American Handgunner back issues from July 2009:
Digital magic.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You guys have done a wonderful job on the digital editions. They're well done, easy to use, and thankfully, easy to read with the zoom feature! I'm retired ...
More digital magic.(SPEAK OUT: YOUR FORUM TO PONTIFICATE, PONDER AND PROBE)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2009; ... I'm overseas right now in the military and can't get Handgunner reliably, but I can get onto the Internet. I found out about your digital edition and now can enjoy my favorite gun magazine while I'm deployed! It's nice to read the articles and check out the ads about what's new. Now 1 can ...
Gun-free zone.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2009; ... Like you, I don't know where to start. I read the brilliant opinions--sarcasm intended--of Frank Reedmon (Speak Out, May/June, 2009) and had to respond. I can't believe people actually exist in this world who think it's government's job to determine if I have "a genuine need" to exercise ...
9mm info.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2009; ... First, thank you for the finest handgun magazine on the rack. I am an avid 'gunner dating back to 1973 when I entered law enforcement, and am now in my 36th year with no thought of retirement. I started competition back in the PPC days where l earned my NRA Masters. Moved to steel plates, ...
Connor propaganda.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2009; ... Never, ever even think about firing this hard-fighting, truth-telling, intelligent, wise and caring man! He's right so often it's scary. He tells it like it is, and deals with whatever it is. And he lets the world know--as much of it as he can reach--he cares about what is right, is ...
Huh? What?(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2009; ... I normally would never try to sway someone any direction when it comes to choosing a firearm for self-defense, but I read the letter by John Lawrence (Speak Out, May/June 2009) where he says worrying about one's hearing is not important when a life is at stake. I probably would agree ...
Mystery gun.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2009; ... I retired from the Lorain Police Department in 1991 and came back to do some IT work for them. I was given your article ("1908 .380 Mystery Pistol," May/June, 2009) by a friend of the author's. Although I can't prove or disprove the claim the gun came from the Lorain Police Department, I ...
Calm down.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I read Roy Huntington's article (Insider, March/April 2009) issue and found his thoughts of interest. We agree for the most part in that President Obama will be way too busy with economic and international problems to spend much time tying to restrict our ...
Keeping sane.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2009 ... I appreciate your magazine as a fairly priced and lengthy read for the money. I have often wanted to write but haven't because the firearm culture in general feels like some kind of men's club, a birth-rite that I don't have--yet. You see I'm only 26 and my father was never really into ...
Charter rocks.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2009; ... We purchased a Charter Arms .38 Undercover model revolver a month ago. This is the best shooting of all our other hand guns, and the quality is very good for the money. It's the wife's and she is very ...
Coming to America.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2009; ... I just finished reading Mr. Huntington's article (Insider, "Coming to America," May/June, 2009) and I had mixed emotions. I was delighted to read two more souls had escaped the Republic of California to seek a life so many of us in real America already enjoy. And at the same time I felt ...
Officer's guns.(SPEAK OUT)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2009; ... I have an interesting fact to add to Duke's article ("WWII Handguns," March/April, 2009). In the Axis Powers, only officers were issued handguns. How do I know? In 30 years of being a known gun guy, dozens of folks have shown or told me of their war trophy/family heirloom "taken off ...
Shot show: flashbacks.(COP TALK: OPINION AND FACTS FROM THE MEAN STREETS)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The old heads among us (Clint Smith and our editor, to name two) will remember when the S&W Model 58.41 Magnum was touted as the service revolver that would make the .38 and the .357 obsolete. That was in 1964 and the prophecy was not fulfilled. The Model ...
Back to the future.(COP TALK: OPINION AND FACTS FROM THE MEAN STREETS)
Jul 01, 2009; ... On a more modern note, S&W has taken the frame-mounted manual safety for the they put on their .45 ACP M&P awhile back for the military contract that evaporated, and this year added it as an option for all sizes and all calibers. This option is, if I may quote Martha Stewart in a gun ...
Also of note.(COP TALK: OPINION AND FACTS FROM THE MEAN STREETS)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ruger's new LCR (Lightweight Compact Revolver) has a futuristic space-gun look. A polymer fire control housing, aluminum frame, and steel cylinder bring weight to 13.5 ounces, halfway between Titanium and aluminum, but the special Hogue grips co-designed ...
Vogel's voice.(BETTER SHOOTING)
Jul 01, 2009; ... Robert Vogel won the 2008 USPSA Production division national championship. He's also a past IDPA national champion. His achievements are even more impressive when you consider he trains in his spare time, while serving as a full time police officer (and SRT member) for the Kenton, Ohio ...
Culling lessons.(HANDGUN HUNTING: TIPS, TECHNIQUES AND POLITICAL-INCORRECTNESS)
Jul 01, 2009; ... Lynn Thompson's DVD, Death Down Under, shows 100 animals being taken and 50 of them are Asian buffalo. This isn't what you would consider a "hunting video. It's obviously a culling operation and as the cover says, it may be extreme for some viewers. It does give real world experience in ...
J.D. charges too.(HANDGUN HUNTING: TIPS, TECHNIQUES AND POLITICAL-INCORRECTNESS)
Jul 01, 2009; ... On another cull operation we drove into a herd of buff that were all laying down. Suddenly they began popping up all around us. The guys in the back of the truck gave them all they had and when I was sure they were empty, I jumped out of the truck and ran after rapidly retreating herd ....
Not predictable.(HANDGUN HUNTING: TIPS, TECHNIQUES AND POLITICAL-INCORRECTNESS)
Jul 01, 2009; ... My hunting partner had dropped a bull that stayed upright on his chest. He had been fighting his boss and was a mess of maggots. I stepped up to him and bent over to take a close up photo as he regained consciousness and simply ran over me. Then we had to run, shoot him in the ass, run ...
A gunsmith-friend.(PISTOLSMITHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP ON PISTOLSMITHING TECHNIQUES)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gunsmiths are asked to tear guns apart, fix broken ones, restore abused ones, build new ones, alter working ones, ship 'em, receive 'em, clean 'era and evaluate them for countless widows. Most never paid attention to their husband's lucrative hobby and ...
Do this.(PISTOLSMITHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP ON PISTOLSMITHING TECHNIQUES)
Jul 01, 2009; ... The first, and probably the best solution, is for you to become friends and a good customer with the owners of a large local gunshop within a 50 mile radius of your home. Most of these large gunshops specialize in buying and selling gun collections coming out of an estate. You can cut a ...
Your guns will live.(PISTOLSMITHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP ON PISTOLSMITHING TECHNIQUES)
Jul 01, 2009; ... Yeah, I know, we all think our guns are going to go with us when we croak, but I hate to break the bad news to you--they ain't. If you die before your spouse and you have not planned for your toy's afterlife they're going to go to firearms hell. They end up in the hands of the wonderful ...
Ruger's .22 Single-Six.(TAFFIN TESTS: THE SIXGUNNER HIMSELF: GUNS, GEAR AND MORE)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Those were the days, my friend. We thought they'd never end." It was 1956 and I had purchased my first very own handgun. In those days firearms were easily accessible to kids; 16 was the legal purchasing age in my area with no forms to fill out, and there ...
Red hot delight.(WINNING EDGE: SOLID ADVICE TO KEEP YOU AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The most important element of accurate shooting is trigger control, period. I know of no way to learn trigger control other than by repetition. Dry firing is just as good as live fire for teaching trigger control perhaps even better--since in dry fire ...
It works.(WINNING EDGE: SOLID ADVICE TO KEEP YOU AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION)
Jul 01, 2009; ... Several years ago I was shooting on the range with a couple of friends. One of them was an occasional handgun shooter. He owned quite a few handguns, had a CCW permit and his gunhandling was certainly competent and capable. He was a very good rifle shot, the point being he had a good ...
What works.(WINNING EDGE: SOLID ADVICE TO KEEP YOU AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Competition shooters have been demonstrating the advantages of dot sights for going on 20 years. The superiority of dot sights became so evident, iron sights simply could not compete. USPSA and IPSC created divisions (i.e., Limited/Standard, Production) in ...
The .44 Ruskie.(SHOOTING IRON[TM]: THUMB BUSTIN' MUSINGS FROM THE DUKE)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After writing a feature for this issue on why the .44 S&W Special isn't so special, now I'm going to detail why I do like its ballistic twin. the .44 S&W Russian. At least I like it in this one particular revolver. That's the Navy Arms' replica of Smith & ...
Picky Russians.(SHOOTING IRON[TM: THUMB BUSTIN' MUSINGS FROM THE DUKE)
Jul 01, 2009; ... It its first 30 years of existence the .44 Russian cartridge gained a superb reputation for accuracy, of course as fired in the several versions of Smith & Wesson top break revolvers. (See my .44 Special article in this issue for an explanation of why cartridge accuracy reputations are ...
Good guns.(SHOOTING IRON[TM]: THUMB BUSTIN' MUSINGS FROM THE DUKE)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] At one time I owned a sample of each of those vintage S&W ,44 Russian revolvers but hardly ever fired them because they were very fragile and also very valuable. So when Navy Arms announced their replica of the 3rd Model .44 Russian about 10 years back, I ...
Dark moon rising.(GUNCRANK DIARIES[TM]: EXCUSES, ALIBIS, PITHY OBSERVATIONS & GENERAL EPHUS)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I've never paid much attention to astrology," all that business about Venus kissin' Mars an' Jupiter making you walk in front of a bus. But if I were into astrology, I'd tell you this: It seems to me certain pale planets are linin' up like a bad break on ...
Light deviation.(REALITY CHECK[TM]: FIRST-PERSON THOUGHTS ON SURVIVING IN THE REAL WORLD)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Starting in the 1980s handguns started to have rails for lights. Some were good light rails fitting lots of different lights. Some rails were/are silly because they only fit their light, and that led to their holster--although most of that silliness is ...
Rail-tech.(REALITY CHECK[TM]: FIRST-PERSON THOUGHTS ON SURVIVING IN THE REAL WORLD)
Jul 01, 2009; ... My personal deviation is a rail-equipped 1911 made by Dave Williams from Springfield Armory's Custom Shop. The Operator pistol is a full size 5" 1911 made with the 1913 version rail allowing for any of the best lights (SureFire, Streamlight or Insights Tech Gear as examples) to mount right ...
Caveat deviation?(REALITY CHECK[TM]: FIRST-PERSON THOUGHTS ON SURVIVING IN THE REAL WORLD)
Jul 01, 2009; ... I have seen some handguns with lights mounted on them not operate correctly in the hands of some shooters. If you mount a light to a handgun make sure you test the combination of equipment for fit. You want to make sure it doesn't fall off while firing, check the function does the thing ...
Blade-Tech meets 5.11.(CARRY OPTIONS: FROM CLASSICS TO CUTTING EDGE IN CARRY METHODS)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It was over ten years ago when I placed my first order from Blade-Tech. There was a problem with the order not once, but twice. When I called to complain I asked to speak to the boss the answer I received was, "you got him." Tim fixed my problem and sent ...
Keith bullets.(HANDLOADING: SAGE ADVICE FROM THE HANDLOADING GURUS)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "To the detriment of the bullet, many mold manufacturers have changed my bullet design. They have cut down both the width and diameter of the front band and have changed the square-cornered lubrication groove to one of rounded design. This cutting down of ...
Originals.(HANDLOADING: SAGE ADVICE FROM THE HANDLOADING GURUS)
Jul 01, 2009; ... Keith's original designs were for Ideal, which later became Lyman-Ideal, and is now Lyman Products. Those designs consisted of #358429 of 168 grains for the .38 Special; #454424, 260 grains for the .45 Colt; #454423, a slightly shorter and lighter 240 grain bullet for the .45 Auto Rim; and ...
Can you get them?(HANDLOADING: SAGE ADVICE FROM THE HANDLOADING GURUS)
Jul 01, 2009; ... There are many Keith and very close to Keith bullet molds being offered today. None of them will have a square-cornered grease groove, however most will have a square-cornered base and equal driving bands. For the .45 Colt I prefer the long discontinued Lyman #454424 and the RCBS #45-270SA ...
SSK's groundbreaking guns.(THE SIXGUNNER)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In the late 1970s I saw a small ad for a new organization called Handgun Hunters International, or HHI. I sent off the money and application for membership and in 1979 received the first issue of The Sixgunner which was the club's bi-monthly publication in ...
An ultimate J-frame.(GEMINI CUSTOMS)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I was at Gunsite with the crew from S&W not long ago for a specific reason--to explore capabilities of S&W's small J-frame revolvers. Paul Pluff of S&W brought over 25 variants, virtually all shapes and sizes, from short barrels to their longest, but all ...
Going airsoft: WWII autos face off.
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There's no arguing two the most famous and efficient military sidearms of the WWII period are the .45 ACP Colt 1911Al and the 9mm Walther P-38. Given these guns' huge reputations and respective service records, it's not surprising to find airsoft clones of ...
The .44 Special ain't so special?
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The .44 S&W Special ain't so special. That may be heresy to some, most notably some gun'riters who almost genuflect at the name. But it just ain't so great. In regards to the criterion by which revolvers and their cartridges are judged, the .44 Special ...
A custom XD[M] duo: that "M" stands for more.
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Have you ever picked up a handgun and you suddenly stopped in midconversation because something was, simply, right about it? It felt right in your hand? You can pick up legions of handguns and find some are too blocky, ...
Feeding the habit: reload for more competition fun.
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The first handloaded cartridge I ever fired was a .308 Win., in 1963. I was in my early teens at the time and the round was loaded by a neighbor who was a hunter. It would be another ten years before I bought my own reloading equipment, a Lee Loader in ...
The retired marine and the robbers.(The Ayoob Files)
Jul 01, 2009; ... Situation: It wasn't enough for the two armed robbers to take your money--now they're herding you into the back of the restaurant, and telling you to get face down ... Lessons: Fortunately, the armed citizen has options that go beyond trusting the merciless to be merciful. ...
The Boker explosion: old world tradition and hi-tech collide.
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There's an old business adage that goes "If you're not moving forward, you're going backwards. There is no in-between." In today's up-and-down financial climate that pearl of wisdom has never been truer. The most successful companies are the ones who ...
Stuffin' it smart: bags, sacks, rucks & packs.
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] My earliest childhood memories include methodically organizing all my possessions into a modified ]Marine field pack and a Navy seabag, I guess that doesn't sound very "mainstream," but my family's life wasn't very mainstream, moving all 'round the ...
NAA self-defense trio.(WIN! HANDGUN OF THE MONTH)
Jul 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Clint Smith sometimes says--especially when it comes to flashlights--"one is none and two is one." Meaning, if one fails and that's all you have, then you have none. But if you have a back-up, then you still have "one." So how does that relate to three? ...
AR gold trigger.(GUNNYSACK)
Jul 01, 2009; ... Wait--this isn't a handgun thing, or even a handgun accessory. Then what's it doing in American Handgunner? I'll bet if you look deep in your gun safe, or behind the door, or in that "secret" place you have, there might be an AR rifle of some kind waiting patiently. Did you look? Is it ...
CRKT Ignitor series.(GUNNYSACK)
Jul 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Oh, another knife, you may say. But wait--there's more! I've always liked CRKT's stuff. It's affordable, innovative and always offers good value. Some of the designs are "way" out there, and others are simply solid, everyday working knives. The Ignitor is ...
DMT Sharpening Card.(GUNNYSACK)
Jul 01, 2009; ... I just love to see simple solutions to sometimes complex problems, and this is one of those simple solutions. While there are plenty of high-tec and very, very effective sharpening "systems" out there, sometimes I just need a simple "at-hand" something to help me along. DMT's Sharpening ...
LockSAF gun safe.(GUNNYSACK)
Jul 01, 2009; ... A home defense firearm needs to be accessible. At the same time it should be protected from theft and unauthorized access. The best system, in my view, is a safe which only authorized residents can open. The trick is getting it open. If you ever need your firearm the odds are it will be at ...
Scottish gun control.(SPEAK OUT)
Jul 01, 2009; ... I recently received an email from my Scottish friend. He had just completed the required "Annual interview" (read: search his house and inspect the gun safe, ammunition storage, etc.). It will take four weeks to determine whether he ...
Tuff C2 Taser Holster.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jul 01, 2009 ... Tuff Products Tuff's slim profile ambidextrous C2 laser Holster is a pradical way to carry your C2 laser. The clever ambidextrous design, non-stretch thumbreak, and heavy duty 1 3/4 or 2 1/4 stout metal clip make it ...
High Security Case.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jul 01, 2009 ... Safe Direction, LLC Our good friend Steve Camp and the folks at Safe Direction have come up with yet another quality security product to add to their ever growing line. The High Security Case features NIJ-IIIA equivalent Ballistic Containment System, provides Ballistic ...
Fliegerduffel adventure bag.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jul 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Maxpedition Tim and the gang at Maxpedition have done it again with their new Fliegerduffel. It's perfect for the frequent flyer and is a truly unique travel bag. Sized properly to meet all airlines carry-on luggage standards, it also meets ...
Desert Eagle: 25 years old.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jul 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Magnum Research Magnum Research announced at the SHOT Show that 2009 marked the 25th anniversary of the Desert Eagle. What started as an idea for a magnum cartridge in a semi-automatic pistol, has evolved into high power, superior quality ...
UZI tactical cutlery.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jul 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hallmark Cutlery Designed for hard-duty use, the UZI tactical cutlery line is durable but also affordable. The fixed blades feature 7CR17 hard-coated stainless steel blades and ...
1911 greaseless upgrade kit.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jul 01, 2009 ... Fail Zero FoilZero introduces their new 1911 greaseless upgrade kit. The kit includes a slide, frame, hammer, disconnect and trigger assembly all coated with EXO technology, an extremely durable coating that provides permanent lubricity to metal ...
Dia-Sharp Whetstone.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jul 01, 2009 ... Diamond Machining Technology DMT unveils the Dia-Sharp Five Carat Diamond Whetstone that provides consistent sharpening and is perfect for all knife sizes. Guaranteed not to hollow or groove, the Dia-Sharp Whetstone is available in two grits: extra-fine and fine. The sharpener ...
Avion-Vo Shooting Glasses.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jul 01, 2009 ... Elvex Corporation Elvex launches its new line of Eye and Hearing Protection with top of the line Shooting Glasses end VO impact protection. Avian meets the US Military VO Ballistic test standard, where lenses must resist impact of a 15 caliber ...
Waterproof Breathable Parka.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jul 01, 2009 ... Woolrich Elite Series Tactical Woolrich Elite Series Tactical introduces the Elite Waterproof Breathable Parka designed to excel in brutal conditions. The Parka will be available at tactical outlets starting July 2009. The Parka is made of nylon ripstop fabric with a waterproof, ...
"Rite in the Rain".(SPOTLIGHT)
Jul 01, 2009 ... J.L Darling Corp. The J.L. Darling Corporation, manufacturers "Rite in the Rain" all-weather writing paper, offers rugged notebooks, bound books, loose leaf and copier paper for those who understand that they have a job to do regardless of the weather. Every "Rite in the Rain" ...
The American.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jul 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Guncrafter Industries This full sized gun has a 5" barrel with integrated light rail, forged frame, slide and barrel. The Hammer, Sear and disconnector are all machined from high grade tool steel. The Slide Stop is machined from bar stock ....
Custom grips.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jul 01, 2009 ... Tony Rist Custom Grips "God made men but Sam Colt made them equal," and Grip maker Tony Rist memorialized a blind folded Lady Liberty on a pair of his custom grips just to remind us all. Made from beautiful bird's ...
UK Special Forces knife.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jul 01, 2009 ... BLACKHAWK! The patent pending UK-SFK was as the name implies for Britain's The BLACKHAWK! design team created mate Combat dagger. The integral cross-guard, and distinctive full-tang handle design are borrowed from Brent I[eshara's XSF--1 dagger for outstanding strength and ...