S&W's CEO Steps Down

October 03, 2011

In a surprise move, Smith & Wesson Holding Corp bought out the remaining contract of Michael F. Golden as president and CEO and appointed him to a seat on the company’s board of directors. Smith & Wesson's stock (symbol SWHC on the NASDAQ) has dropped 27 percent so far this year.

The Armed Citizen® September 28, 2011

September 28, 2011

It’s a familiar scenario: An armed citizen with a concealed-carry permit is likely once again to have saved multiple lives. Several customers were doing business inside a pawn shop when a man walked inside, pointed a gun toward the ceiling and announced a robbery.

On The Range With The RMR

September 28, 2011

While reflex sights are regularly used in competitions from Camp Perry to the Bianchi Cup, you don’t see them very often on law enforcement or defensive handguns. Michigan-based Trijicon—maker of the ACOG (Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight)—is hoping to change that with its RMR. In case you aren’t familiar with it, RMR stands for Ruggedized Miniature Reflex sight, introduced last year.

Fast Draw Holsters

September 27, 2011

Latter day students of gunfighters and their gear probably know about the Tom Threepersons holster as currently made by El Paso Saddlery and other custom makers. That rig is named for a legendary peace officer of the early 20th Century. There is some confusion surrounding him because of the fact that another famous westerner wore the same (almost) name. Threepersons was born in the Indian Nations in July of 1889. A Cherokee Indian, Tom grew up on the reservation and was educated in Indian schools and at the Carlisle Institute in Pennsylvania. Early in his adult life, Tom became a well-known and successful rodeo cowboy in the Pacific Northwest. I suspect that this is where things might have started getting confusing for latter-day researchers. Another young man named Tom Three Persons (note different spelling) was born in March 1888 in Alberta, Canada, and grew to adulthood as a cowboy and competition horseman. He also competed in rodeos and the great similarity in their names and early careers may have contributed to the confusion as to who did what. It is certain that Three Persons spent his life as stockman, while Threepersons became a lawman.

Magpul Industries Bought By New York Investors

September 26, 2011

Magpul Industries, a manufacturer of tactical accessories and developer of the Masada rifle now manufactured as the ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle) Bushmaster Firearms, has sold a 51 percent controlling interest to private equity group for an undisclosed sum along with an additional $14.8 million in secondary financing to another investment house, Triangle Capital.

“Top Shots” At the National Defense Match

September 26, 2011

Turns out the real “Top Shot” at the NRA National Defense Match at Camp Perry, Ohio, was a 14-year-old high school freshman.

SAAMI and +P

September 22, 2011

SAAMI stands for Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturer's Institute.  It is an organization in which member companies establish standards for the production of all types of commercial ammunition. This includes the actual dimensions of a given round—width, length, case wall thickness, etc—as well as the pressure level to which it is loaded. When the SAAMI member companies agree to these yardsticks, gunmakers may proceed with building guns that can comfortably accept SAAMI-standard ammunition.  Although handloading is an active and widely practiced adjunct to the shooting sports, no gunmaker will ever warrantee his gun when it is used with handloads. That's because they cannot exert any control over the way the ammo was loaded or what components were used. With virtually all commercial ammunition sold in America loaded by SAAMI members, the shooting public can proceed with their sport in relative safety. It is an excellent example of an industry regulating itself.

The Armed Citizen® September 22, 2011

September 22, 2011

When a homeowner’s dogs began barking in bizarre fashion, he grabbed a handgun to investigate while his wife called the police. The victim of two burglaries in recent weeks, the homeowner cautiously approached his detached garage.

Trick Shots with Jerry

September 22, 2011

By Iain Harrison

Jerry Miculek has been a hero of mine since I first saw him shoot in Bisley, England in 1993. Back then, British citizens were permitted to own handguns, and believe it or not, England put on one of the world's largest handgun competition that covered just about every discipline that could be shot with a pistol or revolver. Jerry put on daily displays of his prowess with a Smith & Wesson 625 and always wowed the crowds with not only his marksmanship, but with his laid-back showmanship.

Shooting the National Defense Match

September 21, 2011

While I held the camera, American Hunter Managing Editor Jeff Johnston handled a rifle—and handled it well at the NRA National Defense Match on August 14 and 15 at Camp Perry, Ohio.