Articles by Bob Campbell
Your .223 does not have to be an AR-15. After all, the U.S. Army chose the M14 over the original AR-10. Classic handling means a lot. Read this post to learn why the author loves his older model and the new one.
The Mauser, Enfield, and Springfield have all earned their place in history and on the battlefield. Today, each of these can be obtained with a minimum of expense—depending on condition, configuration, and historical attributes. No collector, or accumulator of firearms as the author proclaims, should be without at least one if not all three. Join Bob Campbell in this Range Report as he shoots, and rates, each of these classics.
Not long ago conversation around the fireplace drifted toward the subject of all-around rifles. I like these moments because my grandson is old enough to shoot, and he is interested in firearms but hasn’t heard it all before. I enjoy a number of interesting rifles including the M1A1 and the AR-15. A certain place in my heart belongs to the Winchester 1895. But if you are on a strict budget but need an all around pest, deer, hog and defense rifle it is difficult to beat the SKS rifle.
We all may know of handguns that have been going since World War II without changing the springs, but this simply isn’t optimal performance. We purchased a high-end pistol so that we would not have to worry about reliability, true, but maintenance is part of every firearm. The question that is often asked is how often should we clean the handgun? The answer really depends upon the firearm.
It is encouraging to see so many Americans obtaining their concealed weapon permit. These new shooters are supporters of the 2nd Amendment and have taken steps to be responsible for their own safety and security. Yet, in many cases, there are people among them that are armed with a deadly weapon but unable to defend themselves well.
Some years ago, long time hunter, handloader and experimenter Tim Sundles founded Buffalo Bore Ammunition. At first he concentrated on big bore loads with the slogan Strictly Big Bore Strictly Business. Along the way Buffalo Bore’s line has expanded to include standard calibers such as the .32 ACP, .38 Special, and .38 Super. Now Buffalo Bore has offered its first quality loads in 9mm Luger and .44 Special.
Among the most interesting hobbies is the pursuit of accuracy. Some handguns have it and some do not—the level of accuracy varies widely. I have often mentioned that I do not own a machine rest as I prefer to keep in touch with reality. I do own a couple of devices that help me shoot well such as the Bull Shooters pistol rest. But the single handgun I have found is most like a machine rest or laboratory fixture is the Thompson Center Contender.
Smith and Wesson’s Victory .22 has garnered a lot of interest since its introduction a few months ago. The Victory .22 is intended to compete with similar .22 calibers handguns such as the Browning Buckmark and Ruger Standard Model. As such the Victory will have to have good features, good reliability, and acceptable accuracy. The price point is also important. Smith and Wesson’s previous .22 caliber self loaders were not in the class with this pistol and the hopes Smith and Wesson has pinned on this pistol are not without justification.
Your thought processes are controlled by gut wrenching fear. Having observed innumerable varieties of human evil, I am aware of the endless possibility of attack. Training gives us preparation and practice keeps us sharp. You will default to this training; you will not rise to the occasion. In this article, the author breaks down the six phases to an attack and cover to close-quarter pistol drill for self defense.
Today, much of the market seems to revolve around tactical gear and personal defense. That is important, nothing is more vital than taking responsibility for our own safety. However, personal defense isn’t the only reason to own a powerful and accurate handgun such as the Ruger Blackhawk. This single-action revolver is also a fine target gun and a great game getter.