Crossfire letters to guns

Guns Magazine, Jan, 2003

Letter Of The Month

John Taffin's review of the Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter model was exhilarating. As with all of John's reviews, it was an extremely interesting article. John is perhaps the greatest gun writer currently in print. He congratulates Ruger on making a .44 magnum that most any hunter can afford. I second that, and take it one step further.

I think all Ruger's handguns are wonderful values. I know that here in Boise, Idaho, armored car guards are paid something just slightly above minimum wage. I worked for a couple of the local companies for a few years. Thank goodness for Ruger. The GP model revolvers and the P series autos make it possible for even an armored car guard to be very well armed for much less than other makes of handgun.

Extremely well built, and very reasonably priced, Ruger makes it possible for anyone to be more than adequately armed. Thank you, Ruger, for thinking of the workingman!

Zeke Corder

Via e-mail

Twists And Turns

Below follows just a short excerpt from a friendly and jovial letter from GUNS reader Loren Bengtson. We're seriously thinking of ignoring his request simply to prompt him to write another entertaining letter.

Editor

I can stand it no longer. The concept of providing a dimension for rifling twist measurements seems to be lost on many writers, and your magazine is but one offender.

My preferred method of expressing twist is merely to state a length, for example 11 inches. This assumes the reader will understand that the twist is one turn in the given length. I have not had much luck getting the world to convert to my method, probably because the rest of you still cling to a few remaining freedoms.

Since you refuse to accept my enlightened method of expressing twist, I suggest, as a compromise, that you provide rifling twist data in the form of 1:11", as the NRA does in their fine magazines. This still requires the reader to know the 1 in the dimension means one turn of the rifling, but is a very reasonable assumption.

Loren D. Bengtson

Rising Sun, Ind.

Birthday Gift

I was given a subscription as a birthday gift. My first issue is September, 2002, and going on what I've seen, I can't wait for the next issue. You guys cover everything.

Keep it up!

Nathan Jackson

Eatonton, Ga.

Nathan, we're glad you're pleased so far, but just wait till you see the annual swimsuit issue!

Editor

Those Darn Fuzzy Sights

In your November issue, John Taffin talks about how iron sights get fuzzy as you get older.

After installing telescopes on several of my guns and tilting my head just right so my Varilux lenses would show a clear sight picture while standing -- and all but giving up on bench or prone shooting with iron sights -- I have discovered a simple solution.

For computer terminal viewing, I purchased a pair of 1 1/4 power, drug-store glasses, which work well. One day I decided to try them for shooting. Problem solved. For me, 1 1/2 power works just as well and the target looks okay, too.

On another subject, Taurus or someone needs to develop a larger grip with a bigger setback from the trigger for their otherwise excellent .41 magnum Tracker. For people with a larger hand, the trigger guard slams the middle finger unnecessarily hard.

Brian Smith

Via e-mail

Arming Pilots

As long as the pilot uses the gun to defend the cockpit, I don't have a problem with the pilot having a gun. However, the pilot's job is to fly the airplane and he (or she as the case may be) shouldn't be clearing the airplane of hijackers.

The cockpit door MUST remain closed and locked at all costs. The next time this happens (and I certainly hope it doesn't), not all of the hijackers will be as quick to identify themselves until they really have the airplane under control. I'm sure they realize now why the airplane crashed in Pennsylvania and will do something to correct that.

Steve Ockinga

Via e-mail

Mea Culpa

The article by David Fortier on the VEPR IIK gave a URL for Robinson Armaments as: www.robarms.com. This is incorrect and is someone's personal Website. If you can send me the correct URL it would be appreciated.

Albert Castagnola

Via e-mail

Reader Castagnola is absolutely correct. It seems the correct URL is www.robarm.com. We apologize for the error.

Editor