American Handgunner articles from September 2002

American Handgunner archives from September 2002

Mail call. (Speak Out).
September 1, 2002... Carnivorous Buffs? Evidently, my zoological studies have been deficient. Please tell me more about the carnivorous buffalo referred to in Roy Huntington's piece on Ashley sights. Jeez, I thought getting gored and/or trampled was bad...

Ruger promotion misprint.
September 1, 2002... In the "Gun Grapevine" section of the March/April issue of American Handgunner, the dates and rebate amounts concerning a Ruger factory rebate program were incorrect. The program offered rebates to retail customers on P-Series and MkII pistols...

"I'll pay you $10 if you don't agree this vicious new American Combat Karate can transform you overnight into a mega-dangerous fighter!" (Advertisement).
September 1, 2002... Created specifically for American fighters like you by a decorated U.S. special forces combat expert! Take the world's best streetfighters (almost all of them Americans)... combine with the most feared spec op soldiers (ALL of them...

The .30-30: that lazarus of cartridges. (Handgun Hunting).
September 1, 2002... Thompson Center introduced the .30-30 in a 10" barreled Contender almost 30 years ago, starting the .30 caliber handgun craze for hunting and competition. At that point, the Contender wasn't anywhere near as accurate as it is now. The .30-30...

Short fat and slick. (Handgun Hunting).
September 1, 2002... Winchester hit the jackpot with the introduction of the 300 Win Short Magnum. Ballistics that nearly equal the 300 Win mag. in a short, fat cartridge, combined with a very slick advertising campaign, spurred immense interest in the cartridge....

Measure twice, load once. (Handgun Hunting).
September 1, 2002... Different lots of WW ammo delivered a 150 gr. bullet at 2,800 fps (that's a hundred fps faster than the .30-'06 WW II service load with the same weight bullet) and belted a 180 out at 2,550 fps. I assure you handloading will not improve these...

Only accurate handguns are interesting. (Pistolsmithing).
September 1, 2002... Handgun accuracy, that veiled phantom we gunsmiths chase our entire lives, seems like a Will-O-the-Wisp as it comes and goes at a frustrating pace. We all have different approaches to this perplexing problem, but all of us in the American...

And if that's not enough. (Pistolsmithing).
September 1, 2002... In review, proper headspace, an aligned cylinder, correct diameter throat, an 11 degree forcing cone, a correct specification bore and a perfect crown should give you those nice little groups way out to 50 yards and beyond. Quality sights, a...

The triple crown. (Pistolsmithing).
September 1, 2002... Ron Power, a big daddy of revolver 'smithing and the manufacturer of some of the finest after-market parts for Ruger single actions and Smith & Wesson Revolvers, says cylinder alignment with the barrel bore is crucial. If it isn't 'lust so,"...

How long is too long? (Tactical Advantage).
September 1, 2002... For those of us who carry or use semiauto pistols for serious purposes, the question of how long it's "safe" to leave your magazines loaded has always been an issue. My recommendation has always been to rotate your magazines every six months,...

The golden rule. (Tactical Advantage).
September 1, 2002... My recommendation, and the rule I try to follow with my own pistols, is to leave them loaded for six months or so, then rotate them with fresh magazines. Then, let the springs recover and rest. If you have only two or three magazines for your...

Made in the U.S.A. (Tactical Advantage).
September 1, 2002... After 57 years of the spring being compressed, coupled with the age of the ammo, would this magazine work? Not odds one would wish to stake his life on, but I felt it would be an interesting test. Is it all, indeed, much ado about nothing. Or...

Barricaded cop-killer: the James Cantwell incident. (The Ayoob Files).
September 1, 2002... Situation: A barricaded psycho with a war-relic .303 Enfield is shooting cops a hundred yards away. You're armed with a 9mm pistol and a shotgun you've never fired before. Lesson: Apply what you know about the gun in question. Aim...

Super califragalistic. (Handloading).
September 1, 2002... Almost 20 years ago the .38 Super was all the rage in the burgeoning sport of practical shooting. The challenge was to make major power factors without blowing something up. Don't laugh. One line of accessories in high demand were Breskovich...

Kimber to the rescue. (Handloading).
September 1, 2002... But there may be change afoot. Recently, Kimber introduced two of their dandy pistols chambered for the Super. If sales are good, the ammo companies might just take notice. It isn't like it would be hard. Most of their 9mm bullets would work...

Keep 'yer paradox from rising. (Handloading).
September 1, 2002... One of the enduring questions about the .38 Super is why the ammo companies have ignored it as a defensive round. Winchester has a 125 gr. Silvertip at 1,240 fps and CorBon lists a 125 gr. JHP at 1,350 fps and a 115 at 1,450. Georgia Arms shows...

The father of all holsters. (Handgun Leather).
September 1, 2002... Fundamentally, the father of all holsters is that apple-brained fellow, Sir Isaac Newton. The basic reason for a holster, after Mall, is gravity, the inexorable force tugging at your trousers and anything you try to shove inside them -- like a...

Clip Draws and hip grips. (Handgun Leather).
September 1, 2002... Believe it or not, once upon a time someone actually manufactured a high-grade version of the Mexican Loop featuring a chrome plated clip affixed to a length of shoelace string. The product was called Gun Clip, made by a company out of New...

Stringing along a two-cent holster. (Handgun Leather).
September 1, 2002... Making a Mexican Loop is easier than your 10-year-old's art project. We're going to build the super deluxe version, using Mil-Spec 550 parachute cord instead of that frequently encountered, less costly alternative, an old shoelace. You...

It's not a game. (Reality Check).
September 1, 2002... I'm pleased to be writing this column, and to that end, thought I should explain what I intend doing in this valuable space. More important than the space, however, is the fact when you read this, your more important, irreplaceable personal...

On logic. (Reality Check).
September 1, 2002... Hence the name of this particular column -- Logic. Consider using logic when you read this. I want you to think about it and apply it; coldly and with no small amount of critical thinking. One of the definitions of logic is, "a sensible...

Always cheat, always win. (Reality Check).
September 1, 2002... The concept of time, in regards to conflict, is always an interesting one. I can say, without reservation, after having been in the firearms teaching business for about 25 years -- I have never, nor has anyone I have ever talked with who has...

Can you hit at a hundred? (Cop Talk).
September 1, 2002... In this issue's "Ayoob Files," we discuss a 1976 incident in which a felon with an iron-sighted WWI-vintage British Enfield rifle out-ranged multiple police officers armed with handguns and shotguns. Parolee James Cantwell murdered Officer Bill...

Bringing a rifle to a pistol fight. (Cop Talk).
September 1, 2002... The Cantwell siege was one of many incidents in my mind when in 1993, I was instrumental in getting a Ruger Mini-14 .223 rifle into each of my department's patrol vehicles. Each qualification includes 100 yard shooting from practical positions....

Getting the drop. (Cop Talk).
September 1, 2002... I first learned of this incident more than 20 years ago. Ever since, I've made a point of knowing where my service pistol hit out to 100 yards. It took me too long to personally thank Claude Deckard for that lesson. Don't trust trajectory...

Bring your clubs, balls, rifle & mine detector. (The 10-Ring).
September 1, 2002... So you think a deep sand trap is a "hazard?" Try this: Thailand's Minister of Tourism just announced plans for a new world-class 27-hole golf course with some very unusual features. Built at his country's juncture with Laos and Cambodia with...

Meet the world's most effective sniper. (The 10-Ring).
September 1, 2002... Except you can't meet him. This story begins with a report to the California Highway Patrol that two men were sitting in their vehicle outside the entrance to Yosemite National Park, frozen stock-still with their hands over their heads and...

If you can't shoot 'em, stab 'em with a fish. (The 10-Ring).
September 1, 2002... It's just one more example of the fact that stupid people don't need guns to attack each other -- just about anything will do. And the more bizarre, the better. Cops in Madeira Beach, Fla., tell us that Frank Ashmus, 46, and Garth Spacek, 42,...

Bambi's gone but not exactly forgotten. (The 10-Ring).
September 1, 2002... Our long-time favorite case is still the idiot who shot a deer standing on a ledge over his head -- and the deer fell and killed him. But this one's pretty good, too. Our latest incident of "Bambi's Revenge" involves a guy who took a nice buck...

Kimber Custom Shop LTP II. (Combat Shooting).
September 1, 2002... The Kimber Custom Shop LTP II is ideal for the USPSA's "Limited Ten" division. It's a single-stack 1911 .45 ACP with a flat-top serrated slide, adjustable rear sight, tungsten guide rod, extended ambidextrous thumb safety, and checkering on the...

Evolution of the 1911. (Combat Shooting).
September 1, 2002... Legend has it the 1911 was designed by John Browning in its final perfect form in one single outburst of creative genius. Browning's genius is beyond question, but in fact the 1911 evolved from his earlier designs. Brilliant design that it is,...

Long live the extractor hook. (Combat Shooting).
September 1, 2002... In the 1911 design the extractor fits into. a tunnel in the slide and acts as its own spring. It's an elegant design, but the quality of steel and tension of the extractor are critical if the extractor is to function properly and remain...

Shooting the big ones. (Better Shooting).
September 1, 2002... If .38s and .40s are basic meat and potato calibers, the big bores -- .44 Magnum, .480 Ruger, .454 Casull, and similar boomers -- are like fine dinners at a five-star restaurant. You probably don't want them everyday (okay, maybe you do) and...

Never let the gun hurt you. (Better Shooting).
September 1, 2002... Heavy recoil can hurt. Personally, the only injuries incurred have been fingers bruised or cuts by trigger guards. However, long term exposure to heavy recoil can lead to damaged elbows, wrists, fingers, ears and psyche. John Taffin has written...

Know your limits. (Better Shooting).
September 1, 2002... Some people seem to think if they fire a big gun without actually falling down or bursting into tears, it means they can "handle" recoil. Just making the gun go bang takes no more ability than it does to hit yourself on the head with a bat or...

Bowen Classic Arms: Personal & artifacts excellence for the sake of excellence.
September 1, 2002... American Handgunner has built a reputation for bringing you the finest custom handgun work available in the world. Each time, the work is presented in unparalleled clarity and we do it for an important reason. Just as we devour photos of the...

The Custom Revolver. (Book Review).
September 1, 2002... By Hamilton Bowen If you enjoyed the feature on the custom Bowen revolvers in this issue, you'll screech in delight when you read his book. There are some things simply too much for a human heart to handle. This may be one of them. If...

Petty's pocket picks: rule one? Have a gun.
September 1, 2002... Considering all the anti-gun political rhetoric, it's paradoxical that concealed carry is now legal in the vast majority of states. More Americans are exercising their right to carry a means of protection than at any other time in our nation's...

A symphony in steel: Bud Nealy's well-tuned edges strike a chord.
September 1, 2002... Imagine being a successful Jazz musician playing gigs on the road, performing in the Big Apple's coolest clubs and even under the stage lights of Broadway. In a city that's been more cruel to musicians than kind, you beat the odds. Playing with...

A pair to draw to Walther's P-99 & P-22: Walther's "P" series offers a handy "son of a gun" for .22 Rimfire fun.
September 1, 2002... Often, when people hear a gun company's name, an automatic game of word association begins. DWM might cry-out "Luger." Smith & Wesson, to many people, might mean Dirty Harry's Model 29. When I hear "Walther" I see Sean Connery and a PP or PPK...

Springfield Armory XD.
September 1, 2002... Springfield Armory's name is historically significant for one reason -- they maintain the quality and innovation for which the original was famous. Their creative thinking has brought an innovative lineup of 1911 series handguns, into fruition...

Thanks, Elmer: the influence of this grand gentleman of the sixgun still nudges today's shootists. (The Sixgunner).
September 1, 2002... Several years ago I walked into a local bookstore looking for Christmas presents and asked the clerk behind the counter if she had any books by Elmer Keith. She looked at me and said, "Who's Elmer Keith?" Another clerk overheard her, pushed her...

France: biting the bullet on gun laws; same problems, different language.
September 1, 2002... I had better declare an interest. When the editor asked me to report from the French front it was with some reluctance I set about the task. I had never been a gun man. And, the limited contact I had had with the world of handguns was via my...

A customized CZ52 to Czech out: fast, cheap and easy -- is this a pistol we're talking about?
September 1, 2002... The unfortunate reality, for most of us anyway, is that we probably won't be owning too many $2,000 pistols. It's not bad. It's not good. It just is. Even so, that doesn't mean we working stiffs can't enjoy a tastefully modified and unique...

Twenty four inches of twenty-two! This latest small-bore duo from Taurus takes "extreme" performance to new lengths. (Taffin Tests).
September 1, 2002... A lot of wonderful .22 handguns have come and gone in my lifetime but I always seem to manage to hold on to those particularly good shooting specimens. From Smith & Wesson, the Kit Gun and the K-22; from Colt, the Officer's Model Special that...

Marvelous perfection: this aluminum and steel .22 wonder delivers bet-winning accuracy.
September 1, 2002... The reputation of most .22 conversion units has been, historically, one of "ho-hum" accuracy. They were fun to play with, fun to plink with, but you had better get a serious pistol for competition. Yet, they can be a most useful, accessory for...

The straightjacket of false freedom: airline passengers with guns - part 2. (Gun Rights).
September 1, 2002... Previously, I've argued passengers should have the right to carry handguns on flights. Now, let's get back to a continuation of the examination of safety and liberty. I've noted most people find it very difficult to make a permanent choice...

Back in time, back in Arizona...Winter Range 2002.
September 1, 2002... It was unseasonably cold for a February morning in southern Arizona so I pulled my hat down and my coat collar up against the wind and the dust. Ahead in the light of the rising sun, they walked four abreast: well dressed, totally in black,...

A Presidential Smith & Wesson. (Handguns of Note).
September 1, 2002... Following his election as President in 1869, several U.S. arms makers presented firearms to Ulysses S. Grant. Ranked high amongst the finest of these, this Smith & Wesson Model 1 1/2 New Issue revolver boasted embellishments by the foremost...

Handgun Combatives. (Book Review).
September 1, 2002... By Dave Spaulding "The final weapon is the brain, all else is supplemental." John Steinbeck When I was editor of Police Magazine, I was deluged by piles of "cop" books to review. It seemed every fellow in a uniform who had ever...

Dillon Rapid Polish 290. (Gunny Sack).
September 1, 2002... I'm a firm believer in cleaning brass before it is reloaded. While it's nice to have shiny cases it is even more important to clean the brass to make loading easier. And the most important thing of all is to prolong the life of the dies. Cases...

Walker's Power Muffs Quad. (Gunny Sack).
September 1, 2002... I've been using electronic earmuffs for quite a few years and have come to consider them a necessary part of range gear. They're important for several reasons. If all we needed to do was shut out noise and were always by ourselves stuff like...

Hatch gloves for shooting and law enforcement. (Gunny Sack).
September 1, 2002... If you have ever seen pictures of SWAT or special operations troops the chances are good you've seen some Hatch gear. They're the folks who make the knee and elbow pads, goggles and gloves used by the good guys. While there are lots of...

1911 video course. (Spotlight).
September 1, 2002... American Gunsmithing Institute The complete do-it-yourself course on building or repairing any type of 1911 pistol. Seven separate videos use in-depth, step-by-stop instruction in detail, using extreme close-ups, charts, drawings and...

Farrar Grips are back! (Spotlight).
September 1, 2002... Pearce Grip, Inc. Pearce Grip, Inc. has acquired Farrar Grips and is re-introducing their popular rubber grips for the Beretta Model 92 series, 96 series, 8000, 8040, 8045 and 84F auto pistols. Rubber bumper pads for the 92 series...

The Ed Brown kobra. (Spotlight).
September 1, 2002... Ed Brown Products, Inc. Exclusive snakeskin treatment on the frame, mainspring housing, and slide sets this gun apart from any other. An extremely reliable gun for concealed carry, or practical competition. Caliber: .45 ACP; Barrel:...

Carbine Conversion Unit for Glocks. (Spotlight).
September 1, 2002... Mech-Tech Systems Inc. Much-Tech Systems now has the popular Carbine Conversion Unit (CCU) available for the Glock pistol. The CCU is a drop-on system which converts a Glock or 1911-style pistol into a 33.5" (overall length) semi-auto...

ACT-Mag/Novak Mag. (Spotlight).
September 1, 2002... PSI PSI has just released the new Act-Mag/Novak Magazines from Italy. The difference between the Act-Mag and the Novak Mag is that the Novak Magazines are drilled for bumper pads that come from Classic Pistol with self tapping screws, an...

The Metro. (Spotlight).
September 1, 2002... Buck Knives Buck's new Metro is more than a knife, it's a "triple-threat." The Metro combines a locking 1 1/4" drop-point blade, which opens and closes with one hand, with a bottle cap and soda can opener incorporated in the handle's large...

Adjuster Holster. (Spotlight).
September 1, 2002... Wilson Combat The all new Wilson Combat Adjuster Holster features the versatility of a one size fits all, with the performance of a custom molded bolster. This versatile model will properly fit all single stack 1911 models with barrel...

Gun Juice. (Spotlight).
September 1, 2002... Microlon Corp. Microlon's Gun Juice can be used on all firearms in place of traditional oil. The Gun Juice dry film lubricant will not attract dirt, dust or grit. When properly applied, long-lasting Gun Juice enables the weapon to fire a...

Gun crank warns: "don't put me in the brier patch". (Insider).
September 1, 2002... Let's just say it: I'm a gun crank. An out and out, confessed, no hope involved, gun nut. If you asked me if I had any old gun magazines lying around, I'd ask which year? Is 1958 too far back? Not far enough? Want to see Handgunner's first...