Archive for February, 2008
Smith & Wesson Model 629 Stealth Hunter Revolver in .44 Magnum
Posted by: | Comments
The Smith and Wesson Performance Center is now producing a special Model 629 revolver called the Stealth Hunter. The Stealth Hunter was built from the ground up to provide a superb handgun hunting platform.
The Stealth Hunter features:
- Ball Detent Lock-up
- Forged Color Case Trigger with Overtravel Stop
- Forged Color Case Hammer
- Old-School Pinned Sear
- MagnaPorted™ Barrel
- Aluminum Performance Center Case
The barrel is 7 1/2″ long, making the overall length of the 629 just under 13″. Sights are fully adjustable with a red ramp front. However, most hunters will opt to add a scope or reflex sight on the mount. MSRP is $1596.
Largo, Florida Homeowner Shoots at Burglar Who Drives at Him in a SUV
Posted by: | CommentsA Largo, FL man, fearing for his life, shot at a burglar who was driving toward him in a GMC Envoy. After arriving home, the resident found a strange vehicle in his driveway. As he approached the house, the burglar came out of the house, entered the SUV, and drove toward the homeowner. Fearing for his life, the homeowner shot at the vehicle with a .357 Magnum revolver.
The alleged burglar was arrested on unrelated charges, and later confessed to the burglary. Largo police say the resident acted lawfully.
From the St. Petersburg Times:
Largo homeowner shoots at burglar’s car
LARGO — Gunfire broke out this week on N Peaceful Lane when a Largo couple returning home from running some errands found a burglar outside their home, police said.
On Wednesday, Michael and Kay Petryszak came home to find an unfamiliar dark blue GMC Envoy in their driveway. While his wife got out to see if there was anyone in the SUV, Michael Petryszak felt there was something wrong and retrieved a .357-caliber handgun from the glovebox, police said. Petryszak is licensed to carry a concealed firearm.
Petryszak opened the garage door and, as he did, saw a strange man leave the side yard and head for the driveway. The stranger jumped into the GMC and began to back out of the driveway. Petryszak had parked behind the SUV, and when the trespasser began to back up, he feared that the man was going to hit him, his wife or his car, police said.
Petryszak fired twice at the driver’s side front tire of the GMC as it fled from the scene. He acted lawfully, said Largo police Lt. Mike Loux.
Police said they found that the man forced his way into the Petryszaks’ home by breaking the jalousie windows on a rear door and stole several items from the home.
On Thursday, Largo police learned that a possible suspect — 48-year-old Robert Howard Jacobs (left) of Largo — had been arrested by sheriff’s deputies on unrelated charges. Detectives interviewed Jacobs, who confessed to the burglary but told them he didn’t realize that Petryszak had shot at his vehicle, police said.
Police said they are looking for the 2002 dark blue GMC Envoy Jacobs was driving. It has Florida tag X83 5WY. Police think the driver’s-side tire should be flat unless it has been changed. Police also are investigating whether Jacobs is connected to any other burglaries.
Holsters for the Sig Sauer P250 Pistol
Posted by: | CommentsThere has been a lot of interest in the new Sig Sauer P250 pistol. One of the only problems with this pistol is that there are few holsters available for it. While this will change in the coming months and years, what’s a person to do if they have 
already bought a P250 and need to carry it today?
There are a few options available to the Sig P250 owner. First, is the purchase and use of a “generic” holster. This includes fanny packs and non-specific nylon holsters like some of those made by Uncle Mikes. For a lot of people, these may not be good choices.
In polymer holsters, there are two choices available: the Blackhawk CQC Serpa Holster and the Sig Sauer branded “Serpa-like” holster. Both holsters are strong-side hip carry, outside the waistband holsters. Both holsters are open top with a retention button on the side of the holster where the trigger finger naturally lands when the shooter obtains his or her grip to draw. The Blackhawk comes in matte black or carbon fiber finishes ($48.99 and $58.99 respectively.) The Sig holster comes in matte black and retails for $44.95.
In leather, I have only found one company that is making holsters for the Sig P250: Kramer Handgun Leather. Kramer Handgun Leather has been producing finely made holsters for law enforcement and armed citizens since the early ’80s. Kramer recently obtained the castings needed for the P250 to begin producing their holsters for the new Sig.
In an e-mail, Will Kramer said that most of the Kramer line of holsters are available for the Sig P250. The obvious exceptions are the rigs designed for small guns such as the pocket and ankle holsters. This means you have a wide range of holsters now available including inside the waistband and traditional leather scabbards. Prices depend on the model holster and if any special detail work is requested. The quality is high, so the prices are very fair.
Another option is one of the fine holsters from CrossBreed Holsters. CrossBreed Holsters, among other things, makes several different inside the waistband holsters (IWB) that blend polymer and leather to create a very secure, yet comfortable, holster.
Mark Craighead, the owner of CrossBreed Holsters, said that they are able to produce holsters for the Sig P250 pistol immediately. Prices range from $52.50 to $65.50, and delivery is normally in about 2-3 weeks.
Houston Man with CCW Permit Shoots Would-Be Carjacker in Self Defense
Posted by: | CommentsA Houston man shot and killed a criminal who had pointed a gun at him and tried to force him into a car.
Fortunately, the victim had a CCW (carry concealed weapon) permit and was able to defend himself with his firearm. When the criminal tried to force the victim into the car at gun point, the victim produced his own firearm and saved his own life. The criminal, who fled in a car with another person, died a short time later. The driver of the get-away car was arrested by police.
This is yet another example of how people must be an active participant in their own survival. The victim recognized that a criminal who would try to kidnap him at gunpoint was an imminent threat to his his life. The victim had the tools (the will to win and a gun) to fight back and win.
Ruger M77 “Ruger Compact Magnum” Hawkeye Rifles in .300 and .338 RCM
Posted by: | CommentsSturm, Ruger & Co. introduced two new M77 “extreme hunting rifles” using cartridges developed by Hornady. These rifles are offered in .300 RCM and .338 RCM. RCM stands 
for Ruger Compact Magnum and were developed by Hornady using the latest in smokeless powders.
The .300 RCM in a 20″ barrel matches the ballistics of the .300 Winchester Magnum from a 24.5″ barrel, while the .338 RCM with a 20″ barrel matches the ballistics of the .338 Winchester Magnum from a 24.5″ barrel, said Stephen L. Sanetti, the president of Ruger.
In addition to the shorter length, the new RCM rifles also feature a short action and come standard with a recoil pad, LC6 trigger, steel floorplate, and more. Each rifle can be had with a blued barrel and American walnut stock, or a stainless barrel and a black synthetic stock. Each M77 retails for $995.
From the Ruger website:
M77® Ruger Compact Magnums
The Ruger Compact Magnum cartridges, developed in conjunction with Hornady Manufacturing Co., are extreme cartridges for extreme hunting. Based on the beltless .375 Ruger, the .300 and .338 RCMs are engineered to offer .300 and .338 Win. Magnum performance in a more compact package. With their short actions and 20” barrels, the M77 Ruger Compact Magnums are today’s “mountain rifles and brush guns.”
The new cartridges are chambered in the compact action Ruger M77 Hawkeye rifles with features that include the smooth and crisp Ruger LC6™ trigger for improved out-of-the-box trigger pull, and a red rubber recoil pad that provides more effective recoil reduction. Other features of the Ruger M77 Hawkeye rifles appreciated by knowledgeable shooters are the Mauser-type controlled feeding and powerful claw extractor, 3-position safety, hammer forged steel barrels and free Ruger patented scope rings. The design of the patented steel floorplate, which bears the distinctive Ruger logo, provides easy unloading and eliminates accidental “dumping” of ammunition.
Two compact-action models of the Ruger M77 Hawkeye rifles chambered in the new Ruger Compact Magnums are available. The matte blued version features the M77 Hawkeye’s slimmer walnut stock with wrap-around cut checkering on the forearm and more rounded contours on the bottom of the stock and top of the pistol grips. The matte stainless version features a synthetic stock with a new recoil pad.
The new cartridges designed by Hornady Manufacturing provide unmatched ballistic performance in compact rifles, less felt recoil, longer barrel life, and superior performance at all temperatures. The .300 RCM is available in 150, 165 and 180-grain SST offerings. Each .300 RCM load exceeds comparative .300 Win. Magnum loads from a 20″ barrel. Muzzle velocities for the .300 RCM are 3,170 fps, 3,030 fps, and 2,900 fps, respectively – from a 20″ factory barrel. The .338 RCM is available in the newly developed 200 gr SST, and 225 gr SST offerings. Velocities for the .338 RCMs are 2,850 fps and 2,710 fps respectively, easily out performing the .338 Win. Magnum at equal barrel length.
Sig Sauer to Release New Sig P250 Pistol in Two-Tone
Posted by: | Comments
Sig Sauer has announced a new Sig P250: a two tone model with a black frame and a stainless slide.
From the Sig Sauer web site:
The P250, a modular pistol that allows the shooter to change caliber and size at will…. The SIG SAUER P250 was designed specifically to address the future needs of the military, law enforcement, and civilian shooters around the world.
The P250 will be available in the most popular calibers (9mm, .357SIG, .40S&W and .45ACP). The P250’s innovative design enables the shooter to quickly remove the functional mechanism and place it into the polymer grip of his choice. This allows an immediate change in caliber and size;(subcompact, compact and full). And after any change the pistol delivers both outstanding accuracy and reliable functionality.
Its modularity not only provides incredible ease of maintenance, but also provides a solution for accommodating different hand sizes - there are 6 different ergonomic combinations for each size, accomplished by changes in grip circumference and trigger style. Now you can own the world’s only modular shooting system globally engineered to deliver the “to hell and back” reliability you’ve come to expect from Sig Sauer.
Springfield XD Service Pistol in .45 ACP with a Thumb Safety
Posted by: | Comments
Springfield Armory has introduced a new version of the popular .45 ACP XD Service Pistol. This model adds an ambidextrous thumb safety on the frame that closely mirrors the 1911. The thumb safety was placed far back on the frame, making it very easy to manipulate.
The Springfield XD pistols have been described as a modern day 1911, and in fact the Springfield XD does draw much of it’s inspiration from the 1911. I have talked with numerous 1911 shooters who were never impressed by the Glock pistols, but who are enamored with the XD line.
So, if you like the XD pistols, and have been waiting for a thumb safety, your wait is over. Springfield is delivering these pistols now, any you should find them on your dealer’s shelf.
Taurus International recently announced the new Taurus 809 9mm pistol based on the popular OSS pistol. Now, Taurus has announced two new pistols based on the same platform: the 840 and 845 pistols.
The Taurus 840 pistol is the next pistol in the 800 series, and is very similar to the original 809. The 840 is chambered in .40 S&W, and packs a 17+1 capacity.
The Taurus 845 is the third pistol in the 800 series from Taurus. As the model number tends to indicate, this pistol is chambered in the ever-popular .45 ACP. The magazines are double stacked and allow you to carry 12+1 of serious defensive firepower.
All of the pistols in the 800 series are polymer framed and strike fired. Additionally, all of the pistols have the “second strike” capability, which is a feature that a growing number of shooters desire. The 800 series pistols have an external thumb safety/decocker.
Bob Morrison, President of Taurus International, said on Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk that all three of the pistols were in production now, and that they would be on the shelves in April.
Touting the ease in which these pistols can be field stripped, Morrison said that the 800 series has “the easiest take down on a modern firearm.”
Earlier reports indicated that the 809 pistols would have a 17+1 capacity, however Morrison stated that the 809 would actually have a 19+1 capacity.
The price on these pistols? Try under $500 retail. That is a great deal in anyone’s estimation.
