Viewpoints

Just got the February 2010 issue of GT and noted that my subscription is now 10 years old—the first one in my continuous collection is the February 2000 issue. I know each issue has a page of previously tested firearms, but that’s a lot of fine print to pore through for these 80-year-old eyes. How about saving me that research and telling me if you have tested the Beretta Cheetah in 380 and in what issue I might find it? I want one of them, but won’t buy it without knowing what Gun Tetsts testers think of it.

Just got the February 2010 issue of GT and noted that my subscription is now 10 years old—the first one in my continuous collection is the February 2000 issue. I know each issue has a page of previously tested firearms, but that’s a lot of fine print to pore through for these 80-year-old eyes. How about saving me that research and telling me if you have tested the Beretta Cheetah in 380 and in what issue I might find it? I want one of them, but won’t buy it without knowing what Gun Tetsts testers think of it.

A man apparently inspired by Open Carry gun activists strolled into an East Palo Alto supermarket with a handgun on his hip Wednesday and began shopping for groceries.

GunReports.com learns that the U.S. Supreme Court granted the National Rifle Association’s motion to allow it to participate in the upcoming oral argument in McDonald v. City of Chicago.

Although the venerable 30-06 Springfield and 270 Winchester remain among the favorites, Boone and Crockett Club big-game records show that hunters with a 300 Magnum are taking more North American trophies than any other caliber. Surprisingly, the second-most-popular trophy-taker isn’t a firearm—it’s a bow. Boone and Crockett compiled the data from its records-book entries from 2007 through 2009.

Although the venerable 30-06 Springfield and 270 Winchester remain among the favorites, Boone and Crockett Club big-game records show that hunters with a 300 Magnum are taking more North American trophies than any other caliber. Surprisingly, the second-most-popular trophy-taker isn’t a firearm—it’s a bow. Boone and Crockett compiled the data from its records-book entries from 2007 through 2009.

I have always been fascinated with the M1 Carbine, and before I knew about the CMP program, I bought a Kahr Arms Carbine in December 2004. I have shot probably 2000 rounds through the rifle, and it is flawless today. I should mention that the new carbine from Kahr Arms (Auto Ordnance) has significant changes from my 2004 model. My M1 has a bayonet lug; it also has a ventilated hand guard, it has the lever safety and the cast trigger assembly. It also has the round bolt. So I guess the earlier M1 carbines made by Auto Ordnance were closer to the Inland carbine. I had heard that the Auto Ordnance carbine was manufactured in Korea using substandard materials. I wrote Auto Ordnance and was assured that the rifle was manufactured to military specifications, and all the parts were to those specifications also. I believe that you should have used one of the earlier Auto Ordnance carbines in your test as you did with the Underwood, Inland, and the rebuilt models from Fulton, and that way you would have given it an A rating also.

I have always been fascinated with the M1 Carbine, and before I knew about the CMP program, I bought a Kahr Arms Carbine in December 2004. I have shot probably 2000 rounds through the rifle, and it is flawless today. I should mention that the new carbine from Kahr Arms (Auto Ordnance) has significant changes from my 2004 model. My M1 has a bayonet lug; it also has a ventilated hand guard, it has the lever safety and the cast trigger assembly. It also has the round bolt. So I guess the earlier M1 carbines made by Auto Ordnance were closer to the Inland carbine. I had heard that the Auto Ordnance carbine was manufactured in Korea using substandard materials. I wrote Auto Ordnance and was assured that the rifle was manufactured to military specifications, and all the parts were to those specifications also. I believe that you should have used one of the earlier Auto Ordnance carbines in your test as you did with the Underwood, Inland, and the rebuilt models from Fulton, and that way you would have given it an A rating also.

GunReports.com reprints an essay by Tim Case, originally posted on LewRockwell.com (used with permission). Case details reasons behind ongoing high gun-buying numbers. 'To say that the current political atmosphere has nothing to do with firearms sales would be ludicrous, at best. There are, however, more to the statistics than first meets the eyes. On closer inspection the NICS data shows the rise of firearms sales beginning in September 2005 and really taking hold in December of the same year. What accounts for this sudden rise in firearm interest can only be attributed to the events following the destruction of New Orleans and the surrounding areas in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in late August 2005.'

As we enter 2010, there’s a lot of good news on the gun front. The big story over the last 12 months, and one that will likely continue into this new year, was the massive sales of guns and ammunition. Shooters like us were stocking up in anticipation of some classes of firearms eventually being outlawed by the Obama Administration. That hasn’t happened yet—but there are ominous signs on the horizon.

As we enter 2010, there’s a lot of good news on the gun front. The big story over the last 12 months, and one that will likely continue into this new year, was the massive sales of guns and ammunition. Shooters like us were stocking up in anticipation of some classes of firearms eventually being outlawed by the Obama Administration. That hasn’t happened yet—but there are ominous signs on the horizon.

I just got my December issue of GT and had to sit down and read it. I agree with your findings, especially about the CMP-2 Inland. I got mine about a year ago through CMP, and it’s a winner. The only thing I’d suggest is that when you buy a used M-1 Carbine from anyone, go immediately to Numrich Gunparts Corp. and order a new gas piston, castle nut and wrench. You’d be surprised at the noticeable difference in performance this small change makes. I was told by an old armorer years ago that the gas piston is made of a softer alloy than the gas cylinder, so that it wears first and the cylinder lasts longer. As these weapons are used, over time the gas piston wears and develops blow by. A new gas piston and castle nut improves performance noticeably.