other instructors when the students, all 60 of them, filed onto the firing deck. Someone with a highly-advanced, sadistic sense of humor had situated the...

A plea.(HANDGUN LEATHER: FROM CLASSICS TO CUTTING EDGE IN CARRY METHODS)
November 1, 2006... Whatever you do, please use a holster. Don't ever just stuff a gun in your pocket or waistband for that matter. Over the years I've had friends blow chunks of their butt off with a Glock and a Smith DAO. One particular friend was walking into a...

Sub-commandante.(HANDGUN LEATHER: FROM CLASSICS TO CUTTING EDGE IN CARRY METHODS)
November 1, 2006... A particularly cheerful sub-commandante took his position on the line just in front of me. My Spanish was limited to "alto" and "seguro su arma" (or slop and put your gun on safe). Fortunately his English was excellent. I asked why he didn't...

Pistol glass.(HANDGUN HUNTING: TIPS, TECHNIQUES AND POLITICAL-INCORRECTNESS)
November 1, 2006... Roy Jinks, Historian of Smith & Wesson, advises me that in the late 1800s long range handgun competition was conducted with S&W revolvers mounted with the rather crude telescope sights then available. In those days adjustable pistol sights were...

New ideas.(HANDGUN HUNTING: TIPS, TECHNIQUES AND POLITICAL-INCORRECTNESS)
November 1, 2006... In the late 1950s or early 1960s a couple of companies--Davis and Lischert--began marketing long eye relief ocular lens extensions for the Weaver K series M and some Leupold rifle scopes. Simply unscrew the rifle scope lens and screw on the...

Nowadays.(HANDGUN HUNTING: TIPS, TECHNIQUES AND POLITICAL-INCORRECTNESS)
November 1, 2006... Years later Bushnell came out with inexpensive scopes using a "rail" system for a cheap mounting system. Results were cheap too. The Precision Reflex pistol sight projected the image of a crosshair as a sighting device. Worked relatively well...

Dream gun.(PISTOLSMITHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP ON PISTOLSMITHING TECHNIQUES)
November 1, 2006... Aunt Minnie just croaked so you're buried under a heap of $100 bills she left you. You're a Colt-style single action gun nut, your wife is out buying shoes, it's just you and the dog at home and you want something that will let the guys at the...

Bestest one.(PISTOLSMITHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP ON PISTOLSMITHING TECHNIQUES)
November 1, 2006... The highest quality sixgun you can purchase today is one made by US Firearms. These magnificent creations of company president Doug Donnelly are truly state-of-the-art production guns. USAF guns are made in the old Colt factory under what is...

Rugers rock.(PISTOLSMITHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP ON PISTOLSMITHING TECHNIQUES)
November 1, 2006... I guess more custom single actions have been built on the Ruger models than any other. The old three screws with a hammer half-cock notch are going up in price by the day, but are still a pretty good platform for custom work. However, I believe...

Two-inch Colts: when it's okay to be a Dick.(COP TALK: OPINION AND FACTS FROM THE MEAN STREETS)
November 1, 2006... In 1927, Colt put a 2" barrel on their Police Positive Special and created the Detective Special. It was the first small-frame .38 Special snub-nose. Some still insist it was the best. Before WWII, Colt had rounded the butt to make it...

Choice of champions.(COP TALK: OPINION AND FACTS FROM THE MEAN STREETS)
November 1, 2006... The hell of it is that a decade after the discontinuance of the gun affectionately known as the "Dick Special" among its fans, it and its aluminum-framed cousins are still out there on the street. At the recent Snubby Summit in Florida, these...

The 20% advantage.(COP TALK: OPINION AND FACTS FROM THE MEAN STREETS)
November 1, 2006... Colt ads of the '50s emphasized "the all-important sixth shot" these little D-frames offered. While most of us would have said if any shot was "all-important," it would be the first one instead of the sixth, a 20 percent firepower increase over...

Wilson Combat Carry Comp .45 dream-gun.(TAFFIN TESTS: THE SIXGUNNER HIMSELF: GUNS, GEAR AND MORE)
November 1, 2006... Today my "gun" dreams are fueled--and my credit card kept red hot--by the catalogs of the greatest gunsmiths and gunmakers who have ever lived. As shooters we are privileged to have access to superb firearms that shooters could only dream about...

Rants from the Rangemaster.(BETTER SHOOTING)
November 1, 2006... Dave Douglas is the Handgun Leather columnist for A/H and editor of American COP, Handgunner's sister publication. Prior to discovering the dubious joys of being a magazine editor, Dave spent 30 years behind the badge. During his last five...

Eyes And Isosceles stances.(BETTER SHOOTING)
November 1, 2006... Dave said, "We found about 10 percent of the recruits were cross eye dominant (right-handed with a left master eye or vice versa). In fact, cross eye dominance was one reason we taught the Isosceles stance, it makes it easier to align the...

No fast draw.(BETTER SHOOTING)
November 1, 2006... "We made a lot of changes to the training program to make it more reality-based. We wanted to teach gunfighting, not competition shooting," explained Dave. "Some of the practical shooting sports place a lot of emphasis on a fast draw. We found,...

Armed Citizen vs. The Dillinger Gang: the Harry Berg incident.(The AYOOB FILES)
November 1, 2006... Situation: Dillinger and his gang hold up the bank down the street with automatic weapons. You only have a small-caliber revolver. Should you take them on? Lesson. History tells us that one courageous armed citizen did exactly that. We can...

The other dimensions.(REALITY CHECK: FIRST-PERSON THOUGHTS ON SURVIVING IN THE REAL WORLD)
November 1, 2006... For years the basic recipient of gunfire from the majority of shooters comes in the form of a one-dimensional plane made of paper. These paper targets have been the subject of a fury of gunfire over the years. The old NRA B27 and the now almost...

The ouchie!(REALITY CHECK: FIRST-PERSON THOUGHTS ON SURVIVING IN THE REAL WORLD)
November 1, 2006... This one is a no brainer. Ms. Heidi has a saying: "Every bullet that leaves the barrel has a lawyer attached to it." And she's right. In today's world you had better know what is behind whatever you're shooting at whether hunting or in a...

Innies & outies.(REALITY CHECK: FIRST-PERSON THOUGHTS ON SURVIVING IN THE REAL WORLD)
November 1, 2006... The in part is where the projectile goes in. Much of this is a mind game as people will move so that they can stand directly in front of the paper getting full exposure during range drills. In training, I push the shooter into lateral movements...

Blasphemy & Heresy or how I became a heretic.(GUNCRANK DIARIES: EXCUSES, ALIBIS, PITHY OBSERVATIONS & GENERAL EPHUS)
November 1, 2006... Lots of you have written asking what handgunning "discipline du jour," signature school of shooting, trademarked technique, or method-of-the-month I subscribe to. I don't. I have what I call "evolved practices," and they're still evolving....

Fishpaw's fancies: grips for a king.(THE SIXGUNNER)
November 1, 2006... If you're reading this magazine and this column, you probably belong to that large, almost all-encompassing group sociologists label the "middle class." Neither terribly rich nor hopelessly poor, most of us can have just about anything we...

Sock drawer guns.(SHOOTING IRON[TM]: THUMB BUSTIN' MUSINGS FROM THE DUKE)
November 1, 2006... Pray-tell what on earth are sock drawer guns? They're the handguns I've kept by my side of the bed my entire adult life. Coincidentally by that side of the bed is also where the drawer is in which my socks are kept. So it's handy to slip...

Empty chambers!?!(SHOOTING IRON[TM]: THUMB BUSTIN' MUSINGS FROM THE DUKE)
November 1, 2006... And speaking of loaded magazines, the only death threat I've ever had was long ago in my unmarried years. The phone rang in the middle of the night and when I picked it up some yahoo was screaming how he was coming after me with a 12 gauge. I...

Duke's heroic vision.(SHOOTING IRON[TM]: THUMB BUSTIN' MUSINGS FROM THE DUKE)
November 1, 2006... For the past year one of my sock drawer gun has often been the new S&W Model 21-4.44 Special Thunder Ranch Revolver. With its 4" barrel and 250 grain Black Hills factory load, it's a dandy for such service. That's my opinion anyway. My new S&W...

The .41 Magnum.(HANDLOADING:: SAGE ADVICE FROM THE HANDLOADING GURU)
November 1, 2006... "When was the last time you did anything on the .41 Magnum?" growled Editor Roy. "Never," I said, keeping my cool. "What's it to you?" Okay, maybe I didn't say the "What's it to you" part, but I still hate it when he has a good idea. The...

Happy days.(HANDLOADING:: SAGE ADVICE FROM THE HANDLOADING GURU)
November 1, 2006... Perhaps it's just a sign of aging, but maximum loads don't hold much appeal for me anymore so even though I need to check them out, I almost always start with working up something milder. As I set out, it occurred to me my .44-40 load of 5.0...

Cabela's Elmer Keith Museum: a handgunner's Mecca in Boise, Idaho.
November 1, 2006... For three decades the big bore sixgunner's Mecca was Salmon, Idaho, because of a living legend--Elmer Keith. Keith was the major influence when it came to big bore sixguns and rifles for nearly 60 years. Every knowledgeable shooter knows what...

Charter Arms: medicine cabinet guns.
November 1, 2006... It's not often any company in general, and a firearms company in particular, can survive by producing dogs. However, Charter Arms has been producing a dog for four decades now; it is the .44 Special Bulldog and it's definitely no dog. Dogs have...

Slimnastic .45 carry-gun!
November 1, 2006... Twenty years ago how many of us would have imagined one day there would be a .45 ACP pistol smaller than a S&W 3913, lighter than a lightweight S&W Chief's Special, with better ergonomics than a Browning Hi Power? I'm not so sure I could have...

Guns of the 2005 USPSA nationals: shoot what you own!
November 1, 2006... The 2005 USPSA handgun nationals were held at the superb PASA range at Barry, Illinois. What impressed me most (other than the wondrous shooting skills displayed despite the oppressive heat) was the variety of handguns being used. In 2005 there...

Tactically tactile: Rock River Arms .45 fighter.
November 1, 2006... For Americans, the 1911 is more than an outstanding handgun. It's truly a slice of Americana that we can proudly point to as an example of American ingenuity. And, it's yet another icon of American life that jealous people in their mud huts...

What would Wyatt say? Wimp loads, close targets and high-tec mods: what's happening to cowboy shooting?
November 1, 2006... What would Wyatt Earp say about cowboy action shooting today? That's anyone's guess, but here's mine. The scenario is that magically three modern cowboy action shooters are plucked from present day and set down beside him in place of his...

Sharp success: Columbia River Knife & tool soars to the top!
November 1, 2006... The American cutlery industry has compiled a remarkable list of success stories over the past century. Few would argue the most recent member to add to that roster is Columbia River Knife & Tool of Wilsonville, Oregon. Simply known as "CRKT" to...

Cheap! 1911s for sale: .45 caliber bang for just a few bucks.
November 1, 2006... My first experience with a 1911 was with my dad's old surplus model which left a lot to be desired in terms of accuracy. Part of this may have been my inexperience, but part of it was because it was not a very well made gun. Overall, the...

Louder than words: win an heirloom pistol package for $10: but why?
November 1, 2006... Want to own a heirloom matching custom pistol, holster, knife and presentation case for only $10? Well you can. and actually be doing a good deed at the same time. No, really. Louder Than Words (LTW, www.louderthanwords.us) is an...

American Handgunner: 2006 catalog showcase.
November 1, 2006... A.G. RUSSELL[TM] KNIVES Since 1964, A.G. Russell[TM] Knives has supplied the knife needs of customers worldwide. The A.G. Russell name means quality, dependability and knowledge. Catalogs and Web site includes most quality production...

More on Connor.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... The gun community--and especially the gun publications--need all the humor they can get. He provides a sense of reality. The "Capering Clowns of the Gun Writing Circus" generally write about snubbies in .454, .480 and .50 caliber. They go on...

Cylinder & slide trigger kit.(GUNNYSACK)
November 1, 2006... When I was learning how to accurize 1911 pistols one of the hardest jobs was to get a really good trigger. Back then we had to file the hammer hooks down to no less than 0.015" and recut the sear angle--all perfectly square. That was assuming...

Crimson trace J-frame lasergrips.(GUNNYSACK)
November 1, 2006... It seems as if laser sights are an idea whose time has come. And my position on them has changed from negative to neutral. It isn't because there is anything wrong with laser sights, it's because there has been a flawed perception in what they...

Model 90 Vision leather holster.(SPOTLIGHT)
November 1, 2006... Bianchi International Bianchi has just come oat with the new Model 90 Vision, a leather concealment holster designed specifically for those who carry a light mounted on their weapon. The Vision is a semiclosed-bottom design that covers the...

Ballistic Containment System.(SPOTLIGHT)
November 1, 2006... Safe Direction LLC As much fun as shooting is, the last thing any of us ever want to see or hear is an accidental discharge. Safe Direction LLC has come up with a "must have" for any range or dry fire practice area. Dubbed the Ballistic...

Colt optimum big game skinner.(SPOTLIGHT)
November 1, 2006... United Cutlery Big game hunters have a special affinity for the knives they use to dress animals in the field. Any of them would be proud to own the Colt Large Stag and Wood Hunter (CTO137) from United Cutlery that features a genuine stag...

Training Barrel.(SPOTLIGHT)
November 1, 2006... Blade-Tech Industries Innovative Tim Wegner and the crew at Blade-Tech industries, have developed in replacement Training Barrel exclusively for the professional (LE/Military) and civilian firearms training industries The Training Barrel...

Aluminum base pads.(SPOTLIGHT)
November 1, 2006... Wilson Combat The folks at Wilson Combat have been supplying serious shooters and pros reliable and durable .45 auto magazines for over 25 years. How, they are offering their popular 8-round .45 ACP Magazines with aluminum base pads. The...

The Night Sentry.(SPOTLIGHT)
November 1, 2006... Diamond Sentry Distributor The Night Sentry slides easily between your bed's mattress and box spring to offer instant access to your handgun, flashlight, cell phone, stun gun, mace or any other important self- or home-defense item. No...

Pocket Badge.(SPOTLIGHT)
November 1, 2006... Classline The Pocket Badge offers the ability to create customized badges for law enforcement and other emergency personnel. Pocket Badges are available in four styles--SP-3, 2"x3" with a long back for dress shirts, RB-1, 2"x3" with a...

Add it up.(THE INSIDER)
November 1, 2006... $2 MILLION Original estimate of Canadian gun registry. $1 BILLION Actual cost. 4.7 MILLION New firearms sold in U.S. last year. 3.5% increased ammo sales. 149 Total police officers killed in 2005 ...

Midway establishes NRA endowment.(THE INSIDER)
November 1, 2006... Larry Potterfield, President of MidwayUSA. Inc., has pledged a personal gift of $500,000 on behalf of himself and his wife. Brenda. to establish a new NRA Gunsmith/Gunmaking Education Endowment. "Before there were companies mass producing...

Pistol packing principals.(THE INSIDER)
November 1, 2006... It seems Oklahoma has some sense, unlike the rest of the country. Bill 2075 has been introduced allowing superintendents and principals to be CCW on school properties if they have a valid CCW permit and have the approval of their respective...

USPSA grows up.(THE INSIDER)
November 1, 2006... According to Dave Thomas, President of United States Practical Shooting Association, the organization is back up to over 15,000 members. Dave feels the new divisions that welcome the more mundane, factory-style handguns are attracting new...

Bushmaster beats Colt.(THE INSIDER)
November 1, 2006... Sued by Colt for using the "M4" trademark and the trade dress of the M4, Bushmaster took 'em to court in Maine. The case was decided for Bushmaster, with the court denying Colt's infringement claims. Additionally, the court cancelled Colt's...

Zeiss pocket scope.(cool stuff)
November 1, 2006... The MiniQnick is a 5x 10 pocket scope which, if you flip it over, doubles as a field magnifying scope. If you're a nut case for optics like I am then this is just your ticket. It really does fit into your shirt pocket like a pen and the optics...

The source for all things.(cool stuff)
November 1, 2006... Okay, maybe not all things, but if you need to know some gun stuff, the NRA's new sourcebook just might be a good place to start. I can't personally imagine undertaking a job like this book, but you know how those pesky fellows at the NRA...

Tiny scale.(cool stuff)
November 1, 2006... Once the electronic scales appeared, I waved goodbye to my old balance beam forever. This latest offering from Frankford Arsenal, called the "Micro Reloading Scale" is, well, a micro reloading scale. If you check out the size of that .45-70...

Percussion power.(cool stuff)
November 1, 2006... Long time Handgunner writer Mike Cumpston (and his bud, Johnny Bates) have authored a great primer on percussion pistols and revolvers. While not the definitive history of anything, the little book is nonetheless an absolutely great resource...

Editor gets gas.(THE INSIDER)
November 1, 2006... In light of the fact I just paid $3.65 for a gallon of gas the other day, I decided I was in the wrong business. Fortunately I was traveling across the desert and spotted a gas station for sale. The price was right so I bought it and promptly...

Yellow gun.(THE INSIDER)
November 1, 2006... This one came over my desk the other day and when I saw it I realized we in the "real gun" community were missing the ball. This widget is for "shooting" a line across the false ceiling in a building in order to run cables and such. You shoot...

Guns as food?(THE INSIDER)
November 1, 2006... Alton Brown, the host of a TV cooking show (stay with me here...) is actually a funny fellow and not anything like the normal, boring-as-snot cooking show host. He uses great graphics, skits, props, science and general hooting and yowling to...

ATF gunsmith raids: update.(THE INSIDER)
November 1, 2006... I thought you'd like to know in light of the recent raids on custom gunsmiths by agents of the ATF and TTB (taxes), the NRA plans on doing battle. According to our own Alex Hamilton (Pistolsmithing columnist), he thought the ATF would soften a...