Single Action Light Rails!?!

Please tell Duke to knock it off. The idea of a light rail on an SA revolver is somewhere above zombies but below political parties on the Evil Idea Index. I know he said hopefully no one would do that but that’s not strong enough. Just mentioning it will make some idiot think it’s a good idea. No, just no!
Bob Fillpot
Via email

ASP Memories

Just a quick response on excellent article by Dr. Will Dabbs on the EAA MC911SC (March/April 2020). Back in 1979 I was a Boston police detective working in the District Attorney’s Organized Crime Unit. The Chief ADA of the Unit carried a 9mm ASP. To me it was revolutionary with the clear grip and innovative clear magazine revealing how many rounds it contained. I also recall he had a 14 kt gold lapel pin displaying the last two blips followed by a flat line, as seen on an electrocardiograph monitor. He wore it daily on his suit. Everyone in the office knew the meaning, but most lawyers and civilians just thought it was some kind of unusual pin design. Ha!

Joe Fiandaca
Via email

Fancy Flashlights

Since you almost always feature bits about flashlights and gun lights, I figure you might be able to answer a couple of questions about all this wonderful new flashlight technology. I did email several inquiries to your sister FMG publication, American Flashlighter, but have received no replies. Pretty shoddy behavior in my opinion, but I still trust you guys.

I love the new compact high-output LED flashlights, especially the ones with zoom lenses. Amazing stuff. However, I really have no use for all the different settings, such as strobe, SOS, Thaw, Popcorn, etc., and would really prefer one with just a high and low setting. The controls on these little marvels are obviously run by computer chips. Since many preppers use these things, and since one of the top prepping scenarios involves an EMP disabling all manner of computer chips, might these flashlights be vulnerable in such a situation? In other words, would these flashlights be rendered useless right along with iPads and vehicle ignition systems?

How about the LED itself? Would it be fried, also? I’m still holding onto all my old Mag-Lites with their devilishly clever mechanical switches. However, they also all sport LEDs, so is this a potential concern? Should we all be keeping a stock of Tiki torches on hand? I would appreciate your insights. Keep up the good work on the best gun magazine out there, and please tell the editorial staff at American Flashlighter to get on the stick.

Bob Christensen
Via email

Gads man … don’t say American Flashlighter as that might prompt the higher-ups to think that’s a good idea. No … please no.

I asked someone I know at Streamlight about the EMP and their circuit boards and they said they “doubt” it’d affect anything. One engineer said they had a default mode if the board goes bad you can still get a basic on-off light. Not sure how to test it short of an explosion?
Maybe those 99-cent two-D cell Ray-O-Vac lights from the dime store when we were kids might still be best?
Oh, they did say the LEDs would be fine, regardless.

Officially? I don’t give a hoot. If an EMP happens, I’ll just stay home that day burning candles and lanterns and shooting .22’s from my non-electric single shot .22. Oh, I’ll break out the string and empty tin cans to talk to my wife when I’m in the shop. —RH

Military Gun Nonsense

The recent shooting at NAS Pensacola reminded me the navy has long been politically correct regarding handguns. During the Korean police action I served in the Orient as a line officer on board an attack transport. When in port the officer of the deck was required to carry an unloaded sidearm. We were not even permitted to possess a loaded magazine on our person. I tried to object to this state of affairs, but you can well imagine how much weight the opinion of an ensign might carry. It was explained to me there are three ways of doing something — the right way, the wrong way and the navy way. It was further explained the pistol was not to be considered a weapon, but a symbol of my authority. Personally, I regarded it more as a bullseye on my back.
Robert Harrison
Via email

Monitoring Web Sites

Regarding Drake’s letter (Speak Out, Jan/Feb 2020) on catching terrorists. First and foremost Drake’s suggested method of monitoring web-sites for potential “mass shooters and terrorists” is missing a major piece — due process. The concept of monitoring, watch-lists and “follow” tags made me think of the GDR’s State Security Service (Staatssicherheitsdienst, SSD), commonly known as the Stasi. Keep that in mind maybe.
Stephen Pulcheon
Via email

Cheap Wasn’t Cheap

I’m 52 years old and find the older I get the more “Good Old Days” moments I have. I thoroughly enjoyed Dave Anderson’s article (Good Old Days?, March/April 2020) because it helped spark some serious introspection for me. It’s true, my father (77) and I often talk about missed opportunities to purchase “cheap guns” throughout our lives, but Mr. Anderson helped put some perspective on “cheap.” Not only does his insights apply to guns, they apply to life in general. In the current social climate in which we live it’s easy to think about the “Good Old Days” and find ourselves becoming “glass half empty” types. But more sobering reflection will help us see in many ways the “Good Old Days” were really the introduction to “Better Days to Come” — if we can prove ourselves to be good stewards of what we currently possess. Great article, Mr. Anderson!
Daniel Woodring
Via email

Ruger Remembering

Roy’s stroll down memory lane (Insider, Nov/Dec 2019) with regards to his Ruger Single Six, sparked a few of my own. In about 1969 I was a 12-year- old 8th grader when my dad bought me my first handgun — the .22 Ruger. How could you not love it, when you grew up watching every western series ever made. I put enough bricks of .22 through that gun to build a two-story house. Like you, my dad never bought me any Magnum ammo because of the cost. To this day, that cylinder still rests, unused, in its original sock. But .22 LR ammo was plentiful. Dad put a stump down at one end of the basement to serve as a target stop. I shot frequently, and only quit due to smoke obscuring the target. After all, why open a window when you can breath it in!
Mike Krzynowek
Via email

Cartridges Or Calibers?

I recently looked back in time to some 1930’s era ads from Winchester and in the ads they used the term “calibers” instead of “cartridges.” I’m sure examples can be readily found even earlier than this. I’ve come across this many times over the years. I’m well aware technically wrong words and even slang words come into general usage and become the “new” grammatically correct way to express something. Language has had this kind of evolution for a long time and etymology is a fascinating way to study history and culture.

But again, this can generate confusion on a technical subject. Let’s say I buy a .30 caliber rifle, just like in the ads. I also want to buy some .30 caliber ammo for it and find I need to know what the actual cartridge the rifle is chambered for. Ha, who knew? I look forward to you enlightening me on the correct usage of caliber and cartridge, and this subject in general.
Meyer Weiner
Via email

Meyer, thanks for your note, and a good question. In the early days, there weren’t that many “calibers,” as it were. So a “.30 Caliber” meant the .30-06. The “.30 WCF” meant the .30-30. The “.44-40 WCF” caliber meant the .44-40 cartridge.

But over the years as more and more “cartridges” were developed all using the same “caliber” (like .30, or 7mm, or .45, etc.), the terms of science tended to change to become more specific. It’s like saying, “Oh, I have a Ford” and in the old days, that meant a Model T. Later, you had to say which Ford “model” you had. So a “cartridge” is like a “model” of the “caliber” in question. Now I’m confused too! —RH

Atta’ Boys

I must sing the praises of two companies. I had shipped a Kimber rifle barreled-action out to Mag-na-port in Michigan to be ported. Unfortunately, the company with brown trucks said it was “lost/stolen” in Detroit. I know, I know … hard to believe.

Donna at Mag-na-port helped me file the proper form with the ATF as well as chasing down the brown truck to make sure it really was missing.
Alex at Kimber did me a huge favor. Since I had the stock, trigger assembly, bolt and magazine well, Kimber allowed me to send in the parts and built a new rifle for me at substantial savings.

A+ customer service for all-involved except the brown truck people.

Lessons learned? Always pay the extra fee for Second Day Air. Expect the brown truck company to be painful about getting your insurance paid.
I’ve always enjoyed my Kimber firearms and I believe Mag-na-porting is the best modification to improve shootability in a firearm.
Jens Jensen
New Harmony, UT

Off-Duty Carry

It’s common to talk about LEOs as having taken an oath to “serve and protect.” Whatever the employing agency’s position on the practice of being armed off-duty is we need to remember police officers are people too. And they are people who are doing a job, sometimes dangerous, requiring they get in people’s faces occasionally, and when they do they may need to be armed. But when they’re not working it’s understandable they want to be just plain folks. They just want to be left alone. And remember, we don’t pay them 24/7, so why would we expect them to work 24/7?

But police officers should understand, and accept, sometimes bad things happen to good people. In fact, much of their jobs involve facing that very fact. And if they are going to frequent the kinds of places where those things might happen, like bars, and if they’re going to project the confidence and power they need to on the job, then that increases the odds trouble will find them.

Personally, I don’t care if they’re armed because I don’t expect them to rescue me, off- or on-duty. I accept responsibility for that. But they should be armed for the same reason I am, to protect themselves and their families as effectively as they can if bad things happen. They should go armed, not for me, not to “protect and serve” — but for themselves.
Jeff Weiss
Forest, VA

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Single Action Light Rails!?!

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