May 2002 - Jeffersonian`s Home Page

Transcription

On The Cover:
Accuracy International AWP
By Barry Dueck
Photo by Ichiro Nagata
MAY 2002
40
Vol. 48, Number 05-569
FEATURES
40
20
DEPARTMENTS
8
Crossfire Letters to GUNS
10
Rifleman Dave Anderson
14
Quartermaster Jim Gardner
18
Handloader Charles E. Petty
26
Shotgunner Holt Bodinson
66
Handguns Massad Ayoob
76
New Products
78
Guns Classifieds
80
Advertiser Index
82
Campfire Tales John Taffin NEW DEPARTMENT
36
20
27
30
34
36
40
46
49
52
56
60
64
67
68
Workingman's Defensive Folders
BY R.K. CAMPBELL A sharp edge in the pocket beats
a custom 1911 in the safe.
Flying With Firearms Today
BY DAN PETERSON Yes, the atmosphere has changed,
but the author says you can still travel with your guns.
Through The Looking Glass
BY HOLT BODINSON This valuable shooter's tool will
change the way you look at your firearms.
Sentimental Favorites
BY JOHN TAFFIN A good knife can be more than a
mere working tool.
The Philadelphia Pistol Reborn
BY BILL BALL Gunsmith Jack Brooks recreates the
gentleman's pistol.
Accuracy International's AWP
BY BARRY DUECK Start from a clean sheet to design a
superior precision rifle, and this is what you get.
Cutting Edge Cowboy
BY PAT COVERT A close look at the custom blades of
Rob Simonich.
Ed Brown's Ozark 702
BY DAVE ANDERSON A built-to-order rifle for those who
demand the finest.
Beretta's Onyx And Whitewing
BY DAVE ANDERSON Don't you deserve a superb quality
and affordable over/under?
Remington Model Eight
BY TIMOTHY CASE This rifle was sleek and exciting when
introduced nine decades ago — it still is.
Rock River Arms Tactical Carbine
BY CHARLES E. PETTY A slick M4-type carbine from a
company known for quality.
Daisy's 717 Air Pistol
BY J.I. GALAN A bargain trainer that performs way out of
relation to its cost.
The Hunter's Guide To Ballistics
BY DAVID FORTIER Book review.
Gun Of The Month
Win a beautiful Model 945 from the S&W Performance Center.
GUNS Magazine (ISSN 1044-6257) is published monthly by Publishers’ Development Corporation, 591 Camino de la Reina, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92108. Periodicals Postage Paid at San Diego, CA and at additional
mailing offices. SUBSCRIPTIONS: One year (12) issues $19.95. Single monthly copies, $3.95. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Four weeks notice required on all changes. Send old address as well as new. SUBSCRIPTION PROBLEMS: For immediate action write GUNS Magazine, Attention: Circulation Dept., 591 Camino de la Reina, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92108 or call (619) 297-8032. CONTRIBUTORS submitting manuscripts, photographs
or drawings do so at their own risk. Material cannot be returned unless accompanied by sufficient postage. PAYMENT will be made at rates current at time of publication and will cover reproduction in any or all GUNS
Magazine editions. ADVERTISING RATES furnished on request. Reproduction or use of any portion of this magazine in any manner, without written permission is prohibited. All rights reserved. Title to this publication
passes to subscriber only on delivery to his address. The opinions and recommendations expressed by individual authors within this magazine are not necessarily those of Publishers’ Development Corporation. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to GUNS Magazine®, ATTN: Circulation Dept., 591 Camino de la Reina, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92108. Copyright © 2002 by Publishers’ Development Corporation.
THE FINEST IN THE FIREARMS FIELD SINCE 1955
FOUNDING PUBLISHER
George E. von Rosen (1915-2000)
PUBLISHER
Thomas von Rosen
EDITOR
Jim Gardner
ed@gunsmagazine.com
Joseph R. Novelozo
Richard Stahlhut
ASSISTANT EDITOR Edward Carlson
ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Linda Peterson
ART DIRECTOR
ART ASSISTANT
production@gunsmagazine.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Ichiro Nagata
Cameron Hopkins
SHOOTING EDITOR Dave Anderson
HANDGUN EDITOR Massad Ayoob
SHOTGUN & HUNTING EDITOR Holt Bodinson
AIRGUNS EDITOR J.I. Galan
HANDLOADING EDITOR Charles E. Petty
PRECISION SHOOTING EDITOR David Fortier
FIELD EDITORS Sam Fadala, Roy Huntington
SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR Tom Turpin
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
SENIOR FIELD EDITOR
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GENERAL COUNSEL: Steele N. Gillaspey
PRODUCED IN THE U.S.A.
WARNING: Firearms are dangerous and if used improperly may cause
serious injury or death. Due to the inherent variables in the reloading of
ammunition, be sure to verify any published loads with manufacturer’s
data. Products mentioned or advertised may not be legal in all states or
jurisdictions. Obey all firearms laws. Always consult a professional
gunsmith when modifying any firearm. Be a safe shooter!
6
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
LETTERS TO GUNS
LETTER OF THE MONTH
Three Decades With The .25-20 WCF
I Want My "MTG"
I noticed the article in your March issue
regarding Gary Reeder Custom Guns. I
found this particular article to be interesting,
but more importantly, I’m glad that “Meet
The Gunsmith” seems to be developing into
a semi-regular feature.
GUNS sister publication American
Handgunner has always been very good
about showcasing the efforts of America’s
premier custom pistolsmiths, which is one
reason that I have read it regularly since I
saw the first issue appear on my local newsstand in the late ’70s.
Please continue to run these features and
be certain to give us a look at those gunsmiths that do custom long gun work as
well. I may not be able to afford some of
these beautiful works of art, but I enjoy seeing them none the less.
Jonathan Carter
Atlanta, Ga.
GUNS MAGAZINE MARCH 2002
It is wonderful for someone to notice
such an underestimated cartridge as the .2520. I have for 32 years enjoyed an octagonal
barreled Marlin model 1894 lever rifle to
take jack rabbits, javelina, other numerous
varmints, and small game (where legal).
Cast bullets had to replace the 86 grain
lead bullet factory loads and I have had the
use of one box of 60 grain hollow points
(factory loads).
As my grandfather’s farmhand the rifle
served to defend cattle from coyotes and
feral coydogs in N.E. Texas years ago, and
currently alternates with my .22 Hornet and
.22 WMR on ranch duty in NW Louisiana.
I wish some gun makers, (Marlin,
Winchester, N.E.F. or others) would at least
offer the .25-20 as a custom caliber, so that
my daughter and grandson could enjoy a
future of using this pleasant, accurate and
mild cartridge for plinking, livestock protection, and hunting.
Carnie R. Burcham
Via e-mail
Good Job, But...
Your March issue was the best I’ve seen
in some time. You addressed a wide range of
subjects, from sporting to military, and I
noticed some contributions from authors
whose work I’ve enjoyed in other publications. Let me also say that although I do
enjoy handguns and semiauto rifles, it was a
pleasant change of pace to see a more sporting oriented firearm featured on the cover.
I must take you to task though for the
caption in Massad Ayoob’s column on
page 64. The pistols shown appear to be
model P90s, not P97s, as you incorrectly
labeled them.
Harper Stuart
Bozeman, Mont.
Yes, the caption is incorrect. The fault
however is mine, not Ayoob’s. I do apologize
for the error. -Editor
Remembering Bruce Nelson
I read, with great interest, “Today’s
Concealment Holsters — Better Than Ever”
by Massad Ayoob in the February 2002 issue
of GUNS. Of particular interest, the paragraph
pertaining to Bruce Nelson’s Summer Special.
Nelson and I were hired on the same day,
August 1, 1969, at the Fillmore Police
Department in Ventura County, Calif.
Shortly thereafter, Nelson began producing
some fine gun leather. The FPD had just
begun using the .45 Colt pistol, thus becoming the second department in California to
do so, following El Monte’s lead.
I still have and use one of the seven original Summer Special’s, as well as a muzzle
forward duty holster, a crossdraw, thumb
break, off-duty holster and a magazine
pouch — all stamped with Nelson’s logo —
CLL: Combat Leather Limited. Fine gun
leather and a lasting legacy to Bruce Nelson.
Gary E. Mills
Winnemucca, Nev.
Teach A Man To Fish...
Jacob Gottfredson’s article in the March
issue of GUNS is the type of article that I
like to see. It did not tell me to buy a “brand
x” spotting scope, but instead it gave me the
necessary information to do my own shopping and to make an intelligent decision.
Quality sporting equipment seems to be
more expensive than ever, and you do us a
good service by telling us not only which
particular piece of gear is a good choice but
also why.
I’m a working man, and I don’t mind
spending good money on my shooting and
hunting gear. But I need to make the right
choice the first time, because I sure can’t
afford to buy the same thing twice.
On a similar topic, how about some doit-yourself type articles?
Jonathan Schmidt
Via e-mail
GUNS MAGAZINE™ welcomes letters to the editor for “Crossfire.” Send your letters to:
CROSSFIRE, GUNS Magazine, 591 Camino de la Reina, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92108.
Email: ed@gunsmagazine.com
8
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
RIFLEMAN
BY DAVE ANDERSON
Thinking About Accuracy
The Average Shooter
Somewhere I read that most hunters don’t
need magnum calibers since they can’t make
consistent hits beyond 300 yards anyway.
This must be a different group of hunters than
the ones I see. On deer and antelope size
game I’d say the majority of hunters can’t
make consistent hits much beyond 100 yards.
If that sounds unduly pessimistic I can
only say it is based on observation of typical
hunters, not the relatively small number who
are shooting enthusiasts. For a few years in
the ’70’s I lived in a city of about 200,000
people. A wildlife club to which I belonged
had an excellent range a few miles out of
town. For much of the year it was virtually
my private range. At that time I had the
ambition to try every caliber I could obtain.
I’d buy a rifle in a new caliber along with
dies and components, test all sorts of loads,
maybe shoot some varmints or big game,
then trade it on something else.
Weekdays, when I got a day off work, I
had the range to myself. On weekends there
would occasionally be a couple of other
enthusiasts. Starting in late August, as the
early moose and elk seasons approached, until
November and deer season, hunters began
showing up to sight in their rifles. Many could
not shoot tight enough groups
from the bench to be confident
about making sight adjustments. Very few ever put up a
target on the 200 yard frames,
none on the 300 yard frames.
Almost never was a shot fired
from any position except the
bench rests.
No disrespect is intended.
These hunters did care
enough to pay their membership dues and at least try to
check their sights and get in a
little practice. Friends I
hunted with at the time were
typical. They were good
hunters and good sportsmen
who used hunting methods
(stands, stalking, or drives)
that resulted in close range
shots. Seldom did they wound
and lose game. They just
weren’t interested in devoting
the time and effort needed to
become really good riflemen.
Maybe there isn’t any
such thing as an “average”
shooter. For rifle enthusiasts
who practice regularly, who
shoot varmints or targets at
long range, a 300 yard shot
10
MAY 2002
on a big game animal is not difficult. For the
majority of hunters, consistent 300 yard hits
are beyond their capability.
Accurate Rifles — Who
Needs Them?
One of the oddest theories about shooting is that a poor shot doesn’t need an accurate rifle since he lacks the skill to make
use of the rifle’s potential. Some say he
may in fact be better off with an inaccurate
rifle, since the dispersion of the rifle may
occasionally compensate for poor aim.
Actually the poor shot needs an accurate
rifle more than the good shot.
Consider this example: Shooter A has a
rifle that most of us would consider inaccurate. It will barely keep its shots in an 8inch circle at 100 yards (meaning every
shot strikes within 4 inches of point of
aim). However Shooter A is theoretically a
perfect marksman. He can release the shot
with absolute consistency every time, with
the sights exactly centered. He fires 100
shots; all 100 strike somewhere within an
8-inch circle.
Shooter B is not nearly as accomplished
a shot. He can just barely keep the sights
somewhere within an 8-inch circle at 100
yards. His rifle, however, is
theoretically perfect. It is
capable of delivering every
shot to the exact point
where the sights were when
the shot was released. He
too fires a hundred shots,
all of which fall within an
8-inch circle.
Suppose Shooter B had
the inaccurate rifle. There
would be occasional lucky
shots when his sight picture
would be at, say, the very
left edge of the 8 inch target
but the random dispersion
of the shot would be to the
right, resulting in a center
hit. There would be just as
many occasions in which
the sight picture would be
at the left edge of the target
and the random dispersion
of the shot would send the
bullet further left, missing
completely. The 8 inch ability of the shooter added to
the 8 inch dispersion of the
rifle means that any given
shot could fall anywhere
inside a 16-inch diameter
circle. Even at 100 yards on
deer-sized game that is enough to result in
missed, or worse yet, wounded and lost
game.
I’m not suggesting every hunter needs a
rifle capable of half-minute accuracy. The
difference between a rifle that can only keep
its shots in an 8-inch circle and one that can
keep its shots in a 2-inch circle is significant.
With a rifle capable of keeping all its shots
(not on average, but every time) within a 2inch circle at 100 yards, Shooter B, with his
8-inch arc of movement should be able to hit
a 10-inch circle every time. That’s a big
improvement over the previous 16-inch
diameter sure-hit circle. With a 1-inch rifle
his sure-hit area is reduced to 9 inches, still
worthwhile but not as significant an
improvement. Hunting rifles that will put all
their shots inside a 1-inch circle at 100 yards
are a bit less common than many believe.
The point is that an accurate rifle, properly
sighted in, will help every shooter, regardless
of skill level, make the most of the skill he has.
Shooting Ability — An
Easy Self-Test
The road to improved shooting starts
with an honest self-evaluation. Let’s try a
hypothetical situation. The circumstances
are: You take your favorite hunting rifle
from its case. This is the first time the rifle
has been out of the case today — it’s in
whatever condition it would normally be at
the start of a day’s hunting.
You have one cartridge. The target is a
paper plate, 10 inches in diameter. There’s not
a benchrest or vehicle hood in sight over which
to take a rest, and grass and brush preclude the
prone position. Other than that, you can use
any position you want; offhand, kneeling, sitting, using a sling or shooting sticks for support. You commence with rifle at “port arms,”
loaded with safety on. The bet is this: If you
miss the plate, you give me your rifle and
scope. If you hit, I give you the cash equivalent. You have 10 seconds from the start signal
to get in position and break the shot.
The question is: What is the maximum
range at which you consider the bet a mortal
lock; the maximum range at which you are
totally confident of taking my money?
Whatever that maximum range is, that’s about
the maximum range at which you should be
shooting at an unwounded game animal from
that position. I bet it’s a lot less than 300 yards.
The ability to shoot tiny groups from a
benchrest is certainly one test of shooting
ability. But before you take to the field, you
must make an honest assessment of your
ability to hit a given target, on demand and
under time and psychological pressure. It’s
the responsible thing to do.
$
GUNS MAGAZINE
BY JIM GARDNER
Waller Captain’s Bag
oy have I got a shooting bag for you! You are probably
already familiar with W. Waller & Son. This outfit
makes a nice variety of really superb quality shooting
bags, pistol and rifle cases, etc. One of Waller’s most interesting products is its Mariner Bag. This looks like a generic fanny
pack, yet it will not only keep your enclosed pistol dry, It will
actually float with 5 pounds of weight inside. Great for canoeists
and other boaters!
New from Waller is the Captain’s Bag. Of course I see this
as the shooting bag to beat all shooting bags, but it would make
a great carry-on for air travel. This bag has a lot going for it.
First, it is built hell-for-stout, with best quality YKK zippers,
1,000 denier-coated ballistic nylon, and mil-spec hardware on
the shoulder strap. The bag is padded with closed cell foam,
which not only protects your gear, but also helps the bag to
keep its shape.
Measuring roughly 25x13x11 inches, this is one generously
dimensioned bag! What’s that you say, you don’t need a bag this
large? Well, that brings up the neatest feature of the Captain’s
Bag. On each end is a removable padded pocket/compartment,
with a sewn-on carrying handle. These quickly zip on or off, and
measure roughly 11x10x4 inches. It’s a neat system.
In addition to the removable pockets, you have a large front
pocket with organizing compartments inside, a large inside mesh
pocket, and a nicely designed interior organizer that makes use of
B
14
MAY 2002
Velcro to allow you to optimize it for your needs. This is a well
thought out and solidly built piece of kit that should last for a lifetime.
Retail price of the Waller Captain’s Bag is $249.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
W. Waller & Son
[800] 874-2247
www.wallerandson.com
GUNS MAGAZINE
BY JIM GARDNER
Wolverine Grand
Slam Boots
olverine has been making
great boots since 1883.
I’ve worn Wolverine
work boots for years, and have
found them to be very comfortable and darn hard to wear out.
I recently tried out a pair of
Wolverine Grand Slam boots.
These boots have every conceivable feature you could want in a
hunting boot. They feature 1,000-gram
Thinsulate lining, making them ever so
much more comfortable on those cold lateseason hunts. A Gore-Tex liner and careful
gusset design make them waterproof to a depth of
about 8 inches. The outer cordura panels carry the popular Advantage Timber camouflage pattern. The lug soles are
of the self-cleaning type. These also have the new “supprescent”
technology from W.L. Gore, which helps minimize the release of
human scent. Some of my hunting buddies would probably say that
this feature is particularly appreciated in my case.
I really like these Gore-Tex lined boots for summer trout fishing. In the small mountain streams that I regularly fish, I can get by
with these waterproof boots and not have to put up with the bother
or discomfort of wearing hip boots or waders.
W
At 10 inches tall,
these boots give the
kind of solid ankle
support that is very
comforting in rough country.
Speed laces make them fast to
get on in the morning and man
are they comfortable! Just like
my favorite Wolverine work
boots, these have a replaceable
comfort foot bed. After you have
worn them for a year and they
have compressed a bit, just
order a pair of replacements,
and your boots will feel like new.
My only complaint is that the bootlaces were not long enough, but I’m sure
that this oversight has been corrected already. These Grand Slam
boots should serve you well.
March down to your local retailer
and try on a pair. The Wolverine
Website will help you locate a dealer near you.
Wolverine Boots And Shoes
[888] 927-9675
www.wolverinebootsandshoes.com
SHE WEATHERS THE
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BUT CLEANS UP REAL NICE .
A PRETTY GUN THAT’S PRETTY TOUGH.
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For more information on our 686 Series, please call 1.800.528.7453.
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WWW.BERETTAUSA.COM
MAY 2002
15
BY JIM GARDNER
Remington Bullet Knife
like knives. I’ve seldom met an outdoorsman,
shooter, hunter or fisherman that doesn’t have an
affinity for a nice knife. I have a drawer full of
custom knives, homemade knives and “tactical”
knives. But sometimes all I want to use is a good ol’
pocket knife. You know the type. It’s like the one that
Grandad always kept in the pocket of his bib overalls. There was nothing fancy about it. No locking
blades or designer features. Just a couple of good
sharp blades.
Remington has just announced the latest in its series
of bullet knives, The Apprentice. This knife is a beauty.
It features celluloid “tortoise shell” scales and gleaming
german-silver bolsters with the Remington bullet inlaid
in the left hand scale. A trapper style knife, it features
two blades, both hinged at the same point. One is a clip
point, the other a neat spey blade. The blades are stainless steel, so
they will still look good when you pass this on to your grandkids.
The knife measures a little over 4 inches closed, and rides smoothly
in your pocket.
I really like the spey blade, as it offers a long straight edge for
doing really important tasks: things like showing the little neighbor
boy how to peel an orange in one long slice, or whittling a sharp
point on an old stick. Hey, you never know when you may need a
sharp stick.
I
These Remington bullet knives are limited editions. The
Apprentice will be replaced by a different model next year. So don’t
hesitate. Order one of these while you can. It really is a very nicely
made knife and a pleasant nostalgic link to simpler days.
Remington Arms Co.
[800] 243-9700
www.remington.com
100% American Made.
With American Parts, Labor and Service
Under The Blue Dome in Hartford, CT, U.S.A.
Suggested Retail: $505!
Every Cowboy . . .
. . . goes to a Rodeo!
Single Action Army Revolver
R
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4 3/4” x 5 1/2” Barrel, 45 Colt, Hard Rubber Grips
U.S. FIRE ARMS MFG. CO.
-Real Bone Case Hardening-No Fake Firing Pin 55 Van Dyke Ave., Dept. AH Hartford, CT USA, 06106
-No Phony Safety Tel. 1-877-227-6901 Fax 860-724-6809
www.usfirearms.com
-No Fake Markings 16
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
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MAY 2002
17
HANDLOADER
BY CHARLES E. PETTY
Handloading
Norma Powders
’m sure that there is a whole generation
of handloaders who know nothing of
Norma powders. It’s probably been at
least 20 years since they were readily
available in this country, and back then they
cost considerably more than similar domestic powders. I can’t even recall ever having
used them.
But I also remember shooters who loved
them and who complained bitterly when
they couldn’t find their favorite number anymore. One of them was a friend from the
gunclub who helped me learn the basics of
loading. He was a big user of the 7x61
Sharpe and Hart cartridge loaded with
Norma MRP powder. He scoured shops and
gun shows and bought all he could find
when he learned that it would not be available anymore. That was a long time ago, and
the availability of Norma powders has been
spotty ever since.
Of course, the passage of so much time
means that shooters have found other
favorites and we also have many more
choices than before. This means that, for all
practical purposes, Norma powders are new
to today’s reloader. Of course they aren’t, for
there have been no changes in the propellants and the cans are even the same color.
This time, pricing will be competitive with
other powders on the market.
You have to go back a couple of editions to find data for Norma powders in
any of the loading manuals, so when I
learned that they would be available in the
U.S. — and at a competitive price — I
started looking for data and guns to try it
with. Norma has quite a bit of data at its
Website (www.norma.com), and I also
I
18
MAY 2002
found plenty in the 11th Edition Speer
Reloading Manual. Just out of curiosity, I
also opened up the Quick Load internal
ballistics program and found that the
Norma powders are in its library. This is
an extremely useful program as it provides
estimates of velocity and pressure for a
wide range of standard, European and
wildcat cartridges. It is important to
understand that the results are an estimate
and not a substitute for pressure-tested
data, but with due care the information can
be used for finding a starting point for
load workups. So that’s what I did.
I’ve spent quite a bit of time lately
working with the .300 Remington Ultra
Mag, and since it is in the Quick Load
library, it was easy to try the cartridge with
Norma MRP. I calculated some loads using
150-grain and 180-grain bullets. This is
one of the few times that the computer
failed to come close to actual results and
the velocities I recorded were 200 fps
slower than those predicted. The conclusion is that MRP is too fast for the huge
.300 UM case.
The next endeavor was much more fruitful. I am quite fond of the .280 Remington,
so some loads were calculated for it with
150-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets. This
time the computer and chronograph agreed
quite nicely. A load safely within predicted
limits happily duplicated the factory velocity with a very low velocity spread. Speer
#11 had data for MRP with its 145-grain bullet, and, once more, agreement between the
published velocities and mine was very
good. This suggests a whole family of cartridges that might be excellent candidates for
use with MRP such as the .270, .30-’06 and
the 7mm and .30 belted magnums. Data for
many of these is on the Norma Website.
But the real kick came from another
direction altogether. Paging through the
Speer book, I chanced upon some data for
the 6mm PPC using both Norma 200 and
201. These are the fastest of the rifle powders and the charges shown for N201 with
Speer’s 75-grain hollowpoint were interesting. Now the 6 PPC is one of my alltime favorites, and when I feel the need to
shoot tiny groups, the PPC goes to the
range. I typically use 66- or 68-grain bullets from Berger or Fowler, so I loaded
some of the 66-grain Fowler bullets with
26.0 (starting) and 28.0 (maximum)
charges of N201 and loaded 15 rounds of
each. My rifle routinely shoots groups that
measure a little under .250 inch, depending
on how well the shooter is doing that day.
The N201 loads, however, averaged .155
inch and .152 inch, respectively. We must
not leap to too many conclusions based on
this very small sample, but you can rest
assured that more experimentation is coming soon.
There are a total of seven Norma rifle
powders in the catalog right now: N200,
N201, N202, N203B, N204, MRP and
MRP-2. Other offerings from Norma
include brass and bullets. We’ve been able to
get some of Norma’s excellent brass all
along, but the number of calibers available
will be more extensive. Of special interest
are the European rimmed calibers and cases
like the 7.65 Argentine and 7.7mm Jap. Most
standard cases are available, too, all the way
from .220 Swift to .470 Nitro Express. There
are also component bullets in both hunting
and target designs from .22 caliber up to
9.3mm (.364 inch).
$
Norma Precision Load
P.O. Box 549
Tualatin, OR 97062
www.norma.com
Nostalgia Enterprises
(NECO) Quick
536-C Stone Rd.
Benecia, CA 94510
phone: (707) 747-0897
www.neconos.com
GUNS MAGAZINE
Two good knives
showing very different
blade profiles. Note the
deep belly of the
Sypderco Peter Herbst
model, top, and the
straighter edge of the
Gerber Spectre, bottom.
One or the other may be
better suited to some
particular task.
A rugged trio from Benchmade. Top, model 720 with
Realtree finish; middle, the bargain priced Griptilian
and bottom, the Mel Pardue designed model 722.
20
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
Gerber’s full-sized Applegate folder
and the trim Applegate Covert. Both
are rugged and durable.
ost shooters and hunters appreciate a good
blade just as much as they enjoy the sophistication of a fine firearm. One reason that
well-crafted knives appeal to us is that they
can be an item of daily use. This isn’t the
case with our firearms as we seldom get to use them as
much as we would like. There’s another good reason to
make carrying a good knife a habit. A glance at your
morning paper will remind you that there is a predatory element loose in our society. And despite the fact that a
growing number of states permit concealed carry of
firearms by properly licensed citizens, there are many who
do not enjoy this option. While no thinking man wants to
fight for his life with a knife, the ready presence of a sharpedged companion can be comforting.
Gratefully, we may carry a good blade with us for the balance of our lifetime and never be called upon to employ it
against anything more threatening than a cardboard box.
Despite these odds, any good scout knows the value of being
prepared, and it only makes sense to select a folding knife for
daily carry with the capacity for defensive use in mind.
In this report we look at affordable but durable folders, the
working man’s pick if you will. I don’t own a high-end custom
made folder, all of my folders are production grade. I don’t
view knives as a throwaway tool but as an investment. That
investment, however, need not break the bank. For normal cutting cores almost any good folding knife will do. If your needs
include heavier work such as cutting kindling, heavy rope or if
you may need to perform a rescue which involves cutting seatbelts, more steel is needed. Remember though that high quality
folders perform out of relation to their size. You don’t need to
have the giant versions used by drugstore cowboys. Let’s
talk about a few important factors of design and construction, and then I’ll share with you a few of my favorite
knives.
M
more easily accomplished with a curved blade. Thrusting or
piercing, which I do on a daily basis on synthetic materials, is
best accomplished with a drop point. Control is good and you
know where the tip is. For fine, close work the drop point
excels. I have to admit a fondness and respect for the tanto
type point. For most uses, it cuts like nobody’s business. The
exact style of blade is the subject of learned discussion.
Consider the mission beforehand to avoid disappointment. I
recently used a saber-grind knife with secondary grind to slice
through corn stalks. Probably not ideal, a straight or convex
curved edge with a narrow point is a better choice for most
farm work.
Serrated And Plain Edges
It was Spyderco that introduced and popularized the serrated cutting edge for utility knives. The serrated edge excels
for many types of work, and will continue cutting reasonably
well even without regular maintenance. The points of the
serrations concentrate force while the little
Blade Shape
Blade shape should be considered. The blade’s cross
section is important and makes a subtle difference in
how well suited the blade is for various tasks. Flat
ground, hollow (concave) ground and saber
(convex) ground blades can all be found. The
actual blade edge is normally gently curved but
in some designs is nearly straight. Varieties
abound, but most of us desire a shape suited
for draw cutting. This is drawing the
blade from choil to point. As a rule, the
most common cutting tasks such as
opening boxes and cutting carpet are
Spyderco Ayoob knife (top)
and Kershaw Black Out are
favorites of the author.
MAY 2002
21
concave sections between these points offer
more cutting surface. Most serrations are cut
at right angles to the center axis of the blade
and may be found to be right handed.
Serrated blades are less likely to skip across
slick jacket material in a defensive situation
yet do not trap fibers. I like the half-serrated
blade best, while admitting they can be difficult to sharpen. The plain-edged section of
the blade is best for some chores, but you
have the aggressive cutting ability of the serrated section if needed. The Spyderco “TriAngle” sharpener solves the problem of
sharpening serrated edges.
Blade Length
As for length, most folders will have 2.5to 3.75-inch blades, about perfect for
everyday use. Don’t underestimate the capability of these modestly sized blades. During
the test period when using these knives, I
had the occasion to wrap the axle of my
truck thoroughly with vines. I had Gerber’s
Applegate Covert folder in my back pocket.
The half-serrated edge cut this problem to
pieces in no time. Unexpected heavy cutting
chores are one reason that I prefer serrations
on some part of the blade.
I have tested a great many folders and
most have a blade that is a matter of compromise, but which works well. I am seeing
sharper knives than ever from the factory, a
good thing. Dull knives stub and stop action,
allowing the hand to run forward and catch
the blade. Sharp knives are safer.
Blade Locking Systems
Recently, my neighbor Johnny Brown
warned me not to use my folding knife hard
because it might close on my hand. I assured
him that today’s folders are better than ever.
He was right — a sharp edge must be
respected — but I am fortunate to own
folders which can be trusted to do difficult
work. A lot of good engineering has gone
into modern blade locking systems. What
you and I once thought of as pocket knives
have evolved and improved tremendously in
recent years. Some blade locks offer the
ruggedness of a simple hasp while others are
only slightly less sophisticated than a Swiss
watch. Premature wear, inconsistent lock
pressure, lock shift and other problems have
been dealt with. Safe, reliable blade locks
count for a lot. This is what makes a folding
knife possible and desirable. The makers tell
us that folders will never fail if properly
used, that is, for draw cutting. The pressure
against the blade will prevent failure. That is
true as far as it goes, but when working, we
may abuse the knife to an extent. And in a
defense situation anything can happen.
There are a number of good lock designs,
but three of the most common are the lockback, the liner lock, and Benchmade’s Axis
lock. The lock-back is familiar to everyone,
although this satisfactory design has been
largely supplanted by the liner lock. The
liner lock is strong, easy to use, and has the
advantage of being located near the blade’s
pivot point where your fingers naturally rest.
The Benchmade Axis lock shares that same
benefit, but also allows for wear, and may be
retracted to take all pressure off of the blade
so that it can be easily and quickly flipped
open or closed. Some defensive folders such
as the Gerber Applegate Covert feature both
a primary and a secondary locking system.
Other Considerations
Folders are pocket knives by definition,
but few are carried loose in the pocket. Most
ride on some form of handle-mounted pocket
clip or may be carried in a belt sheath. Again
it was Spyderco that brought pocket clips
into general use — a handy feature. The belt
clip should have a balance of retention and
comfort. Take care in considering your form
of dress. Some pocket clip designs work
better with top opening or jeans pockets than
with side opening trouser pockets.
Few folders sport nail nicks these days,
but most incorporate some form of assisted
opening. A thumb hole or a thumb stud, even
a roundel on top of the blade are used. The
opening stud should never extend above the
handle for safety and security. The opening
device should allow a natural motion. Some
designs such as Kershaw’s aptly named
Whirlwind use the Ken Onion designed
assisted blade opening system. This knife is
as fast as an automatic in practiced hands.
Benchmade uses a combination of geometry
and opening devices to aid rapid manipulation. The Gerber Spectre opens with a flick
of the wrist. None of the knives included in
this report were anything but rapid opening.
Having discussed these important features, let’s look at some of the more popular
designs...
Benchmade Knives
The 550 “Griptilian” is among the more
affordable Benchmade knives, but a solid
choice and a rugged performer. The blade is
longer than average at 3.45-inches, with an
excellent blade to handle ratio. The name of
this knife comes from the NORYL handle,
which combines strength and good “gripability.” I spent more time using this folder
than the others. I was rewarded with solid
performance. My Griptilian has a smooth
but upswept blade. I like it very much. I
often pick one knife among several samples
to use extensively. This was the one.
My favorite Benchmade model based on
looks is not very far behind in utility. The 722
series is offered in several versions. My personal choice is the black coated, half serrated
edge. Some folks feel that the man with a half
serrated edge can’t make up his mind, but I
like the versatility of this blade very much. I
do use both plain and serrated blades often
and the effectiveness of a serrated edge is
unquestioned. I like a tanto point much more
in a defensive knife, and while this is a
working man’s knife as well it can be counted
on to cut more efficiently with the reinforced
point. This is a Mel Pardue design.
Benchmade now offers several of its
continued on page 63
MAY 2002
23
SHOT GUNNER
BY HOLT BODINSON
Black’s 2002 Wing & Clay
shot was supplied by Daisy, and
f I had to choose one shotgun reference
Winchester had a brief relationship with
book that could be considered indispenBismuth. Remington has now added Hevisable, it would have to be Black’s Wing
Shot to its Premier line of waterfowl,
& Clay. It is the virtual yellow pages of
turkey and upland game loads.
all the shotgun sports, and because it is
Hevi-Shot, a proprietary alloy of tungupdated annually, it’s always current.
sten-nickel and iron made by ENVIRONWithin the 2002 edition’s 576 pages are
Metal, is 7 percent heavier than lead and
excellent articles on subjects ranging from
49 percent heavier than steel. The shot
shotgun fitting to the cost and acreage
itself is rather irregular in shape and size,
requirements of each of the popular shotgun
but it produces unusugames from ZZ Bird to
ally dense patterns couOlympic Trap.
pled with excellent
But the guts of
downrange velocity and
Wing & Clay are the
energy. Since Hevi-Shot
detailed listings and
is about as hard as steel,
descriptions
of
ENVIRON-Metal recomshooting
schools;
mends the use of steelregional clinics; trap,
approved barrels and
skeet and sporting
chokes only, and no
clays clubs, courses,
chokes tighter than modihunting and shooting
fied.
preserves and outfitters
The nontoxic shot race
arranged by state; purjust keeps getting more
veyors, manufactures
interesting all the time. It
and importers of shotseems to be sorting out
guns,
ammunition,
into three different price
reloading
supplies,
points. At the least expenapparel and accessive end is the slightly
sories; specialized gunirregular shaped and sized
smiths
and
steel shot produced by the
gunsmithing services;
water
atomization
dog trainers and dog Black’s 2002 Wing & Clay handprocess.
Winchester’s
breeders. There is even book is the encyclopedia of the
“Xpert” line of steel shot
a section on gun club shotgun sports.
is a good example. In the
supplies and awards. If
middle slot is traditional polished and
you can think of it, Wing & Clay has it.
graded steel shot, and at the upper end are
The best news is that the 2002 edition is
the boutique quality shot types like Hevialready in print and is available at a reasonShot. The price differential between the low
able $14.95 plus $4.50 S&H via Priority
and high ends is dramatic, and it will be
Mail.
intriguing to see how the market sorts itself
out over time.
Remington Teams-Up
Look for Remington’s new Hevi-Shot
With Hevi-Shot
loads at your dealers.
One of the more interesting developments in the ammunition manufacturing
Component Mixing
business has been the widespread adoption
of outside sourced projectiles. For example,
Handloading shotshells is a much more
in its rifle lines, Remington already loads
complicated business than loading rifle or
Nosler, Hornady and Swift bullets. In the
pistol ammunition. Consider the variety of
shotgun arena, until recently almost all steel
cases, wads, primers, powders, shot, and
I
26
PRIMER
VELOCITY
PRESSURE
CCI 209
Rem. 209P
Win. 209
Fed. 209A
1,159 fps
1,207 fps
1,202 fps
1,218 fps
Mixing components? Don’t do it.
9,000 psi
10,700 psi
11,300 psi
12,400 psi
MAY 2002
Heavier than lead
and capable of
generating dense
patterns, HeviShot will be loaded
by Remington in its Premier waterfowl,
turkey and upland game lines.
crimps available for the 12 gauge alone —
plus, the working pressures of a shotshell are
much more narrowly defined than those of
metallic cartridges.
As a result, developing the right combination of components while using modern
pressure measuring equipment is a long and
arduous task. We can be thankful that companies such as Lyman, Hodgdon and
Ballistic Products are willing to do it.
The ironclad rule in shotshell reloading is
not to change components without reliable
test data. Lyman offers an interesting example
of primer switching in its 4th Edition
Shotshell Reloading Handbook. Considering
that 11,500 psi is considered a maximum
pressure for the 23⁄4-inch, 12-gauge case, take
a look below at the results when loading a 11⁄8ounce target load with no other changes in
components other than the primer.
$
Black’s Wing & Clay
[732] 224-8700
Remington
[800] 243-9700
www.remington.com
Hevi-Shot/Environ-Metal
www.environ-metal.com
Lyman Products
[800] 22-Lyman
www.lymanproducts.com
GUNS MAGAZINE
Despite tightened security, you can still travel
by air with your firearms. Knowledge of the
right procedures is the ticket to success.
BY DAN PETERSON
hree weeks after the September 11
attacks, I had occasion to fly out of
Washington
D.C.’s
Dulles
International Airport. Yep, that’s
the airport from which American Flight 77
was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon.
I was trying to make a 6:20 a.m. flight, and
the scene at Dulles at 4:30 in the morning
was already a mess.
Hundreds of people wearily fidgeted in
line to go through security. Because of hastily
improvised measures after the attack, security
personnel were confiscating tweezers, clippers, nail files, disposable razors — anything
that could conceivably be used as a weapon.
T
Hanging Around With A 12-Gauge
But there I was, waiting in line for over
an hour at the Continental ticket counter,
with my new side-by-side 12-gauge shotgun
in hand (unloaded, cased and locked, of
course). My intention was to check it
through as part of my baggage, which was
perfectly legal. Still, I wondered if any of the
security personnel or National Guardsmen
with their M-16s would be sufficiently
curious to ask me why I had a gun in the airport. Nobody did.
For months I had been planning this
Texas business trip, which also happened to
include an afternoon of skeet shooting. I was
looking forward to working out a bit on the
skeet fields to get accustomed to the new
gun. My performance a few weeks earlier in
the dove fields proved that a little practice
wouldn’t hurt, to say the least.
When the dust had settled after the
attacks, though, the thought occurred to me:
Is taking a gun on the airlines a good idea
right now? I could get a free loaner at the
skeet field. That would be easier and less
hassle, so maybe I should just forget the idea
of bringing mine along, and....
But wait. Isn’t this America? The land of
the free? And isn’t our right to keep and bear
arms, openly and proudly, one of our most
important freedoms? And aren’t our freedoms,
and the strength resulting from them, what the
terrorists hate about us? And don’t they want
to scare us into giving up our freedoms?
It didn’t take long for me to decide to go
ahead and take my shotgun along. As things
turned out, checking the gun turned out to be
no problem at all. If you want to do the same,
the rules are pretty simple. Here’s how to do it.
Rules For Checking Your Guns
Because the rules are based on federal
law, they’re similar for most of the airlines,
though some add a few twists of their own.
The rules that follow are for domestic flights
only. Taking a firearm into another country
has its own set of rules and problems, and
may even be prohibited.
Let’s start with the obvious. It’s a federal
felony to try to take any type of firearm past
the airport security checkpoint or onto a
commercial airplane. You knew that already.
It’s also against the law to have a loaded gun
in your checked baggage. But you weren’t
going to do that anyway, right? Right.
The basic requirements to check an
unloaded gun under federal law are remarkably few. First, you must “declare” to the
airline before checking the baggage that the
firearm is unloaded. At the ticket counter
check-in, simply tell the airline ticket agent
that you would like to declare a firearm as
part of your checked baggage. Generally, the
airline personnel will then escort you to a
more private area. You open the case, show
them that the gun is unloaded, and sign a
written declaration that the firearm is
unloaded. This declaration (often a little tag
on a string) is attached to the trigger guard of
the gun, you relock the case, and keep the
key on your person. The gun case then goes
onto the plane like other checked bags.
Second, under federal law the firearm
must be “carried in a container the [airline]
considers appropriate for air transportation.”
Third, any firearm “other than a shotgun,
rifle, or other firearm normally fired from the
shoulder position” (that is, a handgun) must
be in locked baggage and “only the passenger
checking the baggage retains the key or combination.” Finally, the baggage must be carried in an area, other than the flight crew
compartment, that is inaccessible to passengers. The airline, of course, attends to that.
MAY 2002
27
Airline Policies Vary
I looked at the websites of 10 airlines to
see what their policies were regarding
firearms in checked baggage. The 10 airlines were American, America West,
Continental, Delta, Frontier, Northwest,
Southwest, TWA, United and USAirways.
There are some differences, so check with
your airline before you fly. Given the attention being focused on airline security, the
rules also could change between the time I
am writing these words and when you are
reading them. It’s important to know the
specifics for your airline.
Even though federal law requires only
that handguns be in locked containers, some
(but not all) of the airlines have policies that
state that all firearms, including long guns,
must be in locked containers. American and
Southwest, for example, require locks only
on handgun containers. Continental,
Frontier and TWA, on the other hand,
require that all firearms be in locked containers. I’d lock ’em up regardless of
whether the airline requires it.
Some of airlines require the container to
be hard sided, rather than the type of soft
sided case that typically closes with a zipper.
Some will sell you an inexpensive case or
cardboard shipping box for shipping your
guns as checked baggage. Given the known
propensities of baggage handlers, a hard
sided case is definitely the way to go.
Rules For Ammo
Policies also vary regarding ammunition.
Generally, ammunition is limited to 11
pounds per passenger. Southwest, though,
also has a limitation on the specific number
of rounds of shotgun, rifle or pistol ammuni28
MAY 2002
tion that can be checked as baggage. Some
airlines require the firearm and ammunition
to be in separate containers, but the policies
of other airlines expressly permit the ammo
and gun to be in the same case.
There are also some requirements that are
peculiar to a particular airline. TWA will not
permit firearms or ammunition in checked
baggage if you are connecting to a flight that
is operated by another carrier. Incendiary and
explosive ammunition are generally prohibited, but Frontier considers “hollowpoints” to
be incendiary or explosive ammunition.
Again, check with the airline for its specific
requirements and limitations.
A Few Tips
Show up plenty early if you intend to
check a firearm. You should go to the ticket
counter to check your baggage rather than
trying to use curbside check-in.
Do not attempt to pass through the security checkpoint, even though sometimes bags
(NOT containing firearms) can be checked at
the gate. Anything past security is considered
a “sterile area,” and it is against the law to try
to bring a firearm past that point.
When declaring your firearm at the ticket
counter, you might want to give some
advance thought to your choice of words. It’s
probably not a great idea to start off by saying
“I have a gun!” After you present your ticket,
you might do better to say something like,
“As part of my checked baggage, I’d like to
declare a firearm.” Everybody’s jumpy.
Remember to put a name tag on your gun
case. We’re all in the habit of doing that for
our luggage, but few of us walk around with
name tags on our rifle or pistol cases. It’s a
good idea to put your name, address and
phone number inside the case as well.
GUNS MAGAZINE
Style N87
Retail Price
$28.00+ S&H
Depending on the value of your gun, you
may want to make sure it is insured. Airlines
have limits on the liabilities they will
assume for lost luggage, and a valuable
firearm could exceed those limits. Sad to
say, but I have also heard stories of “lost”
firearms that probably ended up in the hands
of airline baggage handlers. On my Texas
trip, one of my fellow shooters told me
about a hunting trip that he had taken, and
how the airline had “lost” his $5,000
shotgun that simply failed to turn up when
he reached his destination.
The DeSantis Stealth holster holds your weapon comfortably out of sight
until you need it.
• Inside-waistband clip • Padded-ballistic nylon
• Sturdy power-coated spring-clip for safety
• Spare magazine pouch, standard for autoloader models
• Available for most concealed firearms
Please visit your authorized
DeSantis Gunhide
DeSantis dealer today
Dept. GM52
or send $5.00 for
149 Denton Ave.,New Hyde Park, NY 11040
our full-color catalog.
800 GUNHIDE
www.desantisholster.com
Exercise Your Rights
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, I
haven’t yet heard of any proposals to limit the
ability to travel on airlines with your guns as
checked baggage. But the rules — either federal regulations or airline policies — could
change at any time. That means two things.
First, check the airline rules right up to
the time you travel and abide by them carefully. Then don’t be shy. Exercise your rights
as an American citizen to move about freely
with your guns.
Second, if any restrictions are proposed
to prevent law-abiding citizens from taking
their guns with them when traveling by air,
we should fight them. We can’t allow terrorists to deprive us of our civil liberties. The
terrorists deliberately murdered more than
3,500 of our citizens. If anyone has to lose
their civil liberties, let it be the people who
carried out and sponsored these atrocities. It
won’t be us, because we won’t let it happen.
Dan Peterson is a practicing attorney in
Washington, D.C. The views expressed are
his own, not those of his law firm.
$
MAY 2002
29
THROUGH THE
LOOKING GLASS
Gradient Lens Corp.’s affordable Hawkeye© borescope is a
fascinating and useful tool — but like Alice, your life may never
be the same after you peer through this looking glass.
By Holt Bodinson
ooking down bores and chambers, into locking lug
recesses, inside loading dies and brass cases, isn’t
for the faint-of-heart. You often discover things
you wished you never knew about. But using a
Hawkeye© borescope quickly becomes addictive.
And using it when buying used guns or analyzing mechanical
problems can save you the original cost of the borescope
many times over. (Just imagine approaching a table at a gun
show with a borescope tucked under your arm.)
Let me give you a few examples from my own experiences of using the Hawkeye borescope.
L
Is It A Bargain?
A pre-’64 Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .243
Win recently hit my dealer’s used gun rack. The metal and
wood were in great shape, and looking down the 6mm bore
with my naked eye, the rifling appeared to be clean and
crisp. I happen to like both the caliber and the model, and I
decided to make an offer. But before doing so, I asked for
the opportunity to examine the bore with the Hawkeye. Glad
I did. What appeared to be a decent bore turned out to be an
eroded one from the throat to the muzzle. We’re talking
about that cracking, alligator skin-type condition that is
often seen in the first few inches of the bore forward from
the throat, but rarely all the way to the muzzle. The .243 was
totally shot out. I passed on the piece and pity the fellow
who ended up with it.
After cleaning another .243 — a Ruger 77 with a
pristine barrel — I checked my work with the
Hawkeye borescope. Looking down the barrel,
everything looked clean until I hit the mid-point.
There, for a distance of about 2 inches, were
lumps of copper jacket material still adhering to
the lands. I couldn’t feel any constriction at that
point with a patch or brush. With the naked eye, I
certainly couldn’t see the fouling. Yet, there it was,
bathed in a brilliant copper light through the lens of
the Hawkeye. A few passes with Sweets 7.62 solvent and it was gone.
Mystery Solved
I was puzzled by the lack of accuracy shown
by a No. 1 Mk III Enfield that had been factory
reconditioned at the Ishapore Armory in India. The
piece looked absolutely brand new, yet it wouldn’t
group as well as an original 1918 BSA. Out came
the borescope. Throat erosion from the spaghettilike strands of cordite powder has to be seen to be
believed. It takes the form of a many-pointed star or a
series of little mountains and valleys in the throat area.
30
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
The right-angle
attachment is an
absolute necessity
with some firearms.
Both Enfields exhibited throat
erosion, but the barrel of the
rebuilt rifle exhibited an erosion
pattern extending from the throat to
mid-bore whereas the erosion of the
1918 BSA bore was largely restricted to
the throat itself. Puzzle solved. Without a
borescope, I would still be assuming that the
barrel of the rebuilt Enfield had to be in better
overall condition than that of a 1918 antique.
I have a .308 Win across-the-course match rifle
sporting a premium-grade stainless-steel match barrel.
It’s been a fantastically accurate target rifle and the current barrel has seen in the vicinity of 2,500 rounds down
its tube, many in rapid-fire events. Borescopes make it
possible to monitor bore wear, and I was curious. What I
discovered with the Hawkeye was not a great deal of
wear, but a very visible machining chatter mark about
mid-bore. Given the quality of the barrel, it really did
puzzle me. This might have well been one of those times
when “ignorance is bliss.” That chatter mark has not
affected accuracy or accumulated fouling or had any
other effect on the performance of the gun, yet psychologically, I now wish it weren’t there.
And revolver barrel throats!!! Don’t even look — or
you’ll be picking up the phone and ordering a throat
reamer kit from Brownells within the hour. The
same goes for the reamer marks in modern
revolver cylinders. I’ve even used the
borescope to look for and locate burrs in the
hammer slot of a frame.
In shotguns, the Hawkeye borescope really
gives you a bird’s eye view of how well you’re
doing in removing plastic and lead fouling
from the chamber, forcing cone and choke. It
also permits you to see how well any factory
aftermarket choke tube mates with the interior surface of a bore and whether or not the tube is flush with
its threaded seat when fully tightened. You can study the
length and degree of finish of forcing cones and the design
of fixed chokes.
This view of an AR15 gas port shows
erosion and clumps
of bullet jacket
material buildup.
The Hawkeye makes it possible to really see the condition of a rifle bore.
Notice the advanced erosion and copper fouling
buildup in the bore of this
well-used rifle.
The forcing cone of a revolver is
a notorious spot for problems.
One look at this rough specimen
shows why fouling tends to
accumulate here.
Holt found the Hawkeye borescope to be
a remarkable diagnostic tool.
MAY 2002
31
When cleaning, the borescope permits
you to objectively evaluate results as you
test various chemicals, brushes, abrasives
and cleaning protocols.
Did I say the use of a borescope is
“addictive?” Once you own one, you’ll be
poking and probing into every firearm in
your collection, discovering new uses every
day as you do so.
Designed For Industry
The Hawkeye Precision Borescope is the
creation of the Gradient Lens Corp., located
in one of the optical capitals of the world,
Rochester, N.Y. The Hawkeye Borescope is
just one of a sophisticated family of optical
examination instruments produced by the
company that are used in industry to check
the quality of everything from fuel injector
nozzles to interior welds.
The Hawkeye borescope consists of three
units: the borescope with attached eyepiece;
a right angle mirror tube that slips over the
borescope and rotates 360 degrees; and a
Mini-Maglite light source that screws into a
fitting at the eyepiece and serves as the
handle. In use, the Mini-Maglite is screwed
into the borescope; the right angle mirror
tube is slipped over the borescope shaft; the
light is turned on, and you’re ready to take a
look. The borescope can also be used
without the rotating mirror tube, providing
forward image viewing and is useful for
examining the internal flashhole of a case,
for example.
What is unique about the Hawkeye unit
is the lens system. The makers have been
able to eliminate the cost of grinding, polishing, coating and centering numerous
micro-lenses normally associated with this
type of instrument by substituting a series of
short, optical glass rods or “gradient index
lenses” that relay the optical image from the
objective lens to the eyepiece lens. The
resulting images are bright, color correct and
very sharp. In fact, the depth-of-field of the
Hawkeye extends from 1mm to infinity.
Gradient Lens Corp. offers two models
of the Hawkeye.
There is the original model that features a fully adjustable focus with all the
components packaged in a lockable
custom metal carrying case. Normally
selling for $760, Gradient is currently
offering a $60 discount bringing the price
down to $700.
The Big News
The real bargain is the new “Limited
Edition” Hawkeye selling for $495. This
model is exactly the same as the more
expensive original except for the focus
adjustment of the eyepiece, and the metal
carrying case. In the original model, focus
is adjusted by turning the eyepiece with
nothing more than your fingers. In the
“Limited Edition” borescope, the focus is
factory set and I found it perfect for
viewing; however, the eyepiece can
32
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
readily be re-focused by loosening three
small hex set screws and moving the eyepiece in or out. Frankly, given the
extended field of view offered by the
Hawkeye, the need for changing the focus
should be minimal. For example, when
viewing the large interior of a shotgun
bore, I find that positioning the lens tube
against one wall of the barrel provides a
crisp image of the opposite wall.
The only other part of this optical
system that is nice to have, but not essential, is the snap-on, right-angle eyepiece,
which is offered as an accessory. When
you’re dealing with a bolt-action rifle with
a high Monte Carlo stock, it’s difficult to
position your eye behind the eyepiece as
the lens is fully inserted. The simple solution I found for most bolt-actions is to lay
the rifle on its side when using the
Hawkeye. The right-angle eyepiece sells
for $275 and is offered for a reduced price
of $195 if purchased with the more expensive model. If you’re working primarily
with modern stocked rifles, I would
strongly recommend the purchase of this
one accessory.
The borescope of the Slim model is 17
inches long and approximately .165 inch in
diameter. The addition of the rotating mirror
tube increases the probe diameter to .188
inch so it will work in any bore size from
.22 through the shotgun gauges. In use,
because of its 17-inch length, the lens tube
is inserted from both the breech and the
muzzle to view the entire barrel. Of course,
in the case of most lever-action rifles and
autoloaders, you’re limited to viewing from
the muzzle unless some degree of disassembly is possible. Autoloading and pump
shotguns pose no problem since their barrels are easily detached.
For the professional gunsmith or barrel
maker, Gradient Lens also offers Hawkeye
compatible accessories such as video cameras and monitors, digital cameras, and highintensity light sources.
The Hawkeye Borescope is a remarkable
exploratory and diagnostic tool for the
firearm owner. Its optical quality is superb,
and its use is simple and straightforward.
From a cost point of view, the Hawkeye is
no more expensive than a quality pair of
binoculars or a rifle scope; plus, it can save
the owner many times its original cost when
evaluating potential purchases over the
years. And, yes, it’s addictive.
$
Gradient Lens Corporation
[800] 536-0790
www.gradientlens.com
MAY 2002
33
Custom knife by M.
Sanders wears handles
of mesquite wood to
mate with custom
Ruger grips of the
same material.
Charles Able
stocked this custom
.45 Colt with ebony
and then built a
companion knife
also stocked in
ebony wood.
34
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
A good knife can be more than a tool.
It can be a lasting expression of your
sentiments and a legacy for the future.
had been scouting an area looking for a good
place to position a tree stand. I had set out
bait and was trying to lure a Spring black
bear. Since I was traveling lightly, I had
slipped both my sixgun holster and the sheath
for my folding knife on my belt. When I got back
to the pickup, I removed my sixgun and holster,
placing them on the seat, and left my knife on my
belt... or so I thought. When I got home, the knife
was gone. This was no ordinary knife. It was a special gift from a special friend who had my name
engraved on the blade.
Three days later I was hiking in the same area.
While traveling down the trail, I met another fellow
I
coming out. I stopped to chat about things in general, and then he said, “Oh, by the way, I found a
knife along the trail and it has a fellow’s name on
it.” He pulled it out, and said, “Do you know this
guy, John Taffin?” I of course was doubly elated in
that I not only had my knife back, but I also found
an honest man! I also learned a most valuable
lesson in addition to paying more attention to what
I’m doing, and that is to have my name engraved
on the blades of knives that have great sentimental
value. There is very little expense involved as a
local shop charges only $10 for a setup fee, and
then $5 for each blade that is inscribed.
This Cold Steel Trailmaster bowie is a fine knife,
but engraved with the title of Taffin's popular GUNS
magazine column, it also becomes a treasured
memento. Left: A Harley-riding man of the cloth
presented Taffin with this Buck custom bowie.
MAY 2002
35
THE PHILADELPHIA PISTOL:
AN
AMERICAN
CLASSIC REBORN!
Jack Brooks is a gunmaker in the truest sense
of the word. The author gives us a close look at
the process that led to the creation of this stunStory And Photos By Bill Ball
or hundreds of years, firearms
depended upon fiery sparks from
the forced impact of flint upon
steel. Reliable, effective and
affordable, the flintlock easily
replaced matchlock and wheel-lock technologies as the premier ignition source (in
pre-percussion-cap times) for muzzleloading firearms.
F
In Britain and Europe, flintlock rifles
and pistols won battles, settled disputes,
and protected individuals. In America, soldiers, sailors, settlers and savages provided
ready hands for flint-fired pistols and
rifles, mostly of European origin. The very
best firearms bore marks of London
makers and became highly prized possessions of their colonial owners.
Colorado gun maker Jack
Brooks displays his matched
pair of .45 caliber smoothbore flintlock pistols, following in the traditions of the
classic Philadelphia (circa
1820) style.
Fine Gunmaking In Early America
With the swelling of national pride (and
anti-English
sentiment)
after
the
Revolutionary War, a golden age of flintlock
gunmaking flourished in North America.
Some of the very best American craftsmen
practiced the gunmaking trade in regions
around Philadelphia, notably Jacob Kunz
and Tobias Grubb. These American gunmakers perfected the skills to approach the
fit, finish, function and performance of their
London-based competitors’ guns. Colorado
gunmaker Jack Brooks provided perspective
on the accomplishments of these golden-age
American gunmakers:
“London guns of this period brought
together the work of many skilled craftsmen,
largely trained as apprentices by the old
masters of London or Birmingham. Some
specialized in lock or barrel making, taking
advantage of centuries of experience with
the malleability and durability of various
36
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
Using the hand tools shown in the
lower left, Colorado gun maker Jack
Brooks inletted and engraved these
Philadelphia pistols.
irons and steels, and the knowledgeable
application of progressively finer files and
burnishing tools. Their locks and barrels
became fitting surfaces for color case hardening and browned finishes. Others inletted
smoke blackened metal to ancient, air-dried
blanks, and chiseled away superfluous wood
to reveal the beguiling curves and contours
of a properly fitted gun. Their stocks became
showcases for the checkering, finishes and
mounts of a London ‘best’ gun. The very
remarkable accomplishment of American
gunmakers of the period lies in the fact that
single individuals developed and perfected
the skills to do all the steps which were done
by many specialists in Britain.”
Beginning about 1815, a distinctive style
of pistol emerged as Philadelphia gunmakers
began to cater to wealthy, cosmopolitan
clients with highly decorated pairs of pistols.
Before Sam Colt’s repeaters changed the
nature of pistols forever, doubling your firepower meant doubling the number of pistols.
Many folks prepared for the troubles of the
day with a pair of pistols. The Philadelphia
gunmakers’ efforts proved successful, and a
handsomely styled firearm was added to the
roll of classic American firearms.
Typically measuring about 9 inches long
and weighing 32 ounces, the Philadelphia
pistol’s smooth-bore .45-caliber barrel
sported an elegant octagon-to-round profile
and a fire blued finish. The highest-grade
pistols — stocked to the muzzle in curly red
Maplewood with a violin red finish — used
sterling silver for the trigger guard, butt cap,
ramrod thimble and nose cap. Decorative
silver inlays also formed the barrel wedge
escutcheons and thumb pieces. Tasteful
engraving highlighted these silver mounts
and inlays, as well as the case-hardened
lock. Yellow brass mounts and plainer finishes characterized lesser-grade pistols in
the Philadelphia style.
Anti-English sentiment notwithstanding,
many American gunmakers recognized the
excellence of London-made locks. Many
Philadelphia pistols used imported locks.
Bearing the names of American companies
or importers such as Rogers Brothers or C.
Bird, these locks appear identical in form
and decoration to English locks that carried
“London Warranted” markings. The frizzen
spring used a roller wheel; the cock was
single-throated with a stylized “S” shape.
These locks featured a round pan and a flat
lock plate suitable for engraving. Parallel
horizontal serrated lines that suggested floral
vine engraving embellished the tail of the
lock plate, and also the cock. Combined with
the slender barrel profile, the lock’s trim size
and shape defined the pistol’s fine balance
and feel.
Over time, these classic Philadelphia pistols found themselves displaced by the technology of percussion-cap ignition, Sam
Colt’s repeating pistols and, later, self-contained cartridge firearms. Manufacture
ceased around 1830, and for a long while,
MAY 2002
37
An elegant view of the violin red finish,
case hardened locks and silver mounts
and inlays on the classic Philadelphia
pistols. These pistols are easily the
peers of works by such noted original
makers as Jacob Kunz and Tobias Grubb.
this classic firearm went dormant.
Dormancy ended in February 2001 when
gunmaker and artisan Jack Brooks reintroduced the Philadelphia pistol to lovers of fine
firearms. The nimble fingers, sharp chisels
and fine files of this skilled craftsman produced — just as Jacob Kunz might have finished in 1815 — an exquisite pair of pistols
for a gentleperson of refined taste.
The Work Commences
Notwithstanding the familiar “lock, stock
and barrel” phrase, the construction of a
flintlock pistol reverses that sequence.
Flintlock gunmakers, then and now, plan and
execute their artistry first on the barrel, then
the stock, the lock, and finally the finishing
details. Everything fits around the barrel.
Beginning with a pair of John Getz octagon
barrels, Brooks turned the front half of each
barrel round and carefully hand-filed the deco38
MAY 2002
rative transition between octagonal and round
surfaces. Fine-toothed files shaped tangs on
both barrels, one stroke at a time. Unblued,
each .45-caliber, 9-inch barrel miked .815 at
the breech and .667 at the muzzle.
Air dried for a quarter century, the hard,
highly figured curly maple responded to
Brooks’ saws, taking the classic profile of
the Philadelphia pistol. Sharp chisels and
bits gave crisp lines to the exterior; precise
cuts to lock plates, barrel channel and
mounts; and straight ramrod holes.
No Modern Lock Would Do
Authentic pistols demand authentic
locks. Brooks’ collection of antique gun
parts contained an original lock of appropriate style, shape and size. Using the “lost
wax” process employed by fine jewelers,
Brooks created rubber molds of the original
lock parts and then injected hot wax inside
each mold. When removed from the mold,
the wax parts exactly duplicated the original lock parts. A commercial foundry
coated these wax parts with high temperature compound to create another mold,
melted out the wax to open a cavity, and
poured molten steel into the mold cavity.
Once the steel cooled and the mold shell
was opened, the parts of two authentic
locks lay on the bench.
Brooks filed each part to shape, marked
both locks as “London Warranted,” and finished them with color case hardening.
Viewing the finished locks, even Jacob
Kunz wouldn’t be able to tell they were
crafted in 2001, not 1815. Long before interchangeable parts, assembly lines and mass
production tolerances, gunmakers created
Philadelphia pistols with files. As a result,
the locks on these pistols are closely identical to one another, but not interchangeable,
and such is the nature of authentic handGUNS MAGAZINE
crafted flintlock pistols.
Recreated Philadelphia pistols of the
highest grade were mounted in sterling
silver, reflecting high standards of shaping,
polishing and inletting. With a silversmith’s
eye, Brooks cut and shaped thick sterlingsilver sheets into trigger guards, butt caps,
nose caps, ramrod thimbles and decorative
inlays, making two of each part. The study
of original Philadelphia pistols gave insight
into the precise shape for each silver part.
Engraving on these original pistols provided
a standard for Brooks’ gravers; engraving
this pair of Philadelphia pistols required several full days of exacting handwork.
Engraving covers the barrel tangs, lock bolts
and tang screws, which were treated to a
color case hardened finish, along with the
breech plug.
Finished authentically with fire blueing,
the barrels display the slightly mottled
effects of high temperatures on polished
Above: (top to bottom) Seen from the top, the fire blued barrel is engraved in authentic style
with the original style maker’s mark: “J S Brooks Philad.” In the classic Philadelphia pistol
style, the highest grade guns wore engraved sterling silver mounts for the nose cap, ramrod
thimbles, trigger guard and butt cap. The silver oval on top of the grip provides an engraving
surface for the owner’s initials. The scrapes on the frizzen indicate the lock has been sparked,
though not fired. Flawless basket-weave checkering on the grip provides for a firm hold.
MAY 2002
39
The radical chassis-bedding
system accounts for the AWP's
impressive accuracy and stability. Unlike conventional
designs, the stock of the AWP
is incidental to the rigidity of
the system.
40
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
Unconventional is a good description of
both the appearance and performance of
this precision rifle from the U.K.
BYBARRY DUECK
hree hundred yards down range, the target
seems to dance a little through the heat
mirage. The groups should be good, and the
view through the Leupold 10 power scope
looked promising, but you are never sure
until you crunch across the gravel and inspect the target
at arms length. The paper doesn't lie, and a quick measurement shows that the last five rounds have clustered
into well under 11⁄4-inches. An honest sub-half MOA
rifle? OK — I'm impressed.
The Accuracy International AWP is one of very few
rifles designed from the get-go to be a sniper rifle.
Other rifles that purport to be “sniper-specific”
designs, such as the HK-PSG-1 and the Steyr SSG, are
in fact simply accurized versions of existing models. In
contrast, every component of the Accuracy
T
PHOTOS BY ICHIRO NAGATA
International AWP was designed from the outset for one
purpose only — to culminate in a production rifle that
would raise the standard of long range performance to a
new and higher level.
Originally designed for the British military in the
early 1980s and designated the L96A1, the rifle was
upgraded in the late ’80s to enhance reliability in arctic
weather conditions. This newly modified rifle received
designation as the Arctic Warfare (AW). Don’t let the
AW designation fool you into thinking that the rifle is
only suitable for arctic use. The rifle performs as
admirably in hot, humid climates as it does in the icy
cold. With over 40 nations issuing the AW, many rifles
see tropical service.
The late Malcolm Cooper, a British gold medal
Olympic shooter, founded Accuracy International and
MAY 2002
41
Y
ACCURACY
AWP
ONAL’S
INTERNATIONAL’S
42
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
MAY 2002
43
Mated with the
superb Leupold Mark
4 M3 scope, the AWP
is a phenomenally
capable rifle.
44
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
The stocks of many precision rifles are ill
suited to the occasional necessity of offhand
shooting. The AWP showed no such fault.
designed this rifle that dominates the free
world’s sniper rifle market. Cooper broke
tradition by creating a different and completely new design.
The Secret Of Its Success
The bipod is quick
detachable, easily
adjusted, and offered
good stability.
LOAD
VELOCITY
BlackHills 168 gr. BTHP
BlackHills 175 gr. BTHP
Hornady 110 gr. TAP
Hornady 155 gr. AMAX
Hornady 168 gr. AMAX
Federal 168 gr. BTHP
2652 fps
2625 fps
3176 fps
2812 fps
2708 fps
2652 fps
GROUP
1
2
3
4
5
3.43"
1.74"
1.58"
2.02"
3.58"
2.81"
2.54"
1.27"
1.44"
1.28"
1.23"
2.92"
2.75"
1.41"
1.63"
2.38"
1.14"
2.87"
1.93"
1.64"
1.80"
2.48"
1.95"
3.12"
2.11"
1.13"
2.65"
2.98"
1.72"
2.23"
AVERAGE
MOA
2.55"
1.44"
1.82"
2.23"
1.92"
2.79"
.81 MOA
.46 MOA
.58 MOA
.71 MOA
.61 MOA
.88 MOA
Note: Accuracy results reflect five,
five-shot groups fired from the prone position at 300 yards.
Velocity is the instrumental average of
10 shots measured with a CED Millennium Chronograph.
MOA denotes minute of angle, which is 1.047" per 100 yards.
Many innovations and refinements that
are commonly seen on today’s state-of-theart sniper rifles were first seen on the AI.
However, the most radical element of the
British gunmaker's design lies hidden under
the synthetic stock.
Upon removing a series of small hex
screws, the two halves of the plastic stock
shell fall away from the rifle and expose the
heart of this unique system, a rugged chassis
to which the barreled action is solidly
affixed. Tubular aluminum welded to a
machined aluminum block incorporates the
magazine well and houses the trigger
assembly. This block is the sole contact point
for the action. Four hex bolts, one at each
corner, rigidly attach the action to this block.
There can be no concern of wandering zero
due to bedding shift or stock warpage.
The synthetic stock panels are available
in a non-reflective black or green finish. The
thumbhole stock design may seem a little
foreign to American shooters, but it
improves control by placing the shooting
hand at a very natural angle. The stock offers
four sling attach points, two on each side.
The AWP features a detachable magazine.
The capacity in .308 is ten rounds. A detachable magazine has a lot of merit for a rifle of
this type. An obvious advantage is the ability
to reload more quickly, but a more useful benefit is the ability to quickly substitute special
purpose ammunition for the standard load.
Designed For Reliability
The AW is built to military requirements,
meaning that the rifle can operate reliably at
-40 F in addition to passing stringent NATO
testing which requires the rifle to fire 25,000
rounds before failure. To meet these requirements, a great deal of careful thought went
into the design of the action. The bolt body
The thumbhole-type stock incorporates adjustments for length of pull and comb height.
MAY 2002
45
B
y all accounts, he looks like a cowboy. Rob
Simonich is a tall, lanky native Montanan who’s
feet sprout out of pointed-toed boots and who’s
eyes peer out from under a wide-brimmed western
hat. A generous chunk of his 43 years have been
spent as a ranch hand, truck driver, wildcatter and
gold miner. Much to his liking — along with the fact that a
person’s body can only take so much of a beating — that’s
all yesteryear. Today, he’s a high demand custom knifemaker whose wares are booked up by serious knife customers years in advance.
The Cetan is one slick knife,
combining modern styling with
good old-fashioned utility.
CUTTING EDGE
From the wilds of Montana, the exotic
blades of Rob Simonich have prompted
the world to beat a path to his door.
COWBOY!
Story By Pat Covert
Photos By Herb Wohlmuth
Both of these CCF-7 models feature
Rob’s new camo-to-steel technique, a joint effort between the
knifemaker and Bodycote. Both of these CCF-7 models feature
Rob’s new camo-to-steel technique, a joint effort between the
knifemaker and Bodycote.
46
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
Simonich makes some of the finest
hunting and tactical knives you’d ever want
to lay your hands on. His interest in knives
goes all the way back to his childhood. He
remembers intently watching his granddad
sharpening an old Barlow. He remembers
putting nails on a railroad track so the train
could forge them into flat blades that he
could sharpen into some semblance of a cutting implement. Later in life, he remembers
losing his beloved Ruana hunting knife
during a day of fast and furious calf roping,
thinking he just might make his own replacement rather than spend the three days wages
it would take to buy a new one.
Crude Beginnings
The transition from cowboy to cutlery
artisan didn’t come easy. His first efforts
were poor, but Simonich kept plugging
away. By the early 1980s, the budding knifemaker was not only making competent cutters for himself, but filling orders for fellow
ranch hands who admired his work. About
this same time, he met a couple of seasoned
knifemaking artisans — Eldon Peterson and
Pete Forthover of Whitefish, Mont. Amazed
by their high level of craftsmanship, the
meetings served as a gauge to where he was
on the food chain and a realization that there
was much work to be done. Inspired to take
his knives to a new level of beauty and functionally, Simonich dug in, reading books on
the how-tos of knifemaking, and laboring
tirelessly to turn working knives into works
of art.
The year 1986 found Simonich making
knives full time for a couple of years while
healing up from a ranch accident. Rob’s
experiences doing the hard work of the
world gave him more than adequate insight
into what a knife should do. Refinement
was the only missing ingredient. His
designs over the past 17 years evolved from
tadpoles to frogs, then from lizards into the
sleek and polished dragons they are today.
In June 1999, he took the leap to full-time
maker and hasn’t looked back. His patterns
are well thought out, melding the rationality of purpose with a sense of utter class.
Just as important, the knifemaker has
achieved the level of craftsmanship in his
knives that serious users and astute collectors demand of the best customs.
Simonich is just as hard on himself as the
people who use his knives are on their blades.
Despite the fact that the demand for his knives
far exceeds his ability to satisfy delivery, he
still works diligently at improving his craft.
Indeed, he estimates that an average of four
out of five new designs he creates end up in
the trash bin due to some small peccadillo he
can’t bring himself to live with.
Multifarious Fare
This knifemaker’s talents reach far and
wide. Although Simonich makes an occasional
folding knife, the overwhelming majority of
his works are fixed blades. He makes a variety
of hunting knives, from small hunters to larger
camp knives. The materials he incorporates
into his knives range from the most base level
tool steels and handle fittings to some of the
most state-of-the-art known to man.
Rob’s most popular model is the Pikuni, a
small fixed-blade knife (7 inches overall with
a 3-inch blade) that can serve a myriad of
functions from dressing a deer to dressing
down an opponent, ahem... should the occasion arise. In other words, this versatile knife
is a crossover cutter — just at home as a
hunting knife or self-defense tool. The Pikuni
blade is of the clip point variety, common on
both hunters and fighters. The knife has a curvaceous handle with front and rear guards
built into the full tang blade steel. In a collaboration with Simonich, the popular Pikuni has
recently been added to REKAT’s (Round Eye
Knife and Tool) line of production knives.
The Pikuni is Simonich’s best seller. Here,
one in woven carbon fiber, another with an
interesting handle of black G-10 with blue
inlay. All come with a multi-carry sheath.
MAY 2002
47
Another popular model in the Simonich
stable is the Cetan model. Unquestionably
this writer’s favorite, the 7-inch Cetan is perfectly sized for virtually all camp chores. The
Cetan model, like the Pikuni, is of full tang
construction but this knife has more the profile of a hunting knife. The Cetan’s balance is
exceptional, and the 3-inch drop point blade
can cut rope and skin with the best of them.
On the tactical side he supplies everything from spartan fighters and neck
knives to the most demanding combat
grade Spec Ops threshers. His CCF-7
(Covert Camo Fighter, 7 inches) is one
wicked piece of hardware. At 12 1⁄2 inches
overall with a 7-inch clip point blade,
this knife is right at home in camp and
survival modes, but also ready for defensive action. Always looking for new
ways to make his knives more distinctive, Rob offers the CCF-7 in a special
Boron Carbide Camo finish he recently
developed in conjunction with Darrell
Lewis of Bodycote, a company that specializes in state-of-the-art protective
coatings. A similar model, the RCKcontinued on page 70
Left: If one had to carry a knife to a gun fight,
Simonich’s tanto pointed 121⁄2-inch RCK-7
would make for an excellent choice. Below:
For those on a budget, R.E.K.A.T. has just
released a production version of Simonich’s
popular Pikuni model. Camillus Cutlery also
offers bargain priced Simonich designs.
48
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
A Look At
Ed Browns 702
OZARK RIFLE
A superb hunting rifle built for a
lifetime of dependable service
BY DAVE ANDERSON
d Brown has long been a highly
respected name among enthusiasts
of the classic 1911 autopistol. He
was one of the pioneers of practical
pistol shooting competition in the late ’70s
and was considered one of the top shooters,
good enough to make the coveted top 16
shootoff at the Bianchi Cup. Starting as a
small one man custom shop, his 1911 business
has grown to include a huge selection of high
quality custom 1911 parts and full house 1911
pistols. A member of the American
Pistolsmith Guild, Brown was named
Pistolsmith of the Year by the Guild in 1991.
Having taken the 1911 business about as
far as possible, Ed Brown has decided to
apply his experience to riflemaking.
Brown’s goal is to serve a niche market, the
discriminating and influential group of
rifleman who want the ultimate in consistency and reliability.
E
Why A Custom Class Rifle?
Most current standard production rifles
provide excellent value for the money.
Improvements in scopes, bullets, barrels and
synthetic stocks over the past couple of
decades have made adequate accuracy and
reliability available at prices that (relative to
current incomes) are bargains.
In the late 1930s, a Winchester M70
could be purchased for around $65. That
sounds cheap, but remember that at the same
time, a university professor earned about
$200 a month. Shooters of the day who tried
those Model 70s were astounded when they
sometimes shot groups of around 1 MOA
with carefully prepared handloads.
With current model 70s or other quality
bolt actions, we expect accuracy of 1 to 11⁄2
MOA with handloads, and we often achieve
that with factory ammunition. And while
prices have increased by 10 times or more,
wages are 25 or 30 times higher.
Major manufacturers produce rifles as
precisely as they can and within a price
structure that allows competitve marketing.
The saying in automobile racing is: Speed
costs money, how fast do you want to go?
For rifles, it’s: Accuracy costs money, how
much accuracy do you want? At the
margin, costs escalate fast. It’s quite easy
with today’s components to build a rifle
that will consistently group into 2 MOA.
Getting down to 1 MOA costs more, and
getting down to an honest and repeatable
1/2 MOA costs a whole lot more.
There are a lot of people who hunt big
game with rifles. The majority of hunters
have no interest in paying two or three times
as much as a factory rifle for marginal
improvements. It’s not that the big outfits
can’t do it. Remington and Winchester could
build rifles capable of consistent 1/2 MOA
accuracy with match ammunition any time
they wanted to. The reason they don’t is that
prices would have to triple or quadruple in
order to provide a level of performance that
MAY 2002
49
The McMillan stock is
pillar-bedded.
Ed Brown actions feature a bulletproof Sako-style extractor and
plunger ejector.
Ozark action: the fluted bolt body,
Winchester-type safety, Talley QD scope
mounts and superb Shilen trigger.
most shooters don’t need. It would be like an
automobile company making all its products, from sedans to pickups to minivans,
capable of cruising at 150 mph.
But just as there are drivers willing to
pay four or five times as much for a high
performance car, there are shooters willing
to pay the cost to get high performance
rifles. There are quite a few gunsmiths
building rifles for these shooters. These gunsmiths usually start with a good-quality
commercial action. They square and true the
action to precise tolerances, true up the
receiver and barrel threads, fit match-grade
barrels square and concentric with the
action, lap locking lugs so they bear evenly,
fit and adjust a match grade trigger, and
carefully hand-bed the barreled action into a
quality synthetic stock. The Remington 700
action is a popular choice for these rifles
because it is widely available, rigid, concentric, and well made of good steel. When the
work is properly done, the result is truly
impressive performance.
50
MAY 2002
From A Clean Slate
Brown rifles are built for these high-performance enthusiasts. Instead of starting with
a standard action and spending hours blueprinting it, Brown took another tack. He uses
his experience in metal work — gained over
many years of making precision 1911 parts
— and applies it to building an action that is
right from the start. The Ed Brown 702 action
is a combination of proven design features.
Like the Remington 700, it has a cylindrical
receiver, a two-lug bolt with recessed bolt
face, and plunger ejection. Extraction is by an
M16 hook-style extractor, and the safety is a
three-position wing type similar to that of the
Winchester M70.
What sets the 702 action apart is how it is
made. Instead of using investment casting or
machining soft steel and then heat treating,
Brown starts with a piece of high quality
heat-treated bar stock. Machining this tough
hardened steel is more time-consuming and
difficult, but it allows parts to be machined
to very tight tolerances. There is no concern
about action warping as would result if the
receiver were machined and then heattreated. Both short action and long action
versions are produced.
Starting with this solid foundation, Ed
Brown rifles are built to true custom standards. The receivers are trued to ensure
everything is square and concentric, the bolts
are hand lapped to fit the receiver raceways,
and bolt lugs are lapped to ensure they bear
evenly. The bolts are spirally fluted, which
reduces weight and helps ensure smooth bolt
operation. Match grade, hand lapped barrels
are fitted square to the action, precisionchambered and hand crowned. A Shilen
match trigger is fitted and tuned.
The barreled action is then carefully
bedded into a top-quality synthetic stock. On
the Ozark, the stock is the highly respected
McMillan. A blind magazine (no floorplate)
is standard on the Ozark, which is built on the
short 702 action.
All Brown actions have a precisionground receiver bridge so that the scope bases
on bridge and receiver ring are properly
aligned. The actions are drilled and tapped to
accept 8-40 screws rather than the more
common and smaller 6-48 size. Brown installs
the scope-mounting system at the shop and
prefers to mount the scope as well. Dave
Talley’s machined steel rings and bases are
used and recommended by Brown. Customers
can send in the scope of their choice, or
Brown can supply several top-line brands
such as Kahles, Leupold and Swarovski.
GUNS MAGAZINE
The Ozark rifle I had the opportunity to
work with is in 7mm-08 Rem. caliber fitted
with a Kahles 3-9X scope in Talley rings and
bases. Barrel length is 21 inches, and overall
weight with scope and mounting system is
about 73⁄4 pounds. Everything about it signals
rock-solid precision. The bolt glides in its
raceway effortlessly yet with virtually no
play. The tuned Shilen trigger breaks cleanly
and without overtravel at 40 ounces. The rifle
balances and handles beautifully. From fieldshooting positions, it doesn’t feel muzzle
light or muzzle heavy — it just feels right.
Putting It To The Test
Benchresting the rifle provided no surprises. Accuracy is not some occult art. Use
quality components properly fitted and the
rifle will shoot up to the capabilities of the
ammunition and shooter. I’d have been
astonished if this rifle didn’t shoot well. The
ammunition on hand was Winchester 140grain Power Points and Ballistic Silvertips.
A series of five three-shot groups with the
Power Points averaged just over an inch,
while the Ballistic Silvertips punched neat
triangles averaging about 3/4 inch. Keep in
mind that this is with standard factory
hunting ammunition. Carefully tailored
handloads would certainly tighten these
respectable groups even further. In retrospect, it might have been better to request a
.308 for testing since it allows the use of the
outstanding match ammunition available. I
like the 7mm-08 round, however, and feel it
is an excellent combination with this compact, handy rifle.
What impresses me more is the consistency of the Ozark. It was taken to the range
several times over a period of several weeks,
shot both from the bench and from various
field positions. Not once did point-of-impact
change. The scope adjustments might as
well have been glued in place; there was
never a need to touch them. Consistency is
more important to me than pure accuracy,
and a rifle that provides both is a joy and
treasure indeed.
The only criticism I can make of the rifle is
that the last round from the magazine takes
noticeably more effort to feed than the first
three rounds. I’m sure the difference wouldn’t
be noticed in hunting situations in which the
bolt is worked hard and fast, but at the bench,
working the bolt more slowly, the difference
in feel of the last round was apparent. This is
being nit-picky to be sure, but high-performance products are held to a higher standard.
Currently, the Ozark lists at $2,500,
which includes the Talley rings and bases
and mounting of the customer’s scope.
Many options are available, including different stock lengths, different barrel lengths
and contours, stainless-steel barrels, steel
hinged floorplate, iron sights and Jewell
triggers. Other models include the Savanna,
which uses the long action; the Denali, a
trim, light mountain rifle; tactical rifles for
law-enforcement and military use; a single
shot varmint model; and the Bushveld 76,
which is built on a controlled-round feed
action supplied by Dakota Arms. There’s
also a single shot in .50 BMG.
These are not inexpensive rifles, and it’s
fair to ask if it’s really necessary to spend this
much on a hunting rifle. Frankly, for many
hunters the answer is no. Standard factory
rifles for the most part provide adequate accuracy and reliability for most hunting situations.
Most of us really don’t hunt in conditions that
push the equipment to its limits any more than
we push our automobiles to the limit.
But there are advantages. If you buy a
standard rifle, there’s a good chance you’ll
get adequate accuracy, maybe even excellent
accuracy. With the Ed Brown rifle, there is
no question. The rifle will be exceptionally
accurate. It will be reliable and durable. If it
isn’t, it doesn’t leave the shop.
Sometimes to appreciate a quality
product you have to either use it hard or use
if for a long time. I’ll give you a personal
example: 25 years ago I got seriously interested in photography. I had a couple of
pretty good 35mm cameras, but I noticed
that the pros mostly used Nikon or Canon
equipment. I couldn’t understand why these
brands were so much more expensive —
they didn’t look or feel much different.
Still, figuring that the pros must know
something, I invested over a couple of years
in a pair of professional Nikon bodies, motor
drives, and a case full of lenses. Initially, I
could not detect much of a difference. But as
the years went by, I began to notice little
things. After thousands of changes, every
lens locked into place with the same precision. The cameras were unaffected by temperature extremes. Even in dusty, hot
conditions the motors kept on quietly, efficiently clicking off the frames.
It took 25 years of regular use for me to
see the very real difference in performance
from this superior quality equipment.
That’s the same sort of superior performance that you pay for in an Ed Brown rifle.
Accuracy. Durability. Reliability. Equipment
that will, as the saying goes, take a licking
and keep on ticking. Hunters who have the
good fortune to travel around the world —
hunting in remote countries in tough conditions and extreme weather — quickly come
to appreciate such quality. For us regular
folks, it may be that 25 or 30 deer seasons
pass before we fully appreciate a rifle that
holds its zero, works every time, and keeps
on punching out those neat, tiny groups right
where they should be. The cost will be longforgotten, but the hunting memories and trophies will remain.
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MAY 2002
51
Beretta Whitewing (left) and Onyx
models offer superb craftsmanship and
durability at a reasonable price.
52
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
By Dave Anderson
B
eretta is the oldest gunmaking
firm in the world and, in fact,
one of the oldest manufacturers
of any product. The firm dates its
beginning to 1526 when
Bartolomeo Beretta sold 185 arquebus barrels to the Arsenal of Venice. Sixteen generations and 475 years later, the company is
still owned and controlled by the Beretta
family, currently Ugo Beretta and his sons
Pietro and Franco.
In 475 years a company can learn a thing
or two about making shotguns. In all those
centuries, the Beretta name has been synonymous with quality. Beretta was the first of a
number of great names that gave Italian-made
shotguns an enviable international reputation,
predating even some of the famous British
names. In 1617, when British arms-making
was in its infancy, an English sportsman
named Edward Davies wrote, “he that loves
the safetie of his own person” would be well
advised to buy his guns abroad, preferably in
Italy. By then Beretta had already been
making guns for over 90 years.
Beretta shotguns have always been particularly appealing. In fact, more Beretta
over/under shotguns (over 1.4 million) have
been manufactured than any other
over/under make. The top-line DT10
Trident Competition models are built with
every imaginable feature for competition at
the highest levels. A shooting friend has one
of the sporting clays models that is simply a
phenomenal performer, as indeed it should
be at a cost of over $9,000. Some of the
fancier field models such as the S687 EL
Gold Pigeon and EELL Diamond Pigeon
are enough to tempt a far-gone connoisseur
of fine shotguns to sell his favorite bird dog.
Not Just For The Jet-Set
Above: The Whitewing features a coin-finished receiver with engraved upland birds.
Below: The Onyx model Beretta shows a tasteful, clean receiver.
Ironically, the success of these top-line
models has to some extent resulted in more
typical hunters overlooking Beretta
over/unders when selecting a field shotgun.
There seems to be a perception that these
over/unders are limited to either serious
competitors or the wealthy.
Actually, Beretta makes a pair of
over/unders that provide the outstanding
performance for which the name is famous,
at a price the average hunter can realistically
afford. The Whitewing model currently lists
at $1,295 and the S686 Onyx at $1,583.
These are suggested retail prices, but I’ve
seen both offered for sale at gunshops and in
gun trading papers for considerably less.
Mechanically, these models provide the
same strength, reliability and durability as the
more expensive engraved models. The boxlock receivers are machined from solid-steel
forgings. Conical locking lugs are located at
the back of the mono-block, providing a
strong lock up. The locking lugs are designed
to “wear-in” to maintain a tight lock-up over
the firing of thousands of rounds.
MAY 2002
53
BERETTA SHOTGUNS
continued from page 53
This tight fit can be maintained indefinitely. The opening lever is normally offset a
bit to the right. When parts wear is such that
the lever is centered, it’s time to replace the
hinge pins and locking lugs. Beretta currently charges less than $200 for the job,
which essentially gives the shooter a new
gun. Frankly this is of only passing concern
to most shooters. Typically it takes 70,000 to
75,000 rounds before these parts need
replacing. Some competitive shooters shoot
this many rounds in a few years. For the
average hunter who might shoot 20 boxes of
ammunition annually, we’re talking 140 to
150 years of service before the inexpensive
update is required.
Beretta barrels are cold hammer-forged
of high-grade steel. Because of the quality of
the steel and the forging process, Beretta
barrels can be thinner and therefore lighter
than some competitive brands. Barrels are
laser-fused to the mono-block and will never
separate. Chrome-lined barrels and chambers make cleaning easy and help prevent
plastic buildup and corrosion.
Both 12-gauge and 20-gauge models are
available with either 26-inch or 28-inch barrels with 3-inch chambers and are approved
for steel shot. Additional options available
on the Onyx model include 30-inch barrels
and 31⁄2-inch chambers. The Whitewing and
Onyx use Beretta’s interchangeable
Mobilchoke tubes and come with improved
cylinder, modified, and full choke tubes.
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MAY 2002
The low-profile receiver and light barrels
make both the Whitewing and Onyx light,
well-balanced, fast-handling shotguns.
Balance point is right on the hinge pin. In 12
gauge, the Onyx weighs approximately 6
pounds, 13 ounces (depending on wood density and barrel length). The Whitewing is a
couple of ounces less due to the open barrels.
The elegant little 20-gauge models are even
lighter: 6 pounds, 3 ounces for the Onyx; 5
pounds, 12 ounces for the Whitewing.
Stocks and forearms are made of a good
grade of walnut, nicely shaped, checkered
and finished. Cast-off for right-handed
shooters is standard; stocks with cast-off for
left-handed shooters are available on special
order. Stock dimensions are: drop at comb,
1.4 inches; drop at heel, 2.2 inches; length of
pull, 14.5 inches. On most models I saw, the
wood grain was tight and straight, though
not fancy. However, some Onyx models did
have very attractive wood grain. Extra cost
options for the Onyx include a high-gloss
finish and fancier grain patterns that Beretta
calls X-Tra wood.
Manual safeties on both models are automatic, with the barrel selector switch incorporated in the safety. The standard single
trigger is the inertia type; that is, the recoil of
the first shot sets the trigger for the second
barrel. For an additional charge, Beretta can
replace the trigger unit with a mechanical
version. In practice I found the standard
trigger to be completely reliable. Trigger
pulls on several models examined were quite
clean and crisp — better, in fact, than some
rifles I’ve tested recently. The hammers are
powered by durable coil springs. The selective ejectors also proved reliable. Unfired
rounds were raised for easy extraction while
fired cases were positively ejected.
A Field Test
I had the opportunity to hunt pheasants
with both models at the Oakwood Sporting
Resort near Sigourney, Iowa. Ammunition
used was the Federal “Pheasants Forever”
load. This load is listed at 1,400 fps, and
when I had the opportunity to chronograph it
later, it checked out very close to that, averaging 1,355 fps from an Onyx 28-inch barrel.
Federal donates a portion of the sales of this
ammunition to Pheasants Forever to improve
pheasant habitat. These loads were very
effective. A couple of my hunting partners
used handsome little 20-gauge Beretta Onyx
models with Federal ammunition and hammered pheasants at surprisingly long ranges.
Even with these rather heavy loads,
recoil with both models was quite tolerable.
The low profile receiver seems to help direct
recoil straight back, especially with the
lower barrel, reducing muzzle jump and
making for a faster second shot. Forcing
cones are longer and more gently tapered
than industry standards, which helps reduce
recoil and improve patterns. The moderate
weight made the shotguns pleasant to carry,
while the stock design and excellent balance
made them easy to handle and shoot.
The receiver of the Whitewing carries a
polished steel finish that is set off by some
tasteful photo-engraved bird scenes. A similar model with a dark-finished receiver, tentatively dubbed the Blackwing, should be
available soon. Receivers on the S686 Onyx
models have a polished deep blue finish to
match the barrels with the signature “P.
Beretta” in gold. Triggers on both models
are gold plated. Overall, the degree of fit and
finish is excellent; an example of the care
with which they are made is the slotted
screw beneath the receiver that is properly
aligned with the barrels and secured with a
smaller screw.
Both Berettas are fine shotguns and outstanding values. They offer the quality, durability and performance of one of the most
respected names in fine firearms. They are
built for a lifetime of hard use in the field or
in competition, and they can be shown and
displayed with pride.
$
Beretta USA
[301] 283-2191
www.berettausa.com
GUNS MAGAZINE
Hallmark of Innovation:
The Remington Model Eight
Old fashioned doesn’t necessarily mean obsolete.
The sleek Remington Model 8 is still fit for the game trails.
By Timothy Case
picture tells a thousand-word story in an
instant. The hunter is
dressed in classic
1930’s fashion: brimmed hat, heavy wool
vest, cartridge belt and knee-high laced
logger boots. He walks a narrow mountain
ledge. A sheer rock face rises at his left
shoulder, a bottomless drop at his right.
From around a curve in the ledge trail, the
head and shoulders of a massive grizzly
appears. The hunter’s stance communicates that he is in the midst of a splitsecond, fight-or-flight decision. And yet
before the decision is made, his reflexes
take over and the Remington Model 8
autoloader comes to his shoulder.
As often happens, an initial minor purchase initiates a secondary major purchase. The $129 basic Ruger 10/22 was a
prime example. Of course the gun later
required a carbon-fiber barrel, a synthetic
target stock, a bipod, a variable scope —
you get the point.
So it was with the $12 reproduction tin
sign advertising the Remington Model 8
autoloading rifle. I liked the picture, the
price was inconsequential, and it now hangs
above my workbench. The problem was that
every time I looked up from some fix-it job,
I imagined myself walking the deep northern
forests, dressed in those clothes, carrying
that rifle.
A
The Die Is Cast
Of course, once the fixation developed,
there was no turning back. The gun assumed
first place on my mental “next gun” list. At
that point, it was inevitable that sooner or
later, I would find... the perfect Model 8.
I found the perfect Model 8 on the last
day, at the last table of our small-town gun
show. The blueing was well-worn across
the magazine and receiver (the rifle’s natural balance point for a one-handed carry),
it had murky old varnish and a few minor
scratches in the wood — an untold story of
56
MAY 2002
much careful use. In my mind... the perfect
gun. A little haggling, and $210 later the
gun was on its way home.
I did suffer a brief period of buyer’s
remorse when they told me at WalMart that
the .30 Remington cartridge for which my
new prize was chambered was no longer
available. A little net surfing, however, produced cartridges at $20 per box, a die set at
$51.50, and a bag of 100 unfired brass for
$30 — everything I need to fill up that cartridge belt.
A Cutting Edge Rifle
The Model 8 was one of the earliest
American semiauto rifles. John Browning’s
patent application was filed June 6, 1900,
and U.S. Patent #659,786 was granted on
October 16, 1900. Browning promptly sold
the patent to Remington, which started producing the rifle in 1906.
Remington introduced the Model 8
during a time when the company was
offering few new centerfire models. The gun
saw a production run of 30 years in which
over 80,000 of the autoloaders where produced. Most had 22-inch barrels with plain
open sights. Although no variations of the
gun were offered, five different grades were
produced ranging from the plainest Standard
grade to the most deluxe Premier Grade.
Mid grades included the Special, Peerless
and Expert grades. Quality of wood and
degree of checkering and engraving mainly
differentiated these grades.
The gun was produced in four calibers:
the Remington .25, .30, .32 and .35. This
GUNS MAGAZINE
family of cartridges was designed to compete directly with Winchester, except in rimless form. The .25 Rem. was the alternative
to .25-35 WCF; likewise, the .30 Rem. competed for the .30-30 market; and the .32
Remington went head-to-head with the .32
Win Special. The big brother of the family,
the well known .35 Remington, was
designed as a ballistic equivalent to the .33
Winchester. This cartridge found its own
niche in the market and is the only cartridge
from the series still produced by the major
ammunition companies.
The Model 8’s demise was more a function of timing than anything else. The gun
entered a market dominated by a host of
.30-30 lever guns, including the
indomitable Winchester Model 94. The
Model 8’s design had some distinct advantages, namely speed of fire and that its box
magazine allowed for the use of spitzer
bullets. However, the then 12-year-old
Model 94 juggernaut was at full steam and
eventually proved more dominant. I can
only speculate what might have been had
not the Model 94 been introduced only a
few years prior to the Model 8.
Technical Overview
The Model 8 is recoil-operated with a
rotating bolt and double-locking lugs. The
gun fires from a fixed 5-shot magazine and
is equipped with a bolt hold-open that
engages after the last shot is fired. The
autoloading action was made more revolutionary by the incorporation of a barrel that
was shrouded in a full-length jacket. When
the gun is fired, the barrel moves backward
inside the shroud. This arrangement is
largely believed to be the first effective
recoil reduction system.
Designed in a day when travel by train
was common, the 8-pound, 41-inch carbine
was built on a take-down design for ease of
transport and cleaning. Take down is accomplished by removing the forearm to access
an integral barrel wrench. Once loosed, the
wrench releases the barrel. As the barrel,
including chamber and the open sights,
remain in one piece, this feature does not
negatively affect accuracy.
With its semiautomatic action, shrouded
barrel, streamlined magazine/trigger guard
unit and Kalashnikov-looking safety, the
Model 8 was as much on the cutting edge at
the turn of the century as Remington’s electronic rifles are today. At the time of its
1906 inception, the Model 8’s clean and
modern look was unspoiled by excessive
external controls: slide handle, slide
release, safety and trigger — that’s it.
An Old Soldier Speaks
While the first four rounds fired from
the Model 8 produced a two-inch group at
50 yards, subsequent groups tightened to
11⁄2 inches. When tested at 200 yards, the
limiting factor was clearly my eyes and the
iron sights, not the inherent accuracy of the
MAY 2002
57
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gun. Nevertheless, at this range the gun was
able to put every shot in the vital area of a
deer silhouette.
Shooting .30-caliber 170-grain factory
loads, velocities clocked out in the 1,900 fps
range. While the ballistic tables list speeds
of up to 2,111 fps for 170-grain loads and
over 2,300 for the lighter 110-grain loads,
the pressures associated with those speeds
are risky in an early 1900’s gun.
Given that this was a first-generation
semiautomatic, I had held some doubts
regarding reliability and went to the range
expecting some missfeeds. However,
during the range test, the Model 8 functioned flawlessly. The action cycled the
full five rounds from each magazine
without a single jam — a tribute to John
Browning’s design genius.
The Model 8 performed as well for me
during the range test as it did for “Big Bill”
Hillis many years earlier. Hillis’ exploits
are reported in Peterson’s The Remington
Historical Treasury of American Guns
(Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1966).
“Experienced hunters knew that sometimes the availability of quick shots could
mean the difference between life and
death to a hunter. Take, for instance, the
adventure of ‘Big Bill’ Hillis of Alaska.
One day Bill and a companion named
King went bear hunting on Kodiak Island.
They were inching their way along a
narrow ledge on a sheer cliff when they
suddenly found a family of five bears right
in their path. This was a good deal more
than they cared to tackle, but they could
not retreat fast enough to get away from
the bears, who very apparently were in an
ugly mood. As the lead bear (who turned
out to be a big male) reared up, Bill leveled his Remington autoloader and fired.
It was a clean hit, and the huge animal
dropped in his tracks. Meanwhile, King
had fallen down and let fly with his own
rifle at the mother bear. His aim was not
the best; he succeeded only in wounding
the animal. Enraged, the beast charged,
with the three youngsters right behind. It
was a tight situation in every sense of the
word, but Bill was equal to it. With four
quick shots he killed all four of the
remaining bears before they could reach
him. It was tremendous shooting, but if
Bill hadn’t had a rifle as fast and as powerful as the Remington autoloader, he
could not possibly have done it.”
My own adventures with the Model 8
may lack the adventure of Hillis’, but I have
found it a delightful rifle to take to the field.
Tracking Columbia Blacktails along dark
forest trails has has given me plenty of time
to enjoy the Remington and to savor the nostalgic atmosphere that it brings to a hunt.
Yes, that $12 tin sign turned out to be an
expensive purchase — and I
couldn't be happier.
$
3760 E. 350 S. Bringhurst, IN 46913
1-800-248-2181
58
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
ROCK
RIVER
ARMS
LE TACTICAL CARBINE
Long known for its superb
1911 pistols, Rock River
Arms furnishes AR-15
rifles of equal quality.
By Charles E. Petty
Photos By Bob Maddox
ithin the last couple of years we’ve begun
to see a move away from submachine
guns chambered for pistol cartridges in
the law-enforcement and special operations communities to a compact version of
the M-16 (or AR-15), commonly called an M-4.
This really reflects a major attitude change on the part of
administrators in law-enforcement and military specialoperations units. There had been objections to the .223,
which were largely based on the presumption that the ball
ammunition commonly used would penetrate too much and
pose a risk outside the immediate area. Experience has
shown that is not usually the case, and within law-enforcement tactical units, the need to be able to defeat body armor
has become an important consideration. In the drug war, the
enemy can afford stuff that is every bit as good as that used
by law-enforcement agencies.
W
Earlier critics of the M-16 griped about size and handling difficulties, but the M-4 design addresses those issues
with a shorter 16-inch barrel and collapsible stock. Civilian
models can’t have the latter, nor the evil bayonet lug, but for
tactical applications, the collapsible stock has benefits that
may not be obvious at first. We tend to think of folding or
collapsible stocks as a means to facilitate hiding a gun. But
for someone fully decked out with gear and bulky body
armor, a conventional stock is really much too long, and the
adjustments available with the collapsible stock make it
possible to get the length of pull to a comfortable level.
Rock River's LE Tactical CAR
Those of us who admire really nice Government Model
VELOCITY AND ACCURACY
LOAD
VELOCITY
1
2
Black Hills 55 gr. softpoint
Black Hills 68 gr. match
Federal 55 gr. Tactical
Remington 55 gr. fmj
Winchester 53 gr. match
2983
2654
2887
2838
3004
1.02
0.77
1.37
1.06
0.70
1.13
1.19
1.41
1.66
1.12
3
AVG.
0.59 0.91
1.29 1.08
0.93 1.24
1.61 1.44
0.85 0.89
Average 1.11
Accuracy results are five-shot groups at 50 yards from
benchrest. Velocity is the instrumental average of 10 shots at
15 feet, measured with a PACT Professional chronograph.
60
MAY 2002
This sight rail from Rock River incorporates the M16-A2
type rear sight, and still allows for optical sight use.
GUNS MAGAZINE
pistols will know Rock River Arms for its simply outstanding competition and carry pistols, but its catalog now
also carries a line of AR-15 type rifles and carbines that is
complete and varied. Rock River has everything from match
rifles suitable for service rifle competition to the full race
jobs with scopes and multiple accessories. The gun we have
here is the law-enforcement version of its M4 called the LE
Tactical CAR. There is also a civilian model that does not
have the collapsible stock and bayonet lug.
It is the basic flat-top design we’ve grown used to with a
Picatinny rail machined on top of the receiver. The removable “Tac Handle” is standard equipment. It isn’t exactly
like the conventional carrying handle on standard models,
but it does have the adjustable rear iron sight and an abbreviated rail.
Petty found the Rock River M-4 carbine to be accurate,
reliable and fast handling.
Need to turn darkness into daylight? The SureFire M500AB
Millennium light is up to the task.
The novel muzzle break was highly effective.
Have It Your Way
One of the neat things about these guns is the array of
accessories available. The Aimpoint Comp M2 is the
sight of choice for the military these days and was used
for much of my testing, but the iron sights were used too
as well as a new Meprolight MEPOR 21 reflex sight that
requires no batteries. A fiber optic arrangement provides
an aiming dot in daylight and is illuminated by tritium at
night. I have also used the new Leupold CQ/T with very
satisfying results. Also added was a Surefire Model
M500AB Tactical Light that replaces the standard hand-
MAY 2002
61
guard. It has a pressure switch that lets
you light up the world. A Tactical Rapid
Assault Sling from Tactical Ordnance and
Equipment Co. completed the package.
With it, the rifle carried comfortably
across the chest but came up on the target
almost instantly.
A Trigger Of Note
Testing of the Rock River rifle took place
over several months and was really a process
of adding one accessory after the other until
the complete package was ready. Initial
testing was done using iron sights. The very
first shot was almost an oops because I’m
used to the tonnage, bumps, grinds and
creeps typical of most AR triggers, but this
one is a beautifully crisp two stage that later
was measured at 43⁄4 pounds. Shooting this
one is a joy.
Shooting the rifle just as it came was
unremarkable and what one would expect
with one exception. Rock River has a new
muzzle brake that is extremely efficient.
There is considerably less muzzle flip than is
seen on a standard rifle. Given the semiautomatic function of the rifle, it was not as dramatic as it might be on an M-16 set to rock
and roll, but it's good just the same.
The rifle was shot with generic ball
ammunition from several sources. An early
feed failure was traced to one of my old GI
magazines, and once it was removed from
the test, reliability has been 100 percent
with a good variety of hollowpoint and
softpoint ammo.
The next step was the addition of the
Aimpoint CompML2 (there is also a
CompM2 that is designed for use with
nightvision equipment). The Tac Handle
was removed and the Aimpoint mounted
directly to the rail. It took only a few
rounds to establish a rock solid zero at 50
yards. Most training courses do not engage
targets beyond that range so the majority of
our testing was done there or much closer.
I’m a longtime fan of Aimpoint sights and
my old AR-15 wears the older CompM
sight. One complaint leveled at electronic
sights in general is battery life and the
latest Aimpoint addresses that in heroic
fashion. Aimpoint calls it CET, which
stands for circuit efficiency technology.
CET has a minimum battery life of 1,000
hours continuous use. A military buddy
reports that this is not an exaggeration and
he has nothing but praise for the sight.
Obviously I can’t go 1,000 hours, so I just
left it on for a week. No problem. My old
one would have died three or four times in
that period. This is a real advancement.
I don’t usually have very high accuracy
expectations for a rifle like this, and the
Aimpoint is not intended for benchrest
shooting, but it was no trouble to shoot groups
of an inch or so at 50 yards with a variety of
appropriate ammunition. I’m sure we’d get
smaller groups if we put a high-power scope
on it, but that isn’t how the gun would be used
anyhow. Out of curiosity though I popped a
few rounds at a 12-inch diameter steel plate
62
MAY 2002
300 yards away. Putting the dot at 12:00 on
the plate resulted in 100-percent hits —
announced a fraction of a second later by a
resounding thwack — as long as I did my part
and paid attention to the wind.
The next addition was a Surefire
M500AB tactical light. This unit replaces
the standard short handguard of the M4 style
and adds a light module with a 2.5-inch lens
on the right side. There is a pressure switch
easily operated by the fingers of the support
hand and also a constant-on switch on the
opposite side of the handguard. The back of
the lamp housing also has a disable switch
that turns the unit completely off to avoid
accidental use, which kills batteries fast. It
comes with two lamps, one with 125 lumens
output (one hour battery life) while the other
offers 225 lumens (20 minutes of life).
Working with a light arrangement such as
this really makes the rifle an anytime
weapon. Even without the Aimpoint, the
reflected light from the Surefire provides
more than enough illumination to see the
iron sights for proper alignment.
The final accessory is a sling. For the M4
these are different, too. We tend to think of
slings as something for carrying the rifle
over your shoulder, but the new tactical
slings carry the carbine slung diagonally
across your chest. When properly adjusted,
all you have to do is push forward on the
pistol grip and the gun seems to pop right up
in good alignment. You can also swing it
around to ride across your back. There are
several arrangements. I’ve used slings from
Bushmaster and Tac-Ord with good results.
Fast And Efficient
Even though we’re expected to provide
tables of accuracy and velocity — and
they’re here — it’s just as important to
shoot a gun like this a lot as it is likely to
be used in the real world. To me that
meant snap shooting drills that emphasized rapid target acquisition and placement of single and double tap rounds very
precisely at variable ranges from as much
as 50 yards. I also did a modified version
of a tactical course of fire that might be
called IPSC with a carbine. Fast shots at
multiple targets are really attributes of the
shooter rather than the gun, but this equipment is definitely not going to handicap
the skilled tactician.
My experience with AR-15 and M-16
rifles goes back to the earliest days. I didn’t
like either the gun or cartridge very much
back then, but the system has evolved and
has only gotten better. It really is combat
proven now. And bullseye rifle shooters
have fallen in love with it, too. In service
rifle matches — where it has to shoot out to
600 yards — reports of outstanding accuracy
are commonplace. Heavy bullets from 68 to
77 grains have turned the .223 into a longrange tack driver, and all manner of gunsmith wizardry has changed Vietnam’s “toy”
rifle into something worthy of great respect.
$
Rock River Arms
[309] 792-5780
www.rockriverarms.com
Aimpoint Inc.
[703] 749-2320
www.aimpoint.com
Sure-Fire LLC
[800] 828-8809
www.surefire.com
TAC-ORD (sling)
[208] 288-1450
www.tac-ord.com
Bushmaster (sling)
[800] 998-SWAT
www.bushmaster.com
Meprolight
(exclusively imported by Kimber)
[800] 880-2418
www.kimberamerica.com
GUNS MAGAZINE
DEFENSIVE FOLDERS
excellent Axis lock knives with a Realtree
Hardwoods pattern handle for fans of this
popular design. Slyness of ensemble now
crosses over to your folder. For what it is
worth, this pattern does show less wear in
hard use. The model 720 with 154CM stainless Bowie-style blade and Realtree pattern
handle is a fine outdoorsman’s knife.
Kershaw
Moving to the Kershaw line, I found a
number of interesting, attractive and affordable designs. Many feature the Ken Onion
assisted-opening feature mentioned earlier.
My Random Task model is still going strong
after years of use, but I understand it is
being replaced in the line. The line changes
often in the top end cutlery business, with
T&E ongoing and production changed practically overnight. Among my favorites are
the Blackout and the Whirlwind. The
Blackout is practically black except for the
leading edge of the blade and the silver
makers markings emblazoned on the blade.
This is a very attractive knife, with more
than a little style. One warning — leave the
supplied edge protector on the knife when
practicing opening. It is very fast, and care
should be taken not to get behind the blade.
The Whirlwind is more colorful, but for
all intents and purposes these liner lock
folders serve the same purpose. The top of
the blade is serrated for easy thumb alignment and the steel spring liner is very sturdy.
Perhaps the most appealing knife in the
Kershaw line is one of the smallest of the Ken
Onion series. The Scallion 61620 ST is
among the best small knives I have used. I
like big knives, but I admit the Scallion handled every chore encountered in the average
day. The stubby blade is half serrated and
very sharp. When open, the little hump on the
blade serves as a finger guard. When closed,
it can assist in opening, complimenting the
thumb stud. The Scallion has a unique safety
lock which ensures the knife will not open in
the pocket. This is a high-tech knife with
more than a little conversation value.
Gerber
Gerber’s Applegate Fairbairn knives are
well known and designed as defensive
folders. They work well, incorporating a
special safety or interlock which locks the
blade both top and bottom. This interlock is
applied on the small folder after the blade is
open as an added measure of safety. I used
the big Gerber, the largest folder tested,
extensively in a salvage operation for
weeks. I would not hesitate to put this
combat folder to hard use in any job. The
Spectre is Gerber’s new entry into the black
knife field. It features G10 scale handles and
a black phosphate-finished blade. It is of
shaving sharpness, handles well, and seems
durable. Gerber folders have a long standing
reputation for quality and durability.
Camillus
Darrel Ralph is a well-known designer
and custom maker. He has collaborated on
several folders with Camillus, an old-line,
respected maker. My first one, marked 1 of
500, is pure Ralph. It features a blade with a
very slight bevel of an efficient shape. The
body of the knife is slotted aluminum for
lightness and firmness of grip. This is a light,
handy, easy carrying knife well named as the
EDC or Every Day Carry. I like it very much.
Spyderco
Spyderco offers many varieties of
folders, some of them designed by top
makers. However, my favorite is designed
by Massad Ayoob, no stranger to GUNS
readers. It is rugged, and tough enough to
stand being hammered into a wooden porch
rail. I have used it more than any other
folder, period. The slightly upswept blade
profile is unusual but aids in several defensive techniques which we will not be
naughty enough to discuss. Suffice to say, it
works and cuts like nobody’s business. I
eventually broke the point under heavy use
— that is when neighbor Brown admonished my technique — but by rights should
have long since destroyed an ordinary knife!
Another folder which I bonded with is
the Peter Herbst. This German designer
poured his heart into this one. It is elegant,
something that cannot be planned. Elegance
happens. Yet, it is pure Spyderco in the
details. I like this folder very much. It is
charming, but efficient and inexpensive
enough to be carried by a working man,
albeit a discerning one.
Each of these folders performed well in
varying test programs. Naturally, the larger
knives are more suited for heavy use, while
the lightest are fine for office use. We could
not cover every design from each maker,
that would be a daunting proposition! I hope
we have covered enough to give you an idea
of which folder is just right for you.
$
Benchmade Knife Co.
[800] 800-7427
www.benchmade.com
Camillus Cutlery Co.
[315] 672-8111
www.camillusknives.com
Gerber Legendary Blades
[503] 639-6161
www.gerberblades.com
Kershaw Knives
[800] 325-2891
www.kershawknives.com
Spyderco
[800] 525-7770
www.spyderco.com
MAY 2002
63
Cocking effort is very
modest. An entire
afternoon of practice
won't strain your muscles or your budget.
The 717 is an easy
loading single shot.
By J.I. Galan
rue bargains are becoming increasingly hard to find nowadays. This is particularly true when it comes to target-grade
air pistols. As most of us pneumo enthusiasts know only
too well, the vast majority of world-class 10-meter target
pistols carry price tags hefty enough to feed an
average four-member family for nearly a
month.
T
A Real Value
overall length of 13.5 inches and 2.25-pound heft clearly indicate that
this is a full-size pistol. Ditto for this pistol’s 9.6-inch rifled steel barrel.
In keeping with the 717’s target orientation, the rear sight is fully
adjustable via micrometer-click screws. Up front, there is a sizable
blade mounted atop a grooved ramp. The sight radius is a suitably
lengthy 12.75 inches.
Combining a cast alloy grip frame and molded receiver construction,
The Model 717 is a full sized adult air pistol.
It’s not absolutely necessary, however,
to mortgage mama and the kids. Thanks to
a terrific bargain-priced air pistol produced by Daisy, you can now enjoy the
pleasures of 10-meter paper punching
with a target-style air pistol. For those of
you who associate the name Daisy with
youth-grade BB guns, let me point out that
this justly famous American company has
been producing superb adult-grade pellet
guns — both air pistols and air rifles
— for several decades. In the realm
of air pistols, perhaps one of
Daisy’s least recognized bargains is the .177 caliber
Power Line Model 717.
As a matter of fact, the
Daisy 717 can be considered a definite “sleeper”
among air pistols in general, given its relative
obscurity compared to
other air pistols in its
class. For openers, the
Daisy 717 has the overall
styling of a dedicated 10meter target air pistol. Its
DAISY'S OUTSTANDING VALUE
THE MODEL 717
This great air pistol will develop your shooting
skill but won’t break the family budget.
64
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
the Daisy 717 sports a target-style grip with molded-plastic checkered
panels. The left panel has a generous thumb rest that truly makes this pistol
feel like a dedicated 10-meter competition model.
Simple, Reliable One-Stroke Power
The Daisy 717 incorporates a single-pump pneumatic power plant
that is actuated by a sturdy pump lever located along the left side of
the gun. This pumping lever pivots up at the front of the receiver tube,
just below the muzzle, and demands a pumping effort of just under 18
pounds, something that anyone over the age of 10 can handle. A single
pump compresses enough air to launch a standard .177 caliber lead
pellet at a muzzle velocity of approximately 385 fps, according to the
manufacturer. Incidentally, one significant advantage of the singlepump pneumatic power plant employed in this pistol is its basically
recoilless operation — a huge plus in any gun, but particularly helpful
in a target-class pistol.
Although not adjustable, the two-stage trigger of the Model 717 on
test for this article averaged a let-off pressure of just under 4 pounds
and was, in addition, creditably crisp and positive. The wide, serrated
trigger blade also contributes its fair share to the overall smoothness of
this trigger system. Because this air pistol is marketed as a general-purpose sporting pistol, the manufacturer has given it a manually operated
crossbolt safety located in the forward area of the grip frame, just ahead
of the trigger.
Retracting the bolt handle also allows one pellet to be placed in the
feed track. Closing the bolt then feeds the pellet to the breech and
readies the gun for firing.
Tests quickly revealed just what a sharp performer the Daisy 717
really is. Firing from a pistol rest at 10 meters using Beeman H&N
Match pellets, the 717 printed five-shot groups averaging 5/16 inch
across. While that level of accuracy is not sufficient to win formal
10-meter events against top world-class air pistols, it is nevertheless
adequate for serious practice, especially in the hands of new
shooters on a tight budget taking their first steps in the world of 10meter pistol competition. The chronograph revealed that the muzzle
velocity produced by the sample test hovered around 365 fps. This
figure is slightly lower than the muzzle velocity given in the owner’s
manual and about 5 fps higher than the mv figure shown on the lid
of the box. Go figure!
At any rate, the mv obtained was quite sufficient for a generalpurpose air pistol that will most likely be used for backyard target
practice and recreational plinking activities. Mind you, the levels of
accuracy and power produced by the Model 717 are also adequate
for dispatching small rodents at distances of up to 20 feet or so with
a well-placed pellet. Given this pistol’s superb balance and comfortable muzzle heaviness, most shooters will be pleasantly surprised at
their increased level of shooting prowess.
With its incredibly affordable suggested retail price of $71.95,
the Daisy Model 717 is a huge bargain in these days of
rapidly shrinking dollar values.
$
Simple To Use
Cocking the pistol is accomplished by
retracting the bolt handle on the right side of
the receiver. In fact, this pistol can be pumped
only after it is cocked. Attempting to pump
the pistol while the action is uncocked won’t
store any pressurized air in the gun.
FOR MORE INFORMATION :
Daisy Outdoor Products
[800] 713-2479
www.daisy.com
MAY 2002
65
HANDGUNS
BY MASSAD AYOOB
AYOOB ON HANDGUNS
Lessons From The Past:
Three Reasons To Carry Backup
o some, notorious Old West gunfighter John Wesley Hardin was a
psychopathic murderer and racist.
To others, Hardin was a genuine
American hero. Whether Hardin was a terrorist or a freedom fighter was a question
that dogged him throughout his lifetime.
Now, almost 150 years after his birth, historians continue to debate the issue. Was he a
murderer and a racist, or a genuine
American hero? Even if Hardin wasn’t a
“good guy,” the good guys and gals can
always learn something about gunfight survival from a man who was involved in so
many shootouts. Few would debate that Wes
“I never killed anyone who didn’t need
killing” Hardin filled more graves than any
of his contemporaries. Estimates of his body
count range from 27 to almost 50, but figures cited by most researchers are either 40
or 41.
Practice! Hardin constantly practiced
live-fire when he could, and dry-fire when
he couldn’t. Compete and hone your skills!
Hardin biographer Lewis Nordyke implies
that Hardin did so at every opportunity,
though on an informal basis. Finally, If you
need to carry one gun, you’re better off to
carry two. Hardin lived this rule for most of
his life and, according to Nordyke, regretted
it when he didn’t. Let’s examine his experiences in that regard.
T
When the First Gun Fails
In John Wesley Hardin: Texas Gunman,
Nordyke tells of a fight between Hardin and
a Mexican trail boss on the Newton Prairie
in Kansas. “For the sake of comfort, Wes
was carrying only one pistol,” says Nordyke,
when his adversary rode at him armed and
waving a revolver. “Wes spurred his horse
into zigzagging movement. The Mexican
fired and missed. Wes swept out his pistol.
The firing mechanism failed and he realized
he had no weapon. By some strange coincidence, the Mexican’s gun also failed. The
two men fell off their horses and charged
together like two infuriated bulls.”
During the subsequent fistfight, Hardin
was shot at twice by his opponent’s men and
was unable to defend himself until his own
party rode up and took the others at gunpoint. When the fisticuffs ended in a draw,
and the parties separated without bloodshed,
Nordyke writes that immediately thereafter
“Wes buckled on his two-gun trappings and
66
MAY 2002
filled his holsters with smooth-working .44caliber pistols.” He would never be found
without a second gun again, at least not for
reasons of mere comfort.
When You Must Arm a Companion
In Abilene during a tense truce with
Marshal “Wild Bill” Hickok, who called
Hardin “Little Arkansaw,” Hardin managed
to spring longtime sidekick Manning
Clements out of jail. Clements had
no gun or money, and enemies
were after him.
“Wes gave him money
and one of his guns,
leaving
‘Little
Arkansaw’ a one-gun
man,” Nordyke tells
us. Later that night,
Hardin’s
hotel
room was invaded
by
a
knifew i e l d i n g
assassin. Hardin
needed
every
round in his gun
to kill his rugged
attacker and didn’t
have time to reload
his only remaining
percussion revolver,
so rather than stay and
fight, he fled in only his
skivvy shorts. Bluffing
with his empty gun, he soon
acquired a horse, loaded guns, and
trousers and continued his escape from
Abilene. Had Hardin not had a second
revolver after lending the first to his best
friend, he might have been stabbed to death
in his bed by the assassin.
When A Second Gun is More
Accessible
I can’t condone Hardin shooting a
lawman, but the way he defeated a state
policeman named Spites in Hemphill, Texas,
is a learning point for cops and law-abiding
armed citizens. Spites was about to arrest
Hardin and was already drawing his gun;
even Hardin wasn’t fast enough to outdraw a
fast man when starting this far behind the
curve with his cap n’ ball Colt .44. But
apparently, Hardin already had his left hand
on his backup gun, a derringer, in a pocket.
He cleared it and shot Spites in the shoulder.
Spites dropped his revolver before he could
fire and fled; Hardin let him go and escaped
in another direction.
When Your Primary Gun is Empty
At the edge of the Kansas Border and the
Indian Territory, Hardin bet $20 in what
seemed to be an amiable pistol match with a
traveling trader. The latter went first. As
Hardin took his turn, firing all five shots in
his strong-side .44, his opponent surreptitiously reloaded. After firing a winning
score, Hardin holstered his empty revolver,
but his opponent accused him of cheating
and went for his own reloaded gun. “Wes
swept out his left-hand revolver and
cocked it in the man’s face,” narrates
Nordyke, who tells us that Hardin
then took only his winnings,
disarmed his disgruntled
opponent, and rode off
leaving him unharmed.
On the night of
August
19,
1895,
Hardin was shot in the
back of the head and
killed by Constable
John Selman at the
Acme Saloon in El
Paso. “Two pistols
were found on the
body,” wrote Nordyke.
It is believed that
the revolvers Hardin
was carrying at the end
were twin double-action
Colt Thunderers in .41
Colt, worn in a leather holster-vest of his own design.
Many times in his life — more
than there is room to recount here —
he’d had reason to be glad of having two
guns on his person, and reason to be sorry
when he didn’t. It was a lesson he carried
to the final moment of his life.
His death teaches us another lesson, one
taught just as emphatically by Hickok on his
last day. “When you know you are feared
and hated and there are people who want to
kill you, don’t be in a barroom with your
back to the door!” But that’s a topic
for another time.
$
REFERENCES
Nordyke, Lewis
John Wesley Hardin: Texas Gunman
Castle Books, 1957
Edison, NJ
GUNS MAGAZINE
The Hunter's Guide To Ballistics:
Practical Advice on how to Choose Guns
and Loads, and Use Them Efficiently
By Wayne van Zwoll, The Lyons Press, Guilford, CT. 2001
ISBN# 1-58574-575-5, 280 pages, well illustrated, $29.95
By David Fortier
still remember having the chance to
study ballistics while a teenager in
high school. Being an avid shooter, I
thought it was going to be a great
opportunity to learn some useful information and improve my long-range shooting
skills. However, only a few minutes into the
first class I realized my mistake. Instead of a
friendly course on shooting I had stumbled
into the math class from hell!
Looking back today I can laugh
about it, but I’m sure some of you
out there know what I mean.
For hunters looking to improve
their knowledge of and ability
with firearms, Wayne van Zwoll
has written a useful work that will
take the pain out of the learning
process. The Hunter’s Guide To
Ballistics is a truly useful work to
those going afield in search of big
game. Written in a simple and easy
to understand manner, this volume
will be of interest to both the
novice and seasoned rifleman
alike. In 280 pages van Zwoll
takes you from pre-gunpowder
days to the present and shows that
you don’t need a degree in physics
to predict how a bullet will behave
in flight.
I’ve always felt the best place
to start is the beginning, and that’s
exactly what van Zwoll does.
Going back to the age before gunpowder, he takes the reader from
the bow to the earliest crude
firearms. Then step by step
through the major developmental
stages
of
firearms
from
matchlock, wheellock, flintlock,
percussion, and finally to breachloading weapons. As a large proportion of
hunters use either bolt action or lever action
rifles, their development, primarily that of
the Winchester lever guns and the Mauser
98, is covered.
Next van Zwoll covers ammunition. He
first explains the often confusing manner in
which rifle cartridges are named (what’s the
70 in .45-70 for? The ’06 in .30-’06? Or the
57 in 7.92x57?). Then, chapter by chapter, he
I
gets into propellants and projectiles, both yesterday’s and today’s. With the foundation thus
laid, he then starts to get into the nitty gritty.
Making hits at long range takes more than
simply aligning one’s crosshairs and
squeezing the trigger. There are a host of
small, seemingly insignificant, factors to take
into account before your finger ever goes
into the trigger guard. The distance to your
target and wind of course come to mind, but
there’s much more. A change in temperature
of 20 or more degrees can have a noticeable
effect on your point-of-impact. What about
shooting at steep angles, such as up or down
hill? How much should you lead a moving
target (such as that caribou that decides not to
stand still)? What about mirage? Van Zwoll
does a good job of covering all the points relative to a hunter’s needs.
While a target shooter is merely interested in putting a bullet into a specific spot,
the hunter’s needs are much more
demanding. He must do more than simply
place his shot well. He also needs to hit his
quarry with a projectile that offers the
optimum amount of penetration and expansion. Plus it needs to come from a cartridge
with enough thump to get the job done. So
there are chapters covering cartridge selection and knockdown
power. In addition, there are
chapters covering different
groups of cartridges such as small
bores, large bores, the magnums,
and an entire chapter devoted to
just the .30-’06. Throughout these
pages, van Zwoll covers everything from Lazzeroni’s latest
scorchers to older well-proven
performers like my old favorite
— the .303 British.
In addition to rifles, van Zwoll
also covers, though to a limited
extent, hunting big game with
shotguns. He makes clear the
importance of patterning buckshot and its extremely short range
on deer-sized game. In two separate chapters he covers shotgun
slugs, which includes Fosters,
Brennekes, and sabot-type slugs.
All in all, this is a very well
done and useful reference work
for the serious hunter. The
information is well written,
there are plenty of charts, a
useful glossary, and comprehensive ballistic tables. The piece is
well illustrated with, for the
most part, well done photography that goes along nicely
with the text. If I was going to nit-pick, all
I could say is that I found some very minor
errors in some of van Zwoll’s historical
information. But they in no way detract
from this well done work. The hunter, or
anyone simply interested in knowing a
little more about how bullets behave, will
find this book a worthwhile
addition to any library.
$
MAY 2002
67
You Can Win This
S&W Performance Center
ccurate and exotic may be the best description of this Smith & Wesson Performance
Center Model 945. Carefully crafted from stainless-steel with select blued carbon steel
accents, the Model 945 is designed to perform to a higher standard. The slide and frame
rails are extremely long, very carefully fitted and exhibit a beautiful, glass-like smoothness. The barrel is of the finest quality, perfectly fitted and makes use of the novel Briley rotating
bushing for accuracy that will last for thousands upon thousands of rounds. Of course the front and
back straps of the frame are crisply checkered, but the most exotic feature to be seen at first glance
are the dragon scale slide serrations fore and aft.
The 945 draws upon the very best of S&W’s decades of design experience, but also bows
to the popularity of the single action 1911 design. The trigger is light and crisp to make the
most of the pistol’s intrinsic accuracy. The grip safety is a well contoured beavertail for
shooting comfort and the thumb safety is on the frame — right where an experienced shooter
prefers. Adjustable target sights will permit you to easily zero your Model 945 for your preferred load. Complete with two eight-round magazines and a locking hard case, the M945
comes out of the box ready to be the best shooting pistol on the firing line. After that,
it’s up to you. To see more exquisite designs from the S&W Performance Center,
log onto the Website: www.smith-wesson.com or call [800] 331-0852
A
68
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
TO ENTER CONTEST:
Use A postcard (no
envelopes, please) and follow sample. Send to GUNS
Magazine, GOM MAY 2002, P.O. BOX 639033, San Diego, CA
92163-9033. Entries must be received before JUNE 1, 2002.
Limit one entry per household.
QUESTION OF THE MONTH:
My Annual Household Income Is:
(A)
Under $30,000
(B)
$31,000 to $40,000
(C)
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(D)
Over $50,000
Name
Address
City, State, Zip
CIRCLE ANSWERS TO QUESTION OF THE MONTH:
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(C)
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IF I WIN, SHIP MY GUN THROUGH:
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Address
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Phone # (
)
Store Hours: ______________a.m. thru ______________p.m.
QUESTION FOR INFORMATION ONLY; ANSWERS HAVE NO BEARING ON YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING.
WINNERS CHOSEN BY RANDOM DRAWING.
To protect the privacy and security of winners, their names will NOT be made public.
Contest void where prohibited by law. Winners must undergo a background check and comply with all other federal, state and
local laws. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Employees and agents of Publishers’ Development Corp. not elegible. No purchase necessary.
Winners will be notified by CERTIFIED MAIL on official letterhead.
MAY 2002
69
CUTTING EDGE
7 (Raven Combat Knife, 7 inches) sports
a tanto style blade for those who may
like to take a meaner dog to the fight.
All Simonich knives can be ordered to fit
the budget and appetite — from a box lunch
brawler to a seven-course stunner. Kydex or
ballistic nylon sheaths are standard, but Rob
can deliver a leather sheath on request.
A Mettle For Metal
Simonich is one of a handful of custom
knifemakers that are using new and exciting
metals in the fabrication of their knives. His
favorite blade material is not steel at all but
an alloy called “Talonite,”: a new, space-age
metal that contains cobalt instead of iron in
its make-up. According to sources familiar
with Talonite and a similar alloy, Stellite,
these new metals are totally resistant to rust
and will retain their surface qualities over
hundreds of years of exposure to corrosive
elements such as salt water. They are also
said to have edge holding capabilities many
times greater than even the best stainless
steels on the market today.
Rob is said to be the first custom knifemaker to use Talonite, and noted U.S. cutlery manufacturer Camillus Cutlery has
taken the lead in this technology by collaborating with Simonich on a fixed-blade
hunting knife design. Aptly dubbed the
Talon, Camillus offers the knife in two sizes.
These amazing cutting edge alloys are
not cheap — adding in most instances $100
to the price of a knife — but they do have
extraordinary properties and can be expected
to become more affordable in the future.
Simonich is also experimenting with combining Talonite with Titanium through a
process called “diffusion bonding” to create
a light-weight, non-magnetic, near corrosion-proof metal laminate.
Those on a budget need not fear. Rob is
just as comfortable working with more moderately priced steels. His base Pikuni model
with D-2 steel and G-10 ( a tough, fiberglass
composite) handles sells for a very reasonable $200. Prices will vary upward from
there depending on choice of metal and
handle materials.
The bottom line? Rob Simonich makes
sturdy, well-designed knives that are broad
in their utility and strong on looks. These are
the traits that have created a demand for
Simonich’s knives, and his penchant for
experimentation with future edge metal
alloys and advanced bonding techniques just
may add fuel to an already well-lit fire. For
more information, contact the
knifemaker at the address below.
$
Simonich Custom Knives
[406] 933-9151
email: knives@mt.net
www.simonichknives.com
GUNS MAGAZINE
PHILIDELPHIA PISTOL
steel. After studying traditional 18th-century
metal-finishing techniques, Brooks developed this approach:
“Temperatures used in fire blueing are
much higher than traditional temper
blueing, and, of course, no chemicals are
used. To prepare for fire blueing, the bores
are packed with charcoal so barrel interiors
stay scale-free. In a long fire trench, I heat
the barrels in a burned-down (oxygenstarved) fire for about a half hour and
polish them with a burning board. The
charcoal on the board abrades the scale as
the exterior surface colors change from
brightly polished to dull grey at about
1,300 degrees. After carefully extracting
the barrels from the fire trench, I cool them
naturally in the air. Following a rubdown
with linseed oil, an authentic fire blue
finish remains on the barrel.”
The highly figured curly maple stocks
turned a golden-honey color after Brooks
stained the bare wood with diluted nitric
acid. Violin varnish tinted with red dye and
diligent application of the French polishing
technique brought the maple stocks to a deep
red sheen, contrasting with the fire blued
barrels and silver mounts. Flawless basket
weave checkering on the grip follows the
patterns that Messrs. Kunz and Grubb
selected for their finest pistols.
Rosewood ramrods slip snugly into the
engraved silver thimbles. For the doubleended ramrods, one end is threaded for
cleaning attachments and the other end
shaped concave for loading a patched round
lead ball over 30 grains of FFFg powder.
First Firing Will
Await The New Owner
CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT BADGE
EXERCISE YOUR 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS!
You’re licensed to carry a firearm for personal protection.
You’re a responsible citizen who refuses to be a victim.
You live in an increasingly violent world and you are prepared to defend yourself, your home, your business and
your loved ones. You deserve to own the Concealed
Weapons Permit badge. Crafted from heavy gold plate
with red, white and blue enamel, this stunning badge
sends a serious messsage. Just $29.95 + $4 postage and
insurance. Calif. residents, add sales tax.
Frizzens on both pistols show the
scrapes of flint on steel, as both have been
sparked, but not fired. Bespeaking elegance
and decoration, this pair of Philadelphia
pistols is both authentic and functional.
Were it possible, a time traveler returning
to Philadelphia circa 1815 with these pistols could hold high his head in any wellarmed company. After a respite of almost
two centuries, the slim and elegant
Philadelphia pistols, true to their predecessors, recapture the artistry and precision of
the golden-age of flintlocks.
Information on these Philadelphia pistols
and other authentic flintlock firearms is
available from Jack Brooks, 800 W. Oxford,
Englewood, Colorado 80110. For readers
interested in learning the techniques and tips
of fine flintlock gunmaking, Brooks also
teaches seminars for beginners and experts.
Telephone him at [303] 789-4029 for details.
$
http://www.bairdco.com
THE L.L. BAIRD COMPANY, Dept. G502,
1270 West Markham, Perris, CA 92571
Order by phone 909-943-4180, Fax 909-943-8491
72
MAY 2002
24 Hour Hotline
909-943-6769
GUNS MAGAZINE
ACCURACY INT'L
is partially covered with shallow fluting to
allow space for any debris — ice, mud or
dirt — to accumulate without binding or
jamming the bolt in the action. A relief
groove cut in the back of the barrel allows
the bolt to close even with crud sandwiched
between the bolt face and the barrel.
Another departure from the norm is the
bolt locking lugs. Three locking lugs that
protrude a mere 1/16 inch from the bolt body
appear diminutive to those accustomed to
the larger, two lug Mauser style. Cooper, by
applying modern metallurgy and engineering, was able to design a shallow
lugged, streamlined bolt without sacrificing
strength. The extractor is large and sturdy,
and the bolt features a plunger ejector. The
three position safety is positioned on the bolt
shroud and worked crisply and positively
throughout the test.
1913: First production automobile
1969: Man walks on the moon
2002: SOG introduces first BG-42
production knife under $100.
The X-42 AutoClip has an exotic,
BG-42 steel blade, dual thumb stud,
Zytel handle, and the only adjustable tension,
locking pocket clip in the world.
Mini X-42 AC: $59.95
Full-size X-42 AC: $69.95
Available with straight or serrated blades
and Titanium Nitride finishes.
The Barrel — Heart Of The Rifle
Barrels are interchangeable at the unit
armorer level. Tolerences of the reciever and
barrel are held so closely that no intricate
lathe work requiring a true gunsmith is necessary as is the case with most sniper rifles.
Replacement barrels come from the factory
fully headspaced and ready to install.
In barrel maker terminology, the AI has
a Palma-style barrel. For comparison, the
barrel of the U.S. Army’s M24 sniper rifle
measures 1.2-inches in diameter near the
action with a straight taper to .93 inch at
the muzzle. The barrel on our test sample
AW police model (AWP) measures 1.2inches near the action, then the diameter
quickly reduces to 1.0-inch. The remaining
barrel has little taper, with the muzzle
diameter at .9 inch, giving the AI a much
lighter barrel weight.
I consulted with Mike Rock, a PhD metallurgist and owner of Rock Creek Barrels,
as to how barrel taper and weight affect
accuracy. Rock explained that when using a
Palma taper as on the AI, the barrel weight
can be reduced without sacrificing accuracy.
Rock put it like this: “I can take a 1.2 inch
untapered barrel that shoots knots and
reduce the diameter with a Palma taper
down to a half inch at the muzzle and that
barrel will still shoot! I take that same barrel
and reduce the diameter with a straight taper
to a half inch at the muzzle and the barrel
may or may not shoot tight groups.”
Our test rifle came equipped with a 24
inch stainless barrel manufactured in AI’s
American facility, featuring a 5R rifling profile and 1:12 twist. The term 5R rifling
means the barrel has five lands and grooves
with the leading angle of the lands cut at a
110-degree angle. This Russian design,
hence the “R,” causes less bullet deformation as the projectile is swaged into the
rifling. The barrel is finished with a nonglare teflon coating and features a recessed
target crown at the muzzle.
6521 212th ST. SW Lynnwood, WA 98036
1-888-SOG-BEST www.sogknives.com
Quality Firearm Accessories
Send $2.00 for your Color Catalog.
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Symbol of honest, competent,
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Member list $2.00
1449 Blue Crest Ln.
MAY 2002
73
PATRIC
KIRK
LEATHER COMPANY K
Manufacturing Quality Leather Since 1968
“Marshall”
$340.00
plus $8.00s&h
NOW ON THE
INTERNET
“Santa Fe”
$245.00
plus $8.00s&h
For catalog
send $5.00 to:
P.O. Box 677GM
Laredo, Tx 78042
or call us at 1(800) 451-9394
www.KIRKPATRICKLEATHER.com
S & K SCOPE MOUNTS • S & K SCOPE MOUNTS • S & K SCOPE MOUNTS
Home of the Insta-Mounts (for Military Types)
Presents:
SKulptured Bases
Smooth Kontoured Rings
PROJECTIONLESS MOUNTS
RING PATENT #5,533,267
Send For Brochure:
S & K SCOPE MOUNTS
RD 2 BOX 72E
SUGAR GROVE, PA 16350
Tel: 800-578-9862 or
814-489-3091
Fax: 814-489-5466
Website:
www.scopemounts.com
Easy Installation
the lightest
the strongest
The Best!
Guaranteed
TRY THEM!
WEIGH THEM!
USE THEM!
All Steel, Fully Machined, Windage Mounts
Dedicated Bipod
The AI bipod is of the highest quality
and mounts via a quick detachable fitting,
integral with the forend. This system has 5
degrees of left and right cant built into the
mount, resulting in enough movement so
that the rifle can be supported in a level
firing position on uneven surfaces. I feel
that a tension adjustment firming up the
left/right cant would increase stability of the
rifle when firing. The bipod itself has a tension-adjustable ball joint, which allows
tracking of moving targets without movement of the bipod feet.
The legs of the bipod are spring loaded
and positively lock into each height adjustment notch. The skid-type feet of the bipod
worked well on the various surfaces we fired
on, although they would play hell on a paint
job for those who like to shoot over the hood
of their truck. The AI bipod retails for $300.
A mounting point for the Harris bipod is also
present on the stock.
All those who fired the AWP commented
on the smooth operation of the bolt. The
three lug design makes it necessary to move
the bolt handle a mere 60 degrees to unlock
the action. Combine this short movement
with the feeling that the bolt wants to move
itself through the loading cycle, and you
have a very fast cycling bolt gun. Apply
slight upward pressure on the closed bolt
handle and, Pop! The bolt is open and has
sprung rearward. Working the bolt through
the rest of the loading cycle is effortless. The
cartridge feeds from the magazine with the
lightest of resistance, barely noticeable as
the bolt handle is slid forward during the
feeding cycle. Then as easily as the bolt
opens, it cams closed. The process is
remarkably smooth and extremely quick.
Two-stage triggers are not the norm on
American made bolt actions, but Cooper
was unconcerned with what the other guys
were building. The first stage was set at 1
pound. with a generous amount of travel
before reaching the second stage at which
another 1 pound of pressure crisply drops
the sear. Weight of the first and second
stages is adjustable without disassembly of
the rifle, via hex screws located to the front
of the trigger.
World Standard Glass
We fit an American glass on this
English rifle, choosing the excellent and
well proven Leupold Mark 4 M3 scope in
10X with a mil-dot reticle. Leupold
designed this scope around the needs of the
U.S. Army for their M24 Sniper Weapons
System. Wall thickness of the scope tube is
60 percent thicker, at .100 inch, than
Leupold’s hunting models. Elevation
adjustment is accomplished through a
bullet drop compensator (BDC). Less than
one revolution of the elevation knob
allows the shooter to adjust from 100 to
1,000 yards. The ranges are printed on the
side of the turret.
74
MAY 2002
In theory, to engage a target at 700
yards, the shooter dials the turret to seven,
adjusts for wind, and fires. In a perfect
world, the round hits the target. In the real
world, the sniper must compensate for all
the effects of temperature, elevation and
angle that Murphy’s Law throws his way.
This is why in between the numbers on the
BDC, the M3 has 1 MOA click adjustments that allow the shooter to set the
scope quickly for any range or environmental condition. Windage is accomplished through 1/2 MOA adjustments on
the right turret.
Complete weight of the AW system
without bipod is listed at 14.3 pounds.
With bipod, optics and magazine, our
system tips the scale at 153⁄4 pounds, not out
of line when compared to other sniper
rifles on the market.
Options are available in abundance for
the AW. Special barrel lengths, backup iron
sights and a muzzle brake are some of the
more common choices. A caveat is that
most options must be ordered with the initial purchase of the rifle, as factory modifications are needed for the components to
interface as a system.
Overall, Accuracy International builds
one of the finest sniper rifles in the world.
The ease of maintaining the system once in
service has been proven, with the rifles performing admirably in service around the
globe. The retail price of the AWP with
scope base, one magazine, one 20mm and
one 40mm butt spacer is $4,410. When
looking at the price, remember nothing was
taken for granted with this rifle. It was
designed from a clean sheet of paper to be
the most accurate and rugged precision rifle
in the world. A look at the accuracy table
will show you that this goal has
been met. Yup — I'm impressed.
$
Accuracy International
North America, Inc
[865] 482-0330
www.accuracyinternational.org
Leupold & Stevens
[503] 526-5195
www.leupold.com
Black Hills Ammunition
[605] 348-5150
www.black-hills.com
Federal Cartridge Company
[800] 322-2342
www.federalcartridge.com
Hornady Mfg.
[308] 382-1390
www.hornady.com
GUNS MAGAZINE
FAVORITES
Lasting Connection
There is another, perhaps even more
important, reason for placing my name on
the knives that I value highly. My grandfather was killed shortly before my father was
born. My father was also killed 9 months
after I was born. This means I have very
little connection to the past, and nothing of
any value that belonged to either one of
them. I don’t want this to happen with my
grandsons, and all of the knives are
engraved with my name and will eventually
belong to them.
The above-mentioned knife that was
lost and then found has a most special
meaning for me as it was a gift from the
man who is most responsible for my being
a writer. That man is J.D. Jones, who
believed in me and encouraged me when
no one else outside of my own family
would. The knife is an Al Mar folding lock
back which is inscribed “HHI 076 OF 300
JOHN TAFFIN HHI 076.” As an early
member of Handgun Hunters International,
I began writing for the club paper and
became good friends with J.D.. I cherish
his friendship and the HHI knife.
A Surprise Gift
One of the great joys of being a gunwriter is to be able to “discover” great
craftsmen, and that joy is even more complete when that craftsman becomes a close
friend. Such is the case of gripmaker
Charles Able. Many years ago I sent
Charles an Abilene sixgun that had been
converted to .45 Colt by John Linebaugh,
to be stocked with ebony. When the
package came back it was heavier than it
should have been, and upon opening it I
found a companion hunting knife completely made by Charles Able with a
matching ebony handle and a custom
sheath. This is a very sturdy and heavy 4inch bladed knife with an indentation both
on the handle and the blade for placing the
thumb while cutting with it. An excellent
design, and a knife that will last me forever.
Perhaps someday one of my grandchildren
will pass it on to one of their grandchildren.
Another knife that mates up with a special sixgun was presented to me by a fellow
Shootist who knew that I had a custom
Ruger with stocks crafted from mesquite.
Chuck Smith commissioned M. Sanders of
Louisiana to fashion a lightweight hunting
knife with a 3-inch long, very slim handle.
Sanders is obviously a master craftsman and
has fashioned a special knife for me that can
be carried on the pants belt with relatively
little felt weight. This knife also features a
special spot on the handle for placing the
thumb when gutting an animal. This also
came with a very secure and high-riding
sheath, and is another cherished knife that
will last for generations.
Other Favorites
Cold Steel has long been known for
supplying excellent quality knives that
come sharp and stay sharp. Three special
Cold Steel knives have been presented to
me by another member of The Shootists.
Two of these are the heavy-duty Bowiestyle Trailmasters, one with stag handles;
the other with the secure-gripping serrated
rubber. These are heavy-duty knives with
a great connection to the past. The third
Cold Steel knife is its latest offering, a
custom hunting knife, the Pendleton
Hunter. Highly practical, this knife has a
hard rubber handle, a 3-inch blade, and a
built-in thumb protector at the base of the
handle. This knife comes with an equally
highly practical and well-thought-out
knife sheath designed by Lynn Thompson
of Cold Steel. It’s obvious that a lot of
thought went into this design. The sheath
is of a high impact plastic, form fitted to
the blade with a locking tab that fits into a
slot on the handle. There is also a snap
strap at the top of the handle. The sheath is
adjustable for height, and the belt loop is
held together by both a safety snap and
Velcro. I should never, never have a
problem losing this knife!
My final sentimental custom knife also
came from a very special friend who is a
circuit-riding preacher and who happens to
travel on a Harley-Davidson. The knife
from “Preacher” is a Buck Custom Bowie
knife that matches the drawing and dimensions of what I believe at least to be the
original Bowie knife. If it isn’t, it should
have been. This knife has a 10-inch blade,
coffin-style handle, and a very heavy brass
hand guard — a perfect example of what a
fighting knife should have been in the early
1800s. It is appropriately now inscribed
“JOHN TAFFIN TAFFIN TESTS.” Other
special knives are also marked with my
name, as well as “THE SHOOTISTS,”
“THE SIXGUNNER” and “CAMPFIRE
TALES,” all of which are very important to
me. My wish is that someday my grandkids,
great grandkids, and even great-great grandkids, will look back proudly and say, “That
was my grandpa!”
Knives — like sixguns, leather, dogs and
trucks — are highly personal. We all have
our different ideas about what we prefer.
Knives can cost many hundreds of dollars;
even more than a good sixgun. I have no
doubt that custom high-dollar knives are
well worth the asking price. The value of my
sentimental custom knives is not how much
they are worth dollar wise, but rather who
they came from and where they will
eventually go.
$
MAY 2002
75
New Varmint Rifle
From Marlin
Marlin introduces the new Model
17VS bolt-action repeating varmint
rifle, chambered for Hornaday’s .17
Magnum Rimfire cartridge. The 17VS
delivers an impressive muzzle velocity
of 2,500 fps. Key features include a
seven-shot clip-fed capacity, stainless steel receiver and heavy 22-inch
barrel with one-inch scope rings.
The gray-black laminated Monte
Carlo stock maintains stability in
foul weather and challenging terrain. Contact Marlin Firearms,
100 Kenna Dr., P.O. Box 248,
North Haven, CT 06473-0905,
telephone: [203] 239-5621, FAX:
[203] 234-7991, Website:
www.marlinfirearms.com
Two-Gun Security Box
From Dual-Safe
The Dual-Safe Security Box holds two
handguns and offers instant access even in
total darkness. The push-button dual
locking mechanism activates in 1.5 seconds. It is constructed from sturdy and
attractive 12- and 14-gauge steel for
dependability and long life. Contact Jeff
Fisher at Dual-Safe, Inc., 1670 S, Hanover
St., Pottstown, PA 19465, telephone: [610]
323-1615, FAX: [610]
326-6115, Website:
www.dualsafe.com
Replacement Mag Bodies
For Glock Pistols
LaPrade has added replacement magazine bodies to its line of quality after
market Glock accessories. These secondgeneration, drop-free mag bodies feature a
steel liner and a plastic
body.
Accommodates 15
and 17-rounds for
9mm Glocks and
13 and 14 rounds
for .40 S&W.
Contact LaPrade,
P.O. Box 240-A1G, Tazewell, TN
37879, FAX: [423]
733-2073.
Winchester Snap Caps
From Galazan
Galazan introduces Winchester snap
caps in both distinctive gold and nickel
plate finishes. They are machined from
solid brass stock with soft leaded brass
primers and are available in 12, 16, 20 and
28 gauge and .410 bore. The Winchester
logo and gauge are stamped on each cap.
Contact Carol Torneo at Galazan, P.O. Box
1692, New Britain, CT 06051-1692, telephone: [800] 225-6581, FAX: [860] 8328707, e-mail: galazan@msn.com.
New Muzzleloading
Propellant
From Hodgdon Powder
Hodgdon Powder’s new Triple Seven
sulfur-free muzzleloading propellant eliminates the offensive odor and maintenance
problems associated with conventional
powders. Cleaning a muzzleloading rifle is
as easy as running a watersoaked patch down the barrel,
followed by three or four dry
patches. Contact Hodgdon
Powder, P.O. Box 2932,
Shawnee Mission, KS
66201, telephone: [913]
362-9455, FAX: [913]
362-1307, e-mail:
info@hodgdon.com,
Website:
www.hodgdon.com
.375 Ballistic Tip
From Nosler
Nosler’s .375 Ballistic Tip is designed
for hunters of elk, bear and other medium
to large game who desire a flat shooting
option. The .375 Ballistic Tip is constructed
with a tough tapered jacket, a safari green
polycarbonate tip and has a ballistic coefficient of .473 and a sectional density of .264
to deliver controlled expansion and reliable
penetration, even at the lower velocities of
longer ranges. Contact
Nosler, 107 SW
Columbia, Bend,
OR 97709, telephone: [800]
285-3701, FAX:
[541] 388-4667,
Website:
www.nosler.com
Threat Response Rifle
From Weatherby
Mauser Action Rifles
From Charles Daly
K.B.I., Inc. is importing a new line of
Charles Daly Mauser action hunting rifles
from Zastava Firearms of Yugoslavia. The
Field Grade models feature barreled actions
in matte blue and matte stainless steel fitted
with Butler creek synthetic stocks. Superior
grade and Mini-Mausers feature polished
blued barreled actions and select polished
76
MAY 2002
walnut stocks with distinctive Monte
Carlo comb cheek pieces. The rifles
are chambered in most popular calibers, from .22 Hornet to .458 Win
Mag. Contact K.B.I., Inc., P.O. Box
6625, Harrisburg, PA 17112, telephone: [717] 540-8518, FAX: [717]
540-8567, e-mail:
sales@charlesdaly.com, Website:
www.charlesdaly.com
Weatherby’s new Threat Response
Rifle (TRR) is designed for maximum
accuracy in life-threatening situations.
The TRR, which is based on
Weatherby’s popular Mark V action, is
available in three versions: The standard model for non-magnum cartridges
(.223 Rem. & .308 Win.) with a 22inch barrel; the TRR Magnum with
26-inch cold hammer-forged barrel
and the TRR Magnum Custom
with fully-adjustable stock.
Contact Weatherby, 3100 El
Camino Real, Atascadero, CA
93422-2544, telephone: [805]
466-1767, FAX: [805] 4662527Website:
www.weatherby.com
GUNS MAGAZINE
CG Millennium Rifle Action
From Sinclair International
Sinclair International is the exclusive
importer of the new CG Millennium Rifle
Action, manufactured by H&H Enterprises
of Hastings, New Zealand. The four-lug
design is specifically intended for long
range shooters and 1000-yard benchrest
shooters. The
action comes
with a twostage trigger
New Access Folder
From Buck Knives
The new Access lock back folder from
Buck Knives is available in two models,
one with a 3-inch stainless steel blade and a
pocket clip and the other with a blade
measuring 21⁄4 inches. The Access features a
sweeping hilt design and a contoured handle
New Denali Rifle
From Ed Brown
The lightweight Model 702 Denali rifle
from Ed Brown is designed for mountain
hunting and is most
effective using .270
and a unique patent-pending bedding
system. Bolt faces available for .308, .223
and PPC case head diameters. Contact
Sinclair Inter’al, 2330 Wayne Haven St., Ft.
Wayne, IN 46803, telephone: [260] 4931858, FAX: [260] 493-2530, e-mail: support@sinclairintl.com, Website:
www.sinclairintl.com
made of glass-reinforced engineering
thermoplastic for lightweight rugged reliability. Contact Buck Knives, P.O. Box
1267, El Cajon, CA 92022, telephone:
[800] 326-2825, FAX: [619] 562-1632, email: comments@buckknives.com,
Website: www.buckknives.com
and .280 calibers. A near duplicate of the
famous M40A2 Marine sniper rifle, the
Denali’s important features include a fully
glass bedded McMillan fiberglass sporter
stock with cheek piece, checkering
and recoil pad.
Merkel Stalking Rifle
From GSI
GSI is importing the new
Merkel lightweight Model K1
single-shot stalking rifle from
Germany. The K1 features a breakopen design utilizing the patented
Franz Jager action and a
cocking/uncocking slide, which provides a
simple and positive safety. There is a
choice
of three
trigger weights (2.2,
2.4 and 2.6 lbs.) and an integrated,
quick detachable one-inch 30mm optic
mount. The Standard model has simple
border engraving, the Premium has light
Arabesque scroll and the Jagd has fine
New Mauser 98 Stock
From Advanced Technology
trigger pull,
ergonomic forearm
grip, rubber butt pad
and sling swivel
studs. Contact Jeana
Walter at Advanced
Technology, 102
Fieldview Dr.,
Ste.400, Versailles, KY 40383, telephone:
Advanced Technology’s new glassfilled nylon rifle stock has a built-in
scope mount, which fits large ring, 7mm
or 8mm Mauser 98s with a standard bolt.
The stock features a built-in, Weaverstyle scope mount for multiple positioning of rifle scopes, comfortable
Features include: Dave Talley scope
mounts utilizing heavy duty 8-40 screws
and an Ed Brown Custom short repeater
action with a steel trigger guard and floor
plate. A three-position safety securely locks
the bolt closed. Contact Ed Brown
Products, P.O. Box 482, Perry, MO 63462,
telephone: [573] 565-3261, FAX: [573]
565-2791, Website: www.edbrown.com
engraved hunting
scenes. Available calibers are: .243 Win.,
.270 Win., 7x57R, .308 Win., 30 -06, 7mm
Rem. Mag, .300Win. Mag and 9.3x74R.
Contact GSI, Inc., 7661 Commerce Ln.,
Trussville, AL 35173, telephone: [205]
655-8299, FAX: [205] 655-7078, Website:
www.gsifirearms.com
[859] 873-9877, FAX: [859] 873-6229,
Website: www.atigunsstocks.com
MAY 2002
77
Classified ads $1.00 per-word insertion. ($.80 per-word insertion for 3 or more) including name,
address and phone number (20 word minimum). Minimum charge $20.00. BOLD WORDS add
$.65 per word. Copy and rerun orders must be accompanied by PAYMENT IN ADVANCE.
NO AGENCY OR CASH DISCOUNTS ON LISTING OR DISPLAY CLASSIFIED
ADVERTISING. All ads must be received with advance payment BY NO LATER THAN THE 1st
OF each month. EXAMPLE: Closing for DEC. 2001 issue (on sale NOV. 5th) is SEPT 1st, 2001.
Ads received after closing will appear in the following issue. Please type or print clearly. NO
MAY 2002
PROOFS WILL BE FURNISHED. Include name, address, post office, city, state and zip code
as counted words. Abbreviations count as one word each. Mail to GUNS MAGAZINE CLASSIFIEDS, 591 Camino de la Reina, Suite 200, San Diego, California 92108. NOTE: WE NOW
HAVE DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDS IN BOTH GUNS MAGAZINE AND AMERICAN HANDGUNNER. ASK FOR OUR NEW RATE CARD. (619) 297-6655.
ACCESSORIES
(509) 758-7251
Sportsman Steel Safes
ACCESSORIES
P.O. Box 399, Clarkston, WA 99403
“They have the lowest prices in the world!”
Eric Bryan - Customer
• Life Time Warranty
• 2300º Ceramic Fire
Proofing
• Sargent & Greenleaf
Locks
• Cut out Middleman Factory Direct
Special Forces III
63x30x22
$749.95
Special Forces 38
63x38x22
$899.95
Call for a Free Brochure
PROMAG
3”
Tactical Shotgun Mounts
Flashlight-laser combination
or Flashlight mounts.
Unique one piece design.
6061-T6 aluminum
Fits extended or large capacity
magazine tubes.
1” or 26mm diameters
1.800.266.7150
Patent Pending
6311Paramount Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90805
GUN PLATING & ANODIZING
www.sportsmansteelsafes.com
Hard Chrome (Bright or Satin), Electroless Nickel,
Parkerizing, Teflon, Black Hard Anodizing, Bluing (stainless). We Specialize in firearms. References Available.
FREE SERVICE BROCHURE 1-800-375-2846
TechPlate, Inc.
1571-H S. Sunkist St., Anaheim, CA 92806
(714) 634-9254 www.techplate.com FAX: (714) 634-9382
ACCESSORIES
Concealment Products. Fanny packs, holsters,
gun purses. Free catalog. 1-800-944-7717.
www.kgproducts.com
TEXAS GUNSLINGER
2”
A FULL RANGE OF GUN ACCESSORIES, CLIPS,
GRIPS, CLEANING SUPPLIES, STRIPPER CLIPS,
LASER SIGHTS, MILITARY MANUALS, CHOKE
TUBES. WWW.GUNSUPPLYDEPOT.COM
Security Products, Inc., Gun Safes.
www.factorydirectsafes.com. 800-386-2380.
CLIPS, GRIPS, LASERS, HOLSTERS, BOOKS &
VIDEOS. Two Great Websites:
www.gunaccessories.com & www.booktrail.com.
AMMUNITION
THE RINGO
100%
American
BH225-2
made
indi$199.95
vidually
hand-crafted
made from
the finest
vegetable
tanned
leather
MODEL
BH225
ONLY
$229.95
Each rig is
custom
made, fully
lined and
available
in Natural
Russet,
Dark
Chestnut
and Black
Black Hill
Leather
fashion their
holsters after
those worn in
the late 1800’s
AMMUNITION
CORBIN
Send $3 for color brochure
RUDY LOZANO
3”
Black Hills Leather
410 West Aurora, Laredo, TX 78041
Tel: 956-712-9434 Fax: 956-712-8330
“Big Suger” SASS #5589, Founder
Website: wwwblackhillsleather.com
78
MAY 2002
GUNS MAGAZINE
BOOKS
LET THE GOVERNMENT PAY for your new or
existing home. Hundreds of programs available.
(www.usgovernmentinformation.com).
Free
recorded message: (707)448-3210. (8JR4)
INSTRUCTION
www.gunbooksales.com
INSTRUCTION
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
LET THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE your small
business.
Grants/loans
to
$2,200,000.00.
Free
recorded message: (707)448-0270. (JR4)
FIREWORKS
GLOBAL INVESTIGATION
1”
Learn
FIREWORKS CHEMICALS !!! POTASSIUM PERCHLORATE,
POTASSIUM
CHLORATE,
NITRATES, ALUMINUM, MAGNESIUM, TITANIUM
POWDERS. COLOR PRODUCERS, 100’s of chemicals,
WATERPROOF
FUSE,
PAPER
TUBING/MAKE ROCKETS, SMOKE GRENADES,
NOISE MAKERS ETC./ HOW-TO BOOKS,
VIDEOS, ROCKET MOTOR KITS! LAB ACIDS,
SOLVENTS, GLASSWARE, “GREAT PRICES”
BULK DISCOUNTS. CATALOG $3.00: PYROTEK,
P.O. BOX 300, SWEET VALLEY, PA 18656.
(570)256-3087. WWW.PYROTEK.ORG
how
to
repair
guns!
Home study course. Work with
handguns, rifles, and shotguns. Send
or call 24 hours a day.
Free literature: 800-223-4542
Name ____________________________________________ Age __________________
Address_____________________________________Phone( ________)_________________________________________________
City/State________________________________________Zip _______________________________________________________
The School of Gunsmithing, Dept. GGF475, PCDI
430 Technology Parkway, Norcross, Georgia 30092
Cars from $500! Police impounds and repossessions. For listings: 800-319-3323 ext. C587.
PI AGENCY
GUNS FOR SALE
3”
NEW/USED FIREARMS, IMPERIAL SIZING DIE
WAX, SEND $1.00 FOR LIST OR SEE WEBSITE
www.jcunard.com. J. CUNARD & COMPANY, P.O.
BOX 755G, NEWARK, OH 43058-0755, EMAIL
joe@jcunard.com. 740-345-6646.
GUNSMITHING
Quality Handgun Porting. Auto Specialist.
HyperPort. Call (877) EDM-PORT or
www.edmport.com for free information packet.
ENGRAVE
as a hobby
or business
…it’s never
been easier!
Request FREE information:
1-800-835-3519
Source #53056
P.O. Box 1153
Emporia, KS 66801
Fax: 620-343-9640
GRS@GrsTools.com
Visit our gallery… GrsTools.com
FOR SALE over 1500 specimens for Taxidermy!
Deer, bear, wolf, cougar, fisher, otter, etc. Also
antlers, horns, bear rugs, moose heads, antler
chandeliers, furs, etc. Wholesale Catalog $1.00.
North Country Taxidermy, Box 188G, Keene, NY
12942.
www.northcountrytaxidermy.com
www.adirondackreflections.com
INSTRUCTION
BLACKIE COLLINS TOTERS- Best quality blue jeans
designed to “tote” hand guns. Also has separate knife
pocket. www.blackiecollins.com, 1-866-455-1327.
Non-resident Nevada Concealed Firearm
Permits. Valid in several states, Check our website for information on permits and machineguns
for sale. www.thegunstorelasvegas.com. Visiting
Las Vegas? Try a machinegun in our indoor
range. THE GUN STORE Las Vegas, Nevada
(702) 454-1110.
CONCEALED WEAPONS License Identification
Badge. Finest quality, made to order with your
License Number; name optional. Catalog with or
without CD Rom supplement - Free. Seven Seas,
824 Symphony Isles Blvd., Dept. 38, Apollo Beach,
Florida 33572. Phone 813-645-2621, Fax 813-6411721.
badge0@seven-seas-shields.com;
http://www.seven-seas-shields.com
OPTICS
FOR SALE
ANTIQUE/COLLECTIBLE GUNS. “Dispatch” illustrated mail order catalog $5, subscription $35. We
buy collections. Consignment, auction, appraisal.
Old Town Station Ltd, POB 14040, Lenexa, KS
66285. Jim Supica, President. (913)492-3000.
Espionage Unlimited: Your one stop shop for surveillance, privacy, new ID and identity, covert
weapons,
investigations
and
more!
www.espionage-store.com 802-864-0951.
US NIGHT VISION - High quality night vision at the
most competitive pricing. Night Vision Goggles,
Monoculars, Night Vision Weapon Sights, Camera
Adaptable Night Vision. We carry all major brands
and manufacturer our own exclusive line. CALL
FOR YOUR FREE CATALOG 1-800-500-4020.
Visit us on the web at www.usnightvision.com. US
Night Vision Company, 5122 Bolsa Avenue, Suite
#103, Huntington Beach, CA 92649. 714-901-2626.
Fax 714-899-4485.
POLICE EQUIPMENT
#GPC
Be A
Gun Repair
Professional
100% Guaranteed!
Fast and Easy
At Home Video Instruction
Learn to repair and customize
Pistols, Revolvers, Rifles and Shotguns.
For Free Information Call!
LAW BADGES and patches. Send $2.00 for list or
$8.00 for 12 monthly lists. BPEC Department
G3000, BOX 7240, Sunnymead, California 925527240.
REAL ESTATE
GOVERNMENT LAND now available for claim
(including agricultural). Up to 160 acres/person.
Free
recorded message: (707) 448-1887. (4JR4)
VIDEOS
800-797-0867
AGI www.americangunsmith.com
American Gunsmithing Institute
INSTRUCTION
SCHOOL GUNSMITHING
1”
MISCELLANEOUS
CONFIDENTIAL CATALOG of Police and
Investigation Equipment $2., IPEC Department
G701, P.O. Box 7240, Moreno, California 92552.
W. Hock Hochheim’s Hand, Stick, Knife, Gun
Combat Training and CLOSE QUARTER COMBAT
MAGAZINE. Also Seminars; Videos; Books;
Manuals. www.HocksCQC.com. 706-866-2656.
MAY 2002
79
ADVERTISER
MAGAZINE
MAY 2002
ADVERTISER’S
ADVERTISER
PAGE
Ajax Custom Grips . . . . . . . . .73
American Sales & Mfg. . . . . .74
Bagmaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Baird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Benchmade . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Benelli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Beretta USA . . . . . .14-15, 24-25
Blue Book of Gun Values . . . .29
Camillus Cutlery . . . . . . . . . .29
Cannon Safe . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
J.A. Ciener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Colorado School of Trades . . .54
Compasseco . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Crimson Trace Corp. . . . . . . .17
Cynlinder & Slide . . . . . . . . . .81
80
MAY 2002
INDEX
ADVERTISER
PAGE
DeSantis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Dixie Gun Works . . . . . . . . . .75
Dynamit Nobel . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
El Paso Saddlery . . . . . . . . . .81
A.G. English . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Flash Dist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Fobus USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Fort Knox Security . . . . . . . . .74
Groves Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Insight Technology . . . . . . . . .6
Jantz Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Kimber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Knife Outlet . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
La Prade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Lee Precision . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
PAGE
Legendary Arms . . . . . . . . . .32
Mag-na-port Int’l . . . . . . . . . .51
Magnum Research . . . . . . . .C4
Marlin Firearms . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Meyerco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Mitchell’s Mausers . . . . . . . . .17
MTM Molded Products . . . . .81
Numrich Gun Parts . . . . . . . .58
Pearce Grip . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Preslik’s Gunstocks . . . . . . . .73
R Guns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Shoot Magazine . . . . . . . . . . .57
Shooters Choice . . . . . . . . . .51
Shooters Online . . . . . . . . . . .74
S & K Scope Mounts . . . . . .74
Smith & Wesson . . . . . . . . . .C2
SOG Specialty Knives . . . . . . .73
Springfield . . . . . . . . . . . .22-23
Surefire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Taurus Int’l . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C3
U.S. Firearms . . . . . . . . . . . .16
GUNS MAGAZINE
CAMPFIRE TALES
day he received it, he called me and said,
“You’se was right!” and I knew exactly what
he meant.
As he was shooting his .22, an old VW
van with graffiti all over the sides pulled in
and as he said: “Two punks got out. I knew
they was punks. They looked like punks,
they dressed like punks, they acted like
punks. They was punks. And they had a
young girl with them that should have been
home with her mama.”
The boys proceeded to set up a target at
seven yards and “miss it with every shot.”
Pretty soon one of the boys walked over to
Jack, looked down at the .454 and said, “Hey
Pops, what is that?”
“Why son, that is a .454 Casull.”
“Say Pops, is that any more powerful
than a .45 Automatic?”
With that, Jack says he muttered a very
quick Lord forgive me for what I’m about
to do.
“Son, it is a little more powerful. Would
you like to shoot it?”
“Say Pops, I believe I would.” With
that, Jack loaded five rounds of full house
.454 factory ammunition and handed him
the gun.
“Now son, cock the hammer, hold on
tight, and squeeeeeeeze the trigger.”
The young boy did as he was
instructed, fired one round, and got that
awful look on his face that so often happens to one who fires his first round from
a really big-bore sixgun.
“Son, there are four more rounds in the
gun. Go ahead and shoot ’em.”
“Pops, I don’t believe I will.”
“Taffin, I picked up the Casull, fired the
next four rounds, and not only put them all
in the 10-ring, they was touching each other.
Best shootin’ I ever did.”
As the young boy went back to his
friend, Jack heard the second boy say: “The
trouble with you is that’s a man’s gun, and
you ain’t no man!”
Sometimes things turn out just the way
they are supposed to.
Jack taught me some very important life
lessons: You should never lose your sense of
humor. You can always look up even when
lying flat on your back. And, above all, he
taught me how a man dies
with dignity.
$
CYLINDER
& SLIDE, INC.
www.cylinder-slide.com
A True Custom Shop
FEATURED PRODUCT
C&S specialises in customising Colt, Ruger, Smith & Wesson revolvers,
Walther, Beretta, Sig, Glock, 1911 and Hi-Power semi-autos to YOUR
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DUNK-IT®
Cylinder & Slide Web Site
The C&S website offers complete information on all custom work, photos
and specifications on complete guns, a technical information section as
well as all our handguns/products with a secure shopping cart.
Cylinder & Slide Catalog
Not on-line yet, our fully illustrated catalog is full of technical information
and all the high quality C&S parts and accessories is still available. Order
the C&S catalog for only $4.00 by calling 800-448-1713.
The fast,
easy way
to clean
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your guns.
3/4 gal. - $34.95
1 3/4 Gal. - $52.95 (Pictured)
4-gal. size - $99.95
Freight Free in Continental US
P.O. Box 937GA Fremont, NE 68026 -- www.cylinder-slide.com
Ph: 402-721-4277 • Fax: 402-721-0263 • ORDER LINE: 1-800-448-1713
MAY 2002
81
BY JOHN TAFFIN
BIG
Jack
82
MAY 2002
’ve learned a great deal from readers over the years.
Some of you have shared your pet loads with me,
which have proven to be excellent. Others of you have
turned me on to products that I eventually wrote
about. And a few of you have even become very special
friends. Big Jack was one of these.
About 15 years ago, Jack was traveling through
Colorado Springs and called Deacon Deason of Bearhug
Grips. They met for the first time, and Deac put Jack in
touch with me. We talked over the phone several times
and I knew immediately this was a man I liked. We
quickly became friends, and that summer Jack invited
my wife and I to come down to Georgia. We had a wonderful time, but I never forgave him for luring me to the
South in July. The weather was unbearable for this boy
from the Northwest. After that, Big Jack came West
every summer with a load of guns and ammunition for a
week of shooting.
My phone bills were astronomical during this time.
Jack’s wife was dying of cancer and we talked several
times a week. Six months later his mother died. When I
went to visit him down in Georgia just before Christmas, I
should have realized what was going on — but I didn’t.
When he picked me up at the airport, I saw that the back
of his Bronco was filled with unopened mail. We even
picked up mail on the way to his house, and most of that
was tossed unopened into the back seat. The lock on the
front door of his house was broken, and he hadn’t bothered
to fix it. I excused it all with the thought that he had lost
both wife and mother this same year. Most of the lights in
the house were burnt out, the refrigerator was mostly
empty, and the sink and kitchen were full of dirty dishes.
Again I excused it with the same reasoning. We went
hunting, and I noticed that he could hardly get up the one
step into his deer blind.
“He’s just tired,” I thought.
Three months later he was in the hospital, and now he
was dying of cancer.
We continued to talk each week. He never lost his
sense of humor. A long-awaited custom .41 Magnum had
arrived just before he went into the hospital. Jack loved the
.41 Magnum, and pity the poor writer who ever said aught
against it!
“Taffin, I got two worries. First, I will probably never
get out of this bed and be able to shoot my new .41. But
my greater worry is I will make it out of here and that gun
won’t shoot worth a hoot!”
Jack died shortly thereafter, and I was honored to be a
pallbearer at his funeral. I slipped some loaded .41 ammunition into his suit pocket just before they closed the lid. I
wanted him properly prepared for the hereafter.
As he was dying, Jack wanted to leave me a sixgun,
and he gave me a choice of his “Stroh .41,” his Freedom
Arms .454 Casull or his Sadowski-tuned Python. Fred
Sadowski is long gone, and I could always get the first two
guns. You can bet that Sawdowski Python is among my
most prized possessions.
One of the last times Jack was able to stand and shoot
was when he was all by himself at his beloved Savanna
Rifle & Pistol Club. That day he had his K-22 and the .454
Casull that I was finally able to convince him to buy. The
I
GUNS MAGAZINE

May 2002 - Jeffersonian`s Home Page

Transcription

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