The Shooting Sports - Gun Club of America

In This Issue
3
4
Note from the President
28 Training the
Budding Gunsmith
Offhand Shots from the Editor
10 Shooting
Sports
Cowboy
Mounted
Shooting
30
Craig King
Shoots Sweet
Kenda Lenseigne
34
The "Caveman" Chef
16
GCA Member Spotlight
Ed Schultz
18
36
John Browning
Triggered an
Entire Industry
40
24
Where In The World
Is "Machine Gun"
Kelly Now?!
Concealed Carry
26
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2
Cover photo courtesy of Scoop Pictures ©2012
©The Gun Club of America • Hot Brass - Volume #7 August 2012
A Note from the President . . .
Making New Friends
Recently I had the opportunity to turn an acquaintance into a
Gene Kelly,
friend. We are creating a new course that teaches people how to
President, GCA
become a Certified Firearms Appraiser. I needed a couple of
older Colt Single Action revolvers and
AGI Certified Firearms
collectible Winchester lever action rifles to
Appraiser Course
make a point during the course.
You hear in their own words their
AGI
CERTIFIED
FIREARM
APPRAISER
IN
★
★ G U NS
ITH I NG ★
STITUTE
• 8
All rights reserved. No part of these CDs may be reproduced for any reason without the written permission of the copyright holder.
AN
M
I asked Becky, one of our staff members, to
talk to one of her friends who is a collector.
He had loaned us a couple of guns in the
past, so we knew each other and had talked
a few times, it was casual and friendly,
but that was about it.
AM E R I C
p
AGI
Pre-production look at AGI's newest course
which is still in development.
When we asked to borrow these guns, he told me to “come on over and pick
out what you want.” Well, I couldn’t pass up a deal like that!! When I
arrived at his shop around 8pm for what I thought was going to be a quick
stop, I got invited in to view his whole collection. WOW! What fun! We
stayed up looking at guns and western collectibles, telling stories about guns,
cars and collecting until almost 1am.
Carey Creech shows Gene Kelly
various firearms from his collection.
Hanging out with Gun Guys is
Fun! It is amazing the depth of
knowledge many firearms collectors
have, and my new friend Carey
Creech is no exception. Models,
variations, accessories, history,
it was all fascinating.
While I was there I was able to identify a new opportunity for him to check
into that might add significant value to one of his historic Colt “Peacemaker”
revolvers. While looking over the factory letters Carey had received with the
purchase of that particular revolver I noticed that the person who originally
requested the factory letter was from Tombstone, AZ and the letter stated that
the gun had originally been shipped directly from the Colt factory to a
well-known mine near Tombstone in 1904.
I suggested he contact that person because they may actually have more
history on the revolver. For example it may have belonged to a Grandfather,
Continue on page 22
3
Offhand Shots
from the Editor
By Lenée Landis, Hot Brass Editor
I raced to write a blog post for The Women’s Outdoor Media Association
(TheWOMA.com) and liked the title so much I figured I’d use it here as
well for it pretty much summed up the flavor of the experience for me.
John Wayne, meet Gene Kelly and . . . Lisa Munson
Gene Kelly, of course, is our Head Idea Thinker Upper Extraordinaire.
It was his idea to take the yearly
Bash for GCA Members out of
Carson City, NV mainly because it
was outgrowing that venue—make
no mistake, we had great memories
with our Carson City hosts and
raised money for the 4-H shooting
program. Gene then went a step
further, new venue, new ideas.
The GunStock event took place at
the Stillwater Firearms Association
Range in Fallon, NV mid-June,
raising over $13,000 at last count for
The Pathway Home, a 501(c)
residential program for veterans with
traumatic brain injury and PTSD,
Gunstock host Gene Kelly, President of AGI and The
in Yountville, CA.
Gun Club of America
We liked the Stillwater range so much, Jack and I became members before
we left. There was cooperation and enthusiasm from the members who
had volunteered to be Range Officers
and those who helped the process
4
run well. They even engineered a
parking lot, a footbridge, and a
Darrell Holland's
Long Range Shooting Class
held during Gunstock 2012
700 yard long range shooting area on adjoining land for Darrell Holland’s
shooting school. Occasional jets from NAS Fallon TOPGUN soared
overhead—like they say, there’s the sound of Freedom!
And where else could
you hear “John Wayne,
meet Gene Kelly”? John
was a tireless volunteer for
the entire event and Gene,
President of the American
Gunsmithing Institute (AGI)
and Gun Club of America,
was the host of the
shooting party.
Stillwater Firearm Association Range President Elynda
Long, John Wayne Link, and Ken Adams
One of the best moments was
having Lisa Munson, USPSA
champion over and over, conduct a
Babes with Bullets day camp
before she had to turn around and
head for Chicago to compete in a
USPSA shoot. She definitely added
women to the ranks of shooting
Hot Brass Editor Lenée Landis with Lisa Munson at the
Babes with Bullets Day Camp at GunStock
enthusiasts; there were a few who
had never shot a firearm before. I am most pleased to say the Gun Evangelist signed my ballcap, and I had her sign another one I’ll use to give
away in Hot Brass.
After learning the basics, these women were able to shoot all the eye
candy the next day, including the Ma Deuce, the World War II era machine
gun. Thank you Chris and Alex, from Ohio Ordnance Works Ltd.! For
three days, they fed a pallet of ammo into their several designs—these
were two of the hardest working guys I’ve ever seen.
Ron from Chiappa Firearms donated the purchase price of a Rhino along
with a few M1/22 carbines to raise money for The Pathway Home. He
also manned the Chiappa station on
one of the bays, giving everyone the
opportunity to shoot this unique
revolver, definitely a personal
favorite! He is an asset at shows, he
is tireless in helping people.
GCA Member test-fires
the Chiappa Rhino at GunStock
5
None of this would have been possible without all the generous support:
Thank you to Deb at Babes with Bullets, Jenn at Gun Tote’n Mamas, Fred at
4-D Reamers, David at Nemesis Arms, the Freeze Dry Guy, Cabelas,
Armalite, Sentry Solutions, Superbrush, PISCO Gunsmithing, Shuey Custom,
Holland’s Shooters Supply, Dino and Joann from Majestic Firearms, Tactical
Solutions, Ruger, Chiappa Firearms, Ohio Ordnance, Ammo Up, and Redring
who all pitched in to sponsor. Thank you so much! Even one of the guys
who won a few items during the raffle felt moved to pitch in, and souvenired a membership to Front Sight right in the middle of the proceedings.
Enthusiastic people, unique products, and clear warm weather all came
together this weekend in support of those who have put their lives on the
line to defend this country. You know, when I hear about spending our
blood and treasure, my only thought is “that blood is our treasure.”
Thank you soldiers and Marines, for all you do.
Summer Shooting
Make time, if you can, to bring someone along to the world of shooting.
There are many ways to try it out . . . check out the story on page 26
where we show how quickly (no pun intended) the Quick family embraced
the education and fun of shooting. You know how I feel—learning to
shoot should be a basic skill taught just like learning how to drive.
We also cover Cowboy Mounted Shooting this month . . . now, this is a
sport I wouldn’t necessarily sign up for as my history with horses reads
like a horror novel, AND YET . . . I bet Kenda Lenseigne would be able to
demystify the process for a student. I base this on her training, her
specific answers, and her personality
which is an infectious blend of joy
for what she does, a desire to share
it, and her ability to do just that.
Something to think about. Taking a
step outside the comfort zone is
usually more beneficial than you
thought it would be.
6
Hot
Brass Editor
Lenée Landis,
working tirelessly
as usual.
The instructors at GunStock spent hours answering questions. Have you
ever wanted to learn how to gunsmith but couldn't afford to take off work
and move away from your house for 2 years? Full disclosure here . . .
American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) sponsors us. I have full faith and
confidence in the knowledge contained in the various levels of
gunsmithing programs they offer, knowing and becoming friends with
people who have graduated from the professional course as well as the
instructors who teach these courses.
Added benefit: where else can you “go to school” and be able to
determine exactly what the instructor said about headspace 2 years later?
The head instructor, Bob Dunlap, put together the gunsmithing program at
Lassen College years ago and Gene Kelly saw the need to preserve all that
knowledge, and there it is: a library of firearms education.
In the unique position I’m in, I see the opportunity for women gunsmiths.
Many are good with their hands, love to shoot, and have the curiosity
necessary to make things work. When they figure out how many good
gunsmiths are needed in this country, and that you can run your own
business and be your own boss, I think we’ll see more. It is part of the
cycle of life—learning and teaching the next person.
Our Friend,
Genelle Frontin
A few days before we traveled to GunStock,
Genelle Frontin, a beloved friend and
coworker, was killed in a motorcycle accident.
I reread some e-mails from her, laughing out
loud with that sting in my eyes. She greeted
me in e-mails with “Ahoy.” I urged her to
write an article for Hot Brass—she said she
wanted to use the 3 volume 1911 DVD and build her own 1911 with her
Dad, and when she did it that I should use the teacup picture. She was
diligent in passing on compliments she received about Hot Brass, in its
fledgling stage, and she was hilarious. She was a counselor to some of the
professional gunsmithing students out there, whom she referred to as “her”
students, and for whom she cared deeply. She once
recommended a story about one of her guys, Ed
Schultz, and I used it in a Journal for AGI which is in final edit. I am
using it in this issue in honor of Genelle.
Finally,
Learn something, teach someone. You guys have so much
energy out there, we’d like to hear about your projects and
goals. E-mail me at [email protected]. Your
Mom would like to see your face in a magazine, in a good way!
photo courtesy of Robert Dunn
7
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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 the world of Cowboy Mounted Shooting . . .
Taking You
for a Ride!
This sport is almost like hockey—you have to be good at the original goal
(hitting the net v hitting the target) plus have some considerable extra talent
(skating on ice v riding a horse).
The Game:
Ride your horse through a pattern in the arena, using a single action gun to
shoot at balloon targets, as fast as you can. There are generally 5 white
balloons and 5 red ones, placed strategically in one of 50+ patterns sanctioned
by the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association. The pattern may either be
determined beforehand or drawn on the day of competition. Barrels and gates
define the pattern to ride, and generally the 5 red balloons are straightaway to
home.
The Rules:
Horse and Rider:
You can use a horse of your choosing, no thoroughbred necessary. In fact,
you can use a mule if you like. Appropriate dress is traditional western wear
i.e. 5-pocket jeans and standard Western shirt, or that of yesteryear with
high-waisted buttoned pants and collarless shirt to evoke the late 1800s. Of
course, either style requires a cowboy hat.
The 5-pocket jeans are covered with chinks or chaps. What’s the difference?
Well, both are made of leather and designed to protect the rider from all kinds of
grief that can occur while seated on a horse. The main difference is the length,
with chaps covering the rider’s legs while chinks end somewhere between the
knee and ankle. Chinks seem to have longer fringe and more decoration.
Firearms:
You shoot a single action .45 (meaning you have to cock the hammer every
time you shoot). Basically, we are talking a pair of Colt Single Action Army
10
types. Competitors shoot a
.45 caliber Long Colt brass
cartridge, filled with
black powder. It is the
concussion of the
explosion
that
hits
balloons,
approximately 12-15 feet
away; they are guaranteed not
to be viable after 20 feet.
Kenda Lenseigne
with Justin.
Quite a team!
There is no live ammunition.
Competitors’ guns are loaded for
them and unloaded for them after
finishing a round. There are no
loaded firearms outside the ring,
and no live rounds allowed at the
competition at all.
You fire one gun with five shots,
holster, and draw the other to
shoot the next five balloons. You
shoot with one hand and yes, you
can change hands. The CMSA
events use single action revolvers,
while other mounted shooting
events may utilize a lever action rifle
and a shotgun.
Scoring:
Miss a shot (the balloon is still
bobbling on the pole) and 5 seconds is added to
your time. Same for dropping a gun. It’s a 10 second
penalty if you run the course improperly, and the big one 60 seconds for falling off your horse, though truth be told, if
you fall off you probably have bigger problems than the penalty.
Hot Tips:
Like so many things, it’s all about the accuracy. It doesn’t matter how
fast you are if you can’t do it right. Speed comes after you’re really accurate
and consistent with what you’re doing.
The Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association® is the main sanctioning body,
and they have been in existence since the 1990s. The Mounted Shooting
Association began in 2001; their balloons are different colors, generally with
one light and the other a dark shade. They show about 20 possible patterns
11
on their website.
The Shooting Sports
Meet Kenda Lenseigne:
an interview with one
of the stars of
Cowboy Mounted Shooting
Kenda Lenseigne is one very smart woman.
From the first, she is a consummate professional, making time to film an interview on
short notice right before she will go on the
Safariland stage at SHOT Show 2012.
Her name happened to come up, and it
seemed this would make an interesting
video clip for GunTech viewers (the silver
level of GCA membership) as well as a print
article for Hot Brass. We wanted to look
into this fast growing shooting enterprise
called Cowboy Mounted Shooting and learn
the rules, plus illustrate the commitment of
one of the stars.
Kenda Lenseigne shoots from
the hip and designed the
Smokechaser mounted shooting
rig she's wearing in this picture.
Suddenly the opportunity was there, but it
looked like the timeframe wasn’t. Fortunately for us, Kenda is not the type who lets
opportunity go to waste; she doesn’t seem
under pressure, staring down a clock and
delivering in a limited amount of time.
Perhaps that is why she has 11 world records in the sport, collaborated with
Bianchi Cowboy in the design of competitive gear called the Kenda Lenseigne
Signature Series Smokechaser mounted shooting rigs, and runs her own
business at her training facilities in Washington and Arizona (spring and
summer on her ranch in Washington, fall and winter spent in Arizona) around
her competition schedule.
Riding competitively since the age of 4, and working as an apprentice under
top trainers in the cutting horse business was a natural introduction to
Cowboy Mounted Shooting which she’s been involved with for 14 years.
In 2009, she became the first woman to win the Overall title at a CMSA World
Championship, beating all competitors, male and female. Six months later, she
became the first woman to win the Overall National Championship, repeating
12
The Shooting Sports
this victory in 2012. She is also a 4
time World Point Champion Cowgirl.
Some of her success can be attributed
to having a topnotch horse. Of
course, she smoothed the rough
edges off her horse, Justin, and
trained him to be the competitor he
is. Having a dependable partner is a
valuable tool in this arena. Justin and
Kenda have been together a long
time and move in one fluid motion.
We wondered whether she always
rides Justin, and interviewed her
about that plus asked a few other
questions regarding how this talented
shooter approaches competition.
Lenee: Do you always take Justin?
Championship form shown here.
Kenda: I only compete on Justin at the major matches as it’s not necessary to
wear him out on the small events when generally they don't offer much in
terms of awards or payback. I see the small matches as opportunity to school
my up and comers and client horses.
Lenee: What is involved in traveling to an event for you and your horse?
Kenda: It’s a significant production! The major events are spread out across
the US, which means burning thousands of road miles on my truck and
trailer to get to and from. There are times I wish I was just a competition
shooter, and could simply buy a plane ticket to arrive at my destination
within hours. This thought typically crosses my mind when I am on day two
of road travel, and blown tire number three. Although I enjoy seeing all parts
of the US, it gets tiring as I travel alone most of the time (apart from my
trusty dogs). However, I’ve been doing it so long (this is my 14th year in the
sport), that I have a pretty efficient system down for planning stops along the
way to overnight the horses; unloading each night to bed them down and
then packing up each morning to get back on the road. Audio books and
coffee are my friends.
Lenee: What do you do to keep in competition shape? How much shooting
practice?
Kenda: I train shooting horses for a living and during my busy training
season I will ride 6-8 shooting horses per day. My horse training program
includes a series of shooting/dry firing drills so I am able to use that time to
13
The Shooting Sports
also work on my mechanics in terms of hand-eye coordination and gun
handling, keeping all of my skills tuned while also doing my job.
Five times a week I work out by either going to the gym (in the evening after
horses are put up) for specific cardio and strength training, cycling and
mountain biking or kick boxing. I believe this keeps my core strength and
stamina in top shape. As I answer that I realize why I am so tired all the time!
Lenee: What comprises a typical day at an event?
Kenda: Most of the big events are days of "hurry up and wait". There are
times I will only shoot 2-3 stages per day, spread out over 4 days. I am a level
6 shooter (the order of go is determined by level, starting with 1 and ending
with 6), which means I run at the end of the order.
There is a great deal of mental maturity needed to find a balance between
being focused all day for competition and over-thinking the stages and
talking myself out of winning. I usually bring my bike with me and go for a
nice long ride before I compete to find that balance - mind is clear and
muscles warmed up.
About an hour or so before my run, I will mentally rehearse the patterns as I
warm up my horse. Finding my focus and planning each step for an efficient
and clean pattern. I do a lot of target acquisition and visualization during
this mental rehearsal so all I have to do when I step into the arena is ride out
what’s already been accomplished in my mind.
Lenee: You are a successful businesswoman as well as a top shooter. What
drives you to be involved in so many facets of shooting?
Kenda: I am an opportunist and always have been. I see things in the big
picture and have been fortunate enough to find myself in the path of
opportunity, some of it by being at the right place at the right time and some
by strategy and using the tools I have to make it happen.
"OFFICE JOB" is what I label my reminder of why I push ahead, even when
things seem too difficult. Meaning, there was a time in my life where I
worked in the concrete jungle and had a
dreadful commute in high heels and a skirt.
I vowed when I left the corporate life that I
would do whatever it took to live the
American dream of entrepreneurship and,
although it is challenging at times, it is
what drives me to progressive thinking and
planning. Business is not that much
different than being a successful competitor
in the shooting arena: You get out of it
what you put into it.
14
Avoiding an office job.
Lenee: Besides training horses, do you also train shooters?
Kenda: I travel to all points of the US to teach shooting clinics, helping horses
and shooters become the best they can be. I love to teach both new shooters
and to help our advanced competitors trim time and become more efficient
athletes; my program includes mental management in competition,
horsemanship and gun handling.
As it’s important to keep learning and growing for myself, I started practical
pistol shooting last year and have found it valuable as a crossover into
conveying techniques to our mounted shooters. It has also helped me become
a better shooter as a whole.
As this article goes to press, Kenda just won the High Overall, on Justin of
course, and set a new World Record at the CMSA Western US Championships in
Las Vegas. This is her 3rd high overall of 3 national events this year, putting
her on a roll toward the World Championship, this October in Amarillo, TX.
She is now headed for EquiBlues, the 17th Festival of Rodeo and Country
Music in Saint-Agrève, France to give them a display of Cowboy Mounted
Shooting, Of course, she continues to teach clinics, private workshops, and
riding lessons plus horse training. With this amount of energy and
commitment, we expect to see Kenda
Lenseigne’s name in the winner circle
many times over.
All photos in this article
are courtesy of
Kenda Lenseigne
Practice
makes perfect
15
GCA Member Spotlight
AGI Student Ed SChultz Carves His
Own Niche . . . actually, he engraves it
After years of working for “the man” as the Production Manager and welder
for a bronze sculpture artist, plus years of wear and tear on my body, I began
looking for another career path. I’ve always been an avid hunter and
outdoorsman so it seemed obvious to me I would look for something in that field.
I've tinkered and worked on my own guns for years so I decided to further enhance
those skills by going to gunsmithing school. I researched the options of gunsmithing
schools and chose AGI.
I knew in order to make this happen, I had to be committed to sticking to it, giving
it every extra minute I had after work and weekends to complete it. With the support
of my wife, I got to work studying. Having the DVDs allowed me to replay any part
that I didn’t quite understand the first time (a benefit to online school versus the
classroom). As I finished each course, I went back through again to answer the
test questions. I kept a copy before sending them in. When the results came back,
I was able to then compare any wrong answers I had to the correct answer.
My technical adviser, Jack Landis, was available as needed to answer any follow
up question that wasn’t clear. Any questions I had concerning course matters or
purchasing additional course DVDs, I would contact my student adviser Genelle.
My determination kept me on track to complete the course. In the end, I was able
to complete the entire course in just over 3 months with a proud final course score
in the 90 percentile range. I had a goal in mind and the nonstop determination
and countless hours was what it took to reach my goal.
Now along with my certificates hanging proudly on the wall, I have my FFL; my
gunsmith and shooter supply business is now my focus. I currently do gunsmithing
out of my home and within the next year plan to have an actual store where I’ll
also be selling guns and accessories in addition to providing gunsmith services.
16
Thanks to AGI, I am able to move forward with the next chapter of my life,
proud of what I have learned and accomplished.
Presiden
t, AGI
Kelly,
AGI
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17
FR E E * Call 1-800-997-9404 today or go to:
Instructed by Master Gunsmith Robert Dunlap
©Copyright AGI 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this video may be
copied, reproduced or transmitted for any reason without
the written permission of the copyright holder.
Serial #02121004
DVD #1004
DVD!
www.agioffer.com/introhb
By: Robert Dunn
American Gunsmithing Institute Graduate,
Gun Club of America Member and Video Producer
I don't remember life without guns. I have fond memories of going to the
range with my Dad and brothers to shoot our high caliber firearms. Shooting
at the range was one of my favorite things to do back then and it still is.
Another thing that hasn't changed too much is the fun that I have with BB/
pellet guns. I was told that I couldn't have my own shotgun until I was
thirteen. What a long painful waiting period!
Luckily, there were always air guns around that I could shoot in the basement.
Right up through graduating high school, my after school ritual was to shoot
the pellet gun for about an hour and then practice playing the drums for
another hour or so. I would set up toy soldiers all around the room and pick
them off one by one from different shooting positions. Aside from getting hit
by a few ricocheting pellets, I was always on the winning side!
We had some cool single shot air guns growing up, but nothing like the full
auto "airsoft" guns on the market today. I had a bolt action pellet gun and
another single shot that cocked upon breaking open the action. There was
also the rough and tumble lever gun that we could stamp out a clump of dirt
with the muzzle end of the gun and then work the lever a few times to shoot
the dirt and rocks out of the barrel like an old blunderbuss.
After I went away to college, the air guns got packed away and were
eventually sold at a yard sale. A period of time went by that I did not even
own an air gun. I'm sure my wife looks back on those peaceful times and
wishes that I never bought a full auto 6mm M4 style air rifle!
18
I was in between jobs and I decided that I wanted to create a short film/
animation. For this little project, I needed a cool looking air gun. For under
$50, I bought a cheap battery operated firearm. It was a full scale Colt M4
replica that fired in full and semi-auto. All of the operating controls were
in the correct place and the gun later turned out to be a valuable
training tool for the AR-15 platform. I was having so much fun
with my new BB gun that I broke the trigger mechanism
before filming the gun.
I learned a lot about air guns when I repaired the trigger
because when I disassembled the "receiver", all of the parts fell
out of the gun. I got the gun working again and promptly
went to the toy store and bought a huge bag of toy soldiers.
Much to my wife's dismay, I have not tired of shooting the air
gun around the house. As a matter of fact, I bought a couple
more cheap guns so that I would have a spare gun and some
extra parts.
The cheap guns are fun to shoot but they are not really very
accurate. I live, however, there are a couple of spots in our
home that I can shoot about twenty yards (from the corner of
the garage to the laundry room)! Poor Roxanne has
even quit complaining about
stepping on 6mm BBs, which
seem to show up everywhere! A
few years ago, I bought a good shooting air gun
and set up our house like a "kill house" with targets in
just about every corner. Well, that came to a quick end,
but I still have a few shooting lanes in the house that
are "wife-approved"!
The gun that I use all of the time, for in
home shooting fun, is the Auto Ordnance,
"Officially Licensed", Thompson M1A1, made by
Cybergun. The firearm cost me just over $100. The gun
has a good solid feel and at 8 1/4 lbs, it is heavy
compared to most airsoft guns in its price range. The
weight comes from its all metal body, gear box, shims
and steel gears. The gun looks great. The faux wood
looks real and it even has a charging handle
(it doesn't do anything, but it still looks cool).
It is an electric gun that fires in semi and full
auto and shoots the 6mm BBs at a velocity of
360 fps. The gun shoulders well and is pretty
accurate. The rechargeable battery lasts for
several magazines of accurate shooting
and takes a few hours to fully charge.
After my wife bought her revolver,
we purchased a CO2 pistol for her to
Robert's
Auto Ordnance,
"Officially
Licensed"
Thompson M1A1
19
practice safety protocols, target shooting and simply get comfortable with
having a gun in her hands. The rifle and the handgun offer a good
opportunity to practice trigger control and keep your eye and mindset sharp.
The BBs are cheap and some are even biodegradable if you take your
activities to the backyard.
The guns are not loud and I can pretty much shoot whenever I want inside
the house. Though the days of me tactically clearing rooms of insurgent
stuffed animals and filling the entire floor with slippery little BBs are over,
I still have a lot of fun shooting from the designated areas.
There is enough space to practice shooting on the move and in the garage,
I have devised a way to shoot at moving targets. Though I still enjoy shooting
the toy soldiers the most, as they are reactive, old magazines and newspapers
have always proven to be cheap, excellent targets as well.
I could never afford to shoot live ammo at the range every day. I would have
to save a lot of lunch money to spend the day firing in full auto. Airsoft guns
allow you to get in some trigger time around the house for cheap. If you have
the space, realistic shooting courses can be set up safely and easily. There is
an entire world of indoor/outdoor airsoft shooting choices available to you.
Wearing the correct protective/safety gear, "real
world" force on force training can be practiced. The
Thompson that I own is a great starter gun. If you
want to see how far you can go with the airsoft
hobby, just Google "Tokyo Marui" to see some fine
quality airsoft guns.
If you enjoy shooting as much as I do, it is well
worth the small investment to be able to shoot stuff
at home!
The "Slam Man" punching bag helping stow my air gun gear.
6 3 9
GCA
SUDOKU
Instructions:
Fill all the empty squares
so that each row, each
column, and all nine of
the 3x3 sections have the
numbers from 1 to 9,
with no duplication.
Solution on page 45
20
2 4
1
8
8
2 9
9 2
8
4
6
3
4 7
6 3
8
5
6
8 1
5 7 2
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21
A Note from the President continued . . .
Great-Grandfather or some uncle or cousin who might have been a guard at
the mine, or a local deputy. If that’s the case and they have additional
information such as a picture of the man with it or a letter or badge or
whatever, it would make the story even more interesting, thus filling in a few
of the historical blanks and helping us to understand this specific gun’s place
in history. It would also significantly increase the value of the firearm to other
collectors.
Much of the value of any particular gun, aside from its utilitarian value, comes
from the stories and images that are attached to that firearm. For example,
imagine how much more interesting John Browning’s personal prototype 1911
would be to hold and own versus just any old Colt .45 Auto. It would for that
moment give you some direct connection with the man himself. For me
personally that would be incredible. I would love to own any of John
Browning’s prototypes.
This is history that is really significant to all of us, even if we don’t know some
of their names, as they helped build America and shaped us as a nation.
Carey and I spent the evening traveling back in time, connecting with
historical people through the firearms they owned. The end result was we
connected with each other as people who enjoy guns, history and collecting.
A new friendship was born.
Once again I have found Gun Guys (and Gals) to be very generous with their
time and resources. This was clearly demonstrated to me again at GunStock,
where everyone chipped in to support each other and The Pathway Home
project.
There is also no one else who will really appreciate the firearms that you own
or have collected like another Gun Guy. Other people just can’t relate. They
may think it is nice or even cool, or they may not like it and think you are a
bit weird. But we GCA members totally get it and enjoy sharing with each
other.
So in this world where personal contact diminishes the more we become
“connected,” I want to encourage you to take some time and get together with
another GCA member to share your
guns, insights and stories. You will
be glad you did. The GCA membership website is a good place for you
to start making new “Gun” friends.
Best, Gene Kelly, President of
The Gun Club of America and
The American Gunsmithing Institute
22
GCA Thanks You Back!
Mark Mrozek, one of the vendors who attended Gunstock, is no stranger to
supporting our troops; nearly half the troops deployed in Iraq utilized his
TUF CLOTH™ and TUF-GLIDE™ (oil-free, dry film lubricants, and protectants)
for small arms and related gear. Turns out the usual mil-spec oil,
which is wet, didn't work as well in the "sandbox" conditions.
His company, Sentry Solutions, supported the effort to raise money for
The Pathway Home by bringing his products to sample, along with bore
brushes from Super Brush, Springfield, MA. He has also extended an offer to
GCA members to receive 15% off their orders. If you would like to take advantage of that call them at 1-800-546-8049 or go to: www.sentrysolutions.com
Coupon code is GCA07A1812.
Mark's motivation to help raise funds:“We
are very proud of all the men
and women returning from the war and are humbled by
their service and sacrifice.
We are too.
23
In case you’re interested
in concealed carry, we
keep our eyes out for
resources and here's one:
We recently found this website,
www.usacarry.com which collates
information with regard to individual states
and their policies. Interest in this particular
field is growing commensurate with people’s
concern about safety, particularly when the
judicial system came out with the ruling that
the police are not responsible for individual
safety. (This of course makes sense as they
do have limited resources and can’t be in
two places at once.)
Interesting facts in the news,
which caught our eye:
• 70,000 women over age 50 got their
concealed carry permit in Florida . . . in May 2012!
• In November 2012, Oklahoma’s concealed carry
license holders will be able to openly carry.
In mid-2012, there's been a 50% increase in
applications over licenses awarded last year.
Currently, it is taking 97 days to process a license as
they are receiving as many as 1,000 applications a week
under the Self Defense Act.
This is an increase over the 60 days it took a couple
months ago, so the licensing body is adding
a temporary night shift and a couple more
employees to keep up with the demand.
As always, follow up and
understand your local
firearms laws! If you are
traveling to another
state, doublecheck the
law before you go.
24
www.usacarry.com
Odds are if you are a gunsmith, or collect firearms, or otherwise read about guns,
you also like to shoot and/or compete. There are probably people around you
who have mentioned a passing interest in learning.
Well, here’s our own example:
Dianne Quick, owner of Graystone
Graphics, is the person who puts together
the words and photos for Hot Brass and
GunTech, not to mention catalogs, ads,
and DVD sleeves. She has read probably
millions of gun words but was a bit leery
about firearms. Gene Kelly urged her to
attend the Babes with Bullets camp, and
she did so with her two daughters.
Lisa Munson instructing Dianne Quick
of Graystone Graphics
Well, it wasn’t quite that smooth . . . a couple days prior to the class, she
mentioned she didn’t think she was going to go . . . it would be Father’s Day
weekend, it meant traveling to another state, and when you add up all the other
things that need to get done in life, I imagine she asked herself whether she
really wanted to expend the time and energy.
Lauren Quick is trying a 9mm
for the first time while Lisa watches.
We expressed understanding but also
that we would really miss them as it
would be a great opportunity to experience a Babes with Bullets day camp.
Ultimately, she attended, and
brought both daughters, Sarah and
Lauren. This camp was taught by Lisa Munson, Senior Instructor with BwB.
If you ever get the opportunity to have her teach you anything, take it! Lisa is
professional, patient, and most importantly has the ability to pass that
information on to you. Not all champions have that ability: Ted Williams,
great baseball hitter, tried to teach hitting, and couldn’t understand why a hitter
couldn’t hit like he did. `Just pick up the rotation on the ball when it leaves the
pitcher’s hand.’ What? We don’t all have the champion’s extraordinary talents,
so we need someone who can articulate the logical actions.
All three spent the day, learning the
safety rules, stance, picking up the
target, and handling the firearm.
They picked it up quickly, and the
youngest, Lauren, would have been
happy to shoot all day and all night.
26
Sarah Quick is shown
shooting her first(?) AR-15.
The next morning, they elected to leave as the event was going to begin—more
people, more seminars—and again, we understood, but mentioned it was too bad
they’d miss the many shooting opportunities. A couple hours later, they showed
up at the range for the morning events and shot everything from the Thompson
to the Rhino to the Ma Deuce machine gun.
About a month later, opportunity arose for
Dianne’s husband Tony, who was at work
during their initial training. Traveling to
southern California, Tony and Dianne spent
the day with Joe Alesia, SASS and Western 3
Gun world champ, and GCA instructor.
Tony made a memorable comment as to "how
could anyone miss such close targets," and we
laughed. Soon enough, he found out.
However, Joe has trained multitudes of LA
County Sheriff recruits to shoot, and has a
unique style for teaching you to shoot
modern semi-auto firearms and to rely on
your hand-eye coordination. Example,
when you drive down the road, you don’t
have to stare at the hood ornament.
Again, safety is the first and utmost
lesson in these camps.
Tony Quick runs through a defensive pistol
course and Dianne is shown
below receiving instruction from Joe Alesia.
So, we’ve added 4 shooters to the ranks,
people who now appreciate the firearm’s
purpose, know how to operate it safely,
and developed a new family interest.
If you want to teach someone to shoot, having an instructor do it is a valuable
experience as they have a tried and true plan. In fact, we can all benefit by having someone with the training help us to the next step. As Dianne said, “Both
instructors had different methods, and I learned different things from each one.”
Other avenues to consider: You might take your friends or youngsters to First
Shot, sponsored by National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF.org), which
teaches the fundamentals of handgun and target shooting in host ranges across
the country.
Want rifle skills? Project Appleseed (appleseedinfo.org). The NRA has
programs to teach pistol, rifle, and shotgun as well
as women and youth courses (nra.org/programs).
And if you know the rules and are able to teach,
consider taking the NRA instructor course.
Lauren, Dianne and Sarah after attending GunStock.
Their "introduction to firearms" turned out to be
the best "girls weekend" ever!
GUNSTOCK RULES!
27
Training the Budding Gunsmith
By Justin Ledgerwood, GCA Silver Member
First Time Firearm Purchase
At least once a week someone will ask me what gun they should buy.
My answer, at least in my head, is usually “How should I know?”
FOR BUYERS: Choosing a firearm is a very personal matter that requires
research and a detailed examination of your life. For first time buyers this can be
an overwhelming process. Looking at the many different brands and models, as
well as caliber’s can leave a person feeling lost in a sea of over-information.
When I am approached by someone who is looking at a first time
purchase I like to break it down and ask two simple questions:
1. Who will be using the firearm?
2. What will the primary purpose of the firearm be?
Depending on the answers they give, more in-depth questions may be
necessary. A first time buyer’s first choice is usually not going to be the best
choice. They may want something they saw in a movie, or something that a
friend has, but it may not work for them. If you live in a crowded apartment
complex, that big .45 may not be the best home defense weapon as that round
can easily make it through a wall or two into your neighbors apartment. If you
want a firearm to keep in the car between the seat and center console, a
double barrel shotgun is probably not going to cut it.
If a couple is looking for something to shoot on the weekends for fun, then
you need to look at who exactly will be shooting. A .50 caliber rifle might be
easily handled by the 6'4", 300lb husband, maybe not so well by the 5'0" 130lb
wife. A caliber that size is also expensive and may not be the best choice for
some weekend plinking. You want to find something that both people can
handle comfortably and doesn’t cost a lot to shoot for fun.
Another point to make is the price. First time buyers usually
fall into two categories:
1. Have to have the biggest brand name and
most expensive gun, or . . .
2. Want something that costs less than a ham sandwich.
Most expensive does not mean that it is the best choice for you. Most people
cannot tell the difference between a $400 pistol and an $800 pistol other than
aesthetics. You also don’t want to go too far and grab the cheapest thing you
can find.
28
There are two things to keep in mind when looking at price:
1. you usually get what you pay for, and . . .
2. your ammo shouldn’t cost more than your gun.
FOR SELLERS: After a selection has been made, it is important to stress that
the buyer needs to obtain real training. They need to learn how to safely load
and unload, store, handle, clean and maintain their new firearm. Professional
training is always worth the money over the heartache that may be avoided
when something goes wrong because they tried to skimp too much on costs.
Be honest when dealing with first timers, separate the facts from the opinions,
and don’t try to make the easy sell. First time buyers are entering a whole new
world and their first experience will dictate how they view that world. It is up
to us to make that transition easy and enjoyable, so that someday they can
pass it on to a new generation of first timers. And remember . . .
As always, be proud of what you do, and put your name on your work.
AGI
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firearms or just looking for some good used
hunting or self defense guns? This AGI course will save you time, money and
the embarrassment of getting “burned.” Ideal for the novice shooter and
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what adds value and what detracts . . . how to assess the mechanical condition
of different action types . . . what to look for and what to avoid. Save $$$ and
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Order Today!
Craig King Shoots Sweet
. . . and so do Clive & Sons!
Craig King received a custom
Ruger 10/22 built by Jack Landis as a
result of a Gun Club of America
raffle a few months back.
We can definitely say this was built with
LOVE as that is what Jack loves to do!
His conversations with Craig
inspired the parts he used to make this a
memorable rifle which would fit the type
of shooting Craig had in mind.
Jack tells us what he used to
make this one of a kind
beauty:
1. Tactical Innovations Satin
Blue Elite 22 receiver with
integral Picatinny/Weaver
mount
2. Connecticut Precision
Chambering modified
bolt with squared face, surface ground to .0425" headspace, jeweled side,
pinned firing pin, and ground and polished bottom rear edge
3. Superior Concepts bolt guide rod, spring and handle
4. Tactical Innovations Satin Blue Trigger Housing with removable right
side plate and adjustable trigger stop/pull weight adjustment screw
5. “Automatic Release” bolt hold open modified from Ruger part
6. Tactical Solutions Blue under-lever extended magazine release
7. Power Custom Competition Sear, modified with “take-up”
adjusting screw
8. Modified Ruger hammer
9. Disconnector and sear shimmed for zero wobble and over-size trigger
sear pin installed
10. Custom trigger job for 2.5 pound trigger
11. Shimmed, “select” Green Mountain fluted stainless target bull barrel,
re-crowned, with chamber polished and shortened by .020"
12. Power custom tool steel extractor and spring
13. All trigger housing pin holes “bumped” for tighter fit
14. Boyd’s Gunstocks SS Evolution Sky Blue laminate ambidextrous stock
15. Custom machined stock/action hex socket screw
16. Tru Glo bi-color, 4 reticle, electronic reflex sight
30
So what did Craig think about it? . . .
“Good Afternoon, Sir,
Craig King shooting his custom 10/22 compliments of GCA
Wanted to let you know that I picked up the rifle yesterday and it is a beaut!!!
Jenny at the gunshop said it arrived on Friday and as soon as she opened the case
everyone in the shop wanted to paw it.
Got it out to the range this morning and she shoots as sweet as she looks. I think
the range master was a bit jealous when I told him where it had come from and
who’d built the rifle. I’ve enclosed three photos for you: One on my back patio of
me and the rifle and two on the range. Thank you again for a wonderful rifle.
I see many hours of shooting with it in my future.
Sincerely,Craig King
How could Jack
recreate that
experience?
Well, we told you he loves to build those 10/22s and he built another custom
10/22 for the winner of yet another Gun Club of America raffle. The lucky
winner was Clive Wilby.
This rifle is essentially the same as Craig’s rifle except he used a Satin Purple
receiver and trigger housing, Satin Stainless mag release, and Boyd’s Royal
laminate stock.
Instead of screw adjusting sear, a take-up eliminating pad of Brownells Steel
Bed Epoxy was laid on rear of sear and to the tip of the safety leg for proper
safety function (see Jack’s column in GunTech issue #74).
So how did Clive Wilby
feel about his prize? . . .
31
Clive Wilby and sons proudly show off their(?) new custom 10/22 built by GCA Technical Director Jack Landis
Firstly, many thanks for this grand prize. It is a magnificent rifle. My sons and I
shot a half a brick of ammo at the range. The gun performed flawlessly and the
trigger is to die for. Best trigger I have ever had on any weapon. Accuracy is
phenomenal.
I did not quite replicate your test target, Jack, but then I only managed to keep the
gun for 10 shots! It will have to be a sneak-out to the range while the boys are at
school. Arguments abound as to who shoots next and I lost every time. We will
certainly prize this gun and will keep you posted with our experiences using it.
We had quite a crowd ask about the gun and having the GCA/AGI insignia (coat
of arms) on the gun was a great help. One range officer kept coming by and all he
would say is “I love it.” Well, so do we! Next time I will let him shoot a few.
Many, many thanks Jack for letting us have this master piece of yours. It will be
treasured and appreciated for many years, you can be assured.
Best regards and wishes, Clive
We are happy to hear that these rifles have become “members of the family”!
These 10/22s are fun to shoot hence there are millions of people who have
them. They are fun for plinking, perfect for the Ruger Rimfire competitions,
and great for someone who is learning to shoot who likes to practice and
doesn’t want to develop the dreaded habit of “flinching.”
Although they look great when you buy a new one, you know how it is . . .
you want to change it up a little bit, put your own stamp on it, modify it to
suit you. There are so many aftermarket options, you can spend a lot of time
planning just what you want. (We have one going as a project for Hot Brass
now…)
By the way, and full disclosure here, American Gunsmithing Institute - who
sponsors Hot Brass, had Jack do a DVD called, yes, Building the Custom
Ruger 10/22. Since you can use basic tools, and the mechanics are easy to
master, you might want to consider this as a project of your own. In it, he
shows many configurations from parts available and the attributes of barrels,
stocks, trigger housings, scopes, magazines, and individual parts so you’re
able to make decisions BEFORE you spend the money.
32
You don’t have to wait for the next GCA raffle or contest if you want to
have your own 10/22, in your own style. The DVD (#3454) is available from
AGI separately and is also listed here as part of the 10/22 package deal
below. Whether out of the box, or customized as your dream gun, get up, get
your friends, and go out and shoot!
PS: We appreciate all the heartfelt wishes and the fact a lot of you take the
time to write and let us know when you are happy with what we've done for
you. That is our ultimate goal - to make and keep our members satisfied.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
And on that note, here's a message
from the Quick girls.
Offer Code#HBc7
Order Today! 1-800-797-0867
10/22 PACKAGE DEAL!
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33
The
"Caveman" Chef
Paleo Pheasant Salad
Makes a great appetizer for dinner parties or for a lighter fulfilling entrée!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
2 lbs of pheasant
¼ bunch of parsley
Serves 4+
2 tomatoes
1 small onion
4 stalks of celery
1 cup seedless red grapes; cut in halves
sea salt and pepper to taste
Paleo Mayonnaise (recipe shown on next page)
Preparation:
1. Bake pheasant at 400˚ for 15-20 minutes; let cool and
then cut into medium dice.
2. Cut onions and celery into small dice;
Tomatoes - remove seeds and core, then small dice
Celery - peel outside of celery stalks before cutting to
remove strings, then cut into small dice;
Grapes – cut into halves
3. Place all ingredients except salt and pepper in the same bowl
and mix together. Add Paleo Mayonnaise a little at a time to
your desired coating of mixed ingredients. A light coating is
always better and not overpowering.
4. Add salt and pepper to taste, plate and serve.
Chef Patricia Cashion not only
devises Paleo or Caveman recipes,
she attends the Robust Pistol
Manipulation class taught by Paul
Gomez. She appendix carries a
Glock 26, with ATEi Serrations and
an AmeriGlo Red dot sight. Here
she practices a left handed draw,
load, clearing malfunctions, reload,
tap, rack and back in the gunfight ALL WITH ONE hand.
(simply amazing!)
34
Bacon Flavored
Paleo Mayonnaise
Yield: 1 1/4 cups
•
•
•
•
2 egg yolks
1 tsp. mustard (this is optional)
3 tsp. lemon juice
1 cup liquid bacon fat OR ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil and
½ cup Coconut Oil (or you could also use rendered lard in
place of the olive oil and coconut oils)
Preparation: (this can be done with hand whisk, blender or food processor)
1. Put the yolks in a bowl with the mustard and 1 tsp. lemon juice
and whisk together.
2. Start whisking vigorously. If using a blender or food
processor, set to LOW. Start by adding drops of oil to begin
the emulsification process. As thickness starts to form, you
can add the remaining oil/fat at a faster rate.
(REMEMBER - You’re creating an emulsion and if you put too
much oil in at once, it will separate and will be very hard to
save, so keep adding the oil at a slow and steady pace).
3. Whisk non-stop, holding the bowl securely to stabilize it.
4. When you have incorporated all of the oil and the mayonnaise
is thick; whisk in the rest of the lemon juice and taste.
You can season to taste with sea salt and pepper –
a little at a time.
5. Enjoy this healthy Paleo mayonnaise. It can be stored for up
to a week in an airtight container, IF you have any remaining.
6. If you want spicy mayonnaise, consider adding a little adobo
seasoning and adobo peppers. When adding these, the longer
it refrigerates before serving, the hotter and more flavorful it
gets . . .YUM! Add what you would like to the end of the
process, making sure not to interrupt the emulsification
process.
Share YOUR favorite recipe with your fellow GCA Members!
Email recipes to: [email protected]
35
John Browning Triggered
an Entire Industry
It is safe to say that if John Moses Browning had
not arrived into this world in 1855, the firearms
industry would have looked substantially different, for many modern auto and semi-auto
designs are direct descendants of his creative abilities. Many of today’s non-bolt
firearms owe something to his design influence.
Born to a pioneer Mormon family, he
began working in his father Jonathan’s
gunshop located in Ogden, Utah. For 58
years, from the age of 13 until his death at
the age of 71, he created and improved
the design and reliability of firearms.
About 3 years before John Moses was born,
his father established a gunsmith shop in
Ogden. Jonathan built guns from hunks of iron,
and encouraged his son to do the same, teaching
him the principal skills and encouraging him in what he
did. It is safe to say John Moses learned all his father had to
teach and used it as a springboard to explore even further.
John Moses
Browning
As a 24 year old, he obtained his first patent for a gun which later became
known as the Model 1885, a single shot rifle, and he continued to march,
eventually receiving 128 patents for his designs. Not only did he create new
and advanced firearms systems, he designed cartridges for the automatic Colt
pistols he invented: .25ACP, .32 ACP, .38ACP, .380 ACP and the .45ACP.
He also came up with the 9mm Browning Long and the .50BMG. If you’ve
bought ammunition, you’re more than likely familiar with these.
He began manufacturing and Winchester became involved, beginning with the
Winchester Model 1885. They formed a partnership that lasted from the late
1800s into the early 1900s, with Winchester producing his designs such as
lever action rifles and shotguns, and pump shotguns.
Those who have worked in the corporate world may know how company
management-of-the-day can sometimes turn the tiller too far and too proud
which, it seems in hindsight, the Winchester heads did in this case: John
Moses apparently understood the value of what he did and wanted to receive
payment, which we would now call a royalty or commission, for the number
of units being sold where previously they paid a set amount.
This was a boat-rocking request we can compare to the great Sandy Koufax
holding out for $100,000 salary along with Don Drysdale—two great Dodger
pitchers—who filled the seats and would never be paid anything like the $5
36
million for a mediocre player a couple decades later. Though the Dodger
pitchers went back to work, in this case Winchester rebuffed this idea of
worth. John Moses Browning came to an agreement with the Belgian
company Fabrique Nationale, also referred to as FN, where he would stay.
This break came about over what FN would later call the Browning Auto 5
shotgun which Remington also eventually produced as a Remington Model 11,
and Savage did as a Savage 720.
John’s son Val had a design shop in Liege, and it is there John Moses spent the
last day of his life, November 26, 1926, working on a self loading 9mm pistol
design. He died of a heart attack, no doubt with a mind full of plans and
questions of how things could be made to work better and faster, and always
reliable. This last design he was working on would be finished 9 years later
by a Belgian designer and called the Browning Hi-Power, a gun which spent
many years in service of law enforcement and as a sporting tool. Without his
inventions, the experience of law enforcement, military, and competition
would be much changed.
John spoke about learning one day, in taking a damaged shotgun apart,
realizing there was no “magic” involved, but that he could make each integral
part: “Finally the idea came. A good idea starts a celebration in the mind, and
every nerve in the body seems to crowd up to see the fireworks.” Those few
lines illustrate his thinking—he had a little more panache than the average
person in expressing himself.
From his fertile
imagination
emerged the
1911, the Ma
Deuce, the 30
caliber
Browning 1919,
Colt pocket
pistols, the
Ithaca Model 37
pump repeating
shotgun, and
many more.
The concept of
freedom owes a
great deal to the man.
The 37mm M4 autocannon design was put
into use by US Navy PT
Boats in World War II,
as well as on air patrol.
The Ma Deuce served
in World War II, Korea,
Vietnam and still serves
today. The 1911 has
proven a valuable
sidearm for
Ohio Ordnance Works brings the Ma Deuce for GCA
Allied armies.
37
members to channel John Browning above
Here’s a few words that illustrate what John was made of, from Ron Shirtz at
lewrockwell.com:
From his humble roots as country boy raised in the Utah desert, Browning's
ongoing dealings with Fabrique Nationale would find him a second home in
Belgium. In his typical do-it-yourself philosophy, Browning taught himself
French so he would not be limited to using a translator to converse with the
FN craftsmen. Among the local citizens of Liege, the six-foot tall Browning became a familiar sight as he took frequent walks wearing his broad-brimmed
hat and cape.
Such was his reputation at FN, he was respectfully referred to as "Le Maitre,"
or "The Master." In 1914, in appreciation for help making FN a world-class
arms manufacturer, he was knighted to the order of Leopold by King Albert of
Belgium. Browning found such awards embarrassing; in no small part for the
expected ribbing he would receive from his country-bred brothers on the
royal title "Sir" now prefacing his name. Few men live to enjoy such acclaim
and recognition while alive. Fewer still are those that do not let fame change
them.
Notwithstanding all the wealth and recognition he received during his
lifetime, Browning was never happier than being at his workbench working
on a new gun. His brothers told how he would seldom bother to change from
his dress clothes after entering the shop, but would just jump right in to work.
His work ethic was best summed up by his mother, Elisabeth, who reminiscing on John as a young child using tools, would close with the oft-repeated
statement; "And there's been grease on John's face to this blessed day!"
There is no basis for an argument that there was ever a firearms maker more
creative or with better designs. If this article whetted your appetite, there are
many resources available to appreciate John Moses in depth: the John M.
Browning Firearms Museum at Union Station in Ogden, Utah; the video from
the museum John M. Browning - Four Generations of Browning Gun
Designers, which has commentary by John M. Browning’s grandson, Bruce
Browning; John M. Browning, American Gunmaker. John Browning and Curt
Gentry, 1964, Doubleday & Company; Ron Shirtz’ post at:
http://lewrockwell.com/shirtz/shirtz15.html; and on and on.
You can only touch the surface in a few pages, skimming over his brilliance,
his energy, and his mind. His clear love for using science and logic, and his
innate curiosity and genius, plus his commitment to learning compelled him to
make firearms that shoot faster and more reliably. Many firearms designs now
are contingent on using his design principles. John Moses Browning has immeasurably improved the experience of all shooters.
Late breaking news: The 1911 was used
by the military until 1985—in a fitting
tribute to this legendary designer, the
United States Marine Corps has just
placed a $22.5 Million order for 1911s,
and we’re sure the Marines who benefit
will be pleased.
38
Model 1911 variant from
Springfield Armory top,
Browning Hi Power below.
Photo courtesy of Akita
AGI
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One of the world's most widely produced and utilized military
pistols, the Browning Hi-Power was John Browning’s improvement on his famous .45 Auto design. The Hi-Power features a cam locking system currently used in one form or
another on most modern centerfire auto pistols today. Robert
Dunlap demonstrates how this pistol works internally using a
cutaway model, where every part is available for you to clearly
see. Also covered are: complete disassembly, reassembly,
trouble shooting, necessary spare parts and repairs.
DVD#1024 97 min.
Everybody's favorite humpback shotgun, the Browning A-5,
is featured in this two hour long video course. All the duplicate models are covered also! Using a cutaway action and
artists drawings, Master Gunsmith Bob Dunlap explains all
the intricate details of this recoiling action.
Finally, everyone can understand the design and function of
John Browning's best selling shotgun. Learn how to
completely take the gun apart and put it back together, as well
as how to fix and prevent the most common problems. If you've ever owned one of
these guns, you will love this course. 106 min. DVD#1274
The Belt-fed Browning 1919 A4 was the U.S. Military’s light
machine gun for decades and it can still be found in use around
the world. Master Armorer John Bush will teach you how this
gun works step-by-step, along with complete disassembly, reassembly, troubleshooting, and repairs. Many rare accessories,
tools, belt-loading machines, and a number of different caliber
conversions including 8mm & .308 are shown.
We also take you on a trip to the range where you will see how
to properly set up the gun on a tripod, field adjust headspace, and experience close-up
views of several different guns firing cloth and link belts. This exhaustive course
is over 3 hours in length and covers EVERYTHING in detail. DVD#1394
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www.AmericanGunsmith.com 39
Order Today!
Where in the World is
"Machine Gun" Kelly Now?!
Gene "M.G." Kelly
Gene Kelly is President of the American Gunsmithing Institute and the Gun Club of America
After Gunstock Wow! GunStock was simply fantastic! If you were
there, you already know that. If you missed it, bummer!! We really had a lot of fun
and certainly missed having you there; here’s some of what happened.
Can you believe 150 people shooting approximately 100,000 rounds of ammo over three days,
attending seminars during the days and round
table discussions in the evening? Oh yeah, and
there were Hosted Bars and BBQ dinners.
Ohio Ordnance brought their .50 Cal
M2 Browning and 2,500 rounds of .50
ammo to share. Everyone got to shoot
at least a short belt through it. Many
did it twice. They also brought a semi
auto BAR, VZ-2000 and M240 belt
fed, plus all the ammo we could shoot
through those too! All that at NO
additional cost to the attendees.
Nemesis Arms let everyone shoot their
super accurate, silenced, take-down
sniper rifle, Chiappa Firearms brought
several cool .22 handguns, the famous
Rhino revolver, their new .22lr M1
carbine look alike that was a real hit,
and a .22lr M4 version of the AR. We shot
over 15,000 rounds through their guns and
they worked outstandingly well. To top it all
off, they donated 3 of the M1-22 Carbines to
the raffle that benefited The Pathway
Home!
Darrell Holland was there
teaching seminars as were Bob
Dunlap, Ken Brooks, Jack
Landis, Mark Foster and Fred
Zeglin. Fred donated several
certificates to Front Sight
Training Academy for the raffle.
40
AGI student and newly minted celebrity Rob Roy
made a special guest appearance, traveling all the
way from Louisiana. AGI helped him get a
gunsmithing project working with the TV Show
“Sons of Guns,” you should see him on the show
next season.
Gene Shuey showed how to fit Tactical Solutions’
.22lr uppers to Glock and STI 1911 style lowers and then proceeded to teach
everyone how to speed shoot, IPSC style. Joe Alesia, aka Lefty Longridge, taught us
how to shoot cowboy action style and thousands of rounds rang steel through his
1873 lever action reproductions, single action revolvers, and ’97 Winchesters.
Jack set up the “Ruger Speed Challenge” which is a timed event using a .22 pistol
and rifle. We shot his custom built 10/22 and MKII pistol for the event and the
winner scored one of the Chiappa M1-22s, how cool is that!? Jack turned the Ruger
stage over to Ken Brooks and then set up a demo/evaluation where everyone tried
shooting trap with the new electro/optical shotgun sight from Redring, set up on
several different shotguns.
We also put over 7,000 rounds of 9mm down range through my UZI and Sterling
Sub-machine guns in over 3 hours of continuous roar. Many of the guns were so hot
we could hardly handle them, and if the grins on people's faces had been any bigger
they would have split open!
The host shooting range “Stillwater Firearms Association” was simply fantastic,
what a helpful, dedicated, hard working group! Anything we needed they were there
to take care of, we could not possibly have pulled off this event without them.
My son Jacob ran a one-on-one paintball shoot-out course and the brave souls that
tried it had a hoot (and a few bruises!). AND . . . to top it all off we raised over
$13,000 with the combination of ticket sales, the raffle and individual donations to
support The Pathway Home, a residential treatment program for
Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans with PTSD or Traumatic Brain Injury.
A rousing good time was had by all, meeting fellow members, shooting until you
dropped, learning from the instructors and doing good work for a Great Cause! It
surely met my goal for maximum amounts of Fun, Fellowship and Education. I feel
that it was a complete success,
and I’m pretty sure the attendees felt so as well.
Now that GunStock is behind
us, I have been working on a
number of projects and getting
ready to do the “World of Guns
Tour” with my son. More about
that in a minute. We found time to take a break over
the 4th of July and visit my brother in Grants Pass, OR.
He owns two automotive shops there and has been
working on my 1957 Chevy Bel Air hot rod, “Rat Fink.”
The 60
ed!
s revisit
41
We just rewired the whole thing and put in power steering and a few cool features
such as electronic “cut-outs.” At the flip of a switch a valve opens on each exhaust
and it gets real LOUD as it is “un-capped,” with a throaty Blap, Blap Blap! Another
flick of the switch, the valves close and it sounds much tamer. Took it cruising the
main drags and to the Dairy Queen and lit up the tires a couple of times. FUN!
While we were there we also played “paintball” (pain ball as I call
it). Here’s the results of playing on a 105 degree day in “T” shirts.
I got double tapped at close range from an ambush by one of the
local sharp shooters. Ouch!
Looks like flower power!
Before we start on our “World Tour” in early September, I have been bouncing
between coasts working on a new project based upon my 30 plus years of experience
working in the International Security Industry. (Some of you may know that I am
President of Executive Protection Products Inc., a security firm that works
world-wide and represents ISDS of Israel.
The project is my new book called “Protecting the REAL 1%,” about who the one
percenters really are; Business owners, Doctors, CPAs, Lawyers, Business Leaders and
Executives, etc., and WHY they need to become responsible for their own security.
While there ARE a few bad apples, the vast majority of the REAL 1%ers (about 3
million of them) are productive members of society and use their ideas, talent,
hard work and money to build businesses that create jobs and benefit people. (Yes,
we DID build our own businesses!)
My message to them is they need to start preparing to protect themselves. It is their
responsibility to protect themselves, their families, homes, businesses and finances
and they better start getting some education and training. Hopefully my book will
be a wake up call to those who need it.
So now that that is done, we are prepping for the “World of Guns Tour,” I convinced
my son to take a year off between high school and college and work with me: we will
travel internationally to meet, interview, and film Gunsmiths, Firearms Designers
and Manufacturers for upcoming issues of GunTech. (You ARE getting GunTech
video magazine every month aren’t you?! – If not go to JoinGCA.com to get a two
month free trial, you won’t want to miss this, along with all the other great firearms
education and training)
This fall, we will film in Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, France,
England and Ireland. In each country we have made contact with the museums and
firearms manufacturers and will bring you the inside scoop and views from behind
the scenes as we get to know these fascinating people. After all, we are a
brotherhood of people who love guns. We will introduce you to some of the most
interesting craftsmen in the world.
I plan to create a blog on the Gun Club of America website, where you can follow
along and see behind the scenes footage and interviews. We are excited to be able to
hunt down this information and share it with you. Join us on the adventure at
www.GunClubofAmerica.com
Best regards, Gene Kelly, President, American Gunsmithing Institute
42
Any GCA member who
received a postcard
invitation to
GunStock will likely
recognize this photo
of longtime GCA
member Dennis Roberts
shooting an M3 Grease
gun at the 2010 Bash.
GCA Staff member Gary
mentions he had the
pleasure of
GCA Member Dennis Roberts
meeting Dennis at
GunStock in June, recognizing him instantly from the photo.
He said: “We sat together at the banquet on the last
night and made Mark Mrozek from Sentry Solutions (one of our
great sponsors) laugh so hard that tears rolled down his face.
Master Gunsmith Bob Dunlap was also at our table, so you all know
just how much hilarity there was.
Who Doesn’t Like
Great Italian Food?
As it turns out, the world
really is a small place
because I discovered that
Dennis and his wife Sandi
live in Grass Valley,
California, only about a
hundred miles from where I
live in Napa County.
What’s more, they own and
operate a fine Italian
restaurant called
Dennis' Villa Venezia Ristorante in Grass Valley, CA
Villa Venezia, beautifully
situated in an old Victorian building in downtown Grass Valley.
My wife and I visited there in late July and had one of the best meals
I can remember with Dennis and Sandi.”
Here’s his Hot Brass tip: “If you are ever in the Grass Valley or
Auburn area of Northern California, do yourself a treat and make an
effort to visit their restaurant. Call 530-273-3555 for reservations
and make sure that you let Dennis know you are a GCA member and I
know he will treat you VERY well.”
43
GCA Members . . .
save on books!
T.A.P.S.
TACTICAL APPLICATION OF
PRACTICAL SHOOTING
2ND EDITION
by: P. MCNAMARA
Rumpf # B-7117
List Price: $ 12.95
GCA Member Price: $9.05
McNamara has trained people of all levels of marksmanship, from varsity level
soldiers, U.S. Secret Service agents and police officers who work the streets to
civilians with little to no time behind the trigger. His military experience quickly
taught him that there is more to tactical marksmanship than merely squeezing
the trigger. Utilizing his years of experience, McNamara developed a training
methodology that is safe, effective and combat relevant and encourages a continuous thought process.
This methodology teaches how to maintain safety at all times and choose targets
that force accountability, as well as provides courses covering several categories,
including individual, collective, on line and standards. TAPS: Tactical Application
of Practical Shooting: Recognize the void in your tactical training. This book will
increase the confidence and efficiency in your shooting by providing training
tips and courses of fire to help you significantly improve your marksmanship.
Utilize his tips and techniques and reap the benefits as you shoot. 168 Pages PB
EVOLUTION OF MILITARY
AUTOMATIC PISTOLS
by: GORDON BRUCE
Rumpf # B-7214
List Price: $ 29.99
GCA Member Price: $21.00
Anyone with an interest in military firearms knows
the names of the famous pistol inventors – men like
Luger, Walther and Nambu, but how many know anything at all about the men
themselves . . . or what, exactly, made their handgun designs groundbreaking?
Presented as a series of biographies, this book tells the history of self-loading
pistols through the careers of their inventors, accompanied by the detailed
illustrated explanation of their mechanical innovations and the resulting iconic
military semi-autos 164 Pages PB
44
To order any of these great books call GCA at
1-800-797-0867 and ask for Becky.
CAMPING &
SURVIVAL:
THE ULTIMATE
OUTDOORS BOOK
by: PAUL TAWRELL
Rumpf # B-7110
List Price: $ 30.00
GCA Member Price: $21.00
This book helps you acquire and sharpen
skills required to safely enjoy the outdoors. You will find details on how to
hike/travel, in the summer and winter, “make a camp,” choose suitable
equipment, and understand your environment. You will learn how to search
for food and water, find shelter, “read” the weather, and how to take care of
yourself if you are injured (First Aid). Interesting topics as PANNING FOR
GOLD, tracking, camouflage, dangerous wild animals, birds, fish, edible
plants, poisonous mushrooms, and basic survival techniques are also covered.
624 Pages PB
One of the benefits of GCA Membership.
GCA Member receive 30% OFF select books!
If you have a request for a book you would like to see in
the firearms or outdoor field of interest, let me know.
Email me at: [email protected]
NEW FEATURE:
Book Review
by Fred Zeglin
The Cartridge Comparison Guide
by Andrew Chamberlain,
Dr. Roger Petersen and Dr. Denis Petersen
“The more you know and understand
about your cartridge, it’s capabilities, and it’s limitations, the more
you will enjoy it.” This quote from the end of Chapter 4 of the
Cartridge Comparison Guide sums up the reason for owning this
guide into a single sentence. If you as a shooter or hunter take
this advice to heart you will find many more hours of
45
enjoyment with your chosen hobby that previously you had no
way of knowing you were missing.
Recently I was handed a copy of The Cartridge Comparison Guide
by the Chamberlain Development Group and asked to review it.
I consider reviewing any product or book to be an important
responsibility as the reader is expecting the review to help them
make an informed decision about the product. Normally when I
pick up a new resource I look through it to see if it deserves to be
in my library; this guide deserves a space on the shelf.
Over the years I have talked to untold number of gunsmithing
clients who ask the same questions, “What would be the perfect
cartridge?” “What bullet should I use?” and similar requests.
This guide is designed specifically to answer these questions. Not
only that but it teaches any shooter from novice to advanced how
to choose the correct cartridge for a specified purpose.
Often the temptation for a busy gunsmith is to just hand out the
answer when asked a basic question in an effort to save some
time. The problem with this is the student/client really learns
nothing when we give away the answer. If the customer learns
how to analyze the situation and make the decision themselves we
end up with a better more informed client. In the long haul such a
client will probably buy more guns, because they are exposed to
more cartridges, opening up all the possibilities.
With nearly thirty years making a living in gun shops you forget
how little you knew when you started out. This book was a great
reminder to me of how much material the new shooter is
confronted with when trying to understand how to select the right
gun and cartridge for a particular use. When the student reads
this guide they are taught to ask all the right questions, so that
they will find the answers for themselves.
The author methodically takes the reader through the process of
utilizing the gigantic collection of information contained in the
guide. It’s not that the information can’t be found elsewhere; on
the contrary much of the information in the tables is collected
from published data from ammunition makers, and reloading
manuals. The difference is that this data is assembled for the
unique purpose of helping the user find all the options that might
work for a specific purpose. As a result, the user will probably
learn about cartridges they might have otherwise not noticed.
A pictorial fold out provides life size color images of cartridges.
This is a great resource that allows a visual understanding of how
various cartridges compare. Far more useful though are the
numerous tables that make up the core of this reference guide.
46
A few of the more important tables break down cartridges via,
“Bullet Weight Sorted by Muzzle Velocity,” “Max Velocity,” “Muzzle
Energy,” and “Recoil.” These tables make it easy to compare
cartridges in many different ways, so that you can determine what
options are available to you within the limitations you choose.
The only thing I found that was a negative for me was the use of
some non-standard abbreviations in the tables and text. But this
is not enough of a distraction to be a problem.
In the Appendices
A fairly thorough discussion of external ballistics and terminal
ballistics provides the reader with reasonable competency in bullet
selection for various game animals. But, it goes beyond that, there
is a discussion of game animals physical structure. Knowing the
structures you have to deal with in a given animal has a huge
effect on which cartridge and bullet would be appropriate.
There are three appendices that address bullets so that you can
make an intelligent choice based on their structure, application,
and likely results. Wound canals are covered and this relates
directly to bullet selection.
Finally, one of the most valuable concepts covered in the Appendix
K is what the name of a cartridge tells you. This is an area that
is very confusing to shooters, and frankly I hear from gunsmiths
that do not have a wide understanding of cartridges and what the
name means. Properly named cartridges tell you a lot about the
cartridge, unfortunately there are many exceptions to the rules.
When it comes right down to it, I would recommend the “Cartridge
Comparison Guide” for anyone who wants to consider all the
options. This is one more book for the
informed shooter.
GCA SUDOKU SOLUTION
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1
Fred also owns and operates
4D Reamer Rentals
learn more at:
www.4-dproducts.com 47
4
He has written Wildcat
Cartridges, The Hawk
Cartridges Reloading Manual,
and is featured in the AGI video
Taming Wildcats which are all
available on his website at
www.z-hat.com.
8
Fred Zeglin learned
gunsmithing from Bob Dunlap,
and has been a professional
gunsmith and custom rifle
builder for over 30 years.
www.JoinGCA.com
351 Second Street, Napa, CA 94559
1-800-435-GCOA (4262)
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