Barrett's Model 98 Bravo
Da' Judge .45 Colt
FNP .45 ACP
CZ 97B .45 ACP
Kimber Talkeetna .375
Greetings firearms enthusiasts!
I decided to start this gunletter because of my lifelong interest in guns since the age of 12, after seeing the movie Dirty Harry, starring Clint Eastwood, along with his S&W Model 29 .44 Magnum.
Being an insatiable reader of the latest gun magazines and reviews, I saw no need for all that information to be wasted. The age of the internet now allows me to share this vast treasure trove of gun information with the world.
This information on this site will be by no means exhaustive, and will consist primarily of brief summaries of gun articles from the major publications, along with a link to the original source, so that you may follow up with more in-depth study if so desired.
This week's rundown:
Currently on my wish-list:
Stoeger Cougar 8000-While I don't carry a gun, except for maybe going into the worst areas of the city at night, which is not a regular occurrence-trust me-I do like to keep a gun in the car-don't ask me why, maybe from watching "Road Warrior" too many times. With all the insane people out there, it's just good to know that I have something in the car I can use for a worst-case scenario. Anyways, this is my pick for car-carry.
- .40 or 9mm Caliber
- DA/SA Trigger "Breaks at 6 lbs" (SA)
- Capacity 15+1 (9mm), 11+1 (.40)
- Aluminum Frame
- Ambidextrous Safety/Decocker
- "Excellent Sites", three white dots, adjustable for windage
- Drop-Free magazines (2)
- Able to Fire w/o magazine
- Rotating, Locking Barrel enhances accuracy
- Simple, Quick Field Stripping
- "Excellent Build Quality and Design"
- S.R.P. $390 to $449
Other Reviews:
Kimber Talkeetna - .375 H&H Mag. 7 lbs., 9 oz. un-scoped, super-accurate lightweight big game rifle is ideal for all-day carry on the African continent, or ideal for Alaskan Bear country.
- Bolt Action
- Stainless
- Four Round Capacity Magazine
- 3 lb., 1 oz. Trigger Pull
- Stiff, but Bearable Recoil
- Synthetic Kevlar and Fiberglass Stock
- S.R.P. $2,108
Taurus Judge - The Word: Short barreled, five shot snake and self-defense revolver. Shoots .410 shotgun shells and .45 Long Colt cartridges. Best for Snakes: #7-1/2 shot, Self Defense: #4 shot at extremely close range, or .45 LC for anything past 12 feet. .410 slugs are kind of a waste of money, with the availablity of the .45 Colt cartridge for this weapon.
- Good Build Quality
- Eight Different Versions
- Blued or Stainless
- Five Rounds
- Regular or Lightweight
- 2-1/2" or 3" .410 Cylinder Choice
- Also Takes .45 Schofield Ammo (.45 S&W)
- S.R.P. $553
CZ 97B .45 Auto Pistol - The Word: Double Column .45 ACP ("double column" equals higher magazine capacity than single column magfazine pistols). All steel, double action/single action, no decocker, so decocking requires a bit of skill and confidence.
- 10 Round Magazines did not drop freely
- Awkward, left-side thumb safety
- Shot under 2" groups at 25 yards
- S.R.P. $779
FNH FNP45 .45 Auto Pistol - 15 Round, full size .45 automatic pistol. Actually comes with two 14 round magazines, and one 15 rounder with a rounded base-pad bottom. Military green polymer frame results in a weight of 29 oz. unloaded. Ambidextrous magazine release, and safeties (which double as decocking levers).
- Accessory Rail Included
- Interchangeable Backstrap for Custom Grip Size (1)
- 1.56" Max. Width
- Snag-Free Sites, Three White Dots
- Relatively Easy to Field-Strip
- Little Chance of Accidentally Decocking This Pistol Due to Grip Config.
- Slide Moves Freely with Safety On
- First Shot from Double Action Fairly Awkward Due to Length of Pull
- Cocked and Locked Carry Mode Recommended for Speed into Action
- Low Recoil Compared to Other .45,s
- 2.2" Groups at 25 Yards
Here is my pick for 2009, although it's not quite April yet. If I find something better by the end of the year, I will certainly let you know.
Barrett's Model 98 Bravo-Bolt-action .338 Lapua Magnum:
An awesome weapon, capable of sub-M.O.A.,s of under 1.5" at 1,000 yards on a windy, cold day-according to one of the first reviews I read-slated for availability to law-abiding citizens and law enforcement alike, but primarily the military, for April of '09. If I ever win big bucks, or suddenly become a big earner, this will be in my safe faster than you can say "overkill". Here are the details:
About the .338 Lapua Magnum: Possessing flat trajectory, excellent accuracy at long range, and high energy, this caliber is under serious consideration by the Marine Corps to replace the .50 as their long-range caliber of choice. According to an in-depth review from a 2007 article of some early rifles by Accuracy International and Sako, the .338 Lapua at 1,200 yards is still more powerful than the .44 magnum at the muzzle. In the early 80s the U.S. Navy sought a new cartridge for long-range competition. Research Armament Industries developed a .338 caliber wildcat using a rimless .416 Rigby case. After being passed over by the U.S. armed forces for the .50, Lapua eventually strengthened the case design and created the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge.
Back to the model 98: Light enough to be carried and fired offhand, built to withstand adverse conditions, the model 98 can also be fitted with a variety of optical scopes and night-vision devices, making this weapon a serious frontrunner for the rifle of choice of the military.
Specs:
- .338 Lapua Magnum
- Bolt Action
- Rotating Thumb Safety
- Pistol Grip
- Modular Design
- Aluminum Upper and Lower Receivers
- Integral 18.1" Picatinny Top Rail
- Sling Swivel and Bipod Attachments
- 27" Barrel, 4150 Steel, Fluted
- Rifling: six-groove, 1:10" right hand twist
- 10 rd. Polymer Magazine (2)
- Trigger=2 lb, 4 oz. pull, single stage, adjustable
- Stock: Length of Pull, 13-1/2"
- Length Overall: 49-3/4"
- Weight: 12 lbs, 12 oz.
- S.R.P. $4,495
- Average accuracy at 100 yards: .88"
More Soon!
