Revolver Revolution

I’m thinking most of your competition must have their eyes closed. I glance at their mags on the newsstand and it seems it’s always autos, autos, autos … then more autos. Handgunner continues to cover round guns, and as a life-long subscriber I appreciate it! I have no doubt thousands of others do, too. Keep it up — please!
Frank Honors
Via email

United Kingdom?

Warm greetings from the not-so-United Kingdom of “less than Great” Britain. Oh, and the unlawfully occupied northern Ireland.

I’ve been living here a few years now and must confess English life is not at all what I anticipated. I’m tired of “socialist” everything, and the anti-gun stance clearly isn’t working out well as crime is on the rampage here.

Here in England, on an English TV show, a guy — I call him a guy as opposed to a “real man” — was at a range with a firearms instructor and they shot a couple of old French cars to see the effects of the rounds on them. He first shot an old Lee Enfield bolt action rifle at the cars.

Okay, so far so good. Then they got this full auto AK — but he didn’t fire it. Why? Because it’s “… illegal for a civilian to fire a full-auto rifle.” It’s what they call here, a “Class 5 firearm.” A big no-no. So, this English wanker, human-sheep had this chance, but didn’t shoot that bloody AK — at the range, where it was set-up for him to shoot it. What was the big deal? It’s not like it was a storm trooper blaster, or a laser gun. What a disappointment to my eyes — but what do you expect, they’re English, and they’ve given up their rights and their common sense. A “Class 5 firearm?” I’m BMG be, a “Class 15”? How about an M60? “Class 20”? Gads, get me out of this country!

Anyway, soon there will be the “Liberation of my soul, and body” from this sheep enclosure. l’ll be going home to, wait for it … Romania. I know, I know, but it’s still more free than England!

I hope you are still free in the U.S. Keep a sharp eye on it. I have some experience with the other side of things.
Andi C.
Via email

I hear from Andi now and again and honestly believe he was somehow separated at birth from U.S. parents. Andi’s more American than most Americans I know and cherishes our freedoms and gun rights as no other. I’m pulling for him to come visit some day. When he does, I’m going to reach out to all of you to play host — and let him get to shoot some real guns! —RH

Honoring TvR

I’ve been mulling over sending a note about the last couple editions of Guns and Handgunner and wanted you to know they’re exceptional. I think that’s a remarkable accomplishment. Remarkable also is the fact that performance is consistent. This brings me to a comment about former company president Thomas von Rosen, who passed recently. I read about his life in both magazines.

Some descriptors are: “… creating, instilled, integrity, owed and providing.” And those in just the first two paragraphs. I cannot say I ever knew who he was. I can say I have “seen” the results of his work! When reading your magazines — which I always enjoy — I “see” his handiwork. When writing to you, I “see” the same remarkable results. It’s obvious FMG staffers work toward the same goal.

My thanks to the team making it all happen, in every magazine — every time. I know readers are amazed at how you consistently provide information, smiles, education, imagination, thought and laughs! It looks easy from my “easy chair” — but I know it’s not.
Too many words; that’s my problem.
Name withheld by request

Aim Small, Hit Small

It was nice to see a response letter penned by Officer Fred Romero of the L.A.P.D.’s pistol team in a recent Speak Out section. Back in the day, as you noted, Officer Romero was one of the top shooters in Police Pistol Combat or as it’s known PPC shooting. In addition, he wrote a very informative book on the subject. The Complete Manual of PPC was considered by many to be the textbook on the subject. We would use it as a guide for new shooters on our department’s pistol team.

A number of years ago I spoke to Officer Romero to see if I could obtain additional copies of the manual. Sadly, he told me they were out of print and was uncertain if a new edition would be published. If you can find a copy, I’d highly recommend it to anyone interested in PPC or competitive handgun shooting in general.

Today everyone, it seems, is interested in the “action” type of shooting sports and they do receive a lot of coverage. I feel, however, disciplines such as Bullseye and PPC form the foundation of proper shooting fundamentals. I often advise new shooters to “Learn how to drive the gun first before you learn how to race it.”

Thanks again for a great magazine!
Det. Steve Albanese (Ret.)
N.Y.P.D. Pistol Team

Off-Duty Armed Cops

I was a bit perturbed in the aftermath of the Thousand Oaks shooting to learn six off-duty officers were alleged to be in the bar. Were none armed? Did none react? The earth seems to have swallowed up this news story. As some of you are former law enforcement, I can understand this story could prove embarrassing if these officers were disarmed by their departments’ policies. Can you address this, or is this a forgotten story? Do police brass want this hushed up, lest a random shooter do it again — kill with impunity knowing California cops are disarmed off duty? 
Lee Foullon
Via email

Lee, it is indeed the policy of some agencies to forbid concealed carry by off-duty officers. It’s also the policy (and the law) in many states you can’t be armed in a bar. A touchy bit of this too is the fact some of today’s cops look upon their career as just a “job” and don’t have any interest in off-duty carry. It is what it is and trust me when I say, I know lots of cops who wish they had been at the scene of this sort of thing, since they carry off-duty and aren’t hesitant to engage a threat. —RH

Carry Question

I’m a devotee of the 1911, .45 ACP and am blessed to be able to pick and choose which gem I will be carrying this particular week or whenever. Occasionally I like to change things up a bit and carry a USFA Bisley revolver, .44-40, in a custom Peacemaker Specialists holster. Five in the cylinder and the hammer down on an empty chamber.
My question and predicament is, I’m uncertain how to adequately carry spare cartridges. A belt with a mess of cartridges is not an option; moon clips aren’t either as I need to reload one at a time. Do you have any advice?
Warmest regards — and death and confusion to the enemy!
George Farinacci
Via email

George, here’s what I do in that situation. Get a Tuff Products’ “QuickStrip.” It’s like the old Bianchi Speed Strip, a nylon strip holding five or six rounds by the case head. Just make sure you order the one matching the case head size of that .44-40. The other thing I do is toss six (or more) loose rounds into a nice belt case (nylon or leather), and I think Tuff Products has those too. Here’s a direct link to what I’m talking about: www.tuffproducts.com/7002-quickstrips-black-2-set/. —RH

Contender Can-Do

Thanks for the back page article on the Contender (Insider, March/April 2019). I remember first seeing an ad for the Contender on a back page of a Boys’ Life magazine in the late sixties and thought someday “I’ll have one of those.” Over the period of 40 years I’ve acquired five actions and numerous pistol and rifle carbine barrels. It really is a versatile and affordable firearm. The late gun writer Bob Milek was the best authority on the Contender, writing numerous articles on shooting and tuning it. I still reference his valuable information in my stash of past magazines.
Dan Flint
Via email

Dust Cover Confusio

For the love of God, can article authors please stop using “dust cover” to describe the forward part of the frame on a semi-auto 1911-pattern handgun? If it’s a Glock, go nuts and use the term freely since that’s what Glock calls it. But for everything else surely you can find a better description. In S.P. Fjestad’s article (“Guns At Auction”, Nov/Dec 2018), a new low was reached by him saying a “Rare Japanese Arsenal Type 1 folding stock paratrooper carbine” had a “matching dust cover.” Not only is the rifle not a handgun, but it’s not a Glock, nor is the misidentified piece part of the frame. Or maybe just start calling the whole exterior of a gun, any gun, a “dust cover.” I suppose next it will become trendy to call the grip of a handgun a “handle.” Come on guys, you can do a whole lot better!
M. Kort
Via email

That’s actually sorta’ funny, Mr. Kort and I think you missed your calling as a stand-up comedian. The “dust cover” term got traction when gunsmiths started to really customize the 1911 and needed a way to refer to that portion of the frame. It’s actually no different than saying “trigger guard” or “front strap” or “grip frame.” It’s simply a part of the frame, just like the others. 

Gotta’ go now — I need to put new grip frame panel dust covers on the handles of some of my semi-autos. That area is located just aft of the main dust cover and behind the trigger guard, in case anybody was wondering. —RH

Aww … Shucks Dept.

Your magazine and Guns are the only magazines making you feel like there’s a personal friendship between the reader and the writers. Bringing their lives, hobbies and activities into their stories just adds to this connection. Thanks for the publications, and continue doing what you’re doing!
Sgt. Jim Lieto (Retired)
Via email

Farm Carry

My brother and I teach Minnesota Permit to Carry classes here, in a very rural area. We will sometimes train an entire family, usually local farmers or rural land owners. Yesterday we worked with a local farm family and at the end of the day the question came up I had not had before — what to carry for protection from herd bulls when they’re attacking someone.

I know Roy lives in a rural area and likes to be armed when doing chores. Have you ever had this question? Local dairy and beef farms all have stories of family members or neighbors and bull attacks. Some have lost family members to angry bulls and others were disabled by the attacks. The typical practice is to carry a stout stick and hit the bull on the nose if he surprises you. That will often buy a few seconds, hopefully enough to escape.

So, what commonly available caliber does one carry to drop a bull intent on attacking? I know people hunt dangerous game with pistols, but would they be something you would carry around the farm? A 9mm or .45 is good to carry gun but is it enough for this situation? I read stories of people fishing near bears carrying the .44 Mag.? A .410 slug out of something like a Taurus Judge maybe? Would that work here? Where is good shot placement? A “between the eyes” shot while the bull is tossing someone seems ill advised. A quick shot at the spine seems risky.
If I’m asking the wrong questions or looking at the situation wrong — maybe a pistol can’t solve this issue — educate me so I can relay the right message to my students.
Dr. Phil Godding, Ph.D., LP, LLC
Via email

It’s a good question. I’ve talked with ranchers/farmers who have had that very thing happen. It happens fast — and can be very deadly. Most actively try to keep the “tractor” or other vehicle between them and the problem while they do the work needing done. From what I can see — from hunting other big land mammals — you need a deep penetrating, large caliber gun if it’s a handgun. Hard cast, 240- to 300-gr. .44 and .45 Colt loads, or FMJ 10mm auto (or Barnes bullets) would be about the best you could ask for in a handgun. In .357 (which I think it a bit light) a 158 or heavier hard cast or solid copper Barnes type bullet might work if hit right.

The .44 calibers and .45 Colts with heavy loads tend to put them down, and/or at least distract them and they turn. A heavy .45 Colt load in that Taurus Judge would be much better than an 80-gr. .410 slug too. The situation is like any deadly force encounter — it’s best to try to not be in that spot to begin with. I don’t think there’s any single “best” answer. —RH

Leave It Or Not?

ether or not he should restore that old Colt he found (Sixgunner, May/June 2019), please tell him to leave the old Colt just as it is. That old Colt wears a lot of scars — earned each one — and each tells a story. Being almost 83 I guess I’m just old school. I have a number of old Colts and love to hear the stories they tell. I have one old Colt .44-40 that came out of Mexico. The barrel has been cut to 5″ and there’s no front sight. Ah, the stories it tells me.

Mr. Taffin, please enjoy the old Colt just as it is and listen to its stories.
And many thanks for Handgunner Magazine. I get several magazines — but Handgunner always goes to the top of the reading pile!
Claude Matchette
Lawton, OK

Restore it John! Make it purty! We gals aren’t afraid of a bit of make-up and neither is that gun, I’ll bet!
Janet Ockler
Via email

Don’t do it, John! It’s like an old car with miles on the frame and stories to tell. An Earl Scheib paint job will only hide those stories!
Seth Glom
Via email

Have you lost your mind, Taffin? Of course you need to restore it. Hell, they restore classic art, like the fancy paintings in museums, so why wouldn’t you do that to that old, decrepit sixgun? But for God’s sakes, don’t use one of those paint-on finishes! Ha!
Phil Budashian
Via email

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