Line ‘Em Up
Your publication is great! The best improvement that you have made over the years has been putting the comparison charts side-by-side. I have one additional suggestion. Why not also line up the feature lines. The reader should be able to check the weight, for example, of all the compared products from left to right in a straight line. It is a shame that just because of the size of the gun picture the lines can’t be lined up. — Ray
Hey Ray: Where feasible, I try to do that. — Todd Woodard
Longer Distances
Hello, Todd. I’ll start out by saying I love your magazine, and I especially love reading Downrange each month. In the past several months, you have reviewed several different long-range-caliber guns such as the 7 PRC, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, and the 6 PRC. You reviews were very informative except in one regard. Don’t you think some long-range data would benefit us on the guns reviewed? Perhaps see how they zero and group at 300 yards or maybe even 500, although that may be asking a lot. Since this is what they are built for, that information would be invaluable in my buying decision.
— Peter
Hey Peter: So many variables enter into the equation of shooting at longer distances, it makes it way too expensive, in time and dollars, to do. Also, not all of our test teams have access to longer-range distances, like we do at American Shooting Centers in George Bush Park in west Houston. — tw
Switches and Legal Guns
Hey, Todd: Some highly illegal items, like the “switches” commonly found on Glocks involved in crime, tend to taint the legitimate use of firearms for hobby and sport. The latest thing I’ve seen on the internet are car or truck oil filters that are actually silencers, as in cans or suppressors. This was something that simply popped up in my daily feeds, not some dark web or shady site. Such things should be shut down by the proper authorities. Thanks, and keep up the good research work that informs us readers!
— Print Subscriber Art
Hey Art: As you’ve seen, the adapters that allow car or truck oil filters to be attached to firearms are pretty common and are often sold as “solvent traps.” I would never, ever buy one. I don’t even like having the term in my search history. If I want a suppressor, I’ll buy a real one and do all the paperwork and pay the taxes. The thing I’ve never understood about the Glock switches is, Why? I’ve shot the Glock fully automatic pistols, and they are a wild ride for a second or two. Without a compensator, they’re very hard to control. With a compensator, they’re super loud. So, pass. — tw
Hello Todd: I am a lifetime subscriber and I love the magazine. I look forward to reading your “Downrange” column every month. I am writing to make you aware (if you are not already) of Peter Schweizer’s new book, Blood Money, in which he details how China is flooding the U.S. with inexpensive full auto-sears that can turn semi-auto Glocks into full machine pistols. While I am aware of many communist Chinese detrimental influences on the U.S., I personally was not aware of this particular aspect of their campaign against us.
While we all can go on and on about the ignorance of the anti-gun Left, many people on the anti-gun side literally have no idea that American gun manufacturers are not the only suppliers of guns and associated equipment. Of course, use of these sears in the commission of crimes will lead to calls for more restrictions on us, the law-abiding gun owners of America. I wonder how long I am going to be able to own my full-auto rifles before the ATF, by fiat, will declare me a criminal. I sincerely hope, with all my heart, that a pro-gun president is able to triumph in November and overcome all the idiots and cheating against him, and that a conservative and pro-gun Congress is elected as well. May God Bless all of our vets. — Bill
Hey Bill: Thanks for sending that along. You and Art, in his letter above, seem to be thinking along the same lines. I hadn’t considered that supplying full-auto sears might be a commie op. — tw
Re “Which Old West Revolver Is Our Huckleberry? Here Are Two More,” July 2024
I received your complimentary issue today and noticed you reviewed SAAs, including Taylor’s Cattleman. I strongly disagree with your evaluation from a gunsmith perspective. I’ve had three of these in the shop for repairs. First, Taylor’s doesn’t actually support their firearms. On two separate occasions, I called for parts, and they sent the wrong parts — even though I provided the model and serial numbers to them. Second, the parts they provide don’t actually fit the firearms. Third, the fact that I’ve had three practically new firearms in for repair says volumes. I strongly recommend not purchasing their firearms. Look good on the outside, and if you are lucky enough to get a “Tuesday-Thursday” gun, they might shoot okay, but don’t count on them doing so for any length of time. I do recognize your evaluation was based on shooting, but your subscribers should beware of these firearms.
— W T (Bo) Setliff Jr.
Master Gunsmith
MMC(SS), USN, Retired
Thank you for sharing your opinion. I’ve passed along your view to the readership. — tw
Rainproof Paper Targets
Long-time subscriber needs help. I hang a bunch of paper targets outside. Don’t use all of them. Next day, it rains. Targets ruined and become soggy mess. There must be rain proof targets, with some better than others. That’s where your ability to test things shooting-related comes in. Help, please. —Kenneth
Hey Kenneth: Rite in the Rain (RiteintheRain.com) targets (one is shown at left) have several versions that should solve your problem. I’ve also used Birchwood Casey Dirty Bird targets in rainy weather, but the paster dots didn’t always stick so well. — tw
Re “Duty 9mm Pistols: Glock, SIG and Springfield Armory Shoot It Out,” June 2024
Thank you very, very much for producing such a tremendous magazine ever since I began subscribing, probably 30+ years ago. You can probably check the records and see when I first subscribed, and then eventually I purchased a lifetime subscription. The writing is always exceptionally clear, literate, informative, and contains accurate, and reliable information. I tell my students that they can trust your recommendations, and that I would gladly purchase and then carry into harms way any of your top recommendations. I really enjoyed your the article on Duty 9mm Pistols.
I have now lived more than three times longer than I expected to live. I went to Vietnam in 1970 as a 20-year-old Airborne Ranger after serving at the United States Army Infantry School as an instructor with the Ranger Department. I completed the United States Army Jungle Operations Training Course in Panama to be the Senior Advisor to an ARVN Reconnaissance Company. I carried a 1911A1 pistol throughout my time in Vietnam. It served me very well and was with me day and night. — Robert
Hey Robert: Thank you very much for the kind words and for your service. The writing staff, Joe Woolley, Bob Campbell, and Robert Sadowski, love what they do, and it shows. I’m just around to sweep up the Cheetos. — tw
