Viewpoints

August Issue: Best Ever? Maybe

I subscribe to no less than six gun-related magazines. Although I read and enjoy every letter to the editor and editorial column enough to justify the subscription price, I rarely read more than one article from any of them. Don’t get me wrong, I skim them all, but most articles just don’t fit my use or taste. The August 2010/Vol. XXII, No. 8 issue of Gun Tests magazine was an exception.The 9mm compact article was the very best article I’ve read in a year. You guys picked three solid pistols and one that I’d call a sleeper (the Ruger). Your testers were thorough and fair and didn’t nitpick much. Having owned and/or shot three of the four, I know how hard it is to find enough fault with this group to call a winner and a loser.

August Issue: Best Ever? Maybe

I subscribe to no less than six gun-related magazines. Although I read and enjoy every letter to the editor and editorial column enough to justify the subscription price, I rarely read more than one article from any of them. Don’t get me wrong, I skim them all, but most articles just don’t fit my use or taste. The August 2010/Vol. XXII, No. 8 issue of Gun Tests magazine was an exception.The 9mm compact article was the very best article I’ve read in a year. You guys picked three solid pistols and one that I’d call a sleeper (the Ruger). Your testers were thorough and fair and didn’t nitpick much. Having owned and/or shot three of the four, I know how hard it is to find enough fault with this group to call a winner and a loser.

San Francisco Eyes Ammunition Registry; CCRKBA Vows Lawsuit

The revelation that the City of San Francisco might consider an ammunition registry scheme brought a promise from the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms that a lawsuit would quickly follow.

GunReports.com Video: Ruger Tactical Tips – 1: Mental Preparation

Before self-defense training can begin, you must mentally prepare yourself for combative situations. This series is a collection of self-defense tips with career law enforcement officer Dave Spaulding designed to help individuals learn proper skills and techniques to defend themselves.

GunReports.com Video: Front Sight Founder Warns Against Small-Caliber Handguns

Front Sight Firearms Training Institute's Dr. Ignatius Piazza takes on the issue of small-caliber handguns as suitable self-protection items. Here's what he said: 'I have a video for you this week that is the best example of the pros and cons of carrying a pocket pistol that I have ever seen.'

GunReports.com Video: Ruger’s Tactical Tips Part-7, Proper Training

This video series is a collection of self-defense tips with career law enforcement officer Dave Spaulding designed to help individuals learn proper skills and techniques to defend themselves. Once you've learned how to hold and reload your firearm, among other basic skills, properly continuing your training is critical to improved performance.In real life, you may not be keeping your gun in a holster on your hip, but rather in a pocket holster. It is extremely important to train with what you carry and to remain realistic in your practice. Proper training is essential for good gun technique.

Down Range: August 2010

Formally styled McDonald et al. v. City of Chicago, Illlinois, et al., No. 08–1521, the case follows the Supreme Court’s 2008 Heller decision that struck down a handgun ban within the District of Columbia. That decision found, for the first time, that the 'right of the people to keep and bear arms' guaranteed by the Second Amendment applies to individuals outside the 'well regulated militia' familiar to 18th-century Americans. Because the capital city is a federal enclave, the 2008 decision left open, as a formal matter at least, whether the same principle applied in the 50 states.

Down Range: August 2010

Formally styled McDonald et al. v. City of Chicago, Illlinois, et al., No. 08–1521, the case follows the Supreme Court’s 2008 Heller decision that struck down a handgun ban within the District of Columbia. That decision found, for the first time, that the 'right of the people to keep and bear arms' guaranteed by the Second Amendment applies to individuals outside the 'well regulated militia' familiar to 18th-century Americans. Because the capital city is a federal enclave, the 2008 decision left open, as a formal matter at least, whether the same principle applied in the 50 states.

We’re All Thumbs on Safeties

Your recent test of rifles in this chambering parallels my observations, for the most part. Noticed while reading the review that troubles were experienced with some ammunition in various rifles. Your article alludes to light primer strikes, producing failure-to-fire situations. I also use the Yugo SKS, Romanian WASR, CZ 527, and DPMS chambered in this cartridge. Similar experiences occurred with light primer strikes in some rifles among various lots of Wolf ammunition. At first, just thought it was faulty ammunition, until several cartridges were disassembled. Following that, I determined the light firing-pin strikes were not the problem, but rather faulty engineering on the manufacturers’ part. Whether this was done purposely could be debated, but it does seem strange that U.S.– manufactured ammunition had no troubles, but foreign-manufactured ammo, especially Wolf, there was a problem of seemingly light primer strikes.

We’re All Thumbs on Safeties

Your recent test of rifles in this chambering parallels my observations, for the most part. Noticed while reading the review that troubles were experienced with some ammunition in various rifles. Your article alludes to light primer strikes, producing failure-to-fire situations. I also use the Yugo SKS, Romanian WASR, CZ 527, and DPMS chambered in this cartridge. Similar experiences occurred with light primer strikes in some rifles among various lots of Wolf ammunition. At first, just thought it was faulty ammunition, until several cartridges were disassembled. Following that, I determined the light firing-pin strikes were not the problem, but rather faulty engineering on the manufacturers’ part. Whether this was done purposely could be debated, but it does seem strange that U.S.– manufactured ammunition had no troubles, but foreign-manufactured ammo, especially Wolf, there was a problem of seemingly light primer strikes.

We’re All Thumbs on Safeties

Your recent test of rifles in this chambering parallels my observations, for the most part. Noticed while reading the review that troubles were experienced with some ammunition in various rifles. Your article alludes to light primer strikes, producing failure-to-fire situations. I also use the Yugo SKS, Romanian WASR, CZ 527, and DPMS chambered in this cartridge. Similar experiences occurred with light primer strikes in some rifles among various lots of Wolf ammunition. At first, just thought it was faulty ammunition, until several cartridges were disassembled. Following that, I determined the light firing-pin strikes were not the problem, but rather faulty engineering on the manufacturers’ part. Whether this was done purposely could be debated, but it does seem strange that U.S.– manufactured ammunition had no troubles, but foreign-manufactured ammo, especially Wolf, there was a problem of seemingly light primer strikes.

GunReports.com Video: Ruger Tactical Tips – 2, Handgun Fundamentals

On GunReports.com, this Ruger video covers the essentials. Learning grip and body position are crucial to controlling your firearm's recoil. Dave Spaulding puts special emphasis on trigger control for managing your gun, as well as other essentials like grip and body position.

Shotgunner Rhode Bests Cali Ammo Scheme

A panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that California’s law requiring a background check for each ammunition purchase violates the Second...