Guns Magazine articles from March 2006

Guns Magazine archives from March 2006

Affordable guns.(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I am not one who regularly writes to magazines about anything, but after finishing the November issue I just had to sit down and write you about Mr. Woods' article on the Argentinian Hi-Power. I thoroughly enjoy your magazine, and all the...

Shooting is believing.(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... In the "Q&A" column in the October 2005 issue, Matt Evans wrote in asking about the .45 GAP. I thought I would report my own experiences with the .45 GAP in hopes of addressing any other readers' potential desire for more information. I...

Range quirks.(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I never laughed out loud so hard as when reading Connor's "Home, Home on the Range--Sorta" in the November issue, especially when I got to the "Do not disturb Pepe" part. I read it three times and still couldn't control my laughter. Our...

Bolt carriers: a horse of a different weight.(UP ON ARs)
March 1, 2006... In an AR-15, the bolt and carrier are the "action." The upper receiver serves to hold the barrel and give the bolt carrier a place to ride. There's no integral relationship between the receiver and the firing mechanism. That's different. ...

Montana home defense guns: it's a little different here.(MONTANA MUSINGS)
March 1, 2006... Advice on choices for home-defense firearms is always an interesting topic, but since this column is titled "Montana Musings," I'll give some information on what types of guns have some purpose for my wife and I in our rural setting. Of...

Of tubes and bends: when guns need a face-lift.(SHOTGUNNER)
March 1, 2006... There are many great guns in circulation these days in need of a bit of a face-lift. In fact, because of our aging hunting and gun-collecting fraternity, there seem to be more, earlier and better quality guns coming on the used market than ever...

A decade of IDPA: this game created useful skill testing for police and citizens alike.(HANDGUNS)
March 1, 2006... At the 2005 National International Defensive Pistol Association Championships in Arkansas, founder Bill Wilson said, "Back when we started this, I never thought we'd grow to more than five or 6,000 members, but now we have more than 11,000."...

Britain's big .577 Snider.(SURPLUS LOCKER)
March 1, 2006... One of the more interesting parallels in the evolution of small arms is the development of the U.S. "Trapdoor" and the British "Snider." In the 1860s, both countries found themselves sitting on huge stores of perfectly fine, but obsolete...

Big-bore bolt: the Brockman .450 Marlin bolt action is just the ticket for dangerous game.(RIFLEMAN)
March 1, 2006... Big-bore rifles have a devoted following and are popular in wilderness country where the chance of encountering big bears is a real possibility from the northwest US to Canada and especially Alaska. The Marlin .45-70 is popular with lever...

Need an exorcist? Some rifles do, apparently.(RANGING SHOTS)
March 1, 2006... After shooting a few years and often helping people acquire new shooting skills, even I run across something scary once in awhile. Here is a little story for those with an open mind. Remember brains and parachutes have something in common: They...

Adjusting dies: the procedure for adjusting loading dies is straightforward, but here are a few tips.(HANDLOADER)
March 1, 2006... In very general terms a full-length sizing die simply requires we push the case in just as far as it will go. There are some differences of opinion, so the best idea is to do whatever the die manufacturer advises. When I adjust handgun dies, I...

High performance handgun ammo: Cor-Bon DPX.(OUT OF THE BOX[TM])
March 1, 2006... Way back in 1989 Barnes introduced their first "X-bullet." They were novel in both construction and material and really changed how some folks looked at bullets. The X-bullet was impact extruded from solid copper with a forward hollowpoint...

Lightweight Littlebore: MagnumLite .17 Mach 2.(OUT OF THE BOX[TM])
March 1, 2006... It is a very strange world we live in. At the same time Smith & Wesson was developing the largest and most powerful sixgun cartridge ever--the .500 S&W Magnum--Hornady was coming up with the smallest rifle and sixgun cartridge combination--the...

First look! Leupold raises the bar: and lowers the bell.(OUT OF THE BOX[TM])
March 1, 2006... Fans of big, bright scopes, the ones with objective lenses of 50mm and up, generally have one big headache. You just can't mount the scope low enough and maintain a decent cheekweld with a normal sporting stock. Without a proper cheekweld your...

Winchester Model 94 Legacy .38-55.(OUT OF THE BOX[TM])
March 1, 2006... It's hard to believe the Model 94 Winchester is truly a century old, but it proves the adage, "Everything old is new again." Maybe it's the retro thing inspired by the cowboy action shooters or maybe we're finally remembering old doesn't...

The LePage target pistols: from an elegant era of target shooting.(OUT OF THE BOX[TM])
March 1, 2006... The LePage Company emerged in the 18th century serving first the French nobility and then the wealthier citizens of the Republic. The Emperor Napoleon himself was a repeat customer and took a set of LePage pistols into exile on the Isle of...

Ship how?(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I went to my local UPS shipping center (not a UPS Store) to ship off two Curio-and-Relic classified rifles to FFL Dealers. I was informed that because they were semiautomatics UPS would not ship them unless they were going in for "repair." They...

Democrat forever.(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I am a veteran (US Air Force enlisted, 1970-1974). I was disabled while on duty as a corrections officer and had to leave a career of which I was proud. I have served my country and my community. I believe in the 2nd Amendment, and I have a...

Real range quirks.(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I enjoyed John Connor's article on range quirks and would like to share one. I was deployed to Iraq with my South Dakota National Guard medium truck unit from 2003 to 2004. We conducted convoy operations supporting units all over Iraq and into...

Twelfth of never.(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I submitted the paperwork to the ATF for the Dealer-to-Dealer transfer of an NFA Type 111 firearm. I was told it would take--and have experienced, a 45- to 90-day time frame for completion. The form was submitted in the first week of April,...

S&W M39.(QUESTIONS & ANSWERS)
March 1, 2006... Q: I recently ran across a S&W Model 39-2 9mm in a gun-shop in the small mountain town of Westcliffe, Colorado, while on vacation. It was the first one I'd ever handled, and I immediately fell in love with it. I couldn't believe the gun or the...

6.8 Remington.(QUESTIONS & ANSWERS)
March 1, 2006... Q: Do you have any inside info as to why Remington 6.8mm SPC ammo is so scarce? I bought an upper receiver in this caliber for my AR-15 clone a year ago, but have only been able to acquire 100 rounds. I check the major national sellers weekly...

Laser aid.(QUESTIONS & ANSWERS)
March 1, 2006... Q: Help! Since I have now turned 66, my eyesight is not what it used to be. I am considering the purchase of laser sights for a Colt Commander and Officer models .45 and for a S&W Model 66.357. I've read information on Lasermax and Crimson...

Rare Savage 99.(QUESTIONS & ANSWERS)
March 1, 2006... Q: For many years I have tried to acquire a vintage Savage Model 99 in .250-3000. Well, I finally found one in excellent 98-percent plus condition, just one minor dent in the stock. I am told that it is a Model 99F. It has what I call...

The edge of excellence Rexroat knives.
March 1, 2006... In the world of custom knives, there are few who produce knives of such clean lines and simple, but beautiful design as Kirk Rexroat. From small, gentleman's folders to large bowies, Rexroat knives beg to be picked up, handled and, most of all,...

SAXD Carry Pro: this custom pistol isn't a budget-buster.
March 1, 2006... Sometimes you know a handgun is special even before you pick it up. The Colt Single Action revolver was the handgun my "action heroes" carried (my action heroes had names like Roy, Gene, Hoppy, Bat and Wyatt). I knew it was special before I...

New rifle, new country: the Blaser K-95 is the ultimate in a mountain rifle.
March 1, 2006... Sheep hunting is hard work, especially when you have six decades behind you. So when a younger friend volunteers to come along as a sheep pallbearer, you take him up on his offer right away. Especially when the offer includes lending his 5...

S&W's model 460 XVR: the extreme .45.
March 1, 2006... All arguments about which is the most powerful revolver became moot in 2003 when Smith & Wesson introduced the X-Frame .500 S&W Magnum with the capability of launching a 440-grain bullet from an 8 3/8" barrel at nearly 1,700 fps. We were at the...

Taylor & Co. Spencer 50-50: born on the Civil War, this is the Indian War's version of our military's first good repeater.
March 1, 2006... A few years back one comment heard often about the new Italian-made Spencer replicas imported by Taylor & Company was, "They are really neat guns, but I don't want one chambered for something like .44 Russian or .45 Schofield. I want a big bore...

Thunderbawl.(RIGHTS WATCH)
March 1, 2006... Here's a gun control trivia challenge. Name the person who said: "I hate handguns. Handguns are used to shoot people and as long as they are around, people will shoot each other." A. Sarah Brady B. Dianne Feinstein C. Bond....

One-stop Sportsmen's issues source.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... US Sportsmen's Alliance has added the Situation Room to its Web site, www.ussportsmen.org, which provides summaries of bills and other issues that are in the organization's crosshairs. Federal, state and local issue updates are available by...

Operation Santa's helpers.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... We here at GUNS Magazine, American Handgunner and American COP are on the e-mail list Col. John Folsom of Wounded Warriors sends periodically from Iraq, where he is currently deployed. In one sent last October, Col. Folsom said, "To tell you...

56 plans.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Wildlife agencies from all 50 states and six US territories have submitted Wildlife Action Plans for approval by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Interior Secretary Gale Norton announced last November. If approved, the plans will be...

A special offer.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... The Colt Mfg. Co. poster "Real Cowboys Shoot Colts" with images of Buffalo Bill Cody, Pat Garrett, Billy the Kid, and Wild Bill Hickok now has a spot for your image as well. Single Action Shooting Society member Kid Sopris (SASS 3290, Regulator...

Tanker wins bronze star: Hall of Heroes.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Sergeant Anthony J. Gantt of Miami, Florida, is a prime example of an effectively trained Marine and he was awarded the Bronze Star medal with a combat distinguishing device Oct. 31, for actions performed during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He...

A special hunt.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Thompson/Center Arms has donated Encore rifles and scopes to the Armed Forces Foundation to be used in hunts by physically challenged soldiers as part of their rehabilitation program According to Chris Chaffin oft The Outdoor Channel, those...

Gunfighters save sniper: hall of heroes.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... While conducting combat operations in northwest Iraq, scout snipers from 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment round themselves in a firefight with insurgents. Separated by a small river, the Marines and enemy snipers traded fire until one of the...

Army team wins.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Six shooters from the US Army Marksmanship Unit, representing the United States, brought home two Gold Medals and two Bronze Medals from the 40th Conseil International du Sport Militaire in Thun, Switzerland last October. Team USA competed...

SureFire sweetens steel.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Light maker SureFire sponsored a special $5,000 purse for the top six finishers who competed in the International Defense Pistol Association (IDPA) class using SureFire's X200 handgun mounted lights. The Steel Challenge, also known as the World...

Canada's problems not America's.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... In response to Canadian government officials saying they are considering legal action against US firearm manufacturers, Montreal's The Gazette was quick to denounce the idea, saying that guns in Canada are not America's problem. Officials say...

Garrett cartridges .44 Magnum Hammerheads.(QUARTERMASTER)
March 1, 2006... When the .44 Magnum arrived in late 1955, everyone knew we had reached the apex of sixgun power and the .44 Magnum was soon used to take Alaskan brown bear, polar bear and Africa's big five. The coining of even more powerful cartridges such as...

Brownells AR-15 magazines.(QUARTERMASTER)
March 1, 2006... An old adage states, "My cup runneth over" and so it seems today with the proliferation of AR-15 magazines. Historically, this hasn't always been the case, as in the summer of 1967 when the new M16 rifle was fielded in Vietnam, often with...

The right bullets.(QUARTERMASTER)
March 1, 2006... Future projects I'm doing need some special reloading. For instance, to kick off the 1911's centennial, I'll be writing a story on the 1905 Colt, the first .45 ACP. Since the test gun rolled off the assembly line in 1906, this year will be a...

An affordable borescope.(QUARTERMASTER)
March 1, 2006... How about a $179.99 precision borescope, complete with an aluminum hard case and Mini Maglite? Sound too good to be true with Gradient Lens' Hawkeye models selling for $625 plus? Well, it's here, courtesy of that emporium of interesting and...

Murray custom leather.(QUARTERMASTER)
March 1, 2006... I don't know about most folks, but one thing I've not found until recently is a handy, convenient, safe and comfortable way to carry spare ammo in the field. Usually, I just stick a few rounds in various pockets. Alas, they are never in the...

Swarovski rangefinder laser guide 8X30.(QUARTERMASTER)
March 1, 2006... One of the most valuable tools added to a hunter's kit in recent years has been the laser rangefinder. When you think about it, the technology is almost mind boggling because this little handheld gadget is actually measuring the time it takes...

Crimson trace rubber laser grips.(QUARTERMASTER)
March 1, 2006... There was a time l would not even consider electronic dot scopes, range finders, and battery-operated laser grips. That has changed and I find all them exceptionally useful. Crimson Trace Laser Grips take the place of factory stocks and, when a...

Pact professional chronograph XP.(QUARTERMASTER)
March 1, 2006... There was a time I considered a reloader needed three items beside components to be successful. Those were a quality loading press with dies, a reliable powder measure, and a powder scale to check the settings of the powder measure. They still...

New Gold Ammo: from Wolf Performance.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Wolf Performance introduces the new Gold brass-case handgun ammunition. Wolf Gold delivers exacting power, precision and long-range accuracy in the following calibers: .32 ACP FMJ and JHP, 9x19 JHP, .380 JHP, 40S&W JHP, 7.62 Tokarev FMJ and...

Recoil management: from Mag-na-port.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... The value of Mag-na-port International's recoil management services has been elevated to a new level by the popularity of the big-bore Model 500 revolver from Smith & Wesson. Mag-na-port has a comprehensive aftermarket system to help shooters...

New lasergrips: for Sig Pistols.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Sigarms and Crimson Trace have partnered to offer grip-integrated laser sighting systems for the Model P220, 226 and 229 semiautomatic pistols. The factory-installed laser grips feature dual slide activation buttons, windage and elevation...

Marine top folding stock: from Advanced Technology.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Advanced Technology has developed a new water-resistant ambidextrous top-folding stock with pistol grip for shotguns that defeats even the most adverse weather and field conditions. A quick release button allows the stock to fold and unfold...

New AR-15 bore brush: from Iosso Products.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Iosso Products has designed a new bore brush kit specifically for AR-15 type rifles. The kit contains an upper receiver brush, chamber brush and bolt brush. When used with the Iosso Bore Cleaner and Gun Oil, the kit will effectively remove...

New White Lightning: from Mitchell Mfg.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Mitchell Mfg. Corp's new White Lightening pistol is offered in a choice of four calibers: .22 LR, .22 Magnum, .17 HMR and .17 Mach 2. Key features include stainless steel construction with a heavy-duty polymer frame. 8.5" barrel, adjustable...

Model 682 LTD: from Beretta.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Beretta USA has enhanced its line of luxury shotguns with the arrival of the Model 682 TD over-and-under in trap and sporting configurations. The silver-finished receiver features an understated engraving pattern. The select, polished, walnut...

NRA gun care kits: from Brownells.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Brownells is offering two new officially licensed National Rifle Assn. Magna-Tip screwdriver set and Shotgun Cleaning Kit. The Magna-Tip screweriver set includes 22 of the most-used bits with a slotted. hexagon, Phillips and Torx bits, with...

The Witness Hunter pistol: from European American Armory.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... The Witness Hunter pistol from European American Armory has Tanfoglio Custom Shop features. The premium 6" cone-lock barrel meets the standards of many states for legal handgun hunting. It is available in 10mm and .45 ACP, its frame is tapped...

Presentation cleaning kits: from Kleen Bore.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Kleen Bore offers a pair of handsome presentation-grade cleaning kits--The Armorer and The Grand, each packaged in solid cherry cases. Each kit features a deluxe cleaning rod as the centerpiece, along with a premium-grade copper cutter solvent,...

Eye Armor.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Eye Armor protective safety wear are designed to fit over prescription glasses. Eye Armor comes in three shapes with optically correct lenses crafted from durable impact-resistant polycarbonate. Adjustable temples provide the perfect fit for...

Ceramic knife sharpener: from Diamond Machine.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Diamond Machine Technology's new Double-Sided Diafold ceramic sharpener is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast in the field. One side of the sharpener is extra-fine 1200 nine micron mesh and the other is unbreakable CeraFuse ceramic 2200 seven...

Tons of gear: from Blackhawk.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Mike Noell, the CEO of Blackhawk Products Group and a former Navy SEAL, and his team continue to be the accessory kings. In addition to the annual eye-popping slick 182-page perfect-bound catalog, Blackhawk has a companion 40 pager to meet...

New .22LR & .17 Mach 2 rifles: from Magnum Research.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Magnum Research has added two new calibers to its popular Magnum Lite graphite-barrel rimfire rifles. The .22 LR and .17 Mach 2 feature receivers with a sculpted, integral scope base, target trigger, "French grey" anodizing and the...

CopperTect gun cases: from Birchwood Casey.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Birchwood Casey has developed an impressive new line of rifle and shotgun carry and storage cases/sleeves featuring the CopperTect protective system to neutralizes corrosive gases. CopperTect defeats the oxidation process and prevents the build...

Birchwood-Casey Gallery resetting target: super easy shooting fun.(SPOTLIGHT)
March 1, 2006... Kids and .22s, it's a good combination. The only problem is finding targets to keep the kids happily plinking. I don't like hauling a bunch of trash out to the desert, mostly because I don't like picking it all up and hauling it home. And let's...

Random shots & random thoughts.(ODDANGRY SHOT)
March 1, 2006... There are some things about this "new life"--bein' an itinerant gunbum and scribbler--that I enjoy: More time with the Memsaab Helena and my teen-terror offspring, backyard barbecues and fresh, non-military coffee chief among them... But back...

Don't ask, don't tell.(CAMPFIRE TALES[TM])
March 1, 2006... No one could have ever envisioned what a tremendous effect the arrival of McDonald's would have on the culture, especially the teenage version. In those wonderful days sandwiched in between Korea and Vietnam the drive-in restaurant was the hub...