Crossfire June 2019

10

rifle

Case Of The Missing Marlin

Today I purchased the April issue based on the cover blurb for the lever-action Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum. There is no mention of it in the issue. Although the other articles are good reading, I got the issue based on the cover information for the Marlin article. I was disappointed over the money spent for something that wasn’t there.
Richard Roberts
via email

I just received my April issue and on the cover it lists a story on the lever-action Marlin 1894. Where is it?
Alan Flury
via email

If there’s one place you absolutely can’t hide a goof, it’s the cover. Originally, the .357 Magnum Marlin 1894 piece was slated for the April issue. It got switched out for another piece late in the production cycle, but we neglected to change the cover blurb. The Marlin piece you expected will appear in an upcoming issue. Hope you like it! From here on in we’ll do our cover blurbs last! Again, our apologies. —PM

Now Hear This!

I enjoyed Dave Anderson’s April “Rifles” column on eye and ear protection. Any kind of muff, electronic or not, depends upon the making of a good seal around the ear.  All shooters should be using safety glasses.  Unfortunately, safety glasses break the seal on all earmuffs. Muffs do add protection, but any shooter who is using safety glasses and muffs without foam plugs is damaging his or her hearing.  I think this is important to share with your readers.  

Thanks for publishing a magazine with good articles.  I look forward to it every month.
D.P. “Pat” Nash
via email

I have been a subscriber to GUNS and American Handgunner for many years and read them cover to cover.  The articles keep me up to date with the latest news and guns on the market.  The article on hearing and eye protection by Dave Anderson was great and informative but I would like to recommend a few more items for the range. First, a baseball cap. The brim can deflect the casings from the shooter next to you. Next, a shirt with a collar that fits snug around the neck to stop those hot casings from finding their way inside and burning your skin.   Keep up the good work. I look forward to the next issues.
Nicholas de Guiseppi
via email

Smith & Wesson

A Very Sweet Smith

I am trying to ID my S&W .357 as to its modern-day numbering system. It is listed on the barrel as a .357 “Highway  Patrolman” (SN S21XXX).  I am not looking for a value on the gun as I do not intend to sell it. Thank you for any information you may have.
Fred Walter
via email

The Highway Patrolman was a less-expensive, service version of the premium N-Frame .357 Magnum. When Smith went to the number system, the .357 became the Model 27 while the Highway Patrolman became the Model 28. It’s a classic and you’re right to hang onto it. —PM

Mauser

Swedish And Super

I was pleased to see Mike Venturino’s April piece on the M96 Swedish Mauser. I have two of them, one converted to .308 and wearing a barrel by Kimber of America Inc. (Clackamas, Oregon) and a black composite stock. It’s a fine shooting lightweight sporter. The other is still in full 1942 military dress, an excellent example of high-quality workmanship. To the point, both of mine say Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Aktiebolag followed by the year of manufacture. I was surprised Husqvarna was not even mentioned in the article and wonder how many they made. Thanks for an interesting magazine.
Al Yates
West Paris, ME

Politically Correct? Not Us. . .

This is in response to the bloviation presented in your April Letters section by Dr. Sylvia Rafels. Rafels needs to get a grip. She claims to be a “Veteran, a Gun Owner and a Hunter.” She must have led a highly sheltered life in the military to become so enamored of political correctness that she suffered so much personal damage from the benign words in Dr. Dabbs’ February review of the FN 509. Frankly, I hold doubt about all of her claims and figure she somehow found a copy of GUNS somewhere and decided to search out something to be offended by, like any liberal would do in order to whine and complain. Keep referring to firearms in the female gender Dr. Dabbs. It’s hilarious to read about a liberal’s head exploding.
Dave Bradford
Salmon, ID

Prior to reading the April issue, I would have wagered a Bitcoin that there were no perpetually offended snowflakes among your readers. Then I read Dr. Sylvia M. Rafels’ letter and was effectively proven wrong. I cringed as I turned the pages to read your response, and then let out an audible wooo hooo when I discovered there was no simpering apology. Thank you!  From one reader to another, Dr. Rafels should go examine herself.
Korte Young
via email

I thank Dr. Sylvia M. Rafels for her service to her country but she is wasting her time here.  If this magazine were to succumb to the requirements of the liberal agenda, it would cease to exist as most gun people would stop reading it. Gun people are generally stable folks who were raised a certain way and have remained that way for their entire lives.  We won’t put up with self-righteous know-it-alls telling us we are wrong. Oh sure, there are a few outliers among us who happened into our gun society and brought their ridiculous views with them. But most of them know we are not interested in hearing what they think unless it concerns guns. 
James Pinion
Lubbock, TX

It is with shock and dismay that I read in the very same April issue where you both callously brush aside the concerns of a troubled feminist and allow Will Dabbs to use even more insensitive and insulting language in the article “The SIG M17.” In this otherwise brilliantly written piece, Dr. Will describes the competition between the two corporate finalists to supply the US Military with its sidearm, Savage and Colt, as fighting “like drunken chimps.” As a chimpanzee, a veteran and hunter, I am deeply offended by this disparaging simile that suggests that my people are both drunks and prone to violence. You clearly neither care about your simian readership nor want to maintain it.
Charles
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Some of my best friends are buffoons, er, baboons! —BW

Ruger

Baby Boomer Icon

The April “Campfire Tales” reminded me of the very first brand-new gun I bought — a 1960 vintage Ruger Single-Six. As a person who grew up in an era in which the Western “B Movie” was a staple and the most popular programs on TV were Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Virginian, Maverick and others. There was no doubt in my mind that my first gun would be a single-action revolver and the Ruger was exactly what I was looking for. I still have this gun and I expect to own it for the rest of my life. While I also own later examples it, this one is by far my favorite Single-Six.
George Thursby
Perris, CA

Thanks Tank!

This is a shout out to Tank Hoover. Nice words about your love for the .44 Special in the March “Think Tank.” A few years ago I came across an online ad for a like-new (with original box) S&W M24-3, 6 1/2″. Less than a box of ammo through it (no cylinder line!). I had to have it and sold my M25-2 .45 ACP for exactly the M24s asking price. Absolutely no regrets! The M25 shot OK, but my 24-3 is fantastic. I don’t have a chrono, but 5.4 grs. of Trail Boss should be pushing my 240-grain cast SWCs at about 800 fps. If I do my part, they go into 2″ at 25 yards.
Chuck M.
via email

GUNS Magazine® welcomes letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit all published letters for clarity and length. Due to the volume of mail, we are unable to individually answer your letters or e-mail. In sending a letter to GUNS Magazine, you agree to provide Publisher’s Development Corp. such copyright as is required for publishing and redistributing the contents of your letter in any format. Send your letters to Crossfire, GUNS Magazine, 13741 Danielson Street, Suite A, Poway, CA 92064; www.gunsmagazine.com; e-mail: [email protected]

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