Viewpoints

There is a specific reason why, two years ago, I selected a Beretta U22 over all of the other .22 pistols on the market. I’m left-handed, and the Beretta had an ambidextrous safety. I once had a Ruger MK1 target, and it did shoot beautifully, but it’s right-hand-only lever made it difficult for me to carry as a field gun. Your article was all too similar to other gun magazine articles—not one mention of the Beretta’s south-paw user friendliness and not a single reference to the other guns’ omission of an ambidextrous safety. You do the same thing when you review a bolt-action. You don’t tell the reader if the rifle is offered in a left-hand variant. 17% of us care about that.

Here are some different views of the Heller arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court:

I got an interesting note from Gun Tests reader Bob Snyder on January 5. The header on the mail said, 'Archives are GREAT!' Then Bob went on to write, 'Your new ‘Archives’ are great. Thank you for this wonderful addition. Would it be possible to index the Archives by make and model; to show the table of contents for each issue; or to provide the annual category, product name, and page-by-page indices? This would make the Archives even better—and they are already great.' What Bob stumbled onto is the largest reorganization and improvement of the Gun-Tests.com website we’ve ever done. The entire job is designed to make your online experience faster, broader, and deeper.

I got an interesting note from Gun Tests reader Bob Snyder on January 5. The header on the mail said, 'Archives are GREAT!' Then Bob went on to write, 'Your new ‘Archives’ are great. Thank you for this wonderful addition. Would it be possible to index the Archives by make and model; to show the table of contents for each issue; or to provide the annual category, product name, and page-by-page indices? This would make the Archives even better—and they are already great.' What Bob stumbled onto is the largest reorganization and improvement of the Gun-Tests.com website we’ve ever done. The entire job is designed to make your online experience faster, broader, and deeper.

A very long time ago I wanted a pistol. It was to be my first, and I had enough knowledge to realize it needed to be a .22 handgun. I knew I would need to shoot it a lot to learn all about handgun shooting, and nothing was cheaper to shoot than a .22 LR. Happily I had a friend, Len Ireland, who knew a bit about shooting. On the day I was to buy my first handgun, Len went with me to the firearms-sales shop of Williams Gun Sight Co. in Davison, Michigan. I really wanted a Beretta Minx with 4-inch barrel. It looked neat, and was small enough to be somewhat portable. However, Len suggested I buy a Ruger Standard. I couldn’t imagine why he wanted me to have that big pistol, and said as much. He showed me. At the time, you could try any of Williams’ guns out on their own range, right behind the store, before you bought them. Accordingly, Len and I took both the tiny Beretta and the big 6-inch Ruger out to the range, and proceeded to punch holes in targets.

A very long time ago I wanted a pistol. It was to be my first, and I had enough knowledge to realize it needed to be a .22 handgun. I knew I would need to shoot it a lot to learn all about handgun shooting, and nothing was cheaper to shoot than a .22 LR. Happily I had a friend, Len Ireland, who knew a bit about shooting. On the day I was to buy my first handgun, Len went with me to the firearms-sales shop of Williams Gun Sight Co. in Davison, Michigan. I really wanted a Beretta Minx with 4-inch barrel. It looked neat, and was small enough to be somewhat portable. However, Len suggested I buy a Ruger Standard. I couldn’t imagine why he wanted me to have that big pistol, and said as much. He showed me. At the time, you could try any of Williams’ guns out on their own range, right behind the store, before you bought them. Accordingly, Len and I took both the tiny Beretta and the big 6-inch Ruger out to the range, and proceeded to punch holes in targets.

While I really enjoy your magazine, I believe you missed a bet when you failed to include the S&W 1911 pistol in your testing. Late last year, I purchased my SW1911 complete with the under-rail, which allowed me to attach a night light (or perhaps later a laser sight). At the local outdoor range and at a distance of 25 yards, I am consistently able to put eight rounds of MagTech 230-grain roundnose bullets within a 10-inch circle. Admittedly, these results are not achieved in the same 'timed' rapid-action manner as your testing, but I am extremely pleased with the results. I used a self-defense stance with arms out straight and elbows 'locked' and level with my master eye (which happens to be my left even though I’m right-handed).

While I really enjoy your magazine, I believe you missed a bet when you failed to include the S&W 1911 pistol in your testing. Late last year, I purchased my SW1911 complete with the under-rail, which allowed me to attach a night light (or perhaps later a laser sight). At the local outdoor range and at a distance of 25 yards, I am consistently able to put eight rounds of MagTech 230-grain roundnose bullets within a 10-inch circle. Admittedly, these results are not achieved in the same 'timed' rapid-action manner as your testing, but I am extremely pleased with the results. I used a self-defense stance with arms out straight and elbows 'locked' and level with my master eye (which happens to be my left even though I’m right-handed).

In our report on the trio of Smith & Wesson 'Triple Locks,' we missed the fact that the forward lock was absent from all of them. We don't know why S&W left that forward lock off, but we know why we missed it. None of our test crew looked for it, because we all were sure it would have been there. There was no reason not to have it. Surely it would not have cost S&W…

Las Vegas, Nevada – Most serious shooters know that the Shooting and Outdoor Sports Trade Show, SHOT by any other name, is the annual showcase for new guns, ammunition, accessories and more. But for a select few gun writers, editors, TV producers and hosts, the day before the SHOT Show is a chance to not just look, but also shoot, the latest and greatest from gun makers from around the world.

In January, the California State Court of Appeals overturned one of the most restrictive gun bans in the country. In 2005, NRA attorneys sought an injunction against the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to prevent it from enacting a gun ban. NRA won the injunction, but the city’s mayor and Board of Supervisors ignored the court order and approved a set of penalties, including a $1,000 fine and a jail term of between 90 days and six months, for city residents who owned firearms. '[The] decision by the California State Court of Appeals is a big win for the law-abiding citizens and NRA members of San Francisco,' declared Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist.

I am an appreciative subscriber of your quality publication. Due to the rising cost of ammunition, I am looking to get into reloading—9mm, .45 ACP and .223. Due to time constraints and volume, a progressive reloader seems to make the most sense. Starting from scratch, there are several items of equipment to buy. Would you have a list or any info regarding what might be 'Grade A' equipment for one starting a reloading operation?