Cross Fire - Letters to Gun

Guns Magazine, March, 2002

Unique Information

I use Unique powder in both handgun and shotshell, and I'm always looking for more information about the powder. And, for a long time, I've been curious about how gun barrels are actually manufactured.

I was delighted then to discover that both subjects had been covered in the December issue of GUNS Magazine!

Nice work!

Peter Wank

Westport, Conn.

Service With A Smile

I was recently doing some reloading on my trusty Lee turret press, when the swivel adapter for my auto disk powder measure broke. I sent an e-mail to Lee precision stating such and that I had reloaded many thousands of rounds with it and inquired as to whether there was a part that I could purchase or did I need to replace the whole swivel attachment.

I got a reply stating that it was a very uncommon occurrence (to the point that this had never happened before to their knowledge) and that they were sending me a replacement at no charge to me. I personally believe that when a company delivers this kind of service (for equipment that is several years old and well used), it deserves repeat business. I assure you they will continue to get mine.

William Carmickle

Via E-mail

Trial By Fire

Thanks for the article on the .30 Carbine Blackhawk. I'd guess it is probably less used by its owners than any other Blackhawk caliber because of the noise and flame. I found it to be much more fun to target shoot the Blackhawk .30 Carbine with light and midrange loads. Try 3.0 grains of Bullseye with a 115-grain lead bullet. Pressures are light enough that small pistol primers can be used. Jacketed bullets and 6.0 grains of AA#7 also work well -- use rifle primers just to be safe.

I think there are probably a lot of light and mid-range load possibilities that would make the gun more fun to shoot. Light loads also increase the case life. There are also some 125-grain spitzer point bullets which are short enough to fit in the Blackhawk cylinder -- has anyone tried any loads with these?

J. Wexler

Mar Vista, Calif.

A Perfect 10

I enjoyed your article Taffin's Top Ten, which was published in the October issue of GUNS Magazine. Most appreciated were the sentiments which you expressed in the last paragraph.

I have taken my moose. It was a beauty! Its 65-inch rack adorns our living room wall. My wife has taken hers as well, and her moose rack hangs on another wall. We don't feel the need to kill another, though the meat is wonderful. Because the hunting experience is most important to me, I now hunt with a .454 Freedom Arms revolver. Though I would not turn down a double lung shot at a moose, I don't hunt them as actively as I once did. Taking a couple of Sitka Blacktail deer when circumstances permit a visit to Kodiak Island is just as satisfying.

Thanks for your interesting and well-written article.

Robert H. Parkerson

Palmer, Ala.

Mauser Misfires Mystery Solved!

I really enjoyed the article by Mike Cumpston on his Yugo Mauser. I would like to add that I had a number of misfires on a VZ-24 Mauser with "vintage" mil-surp ammo that turned out to be a sacked-out firing-pin spring. I think it probably stems from being in a "cocked" condition for a number of decades. I got a new one from Numrich (gunpartscorp.com) and haven't had a single misfire since. Now, if I could get some plans for a muzzle brake, I'd have the recoil problem under control! Great magazine.

Sincerely

Alan Mummert

Via E-mail

RELATED ARTICLE: LETTER OF THE MONTH

Safety Is The Key

Your January 2002 issue is without a doubt the finest, as whole, gun magazine I have ever read, and this has been over 65 years.

The Greatest Responsibility and Loaded, Ready, Safe are the kind of articles that should have been written years ago.

Many thanks,

Thomas Blakemore

Atlanta, Ga.

We greatly appreciate the kind words, although it would be very difficult to say that January's issue is the absolute "best." Remember, GUNS Magazine has been going on strong now for nearly 50 years! Only time will tell.

We are continually striving to improve GUNS Magazine and are always interested in hearing from our readers about the directions you would like to see us take.

Thanks again

Editor