Guns Magazine articles from January 2003

Guns Magazine archives from January 2003

Crossfire letters to guns.
January 1, 2003... Letter Of The Month John Taffin's review of the Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter model was exhilarating. As with all of John's reviews, it was an extremely interesting article. John is perhaps the greatest gun writer currently in print. He...

K.I.S.S. (Shotgunner).
January 1, 2003... Cleaning out my reloading room recently, I came across a set of shotshell reloading tools that brought back a flood of memories, and reminded me how simple reloading can really be. The tools pictured, plus a hand-cranked roll-crimper, a...

Wild Bill's leather. (Quartermaster).
January 1, 2003... You know, we gun guys are just as bad as the womenfolk. When one of the gang here at GUNS brings in a new firearm or related, all the guys gather to give it a good inspection. Recently we enjoyed looking over a new holster rig. GUNS...

CornerLock. (Quartermaster).
January 1, 2003... As shooters and gun owners, we are occasionally guilty of beating our chests and shouting about our rights, without giving sufficient acknowledgement to our responsibilities. One such responsibility is to do our level best to see that children...

Lee Shooter Program. (Quartermaster).
January 1, 2003... Handloaders generally fall into two separate categories. The first group looks upon reloading as a necessary evil. These fellows usually want to get their loading chores completed as quickly as possible, so they can get out to the range and...

An American classic -- the Ruger Bisley: more value than you pay for, is the author's assessment of the popular Ruger Bisley revolver.
January 1, 2003... According to Webster's, a "classic" is defined as: A work of enduring excellence or a standard of excellence. Noah Webster could well have included Bill Ruger in his dictionary under "classic." Not since Colonel Sam Colt has there been a gun...

Kel-Tec Sub-2000 carbine: veteran commentator J.B. Wood has long admired pistol-caliber carbines, and he's pretty darn pleased with this one.
January 1, 2003... A while back -- 1997 to 2000, actually -- Kel-Tec offered perhaps the ultimate pistol-caliber semi-auto carbine. Called the Sub-9, it offered several innovative features. The most notable was the ability to fold the carbine for storage,...

Handguns show up in the strangest places. (Handguns).
January 1, 2003... Handguns have been to the North Pole, the South Pole, and pretty much everywhere in between. Handguns rode along on the B-29 that ushered in the era of nuclear war. Butterfield's in San Francisco recently auctioned off the Colt 1911 carried by...

Proper lubrication of working parts. (Rifleman).
January 1, 2003... Firearms are simple machines requiring proper lubrication. The thought of two dry metal surfaces scraping together grates on my nerves like fingernails on a blackboard. This is especially so where parts are under heavy load. Most...

Electronic powder scales. (Handloader).
January 1, 2003... Of all the chores in reloading, weighing powder is the most critical. The unit of weight we use, the grain, is a really small quantity (7,000 grains to one pound), so being able to accurately weigh charges requires equipment that is capable of...

The gun safe maze.
January 1, 2003... Willy Sutton, the notorious and colorful safecracker of the 1950s, was asked once why he robbed banks. Willy responded, "Cause that's where the money's at." Safe makers and safecrackers have been playing a cat and mouse game since time...

Les Baer Premier II 9mm: Les Baer 1911 .45s are well-known for their accuracy. Petty finds they also know how to build a mean-shootin' 9mm.
January 1, 2003... For quite a few years, I've held the opinion that the 9mm Luger is not a particularly accurate cartridge. Further, I've found most 9mm pistols aren't capable of utilizing what little accuracy the 9x 19 seemed to possess. To a degree, this...

A visit to Les Baer Custom: guns magazine visits Les Baer Custom and finds the secret to great guns is still careful hand work.
January 1, 2003... The miracles of modern manufacturing methods have made it possible to produce Government Model pistols that are far superior to those of days gone by. And this fact has led to a widespread misunderstanding about the guns that come from Les...

Training for the final option: GUNS Magazine takes a look at SIG Arms Academy's Advanced Tactical Marksman Observer course.
January 1, 2003... I low crawled another few feet through the field and then paused. I could say that I was checking my bearings, or perhaps that I was listening, but truth be known I was trying to catch my breath. Even though it was a cold November day in N.H.,...

Levergun loads .30-30 Winchester: Taffin shares a host of good loads for one of our most-used, but least-praised rifle cartridges.
January 1, 2003... I was recently taken to task by an individual on my Website (www.sixguns.com). He accused me of being intolerant, and further suggested there is a whole new world out there I need to see. I freely admit to being intolerant. One of the major...

Lee load-all 49.98. (Christmas Ideas for the Shooter).
January 1, 2003... A perfect gift for the shotgunner. Loads trap, skeet, hunting and even magnum loads without buying extra charge bars. Comes complete with 24 shot and powder bushings. Loaded shells look and shoot like new Built to last a lifetime. Send $1.00...

Lee auto prime 13.98. (Christmas Ideas for the Shooter).
January 1, 2003... The fastest and most accurate hand priming tool made! Perfect for priming cases away from the loading bench. Primes cases just as fast as they can be handled. This is the most popular priming tool ever made. Send $1.00 for complete catalog to...

Lee anniversary reloading kit 109.98. (Christmas Ideas for the Shooter).
January 1, 2003... A set of Lee Dies and this kit is everything you need to reload any cartridge. Includes the sturdy Lee Challenger Press, complete powder handling system, Safety Scale, case preparation tools and the Lee Auto-Prime. Compare to others priced...

Anniversary pack 24.98. (Christmas Ideas for the Shooter).
January 1, 2003... Still not sure? We have a special offer for the beginning reloader. Get started with a free Reloader press. Full size press accepts all standard dies -- plus a copy of "Modern Reloading" that will teach you to load ammo that's more accurate...

Versatility, thy name is Warne: a new quick--change sighting system for the hunting revolver puts J.T in a poetic mood.
January 1, 2003... The hunt had been in preparation for several months. A 4x Leupold is in place on the favorite Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum, the load has been carefully worked up, regular practice has taken place very week. Yes, everything was ready and in place...

Just like grandpas EAA hammer double: a darn good traditional hammer-gun fit for all manner of uses.
January 1, 2003... The 1873 Winchester lever-action is often given the title, "The Gun That Won The West." The '73 was a fine rifle, but truth be told, this honor belongs elsewhere. Frankly, I agree with the late Skeeter Skelton, who remarked that in his...

You can win this EAA Bounty Hunter.
January 1, 2003... The new Bounty Hunter external hammer shotgun, imported by European American Arms, is a first-class traditional scattergun. While intended principally for the Cowboy Action Shooter, the Bounty Hunter is well suited for a number of uses. ...

Surefire/Strider. (New Products).
January 1, 2003... Collector's Combo Surefire and Strider have teamed to produce the Millennium M2 tactical flashlight/Model SF combat knife limited edition collector's set. The customized Millennium M2 flashlight features a laser engraved Strider Knives...

Coffin pistol case. (New Products).
January 1, 2003... From CaseCore CaseCore's new Model LF-160 Coffin Case opens to reveal an elegant velvet tuck covered polyurethane interior that pampers your handguns while in transit. The lightweight aluminum design is bolstered by steel reinforced...

New .45 ACP pistol. (New Products).
January 1, 2003... From Smith & Wesson Smith & Wesson's new Model SW99 .45 ACP semi-automatic black polymer frame pistol offers plenty of firepower in a small, lightweight package. The SW99 features a 4.25-inch stainless steel Melonite barrel and slide,...

Quick Safe Gun Box. (New Products).
January 1, 2003... From Safari Safe Co. The Safari Quick Safe Gun Box features a push button combination lock for swift access in emergency situations. Crafted from rugged 16-gauge steel, the Quick Safe Gun Box has custom molded protective foam padding in...

Magnacraft rifle scope. (New Products).
January 1, 2003... From Thunderbolt Sales The Magnacraft 1x40 red dot rifle scope is versatile and well built, ideal for shotguns and slug guns. Brightness may be adjusted to match any lighting conditions by using the seven-position click rheostat, which is...

Lead free shotgun ammo. (New Products).
January 1, 2003... From Inter'al Cartridge International Cartridge Corp. announces the arrival of its new lead free frangible 12-gauge shotgun ammunition. The nine-pellet 00 buckshot and slug make for a safer shooting experience because of the reduced danger...

Chamber Flags. (New Products).
January 1, 2003... From Kleen-Bore Kleen-Bore's new Chamber Flags offer a highly visible signal that the chamber in a semi-automatic pistol is clear of a round. The high optic burnt orange Chamber Flags are manufactured from a sturdy synthetic material to...

Shadow 1000 air rifle. (New Products).
January 1, 2003... From Gamo USA The Shadow 1000 is the latest break-barrel single-shot air rifle from Gamo USA. The Shadow 1000, a member of the popular Hunter family of high performance air rifles, is designed for target shooting, plinking, small-game and...

In-Swing Vault Door safe. (New Products).
January 1, 2003... From Ft. Knox Security Fort Knox Security Products introduces an "In-Swing Vault Door" on a number of its quality safes. A specially designed inside release allows the door to open even if a heavy object has fallen in front of it. The...

Tradition series. (New Products).
January 1, 2003... From Heritage Safe Heritage Safe Company has added the Model T2430 to its line of heavy compact safes. The T2430 weighs 315 pounds, and measures 24 inches wide by 3O inches high by 20 inches deep. Other features include a 1/4-inch solid...

Cross-Country binoculars. (New Products).
January 1, 2003... From BSA Optics BSA Optics has added two new waterproof roof prisms to its line of Cross Country binoculars. The 8x32 and 10x42 power binoculars are sleek, lightweight and offer all the power required by hunters and shooting sportsmen in...

Gun Guard case. (New Products).
January 1, 2003... From DoskoSport DoskoSport's new Deluxe Gun Guard Safe offers immediate access to handguns. The owner just enters a personal code on a fingertip keypad and the safe door opens. Key features include a built-in tamper detector that alerts...

Shotgun rifle. (New Products).
January 1, 2003... From EAA European American Armory is importing the versatile Model IZH94 over-and-under shotgun/rifle combination from Russia. Available in most popular caliber and gauge combinations, the IZH94 features machined steel block and receiver,...

Hunting Mirror. (New Products).
January 1, 2003... From Hindsight The Hindsight Hunting Mirror is a portable flat mirror that gives the hunter a panoramic view of the entire area around the tree stand or other perch. The nylon mounting straps ensure the Hunting Mirror will remain secure....

The teacher learns a lesson. (Campfire Tales).
January 1, 2003... For more than 20 years, I led a double life as a teacher and gunwriter. Seven years ago, after 31 years of teaching, I hung up my chalk to write, shoot, and hunt full-time. During my professorial years I calculate I had somewhere around 7,000...

Good news! (On a Positive Note).
January 1, 2003... Fall is such a delightful time of year. In my part of the country, the oppressive days of late summer are now past, and the first hint of the longed-for winter rains have teased us by speckling the dusty ground. Not enough to do any real good,...