Web Page Update: I recently added what amounts to a book review at:
http://www.spw-duf.info/emperor.html#hammer
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"AWB" Bill Resurfaces In Massachusetts: For the second year in a row,
two Massachusetts legislators are attempting to extend that state's ban
on "assault weapons" to those individual ones that had been
grandfathered under earlier laws.
http://www.massnews.com/2005_editions/5_may/51205_assault_weapon_ban_pushed.htm
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Handgunning In Bulgaria: A New Zealander describes his experiences at a
Bulgarian shooting range. Not exactly the most technically correct
article I've ever read.
http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/lethal-weapons/id_11341/catid_47
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From John Farnam:
16 May 05
Important note on holsters, from one of our instructors:
"I recently purchased a new pistol, like yours, and made an accompanying
purchase of a kydex IWB holster. As expected, the pistol fit into the
holster perfectly. I set off to the range to test the ensemble last
weekend.
To my surprise and dismay, when I attempted to draw, I discovered the
holster wanted the pistol more than I did! Pulling on the gun with as
much strength as I could muster simply caused my entire belt, trousers
and holster to rise up toward my armpit, with the pistol stubbornly
remaining stuck in the holster. Several attempts, and I abandoned the
effort and removed the holster from my belt.
Removed from my body, the gun slid out of the holster with barely a
catch. With the naked eye I could see no reason for the problem.
Mystified, I repeated the exercise with the holster back on. Same
result. The pistol would not budge! Adjusting tension screws had no
effect.
I set off to my office (my student is a dentist) and re-inspected with
magnifying lenses and a bright light. What I discovered was that this
pistol comes with a sharp edge around the inside of the trigger guard.
The pressure exerted on the holster by my belt pressed the inside
surface of the holster against this sharp edge and gouged a small ledge
into the kydex. This ledge locked the pistol into the holster so
securely that the gun could not be removed as long as the ledge was
engaged by the pressure of my belt. As soon as the holster was removed,
the pressure was released, the ledge disengaged, and the gun would release.
Solution was simple. Five minutes with a dental handpiece (Dremel tool
would work just as well), and I removed the sharp edge on the trigger
guard. I also buffed the ledge off the inside of the holster.
Gun/holster combination has functioned perfectly ever since."
Lessons: Sharp corners and edges on carry guns are bad for the shooter,
but great for the photographer! Guns with sharp edges and corners
photograph better than do practical guns, which have been "de-horned."
Crisp, clean lines are always more aesthetically appealing than are
rounded edges. In fact, rounded edges look soft and out of focus in
promotional ligature, and thus marketing people don't like them.
Unfortunately, manufacturers, wanting to sell guns, often listen to
marketing consultants rather than to customers!
If, like me, you don't enjoy bleeding when handling new guns, now you
have an additional reason to de-horn your pistol before carrying it.
De-horning is something that should be done at the factory, but it is an
expensive, labor-intensive, finishing step, and gun companies don't like
running their costs up by including it. Happily, any competent
pistolsmith can de-horn your gun at reasonable cost and quickly.
Highly recommended!
Thoroughly testing new equipment before betting your life on it is also
a good idea. I'm glad my student discovered this problem at the range,
not during his first gunfight!
/John
--
Stephen P. Wenger
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
