American Handgunner Sept/Oct 2011 - Jeffersonian

Cover Photo: Chuck Pittman, Inc.2011Volume 36 • Number 5 • Issue 213SEPTEMBER • OCTOBERFEATURES 4848 too many boxes dave emaryDefensive ammo — what do you really need to know?51 apg raffLe guns roy huntingtonWin a chance at this stunning set!52 a double hit mike “duke” venturinoUmarex’s new .22 and .45 1911s.54 fNH‘S “DO-ANYTHING” AUTO Dave ANDERSONThe FNP-45 Competition is more than meets the eye.62 OCCAM’S RAZOR JEREMY CLOUGHThunder Ranch’s “Defensive Handgun” Class.67 A CLOSE LOOK AT: ACCESSORIES JOHN CONNORTactical, practical and just flat-out cool. Add-ons, updates and adornment for your ordnance.68 POCKET DYNAMITE! pat covertTriple Eight Professional’s innovative carry knives.70 RUGER’S LC9 9MM COMPACT PAT CASCIOThe .380 LCP’s big brother!75 FOOTSTEPS OF THE MASTER JERMEMY CLOUGHNovak’s idea of a Colt .25 Auto.99 a close look at: high-tech John connorHow high’s your high-tech? Great gizmos for Gunners!52 68Exclusive: Available online onlyat www.americanhandgunner.com!mike “duke” venturino’s 12-part SERIES CONTINUES!genesis of the colt single actionpart 7: colt's cartridge conversions available noWpart 8: the first generation coltsingle action army available in augustpreparing for a handgun huntwhat you need to know! mark hamptongsg-1911 .22another top quality, fun 1911 .22! mike cumpston4 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

36DEPARTMENTS32 THE AYOOB FILES MASSAD AYOOBThe Tucson Atrocity: Joe Zamudio’s Story.36 better shooting dave andersonPolymer CZ P-07.40 the sixgunner john TaffinThe Coonan .357 Magnum returns!102 gunnysack roy huntingtonAE Light, Bianchi Foldaway Holster, GunVault and SureStrike.COLUMNS8 SPEAK OUT5122 TAFFIN TESTS JOHN TAFFIN24 GUNCRANK DIARIES JOHN CONNOR4626 HANDLOADING JOHN TAFFIN28 REALITY CHECK CLINT SMITH30 COP TALK MASSAD AYOOB6234 WINNING EDGE DAVE ANDERSON38 HANDGUN HUNTING J.D. JONES42 CARRY OPTIONS sammy reese44 SHOOTING IRON MIKE “DUKE” VENTURINO46 PISTOLSMITHING ALEX HAMILTON77 gun rights alan korwin114 THE INSIDER ROY HUNTINGTONRESOURCES96 WEBSITE SHOWCASE100 CUSTOM CORNER106 SPOTLIGHT STEVE EVATT110 AD INDEX111 CLASSIFIEDS70HANDGUN OF THE MONTHWIN!THE COVER GUNWin aN FNP-45 PACKAGE valuedat OVER 1,600!Check Out Web BlastFor More Info, VideosAnd Pictures AboutArticles In Every Issue.americanhandgunner.comJust click on the Web Blast icon!Go to: www.americanhandgunner.com/72productindex for complete product infoand article and manufacturer’s links!AMERICAN HANDGUNNER ® (ISSN 0145-4250) is published bi-monthly by Publishers’ Development Corp., 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128. Periodical postage paid at SanDiego, CA 92128, and at additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: One year (six issues) $19.75. Single copies $5.95 (in Canada $9.50). Change of address: four weeks notice required on allchanges. Send old address as well as new. Contributors submitting manuscripts, photographs or drawings do so at their own risk. Material cannot be returned unless accompanied by sufficientpostage. Payment is for all world rights for the material. The act of mailing a manuscript constitutes the author’s certification of originality of material. Opinions expressed are those of the bylinedauthors and do not necessarily represent those of the magazine or it’s advertisers. Advertising rates furnished on request. Reproduction or use of any portion of this magazine in any manner,without written permission, is prohibited. Entire contents Copyright© 2011 Publishers’ Development Corp. All rights reserved. Title to this publication passes to subscriber only on delivery to hisaddress. SUBSCRIPTION PROBLEMS: For immediate action, write Subscription Dept., 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AMER-ICAN HANDGUNNER ® , 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128. WARNING: Firearms are dangerous if used improperly, and may cause serious injury or death. Due to the inherentvariables in the reloading of metallic cartridges, verify all published loads with manufacturer’s data. Consult a professional gunsmith when modifying any firearm. Be a safe shooter!WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 5

oard of directors Thomas von Rosen, CEO;Thomas Hollander; Randy Moldé; Marjorie YoungPUblisher & EDITOR Roy HuntingtonManaging Editorial Assistant Stephanie JarrellDesign Director Lisa StahlhutProduction Manager Kevin LewisWeb Site Manager Lorinda MasseyPromotions Coordinator Elizabeth O’NeillAdvertising Sales Director Anita CarsonAdvertising Sales Assistant Dana HatfieldStaff Photographer Joe NovelozoField editorsJohn MorrisonJeremy CloughMark HamptonMark HantenDave DouglasRandy DeHayContributing editorsMike “Duke” Venturino Clint SmithJohn TaffinJ.D. JonesSammy Reese, BCP Patrick CovertMassad AyoobAlex HamiltonDave Anderson John Connorfmg publicationsamericanhandgunner.comPublisher & Editor: Roy HuntingtonAdvertising: Steve Evatt, (800) 533-7988e-mail: steve@americanhandgunner.comamericancopmagazine.comEditor: Suzi HuntingtonAdvertising: Denny Fallon, (800) 426-4470e-mail: denny@americancopmagazine.comgunsmagazine.comEditor: Jeff JohnAdvertising: Andrew Oram, (866) 903-1199e-mail: andrew@gunsmagazine.comshootingindustry.comPublisher & Editor: Russ ThurmanAdvertising: Delano Amaguin, (888) 732-6461e-mail: delano@shootingindustry.comSpecialEditions fmgpublications.comEditor: Sammy ReeseAdvertising: Scott McGregor, (800) 553-7780e-mail: scott@americanhandgunner.comONline Advertising Manager: Tracy Moore,(888) 651-7566; Fax: (858) 605-0205; tracy@fmgpublications.comclassified advertising: Lori Robbins,(800) 633-8001, Fax: (858) 605-0247, classads@fmgpublications.comFMG EAst coast sales: Sig Buchmayr, Buchmayr & Associates28 Great Hill Rd., Darien, CT 06820; (203) 662-9740, sigbuch@optonllin.net.national Advertising: 12345 World Trade Dr., San Diego, CA,92128; (866) 972-4545; Fax: (858) 605-0211; anita@shootingindustry.comCustomer servicewww.americanhandgunner.comSUBSCRIPTION Services: ............................ (858) 605-0253Express Service: www.americanhandgunner.com and click “contacts”EDITORIAL: .................................................... (858) 605-0243e-mail: ................................ editor@americanhandgunner.comPRODUCTION: ................................................ (858) 605-0219e-mail: ........................ production@americanhandgunner.comBOOKS/MERCHANDISE: ................................. (888) 732-2299e-mail: ..................................... rachelle@fmgpublications.comGeneral Counsel/Legal Affairs: .............. Steele N. Gillaspeye-mail: ......................................................... sng@g-glaw.comProduced in the U.S.A.6 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

® ®T H E R U G E R L C R - L I G H T W E I G H T C O M P A C T R E V O L V E RPacked with the latest technological advances and features required by today’s most demanding shooters, the Ruger ®LCR ® is the evolution of the revolver. Winner of the 2009 Academy of Excellence, 2010 American Rifleman and 2010Shooting Illustrated Handgun of the Year, the Ruger LCR is a lightweight, smallframerevolver with a uniquely smooth trigger and highly manageable recoil.THE RUGER ® LCR ®/ .38 SPL+P2010 American Rifl emanand Shooting IllustratedHandgun of the Year2009 Handgunof the YearLCR ®-357®LCRWITH XS ® SIGHTSWWW.RUGER.COM/LCR©2011 Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.051311T O L E A R N M O R E A B O U T T H E R U G E R L C R , S C A N T H E Q R C O D E T O T H E L E F T W I T H Y O U R S M A R T P H O N E .

SPEAKOUTYOUR FORUMTO PONTIFICATE,PONDER AND PROBEflagsI also fly the flag. Since 9/11, I’ve had flags on my fence posts along the road, where I lived in SierraVista, Ariz. But now I have been inspired to put up a flagpole here in Yuma. I posted up the letter fromyour father (Insider, “Flag Flyers,” July/Aug 2011) along with Conner’s “Why We Carry Guns.” Youneed to put that your dad is on the permanent post section on your website.Thank your father for his service.BenUSN, Ret.Yuma, Ariz.More FlagsPlease feel free to tack your dad’smessage to the foreheads of anyoneuncouth enough to correct your father’sstyle of flag flying. I once was incharge of raising the flag over a staterest area, and enjoyed doing it properly,observing such conventions as flyingit at half-staff until noon on MemorialDay, then raised it fully for thePACT_postxmas_09_fixed.pdf 12/16/08 9:04:18 AMafternoon. These things often have aparticular assigned significance, butcriticism of an individual’s presentationof his personally owned Stars andStripes is upside down and backwards.A lot of folks all along the politicalspectrum just don’t value freedom (atleast the other guy’s freedom). Forthose people on the right who periodicallybring up a “flag burning” amendmentas the only way to protect OldGlory, I would suggest harkening backto English Common Law. There was alegal doctrine allowing people to dealwith gross insults to cherished symbols(flags, for instance). It’s entitled“Fighting Words.” When someone saysor does something outrageous, (such asburning the flag in an insulting manner),a physical response, (considered and8 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

••U.S. GOV’T GOLD AT-COSTThe U.S. Money Reserve announces the final release ofU.S. Gov’t Issued $5 Gold Coins priced at $169.40 per coin.Please be advised: These Gov’t Issued Gold Coins, whichwere previously held at the U.S. Mint at West Point, arebeing released on a first-come, first-serve basis and areexpected to completely sell out! This at-cost Gov’t Goldoffer may end at any time so call 1-888-465-3060 today.Own Gov’t Issued Gold CoinsDUE TO STRICT LIMITED AVAILABILITY, TELEPHONEORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE BASIS ACCORDING TO TIME OF ORDER.Coins enlargedto show detail.Call immediately to order yourUnited States Gold Coins directfrom our Main Vault Facility,at-cost, for the amazing price of only$169.40 per coin. Special arrangementscan be made for Gold purchases over$50,000. Order your Gold Coins today!GOUNITED STATESV’TGOLDC OI N SMarkup-Free Price of ONLY$169 40EACH1 – Gov’t Issued Gold Coin $ 169.40( PLUS INSURANCE, SHIPPING & HANDLING $31.00)5 – Gov’t Issued Gold Coins $ 847.00( PLUS INSURANCE, SHIPPING & HANDLING $31.00)10 – Gov’t Issued Gold Coins $ 1,694.00( PLUS INSURANCE, SHIPPING & HANDLING $36.00)DUE TO MARKET FLUCTUATIONS, AT-COST PRICES ARE VALID FOR A MAXIMUMOF 30 DAYS FROM AD PUBLICATION DATE. SPECIAL AT-COST OFFER IS STRICTLYLIMITED TO ONLY ONE LIFETIME PURCHASE OF 10 AT-COST COINS (REGARDLESSOF PRICE PAID) PER HOUSEHOLD, PLUS SHIPPING AND INSURANCE. DISTRIBU-TOR OF GOVERNMENT GOLD. NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.CALL TOLL FREE (7 Days A Week)1-855-255-1736MASTERCARD • VISA • AMEX • DISCOVER • CHECKDISTRIBUTOR OF GOVERNMENT GOLD. NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.Vault No. AHG1-16940© 2011 U.S. Money Reserve. No one can guarantee a Gold Coin’s future value will go up or down.SPEAKOUTproportional, such as a pop in the nose)might be excused. Sounds okay to me.Victor SpearmanVia e-mailI just wanted to thank you forprinting the letter from your fatherconcerning his American flag. Histhoughts have been my exact sentimentsfor a very long time. I take greatexception to people “dictating” to mehow the very symbol of liberty andfreedom should be treated. Especiallyfrom those, who have never fought forit or served it in any way. I intend toread your father’s letter during openmeetings for a couple of organizations,to which I belong. I am sure it willbe well received. Bless your dad forwriting it, and you for printing it.David DuffeyVia e-mailJoplin SurvivalAs I write this, one week agotonight, an EF5 tornado barreledthrough Joplin, Mo. The next morning,I traveled to Joplin to try to salvageanything we could from my company’sstore, but one look told me therewas nothing; I looked to the west andsaw nothing but devastation as far as Icould see. Good friends and relativeswere lucky enough to survive. I am notan emotional person but I fought backtears for the people of Joplin as I stoodthere. Now a week later, everywhereI turn, in nearby Springfield, peopleare raising money to buy supplies andhelp rebuild. There are hundreds ofstories about people coming from allover the country to help. On the nightof the storm, listening to the scanner,Springfield was already mobilizing togo. My own daughter even spent todayhelping people clean up. This is not aletter about guns, but about Americanspirit and resolve. At this moment, 139people are confirmed dead, with manystill missing. On this Memorial Dayweekend, as I think about all this, I fightback tears about this storm, but let themflow. Thanks to everyone that is helpingin any way they can. It makes me proudto be an American watching the helpinghands reach out.Steve CobbVia e-mailSteve’s was one of hundreds of e-mailsI received after the Joplin tornado. Andthey were all the same: overflowingwith offers of supplies, money or evenoffers to drive over to help us personallyif we needed it, knowing we livedhere. But we dodged the bullet on this10 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

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SPEAKOUTof all time. I shot mine in the revolverclass of IPSC with full-moon clips andpracticed with the .45 AR. The first fiveshots from the gun shot a 11/8" groupat 15 yards — great for me! I foundit to be a 40-yard deer gun, a greatdefense revolver and an outstandingplinker. After a call to Ron Power ofGrand Masters LLC, I made the trip tohis shop and had the pleasure to standover his shoulder and watch him do areal trigger job, along with a few othergoodies thrown in. I completely agreewith Duke on his caliber choice, andClint on Mr. Power. I hope you printthis, as all shooters should know whata class act Ron and his son Randallreally are.Steve CobbWillard, Mo.DinkedRoy, dag-nabbit, you’re right again!First it was “better than 2-fingerin” yergun outta yer front pocket when youtalked about pocket holsters; now it’snot usin’ that discount set of screwdrivers,thanks to your gun-cleaningInsider columns lately. Well ... theysure looked liked they’da workedokay! Now I’ll be danged if I got mea “DINK” on the big, flat-head screwtopat the end of my tube on my tubefed,lever-action stainless steel shorty.45 Colt Puma rifle! Dang, dang —DANG! Don’t tell anyone it wasme. I’m all for livin’ an’ learnin’ butnobody else really has to know!Great rag, blah, blah … keep up thegood work, blah, blah. Pay raises to all!Matthew LeonardVia e-mailI told you so, Matt. No dime-store screwdrivers,I said it clearly, but you had togo do it, just had to go do it … RHPotential GunsmithA family friend has given me the pastfour issues of your magazine, and frankly,I’m tired of reading about them. I want tostart working on them, and that’s whereI run into a problem. I have no idea ofwhere to start learning. I’ve heard abouta few gunsmithing schools but I’ve heardmixed reviews. I was hoping you guyscould point me in the right direction.Alexander McCookVia e-mailI’d say you have two ways to go,either online schools and DVD-basedlearning, or a brick and mortar school.For online learning, I have personalexperience with the American GunsmithingInstitute. They have a comprehensiveseries of videos and can take14 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

Meprolight Night Sightsand Optical SightsDon’t be afraid of the dark.Kimber ® Eclipse Target II .45 ACP (left)with Meprolight adjustable night sightsand Kimber Ultra CDP II .45 ACP wearingMeprolight fixed night sights.Meprolight M-21 reflexsights provide a fastaiming point withoutdepending on batterypower. They are battletestedtough.Enhance any AR-15 withthe new day/night sightsystem with 4 rear dotsthat quickly center thebrighter front bead.Tactical shotguns arefaster and much moreeffective with theaddition of a Meprolightnight sight bead.Meprolight ® night sights are 20% brighter than other brands. That means faster and moreaccurate shooting - regardless of light conditions. Fixed and adjustable sets are availablefor most popular pistol and revolver brands and models, as well as tactical long guns.Different color combinations are offered for some pistols as well. Installation modifi cations,if required, are minor. With Meprolight, if a target is visible so are the sights.Available fromKimber, One Lawton Street, Yonkers, NY 10705 (800) 880-2418Kimber and Kimber of America are registered trademarks of Kimber Mfg., Inc.All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective companies. ©2011 Kimber Mfg., Inc.T H E C H O I C E O F A M E R I C A ’ S B E S Tkimberamerica.com

SPEAKOUTyou from the very beginning, to morecomplicated jobs. (Find them at: www.americangunsmithinginstitute.org).If you go to: www.brownells.com/aspx/general/links.aspx then click onthe “Gunsmithing Schools” near thetop under “Category,” you’ll find acomprehensive list of schools, withmost offering 2-year gunsmithingdegrees. You might also check out theBrownells Gunsmithing Career Fair(careerfair@brownells.com for info)or learn about it on the Brownells website.I’ve been a hobby gunsmith fordecades and am proud to say I justadded a “real” milling machine tomy shop! Oh, buy all of J.B. Wood’sbooks on takedown and assembly. Youcan generally find them on Amazon.com. They will definitely bail you out ofmore than one spot! RHList Price $499Tough HolsterFor some years now, I’ve carried myCombat Commander in a Mitch RosenWorkman holster. I regard it as anessential, quality piece of intelligentlydesigned gear. Recently, the snap brokeand I called the company to inquireabout a repair. Since I live less than anhour from their shop in Manchester,N.H., I went to the shop the next timeI was in town. I was greeted by a nicelady who took the holster from me,asked me to wait, and went “out back”to have it fixed. Shortly, Mr. Rosen himselfcame up and handed me my holster,perfectly repaired. I asked what I owed,and was told there would be no charge,of course.In this day and age, this is a testamentto the quality of the product andthe people behind it. Mr. Rosen apparentlystopped what he was doing, tookmy holster, and repaired it while Iwaited. To say I was impressed wouldbe an understatement, especially giventhe fact I wasn’t charged for it. I’d liketo publicly thank Mitch Rosen ExtraordinaryGunleather and the staff for theirquality and service, and for standingbehind their product. Can you guesswhere I’ll buy my next holster?Jeff BrownDeering, N.H.Aw ShucksRecently, I had a concern about mysubscription to American Handgunner.I thought issues were due, and hadnot seen them. I phoned your office,and a tremendous, courteous personanswered. She said — in understandableAmerican English, I might add— I’d have both of my Handgunnerand GUNS issues in four to five days16 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

R. LEE ERMEY (AKA “GUNNY”)A M A Z I N GS T O R I E STHERE HE WAS, EYEBALL TOEYEBALL WITH A SNARLING BOBCAT,ARMED WITH A SOPPING-WET GLOCKTHAT JUST FELL IN A LAKE.WHAT THE HECK DOES HE DO?HE SHAKES THAT SUCKER OFFA N D S Q U E E Z E S T H E T R I G G E R .I don’t know what numbnuts drops his handgun in a lake, but at least he knew enough to choose GLOCK inthe first place. GLOCK “Safe Action” pistols have fewer parts, so they perform even in extreme conditions.Safe. Simple. Fast. = Confidence.© 2011 GLOCK, Inc.How’d you like a chance at being in a GLOCK ad of your own?Share your story at facebook.com/glockinc or visit glock.com/amazingstories

SPEAKOUTThe Sight of a LifetimeOur sights are used by top shootersthe world over.Why? Because they have proven to be reliable and long-lasting in the field or at the shooting range.The durable LitePipes withstand the punishment of everyday use. Housed in a high quality steel base,they can be changed quickly and easily allowing you to choose the color that best fits your needs.Or if you prefer an overmolded sight, we’ve made them equally durable and holster-friendlyby eliminating all sharp corners. Nothing to stand in the way of you hitting the target!The chemical-resistant material used in our LitePipes makes them unaffected by commoncleaning products so your HiViz sight will always provide the bright sight picture you’ve cometo expect from HiViz and will last for years and years. And naturally they’re 100% guaranteed.and she apologized for any inconvenience.Well, today they both arrived,on time, and with Priority Mail. Shucks,the postage was almost five bucks, andI only pay $30 or so for the subscriptions!My daughter gives me the jointsubscription for Father’s Day. I love itbecause I get Father’s Day every month.Hard to get chores done before I devourthe issues!There are a couple local shooterswho are extraordinary in helping mewith my shooting and reloading questions.I’m at best, a casual shooter, soneed help regularly! I’m beginning torealize there is a group of people whoare of the same mold, and it revolvesaround shooting. Sure is nice to meetand talk with real Americans. Pleasekeep doing what you’re doing.Paul JaegerVia e-mail1+1+1= 2?Can you ask Clint a question? If“one is none” and “two is one,” whatis three? I’m thinking one, but highermath was never my strength.Joe SchirosVia e-mail“America’s Finest Handgun Grips”Fill Your Hand!New Grip GlovesTransform Micro Autos:Ruger LCP, Taurus TCP,Kel-Tec P-3AT & P32The secret is in the grip’ssubtle palm swell.Palm SwellsEnhance GripAdding very little bulk tothe tiny gun’s grip, it providesa remarkable improvement inhandling. In addition to superiorfit, Pachmayr’s Deceleratormaterial delivers recoil reductionand enhanced control unmatched byother slip-on brands. The proprietarymaterial also provides the rightflexibility to make installation “a snap”.No trimming, tearing or hard work isneeded for a perfect fit.Pachmayr ®A Lyman BrandI’d say three, unless one breaks, thenit’s two; but if two break, then it’s one;and if three breaks, then three becomesnone; unless you sorta’ fix one, thenthree is kinda’ one; unless it breaksagain because you did a crummy jobfixing it. Hope that clears things up. RHOld LeadI just wanted to know if once-firedlead can be re-cast and used againto make new bullets for reloading? Ihave never cast my own before and amthinking about starting. It seems sucha waste not to collect the lead from theback of the range and use it again ifit’s feasible to do so. Excellent read bythe way. We have nothing like this inAustralia, and I have just renewed mysubscription.Keiron TunneyKununurra, Western AustraliaTactical Grip GlovesAlso Available for:ingfield XD, XD(M)Beretta:Lyman ® .5059G’day, Keiron. I lived in Canberra inthe middle 1960s. I loved Australia,it’s just too bad the government hasmessed up your firearms laws so badly!And you can most definitely collect andreuse that lead. Just read-up on how tocast, flux and the safety involved. We’verun several casting articles lately inGUNS and Handgunner so if you don’thave the issues, it’s a good excuse togo to www.americanhandgunner.comand www.gunsmagazine.com to browse18 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

Colt_HalfpgAd_4.625x7.5_052411:Layout 1 5/24/11 5:28 PM Page 1the online digital editions using the“search” feature and look for castinginfo. RHNorway ShooterA small plea from those of us whodo not live in the USA, and through thepages of American Handgunner see allthat lovely gear — pistols, revolvers,holsters, reloading kits, “tactical pants”(whatever those might be) and more.You have such choices and styles, andalas, we often cannot get such gearelsewhere in the world. The problemis, when I try to buy some of the gear(non-permit type), I keep getting thekind of response that says the manufacturereither does not ship abroad, cannottake international credit cards or thereis some other administrative hindrance,ultimately meaning no sale, and a lot ofdisappointment for us.Can you perhaps suggest to thehandgunning supply manufacturersthat there is a big market “out here” inthe rest of the world, and so desperatewe are for the goods they make, wewould not have any problem paying acredit card fee or the shipping charges.They would do a world of good forthe reputation of the USA! People willsee the quality goods made, as well asmaking us all happier. Hey, it might alsoimprove the balance of payments situationtoo, who knows?Paul MathiesonNorwayRevolver Web BlastI just finished watching your webblast video on revolver cleaning. It wasvery informative and well produced.Excellent job.I have a quick question. I use a veryinexpensive pair of electronic earmuffs.They’re my first set of electronic muffsand I really like the concept. Unfortunately,being a cheap pair and havingused them a good deal, they weren’tall that comfortable in the first place,and are kinda’, sorta’ wearing out fast.I’d love to see an article comparing themodels that are out there. I’ve donesome looking myself but there’s quitea variety out there, and I’m not exactlysure the most expensive ones are necessarilythe best. I would appreciate anyinput you might have.Thanks again for the great videoand, of course, your continued outstandingmagazine. I am a well-satisfiedsubscriber.David G. UmbreitVia e-mailFactory-original spare parts and accessoriesFactory Direct Colt ® 1911 and Single Action Army ® PartsMagazines for Colt model pistolsNew, complete AR-15 ® upper assemblies and partsColt-branded apparel, accessories & collectablesOrders ship within 1 business dayOrder direct at www.coltsmfg.com or 1-800-962-COLTIf you want to see that revolvercleaning video David is talking about,go to www.americanhandgunner.comand click on Web Blast near the top.Then scroll down along the left untilWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 19

SPEAKOUTyou see the video link. As far as thosemuffs go, you’re right, and you getwhat you pay for. My experience withcheaper ones is they are adequate forshort-term use or light duty, but dofall short in performance. If you investin a good quality pair from a namebrandmaker, you’ll never regret it!I’ll see about covering them in thefuture. RHGood GunsI just finished reading your coverfeature (“Excellence Defined,” May/June, 2011); a great article Mr. Huntington.I also keep a copy of the May/June 2009 Handgunner because itcontains another great article, this byClint Smith, about a 1911 custom builtfor him by Jason Burton of HeirloomPrecision. My local gun shop, CivilArmory in Pleasant Valley, N.Y., had aTed Yost 1911 they reluctantly allowedme to handle, and rack once! This wasnot like a piece of art, it was a pieceof art. I struggled for a week or twotrying to rationalize spending that kindof money for one handgun. Then it wasgone, an 66Internet purchase, and sowas my struggle. Please continue toprint articles about these master gunsmithsand their work because personally,I, and others, enjoy readingabout them a great deal. And until oneday that I actually own a Yost or aVolkmann or something comparable,I’ll keep this copy of American Handgunneras well.Dr. J. MarguliesVia e-mailDry-Fire DilemmaI was in a gun shop the other day andwas looking over a Springfield 1911-A1and I wanted to get a feel of the triggerpull, so I dry-fired it. The sales repstarted talking at me like a child, tellingme “Don’t ever dry fire a 1911!” I askedhim why, since it was contrary to everythingI had ever heard or read before,and knowing a little about the physicsof firearms myself it did not seem tomake sense. He just replied a coupleof gunsmiths told him that, but could20 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

not tell me anything else. I apologizedto the man and left. So, I am coming toyou guys for the final word. Thank youfor such a great magazine.Jeremy BrownVia e-mailAlas, Jeremy, you were the victim ofwhat we like to call a “Gun Store Commando”— the jerks who are know-italls,but who actually know very little.He’s exactly wrong about dry-firing a1911, or for that matter virtually anymodern gun, and older ones too. Dryfiringis a great way to hone your triggercontrol (unload it first, safe backstop,etc.), and I’ve probably dry-fired hundredsof thousands of times, with no illeffectsto any gun. Some .22s can bedamaged due to the firing pin strikingthe chamber where the cartridge rimsits, but even then, most modern .22scan take some dry-firing without anyproblems. So buy your next 1911 fromsomeone who knows what he’s doingand tell the Gun Store Commando(related to Computer Commandos, bythe way) to go pound sand. RH®M16-13ZLEKM16-13ZLEK• 420J2 stainless interframe with Zytel ® scales.• AUS 8 stainless steel spear-point blade withnon-reflective black finish.• Seat belt cutter and tungsten carbide window breaker.• 2 position pocket /gear clip included.Theresa MarieYou just can’t start them any soonerthan this. She was born one day prior tothis photo being taken.Greg W.Via e-mail.44 Russian HappinessIn January 2010, I called and talkedwith you about Alex Hamilton and hiscaring attitude regarding my .44 Russian.He gave me a good deal of advice.I continued my pursuit of a gunsmiththat would do the unique work I neededto get it firing again, but to no avail,until my friend, Tommy Mason, a championsingle-shot shooter showed mean add in Single Shot Rifle Journal forrestorative welding. I called and talkedwith Pete Nagel (prnagel@frontier.com)about my problem. He said it could bedone, as he is a retired tool and die engineerand master welder. He works withPaul Sailor, restorative master gunsmith(iroquois.arms@att.net) who fits theparts after Pete does the welding, as wellas nickel plating and case hardening. IContinued on page 94CARSONDESIGNwww.crkt.comWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 21Columbia River Knife & ToolM16 1/3 page Vertical Ad, 2.125 x 9.5” CMYK

TAFFINTESTSJohn TaffinTHE SIXGUNNERHIMSELF: GUNS,GEAR AND MOREPlayin’ Favorites.22 Semi-autoI’m going to take advantage of my advancing years looking atmy favorite handguns, and this will definitely not be objectivebut rather entirely subjective. These are the guns I haveused and prefer; your choice may be entirely different. Choosingfavorites is not always easy. Sometimes I can pick one favorite;other times it will be several. With that in mind we herein look atTaffin’s Top .22 semi-autos.“Oh Papa, I’m afraid!” It was granddaughter numberthree facing her first time to shoot. She was not in the best ofmoods to start with as she had gone with me previously andwound up hiding in the pick-up to escape bees that seemedto zero in on her. This time there were no bees and she wasgoing to shoot for the first time using a Ruger MKII .22.With the .22 semi-auto the new shooter only has to concentrateon three things, sight alignment, trigger squeeze andabove all safety. We went through all of these and she wasstill afraid and not quite sure she wanted to do this. By thetime she fired that first full magazine it was “Oh Papa thisis so much fun!” She was now a full-fledged shooter, and Ispent the time keeping her supplied with loaded magazines.Best GunsThe .22 semi-auto pistol is one of themost useful firearms available. It’s greatfor teaching someone new how to shootand also to emphasize safety. All of mygrandkids early learned if something goeswrong, keep it pointed in the right direction,put the safety on, set it down and call me. Iwish all adults were as safe with firearms asmy grandkids have been since day one. Thesemi-auto .22 is great for plinking, target shooting, small game and varmints, and hasthe potential for being a lifesaver in a survival situation. If for some reason one couldonly have one handgun, it should be a .22 semi-auto. Even at today’s inflated prices,.22s are still a great bargain. Add family and friends to a brick of .22s and a qualitypistol and you have not only great fun, but the stuff memories are made of.One of those memories built took place this past summer as my good friend,fellow Shootist, and brother by heart, Terry Murbach drove down from the DakotaTerritory to spend a few weeks. We shot a lot of sixguns and semi-autos during thattime but most of it was devoted to really having fun busting little rocks with .22s.In fact we went through something over 5,000 rounds of .22s.Browning’s oustandingheavy barrel target.22s with51/2" and10" barrels.These Ruger MKIIs in stainless steel and blueversions are hard to beat for long-rangeshooting or paper-punchingsmallgroups.Left: Ruger stainlesssteel MKIII isa fine shootingsemi-auto 22.Middle: SpecialpurposeRuger .22semi-autos includeDiamond Dot’sPurple Pistol (left)and SSK Custom,2 nd from right.Bottom: Ruger’sMKI was offeredin three barrellengths: 67/8",51/2" Bull and therare 51/4" versionmade only forone year in theearly 1950s.RugerProductionThere’s a lot of confusionabout the original.22 semi-autos, not onlyamong shooters but gunshops andgunwriters as well. Bill Rugerstarted producing his original .22in 1949 featuring a Red Eaglein the left grip panel. When hispartner, Alexander Sturm died,the color was changed from redto black. The original .22 Rugerhad a 43/4" barrel, fixed sights andis known as the Standard Model.The first Mark I was a 67/8" TargetModel introduced in 1951. In1954, the 6" Standard Model wasfirst offered, and in 1963 the MarkI Bull Barrel Target Model arrivedwith a 51/2" barrel.The Standard Models, and theMark I Target Models, were madeside-by-side until 1982 when allRuger .22s became Mark IIs with10-round magazines and slidelocking feature. In 2004, the MarkIIIs arrived with extra safety features.For pure nostalgia I preferthe original Standard ModelsContinued on page 8922 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

Introducing theKimber Solo 9mm.The all-new Solo Carry (left) and Solo CarryStainless are the most accurate, shootable anddependable 9mm micro-compacts ever offered.Kimber quality has come to small pistols.Ambidextrous thumbsafety and magazinerelease are 1911-inspired,making operation positive,intuitive and fast.The Solo grip designencourages natural targetalignment and ensuresboth comfortableshooting and control.Solo pistols have a singleaction striker-fi red triggersystem with the smooth andconsistent pull required forbest accuracy.One of the most signifi cant fi rearm introductions in a generation, the Solo 9mm puts unequaledKimber ® quality, performance and dependability in a micro-compact pistol. Weighing just 17ounces and only 5.5 inches long, they are easy to carry. Near-perfect 1911 ergonomics, smoothtrigger pull and well-designed sights make them easy to shoot accurately. Built to last, bothmodels have stainless steel slides and barrels, plus frames machined from the fi nest aluminum.Solo pistols deliver unequaled micro-compact performance - just what you expect from Kimber.©2011 Kimber Mfg., Inc. All rights reserved. Kimber names, logos and other trademarks may not beused without permission. Names of other companies, products and services may be the property oftheir respective owners. Kimber firearms are shipped with an instruction manual and California-approvedcable lock. Copy of instruction manual available by request.Kimber, One Lawton Street, Yonkers, NY 10705 (800) 880-2418T H E C H O I C E O F A M E R I C A ’ S B E S Tkimberamerica.com

WIN THE MATCH. KEEP THE CHANGE.Hornady ® Steel Match ammunition is precision loaded with Hornady ® Match rifle bullets or HAP ® (Hornady ®Action Pistol) handgun bullets, with optimized propellants that deliver the highest levels of accuracy each andevery time. Polymer-coated steel cartridge cases and non-corrosive berdan primers provide affordability thatallows match shooters to focus on scores, and not on the cost of what’s left on the ground.• All Steel Match 40 S&W, 45 Auto and 308 Win loads meet IPSC, USPSA,and IDPA “Major” power factor criteria, with moderate velocities that reducerecoil and muzzle jump for fast target recovery.• Both Steel Match 9mm and 223 Rem meet “Minor” power factor requirements.To see how Steel Match ammo can give you the competitive edge, go to hornady.com or scan the QR code. Search your phone’s app store for a QR reader.9 M M | 4 0 S & W | 4 5 A U T O | 2 2 3 R E M | 3 0 C A R B I N E | 3 0 8 W I N

HANDLOADINGJohn TaffinSAGE ADVICEFROM THEHANDLOADINGGURUSTo Check Or Not To Check?Invented in 1906, a gas check is simplya copper cup that attaches to the base ofa lead alloy bullet to protect it againsthot powder gases. It allows much higher Needed?velocities than standard bullets, and also Are gas checks necessary? They are definitelynot always necessary. Normallyworks to prevent leading. In 1935 the Smith& Wesson .357 Magnum arrived and sixgunnersfound they had the same problem and .45 sixguns, however I have never beenthe Keith bullet works just fine in .44faced by a rifle shooters when trying to push able to get the across-the-board accuracy usinglead alloy bullets at higher speeds. Some a plain-based bullet in .38/44 and .357 Magnumtime in the 1930s, a fellow by the name of loads I can achieve with gas checked bullets.Cramer was offering bullet molds cut for When it comes to the bigger bores, I’ve foundgas checks, however it remained for Ray it’s strictly up to your gun. Some work superblyThompson to bring them to a high art.with plain-based bullets, others require gasThompson was a member of the .44checked bullets. When the Ruger stainless steelTaffin’sAssociates, a group which also numbered Redhawk arrived in the early 1980s, I tried it set up foramongst its members one Elmer Keith. All for silhouetting using my loads with Keith bullets.The first time out I took down the first five gas checks.applyingof the Associates shared recipes for the .44Notice theSpecial in the early 1940s. Elmer Keith was chickens and then proceeded to miss the nextLyman Gasadamant in his belief gas checks had no five cleanly. A look down the bore provided the Check Seaterplace on sixgun bullets. All of his bullets answer — leading. I switched to the Thompson snapped in placewere designed as plain-based bullets with gas check bullet and solved the problem.at the bottom ofthe RCBS Lubri-Sizer.three equal diameter driving bands and aGas checks are expensive, and require extralarge grease groove. Ray Thompson kept the time, just about doubling the time required forsame basic SWC profile of the Keith bullet, sizing and lubricating cast bullets. They can also be an absolute bear tohowever he made three distinct changes. The attach. One thing that helps is to first anneal the gas checks. Place thembase was cut for the adding of a gas check, in a cast-iron skillet on the stove until they change color, then allow themthe grease groove is much smaller, andto cool. This softens them making attachment easier.finally Thompson believed the front driving All cast bullet diameters are not the same. Normally the harder the alloy,band on the bullet should be smaller inthe larger the bullet casts. For example using one of my .357 gas checkdiameter than the rest of the bullet to enable bullet molds, linotype metal gives me a base diameter where the gas checkthe bullet to be line up properly in the barrel. is seated of .344" while a 50:50 mixture of lead and linotype drops bulletsFor example his .44 bullets, normally size to at .340", making seating gas.431" have .427" front driving bands.checks much easier.In the early 1950s, Lyman beganoffering their molds cut for Ray Thompson’sfour gas checked bullets, and theyare still available today. The #358156designed for the .357 Magnum is myfavorite .357 bullet and I have found itto be the best bullet available for fullpower loads in .357 Magnum sixguns,and its gas checked feature is absolutelymandatory when using cast bullets in .357leverguns. Thompson’s bullets predate the.44 Magnum, however his two bullets forthe .44 Special work equally well in the .44Magnum and are mandatory for full houseloads in leverguns. His .44 bullets are the215-gr. #429215 and the 255-gr. #431244.His fourth bullet was designed for the .45Auto Rim in the Smith & Wesson 1950Target, however it also works exceptionallywell in the .45 Colt. When loaded over21.5 grains of #2400 in .45 Colt brass itgives over 1,400 fps and is for use only inthe Ruger Blackhawk. Lyman catalogs thisbullet as #452490.Lyman’s lineup of Ray Thompson designedgas check bullets include #358156,#429215, #431244, and #452490.Are gas checks worththe effort? Youmake the call.Gotta’ Have It ToolThis RugerStainless Steel.44 Special Flat-Tophas been engravedby Michael Gouse.For me a mandatory tool is the Lyman Gas Check Seater. This snapson under the sizing die on a Lyman, RCBS or Lachmiller Lubricator/Sizer.Using the Gas Check Seater, the gas check is placedon top followed by the bullet and the operation of the handle seats thegas check. This is a totally separate operation, and all gas checked bulletsmust still be run through the sizing die in the normal way to be sized andlubricated, crimping the gas check in place in the process.If you’re having accuracy or leading problems with cast bulletsin sixguns the easiest solution to either problem justmight be gas checked bullets.*26 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

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REALITYCHECKClint SmithBoutiquesvsFor years, the big ammunition companies(Godzillas) have pretty much with monster-company “expert commit-marketplace. They are not burdenedhad their way, filling the majority of tees” to get anything new or innovativethe ammunition needs for the public and accomplished — they simply do it! Theylaw enforcement. In times of war, the design and test new products, and theyGodzillas also step up and provide large often press the limits of performance inamounts of their products when we need both velocity and construction. Whileit most. They make a lot of ammo, even not always the cheapest, you nonethelessin peace-time, and it’s good ammo. definitely get what you pay for. GoodThe “midsized” ammunition companiesammunition can be pricey at times.have filled a vacuum and made A great example of this middle-significant improvements in ammunition,ground ammunition group is Black Hills,while making inroads into the with Jeff and Kristi Hoffman at thehelm.The BoutiquesStan Chen’s ASYM, Buffalo Bore, Garrett, Wilson Combat, DoubleTapand a few other, sometimes even smaller, 1-man operations, are insome cases new to the market place. Their concept of limited productionammo is not a totally new idea. In my youth we had companies likeSuper-Vel and KTW. Today’s new age makers often fill very special niches,with very special, high-quality ammunition. In many cases they have beenaround for some time, but are just now receiving the recognition they deserve.Real handgun enthusiasts have known of many of them from their inception.Buffalo and Garrett are leaders in the field of big bore handgun loads, oftenwith revolver loads that will in fact drop a moose. Maybe a Godzilla too?For ExampleStan Chen’s ASYM: Ammo from makers like Stan Chen, whocreate ammunition built to exacting standards of perfection— almost approaching meticulous insanity — mightbe labeled “as good as it gets.” The flagship of Chen’s Asym line ofdefense and performance ammunition is the .45-caliber Solid DefenseX SDX featuring the well-proven Barnes TAC-XP bullet. The 185-gr. bullet is loaded to a +P loading of 1,020 when fired from a 5"1911. Chen’s product line includes superior quality ammunition fordefensive calibers like 9mm, .45 ACP and .223. Chen started buildingammunition to measure up the accuracy of the guns he builds, feelingthe available factory loads left something to be desired. Known forhis high-end 1911 pistols he now has a several loads for his pistol’sand he believes the ammo is now as good as his guns.Wilson Combat’s Peerless Performance: Wilson Combat, a longtime industry icon, produces Bill Wilson Signature Match loads.Having tested the .45 230-gr. HP and aswell the 9mm 125-gr. HP, I canattest to their highquality, low muzzleflash and capabilityto outshoot me on aregular basis. I like the.45 200-gr. XTP+P,as it’s a stout roundfor defense. Wilsonhas lots of productsyou should check outif you’re interested inhigh-quality shooting.Among the classic small “boutique”ammo makers are Garrett, BuffaloBore and DoubleTap.FIRST-PERSONTHOUGHTS ONSURVIVING INTHE REAL WORLD28 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011TMGodzillasBlack Hills produces many millions ofrounds of ammunition for all applications.Some of my favorite stuff is theBlack Hills .308 ammunition for my boltgun, as well as the 77-gr. .223 load I usefor precision work out of a Noveske N4rifle. These middle companies are someof my favorite ammo people because ofjust that — they are people, not a committee.These people have grown wellin the last decade because of their hardwork and good products. I’d rank Cor-Bon in the same category.Today, there is a new breed of smaller ammomaker working hard to offer high quality loadsnot always available from the big makers.Ammo All AroundThere are many imported types of ammunitionI have seen — with my own eyes — destroyguns with over-pressure issues. There is areason it’s cheap. Last year a guy wanted me toendorse his special ammo having “lots of power”and “low penetration” — its selling point for homedefense. When I tested it, that stuff went throughheavy mediums, like poop goes through a goose.The only thing I’ve seen be better at penetration arearmor piercing rounds.In reality I have seen more “my own specialloads” loaded by individuals, blow up more gunsthan all the factory loads combined. So if you load,load good ammunition, to reasonable pressures andanticipate reasonable results.With modern, good quality ammo, few people canshoot to the potential of the firearm they have, or theammunition they buy. Train hard and appropriately toyour needs, and make sure each piece of equipmentyou select is the best it can be. Chances are the cumulativeresults will increase your survival potential.Is ammunition expensive? Sure. Are good guns andgood holsters expensive? Absolutely. But just maybe, atone time, for a split second in your life — itall may be well worth the effort, and the cost.*For more info: www.americanhandgunner.com/productindex and click on the company name.

Blinding a threat gives you a huge tactical advantage. The new Z2-S CombatLight ®delivers a massive 160 lumens of output with two hours of runtime, a disorientingtactical strobe option, and the ability to discern friend or foe at greater distances.With a high-efficiency LED and Mil-Spec anodized aluminum body, it’s virtuallyunbreakable. The CombatGrip is ideal for flashlight/handgun techniques even withgloved or wet hands. The beam shaped by its micro-textured reflector enhances peripheralvision. And the tailcap switch gives you instant, intuitive access to the strobe option—just pressrapidly three times in a row to switch from manual momentaryonoperation to automatic strobe—because having to remembera secret handshake when your life is on the line, sucks. Dominate, prevail.

COPTALKMassad AyoobPPC Gun OfYesteryearIf you read the archived copiesof this magazine from 30 yearsago (www.americanhandgunner.com) you’ll see in both ads andarticles that a staple of the day was thePPC gun. It was a revolver, usually aK-frame S&W firing .38 Special, with a6" stovepipe barrel, precision adjustablesight rib, and mandatory swe-e-et,light trigger pull. Their purpose: to hita roughly 3" by 2" X-ring at 50 yards,2-handed from various support positions.The fastest you’d fire — in PPC,anyway — was 12 shots in 25 seconds,later to be tightened to 20 seconds. Thestandard load was the mouse-fart 148-gr. midrange wadcutter.As near as I can determine, the firstsuch gun was built by Austin Behlertin New Jersey for NYPD gunfightinglegend Jim Cirillo, who had alreadywon numerous PPC championshipsbefore his first shootout, and creditedhis match experience somewhat for hissurvival. The Douglas custom barrelsof the time may have been slightlymore accurate than a factory K-38barrel, but their main advantage wastheir added weight at the front heldthe gun steady against the DA triggerstroke. A jerk of the trigger finger thatmight have pulled a shot into the eightringor even the seven with a servicerevolver, would merely turn a 10-X intoa plain 10, or at worst, a 9-point hit.PPC guns found their way into othergames. In 1979, the first shot fired atthe first Bianchi Cup was a 125-gr.Federal +P out of a Ron Power CustomS&W PPC gun, drawn from an earlyplastic holster, a Bill Rogers PPCbreakfront. I know that because I firedit. Over the years, John Pride won theCup several times in a row with PPCguns. Brian Enos used one, built byFrank Glenn if memory serves, undera first generation Aimpoint to win theCup early in the ’80s; that feat, alongwith contemporary Aimpoint winsin IPSC by Jerry Barnhart, laid thegroundwork for the popularity whichred-dot optic sights enjoy today.In the ‘70s and even ‘80s, Handgunner often featured“PPC Guns,” the hot set-up for police pistol teams.Here’s what they did, and the legacy they left ...LookingLeft: In ’83, Handgunnerfeatured the AimpointsightedPPC gunBrian Enos usedto win theBianchi Cupthat year.OPINION ANDFACTS FROM THEMEAN STREETSBackIhad acquired that Power gun, the 500 th Ron built, a bit earlier in the ’70swhen it became clear the service revolvers I’d been using couldn’t keepup with the heavy barrel PPC guns. It improved my scores tremendously.I stayed at the gracious Mr. Power’s home in Independence, Missouri over thedays he crafted it out of a trade-in KCPD Model 15, and we wrote about it indetail in Handgunner. Thousands of other shooters — mostly cops, as PPC wasa police game — recognized the PPC gun’s edge, and soon you needed one ofthese heavy precision six-guns if you expected to be competitive.The Douglas barrel was joined by the Apex and others; the BoMar sight ribwas joined by the Aristocrat and others; and a whole pantheon of superb revolversmithscreated a myriad of heavy-barrel six-shooters. Some were made in heavycalibers for the then-popular bowling pin matches. Later, Ron Power applied thePPC gun treatment to the Ruger Redhawk and added a recoil compensator; itmade full power .44 Magnum ammo kick like, well, like it wasn’t .44 Magnum.I only ran across two cops who actually carried these humongous guns onduty, both in the Chicago area. One, a Niles cop who shot in a league whereyou had to use what you carried on duty, had a breakfront holster custom madefor his 6" S&W with its fat Douglas barrel. One night after the gunpoint arrestof a gang-banger, his arrestee screamed to a supervisor, “Captain! This cop’s apo-leece assassination squad! I saw his gun! It’s got a big-ass silencer on it!”The other was a Chicago cop who ordered a4" long, 1" wide Douglas barrel with fixedsights installed on his Model 10. Puzzled bythis strange configuration, pistolsmith AndyCannon called him to confirm the order.“Yeah, that’s what I want,” the cop told him.“I ain’t no target shooter, but the last mopeI smacked onna’ head with my gun, it bentthe regular barrel.”PPC gun and itsnatural prey, theB27 PPC target.Tiny center oval isthe X-ring. Gun isRon Power Custom#500, built on S&WModel 15 .38 Special.Photos: Gail PepinBy AndyCannon onS&W 25-2.45 ACP.1.25"-diameter barreland Aristocrat rib installedby Austin Behlert on aColt Official Police .38.PPC gunvariations:Passed By, By TimeFewer police departments today,in times of layoff-level economiccrunches, field pistol teams. The youngcops who do want to compete preferaction shooting. PPC events are thin on theground. I’ve only found two to shoot in thelast two years. Oddly enough, I won themboth. Nature may be telling me something.I got away from PPC because it was oldand slow. Now that I’m old and slow, itseems we may be a good fit foreach other.*30 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

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Massad AyoobThe Tucson Atrocity:Joe Zamudio’s StorySituation: A loser with a gun initiates mass murder … andyou, with your concealed carry pistol, are nearby.Lessons:Citizens who stand up and fight can stop thekilling … but anti-gun media may still spintheir heroism 180 degrees from the truth.Jan. 8, 2011, Tucson, Ariz. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and some of her staffwere holding a small meet-the-voters rally in a mall when a pathetic loser named JaredLoughner opened fire, pumping 9mm bullets into helpless victims 6 to 9 feet away asfast as he could. By the time he was on the ground, restrained, Loughner had downedhis primary target, Representative Giffords, with a severe brain injury, wounded a dozenother people and killed six. Half of the murder victims were septuagenarian retirees:Dorothy Morris, 76; Phyllis Scheck, 79 and Dorwan Stoddard, 76. Chief (Federal court)Judge John Roll also lay dead, as did 30-year-old Giffords staffer, Gabe Zimmerman.Most tragic was the youngest of the slain, Christina-Taylor Green, who had been born onSept. 11, 2001.The takedown of the mass murderer was a study in citizens’ courage. As Loughnerattempted to reload after emptying his pistol, one of the intended victims in the crowdreportedly smashed him in the back of the head with a folding metal chair. Retired ColonelBill Badger, age 74, tackled the killer and brought him to the ground. Already downon the sidewalk herself, Patricia Maisch, 61, ripped a fresh magazine out of Loughner’shand. Roger Sulzgeber separated him from his gun, and he and Joseph Zamudio held himdown, immobile, until the first responding Tucson PD officer arrived at the scene.This is being written early in second quarter 2011, with the prosecution of Loughnerstill in its early stages and much pertinent information not yet released. One not-completely-answeredquestion is, how many law-abiding armed citizens were present? RepresentativeGiffords herself was known to not only own but sometimes carry a Glock19 pistol; it has not officially been made known whether or not her gun was within herreach when she was shot. Judge Roll was licensed to carry and known to do so regularly.Some insist he was armed at the time, but was shot by surprise before he could deployhis weapon; others say that, because he came to the rally from a church event, he wasnot carrying a gun at the time of the shooting. It has been said another Giffords aidepresent regularly carried and may have been armed when it happened; at this writing,that has not been confirmed or denied, either.We do know one of the heroic first responders was indeed armed: Joe Zamudio, age 24.The following is drawn from his account of the incident from his perspective, shared withthe rest of the class when he subsequently attended a Massad Ayoob Group program innearby Sierra Vista, hosted by decorated combat vet Dan Southard of Gator Farm Tactical.This, lightly edited for space considerations, is his story.Zamudio’s Experience“It was Saturday,” Joe began. “I didn’t have to work, so I went to have breakfast withmy mom. On the way back, I went to Walgreen’s. Walking up to the door, I saw a crowdContinued on page 8132 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

WINNINGEDGEDave AndersonPonderingPocket PowerThepast decade has seen aninteresting handgun trend — theresurgence of the American-madepocket automatic (P/A henceforth).Through the 1880s and early 1900s,small revolvers were extremely popular.Quality varied from very good (S&Wtop-break models, for example) to borderlineunsafe-to-shoot, such as importsselling for three or four dollars.The first commercially successfulP/As resulted from the genius of JohnBrowning. When he designed the 1900and even more successful 1910 pistols,FN would make them by the tens ofthousands. Under an agreement with FN,Colt made and marketed its very similarseries of compact autopistols. To functionwith the blowback operation of Browning’spistols a series of cartridges weredesigned, the .25, .32 and .380 ACP.Colt P/As were very popular. OtherAmerican gunmakers naturally wantedSeedsPlanteda piece of the market. Theproblem was makingthem without infringingon Browning’s patents.Remington, Savage and S&Wcame up with successful designs,and although they sold reasonablywell, none approached the successof Colt’s pistols.Europe would prove to be thereal home of P/As. The tremendouspopularity of the BrowningdesignedFNs naturally attractedthe interest of other gunmakers. Mostsuccessful, or at least most influentialof the designs, were the DA Walther PPseries. Among other popular Europeanmakers were Sauer, Mauser, Star, Llama,Beretta and CZ.After WWII American-made P/Asvirtually disappeared. Remington, Savageand S&W dropped their pocket pistolsin the ’20s and ’30s, Colt in 1946. WhatWhether privatecitizens or lawenforcement officers,Americans wantingcompact defensive handgunsturned decisively torevolvers. It’s interesting A group of old and new pocket autos.to speculate why compactrevolvers so thoroughly eclipsed pocket autos in the US. Theperception was revolvers were simpler in operation, more reliableand more powerful for their size than .32 and .380 Autos.When early small frame revolvers were chambered for suchrounds as the .32 and .38 S&W there wasn’t much difference,though. The .38 Special was a significant step up in power, andrevolvers functioned just fine with more effective bullet shapes.The GCA of 1968 prohibited importation (but not domesticmanufacture) of small handguns, including most P/As. Even witha captive market, US gunmakers showed little interest in makingsmall autopistols, presumably because they felt there was insufficientdemand. The fate of the .22 LR S&W 61, (born 1970, diedunmourned 1974) seemed to support this view.Manufacture of some .25 and .32 ACP pistols continued, such asthe Italian designed but American-made Berettas, copies of the “BabyBrowning” and inexpensive models such as Davis and Lorcin.In the ’80s and ’90s stirrings of resurgence in innovative P/Aconcepts began. A notable example is the Seecamp .32. TheSeecamp was really small and really well made. Strong demandshowed there was a growing market for such pistols.SOLID ADVICETO KEEP YOUAHEAD OF THECOMPETITIONEarly pocket revolvers like this.32 S&W eventually evolvedinto small caliberpocket autos, like themiddle, Kel-Tec P32.The Rohrbaugh R9 9mm, bottom,is a cutting edge member of thenew breed of pocket auto.happened? The answercan be given in one word— Fitz. For much of thepre-WWII era,J.H. Fitzgeraldwas a renownedhandgun expert,target and exhibitionshooter and police firearmsinstructor. Fitz tookColt revolvers in variouscalibers, shortened the barrels toaround 2", rounded the grip frames,cut off hammer spurs and the front ofthe triggerguard, and carried them in pairsstuffed in his pant’s pockets.But the breakthrough came when Colttook the small-frame, .38 Special PolicePositive model, fitted a 2" barrel andnamed it the Detective Special. Once thewar was over, S&W designed a similarmodel called the Chief’s Special. BothS&W and Colt introduced light alloyframedversions of their small revolvers.The TrendAnother innovator was Colt. In the ’80s and ’90s there wasa perception Colt was staid, uninspired, coasting along onold designs. Certainly Colt’s glacial slowness in makinga modern 1911 virtually handed the market to aggressive companiessuch as Springfield Armory and Kimber.In fact Colt introduced several new designs in the ’80sand ’90s. Some were not very successful designs (such asthe Double Eagle and the All-American 2000) but therewere successes as well. The success of the single-actionGovernment .380 led to several variations, such as thePocketLite, Mustang, Mustang Plus II and several others.Colt also had a line of small double-action autos in .380which were quite popular. Then there was the short-livedPocket Nine made in 1999 only. Consider its specifications:alloy frame, 2¾" barrel, 6-shot magazine, 17 ounces, 9mmParabellum. Sound familiar? Currently pistols with similarspecs are in such demand they can’t be produced fastenough. Whatever teething problems the new design mighthave would no doubt soon have been sorted out, except in2000 Colt decided to drop pocket autos entirely.Times change. Empowered by shall-issue laws, moreprivate citizens are choosing to be armed. Pocket autos,either as primary or backup carry guns are much indemand. America’s gunmakers have responded. The firstwave of innovation was for really small .380s, some ofthem literally half the weight and size of the century-oldFN and Colt designs. The current wave is favors designssmaller and lighter than the old classic pocket autos, butchambered in 9mm rather than .380. It’s a wavethat won’t crest for a while.*34 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

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BETTERSHOOTING Dave AndersonPolymerCZ P 07TheCZ P-07 is a very wellmade variation of the classicCZ-75 — but built on apolymer frame. The polymer frame providesseveral worthwhile advantages:light weight, durability, reduced cost,strength and resistance to impact. Withpolymer frames, a higher proportion ofthe pistol’s weight is in the slide. Weightin the slide is a good thing. It providesmore momentum in the forward movementof the slide in feeding, chamberingand locking a fresh cartridge. So, it’smore reliable.The most significant advantage, atleast to me, is the moderate grip size. Itfeels so slim and comfortable to hold,it’s hard to believe it’s wrapped around16 rounds of 9mm (or 12rounds of .40 S&W).The P-07, although differentin appearance, shares much of theheritage of the classic CZ-75. It has whatCZ calls the “Omega” trigger, describedas a simplified version of the originalCZ-75. It operates as a traditional DA/SA, with the ambidextrous thumb leveracting as a hammer drop. However itcan be converted by the owner so thethumb lever acts as a manual safety.The CZ website has an excellent videoshowing the process, which shows itmore clearly than I can describe.Out of the box, the trigger pull had acouple of “steps” in it, both DA and SA.Initially I wasn’t very impressed, butThe CZ P-07’s polymer-gripframe is slim and comfortablefor a high-capacity pistol(16 rounds in 9mm).as it was evening and I couldn’t shootuntil next day, I started dry-firing the DApull. After around 250-300 pulls it hadsmoothed up remarkably. For triggerfussbudgets (count me in) here are somedetails: DA pull from at-rest to searrelease travel is 5/8". SA pull had 1/4"takeup and a further 1/8" movement tosear release. Forward trigger movementto reset was 5/16". Weight of pulls were4½ pounds SA, 10 pounds DA. Twomagazines are supplied and they appearto be very well made (and no, they aren’tthe same as CZ-75 magazines). Additionalmagazines are available from CZ.Blasto! Mudeverywhere(including onDave), but theCZ ran just fine.Dave sawthe mudand, well,couldn’t resistit. He tapedthe muzzlethough.Proven SystemSights are mounted in dovetail cuts in theslide. The cut for the front sight is madefrom the front of the slide, making for a veryneat installation. The rear sight is in a horizontaldovetail, adjustable for windage by drifting thesight. Pattern is a white front dot and white-outlinerear notch, and the sights are nicely shapedto resist snagging.The operating system is the proven tilt-lockdesign. An abutment on the barrel ahead of thechamber locks into the top front of the ejectionport, a well-proven system used by many currentservice pistols. The spring-loaded externalextractor gets a good bite of the case rim. A solidand reliable system if there ever was one.With its slim grip frame the P-07 is comfortableto shoot. The molded grip serrations front and backand the side moldings provide a secure grip. Thetrigger guard is oversized for gloved hands, andthe front is squared with a slight hook. The framehas an accessory rail for lights or lasers, a featurewe’ve come to expect on duty auto pistols.Big ValueAlong with two friends, both LE officers, I ran around 300rounds through the P-07 with no malfunctions of any kind.Accuracy proved very good, no surprise for a CZ pistol, with25-yard, 5-shot groups averaging around 3". Both officers felt the P-07would be a capable police duty gun.Although I cherish our gun club’s superb indoor range, it’s alwaysa joy when spring finally comes and shooting can move outside. Therewas still lots of snow and mud on the range, which I decided to put touse. I loaded the P-07, taped the muzzle, and dropped it in the nearestsnow bank. Frankly, it didn’t look like much of a test, so I laid it ina mud puddle and kicked mud over it. Without wiping it off at all Ipicked it up and fired the full magazine into the backstop without amalfunction, dirt flying everywhere, including on my face and glasses.Note to self: Bring wet rag to wipe face during next test like this.I think CZ has done something very clever with the P-07. Manufacturingpolymer frames takes a big initial investment, but once productionis underway costs are reduced. The P-07 has the features andquality currently requisite in a duty sidearm, with CZ quality of constructionand materials, all done at a very reasonable price. It’s a veryimpressive pistol for $467 and frankly, there’s no reasonUS LE agencies shouldn’t take a hard look at it.For more info: www.americanhandgunner.com/cz-usa*36 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

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HANDGUNHUNTINGJ.D. JonesTIPS, TECHNIQUESAND POLITICAL-INCORRECTNESSNight OpsIf you are an experienced deer hunter, reading this column there isn’t a hellof lot I can tell you. Inexperienced guys? Practice shooting a lot, and notjust from a bench. Use at least a .357 Magnum, but not so much power youcan’t handle it. Put in a lot of time hunting because if you aren’t out there,nothing is going to happen. Different areas call for different hunting tactics.Hunting around the world often is quite different from anything here. Someof it is done entirely at night. In some hot dry areas, animals don’t come outto feed until the dew wets the vegetation. That often means 11 p.m. A hundredmiles from that area, tropical jungle may be the only place to hunt, andoften one of the hunters carries an auto battery on his back to power apowerful floodlight. In either case, insects may be horrible, requiringa mask over the mouth and nose. In Northern Australia, the flies makelife miserable for at least a couple hours each day. I have a photo ofone side of my wife’s hat, showing over 200 flies on it.Night HuntingThe dark doesn’t necessarily makehunting and shooting easier. Yep,sometimes there is that “doe inthe headlights” shot, but more likelythe shooting may be more difficultand the animals spookier. Sights areharder to see, and if the light is in thewrong position, impossible. Scopes,particularly with illuminated reticules,are great if the light handler knows whathe is doing. Red dot sights? Some use amirror to reflect the dot and its impossibleto see anything behind it.Personally I prefer the EoTech ifI’m not using a scope. The “dot” isEoTech sight under theBushnell name.Own TheNight?Hardly.very small, its brightnessadjustable, the circlearound it is quickly pickedout, it uses AA batteriesand is literally bulletproof.They just don’t break.Handling a gun and flashlight presentsit own set of problems. Muzzleflash has never been a problem forme. It is often quite bright but hasnever impaired my vision, enough I’venoticed it. If the animal doesn’t drop inview, following a blood trail is sometimesimpossible.On one occasion, while huntingfrom an 8-wheeledamphibious vehiclein about a foot ortwo of water, I shota deer standingbeside some smallbamboo. Often thebullet is visible inthe spotlight andthis one went true.The deer jumpedBad stuff for bad big guys! This 10"Encore with Bausch & Lomb heavyduty scope is rugged and works wellusing spotlight or headlightswhere legal.The shooter’s view of the Eotechshows the easy-to-find red circle/dot.forward and to its left into the bamboo.When we got close to it we could seethe bamboo thicket was only a few feetwide and the driver crashed through it,unexpectedly into a very swift movingriver. We were carried downstreamuntil the driver got the rig under controland found a spot to get out of the river.In this kind of territory a good GPS isessential equipment.That means one tested in that area foraccuracy and reliability. Once in SouthAmerica when my group was testingsix different units, only two worked.In Australia I felt it was getting late inthe day and asked the guide where hewas going? He replied we were headingback to camp. I told him we didn’t haveenough gas to go around the world. Thatparticular GPS located our camp about50 miles from where it actually was.Thermal imaging and night vision are legal for some things in some states. My experiencewith it is very limited but many clients use it. It seems in order to get goodserviceable equipment an investment of at least $4K is necessary.Night hunting will provide some interesting experiences. I got hooked on it when I wasa kid with a .410 hunting rabbits on bright moonlight nights when there was snow on theground. Once in Africa on a bright night I found a black mass that didn’t quite look right.Quietly cocking the .54-caliber T/C Scout, I raised it and lit-up the SureFire to reveal a reallyhuge Cape Buffalo about 15 feet in front of me casually chewing. The angle was perfect for aback of the head shot. I didn’t shoot. It would have been just too easy. Just listeningto a pride of lions feed in the dark an hour later gave me shivers up my spine.*38 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

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THE SIXGUNNERJohn TaffinThe Coonan deliveredconsistent accuracy,regardless of theload tested.Coonan .357MagnumA Great Idea Returns“…Has Far Greater ShockPower Than Any .38, .44Or .45 Ever Tested.”Reading that you might think the latest truly big boreMagnum had just arrived. In fact this advertising goesback more than 75 years. “No hand arm cartridge evermanufactured has come within hundreds of pounds of this terrificenergy. And with this speed and power/accuracy. Never,except for those made with other Smith & Wesson revolvers,have there been published machine rest groups that can in anyway compare with those made with the S&W ‘.357’ Magnum.It’s square-shouldered, Sharpe-type lead bullet will shootthrough steel plates that are only dented by other cartridges, yetthe S&W ‘.357’ Magnum bullet will upset to .50 caliber in 8" ofsoft paraffin; other bullets pass through practically unchanged inform. The S&W ‘.357’ Magnum Has Far Greater Shock PowerThan Any .38, .44 Or .45 Ever Tested.”Today, unfortunately, many approach the .357 Magnum witha much different attitude than sixgunners in 1935. We have sinceexperienced the .44 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .454 Casull, .475Linebaugh, .480 Ruger andseveral .50-caliber revolverssuch as the .500 Linebaughand .500 Smith & Wesson.Every single one of thesecartridges is much more powerfulthan the .357 Magnum,however I submit it in noway diminishes the power ofthe .357. In fact, what is nowregarded as somewhat lowly,is still probably the most practicalof all the really powerfulsixgun cartridges. Of all thecartridges mentioned, the .357 Magnum still holds the distinctionof being the only one in the bunch suitable for self defenseand law enforcement use and I will not argue that statement.The Coonan .357 Magnumfeatures excellent fixedsights adjustable forwindage.The Coonan .357 never delivered more than 2" at 20yards with this assortment of factory ammo — withtwo loads going into 1"!Left: Stripping the Coonan .357 reveals both similarities anddifferences compared to a standard 1911. Note the triggerpivots at the top. Right: The Coonan .357 Magnum comes withtwo magazines and packed in this padded case.A New DirectionToday we even have 12-ounce pocket pistols chamberingthe original Magnum, however there arevery few shooters who care to fire a 50-round boxof full-house .357s through them. Back in the 1980s,Dan Coonan took a much different path, coming upwith a truly portable, easy packing, good shooting .357Magnum semi-auto with his Model B Coonan. One ofthe early models appeared on the cover of GUNS Magazineas a companion to my article on the various .357Continued on page 7840 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

CARRYOPTIONSSammy ReeseCarryingJunk?The expression “oldie but been used sogoodie” fits great when you much it’s alreadyare talking about a Stradivarius been rebuilt once byviolin or mint-condition ’57 Chevy. I’ve Les. By comparison, Ieven tried to use it when my wife is have another similar pistoltrying to put my favorite Red Sox t-shirt with a fraction of the roundsin her ragbag. I know it has more holes through it and it’s safe to say. It won’tthan the US/Mexican border fence, but need a rebuild any time soon. Evenin my mind it’s still a classic.though one is a daily carry gun and theLet’s apply the oldie/goodie to guns other a not-as-often gun, I still maintainand gear. Just how long our stuff will both to keep them in top-working order.last, or its service life, all depends on When my dad passed away, I had thehow hard the gear is used and how well notion I was going to carry his Series 70it’s maintained. As an example, my Les Colt. I sent the gun to Jason Burton fromBear Thunder Ranch Special 1911 has Heirloom Precision for some attention.Oops …Irecently received an e-mail about a gun which“went offin a holster” when the guy sat down in his car.The claim was an accidental discharge and nota negligent one. I won’t debate that, but I will suggestthe discharge could have been prevented.The photos provided showed a very worn belt holster. We’retalking, “should have been tossed a long time ago” worn. A portion of theleather had become so soft and flexible it had found its way inside the triggerguard.Combine this with the sitting motion and the gun discharged when the bitof leather sorta’ “pulled” the trigger — luckily without serious injury. I hate tothink how things could have turned out if the guy had been carrying appendixstyle. We’re talking a big ouch then.We’re responsible for the condition of our own gear, so don’t be a cheapskatewith the stuff you may have to bet your life on. My rule of thumb is neverbuy generic belts, holsters or toilet paper. Also, inspect your equipment, regardlessof what it’s made of. If something is worn out, get it repaired or go buy anew one. If you have a favorite of something, buy a second or third to keep onhand.One is none, right? And just because it’s made out of miracle polymers,doesn’t mean it’s indestructible.Bossman Roydug into his “boxof horrors” andfound this holster,actually carried bya detective. Royrelieved him of itand gifted him a newrig. “Nobody’s goingto believe — me unlessI show ’em,” he said.FROM CLASSICS TOCUTTING EDGE INCARRY METHODSJason calledme an hourafter the gunarrived and hitme the bad news. Thegun was catastrophicallycracked, and there was no way to fix it.No matter how much I wanted to carryPop’s gun, it wasn’t going to happen —instead it would spend its life as a safequeen. My point is, our gear, even if wellmaintained, isn’t going to last forever, soplan accordingly.OneMoreThingBand aids andchewinggum fixesdon’t cutit whenit comesto fixingbustedor worncarrygear.Just sayno, asthey say.Hiding under the crud and worn bits is aHoyt rig from the early 1980s.The fact the retention strapis missing didn’tseem to fazethe cop whohad beencarrying it.Yikes …Iknow, I know, it’s yourfavorite holster, and you hadyour big shootout wearing it,but when the snaps bust, the threadrots and that thud you hear is yourroscoe bouncing on the floor atWal-Mart (embarrassing, eh?),trash the rig, or at least retire it intoa shadowbox so you can point at itwhile you tell the excitingstory. No … really.*42 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

SHOOTINGIRONMike “Duke” VenturinoTMTHUMB BUSTIN’MUSINGS FROMTHE DUKEPhotos: Yvonne VenturinoA LIFETIME OF HATSInmy 6-plus decades I’ve worn many hats, speaking literallynot figuratively. They have never been for adornment,never has there been a “Sunday go to meeting”hat hanging by my door. All have been for keeping my headwarm, dry, or protected from the sun. If head protectionwasn’t called for then my hat was left at home, because I was(and still am) likely to just misplace it.One sunny afternoon 40 years back, while working as adude wrangler in Yellowstone National Park I let a prettygirl wear my wide brimmed hat while we rode horses. Thatevening my face was burned lobster red. After that girlshad to furnish their own headgear. Except for baseball typecaps, which just seem togrow around here, I’venever built an assortment ofHatPrizesIlike well-worn handguns,especially if I’ve ownedthem since new. The wearsimply means I probablyhave gotten a considerableamount of pleasure from life while using them. The same goesfor hats: I don’t mind dirty, dusty, sweated, soaked and/orfrayed. That means they were on my head while going aboutinteresting pastimes. That western hat I bought back in 1973 isa good example. Its blemishes range from beer foam to bloodand other bits of some critter’s internals, put there because I’mnot the most careful of knife users when dressing game. Onefriend’s wife actually suggested I leave that hat outside whencoming into their ranch house. I don’t think she was kidding.A couple of my prized pieces of headgear are indeed baseballcaps. I have a Thunder Ranch one that I take better careof than most of my hats because it also says “staff” on it. ClintSmith has asked me a couple of times to help with classes thereat the school and so he gave it to me. I’m very proud of that hat.Another baseball cap of mine shows plenty of dirt andsweat stains because I wear it so often. It also says “Iwo JimaReunion of Honor, 2008.” Such a baseball cap was given toeveryone who made that year’s trip to the island to commemoratethe 63rd anniversary of the battle. Visiting Iwo Jima wasone of my life dreams come true.My oddest hat is what I call a Norwegian fisherman’s hat.It is brown leather and looks like something a deck hand on aNorth Sea fishing trawler would wear. That’s probably exactlywhat it was because I found it under a bed in a hotel room inOslo, Norway when there in 1993.any kind of hat. If one disappeared it was replaced.Way back in 1973, a friend and I got it in our heads toride horses from Bozeman, Mont. through the mountains toJackson, Wyo. The second day out while leading my horse ina terrible rain and windstorm, my hat blew off into the horse’sface. He went nuts and bolted. In trying to hold onto the reins,I was whip-lashed into a rock filled ditch. My partner caughtup the horse and said, “You should have seen that hat go! Itnever hit the ground the entire time it was in sight.” He wastotally uninterested in my lumps and bruises. Winds like thatmake stampede strings on hats handy. As soon as possible Ibought another Stetson. I still have it.Left: The Military Historical Tours group gave Duke this ball cap during the trip he made to Iwo Jimain 2008. The trip was a life’s dream come true. Middle: Suzi Huntington once gave Duke this fur hatand he’s never far from it during those Montana winters. Right: Duke bought this Stetson in 1973 afteranother hat blew away in a windstorm. He still has it. It does look a little disreputable doesn’t it?Lifetime SupplyHere’s some irony. My most practical Montana winterhat was given to me by someone living in SouthernCalifornia at the time. That was Suzi Huntington,who’s the editor of our American COP magazine and wifeof Editor Roy. We were at a Thunder Ranch get togetherin Texas one December, when an unusually fierce windwas blowing from the north. I don’t know how Suzi cameto have a rabbit fur hat with her but when she placed it onmy frosty head she made a fan for life. It gets plenty of usearound the place here every winter.I have several original and replica steel military helmetshanging up in my office and gun vault and sometimes itgives me pleasure to do a “clown photo” with one for thesepages. Some readers like those pictures and some thinkthey’re silly. Regardless I’ve not done my last helmet photo.At the same time I’m glad I’ve never had to wear one ofthose things for real. The respect I have for people whohave done so is immense.Aside from ordinary wool caps of the type I lose so often— to Yvonne’s exasperation — I’ll probably never buyanother hat. I’ve got a lifetime’s worth still hanging aroundmy office on deer antlers and such and there’s alifetime of memories connected with them.*44 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

Bullet designs and point designs vary widely.Remember, sometimes designs may be more marketing hype than fact. Do your research!Too Many Boxes!There you are at the gun shopcounter and looking at all thosepretty, brightly colored boxes ofammunition. All you wanted wasa box of ammo for your home defensegun, but as you look at the wall ofboxes, you just don’t know where tostart. Which one will give you the performanceyou want? Why are there somany different bullet weights for eachcaliber? How come there’s so manydifferent kinds of bullets too? Do youneed a hollow point or would a semiwadcutterwork? Gads … what now?Hint: It’s not necessarily the brightestcolored box with the prettiest label,although the director of marketingwould like you to think so.What’s a person to do? Knowing alittle about your gun and deciding whatterminal performance characteristicsyou’re after, you can actually look atthe basic design of ammunition and bulletsand make some good choices. Let’ssee if we can set some general guidelinesto get the ammo best suited foryour needs, and help lower your bloodpressure at the same time! There arebasically five things you need to understandbefore making what will be yourinformed decision.FirstTake a look at your gun. Is it astandard-barrel-length handgun, oris it a short-barreled, concealed carryDefensive Ammo De-MystifiedBallistic gel is a critical part of modern ammoperformance testing. It closely mirrors muscle tissueand gives a consistent medium for comparison.Dave Emary48 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

“Clintism” No. 7:“Carrying a gunis not supposed to be comfortable,it’s supposed to be comforting.”“Clintism” No. 3:“The gun that’s with youis better than the one that’s homein the safe.”You’ve decided to carrya concealed handgun.Now what?Clint Smith of Thunder Ranchcan help you adjust to thischange in your lifestyle throughthe Concealed Carry Optionstwo-disc DVD set.Clint will help you choosewhich gun to carry, how to carryit, what to look for in clothing andhow to draw the gun correctly.He also discusses the assetsand liabilities of a concealedhandgun and how they affect you.Would you betyour life on yourequipment andskills?Clint Smith has taught thousandsof students how to thinkdefensively and refine their skillswith all types of firearms.The Thunder Ranch ConcealedCarry Options DVD set will helpyou discover logical solutionsthat fit your lifestyle.Order your copy today!Two-disc set only$49.95Includes over two hours of video!(800) 628-9818 (M-F 8am-3pm PST)www.americanhandgunner.com/TRvidsAllow 4-6 weeks for delivery

American PistolsmithsGuildSerial #APG USA 01, built by ColbyBrandon and Virgil Tripp of TrippResearch,Inc. features a 5" Governmentmodel with all the bells and whistles,including Virgil’s new target adjustablesight. Serial #APG USA 02was built by Ralph Gutenkunstand Bill Laughridge of Cylinder& Slide and features a classic4.25" Commander styled gun.Serial #APG USA 03, built byTerry Tussey of Tussey Custom,features Terry’s own Carry CompOfficers Model configuration. TheCustom Compact was built byJason Chambless as a choppeddown Government model,and features the “Diamondback”style of MarcMorganti of GeminiCustoms.Roy HuntingtonPhoto: Marc MorgantiCelebrating 100 Years of the 19112011 Raffle GunsThis year marks the 100 thanniversary of “America’sPistol” — the 1911.The American PistolsmithsGuild has created two amazingprizes for two very lucky winnersthis year. The first winner shall havetheir choice of an amazing 3-gun setof custom sequential serial-numberedpresentation grade matching 1911pistols, or one of the most over-thetopcustom compacts you will everlay your eyes upon. The 3-gun set hasbeen created in the legendary shopsof Cylinder and Slide, Tripp Researchand Tussey Custom; while the customcompact was a joint achievementof the Springfield Armory CustomShop and Gemini Customs. Both thethree-gun set and the custom compacthave been beautifully engravedand inlayed by Guild master engraverBrian Powley.The custom compact wears a beautifuland durable cobrachrome finishby Tripp Research and the 3-gun sethas been expertly finished in a traditionaldeep blue by Alan Tilman. The 3-gunset wears rare Sonoran Desert Ironwoodgrips, custom crafted and inlaid withenameled Guild logos, and the customcompact gets beautiful Elder Burl sterlingsilver “Top Hat Devils.” All gripsare the work of Ed Strange of WickedGrips. The 3-gun set is built on Caspianframes and slides, with barrels by BarSto, action parts by Cylinder & Slide,checkered in 25 LPI. The custom compactis based on a Springfield Armory1911. Heirloom pistols deserve fittedpresentation cases, and both the 3-gunset and the custom compact have beautifulcases crafted by Les Yoder ofBrookfield, Inc.A limited number of tickets willbe printed, and your donation of $20per ticket gives you the opportunity towin one of these stunning prizes. Thedrawing date will be held on Nov. 1,2011; you do not need to be presentto win, but must comply with all stateand local laws regarding owning firearms.Both winners will be notifiedby Guild treasurer Scott Mulkerin.This Centennial Edition of an Americanicon, as built by members of theAmerican Pistolsmiths Guild, cannever be duplicated again. Ticketsmay be purchased by sending checksmade payable to American PistolsmithsGuild, 3775 Foskett Road,Medina, OH 44256 or by visitingwww.geminicustoms.com “OnlineStore” to purchase bycredit card.*Please visit www.americanpistol.com for additional photos, specificationsand ticket purchase information.For more info on the makers:www.geminicustoms.com; www.powleyengraving.com; www.cylinder-slide.com; www.tusseycustom.com; www.springfield-armory.com;Alan Tillman, (514) 454-9328; www.trippresearch.com; www.wichkedgrips.com; Les Yoder (Brookfield Cases),www.brookfieldcase.comWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 51

A Double Hit!At left is the Umarex/Colt/Walther .22 LongRifle, and at right theRegent R100 .45 ACP.Duke found them affordable,solid shooters.Mike “Duke” VenturinoPhotos: Yvonne VenturinoUmarex 1911s.22 and .45 ACPBesides the special photo grips byHandmade Grips Duke put on theRegent R100, he also acquired an ElPaso Saddlery floral carved holster. Aperfect combo for the growing “WildBunch” action shooting going on.Let’s paraphrase, “The shot heard around the world”;how about, “The pistol made around the world”?That would be the Model 1911, designed by JohnM. Browning, first made by Colt and now in its100 th year. It has been manufactured in the UnitedStates, Argentina, Norway, China, Canada, ThePhilippines and Spain to name a few.Now we can add Turkey and Germany to the list. A relativelynew name among firearms importers, Umarex USA isbringing in both versions. The companies of Umarex, CarlWalther and Colt collaborated on the .22 versions, with allthree names stamped on them.The new Turkish made 1911 offered by Umarex isnamed the Regent R100. It is a straight copy of the ColtU.S. Model 1911A1 or Government Model, whichever52 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

The Umarex/Colt/Walther Model1911 .22 is a full-sized pistol witha light rail, beavertail safety andfeatures normally found on acustom or higher-end 1911.Inset: The Umarex/Colt/Walther.22 Rail Gun does not operate onthe floating chamber principal,as did the Colt ACE .22s. Insteadits barrel is solidly fixed, and itfunctions by the simple blowbackmethod, helping accuracy.“Does the world need another 1911 .45 ACP? What aboutone that retails for $499? That’s more interesting!moniker you prefer, and of course is .45 ACP. You mightask, “Does the world need another 1911 .45 ACP?” Whatabout one that retails for $499? That’s more interesting!Rimfire 1911s are not new. Colt began offering somein 1931 and introduced the ACE version with its “floatingchamber” in 1937. That arrangement gave .22 LR Model1911s similar recoil, or better stated, muzzle flip of .45sbut with the pipsqueak noise of a .22. It’s an odd sensationto fire one. The Umarex/Walther/Colt .22-caliber 1911does not use the “floating chamber” concept. Instead it hasa lighter slide and cycles in the normal blowback or recoilmanner. The barrel is solidly fixed.Operation of the Regent R100 will be familiar to longtime readers of Handgunner. It’s pure 1911 all the way. Itfield strips, loads, unloads, has the same magazine capacity,same sights, same 5" barrel length, etc. as we’re used to.”The only change I can see is the Regent comes with Hoguesynthetic grips. If you’ve ever fired a U.S. Model 1911A1,then you’ve fired a Regent R100.An AsideThis is where I’d like to insert an aside. Shortly beforethese two new 1911s arrived, our Wonderment, Editor Royinformed me of a custom grip maker with an odd twist. (Yes,he does lower himself to talk to writers on occasion, butonly if he has to.) The company name is Handmade Grips,and their uniqueness is that they will inlay photos of yourchoosing into the grip panels. And coincidentally the companyis located in Turkey.In the last few years I’ve lost two wonderful, once in alifetime pets: one feline, one canine. So via e-mail I forwardedContinued on page 98The .22 shows good fit and finish for a modestlypriced gun. Of course, manufacture byWalther could account for that!The controls on the Umarex/Colt/Walther1911 .22 Rail Gun mirror standard1911 features.WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 53

FNH’s Do-Anything54 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

AutoDave AndersonPhotos: Chuck Pittman, Inc.If the S&W Model 10 revolver wasa vehicle it would be a reliable,unpretentious pick-up truck. TheGlock 22 — a Ford Crown Vicpolice interceptor. The BrowningHi-Power — A Jaguar XK-E. TheColt Python — a Rolls-Royce.But the FNP-45 Competition modelreminds me of a Hummer; a vehicleto work hard, go anywhere, do anythingexcept fit a parking space or onecargarage. The FNP-45 will do anythingexpected of a duty or competitionhandgun except fit a small hand or concealunder a T-shirt.Actually I don’t want to make toomuch of the size. Obviously a magazineholding 15 rounds of .45 ACPneeds a full-sized pistol wrappedaround it. However the 1-piecepolymer grip frame adds relativelylittle size, and it fits mymedium-large handvery nicely. I askedsome shootersFNP-45CompetitionWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 55

FNP-45 Competition PistolCaliber: .45 ACP • Operation: DA/SA with Manual Safety1:16" RH Twist Rate • Barrel Length: 4.5"Overall Length: 7.85" • Height: 6.33" Width: 1.58"Weight: 33.2 oz. • empty Magazine: 15-round, three suppliedInterchangeable arched and flat backstrapinserts with lanyard holeAdapter plates and wrenches for fitting opticalsights included in soft caseMSRP: $1,239Here’s the FNP-45 Competition with an Insight MRDS boltedto the slide. By removing the filler plate and selecting theappropriate spacer/mounting plate the pistol can be adaptedto accept many popular red-dot sights. Photo: Dave Andersonwith small hands to try it. Althoughthey found it oversized for them, theywere able to reach the trigger andoperate all the controls. They couldmake it go bang if they had to.The design of the FNP-45 is whatmight be called “21 st century classic.”The frame is molded polymer andthe slide is blackened stainless steel.The operating system is tilt-lock,with an abutment on the barrel aheadof the chamber locking into the frontedge of the ejection port. Locking andunlocking are controlled by a cam onthe underside of the barrel.Barrel length is 4.5" with conventionalrifling, 6-groove, right-hand 1:16"twist, and there’s a steel guide rod witha captured, single-coil recoil spring.FNH quality hardly needs comment;56 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

the machining of the slide is beautifullydone with crisp, straight lines.Do-Anything GunSo why do I call it a do-anythingpistol? To start with, it’s completelyambidextrous. The magazine release,slide stop and thumb safety are easilyaccessible on both sides of the pistol.The only non-ambidextrous control isthe takedown lever, hardly an issue.The thumb safety performs multipletasks. By pressing down and slightlyto the rear it acts as a hammer drop.Any time the hammer is cocked thishammer drop safely puts it in the halfcockposition. Pushed up, it acts as asafety to lock the sear and disconnectthe trigger. It can be applied regardlessof what position the hammer is in.It can be used for cocked-and-lockedcarry, or can be applied when thehammer is in the half-cocked or fullyforward position.Not satisfied with how the grip fitsyour hand? Go ahead and change it.The pistol comes with three readilyinterchangeable backstrap inserts,from flat to arched. All have a lanyardhole so if your work — or competition— takes you over water or in theair you can secure the pistol in caseit gets dropped. Up front there’s anaccessory rail for lights or lasers. Theexternal extractor doubles as a loadedchamber indicator.Other modern service pistols sharemost of these features, but the FNP-45Competition has one more option.Standard sights, mounted in dove-WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 57

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The design of the FNP-45is what might be calledcentury classic.“ 21stis as easy to use and convenient as thisone. Well done, indeed.Red DotFitting an Insight MRDS sight Ihad on hand was a simple matter ofremoving the filler plate, picking aspacer which fit the MRDS and boltingit in place. I didn’t use thread-lockingcompound, but with the screws tighteneddown they held with no looseningor change of impact while firing about150 rounds. Later, after removing thedot to do some shooting with the iron"sights, I replaced the dot with no changein point of impact.Double-action trigger pull weighedan ounce under 11 pounds. There’sabout 1/16" of light take-up, then a consistentand fairly smooth pull until thehammer falls. Trigger movement fromat rest to sear release is 9/16".Single-action pull has 3/16" lighttake-up, then another 1/8" trigger movementto sear release. Single-actionpull was consistent at almost exactly 4pounds. Trigger reset is about 3/8" andthere is enough power in the triggerreturnspring so reset is very quick.The flat-wound recoil spring of theFNP-45 is suited to full-power loads. Istarted shooting with some light 200-gr.lead SWC target loads I like for theiraccuracy. These gave occasional stovepipes,indicating they weren’t quitepowerful enough for the recoil spring. Iswitched to full power loads — 230-gr.ball, 230-gr. JHP and 230-gr. JHP +Pand these all functioned perfectly.After about 350 to 400 rounds,I tried the target loads again and thisContinued on page 92WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 61

Thunder Ranch Defensive HandgunOCCAM’S RAZORJeremy D. CloughClint recommends doinga large part of your practice,even in bright daylight, usinga flashlight. After all, it’s anunnatural act, and if you’reno good at it in practice, youcan expect to be really lousyat it when you actually need it.Photo: Heidi Smith.Generally credited to a 14 th -century Franciscan monk,Occam’s Razor is the nameassigned to the almost-intuitiveprinciple that the simplestexplanation for something— is usually the best. It’s alsothe firm foundation, in principle if notin name, underlying everything ClintSmith teaches at Thunder Ranch.Located in Lakeview, Ore., in thesouthern part of the state, ThunderRanch is an 880+ acre firearmstraining facility, teaching a broadvariety of shooting disciplines, fromlong-range rifle to defensive handgunand urban rifle — this last one beinga concept Clint pioneered. Withsome 40 years as a firearms trainer,which began while he served with theMarine Corps during Vietnam, ClintSmith is one of the best-known namesin the field, and among the shootingschools, Thunder Ranch is Ivy League.Unlike many other big name shootingschools having many instructors, if youcome to Thunder Ranch, it’ll be Clint.You’ll spend a lot of time with him andhis wife Heidi, who will be your primarycontact person as you make arrangementsfor the class. This 1-on-1 attentionand the small class size (usually no morethan a dozen people) creates a strongfamily-like atmosphere, and adds to theunique learning environment. It alsomeans classes tend to fill up quickly, soif you want to go, apply early, and bewilling to take a cancellation slot if onecomes open.Once you’ve got a seat in the class ofyour choice, the second order of businessis travel arrangements. Lakeview isclose to, essentially, nothing. There’s justno easy way to get there. Reno is onlya few hours drive, but when I attendedClint’s 3-day Defensive Pistol class,I had business in Portland, on the farcorner of the state. I drove some eight toten hours from the Pacific coast acrossthe Cascades and through the OregonOutback, a 100-plus miles of high desertso empty you can turn out your headlightsand not see a single point of lightanywhere on the horizon. It’s dramatic,beautiful country, and well worth thedrive. For a hotel in Lakeview, there’sreally only one choice: the Fremont Inn,which is nearby, and will send a sacklunch with you each morning.LogicThe first day is the lecture, whichestablishes the philosophical framework62 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

One way in, one way out. Behind itsunassuming entrance are the 880+ acrescomprising Thunder Ranch Oregon, hometo Clint Smith and some of the mostrelentlessly logical training there is.Clint giving some 1-on-1instruction to Angela Myersin the shoot house. Clint is theprimary instructor at ThunderRanch so you can expectto get plenty of individualattention from him. Looks likeAngela is listening intently!Photo: Heidi Smith.It actually makes sense to doflashlight training in the daytimeso you can learn the manipulationssafely. The pistol is a Coltfrom Novak’s, while the light isSureFire’s new AZ2 Combatlight.Bring spare batteries!Photo: Heidi Smith.Since defensive shootings can requireany of a number of responses, youwon’t shoot only the cardboardtargets, you’ll also be required to putrounds on the small black steel targeton top of the berm some 25+ yardsaway to help break tunnel vision.all the physical skills depend upon. Inessence, this is really what the schoolis all about. While Clint will teach youcertain techniques, and explain to youwhy they should be performed that way,what he teaches is not so much a seriesof mechanical movements as it is a wayof thinking. For example, you’ll writea single word across the top of yournotes: “logic.” Everything you’re taughtwill be logical, and often very, verysimple. Such as his approach to malfunctionclearance drills. While we’veall heard “tap, rack, bang,” or “tap, rackand roll,” or stage one, two or threemalfunction clearances, Clint’s rangecommands are greatly simplified.When learning clearance drills withstaged stoppages, Clint announces“Load the gun.” Whereupon we alltap the base of the magazine and cyclethe slide. If that doesn’t clear the malfunction,unload the gun — then loadthe gun. It’s the same basic drill you’dlearn anywhere. Strip the mag out, cyclethe slide, reinsert a magazine, cycle itagain; but Clint has stripped the jargonand confusion from it, and made it hardto forget. Trying to fix your jammedgun while being shot at will only everbe used under extreme stress, so simplicitymatters.When I asked Wiley Clapp what toexpect from Clint’s lecture, he said,“Clint feeds you from a fire hose.” Theman talks just like he writes, in almoststream-of-consciousness style, and ifyou aren’t listening closely, you’ll misssome true gems. The Thunder Ranchtraining videos actually have a countdownon them to warn you of upcoming“Clintisms” — his pithy, memorablephrases that so beautifully encapsulatea given thought, but there’s nowarning in class, so take heed.In addition to his logically rigorousthought process and quick turnof phrase, Clint also has a comprehensiveknowledge of real-life shootingsillustrating the principles you’llbe taught. As he puts it, “All this stuffyou’re learning has been paid for inblood.” So listen up, and take goodnotes. I filled 27 pages in my trainingnotebook during the lecture alone,and still didn’t get half of it.BasicsOne thing you’ll hear often enoughto understand is “You go to schoolto learn.” Other schools may spendextended periods of time leading youthrough certain rudimentary drills untilWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 63

Eye protection is mandatoryno matter what or whereyou’re shooting. I wearOakley M-frames, which givegood, wraparound protectionand are available in akit with their high-contrast,shooting-specific lens aswell as a clear lens foruse indoors.While Clint is no fan of clearing ahouse by yourself — it’s a really goodway to get shot — it’s still somethingyou may be forced to do. Those skillsare taught and tested in the shoothouse, which you’ll probably gothrough about three times.Frangible, non-toxic ammo isrequired at Thunder Ranch,and mine was provided byRimrock Ammunition. In some800 rounds, it fed and firedflawlessly, and hit to pointof aim, in spite of the fact its155-gr. weight is nearly athird lighter than the 230-gr.rounds my gun is set up for.Since most fights tend to wind up onthe ground, guess where you’ll endup shooting from? The importantpart is making sure you don’tshoot yourself accidentally.Photo: Heidi SmithFor those who cannot attenda class, the Thunder Ranchinstructional videos availablefrom FMG are an invaluableway to learn much of whatClint teaches. While nothingis quite the same as beingthere, the nine videos covera broad range of thingsyou need to know for selfdefenseand are extra-fun towatch if you’ve seen Clint inaction for real!With some 40 years as a firearms trainer,Clint has an amazingly comprehensiveknowledge of the field, and when he talks,he feeds you with a firehose. Listen close,and take good notes.Photo: Heidi Smithyou have achieved a high skill levelwith them; Clint, however, will insteadbring you to a level of safe competence,and then move on to other, moreadvanced skills. Based on the idea youlearn at school and practice at home.This lets him cover far more ground ina 3-day class than would otherwise bepossible.As with everything else, you’llbegin at the beginning. In this case,with basic marksmanship, somethingClint strongly emphasizes. There are notimers: in his words “Don’t shoot ’emfast, shoot ’em good!”After marksmanship comes the drawstroke: the steps of grasping your holsteredpistol, clearing leather with it,rocking it forward and locking it inplace, then putting your hands together,and finally, taking the safety off as youbring it up into a full firing position,picking up the front sight.Don’t think for a minute, though,this is a class about gilt-edged accuracy.It’s not. Simply put, it’s about fighting,but if you don’t have a basic level ofmarksmanship, you cannot expect toprevail under stress. So when you firea single shot at the target, you take twosight pictures: one for the first shot, andthe second so you’re ready to delivera follow-up shot. For two shots, three64 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

WHAT TO BRINGAttending a school like Thunder Ranch represents a significant investment in timeand effort, so you want to make sure you get the most out of it. The suggestedequipment list in their website is a great start, but it’s not the end of everything.Wear comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. While you won’t spendthe whole time rolling around on the ground, you’ll do it more than once. In mycase, I wore 5.11 pants because all the pockets are great for stuffing full of magazinesand whatever else. Since you’ll be moving around, I’d suggest boots instead oftennis shoes. I’ve worn Hi-Tec Magnum boots off and on for 15 years, and they’veperformed well for me.Bring sunscreen, as well as good ear and eye protection. For glasses, I preferOakley’s wraparound M-frames. They offer a shooting-specific lens giving goodcontrast, as well as a package including a clear lens.Since you’ll go through the shoot house in low-light, bring at least one flashlight(preferably two). I happened to use SureFire’s new AZ2 Combatlight, but the point isto bring good quality lights. You’ll also need a notepad and pen, and you’ll probablywant a camera. While you won’t spend the whole time taking pictures, you’re thereto learn, and you’ll remember more of what you hear if you take notes.Hardware is simple: take what you carry. Thunder Ranch isn’t about competitionor shooting well to impress yourself, it’s about self-defense. I’d take a backup gun aswell. Since I carry a .45 everyday, I brought my Novak Colt Government Model, aswell as a Heinie Commander PDP from Nighthawk Custom. I carry them both, andthe Novak on a daily basis. I wore the Matt Del Fatti gunbelt that’s been my dailycarry rig for over two and a half years now. Made of rough-out black leather, theSLP holster hides scuffs well and tucks the big Colt into my side and out of sight. Thepancake-style, double-mag pouch also flattens out the spare mags beautifully.Along with the gun and gear, take a cleaning kit and lots of spare mags. I generallyuse Wilson magazines in the 1911, and so I ordered spares from Brownell’s. Good thing,as several of mine began to stop locking the slide back when empty. As they failed, theywent in the range bag for rebuilding, and I used the spares to keep shooting.Last but certainly not least, you’ll need the non-toxic, frangible ammunitionthat’s required at Thunder Ranch. Mine was provided by Rimrock ammunition, whosent a case of their 155-gr. Reduced Ricochet load. While it’s a good idea to test theammo in your pistol prior to attending the class (you’ll usually have it drop-shippedto Thunder Ranch), I wasn’t able to this time. A friend of mine in the industry madedire prognostications about frangible ammo having feeding and accuracy problems,but his fears were unfounded. Of the 800 or so rounds fired during the class, I hadzero malfunctions (slide lock issues excluded, but not the ammo’s fault), and eventhough my .45 is sighted for 230-gr. bullets, the light 155s still hit topoint of aim, with excellent accuracy.*For more info: www.americanhandgunner.com/productindex and click on thecompany name.Don’t think of a trip to Thunder Ranch as a chance toimpress people by taking your neatest competition pistoland holster. Take what you carry. In my case it’s awell-worn Novak Colt Government Model in anequally well-traveled Del Fatti gunbelt.For the defensive pistol class atThunder Ranch, I took a HeinieCommander PDP from Nighthawk Custom,and my well-traveled Novak Colt, packagedfor flight in a Pelican hardcase.sight pictures. See?And then there are three other elements:communication, movement andbreaking tunnel vision. At the beginningof class, you’re assigned a partner. You’llstand next to them on the firing line,and you’ll talk to them when your pistolruns dry, or if you have a malfunction,you’ll call for cover, and when you’re upand running again, you’ll let them know.Whether you’re a cop with a partner, orin your home with your spouse, that’s thesort of thing that saves lives.You’ll also use verbal commands,which serve the twin purposes of notifyingthose around you of what’s going on, aswell as seeking compliance from the badguy. Which, if you can get it, will savethe world-of-heartache (and expense) followingeven a shooting you survive.MovementWhile most of us are used tostanding in one place and shooting atstationary targets, that’s not the realityof armed confrontation. No reasonableperson is going to stand still whilethey’re being shot at, so expect thebad guy to be moving. Similarly, thereare a lot of really good reasons foryou to move. To create distance, tomake yourself harder to hit and to seekcover, for instance.You’ll practice all of this, bothmoving forward and backward, as wellas from side-to-side. The great hazardof trying to walk backward, though,is you tend to trip over things and falldown. Guess what? You’ll learn to drawand shoot from the ground, too.Meanwhile, the targets will move.Not at first, and not every time, butthe alert student will quickly noticethe steel stands holding the cardboardbackedpaper targets are all linkedtogether, and, when activated, willrock from side-to-side. By the end ofthe class, you’ll be able to deliver bothcenter hits and head shots on commandas the targets move.Did I mention the black steelplates that are between each of thepaper targets? Since real life comeswith innocent bystanders, the steelplates are no-shoot targets you haveto stay aware of as the paper targetsrock and move in front of them.Skill SetsThere is, however, one steel plateyou’ll be expected to shoot. It’s a12x18" outline of a man, locatedon the top of the berm, some 25yards behind the regular targets.As the class progresses, you’ll begiven range commands to hit it,or to deliver a head shot on your(moving) paper target, or to delivera head shot, followed by the littleman on the hill, followed by a pairto the center of your partner’s target,ad infinitum. The one thing, Clintpoints out, he can’t tell you, is whatyour confrontation will look like.Continued on page 76WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 65

When you can’t be there toprotect her ...“Although this may seemlike a good concept, it isn’tlogical. I’ll show youconcealed carry optionsthat make sense andwill fit your lifestyle.”At the shopping center, in theparking lot, at work, in her car orat home — there is a solution.Make sureshe canprotectherselfThe Concealed Carry for Ladiestraining course from Thunder Ranchoffers a comprehensive look atconcealed carry from a woman’sperspective.InstructorHeidi Smith presentsher concepts on gunselection and carry options inan easy-to-follow, relaxed format.What’s the best way to carry a gun ina purse? How do you draw a gun froman ankle holster? What happens when agun is fired at point blank range?Heidi’s range demonstrations, guidedby husband Clint Smith, provide acomplete picture on how to safely carrya concealed handgun, and draw and firefrom several effective platforms.Give that “special lady” in your lifethe tools she needs to protect herselfwhen you’re not around.BONUSSpecialOffer!Two-disc set only$29.95~Heidi SmithIncludes nearly two hours of video!Order Today! (800) 628-9818 (M-F 8am-3pm PST) • www.americanhandgunner.com/TRvids

tactical, practical& just flat-out coolAdd-ons, Updates & Adornmentfor Your Ordnance John Connor1Wow ain’t these pretty? John VanZyck does a bang-up job at VZ Grips,machining some of the finest, grippiest and most comfortable Micartaand G10 pistol grips on the planet. Shown here is the G10 Operator II in acolor scheme he calls “Hyena.” Go ahead, drool. Then go check out his Aliengrips in green canvas Micarta and his Frag grips in Tiger Stripe G10, amongothers. Lots of great designs for lots of great guns!2The Reflex holster by Uncle5Mike’s is a new design whichcombines solid security with lightningspeed. Holstered, your pieceis locked-in, but there are no paddles,switches or buttons to pushto release it; just the gross motormovement you’re gonna doanyway under adrenaline effect:tucking the butt of the pistolslightly back toward your body asyou grasp the weapon. You’ll haveto see the video to fully appreciate it,but I’ll share this: My gross motor skillsare as gross as they come, and I’ve triedthe Reflex and like it!3When I first saw PB Precision’s Glock magazine replacement baseplates, I wondered “Uhh? Why?” Then I tried ’em, and I get it: Deepgrooves give “grab factor” on potentially lethal stuck mags — even withgloved hands — and a little extra mass and weight helps kick ’em outslicker when they’re not stuck. When Murphy taps you on the shoulder,you’ll be glad you’ve got ’em.4Bobby Mac’s is all about wheelguns, and that’swhere you’ll find perhaps the best revolverspeedloader extant — the SL Variant.Besides being durable, reliable and fast,they’re actually easily adjustable forspread and angle of rounds, hence the“variant.” Dimensions differ a little ora lot between makes of all frame sizes,ACCESSORIESAs long as my boots hold together, I’m not interested in shoe-shoppin’.My Jeep ain’t pretty, but it runs and it’s paid for, so I hardly glance atnew rigs. It takes more than a little fraying and a stitch or two beforeI’ll even think about replacing a worn-soft old field shirt. But whoa, what’sthis? A new holster design? Oh, dude, check out those grips! And hey, whatthe heck is that thing? Cool! Gotta try it!Yeah, if it’s just about me and regular runnin’ gear, it takes a lot to evenstir my somnolent senses. But give me a whiff of new gun-goodies, andthey spring to General Quarters before my Mark-II Eyeballs can evenfocus! And I suspect, a meager handful of you are the sameway. Well, aren’t you? Be honest now.46and SL Variant’s got ’em covered, in5-, 6- and 7-shot models.5If a day at the range for youmeans one gun and a box ofammo, don’t bother looking at thetough, quality-constructed SecondAmendment Range Pack from 1776 Tactical. But if you’re lugging a halfdozenhandguns, up to 36 mags and 60 pounds of gear, you’ve gotta checkit out. It’s so packed with features you’ll just have to imagine having anarsenal of ordnance neatly compartmented, mounted on your back, andboth hands free for your long guns!6Tired of slashing thumbs and bustin’ nails loading those .22 to .380ACP mags? Following on the success of the UpLULA Universal PistolMagazine Loader for larger calibers, Butler Creek now offers the BabyUpLULA for all your .22 and pocket-popper mags. It fits single-stackmags from virtually all makers, and, of course, it makesunloading fast and easy too.For more info: www.americanhandgunner.com/productindexand click on the company name.WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 67213*

Pat CovertPHotos: chuck pittman, inc.POCKETDYNAMITE!On e o f t h eo f f s h o o t sof the tacticalknifee x p l o s i o nhas been the boom ineveryday carry knivesfor everyday people.Whether for self-protection, utility, or both, more peopleof both genders carry knives today than ever before. Onemajor problem in toting protection, however, has alwaysbeen discretion. The size of most folding knives gives themaway, and if that doesn’t, just the fact a knife simply lookslike a knife does. Triple Eight Professional has ingeniouslydisposed of those two obstacles by giving knife users a knifeeasy to conceal without sacrificing efficiency.Triple Eight, often referred to as simply 888, is locatedin San Diego, Calif. and has only been around a scant twoyears, but don’t let their youth mislead you. Their innovativedesigns have turned the average concept of what apocketknife is on its head. Their blades don’t engage like theaverage folding knife and are not the skinny nail-cleanersfound on most knives this size.The company is the brainchild of Walter Kaihatu, a lawenforcement, military and sporting goods industry veteranwho has built several multinational brands in the lightingand tactical market over the years. Kaihatu tells Handgunner,“Triple Eight’s focus is on everyday carry knives68 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

Triple Eight Professional offers upunique protection at your fingertipsthat are small, easy to carry and superstrong.We also concentrate very hardon making sure whatever we make ispriced so the average professional whoputs their lives on the line to protect usis able to afford our products without ithurting their pocket books!”Different StrokesSeveral key features separate 888knives from the pack. For starters, atjust 3" closed, they’re downright small.The somewhat teardrop-shaped handles(made of 420 stainless steel) arewide enough to facilitate a strong grip.Depth-wise the handle frames are onlya quarter-inch thick. The blade pivotsstand out a bit farther and are every bitas beefy as those found on full-sizedfolders, even stronger than many. Theclosed 888 does not look like a knifeso it doesn’t have the dreaded left-winghorror stigma attached. At first, second,or even third glance you’d think youwere looking at a keychain or LEDpocket flashlight.Most unique is the way the bladeis engaged. Instead of the bladeswinging out from the frame like theoverwhelming majority of folders, thehandles rotate at the pivot to roll theContinued on page 90WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 69

Photo: Candi CascioTop is the Ruger LCP .380,bottom is the Ruger LC9,not much bigger than theLCP, but a full-caliber 9mmPat CascioCrimson Trace isalready offeringtheir ModelLG-412 laser forthe Ruger LCP.Like most men, I’m a meat andpotatoes type of guy. Given mydruthers, I’ll take red meat andspuds for most of my meals. Iguess that’s why I like Rugerfirearms so much, they appeal to the meat andpotatoes in me. Ruger doesn’t manufacture fancy orartsy types of guns generally. They make what manyof us call meat and potatoes types of firearms — gunsyou can depend on, and guns you don’t mind gettingdirty, or well-used and even abused at times.Ruger just released their new LC9, 9mm sub-compactpistol. Its the big brother to the itty-bitty Ruger LCP,.380 ACP pistol I’ve been carrying as my backup gun70 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

The Ruger LC9 comes with a built-in lock;insert the key, turn and the gun istotally safe forunauthorizedusers.Photo: CandiCascioPhoto: Candi CascioThe LC9 is a “meat and potatoes”pistol — nothing fancy,but totally functional and builtto last.Robar Companies hasresponded, offeringcustomized work for LC9s.This one features a flared ejectionport, smooth trigger, beavertail,grip texture and action work, amongmodifications. Stunning, we think! Photo: Robarlately. The LC9 is slightly less than 1"longer and taller than the LCP. Heightis 4.5" and overall length is 6", with a3.12" barrel. The LC9 weighs in at afeathery 17.1 ounces.The LCP comes with tiny, fixedsights I can’t see without my readingglasses. For me, the LCP is a pointshootinggun, period, for close-up work.The new Ruger LC9 comes with 3-dotsights, and the rear sight is adjustablefor windage. I can see these sights.Another point in favor of the LC9 overthe LCP in my book.The slide on the LC9 is blackened,hardened alloy steel. The frame is glassfilledNylon, just like the LCP. Magazinecapacity is 7+1 rounds, and theslide locks open after the last shot. TheLC9 comes with a flat magazine floorplate,as well as a extended floorplate.There’s enough to catch the pinky fingerwith the extended floorplate installed,giving me a full grip on the gun.SafetiesThe LC9 has several of ’em. First,there is the internal safety, which preventsthe gun from firing if dropped,and the gun won’t fire unless the triggeris fully pulled. There is also a manualthumb safety, a magazine disconnectsafety — the gun won’t fire withouta magazine in place — and a loadedchamber indicator.While I can appreciate a thumbsafety on some pistols, I didn’t care forit on the LC9. The thumb safety is verystiff to apply, and I couldn’t apply itwithout shifting the gun in my hand, orusing the off-hand to apply the safety.The long, DAO trigger pull (with nosecond-strike ability) on the LC9 ismore than enough “safety” if you askme. However, you have the option ofnot using the thumb safety if you don’twant to apply it, and I’ll carry my LC9with the thumb safety off, thank you.The long, DAO trigger pull was a bitgritty out-of-the-box. However, withina box and a half of ammo, the triggerpull had smoothed considerably. Thisis pretty common with mass-producedguns. There is approximately 3/16" offree play in the trigger until you feelany resistance. The LC9 has a slightlylarger triggerguard, so using the gunwith gloves is possible for all you coldweathertypes.Ammo DemandsRuger clearly states in the owner’smanual the LC9 can safely handle alimited amount of 9mm +P fodder.However, +P+ is not to be used. Itested the LC9 at 15 yards, with Winchester’s115-gr. JHP Personal Protectionload, as well as Black HillsAmmunition 115-gr. JHP and 124-gr.JHP loads. I also used the Black Hills115-gr. FMJ blue box reloaded ammo.There were no failures of any kindduring my testing, and I fired close to400 rounds through the LC9 withoutcleaning the gun. However, like anysmall auto, you need a firm grip,locked wrist and good ammo to helpassure it runs fine.Accuracy was around the 3" to 3.5"mark with most loads tested at that15-yard distance. Heed Ruger’s advice,and don’t use any sort of +P+ fodder inthe little LC9. If you’re smart, and sinceyou’re reading Handgunner you mustbe, limit P+ loads if you don’t want toaccelerate wear in the LC9.I was very impressed with the littleLC9, and it will replace my LCP onmy ankle as a backup. Suggested retailon the LC9 is $443 and it seems tocontinue that tank-toughRuger quality and design.*For more info: www.americanhandgunner.com/ruger; www.americanhandgunner.com/robar-companies-incWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 71

WIN!HANDGUN OF THE MONTH.45 ACP FNH FNP-45CompetitionAnd Accessory Package!BONUS1 21 Drago Gear by Black Ops kindly suppliedtwo products for this package. This Sidepackis a well-thoughtout carry bag, chock full of pockets and can do ambidextrousdouble-duty as either a shoulder or fanny pack. The adjustable water4bottle holder, cushioning system and internal organization system makes itextra-handy for travel, police work or simply as your mini bug-out, dailycarrybag. 2 Drago’s Tactical Defense Pen (Model RX-18) features a heavyduty pocket clip with laser engraved Black Ops logo. The RX-18 doubles as a top quality writing5instrument, yet, in capable hands, can generate enough stopping power from a well-placed thrust to defendyourself in places where being armed may not be an option. 3 The Thunder Ranch Defensive Firearms video ischock full of hands-on info and tips about defending yourself and your family. Produced by us in conjunction withClint Smith of Thunder Ranch, it’s full of vintage Clint humor and solid ideas. A “must-have” for anyone concernedabout their personal safety. 4 The “Apparo” knife (Greek for “prepare”) from Martin Knives is designed to helpyou do just that. With a brawny 9.5" blade, 1/4" thick, and offering retro-design features like a cord-wrappedhollow handle, the Apparo is an ultimate survival tool. The custom sheath, by Steve Shepard of Bluff Creek Outfit-is every bit as durable as the knife and shows top quality craftsmanship and design. 5 LockSAF’s PBS-001 Biometric Safe assures access to your3ters,self-defense firearm or personal belongings is restricted to only those who are authorized. It’s easy to program and use and it takes just a single pressof a button and a programmed fingerprint to open it. Made of 9-gauge steel, it has four pilot holes inside for mounting securely to any flat surface.72 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

Enter ONline www.americanhandgunner.comTO ENTER BY MAIL: Send a postcard (no envelopes, please) and follow the sample shown below to AMERICAN HANDGUNNER,Dept. H9, P.O. Box 501377, San Diego, CA 92150-1377. All entries must be received before oCTober 31, 2011.That front fiber-optic sight jumps rightout and works even in surprisingly lowlightconditions.The FNP-45’s safety does many things,including acting as a hammer-drop,safety and can even be usedto carry thegun “cockedand locked.”Gun photos: Roy HuntingtonReader Survey Questions:1. What’s your favorite auto-pistol caliber? A) .22 B) .380 C) 9mm D) .40 S&W E) .45 ACP F) Other2. What’s your favorite revolver caliber? A) Small bore (.22/.25/.17) B) Medium bore (.32/.38/9mm)C) Large bore (.40 to .45) D) Big bore (.50-plus)3. Which of the following do you consider the minimum caliber for self-defense?A) .22/.25 B) .38/.357/9mm C) .40/.45 D) Big magnums (.460/.500 S&W, etc.)4. Have you ever used a firearm in a self-defense situation? A) Yes, have fired in self-defense.B) Yes, brandished/displayed it to prevent a crime. C) Never, but do keep a gun for self-defense.D) Never, and do not keep a firearm for self-defense.Limit 1 entry per household. This contest is open to individuals who are residents of the United States and its territories only. Agents and employees of Publishers DevelopmentCorporation and their families are excluded from entering. Contest void where prohibited or restricted by law. Winners must meet all local laws and regulations. Taxesand compliance with firearms regulations will be the responsibility of the winners. Winners will be notified by CERTIFIED MAIL on official letterhead. ATTENTION DEPLOYEDMILITARY: USE STATESIDE ADDRESS! No purchase necessary to enter. Giveaway guns and accessories may have minor handling marks or evidence of being test-fired.The FNH FNP-45 Competition is vintage FNH in that it’stough as nails, burly and works 100 percent. Our militarychooses their products for good reasons. It makes a greatmajor-caliber-action pistol due to ergonomics, and thefiber-optic front sight is quick to pick-out. The FNP-45 hasa unique removable top plate you can take off to mount optics(like a micro red dot, for instance) and comes in a nifty blacknylon case, complete with three 15-round magazines. The FNP-45is becoming all the rage among the 3-gun action shooting crowd,and would make a great home defense package too.Check out Dave Anderson’s cover story in this issue on theFNP-45 Competition! Oh, and this very gun is the one our acephotographer, Chuck Pittman, used for our stunning cover andfeature pictures!CUSTOM Features:• Caliber: .45 ACP• Operation: DA/SAwith manual safety• Barrel Length: 4.5"• Overall Length: 7.85"• Weight: 33.2 oz. empty• Ambi mag and slide release• Interchangeablebackstrap inserts• Textured and checkeredframe surfaces• Accessory rail• Ambi frame-mounteddecocking leverstotal value: OVER $1,600!For more info:www.americanhandgunner.com/productindexto find the manufacturer listed.HOM SEPT/OCT 2011NameSAMPLE___________________________________Address _____________ City, State, Zip____________Email Address _______________________Circle answers to Reader Survey:Question #1: (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)Question #2: (A) (B) (C) (D) Question #3: (A) (B) (C) D)Question #4: (A) (B) (C) (D)If I win, please ship my prize through:Dealer ___________________________________Address _____________ City, State, Zip ____________Phone ( ) ____ - ________ Store hours __ am __ pmWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 73

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MASTERColt’s classic 1908 Vest Pocket .25 wasmanufactured for nearly 40 years,with a sum total of a half-millionpistols made. It’s also a greatcanvas for the custom pistolsmith.This custom one was inspired byone of Wayne Novak’s earlierpieces, a gorgeous Swensonstyleconversion of a 1903.32, the 1908’s big brother.25My Novak-styleIt all began in 2002 on my first a one-off ambidextroussafetytrip to Novak’s .45 Shop in Parkersburg.That’s when Wayne — a nod to the fact Swenson pioneeredthe ambi-safety on the 1911.first showed me the hammerlessColt 1903 .32 he had built Intended as one of a set of three pistols,the .32 was to be accompaniedwhen he apprenticed with thefamed Armand Swenson. Wonderfullyengraved by George Spring and a petite Colt 1908 .25. All in all,by an identically-customized 1911 .45,(now of the Colt custom shop), the the sort of thing you speak of in low,.32 Auto had gotten a full build-up respectful tones.in the Swenson style: the frontstrapwas checkered at 30 LPI, the triggerguardsquared, and the top of the slide Fast forward seven years, duringGristmatted. Instead of the customary S&W which time I had the privilege ofK-frame revolver sight Swenson usuallyinstalled, there’s a smaller J-frame Novak’s bench. Wayne’s style is his ownlearning the art of pistolsmithing atrear sight, along with now, and he’s mostly known for seriousworking guns: .45s and Browning Hi-Powers going into harm’s way.While I focused on learningthe skill set of building theworking guns, the .32never left my mind, andto make it worse, I’vealways been attractedto the tiny hammerlessColt .25s.Marketed from1908 until 1946,Jeremy D. CloughJeremy matted the frontstrap to makethe truncated grip a little easier to grasp.during which a half-million were sold,and chambered for a totally ineffectivecartridge, the Model of 1908 looks like astunted 1911, complete with grip safetyand a thumb safety in the right place.After stumbling across a thoroughlybattered one in a friend’s parts drawer,I decided it was my turn to attemptbuilding an understudy gun in the styleof the man who had taught me.When I describe the pistol as “thoroughlybattered,” understand I mean it.The triggerguard had been broken andsilver-soldered back together, giving itan odd contour and leaving a strangediscoloration in the otherwise uniformbrown finish. There was no magazine,a fair amount of pitting, and the pistolfired only intermittently. To round outthe deal, the original thumb safety waslong gone, replaced by a hand-filedThe new thumb safety,shown with a stock1908 safety. Continued on page 91WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 75

AM Cop CLETC 5-11:LE product 1/3 square 1-11 4/23/11 11:26 AM Page 1COR®BONLAW ENFORCEMENTTRAINING CENTERSturgis, South DakotaLAW ENFORCEMENT:• Law enforcement officers• Law enforcement agencies• SRT/SWAT Teams• Homeland Security• Private Security OfficersCIVILIANS:• Young shooters• Beginning shooters• Concealed carry safety classes• Advanced shooters• Women only training classes• Personalized one-on-oneinstructionSPECIALTY TRAINING EVENTSHOSTING INDUSTRYDEMO DAYSCOR®BON's world class, state of theart training facility is the only one ofits kind in the region. Taught by ourown acclaimed instructors and worldrenownguest instructors, who willteach time-tested fundamentals utilizingthe latest technological advances intraining and shooting techniques.605.347.0021 • corbon.com“we didn’t invent concealment,we just perfected it.”A• Accommodates all J Frame, roundbutt revolvers except Bodyguard• Constructed of high strength,glass reinforced engineeringpolymers.• Available in black right hand onlyDCBMSRPStyle T07A) Tuk Tab… allows holster-less carrybut still works with most holstersB) Deep checkering for steady gripC) Finger grooves... No increased bulkD) Clearance for speedloaders631-841-6300Dept #AH91www.desantisholster.com431 Bayview Avenue, Amityville, NY 11701OCCAM’S RAZORContinued from page 65It could be one person up close, onerelatively far away, it could be severalpeople, or any combination.By forcing you to move betweenthe skill sets of fast center hits up closeand a precise and deliberate shots ata distance, you prepare yourself torespond to a dynamic situation thatmay require more than one simple, preprogrammedresponse. Simply put, itbreaks down the expectation there isone solution to all problems, or thatyour specific problem will require onlyone solution.While there is a shoot house atThunder Ranch (you’ll probably gothrough it three times), Clint is quickto point out clearing a house is areally good way to get shot. “I don’twant you to do it,” he says simply.But on the outside chance there’s abad guy in your house and your childon the other side, in you go, gun inhand, light in the other, trying to absolutelyminimize the narrow little slitof yourself you’re showing to the badguy around the corner. Much of thetactics lesson plan revolves aroundthe idea of minimal exposure, andno doubt some of this is a result ofClint’s experience of having actuallybeen shot in combat.It’s like the difference betweenhaving a job where they issue you agun, and one where they issue you abulletproof vest. One implies shooting,the other implies being shot. Whileother trainers may lead you to expectyou’ll be the only one shooting, Clintis ever-aware if you’re involved in adefensive situation, you should expectrounds to come in your direction. Hisemphasis on minimizing exposure, notlooking for trouble, and using cover isindicative of his concerns. A vest, ashe so succinctly puts it, is to “stop secondaryprojectiles from the cover you’restanding behind.”Not About ShootingWhile I’ve referred to it as ashooting school, that’s really not whatThunder Ranch is. It’s as much aboutnot shooting as it is shooting. Clint’sgoal, as he puts it, is to make yousmart; able to see trouble and avoidit, because “Anybody can get into afight.” While you’ll learn a high levelof proficiency in how to apply deadlyforce, you’ll also walk away with astrong sense of the necessity of usingforce only to defend your life or thatof your family or partner. Oh, andOccam? He was right aboutthat razor.*For more info: www.americanhandgunner.com/thunder-ranch76 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

Alan KorwinCZ P-07DUTYAre Your WordsKilling YourGun Rights?Sure, you tell everyone you’re pro gun — but that’s a mistake. Peoplewho hate guns (and therefore hate you), believe guns are so bad, onlythe devil would be pro-gun. “You’re (gulp) pro-gun!? Gasp ... howawful!” You lose that argument before you begin. They’ve beatenyou with your own words.Next time someone asks if you’re pro-gun (or you feel compelled to justblurt it out), say instead, “I’m pro-rights, how about you?” This changesthe playing field, and automatically gives you the moral high ground,because what does this make the opposition? Yup, they’re anti-rights, andguess who wins that, just based on the words. The difference between prorightsand anti-rights is self-evident. You win.You’re pro-rights, pro-freedom and pro-self-defense. They’re antirights,anti-freedom and anti-self defense. It’s not about pro-gun andanti-gun laws. It’s about pro-rights and anti-rights laws. This subtle twistof the tongue is what the antis do to us all the time. It’s time to fight backand win the war of the words.“You’re pro-rights, pro-freedom and pro-self-defense.They’re anti-rights, anti-freedom and anti-self defense.”How many times have you heard the “news” media rant on about socalled“assault weapons”? Those evil deadly killing machines designedonly for erasing people on battlefields? They are bashing you over the headwith words, and stealing the argument just based on the terms they use.They don’t even know what a so-called “assault weapon” is, andhere’s the kicker. Even though you’ve been hit with the phrase repeatedly,you’ve never stopped to connect the dots. People who hate gunsdon’t know there are dots to connect, they just absorb the term and continueto drip hatred. Are you ready? Assault is a kind of behavior, it’s nota kind of hardware. Bill Clinton cleverly wedged this into the languageback in 1994.You see how sneaky and deadly this language thing is? The anti-rightsopposition has succeeded in welding the concept of assault — a humanContinued on page 93Today’s MostVersatile Handgun!FEATURES•Convertible(safety or decocker)•Compact size•New Omega trigger system•Polymer frame with light rail•16+1 9mm, 12+1 .40 S&W•Two magazinesP R O T E C T • H U N T • C O M P E T EP.O. Box 171073, Kansas City, KS 66117-0073Toll-free: (800) 955-4486Phone: (913) 321-1811E-mail: info@cz-usa.comwww.cz-usa.comWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 77

9833_ROHRBAUGH_AMERICAN_HANDGUNNER_AD_FINAL.indd 1GrassburrLeather Workswww.grassburr.comMountable Holster SolutionsSo wear your pistol on your belt ... hang itunder your arm .... wrap it around yourankle ... or even stuff it in your pants.ROHRBAUGH R9THE ULTIMATE CONCEALMENT FIREARMrohrbaughfirearms.com | 1•800 •803•2233 or 631•242•3175Just think about Grassburr for those timesyou want your weapon with you,just not on you.6/9/10 3:36:48 PMsixgunnerContinued from page 40“Magnumatics” in December 1993.Other companies have chambered semiautosin .357 Magnum, but just as the.357 was mentioned as the only cartridgesuitable for self-defense and lawenforcement use, the Coonan is the onlysemiauto .357 Magnum which fits intothe same category.One of the problems inherent inbuilding a truly reliable .22 semi-autois the fact .22s are rimmed cartridges,making it harder to stack them in amagazine; this problem is magnifiedby a cartridge like the .357 Magnum.To solve this problem the magazine followerin the Coonan follows a diagonalpath. It works perfectly, and I hadabsolutely no malfunctions whatsoeverin shooting the Coonan .357 Magnum.Most of us have been taught to pullback on the locked open slide to feedthe first cartridge out of the magazine;this does not work with the Coonan. Ifound there was not enough room topull back the slide, but releasing theslide lock worked perfectly in chamberingthat first cartridge.Dan Coonan was a freshman incollege in the mid-1970s, and whileother freshmen were doing whatevercollege freshmen do, he was arguingthe merits of semi-auto pistols andrevolvers. That discussion led to himspending several years designing whatwould become the first Coonan .357Magnum, the Model A. This originalversion worked much like a standard1911 with a barrel link. When it wasimproved to the link-less style of theBrowning Hi-Power, the Coonan .357became the Model B.At the time, the longest cartridgesnormally chambered in a semi-autowere the .45 ACP, .38 Super and 9mm.The longer length of the .357 Magnumcartridge required redesigning the1911 action and also providing moreroom from front to back in the gripframe. Even though I have a largehand with relatively stubby fingersthe grip frame of the Coonan is as ifit were tailor-made for me. With mynormal shooting grip, the pad of mytrigger finger falls right on the face ofthe Coonan trigger.Bad TimingAbout the time the Coonan .357should have become prevalent as themost powerful, portable, practicalsemiauto, the tidal wave of plasticpistols hit. Coonan even had a Commander-sizedCadet which should’vebecome very popular. Instead almosteveryone’s attention was diverted elsewhere,and by 1994 Coonan Armsfiled for bankruptcy, reorganized, andthen was dissolved four years later.78 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

However that was not the end, as DanCoonan began manufacturing riflereceivers. Now Coonan, Inc. is onceagain producing the Coonan .357Magnum Model B.The Coonan .357 Magnum handlesmuch like a 1911 except the grip frameis a little larger. The Model B consistsof a stainless steel slide matedwith a stainless steel frame, both ofwhich are investment cast from 17-4PH steel and then machined; slide toframe fit is tight with no play whatsoever.Both sides of the slide and theframe are polished bright, while the topof the slide and the bottom of the frameand the grip frame are a no-glare satinfinish. The stainless steel slide stopand thumb safety are both extended,the grip safety is of the beavertail stylescalloped out to receive the back of thehammer, which is skeletonized and of ablued alloy.AmerHandgunner_CB_4cp_ad_2.pdf 1 10/18/10 2:44 PMSixgunners have beenarguing ever since thethen-new .357 Magnumbutted up againsta heavily loaded .44Special, just whetheror not the .357 issuitable for big game.The trigger is different than a standard1911 in that it’s on a pivot at thetop and provides a creep-free triggerpull of 43/4 pounds. The extractor isCof the external style. Standard barrellength is 5" and the empty weight is 42Mounces. The Coonan comes with twoY7-round capacity magazines, makingthis .357 Magnum an 8-shooter.CMThe combat sights are excellent,beingMYblack and giving a large squaresight picture. Both front and rear sightsCYare set in a dovetail and adjustable forwindage CMY and there are no unfriendlysharp edges on the rear sight. For myKeyes and grip the Coonan shoots 1" to2" low depending upon the load used,but filing the front sight down to compensatefor this would be an easy task.Grip panels are smooth black walnutwith the Coonan logo in the center onboth panels.Both the frontstrap and the mainspringhousing are smooth and theformer is of the flat, not arched style.With the lack of checkering or any kindof gripping surface on the grip strapsas well as grips, I thought I might haveWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 79

CALL 1(800)SA2-1911 “the MAG GUIDE people”when only the BEST will do!ORDER DIRECT and SAVE!$78.95 A L$36.95 A LGovernment Model/Officers’ ModelMag GuideAvailable:Flat/ArchedSS/BL 20 LPINEW: Flat now availablein SmoothAlso Available:Grizzly Flat-SS/BL $89.95$99.00AmbidextrousMagazine ReleaseGov’t Model,Officers’ Model &Para-Ordnance. SS/BLNEW–Slim LineMag Guides & Grips w/screws & bushingsL available with Lanyard Loop add $10A available in AluminumColor Catalog AvailableSame Day ShippingAppropriate shipping chargesDealers Welcome100% Customer SatisfactionA L$95.95Full Para Mag Guide(For P14/P16 only)Available in:Flat/Arched-SS/BL 20 LPI$36.95“E-Z Fit HiGrip” ® Safety.250 radius-Series70 & 80 .220 radiusS70 for Springfields“PalmSwel”/Standard(jig available)Mainspring HousingAvailable in:Gov’t Model, Officers’ Model,all Para-Ordnance. 20 LPIFlat/Arched-SS/BL(P10/P12 flat only)(flat smooth availablefor all of the above)Prices starting at $17.50S & A Custom 1911 GripsExotic Woods & MicartaStandard & Slim LineDD, FC & SmoothP.O. Box 299 • Copeville, Texas USA 75121(800) SA2-1911 • Fax (972) 853-0526www.smithandalexander.comHours: M-F, 9am-5pm CSTsecurity problems while shooting the.357 Magnum from Coonan, but I didnot. Felt recoil is quite pleasant andthere was no twisting in the hand of theModel B while shooting..38s TooAs an extra added bonus, theCoonan .357 Magnum not only handles.357 Magnum cartridges flawlesslybut it can also be used with.38 Specials. To accomplish this tworecoil springs are included. They areboth from Wolff, with the 22-poundspring designed for use with .357Magnums and a 10-pound springfor the lighter .38 Specials. It’s possibleto fire .38 Specials with the .357Magnum recoil spring in place, howeverthe action has to be operated byhand as there is not enough energy toeject the fired case.In fact, what is nowregarded as somewhatlowly, is still probablythe most practical ofall the really powerfulsixgun cartridges.Variable BroadHead,Either Hand, Any Grip, Always Ready.Dirk Pinkerton614-746-9380 anytime or252-281-5252 8a-8p EasternThe Coonan was test-fired, inbetween the rain showers and highwinds of spring, with six different.357 Magnum loads as well as two.38 Special versions. Both the BlackHills 158-JHP and Hornady 158-FPplaced five shots in less than 1", givingshooters a choice of two different typesof bullets, both of which perform withexcellent accuracy. None of my crosssection of factory Black Hills, Hornadyand Winchester loads went over 2" at20 yards!The Coonan makes a very practicaleveryday using pistol, with pricesstarting at about $1,199 MSRP. Sixgunnershave been arguing ever sincethe then-new .357 Magnum butted upagainst a heavily loaded .44 Special,just whether or not the .357 is suitablefor big game. I would not hesitateto use it on anything under 200pounds, however if one is very carefulas to distance, bullet selection, andespecially bullet placement, larger animalshave been — and will be taken— cleanly. One change I would makeon the Coonan as an everyday packin’pistol would be to select theadjustable-sighted version.*For more info: www.americanhandgunner.com/coonan-inc80 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

AYOOB FILESContinued from page 32of people (at the rally), and went in toget cigarettes before seeing what wasgoing on. As I was asking the ladybehind the counter for a pack of Camels,I heard one shot, then a chain of shotsreal fast, before she could hand me thecigarettes. It sounded like fireworks. Ijust responded and ran out door. As Icleared the door, a man in front of mewho had been wounded in the leg said,‘Shooter! Shooter! Get down!’”RepresentativeGabrielle Giffordsand some of her staffwere holding a smallmeet-the-voters rally ina mall when a patheticloser named JaredLoughner opened fire.Zamudio had long kept a gun in hiscar. The previous August, when buyinga Ruger P95 9mm, he had learned fromthe gun dealer that Arizona had legalizedpermit-less carry, and from thatday on had worn the Ruger constantly.Left-handed, he was carrying it that day,butt forward in the inside right breastpocket of his jacket, fully loaded with16 rounds.Zamudio continued, “I reached intomy pocket, put my hand on my pistol,took the safety off, and ran down thesidewalk (toward the shooting scene).That’s when I saw a group of peoplewrestling with (Loughner). The firstthing I focused on was the man closestto me. His back was to me. He raisedup with a Glock in his hand, open,magazine sticking out. In that second Idecided that because the gun was open,I didn’t have to shoot him. I immediatelygrabbed him by the wrist, turnedthe gun in toward him, told him to dropthe weapon. He did.“Even as he was dropping the gun,everyone yelled, ‘It’s not him, it’snot him!’ I said, ‘Put it down.’ I washearing people yell, ‘I’ll kill you, youmotherf***er, I’ll kill you.’ When theman dropped the gun I said, ‘Put yourfoot on it, make us all feel safe,’ and hedid. This turned out to be Roger Sulzgeber,one of my personal heroes. Heand Bill Badger had grabbed Loughnerand pulled him to the ground. Apparentlythe gun had jammed, either misfired orWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 81

Because Life’sToo shorT forugLy gunLeaTher.Jasper, Georgiawww.purdygear.com706-692-5536didn’t feed, and Loughner was tryingto reload again when they grabbed him.There was an empty mag on ground,a full one that mis-fed in the gun, andanother full magazine Patricia Maischgot away from him.”Killer Restrained“The world went into slow motion,”Joe continued. “I assessed the situation.Bill had Loughner by the neckon the ground. Roger stood on the gunand leaned over and grabbed Loughner’sshoulder, holding him down.Patricia had been on the ground whenshe grabbed the loaded magazine awayfrom him, and she shimmied over hislegs. Loughner began to struggle, andPatricia asked me to take her place. Igot down onto the back of his knee andput a hand on his hip. A fourth gentlemanput a foot on his back, he wasn’tgoing anywhere. I tried to call 911 butcouldn’t get through, tried three times.The police showed up in about fourminutes. All Loughner ever said duringthat time was, ‘Ow. You’re breakingmy arm.’”Joe adds, “Bill Badger was bleedingprofusely from his head. He told meas Loughner was shooting everyone,(Loughner approached him and)pointed the gun at Bill’s head. Billreflexively turned his head away, andwhen Loughner fired, the bullet tookskin off down to the skull but did noreal damage. Bill went down. When thegun stopped firing, Bill raised back upand Loughner was right in front of him.That was when the wrestling started.Bill Badger was bleeding, the first realblood I saw, and it hit me that this hadreally happened, all these people gotshot. The enormity of it set in.“I looked to my right, and saw asea of wounded people. Between themand their loved ones and everyone elsetrying to help, there were just so manypeople. Many people were screamingdifferent things at once. ‘Call thepolice!’ ‘Oh, my God!’ ‘Where’s theambulance?’ People say crazy thingsto deal with the trauma. One personyelled, ‘Take a picture of his face!’”The Cavalry ArrivesZamudio remembers, “The lady fromWalgreen’s came out and did CPR onone victim. There were four differentdoctors at or near the scene who wereable to provide immediate care. Thefirst law enforcement to show up wasa uniformed officer, a minute ahead ofeveryone else, and he got out of hiscar with gun in hand, looking at us.People were shouting ‘He’s right here,he’s right here.’ A lady tried to give theofficer the empty magazine.“Instead, he went straight toLoughner, cuffed him, and when thesecond officer arrived, they searchedhim. I watched them take two regular82 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

Do you needA Gun Belt?If you carry a gun, YOU DO!THE BELTMAN’SHAND MADE BELTS ARE TWO LAYERS OFTOP QUALITY BULL HIDE (NOT COWHIDE) FOR FIRMNESS AND DURABILITY,AND WILL EASILY SUPPORT THE WEIGHTOF A FULL SIZE FIREARM AND ACCESSO-RIES. SUITABLE FOR CONCEALED CARRY,COMPETITION, OR DRESS WEAR, OPTIONSINCLUDE: VELCRO LINING, TAPERING,STIFFENERS, BUCKLE SELECTION ETC.AVAILABLE IN THREE WIDTHS, FOURCOLORS, AND EDGED TO PERFECTIONFROM $69.95. ALSO OFFERED IN HORSEHIDE AND GENUINE ELEPHANT.(919) 387-1997WWW.THEBELTMAN.NETmagazines, a Ziplock baggie withcash, and a folding knife from him. Nophone, no ID, no keys. At that pointI couldn’t believe he had a knife thewhole time. If he’d gotten to it, it wouldhave been another set of problems.”Aftermath/AfterthoughtsJoe was prepared to stop the killerwith gunfire if he had to. He saystoday, “I was just truly blessed I didn’thave to pull my firearm. I didn’t haveto go to that place. The guy who hadthe gun was the wrong guy, and I’mglad I didn’t pull a gun on him. I’mglad the people took him down whenthey did. He was heading in my direction,toward the Walgreen’s, comingmy way; when I stepped out the doorI might have been the next victim, orwould have had to shoot him.”People say crazy thingsto deal with the trauma.One person yelled, ‘Takea picture of his face!’He adds, “It was the most intensefive minutes of my life, hands down.You can’t be prepared to see the deadbodies and the wounded people. Someof the dead lay there for the two hoursthe police kept us there, covered withshirts and jackets. Some they workedon and took away. There were manypeople with superficial wounds: ‘Myarm’s bleeding,’ ‘My back is bleeding.’”Joe found the police response tohim very reasonable when they learnedhe was armed at the scene. He relates,“Starting that day, (it’s been) crazyever since. I never thought about it. Itake my gun with me because I mightneed it to protect myself. I had neverthought about the other things thatmight be involved. The police werevery cool. The investigating officertook me aside, and we went throughwhat had happened three or four times.When it was over he said, ‘Thank you,have a nice day,’ and let me get inmy car and drive away.” Joe’s gunwas never taken, never came out. Heexplains, “I told the first policemanthat I didn’t want to scare anyone,but I was carrying a gun, in my coatpocket. Did he want it? He said no,tell the investigator. Another officerasked me to stand separately, that wasit. When the investigator asked to seemy gun, I opened my coat and showedhim where it was, and he said okay.That was it.”More horrifying to Zamudio thananything else was the realization themonster he helped subdue had shot aWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 83

11-IM-AmericanHandgunAd-v.7FREE Grip Training for Shooters Booklet*Dead Center“Controlling the gun is paramount . . .CoC Grippers [have] really improved my shooting.”—Robert Vogel, police officer & 8-time national champion shooter USPSA/IDPAlittle girl. The thought he might havestopped the killing if he’d gone overto see what the crowd was there for,instead of entering the drugstore tomake his purchase, haunted Joe. “I hadthought about going over there beforegoing into the Walgreen’s,” he says,“and I’ve second-guessed myself eversince. What if I’d been standing nextto that little girl and had been able tostop him in time to save her? You feelresponsible. That was unbelievably hardfor me. What if I was meant to go downthere? You still feel like you failed. Itwas hard to have been so close, and notbeen able to stop him.”… on the other hand, Charles Heller— the talk show radio guy in Tucson— was the most fair of all the mediapeople. The guy from Geraldo’s showwas very nice, and they weren’t too badin what they played.”What would he do differently withthe media, knowing what he knowsnow? What Joe says he’s learned sinceis, “If you’re in a position where youhave news, don’t talk to all of them. Todo it over again, I’d have one exclusiveinterview, and the others willleave you alone. Make it for a fewdays from now so they can plug it andthe others get the word and leave youCaptains of Crush ® :The gold standard of grippers10 Strengths . . . 1 Goal:Maximum Grip StrengthMade in the USAwww.ironmind.com*Free booklet with any order. Use keycode AH-RA11 when placing your order.One per customer.IRONMIND - AMERICAN HANDGUN 2.25 X 5March 2011THE SURVIVAL STAFFBy Pat and Wes CrawfordHandmade for 25 YearsHikingStaffWalkingStickBatonBlow GunLanceAll in one packageMade from Hard Aircraft Aluminum$294.95 - Ready for deliveryKnife blade insideExtras available: Gun RestFish SpearCamera MountGet in on our e-mail newsletter discounts.Just e-mail me and say “add me to the list”.pat@crawfordknives.comCRAWFORD KNIVES, LLC205 N. Center DriveWest Memphis, AR 72301(870) 732-2452www.crawfordknives.comNo good deed goes unpunished. The gun-bannerswere out in force as soon as the story hit thenewswires, dancing in the blood of the victims.The anger hit at the same momentas the outrage in the moments afterLoughner was subdued, but Zamudiocontrolled it. Revenge is a naturalhuman emotion, but Joe instantly put itaside. “We had him. I don’t have to lookhis mom in the eye and say I killed yourkid. It’s not my road to walk.”Being involved in something likethis changes your identity in the eyesof many who know you. Whetherthey treat you as a hero or somethingelse, it changes your sense of self tosome degree. Asked if those who knewhim treated him differently since, Joereplied, “Some do. A lot of my friendsare the same. The person closest to meis my mom. She’s no longer afraid ofguns, and now she’s happy I keep themaround. Her attitude used to be, why doyou carry that chunk of metal?”Part of the aftermath was dealingwith the media. “The press descendedon us,” says Joe. “The day after,Sunday, they were beating down thedoor. By Monday, I’d said to the newsthat I had a gun, and it kind of turnedthe story. A lot wanted to know aboutthe gun, but only wanted to ask specificquestions and if they didn’t get theresponses they wanted, they’d moveon, and that would be it. They wantedto hear me say I almost shot the wrongguy. On one show they took a short blipfrom a long sentence to make it soundthat way … I was not taken out of contextevery time, but often.“One newspaper lady was very nice,got me when I was by myself, talkedfor 20 or 30 minutes about wantingto interview me, but didn’t mentionthe discussion was the interview. Shewrote an article for the L.A. Times andsold it to every AP newspaper in thecountry, it seemed. She was quoting meas saying I almost shot the wrong guyalone. I didn’t know that at the time,”he explains. Joe adds, “I also didn’tknow they’ll pay you for exclusive,so I didn’t make any money from theinterviews, either.”The Face Of The EnemyBecause of his involvement in theincident, Joe Zamudio has becomesomething of an expert on the killer,Jared Lee Loughner. “He livedthree streets off from where I live,”Zamudio relates. “We had the samefavorite gas station. They sold himcigarettes and candy bars and Rockstarsevery night. He was a loner. Eventhose he considered his closest friendsdidn’t call themselves his friends. Ibelieve he was doing a lot of drugs,beyond pot. He would come into theconvenience store, loaded at 2 a.m. Iunderstand he might have taken thegun out in the desert a couple of times,but others say he never went to therange. If he did practice, it wasn’taround gun people. I’ve talked to alot of people who knew him. A goodfriend who went to school with himsaid Jared was always That Weird Kid.That seemed to be unanimous.”LessonsNo good deed goes unpunished. Thegun-banners were out in force as soonas the story hit the newswires, dancingin the blood of the victims. Some in themedia turned their sights on the Glock19 pistol used by the killer, ignoringthe fact that Representative Giffordsherself owned one and was known tocarry it, and the fact the Tucson policeresponded with drawn Glock 22 .40calibers, their issue sidearm. Becausethree of Loughner’s five magazines,including the one in his gun when heopened fire, were extended to 33-round84 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

capacity, a ban on magazines holdingmore than ten rounds became a causecélèbre once again among the antigunners.Gary Slider of the immenselyuseful compendium of gun laws handgunlaw.uswas, to my knowledge, thefirst to point out that the extra-long,awkward magazine is probably whatallowed a senior citizen female, Ms.Maisch, enough leverage to get itaway from a physically strong youngmadman before he could reload andcause more carnage.Similarly, the flow of BS turnedtoward Zamudio. The anti-gunnerstried to say he added to the danger by“almost shooting a rescuer.” Of course,nothing of the kind had happened,and Joe Zamudio himself has the bestanswer I’ve heard to that ridiculousclaim: “By that thinking, when you getin a car you almost get in an accident.Same logic. You control your vehicle,and I controlled my firearm. I neverpointed it at anyone, so how could Ihave almost hurt anyone?”More horrifying toZamudio than anythingelse was the realizationthe monster he helpedsubdue had shot alittle girl.Whispers ®.302 .338 .375 .416Whispers ®are developments of SSK Industries,which operate at sub-sonic and medium velocitymodes. 22 through 50 caliber. Custombarrels for Contenders, Encores, bolt guns,semi-autos and the cans to keep them quietare available. Over 400 calibers. Custom andproduction AR barrels, uppers and completeguns. Convert your guns or ours.SSK Industries590 Woodvue LaneWintersville, OH 43953Tel: 740-264-0176www.sskindustries.comNEW! NOW YOU CAN ADDPIZZAZZ TO YOUR RUGERBLACKHAWK, SUPER BLACKHAWK, OLD VAQUERO andSINGLE SIX REVOLVERS!NEW IMAGES FOR YOUR 1911 AND TAURUS.QUALITY MADE IN THE U.S.A.www.riograndecustomgrips.com303-330-2812Cylinder Base PinsRuger, Colt, and ReplicasBelt Mtn. Enterprises, Inc.P T 59714Phone & Fax 1-406-388-1396www.beltmountain.comSSKIndustries2010.indd 1I watched Joe Zamudio shoot at myclass two months after the incident.He handled his P95 with aplomb, anddrew it smoothly from a handsome holstercrafted for him by Jim March afterthe incident. There is no doubt in mymind that if fate had led him to confrontLoughner in time, he would haveswiftly put the mad dog down with theFederal Hydra-Shok hollow point thathad been in his chamber, a cartridgeJoe has since put aside as a reminder ofthe incident.When others fled and played dead,Zamudio literally ran to the sound ofthe gunfire. He was ready to shoot if hehad to, hand on Ruger and safety off,but was careful not to add to the panic.He superbly controlled what could havedegenerated into a mistaken identityshooting. In grueling interviews since,some with reporters who had anti-gunagendas, Joe proved himself a powerfulspokesman for the right of responsiblepeople to carry guns for the protectionof themselves and others.He was one among many heroes thatterrible day in Tucson … butJoe Zamudio was our hero.*WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 85

PISTOLSMITHINGContinued from page 46usually $200 and up, to obtain a factoryletter stating the exact original configurationof the revolver and to whomit was originally shipped. Even if youpurchase a Colt with a factory letteras part of the price, you should alwayspay for another just to make sure thefirst one is an original Colt factory one— and not a fake. I had a gun in myshop awhile back that was not only afake, but the letter attached to the salewas also a fake.One man I know with‘larceny in his heart’spent his entire lifedreaming up ways todefraud unsuspectinggun owners, collectorsand gunsmiths.With today’s wonderful computersand copy machines, forging a letter ischild’s play for men who work in thesewer. These letters are very easy todetect, but you have to have the knowledgeto see the ever-present flaws.Heirloom?There is a troubling aspect todefining fakes and many have ponderedthis facet at collectors meetings.An example is a man brings afamily heirloom to me, let’s say an1860 Colt, and wants it restored tonear original condition. He wantsoriginal lettering remarked in orderto preserve this piece of family history,and has documentation provingthe revolver originally belonged toa famous Texas Ranger who used itto fight Indians and thieves. It’s theman’s right to have the gun restoredand preserved so family members cancarry on the tradition and memories oftheir famous Texan.As years go by and members of thefamily die without rightful heirs andthe restored firearm is sold unceremoniouslyin an estate sale, the old Colthas now been innocently “laundered”and enters the collectors market.It looks original and is sold as “alloriginal” since it has original marksand finish and has actually aged in thehands of the family to the point whereit has gained that beautiful patina onthe blued parts and brass handle. Is the86 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

gun a fake? I would not consider it assuch because honest, unknowledgeablecollectors have passed it on believing itto be in original condition. It will onlybe discovered after it gains a valuearound $2,500 to $5,000 and a sharpcollector notices the restoration work.Those four digit monetary points arewhere serious money begins to take acloser look before handing over hardcash. This is the time when fakes beginto be screened out of the market.But they still exist, and will continueto move through the minor collectormarketplace. Fakes and otheritems are not like counterfeit moneywhere they are removed from themarket and destroyed. They just keepon defrauding.EngravingI can continue to illustrate scores ofexamples of how guns enter the marketinnocently or as outright forgeries, but Iwill only call your attention to one moreexample. This has to do with modernengravers duplicating a famous Coltengravers pattern and leaving their artworkunsigned. It’s a sore point with mean engraver is not proud enough of hiswork to sign it.A factory letter can verify if thegun left the factory engraved, but ifit was returned for engraving theremight not be a record. All of youengravers out there who duplicate factoryengraving or a style all your own,please, sign your name or place yourmark somewhere in the engraving sothe gun will not be passed on as originalfactory engraving. You must dothis whether your customer wants itor not — and especially if he does notwant it. Stamp it hard under the gripif necessary or incorporate it unobtrusivelyinto the engraving.Protect YourselfHow do you protect yourselffrom unscrupulous men whose onlyreason to exist is to cheat you out ofyour money and the pleasure of yourhobby? There is no solid solutionexcept to gather knowledge from asmany sources as possible. Start buyingbooks on old Colts, or on whateverfirearm tweaks your fancy. I have closeto 1,500 gun, hunting and historicalbooks collected over the last 50 years,and they are worth their weight in goldto me when doing research.Join a respected gun club in yourarea and go to their shows. If youdo not have one in your state youcan join one of the oldest and mostrespected collectors clubs, the TexasGun Collectors Association, for $40a year and receive a quarterly, a verywell done color magazine. In themagazine are ads, lists, and articleswritten by the most respected guncollectors in the world. Don’t let theThis isn’t it. *Looking For Your First Pistol?Dual ammo: 38 Special and .357 Magnum1911 StyleStainless Steel*Current gun owners: Contact your gun dealer today.AR Uppers & LowersHi-Power and 1911A-1 Frames & SlidesHigh Quality OEM Suppliersales@coonaninc.com | www.coonaninc.com41 Lake Morton DriveSuite 25Lakeland, FL 33801ph: 863.602.1515fax: 863.815.7287jim@floridaarms.comwww.floridaarms.comWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 87

World’s Finest Magazines“OPTIMUM”... THE WORLD’S BEST MAGAZINESMEC-GAR is proud to offer “Optimum” - our newand unique series of high capacity flush-fit pistolmagazines.The new design of the magazine housing andinterlinked magazine components, together witha special Anti-Friction Coating offer far superiorperformance even in difficult operationalenvironments.The increased firepower of MEC-GAR “Optimum”magazines can be further raised by an optional “PlusTwo” adapter. “Plus Two” is a new set of hollowbutt-plate and inner base to raise the capacity of theMEC-GAR “Optimum” magazine by 2-rounds andstick out only 5/8” from the butt of the pistol!Available For: Beretta 92FS 9mm 18rd / 20rdBeretta 96FS .40S&W 13rd / 15rdPara-Ordnance P14 .45ACP 14rdSIG P226 9mm 18rd / 20rdSIG P226 .40S&W 13rd / 15rdSpringfield XD 9mm 18rdSpringfield XD .40S&W 13rdTaurus PT92 9mm 18rd / 20rdTaurus PT100 .40S&W 13rd / 15rdMec-Gar USA, Inc., 905 Middle Street, Middletown, CT 06457Tel: (800) 632-4271 Fax: (860) 635-1712 www.mec-gar.comname Texas distract you. Membershipin the TGCA resides in every state,and many countries in Europe.Attend high-quality shows such asthose put on by the Texas Gun Collectors,and talk with some of the knowledgeable,friendly collectors. Tell themyou are new to collecting and need helpto augment your information on how tospot fakes. These shows are attended bycollectors of modest means, and oneswho are worth billions. You will findthem all very friendly and willing tohelp you in any way.I once sat down with a man at hisdisplay table and chatted about hismagnificent display of near mint casedfirst generation Colts, some previouslyowned by famous gunfighters, cowboysand frontiersmen. Only after I had leftand returned the next day did I learnthis man was one of America’s richestmen as listed in Forbes magazine. Youjust never know, but he talked with meas if I were his best friend.Another fine organization whichyou should join is the Colt CollectorsAssociation. They operate in conjunctionwith and in the same sophisticatedworld as the Texas Gun Collectors, butthey only operate in the world of theColt. The CCA also publishes a finecolor magazine with articles written bythe worlds most prominent, knowledgeablecollectors.Original GunsSpend lots of time studying theknown original guns in your area ofinterest. Always with permission, cockthe hammer and look at the pattern ortool marks and memorize their size anddirection. Do the same by removing thecylinder and looking at the tool markpatterns on the face of the recoil shieldand cylinder. There are also inspector’smarks, serial number typefacesand special stamps identifying the piecewith a definite date in time. Riflingstyles and twist rates are also key verificationpoints.Educated knowledge is an indispensablething if you are collecting itemswith big price tags. Educate yourselfas to proper serial numbers, style andspacing of lettering, machine tool marks,barrel rifling, finishes, checkering andengraving, and all of the little thingscomposing the character of a firearm.Most of all, when you buy a firearmsight unseen, identify the seller in everyway possible with every contact point hepossesses using references. You could behelping his state’s attorney general trackhim down at a future date.If you would like more excellentinformation on fakes, an article writtenby Jim Supica and published in a BlueBook Of Gun Values is an excellentsource. You will find this superb writingat, www.armchairgunshow.comand click on “fakes.” *88 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

TAFFIN TESTSContinued from page 22and Mark I Target Models, but forpracticality I will go with the Mark IIs.Mark II magazines can be used in theoriginal .22 Standard Model and MarkI Rugers by simply reversing the buttonon the side of the magazine. This gives10-round capacity to the originals.I flat out like all Ruger .22s, howeverit’s not too difficult to pick threefavorites. Until his passing, I had agood friend who had a large cabin onthe reservoir about 100 miles from myplace. From the side of his cabin wecould shoot across approximately 300yards to a vertical dirt bank about 50yards high and cluttered with rocks.Normally shooting .22s at long rangeis frustrating, however hits were easyto pick up in the dirt on that bank andwe would spend hours shooting witha pair of 10"-barreled Mark IIs, oneblued and one stainless. They simplyshoot like rifles.able to shoot, and shoot well enoughto beat many of the other competitors.Tactical not only offers standardblack and aluminum barrels, they alsohave colored barrels for the flamboyantamong us. Diamond Dot chose purplefor her pistol.BrowningRuger has the majority of the .22semi-auto pistol sales, howeverBrowning also offers superb .22s intheir BuckMark lineup. In fact, in spiteof all my Rugers, when Diamond Dotand I competed together, my .22 pistolof choice was Browning’s BuckMark51/2" Heavy Barrel Target Model for tworeasons. It shoots tight little groups, andthe grip frame is also more comfortablein my hand than the Ruger.Anyone who shoots .22s much realizeshow picky they can be both asto function and accuracy. It pays totry at least 10 different types of .22ammo before settling on a particularversion, especially for target shooting.What is surprising is how well someThe semi-auto .22 is great for plinking, targetshooting, small game and varmints, and has thepotential for being a lifesaver in a survival situation.The third member of the trio is anSSK Custom .22 with a slab-sidedbarrel, built-in compensator, andinscribed on the barrel the announcementit was specially made for me byJ.D. Jones. I would hate to count thenumber of varmints this little pistol hastaken, and in fact Terry happened to bevisiting when I got it about 20 yearsago and almost wore it out shootingsqueakies, which are the little groundsquirrels infesting our desert and foothillsby the millions every summer.Tactical SolutionsThis company specializes in lightweightaluminum barrels with steelliners for Ruger .22 pistols and rifles.To go with my 10" Mark IIs I havea stainless steel Mark III fitted witha 10" lightweight barrel by Tactical.It not only shoots as good as the allsteel versions, its light weight makespacking it much easier. When DiamondDot and I were shooting competitionin the local .22 bullseye leaguewe soon found it was very difficult forher to hold up a standard .22 becauseof inoperable shoulder injuries.Ruger’s .22/45 added a polymerframe to the .22 semi-auto lineup andalso one with a grip feeling like a 1911Government Model. By mating a Ruger.22/45 polymer frame with a TacticalSolutions lightweight barrel, she wasof these pistols will shoot the leastexpensive brands offered. Alongsidemy 10" Rugers, I also use a 10"Browning BuckMark Heavy BarrelTarget Model.Back in the late 1980s, I receivedseveral Bersa semi-autos for testing.Three of them were .380s, however thefourth one happened to be a 3" Model23, a 10-shot .22. For years prior tothis I had hoped to find a little Walther.22 but never succeeded. The Bersa isa little larger than the Walther, howeverit’s a neat pocket .22. Of all the.22 semi-autos in the Taffin family thisis the easiest to pack, whether it be ina jacket pocket, day pack, tackle boxor whatever, it just slips in and whenneeded is a great little shooter.Finally I come to an old .22 whichis an emotional favorite simply becauseit was left to me by a member of theGreatest Generation who has now goneHome. It is a High Standard HB Militarywith a long pencil shaped barreland very small grip frame. Not only isit a good shooter, but it’s fascinatingto me in that it has no safety and nowarning label. Folks in the days thislittle .22 was made apparentlyknew how to handle firearms.*For more info: www.americanhandgunner.com/productindex and click on the companyname.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COMWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 89

dynamiteContinued from page 69blade out. When the handles come fullcircle (360 degrees) they snap backin place via a ball bearing detentelocated in the base. This system issimilar to what is called a Swing Lockor Wood Lock, the latter named aftercustom knifemaker Barry Wood whopatented this style lock and used itextensively in his knives back in theearly 1970s. Triple Eight calls theirsthe “T8P Spinner Action” and has apatent pending on the design. Southpawswill be delighted to know theprocess is ambidextrous.The blade length on all models isjust 1.25" and, no, you’re not goingto build an emergency shelter in thewoods using one, but the AUS8 steelused on standard models is excellent,and the blade thickness is superior tomost knives this size. Will it do everythinga full-size folder will do? No, butif you were ever in a compromisingsituation with a thug who wanted torelieve you of your coin purse you’d beglad to have one of these gems at theready for that opportune moment. Fordaily use, these knives can perform awide variety of functions, dependingon the model you choose.Different SlicersThose who think variety is the spiceof life will have a hard time choosingfrom 888’s interesting selection ofblades styles. There is literally somethingfor everyone. Such diversity isamplified by collaborations betweenthe company and custom knifemakersKirk Rexroat and Greg Lightfoot alongwith our own resident expert editorRoy Huntington.For sheer self-defense 888 hasdelivered a Rexroat design dubbed theS.O.L. — a thoroughly modern, allblackthumb dagger (inspired by theOSS models used in WWII) that canslice in two directions for maximumimpact. The Rexroat designed Wright-Knife model features a multi-purposeblade equally at home performingdaily chores or protecting the innocent.Hunters and outdoorsmen willappreciate Kirk’s Rhino model, a slickskinner design with a blade and guthookcapable of tackling a deer.Noted tactical knifemaker GregLightfoot contributed his styling talentsto the Talon model. This is a selfdefense/utilitydesign blending a fullcutting edge with a vicious little recurvededge on the backside of theblade, which also has thumb notchesfor enhanced purchase. Handgunnereditor Roy lent his 24 years of experienceas a law enforcement officer tothe SurviveIt model. This is a versatiletool that can cut, pry, slice, andscrape with equal efficiency. The seatbelt/linecutter makes this an excellentknife to have in your car or truck foremergency situations.The tour de force is the Kirkidashimodel, another Rexroat design featuringan exquisite Japanese inspired,hand-forged Damascus blade. Thechisel-ground main edge is as straightforward as you can get, combiningminimalism with efficiency in onestout package.From a popularity standpoint Kaihatunotes, “Our most popular bladestyles are our SurvivIT Tool and ournew KirkiDashi. The SurvivIT Tool isjust a great all around little EDC bladethat’s useful for everything from cuttingopen boxes, to cutting seatbelts toprying open a car window if need be.”“The KirkiDashi is fast becominga favorite with our customers.” Waltercontinues. “Based on an ancient Japanesedesign, Kirk’s eye caught theminimalist nature of this Japanese tool,and upgraded it for the 21 st century andthe demands of today’s user. Made ofhand-forged Damascus, this cutter isbig on ability and small on size. If youdistilled a knife to the most basic componentsof edge and point, you’d havethe Kirkidashi.”Different TotesThanks to their size 888 knivescan be carried in a variety of ways.A pocket clip on the backside of thehandle runs a full two-thirds of itslength and can be clipped to the pantspocket, inside the waistband, even ashirt collar or pocket, thanks to theknife’s light weight. Additionally,ladies can clip the knife inside their braor just drop it into the purse.Other means of carrying the 888are also handy. The knife has a loop inthe base that can be used for a rapidaccesslanyard or, with the addition ofa chain or cord, the 888 converts to aneck knife. Want your knife handy atall times? Use the 888 as a keychain.With a little imagination there’s nolimit to the way you can stealthilycarry the 888.You’ll find the price of admission tobe extremely sweet. According to Walter,“Our average customer is a cop or soldieror simply a regular guy or gal. Theydon’t tend to have tons of disposableincome as many are busy building theirlives, serving our country and startingfamilies.” All 888 models are priced at$34.95 MSRP except the upscale Kirkidashi,which checks in at $79.95. Atthat price you can afford several to saltaround so you’ll always have one at theready, custom tailored foryour specific needs.*For more info: www.americanhandgunner.com/triple-eight-professional, (858)382-005590 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

footstepsContinued from page 75thumb-piece. I wasn’t sure it’d be agood base gun, but I was certain of onething — I was never going to feel badabout taking a file to this pistol.Fix What’s Broken FirstI stripped the gun down and sentthe receiver to the elusive Pete Single,a metalsmith of the first order whowelded-up the triggerguard, replacingthe unsightly silver solder. Unfortunately,the strange curve is here to stay.And, no, I never did figure out how youbreak the trigger guard on a .25.Next I checkered the heel magazinerelease, and matted the gun. Matting,originally popularized by Swenson, isa hand-applied texturing process, andhas become a Novak trademark. On thefront-strap, it adds a bit of purchase,without being abrasive; on the top of theslide, it’s purely cosmetic. Naturally, Iflared the ejection port, and added the“A1” style relief cuts behind the triggerguard. Not to mention doing a carrybevel package. After all, you need suchthings on a combat .25.Novak’s Rescues MeLast Fall, I took the rattling box ofparts with me up to Novak’s to wrapthe project up. While Matt Whitlachmatted the grip safety, I found a scrappiece of steel and cranked it into thevise on the milling machine. Oneshallow pass at a time, the block ofsteel turned L-shaped, and then turnedinto the thumb-piece of an extendedsafety. Pistolsmith Charlie Pulit appliedhis welding skills to the problem,taking the cross shaft from the oldsafety and tacking it into place in thenew one, cutting in the detents makingthe safety go on and off positively.Even though I’d gone through the pistol’sinternals, the action wasn’t right. Tryas we might, it wouldn’t reset properly.After scratching our heads for a whileand looking at parts diagrams, Charlieand I finally realized the gun was missingtwo major parts from the lockwork, andwhat should have been the trigger bowwas simply a piece of metal someone hadbent and shoved into the gun. It’s a minormiracle it would fire at all.After scrounging up the parts, it allworked — including the safety, whicheven locked the slide back manually,the way the original did. A combinationof bead-blasting and hand polishingremoved the major pits on the gun, andinto the bluing tank it all went.In due course, it came out and wasreassembled — a Colt .25 in the Novakstyle, in matte black. Black except forthe speed safety, that is. It seems thatblock of steel I started withwas stainless. Oops.*WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 91

Powerered ed by Wolfolff!P.O.Box 458, Dept. 381, Newtown Square, PA 19073Toll-Free at 800-545-0077 or 610-359-9600www.gunsprings.gunsprings.com.comFor over 50 yearsWolff has been thename you trust forprecision gunsprings- Recoil Springs- Magazine Springs- Hammer Springs- Firing Pin Springs- Other Springs- Performance KitsFor hundreds ofSemi-Auto Pistols,Revolvers, Riflesand Shotguns.Like oil in your car,springs need to bechanged from timeto time.Isn’t it time to makesure your gun isPowered by Wolff!FnP-45Continued from page 61time they functioned flawlessly. Apparentlyshooting the full-power loads compressedthe recoil spring slightly.The FNP-45 is a pleasure to shoot.Although not a heavy pistol (33.2 ouncesempty) the very comfortable grip shapehandled recoil very well. With the quicktrigger reset it was easy to fire fast, anddelivered accurate doubles and strings offire. Accuracy proved to be very good,with groups in the range of 2" to 3" (fiveshots at 25 yards). The ideally placedmagazine release button made for fastmagazine changes. While we’re at it, themagazines appear to be very well madewith strong feed lips, no doubt contributingto the pistol’s reliability.The Competition model came packagedin a nicely made soft case, alongwith three 15-round magazines, twoadditional backstrap inserts, lockingcable, and wrenches and adapter platesfor fitting optical sights.A Solid PerformerFN is one of the world’s great armsmakers. FNH USA produces the majorityof the arms used by America’s armedforces. On the commercial side they makeeverything from handguns for police andmilitary service, personal defense andcompetition, to shotguns and fine huntingrifles. Quality control of every FNHproduct I’ve handled and shot has beentruly exceptional. Workmanship, partsquality and parts fit are excellent indeed.With its many features and adaptabilitythe Competition model shoulddo well in various types of practicalshooting events. FNH has a strong factoryteam, so anyone attending majorcompetition events should have achance to see FN firearms in action.I wouldn’t want the “Competition”name to cause this fine pistol to beoverlooked by those who don’t shootin matches. It is, in fact, a very versatilepistol. Set up with the MRDS-dot sightand a combination light/laser on theaccessory rail, I couldn’t help thinkingwhat a fine home-defense pistol itwould make.It’s a pistol you could use to shoot amatch, or even do some small game orpest hunting on the weekend, and thencarry for police duty the next day. Likea Hummer, it will tackle most any jobyou throw at it. And, make sure yousign-up for our Giveaway Gun packagethis month in this issue. We’re givingaway an FNP-45 package, and the giveawaygun is the very gun Chuck Pittmanused for our sterling pictures for thearticle! If you win, you’ll befamous. Well, kind of famous.*For more info: www.americanhandgunner.com/fnh-usa92 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

gun rightsContinued from page 77behavior — with firearms; inanimateobjects capable of great good or greatharm depending on who’s at the controls.The next time someone asks if youactually own one of these awful socalled“assault weapons” (a term youshould preface with “so-called” to castdoubt on it, and always put in quotationmarks, to imply it’s false — subtlewriter tricks reporters use against youall the time), ask back, “When you say‘assault weapon,’ what do you meanexactly?” They don’t know. They willstare like deer in the headlights, and youcan change the subject.Or you can continue with, “Well, Iown some household firearms (the betterterm), the kind you’d find in an averageAmerican household.” They continue tostare dumbly. When they tell you theydon’t even own a gun (implying thatowning one would be crazy), you replycasually, “Well, that’s dangerous!” andlet them stew on that for a while.And we know, of course, that forsome of you, household firearmsinclude belt-fed and water-cooled.Crime ControlThe word game goes on at manylevels. When you’re asked if you favorgun control, recognize immediatelythat “gun control” is a deceptive way ofsaying “disarming the public.” Insteadof blustering that you’re against guncontrol (which portrays you as a guntoting,brain-dead, scraped-knucklesavage), say, “Well, I’m in favor ofcrime control, how about you?” Thattakes the wind from their sails. We’reall in favor of crime control, andeveryone inherently understands crimecontrol involves legitimate gun use. Youwin again. Guns are good, which is whywe give them to the police.For the ignorant public, speak aboutsidearms instead of handguns. The termhandgun has been vilified (assaulted?)by the antis, but a sidearm still holdsa rich aura of honor and respectability.And when you say gun nut, eventhough it’s a term of endearment withinthe firearms community, it’s the “N”word to the other side, and they useit to convey the same ignorant blindhatred that used to dominate racism.The antis are in fact anti-rights bigots,determined to eliminate your fundamentalcivil rights to arms the sameway racists attacked blacks in yearspast. Always call a bigot a bigot.You’ll come across someone soonwho hates guns, and you’ll see the hatred(and fear and loathing) right in theireyes. Approach them calmly and say, “Ican see that my gun (or even the “GunsSave Lives” button you proudly wear)makes you nervous. You hate guns,don’t you?” And when they agree, put acomforting hand on their shoulder, andsoftly, tell them, “It’s not good to hate.”Good Word ChoicesThere is an entire Politically CorrectedGlossary that gives you goodword choices to replace the weak or badones you’re probably using now. Take afew moments to think about them, anduse the blue button at www.gunlaws.com to see the whole thing. “The powerfulgun lobby” is really a civil-rightsgroup. “Common sense gun-controllaws” are really illegal infringementlaws. When they say guns cause crime,you say guns stop crime.And everyone wins.Guns are good, whichis why we give themto the police.*Alan Korwin is the author of ninebooks on gun law, including After YouShoot: Your gun’s hot, the perp’s not,now what? He runs the GunLaws.comwebsite, and is the manager of theTrainMeAZ.com campaign.THE RIPPLE EFFECTOne good idea leads toanother, and the waveexpands with morequality, more value,and more innovation.See our entire collection atwww.crkt.comWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 93Columbia River Knife & Tool1roy alert!bewaresubscriptionscamDEAR READERS: Nefarious scoundrels have beentrying to scam Handgunner readers by offering unauthorizedsubscriptions for a ridiculously high price. Don’t bea victim of this dastardly behavior! It’s easy to protectyourself; simply remember: NEVER pay more than $37 fora 2-year subscription to Handgunner! If it asks for $71, tossit! I’ve received a bunch of calls from you guys, reportingsuspicious offers to renew subs to Handgunner. Youhave detailed receiving offers on mailing pieces, lookingsuspiciously similar to ours. They direct you to write a checkor submit a credit card number for the outrageous price of$71 (almost twice the published price!!!). They appear tobe from us — but they are most certainly not! While it isstill rare, it has occurred, so keep a sharp eye and don’t beshy about questioning something like this.It’s easy to verify that it’s legit. Confirm theHandgunner ID Number on the top line of the renewallabel matches your ID on the magazine you get. The priceis never higher than $19.75 for one year, or $36.75 fortwo. Our offers say, “Make check payable to AmericanHandgunner” (not some sleazy third party!). The returnaddress will either be 12345 World Trade Drive, SanDiego, CA or P.O. Box 509093 in San Diego. Anythingelse spells trouble!Keep in mind, we’re always just a phone call away.Pick up the phone and dial (858) 605-0253 to chatwith one of our ace subscription staffers or go to www.americanhandgunner.com and click on “Contacts” to reachus. We’re actual human beings, and will be happy to helpyou out anytime. You can also always drop me a note ateditor@americanhandgunner.com if you want to report ascam, have a question or think I can help out.— Roy Huntington, EditorDON’T BEA VICTIM!• CONFIRM THE ID #• NEVER PAY MORE THAN$37 FOR A 2-YEARSUBSCRIPTION• WHEN IN DOUBT,CONTACT US

with the .45 Colt was while using a 240-gr. bullet. The mule buck was mediumsizedat 90-100 yards. The revolver wasa Ruger Blackhawk, loaded slightlywarm. On the rest of the critters I used.429" slugs of six different weights: 180,200, 210, 240, 265 and 300 grains. Theranges varied from 15 yards to 200+yards and all of the slugs were completepass-throughs. Some years ago, I decidedto stay with 200- to 210-gr. bullets in.429". They are flatter shooting and haveless recoil. I believe the greater impactvelocity aided in the effectiveness.For larger game, I was able torecover only one bullet. It was a 210-gr.Sierra JHC after I hit a 5x5 bull elk at80-100 yards. He was quartering slightlyaway from me, and I hit him on the leftside taking a rib going in. The bulletpassed through the liver and lungs,breaking the right shoulder and stoppingthere. The elk went only 20 yards.I shot silhouette for years and canhit where I aim fairly reliably. I alsoused my hunting loads on many jackrabbithunts. I believe the rabbit huntsincreased my odds on big game. Onsome rabbit hunts, I would shoot severalhundred shots at rabbits. Practice likethat really helps in the big-game field.I ask, “Why do I need or want to useany of the heavier bullets on anythingbig, except perhaps moose or bear?”The heavy bullets just add an additionalexpense and increase recoil and have notangible benefits on deer- or antelopesizedgame. The only benefits I can thinkof for medium-sized game, is for thosewho write articles about them and theadditional profits the bullet-makers make.I am not saying not to use heavy bullets,but there has been far too muchemphasis on their use. A heavy bulletwon’t compensate for a lousy shot and,at times, decreases the hunter’s abilityto hit accurately.Jim, a Western hunterVia e-mailI can’t say I disagree with you Jim, butI have found some guns tend to shootslightly heavier bullets better, so that isa good reason to try them. However, asyou say, for deer/antelope-sized game,a 200- to 240-gr. “something” is fine,and a 300 won’t hurt things if your gunshoots them better. Cape buffalo, moose,big elk, big bears and the like might warranta tough, heavier bullet for thosequartering shots. But only if you canhandle the recoil, eh? RHSpeaking Of Ted YostI must say you certainly know how tosay “thanks.” Your story about how youcame to receive that marvelous heritagepistol (“Excellence Defined,” May/June2011) was just damn fine writing. I’msure your friend, Ted Yost of HeirloomPrecision, is most appreciative you tookthe time to not only analyze his fine presentationbut to also give your personalinterpretation of what it really means toreceive the exceptional — and to be trulythankful. I would have loved to have beenthe proverbial fly on the wall to see yourreaction at the Shot Show presentation!I don’t know you well, but I knowyou well enough to believe your receptionwas loaded with genuine humilitywith a fine mixture of joy and gratitude.You put into words what yourgood friend put into steel. Thanks forthe words of enlightenment.Ed Kohorst, PresidentCrystal PistolsAmerican Handgunner ® welcomes letters to the editor.We reserve the right to edit all published letters for clarityand length. Due to the volume of mail, we are unable toindividually answer your letters or e-mail. In sending a letterto Handgunner, you agree to provide Publishers DevelopmentCorp. such copyright as is required for publishing and redistributingthe contents of your letter in any format. Send yourletters to Speak Out, American Handgunner, 12345 WorldTrade Dr., San Diego, CA 92128; www.americanhandgunner.com; e-mail: ed@americanhandgunner.com.Check out www.americanhandgunner.com for our digital edition,news, our exclusive Product Index, Web Blasts, onlinefeatures, to enter the Gun Giveaway Package and more! Andif you have any news about hot new products you’ve found,or anything you think we need to know about, drop me aline at editor@americanhandgunner.com!WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 95

A.G. Russell KnivesAmerican HandgunnerBlack Hills Ammunitionwww.agrussell.comBrownellswww.americanhandgunner.comCrossBreed Holsters LLCwww.black-hills.comDeSantis HolsterShop our selection ofOver 4,000handgun partswww.brownells.com Code: DAE www.crossbreedholsters.comwww.desantisholster.comGalleryOfGuns.comGripSwell GlovesGUNS Magazinewww.galleryofguns.comwww.gripswell.comwww.gunsmagazine.com96 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

Panteao Productionswww.panteaoproductions.comPearce Gripwww.pearcegrip.comSinclair Internationalwww.sinclairintl.comWilson CombatOrder Your Copy While Supplies Last!ONLY $9.95A LOOK INSIDE:• Glock SBR Conversion -- From pistol to carbine• Rifle Dynamics Custom AK• Concealing Strategies for Fixed-Blade Knives• Remington .30 AR• Tokarev 7.62x25 -- A powerful classic• DIY Sniper Rifle -- It's easier than you think(outside U.S. $17.95)Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. PSTCall Toll-Free888.732.2299Order at www.americancopmagazine.comP.O. Box 502610 • San Diego, CA 92150-2610www.wilsoncombat.comWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 97

Intensive personalized training in all aspects ofpractical shooting. Each course is designed toaccommodate all levels; beginners, intermediate oradvanced shooters wishing to increase their skillspeed shooting.Each course will be taught by World Class GrandMaster Shooting Instructors. The academy is locatedin the heart of central Florida near Walt DisneyWorld. Courses limited to eight students per class.Classes available all year:Web site: www.universalshootingacademy.comDOUBLE HITContinued from page 53their photos and names to HandmadeGrips’ website specifying asking if they’dbe kind enough to put the pictures on aset of rosewood grips for a 1911. Theyarrived in only a couple of weeks and theresult was beautiful. At a Montana gunshowI put them on display mounted onan ordinary military U.S. Model 1911A1and was amazed at how much interestthey generated. So where better to putTurkish-made grips than on a Turkishmade 1911?The .22sIn regards to the Umarex/Walther/Colt .22 the options are two. There is astraight utility version that could passfor a regular Model 1911A1 .45. Itssights duplicate the tiny blade front andnotched rear of ordinary 1911s. Thenbut has smoothed out as rounds havebeen put through it. For instance, thefirst few times I ejected the magazine itneeded a little help to completely popout. Now it slides right into my hand.I also discovered that regular US militarysurplus 1911 magazines work finein it. Of course magazine capacity isseven rounds.If all R100s are like my sample,you will shoot FMJ .45 ACP loads inthem. Note that I did not say you willwant to shoot FMJs but that you willshoot them. In the beginning I triedsome jacketed hollowpoint and semiwadcutterfactory loads from a varietyof manufacturers. Nary a one wouldfeed. I was almost about to get negativevibes about the pistol but thentried some 230-gr. FMJ factory loadsand handloads. Every single one ofthose has run right though it withouta blip.Some handloads with 225-gr. castWith the advent of old age I have finally determinedthat group shooting is pretty much a waste of my time.there’s a facsimile of a custom job withwhite dot sights, beavertail grip safety,perforated trigger and light rail integralwith the frame. It’s appropriatelylabeled the “Rail Gun.”These .22s are a bit lighter than a standardcenterfire 1911, but not much. Theirframes are of a non-ferrous alloy but theslides are steel. Both versions wear syntheticgrips and have magazine capacitiesof 12 rounds. It was a “Rail Gun” .22sent to me for testing. At this writingthey are priced at $399 for the standardversion and $499 for the “Rail Gun.”About a dozen years ago I tried oneof the Argentine 1911s .22s with floatingchamber. Never did I get as many asthree rounds in a row out of it withouta stoppage, so it went down the road.Therefore, I had misgivings about thisnew .22 version of a 1911. That was awaste of brain cells. It has functionedperfectly for me with a variety of ordinary.22 Long Rifle ammunition. It’s adandy to shoot, with no muzzle flip, verylittle noise, nice trigger pull and see-ablesights. It dismounts for cleaning prettymuch as a regular centerfire 1911 exceptthe barrel remains fixed to the frame.The .45The Umarex Regent R100 .45started out a bit stiff to manipulate,roundnose bullets were tried and theyran through it perfectly too. Since jacketedand lead roundnose are all I handloadfor .45 ACP, I was then happy withthe R100. After all, this appears to be amilitary spec 1911 which was made toshoot hardball, so what’s wrong withthat? Nothing.Can They Shoot?With the advent of old age I havefinally determined that group shootingis pretty much a waste of my time. Thatis, if you can hit what you are aimingat anyway. With both of these 1911s Ihave had no problems planting bulletson dueling tree steel paddles and otherodd bits of steel. They have shot to theirsights from the beginning and I can hitpretty decently with both.In my gun’riting career I’ve neverfinished up an article on new guns bytelling readers that they need to runout and buy whatever is being writtenabout. But I will say this: I havemailed Umarex a check for both ofthese 1911s. They are fun, reasonablypriced and shoot just fine.I can’t say more.*For more info: www.americanhandgunner.com/productindex and click on the companyname.98 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

CustomCORNERCustom Corner features paid listings by theidentified pistolsmiths. Many are members of theAmerican Pistolsmiths Guild and the AmericanHandgunner Club 100. Advertising information isavailable from: American Handgunner, Adv.Dept., 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA92128; (858) 605-0218.WWW.DLSPORTS.COMCustom AR15’s, 1911’s,Precision Rifles,Accessories, Training,ITRC CompetitionExtreme DutyAR15 MagazinesNow Available!928.636.1726DL Sports, Inc.P.O. Box 4843ChinoValley, AZ 86323Powder RiverPrecision, Inc.www.powderriverprecision.comQuality and timely pistolsmithingSpecialized in: Springfield XD/XDM, 1911’s,Glocks and the Browning Hi-Power.(541) 403-2998(541) 403-2999D.O Reichard S&W ArmorerTrained Exclusively by S&W with 30 years skilledexperience in the art of the S&W Revolver.Actions Tuned, Cylinder work, sight systems& much more.We back our work!Reasonable Prices and Turn around time.Priority Service AvailableCall or Drop a line to Sand Burr Gun Ranchsandburrgunranch@gmail.comOr574-223-33162111 E 350 N Rochester IN 46975www.sandburrgunranch.com“For Revolvers that Work!”100 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

PISTOLSMITHSwww.tusseycustom.come-mail: ttussey45@aol.com775-246-1533Symbol of honest, competent,quality workmanship“LOOK FOR IT!”Member list $2.001449 Blue Crest Ln.San Antionio, TX 78232BOXESContinued from page 49That’s just my personal take on this,but as a scientist, I’ve researched suchthings long and hard.ThirdThere is a velocity threshold abovewhich it becomes increasingly easy toget bullets to expand, and below whichit becomes increasingly difficult to getbullets to expand. That threshold is 950to 1,000 fps. That’s muzzle velocityfrom a real gun, not catalog ballistics.Do some research or find a chronographand find out what kind of velocities yourhandgun really produces. This thresholdvelocity will become very importantwhen putting everything together tochoose your ammunition.FourthIn general, a lighter, higher velocitybullet will expand more and penetrateless. A heavier, slower bullet of similarconstruction will expand less and penetratemore. Keep in mind the discussionabove about barrel length and velocityand that threshold velocity.FifthHollowpoint bullets can often clogwith fabric and not perform as desired.In general, the slower the muzzle velocityand the smaller the caliber the more pronea hollowpoint is to clogging. This isn’tmarketing hype, it’s how things work.It should be noted there are someoptions to the hollowpoint design thatcan help to eliminate the clogging risk,but keep in mind, nothing is 100-percentreliable. These bullet designs use apolymer material filling the nose of thebullet. This eliminates the possibility ofperformance degradation because of clogging.The softer the polymer filling inthe nose the more it will aid the bullet inexpanding at low velocities because iteasily compresses and will initiate expansion.However, some may not expandas fully as a “real” hollowpoint that performsas designed.What To Buy?Armed with the above informationwhat do you look for? If you’re the penetrationtype it’s pretty easy. You wantheavier bullets for the caliber. They willbe slower and penetrate more. But bearin mind you will also get more recoil.If you strictly want expansion, it’salso pretty easy. You want the lightestweight bullets you can find for your caliber.These bullets will be going fasterand provide more expansion. I mustcaution you though, they may providea large diameter wound cavity, but itwon’t be very long, and the total penetrationmay not be very deep. This maynot serve you well in a confrontation.You have to get enough penetration toget the job done.If you want a combination of expansionand penetration you now need touse most of our five points above. If youhave a short-barreled gun, you want thelighter bullets for your caliber but notthe lightest bullets. For example, in thePersonally, in a perfect world, I like to see asignificant wound channel with the bulletstopping just before exiting the target..380 Auto you would want to be lookingfor a 90-gr. bullet. You may also want tolook for some of the newer ammunitionlines that are designed for lower recoil.These will be easier to handle in thosevery compact and light handguns. If youhave a longer barreled handgun, youmay want to look for the middle weightbullets for the caliber. These handgunswill produce higher velocities and pusha heavier bullet to acceptable velocitiesfor combined expansion and penetration.Hollowpoints clogging in .380 Autoand .38 Special are a serious concernbecause of their low velocities. If youwant a hollowpoint-type bullet, look forthe ones with the widest opening anddeepest cavities. These will be the leastprone to clogging. One caution with thisthough, if you are using a semi-auto,make sure your ammunition choicefeeds and functions reliably. As you getto higher performance and larger calibercartridges, the hollowpoint cloggingbecomes less of an issue, but can stillcause unpredictable performance.Keep LearningThis is only a basic primer on ballistics,and we’ll be doing more in thefuture. Keep in mind, it’s possible to findreliable ammunition to suit almost anyone’sperformance desires, even in whatare often thought of as low performancecartridges and handguns. However, makesure you adequately test whatever youchoose for proper functioning in yourdefensive handgun. If it doesn’t work inyour gun — not even magicammo will do you any good.*Dave’s the chief ballistics scientist fora major ammo maker and has an extensivebackground in physics and aeronauticalengineering. He’s designedpropellants, and even worked withhig-velocity electromagnetic gun technology,among other projects.WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 101

GUNNYSACKRoy HuntingtonBIOMETRIC MICRO VAULTThat’s a handful to say, but in actuality, it works verysimply. The Micro Vault (from GunVault) uses biometric— fingerprint recognition — technology toopen the lock box to access whatever you have stashedinside. Some other models use combinations of fingertouches on a keyboard, but we found this to be fast andeasy, with no need to remember what your “finger touch”combo is. Once programmed (it takes about 30 secondsto accomplish) you merely swipe your pointerfinger over the tiny screen (lookclosely on the keypad, in the leftfinger slot to see it) and within asecond or so, the box emits a soft“beep” and opens with a snick.There is a backup key supplied andalso a cable lock in case you want tosecure the box. It can be programmedfor up to 120 fingerprints, so youcould even use it to keep keys securein a small company, or other sensitiveitems a cross-section of people need toaccess at times.Inside, you cankeep a handgun,personal light, areload and even other valuable personal items. It wouldmake a nifty, portable safe when traveling, and an idealplace to put your jewelry and what-nots when not in yourhotel room. I put a classic Colt Cobra (no, you can’t buyit, it’s Suzi’s and she’ll fight you for it), anHKS speedloader and Streamlight’s newProtac 2L personal light inside for thepicture so you can get an idea ofwhat might fit. That’s pretty typicalof what I’d think might hideinside a Micro Vault, and justthe stuff you might need whenthe bump in the night happens.A 5" 1911 fits and still leaves abit of room for a light and a sparemagazine but a 6" Colt Python didn’tfit, just so you know. MSRP is about $220or so. For more info: www.americanhandgunner.com/gunvault“THE CONTINUING EVOLUTION OF THE 1911”ISN’T JUST AN EXPRESSION...AT STI, IT’S MORE OF ANOBSESSION.STI_INTERNATIONALFOR A FREECATALOG EMAIL:CATALOG@STIGUNS.COM102 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

GUNNYSACKRoy HuntingtonBIANCHI MODEL 101 FOLDAWAY HOLSTEROkay,this was another one of those, “Aw geez,how come I didn’t think of this?” moments. HopeBianchi-Sjursen (yup, Big John Bianchi’s daughter)sent me these two samples of their new “FoldawayHolster” after I spotted them in a press release. I couldn’tquite get my head around how they worked. Once I had‘em in my hand I got it. Even though they only list autoson the “fit” chart, I didn’t see why a J-frame wouldn’ttoo, and sure enough it did. Hey Hope, list small-framerevolvers on the fit chart, would you? However, if youcarry one, you’re on your own sinceBianchi didn’t list it.Get it?Essentially, thesimple flap usesthe outsideof yourbelt asthe insideback ofthe holsterpouch.Check out the“reverse” photo to see how it works, and to check outthe J-frame and a Springfield XDm in the same fit! Theamazing thing is it only takes two “fits” to handle justabout any common auto out there, from SIGs to .22SAor who-knows-what-else. Honestly? I went through mygun safe trying every auto I had, from tiny to big andeveryone fit in the Size 10 (shown). That’s a RohrbaughR9 in the tan one, and a full-sized 1911 in the other. Asize 16 handles SIGs and Berettas and I suppose otherbrawny beasts.It’s now my new favorite holstersince it’s minimalist, lightweight,comfortable and actually carriesthe gun comfortably.And, can you believe it,only $15! Oh, and that belt?It’s from Purdy Gear anddoubles as a money belt,with a hidden flap on therear to stash your cash.For more info www.americanhandgunner.com/bianchi-intKahr Arms is pleased to kick off their newest series of Kahr pistols - the CM series.The new line begins with the Kahr CM9093 which is based on Kahr’s most popular3” barrel 9mm model the PM9093.The CM9 slide is only .90 inch wide and machined from solid 416 stainlessslide with a matte finish, each gun is shipped with one 6 rd stainless steelmagazine with a flush baseplate. Magazines are USA made, plasmawelded, tumbled to remove burrs and feature Wolff Gunsprings. Themagazine catch in the polymer frame is all metal and will not wearout on the stainless steel magazine after extended use.Kahr offers the CM series at a great value price but did notcompromise on the features, accuracy or reliability found inall Kahr pistols.Model: CM9093MSRP: $565.00Factory: 130 Goddard Memorial Drive, Worcester, MA 01603Sales & Service: 508-795-3919 / Fax: 508-795-7046Web Address: www.kahr.com7 rd. Extended magazine optional Made in the U.S.A.WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 103

GUNNYSACKRoy HuntingtonAE LIFELIGHTOkay, so there’s a back-story as to justwhy this light is beat-up. MarcAllsman of AE lights told me,“Oh yeah, its rugged. You couldpark your tractor on it.” SoI did. My John Deere 4120with filled rear tires weighsaround 5,000 pounds and Iparked a rear tire on top ofthe LifeLight. It stayed onand then worked fine after Ipicked it up. But, well, I got tothinking … I was about to mowone of our pastures. So, I tied theLifeLight to a bit of paracord and dragged it behind me fora few passes. It still worked fine. Okay, so this thing probablyis as tough as Marc says. But why is that important?The LifeLight was originally built as a last-resort emergencylight for cave divers. This is the light they go to whenall else fails. If it’s good enough for a cave diver, it’s probablygood enough for guys like us. It will deliver 270 lumens(with fresh batteries)for about1 to 2 hours,180 lumens for3 to 5 hours, and80 lumens for 48to 72 hours. Even afterone week of constant use,there’s still enough light to reada map or even get attention inthe dark. The body of the lightis made of Delrin Acetal Resin,which is the same stuff they makeautomotive engine gears out of, and the lightis rated for virtually any hazardous locations. It canuse standard or lithium AA batteries (I like that), and there’sno switches, you just turn the head in to turn it on, back it offa bit to turn it off. Oh, it’s also good to 600 feet in water.So you see, the LifeLight ($145) just might be the ultimatelast-ditch light. I figure it’d be perfect for a ruggedhunt, your bug-out-bag or any situation that might turnnasty. At least you’ll have light, eh? For more info:www.americanhandgunner.com/ae-lightNew Gear!GETSOME!Only $21.99 each!with Free shipping(within the continental U.S.)American Handgunner USAStyle #HGUSTactical DivisionStyle #HGTDKeeping The PeaceStyle #HGPCNew American Handgunner T-shirts. Only $21.99 with FREE shipping.www.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.com or call (800) 628-9818Shoot To LiveStyle #HGSH104 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

GUNNYSACKRoy HuntingtonLASER AMMO SURESTRIKESince moving to Missouri, I’m blessed with beingable to literally step outside my home office door andshoot guns. It’s made writing articles and doing a bitof enjoyable plinking a delight. But I sorely remember thebad old days of living in Southern California and having topack a trunk full of stuff to spend a long day at the range;both to get shooting done for articles and to try to get a bitof personal practice in too. So, I always keep my good eyeopen for goodies that more urban-bound shooters mightuse to help keep their edge. It makes it hard to “keep youredge” as it were.Regular safe dry-firing allows you to practice sightpictures, stance and trigger squeeze in the comfort of yourhome or garage. But the key here is doing it safely, andthat’s where something like the SureStrike might help.Basically, the SureStrike is a tiny laser fit neatly into a9mm dummy cartridge. There’s a striking pad where theprimer would normally be. You unload your gun, insertthe SureStrike, screw in the accessory barrel liner/safetymechanism which attaches to the bullet end of the SureStrikein the chamber, and top it with the bright red cap onthe muzzle showing the gun is safely empty.Now, allyou need todo is dryfireto yourheart’s content.Each time youcycle the trigger,the firing pin hitsthe SureStrike andit “fires” a pulse oflaser light at an includedtarget, or at one of your own choosing. It won’t interferewith cycling the slide or mag changes, but won’t allowthe chambering of a live round. When you dry fire, you’llget a nice, red hit on the target, showing where you wereaiming at the time. It works for fast shooting — to workon target acquisition — or even simple target practice.You can buy chamber adaptors to allow the 9mm SureStriketo be used in the .40 S&W, .45 GAP, .45 Colt or12-gauge shotgun. It’s about $200, and lasts up to 5,000strikes before you need to change the battery. For moreinfo: www.americanhandgunner.com/laser-ammothe bullet hasthe final say tmAfter a bullet leaves the barrel, everything rides withthe flight of that one bullet and its performance at thetarget. Whether a Barnes XPB bullet leaves the muzzleof your handgun, lever action or single shot rifle, youcan depend on Barnes’ proven X Bullet technology forsuperior expansion and weight retention, unsurpassedenergy transfer and exceptional accuracy.Barnes. optimized for your target. tmBarnesBullets.com800.574.9200Newvor-tx tm handgunWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 105

: SPOTLIGHTJones 1911Cabot GunsCabot Guns, anew Americangun company,presents the “Mr.Jones” 1911, the world’s first “post custom.” Made from100-percent American steel, American wood and Americanpassion. Exceeds National Match Standard right out of thebox. The frame and slide are machined more accurately thanpossible by human hand, to a tolerance of exactly .001".Cabot Guns componentsare guaranteedto be completelyinterchangeable. Formore info: (412)974-3314 or www.americanhandgunner.com/cabot-gunsVacuum Preservation Bags ZCORR ProductsThe Vacuum Preservation Bags offer 100-percent corrosionprotection and last up to 20 years depending on use. The bagsare made of a combined VpCI material and foil barrier layer,an airtight and waterproof zipper closure and a 1-way vacuumvalve, which offers fail-safe, anti-corrosion protection. For moreinfo: (585) 742-3310 or www.americanhandgunner.com/zcorrBarrel PlugzCenterMass Handgun TrainingBarrel Plugz can be usedto perform trigger-resetexercises, and clearingprocedures for type I, IIand III malfunctions incomplete safety. The plug provides an inert training environmentwhile maintaining “Aspect Correct” training functionality,and two tiers of child safety when combined with a lockof appropriate size. For more info: (801) 471-3138 or www.americanhandgunner.com/barrel-plugzThe SilentSoldierKnifeBrous BladesThe Silent Soldieris a compact, premium-qualityneckknife. Designed forpersonal carry, thisknife is easily accessible and perfect for everyday use. Extremely lightweight and1/4" thick, it’s durable and built to last. Built from D-2 steel, hand satin finishedand double ground; it offers the maximum design for a strong finger-locked grip,with added jimping for enhanced grip strength. The Silent Soldier includes a handmadeKydex sheath with 21/2' of 1/8 steel-ball chain and a latch. MSRP is $99. Formore info: (805) 717-7192 or www.americanhandgunner.com/silent-soldierRanger HeadlampCyclops SolutionsThe Ranger Headlamp from Cyclopsis perfect for the hunter, hiker oroutdoor enthusiast expecting arugged, durable and cost effectivehands-free lighting tool. The Rangeris built to withstand harsh treatmentfrom users and has a nylonheadband that fits snugly on alltypes of hats or helmets. Powered bythree AAA batteries (included), theRanger has an MSRP of just $24.95.For more info: (877) 269-8450 orwww.americanhandgunner.com/cyclopssolutionsFire.podFire Pod SafeATSAdvantage TacticalThe ATS (Advantage Tactical Sight)is now available for the Springfield1911, Kimber 1911 and Smith andWesson M&P/SD. The ATS is theonly fixed sight adjustable for bothwindage and elevation. In addition,the ATS can be personalized to matchthe color preferences of each shooter.For more info: (310) 316-6413 orwww.americanhandgunner.com/advantage-tactical-sightThe on-the-goconvenienceof a gun casemeets the fire protection of a gun safe. That’s the idea behind the Fire.pod, thefire-resistant guncase. Fire.pod is constructed of lightweight, fabric-based materialswith models storing anywhere from two handguns to four long guns. Ideal for thetraveling sportsman or those seeking an alternative to a costly, immobile gun safe.For more info: (717) 203-0415 or www.americanhandgunner.com/fire-pod106 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

For more information on seeing your product featuredin Spotlight contact, Steve Evatt (800) 533-7988.Limited EditionCSA RevolverHeritage ManufacturingHeritage has released a LimitedEdition Confederate StatesRevolver with a choice of gripsemblazoned with a state flagfrom any of the Confederatestates. The .22-caliber Rough RiderRevolver comes in a CSA presentationbox and has a MSRP of $269.99. Formore info: (305) 685-5966 or www.americanhandgunner.com/heritage-mfg583 BarrageBenchmadeThe new 583 Barrage from Benchmadehas an AXIS Assist lockingmechanism and comes in tanto ordrop-point blade styles. Featuring154CM stainless steel blade, Valoxhandle scales and a reversible tip-uppocket clip. The blade length is 3.6"and total open length is 8.35". Formore info: (800) 800-7427 orwww.americanhandgunner.com/benchmadePAS 12 Shotgun Iver JohnsonNew from Iver Johnson is the PAS 12 self-defense-style,12-ga., 18"-smoothbore barrel shotgun. Features a lightweightalloy receiver, cross-trigger-block safety and a synthetic grooved fore-endwith belled back end for a perfect grip. Available with adjustable rear sight andextended-ventilated choke. Your choice of all-satin nickel or 2-toned, the PAS 12 ismanufactured by Armed Guns in Turkey. MSRP from $270 to $342. For more info:(321) 636-3377 or www.americanhandgunner.com/iver-johnsonTactical GripEnhancer TAC-GRIPTAC-GRIP has a semi-permanent,anti-slip material increasing firearmshooting control and retention under“extreme” conditions. Applies easilyover factory grips and plates, andcan be used up to four times. Eachpackage comes with three gripsallowing up to 12 uses per package,leaving no sticky residue. Varied colorsavailable. For more info: (770) 366-8675 or www.americanhandgunner.com/tac-gripFootlockerTrunkCaseCruzerThe new FootlockerTrunk from CaseCruzer isa tough, easy-to-use solutionfor securing essential,personal items before anearthquake, hurricane or tornado alters daily life. The airtight,waterproof medium-emergency Footlocker seals out contaminatedair particles, solvents and moisture. The durable butlightweight, reusable trunk is only 21.5 pounds when empty,and includes a lifetime warrantee. For more info: (800) 440-9925 or www.americanhandgunner.com/casecruzerStrutHolsterStealth DefenseConstructed of quality,finished leather,the Strut allows thefirearm to be carriedinside the shirt and above the belt, providing all day comfortand accessibility when sitting or standing. The Strut also transfersthe weight of the firearm to the belt, which eliminatesthe need for a tight-fitting band around the waist. Availablein right- or left-hand models. For more info: (937) 901-2874or www.americanhandgunner.com/stealth-defenseSpeed Strip KitMajestic ArmsThe Speed Strip Kit ends the frustrating chore of fieldstrippingany Ruger .22 Auto pistol. As an added benefit, theno-gunsmithing, easy-to-install kit reduces the pre-travel andtrigger pull to a clean breaking 31/2 pounds. For MK III owners,the kit allows for the ONLY safe method to omit the magazinedisconnectfeature. For more info: (718) 356-6765 or www.americanhandgunner.com/majestic-armsWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 107

: SPOTLIGHTFor more information on seeing your product featuredin Spotlight contact, Steve Evatt (800) 533-7988.TacticalUltra HDTactical HearingThe TacticalUltra HD is themost advanceddigital-hearingtechnology on themarket. The Ultraamplifies very quiet sounds and allows you to hear in cleardigital sound, while its super fast microprocessor blocks outloud noise. It even works with automatic weapons and rapidfire. The Ultra offers 30dB NRR and 48dB of power. Formore info: (801) 822-6888 or www.americanhandgunner.com/tactical-hearingMenace FighterUp-ArmoredSolidCrystalAR-15Crystal PistolThe full-size Solid Crystal AR-15 (shown sitting on a solid black marble base) wason display at the Crystal Pistol booth during the 2011 NRA Show. This beauty drewthe attention of show attendees from all over the country. The Crystal AR-15 wouldbe a great addition to any home or office, or it could be used to reward outstandingwork. The MSRP is $599. For more info: (214) 766-4948 or www.americanhandgunner.com/crystal-pistolThe Pistol Pad Tane Alarm ProductsThe Pistol Pad resolves the conflict ofhaving personal-defense handgunsimmediately accessible while, at the sametime, keeping them out of the hands ofthe wrong people. It allows urgent, unrestrictedaccess to authorized users, whileeliminating access by unauthorized individuals. By lifting the handgun, you straightaway: 1. Arm yourself 2. Activate a local panic alarm, and 3. Initiate notification ofa panic situation of “A Gun Has Been Deployed.” For more info: (254) 933-8288 orwww.americanhandgunner.com/tane-alarmThe Menace Fighter is finished in ACU Skull Pattern with a.170" thick blade made of 1095CV steel. Blade length is6.75" and the total length is 12.25". Heat treating and Cryois performed by Peters Heat Treating 58-60RC. The handle isG11 and has flared stainless tubing handle connectors. Comeswith Spec-OPs sheath, also in ACU Skull. For more info: (716)942-6031 or www.americanhandgunner.com/uparmoredPistol Rail CAA / EMA TacticalIntroducing the FNA 1 Pistol Rail designed for the BrowningHi-Power MK II/III and similar models. The rail features fourlocations toposition yourlight or laser.Two clampingshoes, held inplace by twoscrews and aperpendicularsetscrew, secure the rail to the triggerguard. For moreinfo: (215) 949-9944 or www.americanhandgunner.com/command-arms-accessoriesModel 101 Foldaway SafarilandThe Model 101 Foldaway is a rectangular piece of fullgrainleather, with dual 1.5" belt slots, a full-leatherlining and exterior stitching detail. The user may slidethe holster onto the belt loop in the desired locationon the hip. As the firearm is holstered, a cutout slotin the leather grips onto the triggerguard to helpretain the handgun. This brings the weapon as close to the body as possible, byeliminating the normal thickness associated with typical holster designs. Availablein tan and black leather in plain finish, and is offered on two sizes to fit a varietyof medium- and large-frame semi-auto firearms, including Glock, Colt 1911, S&Wand Springfield Armory models. MSRP is $15.25. For more info: (800) 347-1200or www.americanhandgunner.com/safariland470 Emissary BenchmadeThe new 470 Emissary is a lightweight knife with AXIS Assistin a thin package. The Emissary has a clip-point blade, withambidextrous thumb-stud opener and weighs 2.2 ounces.With a CNC-machined billet, the Emissary has high-strength,aluminum alloy handles and a reversible tip-up pocketclip. The MSRP is $200. For more info: (503) 655-6004or www.americanhandgunner.com/benchmade108 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

INDEX OF ADVERTISERSA.T. Custom Gunworks 101Al Mar Knives 14American COP Subscription 74American Handgunner Merchandise 104American Handgunner Subscription 47Arntzen Corporation 98Arredondo Accessories 83Barnes Bullets Inc. 105Bar-Sto Precision Machine 94The Beltman 83Belt Mountain Enterprises 85Berry’s Mfg. Inc. 79BLACKHAWK! 3Brian Tighe 91Burger Knives 94Caron Forensics 16Caspian Arms Ltd. 89Chambers Custom Pistols 100Cheaper Than Dirt! 37Chip McCormick Custom LLC. 33Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC 19Columbia River Knife & Tool 21, 93Coonan Inc. 87CORBON/Glaser 76Crawford Knives LLC 84Crimson Trace Corporation 20CrossBreed Holsters LLC 79Cylinder & Slide Inc. 31, 100CZ-USA 77D & L Sports Inc. 100DeSantis Holster & Leather Goods Co. 76Dillon Precision Products 90DoubleStar Corp. 78El Paso Saddlery Co. 87Elite Survival Systems 86European American Armory Corporation 9Florida Arms Manufacturing Company 87FMG Special Editions 97Frontier Gunleather 16Galco Gunleather 6Gary Reeder Custom Guns 100Glock Inc. 17Grassburr Leatherworks Inc. 78Grayman Knives 86GSI International Inc. 14GUNS Magazine Subscription 109Gungrips.net 91GunVault 39Hi-Viz Shooting Systems 18Hinterland Outfitters 88Hogue Inc. 81Hornady Manufacturing Company 25IronMind Enterprises Inc. 84iTAC Defense 27Kahr Arms 103Kimber Mfg. Inc. 23, 116Lambert Knives 88Les Baer Custom Inc. 43Lightfoot Knives 81LockSAF 90Lyman Products Corp. 18Mag-na-port International Inc. 85Maxpedition Hard-Use Gear 41Mec-Gar USA Inc. 88Meprolight Ltd. 15Monkey Edge 16MTM Case-Gard 45Nighthawk Custom 11Pact Inc. 8Panteao Productions LLC 12Para USA Inc. 2Para-Cord 81PB Precision 98Pearce Grip Inc. 92Pinkerton Knives 80Powder River Precision Inc. 100Pro Ears 21Purdy Gear 82Remington Arms Company Inc. 35Rio Grande Custom Grips 85Rohrbaugh Firearms 78S.W.A.T. 110Sand Burr Gun Ranch 100Singletary Customs 100Smith & Alexander Inc. 80Spartan Blades USA 92Springfield Armory 13, 115SSK Industries 85Starline Brass 31STI International Inc. 102Streamlight Inc. 39Sturm Ruger & Co. Inc. 7SureFire LLC 29Talon Grips 19Ten Ring Precision Inc. 100, 101Thunder Ranch Training DVDs 50, 66TOPS KNIVES 83Trausch Grips 80Tuff Products Brand LLC 12Tussey Custom 101U.S. Money Reserve 10Umarex USA 82Universal Shooting Academy 98W.C. Wolff Company 92Wilson Combat 45, 95Wilson Tactical 10XS Sight Systems 82W E A P O N S , T A C T I C S A N D T R A I N I N G F O R T H E R E A L W O R L DIN PRINT:SUBSCRIBE ONLINE ATSWATMAG.COMOR CALL 1-800-673-4595DIGITAL FORMAT FOR:MAC PC iPADSUBSCRIBE ONLINE ATWWW.ZINIO.COM/SWATMAGA ONE-YEAR, 12-ISSUE SUBSCRIPTION TO S.W.A.T. MAGAZINE IN PRINT OR DIGITAL FORMAT IS ONLY $ 34.95!SAVE 42% OFF THE COVER PRICE. SUBSCRIBE NOW!110 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

AMERICAN HANDGUNNERCLASSIFIEDClassified ads $2.00 per-word per insertion. ($1.50 per-word per insertion for 3 or more) including name, address and phone number (20word minimum). Minimum charge $40.00. Bold words add $1.00 per word. Copy and rerun orders must be accompanied by PAY-MENT IN ADVANCE. NO AGENCY OR CASH DISCOUNTS ON LISTING OR DISPLAY CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING. All ads mustbe received with advance payment BY NO LATER THAN THE 1st of each month. Ads received after closing will appear in the following issue.Please type or print clearly. PLEASE NOTE*** NO PROOFS WILL BE FURNISHED. Include name, address, post office, city, state andzip code as counted words. Abbreviations count as one word each. Mail to AMERICAN HANDGUNNER CLASSIFIEDS, 12345 World Trade Drive,San Diego, California 92128. NOTE: WE NOW HAVE DISPLAY CLASSIFIED ADS IN BOTH GUNS MAGAZINE AND AMERICANHANDGUNNER. ASK FOR OUR NEW RATE CARD, Or call (858) 605-0235.AMMUNITIONQuinetics Corporation! Reloading supplies for thereloader. Made in USA. www.quineticscorp.comAPPARELTHE BELTMAN makes sturdy, top quality, DUALLAYER bull hide belts (not cow), for dress wear,concealed carry or competition from $69.95. HAND-MADE in the USA in three widths and five colors.Any length! Options include: Horse, Elephant,Velcro, tapering, stiffeners, etc. 919-387-1997 www.thebeltman.netBOOKSCOLLECTORSFOR SALEGUNSMITHINGINSTRUCTIONACCESSORIESACCESSORIESCleaning your Ruger .22 is a Chore.Contact Majestic Armsto solve that problem and morewww.majesticarms.com, 718-356-6765KAHRP380pre-cutgrippanelswww.decalgrip.comDECAL GRIP®DOG GRIPS LLCThe OriginalRattlesnake GripsThe Warrior’s ChoiceIraq, Afghanistan, Law Enforcement, FBI, Texas Rangers...Where you find warriors, you will find DOG GRIPS.www.doggrips.comKNIVES & SWORDSLEATHERCRAFTMISCELLANEOUSVIDEO/DVDWWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 111

insiderADD IT UP4Percentage food prices are upover fourth quarter 2010.$3.46Average national price for agallon of whole milk.7,000Structures destroyed in Joplin tornado.6,000Number of homes destroyed.46Percentage of homes thatwere uninsured.750Number of businesses destroyed.the insider Continued from page 114A Retro Spectacle106 1976: And if you wereanybody, you had a Roy BakerPancake rig like this. Note thenifty way to carry six extra roundsfor your gun. Oh, the gun? That’scalled a “revolver” and there willbe a test later, so pay attention ifyou’ve never seen one before. The 6holster was made out of leather,a mysterious natural product, incase you were wondering. Look itup, it comes from cows usually.7 1978: For not more than $85 you could get a Crown City frameand slide and build your very own 1911. Of course, there was no guaranteethe holes would all sorta’ line up or anything. But hey, what a deal!8 1982: According to Jeff Cooper, the Bren Ten was going to be “The heir to the Colt .45 Auto.”Well, um … uh … nope. As a matter of fact there’s a famous story of one of our major gunzinecompetitors “testing” an early Bren Ten and pronouncing it really, really great. Except for one thing— it came out later their test gun didn’t come with a magazine. So maybe it was a really, reallygreat single shot? Oops …9 1982: If you think of Handgunner’s early years, you think of these great Bianchi ads. John sparedno expense in doing this series that went on for several years. We always loved the fact he had a senseof humor, and could toss rocks at his royal-ness self first!910 1979: The man who was on the ground floor(sub-floor maybe?) of the whole custom 1911 businesswas Armand Swenson. Here’s an early Handgunner adfor his — okay, I’m going to say it — groundbreaking,safeties. If you have an ambi-safety on your 1911, say“Thank you, Armand.”1111 1978: Now that’s some SWAT practicegoing on there for sure. Some kinda’hard plate armor maybe, S&W Model 39s,European motorcycle helmets (okay, I’mguessing on that one) and the proper gunfightercrouch going on. Yup, those mustbe SWAT guys. Maybe a still from the movieThe Spy Who Shagged Me? Gads, I was a copthen. Did I look that silly? Probably.8Turnbull Mfg. Co. 1911To help fly the flag during this 100 th of the 1911, TurnbullMfg. is offering their own stunner of a 1911, made trueto the very earliest years production models. As a premierrestorer of original 1911 pistols, Turnbull’s is using theirexperience to finish this modern version exactly like the originals.They are also working with the Cylinder & Slide shopon the C&S 1911, supplying the finalfinish on Bill Laughridge’s version ofthe iconic gun. At $3,895 it is far lessthan an original collector’s Colt, and best ofall, you can shoot it! Call (585) 657-6338 orgo to www.turnbullmfg.com.112 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

THEINSIDERTM4Roy HuntingtoninsiderA RetroSpectacleImight have just made up thattitle word match-up, but it makessense to me. In this, our actual 35 thAnniversary Issue, I thought wecould have some fun playing “Hey,I remember that!” in a bit of a retrospective-spectacleof ourselves. Going over theold issues, it washard to cull, and Isoon found myselfwith way too manyto use. So, in noparticular order,25here’s some coolold things from ourpast pages, sure toinvoke the impulsivefinger-pointand “Geez, I wishI still had mine!”from all of us. Andno use acting likeyou don’t rememberthis stuff, becauseif you’re a certifiedgun-crank — which most of youare — there’s no need to be shyabout it. They really were goodold days (an ad for a new ColtPython?!), and as we forged newground, it wasn’t untillately many of those early1ideas we fumbled aroundwith are finally turningout to work using newtechnology and materials.But boy, it was sure funseeing the first of the newgadgets in the day, and Ihope you get as big a kickout of this as I did puttingit together. Enjoy!11978: Did AMT ever actually get any of their“Hardballer” models to actually work? They made anifty AutoMag, but those early stainless 1911s hadterrible galling problems and just never worked! Gotone? Sell it.21980: Be still my beating heart! Remember whenyou could check out “What’s new” at Colt by readingtheir ads? You’ll be able to soon again, as Insider gossiphas it they will be advertising again in no time!31981: Armament Systems & Procedures or ASP advertised stoppingpower “… second only to the .44 Magnum!” from a 9mm. Not quite surehow they managed that, but it was a ground-breaker for sure.4 1982: Ross Seyfried was always hovering over the ground in this famousad from Handgunner’s pages. Bet it made him tired. It was taken at an earlyaction match and has become iconic. Note the striped tennies and blue jeans.Betcha’ Robbie Leatham used to dress like that too! Not anymore …5 1979: Nobody can accuse Bill Laughridge of the Cylinder & Slide shopof being the new guy on the block. Check out his ad showing a “cuttingedge” 1911 with S&W sights and Pachmayr grips. Hey, we all wanted one sodon’t make fun. Thanks for staying with us Bill for all these years!the insider Continues on page 112114 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20113

The Kimber CDP.Carry Without Compromise.The new Ultra+ CDP II (left) with full-lengthgrip and Ultra CDP II with short grip arechambered in .45 ACP. Both have 3-inchbarrels that make them easy to conceal.CDP pistols feature night sights anda Carry Melt treatment for roundedand blended edges.The Pro CDP II .45 ACP has a4-inch barrel and full-length grip.It weighs just 28 ounces.The Custom CDP II .45 ACP is afull-size 1911. Even with a 5-inchbarrel, it weighs only 31 ounces.Absolute dependability combined with power and accuracy is everything in a carry pistol. Kimber ®CDP (Custom Defense Package) models take that to the extreme, blending all the important carryfeatures into a light weight, high-performance package. Built in the Kimber Custom Shop, eachhas front strap checkering, match grade barrel, chamber and trigger, stainless steel slide andambidextrous thumb safety. Seven models are offered, each an unequaled value. Chamberingsinclude .45 ACP and 9mm. A carry pistol is the last place to compromise. Carry a Kimber CDP.©2011 Kimber Mfg., Inc. All rights reserved. Kimber names, logos and other trademarks may not beused without permission. Names of other companies, products and services may be the property oftheir respective owners. Kimber firearms are shipped with an instruction manual and California-approvedcable lock. Copy of instruction manual available by request.Kimber, One Lawton Street, Yonkers, NY 10705 (800) 880-2418T H E C H O I C E O F A M E R I C A ’ S B E S Tkimberamerica.com