NEW! - Jeffersonian

Handgun hunters
exceed 1-million
T
he 1980 National Survey of J-:lu.nting
and Fishing shows 1.3 I?ilhon
pistol and revolver hunters m the
United States. Of these, 31 percent
hunted big game with a handgun, 63
percent hunted small game and 16 p~rcent
hunted "other" game specIes
("such as varmints and coon").
The study has been done every five
years since 1955 by the Fish and Wildlife
Service, U.S. Department ofthe Interior,
with the assistance of the U.S.
Bureau of the Census. Persons 16 years
or older were interviewed.
The number of handgun hunters is
significant, considering the many people
who think all pistols and revolvers
are used for nefarious purposes.
In 1980, hunters-Iongarm, handgu.n
and bow-spent $8.5 billion for theIr
sport, an all-incll;lsive fi~ure that
includes transportatIOn, lodgmg, meals
and equipment.
Of that amount, $902 million was
spent for guns (no breakdown for
handguns), $106 million for s.c?pe
sights, $449 million for a~mull1tI~n,
$95 million for handloadmg eqUIpment,
and $87 million for specialty
magazine subscriptions.
In addition, 87 percent of all hunters
lived in·small cities, towns or rural areas
and 86 percent were white. Males totaled
92 percent of all hunters, and 95
percent hunted in their own state ofresidence.
Since 1955, the total annual expenditures
of hunters has risen from $937
million to $8.5 billion; the number of
days spent hunting has jumped from
169 million to 387 million.
A copy of the 150-pape report is
available from the Supermtendent of
Documents, Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C. Price ~a.s not
known at press time, so query If mterested.
INFO 'QUICKIE'
Always begin handgun practice at .a
big target at short range, wIth a .22 cahber
pistol or revolver.
Move the target down-range graduallly,
as your skill increases, until you
are at the standard distance.
It's well to start with a 20-inch target
at no more than 10 yards, and continue
to shoot at this close range until you can
stay in the black. .,.
Good shots are not born. They are
made by careful, conscientious training.
The best shots practice daily, either
with live ammo or by "dry-firing" with
an empty gun.
attributed to walking around since
birth with your head pointing
downward. The military has no real
need for pistols. and the police are
certainly no repository of defensive
competence. It is the private citizen
who needs to be able to defend
himself and his family. and what he
needs for that is practical (relevant)
pistol skill.
To the extent that IPSC remains
true to its own name it will have
value. and it will explore and develop
the requisite arts of the private citizen
in a way that no organization of
public servants ever can. If it loses
sight of its founding principles. it will
trivialize; and its demise will be no
loss. If all you want to do is play. it is
cheaper and a lot less bother to play
pool.
Your assumption that I am a
gentleman is flattering but. since we
have never met. without basis.
Thanks anyway.
Jeff Cooper.
Paulden. AZ
Jeff, methinks you protest too
much. Mr. Robinson was
describing the handgun scene in
Australia-as he sees it-and
not in Paulden, Arizona-Editor.
Ex-Border Patrolman
Bill Toney has praise
Thanks for the nice things you
(Massad Ayoob) wrote about me in
"Cop Talk:' July-August. American
Handgunner.
I have been out of serious shooting
competition and firearms writing for a
long time now but. unlike old
bankers. I have not lost my interest.
In 1973. I retired from the Border
Patrol. completed a master's degree
and began teaching at Stephen F.
Austin State University.. My master's
thesis. A Descriptive Study of the
Control of Illegal Mexican Migration
117 the Southwestern US.. was
published by R&E Research. .
Associates. Inc. of San FranCISco In
1977. I have all the work for a Ph.D.
in criminal justice completed except
a dissertation. and I am up to my
ears in that now.
I shoot for recreation and maintain
my NRA instructor and training
counselor status. Perhaps. when I
finish my dissertation. I will have
more time to read. write and think
about shooting.
Thanks again for the good words.
Bill Toney
Nacogdoches TX
Continued on page 22
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AMERICAN HANDGUNNER • JANUARYIFEBRUARY 1983 7