I’d spent months looking for an easy-to-conceal, easy-to-draw pocket magazine holster for concealed carry. With the Snagmag the search is over.
Every now and then a product comes along that is so purely original, and so-simple-it’s-stupid, that it leaves you muttering something completely unoriginal like, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
The Snagmag is one of those rare gems. It’s a pocketknife look-alike mag holder. On first blush this thing looked to be the ideal solution to carry more rounds. It was a first impression that proved accurate.
The Snagmag gets its name from the shark fin shaped protrusion that catches, or snags, the corner of your pocket, allowing you to easily extract the mag.
The product achieved the perfect balance between magazine retention and ease of extraction. It conceals—disguises, really—your mag, holding it securely inside of your pocket. The shroud (to which the clip is attached) covers the mag from the outside.
During testing I found that the Snagmag conceals single-stack mags better than doubles, but doubles are still hidden extremely well.
I tested two models, one for the full-sized double-stack Glock 22 mag, and a smaller version for the Sig P232 single-stack mag. Both worked equally well. No problems drawing, and no one looked twice at the pocket clip.
What I liked about the Snagmag Magazine Holster:
Doesn't add bulk or weight to your belt
Instantly accessible
Totally disguised (as a pocket knife)
Holds mag in the best possible position for a draw
Easy to extract mag
Excellent retention in pocket for positive draw
Available for most makes and models of handguns
Was There Anything I Didn’t Like?
Not much. And that’s saying a lot. I did find that the Snagmag didn't work as well with loose work slacks as it did with more rigid pant materials like jeans or “tactical pants”—but it still worked pretty darn good. The slacks tended to have less rigidity to support a full house of 15- or 17 rounds.
Bottom line: I never go anywhere now without a spare magazine, thanks to the Snagmag.
It's affordable, comfy, easily accessible and fast—truly the better mousetrap of concealed carry mag pouches. It works. If you carry concealed, get one.
Looking for a really good feeling sub-compact in the luxury pistol department? The HK P2000 SK may be your next handgun.
Guns have a certain feel about them. And because of that, I have certain feelings about guns. Some guns feel chunky and plasticky and gimmicky. These guns make me feel like trying my hand at plastic surgery in order to trim them up or tone them down. Some guns feel heavy and stiff. These guns make me feel like giving them a massage to help them loosen up a bit. Some guns feel thin—functional but not outright durable. These guns I am afraid to shoot, let alone carry for self-defense. Guns like these I want to wrap in duct tape to help keep them together.
Not all guns have a bad feel. In fact, some feel just right in terms of fit and finish, functionality or how they fire. You can tell much about a gun’s feel just by hefting it in your hand. You can tell much more, however, after a session at the range. Sometimes you’re surprised by how a gun feels after shooting, but most often the range time simply confirms the suspicions you had before shooting it.
No surprise, there’s lots of subjectivity in this matter of determining how a gun feels. It might be impossible to fully quantify, but I’m going to give it a shot.
The Heckler & Koch P2000 SK felt good when I first tried it out. Not in a nonspecific way but truly and functionally. Since HK is one of the premier firearms designers and manufacturers in the world, this came as no surprise. Frankly, with a retail price of $983, we’re in the luxury class of handguns, so it had better be outstanding.
In-the-Hand Performance
The P2000SK (subcompact) is similar to slightly larger P2000 model and combines characteristics of the elements of the HK USP Compact pistol. It is available in 9 mm, .40 S&W, and .357 Sig with an MSRP of $983.
A sub-compact pistol available in 9mm, .40 and .357 SIG, the P2000 SK feels good when I’m just holding it in my hand—remarkably good in fact. I’m not just talking about how I heft the pistol and appreciate the ergonomics or the balance. It’s more than those. For example, the simple action of removing the magazine, a downward push on the ambidextrous magazine release, feels sure and confident. There’s no mush in the controls. You won’t eject the magazine on accident. When you do want the magazine to drop, it springs out perfectly. Put the magazine in and it seats perfectly. No extra push needed. No wondering whether it’s fully seated.
With the magazine out, the simple action of pulling the slide back to check for an empty chamber demonstrates superbly engineered, mechanically perfect motions, noises and feels. Dry-fire it and the trigger stroke, a light double action known as the law enforcement modification (LEM), feels perfect, even as it is a bit longer than most trigger strokes. Yet it is smooth, sure and consistent and one of the best I’ve ever felt.
Besides shooting the P2000 SK, which I will address shortly, the other action worth mentioning is the loading of the magazines. Pushing in nine .40 caliber rounds revealed just the right amount of resistance from the spring under the follower. Loading rounds seven and eight and nine showed no classic signs of fight.
On-the-Range Performance
Shooting the P2000 SK was pure joy because the gun got out of the way of the shooting experience, so to speak. In other words, all the mechanisms worked together so well, so smoothly, that nothing stood out during the range session. I just squeezed the trigger, again and again, and the HK sent every round down range, right on target.
The balance was superb and the sights were easy to acquire, shot after shot. But the best part of shooting the P2000 SK was the LEM trigger. More than just a double action-only trigger, the HK LEM trigger incorporates a 7.3- to 8.5-pound pull in an action that combines a precocked striker with a double action hammer. So it’s double action-only but it’s light and smooth, with just slightly increasing pressure required as it travels back. You’ll see the hammer move back and fall with every stroke. It doesn’t jerk, grab or stutter in its travel. If a round fails to fire, the LEM trigger system allows for second and third strike capability, though I never needed it.
The LEM trigger felt much lighter than the advertised 7.3- to 8.5-pound pull, but I attribute that to the ultra-smooth trigger travel. Even with its gradually increasing resistance, I couldn’t discern by feel if the trigger was nearing its breaking point; when the HK fired it surprised me every time but I was never unprepared for it. Indeed, after a while I could tell when the gun was about fire because it was always when my finger pulled the trigger back to exactly the same point. Shooting quickly—about two rounds per second—was remarkably easy, intuitive and fun.
Notice that I haven’t yet mentioned recoil. That’s because recoil on this handgun, while present, is aptly managed by the mechanical recoil reduction system—a dual captive recoil spring and polymer bushing. The system works so well in absorbing recoil that you have to actively think about the recoil in order to remember it’s there.
The combination of the HK’s balance, ergonomics, LEM trigger and recoil absorption system worked in harmony with the three-dot sights, allowing for easy follow up shots. It was easier to shoot this gun faster and more accurately than most others I have fired.
HK P2000 SK Additional Features
HK includes a modular grip accessory to increase the depth of the stocks. My medium-to-large sized hands enjoyed the P2000 SK’s stock in its standard configuration so much I didn’t bother with the extra piece. Some might prefer flush magazine baseplates, especially for concealed carry, instead of the two included nine-round magazines that feature a baseplate with a pronounced lip. I actually liked how these felt.
All the controls on the HK are ambidextrous. I’m a right-hander so I would right thumb the slide release on the left side of the slide but use my right middle finger to push the magazine release on the right side of the trigger guard. The P2000 SK also featured a tactical rail for lights and lasers. For a carry pistol, I found this to be a bit superfluous and would have preferred a skinnier dust cover and slide.
I have to admit, prior to shooting the HK P2000 SK I was skeptical that the $983 retail price was justified. Sure, I knew of HK’s reputation for excellence, durability, reliability and accuracy. But once I experienced it first hand, the luxury price of this sub-compact pistol seemed more tenable. I just had to feel it for myself.
The Gun Digest 2014 book features an in-depth look at the Winchester 1895s of Teddy Roosevelt. And so much more!
August has always been one of my favorite months. Summer is drawing to a close, baseball pennant races are heating up, football is just around the corner, and, of course, hunting seasons are coming soon. Another thing that has always made August special is that it's the time of year marking the appearance of the new Gun Digest annual book. As a youngster I looked forward to every edition, knowing I would soon learn more about my favorite hobby by reading the stories, looking at the photos and browsing through the catalog section. These days, amazingly, I find myself in the editor's chair of the World's Greatest Gun Book – and it is still an exciting event to look forward to each summer.
Just a few weeks ago, the staff and I put the wraps on the 2014 68th Edition and it's now appearing on bookshelves all over the country and right here in our online store. Here's a quick look at what you'll find inside.
From military guns to the classics, Gun Digest 2014 has something for everybody.
In-Depth Gun Reviews and Stories
Some of the best writers in the field have contributed to this edition, sharing their knowledge, experiences and opinions on the guns of today and yesterday. This edition has several stories on some of the world's most famous and historically significant rifles. Wayne van Zwoll compares Winchester's current Model 70 to the pre-64, Terry Wieland covers the great Mannlicher-Schoenauers of the early 20th century, Phil Schreier of the National Firearms Museum profiles the lever-action Winchesters of Teddy Roosevelt, and Paul Scarlata tells the fascinating story of the controversial Ross rifle of Canada. On the military side, Gary Paul Johnston compares and contrasts the M14 and the FN-FAL, and Corey Graff gives an excellent report on Remington's legendary M24 sniper rifle.
The Latest on Handguns
In the handgun category, if you're into single-action revolvers, I'm sure you know John Taffin. And John knows Ruger sixguns. In this edition he shares his experiences with custom Rugers spanning over half a century. Other handgun topics include retired Texas Sheriff Jim Wilson's views on backup guns, Frank James salutes the first magnum-the .357-, and Steve Gash reviews the Ruger SR40. Steve also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most respected names in the shooting industry, Hodgdon Power Co.
Plus A Deep Dive Into All Things Guns
We also have some great articles and field reports on shotguns, rimfires, knives, optics, handloading and other gun-related topics. And for eye candy, there are plenty of photos of the state-of-the-art custom guns, as profiled by Tom Turpin.
It's August and time to visit gundigeststore.com, your local book store, a gun shop or the gun counter at your nearest Walmart, to check out the 2014 68th Edition of Gun Digest!
Gun Digestthe Magazine is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. With a subscription toGun Digestthe Magazine, readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews, how-to instructions and Second Amendment issues.
A father pressing the trigger for his daughter to eliminate shooter flinch. He is also able to check for her accuracy of aiming this way.
Trigger control might be the toughest thing to master in handgun shooting, but it’s also one of the most important.
I’ve been reflecting about the flinching problem ever since Gun Digest Books Editor Corrina Peterson and I spent a morning last week shooting handguns.
She was placing shots low and right very consistently. Her grip, stance and form looked excellent, so I next had her close her eyes as I loaded a mag for her. Eyes open, she did not know the mag was empty and her first shot told the whole story: At the dry-fire “click” the muzzle was yanked in a big low-right flinch.
I felt her pain. That's because I struggle with it, too.
That flinch was concealed while she was shooting live rounds. After a brief talk about a smooth “trigger roll” her subsequent shots began tearing out the bullseye.
There’s a place for dry firing. It helps condition your mind and trigger finger to execute the trigger roll with sights on target. It’s a great way to keep your skills sharp through the ammo shortage. And it can betray problems in your form you wouldn’t otherwise notice.
Low shots indicate a flinch. This can show up late in the practice session from shooter fatigue.
But I wanted more tips to solve flinching, so I snagged a copy of Peter Lessler’s new book, Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to Handgun Marksmanship. One of the best ways to correct the problem is to understand what actually happens. Lessler explains:
“This [flinching] happens when, as soon as we press on the trigger to discharge the shot, our subconscious mind, anticipating the recoil to come, starts our hand dipping downward to counteract it. Our subconscious knows that the recoil impulse arrives pursuant to the press of the finger. The result is that the shot goes low. If the whole hand clenches convulsively at the same time, the shot will often go to the side, as well, usually left for a right-hander.”
Understanding what causes flinch, here are 3 Tips I picked up from the book on how to correct it: 1. Trick the mind by using the “surprise break.” 2. Start with a slow trigger pull, increase speed as flinch becomes less of an issue. 3. Make dry-fire practice a regular habit.
Watch this episode of First Person Defender to learn life-saving tips on how to draw a firearm and defend against a parking lot kidnapping attempt.
I found this episode particularly engaging because it simulates a scenario we can all relate to: Leaving the grocery store with a kid in tow and a handful of groceries. I picked up at least 3 three good tips from this episode:
Stay alert. There's a lot happening in a parking lot.
Maintain distance. Move. Don't let anyone within your comfort zone.
Shield children, angle, then draw – shout commands.
To learn more about personal defense I highly recommend these new resources:
Which would you rather have: six shots of .38 Special or 10 shots of 9mm Parabellum +P?
Reliability
In those preceding years, the other pistols had in many cases been manufactured to a less demanding standard. They had been made when precision meant hand fitting, and everyone expected pistols to be somewhat less reliable than revolvers. Soon the “hand-fit vs. reliability” debate would sputter out, but until then, Glock was first. The level of reliability that Glocks demonstrate can be approached and matched by other pistols, but there is a definite advantage in being first.
Durability
Here Glock has a definite advantage. The polymer frame shrugs off impacts that would dent or crack other frames made of aluminum or steel. Unless you’re willing to make your handgun excessively bulky (and thus solid) it won’t be as durable. And that heavy, who’d want it?
Weight
The Glock’s big Glock advantage is its weight. Or lack thereof, really. The standard G-17 tips the scales empty at a feathery 22 ounces. Comparable pistols come in 25 to 30 percent heavier, and revolvers must be quite compact to beat the Glock. Big revolvers can’t do it; small or airweight can; but they all lack capacity.
The Glock’s frame curve is relatively high, positioning your hand higher behind the gun and lessening its leverage during recoil. The backstrap curve of a custom 1911 still isn’t as high as a Glock’s.
Grip Shape
The advantageous shape of the Glock grip stems from two things; the polymer design and the European search for a “natural pointing angle” between grip and bore. The polymer design of the Glock frame means that there is no need for grips. And the deletion of grips also means no grip screws, no bushings for same and no need to worry about them coming loose.
Low Bore
The Glock … rails are so small they hardly add anything to the parts stack height up to the bore. There is no hammer, so the hammer pivot isn’t in the way of lowering the bore. The barrel locks into the ejection port of the slide, so the thickness of steel above the barrel is no more than that needed for structural integrity. And the firing pin height is only what is needed for the tail to reach down to the cruciform of the trigger bar.
Low Felt Recoil
Low felt recoil results from the combination of the flex of the polymer frame, the grip angle and the hand-filling grip that doesn’t have joints where the (non-existent) grips meet the frame, and the low bore line. The low bore aids low felt recoil, as the cycling parts do not have as much leverage when they bottom out against the frame. Also, the flex of the polymer frame changes the nature of the impact between slide and frame.
Maintainability
On a Glock, you can practically teach your dog to swap extractors. You can swap parts yourself, once you’ve had about 10 minutes of coaching. You can replace worn or broken ones, or replace lost ones that you dropped on the last cleaning. About the only things that might require extra tools or some training would be installing new sights or fitting a new, non-Glock-made barrel.
Capacity
For its size, the Glock holds more rounds than any other pistol. For a brief time during the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994, all pistols held a maximum of 10 rounds, at least those with magazines made at the time. Since the sunsetting of that egregious law we are back to full-capacity magazines. When the G-17 came to be, the top capacity pistols were the traditional Browning Hi-Power at 13 rounds and the S&W M‑59 at 15.
Simplicity of Use
For training, less time spent learning the “knobs and buttons” meant that more time could be spent learning sight alignment and trigger control. Students issued Glocks posted higher qualification scores with less time and shooting than those issued revolvers or other pistols.
They Look Cool
The Glock design exudes a businesslike air unlike any other firearm. Yes, it is irrational to attach an emotional state to an object, but as emotional creatures that is what we humans do. And just to make sure you know where I stand on the issue (firmly in the middle) it is my personal feeling that a Glock has all of the warmth, charm, personality and character of an industrial tool.
For more than two decades, Tiger McKee has devoted himself to the art and science of tactical shooting, and in training others in these tactics. All the hard work has paid off. McKee owns and operates the Shootrite Firearms Academy in Langston, Ala., one of the premier shooting schools in the South, where he’s helped train everyone from Joe Gun Owner to members of elite SWAT Teams. McKee, 53, is also the author of The Book of Two Guns, a training manual for practitioners of the 1911 handgun and the AR carbine, as well as a recent contributor to the pages of Gun Digest. In his “spare” time, McKee, designed his own AR, the Katana, a lean carbine stripped of all the “heavy stuff” he saw built onto so many of the new rifles.
Many people hear “tactical shooting,” and assume it only refers to law enforcement or the military. Can your average citizen benefit from training that falls under that heading?
Definitely. The skills we train people on are the same across the board. The applications may differ—if you’re an armed citizen, for example, you don’t need to learn SWAT tactics. Knowing how to operate your firearm fully, including dealing with malfunctions, marksmanship, how to move while shooting, and communicating during situations—these are the fundamentals we teach, whether you are an armed citizen, law enforcement or Special Forces.
Like my prime mentor, Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch, always says, it’s fundamentals that win fights. And it’s really difficult to acquire new skills in the middle of a fight! So you need training beforehand.
How did shooting and training become such big parts of your life?
I cannot remember not shooting. Both my grandfathers were lawmen, and my father was in the military. (Note, McKee’s father retired as a colonel in the U.S. Army’s Special Forces.) So I grew up shooting. When we all got together, family gatherings and those sorts of things, we’d target shoot together.
What was the journey like, from plinking with the family to tactical shooting instructor?
It’s not really something that I planned. I’ve been involved in shooting and martial arts since I was young, so I guess I always had a “self-defense” mindset. I began teaching family and friends various things about shooting. Then, in my 20s, I became an NRA-certified instructor and it sort of went from there.
Who did you take classes with?
A number of people, including Colonel Jeff Cooper and Clint Smith. Cooper was teaching at the NRA’s Whittington Center in Raton, N.M., then, and I took a couple classes with him. That was great. He’s pretty much the father of all the things we are doing now in the tactical shooting world.
Then you took classes with Clint Smith?
Correct. Clint is my major mentor. I took several classes with him at Thunder Ranch when it was still in Texas, and then in 1997 Clint hired me to teach some classes—defensive handgun, carbine, precision rifle. That was a great break for me. I learned so much just watching how Clint conducted himself. He’s very professional and incredibly knowledgeable. I taught there for several years, and various other schools, too.
So when did you know you wanted shooting instruction to be your life’s work?
I think I knew it when I was taking classes with Colonel Cooper. He encouraged me on that, too.
So, in the 1990’s, you were full-time into shooting and teaching?
No, sir. I had a lot of different jobs and work in there, too. I owned a shop that did custom builds for cars and motorcycles. And for a while, I was part owner of a nightclub. Odds and ends. Nothing major, just making ends meet.
When did you open Shootrite Firearms Academy?
It was in 1994. But it was very much a part-time thing. Between these odd jobs and teaching classes for people like Clint, I’d hold classes at Shootrite. As things went forward, I started to get better known, and Clint would refer students to me—he helped me a great deal.
The Book of Two Guns—did you write it as a way to establish your instructor credentials?
Not at all. It began as my notebook from the shooting classes I took. I’d make notes and draw diagrams, write down ideas that came to mind, questions I wanted answered. One day, I left it at the common room at Thunder Ranch when I was teaching there, and one of the instructors saw it and showed it to Clint.
Clint read it over, and he said to me, “You need to publish this. And you need to do it in the exact form this is in, with your handwritten notes and your own diagrams.” Well, Clint’s a very smart guy, very successful. So when he tells me something, I listen. I self-published the book, and it turned out to be pretty successful. Clint was right!
And several years ago, you designed an AR, too, the Katana.
That was something else that really wasn’t planned. I never intended the Katana as a product for sale. I was seeing all these AR rifles with heavy rails and bull barrels, and I felt there should be a rifle that was true to Eugene Stoner’s original concept of a light-weight, slim AR carbine. A writer I knew wanted to do an article on the build. I built the rifle, and he did the article, and then I was using the Katana in my classes. Well, students kept asking me, where could they get one like it? And people who read that article, they were contacting me, too. Where could they buy one?
So, I hooked up with Red Jacket Firearms [of the Sons of Guns television show], and we put out the Katana together for several years. I’ve been working with a different gun maker now, M.H.T. Defense of Wedowee, Ala., and we’ll be coming out with the Katana and a couple of different model options later this year.
Someone who loves to shoot and teach and wants to break into tactical shooting as a career—any advice?
I’d tell someone that, first of all, it’s a really hard business. These days, it seems people are opening up new shooting schools every week. If you want to make a living at this, you’re going to have to make a name for yourself and distinguish yourself from all the other guys out there. That’s going to take a lot of long hours.
And there’s so much for you to learn. You should never teach anything you’re not completely knowledgeable of—Clint Smith always stressed that to me. So that’s more of those long hours.
But, for all that, it’s a very satisfying career. The things you’re teaching people, if they actually have to use them one day? You have taught your students life saving skills. It’s such a good feeling to know you are truly helping people.
I don’t like guns. At least that’s what I thought, as I reflected back on how my mother never let my father bring his gun into the house.
I remember talking to my dad about getting a little Derringer. He was adamantly against it. Small guns can be wrestled away and used against the owner, he said. Instead, he advocated for a gun that was effective with one shot.
Several years have passed since I first thought about owning a gun. Recently, I have a renewed interest in learning to use one. I want my daughter to be educated on firearm safety and use—I want her to be smart and prepared.
Do Any Gun Ranges Cater to Beginners?
I did some research and read some good reviews about the Sandy Springs Gun Club and Range, just north of Atlanta. When I called about their membership, the woman who answered discussed my options. She mentioned that Thursday was set aside for women—and there were no range fees.
I’m not going to say that I felt immediately at ease or unafraid, but it was important to me that a well-spoken woman had all the answers to my questions, and she understood my apprehension.
“Make sure you let the person at the desk know you need some help,” she said, adding that it’s standard to assist guests.
I’ve since learned the range is owned by two sisters, Cara Workman and Robyn Workman Marzullo. I had the pleasure of meeting Robyn during my visit.
“If you can load a washing machine, you can load a gun,” Robyn said with a smile. She was right.
Behind the Gun: First Impressions
My daughter and I attended Ladies Day and were impressed by how professional and courteous the staff was—and that they were armed.
I was met by Brandie Huth, director of marketing and Casey Retterer, director of training. Retterer provided us with safety information about the gun, the club, and how each range is segmented—all completely state-of-the-art.
He set aside a Browning Buck Mark 22 for our first experience. Then he took us to the side and gave us the four cardinal rules of gun safety:
A gun is always loaded. Casey does not want there to be any mistakes or confusion and he doesn’t believe in simply, “treating a gun as if it’s loaded.”
Never cross the muzzle of a gun over anything you are not willing to destroy. Again, Casey’s safety-first training kept us feeling at ease.
Always keep your finger on the side unless you have made the conscious decision to shoot. Even after we went into the range, he impressed upon us to wait until your aim is set before putting a finger on the trigger.
Always be aware of your target, the foreground and the background. Being aware and knowing what is happening in that space is critical.
Once on the range, Casey showed us how to load the .22, pull back the slide and get the first shell into the chamber. I was surprised how easy it was to focus and not get distracted by the other shooters on the range. After a while, fear was set aside as we learned more about the pistol. There was only one person in the other lane so the noise was minimal and we were wearing ear protection.
The pistol was easy to handle, easy to load and had very little recoil. The target was only about 5 yards away, but I didn’t seem to be hitting the circle very well. My daughter, however, was a sharpshooter right out of the gate.
“I love it,” my daughter exclaimed, as we left. And with our first range session being a success, we wasted no time. We were already making plans to return and try other handguns.
Gun Digestthe Magazine is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. With a subscription toGun Digestthe Magazine, readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews, how-to instructions and Second Amendment issues.
Have you ever had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Overzealous Range Safety Officer?
I was wrong. I realize that. And I admit it.
Yes, I had technically, though unintentionally, just broken a rule.
It was a slow Sunday afternoon and for most of the shooting session with my wife and her father, we had been the only ones on the private access range. When I was done shooting, I dropped the empty mag from my .45 and locked the slide open, checking once and then again that the firearm was clear. It was.
Keeping the firearm pointed safely toward the floor, I turned, took the two steps to the cart where my case was lying open and still pointed down, closed the slide and laid it inside. That's where I messed up.
A moment later, a large guy was tapping on my shoulder, identifying himself as an RSO (a Range Safety Officer) and explaining the scope of his authority. He told me they had cameras rolling at all times at the range and he could go back, look at the video and write me up for any infraction of the rules and bring me before the board. He didn't realize my father-in-law was the member, and I was simply a guest. I still wasn't sure of what I had done.
I'm sure veteran public indoor range users reading this are probably shaking their heads. They know where I messed up. That's right, I hadn't cased my gun inside the station.
It's a common rule at many public indoor ranges, which are often crowded, and must ensure firearms are always pointed in a safe direction-near universally downrange. It makes perfect sense, and I should've known as much, though I admittedly do most of my shooting on private property, at less crowded outdoor ranges with more space or at events where, while safety remains a priority, shooters are often switching between multiple firearms, either to actually shoot or to take photographs. In most of these situations, shooters aren't dealing with cased personal guns, but shooting firearms taken from a single table or area behind the line. The times I have shot at more crowded public venues, the only place I had to put stuff was inside the station, so casing and uncasing my handgun in the station was inevitable.
I honestly had never thought about it beyond that. I follow basic safe firearm handling practices by ensuring my gun is unloaded when not on the line and pointed in a safe direction at all times. The RSO's wife had been watching through an observation window at the rear of the range and alerted her husband. The dude chided me, noting in that moment I laid the gun in the case, it was technically pointed to the rear of the range. I politely listened. I hadn't cased the gun inside the station, so I made no arguments. I let the guy finish, thanked him for pointing out my mistake and finished cleaning up. We again spoke before I left and enjoyed a cordial conversation. He wasn't a bad guy.
But Are We Cutting Off Our Nose to Spite Our Face?
While you won't see this guy on the marketing materials for your local gun club, he's the reason many shooters don't want to join or renew, at least one study suggests.
As I thought about it later though, had I been checking out the range as a prospective member, the incident might have put me off a little. My treatment hadn't left me feeling very welcome. I didn't mind the guy calling me out, but he could've done so by simply informing me of what I had done wrong and pointing out why it was an important rule to follow. I would've left feeling appreciative and better informed, not feeling like some reckless lug.
You can never be too safe, but spend any time at a range and it's a good bet we've all run into that overzealous RSO who treats his responsibility like he's running the Gestapo. It's a put off for sure and the type of intimidating behavior cited as a top reason in a Southwick Associates survey of why three out of four shooters don't belong to or frequent ranges.
More importantly, it's a teachable moment lost when a person is made to feel foolish, and quite possibly a chance squandered to make that shooter a safer, supportive member of the shooting community.
Has This Happened to You?
What do you think? Safety officers are tasked with keeping the range safe for everyone. It's a huge responsibility. But does this responsibility always demand gruff action regardless of the infraction or can the response be dialed down to match the situation? Have you had a similar encounter either as a shooter or as an RSO? If so, how was the situation handled? We'd love to get your thoughts. Share them on our Facebook page or leave comments below. Some of the best comments will be shared on the Community Page of an upcoming issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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World War II U.S. Singer Manufacturing Company Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic pistol was the highlight of the auction estimated at $9500-$15,000. Final sales price: $40,250.
Rock Island Auction Company’s summer Regional Firearms Auction exceeded expectations by surmounting the high estimate by nearly $200,000 — posting $4.7 million dollars in sales. “Our Regional sales have truly become ‘must participate' sales within the gun collecting community” said Patrick Hogan, President and Owner of Rock Island Auction Company. “Nowhere else in the world is there the quantity, quality, and diversity of firearms up for auction with virtually no reserves.
“We had a 99% sell through rate this past weekend” added Hogan. The sale contained nearly 6000 firearms and 2680 lots.
“The beauty of our regional sales stem from their overwhelming variety; everything from original Henry rifles, genuine Civil War carbines and muskets, World War II firearms and militaria, to large ammunition lots, knives and edged weapons, gun cleaning supplies to modern new in the box shotguns, rifles and pistols” said Laurence Thomson auctioneer and RIAC’s Executive Director of Operations. “The reason for such success is our ability to cater to this diverse clientele which extends from collectors, dealers, investment buyers to general firearms enthusiast and history buffs” added Thomson.
World War II arms were among the most popular. “[O]ver the past couple of years World War II firearms have really taken off,” said Jessica Tanghe RIAC’s Executive Director of Client Services. In fact, the rare and desirable World War II U.S. Singer Manufacturing Company Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic pistol was the highlight of the auction. Originally estimated at $9500-$15,000, following fierce bidding the pistol commanded an impressive $40,250.
This Deluxe Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action rifle in 50 Express Caliber was valued at $4500-7500 but achieved an impressive $8625.
Other notable results included a U.S. Union Switch & Signal Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic pistol estimated $900-1300 which brought $4025. A U.S. Ithaca Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic pistol estimated $800-1300 went out the door for $2875. German Military firearms enjoyed comparable success as a Mauser “S/42” Code 1936 Dated Luger pistol with 1936 Dated Holster estimated at $1300-1900 brought $3162.
A World War II K98 Mauser Sniper rifle with ZF41 Sniper Scope Mount, with an estimated $1400-2250 value, sold for $2587.
World War II items were only the beginning of this sensational weekend. As always, Colts and Winchester outperformed their expectations yet again. A New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action rifle estimated at $7500-12,000 went for $23,000. A Deluxe Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action rifle in 50 Express Caliber (estimated $4500-7500) achieved an impressive $8625. Meanwhile, an engraved antique Colt Single Action Army revolver estimated at $4000-6000 brought $6325.
Over the duration of the weekend Hogan estimates over 700 people registered to bid live while untold thousands submitted absentee bids via online, sealed, and telephone bidding. That massive number of bidders equates to nearly 16,000 individual bids on 2680 lots, meaning each item had on average 6 individual parties.
Other highlights include a Winchester Factory Custom Shop Engraved Model 21 Shotgun with Three Gauge (20/28/410), Three Barrel Set estimated $12,000-18,000 which brought $20,700. A Rare Smith & Wesson Lever Action Magazine pistol estimated between $6000-8000 went out the door for $9775. A Cased Pair of Joseph Manton London Percussion pistols estimated from $2000-3000 achieved a staggering $8050.
For more information regarding this sale or interest in selling with Rock Island Auction Company, call 800-238-8022 or visit www.rockislandauction.com. Rock Island Auction’s next auction is a Premiere Firearms Auction scheduled for September 13th, 14th & 15th, 2013.
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Gun Digestthe Magazine is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. With a subscription toGun Digestthe Magazine, readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews, how-to instructions and Second Amendment issues.
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