Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2023 i Guns & Ammo

HAVE YOU NOTICED how nearly every handgun manufacturer is offering models with extended, threaded barrels? Aftermarket barrel manufacturers are doing the same. Ballistic Advantage is the latest to announce that it is offering ½x28 threaded match-grade barrels. Though it indicates barrels for other pistol manufacturers are being developed, the 2023 launch focuses on supporting popular Glock models. Depending on surface texture and finish — Black QPQ, Gold and Iridescent PVD — prices for these aftermarket barrels range from $155 to $215 (ballisticadvantage.com). I was a kid of the 1980s. Almost no pistol meant for carry could be had with a threaded barrel, and the only extended threaded barrels heard of seemed to be meant for the tiny Beretta and Walther pistols allegedly carried by spies and mafia hitmen. Guns &…

HOW SCOPES ARE MADE is a complicated subject. A handful are made in the United States, while a few more are des igned in the U.S. and made with parts manufactured overseas with assembly completed in the U.S. or another country. Many optics are completely designed and manufactured overseas with only management, distribution and/or advertising departments located in the U.S. The advantages of U.S.-made optics — politics aside — concern the quality and customer service. The disadvantage is cost. American labor rates and taxes mean that the dollar can only buy so much. If you want more quality, you typically have to spend more. The advantage of the U.S.-design/foreign production business model is that customers generally get what they want for an affordable price. Unfortunately, such companies typically have less…

A FRIEND AND HIS FAMILY had just moved into their new home, one that took them a year to build. They were getting a fresh start in a new state, and they were excited — until tragedy struck. Late at night, a fire broke out in the garage. He, his wife and three children found themselves outside of the home in the dark, barefoot, with everything they cherished destroyed by flames. Everyone was unharmed, but it was a nightmare nonetheless. The home was a total loss. The vehicles were burned in the garage, as were his tools and lifelong accumulation of hunting and fishing gear. The fire-resistant gun safe — loaded with guns and antique coins — was exposed to extreme heat for several hours. Despite the fire rating, the…

THE YEAR 2023 marked the 150th anniversary of the Colt Single Action Army. Abbreviated “SAA,” it was Colt’s first large revolver to chamber metallic cartridges. Originally labeled the “New Model Army Metallic Cartridge Revolving Pistol,” it was a product of its time that continues to inspire imagination s. Theoretically, the SAA could have been developed before pencil was put to paper in 187 1, but a Rollin White patent prevented its earlier consideration. Employed by Colt until December 1854, White received five patents within three months of his departure. Among them, Patent No. 12,648 feature d a bored-through cylinder. The concept advanced the percussion-fired revolver and White licensed its exclusive use to Smith & Wesson. Starting with the Model 1, White received a 25-cent royalty for e very revolver made…

THERE HAVE BEEN HUGE ADVANCEMENTS in the last 10 to 15 years with personal-defense ammunition. The June 2023 announcement of CCI’s .22 Long Rifle (LR) “Uppercut” personal defense (PD) ammunition, loaded with a 32-grain Gold Dot-style bullet got me to thinking that there hasn’t been a lot said about .22 rimfire as a defensive round. There has been even less testing published of this type of ammunition. I know what you’re going to say, “Come on, .22 rimfire isn’t credible for defense. You might as well throw a rock!” But is that really true? For the record, by ”.22 rimfire (RF),” I am referring to both .22 LR and 22 Winchester Magnum Rifle (WMR) loadings. WHY CONSIDER THE .22 FOR PERSONAL DEFENSE? Some people may not have the strength or…

H&R .22 TOP-BREAK Q: I always enjoy the “Gun Room” and I was especially interested in July’s letter regarding the lack of .22 LR top-break revolvers. I was surprised that you missed what I consider the Cadillac of top-break .22s, the Harrington & Richardson Model 999 Sportsman. H&R was considered a low-priced gun company, but its guns were solid and well made. From 1940 to 1986, the Model 999 was its top-of-the-line revolver. The all-steel, double-action revolver had a nine-round cylinder, a front sight that was adjustable for elevation, and a rear sight adjustable for windage. Fit and finish were excellent with a stiff but usable trigger pull. They were manufactured from 1940 to 1986 so there are quite a few out there. These guns command a premium on gunbroker.com,…

TO A COYOTE OR HOG HUNTER, seeing in the dark is a tremendous advantage, practically a superpower. When it comes to predator management, few tools are as beneficial to a land owner as a thermal scope. Thermal scopes use the infrared radiation produced by objects to create an image that is otherwise invisible in darkness. Given that living creatures emit heat, they are easily recognizable against colder backgrounds when viewed through a thermal scope. Twenty years ago, thermals were almost exclusive to military use due to the size and cost. Computer chips and technology has since caught up and made these devices more practical and attainable. While still far from cheap, the RICO G-series costs less than the military’s. Guns & Ammo’s sample G-LRF presented a number of preferable characteristics…

ELMER KEITH joined Guns & Ammo’s staff for the November 1961 issue. Smith & Wesson’s historian Roy Jinks succinctly described Keith as “the father of big-bore handgunning,” helping to develop the .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum and Model 29. His influence shaped the industry until his death on Valentine’s Day 1984, leaving a legacy that’s admired throughout the industry. Craig Boddington, a former editor of Keith, revived “Gun Notes” in 2001 and authored it until 2015. After thorough examination of reader feedback, and in the interest of advancing the magazine while honoring the past, “Gun Notes” returns to G&A with Executive Editor Joe Kurtenbach as its third author. Following service with the U.S. Army, and nine years on the editorial staff for “American Rifleman,” Kurtenbach joined G&A in 2020. His experience…

SELECTING the content that appears in Guns & Ammo can sometimes be like walking a tightrope, given the wide range of reader interests. In a calendar year, it is a challenge to review the majority’s interests while touching on the niches. Thus, time management is critical for those on G&A’s staff. Part of this time management involves balancing coverage of heritage designs versus more modern polymer-based guns and “black rifles.” We still review every new product as it is launched, but are conscious of our readers’ needs and wants. The ammunition shortages we’ve experienced affected all of us, and we observed that news of new cartridge developments elicited some annoyance. However, some strides in ammunition design were significant, and warranted attention. Hornady’s 7mm PRC is one example. Following our field…