Crossfire August 2021

A Sharp One

I look forward to every issue of GUNS Magazine and I especially enjoyed reading Montana Musings by Mike “Duke“ Venturino in January about the Sharps rifles and in June about the “big fifties.” This leads to my question. 

I inherited a Sharps rifle when my brother passed away several years ago. He was a serious military and Civil War collector. In 2008, he had a replica rifle made by the Shiloh Rifle Company, which is described as an 1874 military rifle. It is in .50-70 Govt. caliber and has a military musket pattern with some “embellishments.” Is this rifle an accurate replica of rifles actually used by the U.S. Army or any other military?
Steve Kepf

Original Sharps rifles in the military configuration were never adopted by the U.S. Army but were sold on the civilian market. I actually owned one in .50-70 in the 1990s. That Shiloh of yours is a beauty and I expect it being in .50-70 is very rare. In fact I’ve never seen one so chambered. Treasure it. —Mike Venturino

The Beaver RELIEVER

A friend recently asked me why I didn’t write articles for a gun magazine. He said “you’re witty, humorous, knowledgeable, and you have the maturity of a 13 year old when it comes to all things related to guns!” Well, I just don’t think I could get the job done any better than Dr. Dabbs! He does an outstanding job and I look forward to his articles each month! Dr. Dabbs’ recent article on “blasting beavers” made me grin from ear to ear. As a land owner, I do not view these pests as cute cartoon characters. I also don’t kill animals just for the sake of killing. However, I have zero tolerance for beavers, prairie dogs, pocket gophers and venomous snakes. My Remington 1100 has the final say in these matters. 
Mark Germany 

All the writers at GUNS and American Handgunner are fantastic but my favorite is Dr. Will Dabbs. He has a very entertaining way of expressing himself. I just read the article on Applied Pyromania in the June issue of GUNS and realized Dr. Dabbs is well experienced in high explosives. I was an EOD specialist in the late ’60s and was stationed at Fort Lee, Va. before going to Vietnam for a year. We were contacted by Range Control from Fort A.P. Hill on several occasions to do exactly what Dr. Dabbs explained in his article — take out beaver dams. To my knowledge we did not have any casualties as Dr. Dabbs did, but we blew a lot of dams to stop the flooding of many ranges and range roads. We had to use a bit more than two minutes of time fuse on big blows in Vietnam because some had several tons in one blow.
David Bigger

Green gunk

Sending letters to editors, writing product/service reviews and the like is not typically in my bailiwick. Additionally, while I see humor in a variety of things, I rarely laugh out loud. However, Mr. Wheat’s Insider in the June 2021 issue of GUNS produced an exception. I’m still giggling. All members of the gun guy-collective should lay out for all to see. And although I don’t know what avocado toast is, it sounds pretty good.
Neil Stevens

Thanks! avocado toast is basically toast with smushed-up avocado goo smeared on it. I made the reference because my Millennial kids all love it. It’s not bad if you like guacamole, just don’t let it cause you to hang out in trendy (i.e. overpriced) coffee shops! —BW

Go West, Young Mas

Maybe Mas will recall this? Doubt it, since this was at the Second Chance pin shoot in 1988. At the time I was using a then new video cam that recorded to VHS tapes, so the quality is poor. A couple of the guys who attended the shoot were also pilots and as they flew over they tossed Cherry Bombs from the low flying craft as they circled. Of course these came nowhere close to the ground before exploding but they got the attention of the shooters, including Mas. We all thought this was great fun.
Mick Slater

Hey, I remember that! Thanks for the blast from the past. —Mas

The NRA Debacle

I just finished listening to you and Jim Shepherd’s podcast #76 (“Wayne LaPierre Must Go!”) and I’ve got one main question: What can/should a long-term NRA member do to help create a cleanup of the executive suite at NRA, up to and including the ouster and defunding of Wayne LaPierre?
Clifton Ivy

As usual, your latest podcast was excellent but there was a glaring omission: What can or should NRA members do? I am not familiar enough with the NRA bylaws to know if there is some action members could take to oust the board and the executive suite. If there is something members can do, other than setting up lawn chairs and coolers to watch the coming train wreck, you and FMG publications have the means to reach, inform and inspire many NRA members and supporters. Both the country and the NRA have been focused on external enemies for years. It looks like both are on the verge of being destroyed from the inside.
Joe Filice

Just wanted to say thanks for a painful but realistic take on the current situation at the NRA as discussed in episode #76. I agree with you change is needed but how do we members apply the pressure needed to get leadership change at the NRA? I’ve been a life member for years but never had reason to reach out to anyone in a position of authority at the headquarters. Thanks again for what had to be a pretty joyless experience recording the episode. The truth hurts sometimes, but it’s still the truth and needs to be told.
Greg Reeves

If every NRA member would return the NRA donation requests forms without any money and write across the form “No money until Wayne Lapierre and crew are gone!” — this would immensely speed up the clean-out of the bad blood ruining the NRA. From a long standing but currently disgusted NRA member.
Allan Jenne

We got lots of letters on this podcast episode and so far 100% of them have been in support (a rarity). In my opinion, first and foremost we need rank-and-file NRA Members to demand action. We’ve all been hesitant to raise hell because of the good work the NRA does but it’s time for torches and pitchforks. Otherwise, we should all just be quiet and let Wayne (and friends) continue doing what Wayne does. In a worse-case scenario, the lifeblood of the NRA is money so the day LaPierre and Co. have to buy suits off the rack and fly coach on a commercial airline, I believe the group will go off in search of greener pastures. One suggestion: Remain a basic member so the NRA doesn’t lose electoral power, but don’t give the organization another dime until reforms are made. —BW

Buffett-belly Blues

I am 22 years old and have been concealed carrying since I was 19. I have recently started listening to your podcast. I always hear you guys talking about different things and ways to EDC (every day carry). I heard you say you carry a man purse, AKA a Fanny pack. I would like to suggest you look into a holster/utility belt type thing called a “Belly Band.” You can find them on Amazon. They can hold full-size to sub compact guns, along with an extra mag, wallet, keys, small flash light or whatever else you can fit, they are surprisingly comfortable and I recommend you give one a shot! Keep up the awesome show!
Dustin Recker

I’ve used a belly band in the past, and I didn’t find it comfortable. I will agree it’s great for deep cover and keeping things secure but it comes down to body type. I’m guessing you haven’t spent as much time in the buffet line as I have! —BW

Tale of the scale

I read “Handloading the .45 ACP Part II” and I think John Taffin has a typo regarding his Lyman #452424 mold. I checked out a bullet cast from my Lyman #452424 and it weighs 260 grains not close to 217 grains as mentioned. In the meantime keep up the near perfect excellent work.
Carl Thomas Zmuda

Thanks for writing and is always a pleasure to hear from readers who will read carefully! The mold I have is a very early one and combined with typesetting metal, it comes out lighter. —JT

Awn Care

Would you please tell Mr. Van Zwoll (“SWAT Leather, You Varmint,” GUNS December 2020) he is the first gun writer who has used a word my phone can’t define. What is a grass awn?
Alex A.

Alex, I’ll take botanical trivia for $400! A grass awn in the spiky, bristly part at the top of a grass seed husk. The tall things sticking off a wheat seed head? Awns. —BW

Cimarron S&W No. 3 American

Regarding the GUNS cover story June 2021 — Took it out today. First off, let me say this is a well-made, tightly-fitted, good looking revolver. A delight in the hand. The 8″ was out of stock so I bought the 5″. Three of us took turns on paper targets to get a feel for the sights. Results were less than spectacular but we did determine it shot a bit high. Switching to tin cans is where the fun came in. None of us could miss with a minimum of five hits before the can was too far away to see clearly. One of the shooters was a young lady we have been introducing to various handguns to see what she handled best. She took to No. 3 like a duck to water — I may have lost my gun. I took your advice for off-handing with a slight modification: “Release that fair maiden, Snively Whiplash, or prepare to meet your maker!”
Jerry Mandel

Well heck, thanks for your awfully kind email. I was actually just shooting mine yesterday. I find it great fun to clank an 80-yard steel torso here with it. Once you get yours, try off-handing it with one hand. It just sort of hangs there. Mutter “Unhand her you ruffian” just before you press the trigger too. It helps. —Roy Huntington

You’d never guess

I enjoy GUNS Magazine and the podcasts, well done. Who plays the music for the podcast? Great drum beat, give them credit please?
Ron Jones

Ron, you’re the only person who has asked: The composer is — Brent T. Wheat. I put the piece together on my laptop while on a flight home from San Diego two years ago. I was just messing around to kill time and ended up liking it. I chose it for the podcast because the metallic “clunk” on the drum track sounds to me like bullets hitting steel plates. Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while! —BW

Purchase A PDF Download Of The GUNS Magazine August 2021 Issue Now!