Guns Magazine articles from October 2005

Guns Magazine archives from October 2005

Something right.(CROSSFIRE LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... I just wanted to let you know that out of the four firearm magazines I receive monthly, GUNS is by far my favorite. Sorry to burst anyone's bubble. I especially like the tests you do on slightly obsolete military arms. I like the balanced...

Boiling red in a blue state.(CROSSFIRE LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... When you, the editor, write to your U.S. Senators, they at least bother to respond, snotty or not. When I've written to our illustrious pair of ladies --in a respectful manner, I might add--I get zip, nada, zero. I have sent them figures and...

Editor malfunction.(CROSSFIRE LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... You've probably already been inundated with e-mail regarding the photos & captions on page 63 & 67 in the August issue, but for the life of me, I cannot resist pointing out the Kimber on page 63 looks an awful lot like the new Warrior, not the...

Putting our money where our mouth is.(EDITORIAL)
October 1, 2005... I said if you were lucky I wouldn't write many editorials and so far you've been pretty lucky. Last month we published a letter (Views, News and Reviews: "Your Help Needed") sent to Col. John Folsom, USMCR (www.woundedwarriors.org) by SMSgt...

Enhancing the draw, part 1: access: a step by step approach to a swifter and cleaner draw.(HANDGUNS)
October 1, 2005... The draw of the handgun breaks down into multiple elements, though experts debate just how many elements there are. The object is to achieve as close to a single, fluid movement as we can, but in the course of that long movement, several things...

Rifle maintenance: handy tools for when you're far afield.(RIFLEMAN)
October 1, 2005... Rifles are rather simple tools. Given reasonable maintenance there isn't much to go wrong, still, stuff can happen in the field. Probably the most common mishap is an obstruction in the bore. A police armorer friend described an incident in...

Stretching the .22 LR: a matter of range.(RIMFIRES)
October 1, 2005... When the little Ruger .22 hit the I" paster at 100 yards, no one even noticed. When chickens on the silhouette range at 200 meters began rattling, a few eyebrows began to rise. When the tiny .22 slugs began pinging the metal javelina at 300...

IMR trail boss powder: finally, a powder to fill those capacious cases.(MONTANA MUSINGS)
October 1, 2005... When Editorial Director. Roy Huntington, asked me to Sign on here, he promised me that I wouldn't be pushed into writing thinly veiled publicity releases for new products. With that information, you can now be positive that I volunteered...

Loading for automatic pistols: a few observations to make the task more enjoyable.(HANDLOADER)
October 1, 2005... Even though it is not really difficult, loading for automatic pistols is a little more demanding than turning out revolver amino. The reason is simple. The cartridge must fit in the magazine, feed smoothly into the chamber and finally, allow...

Corners.(RANGING SHOTS[TM])
October 1, 2005... The basic construction of doors, halls and stairs create corners. As a result, these corners restrict flow or movement. Clearing corners generally causes us to compress into areas of close proximity to potential threats or areas they might...

Mitchell's little darling: the M63 "Tanker" Mauser.(SURPLUS LOCKER[TM])
October 1, 2005... Among the many existing Mauser variants, possibly one of the most universally appealing is the petite police carbine. The little gun just exudes character. It begs to be handled, so when I saw what appeared to be a brand new police carbine in...

Affordable elegance: the Weatherby Athena D'Italia shotgun.(OUT OF THE BOX[TM])
October 1, 2005... When Weatherby introduced a side-by-side shotgun in 2001, it was a well made, quality gun at an attractive price. Unfortunately the Spanish manufacturing company wasn't able to produce the guns in the quantity Weatherby needed. Weatherby...

The Lyman plains pistol: the thinking man's front-loader.(OUT OF THE BOX[TM])
October 1, 2005... In the short span of years between 1807 and 1820, metallic fulminates proved an efficient method for igniting powder charges and developed into the familiar and practical percussion cap. There was a rash to convert existing flintlocks to the...

Rimfire glass: even short-range rifles need first-class scopes.(OPTICS)
October 1, 2005... Not many years before man first set foot upon the moon, I made my initial acquaintance with the riflescope. A boyhood pal and I were on a grand expedition along the Santa Maria riverbed when we spied two crows in the top of an ancient oak. My...

Green Parkerizing.(QUESTIONS & ANSWERS)
October 1, 2005... Q: What is the military contract number for the formula for Green Parkerizing and who has the formula? I have contacted several gun blue and Parkerizing folks and all tell me they would be happy to prepare the job, but do not know where to...

Astra A-90.(QUESTIONS & ANSWERS)
October 1, 2005... Q: My friend just bought an Astra A-90 in .45 ACP from his father. We have been unable to find parts for it. The gun is in need of new grips. We are also not sure who makes the firearm. One shop told us it was made by Colt. The gun is about...

8mm Lebel.(QUESTIONS & ANSWERS)
October 1, 2005... Q: I have a Remington Rolling Block Rifle in 8mm Lebel and a bulk box of old French Ammo. Using the soon-to-arrive new 8x50R brass cases and an inertia bullet puller I hope to size and prime then, one at a time, pull the bullet, dump the powder...

Pre-64 Model 70.(QUESTIONS & ANSWERS)
October 1, 2005... Q: is there any reliable way to determine a pre-64 Model 70 Winchester rifle just by looking at it? Is there any serial number break or a different rear sight? S. Joyner via e-mail A: The last pre-64 serial number was 581471,...

Loading +P .38s.(QUESTIONS & ANSWERS)
October 1, 2005... Q: Can I use normal .38 Special brass to load +P loads, or is the brass different? From what I've read, the "+P" mark is to make sure the buyer knows the amino is hotter, not because it is different (stronger) brass. Dean via e-mail...

Grips and lead.(QUESTIONS & ANSWERS)
October 1, 2005... Q 1: My Pastor is a shooting man. He has but one revolver (beware the one-gun man), an old Colt Commando .38 Special with a 4" barrel. Someone has put some darn Llama wood grips on the gun and it's downright uncomfortable to shoot. I want to...

Ruger's critter gitters: meat for the pot oh boy, oh boy.
October 1, 2005... If these words from Robert Ruark, The Old Man and the Boy, don't make a body want to enjoy life more--or even again--by shooting .22s. I don't know what will. Robert Ruark could capture the spell of outdoors like no other writer before or...

50 years of police training.
October 1, 2005... This is the 50th anniversary of GUNS magazine, which is a testimony of sorts. In recognition of this achievement, I was asked to give my personal rendition of what I think made up the pieces and parts of the last 50 years of American Law...

Ruger's powerhouse .454 Alaskan: a Pert-near perfect packin' pistol.(Cover Story)
October 1, 2005... I fired my first sixgun, a top-break .22 Harrington & Richardson double action revolver, in 1948. Over many joyous summer days spent on my uncle's Homerville farm we were often rewarded after hard days work with the .22 plinking session. As far...

Give it a rest: your gun might just shoot better than you think.
October 1, 2005... You've seen it. I've seen it. Thousand-dollar rifle and scope combinations being shot with the forearm perched on a piece of wood: over a rolled-up ,jacket or over the top of an ammo can; forearms clenched desperately tight: forearms with only...

The sharps model 1874: the original and the "sharp" Mantana repras.
October 1, 2005... What do full-time gunwriters do in their off time? I can't speak for others, but when no deadlines are pressing me, I drag out one or more of my Sharps Model 1874 rifles and spend an afternoon testing loads. It's relaxing and educational to...

The name game part IV shotguns.
October 1, 2005... In this final installment of our little series, the first hazy shotgun terms that come to mind are "ejectors" and "extractors." When the gun is a slide action or semiauto, no problem. It will have an extractor to pull the fired shell out of the...

You can win this: free beretta M9 commemorative.
October 1, 2005... Twenty years ago the U.S. Military adopted the Beretta M9 9mm pistol to replace the aging M1911 .45s. To celebrate the event of the M9's 20th year and GUNS Magazine's 50th year, Beretta and GUNS are giving away the limited edition commemorative...

The bear necessities.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you."--Timothy Treadwell setting up his video camera inches from a grizzly bear. "Grunt. Snort. Crunch. Snap. Munch. Gulp."--Grizzly, loosely translated as, "I love you, too." From the...

Media day at the grand.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... After 81 years in Ohio, the Grand American World Trapshooting Championships made a final appearance in Vandalia, Aug. 9-20. Next year the event moves to the new, larger World Shooting Complex in Illinois. NSSF's popular Scholastic Clay Target...

DC gun ban appeal.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... Some 50 Democrats, about a quarter of those in the House, voted 259-161 to pass a repeal of the law prohibiting ordinary persons from owning firearms in the District of Columbia. That's a wider margin of success than in the last Congress, when...

No instant check.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... Thirty fugitives, including nine murder suspects and one of the FBI's "Most Wanted" criminals, would be able to apply for and receive a U.S. passport, according to federal auditors testing the ability--or lack of it-for checks of law...

Smith & Wesson Museum.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... Smith & Wesson opened the new Smith & Wesson Museum this past June. The museum will house a variety of artifacts and photographs gathered from collections owned by the company and on loan to the Museum from the Connecticut Valley Historical...

Hall of heroes: 1st Infantry Division soldier receives three awards for heroism.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... First Lt. Karl Gregory, a 3rd Brigade Combat Team Soldier from the 1st Infantry Division was awarded the Silver Star, the Soldier's Medal and the Bronze Star with Valor this month for his actions on three separate occasions during Operation...

Unsung heroes: Volunteers collect supplies for local Iraqi schools.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... Most adults remember the joy of receiving a new box of crayons or coloring book as a child. In the States, this moment of joy is easy to achieve, but here in Iraq it's nearly impossible for some school children. Kirkuk airmen and soldiers...

The automatic pistol.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... J.B.L. Noel, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society Forster & Groom Edition, London, 1919 Paladin Press Edition, 2004, Foreword by Timothy J. Mullin It may very well be this book heralds the birth of modern day combat shooting. Most...

Massachusetts sentencing.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... A man from Lynn, Massachusetts, who used family connections to traffic firearms illegally from Alabama, has been sentenced after accepting a plea bargain. The U.S. Attorney's office reports two of the firearms purchased by relatives for Dexter...

Criminal ingenuity.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... With Massachusetts gun control laws reputedly among the toughest in the country, it's no surprise that a criminal technique to bypass the inconveniences those laws create has emerged there--the community gun. Police are looking for a 40-caliber...

Anti-hunting effort in Michigan.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... Advocates of "animal rights" have succeeded in collecting enough signatures to put before voters the question of whether to ban Michigan's mourning dove hunting. It's the first major success of the new anti-hunting consolidated arm of the...

Ohio shooting range tops.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... Black Wing Shooting Center joins the nation's top ranges with the award of a Five Star Rating by the National Association of Shooting I Ranges, the association s highest honor. Located about 30 miles north of Columbus in Delaware, Ohio, Black...

Crime rate falls--again.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... Preliminary data from the FBI's Uniform Crime Statistics for 2004 shows violent crime dropping 1.7 percent and murders declining 3.6 percent, with the biggest improvements reported in cities with more than a million in population. This, despite...

Pistol popularity.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... The United States Practical Shooting Association has set a record for membership, with 15,054 enrolled as of June for action pistol matches that USPSA attributes to addition of a Production Division allowing simpler, less expensive carry-style...

Bankruptcy.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... Charter 2000, the Shelton, Connecticut, company making Charter Arms handguns, has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Company officials say it's due, at least in part, to financial difficulties caused by, and the high cost of defending itself from,...

Oopsie!(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... A police officer in the throes of subduing a violent drank accidentally grabbed is handgun instead of his Taser and pulled the trigger. Now the man, who survived being shot with a 40-caliber pistol, is suing the department.--Courtesy NSSF ...

Porous borders.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... When American officials complain drugs are pouring in from Mexico, they're frequently told the problem exists because there is a market for drugs north of the border. Now, National Public Radio reports, a black market demand for guns is giving...

Less politics, more science.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... A newly-published study of young people who commit serious crimes shows they are four times more likely to fall fatal victim to crime than are other kids. NBC reports the study was published in June's edition of Pediatrics, the Journal of the...

NRA's scholarships.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund (NRACRDF) is sponsoring both a scholarship and an essay contest for law students in the United States in celebration of the Second Amendment as an integral part of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. ...

1955 issues of GUNS available online.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... Don't forget, each month we're putting up a free, downloadable electronic copy of that month's 1955 GUNS on our Web site. It is complete in a PDF file just as it left the printer long ago. Enjoy!

Marine receives silver star: Sgt. Monroe F. Seigle, USMC.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... "What this Marine did brings chills down my spine," said Maj. Gen. Richard F. Natonski, commanding general for 1st Marine Division, who on June 3 handed Sgt. Leondro F. Baptista a Silver Star--the nation's third-highest award for bravery in...

Female soldier receives Silver Star in Iraq.(VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS)
October 1, 2005... For the first time since World War II, an Army woman was awarded the Silver Star for valor June 16 in Iraq. Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester of the 617th Military Police Company, a National Guard unit out of Richmond, Kentucky, received the Silver Star,...

Something wrong.(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... I've had enough of your political bashing. Your response to the non-threatning letter from B. Kelli in the August issue is the perverbial "last straw." Cancel my subscription and send me my refund so I can donate it to the Democratic party. ...

Clint wrong.(CROSSFIRE: LETTERS TO GUNS)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... Clint Smith has earned and is due his respect for his knowledge of firearms. Although I have never attended his training, what I hear and read about it I agree with. However, I must take exception to his thinking about home defense weapons. ...

Crimson Trace Sigarms P-226 laser grips.(QUARTERMASTER)
October 1, 2005... If your favorite defensive holster gun happens to be a Sigarms P-226, and like many shooters these days you really enjoy the benefits of a laser sight, Crimson Trace is about to make you a very happy person. Due to enormous requests from...

The Otis Elite Gun Cleaning System.(QUARTERMASTER)
October 1, 2005... "The Most Advanced Gun Cleaning System On Earth." That's a pretty bold statement for a company to make given all the quality gun care products and accessories on the market today, but Otis Technology proudly stands behind this claim and, having...

Catalog showcase.
October 1, 2005... A.G. RUSSELL[TM] KNIVES The first and oldest mailorder knife company, celebrating over 40 years in the knife industry, has a tradition of offering the finest quality knives and accessories worldwide. Lines include Randall. Dozier, William...

Updated .308 Carbine.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... From DPMS Panther Arms DPMS Panther Arms has released the Model LR-308C, an updated version of its .308 carbine rifle. The new model features a thick-walled, extruded A3-style upper receiver with ejection port cover, shell deflector,...

Model M40-300.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... From Tactical Rifles The new Model M40-300 from Tactical Rifles uses the .300 Winchester Short Magnum to deliver guaranteed three-shot groups of 1/2 M.O.A. at 100 yards or less from the bench rest. Features include mil-spec parts including...

New Lumina LEO folder.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... From Buck Knives Buck's new Lumina LED knife incorporates a programmed light located strategically next to the partially serrated three-inch drop-point blade to enable precise cutting no matter how dark the surroundings. The four...

Short Magnum Binoculars.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... From Minox Minox has added a short version to its successful line Magnum IF binocular series. The Short Magnum is 6.5x32 delivers a sharp, crisp image in all light conditions. The Short Magnum has a generous 420' field of view and the...

New shotgun laser/light.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... From LaserMax LaserMax has developed the new Model LMS-1202, an integrated solid state laser/light accessory for Remington combat shotguns. The LMS-1202 has no fragile filament or mounting bracket to break. It features a high-visibility...

Gloves in a Bottle.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... Protects Shooter's Hands "Gloves in a Bottle" is a clever new product that protects the hands of shooters, hunters, fishermen and outdoorsmen. This innovative lotion binds with the skin to form a pair of "invisible gloves" to protect the...

New anti-snag pistol.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... From Sigarms Sigarms and its Custom Shop have teamed to offer new anti-snag versions of its popular Model P229 and P239 .40 S&W semiautomatic pistols. Thanks to a radical de-horning process, both models have been transformed into smooth,...

Camouflage grip & forend.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... From Advanced Technology Advanced Technology has created Mossy Oak camouflage replacement pistol grip buttstocks and fore-ends for 12- and 20-gauge Mossberg, Remington and Winchester pump shotguns. The new parts reduce recoil and make...

New get grips .(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... From Boyds' Boyds' Gunstock Industries has created the new GET (Grip Enhanced Technology) panels. The panels are permanently fused into the long gun stock, delivering a rubber-like gripping surface soft to the touch and even more durable...

The Browning Machine Gun.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... By Doff Goldsmith Former U.S. Army armorer Dolf Goldsmith has written The Browning Machine Gun, an elaborate and impressive 552-page deluxe hardcover book detailing the evolution of the weapon from its birth in 1895 to the recoil-operated...

Extreme Ratio Knives.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... From Exxcess Quality Products Exxcess Quality Products is the exclusive North American distributor of Extreme Ratio Knives of Italy. Extreme Ratio Knives, thanks to their strength and durability, are favorites of law enforcement, the...

Ruger .17Ms conversion kit.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... From Clark Custom Guns Clark Custom Guns has developed a new conversion kit for the Ruger 10/22.17 Mach 2 semiautomatic rifle. The kit consists of a custom-designed, after-market bolt handle assembly with additional power springs, custom...

Browning solar powered ear muffs: good for hearing game ... or your coworkers intimate conversations.(SPOTLIGHT)
October 1, 2005... When Editor Jeff John brought the Browning Solar Powered Ear Muffs, the first thing I did was pull them out of the package and turn them on. Even without being exposed to the sun, they instantly began to work, and I could hear sounds all over...

M-14 Modular System.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... From McMillan Fiberglass Stocks McMillan Fiberglass Stocks introduces a new Model MFS-14 Modular Tactical System for M-14 rifles. The MFS-14 system includes a fiberglass stock, folding buttstock and numerous tactical accessories designed to...

RWS Mendoza air rifle.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... From Dynamit Nobel Dynamit Nobel is offering the new RWS Mendoza air rifle in two versions. The Model 2003 comes in dual caliber .177/.22 and the Model 600 in separate .177 and .22 versions. Both deliver .177 in 1,100 fps and the .22 in...

Shooter s Bible.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... From Stoeger Stoeger Publishing has released the 97th Edition of the Shooter's Bible, a 578-page reference volume featuring contributions from GUNS Magazine contributing field editor Sam Fadala. Edited by Wayne van Zwoll, Shooter's Bible...

Shooting by the stars.(ODD ANGRY SHOT)
October 1, 2005... Awhile back I was peepin' down the firing line at a match, and it struck me about half the shooters I knew were wearing some kinda good luck thingie. There were a couple of "lucky vests," a half-dozen "lucky hats," several "lucky T-shirts,"...

GAP?(QUESTIONS & ANSWERS)
October 1, 2005... Q: I know the .45 GAP has been around for a little while, and at first I was like most .45 ACP fans, I didn't like it out of ignorance. After reading your recent article referencing the GAP's identical stopping power, I am interested. Is the...

Back home at last.(CAMPFIRE TALES[TM])
October 1, 2005... Life is made up of Time. We all have the same 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. Good Times. Bad Times. High Times. Low Times. Lean Times. Mean Times. Joyous Times. Sad Times. Time can be a great healer or it can weigh heavily....