ZALESKI — Authorities are still on the lookout for a pair of would-be robbers who were forced to flee a Vinton County store Saturday after its owners and a customer opened fire on them, Vinton County Sheriff's deputies reported.
At about 4:54 p.m. Saturday, two men wearing camouflage and carryingan assault-style rifle and shotgun entered the Zaleski General Store at the intersection of Ohio 278 and Ohio 677 and demanded money, according to a release from the Vinton County Sheriff's Office.
Store ownerLetha Toops retrieved a small handgun from under the counter and fired four shots into the floor in front of the would-be robbers, who then fled. As the pair got into a waiting car, the lone customer in the store took Toops' handgun and fired a shot as the car drove away.
Toops' husband, Jerry, also fired at the car, using a gun he had in the waistband of his pants.
The sheriff's office is unsure whetheranyone was struck by the gunfire, but all area hospitals were put on notice and units from the sheriff's office and Ohio Highway Patrol searched the area. Read more Source: chillicothegazette.com
Recommended gun books for those who carry concealed handguns:
AUGUSTA – A Martinez man remains in critical but stable condition after being shot during a confrontation on the 2000 block of Westfield Drive in Augusta. Authorities say 19-year-old Milo Hayes III was shot by Brete Anthony Gunby after Gunby spotted Hayes allegedly attempting to break into a neighbor's truck.
The 39-year-old says he watched Hayes enter his neighbor's truck and that's when he called 9-1-1. He then went outside with a pistol and told Hayes to stay put until the police arrived. Hayes pulled out an object from his pockets, and that's when Gunby fired at him, according to the police report. Investigators say the shooting was self-defense.
The shooting has gotten theattention of many in the neighborhood. Mrs. Ruby Underwood says in her eyes, Gunby is a hero. The almost 90-year-old mother and grandmother says if someone tries to come in her home uninvited she'll be ready too.
“I'd shoot up in the air a coupleof times and I might come to another window and take another shot at them,” said Underwood. “I do have a gun and I know how to use it. I was taught how to use a gun when I was 12 years old.” Read more
FAIRFIELD, CA — Gunfire erupted Friday afternoon when two suspects attempted to rob a cell phone store in Fairfield and an employee with a gun opened fire in apparent self-defense, according to police.
Officers responded to a reported attempted robbery at a MetroPCS store located at 2023 N. Texas St. at around 3:15 p.m., Fairfield police said.
Witnesses told police that two black men in their early 20s entered the store and one of them pointed a handgun at two employees while the second jumped over the store counter and demanded cash.
One of the employees apparently drew a handgun and fired multiple rounds at both suspects, according to police. The two men fled and were last seen running west through an open field onto Tabor Avenue.
It has not been determined if either of the men were struck by the gunfire. Read More
Those rifles had sat in South Korean warehouses for the last five decades, and could prove a treasure trove for military surplus retailers, collectors, and shooters.
Recently, though, came news from South Korea that the sale of these M1’s was in a sort of bureaucratic limbo.
According to the Korea Times, “The U.S. government opposed South Korea’s bid to sell hundreds of thousands of aging U.S. combat rifles to American gun collectors…The [Ministry of National Defense] announced the plan last September as part of efforts to boost its defense budget, saying the export of the M1 Garand and carbine rifles would start by the end of 2009.”
However, “The U.S. administration put the brakes on the plan, citing ‘problems’ that could be caused by the importation of the rifles. The problems the U.S. government cited were somewhat ambiguous, said an official at the Ministry of National Defense on condition of anonymity.”
“The U.S. insisted that imports of the aging rifles could cause problems such as firearm accidents,” the official told Korea Times. “It was also worried the weapons could be smuggled to terrorists, gangs or other people with bad intentions. We’re still looking into the reason why the U.S. administration is objecting to the sale of the rifles and seeking ways to resolve the problems raised.”
The spokesman is Bill Ames, president of the Peace Officers Research Association of Nevada and a self-described “member of the NRA and a Republican.”
Says Ames:
“What she's actually talking about is armed resistance….That kind of talk is dangerous and way too extreme.”
The first disconnect is his claim that Angle “keeps saying” this. It's a one-time sound bite they selectively culled from the Lars Larson show, and Ames presents no evidence that this has been a recurring, or even a repeated theme in the seven months since this was recorded.
That said, what is it she's really reporting on and cautioning about–as opposed to advocating or inciting, which this ad implies? If the government ignores the Constitution and the rights it is mandated to protect, the Second Amendment may ultimately enable the people to restore its protections against tyranny…?
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Talk about “over the line.” “dangerous” and “way too extreme”! Read more
State and Upson County officials had the case moved to the U.S. District Court in Macon on Friday. The case garnered national news coverage when it was first filed a month ago in Upson County Superior Court by the Rev. Jonathan Wilkins of the Baptist Tabernacle of Thomaston, which is partnering with GeorgiaCarry.org Inc. on the lawsuit. Wilkins said he has a constitutional right to be armed in church, which is now prohibited under state law.
The case was filed shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court clarified an individual’s right to bear arms. Wilkins’ attorney, John R. Monroe of Roswell, said the case depends more on Wilkins’ First Amendment right to freely worship than his Second Amendment right to bear arms.
“It’s difficult to imagine how a law that permits a certain behavior throughout the state but prohibits it in church would stand constitutional muster,” Monroe said. Read more
Joining SAF in this lawsuit are the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA), Action Target, Inc., and three individual plaintiffs including a retired Chicago police detective. They are represented by attorneys Alan Gura of Virginia and David Sigale of Chicago, who teamed up with SAF and ISRA on the landmark case of McDonald v. City of Chicago, which incorporated the Second Amendment to the states, effectively striking down Chicago’s 28-year-old handgun ban.
“While the city has adopted new regulations that make it legal to own handguns,” said SAF Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb, “they have crafted this new ordinance to make it virtually impossible for prospective gun owners to meet all legal requirements unless they travel outside the city for mandatory training. The new ordinance prohibits public gun ranges inside the city yet the city demands that handgun owners get at least one hour of range training time.
“This is a ‘Catch-22’ scenario,” he continued, “that seems deliberately designed to discourage Chicago residents from exercising their firearm civil rights barely two months after those rights were restored by the Supreme Court.” Read more
I'm working on a story for Tactical Gear Magazine and I need your help. If you are a LEO, I want to know what you carry off duty. Be specific. Does your agency allow off-duty carry or does your agency require off duty carry? Do you carry everywhere? In church? At the mall? Name the make and model of firearm. Tell me the brand of ammo. Do you have a knife? ID or a badge?
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“We sleep peaceably in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.”
This is a great quote from George Orwell and reminds me that I don't want a “kinder, gentler military.”
In any situation, your enemy should know that violent action will come at great cost. I am proud that our nation lends a hand to those in need and proud to have been a part of that. But these days it seems those who would do us harm have no fear of our retaliation. They should.
Geneseo, IL — ArmaLite has announced the immediate availability of a limited run rifle. The small batch of AR-10A4’s will be offered with two special upgrades — a stainless steel match grade barrel and a National Match trigger. This is a rare configuration for an AR-10.
The rifles are being shipped as an EXCLUSIVE to the RSR Group, one of the top firearms distributors in the U.S. (www.rsrgroup.com) For interested customers, the formal name of this rifle is AR-10A4 BSNF. Contact your local ArmaLite dealer for details. About: ArmaLite manufactures and sells semiautomatic rifles in a variety of calibers including 5.56mm and 7.62mm, long range super-accurate bolt action rifles in calibers including .308 Winchester, 300 Winchester, 338 Lapua, and 50 BMG, and classic 9mm pistols. Visit: www.armalite.com
In the final installment of this series on the N-Frame Smith & Wesson revolver, the author takes a look at the .357 Highway Patrolman, .41 magnum, and other modern versions of the N-frame revolver.
Designed for concealed carry and home defense, the new Night Guard line features Scandium alloy frames, stainless steel cylinders and special night sights. PHOTOS BY JAMES WALTERS AND BUTCH SIMPSON
In 1954, so as to satisfy demand for a more affordable magnum revolver, S&W introduced the .357 Highway Patrolman (in post-1957 nomenclature, the Model 28). While this N-frame lacked the external finish and cosmetic beauty of the .357 Magnum, its lower price made it an instant hit and it became one of the most popular American police handguns of its day. By the early 1960s the Model 27 and 28 were outselling the .38/44, .44 Special and .45 ACP caliber N-frame guns by a wide margin, leading to S&W quietly dropping them from their catalog.
By the early 1950s the renowned writer, shooter and hunter Elmer Keith had spent several years hot-rodding the .44 Special and was advocating the development of a revolver cartridge capable of taking big game. Between 1954 and 1955, in cooperation with Remington, S&W engineers developed the .44 Remington Magnum cartridge. This was based upon the .44 Special case lengthened 0.125 inch and loaded with a 240-gr. jacketed bullet that was pushed to 1180 fps for 741 ft/lbs. of muzzle energy, making it the hands-down, most powerful, smokeless powder revolver cartridge of all time.
A replaceable, hardened steel shim prevents frame “cutting” from the gases of powerful Magnum cartridges. PHOTOS BY JAMES WALTERS AND BUTCH SIMPSON
Introduced in 1955, the massive S&W .44 Magnum Revolver (post-1957, the Model 29) was an expensive specialty item that sold in limited numbers to big game hunters. But with the release of Clint Eastwood’s hit 1971 film Dirty Harry, the Model 29 became the most sought-after handgun on the American market, causing prices to skyrocket as the limited numbers available quickly sold out.
While the pace of production at S&W’s factory was stepped up, it still took several years to catch up to demand. S&W’s marketing types wisely conducted an advertising campaign that used Dirty Harry movie posters to extol the virtues of their most powerful revolver. The Model 29 became so well know to the general public that even those persons who have no interest whatsoever in firearms can tell you in an instant what type of revolver Detective Harry Callahan carried!
“Magnum mania” was now sweeping the handgun world and it seemed that everyone with R&D or production facilities was either trying to develop a new magnum cartridge or market a revolver chambered for one. In 1963 S&W had announced a new N-frame, the Model 57, chambered for the .41 Remington Magnum cartridge, which was intended to provide sufficient power for hunting big game but with lower levels of recoil than the big .44.
The following year, in an attempt to popularize the .41 Magnum with police, S&W introduced the Model 58 revolver which, with its 4-inch heavy barrel and fixed sights, harked back to the .44 Hand Ejector Third Model. Despite the development of medium-velocity .41 Magnum loads, the concept never quite caught on with American police although a loyal group of big game hunters evolved that kept the .41 Magnum cartridge and Model 57 revolver commercially viable propositions.
The next trendsetting move by S&W occurred in 1963 with the introduction of the J-frame Model 60, the first all-stainless steel revolver. As the practicality – and popularity – of stainless steel grew, S&W expanded the option to most of their N-frame guns. Over the next several years, the market saw the introduction of the stainless steel Models 629 (.44 Magnum), 657 (.41 Magnum), 624 (.44 Special), 627 (.357 Magnum), 625 (.45 ACP) and 610 (10mm Auto). The two latter guns use full moon clips to handle the rimless pistol cartridges and, because of their rapid reloading capabilites, once dominated dominate those action shooting sports where revolvers are used such as ICORE, bowling pin shooting, IDPA and IPSC.
With the burgeoning popularity of semiauto pistols, in recent years the market for revolvers has shrunk, leading to S&W’s dropping several models. But that being said, over the past few years S&W’s Performance Center has introduced a number of limited edition and custom N-frame revolvers.
Six of the newest are the Model 625 5.25-inch competition revolver in .45 ACP; the classically styled, blue steel Model 251 .45 Hand Ejector in .45 Colt; the Model 28 in .357 Magnum (an eight-shooter, no less!); the Heritage Model 25-12, a reincarnation of the Model 1917 in .45 ACP; and two tricked-out hunting revolvers, the Model 647 Comped Hunter in .41 Magnum and Model 629 7.5-inch Stealth Hunter in .44 Magnum.
This side view shows the Triple Lock’s locking bolt housed in the bottom of the ejector rod shroud. PHOTOS BY JAMES WALTERS AND BUTCH SIMPSON
The newest kids on the block are the S&W Night Guard revolvers, which utilize a frame constructed from a special alloy that contains a small amount of Scandium, a rare metal that has the ability to transmit its strength and flexibility when alloyed with other metals – in the case of the Night Guard revolvers, aluminum. This allows the construction of lightweight frames capable of standing up to the operating pressures of magnum cartridges.
But the Night Guards differ from S&W’s other light weight revolvers in that a replaceable blast shield made of thin, hardened steel is positioned above the cylinder/barrel gap where it prevents hot powder gases from “cutting” the frame’s top strap. While it would have been possible to use titanium cylinders to reduce weight even further, S&W decided to fit the new revolvers with stainless steel cylinders featuring a Physical Vapor Deposit (PVD) matte black finish that provides increased protection against salts, solvents, powder residue, abrasion and just about any other problem they may encounter.
Night Guards also feature what just might be the most practical set of sights I have ever seen on revolvers intended for service use. The XS Sight Systems 24/7 Big Dot front sight has a tritium insert surrounded by a large, white ring making it equally visible in the dark or bright light conditions. The rear sight is a Cylinder & Slide Extreme Duty fixed unit whose generously-proportioned U notch allows a fast sight picture and alignment under a variety of light conditions.
The Night Guard line includes three N-frame guns: the M327NG (eight shot .357), M329NG (.44 Mag) and the M325NG (.45 ACP). As it would be unprofessional of me to pass judgement upon these handguns without actually test firing them, I amassed a varied selection of N-frame revolvers and my friend Butch Simpson and I ran them through their paces.
My test guns ran the gamut from oldest to newest: a British contract .455 Triple Lock (converted to .45 Auto Rim, and so marked on the left side of the barrel but restored by the present owner with an original .455 cylinder; a .357 Highway Patrolman; a .44 Magnum Model 29; and a Performance Center Model 625 5.25-incher. The intended purposes of these four handguns run the gamut from military service (Triple Lock*), to big game hunting (M29), to action pistol competition (M625) and, finally, to police service (Highway Patrolman). Test ammo consisted of the following: Federal .357 Magnum, 158-gr. Nyclad; PMC .44 Magnum, 180-gr. JHP;. Lawman .45 ACP, 230-gr. FMJ; and Fiocchi .455 Mk. II, 262-gr. LRN. Ably assisted by my good friend Butch Simpson, I fired each gun for accuracy from a rest at 50 feet.
While firing large caliber revolvers from a rest can be a trying process, our quartet of big Smiths proved controllable and accurate. As luck would have it, all four printed more or less to point of aim, even the fixed-sight Triple Lock. Neither of us was surprised when honors went to the finely made Performance Center Model 625, which put six rounds of Speer hardball into a pleasing 1-5/8-inch group.
The mortise on the front of the triple lock's cylinder crane. PHOTOS BY JAMES WALTERS AND BUTCH SIMPSON
Somewhat surprisingly, the runner-up was the heaviest recoiling of our test guns, the Model 29, with a beautifully centered 1-3/4-inch group. Even thought it had the shortest barrel, the Highway Patrolman was no slouch with a half dozen .357s in 2-1/8 inches, while the greybeard of the bunch, the Triple Lock, showed it could still do what was needed to be done with six Fiocchi .455s in 2-3/8 inches.
Butch then set up a series of D-1 target at ten yards and we performed the following drills with each revolver. As we did not have holsters suitable (i.e., big enough) for our test guns, each drill began with the shooter holding the revolver at the low ready position (45 degree angle to the ground). The test protocol was as follows:
1. Six rounds, slow aimed fire. 2. Three sets of rapid fire, double taps. 3. Six rounds as fast as we could obtain a flash sight picture.
We were gratified to find that all four of the N-frames performed these tasks with aplomb. In fact, except for a few hits in the outer scoring zones caused by the Triple Lock’s rather minuscule sights, all four of our targets had nicely centered groups in their respective X and 10 rings. Except for the differences in felt recoil the performances of these revolvers – each of which was produced in a different era, fired a different cartridge and was designed for a different purpose – were more or less equal.
Each displayed strong and weak features: the Triple Lock had an excellent DA trigger pull but its grips and sights were too small for fast shooting; the M29 was, once again, pleasingly accurate but its recoil was stiff; the Highway Patrolman was the handiest of the four although muzzle blast from the .357 cartridge was heavy; finally, while the M625 proved the most accurate, Butch and I both felt that replacing its smooth wooden grips with a set of modern, finger groove, synthetic grips would enhance handling even further.
In conclusion, I believe I’m safe in saying that the job description of the large frame, heavy caliber revolver has not changed all that much, if at all, in the last century. For this reason, a S&W N-frame wheelgun is sort of an ageless entity. In fact, it might be fair to say that a present-day law enforcement officer, soldier or outdoorsman would be equally well served with an 80-something year old S&W .44 Triple Lock as he or she would be with a modern M627 revolver.
Note: I would like to thank the following persons and organizations for supplying revolvers, ammunition, photos and much needed information used in the preparation for this article: Roy Jinks, Ken Jorgensen, Lois Chase, Vincent Scarlata, Butch Simpson, Bonnie Young, Daniel Hecht, Smith & Wesson, Inc., Fiocchi USA, PMC and Blount, Inc. This article is an excerpt from the Gun Digest 2011 annual book.
Gun Digest is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. Readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews and practical how-to instructions. With your Subscription, you'll also learn about threats to your Second Amendment rights. Click here to begin your subscription to Gun Digest.
Inside this issue:
– Holster test – Winchester Model 24 – Small handguns – Great gear for hunters and shooters – Trends of value for rifles, shotguns and handguns – classifieds and gun auction listings
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It’s worth disassembling any gun you might buy to check the condition of the firing pin.
It would seem that the mechanism that makes your gun go bang should be simple to understand and evaluate. But the various types of firing pins cause a lot of confusion among gun buyers. Here’s what you need to know before you buy.
Virtually everyone knows that a firing pin hits a primer to set a cartridge off, and there are a lot of methods in getting that operation done. There are too many designs to list them all here, but it’s worth looking at the types you’ll likely run into when you’re considering a gun purchase.
Definitions
There are usually quite a few parts to a firing pin, but a few parts are more visible and important than others. The nose is part of the firing pin that hits the primer. The pin has a shoulder, which is the larger diameter from the nose of the pin to the main bulk of the pin. The spring recess is the hollow portion of the striker body that holds the firing-pin spring.
Revolver Firing Pins
Most wheelguns use passive or active firing pins. If the hammer is exposed, the firing pin is passive. It remains in the frame and is struck by the hammer or a hammer-transfer mechanism.
If a hammer needs another fixed firing pin, take extra care to see why the thing broke in the first place because it shouldn’t happen under normal circumstances. If the hammer has a hole in the front or a cross-pinning hole in its side, it has an active design.
Active firing pins are usually integral (built into or fixed to the front of the hammer) or swiveling (with a pivot pin through it). Curiously, some S&W models have sprung, pivoting firing pins, while some are unsprung.
Either way, the nose of the pin has to be cammed so it doesn’t hit on the firing pin clearance hole. I prefer the springing style, since it doesn’t involve an impact or scuffing as does the camming method. The latter tends to rupture and tear primers, I’ve found.
Other Common Pin Types
Strikers, commonly found on Mauser bolts, usually have a spring inside the body. The 700 Remington has what looks like a striker, but it is really a quasi-striker system because the firing pin is released by a camming action and not the sear. The transfer-bar system includes a bar or other mechanism to transfer the hammer’s momentum to the firing pin only when the trigger was pulled.
In revolvers, this is usually a bar that lifts up when the trigger is pulled. Some manufacturers place blocking devices directly in contact with the firing pins, notably in the Colt Series 80.
This firing-pin locking-pin style means that several levers must be moved by the trigger before they raise a spring-loaded blocking pin out of the locking notch in the firing pin.
Before You Buy
At some point, someone will show you a gun that needs a firing-pin replacement, but the pin will be missing. Check exploded views of the action to see the complexity of the pin itself.
Even a basic drawing can suggest the pin’s relative size, the number of pieces it has, if it has a retaining pin or screw, and if it works with a return/rebound spring. All those will influence the design and dimensions of the pin and give you a preview of how difficult it might be to get the gun back in service.
If a gun you’re examining needs a firing pin that’s the striker type, make the deal only if the pin is available from your parts sources. Only a very experienced gunsmith, one who is also a good machinist, can make a good striker.
Scott Freigh’s “Before You Buy” column appears periodically in Gun Digest the Magazine.
As The Telegraph reported, “Other sources said the firm is talking about moving the operation, which represents about 1,000 jobs, to Oxford, Miss., the same location where the firm moved its Rimfire manufacturing operation in 2004. An employee said a manager read a formal statement to workers [recently]….The statement said that the move would be completed in the next three to five years.”
Winchester spokeswoman Val Peters admitted that the company was in discussion with union representatives with regard to a move, but would not confirm a time frame for such a relocation.
“Winchester moved its Rimfire operation to Oxford in 2004, along with about 150 jobs and a $3.5 million payroll,” The Telegraph noted. “The Rimfire operation makes primarily .22-caliber ammunition. Centerfire includes larger-caliber ammunition. Olin also makes shotgun shells and military ammunition at its Winchester plant in East Alton. When the company moved its Rimfire operation to Mississippi, officials said the move was to reduce costs and improve efficiency.”
The potential loss of 1,000 jobs was a big worry for River Bend Growth Association Executive Director Monica Bristow. “Losing jobs of any kind is hard on a region,” Bristow said. “It impacts unemployment and a wide range of issues.”
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
ZALESKI — Authorities are still on the lookout for a pair of would-be robbers who were forced to flee a Vinton County store Saturday after its owners and a customer opened fire on them, Vinton County Sheriff's deputies reported.
The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry
