Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2023 i Guns & Ammo

REX STOUT, through his fictional detective “Nero Wolfe,” defined “wisdom” as “intelligence guided by experience.” This may sound familiar to some, especially if you were a listener of Rush Limbaugh; he used to say it quite a lot. I bring this up because it directly relates to what I want to discuss: The half-cock notch found on many handguns with hammers. I would bet most people think the term “going off half-cocked” dates back to the Wild West days when handguns were single-action revolvers with the firing pin mounted on the hammer. Single-action pistols would have to be cocked for every shot, and if your thumb slipped off the hammer while cocking it could definitely cause certain designs to “go off half-cocked.” With some early revolvers, the firing pin rested…

ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS people ask about thermals is how they differ from night vision goggles (NVG). Most understand that thermals detect heat variations and night vision devices (NVD) detect infrared (IR) light. However, there are performance differences. NVGs have dominated the nighttime shooting scene. They usually cost less than thermals and offer desired performance in a smaller package. NVDs use optical tubes that amplify IR light. The construction of these tubes hasn’t changed much in the last 25 years, and the military has been funding the development of NVD technology since World War II. However, since the Global War on Terror began, the military saw the limitations of using NVGs exclusively, and it started turning to thermal optics more frequently. NVGs are great for navigation because IR light…

REFERRED TO as the “Editor’s Roundtable,” the media gathering was the first-of-its-kind when it began in 2002. Hosted annually by the Outdoor Sportsman Group (OSG), manufacturers of firearms, optics, ammunition, and related products come together with the editorial staff and contributors from titles including Guns & Ammo, Firearms News, Handguns, Rifleshooter, Shooting Times, Petersen’s Hunting, and many others, as well as each brand’s special interest publications (SIP). Though we may only see each other once or twice a year, Roundtable feels like a reunion of 40-some influencers plus industry partners. Friends share ideas, reflect on adventures, and develop projects. Until 2014, Roundtable was held at PASA Park in Barry, Illinois. Since then, Roundtable has traveled to various shooting destinations. The schedule affords manufacturers the opportunity to present never-before-seen products to…

THERE’S A CERTAIN KIND OF WORRY that comes with tightening scope-mounting fasteners to a rifle. Too loose, and the scope could slide out of place under recoil, ruining the zero. Too tight and you could strip the screw or, even worse, damage the optic. You don’t have to rely on guesswork when mounting a scope, securing bottom metal, or installing an action screw. The Wheeler Firearm Accurizing Torque (F.A.T.) Wrench has been an affordable, reliable tool used for years by gunsmiths and hobbyists alike to service firearms. The Pro Series features a 100-piece set with an added screwdriver handle, extension, and a collection of nut-driving bits for a portable, go-to box of solutions. Setting the torque, in inch-pounds (in.-lbs.), is easy with the improved F.A.T. Wrench. Pull the cap at…

FIVE YEARS AGO, I was living in Florida and taking a class for my concealed carry permit. I was only one of two students who signed up for that day’s training, and my classmate was an Italian restaurant owner who wanted his permit to better ensure the security of his establishment. He confessed that he was new to firearms, but wanted to be more self-sufficient in protecting his livelihood. After the written portion of the class, we went to the range to demonstrate that we could competently use our handgun of choice. I brought my Glock 43 and sent my shots downrange without issue. I looked to my right and saw that my classmate purchased a large-frame revolver as his intended carry gun, one chambering .357 Magnum. His first shots…

CASED WILDEY AUTO PISTOL Q: For your perusal and evaluation, I have attached some pictures of a Wildey pistol I own. I purchased it directly from Wildey back in 1987. I have correspondence from Wildey going back to July 8, 1981; at that time, I was reserving serial number 45-610. The company was going through a lot of turmoil back then, and it was sometime later, I was advised, that there were some lower serial numbers available, specifically number 45-0XX. I verbally accepted and sent a deposit. I have a letter dated November 30, 1987, acknowledging receipt of that deposit. They were operating out of New Windsor, New York. Sometime after that, I received a notice directly from Wildey J. Moore that they were now situated in their new facility…

TRIJICON, a trendsetter for optics, introduced the Trijicon Red Dot Sight in 2007, its first miniature reflex-style red-dot sight. The idea came from information that U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers were affixing a small red-dot sight to the top of the Trijicon ACOG on M4 and Mk18 carbines. The concept addressed their need for close-range battle and long-range precision. By 2009, the Ruggedized Miniature Reflex (RMR) sight was in production. The RMR featured a concave hood design that increased strength, diverting impact forces away from the glass lens. First a battery-free, tritium and fiber-optic sight, the RMR was also available with a battery-powered LED-illuminated reticle in ’09. The RMR was instantly popular, and has since been offered in various configurations such as one with an adjustable LED, another with a…

REGULAR READERS of this column may have noticed that I don’t often discuss shotguns. The fact is that, though I view myself as a rifle and pistol enthusiast, I do enjoy bird hunting. When it comes to shotguns, I’m more of a consumer than I am an authority. Also, I love to travel, and I often choose hunting destinations that mix cultural experiences alongside outdoor adventures. My latest excursion took me to South America for dove. No, I didn’t travel to Argentina for its world-class hunting — I went to Bolivia. Though not often viewed as a wing-shooting destination, Bolivia has a great deal to offer. For starters, it’s a relatively short trip — less than 6 hours by air from Miami, Florida. Once on the ground, it is a…