Ruger's Time Machine

Whether gumshoe detective or guncrank writer, the words “revolver” and “reliable” are synonymous to these probing guys. There’s a reason some guns...
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Wrangler Vs....

In about 1969 I was 15 “going on 16” as we used to say. I had a hopeless case of the “gun crazies” and had been suffering from the syndrome since I...
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Fussing With A Fitz

Sometimes you just have to get out of your comfort zone. I work on a lot of 1911’s every year. So when I got a call from Mark Mason of Downers Grove,...
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One Eye — Or Two?

Should I shoot with one eye open — or two? The short answer is two. Most shooters, most of the time, are better off with both eyes open. Most of the top...
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Ruger's .22...

In 1956 I was straight out of high school and purchased my first handgun, a Ruger .22 Single-Six for $63.25. At the time I was working for $0.90 an hour so...
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Preferences,...

The advice you get when trying to choose a new gun may come from a father, brother, sister, uncle, cousin, co-worker, magazine article, online forum, or...
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Revolver Trappings

Arevolver’s strength lies in its simplicity, but these must-have accessories will profoundly improve performance. From grip, to reloading, to cleaning, to...
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Mag-na-port's...

Mag-na-port’s craftsmanship and the Maori’s penchant for aggressive fighting against their enemies has resulted in this eye-catching S&W Model 69 .44...
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The "I"s Have It

As we’ve been told so often, there’s no “I” in team. But you do need it to spell words like interesting and iconic.
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Pre-War Perfection

I sort of stumbled onto this .38 Special Colt Officers Model a couple of years ago. I did a favor for a friend and he asked if I wanted “Something in a...
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.45 Colt...

While loving the simplicity of the strong and reliable single-action thumb-cocker, I’m savvy enough to appreciate its swinging sidekick — the...
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The SAA's Most...

Research has shown the Colt SAA (Single Action Army) has been chambered for about 30 cartridges ranging from .22 to .476 Eley during its on-again/off-again...
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Make Mine A Bisley

Although I lack the aristocratic blue blood of a high society well doer, I do enjoy the grip-frame named after the quaint village of Bisley, England.
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The 3rd...

In the fall of 1976 when reading an article by writer Skeeter Skelton, I got both good news and bad news. The bad news was Colt had quietly discontinued...
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Handguns For...

Nope, this isn’t about guns for hunting dinosaurs although it seems like some of the revolvers and single shot handguns floating about nowadays could...
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Rifle-Barreled...

Someday. We all have a list of things we are going to do someday. Sometimes the list is short and sometimes the list is long.
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Handguns Of...

Some folks hold the Webley Mk VI .455 revolver in near reverence. I’m not one of them. To me it’s big, clunky, ugly, underpowered and worst of all I...
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Almost... A DQ...

Last summer for the first time in my life I thought I might have to use a gun to defend myself.
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Colt's Last...

We’re going to lump the last three Colt cap and ball revolvers together in one article because they were simply modifications and adaptations of...
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Handguns Of WWII...

Perhaps the British could claim at least a small amount of credit for the advent of Smith & Wesson’s Model 1917 .45 Auto revolver.
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First Favorites...

As always, I had to have one — you know the feeling! I needed the ultimate hunting handgun, one fitting my needs perfectly, and yet having the ability to...
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The 1860 Army .44

For about a decade Samuel Colt was quiet as far as introducing new revolver models. Obviously they were using all their factory’s production capacity just...
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The Speedloader...

When the Colt Paterson revolver burst onto the scene in 1836, the game changed forever. With five chambers of .36 caliber ball at the shooter’s disposal,
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Gemini Customs:...

I’ve known Marc Morganti, founder of this one-man show called Gemini Customs, for almost 20 years. After nearly two decades of association you learn much...
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Belt Pistol

By the late 1840s America’s westward migration was in full swing, spurred along a great deal by the California gold rush of 1849. People by the thousands...
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The Babies

As early as 1848 Samuel Colt realized the military market was going to be finite. After all, the U.S. Army was a relatively small organization and those...
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Handguns Of...

When Britain jumped into World War I and dragged Canada along, as usual their military outfits were woefully short of weapons. In those days the United...
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The Legacy of...

The wide array of sixguns we have today comes from the vision of three men, namely Sam Colt, Daniel Wesson and Bill Ruger. Both Colt and Wesson were gone by...
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The Dragoons

As pointed out in Part One of this series, in U.S. Army parlance of the 1840s/1850s the word Dragoon referred to horse mounted troops. It’s also the term...
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So you carry a...

Some weeks ago a friend, Detective Dick Peters, and I, watched a made-for-TV movie one night at my place. It was called ''A Small Killing" and starred...
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Handguns Of...

Without a doubt the U.S. Army’s adoption of Model 1917 .45 ACP revolvers was a “make-do” situation. And also without a doubt it “made-do” very...
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Revolvers And...

In the “old” days almost everyone had a “wheel gun” sitting in the sock drawer at home, carried in a leather holster — or sometimes just shoved...
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Handguns Of...

A statement I’ll make about the British Enfield No. 2 Mk I .38 revolver is one I’m not willing to make about any other British weapons of World War II....
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The Long Vs. The...

Short vs. long action refers to the arc swung by the hammer when cocked and fired.
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Ruger’s Wrangler

When word trickled out about Ruger’s new Wrangler, the Internet was abuzz as naysayers were gearing up with ludicrous Ned Ludd worries. Turns out these...
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Ruger’s Blued...

Ruger’s been at it yet again and it’s why we love them so much! Using their SP-101 platform this time, they released a powerful-punching wheelgun using...
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Taurus Tracker...

Whether you need the raw power of a .357 magnum for your heavy-handed chores, or desire something a little more subtle, for light-duty paper punching, like...
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Speedloading...

Thumbing (electronically) through the July/August 1982 issue of American Handgunner, the editor's note at the end of the "Speedloading Handguns Takes Skill"...
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The Virtually...

Smith & Wesson’s J-frame -- what many consider the quintessential snub-nose revolver -- is virtually unsnubbable. That is, you can’t fault it for...
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Performance...

Who doesn’t love a J-Frame? Not doing so is as un-American as skipping over a John Wayne movie while channel surfing.
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What I Carry: A...

I’ve almost always been the guy who carries a full-size handgun for CCW. I was willing to forego comfort for capability, wanting to make sure I had a gun...
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Living Archive:...

If you prefer a flat handgun that is easier to conceal and carries more rounds than a revolver, you have only to take your pick from the large array of 9mm...
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5.11 Small Kit...

While you’re creating an all-around survival kit list, I'll bet it numbers more than 10 items. Probably at least 20. So think of what you’ll put all...
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NAA's Ranger II

After many years of making their beautiful little updated version of the solid-frame spur-trigger revolver, they decided to try something different.
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S&W Model 460XVR

There’s no doubt, most Americans like things big — really big. We like big trucks with big tires and big motors. Big boats, big homes, big farms, you...
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Dan Wesson Turns 50

Dan Wesson, great-grandson of the original Daniel B. Wesson, had a different idea. Not only was he part of the original Wesson family he also served many...
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The Best Handgun...

Most rifle shooters seem to prefer a trigger with a crisp, virtually motionless single stage break. Ideally, the shooter gradually increases pressure on the...
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Old School Cool

Coolness is definitely in the eye of the beholder. There are many firearms that have been labeled cool, however it all depends on individual taste. I have...
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Muzzle Velocity...

Just how much muzzle velocity is lost as we shorten a barrel? Most shooters respond with 50 fps per inch. Is this actually true? When working on an article...
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American...

The Nov./Dec. 1987 issue of American Handgunner includes a review of a Charter Arms Pug -- a .44 Special snub-nosed revolver. At the time, writer Jim Weller...
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My Backcountry...

We all know that guy ... the one who has a backpack or satchel or some kind of bag always with him. And it’s always packed with exactly the right piece of...
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Red Dot...

There’s no doubt about it, kids love electronics and my daughter Samantha was proof of it…
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The Women's...

Women face several challenges when it comes to concealed carry. The most significant challenge is the simple fact, despite the growing number of women...
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Weighing Your...

At Portsmouth lies the Mary Rose. What’s left of her. Launched in 1511, she sank 34 years later battling the French navy in the Solent, between England...
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Shooting For The...

Whoever at Smith & Wesson was responsible for inventing the little pieces of spring steel commonly called “half-moon clips” should have received...
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Lipsey's Ruger...

Friend and fellow shootist Jason Cloessner of Lipsey’s, a major Ruger distributor, certainly understands the concept of the “Perfect Packin’ Pistol”...
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Behind Enemy...

It might be surprising to some in more recent generations there was a time when many of our celebrities and entertainers were more than just carnival...
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Is The .41 Dead?

I sometimes ponder why some cartridges climb the ladder of public acceptance while others struggle. For most of my adult life I ignored the .41 Magnum and I...
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Let Mag-Na-Port...

Last year, after passing through Detroit, things start looking “normal” as bait shops, gun shops and outdoor centers start popping up along the road....
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Turnbull Bisley...

When you get down to it, sixgunners are about as different as a carton of eggs. Sure, we have thicker shells, but the majority of us are throwbacks from...
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How To Avoid A...

After four decades of some pretty serious handgun hunting, I’ve become a distinguished master at missing. I’ve missed just about every possible way,...
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Peacemaker Specials

The 1880s was arguably the peak of the Victorian era art form. During this period, craftsmen — more artisans than not — performed inordinately ornate...
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Throat-Choke Is...

I love Ruger revolvers, especially those chambered in .45 Colt. Built tough and able to withstand pressures most other guns can’t, doesn’t mean...
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Revolver Extras

Whenever I hear someone say, “Oh, revolvers? They’re dead …” I always think of the hundreds of letters I get from you wanting more about them.
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