Guns Magazine articles from August 2009

Guns Magazine archives from August 2009

Anti gun Steele?(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2009... In the May issue, David Codrea implied Mr. Steele was anti-gun. I called the NRA, they said he wasn't and he's speaking al the NRA's 138th Annual meeting. What's going on? Larry Lane Inyokern, Calif. The truth is Michael Steele....

Zebra zone.(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2009... I would like to respond to Mr. Chapman's "No Zebra Zone" letter in the July issue. I live in South Africa and, by coincidence, I am mad about guns. Firstly be thankful for the good quality gun magazines some of you in America seem to take for...

Yuck.(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2009... I have been a subscriber for some years now and look forward to each issue. The only problem has been the occasional photo of some jerk with a dead animal. These where simply overlooked. Lately there has been a lot more of them and they seem to...

Flattop heaven.(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2009... Great article by John Taffin on Ruger's limited run of .44 specials for Lipsey's, but they've been out of them for over a year! I'm sure glad I take medication. After I read John's article I begin heavy drooling and had hampered speech 'til I...

Raising them right--Part II: the hunting tradition is alive and well in Montana.(MONTANA MUSINGS)
August 1, 2009... Two years ago in this column I wrote about friends here in Montana's Yellowstone Valley; the Wally Wines family and how they're raising their two children; a girl named Morgan and a boy named Connor. Computers in their home are for work not...

The vise: center of the gunsmithing universe.(GUNSMITHING)
August 1, 2009... In the life of every home gunsmith, there comes a job you simply can't do properly on the kitchen table or in your lap. You will have to have both hands to run the tools and have no hands left over to hold the work. Time for a vise. In most...

Budget binos: you don't need to spend a fortune.(OPTICS)
August 1, 2009... I like quality glass. Unfortunately, I can't afford most of the top binoculars I evaluate. But that is changing. Over the past few years more and more glass continues to hit the market for the budget minded buyer and it's giving the big boys a...

Ahh, sweet 16: handloading the "middle" gauge.(HANDLOADING)
August 1, 2009... Some shotgunners claim since the advent of the 3" 20 gauge there really isn't much excuse for the 16 gauge, since the "magnum" 20 overlaps the performance of the 12 gauge. Yet the 16 keeps plugging along, refusing to die, perhaps because it's...

Shotgun malfunctions: clear 'em.(RANGING SHOTS[TM])
August 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Most firearms discussion concerns varying opinions about the best barrel twist, bullet weight or the most effective projectile to use...

The perfect deer rifle: and the winner is ...(RIFLEMAN)
August 1, 2009... Ah, selecting a whitetail deer rifle. Many articles I've read make distinctions based on where you hunt. I think a better distinction is how you hunt. I never learned to like tree stands, probably because in the North Country I've hunted...

Pack guns: the wood's loafers delight.(SHOTGUNNER)
August 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Compact, rucksack-portable shotguns can add another dimension to an otherwise pedestrian hunt. Their utility was brought home to me years ago when I was hunting deer and bear regularly in the most remote areas of New...

"Ladies' guns": bad advice abounds. Let's apply some logic.(HANDGUNS)
August 1, 2009... A reader's letter reminds us we're overdue to address again the issue of defensive handguns for women. He and his lady have been shopping for her first carry gun, and have discovered, like the rest of us, there's a lot of bad advice to be found...

Century's VZ.58V: and this one shoots!(SURPLUS LOCKER[TM])
August 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In an earlier column, we examined the newly manufactured sporter model of the unique Czech vz.58 rifle imported by CZ-USA. Having just obtained Century International Arms military version of the same Czech design, it...

Featherweight magic: Kahr's new P380 pistol.(OUT of the BOX[TM])
August 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ultra-thin, ultra-light (under 10 ounces being the new weight class) .380 pistols are taking the market by storm, setting records for the number of orders by dealers, and back-orders at the factories. Each has thus...

Spyderco's rust-free Aqua Salts: is this the real stainless steel?(OUT of the BOX[TM])
August 1, 2009... Anyone who has put a stainless steel knife through months or years of abuse without cleaning or protecting the metal surface knows full well so-called "stainless" steel will rust. Developed initially in the early 1800s, stainless steel was...

Q and A.
August 1, 2009... Q: Are any cartridges interchangeable with the 9mm Steyr for use in a Steyr M1912 pistol? I have heard 9mm Bayard is, however it is even more rare and expensive than 9mm Steyr. I have also heard conflicting reports that .38 ACP will work in the...

Those heavenly honkers: modern goose loads bring home the big birds.
August 1, 2009... Geese are the big game of waterfowling. Their sheer size is combined with thick feathers, a layer of fat, and breast muscles strengthened by flying long distances. All make geese hard to bring down, especially when combined with an optical...

Magnum force: Kimber's police tactical rifle now chambers the potent .300 Winchester Magnum.(Cover story)
August 1, 2009... Kimber of America has introduced a new long-range version of their proven 8400 rifle called the Police Tactical Model in a caliber not often associated with urban police work--the .300 Win Mag--but a caliber very useful to rural departments and...

Small arms of the Korean War: everything went into the hungry maw of this conflict.
August 1, 2009... In reading the history of the Korean War (June 1950 to July 1953), anyone oriented towards military small arms can't help but be amazed at the hodgepodge of rifles, carbines, submachine guns and even pistols used on both sides. The United...

Police special: Les Baer brings quality to an entry level AR-15 for police and civilians: Les Baer needs no words from me about the veracity of his credentials or credibility. Les has been in the gun business three decades and he, Ms. Karen, Brenda and the skilled and excellent shop crew build firearms second to none in the American firearms industry.
August 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I have known Les for many years as he is the person asked and selected to build (or he selected me, I can't remember which) to build the current rendition of the...

Great bullets, great rifles: Nosler's .270 WSM M48 sporter.
August 1, 2009... It is difficult to match the pen of a manufacturer's technical writer. The real question is, how much of it is true and how much is fluff? I thought it might be interesting to plagiarize what's written on Nosler's Web site vs. my evaluation of...

Rights watch: a red herring.(VIEWS NEWS AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2009... "US and Mexican officials report that, based on ATF tracing data, the cartels gel between 90 and 95 percent of their firearms from the United States." This claim was made by Violence Policy Center Senior Policy Analyst Tom Diaz in his...

Traditional ammo ban hurts.(VIEWS NEWS AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2009... Hunting has declined in areas where California last year banned the use of traditional ammunition with lead components, costing the Department of Fish and Game in excess of $200,000 in lost tag fees, reports outdoor writer Jim Matthews in the...

ACGG Education Foundation 2009 matching rifles.(VIEWS NEWS AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2009... The American Custom Gunmakers Guild Education Foundation was formed in 2006, after several years of planning, as an affiliate effort of the American Custom Gunmakers Guild. The Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable educational...

Brownells gets new mag contract.(VIEWS NEWS AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2009... Brownells, the Iowa gunsmithing tool and firearm accessory supplier, announced they've been awarded another contract for magazines by the US Army TACOM, Rock Island, Illinois. The contract calls for a total of 1.4 million magazines with...

More ammo bans.(VIEWS NEWS AND REVIEWS)
August 1, 2009... The National Park Service last week announced a ban on using traditional ammunition with lead components, and lead fishing tackle, on NPS-managed lands seemingly without input from conservation groups, hunters, anglers or ammunition...

HAVA shooting event.
August 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) along with the Pinetucky Gun Club recently hosted a shooting event for the Ft. Gordon Warrior Transition Battalion in Augusta, Georgia. In all, some 24 wounded soldiers...

Safest year.
August 1, 2009... Syracuse.com reports the New York Department of Environmental Conservation has indicated year 2008 was the safest year ever for hunters in the state.--Courtesy NSSF

Quarter master: the Pocket Smith II a 1911 multi-tool from Caspian arms.
August 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Multi-tools are a wonderful concept, affording the user with a broad selection of implements which, in practical application, are seldom exactly right for any given job. They are the mechanical expression of "Jack of...

Heavy duty fixed sights for S&W revolvers.
August 1, 2009... I have been a long-standing proponent of large caliber handguns for personal defense. Based on design or maybe marketing, one flaw is these big guns are often equipped with or require frail adjustable sights to have projectiles strike properly...

Book for single shot fans.
August 1, 2009... A new book by Randolph S. Wright, Loading and Shooting Traditional Schuetzen Rifles, a Beginner's Guide, is packed with information and techniques accessible to anyone. I enjoy Schuetzen shooting informally and find it very relaxing, but enjoy...

Night Com with C4 LED technology from streamlight.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2009... Streamlight Inc bas launched the Night Com with power C4 LED technology, Ultra-Bright red LEDs, and MIL STD LED night-vision protection, specifically designed for personnel who work under low-light conditions. The new light, featuring...

Full-color grips from Rio Grande custom grips.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] These stunning high-quality grips are made in the USA and crafted with exacting precision for a perfect fit. Molded with a premium-grade, high-strength engineered polymer, these beauties are stylized by a...

Sport 600 laser rangefinder from Bushnell.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2009... The new Sport 600 laser rangefinder from Bushnell offers performance and value for hunters and shooters. It's compact and can be operated with just one hand and with an operational range of 5 to 800 yards, it's perfect for bow or rifle hunters....

The John Dillinger "Public Enemy Number One" Tribute Thompson from America remembers.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2009... America Remembers is pleased to announce an exciting new Tribute featuring this controversial and unforgettable icon of 20th Century America: The John Dillinger "Public Enemy Number One" Tribute Thompson. We are proud to offer this...

The latest rifle scope of the Z6 generation from Swarovski Optik.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2009... Swarovski Optik announces the Z6 (i) 2.5-15x44. The 15x magnification with parallax correction and HD Optic provides the hunter with the necessary reliability for shots at long distances, particularly in difficult, rough terrain or hunting...

New Geovid laser rangefinding HD binoculars from Leica.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2009... Leica Sport Optics is introducing the newest HD Geovid BRF Binocular rangefinders with enhanced ranging capability out to approximately 1,400 [+ or -] meters/yards and twilight performance second to none. This new 56 and 42mm HD BRF Series...

The Pelican 0450 tool chest from Pelican.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2009... The combat-ready 0450 Tool Chest was built specifically for the US military as the GMTK (General Mechanics Tool Kit) and is now being introduced for civilian use. The 0450's structural grade, open-cell core, polymer construction will protect...

Bio vault 2.0 from FS locks.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FS Locks is proud to introduce the BioVault 2.0 which provides safe storage and easily controlled access for handguns, weapons, ammunition, jewelry and other valuable items. BioVault 2.0 requires no external computer...

Pickin' and choosin': or snoozin' and losin'.(ODD ANGRY SHOT)
August 1, 2009... At this writing, several major distributors report they have no ARs, AKs or variants in stock, and not a single full-capacity magazine for them. Many ammunition wholesalers have no ammo in 5.56mm, 7.62x51mm, 7.62x39mm, .45 ACP or 9mm on their...

A half century with sixguns: the .357 Magnum.(CAMPFIRE TALES)
August 1, 2009... Consider it reviewing (not repeating myself) when I say once again the 1950s were simply a great time for a beginning sixgunner like myself. It was during this time the three great firearms companies brought out some of the best sixguns ever...