30 Apr 01

>From a friend. Good marks for Glock:

"Received G22 and 23 back from factory today. Fast turn-around. I shipped to them 4/16! Packing list indicates 'warranty' on both and no shipping charges due. This is incredible. Both guns are several years old and well-used. I expected normal gun-smithing charges plus shipping. Is this typical?"

/John

30 Apr 01

Replies to the last quip from students and colleagues: =20 "Cut-down and full-size magazines don't mix! If a speed reload is done under= =20 stress, and the slide is locked open, the magazine will over travel every=20 time."

"True with the Colt Officer model too. On an enthusiastic reload, you can=20 drive them so far up that you will need four hands and pliers to free the=20 magazine."

"The same thing happens with Glocks."

"A BIG problem using full-size magazines in small-frame pistols will occur=20 when reloading from slide lock. If the magazine is inserted smartly, it wil= l=20 go too high and bend a long ejector upwards, LOCKING the slide to the rear.=20= =20 The problem can go as far as breaking off the ejector."=20

"The same thing occurs when a S&W 5906 magazine is used in a Marlin Camp 9."

"The problem can be mitigated by reloading only with the slide or bolt=20 closed, but of course that's not a realistic option under stress."

"Wilson sells a +1 magazine for compacts that has a stop designed to prevent= =20 over insertion. In hundreds of reloads I've had no problems."

"The mini-1911 in 45ACP was a gun invented to fill a =E2=80=98need' that doe= sn't=20 exist."

"I often observe the reverse problem. Students try reload a full-sized 1911= =20 with a magazine designed for a mini and end up chambering thin air. All the= =20 tap-racks in the world don't help!"

"Glock 26/27/33 magazines are all too short to manipulate with any degree of= =20 certainty under stress. I found that I constantly bobbled my reloads with th= e=20 G26 magazines. Consequently, I've gone back to a Glock 19."

"The 1911 is called the 1911 because it was designed in 1911. It was fine=20 then, and if you are almost one hundred years old yourself, it's probably=20 still fine for you. Carry it while you are driving your Model T Ford. If,=20 however, you are involved in the business of protecting yourself, get a=20 modern firearm and get serious."

Sage advice. Every path has its flaws. We need to be serious about our=20 craft and avoid situations and equipment that fairly invites disaster.

/John

30 Apr 01

News from South Africa:

"South Africa is bracing itself for the same kind of organized (and government sanctioned) home/farm invasions that is presently taking place in Zimbabwe.

Mpumalanga is the first target. Farmers' unions have warned that it will become extremely dangerous there. The big difference here, of course, is that most farmers are armed, at least for the moment. New gun laws are designed, of course, to change all that.

Police and army personnel (the laughable 'home guard') have been placed 'on alert' (a contradiction of terms).

Our President Mbeki is also in trouble. There has been a 'high-level coup attempt,' coming from within the ANC, and probably organized from the UK (MI 6).

Yes, this is AFRICA at its best. We all 'enjoy' living on the edge, because the middle bits are much too safe and crowded!

More later."

/John