What Happens If Our Opponents Take The U.S. House?

By Chris W. Cox

NRA-ILA Executive Director

THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT OUR LIBERTIES ARE AT STAKE ON NOV. 6.

The Democrat leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives has become completely radicalized when it comes to the Second Amendment. Our constitutional freedoms are standing in the way of the extreme big-government control that these anti-gun politicians want to impose.

Add that to the unbridled hatred that many on the left have for President Donald Trump, and it could not be clearer for NRA members and gun owners that we have to do everything we can to protect our pro-gun majority in Congress.

The threat is stark. Current Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is an outspoken opponent of the Second Amendment. If Democrats take control of the House, Pelosi would return as Speaker. Her key lieutenants, Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and James Clyburn, D-S.C., stand shoulder-toshoulder with her in their support of gun control.

But, even this rabid devotion to restricting our rights isn’t enough for the party’s most extreme voters. In June, Democratic Caucus Chair

Joseph Crowley from New York City proved not to be radical enough for Big Apple Democrats. Instead, they chose to replace him with self-described socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. It would not be surprising to see the congressional Democrat leadership move even further leftward if they can take control of the House. This will affect the leadership of key committees as well, which are responsible for drafting legislation that moves through the House. The chairman of the Judiciary Committee, arguably

the most important committee for gun legislation, would most likely be assumed by Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y. Nadler has been an outspoken opponent of Second Amendment rights for decades. Many gun owners will remember the numerous attacks he made on law-abiding concealed carriers last year when he attempted to block passage of the NRA-supported concealed carry reciprocity bill. You can bet he will work in lock step with Pelosi to restrict our freedoms.

Another key committee for gun owners and hunters is Natural Resources. Currently, the Chairman is Rob Bishop, R-Utah. Bishop is one of the strongest supporters of the Second Amendment and our hunting heritage, and he has sponsored key legislation to reform the broken and unconstitutional “sporting purpose” standard that has long been manipulated to restrict gun rights. If Republicans lose the majority, the Committee Chairman would likely become Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.

In attacking a provision to reduce regulatory burdens on the acquisition of firearm suppressors last year, Grijalva claimed that “The hunters I know don’t use ... silencers.” Grijalva is clearly out of touch with today’s hunters and his own constituents. Arizonans have enjoyed the right to use suppressors for hunting since 2012.

And those are just a couple of examples. The House Appropriations Committee, which has long supported a series of pro-gun provisions on spending bills that help protect our rights, would without question by chaired by someone hostile to our right to keep and bear arms.

Of course, if the pro-gun majority goes away, we won’t just see dramatic changes in the leadership of key committees. We will also see an end to any hope of advancing our Second Amendment rights. And, of course, the floodgates will open to anti-gun legislation in virtually every form imaginable.

A Congress led by anti-gun extremists means legislation like H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, will never see the light of day. This bill seeks to greatly improve self-defense protections by allowing law-abiding Americans who are eligible to carry a concealed handgun under the law of a state to do so in every other state that allows concealed carry. While it passed the House with bipartisan support last year, future efforts to pass National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity, NRA’s top legislative priority at the federal level, will disappear.

With an anti-gun House of Representatives, we can expect to see a torrent of anti-gun legislation passed and sent to the Senate.

We have already seen numerous attacks on our freedom with gun ban extremists in the minority. If they achieve majority status, they will only be emboldened to ratchet up their extremism.

Legislation to ban the most popular semi-automatic rifles would undoubtedly happen. Banning the future manufacture of such firearms will of course be proposed, but don’t be surprised to also see a ban on the possession of currently owned firearms. Anti-gun Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., famously said at the time that if she could have required gun owners to turn in the firearms affected by her 1994 ban, she would have. She’s not alone in that desire.

A ban on semi-automatic firearms will most assuredly be tied to a ban on so-called “high-capacity” magazines. We’ve already seen H.R. 4052 introduced by Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., which would treat the same magazines most law-abiding citizens have in their pistols as contraband, subjecting their possessors to a possible 10-year stint in federal prison.

In addition, restrictions and regulations on firearm transfers have been proposed during this Congress. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., introduced a bill (H.R. 4018) that would impose a three-day waiting period on the sale or “borrowing” of a handgun, including between private parties. The fact that waiting periods are no more than an arbitrary impediment to exercising the right to purchase a firearm is irrelevant to the champions of gun control.

One proposed bill (H.R. 4057) would make firearm purchases by non-prohibited individuals subject to the discretion of the U.S. Attorney General, while others (S. 1923 and H.R. 3464) would deny the transfer of firearms to individuals based on incomplete evidence, such as arrests without final dispositions. These bills show contempt not just for the Second Amendment but also for basic notions of fairness and due process.

Another pernicious legislative effort that could do irreparable harm to lawful gun owners, and especially future lawful gun owners, is H.R. 3984, which would repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). The PLCAA was a reaction to a coordinated series of lawsuits designed to litigate the firearms industry into oblivion by holding law-abiding gun manufacturers and dealers responsible for the criminal acts of third parties.

Without the PLCAA, the very existence of the domestic firearm industry would be jeopardized, which is why we can expect gun banners to try to ram such a proposal through Congress should they seize control this November.

These anti-gun proposals are just the tip of the iceberg. Those legislators opposed to our freedoms are only limited by their imaginations when it comes to drawing up attacks on the Second Amendment. Don’t be surprised, should Congress fall under their control, by any proposal designed to attack our Second Amendment freedoms.

These are the reasons that gun owners must go above and beyond this year. Make sure you vote for pro-gun candidates; encourage friends and family members to do the same; volunteer for local campaigns that involve pro-gun candidates; and become an NRA-ILA Frontlines volunteer to help defend the Second Amendment. The only way we can win in November is by working together to keep Congress under pro-gun leadership.

WITH AN ANTI-GUN U.S. HOUSE, WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE A TORRENT OF ANTI-GUN LEGISLATION PASSED: THINGS LIKE A BAN ON MODERN SPORTING RIFLES AND HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES WOULD BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, AND RECIPROCITY WOULD DROP OFF THE RADAR SCREEN COMPLETELY.

When you chase an obsession to extremes, this is what you take with you. New for 2017, the Super Black Eagle 3. Experience it at a Benelli dealer near you, or visit BenelliUSA.com.

ammunition

Thanks To John Nosler

70 SWWWWWWWWWWWa YEARS OF THE NOSLER PARTITION

I enjoyed Layne Simpson’s recent article “70 Years Of The Nosler Partition” (August 2018, p. 50) on John Amos Nosler and his insight into bullet making. I owe Nosler many thanks for 40 years of oneshot kills and the meat they helped put on my table. I bought my fi rst deer rifl e in the early 1970s and was quickly dissatisfi ed with the combination of poor accuracy and performance of the gun and the ammunition.

A gun-dealer friend of mine listened to my stories, and his recommendation to me was spot on: “Buy a Colt-Sauer and handload Nosler Partitions.” No one ever gave me better advice. I purchased a Colt in .30-’06 Sprg., picked up a Nosler loading manual and looked up the recommended load for best accuracy. I did the same with a couple of other brands. Not to slight the others because they also make fi ne products, but after my range work the Nosler whipped them all, including the target rounds. I had a target that hung above my reloading bench with a 1/2" fi ve-shot group at 200 yds. I haven’t loaded anything except Nosler Partitions for that Colt since.

I seldom fi re on running game, but many years ago there was one that stands out. I had pulled up on a nice whitetail buck that started to run with my ColtSauer drilling using the same load that I feed my Colt-Sauer rifl e. I touched off a shot, and the deer dropped. That Partition went through both shoulders and took out the top of the heart as it passed. I paced off the distance at 275 yds. I never knew how the Partition was developed, but I am sure glad that back in the day John Nosler realized there should be a better bullet.

50 August 2018 AmericAn riflemAn AmericAnriflemAn.org August 2018 51

It all started with one moose. Hit right, it didn’t go down— which sent John A. Nosler on a journey to make a better bullet. We know it today as the Nosler Partition. BY LAYNE SIMPSON f not for a British Columbia moose wearing a thick was no exception. Only after taking seven bullets did the coat of mud from his favorite wallow, we probably great animal decide to give up the ghost. would not have the Nosler Partition bullet today. All An excellent marksman with a drawer full of competibut the tips of the animal’s antlers were concealed tive shooting awards back home to prove it, the hunter by dense willows, so the hunter—armed with a Winchester felt confident that his bullets had been placed where they Model 70 in .300 H&H Mag.—had to sneak “uncomfortably should have gone. And they were. Bullets recovered while close” in order to thread his bullet through a screen of field dressing the animal showed excessive expansion at brush. Even with perfect bullet placement, it often takes a close-distance impact velocity, which resulted in inadmoose quite some time to discover it is dead, and this one equate penetration on such a large animal. Just as necessity is the mother of invention, John Amos Nosler became the father of the Partition bullet and the company and legacy that bear his name. In 2007, Nosler’s work earned him the first-ever NRA Publications Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award. He died in 2010 at 97. Through an advertisement in the November 1949 issue of The American Rifleman (r.), the inventor thanked his growing cadre of loyal customers.

Images courtesy of Nosler

JOHN COLARUSSO, NEW YORK 10 mm Auto Omissions & Additions

Great article by Field Editor Jeremiah Knupp “Nine Lives Of The 10 mm Auto” (August 2018, p. 56). But, having been a 10 mm fan since the early 1990s, I wondered why there was no mention of the legendary S&W Model 1006. I have handloaded this cartridge with no problems, and it remains my favorite self-defense arm. It’s a monster and just might be the best one ever manufactured. Shame on you guys.

GERRY ZANZALARI, NEW HAMPSHIRE

ammunition

NINE LIVES OF THE 10 mm AUTO

Counted out more than once, the 10 mm Auto cartridge simply refuses to give up—and the latest crop of guns chambered for it proves that the 10 is more than just a survivor.

BY JEREMIAH KNUPP, FIELD EDITOR

56

August 2018

AmericAn riflemAn Photos by Holly Marcus

nyone in search of a candidate for the title “Comeback Kid of the Cartridge World” should take a serious look at the 10 mm Auto. Though ballistically the 10 mm is known for its flat trajectory, its arc through history has seemed more like the peaks and troughs of a heart monitor readout. Touted as the “ultimate,” lampooned as a “dud,” ensnared in problems and mired in controversy not of its own making, no other cartridge in the modern era has teetered on the brink of obscurity and clawed its way back as many times as this proverbial cat.

Along the way, the 10 mm Auto has acquired its own mythology, including a healthy dose of downright falsehood: the power of a .41 Magnum; a destroyer of firearms; a recoil monster waiting to gobble up weak and timid shooters. The 10 mm is not really any of these things. Those who have taken the time to get to know the 10 mm have discovered what it really is—a powerful and versatile handgun cartridge that favors the performance-oriented aficionado of semi-automatics.

Lately, the 10 mm has experienced a renaissance of sorts that has resulted in its greatest popularity since it was introduced. To understand the 10 mm Auto’s new-found success I took a look at some contemporary 10 mm firearms. But to understand how the 10 mm got to where it is today, I also needed to understand its history. So, first, a little truth. The History

The 10 mm Auto was born from an attempt to get maximum performance out of a 9 mm Luger-size handgun. Gun writers such as Jeff Cooper had been kicking around the idea of a .40-cal. cartridge that would offer more power than a 9 mm and more capacity than a .45 ACP. In the early 1970s, Guns & Ammo editor Whit Collins experimented with the concept using a Browning Hi Power. The result was the .40 G&A, a cartridge based on the .30 Remington case with the 180-gr., .40-cal. bullet from the old .38-40 Winchester launched at around 1000 f.p.s. Cooper envisioned an evenhigher-performing “.40 Super” that would fit in a .45 ACP frame. At the time, he was particularly enamored with the then-new CZ 75, stating that the Czech pistol produced in a “serious caliber” would be “the great leap forward.”

From its origin in 1976, the Int’l Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC)

AmericAnriflemAn.org August 2018

57

The shame is on us for not mentioning the 1006 and on Smith & Wesson for not continuing to produce this excellent platform for the 10 mm. In the article, we tried to focus on not only the history of the 10 mm Auto cartridge but also the contemporary offerings, of which S&W is absent.

I theorize that if the FBI had adopted the 1006 (or 1066) with its decadesproven slide-mounted decocker and trigger system, the history of the 10 mm would be a much different one. Please note that additional information related to the article is online; if you haven’t had a chance to look at it, go to: americanri eman.org/10mm eldnotes.

—JEREMIAH KNUPP, FIELD EDITOR

“Readers Write” affords members an opportunity to comment on material published in American Ri eman. Single-topic letters are preferred and may be edited for brevity. Send letters to: Readers Write, NRA Publications, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400 or e-mail us at publications@nrahq.org.

On The Other Hand …

No, these images were not inadvertently reversed or digitally doc-

tored. They accurately depict a left-hand M14-style semi-automatic ri e currently available from and manufactured by Bula Defense Systems (buladefense.com) in Cleveland, Ohio. More than a signi cant feat of reverse mechanical engineering, the Bula M14LH ri e is a true rst since the Garand-based M14 was originally adopted by the U.S. military in 1957. It is also, of course, a godsend for southpaws, transposing the locations of the charging handle, ejector and extractor so that left-handed shooters can shoulder and re an M14-style ri e in an entirely natural manner. According to Jeff Miller, president of Bula Defense Systems, the project presented a few unexpected challenges, such as the development of a reversed magazine follower, but it also allowed the company to employ some of the parts that it already manufactured for its right-hand models. And, no, the rear sight pinion assembly was not reversed—a detail that shouldn’t bother even the most ardent lefties.

—BRIAN C. SHEETZ, SENIOR EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Foundation Seeks Scholarship Applicants

Founded in 2006, and funded entirely through private donations, the Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation’s mission is to preserve, protect and defend the principle of self-reliance and the individual right of selfdefense, as espoused by Col. Cooper. The Foundation provides scholarships for firearm training in the Cooper tradition—paid tuition to Gunsite Academy’s (gunsite.com) introductory 250 Defensive Pistol class—and is now accepting scholarship applications. Worth a total of $1,695, the scholarship covers the cost of the class; however, the recipient will need to provide his or her own firearm, ammunition and equipment, and is also responsible for any transportation, meal and boarding costs. The application, which involves an essay portion, is available on the foundation’s website, and scholarship recipients are selected by the foundation’s board of directors. jeffcooperfoundation.org

RCBS Turns 75

It was 1943 when RCBS founder Fred T. Huntington began designing swaging dies, due to wartime bullet shortages, to make jacketed bullets for the pursuit of rock chucks and other varmints—the die was aptly named the Rock Chuck Bullet Swage and provided the acronym RCBS that would become the company’s moniker in later years. Huntington’s initial operation consisted of a small, 12'x6' room in the back of an Oroville, Calif., laundromat. As time advanced, so did the company’s product offerings, and today RCBS is a leader in handloading equipment and employs more than 150 people at its Oroville facility. rcbs.com

Trijicon Acquires AmeriGlo

Best known for its optics used by law enforcement and military personnel around the world, Trijicon recently acquired AmeriGlo (ameriglo.com), a specialized iron sight company whose products are constructed from U.S.-sourced steel and feature Swiss-made tritium. AmeriGlo’s handgun night sights are trusted by armed professionals, and are popular OEM and aftermarket upgrades for civilian gun owners. “The AmeriGlo brand is a natural fit for us,” said Trijicon President Stephen Bindon. “This purchase will further enhance Trijicon’s ever-expanding product and brand portfolio, while increasing our manufacturing capacity to better serve end-users across the spectrum.” At this time, Trijicon expects to keep the AmeriGlo business plan unchanged, and will operate the company as a separate entity. trijicon.com 50 YEARS AGO

Second Shots M&P380 Shield EZ Consumer Advisory

Dummy bullets that show the principle of bullet matching. Sections (A, A) of the bullet on the left do not match. Sections (B, B) of the other bullet match, as would two bullets fired from the same gun. Markings on left bullet incline to the left while those on the right bullet incline to the right. This indicates the direction of rifling twist. In the case of the M&P380 Shield EZ Manual Thumb Safety, in very rare circumstances, ammunition that produces increased levels of recoil can cause the manual safety to move from the “fire” to the “safety on” position during firing—the subsequent round will not fire until the manual safety is reset to the “fire” position.

Any M&P380 Shield EZ Manual Thumb Safety pistol produced before April 4, 2018, is eligible for a no-cost upgrade. To read the full release, and to determine if this advisory applies to your pistol, visit: americanrifleman.org/380EZsafety.

If your pistol is subject to the advisory, contact the company by email at MP380EZAdvisory@Smith-Wesson.com or by phone at (800) 331-0852. A FedEx return label and shipping instructions to facilitate the return of your M&P380 Shield EZ pistol will be mailed promptly. smith-wesson.com

ON HIGHER CAPACITY

The Gunpowder People

Certain books should be in the library of any serious sportsman; immediate to mind are titles such as Weatherby: The Man. The Gun. The Legend. and John Nosler Going Ballistic: The Life And Adventures Of John Nosler. To these must be added The Gunpowder People by James W. Bequette.

Heavily referenced while writing this month’s article (p. 42), Bequette thoroughly chronicles the story of Hodgdon Powder Co., decade by decade, from its founding through the current era, yet in an easy-to-read format. Each chapter begins with notable events of the decade to provide historical context, and then he delves into history speci c to the company. To aid understanding of what’s being presented, interwoven through the pages are numerous illustrations and images, including images and reproductions of correspondences between B.E. Hodgdon and a who’s who of gun writers of the day. Such personalities include: Elmer Keith; Jack O’Connor; P.O. Ackley; and Col. Charles Askins. Not only do these writers provide insight into the importance of Hodgdon Powder Co. and its products, but of B.E. Hodgdon’s persona and ethics.

Also found within each chapter is a section entitled “In their own words,” in which former and current Hodgdon employees respond to a series of questions in an easy-to-follow dialogue. Outside of the main text body, which is rife with information, there are lesser-known “juicy” tidbits in these sub-sections. For example, when alone at home one night, young Bob Hodgdon became enthralled with slowly sprinkling propellant atop a lit trash burner in the basement. He continued increasing the amounts until ... well, you’ll have to read for yourself to nd out. In the end, you’ll nd the book to be a page-turner; in fact, unable to put the book down, I nished it in a couple hours’ time. The 199-pp., 11¼"x8¾" hardback book can be purchased at Hodgdon’s website (hodgdon.com) for $44.95.

—AARON CARTER, FIELD EDITOR

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AB Arms Urban Assault Stock

Alightweight but solidly built AR-15-style buttstock, the American Built Arms Urban Assault Stock (UAS) stows in its most compact form, yet features a spring-loaded buttpad that can be set to deploy to any of four lengths (for a total adjustment of 1.25") at the push of a button. Compatible with both mil-spec and commercial carbine-length buffer tubes, the 7.1-oz. UAS also incorporates QD sling swivel mounts on each side of the stock and a five-slot section of Picatinny rail along its bottom surface for the installation of a stabilizing monopod. Price: $60. Contact: American Built Arms Co.; (443) 310-8777; abarms.com.

CGear Comfort Sand-Free Mat

Fifteen years ago, Australianbased CGear developed a specially woven portable helimat that helps military chopper pilots avoid “brown out” as sand is whipped up by their rotor blades during takeoffs and landings. The company brings the same technology to the outdoor market with its series of sand-free ground mats that are ideal for everything from a weekend at the beach to hard use afield as expedient flooring under tarps and other shelters. The CGear Comfort SandFree Mat has a patented dual-layer weave that allows small particles to fall through but not return to the surface. The size large mat measures 78" square, and other sizes, colors and styles are available. Price: $80. Contact: CGear; cgear-sandfree.com.

Crimson Trace AK LiNQ

Introduced in 2016 for use with AR-pattern rifles, the Crimson Trace LiNQ light/laser system is now offered for Kalashnikov-style carbines—as well as other guns that utilize AK-type pistol grips, such as the Springfield M1A CQB. LiNQ pairs a control unit that replaces the firearm’s grip with a light/laser module that can be mounted to any two-slot section of Picatinny rail on the rifle, allowing the two to communicate wirelessly using a secure connection. As a result, when the user assumes a natural grip on the control unit, LiNQ’s green laser sight and/or its 300-lumen white light, depending on the mode selected, will automatically activate. Alternatively, the light/laser can be controlled manually via a push-button located on the rear of the module. Price: $380. Contact: Crimson Trace Corp.; (800) 442-2406; crimsontrace.com.

SnagMag Magazine Holster

Adiscreet way to carry pistol magazines, the SnagMag concealed magazine holster is essentially a Kydex sheath with a steel pocket clip. When fastened to a left- or right-hand specified pocket, the patented unit is shaped to mimic a pocket knife, covering the magazine from view. A protruding Kydex spur is designed to hook into the pocket opening, allowing the magazine to be easily withdrawn as the SnagMag remains in the pocket. The SnagMag is only available in black Kydex at this time, and is compatible with 94 firearms/magazines. Price: $35. Contact: SnagMag; snagmag.com.

Ultradyne Mercury/C4 Dynamount Sight Combo

Even when properly installed, the position of a carbine’s free-floating handguard shifts slightly during use relative to its barrel, which can cause serious accuracy issues if the firearm’s front sight is affixed to said handguard— as is typically the case. Ultradyne’s Mercury/C4 Dynamount Sight Combo remedies this problem by pairing the company’s Mercury muzzle device with its C4 Precision Front Sight, which mounts to (and times with) the Mercury itself instead of to the rifle’s handguard. Threaded 1/2x28 TPI for use with .223 Rem./5.56x45 mm NATO firearms, the Mercury features three progressive side ports for a longer, less sharp recoil impulse. Using an innovative aperture post, the folding C4 Precision Front Sight offers an intuitive circle-in-circle sight picture when used with an aperture rear sight. Available with ($349) or without ($199) the C4 Precision Rear Sight. Contact: Ultradyne; (573) 299-0900; ultradyneusa.com.

Pantheon Arms Prometheus SC

Making use of the Dolos Take-Down System, the Prometheus SC from Pantheon Arms, once installed, enables shooters to switch out barrels and handguards on AR-15-style firearms in seconds. To use the system, simply pull the bottom unlocking tab of the Tri-Lug receiver adapter ring and rotate the handguard, with the barrel and gas system affixed, counterclockwise and withdraw it from the receiver. Installation is in the reverse order. The Prometheus SC provides a 6.5", ventilated handguard, that once installed with Dolos hardware, projects roughly 7" past the receiver. The system is especially useful when switching between firearms that share bolt head dimensions and buffering systems. Price: $200. Contact: Pantheon Arms; (269) 845-1941; pantheonarms.com.

NRA Right To Bear Arms Tribute Pistol

Exclusive to America Remembers, the NRA Right To Bear Arms Tribute Pistol is a highly embellished Colt Government Model M1911 pistol, of which only 500 will be sold. The pistol celebrates your NRA for its nearly 150 years of patriotism and tireless work preserving the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment. Each commemorative pistol features 24-karat-gold artwork, banners and accents. Emblazoned along the slide is “NRA” along with the words “to keep and bear Arms” and “that every man be Armed.” An optional, custom-built display case is also available for purchase. Price: $1,995. Contact: America Remembers; (800) 682-2291; americaremembers.com.

THE XPR HAS A LIST OF FEATURES AS IMPRESSIVE AS ITS STORIED WINCHESTER® LINEAGE. FROM THE CROWNED MUZZLE OF THE PRECISION BARREL TO THE CRISP BREAK OF THE M.O.A. TRIGGER TO THE RECOIL TAMING INFLEX RECOIL PAD, WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE A RELIABLE, ACCURATE AND, QUITE FRANKLY, INCREDIBLE BOLT-ACTION RIFLE.

WINCHESTER IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF OLIN CORPORATION. WINCHESTERGUNS.COM

10 mm Auto

The .40 S&W has a reputation as a ghtstopper and competition-capable cartridge; however, there are circumstances that simply call for downrange performance above what it can deliver, such as big-game hunting and defense against large predators. A solid choice is found in the .40 S&W’s predecessor, the 10 mm Auto. The recipe below clearly illustrates why. When propelling the Hornady 180-gr. eXtreme Terminal Performance (XTP) jacketed-hollow-point (JHP) bullet to 1236 f.p.s., energy at the muzzle is a hulking 611 ft.-lbs. Even at 75 yds. it retains 458 ft.-lbs. of energy, and, with a 50-yd. zero, only drops 1.8" at that distance. Talk about a hard-hitting, at-shooting pistol! Lastly, regardless of whether you’re engaging a threat in close quarters or a distant deer with your cherished 10 mm Auto, you can be con dent of the 180-gr. XTP JHP performing; in fact, few handgun bullets are as dependable—reliable, consistent expansion and deep penetration are hallmarks of the design.

—AARON CARTER, FIELD EDITOR

RECIPE

BULLET: HORNADY 180-GR.

XTP JHP

10mm AUTO10mm AUTO10mm AUTO

PROPELLANT/CHARGE:

ALLIANT BLUE DOT/10.4 GRS. PRIMER: WLP CASE: STARLINE CASE TRIM-TO LENGTH: 0.987" CARTRIDGE OVERALL LENGTH: 1.260" VELOCITY @ 10' (F.P.S.): 1236 ENERGY (FT.-LBS.): 611 ACCURACY: 2.60"* USES: RECREATION, HUNTING, SELF-DEFENSE,

COMPETITION NOTES: 6" -BARRELED SPRINGFIELD ARMORY

TRP TOPPED WITH A TRIJICON RMR SIGHT. *AVERAGE OF FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT

GROUPS AT 25 YDS.

WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide information based upon the limited experience of individuals under speci c conditions and circumstances. They do not detail the comprehensive training, procedures, techniques and safety precautions that are absolutely necessary to properly carry on similar activity. READ THE NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER ON THE CONTENTS PAGE OF THIS MAGAZINE. ALWAYS CONSULT COMPREHENSIVE REFERENCE MANUALS AND BULLETINS OF PROPER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, PROCEDURES, TECHNIQUES AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY SIMILAR ACTIVITIES.

BIG. BOLD. DEVASTATINGLY ACCURATE. BIG. BOLD. DEVASTATINGLY ACCURATE.

44 MAGNUM (6 SHOT CAPACITY) • MATTE BLACK OR TWO TONE FINISH • BARREL: 8.375” • 55 OZ. 44 MAGNUM (6 SHOT CAPACITY) • MATTE BLACK OR TWO TONE FINISH • BARREL: 8.375” • 55 OZ.

The Taurus Raging Hunter™ is a next-generation, big-bore revolver that’s first in innovation—and built to last. Its revolutionary angular barrel design cuts down on overall weight, while its factory tuned porting and gas expansion chamber reduces muzzle lift for quicker target acquisition. Cushioned insert grips ensure a comfortable, controllable shooting experience.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS “Old-Style” Chokes

QI have two great old shotguns that I would like to keep shooting and continue to hunt duck and dove with. I would like to improve the patterning ability of each and can’t seem to nd the “old-style” Lyman and Weaver, 12-ga. chokes.

AIf your Lyman choke is actually a Cutts Compensator, you can perhaps nd some tubes on eBay or elsewhere on the Internet. If it is a Lyman choke, however, you can also look on the Internet, but I suspect your search will be far more dif cult, if not impossible. The same holds true for the Weaver choke. These chokes have not been made for somewhere around 40 years, and the popularity of this choke style dropped dramatically with the introduction of internal screw-in choke tubes.

If your guns have interchangeable barrels, that might be the best solution. Otherwise, Briley is your best bet. The company can remove the old chokes and install internal choke tubes. Contact: Briley Mfg. (Dept. AR), 1230 Lumpkin Road, Houston, TX 77043; (713) 932-6995; briley.com.

—JOHN M. TAYLOR, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

From the many questions and letters on guns, ammunition and their use that American Ri eman receives every year, it publishes the most interesting here. Receiving answers to technical and historical questions is a privilege reserved to NRA members. Questions must be in the form of letters addressed to: Dope Bag, NRA Publications, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400; must contain the member’s code line from an American Ri eman or American Hunter mailing label or membership card; must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed, legal-size envelope; and must be limited to one speci c question per letter. Non-members may submit a question with a membership application. We cannot answer technical or historical questions by telephone, e-mail or fax, and we cannot place even an approximate value on guns or other equipment. Please allow eight to 10 weeks for replies. “Questions & Answers” is compiled by staff and Contributing Editors: Bruce N. Can eld, Michael Carrick, Garry James, Charles Pate, Charles E. Petty, John M. Taylor and John Treakle.

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Side-By-Side

Early on in my marriage, my father-in-law, Jack, presented me with a vintage Ithaca 1916 sideby-side. As he cradled it in his arms, the only words he spoke were, “If my daughter comes back, so does the shotgun.” Over a quarter of a century later, I’m proud to still be looking after both of these prized possessions, as best as I know how. The scattergun had belonged to his father, Alpheus P. (Bud) Mitchell, and Jack took possession of the shotgun after his father’s passing in 1978. It came into my care in 1991.

The piece was not in very good condition when I inherited it, to say the least. The buttstock had been cut quite short and the buttpad was missing; the stock was nearly falling off the gun, and bluing was scarce. So, as not to appear ungrateful for his well-intended gift, I attached a pine board spacer with a couple of dry wall screws and then slipped a Pachmayr sleeve over my amateur stock work.

I immediately noticed that the gun shouldered surprisingly well. I’ve been in love with doubles since borrowing my brother’s as a youth, and on our rst grouse hunt of the year I took a nice red-phased ruff with the new shotgun. The next hunt produced two ringnecks in two shots. By the end of the season, it was my favorite gun. Over Christmas, I left my heirloom in the hands of my trusted gunsmith, John Berish, with speci c instructions not to change the t of the shotgun. He inspected the gun for safety, epoxied the stock as best he could and found an old Pachmayr White Line buttpad from a long-discarded gun.

The “beauty” that you see in the accompanying pictures is now my most prized rearm—and not just because I shoot it better than anything else in my gun cabinet. Being able to carry a little bit of Jack and Bud with me a eld makes the rearm that much more special. I hope my future grandchild or son-in-law might cherish it some day, the way we have.

DAVE BATES, PA.

Nearly every shooter has a favorite rearm. If you would like to share the experience of owning yours with other American Ri eman readers, or on americanri eman.org, send a sharp color photograph of the gun, accompanied by its story in fewer than 400 words, with your name, address and daytime telephone number to: Favorite Firearms, American Ri eman, National Ri e Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400. Photos and submissions cannot be returned and may be edited for clarity and brevity.

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