Great Service from SIG Sauer

Re “Rimfire Automatics from

 SIG, KelTec, and Taurus

Square Off,” November 2023

Hi Todd, I wrote to you last year about my experience with a SIG P322. Early this year, the RomeoZero red-dot sight on the pistol ceased working properly. I contacted SIG about this and asked if I sent the sight back, would they replace it? SIG customer service responded that all I had to do was send them some pictures of the unit, including the serial number, and they would send a replacement. They instructed that after receipt of the replacement, I should just discard the old sight. It took about six weeks, but I received a replacement, installed it on the gun, and it works fine. Once again, good customer service from SIG Sauer.

I really enjoyed the article about the rimfire target pistols in the March issue (“Three Rimfire Target Pistols and Red Dots Under $800,” March 2024 p5). I have a Taurus TX22 Competition that I bought new and onto which I installed a Vortex Venom red-dot sight. I really like the gun, but I agree with your testing team’s assessment that the trigger-pull weight should be lower. The pistol’s unique design that provides for mounting the mini red-dot directly on the barrel is great. I also have a Ruger MK IV 22/45 Lite pistol, which I bought for $800 with a Riton Optics MPRD 2 red-dot sight already installed. It’s a Davidson’s Distributor Exclusive special model made by Ruger with an aluminum receiver and barrel sleeve and stainless-steel barrel and has no iron sights. 

On page 11 of Robert Sadowski’s excellent article is an illustration of the left side of the Ruger Mark III 22/45 Pistol with these comments: “All the controls on Ruger 22/45 Mark III look the same, which could be confusing, but they are in the right locations so an experienced user would catch on fast.” Ruger made some substantial improvements to the MK IV pistol, including changing the configuration of the safety lever and the bolt release, as shown in the attached photo. The changes make the safety and the bolt release easier to operate and eliminate any confusion about the functions of the three controls.

I owned a Ruger MK II years ago, and while it was a good shooter, the disassembly and reassembly was a nightmare. I don’t know what Bill Ruger was thinking when he designed that part of the gun. I also own a Taurus TX22 Competition model with a red-dot sight, and it’s a well-designed and accurate pistol. Keep up the good work. — Paul

Hey Paul: Good to hear that SIG Sauer was so responsive on your sight. That kind of service makes you a repeat customer. Also, Contributing Editor Robert Sadowski appreciates you sending in comments about the MK IV. He said, “Thanks for sharing. Looks like we should run a story on the newer Ruger. By the way, it is true that the early generations of the Ruger pistols are tedious to disassemble and reassemble. Nightmare is an apt description.” — Todd Woodard

Re “Hearing Protection: We 

Check Out Electronic Muffs

and Buds,” February 2024

Interesting article on hearing protection. I saw models I have not heard of previously. It would be more interesting to see comparisons of more similar products, all ear buds, all muffs. I’ve been interested in buds for some time because I’ve found getting a good seal with muffs and safety glasses difficult. Add a winter knit cap, and it is even more problematic. 

One thing I’ve learned in my past reading is electronic hearing protection can be either compression or cut off. I didn’t see anything in your review on which type they are. I’m more interested in compression so conversations can be heard even though several other people are shooting on the line. I hope to see more reviews of other shooting-related products other than just firearms. — Mike

We hear you, Mike. Look for more on hearing and vision protection. — tw

Re “Shockwaves Vs. Shotgun:

What Is Best for Defense?”

October 2023

Todd and Company: I’ve seen several people show up at my range with “shotshell” guns. They all used standard 23⁄4-inch shells, fire off about six shots, don’t hit anything, massage their wrists, and then bring out a rifle. Hmm. One guy fired it single handedly. The gun flew out of his hands, and he was ejected from the range! I think that says it all. I shoot mini-shells out of a double-barreled Stoeger. No problems there, and it’s easy on my 70-year-old shoulder. Nuff said, love your magazine. — Luger Mike

Hey Mike: Yes, the shotshell firearms are an acquired taste. In the October 2023 issue, we said as much. The tested three short shotshell-chambered firearms were the new Mossberg 590S Shockwave, a Remington TAC-14 pumpgun, and a Mossberg 590 Shockwave. Tested against them was a Black Aces Tactical Pro Series S Max 517 12 Gauge, $300, which was Our Pick. We said, “This reliable shotgun outperforms the shotshell firearms types by a tremendous factor, in our view. The Black Aces S Max is a relatively light shotgun. Despite this, recoil was not objectionable. The shotgun handles well, and we were surprised that it was still controllable with its own birdshead grip.” — tw