I do cherish you 98 degree

A Purely Theoretical Compliment

Just wanted to compliment you on the great article about the Remington R&D center in your Feb. issue. ("A Realm Of Pure Theory") While it's clear that Remington is continuing to make technical breakthroughs with products like the new carbon-fiber Model 700, even more meaningful is the research being done into the realities of shooting and ballistics. It's great to see a company doing research which will benefit all shooters, not just the ones who buy their products.

My hat is off to Remington as well as to GUNS Magazine.

Derek Valmont

Salt Lake City, Utah

One Step Beyond

I would like to share an experience I just had with Springfield Armory. I recently was in the market for an out-oft-he-box "custom" 45. After reading every article I could get my hands on and talking with other shooters, I purchased a Springfield Armory Trophy Match.

I went to the range soon thereafter and put the pistol to the test using a variety of ammo. I was extremely pleased! After shooting about 350 to 400 rounds out of it, I noticed that the rear pin in the front sight had broken off resulting in my sight pointing up at a 45 degree angle.

Obviously discouraged, I took the pistol home, and called Springfield Inc. Starting with the first person I talked to, I received nothing but courteous and professional service. The person told me how to return the pistol to them and even gave me the name of the person who was going to work on it (Thanks Randy!).

I sent the pistol back to them about six days before Thanksgiving (not expecting to see it for several weeks or at least a week after the holiday) with a letter describing the problem and requesting a catalog of aftermarket grips they offer because I was looking for a darker set.

Much to my surprise and pleasure, I received the pistol the day after Thanksgiving. Not only did they fix the sight, they also throated the barrel, repolished the entire pistol, and put on a beautiful set of cocobolo grips. I couldn't be happier with the service.

I will continue to buy from Springfield Inc., not only because of the quality of their pistols, but because they take pride in their product and they stand behind it 100 percent. They have made a customer for life! Thanks.

Brian Jones

Falls Church, Va.

Wigglin' My Toes In The Magnums

At the range recently, I discovered it wasn't gravel crunching under my feet. It was a pile of .22 magnum cartridges. I picked a total of 43 unfired rounds out of the dirt. All of them had light firing pin indentations. Some fool (slob?) had probably left them as "duds," when the problem may have been as simple as a fouled bolt or breechblock assembly.

Maybe in a future column you could remind your readers that every firearm needs to be cleaned, no matter how "rugged" the manufacturer wants you to think it is.

You might also give us some tips in proper disposal of damaged, defective or suspect ammunition. I don't know if a rimfire cartridge can be detonated by stepping on it, but it sounds possible. I enjoy taking my kids to the range, but that's not the sort of etiquette I'd like them to learn.

John Snover

Cape Cod, Mass.

All In The Family

I have two serious magazines coming to my home and I love the way GUNS and American Handgunner keep me informed. I appreciate it. They are more than just magazines. They are an opportunity to socialize with a family of people in this country who have common interests. I love the editorial page and wish you would enlarge it.

I can't believe that I just noticed the excellent work of Ichiro Nagata. I must have been sleep-walking for three years. The Le Mat layout (Jan '99) grabbed me and wouldn't let go. I bow to the master of photography.

Don Franklin

Odessa, Texas

The Hollywood Report

With all the hoopla lately about various movie stars and other entertainers being blatantly anti-gun and anti-NRA, maybe now is the time to do something about it rather than turning the other cheek. So many companies are donating money to the gun grabbers and most Americans never know this.

If we knew who they are we could boycott their product or movies and maybe in the long run, make a difference. If we don't know who they are, we end up giving them our money and then finding out what they really stand for.

As a "for instance," the latest Lethal Weapon movie within 10 minutes turned viciously anti-gun and anti-NRA. I had already paid my hardearned money before finding out about the slam. Many of us know about some of the people and companies trying to take our guns, such as McDonalds, Burger King, Levi Jeans, and several others.

We know about many entertainers that are working hard to disarm us, such as Michael Douglas, Barbra Streisand, Reba McIntyre and many others. The main point is that there are many more that we don't know about. I didn't know about Mel Gibson 'til I spent my money on the movie, and I think there are many others like me.

We need someone like you to keep us posted on who is for us and who is against us. I will not buy a product or see a movie or buy a CD from someone who is trying to take away my guns, but I don't know who they all are. Magazines like yours can keep us posted and if we boycott these people, maybe it will make a difference. Lack of knowledge is killing us.

Gary Reeder

Flagstaff Ariz.

Make A Wish

A few months back a friend of mine, Scott Hodges, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Scott, a gun collector and enthusiast, had read with enthusiasm an article in GUNS Magazine, about Stembridge Gun Rental (Oct. '98). He was hopeful that he could regain his health and make the trek to Southern California to tour the facility.

I subsequently contacted Harry Lu at Stembridge. What happened next was truly amazing. Just two weeks before his death, Scott had the thrill of his life. With assistance from Hospice of the Valley, Harry Lu, along with his wife and three children, loaded an RV with his collection and drove to Phoenix..

On a lovely Saturday afternoon, Scott and several of his fellow volunteers from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department, were treated to a rare showing of weapons that have graced the silver screen. The day Scott spent with Harry Lu brought his family many happy memories they will always cherish.

Chrystie Heimert

Phoenix, Ariz.

But Ha!

I liked the article, "Is The 10mm Dead?" (GUNS, Jan. '99), however Ayoob left out one semiauto, which is now also out of production. The 10mm MegaStar is (was) an all-steel, high-capacity (14+1) full-size handgun. It was designed to handle full-power ammo

I have played the IPSC game with it -- and then been accused of setting the paper targets on fire. But ha! - it goes "bang" when I pull the trigger!

As you know, most IPSC shooters are avid reloaders. I have loaded the 10mm from mild to wild Nosler 135 gr. JHP at 1,460 fps. No flattened primers, no six o'clock blowouts, no cracked slides! Also the Glock 20 (10mm) is a lot of gun if you like "tupperware."

J. L. Butler Jr

Goodlettsville, Tenn.

Lashes With A Jock Strap

Please don't get me wrong. I enjoy seeing women pictured in GUNS Magazine. I enjoy seeing them featured in hunting and shooting articles, testing guns and other hunting equipment, demonstrating concealed carry gear for the growing population of CCW licensed women, and in advertising demonstrating guns and other equipment and modeling clothing and other gear.

However, I did not care for the European American Armory Corp. ads on page 3 of both your November and December issues. The woman in the shorts and skimpy halter-top in what is supposed to be a hunting venue in your December issue is totally inappropriate.

Does anyone dress like this in what is supposed to be a hunting lodge or camp? The bikini-clad woman in the November EAA Corp. ad takes us back to the days where the only women shown in the shooting and hunting magazines were in beer ads.

The boob (the other kind) that came up with this advertising campaign ought to get forty lashes with a wet jockstrap (with the cup still in it). The days where you can use sex to sell merchandise went with the dinosaurs.

I know I am going to hear squawks about censorship. Rejecting ads that a substantial part of the target population might find offensive comes under the realm of editorial judgement and editorial decision. If I want to see women dressed like that, there is a hell of a lot in the way of clothing and lingerie ads, as well as a substantial selection of pornographic material available in magazine and liquor stores. I do not need to see it in GUNS Magazine.

Andy Breglia

Fremont, Calif.