Guns Magazine articles from August 2007

Guns Magazine archives from August 2007

Airsoft.(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2007... I am so glad you covered these important developments in airsoft. Kids around here don't have BB guns--they shoot full-auto MP5s! Airsoft, of course. John Fox Tuscon, Ariz.

Head shots.(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2007... Holt Bodinson could not have better described the pleasure of squirrel hunting with a .22 than his "that, my friend, is hunting" introducing "Return Of The T-Bolt" (April 2007). However, after reading the article, I looked again at the picture...

Straight scoop on scandium.(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2007... As a professional metallurgist who's developed strong aluminum alloys for 40 years, I'd like to clarify the term "scandium" as applied to certain strong, light, gun frames. Such "scandium" frames are not made from this expensive rare earth...

The redoubtable Ruger SP101: unusually rugged for its size, this accurate revolver is a favorite among serious shooters and pistol-packers.(HANDGUNS)
August 1, 2007... One Sunday recently, I joined four friends for shooting practice on a private range. As the hardware came out, I noticed something interesting: three of the four of us had Ruger SP101 revolvers in our gun bags. Each in a different caliber, but...

Precision measuring instruments: as used in gunsmithing.(THE SMITHY)
August 1, 2007... Gunsmithing is a combination of many skills. You must be part artist, engineer, woodworker and, above all, skilled working with your hands with all kinds of different tools. There are people who are so in tune they can do things "by eye" and...

RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 scale and dispenser: a quality scale for the serious shooter.(HANDLOADER: "GUNS" ALL STARS THIS MONTH)
August 1, 2007... Last year at the NBRSA National Championships I noticed some shooters crowded around Walt Berger, seeming very engrossed in whatever it was he had up his sleeve. I have been shooting with Walt for nearly 30 years and a more helpful and...

Bolt maintenance: it's required.(RIFLEMAN)
August 1, 2007... Bolt actions are rather simple mechanisms, though perhaps a bit more complex than they first appear. Unfortunately, the bolt itself often gets neglected A neglected bore can result in group size doubling or tripling. A neglected bolt can...

Run in the forest, run! Outdoors exercise can be quite exhilarating--in more ways than one.(RANGING SHOTS[TM])
August 1, 2007... Our esteemed editor issued me an assignment to resolve the issue of how best to protect the average runner/jogger while going about the business of pounding the earth flat one step at a time. The other slight tactical nuance was how to do so in...

Peacemakers & Schofields: there's been plenty of hullabaloo over which is the superior design.(MONTANA MUSINGS)
August 1, 2007... Recently in another gun magazine, a writer said something to the effect, "Although Smith & Wesson's Model No. 3 Schofield was a superior design, the Colt SAA got the government contracts." Brothers, I beg to differ! The Smith & Wesson Model...

The ultimate ammo test: and other musings.(RIMFIRES)
August 1, 2007... Imagine rounding up every brand and every load of rimfire ammunition manufactured today, breaking down, analyzing and measuring the components and manufacturing tolerances of every single load, firing five, 5-shot groups for record at 50 or 100...

The 1893 and 1895 Mausers: when military rifles had old world craftsmanship.(SURPLUS LOCKER[TM])
August 1, 2007... If I were a Model 1893/1895 Mauser and could talk, I think I would be mouthing the famous line, "Don't get much respect around here." Seen as weak actions compared to the Model 98, the cock-on-closing 93 and 95 Mausers have never been popular...

Fuel for front-loaders: and black powder cartridges.(OUT OF THE BOX[TM])
August 1, 2007... Choosing a black powder or black powder substitute is as personal as selecting a favorite toothpaste or pizza topping. Any safe propellant is ideal for making a "good boom" at an empty tomato juice can residing peacefully in front of a dirt...

Questions & answers.
August 1, 2007... Q: I'm a writer working a story about a detective in the mid-1950s. The character is a black man from Chicago and I want him to have a gun that, at the time, would've been "inexpensive but dependable." I'm hoping you could offer up a few...

Bullet lube.(QUESTIONS & ANSWERS)
August 1, 2007... Q: I've recently gotten into bullet casting and really enjoy it. I don't really like the lubing part, however. I have purchased Meister hard-cast bullets in the past and wonder how do they lube their bullets? Is it a process I can repeat at...

Looking to the future: Weatherby's Youth Rifle offers room to grow.
August 1, 2007... Youthful enthusiasm makes light of minor discomforts like cold, snow, rain, long hikes, even Dad's camp cooking. Still, it's easier to stay enthusiastic if you have the right equipment. Dad's boots and hunting coat don't fit Junior very well....

A mighty accurate mini: Ruger's Mini 14 target delivers.
August 1, 2007... Ruger's mini 14 target delivers: Ruger's Mini-14 has been around since the early '70s and bears a strong resemblance to the military M14 with a hint of M1 Carbine thrown in. To many the Mini looks like a scaled down M14 chambered for the .223...

Light as feathers: S&W's AirLites are tough as nails, too.
August 1, 2007... It is quite embarrassing for a gunwriter who has made most of a career out of covering antique, obsolete, classic and historical firearms to admit an infatuation with a brand new genre of guns. But I am. Many times in the past I've bragged...

Italy's Mannlicher-Carcano: how did such a good rifle get such a bad reputation?
August 1, 2007... A brilliant flash of white light erupted in midair over their heads followed instantaneously by a thunderous clap! Mirek's head was throbbing and his ears ringing--a grenade--blood was trickling from his ears and nose. He struggled to regain...

A "special" happy birthday! The .44 special turns 100.
August 1, 2007... S&W celebrated the young 20th-century by lengthening the venerable .44 Russian case from .97" to 1.06" and creating a new cartridge for the new century called the .44 S&W Special. Both Colt and Smith & Wesson had swing-out cylindered,...

Rights watch: "a very sound policy".(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2007... Magazine columns are poor places to discuss breaking news--the lead time between article submission and hitting the stands is generally months, and what's assumed as fact today can be dismissed tomorrow--or even later today--as unfounded. ...

Aviator of the year: Hall of heroes.(VIEWS, NEWS, AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2007... During a raid on a high-value target in Afghanistan, six aircraft from what is now V Corps' 12th Combat Aviation Brigade and members of the Canadian Special Forces encountered insurgents from the start. As the first aircraft, a CH-47 Chinook,...

Para-Ord's designer, Ted Szabo, passes at 60.(VIEWS, NEWS, AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2007... Ted Szabo, the innovative president of Para-Ordnance, passed away on Wednesday March 28, 2007 at the age of 60. Szabo, a gifted engineer and designer, founded the company in the 1985 with his friend, Thanos Polyzos. In 1988, Para-Ordnance...

NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund: sponsors essay contest for students.(VIEWS, NEWS, AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2007... The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund (NRACRDF) is sponsoring an essay contest for students in the United States celebrating the 2nd Amendment as an integral part of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The theme for the essay is: "The...

Retired USMC general joins Bushmaster.(VIEWS, NEWS, AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2007... Gen. Michael W. Hagee, who retired early this year after serving as the 33rd Commandant of the Marine Corp, has joined Bushmaster Firearms International's board of directors, the company announced Thursday. Hagee retired from the Marine Corps...

Collegiate level.(VIEWS, NEWS, AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2007... Shooters from 32 colleges and universities competed in San Antonio over four days last April at the 39th annual ACUI Intercollegiate Clay Target Championships. Powerhouse Lindenwood University was crowned national collegiate champion for the...

Albany mayor backpedals.(VIEWS, NEWS, AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2007... Following a strong public outcry by sportsmen and gun owners, including a legislative alert from NSSF, Albany, NY, Mayor Jerry Jennings, a member of anti-gun New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" coalition,...

Big green sold.(VIEWS, NEWS, AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2007... Remington Arms Co. announced last April it will be acquired by New York-based private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP. The deal is estimated at $370 million. Cerberus, which also owns Bushmaster Firearms, will buy Remington for $118...

Police close list of gun owners.(VIEWS, NEWS, AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2007... After a Roanoke Times editorial writer encouraged his readers go online to see who in the area was "packing heat," state police closed the once open list of 135,000 state residents licensed to carry concealed handguns, the newspaper...

Shiloh rifles stolen.(VIEWS, NEWS, AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2007... Stopping overnight in Kansas City after returning from the NRA show, the truck with the entire display of Shiloh Sharps rifles was stolen. A methamphetamine addict has been arrested with some personal belongings from the truck, but none of the...

The Spinloader/Spinjag family.(QUARTERMASTER)
August 1, 2007... Ever wonder what's happening where the typical muzzleloading ramrod tip meets the bullet or ball as you seat the load? Ever wonder if a cleaning patch pushed straight down and pulled straight up with the same rod was really an efficient means...

Lee's REAL bullets.(QUARTER MASTER)
August 1, 2007... Standing for "Rifling Engraved at Loading," the Lee REAL solid bullet is one of the most accurate and versatile muzzleloading projectiles. Available as Lee molds in 45, 50, 54 and 58 caliber and in two bullet weights in each caliber,...

The Aston/Johnson martial pistol of 1842: the beginning of the end of an era.(A GUNS MEDLEY)
August 1, 2007... Leslie Poles Hartley and later Jeff Cooper observed, The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there." At best, we view the past "... through a glass, darkly," but nothing serves to clarify the vision as effectively as actually...

Super Fly pocket holster.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2007... From DeSantis When they designed the original Nemesis, many thought it would remain the best pocket holster for decades to come. Now DeSantis gives us the Super Fly style No. M44. Super Fly's exclusive sticky rubberized fabric is even more...

New Delta and Echo fixed-blade knives.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2007... From SureFire SureFire's new Delta and Echo edged weapons make a welcome addition to any knife collection. However, they are built to fulfill the needs of some of the most demanding customers in the world. Swat teams, elite special...

Multicam camo pattern made available to the outdoor market.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2007... From Tru-Spec Outdoors Tru-Spec by Atlanco, one of the leading suppliers of BDUs and other apparel to law enforcement and military sectors, has announced its intention to introduce apparel manufactured from the original MultiCam to the...

Unique Carbon Fiber grips.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2007... From Carbon Creations Unique grips which can give your guns a striking and distinctive appearance are now available from Carbon Creations. These patented grips are molded with the same tough carbon fiber and carbon/kevlar blends used in...

The BHI SOPMOD AK and BHI SOPMOD PKM.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2007... From Blackheart International Special Operations Forces (SOF) require the capability to adapt basic issue weapons to meet several mission needs. The BHI SOPMOD Accessory Kits provide the AK47/74 Rifle and the PKM machine gun with the...

BOG-PODS.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2007... From BOG Gear L.L.C. BOG-PODs are a new line of state-of-the-art telescoping shooting sticks. Each leg is composed of three sections, each of which telescope independently. Height markers on the legs make for quick and exact adjustments....

The Slant-Six Compact Classic.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2007... From Uselton Arms Uselton Arms Inc. introduces the Slant-Six Compact Classic. This custom built 1911 design 45 ACP features a rounded mainspring housing giving a more comfortable feel in the hand. Standard features include a 3.5" barrel,...

Behemoth blade: Benchmade's LFK.(SPOT LIGHT)
August 1, 2007... Benchmade did it with the Ruckus, and they've done it again with the LFK--this folding pocketknife makes you say, "Whoa." The LFK's tailfin design folds out from the handle to cover the blade, then folds back in during use. The idea? To...

You can win this free Gary Reeder Custom: Thompson/center Encore pistol!
August 1, 2007... Yes indeedy, the Gary Reeder Custom Ruger No. 1 went over so well we decided to do an "Encore." This time it's what Gary calls the "Mini Beast"--a potent single-shot Encore pistol in the bone-smashing .500 S&W. This one comes with Reeder's own...

Slippery stuff: some politicians smell as bad as they feel.(ODD ANGRY SHOT)
August 1, 2007... On an unexpectedly sunny day in a faraway place, fear fit, skilled and semi-smart young men decided to augment their combat rations with some fat, tasty-lookin' fishies stranded in the ebbing elbow of a placid stream. The lads had no hooks and...

The Fabulous '50s: great guns, great cars, great girls.(CAMPFIRE TALES[TM])
August 1, 2007... Although I was only 10 years old, I well remember the excitement and anticipation as the calendar turned 1950. The Greatest Generation had successfully brought World War II to a close, little realizing before 1950 ended many of them would be...