Will’s Phrase-Turning

I just had to drop you a line after reading many articles by Will Dabbs to say how much I enjoy his “turns of the phrase.” In his cover feature on the Springfield Armory Hellcat in the latest issue (May/June 2020), he made the comment about follow-up shots being as “… smooth as snot in a daycare full of two-year olds.” I haven’t quite stopped laughing yet. That’s almost as good as my favorite of all time, “… slicker’n deer guts on a doorknob!” That’s some high quality writing right there!
Don Mowzoon
Via email

Scope Shortage?

I’m about to get a new S&W Mod 648 (.22 mag) and am excited about it. I plan to scope it using a Weigand mount but I have to say, what the devil has happened to handgun scopes? I have several, but haven’t needed to buy a new one in years. At that time there were many choices, but now, not so much it seems. From what I see, it’s pretty much Burris or Leupold, and I’m not saying they’re bad, as I own several of each. But I also own Bushnell, Nikon and Weaver handgun scopes and those all seemed to have shuffled off at about the same time. I remember Mark Hampton did a story on handgun scopes back in 2015 and the list was short, but it’s ridiculously short now. Are any of the new innovative companies like SIG SAUER or Vortex thinking about introducing handgun-specific models? I’m going to put a 2x Burris on the 648 and it will be fine. Still, it would be nice to have options.
Mike Smith
Via email

Mike, optics (other than red dots) are more limited today but there are still models out there by the companies you mentioned if you nose around some. In my case, however, I almost always simply use rifle scopes. Especially on a .22 and more modest-recoiling center fire calibers, the short eye relief doesn’t matter, and they’re rarely shot off-hand regardless. Just get some smallish variable .22 scope, or even fixed four power. You’ll be amazed at how well it works. I don’t have a dedicated handgun scope on anything. Even all my Contender barrels (up to .30-30) have riflescopes on them. It’s great to dial-in 8 or 10 power for longer shots and 2 or 3 power for close-in shooting. On your .22 mag, a 3-8 variable would be great, allowing for longer range shots, which that gun is certainly capable of doing. —RH

Family Protection

I just restarted a subscription I let lapse for too long! I received my first issue, the May/June, and love it. Handgunner is still the only serious magazine out there for we gun nuts, and for that I say thanks! I read the “Home Invasion/Coker Family Incident” in Ayoob Files, and it was eye opening. This article exposed just about all the holes in what I thought was an ironclad home defense plan. If I asked my wife to get me a gun while I was being pistol whipped — like Pam Coker — she too would grab what she’s comfortable with. In her case, it’d be her S&W 19. While the .357 is king for stopping power, because of the mayhem, and after reading this article, I’d want firepower to make up for errant shots in all the chaos. Please tell Mas thanks. And thanks again for the best gun magazine around!
Joe Dileo
Via email

The Eyes Have It

I read the article “One Eye — or Two?” (Better Shooting, Nov/Dec 2019) in the November/December issue. I’ve been a competitive shooter for over 40 years in one type of handgun competition or another. First in IMHSA, then IPSC, and IDPA with a sprinkling of bullseye and bowling pin shooting mixed in. Now, at 62, I still shoot some IDPA but only sporadically and still enjoy plinking.

Very early in my competition years, I used to shoot with one eye, and over time switched to two. I still shoot that way and I agree with the advantages stated in the article. However, that got me thinking.

I started out shooting with my weak hand (left) index finger around the front of the trigger guard. After many, many scoldings from fellow shooters, and most world-class shooters I’ve met, I reluctantly switched to gripping my strong hand with all four fingers and keeping my thumbs parallel with the gun. I struggled with that grip and found I had to fight to keep the gun stable. However, I kept the grip and practiced enough to be proficient, but was never comfortable.

Several months ago I tried my old grip, with my left hand index finger around the trigger guard and thumbs parallel, and found I was, indeed, more comfortable and steady. I’ve found the gun is pressed back into my palm better. So just why is it so wrong to shoot with the weak hand index finger around the trigger guard? I honestly don’t remember anyone giving me a reason!
Rich
Via email

Rich, it ain’t “wrong” to do what you’re doing! I don’t shoot thumbs-forward either and get beat-up for it all the time by those who do. “Dinosaur” they mutter and shake their heads. The interesting thing though is I generally out-shoot about 90 percent of the people I shoot against. I also shoot old-school Weaver, which makes them even more crazy. I used to chat with Jack Weaver on the phone now and again before he passed. I can say he laughed about the “modern” shooters. “Nobody cares how you hold the gun as long as you hit the target. At least I don’t care what they say!” Sage advice.

I’ve seen disabled shooters in wheelchairs shooting what could only be termed “unconventional” styles outshoot hot-shot shooters who enjoyed full mobility, shooting “perfect” styles. Concentration, practice and elegant trigger control out-foxes rules and regulations every time. At least in my opinion.

I once helped a woman who had severe palsy learn to shoot her J-Frame. At first, she’d miss the entire target at seven yards. Within five minutes she could keep her shots on a paper plate at seven yards. She broke every rule in the book concerning stance, grip and stability — except she put all her concentration on pulling the trigger the best she could! Stay the course! —RH

Pistol Caliber Carbines

Duke’s article on PCCs (March/April 2020) was a real eye-opener for me. I always thought PCCs were okay, but just a niche firearm, like Contenders — which I own. So I was surprised to learn people buy them in places where handguns are tightly restricted. Duke’s article was the first one where I’ve read that. I’ve lived in the deep South for over 45 years, so I’ve never had a problem buying any guns and that problem was off my radar. Thanks Duke, for teaching an old dog a new trick.
Marty
Via email

Marty, lots of urbanized citizens concerned about family protection turn to lever action rifles, shotguns and more modern pistol caliber carbines as a work-around if they can’t easily own handguns. I don’t think it hampers them in the least either! —RH

Lee To The Rescue!

Kudos to Mr. Taffin’s praise of Lee dies in Handloading, May/June 2020. I like ’em too. I use a precious — can’t find them anymore — stash of military (WCC) .38 Special cases for standard pressure practice loads because of their thicker case wall toughness. They shoot well, and way fewer case mouths crack after multiple loadings.

But when I first loaded up with 0.358″ cast SWCs, I had to press each round into my N-, K- and J-Frame S&W chambers. Lee to the rescue! I bought a Lee Factory Crimp die for .38 Special because it also does a final sizing of the loaded round. The problem got solved, and my reloads drop in and pop out perfectly. This Lee die worked so well, I bought a 4-die set when I got my Mod. 24-3 .44 Special and a 4-die 9mm set for the wifey’s Ruger LC9. Yup, love those Lee dies.
CDM
Via email

Gun Parts

It’s been a while since I mined your knowledge of gun matters. I have a WWII bring-back 1900 FN Browning 7.65mm in dire need of a new barrel. Are you aware of any supplier of barrels and parts for this gun? Keep up the good magazine work. I look forward to each new issue. Any chance you could get Connor to do a guest article once in a while for old times sake? And thanks for your usual great assistance.
Bruce Goodwin
Via email

First off, the good news. We’re running a sort of “best of” Connor and the Guncrank Diaries. It’s a direct email approach so go to www.americanhandgunner.com and get signed up! It’s been hugely successful and well-received. While you’re there, sign up for our “Wheelgun Wednesday” emails too. They’re great fun and you get to see classic and more recent articles about our favorite guns — revolvers!

On the gun parts side of things, check with Numrich Arms, Jack Firsts, www.gunbroker.com and even eBay and other options you can find with a “google” search to find lots of hard-to-find gun parts. Find these people online, but if you need phone numbers drop me a note at [email protected] and I’ll get back to you. —RH

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Will’s Phrase-Turning

Speak Out July/August 2020