Taurus 4510

08 Mar 08

Shotgun/revolver:

Taurus is currently marketing their M4510, five-shot revolver. In their booth at the SHOT Show, Taurus showed us a video touting this gun as being designed specifically for use in preventing car-jackings. It is a big, heavy pistol, and reloading is slow. Comfortable, concealed carry is possible only for the biggest among us.

The revolver chambers and fires both 45 Colt ("Long-Colt") and 410 shotgun cartridges, however 410 shotgun shells are limited to the shortest made, 2.5 inches. In the promotional video, 410 birdshot was, not surprisingly, demonstrated on a "Shoot-n-See" paper target that is designed to make each pellet impact look much bigger than it actually is. The pistol's rifled bore aggravates the spread of the shot pattern. Even at a range of four feet, the birdshot pattern in the demonstration had already attained a diameter of eight inches.

As I watched, it occurred to me that, as a single-purpose "snake-gun," this revolver would be second to none!

I know of no actual shootings with this revolver on human criminals. However, a friend in OK just used his copy to dispatch a large skunk at a range of ten feet. He used #8 birdshot. The task required three hits, but the unimpressed skunk was far from DRT. He slowly waddled off, crawled into abush, and eventually died.

I can't imagine any size of birdshot, particularly from a short barrel, being an effective fight-stopper. However, loaded with 45 Colt, or 410 slugs or buckshot, I believe this revolver is at least arguable as a "car-gun." 410 slugs are available, as is 410/000bk (three pellets). My personal choice would be 000bk!

In a real fight, that one can use this revolver, or any gun, effectively, via any species of unaimed, "spray" technique, is little more than self-deception. To be effective in a life-threatening circumstance, shots from any kind of firearm must be aimed precisely by a competent Operator.

Just as cars that "drive themselves" are currently unavailable, guns that are effective in the hands of the untrained and willfully incompetent exist only in the minds of the naive.

/John

Poem

08 Mar 08

Poem

The poem quoted in yesterday's Quip is:

March of Cambreadth, by Heather Alexander

I didn't know that until this morning! I was sent it long ago, but never knew the title, nor the author. This morning, one of my students updated me.

As with "Men of Harlech," which I've also quoted, the origins of many battle themes of old England will probably never be known.

The song, "Men of Harlech" was an unofficial anthem in Wales for centuries, and the tune is hummed and whistled by many Welch, even today. The lyrics have been written and revised many times, the most recent being for the 1973 feature film, "Zulu," starring a young Michael Caine and produced with the blessing of the then South African Government.

Not being clever, I am attracted to the poetry of Alexander, Kipling, and others, because it is written to inspire young men in frightening circumstances. Young soldiers, indeed all of us, need to be neither impressed, not conned. More than anything else, we need to be inspired!

Quoting such poetry in an effort to inspire their men used to be the duty of young infantry officers. Unfortunately, the practice is not emphasized today.

/John