The National Rifle Association (NRA) has suffered a setback in its attempt to end the City of Chicago’s ban on handguns. But the fight is far from over.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Washington, D.C., handgun ban in Heller v District of Columbia. That handgun ban was very similar to the one currently in force in Chicago. So soon after the Supreme Court’s decision, “The National Rifle Association then challenged Chicago's ban,” the Chicago Tribune reported, by filing a lawsuit in Illinois.
Recently, though, “U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur rejected the gun rights group's effort to extend the D.C. ruling to Chicago and Oak Park. Shadur concluded this month that the Supreme Court decision did not give him the authority to take such action.”
“The NRA immediately appealed Shadur's decision, and [NRA] attorney Stephen Halbrook said the group is confident it will prevail in a higher court.”
The Los Angeles City Council approved a package of gun control laws [Dec. 17], placing new requirements on ammunition sellers and banning the sale of military-style ammunition in the hopes of further reducing the city's gun and gang violence.
The measures ban the sale of .50-caliber ammunition, capable of penetrating a car's engine, and would require the city's ammunition vendors to be licensed, to sell ammunition face-to-face instead of over the Internet and require gun dealers to report a full accounting of their inventory twice a year to the Police Department.
The council passed laws prohibiting the installation of secret compartments for guns in cars and allowing the city to permanently seize vehicles used by certain gang members during a crime, which was proposed by City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo.
The council also approved an ordinance that would allow landlords to evict tenants who are convicted of illegally possessing weapons or ammunition within 1,000 feet of the rental property.
A lawyer for the National Rifle Assn. said his client probably would file suit to block some of the measures.
Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who helped develop the ordinances with Councilman Jack Weiss and other members, praised the package at a news conference before the vote.
“We use this to stop a vehicle,” Bratton said, holding up a .50-caliber bullet longer and thicker than a finger. “Unless you are out trying to kill Godzilla, and I think the last time we saw Godzilla was in the 1950s, there is no need for this type of weapon” unless it is in the hands of the military or law enforcement, he said.
Villaraigosa dismissed questions about whether the ammunition restrictions would have a practical effect since buyers could simply purchase the bullets over the Internet or in cities where the laws do not apply.
“Part of what we're doing here is leading the way,” Villaraigosa said, stating that the measures are another tool to fight gun violence and that he hoped other cities and President-elect Barack Obama's administration would follow suit. “This is the most far-reaching effort of any big city in the country. . . . This isn't about symbolism; it's about results.”
The council approved the measures unanimously.
But C.D. Michel, a Long Beach attorney who represents the National Rifle Assn. and the California Rifle & Pistol Assn., said his clients were likely to sue over the new laws governing ammunition sales and vendors because they either conflict with or are duplicated by state law.
Michel, the law partner of city attorney candidate Carmen A. Trutanich, also questioned the effectiveness of the ammunition measures, noting that there are only a handful of gun vendors left in the city and buyers could go elsewhere.
“A lot of these don't really do what the sound bite would portray them as doing,” said Michel, who accused Weiss of pushing the measures to get publicity for his own campaign for city attorney. “It's about trying to look like you're doing something when you're not really doing anything. . . . My clients will just just challenge the ones that are illegal in court.”
Weiss, who introduced four of the ordinances and is chairman of the city's public safety committee, addressed the possibility of legal challenges by the NRA at the news conference.
“I think the message from everyone up here to the NRA is pretty simple: Make our day. We will fight you in court. We will win,” Weiss said.
Weiss has criticized Trutanich's associations with the NRA, which is likely to be an issue in the city attorney's race.
After several council members received a letter from Michel on the letterhead of the Trutanich-Michel firm challenging several proposed gun and ammunition ordinances, Weiss called on his opponent to “fire the NRA as a client or quit the race for city attorney.”
Weiss' campaign also circulated a news article to reporters in which Trutanich refers to the NRA as his client.
But when Weiss raised the issue in early December, Trutanich released a statement stating that the NRA is not his client, he is not a member of the organization and he disagrees with many of the NRA's positions.
His campaign manager said he was misquoted when he referred to the NRA as a client in the August news article.
Get them while you can! Most places are sold out, but if you can find any of the Magpul, PMAGs, buy them now. They are the best on the market and who knows what the future will bring.
Here at GDTM, we have tested PMAGS inside and out from Wisconsin to Iraq and they have never failed. Everyone we have talked to raves about them. They work. They are tough as hell and they work.
Oh yeah, I said that. Did I tell you that they work? Always. Every time.
The PMAG™ (Polymer MAGazine) is a lightweight 5.56 NATO, M-16 compatible magazine. It features a pop-off storage/dust cover that alleviates pressure from the magazine feed lips, allowing for long-term storage of loaded magazines without risk of feed lip creep that often causes malfunction in standard aluminum magazines. PMAG™ utilizes a resilient stainless steel spring for corrosion resistance.
And they work every time.
They retail for about $15 so get your hands on them right now.
BELLEVUE, WA – Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is asserting that he has the authority to skirt Washington State’s long-standing firearms preemption statute, but in a 2006 letter to House Speaker Frank Chopp, he admitted that state law prevents him from taking any such action.
The letter was made public Monday, Dec. 15 at a special hearing at City Hall by Alan M. Gottlieb, founder of the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation.
In his letter to Speaker Chopp, dated May 4, 2006, Mayor Nickels acknowledged that “State law preempts any and all local regulations related to firearms. Our hands are tied at the local level and we are unable to adopt any local laws to protect our residents from gun crime.”
“This is what Attorney General Rob McKenna’s office told Mayor Nickels in October,” Gottlieb noted. “Despite all of his bluster over the past six months, it is evident now that Mayor Nickels has known all along he cannot ban legally-carried firearms, by executive order, by ordinance or by wishing upon a star. He knew this in 2006 and he was reminded of it two months ago by McKenna’s office.
“Mayor Nickels has tried to capitalize on a single unfortunate incident at the Seattle Center,” he continued, “in order to push his long-standing anti-rights agenda. More than 20 years ago, the state legislature wisely enacted our common-sense preemption law that is now preventing the mayor from acting like a monarch, answerable to nobody. Essentially, he wants to use executive authority as though it were a royal decree, to not only defy state statute, but also to violate our state constitutional right-to-bear-arms provision.
“The May 2006 letter to Speaker Chopp clearly proves that the mayor knows he cannot legally do this,” Gottlieb said. “If Mayor Nickels goes forward with this ban, he will leave the Second Amendment Foundation no alternative than to take immediate legal action to stop him.”
Gun owners in Oregon were recently dealt a defeat, when an Oregon Appeals Court ruled that a vehicle constitutes a “public place.” Meaning, the possession of a loaded firearm in said vehicle could be considered a crime, if that locality has a ban on open loaded carry.
According to the Oregon Firearms Federation (OFF), the ruling came from a case where a Portland police officer arrested a person with an unconcealed handgun in his car. As an OFF press release noted,
“It has always been our position that open carry in a vehicle was clearly protected by Oregon law. ORS 166.250 clearly states that except for [concealed handgun holders], it is concealed carry in a vehicle that is prohibited.”
OFF added, “Oregon's preemption law was created specifically to prevent a person from inadvertently breaking the law as he moved around the state. This ruling is a major setback for gun rights in Oregon and puts many people at risk simply by crossing into a town or city that has onerous and unposted rules. OFF is considering what further legal action can be taken, and in the meantime warns gun owners to be very careful when traveling in Oregon.”
Nightforce has quietly been making a name in the tactical scope industry for years by building scopes that will work through any type of torture, including a through-and-through shot from a 7.62×39 round. (see its website for details)
Now that tough-as-nails construction is coming to the hunting market. And one of the best options is the 2.5-10×24 NXS (shown at left).
It is perhaps the most versatile, rugged and practical all-around scope on the market for the hunter and for general shooting. Those who thought a huge 40 or 50mm objective lens was essential for use in low-light conditions will find the superb resolution of the Nightforce lenses provides low-light performance comparable to—in most cases, exceeding—that of lesser quality scopes with massive objectives.
The streamlined design of the 2.5-10 x 24 provides a range of mounting options and complements, rather than dominates, a fine hunting rifle. While it will easily absorb the pounding of heavy calibers, those who enjoy shooting small centerfire calibers will also appreciate a scope that does not overwhelm trim, elegant firearms.
There are no parallax or focusing concerns, and its light weight makes it a perfect complement to a mountain rifle. If you want to get your hands on a scope that is battle-tested tough, but also refined and elegant, reach for a Nightforce.
The UPG 16 is a six-piece interchangeable pistol grip for M16/AR15 and similar type firearms that incorporates multiple finger groove and palm swell inserts (3 each) allowing the user to customize the grip to fit all hand sizes for maximum comfort and control.
The UPG 16 is noticeably better than the standard grip found on AR-type rifles, filling your hand for better control and offering outstanding grip even when wet or dirty.
Installation is a breeze and swapping the inserts takes next to no time at all and they are held firmly in place with cross pins.
A tough snap-on cap also provides secure storage for small items, like batteries for your weapon-mounted light.
With a retail price of just $40, there is no reason not to get your hands on one of these outstanding add-ons to what is already an outstanding rifle.
For more information or to order a UPG 16 pistol grip, check out www.commandarms.com
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Simplicity is one of the hallmarks of the Glock pistol. You don't need much in the way of tools to take care of these hard-working duty guns.
But there are some tools you must have and now Brownell's has put them all in one box — giving you a handy place to store your Glock tools so you can get your hands on them when you need them.
You get a nut driver for the front sight nut, a punch for the frame pins, one to help with magazine disassembly, a flat blade to push the mag catch spring aside and two Allen bits for various adjustable rear sights. All the “bits” fit into the full-size, hollow handle with a short shank, to keep you close to the work for maximum control. Everything is combined into one compact, self-storing unit called, coincidentally, Screwdriver Set for Glock. The stock number is #080-000-408 and the set sells for $19.97.
“If you own a Glock, having the right tools to take it apart for service will make your ownership experience even better,” said Pete Brownell, company President, “this Set has just what you need, and nothing extra.”
What I love about dealing with Brownell's is that I can get answers to any installation or troubleshooting questions from the experienced technical service staff with a quick, toll-free call (800) 741-0015.
Gun Digest is the national bi-weekly source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. Our in-depth editorial, exclusive price guide and new product features, brings valuable information to our high profile subscribers. Subscribe Now!
Media outlets around the nation reported a surge in firearm sales due to Senator Barack Obama’s presidential victory. Wisconsin, though, seemed to be the sales winner, as retail handgun buys here jumped up 82%, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
“Most of the early November background checks took place after the Nov. 4 presidential election, a sign that gun owners anticipate new restrictions with Democrats taking control of the federal government,” the Journal Sentinel noted.
“Calls for background checks that are required for the purchase of handguns have flooded the state agency. In the first 13 days of the month, 2,642 background checks were requested. During the same 13 days last November, the number was 1,453, state Justice Department spokesman Bill Cosh said.”
Ammunition was on the minds of gun owners, too.
“I went out and stocked up on ammo,” said Kyle Troeger of Muskego. “I bought 20 cases of rifle ammunition.”
BELLEVUE, WA – A draft proposal issued Friday by Mayor Greg Nickels outlining his scheme to ignore state statute and state legislative authority over firearms regulation amounts to a slap in the face against more than 250,000 Washington state residents, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said in response.
“We’re going to review this draft proposal line-by-line,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb, “but even a cursory glance at the document released Friday by Mayor Nickels shows that he has chosen to arrogantly ignore the State Attorney General’s opinion. State statute clearly limits municipal authority, and the Nickels plan suggests he is attempting to be a little too clever in trying an end-run around the law.
“If Nickels pushes ahead with this scheme,” he added, “there will be two kinds of criminals in Seattle, thugs and those who win elections. Both seem to believe it’s just fine to ignore the law by playing the system.
“The outrage here is that the mayor is grossly overreacting to a single event,” Gottlieb stated, “and trying to push his personal anti-gun agenda by administrative rule, rather than submit this proposal to the city council. We believe such a rule is unenforceable and that it intentionally violates not only the letter of the law, but the spirit and intent of the law as passed by the Legislature more than 20 years ago.
“Legally-armed Washington residents, whether they live in Seattle or just visit there, have just as much right to be on public property as any other citizen,” Gottlieb observed. “Mayor Nickels cannot simply issue what amounts to an imperial edict that not only ignores the state preemption statute, but essentially strips these citizens of their state constitutional right to self-defense in places where they have a legal right to be, and the courts have already affirmed this.
“We will encourage gun owners to attend the scheduled Dec. 15 public hearing and remind Mr. Nickels that he was elected mayor of Seattle, not its monarch,” Gottlieb said.
Brownells just honored their one-millionth customer, Mr. Jason Wright, by presenting him with a personalized Bushmaster AR-15 in Mr. Wright's caliber choice, .450 Bushmaster, at their Montezuma, Iowa facility.
The Brownells IT Department had been keeping track as the company neared the significant milestone of one-million, unique customers since the company computerized in the early 1980s. They passed the word to company President, Pete Brownell the instant Mr. Wright's order came in. “I really wanted to say thank you to our customers and show how much they mean to us. When I saw that Jason ordered AR-15 parts I knew right away what we had to do. A big thank you to Bushmaster for providing the gun, and Trinidad State Junior College for using their pantograph to personalize the gun for Jason.”
Jason himself was astonished and overwhelmed, “I just placed an order, my first, and was so surprised when they called to say they were giving me a gun. I have another Bushmaster and love their ARs, so this is really great.”
Bushmaster is one of the nation's premier builders of AR-15 rifles and components. They can be contacted at bushmaster.com.
Damn! Pardon the language, but that's all anyone could say when I fired a single round of Extreme Shock CTJ shotgun ammo into a block of ballistic material recently.
It wasn't ballistic gelatin and forgive me for not jotting down exactly what I fired into, but the results were still amazing.
The CTJ is a reduced-recoil, controlled-penetration tactical shotgun round that offers reduced ricochet hazard and is perfect for interior applications like home defense or tactical entry.
The round uses the .45 caliber Extreme Shock Air Freedom bullet, designed to fragment as it passes through half-inch sheetrock. But in the ballistic material designed to mimic human tissue the round offers about 12 inches of penetration and complete fragmentation without shoot-through.
Even though the recoil was similar to a .38 Special, I could put my fist in the hole it created.
Because of its design, the CTJ is only good to about 35 yards, but that's plenty of distance for interior work like home-defense or entry operations.
Check out the photo and your response will be similar to mine.
Gun Digest is the national bi-weekly source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. Our in-depth editorial, exclusive price guide and new product features, brings valuable information to our high profile subscribers. Subscribe Now!
Many gun owners had, at the least, an uneasy feeling when Illinois Senator Barack Obama (D) won the presidential election on November 4, 2008.
“Uneasy” because, even though Obama made numerous claims of support for the Second Amendment, the jury was and is definitely out as to what President-elect Obama may eventually offer up in the way of gun rights support — or gun control.
Making the situation potentially even worse, Democrats control both houses of Congress, and their ranks include some of the top anti-gunners in American politics, like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). Any anti-gun legislation, originating from either the White House or Congress, would therefore have a relatively easy time being approved.
“If you look at the voting record of the president-elect and vice president-elect [Delaware Senator Joe Biden], you'll see that they have voted for and supported draconian gun control measures again and again,” said Andrew Arulanandam, a spokesman for the National Rifle Association (NRA), in the St. Petersburg Times. “I think hunters and gun owners see a perfect storm coming for the gun-control lobby to exploit.”
Gun Sales Soar in Anticipation of Gun Bans
Fearing that storm, many Americans apparently took the most basic action to secure their rights: they started buying up guns!
According to the New York Times, “Sales of handguns, rifles and ammunition have surged in the last week [before the election], according to gun store owners around the nation who describe a wave of buyers concerned that an Obama administration will curtail their right to bear arms.”
“He’s a gun-snatcher,” Jim Pruett, owner of Jim Pruett’s Guns and Ammo in northwest Houston, told the New York Times, while his gun shop was packed with shoppers.
“A spot check by reporters in four other states easily found Mr. Pruett’s comments echoed from both sides of the counter,” the New York Times continued. “David Nelson, a co-owner of Montana Ordnance & Supply in Missoula, Mont., said his buyers were ‘awake and aware and see a dangerous trend’…In Colorado, would-be gun buyers set a one-day record [on the]…Saturday [just before the election] with the highest number of background check requests in a 24-hour period, according to figures from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI).”
“We’re not really sure who is promoting the concept that a change in federal administrations might affect firearms possession rights,” said [CBI] spokesman, Lance Clem, “but we do know that it’s increased business considerably.”
Media outlets from around the nation reported a flurry of gun sales immediately following Obama’s victory. Most gun shop owners and their customers cited the fear that an Obama Administration would promote and pass numerous anti-gun laws.
Bob Warren, owner of the Skyway Skeet and Trap Club, in St. Petersburg, Florida, spoke for many when he told the St. Petersburg Times, “We're not sure what he's [Obama] got planned, but we don't think he's got our best interests at heart.”
“This sounds like an Obama effect,” said Gary Kleck, a professor at Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Kleck pointed out that the current spike in gun sales paralleled a similar gun-buying rush just before Bill Clinton's 1994 crime bill, which included the so-called “Assault Weapons Ban.”
Gun Groups Slam Obama's Anti-Gun Record
As an election round-up by the Gun Owners Of America (GOA) noted, “Obama ran a campaign high on rhetoric and short on specifics. The President-elect claims he will govern from the middle, but the question for gun owners is which Obama will show up at the White House — the ‘centrist’ from the campaign trail, or the radical anti-Second Amendment extremist who supports gun bans, waiting periods for firearm purchases, one gun a month restrictions, and more?”
One of President-elect Obama’s first decisions was a huge concern to gun owners: making Rahm Emanuel, a Democratic U.S. Congressman from Illinois’ 5th District, his White House chief of staff.
According to the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA): “Emanuel was ‘point man’ on gun ban efforts for the Clinton Administration.”
“Mr. Obama, whose history on gun rights is abysmal, appears to be considering his party’s most extremist gun control advocates for key positions in his administration,” CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb said. “That is not a sign of goodwill toward gun owners or their rights. It’s a red flare warning of high winds and rough weather looming on the political horizon.”
The NRA agreed. In a post-election summary, the NRA noted, “We know the people Obama will appoint to his cabinet and to other federal offices will be almost universally anti-gun. Obama’s selection of Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff is a perfect example of the hostility the Obama White House will have for gun owners’ rights.”
The NRA continued, “The threats to our rights under Barack Obama are real. If we are going to protect those rights, we have to start work now, preparing for legislative, executive and regulatory assaults at every level of government. Some will be open attacks, such as reintroduction of the Clinton gun ban. Others will be stealthier, such as unleashing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to harass even more gun dealers and force them out of business. Regardless of how they attack our rights, we will have to respond.”
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) noted another disturbing situation. “President-elect Obama's Web site had posted his administration's agenda for curtailing the Second Amendment rights of law abiding Americans, thereby validating the concerns of gun owners, sportsmen and firearms enthusiasts all across the country. Curiously, the Obama-Biden gun control agenda was taken down from the Web site after just two days.”
That agenda may well be the blue-print for future federal legislation.
Congressional Power-Shift Equally Disturbing
Concerning Congress, some substantial losses for the Second Amendment occurred. According to GOA, “many [Congressional] seats that flipped parties also went from strong pro-gun to strong anti-gun.” In the Senate, GOA noted that four seats in particular went from Republican to Democrat, and an “A” rating by GOA to newly elected lawmakers with a past “F” rating.
As GOA noted, in Colorado, “The retirement of A-rated Senator Wayne Allard set up a battle between anti-gun Rep. Mark Udall and pro-gun former Rep. Bob Schaffer. This is one of three senate seats that flipped from A to F.” New Hampshire was another example, where “Pro-gun Senator John Sununu was defeated by F-rated former governor Jeanne Shaheen…” In New Mexico, “Long-time Senator Pete Domenici, who was D-rated and usually voted against gun owners, was replaced by F-rated Congressman Tom Udall. Udall defeated A-rated Representative Steve Pearce, making this a big loss for gun owners.”
North Carolina was another state where gun rights took a beating. “Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole ran as a pro-gun control candidate for president in 2000. Since being elected to the Senate from the Tar Heel state, however, Mrs. Dole compiled a good pro-gun record. Dole's defeat at the hands of F-rated anti-gunner Kay Hagan is a dramatic flip for gun rights.”
“In the battle for the U.S. House of Representatives, gun owners also were hit hard,” GOA continued. “Of the 18 incumbents who were defeated, 15 were pro-gun (only two were replaced by a pro-gunner). Of particular disappointment to gun owners were the losses of Republican representatives Marilyn Musgrave (CO-4), Tom Feeney (FL-24), Bill Sali (ID-1), and Tim Walberg (MI-7). These representatives were among the most ardent Second Amendment supporters.”
Not that the 2008 elections were all bad news for gun owners.
Amidst Bleak Picture, Minor Gains
As GOA noted, “In the 32 open House seats, the results were mixed. Thirteen seats went to A-rated candidates, while six went to F-rated anti-gunners. Nine new congressmen are ‘Not Rated,’ meaning they have no record and refused to fill out a GOA questionnaire. Four new members fall somewhere in the middle, leaning toward a pro-gun position but no guarantees.”
According to Ashley Varner, NRA spokesperson, the NRA’s Political Victory Fund endorsed 23 candidates for 2008 U.S. Senate races. Of these, the NRA-endorsed candidate won in at least 14 races, with the outcome still uncertain, at press time, in Alaska, Georgia, Minnesota and Oregon. Three of these pro-gun Senate freshmen include Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Johanns (R-NE) and Mark Warner (D-VA).
Varner added, “Of the 248 candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives endorsed by the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund, the NRA-endorsed candidate won in at least 216 of these races, with the outcome still uncertain in six races.”
The pro-gun and pro-hunting U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) took some comfort in state races. “Preliminary results show that out of eleven gubernatorial races, only one changed political parties,” a USSA release noted. “This indicates a remarkable level of stability at the state government level. In a nutshell, for many day-to-day issues confronting sportsmen, the outcome of the election doesn’t appear to radically change things.”
In the larger sense, too, it must be remembered that gun control as an issue—as a way for politicians to make some political hay and grab some votes—has certainly been discredited. As the NRA noted,
“The gun control lobby must be distressed that many Democratic gains occurred only because the party has run so far from the gun control issue. While they fondly look back to how actively Bill Clinton campaigned for gun control in 1992 and 1996, they also remember the lesson that gun owners taught an anti-gun Congress in 1994, Al Gore in 2000, and John Kerry in 2004. This was a lesson taught by the National Rifle Association that has changed the politics of our issue across the country.”
Gun owners will find out how well this “lesson” was learned, and if our politicians will need to re-learn it well before in the next election cycle, the 2010 Congressional races, and will make their feelings known.
Gun Digest is the national bi-weekly source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. Our in-depth editorial, exclusive price guide and new product features, brings valuable information to our high profile subscribers. Subscribe Now!
Sometimes you just want your knife opened quickly and there is really no quicker way to flip open a blade than with a Wave system.
Designed by Ernest Emerson, the Wave system is a patented feature that pulls open the knife by means of a hook on the blade as the knife is drawn from the pocket.
The Spyderco P'Kal utilizes a small metal stud in the back of the blade.
The system works best on fatigues or jeans. Don't try it on dress slacks. It takes a little practice and you are cautioned to stay clear of others as the blade is wicked sharp and the movement could cut those nearby. So practice by yourself before you “go live.”
You can, of course, pull the knife without using the Wave feature … but what fun is that?
As for the knife, not withstanding the Wave feature, it is pure Spyderco from end to end. It is built tough, razor-sharp and fits the hand like someone really thought about the design. The blade shape is perfect for defense and also for very handy daily chores. The G-10 handles are tough, thin and light and the belt/pocket clip is tough enough for anyone.
If you want to get your hands on a Spyderco P'Kal, check out www.spyderco.com.
Gun Digest is the national bi-weekly source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. Our in-depth editorial, exclusive price guide and new product features, brings valuable information to our high profile subscribers. Subscribe Now!
When SIG Sauer unveiled the P-250 there were lots of comments about the great and wondrous nature of this modular design and there was even a super DVD showing how quick and easy the pistol came apart, could be reconfigured and went back together.
At the range, I got to shoot the pistol a few times, but the big long line of gun writers behind me led me to think I shouldn't tear the gun apart right there on the firing line “just to see if I could.”
Well, guess what. It's all true. With the flip of a lever and tug on the slide you are on your way to modular bliss. Not only can you reconfigure the gun (if you decide to buy the other components) but you can clean every nook and cranny in about half the time it takes to clean other guns. And more importantly, the P-250 shoots like you would not believe.
It took me about one magazine to master the longish trigger pull, but after that I was on target like a duck on a June bug.
I say longish trigger pull, that's not really a technical term. You do pull the trigger a long way through its arc to make the gun fire, but the pull is smooth and, dare I say, easy.
Ergonomically, the P-250 is pure SIG and when you get your hands on one, you can feel the quality. This is one pistol that can become anything you want and will serve many purposes for many users.
To get your hands on a SIG Sauer P-250, check out www.sigsauer.com.
For an old-fashioned meat-gathering mission, the author craved a Marlin 336 Texan. In fact, he believes the company should bring back this classic gun.
“Sweetwater” John was an enterprising old man, his front name earned when he built a still in the mountains during Prohibition.
The few remaining old-timers in the village remembered John’s liquid libation as having “a mighty bite, but sweet.” Sweetwater was long retired, living on Social Security, plus scavenging old gold and silver camps for scrap metal, which he sold in town, 65 miles down the road.
As a U.S. Forest Service firefighter, I lived a year with John and his son Roland. Although already struck with trophy fever, I understood that wild game meant food, not sport, for John: quail, dove, rabbits, javelina and especially deer.
Sweetwater was deadly on whitetails. Took him forever, it seemed, to pull the trigger of his .30-30 carbine. Not me. I’d have three bullets en route before Sweetwater launched one. The only difference was he hit. I missed.
I pledged this past big-game season to meat-making, the way I hunted with Sweetwater so long ago. I’d fill several game tags with a .30-30 carbine having a DF (“difficult quotient”) of three: longbow, DF-1; muzzleloader, DF-2 and .30-30, DF-3.
Gun for the Job
For this mission, I craved a Marlin 336 Texan. After a long search, I finally found one in perfect condition at a gun show. The Texan version of the famous 336 was created as a reliable sidekick. But this one carried stocks of better-than-average color and grain.
I’m a scope man. My PH rifle in Africa, relied on to preserve life and limb of self and client, wears a Leupold 1.5-6X VX-III. But the Texan would go iron-sighted for carry friendly and spark of challenge.
Five animals turned to food with six shots in Wyoming. One antelope buck requiring a follow-up because of a momentary lapse of mental coordination, when I failed to consider the angle.
Off I went to South Dakota in November for more venison. The most enjoyable was my final doe. Early morning was brisk; a euphemism for colder than a well-diggers behind in January Siberia. I perched in a leaned-over homestead cabin reputed to be oldest in the valley — a stubborn testament to pioneer spirit.
A rusty 55-gallon drum lent access to an upper level ledge parted from the roof with a peek-out gap. My buck tag being filled, the object was a fat doe for the SCI Sportsmen Against Hunger program. Typical of the overpopulated area, a plump old dame showed up solo within 30 minutes. At 88 range-finder yards, she stopped behind a grass patch chest high to a donkey.
The 170-grain Silvertip bullet handloaded to 2,150 feet per second from the Texan’s 20-inch barrel parted the grass like a searching cobra. Thank you little Marlin for another perfect show.
I’m not calling for the return of the Marlin 336 Texan for my benefit. I have mine. I want the little gem to come back for you and yours with its good accuracy, strong action and fast handling.
Clean-from-the-breech access via one screw in a compact carry-mate as reliable as sunup is promised. I replaced the original .302-inch front sight with a Lyman No. 37 .410-inch 3/32 ivory (KA 3371674) because at lowest rear sight setting, the rifle still shot high because of improved .30-30 ammo. Hornady’s 160-grain LeverEvolution bullet, for example, chronographed at 2,250 fps from the 20-inch barrel.
Winchester’s new Supreme Ballistic Silvertip also shot “flatter” than older .30-30 ammo. Because the front sight goes opposite the next bullet strike on target, taller brought the group down perfectly. I added a forend band with an integral sling swivel stud plus a plain carry strap and front sight hood with a V-notch for continued protection with better light access. The hood went on only in tough brush and woods conditions.
Rise and Fall
The straight-grip Texan came about as an obvious parallel to Winchester’s Model 94 carbine, with its slim forend rather than a pregnant frontal slab of the regular 336 — in .30-30, of course, and .35 Remington, which should have brought humble praise and adulation from hunters of larger-than-deer game in close cover.
When I asked the folks at Marlin, a spokesperson said the Texan failed after several years, remarkably, from lagging sales. By a 10-to-1 margin, customers demanded the pistol-grip version of the 336.
At one point, Marlin lowered its usual Model 336 sales tag, including the Texan, from $78.95 to $68.95 with “prices slightly higher west of the Rockies.” True, The Man’s Magazine ran an ad praising the .35 Remington caliber in the 336, but the .30-30 continued to be king of sales. The True ad promised the Marlin “unchallenged as the greatest gun for shooting in the tangled deer and black bear country.” Words of wisdom.
The Texan was advertised “with straight grip for lightning-fast removal from the saddle scabbard.” The only problem was it was easier to encounter an elephant in pink pajamas in that “tangled deer and black bear country” than a hunter riding a pony.
You have to wonder if pitching the Texan as a saddle gun didn’t backfire. It sold for $76.95 in 1958, and the Model 94 fetched $79.95. In 1965, the price tag was $86.95. By 1982, the shrinking dollar demanded $220.95 for the Texan and $223.00 for the 94 carbine. The price was always right.
The little Texan takes over nothing. It replaces nothing. It is an addition to the hunting battery; a shining jewel in thickets and black timber, when the average shot is often no more than 50 long steps. It’s perfect in a tree stand.
Add a good variable scope for the best bullet placement. I went iron with the understanding that I would hunt iron-sight style: slow-pacing through the niche, checking the wind constantly, spotting-and-stalking, binoculars working even in thick cover and always going for the closer opportunity.
A particular whitetail heaven I’m privileged to hunt is perfect for creek-walking. Deer cannot hear me coming as I hike down the creek in high-top rubber boots. Deer in that region are the smallest of five whitetail types in my home state of Wyoming. A trophy might dress a 170 pounds, but its rack will look more like a Southwestern Coues than Odocoileus virginianus.
Mule deer also abound in my favorite spot, and they also carry unimpressive racks. Because my goal the first time out with the Texan was prime meat and not “horn soup,” I looked for a mature example with any rack. I found a grown mule deer buck with a retarded headdress and dropped him with a 95-yard shot, a 170-grain Remington Core-Lokt hollow-point doing the work.
My Texan won’t match the surprising groups of the current 336 clan. My XLR .35 Remington prints 100-yard patterns akin to a good bolt-action rifle with Leupold VX-III 1.5-6 set on 6X. But the Texan always delivers bullets into a no-escape pattern at stalk-game ranges.
For shooting across canyons, drag out a long-range, flat-shooting scoped rifle. But in brush and timber, that little Texan suits me fine, and it’ll work for you, too. A 21st century Texan would be the best ever because the current 336 is the best ever. Imagine the new Texan chambered for .30-30, .35 Remington, .308 Marlin Express and perhaps, a new cartridge: .33 or .35 caliber on the .308 Marlin case.
Bring it Back!
Now and again, a company pays attention to a voice from the wilderness. So listen up, Marlin. It’s time to bring the Texan back.
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The UPG 16 is a six-piece interchangeable pistol grip for M16/AR15 and similar type firearms that incorporates multiple finger groove and palm swell inserts (3 each) allowing the user to customize the grip to fit all hand sizes for maximum comfort and control.
