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The Fiocchi Chemical Tracer “see where you are missing” Since 1876 For the Fiocchi dealer near you, Call 417.449.1043 / visit www.fiocchiusa.com APRIL 2011 Vol. 57, Number 4, 665th Issue COLUMNS 6 CROSSFIRE LEttERS tO thE EdItOR 8 RANGING SHOTS™ CLINt SMIth 12 HANDGUNS MASSAd AyOOb 16 GUNSMITHING hAMILtON S. bOWEN 84 ENtER tO WIN! 18 HANDLOADING JOhN bARSNESS AmericAn TAcTicAl imporTs 22 MONTANA MUSINGS GsG 1911 .22 lonG rifle MIkE “dUkE” VENtURINO 24 OPTICS 8 JACOb GOttfREdSON 28 RIFLEMAN dAVE ANdERSON 30 SHOTGUNNER hOLt bOdINSON DEPARTMENTS 60 KNIVES PAt COVERt 34 OUT OF THE BOX™ 62 VIEWS, NEWS & REVIEWS SAVAGE MOdEL 93 .22 WMR RIGhtS WAtCh: dAVId COdREA 36 SURPLUS LOCKER™ 86 ODD ANGRY SHOT hOLt bOdINSON JOhN CONNOR 40 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 90 CAMPFIRE TALES JEff JOhN JOhN tAffIN 74 CATALOG SHOWCASE 12 77 QUARTERMASTER fEAtURING GUNS ALLStARS! THIS MONTH: • JOhN CONNOR GUNS Magazine (ISSN 1044-6257) is published monthly by Publishers’ Development Corpora- tion, 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128. Periodicals Postage Paid at San Diego, CA and at additional mail- ing offices. SUBSCRIPTIONS: One year (12) issues $24.95. Single monthly copies, $4.95. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Eight weeks notice required on all changes. Send old address as well as new. SUB- SCRIPTION PROBLEMS: For immediate action write GUNS Maga- 28 zine, Attention: Circulation Dept., 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128 or call (858) 605-0250. CONTRIBUTORS sub- mitting manuscripts, photographs or drawings do so at their own risk. Material cannot be returned unless accompanied by sufficient 80 GUNS CLASSIFIEDS postage. PAYMENT will be made at rates current at time of publi- cation and will cover reproduction in any or all GUNS Magazine 80 CUSTOM CORNER editions. ADVERTISING RATES furnished on request. Reproduc- tion or use of any portion of this magazine in any manner, without written permission is prohibited. All rights reserved. Title to this 82 NEW PRODUCTS publication passes to subscriber only on delivery to his address. The opinions and recommendations expressed by individual au- 84 GUN OF THE MONTH thors within this magazine are not necessarily those of Publishers’ Development Corporation. POSTMASTER: Send address changes 88 ADVERTISER INDEX to GUNS Magazine®, ATTN: Circulation Dept., 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128. Copyright © 2011 by Publishers’ De- velopment Corporation. 4 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • APRIL 2011 44 on The coVer thE RANGE IS hOt FEATURES 42 thE CIRCUIt 42 JUdGE ARRIVES And quickly renders a decision on doves. hOLt bOdINSON 44 thE RANGE IS hOt Springfield Armory’s new Range Officer 1911 .45 ACP. MASSAd AyOOb 50 StOP thE MAdNESS Rethinking how to break in a rifle barrel. JOhN bARSNESS 54 SELf-LOAdING INfANtRy RIfLES Of WWII There were more than our Garands. MIkE “dUkE” VENtURINO 54 NEW ONLINE EXtRAS ONLy At WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM See what you’re miSSing in the 2011 gunS annuaL! theodore Roosevelt’s favorite dakota Rifle Cimarron-Style JOhN tAffIN Go to: www.gunsmagazine.com/productindex for complete prod- uct info and manufacturer’s links for products featured in FMG magazines! WARNING: Firearms are dangerous and iF used improperly may cause serious injury or death. due to the inherent variables in the reloading oF ammunition, be sure to veriFy any published loads with manuFacturer’s data. products mentioned or advertised may not be legal in all states or jurisdictions. obey all Firearms laws. always consult a proFessional gunsmith when modiFying any Firearm. be a saFe shooter! WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 5 CRO fIRE THE FINEST IN THE FIREARMS FIELD SINCE 1955 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thomas von Rosen, CEO; Thomas Hollander, Randy Moldé, Marjorie Young LETTERS TO GUNS PUBLISHER Roy Huntington Editor Jeff John Managing Editorial Assistant Stephanie Jarrell GUNS Magazine® welcomes letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit all published letters for clarity and length. Due Editorial Assistant Mckenzie Whitmer to the volume of mail, we are unable to individually answer your letters or e-mail. In sending a letter to GUNS Magazine, you agree to provide Publisher’s Development Corp. such copyright as is required for publishing and redistributing the Art Director/Staff Photographer contents of your letter in any format. Send your letters to Crossfire, GUNS Magazine, 12345 World Trade Dr., San Diego, Joseph R. Novelozo CA 92128; www.gunsmagazine.com; e-mail: [email protected] Art Assistant Jennifer Lewis Advertising Sales Director Anita Carson Advertising Sales Assistant Dana Hatfield me think. Both have put a smile on my Production Manager Linda Peterson Pressure? Website Manager Lorinda Massey face and at times a tear on my cheek. Promotions Coordinator Elizabeth O’Neill John Barness’s Handloading article I wish them both the best, and as long CONTRIBUTING EDITORS in the February 2011 issue, while as they write for you I will continue to John Taffin, Holt Bodinson, Dave Anderson, interesting, has me very confused. wait each month eagerly. Clint Smith, Massad Ayoob, I’ve always thought making powder Brett Roy Mike “Duke” Venturino space smaller increases pressure. The Utah FIELD EDITORS words “... any increase in seating depth Sam Fadala, David Codrea, John Morrison, Glen Zediker, John Sheehan, Jacob reduces pressure” in the last paragraph Gottfredson, Mike Cumpston, John Barsness, Get Well of the article says just the opposite. Dave Douglas Have I been wrong all these years? A get well to one of my favorite Since I travel a lot, the availability of writers. John always makes me think, your digital issue has been great, and feel, and read. I love his views on the FMG PUBLICATIONS the mechanism for reviewing it works a future based on his past. God saved whole lot better than a number of other a good one. I can’t imagine a life shootingindustry.com magazines’. without the big three to look forward Publisher & Editor: Russ Thurman Tim Gales to, Taffin, Connor, and Venturino. Advertising: Delano Amaguin, 888.732.6461 Flagstaff, Arizona You all share a commodity I find email: [email protected] rare, absolute honesty. Thanks for the americancopmagazine.com In rifles, seating bullets deeper opportunity to know you folks. Editor: Suzi Huntington decreases peak pressure because there’s Wayne Wilkans Advertising: Denny Fallon, 800.426.4470 a longer “jump” for the bullet until it via e-mail email: [email protected] hits the chamber throat. The bullet has americanhandgunner.com Got books? a chance to get going faster before being Publisher & Editor: Roy Huntington forced into the rifling, and the increased What an excellent article the Advertising: Steve Evatt, 800.533.7988 email: [email protected] momentum reduces the pressure rise January 2011 Campfire Tales “Got caused by the bullet being engraved by Books?” was. I submit it fulfilled its gunsmagazine.com the rifling. purpose. The reference made to Ex- Editor: Jeff John Advertising: Andrew Oram, 866.903.1199 In revolvers, however, seating the President Theodore Roosevelt’s South email: [email protected] bullet deeper does cause higher peak American expedition into the wilds of pressures, because the bullet has to Brazil was for some reason, something fmgpublications.com travel further before reaching the I had never heard of and therefore Editor: Sammy Reese cylinder gap, thus allowing pressure to I went to the effort to look it up. It Advertising: Scott McGregor, 800.553.7780 email: [email protected] rise longer before the gap relieves some was a fascinating story. After all the of the pressure.—John Barsness adventures and enterprises Theodore ONLINE ADVERTISING MANAGER: Tracy Moore, TEL: 888.651.7566, FAX 858.605.0205 Roosevelt enjoyed and endured during [email protected] his life, to be very nearly brought NATIONAL ADVERTISING: 12345 World Trade Dr., San Diego, CA 92128, TEL: 866.972.4545, FAX 858.605.0211, down by an infected wound, malaria [email protected] two Johns and dysentery speaks volumes about CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Lori Robbins, TEL: 800.633.8001, FAX 858.605.0247, I don’t often write mags or any the intensity of the Brazilian jungle. [email protected] one else for that matter, but have Thank you Mr. Taffin for exposing me FMG EAST COAST SALES: Sig Buchmayr, Buchmayr & Associates, 28 Great Hill Rd., Darien CT 06820, thought about it several times with to the knowledge. Books are invaluable TEL: 203.662.9740, [email protected] your magazines (GUNS and American and I pity those that don’t enjoy them. Handgunner). I look forward every Hal Hansen month to their arrival and read them via e-mail CUSTOMER SERVICE front to back. Scratch that, back to www.gunsmagazine.com front. You put out fine magazines The Alessi holster pictured in the SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES ............858.605.0252 but I always find myself rereading February 2011 issue on page 35 should Express Service ....www.gunsmagazine.com and click “contacts” the articles time and again by John have been named a CQC/S Custom. EDITORIAL.........................858.605.0243 Email: [email protected] Taffin and John Conner while I wait The 1RH only means “right hand.” We PRODUCTION.......................858.605.0216 Email: [email protected] for my next issue. Both writers make apologize for the confusion.—Editor BOOKS/MERCHANDISE...............888.732.2299 Email: [email protected] General Counsel/Legal Affairs: Steele N. Gillaspey Check out www.gunsmagazine.com for our digital edition, news, our exclusive Email: [email protected] Product Index, Web Blasts, online features, to enter the Giveaway Package and more! And if you have any news about hot new products you’ve found, or anything you think we need to know about, drop me a line at [email protected]! PRODUCED IN THE U.S.A. 6 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • APRIL 2011 FREE EVERY with Nighthawk Tactical Shotgun Purchase Patented & Proven to Dramatically Shrink Buck Shot Groups and Reduce Felt Recoil. A $250 Value. AND Magpul Dynamic’s Newest Tactical Shotgun Training Video Featuring Chris Costa and Travis Haley. Learn From the Best! A $59.95 Value. Toll Free 877-268-4867 www.nighthawkcustom.com • C L I N t S M I t h • P h O t O S : h E I d I S M I t h • NO 1911 4 U buffer preempts “pulling” the slide to the rear to reload it, rather than using There are other choices. the other slide-release/lock technique. Don’t buy a 1911 because it is heavy and sensitive to issues like rubber rings It is one thing to pick a pistol out at the gun store, another that aren’t necessary. to actually carry it daily, but even more important is to Mag Capacity shoot the pistol well. The polymer guns are all the rage, It holds seven rounds and one in and I can’t and won’t say much about them one way or the the chamber. If I see a 1911 pistol other. Nor do I care, as even my wife Heidi lets a couple having feeding problems, my first of high-end custom 1911s hang in her gun safe while she question to the student is: “How many sorts through her half-dozen-plus Glocks. She carries rounds did you load in the magazine?” The 1911 with seven rounds in the them daily at her work here on the ranch and at her part- magazine is always more reliable! You time job helping the local Sheriff’s office as an EMT. People can find 8-round (and even 10-round) like what they like, even though some carry guns they magazines that work. If you have don’t shoot well, just so they can be in vogue or be sort of some, keep them. They are an overall “hangin’ with the big dawg operators”… so to speak. big-picture oddity. If you want to have more ammo in the pistol, buy a Glock. Don’t buy a 1911 because it After using a 1911 for about 40 doesn’t hold a bucket of ammo in the years, I can tell you why you shouldn’t magazine well. buy one. Reliability? It is big. Yes, the 5"-barrelled 1911 full-size pistol is big, measuring a The 1911 works, but sometimes nominal 9" long, 6" high and 1" thick. requires a bit of tuning. The reason And don’t forget the full-size gun is the custom gunsmiths have succeeded the best and most reliable of its breed. is because Colt got lazy and sloppy. I wouldn’t give you spit for the whole In the late ’70s if you bought a 1911 bunch of “chopped” 1911s. I own one for $500, you would then need to 1911 Lightweight Commander. To put You should not shoot the 1911 with your thumb spend another $500, or more, to it bluntly: I was lucky. Made in 1949, under the safety. one good reason to buy a make it work. True works of art like I bought it in 1970 for $100 bucks. I Glock. the Pachmayr were the finest, along have rebuilt it a lot of times over the with others of that sort—Armand years—and it is snippy to shoot well Swenson’s for example—were big- with full loads (as should be carried for money guns in those days. Today defense), as it should at that weight. 1911s are ideal if built by proficient So there is no misunderstanding and companies; I own flawless guns by no misquote, the full-size 1911 has Baer, Burton, Morris, Springfield the best potential to work well and Custom Shop, Wilson and Volkmann. consistently. There was a reason John Heidi also has a Glock that costs built it the way it is. $400 and it is also flawless… hmmm? Don’t buy a 1911 because it is big. Don’t buy a 1911 because it might A correct position for both hands and thumbs for not be reliable. Is It heavy? the 1911—and the Glock also! Meat & ’taters Of Yes, it is 2 pounds and the steel technique gun is best, as far as long life and durability go. The “buffer thing” First and foremost of importance for recoil supposedly helps protect are safety and the placement of the frame while firing, but, trust me, the right thumb (for a right-hand gunsmiths have ruined more 1911s shooter). Those who do not keep their by working on them to “make ’em thumb on top of the safety while firing custom ya know,” than are ruined need to get another gun. They will by firing. I have seen issues with the “knock” the safety on while firing the buffer-plastic crap coming apart and cooper-ish style of handholds and placement. pistol under duress situations if their locking up the gun. Also, when the it is good if you can do it, yet requires and does thumb is under the safety. My belief gun is shot to slide lock, often the accommodate large hands. (actually, I know this) is it’s the joint 8 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • APRIL 2011 Introducing W L1 TMLED Weapon Mounted Tactical Illuminators The world’s first AA battery powered weapon mounted tactical illuminator! The WL1 is the first tactical weapon light to offer powerful performance on readily available AA batteries. Its new Quick Release Rail-Grabber™ mount provides fast and solid attachment while keeping a low profile. 150+ Compact, rugged, and dependable, the WL1 is your first choice for AA powered weapon mounted LED Illumination. www.insighttechnology.com 90 Also available with visible red aiming laser Strobe Powerful Performance With Two AA Batteries Features Quick Release Rail-Grabber™ MADE IN USA Built for battle.™ FROM THE FOREMOST SUPPLIER OF TACTICAL LASERS AND ILLUMINATORS FOR THE U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES AND SWAT TEAMS AROUND THE WORLD…OUR PROUD MILITARY HERITAGE AND TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN INFUSED INTO EVERY PRODUCT WE OFFER. BATTLE PROVEN IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. 100% REVOLUTIONARY. S t O h S G N I G N A R heidi’s armor and her Glock. it’s her choice for a self-defense handgun. of the thumb knuckle, which knocks the safety on. The gun quits running, and the shooter doesn’t understand why. This can get you killed. If your response is, “But I don’t activate the grip safety with my thumb on top of the safety while firing,” then delete it. Yeah, I know all the experts say you are gonna get sued and what not, but as a younger man I was told Sierra BlitzKing and Varminter bullets are the most by Colonel Cooper over lunch, “If you effective bullets for varmint and small game miss the grip safety once out of 100 hunting. BlitzKing bullets have a draws, you should block it.” I believe MatchKing jacket for optimum accuracy him. There are some versions of a and an acetyl resin tip for explosive low-lever safety. If you use one, make expansion. Varminter bullets are sure it’s a good one; I have seen low- designed with a thin jacket to enhance lever “knobs” break off while firing. expansions over a wide range of If the grip-safety block or safety is an velocities. Now available in .20 caliber issue (personally or legally) for you, to .30 caliber. When you get ready for get a Glock… it doesn’t have a thumb your next hunt, go-pher accuracy. safety. Or a grip safety. Wrist Contact your favorite dealer for the Lock your wrists. While training, complete line of Sierra bullets or visit hold the pistol at “ready,” look down www.sierrabullets.com to index and lock a correct sight 1 400 West Henry Street | Sedalia, MO 65301 | Tech support: 1-800-223-8799 | Other calls: 1-888-223-3006 picture. Raise your head and eyes to the target area. When needed, lift the pistol from the shoulders, only 078.27306 Gopher_GunsMag_4.625x7.5.indd 1 12/16/10 3:50 PM until the sights transpose over your target. Also, remember as the muzzle comes up, the safety comes off. You are looking to hard-wire synapses for proper placement of the pistol in your hands and wrists, so the gun will index correctly when brought on target. Back in my days at Gunsite, there was an exercise called “eyes off drill”; I now know what it was for. 1911s are big and heavy, and they recoil. Another reason not to buy a 1911. high holds Personally, I use a high hold with my thumbs stacked right over left. 10 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • APRIL 2011