March/April 1983 - American Handgunner

The 1980 and 1981 U.S. IPSC nationals andthe 1981 Steel Challenge match were alsowon with Hornady bullets. My hat is off toHornady for its excellent products, andshooter support.Atlanta Arms and Ammo is anotherammo firm that is supporting IPSC shooters.It makes the highest quality of loadedammo, which has been widely used in majormatches.There are other shooting sport sponsors.You can see their names on shooters' shirtsworn in competition. They're support isappreciated. We hope other companieswill follow suit, beginning in 1983.This year, for the first time, rangeofficers were brought in from all over thenation to participate in IPSCs new rangeofficer training program. After completingthe program, they officiated at the match,producing a fair and ~well executed shoot. ~INFO 'QUICKIE'The lever-action Volcanic pistol wasmade by a manufacturer of that namein New Haven, Connecticut from 1855to 1858, on a design that had been unsuccessfullytried by Hunt, Jenningsand Smith & Wesson. The Volcanic,both gun and company, later becameWinchester.AIR PISTOLSContinuedfrom page 43practice are enormous," said Beeman."You can dry-fire almost anywhere; even afew moments of this exercise, every day,will pay great dividends on the range andgive you an almost meditation-like restfrom mental pressures."Air pistol calibers are .177 and .22; mostpopular, however, are the .177 pellets,which come in a variety of configurations:. wadcutters, hollow points and round andpointed heads. They range in weight from7.10 grains (.177) to 21.10 grains (.22). A.177 pellet is light and fast, a .22 pelletheavier and slower.PELLET PRICESPellets are inexpensive. You can buy atin of 500 for as little as $3. Super matchpellets, for a tin of 500, cost about $12.50.Their perfectly flat heads cut maximumsize, easily scored holes in paper targets.Unlike the early model BB guns, airpistols have rifled barrels for maximum accuracy.Some have variable power adjustments.Most have rear sights adjustable forboth windage and elevation.Beeman predicts that the real market forair pistols is in the area of precision models,those that sell for more than $100.ALPHA PRECISION, INC.CUSTOMCOMPETITIONHANDGUNSPPC, IPSC, DUTY, TARGET,SILHOUETTE AND SPORT• COMPETITIVE PRICES· OVER 20 YEARS EXPERI­ENCE· PROFESSIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIp· ALLWORK TESTED AND GUARANTEEDSEND $2.00 (REFUNDABLE) FOR INFORMATION:ALPHA PRECISION, INC. Dept. 011231 Sunderland Ct., Atlanta, Georgia 30319(404) 458-0471"Americans love fine guns:' he told theAmerican H andgunner. "They aren't satisfiedwith plastic and cast-metal modelswhich, obviously, have a short life expectancyand do little or nothing to hone ashooter's markmanship skills."The price of a precision air pistol is uparound that of a fine cartridge handguq.But it's generally fired 10 times as often, soit's an excellent buy,A good air pistol is habit-forming. Consistentpractice with one pays off-on thefiring line with your favorite Python orSuper Blackhawk, for example.Take it from "hardball," a new and enthusiasticair .....pistol shooter. ~STOPPING POWERContinuedfrom page 90With the same muzzle energy thedifference was obvious. I watchedthe reaction to hits that were notInsta ntly ·fatal. (Stoppi ng power mustnot be confused with killing power;they are two different things.) Achuck hit with a 9mm would runback toward hiS hole; one hit with aA 5 would walk back toward hishole. At times. his whole body wouldshudder when hit with the A5, butnever with the 9mm Stoppingpower: a nervous system effect.Such tests indicate. that caliber isthe most important variable; energyhas nothing to do with It.The only way to get acceptablestopping power with the mediumbores (9mm. 38. 357) IS to usebullets that expand consistentlyThat brings up another problem:expansion tests. The most commontest substance is Duxseal. which willexpand bullets far more than animaltissue.In animal tissue. it takes more than900 fps muzzle velocity to expand alead hollow-point consistently. A testof the Hydroshock bullet published inthe Amencan Handgunner, (JDJones, author) showed three bulletsrecovered from chucks; there was noexpansion. yet tests on Duxsealexpanded them to 60 inch. AJacketed hollow-pOint needs a muzzlevelocity close to 1.400 fps toexpand I never found signs ofexpansion with a 115-grain 9mm at1,200 fps (poor stopping power). Onthe other hand. a 125-grain35 7 at1.400 fps has proven to be anexcellent stopper in actual shootouts .So. when someone says a bulletexpands, ask, "In what material?"I hope your series Includes MassadAyoob I've met him. and he knowsexactly what stopping power is.Robert Cella ~Barryville, NY ~92 AMERICAN HANDGUNNER • MARCH/APRIL 1983