Gun Digest October 2021

cheap … but not really

As an editor, there are certain words I tiptoe around very carefully. I’m not talking about profanity here, but rather those often-used words where my intended meaning—or the dictionary definition, for that matter—is dramatically different than what the word means when run through the lens of public perception. Seemingly mundane, everyday words. A word like “cheap.” For this issue, nearly every gun featured is “cheap,” at least as defined by the formal definition of low in price; worth more than its cost. But to a lot people, cheap provokes connotations of poor quality … and that certainly does not apply to the guns featured herein. For example, Richard Mann dissects the SDS Imports 1911 A1 Tanker, no-frills Turkish pistol that costs about $400. It’s not much to look at—at least when compared to…

.38 automatic

HISTORICAL NOTES This is another cartridge designed by John Browning and introduced by Colt in 1900 for its .38 Automatic. In its original form, this pistol was designed as a military gun. From this evolved the seven-shot sporting and eight-shot military models of 1902. This cartridge was stepped up in power in 1929, and the improved round called the .38 Super Auto. In the United States, only Colt chambered it. In England, Webley & Scott chambered it in one version of its military automatic. In Spain, a number of automatics have been made for the .38 ACP. GENERAL COMMENTS Although developed for military and self-defense uses, the .38 Colt Auto achieved a degree of popularity for sporting use through its relatively high velocity. The military turned it down because of previous poor results with…

the ccw basic proficiency test

There are all sorts of shooting drills you can conduct for practice, training or to evaluate your proficiency. Some drills isolate individual skills, such as shooting with your strong hand, conducting a reload, engaging multiple targets or maybe clearing stoppages. Others combine a collection of different skills to provide a more comprehensive estimation of your abilities. The drills you conduct and give credence to should be based on what you desire to accomplish, measure or test. ESTABLISHING YOUR STANDARD If you’re a competitive handgun shooter who likes to participate in IDPA or IPSC matches, you might focus on specific skillsets. If you just want to improve your base-line proficiency with a defensive handgun, you might work with different drills highlighting those things. There’s really no wrong or right drill if it has…

one kit to clean them all

If you only have one or two firearms, then you can have one or two caliber-specific cleaning kits. If you’re OCD, you have a caliber-specific cleaning kit with each and every firearm you own. A bunch of you own more than one or two, but aren’t OCD and don’t wish to make the capital investment of “one kit for each gun.” So, you need one kit that’ll cover as many as possible. Enter Real Avid, with the Gun Boss Pro Universal kit. “Universal” covers a lot—and there are firearms this won’t cover. But, unless you do have a 40mm M203 or a 10-gauge shotgun, this will cover you. There are nine bore diameters in the kit, and each has a bronze brush and a cotton swab that’s caliber-specific—so, 12, 20, .45 .40, 9/.357,…

unforeseen consequences

In last month’s column, we discussed how violating the universal gun safety rules, specifically Rule 1 and Rule 2 (treat all guns as though they’re always loaded, and never point a gun at anything you’re not willing to destroy), can also lead to criminal prosecution and imprisonment. The column paused in the middle of discussing Rule 2, so I wanted to finish that discussion up before moving onto Rule 3. RULE NO. 2, CONTINUED Whenever you pick up a gun, it is pointed somewhere. You might not be purposefully pointing the gun, but, nevertheless—if it discharged—the bullet would strike where it’s pointed. This act is likely the most violated act among gun owners, and one that can lead to catastrophic consequences for the person who pulled the trigger. “If you have violated Rules…

calculated upgrades

I was taught to reload with minimalistic gear. It wasn’t that we couldn’t afford anything better than what we had; it was a combination of being unaware of certain products and my dad’s frugality. Dad had a Lee turret press from the 1970s, which was housed in a neat finger-joined wooden box that could double as a stand, and an RCBS 505 balance beam scale; the rest of the gear we went halves on. Now, I’m not complaining. We made great ammo with very little gear, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. But as I started seeing impressive groups at the target board, I went down the rabbit hole, so to speak. I started researching different pieces of gear in order to make better ammunition—and to make my life easier. I…