Where in the World is - American Gunsmithing Institute

In This Issue
3
5
30 Member
Note from the President
Spotlight
Offhand Shots from the Editor
8 Shooting
Sports
Paul Smeltzer
Athens Gunsmith
Service
34
Defensive Handgun
Training with Chuck Taylor
The "Caveman" Chef
ELK STEAK topped with Brandy Mushroom Sauce
12
National Rifle
Association
served with a side of Pears and Pine Nuts
36
It’s All in the Family -
The McNally
Family
16
The 10/22 Fun Gun In Person!
18 Why Take A
Self Defense Lesson?
40
Where in the
World is
"Machine Gun"
Kelly Now?!
45
Richard
Jordan
Gatling
24
Growing up
with Firearms
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©The Gun Club of America • Hot Brass - Volume #11 May 2013
A Note from the President . . .
When You Should Rent
Firearms Rather Than Buy
There are times when it is far better and more
economical to rent guns rather than buy them.
Now don’t get me wrong, I own a lot of guns and
Gene Kelly, President, AGI
many of them for no other reason than I thought they were
cool and I wanted them. I also have many special purpose firearms. A few of
them I have never had a chance to fire, haven’t gotten scoped up, or haven’t
put them to their intended use in the field yet . . . but I still like owning them
all the same.
So why am I suggesting that you rent certain guns rather than buying them?
I am going to give you three examples based on recent personal experiences.
I am also going to give you an example of when you really should purchase
and bring your own gun.
1. Front Sight Training Academy: In January, my son Jacob and I attended
a two day handgun course at Front Sight Training Academy in Pahrump,
Nevada. I chose to rent pistols for the two of us for several reasons.
First, after our two day course we were spending the rest of the week in
Las Vegas filming at the SHOT Show and I did not feel I had a secure place to
keep the guns. Next, I didn’t want to hassle checking in the guns with our
luggage and then risk someone stealing them enroute. Third, I knew when
you rented your pistol package they provided you with a pistol, spare mags
(hi-cap), holster, belt and more, so I would have the right gear available. And
if one of their guns failed, they would replace it and we would not lose any
class time. Plus, we weren’t putting 300-600 rounds of wear and tear on our
personal guns.
This also gave us a chance to try firing different guns. I chose a Springfield
XD and Jacob got a Glock 19, both in 9mm so we could share ammo
purchased onsite at a reasonable price. I wanted to see how the XD felt in a
carry/training situation as my primary licensed CCW pistol is a 1911. I was
quite satisfied with the XD and Jacob really enjoyed shooting the Glock. We
both cut out the A zone on our targets.
2. Cordoba, Argentina: Jacob and I were just in Cordoba, Argentina, a
place famous for dove shooting as they are considered pests and there are
tens of millions of them. When I shot there for the first time a few years ago,
I brought my own shotgun - a Beretta Teknys Gold Sporting Clays model.
I put almost three thousand rounds through it at the time. We had flown
directly from the USA and had to get it through Argentina Customs which
wasn’t too bad, we just had to pay a license fee. But I had to clean it at lunch
AND after dinner which seriously cut in to my siesta time! Then after all that
shooting a part failed.
3
This time we knew we were going to be traveling through multiple countries
before we got to Argentina, including Panama, Peru, and Brazil, with stops and
transfers along the way. We would have had serious problems as I would have
to license the guns in each and every country we were staying in (if I even
could) and then where would I store them to keep them secure? By renting,
we avoided all of that plus they cleaned the guns. This turned out to be important as they shoot locally manufactured ammo that tends to be pretty dirty.
3. The guns they provided had other benefits: They were Beretta 391
Urika 2s in 20 gauge - locally modified, strengthened, and improved to ensure
reliability and reduce recoil. (If you are a Silver GCA Member I will show you
how in a future issue of GunTech Video Magazine). The end result was we
each shot over 5,000 rounds of 20 gauge shells in our rental guns in a four
day period without getting bruised or having malfunctions. Amazing! I am
soooo glad we didn’t bring our own guns.
4. Purchases I wish I hadn’t made: I have purchased guns that, had I
rented first, would not have purchased because I found: I didn’t like them,
they didn’t fit me, or they weren’t reliable. It is also possible the rental and
use of them “would have scratched the itch.” Just off the top of my head, one
of these guns is an S&W Airlight .22LR I bought my wife. It seems the metal is
soft and has some timing issues that have been difficult to resolve, so I don’t
totally trust it. (Plus, the very next year, they came out with it in .38spl. Dang!)
There are also a few long guns I wouldn’t have purchased if I’d used them in
the field first. That is why it is worth going to a shooting range and renting
different guns to find out what works best for you. Almost every month we
run new guns through their paces in GunTech DVD magazine and we can
often help you avoid buying a lemon. It is also why we use a number of
different shooters, male and female to evaluate the test guns and provide you
with different subjective opinions in addition to our testing methods.
There are many situations where you do want to own your gun rather than
rent. One time I would definitely suggest you bring your own firearm is when
you need an accurate rifle, or have some challenging shooting where you may
only get one shot and you really need to know and trust your rifle, and for that
matter the ammunition. For me that was the situation hunting plains game in
South Africa. Just borrowing some rifle in hunting camp or from the lodge
would not have worked for me. Many of my shots were several hundred yards
or further and I needed to know and trust the actual capabilities of my rifle
and ammo. So when accuracy, cartridge performance, or confidence in the
equipment is critical to success, I want to own and use my own gear.
Next time you have a hankering to purchase a new gun, consider finding
somewhere you can rent and use it first, just to be sure. I can tell you from all
the guns we have tested in GunTech, there were many which after shooting
extensively, I decided I would not really want to own. Renting can save you a
small fortune, which you can use to buy more guns that you want!
Good Shooting!
Gene Kelly, President, Gun Club of America and
the American Gunsmithing Institute
4
AGI
Offhand Shots
from the Editor
By Lenée Landis, Hot Brass Editor
TRAINING DAY
I am lucky enough to be starting this column at the range today with the
ding-ding music of 9mm hitting center white steel targets. Taking our Hot
Brass advice, son Adam is getting some training from Joe Alesia, aka Lefty
Longridge. Adam hasn’t gone shooting in years—work, school, and a long
to-do list usurped any spare time. The four of us are going to shoot the Glock
match this weekend at Mike Raahauges’ Shooting Park in Norco, CA.
We spent many enjoyable hours watching Adam play baseball; as a
left-handed pitcher, he had a great move picking
a runner off first base. He shoots right-handed,
however. His hand-eye coordination is superb so
we’ll see what he learns from Joe.
Joe’s teaching method is easy to let sink in. He is
one of those instructors able to do it himself—he
shot DX, Distinguished Expert, consistently on the
LA County Sheriff’s course, which is at least 290
of 300 shots. Based at the range for some years,
teaching recruits to shoot, he has probably seen
every style of form and mistake over the years.
More importantly when teaching someone else, he is able to break down all
those moments comprised in a shot, and articulate what you should be doing
to make it smoother and more accurate.
He is able to relate it in reference to something else you already understand
so you wind up with an aha! moment. For example, when driving, you don’t
stare at the hood ornament while driving down the road. You are aware of
your vehicle and the brake pressure you need, but it is not what you are
focused on. He has the ability to train your brain to look at the situation from
a different perspective, and you shift focus to the target.
What Joe is also able to teach is adjusting your
shot, in real time. It’s easy enough to say, and
easy enough to know you need to do it, but the
process of doing it involves skills he can teach.
Coming off the 2 day defensive pistol course
taught by Chuck Taylor, where I actually got to
shoot for 2 days, I now have a 3rd session at the
range. Normally, for me, range days are few and
far between and involve different firearms so
5
these 3 sessions have allowed me to improve dramatically. And after all, who
am I competing against in the Glock tournament? That would be Me. Oh
yeah, I think I can do it—I can beat that girl.
Another good thing about the GSSF shoot, is the opportunity to go out and
have fun and support doing so. These days, it’s important to stand up, show
up, and be counted.
Did you know . . . the NRA National Firearms Museum is only as far
away as your computer screen???
The NRA Annual Meetings are coming up, and there is a ton of firearmsrelated information on their website regarding meetings and events, proposed
laws, and classes. One thing I hadn’t seen until I went and spent a little more
time on the website is the information available about the NRA museum
which is located at 11250 Waple Mills Rd., Fairfax, Virginia 22030. Open every
day except Christmas, admission is free. They also have a library on the
premises, along with a store, café, and 50 yard indoor shooting range.
You will want to check with them if you want to use the library as it is
available by advance appointment only. Same advice if you want a guided
tour, make an appointment in advance though the museum is set up so you
can have a self-guided tour with information pamphlets available. The range is
open every day but Tuesday.
Annie Oakley in later years
Can’t make it to the museum in Virginia? You
have the next best thing. Their
website www.nramuseum.org allows you to
check out the firearms of six
centuries, housed in the 15 galleries of the
museum. From King James’ Flintlock Fowler
to Annie Oakley’s guns to Dirty Harry’s Smith
& Wesson .44 Magnum, you can see the
firearm, get background information, and
watch a video about the firearm.
You can check out over 2700 firearms in these
15 galleries: Robert E. Petersen; Old Guns in a
New World; the Road to American Liberty;
Seeds of Greatness; the Prospering New
Republic; a Nation Asunder; the American
West; the New Prosperity; an Age of Elegance; America Ascending; Ever
Vigilant; For the Fun of It; Firearms Traditions for Today; Hollywood Guns,
William B. Ruger Special Exhibits; and Freedom’s Doorway.
There is a vast amount of information available here on the history of
American Firearms. There are 150 videos available to view. You can also
access articles by Jim Supica, the Director of the Museum who has a rich
history of his own in the industry; Senior Curator Phil Schreier whom you may
have seen on the road or on the air, bringing 21 years of experience at the
museum with him; and Senior Curator Doug Wicklund who has been with
NRA 24 years and is known as the Gun Whisperer.
6
Kenneth B. Coolidge
Actually, this museum has
now become a “must-see” to
me, and I am figuring out as
I speak how we can go
there after attending a
service at Arlington for our
beloved friend, Lt. Colonel
Kenneth Coolidge, USAF
retired.
I hadn’t given any thought
to doing anything else while
there really, but I have no
doubt Ken, in his relentlessly enthusiastic New
Hampshire voice, would
point out those American
sites which have a profound
place in our history.
He spent plenty of time
Who doesn’t like firearms on display?
crisscrossing the country in
Uzi Carbine, High Standard Model 10, Calico, and
his Cessna 172 with his
Thompson. Photo courtesy of Joe Loong
wife, Mariette, seeing
everything there is to see after the time spent in the rear seat as the Electronics Warfare Officer (EWO) in an RF-4C Phantom jet over North Vietnam, with
over 100 combat missions over Haiphong and Hanoi, in the ‘Red River Valley.’
“Alone, unarmed, and unafraid” he used
to say,” 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.” The
EWO’s duty was to look for radar
emissions from SAMs coming off the
ground, anti-aircraft artillery fire, and MIGs, taking steps to jam radar or use
flares to fool the enemy. They went in before and after the Thuds, the F-105
Thunderchief fighter bombers, first to check out the terrain and then to assess
the damage. In those years, the EWO was also a trained navigator. There
were more F4s lost than any other type fixed wing aircraft flown by any
country, most by anti-aircraft artillery.
A remarkable man: his life was filled with family, friends, and flight
instruction. So, with Ken in mind . . . at a minimum in Arlington, a person
would need to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers and the Iwo Jima
Memorial. The Pentagon is located in the city, as well. In the vicinity are Civil
War sites, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and 17 other Smithsonian
museums across the river in Washington DC. Hmmm . . . and we could go to
the White House . . . oh, never mind, I heard it is closed to visitors. Maybe
the Potomac…now, there’s some history!
E-mail me at [email protected] and add your voice—
be it building your firearm, teaching someone to shoot, or the words to your
7
camp song. You know I can’t do it without you.
The Shooting Sports
by Lenée Landis
“The goal of the Gun Club of America is to help our members have MORE FUN
with their guns and meet others with the same intent. Each issue
we introduce you to some new or interesting aspect of the shooting sports.
This month we introduce you to Defensive Handgun Training . . .
Chuck Taylor of American Small Arms Academy
The purpose of this handgun training is not to make you into a gunfighter.
These are the first words of this 2 day defensive handgun training course from
Chuck Taylor, an icon in the firearms field: Army Vietnam combat veteran,
prolific writer, trainer of all from Special Forces to individuals like you and
me. Son of a career Army officer, he picked up brass as a kid and could do
the manual of arms for a 1911 and an M1 Garand while most of the rest of us
were playing freeze tag.
He has written 4 books: the Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery with
Jack P. Lewis; The Combat Shotgun and Submachine Gun - A Special Weapons
Analysis; Complete Book of Combat Handgunning; and Fighting Rifle. He
would be hip deep in the articles he’s written, and you can check him out at
www.chucktayloramericansmallarmsacademy.com to see the compiled list of
his experience.
We got up at 5am and headed out to the class hosted by Norman Hanson
Firearms at his range in Tehachapi, CA. The range is set against the
8
The Shooting Sports
Tehachapi Mountains which are part of the Transverse Ranges and separate
the Mojave Desert from the Central Valley. Although the Tehachapi Pass Wind
Farm with 5,000 wind turbines is in the area, the range was calm.
It was only human to wonder
how this class was going to
go . . . would we be awash in
testosterone, swimming in
adrenaline, would he treat us
like a drill instructor in the
good old days when they
yelled in your face, 2 inches
away from your nose, with
spittle hitting your forehead?
Instead, we were greeted by Chuck, a man who welcomed everyone, had a
good sense of humor, and introduced us to his partner in life, Gail Chandler,
a great instructor in her own right. I
People who argue for the banning learned later in the day that Gail retired
of arms ask for automatic rule by from the Bakersfield Fire Department and
the young, the strong, and the
had unwittingly embarked on this new
many, and that’s the exact
career a few years ago.
opposite of a civilized society.
A mugger, even an armed one,
can only make a successful living
in a society where the state has
granted him a force monopoly.
When I carry a gun, I don’t do so
because I am looking for a fight,
but because I’m looking to be left
alone. The gun at my side means
that I cannot be forced, only
persuaded. I don’t carry it
because I’m afraid, but because it
enables me to be unafraid.
It doesn’t limit the actions of those
who would interact with me
through reason, only the actions
of those who would do so by
force. It removes force from the
equation . . . and that’s why
carrying a gun is a civilized act.
_________________
Excerpts from the essay
The Gun is Civilization, by Marko Kloos,
http://www.munchkinwrangler.com/
Used with permission.
We spent a couple hours in the classroom,
initially a couple rows of strangers seated
in a semi-circle. The background of those
present ranged from an Army nurse who
had served in Vietnam, to a plumber, to a
couple people who planned to take CCW
courses. Chuck began to speak. He is an
engaging speaker, punctuating the rules
with stories and details. It’s an easy couple
hours before we head to the range.
This particular course is to enlighten you to
the facts and give you the basic beginning
skills for self defense. Think you have
them? Most encounters are within 7-10 feet
and involve 1.8 adversaries.
He tells us: The purpose of a handgun is
as a close quarters reactive defensive
weapon. It’s a contingency tool which
allows you to regain control. If you use it,
you will suffer 50% debilitation under
stress, hence the need for training and
practice. If you raised your eyebrows and
figured "that probably doesn’t apply to
9
The Shooting Sports
me," consider the news reports involving police shootings where even trained
officers volley numerous shots with only a couple marginal hits.
A big mag is no crutch for poor marksmanship. The more you shoot the more
poorly you shoot. You become as strong as an ox with the same coordination
on a super surge of adrenaline. You can only function for a few minutes in
this hypercharged mode before it becomes debilitating. This is something
many of us don’t consider as we target shoot. Self defense is a whole different
arena, and Chuck functioned as a guide providing a map through the “what-if”
jungle.
Chuck says “Don’t use the weapon unless
the consequences of using it outweigh
the consequences of not using it.” Of
course, most of us could only use it in
the context of self-defense and as we
went through various scenarios it became
clear: this is not an easy situation, probably ugly, but it is reality and knowledge
is a weapon you should have. It is not
supposed to be easy. He drives home the
point in various ways: Don’t get involved
unless there is no alternative and survival
is involved. You will never be the same.
He discusses what you are taking on
when you decide to shoot. The first, is
tactical liability-who wins. Winning in this
case is keeping your life to carry on another day. There follows criminal and
civil liability.
There are only a couple more men than
women. It’s refreshing to have a variety
of people with different skill sets all
being instructed from whatever level they
are now, who all show considerable improvement over the next 2 days. Rights
are always weighted by responsibilities.
Over the next 2 days we cover drills to
learn how to do things properly, to learn
the form to defend yourself-a kata.
These techniques of form support the
end function; practice them and you will
become quicker and more accurate.
Hi Lenee - just a few of my
thoughts on our class from this
past weekend.
1. There was so much info to
process and absorb, wish there
had been an extra day.
2. I really did learn a lot about
the responsibilities that come
with handgun ownership especially the civil suits. It's a
sad state of affairs when a
person who is defending themself
ends up being the bad guy!
3. I need a lot of practice.
(We are going out to the local
range tomorrow morning)
4. I liked the size of the class. It
made it nice for hands on and
one-on-one instruction.
5. Wish more women would take
classes like this. Maybe then
violent crimes against women
would lessen.
All in all, I felt like I got more than
my money's worth, met some
great people and dogs, and that
pork on Sunday was wonderful!!
Thanks again for the samples of
your magazine. As I write this,
my husband is reading them!
- Teresa
10
The Shooting Sports
Combat shooting, he tells us, is accuracy balanced by speed. You can be
accurate with no speed. But what is that going to matter if you would have
been accurate 2 minutes too late? Speed is not going to win you any trophies
when your shot is 5 feet off the mark. Not only have you missed the person
who has put you in fear for your life, you have a quick miss which creates a
liability problem. Chuck tells us: it only takes 2-3/10ths of a second to be
accurate, less time than it will take you to make another shot.
A drill from 5 meters. Photos on this page by Joan Hanson.
There is no downside to paying attention to your
surroundings. If you’re armed, you have an
obligation to be in condition yellow-a relaxed
condition of alert.
Over the 2 day class, we shoot from many
scenarios. He dispels many notions people have
learned from the movies. Never relax after a fight
for your life has started: Is he hit? Is he down? Is
he out? Does he have friends? This subconscious
programming to respond a certain way to certain stimuli will help you function correctly if the need arises. "You fight like you train" is true.
The range is fantastic. Norm’s wife, Joan, is one of the funniest women I’ve
ever met and she plies us with entertainment, ice cold water and soda, and
fantastic food, including a wild pig from the Tejon Ranch which our other
instructor Alan not only obtained, but barbecued. Joan is hospitality run amok.
She also becomes the intrepid photographer on scene at my request.
We continue, learning speed reloads and tactical reloads; the method of
jumping back from a target within arms’ length, and shooting on target;
clearing type 1, 2, and 3 malfunctions in the middle of shooting. The practice
is as much mental as physical, maybe more. But learning what to do in case
of imminent danger is a worthy lesson. There are many things you can control
within a scenario
that you cannot
control, and
you have many
choices that
should be
ingrained.
As Chuck Taylor
reminds us:
The best
gunfight is
one that
didn’t happen.
The method of jumping back from a target within arms’ length
11
The National Rifle Association
One man’s take on the importance of the NRA
By: Robert Dunn
American Gunsmithing Institute Graduate,Gun Club of America Member, and Video Producer
Most people in the USA have heard of the NRA (National Rifle Association).
Whether you love them or you hate them, they have become a powerful
political tool, among many other things. Not only does the NRA battle for our
Second Amendment Rights, they offer many programs and courses in regard to
shooting instruction, hunting, firearms education and safety, starting your own
gun range, as well as getting young folks interested in the shooting sports!
My father was a long time member of the NRA and I remember reading their
publication, The American Rifleman, while growing up. When I became an
adult, I too joined the NRA as an annual member. Every year when I renewed
my membership, I would always grumble because I never had enough money to
join as a Lifetime Member. Well, in 2012, I didn't have the money to become a
Lifetime Member once again. However, with all that is at stake, I took out a
loan just to become a Lifetime NRA Member! I figured if there was going to be
a good time to contribute, it would certainly be now!
The National Rifle Association was formed in 1871 by General George Wingate
and Colonel William C. Church, after bearing witness to the poor
marksmanship shown by their troops. The association's primary goal was to
"promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis," according to an
editorial written by Church. The NRA was granted a charter by the state of
New York, and Civil War General Ambrose Burnside (the former Governor of
12
Rhode Island and U.S. Senator) became the NRA's first
President. One of the NRA's main goals in the
beginning was to build a rifle range on Long Island,
on the Creed Farm. The gun range was opened
during the latter part of 1872 and was named
Creedmoor. This is where they held the annual
matches. Some things never change, as they were
forced to find a new home for the range because of
New York's political opposition to the promotion of
marksmanship. The range and the annual matches
were then moved to Sea Girt, New Jersey in 1892.
In 1903, NRA Secretary Albert S. Jones established many
rifle clubs at major colleges, universities, and military academies. He was also
instrumental in promoting the shooting sports with America's youth, which is
something that is still very important to the NRA. There are over one million
kids participating in their youth programs today. The American Legion and the
Boy Scouts of America are just two of the organizations that participate in
these youth programs. As the popularity of the NRA's shooting programs grew,
they opened up a new range at Camp Perry, Ohio where the annual National
Matches take place. Some of the Country's best marksmen participate in the
National Matches at Camp Perry.
The NRA offered its ranges to the government during World War II, developed
training materials, and the NRA members even reloaded ammunition for the
folks that were guarding the war plants. The association collected over 7,000
firearms in 1940 to help arm Britain to defend themselves against Germany!
You see, the British did not have an organization like the NRA to defend
themselves against their own government's gun control laws and by the time
the second World War broke out, the country had virtually disarmed itself! One
of the reasons the United States was not directly attacked on our own shores is
because the Axis powers knew we were a nation armed to the teeth!
The NRA-ILA (Institute for Legislative Action) was formed in 1975 to defend
the Second Amendment from political bombardment. They are the lobbying
arm of the NRA. I continually utilize their website (www.nraila.org) to stay
abreast of the constant assaults made on our freedoms. The Institute has been
instrumental in reforming many bogus gun laws and has actively played a huge
role to pass pro-gun legislation at the state level. They employ full time
lobbyists that defend Second Amendment issues on Capitol Hill, in state
legislatures and also in local government bodies. Dare I say that without the
power of the NRA and the NRA-ILA, "we the people" would have already lost
our right to keep and bear arms!
My association with the American Gunsmithing Institute has enabled me to
attend a few of the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits that are held around
the country. It is always a great feeling to be at these conventions with like
minded fellow Americans. There is always a great turnout of major firearms
manufacturers and collectors, as well as some really excellent seminars.
The cast of characters can include everyone from the casual gun owner,
to a high ranking politician, all the way up to Ted Nugent!
13
I am proud to be a Lifetime Member of the National Rifle
Association. I am able to stay informed about the latest
news and developments in the firearms
industry as well as to participate in the fight to retain
our Second Amendment Rights. I'm sure that all of
our Founding Fathers would have been members,
too. I am one of the 4.3 million NRA members and
together, we are strong! If you are a gun
owner and do not belong to the NRA yet, you can join
today by calling 1-800-672-3888 or visit their website
at www.nra.org.
____________________________
Robert Dunn is a frequent contributor to Hot Brass
both through articles and his photos. He is a graduate
of the American Gunsmithing Institute Master
Gunsmithing course, a GCA Member, and for the past six years has been
our video producer/cameraman on Team 2 at SHOT Show and other
events. He was an AGI student when we met him, and his passion for
firearms and photography skills got him the video job; his ability to shoot
the design, function and repair AGI Armorer’s
Courses keeps him filming and editing practically, if
you were to ask him, around the clock.
He will be filming a half dozen more before the end of
the year, as always, “God willing and the creek don’t
rise,” and is currently filming some updates to the
professional gunsmithing course. He has so much
work on his schedule that he may have to move in
with our Oregon instruction staff. We love Robert and
are considering adoption.
He has filmed a new batch of Armorer Courses and
the six shown here are arriving on AGI shelves as we
speak. The new courses are part of the AGI promotion
on page 33. Check them all out!
14
Join the GCA as a Brass Member
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The 10/22 Fun
Gun In Person!
I frequently visit gun shows both in California and Nevada. Among all the
rows of tables with all kinds of hard to find and unique items, you can come
across something that catches your attention. At a gun show in Northern
California, I found something new.
This “Squad Leader” kit comes with
everything you need, including an
Allen wrench set, to convert your
Ruger 10/22. The only additional
tools you need are a hammer,
punch, and screwdriver.
This item is a kit for your
Ruger 10/22 rifle. I have
seen many different kits for a Ruger 10/22 but this one is really unique.
Scottwerx, LLC from Southern California makes this kit that converts your
Ruger 10/22 into a “Tommy Gun.” I did some more research on the internet
and found their website www.1022fungun.com . There are three different
kits and other accessories that are available to make your Ruger 10/22 look
like a “Tommy Gun,” a WWII “Squad Leader” rifle, or a “Pistol.”
We are making progress. The
hammer and punch were used to
remove the two receiver cross pins
and the bolt stop pin. These were
replaced by the threaded screws
that can be seen in the picture.
The magazine latch and ejector
cross pins were also replaced with
a threaded screw and lock nut.
I purchased the “Tommy Gun” and “Squad Leader” kits to see how they
would look on my Ruger 10/22. The kits were easy to install and are made
of high quality parts! The
attachments are made of
aluminum and steel that are
powder coated while the
grips are made of real
16
Here is a close-up of the “Squad
Leader” Ruger 10/22 rifle.
This is the completed
“Tommy Gun” kit installed on the
Ruger 10/22 rifle. The Ruger factory 10-round rotary magazine is
epoxy glued to the plastic dummy round drum.
American Walnut wood that have an oil finish. The added weight will
reduce the recoil even more. You can even get a slip-on muzzle tip for the
.45 ACP bore diameter look.
I also purchased the two
solid plastic dummy magazine attachments: one stick
and one round drum. Both
of these dummy magazines
Here is a close-up of the “Tommy Gun” Ruger 10/22 rifle.
fit on a factory Ruger
10-round rotary magazine. The rotary magazine and the dummy attachment need to be glued together with a plastic epoxy. Once they are glued
together, you have the completed look of your Ruger 10/22.
Now going to the range with your “Tommy Gun” can be inexpensive
(shooting .22LR instead of .45 ACP) and a lot more fun. I must warn you
that you might have extra attention from other people at the range. The
price for the kits is on the high side but you are buying quality parts for
your Ruger 10/22. All the products from Scottwerx, LLC are 100% made in
America and have a lifetime warranty for defects in materials,
manufacturing, or workmanship.
Until next time, I will keep looking for new or unique items . . .
at the gun show.
--Steve Jacek, GCA Silver Member, Master Gunsmith
17
Scottwerx makes their kit with an oversize cutout that reveals the serial number
on the Ruger 10/22 on either location it may be on the receiver. This kit goes a
step farther, so even with the buttstock removed, it is still over 26” long. This
doesn’t alter the firearm mechanism or functionality at all. It reportedly
shoulders, handles, and shoots nicely. The sight radius is doubled: the original
had a sight at the rear of barrel . . . on the tommy gun style, the rear sight is
moved all the way to the back of the receiver, doubling the sight radius of the
peep sight. Your eye naturally centers to the peephole in the rear.
Why Take A Self Defense Lesson?
by Joe Alesia
So you made the decision to purchase a gun for the purposes of
self/home defense. This is a serious step towards taking control of
your personal safety. As a retired law enforcement officer and a
current law enforcement trainer, I will tell you that dialing 911 and
hoping the authorities get there before the intruder carries out his
criminal intentions is like playing the lottery with your life. We all
know the odds in winning that one.
Congratulations! You are no longer going to depend on someone else
to protect you and your loved ones. This is the first step towards self
preservation and peace of mind, but it is only the first step.
Without going into great detail in each area I’m going to
cover in this article, I want to give some points
to consider as you take on
this new endeavor.
18
If you have no experience and this is going to be your first gun, you
definitely want to get some training before you buy. This is where a
certified self defense instructor will cover pertinent information that
you might not have considered. Beyond finding the right gun and
learning how to use it, you will need to learn a mindset that will assist
you in surviving a lethal confrontation. Recognizing the threat and
performing the right level of force to stop the threat should be a large
part of your training.
A good instructor will first interview you and find out exactly what
your needs are. This will enable him to better provide you with the
specific training you will need and the best firearms options.
For example there is a difference between self defense and home
defense. Self defense usually means you are planning to get a gun for
concealed carry on your person. If this is what you have in mind your
physical stature and the type of clothing you will be wearing on a daily
basis is going to be a large factor to consider when picking a gun.
You want to get a gun that is comfortable to carry and comfortable to
shoot. A lot of the compacts are more convenient to carry but some of
the larger calibers are not so comfortable to shoot.
Without getting too deep into the large versus small caliber argument,
a lot of people believe that the bigger the caliber the better. That is
not necessarily true. Ballistic research has proven that shot placement is more important than bullet size. Statistics also show that
there are far more fatalities with smaller calibers than larger calibers.
Okay, that’s as far as I’m going with that in this article.
The point I’m trying to make right now is if your hand is ringing with
pain after five rounds from your .45 caliber compact how much are you
going to practice? Chances are, not very much. The less you practice
the less likely you will be able to deliver shots that will stop the
threat. The ideal scenario for stopping the threat is several shots
delivered to a vital area of the body. The more you enjoy your gun the
more the likely you will want to train and become efficient with it.
Buying the right gun for your ability and comfort level is going to be a
key in developing your shooting skills. This brings me back to my original point. By taking a lesson you will have an opportunity to shoot the
different calibers and you may very well like shooting the larger ones.
If you are looking for a home defense weapon your options are a little
bit broader because concealment is generally not a factor. Again,
depending on your stature and shooting experience, larger frame
handguns and shotguns will definitely be in the mix of choices. Larger
frame handguns give you a more comfortable grip and several models
give you hand size options. For example, Smith and Wesson’s
19
line of M&P semi-auto
pistols come with three
exchangeable grip sizes to
choose from. When you have
more hand surface on the
gun you have more control of
the recoil which aids you
with your accuracy.
As I mentioned before,
shotguns are also viable
options for home defense.
At close range, shotguns are
more accurate for two reasons. The first reason is the shotgun is a
shoulder weapon. In the proper position the stock of the gun is
mounted on the shoulder with your face on the stock looking down the
barrel to the sights. This gives you a more consistent point of aim and
more control of the recoil. The second reason is the shotgun round
consists of several pellets as opposed to the single projectile of the
pistol round. This gives you a better chance of delivering a threat
stopping hit. Your certified instructor will cover all these options in
more detail and let you do some hands on training with each gun. This
will take the guess work out of deciding which gun is right for you.
A good instructor will also talk to you about your living environment.
The type of dwelling you live in and who lives with you is going to be a
factor in how you are going to secure your weapon at home. There’s a
fine line between accessibility and security. Your gun does not do you
any good if it’s locked in your safe at the other end of the house if you
have an immediate threat. On the other hand if you have children in
the house it’s obvious that you cannot leave the gun unsecured.
A good instructor will help you with a tactical plan and assist you in
deciding the best way to secure your weapons and still have quick
accessibility. Escape options should also be included in that plan.
This leads into the most important aspect of self and home defense.
This is the main element that puts all of your training in motion and is
the difference between success and failure.
Mental awareness is a critical element of self or home defense. A
good instructor will not only show you how to use your firearm but
teach you a system that will keep you alert to possible threats. Being
aware of your surroundings is the key to affective home and self
defense. This involves mental training and changing the way you
perceive the world around you. It sounds like a drastic change in life
style but it’s just a matter of recognizing the potential for dangerous
situations before you enter into them.
20
Lt. Colonel Jeff Cooper was the founder of the shooting academy
“Gunsite,” and considered the father of modern handgun techniques
that are still being taught to the military and law enforcement. He
adopted the military combat mindset color code as a system to
explain and teach the levels of the state of mind.
It starts with Condition White. This is the mental state of being
totally oblivious to your surroundings. You go about your daily routines
unaware of other people and activities going on around you. If a threat
occurs, it’s too late to do anything about it. Your life is now under
someone else’s control. For example, you pull into a gas station
thinking about where your credit card is and where you are going after
your done filling up your car. You don’t notice the guy hanging around
the parking lot looking for the perfect victim. Your head is down and
you are searching for your credit card and when you pump your gas
you have your back to the rest of the world. Your lack of awareness
and display of complacency puts you on the predator’s radar. You are
the “Easy Target” every criminal is looking for. In this situation you
are a carjacking waiting to happen.
On the other hand if your mind is in the ideal Condition Yellow, you
would be totally aware of your surroundings because you have
developed the habit of being alert to potential dangerous situations.
You are not expecting trouble, but you will not be surprised by it.
Before pulling into the gas station you scan the parking lot and the
gas pumps. You also check the cashier to see if it’s business as usual.
You decide that everything is normal and you pull in. While getting
your credit card out your head is up and you project an aura of being
alert and prepared. While pumping gas you are constantly scanning
and casually monitoring the surrounding activity. A man enters
the gas station area on foot.
You are totally aware of his
presence.
Because of your training you escalate your survival instincts to
Condition Orange. You are
now focusing on a potential
threat and you start sizing him
up. At anytime you decide he is
not a threat, you can de-escalate back to yellow. But in this
case you notice he doesn’t
seem to have any legitimate
business at the gas station.
He’s not going to the cashier to
make a purchase and he is 21
checking out the customers
pumping gas. You now escalate
your mental state to Condition
Red. You are ready to fight!
In most circumstances you
won’t have to, but at this point
you are still one step ahead of
the possible threat. You are
weighing your options in your
head. Law enforcement officers
are trained to get into the habit
of playing a mental game called,
“What If.” They go over different
scenarios and how they would react prior to getting into the situation.
Because of your awareness you are in control.
Getting in your car and leaving, which is the best option, is still available to you. At this point he notices you noticing him. He doesn’t want
to have anything to do with you because you are displaying self confidence and a demeanor of readiness. He feels like a cockroach when
the lights come on and leaves the area. You de-escalate your mental
awareness back to condition yellow and go about your business.
The last thing I want to emphasize in this article is continuous training. Once you have taken the initial steps of getting a lesson and purchasing a firearm you need to consider a personal program that will
help you continue to improve at your new found skills. As the saying
goes, “when you stop getting better you stop being good.”
As I emphasize to law enforcement officers, when you pull your gun
out of the holster it is a life and death situation. Your life and the lives
of others are on the line. How good do you want to be with your gun?
The same goes for home defense and self defense. Are you going to
hope that you’re better with your gun than your intruder or are you
going to make sure that you are?
I recommend that you join a range or a shooting club that provides
good instructional courses and an environment that encourages
participation in the shooting sports. So, I’ve given you a lot to think
about and I hope this provides a good starting point in becoming a self
reliant citizen. See you at the range!
Joe Alesia aka Lefty Longridge is a certified law enforcement personal
firearms trainer, world champion shooter, range operator and AGI Instructor.
He can be contacted at:
Deadwoodboys.org or [email protected]
22
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• How to ensure reliable auto-pistol
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• Checking and adjusting "range" on
Smith & Wesson revolvers
• Troubleshooting ejection problems on
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• How a gas system works on a Colt AR-15
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or go to:
Certification not available to residents of Oklahoma.
23
www.agioffer.com/introhb
Growing up
with Firearms
by Jacob Kelly
First of all, just in case any of you don’t know who I
am, let me introduce myself. My name is Jacob Kelly,
Gene’s son, and I am currently 18 years old. Right now I
am in-between high-school and college and I am taking a
gap year traveling and working with my father. Well,
now that I took care of that let me tell you about some
of my experiences with firearms.
As you could imagine, because I am Gene’s
son, firearms have played a large role in
my life. I have been shooting guns and
doing other gun related activities with
my father for as long as I can remember. One of the earliest
24
memories that I have related to firearms was on
my seventh birthday. That day my father gave me a
“Chipmunk” single shot .22 rifle. I remember being
extremely excited that I finally had something of
my own that I could shoot.
From the very beginning a total respect for
firearms was drilled into me by my father. Each
day whenever we would go shooting when I was
Jacob on his 7th birthday with
young, we would begin by going over the cardinal
his new “Chipmunk” .22 rifle.
rules regarding gun safety. That a firearm should
always be treated as if it is loaded, always ensuring that the muzzle is pointed
in a safe direction, and so on. This basic and fundamental teaching was the
foundation I began my experiences with.
Another important lesson I always will remember also came from a day at the
range while I was still pretty young. One day my father, a couple of my friends
from school, and I were out shooting (I believe we were all around 10 or 11 at
the time). After the usual safety talk my dad added something else. He
picked up a leftover piece of 2" x 4" laying on the ground and asked us,
“This hunk of wood is pretty hard, correct?” We all responded “yes.”
He then said, “I’m going to show you what even this small .22 round
can do to this.” He walked downrange and placed the board. After
returning, he shot it and shortly thereafter went to retrieve it. He
showed us the small entry hole in the board and then proceeded to
show us the significantly larger exit hole. “Even though this round
is small it is still capable of doing a lot of damage and it needs to
be respected,” he said. I already had a considerable respect for the
.22 round, but my friends were all amazed as they had never been
shooting before. So with these and other important
lessons I learned along the way I “graduated,” if you will,
from the .22 Chipmunk to larger and different firearms.
Looking back, I find it quite amusing when I look at
that rifle. In the beginning, it seemed very large
and cumbersome to me and I had some difficulties operating it then. Now, I am amazed by
how small it seems and how fun and easy
it is to shoot. However, now that my
experience with firearms has
grown over the years, I have
developed some favorite
firearms among the many
that I have shot.
25
A few of my favorites are (in no particular
order) the Browning .50 Caliber M2 machine
gun, the 1928 Thompson and Uzi
submachine guns, and of course the good old
AR-15. Now some of you may immediately
think, “Hey there weren’t any pistols on his
list!” Well, to be perfectly honest with you I
generally prefer shooting rifles over pistols.
Now don’t get me wrong, shooting pistols is fun too, I currently just feel so
much more in control and more confident with rifles. I’m sure that as I gain
more experience shooting pistols I will get used to it but for now that is just
the way it is.
Despite any personal preferences I have, I do enjoy getting to shoot all sorts
of new and different firearms. I get a real kick out of expanding my knowledge of the history and function of firearms as I come across them. Another
cool thing about getting to go shooting with my Dad is that it seems like there
is always some new interesting tidbit to share with me whenever we go.
Because I enjoy learning about the history and function of these firearms, it
was incredibly interesting when we had the opportunity to meet with firearms
manufacturers and tour their factories in Europe. Each of these different
gun-makers and manufacturers had something unique and interesting to learn,
however I believe the Beretta factory left the greatest impression upon me.
First of all, the massive scale of their facilities and the quantities of firearms
they were producing was amazing. As we walked through the factory, we saw
racks of hundreds of brand-new firearms that were all ready to be shipped out
all over the world. Their manufacturing process was quite interesting as well.
Their combination of advanced modern technology combined with traditional
means of fitting and making the firearms was unique among the
manufacturers we visited.
However as impressive as the factory floor itself was, what truly blew me
away was the private Beretta firearms museum. There were hundreds of
unique firearms all beautifully displayed in cases around the large room,
firearms from every era and maker, each special for some reason or another,
ranging from firearms that were centuries old to select models from Beretta’s
current production. I was instantly jealous-- “gun envy” you could call it, I
guess, however I am very glad Beretta has preserved all of these firearms each
with a unique story behind it.
After being in Europe and seeing so many
interesting and cool firearms, as well as
being at the SHOT Show, I more than ever
want to get back out there at the range and
have more great experiences with firearms
and to build more lasting memories with
them. I hope you all get to make it out to
the range sometime soon and get to have
lots of fun with guns!
26
Happy Shooting - Jacob
Jacob with his dad Gene Kelly, the
President of AGI and the Gun Club of America.
The
1911 Pistol
By: Robert Dunn
American Gunsmithing Institute Graduate,Gun Club of America Member, and Video Producer
To me, the 1911 pistol is one of my favorite things that exists on earth, right
alongside of MOPARS! The Model 1911 was designed by John Moses Browning
around the turn of the 20th Century. This was the time period when self-loading
pistol designs were becoming popular for obvious reasons. The .45 ACP cartridge
was also gaining popularity for its stopping power.
The combination of the 1911 pistol and the .45 ACP was the ticket to dropping foes
at short distances. Things haven't changed too much in that respect, as a matter of
fact, that very same combo is with me when things go bump in the night. Today, the
1911 is still a common sight at shooting competitions like IPSC, USPSA, IDPA,
3-Gun and Wild Bunch Action Shooting. The 1911 pistol is also one of the most
popular firearms to customize for self-defense and competition.
The 1911 pistol is a single action, locked breech, tipping barrel, short recoil design.
If you understand the design and function of the 1911, you can pretty much figure
out how most other pistol designs work. When the hammer falls, it makes contact
with the rear of the firing pin and drives it forward. If the model of 1911 pistol being
fired has a firing pin blocking safety, it will have been turned off by the time the
hammer hits the firing pin, allowing the firing pin to be driven forward into the
primer of the cartridge. The primer ignites, thus igniting the propellant in the body
of the case. The expanding gas of the burning propellant sends the bullet forward
and down the barrel.
As Newton's Third Law of Motion states (and Bob Dunlap would agree!), "for every
action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." This law describes what happens to
the barrel and the slide when a cartridge is fired. The energy put into the bullet,
causing it to be driven down the barrel, is equally put into the cartridge case, which
then pushes rearward on the slide, causing both to move rearward. The barrel, being
attached to the slide by the mating surfaces of the barrel’s lugs engaged in the
recesses of the slide, will also move rearward for a short distance with the cartridge
27
case and slide. The bullet will, of course, move faster because it is lighter than the
slide/ barrel combination.
Now, let us go through some of the basics of what happens when the gun is fired.
When the trigger is pulled and the firing pin hits the cartridge’s primer, we have
ignition. The 230 grain bullet will move forward down the barrel at about 850 fps
(feet per second) as the slide moves rearward at about 80 fps. The link, which is
attached to the barrel and the slide stop, makes the barrel tip (the rear moves
downward) and unlocks the barrel’s lugs from the slide’s machined recesses. The
slide continues rearward until its rearward motion is stopped by the recoil spring
guide hitting the portion of the frame at the end of the recoil spring tunnel.
During the slide’s rearward movement, the empty case is extracted and ejected out
of the ejection port. The tension put onto the recoil spring causes the slide assembly
to move forward to its locked up position.
During the slide’s forward movement, the slide (breech) face picks up the next
available cartridge in the magazine. The cartridge hits the ramps on the frame and
the barrel and the cartridge is moved into the chamber and the slide goes into
battery. We are now ready for the next shot.
When the trigger is pulled the trigger bow bumps into the disconnector. The
disconnector is high enough to then bump into the tail of the sear. This will cause
the sear to rotate and lose its engagement on the hammer. The hammer then falls,
being propelled by the mainspring, and hits the firing pin, which drives into the
primer of the cartridge and once again the gun fires. At this point, the trigger is still
pulled. As the slide moves rearward, the head of the disconnector is pushed down by
the slide and the connection of the trigger to the sear is broken.
The slide continues its rearward motion and pushes the hammer back. The sear will
hold the hammer in the hammer’s full cock notch. When
we release our finger from the trigger, the disconnector
will rise and slip past the
tail of the sear. At this
point, the disconnector
is in front of the tail of
the sear. The next pull
of the trigger will move
the disconnector and
the sear, which again
causes the hammer to
drop and the cycle can
repeat itself.
28
The desire for the
U.S. Army to have a
self-loading pistol,
chambered in .45
ACP, was the result of
the lack of stopping
power of revolvers
firing the .38 Long
Colt cartridge during
the Spanish-American
War in 1898 and in
the Philippine-American War from 1899-1913. After a series of grueling tests of
various models, submitted from many different firearms manufacturers, the Ordnance Department selected Colt's Browning design in 1911, thus the Model 1911!
The Model 1911 was used during World War I (1914-1918). The Navy and the
Marines adopted the 1911 in 1913. Over the years leading up to World War II, the
1911 pistol went through some minor changes of some of the shapes of various parts.
During World War II, Colt, Remington, Ithaca, Singer, Union Switch and others
manufactured the Model 1911. The 1911 pistol was also used in the Korean War,
the Vietnam War, Operation Iraqi Freedom and it is still being used by Special
Forces operators throughout the world. There are three common designations for the
various 1911 models. The largest model has a 5" barrel, a full size frame and is called
the "Government" Model. The "Commander" Model is an aluminum alloy frame
gun with a 4.25" barrel and the smallest variety is the "Officer" Model that has a
3.5" barrel.
A "Series 70" pistol simply has no firing pin blocking safety. Though, in the 1970s,
Colt roll marked certain pistols as "Series 70." In the 1980s, Colt came out with the
"Series 80" type of pistol that incorporated a firing pin blocking safety. When the
trigger is pulled, the trigger bow would bump into the lower sear lever, which would
activate the upper sear lever that in turn pushed the firing pin blocking plunger out
of the way of the firing pin so that it could move forward and ignite the primer. The
1911 pistols manufactured by Kimber also have a firing pin blocking safety, but
theirs is activated by the grip safety bumping into a part called a "push rod" which in
turn pushes the firing pin blocking plunger out of the way of the firing pin.
There are so many great custom builders of the 1911 pistol; Gene Shuey, Les Baer,
Ed Brown and Wilson Combat just to name a few. A 1911 was the first pistol I ever
bought and it was also the first gun I completely disassembled and reassembled. I
understand how most guns function because I took the time to understand the
Model 1911, as a matter of fact the first dollar I ever made fixing guns was from
repairing a 1911! I would sure like to own an old Colt from the early 1900s but until
then I will enjoy shooting my Kimber!
29
GCA Member Spotlight
Athens Gunsmith Service
by Paul Smeltzer, Athens Gunsmithing, GCA Member
The fall of 2008 I was a motorcycle trip from
North Louisiana to the mountains of North
Arkansas. A week before leaving for the trip I had
received yet another advertising mail out from
AGI touting their “Master Gunsmith” course.
I have taken a few distance learning courses
before, we used to call them correspondence courses, most were relatively
inexpensive (cheap) and you got what you paid for. One thing about the
AGI mail out is the AGI course was not cheap, but like the others it made
some big promises, like you could start your own gunsmith business with the
training you received from AGI. You could do this even though you did not
have any previous training as a gunsmith. Seemed like a pretty wild statement to me, and pretty much like the stuff I heard before.
After doing a little more research, and soul searching on whether to pony up
that kind of cash I decided to give it a go. Although I did not have any
“formal” gunsmith training I did at least know something about running a
business, for the past 20+ years I had run my own forest management
consulting business.
In fact, that is part of the reason I was looking at AGI, I was in my fifties and
did not see myself walking around the woods in my sixties falling into stump
holes, picking ticks, and shooting snakes. I needed to think about a possible
career change, thus gunsmithing; you can sit on your butt in the AC and do
that.
So I filled in the form, gave them my credit card number, and went in for the
full boat Master Gunsmith Course, Machine Course, and Welding course,
may as well take a stab at learning it all. I was always a decent student, I felt
that if AGI could teach what needed to be learned, I would learn it, and
apply it. My goal was to start another business not a hobby.
I am cruising into Arkansas on the HD and stop for gas in DeQueen. Grab a
bottle of water and check my cell phone, have a message from California –
AGI. I think I was talking to Heather asking for some details and answering a
couple of questions, she asked if I had any. At the end of the conversation it
was done, the material would be heading my way, I was into it now, paid for
the whole course upfront (to get the discount – Gene knows how to market).
30
GCA Member Spotlight
Fast forward to 2013, it has been five years now since I started Athens
Gunsmith Service and I have not been bored since day one. I live out in the
country in north central Louisiana about 35 miles from the Arkansas line. We
have about 3 acres with a two story house that is 110 this year. There are
three metal buildings that I work out of that constitutes “The Shop.” The
smaller of the buildings is the wood shop where all the stock work and
sanding is done. The central building is a 20x16 building where the
workbench is, the main lathe, air compressor and sand blasting cabinet. The
third building is the bigger building and it houses tig and mig welders, a
vertical mill, and a second smaller lathe, as well as the motorcycles.
To be honest I wasn’t sure of what kind of gunsmith I was going to be,
should I be a Jack of all trades, should I specialize in something? At one of
the earlier “Bashes” I asked Gene, he asked me what I liked the most. I told
him the old military stuff, carbines, Garands, that sort of thing. He told me
that’s what I should focus on, he called Jack over to us and introduced us,
and told Jack that I was going to be the M1 expert, he told me to start
writing some stuff and get it to Jack. There you go.
Stevens Visual Loader
At this point I would describe what I do as
being a Historical Gunsmith. By far the bulk of my
business is restoration work, not just of military firearms but
all kinds of older firearms. At the moment I have a Remington Model
14, a Stevens Visual Loader, a cool looking J.C. Higgins Model 33, and an
original all matching Colt Model 1851 manufactured in 1858, all for
repair/restoration. In the past I have had a Gatling Gun with it’s caisson, a
Boys anti-tank gun, a Japanese Type 99, and a number of other historic
firearms from the North Louisiana Military Museum as well as other
museums.
Love working on those old guns, it is a learning experience each time,
it’s interesting to me, and tickles that happy button. It is very challenging
because you just don’t see these things everyday, fortunately the AGI course
focuses so much on design and function that if you learn it, you have a good
foundation to figure out things you have never seen before, and not likely to
see again (a Mauser 1891 in 10mm internally works a lot like the early Colt
double actions). It is also fortunate that the Gun Club of America is available
and “Ask the Pros,” I have had to rely on Ken’s help more than once to work
through some issues on these old firearms, an invaluable resource.
In additional to my historical gunsmithing endeavors, I also teach firearms
training, and I am the operations officer of Gunhaven
(www.gunhavenrange.com).
31
GCA Member Spotlight
We teach several different firearms classes, I teach mostly the rifle courses,
including a two day long range class. I also teach most of the women only
classes from basic "101" to concealed carry. I have certifications from NRA in
rifle, pistol, shotgun, and range officer; I am also a CMP Master Instructor for
Garand, Springfield, Carbine, and Service Rifle, as well as a Louisiana CCW
instructor. Did I mention I am not bored?
Oh yea, and I do a little writing on occasion. I am in the beginnings of
writing a couple of blogs, one is www.takinpoint.com the other will be
www.xringmarksmanship.com., both of these are more or less under
construction at this point, so check back on occasion to see if I actually get
these off the ground.
I do general repair work, the gunsmiths’ favorite rifle the Remington 742 is a
regular visitor. I also do rebarreling work, and some custom builds, mostly
on Mauser actions. However, the fun and the money is in being a Historical
Gunsmith. Sometimes the ad hype is for real.
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33
with the
"Caveman" Chef
ELK STEAK topped with Brandy Mushroom
Sauce served with a side of Pears & Pine Nuts
Ingredients:
• 1lb Elk Steak
• 2 ½ TBSP EVOO*, divided
• Ripe Pear
• 3 TBSP Brandy
• 3 Whole Cloves
• 1/2 cup Pine Nuts, toasted
Paleo Chef, Patricia Cashion
• 4 Baby Portobello Mushrooms, sliced
• 1 tsp Arrowroot, dissolve with a little bit of water
• 1 cup Chicken Broth, Vegetable Broth or Game Stock
Preparation:
1 Over Medium-high heat, sauté pears in EVOO* until they
are slightly browned but not too soft. Remove to a
separate plate.
2 Add 1 ½ TBSP EVOO* to skillet and sear Elk Steak for a
couple of minutes on each side; leaving rare inside.
Remove to a dish and cover. Place in oven at 300˚.
Sauté Mushrooms for a couple of minutes, then add
brandy to the skillet and deglaze pan (scrape what is
stuck to pan).
3 Add stock and cloves to the skillet, stir to combine.
Bring to a simmer and reduce liquid by half. Add
arrowroot mixture, stir and simmer until sauce thickens.
4 Then add Elk steak back in with pine nuts. Remember to
add the juices too! Spoon sauce over the steak and
simmer for 2 minutes.
5 Remove steak to a serving platter and place pears on
plate. Spoon mushroom sauce over the steak
and sprinkle pine nuts over the pears.
*EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Share YOUR favorite recipe with your fellow GCA Members!
Email recipes to: [email protected]
34
www.shootforhealthy.com • www.instinctcatering.com
Chef Patricia has her sights on
bringing healthy food to the
shooting industry. Shoot for Healthy
had the privilege of catering lunch for A
Girl and A Gun Club’s 1st Annual Conference at Tiger Valley in Prairie Hill,
Texas Saturday and Sunday,
March 23-24th.
There were three selections to choose
from on the menu for this event:
#1. Paleo
Chicken Salad with Mango-Pineapple Salsa,
a side of Sundried Tomato-Basil chips, and
Cocoa Macaroons.
#2. Wilted Spinach Salad with Cranberries,
flaxseed, Bacon and Egg Whites served
with Apple-Bacon Vinaigrette, and
Strawberries with Chocolate Dipping Sauce.
#3. Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry with Cauliflower Rice, and Strawberries
with Chocolate Dipping Sauce
Chef Patricia says, "We were thrilled to be a part of such a great group
of ladies who support our rights to keep and bear arms. These women
not only support our 2nd Amendment rights and fight for these rights;
they are receiving basic, intermediate and advanced firearms training.
AGAG is a ladies group with chapters Nationwide. Find a chapter near
you! www.agirlandagunclub.com"
"Chef Patricia once again outdid herself!
Chef Patricia was certainly well received at the First Annual Training
Conference for A Girl and A Gun Women's Shooting League. The meal
choices were very thoughtful, as to give the body just what it needed
during this weekend. So often we put the wrong fuel in our body then
feel sluggish when we are expected to be working at our best levels.
The healthy meals were just the right portion size, and gave the
ladies energy to get through the rest of their day.
What is so exceptional about Shoot for Healthy is that anyone in the
country can enjoy the meals we were so fortunate to have this
weekend. They deliver nationwide and if you want to get the most out
of your budget for healthy food choices . . . you can't go wrong with
Chef Patricia." - Julianna Crowder,
Founder of A Girl and A Gun Women’s Shooting League
35
It’s All in the Family -
The McNally Family
Army Marksmanship Unit, Olympic, and general competition
experience provided the foundation for Jim McNally and sons
to start a business with their new invention.
Later this year in an upcoming issue of
GunTech, Jack will do a product
review of the McNally trigger assembly
for all Glock models. Hot Brass wanted
the backstory on this unique family who
owns McGlock Precision Components
LLC, and designs and manufactures the
McNally Trigger for Glocks.
Background: The McNallys, father Jim and two sons, John and Ken, decided
to start a business designing a Glock trigger following their years of competitive shooting earning national and world records. Besides their military
and Olympic experiences, Jim was a Law Enforcement Sales Manager for
Glock while John was a District Manager for them.
Jim McNally started pistol shooting in 1957 with an Army battalion unit.
Coached at the division and corps level, he earned a slot at the US Army
Marksmanship Training Unit (later changed to US Army Marksmanship Unit)
in 1961. With his Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge in hand, he was assigned to the Army Team. Jim was one of five shooters who twice won the
National Trophy match at the National Championships at Camp Perry. Add
to that a Bronze Medal in the 1962 World Championships, the International
Shooting Badge, plus he competed in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics in Rapid
Fire Pistol. Jim rounded out his military career with the Bronze Star for Valor
and the Combat Infantry Badge in Vietnam.
Oldest son John joined
the US Marine Corps
Reserve while in
college and competed
with the Marine Corps
Pistol Team, won
the Interservice
Championships, and
received a commendation for winning two
silver medals at the
Pan Am Games. After college, he accepted a commission in the US Army,
earned his Airborne jump wings, and completed Ranger school. He was
assigned to the US Army Marksmanship Unit to train for the 1984 Olympic
36
tryouts where he won a slot on the Olympic
Team, and later to train for the 1988 Olympics.
John also has the Distinguished Pistol Shot
Badge and the International Distinguished
Shooting Badge. He competed in five Olympics
and five world championships.
Ken, the youngest son, joined the US Army and
was assigned to the Army Marksmanship Unit,
where he immediately proved to be one of the
top guns. He set a World Record at the 1978
World Championships and won a Gold Medal at
the 1982 Pan American Games, for which he
was awarded the
International Distinguished
Shooting Badge.
Shooting at an early age:
Ken started shooting NRA
Bulls Eye (three gun) at
the age of twelve. He shot
2616 at the age of fifteen,
and also got the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge that same year. He won the Expert class at
Camp Perry (the National Championships) at fourteen years old. At the
same time he started shooting International Rapid Fire and
International Center Fire, setting junior national records in those events.
John shot 3 position international rifle in high school and college, competed
and won in international pistol and set numerous Junior National Records
(starting as a High School freshman) in Rapid Fire, Center Fire and
Standard Pistol. He also set National and a World Record in Rapid Fire
Pistol and Military Rapid Fire Pistol in open competition. His championships
include the Rapid Fire National Championships 12 times, Standard Pistol
National Championships, and Collegian Service Rifle Championships.
Since they clearly love shooting, the next step was to work on improving
their equipment. It was Ken who invented the McNally Trigger for Glock
pistols. Jim takes the next step, getting parts for the trigger assembly and
is great at PR, and John makes the McNally trigger and shoe safety.
We can’t give our opinion on it yet as we haven’t tried it out, but we
definitely have a good opinion of a family who serves
their country and is not afraid of hard work. We can’t
wait to try it since their competitive family is clearly
excited. If you can’t wait for the product evaluation
in GunTech, you can check out info on their product
on their website at
www.mcglock.com.
37
Be a Firearms
Appraiser!
How to have people bring you piles of guns
and pay you for your expert opinion!
It is an absolute fact that hundreds of
millions of dollars in guns will be sold,
traded, or inherited every year for at least
the next twenty plus years as the
Greatest Generation and the Baby
Boomers retire or pass on. Many of
these guns must be formally
appraised for estate, resale, and tax
purposes. This provides you with a
little known opportunity. You can
get paid for providing your expert
opinion of value when you become
a Certified Firearms Appraiser.
Here are just a few opportunities for a Certified Firearms Appraiser:
• The IRS requires that firearms that are a significant part of an estate be appraised
for tax purposes. The same goes for collections of guns being donated to a museum,
foundation, or non-profit as a tax deduction.
• In the case of bankruptcies, firearms are considered part of an individual’s net
worth, a certain amount of which they get to keep if properly documented.
• Individuals who need money for retirement or to raise cash have to know what
their guns are worth so they can get a fair price. In addition, surviving spouses or
children will often want to sell a deceased person’s firearms, but have no idea of
their value.
AGI President
Gene Kelly with
Greg Martin of
Greg Martin Auctions
Carey Creech shows
Gene some of the finer points
of appraising guns.
You will be able to help
these individuals by
providing your honest
educated opinion, while
getting paid. But, you
must have the proper
training to be able to
provide an expert opinion. We can help you
achieve that expertise FAST! AGI has developed
this special course which will enable you to quickly
become a Certified Firearms Appraiser using
knowledge provided from a panel of experts with
well over 400 years of combined experience in
collecting, appraising and selling firearms.
When you enroll in the Certified Firearms
Appraiser course, you will instantly benefit from
all of their experience, saving you years of trial,
error, and frustration. The business lessons they
share during these interviews are alone worth the
entire investment in this course.
We even show you real world examples as we
appraise a number of different types of firearms,
going through the entire process right up to filling
out the copyrighted appraisal forms that AGI
developed exclusively for the firearms industry.
This complete course even covers how to market
your services, so that estates, foundations and
attorneys can find and hire you.
Presented in the step-by-step format that AGI is
famous for, this is must-have information that will
separate you from the competition. Just the
certification alone puts you in a different class.
You can make from $25 to upwards of $100 per
hour appraising firearms, plus it will bring
additional traffic into your store or shop. Think
about all the additional business that could come
from completing this course!
If you offer gunsmithing services, many of these
guns may need some restoration, customizing or
tuning. This may be the opportunity you have
been looking for to expand your hobby or
generate more revenue.
Offering firearm appraisal
services is a great addition to
your gunsmithing business.
These respected experts
teach you in detail how
to appraise firearms:
Greg Martin
Greg Martin Auctions
Carey Creech
Advanced Collector
Gene Shuey
Master Gunsmith
Hank Bauer
Bauer Auction Services
Clark Ehlers
Rock Island
Auction Company
Steve Fjestad
Author
"Blue Book of Gun Values”
Marty Higgenbotham
Higgenbotham Auctioneers
Jim Hinton
Sohn Associates, Ltd.
Rick Jennings
The Gun Guy
James D. Julia
James D. Julia Auctioneers
Brad Simpson
Simpson, Ltd.
Jeff Taverner
Gun Slingers Auctions,
Gun Slingers Gun Shop
Larry Wells
Old Barn Auction
Jim Supica
Director, National Firearms
Museum, NRA
Course includes over 17 hours
of instruction on DVDs and audio CDs, a training manual,
resource lists, reference books, appraising forms, testing, and
certification. Everything you need to get started. Complete the
course and you will receive a Certified Firearms Appraiser
patch and a personalized certificate upon
passing the test.
Receive a
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39
Where in the World is
"Machine Gun" Kelly Now?!
Gene Kelly is President of the American Gunsmithing Institute and the Gun Club of America
Gene and son Jacob Kelly are traveling around the world on a Guns & Gunsmiths
World Tour. On this leg of the trip, they visit South America with stops in Central
America.
Traveling these days can sometimes be exhausting, purely from the number of flight
connections you need to get almost anywhere. It seems like, for the most part, there
is no longer such a thing as direct flight.
Our trip south was no exception.
We left the house at 3:30am driving to
Oakland Airport to fly to LAX (Los Angeles) where we got on TACA Airlines,
which took us to El Salvador, where we
changed planes again and then flew to
our first country stop, Panama. We
finally got in to the hotel there around
11pm. So, a long first day.
Gene and Jacob at
the
Panama
Canal
I hadn’t been to Panama since I took
Jacob there for a language school for a week when he was seven. He is now 18!!
When we went before it was just a year or two after Noriega was removed from
government by U.S. Forces. It was a rough and fairly dangerous time. I remember
going through some barrio that were so bad that you didn’t dare stop. Ten plus years
later, what a change! Highrises are everywhere. The same barrio that was so scary is
rapidly being transformed into a tourist area because of all its restored Colonial era
buildings and architecture.
The famous Panama Canal (which the USA built) is being expanded, doubled
really, so the massive new container ships, mega oil tankers, and colossal cruise ships
that don’t fit the 100 year old locks will be able to pass through again. That work
should be completed in the next two years. We spent some time watching the ships
pass through. This several hundred year old technology still fascinates me and the
thousands of other people that flock to see it every day.
40
.
a break in the action
axing lunch during
Gene enjoying a rel
Panama is genuinely a country on
the upswing. It seems to be the
center of trade for South and
Central America, as it is known
to be the “Switzerland of the
Americas”, with good banking
privacy. There are tens of
thousands of American Expats
living here as the cost of living
in general is pretty low. You
can live quite nicely with a live in
maid for just a few thousand dollars
a month. Panama uses the U.S.
Dollar as the primary currency, so
that makes it convenient for retired
folks and the Panamanians have
good health care. Knowing how to
speak Spanish is a huge plus , but
you can squeak by with only English if you have to.
Gene hanging out with two
Andean Condors, the worlds largest birds.
There are police and security officers everywhere, but gone are the FALs, AKs and
riot shotguns, with itchy fingers, and in their place are more disciplined, trained
individuals packing more traditional handguns. We saw a wide variety of Browning
Hi-Powers, Berettas, Glocks, S &Ws, with a few South American and European
pistols mixed in.
We spent some time with one of my associates based there, who attended a special
Counter-Terrorism course with me in Israel a couple of years ago. He confirmed my
observation that Panama is much safer than it was even just a few years ago and
definitely on a upward economic trajectory. He even showed me a number of new
multi-million dollar apartments in the Panama City center. Yow! Things have
certainly changed.
After a few days in Panama, we were back in the airport on our way to Lima, Peru.
Once again, you can’t get there from here, so it seems. We had to make a stop in
Bogota, Colombia to change planes to continue on to Lima. Again, it took all day
and NO, I did not pick up any funny packages in Colombia!
Lima is interesting. Approximately 9 million people live in the city, which is about
one third of the population of the country. We only spent time there on the way
into the country and the way out, but it is definitely bustling; Peru is another
country that is upwardly mobile. They have tremendous natural resources including
some of the largest copper, silver and gold mines in the world.
Also, with their extensive coastline,
the commercial fishing is
industry is huge. Peru
also exports a lot of
produce, and tourism is
their fourth largest source
of income.
Our goal was to get to
Machu Picchu, the mostly
preserved archeological
religious site of the Inca
hu Picchu.
cob at Mac
Empire. Only rediscovered
Gene and Ja
behind us.
ak
pe
the
We climbed
in 1911, it remained mostly
intact for those 400 years after the Spanish conquest of the Incas, preserved because
it was hidden in the jungles of the mountains.
41
First we flew to the city of Cusco, which is at 11,500 feet. After spending the rest of
the day acclimating to the altitude we spend the next several days hiking around
looking at the local historical sites. We took buses and then a train to get to Aguas
Calientes (Hot Water), which is the small base town that supports the tourists
flocking to Machu Picchu with hotels and restaurants. That afternoon we took a
careening bus ride up a narrow winding road (with no guard rails to speak of) up, up,
up to the site of Machu Picchu. It was really more wonderful and impressive than I
had imagined. We spend the rest of the day there then back to town.
The next morning we
needed to catch the bus
at 5:30 am so that we
could be in the first
group of people to
climb Huayna Picchu
(also known as Wayna
Picchu), the mountain
you see above Machu
Picchu. The old Inca
trail was incredibly
steep and made mostly
Above the clouds at Huayna Picchu
of stepping stones and
steps cut out of the mountain. The trail is certainly NOT OSHA approved. While
the trail was good and wide enough, there are numerous spots where if you stepped
or slipped off the trail you would have a 1,000 foot drop to the river below. They did
have steel cables in many places to help pull yourself up but any barriers to falling off
the mountain were nonexistent or a couple pieces of wood tacked together at best.
Miraculously they only have one or two people die a year, out of about 400 people
climbing it each day. When you are on top, you are literally above the clouds and
you can see them forming in the valley below right before your eyes. It is incredible
and climbing Huayna Picchu was definitely the highlight of our time in Peru.
We then flew from Cusco back to Lima and spent the night, (another full day burnt
with travel), did a city tour of Lima and watched the ceremonial changing of the
guard at noon in front of the palace. It was the longest ceremony of its type I have
ever seen, well over half an hour long. As I said before, Lima is a huge city of 9
million people with 43 different districts, each with their own Mayor, city
government and tax system. There is one overarching city government as well.
Currently the U.S. government discourages
travel to Peru as “unsafe.” After being there
I can confidently say “Bah! It's fine!”
Now for sure I can tell you there are many
districts in Lima that you would not want to
wander around in, but there are others such
as the Miraflora district and a few around it
that are perfectly safe at all hours. In fact,
there is a modern open mall right on the
of Colonial era
Old Meets New – Cool image ern glass
mod
sea
called Larcomar, very upscale with
a
in
cted
buildings refle
iro, Brazil.
high-rise building in Rio De Jane
numerous U.S. based restaurants. Heck, we
42
went to Tony Roma’s for ribs one night just to get a taste of home!
Attending a Summit in Rio De Janeiro,
Brazil on Counter-Terrorism & Security for
the World Cup Football (Soccer) and the
2016 Olympics.
As attendees we were invited into the
Central Control Center of Rio shown below.
We ventured onward
to Rio De Janeiro,
Brazil, which required
an all night flight
that arrived at 4:50
am. We got to the
hotel in time to get
two hours sleep and a
shower before the
start of the security
conference we were to attend.
Hosted by International Security & Defense Systems, (ISDS) the
Israeli security firm I have worked with for the last 30 years and the
University of Tel Aviv, it covered extensively the security threats
and potential acts of Terrorism facing the 2014 World Cup
Football (Soccer) games and the
2016 Olympic games both of
which will be held in Rio.
This is my second trip to Rio, having attended by
invitation the Preliminary Draw for the World Cup a little
over a year ago. Brazil is a rapidly growing economy with a
large population of around 300 million, a huge land mass
almost the size of the USA and incredible natural resources.
Things are booming here, and I can see a giant leap forward in
just a year. They are even “pacifying” the favelas (slums controlled by drug lords). I walked through one, where the previous
year I would have been shot. Now there are even tourists and a
few new and clean restaurants!
After three days of seminars and numerous meetings, we did
find time to go visit several of the most famous sites of Rio De
Janeiro including the beautiful “Cristo,” the iconic statue of
Jesus Christ with his arms outstretched, on a mountain top
overlooking all of Rio. It is said to be one of the seven wonders
of the modern world and is certainly impressive. You will
see it on almost any opening of a show or movie set in
Brazil.
Christ on Corcovado Mountain
43
We also took the cable cars to the huge rock
in the bay known as “Sugarloaf.” This is
where the cable car scene was filmed from
Moonraker where Roger Moore as James
Bond fought the bad guy Jaws.
Now we are in an area near Cordoba,
Argentina to shoot doves. There are tens of
millions and they are considered flying pests
as they damage significant amounts of the
local crops. Once again to get here was an
all day trip with multiple connections. But
now that we are here WOW! I shot dove
here about six years ago and it might be
even better now.
Yesterday was our first day of shooting.
Jacob shooting doves. We both ended up in the
I shot about 650 shells after breakfast and
1,000 bird a day club. Jacob shot 73.5% hits!
another 1,000 after lunch out of a 20 gauge
Beretta 391 which ran flawlessly. (BTW they are locally modified for enhanced
performance, I will share the details with you in GunTech). I joined the 1,000 bird
in a day club.
I started off slow, but by the end of the day I
was hitting about 70%+ which made me feel
really good as I am not much of a shotgun
shooter and have to constantly overcome my
rifle shooting techniques (swing, swing,
swing!) But with a target being presented to
you every couple of seconds, you have plenty
of opportunity to practice. Tomorrow we are
going to shoot wild pigeons from a stand
over decoys, so that should be interesting.
Paco Riestra is our outfitter. He is the same
one I hunted with 5 or 6 years ago and I
highly recommend him. He has two lodges.
One about a hour and a half from Cordoba,
Jacob at the lodge in Argentina.
(Now that is one BIG Dog!)
for shooting dove and another larger one that
is about a four hour drive from the Cordoba airport, but where you can shoot dove,
pigeon, duck, partridge and big game.
Sometime in the next year or two I would like to put together a small group (max
would be 8-10 people) to go to this lodge. We have to secure a spot early as it is
almost always sold out. It would be fun hunting with other GCA members, and
while it is an investment, it is not that much more than taking a cruise or any other
type of vacation. The food is great, the accommodations are comfortable, and the
shooting is endless.
44
Let’s plan a trip together! Best, Gene
History provides a perspective that gives us a greater
depth of appreciation for what we enjoy today.
This is 5th in a series of firearm inventors.
Richard Jordan Gatling
September 12, 1818 was the day Richard Jordan Gatling was
born into Hertford County, North Carolina, and the
man never stopped coming up with ideas. He
became an inventor by nature and upbringing, for
his father, Jordan, and brother James Henry had
the same creative streak.
Richard reportedly had 50 patents over the
course of his life, and indeed died at the age
of 84 while staying with his daughter and
presumably visiting the patent office, for he
had another invention he’d worked on for
years and which had reignited his passion—
the steam plow, or tractor.
Richard Jordan Gatling
By the time he was a teenager, he and his father had
invented a cotton seed sowing machine and then a cotton thinning machine.
At 21 years old in 1839, he invented a steamboat screw propeller but someone
else beat him to the patent. Later, he would invent a machine able to sow rice,
wheat, and other grains.
Although Dr. Richard Jordan Gatling
studied medicine at Ohio Medical
College, apparently spurred by an
outbreak of smallpox, he didn’t practice
for reasons unknown. Apparently his
mind continued to move in the direction
it had before, fertile with ideas and
problem solving skills, along the lines of
the seed sowing machine and the wheat
drill; it became a completely different venture, the seed of which is still in use
today, and for that which he is most famous: The Gatling Gun
In 1862, at the age of 44, he obtained a patent for
his Gatling gun. This was a rapid fire gun using
multiple barrels. It was the first time the multiple
barrel concept was successful as the barrels
rotated by hand crank were able to cool enough
while making the circuit so they continued to fire
rather than overheat and fail to fire. It was
North Carolina marker A-26 for Richard Gatling, on
US258, northeast of Murfeesboro, Hertford County
45
loaded through a
gravity feed which allowed the number of
rounds to skyrocket.
It is said Richard
Gatling was sincere in
his belief this gun
would end the Civil
War as it was capable
of doing unheard-of damage
9th US Infantry Gatling Gun Detachment in Court of
Forbidden City, Peking, China, courtesy Library of Congress
in a time when most soldiers
were using muskets, carbines, and revolvers. This gun in its original form
with percussion caps fired 150-190 rounds a minute. (My guess is the
difference in numbers depended on who was cranking it.)
In the fall of 1862, he placed the first order of Gatlings to be manufactured and when almost completed, they were destroyed in a
fire some thought was suspicious. He placed another
order, and these were used sparingly in the Civil War.
(It just occurred to me that Civil War is perhaps
the most unbelievable oxymoron ever.)
In his own words:
Hartford, June 15th, 1877
Five years later he improved the
design to fire metallic cartridges.
In 1870, he sold his gun
patent to Colt Armory,
and would later
move there to
be near
My Dear Friend.
It may be interesting to you to know how I
came to invent the gun which bears my name; I will
tell you: In 1861, during the opening events of the war,
(residing at that time in Indianapolis, md.,) I witnessed
almost daily the departure of troops to the front and the return
of the wounded, sick, and dead. The most of the latter lost their
lives, not in battle, but by sickness and exposure incident to the service.
It occurred to me if I could invent a machine--a gun-- which could by its
rapidity of fire, enable one man to do as much battle duty as a hundred,
that it would, to a great extent, supersede the necessity of large armies,
and consequently, exposure to battle and disease be greatly diminished.
I thought over the subject and finally this idea took practical form in the
invention of the Gatling Gun.
Yours truly, R.J. Gatling
www.civilwarhome.com/gatlinggun
46
the factory. He continued improving
his design, and developed an electric
version which could fire 3,000 rounds
a minute. The Gatling was also sold
to Europe and South America, and
participated in many wars.
Over the years, the Army used the
gun but declared it obsolete in 1911.
However, in the 60s, there was a
resurgence as the Gatling style was
useful—military pilots after World War II determined they needed more than a
rocket, hence the M61 Vulcan, 6 barrels, electrically fired came to be. The
fighter jets had an internal source of electricity that gave the old idea new life.
Then, the US Air Force used the 1st Air Commando Squadron to test the AC47
with mini-guns in Vietnam, call sign Puff, in 1964.
The following year, the program grew and the 4th ACS deployed, using these
M134 electric Gatling guns on AC-47 gunships, their call sign: Spooky. These
gunships were referred to as “Dragon in the Sky” by the enemy, and known to
US soldiers as “Puff, the Magic Dragon.” Three of these miniguns were on the
same side of the plane, and the pilot aimed by turning the plane. The red
tracers lit up the night for hours. Dillon Aero Inc. designs, manufactures and
supports the M134D, the current Gatlings in use by the US Army. They are
used in air, on sea, and land.
A Navy destroyer was named after Richard Gatling, commissioned August 19,
1943 The USS Gatling, per history/navy.mil: “During her aggressive career in
World War II, Gatling traveled over 175,000 miles and fired 77 tons of high
explosives from her guns. She sank two enemy ships and splashed eight
Japanese planes, either as kills or assist. In addition to her other rescue
missions, preserving the lives of over 400 sailors, she saved 37 aviators forced
to ditch at sea. Finally, these heroic exploits through two busy battle-filled
years were accomplished without the loss of a single man from enemy action,
sickness, or accident. Gatling decommissioned 16 July 1946 and entered the
Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Charleston, S.C.”
Perhaps this sums up the service of the USS Gatling, as well as
Richard Jordan Gatling’s invention, (from history/navy.mil)
“On 29 March 1945, she stood out from Iwo
Jima, escorting transports carrying
victorious marines to Guam." War
is ugly, and at times necessary.
When it is, we want the best to
support our troops and
bring them home.
Period.
Helicopter and M134 Gatling,by Dillon Aero.
Photo used by permission Slick Aguirre, www.dillonaero.com
351 Second Street, Napa, CA 94559
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