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The Missouri Shooter - Online Edition - January 2000A Quarterly Publication of the Missouri Sport Shooting AssociationMitchell Peters, Editor |
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JANUARY 2000 ISSUE CONTENTS * New Masthead * The Prez Sez * Meeting Minutes * FREE!!! * BP Match at BR * 3PSB Champs * M1 Winner * New SB Trophies * Awards Banquet * Y2K SB Camp * Say Yes to YES * S.H.O.T. in Las Vegas * Simpler Gun Sales * SUBMIT! * GV Class Calendar * NRA Fundraiser * NRA; How May We Help? * 30 Year Gun * Mitch meets Moses * Deutschland Blues * CMP 22s * FBI Tour * FREE CLASSIFIEDS! * MSSA Top Ten List * Mission Statement *
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Pagemaster's Notes: This Online Edition of The Missouri Shooter is NOT identical to the printed edition, but will vary in both content and appearance. It is the policy of this WWWebsite to edit out all personal telephone numbers and street addresses (to reserve privacy), to keep email addresses, P.O. boxes and company street addresses when published (to preserve utility), and to replace (where possible) lists of printed information with links to websites which contain the same information (to conserve bandwidth). The print edition is ONLY mailed to MSSA Members and Affiliates; Join today!
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JANUARY 2000 VOLUME 00 ISSUE 1 NEW MASTHEAD FOR THE MILLENNIUM (PageMaster's Note: If you were an MSSA member, you'd get the print edition of TMS, and this article would make a lot more sense. JOIN TODAY!) The most visible artifact of our organization is our newsletter THE MISSOURI SHOOTER. To many of our members and other recipients, the newsletter is their sole link to MSSA. For this reason the appearance and content of the newsletter is of essential importance. Therefore to coincide with the much-hyped millennium, I would like to unveil the new masthead you see at the top of page one. The appearance and content of the newsletter must serve three key functions. First we must inform and communicate MSSA activities and information. Second we must encourage the free exchange of ideas and information related to the shooting sports and the Second Amendment. Third the newsletter must entertain, recruit and retain members. Our new masthead will accurately represent the elements and culture of the MSSA. Thus the new masthead contains the MSSA seal. The seal consists of the title of the organization on a bullseye type target, superimposed, the silhouette of the state of Missouri with various elements of the shooting sports. The elements are both old and new, which indicate our pioneer roots and continuing heritage. The seal is also our official decal and the logo on the website. Furthermore the silhouette of the state of Missouri will identify us geographically and maintain continuity to the old masthead. The title of the publication will be in the font known as "IMPACT". This font is currently being used for the titles of the various articles in TMS. It is bold, attention grabbing and has a slick, high-tech look. We will continue the very important text insert "OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MISSOURI SPORT SHOOTING ASSOCIATION/AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION AND THE CONSERVATION FEDERATION OF MISSOURI. Lastly we will add the volume number as the last two digits of the year, the issue number as the quarter of the year, and the date. Seven variations were developed before settling on this particular version. The opinion of several members and impartial graphic specialists was solicited to confirm the best choice. The best of three versions was presented to the Board of Directors and members in attendance at the annual meeting. The new masthead was favorably received. Electronic and printing tests of the new masthead were conducted. All test results were excellent. It prints well in color and black & white, on various types of printers, presses and photocopiers. I hope you like it, please feel free to send me any comments positive or negative. The Presidents Message, January 1, 2000 By Steve McGhee "Expect To Win" That was the theme of the 14th Annual Gun Rights Policy Conference, organized by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and the Citizen�s Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA). SAF and CCRKBA held the 1999 Conference in St. Louis this past September, hoping to use it as a victory celebration of sorts after the passage of legal concealed carry by referendum in Missouri. Although Proposition B failed by a narrow margin in the April 6th election, conference planners stuck to their guns. Our theme, "EXPECT TO WIN!"---I�ll sign that. But I want to add, "PLAN TO WIN... WORK TO WIN...COMMIT TO WIN." Yes, we�re tired and disappointed. But we�re certainly not done, so let�s get going this year.
"Wednesday, March 15, 2000: Gun Safety Rally / Lobby Day" Plan NOW to take that day off work. You NEED to be in the Missouri Capitol Rotunda in Jefferson City at 9:00 am to join your fellow Missouri firearm owners. Help deliver a message to our elected lawmakers, the press, and the general public: "WERE THE GOOD GUYS, AND OUR RIGHTS ARE NOT WHAT�S WRONG IN MISSOURI!" There is no cost to attend, and chartered bus transportation is available from selected areas. [This year�s theme is firearm safety.] While groups like Handgun Control Inc. do nothing but lobby for more ineffective gun control laws in lieu of stiffer criminal control or real firearm safety. Missouri gun owners and pro-gun organizations continue to make a REAL difference in improving gun safety. Programs include Eddie Eagle for elementary students, Hunter Safety training, Youth Marksmanship Training and Competitions at all levels. Our agenda has made participation in the shooting sports the very safest for any youth or adult, and the reason accidental shootings have been DECLINING since 1904. That�s correct, in spite of the fact that firearms are the second most commonly owned piece of sporting equipment in America, (the first is tennis shoes); statistically, you are more likely to be seriously injured participating in an hour of Ping-Pong, than in an hour of hunting. Did you also know, that the medical professionals who show up to testify AGAINST your gun rights are far more likely to accidentally kill you through medical mistakes than another gun owner! Eddie Eagle will be on hand to thank MO lawmakers for passing the resolution two years ago directing the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to implement the Eddie Eagle "GunSafe" program. DESE officials will be present to report on the status of the program implementation. Representatives from all the major gun rights and shooting sports groups will be on hand including: the NRA, MSSA, MPS, SACMO, WMSA, GRIN, CFM, MDC-Ranges and Hunter Education, and many private ranges and gun clubs. There will be many informational displays. MPS will provide information on how to contact your legislators while at the Capitol, and at their district offices while they�re on spring break. MPS will also provide position statements on a variety of legislative issues including the safety-related reasons for those positions. For a press release with more details on the event, visit the Missourians for Personal Safety website at www.moccw.org or email me at [email protected]. "NRA Training Counselor Workshop" Are you an active, experienced NRA Certified Instructor? Would you like to become qualified to train your fellow Missouri shooters to become NRA Certified Firearms Instructors? MSSA and Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club will sponsor a Training Counselor Workshop at the Club, located north of Columbia, MO, June 16-18, 2000. NRA staff from the Fairfax, VA offices and Missouri volunteers, like me, will conduct the training. The cost is $275 if you register before May 15th and $325 after. If you are interested the first step is to apply to the NRA for approval to attend, call the NRA at 1-800-NRA-3888, then hit selection 6 in their voice mail menu, then 1422 for the extension. You can also visit the website at www.nrahq.org and print out the application. There is no cost to apply. After the NRA has approved your application to attend, you may register and pay your fees to MSSA. Please note space is limited, apply early to guarantee a spot. "On The Road to Burma-In Missouri?" MSSA is serving as a statewide sponsor of a new project to line our highways and byways with Burma Shave style road signs to get interesting, truthful, pro-gun messages before the motoring public. Do you remember "Burma�s Verse By The Roadside"? They were a very popular advertising technique using humorous, rhyming panels to push their shaving cream. For example, "THE BEARDED LADY... TRIED A JAR...NOW SHE�S A FAMOUS...MOVIE STAR...BURMA SHAVE." A typical pro-gun message is: "IN AUSTRALIA...CRIME WAS LOW...GUNS WERE BANNED...AND CRIME DID GROW... WWW.GUNSSAVELIFE.COM". (Please visit their website.) This approach has been very successful in Illinois where the program originated and MSSA is looking to do much the same thing here. To make this program a reality, we need sites on which to place the signs. A five (5) panel set requires about � mile of frontage on a high traffic roadway. Property owners must also agree to trim weeds and do minor repairs to the signs. MSSA is seeking teams of volunteers to work on erection of the signs and or to perform maintenance and rotate the different messages around the state. This is a very efficient way to get our messages to the public, and a lot of fun as well! The approximate cost is $500 for materials per set. If you would like to volunteer to be on the erection or maintenance team, or if you own a business or belong to a gun club that might want to sponsor a set, call or email me. [ EDITORS NOTE: This sounds like a great way to meet pro-gun / pro-hunting land owners across the state.]
"The Vermont Project" Steve Umschied of St. Louis is organizing a petition drive which if successful (COMMIT TO WIN!), would remove the statutory prohibition on concealed carry. It would eliminate the MO Constitutional basis which allows such a statute to exist in our state, and the requirement that Missourians get a permit from their sheriff in order to acquire a handgun. In other words, Steve Umschied is trying to put the "R" back in RKBA in Missouri. He has the petition language written and is working through the approval process to get it on the next ballot, and every subsequent ballot until it passes. He needs your help and the help of any organizations you are involved in that can muster support. You can email Steve Umschied at [email protected] and visit his website at www.vermontproject.org. "Legislative Activism" While the Vermont Project takes it to the streets, MSSA will be taking it back to the MO General Assembly, urging them to pass CCW as they should have in the first place. Our best ammunition may be the results of the April 6th election. Although Proposition B lost by a bit over 3% on the statewide tally, it was the voters in St. Louis and Kansas City that killed it. Most of the MO legislators do not represent those cities. WE WON IN 104 OF THE 114 MISSOURI COUNTIES. If we can get the legislators to represent the people in their home districts who elected them, we can win with a veto-proof majority! Do you EXPECT TO WIN? Will you COMMIT TO WIN? Call your MO Senator and Representative, and ask them to do the job you helped elect them to do. For the county by county vote breakdown, visit the Missourians for Personal Safety, Inc. (MPS) website at www.moccw.org. Lastly, show up at the Capitol March 15, 2000. Yes, we visit Caesar on the Ides of March, but leave your swords and daggers at home. "WE�RE THE GOOD GUYS." Steve D. McGhee, President of MSSA & MPS MSSA ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES, NOVEMBER 6, 1999 Submitted by Harold Miederhoff, Secretary Meeting called to order by president, Steve McGhee, at 3:00 pm. Present were board members: Steve McGhee, Harold Miederhoff, Kent Finlay, Lee Koester, John Leinberger, Larry Bullock, and Roscoe Morris. The secretary gave a report on membership. There has been an increase in the past year, due in large part of a requirement for purchase of CMP M-1 rifle of membership in a CMP affiliated organization. Prediction that membership will remain steady or decrease some over the next year. Moved and seconded that the secretary's report be accepted. Passed. The treasurer presented a financial report. MSSA is in sound financial status. Moved and seconded that the treasurers report be accepted. Passed. The executive officer presented his report. All equipment owned by MSSA or on loan from the CMP is accounted for, except for one Remington 513 T. All state championships are complete and awards will be presented this evening. There have been several juniors taking part in shooting activities this year. Leinberger and Pearre report that the "Eddie Eagle" program is showing slow but steady growth. Leinberger report the junior shooting camp of 1999 was successful and the 2000 camp would be held on June 22-25 at Bucksnort range. McGhee report that he was going to keep active with the legislature in regard to pro gun legislation. He introduced Steve Umsheid who talked regarding getting the concealed carry issue back before the voters. A program titled the "Vermont Project" to collect signatures for such, will be done to get it on the November 2000 ballot. Mitch Peters reported on the status and distribution of the newsletter. Gregg Pearre, NRA state field rep, reported that 17 Friends of NRA events were held in Missouri in 1999. Applications need to be submitted for grants ASAP. "Shooting for the Future" will be a program introduced by the NRA in 2000. McGhee stated that the web page will continue. OLD BUSINESS Mitch Peters presented a new masthead for the Jan. 2000 newsletter. McGhee talked about the insurance mail-out, one negative response and several positive responses from members. Move and second that MSSA donate misc. older training materials to Green Valley. Passed. McGhee reports that a NRA training counselor workshop has been scheduled for June 16-18, 2000 with up to 25 participants. Motion made, seconded, and passed that MSSA co-sponsor the event with up to $1000 backing. It is really anticipated that the event will make money with MSSA getting a share. Motion made, seconded, and passed to support YHEC championship with $200.00. Mitch Peters presented a mission statement based on the bylaws. Motion made, seconded, and passed to accept the mission statement. Skip Barban discussed his ideas and willingness to put together a marketing plan to help recruit more MSSA members. He will give a formal presentation at the next meeting. McGhee introduced Dr. Richard Klein from Illinois who presented material on the use of Burma Shave type signs that present pro-gun messages in his state. They have several sets out and are receiving lots of positive feedback. Motion made, seconded, and passed that MSSA underwrite a similar set of signs for Missouri highways. (See www.safewithguns.org.) Elected to 3 year MSSA board terms were: Steve McGhee, Harold Miederhoff, Mitch Peters, Skip Barban, and Melissa Mata. Meeting adjourned at 5:27 p.m. MSSA BOARD MEETING-NOVEMBER 6, 1999 Meeting called to order by McGhee at 5:28 p.m. Attending were, Steve McGhee, Harold Miederhoff, Lee Koester, Kent Finlay, Larry Bullock, Roscoe Morris, John Leinberger, Mitch Peters, Skip Barban, and Melissa Mata. The current slate of officers was presented in nomination and a motion was made, seconded, and passed that they be elected by acclamation. They are McGhee-President, Giarratano-Vice President, Miederhoff-Secretary, Koester-Treasurer, and Finlay-Executive Officer. (PageMaster's Note: CLICK HERE for the full current MSSA Board of Directors.) Meeting dates were set for 2000: March 4, June 3, September 9, and December 2. The first three to be at 10:00 am and the last to be the annual meeting at 3:00 pm. Locations TBA. (PageMaster's Note: All meetings will be at the MO Dept. of Conservation HQ Auditorium on Truman Blvd. in Jefferson City.) Meeting adjourned 5:37 pm. By Mitchell Peters I�m sure many of you already know this but for those who may not; THE BEST BARGAIN IN MISSOURI IS ABSOLUTELY FREE. Any Missouri resident can receive a 30+ page, well written, glossy, full color, monthly magazine. Of course I�m talking about the Missouri Conservationist, the official publication of the Missouri Department of Conservation. The magazine covers the flora, fauna, and geography of our great state. They also include features on MDC projects and programs and other related subjects. The only catch is that you have to live in Missouri and request the magazine. If you are out of state or even out of country you may still subscribe but this will cost you $7 or $10 respectively, per year. Write to: Missouri Conservationist, Circulation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 or Phone: 573/751-4115 THE SECOND BEST BARGAIN IN MISSOURI IS ALSO ABSOLUTELY FREE. Any Missouri resident can receive a 20+ page, well written, glossy, full color, quarterly magazine. I�m describing a less well know, yet nonetheless impressive magazine Missouri Resources, the official publication of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The magazine covers the geography, geology, and environmental issues, programs and projects in our great state. Once again the only catch is that you have to live in Missouri and request the magazine. If you are out of state you may still subscribe but this will cost you $6 per year. Write to: Missouri Resources, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Office of Public Information, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 or Phone: 800/334-6946 Mid-Range Blackpowder Target Rifle Match held at STL Benchrest Club By Paul Fitzgerald For just the second time ever in Missouri, a "full course" (Mid-Range) Blackpowder Target Rifle match was held on Sept 25-26, 1999, at the St. Louis Benchrest Club in Wright City, Missouri. The first match was held at Bucksnort Range, Marshall, Missouri, in 1998. 13 different competitors fired on one or both of the two days of matches, and all had a very good time. The match was NRA Registered, and scores were reported to the NRA for classification purposes. Mid-Range is defined as distances up to and including 600 yards, while distances of 800, 900, and 1000 yards are used in matches denoted as "Creedmore." The basic Mid-Range match consists of firing 10 shots offhand at 200 yards, 10 shots in either sitting or kneeling position with the use of cross-sticks at 300 yards, and 10 shots from the prone position with cross-sticks at 600 yards. Rules of the match are that rifles be representative (either original or reproduction) of rifles up to 1890. "Modern accessories" such as shooting coats and slings are not permitted; competitors must shoot their firearms as was done in the buffalo-hunting era. Competitors are "squadded" into groups and assigned a firing point. Members in each group then rotate between firing for score, pit duty, and spotting at the line. While it is permissible by the NRA rules to use a muzzleloader in this type of match, it would be a severe handicap. In addition, most club ranges would not permit the firing of a muzzleloader at these distances for safety reasons. What is most popular is single shot, black powder cartridge rifles in calibers such as 45-70, 40-65, and 45-90. Rifle styles include Winchester Hi-walls, Remington Rolling Blocks, and Sharps. Finely adjustable tang rear sights are a must. Dennis Ludwig took first place overall in both the Saturday and Sunday matches; full match results are in the printed edition of The Missouri Shooter. Watch publications such as Shooting Sports-USA, Black Powder Cartridge News, and Single Shot Exchange for matches like these. Based on the success of this match, we hope to hold more Mid-Range matches in the future, as well as Blackpowder Cartridge Silhouette matches. St. Louis Benchrest Club has one of the finest shooting facilities in the Mid-West; you have to see it to believe it! Visit the club website at http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Field/8960/ or call the Club Business Manager JoAnn Hoehn at 636-745-8144 for more information. STATE 3-POSITION SMALL BORE CHAMPIONSHIP By Harold Miederhoff The weekend of September 25-26 was almost ideal for shooting the 1999 SB 3-P State Championship. Ten competitors, including four juniors, showed up to accept the challenge of shooting on the ISU target at 50 Meters. The aggregate winners were: NAME EVENT PLACE SCORE Len Remaly Iron Sight Agg Winner 1085-18X Melissa Mata Iron Sight Agg 1st SS/MK 999-15 X Charles Daniels Any Sight Agg Winner 1109-27X Melissa Mata Any Sight Agg 1st SS/MK 1013-17X Charles Daniels Grand Agg Winner 2187-57X Melissa Mata Grand Agg 1st SS/MK 2012-32X Since Daniels is from Nebraska, making him ineligible for the State Championship, Len Remaly is this years Champion for 3-P SB. Dan Reban out shot the rest of the juniors to take that title for the second year in a row. AND THE M-1 GARAND WINNER IS - - - - - By Harold Miederhoff Congratulations go out to Tom King of Hallsville for being the lucky winner of the MSSA-CMP M-1 rifle raffle. Tom is a 50ish Sgt. 1st class of the Missouri National Guard. He is married with two children. He works as a warehouse supervisor for Midway USA. When called with the good news, he was at drill and his wife took the call and claimed part interest in the rifle for being home at the time. MSSA wants to sincerely thank all that bought tickets for the raffle. All 200 tickets were sold and the activity raised over $700.00 for use in junior shooting programs. The CMP has said that they will provide a rifle again next year for the same purpose. We will let everyone know the details when they are available. The most likely activity will be another raffle. Again, thanks to all who bought tickets. Also, thanks to the CMP for making a rifle available for the fund raising program.  NEW TRAVELING TROPHIES FOR SB
By Harold Miederhoff Paul Villmer and Harold Miederhoff, both long time SB shooters and former State Champions, donated trophies to MSSA to be used for the SB Prone and 3-Position Championships. These trophies use reproductions of Frederick Remington bronze sculptures mounted on cherry wood bases crafted by Harold. They were given for the first time this year to Bob McCammon, the SB Prone Champion, and Len Remaly, the SB 3-P Champion. The trophies have their names engraved on a plate. They get to keep the trophies for a year and after the 2000 championship they will go home with the next champions. For the winners permanent keeping, a plaque with a laminated picture of the trophy was presented to both Bob and Len.1999 MSSA AWARDS DINNER By Harold Miederhoff Viets restaurant in Jefferson City was the location for the November 6 MSSA annual awards dinner. Attendees were treated to great food, drink and conversation. A good turn out was on hand to receive the MSSA special and shooting championship awards. Special awards were presented to two very deserving individuals. Melissa Mata of Blue Springs was presented a plaque in recognition of the work that she has done to make this newsletter look good. Members may recall that before she did the formatting, it looked like a term paper written by a High School student. This is a small show of appreciation for the work that Melissa does for MSSA. It should be noted that she also got elected to MSSA's Board at the annual meeting. The second special award went to Kent Finlay of Centralia. Kent is MSSA's Executive Officer. He has served that office well, taking on the responsibility of supervising competitions and locating some equipment that was believed lost. For the past year, Kent has been fielding calls from Missouri residents desiring to purchase M-1 rifles from the CMP. One of the requirements for purchase is membership in a CMP affiliated organization. The CMP referred applicants to him and he informed them of the process for acquiring MSSA membership. Over the past year, he has probably communicated with several hundred individuals regarding their M-1 purchase. For this and every thing that Kent does as a representative of MSSA and the shooting sports, he is recognized as MSSA's "Sportsman of the Year". Congratulations, Kent, and thanks. MISSOURI STATE SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS: INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM, were presented to: Bob McCammon of St. Joseph, Dan Rebhan of St. Louis, Len Remaly of Ballwin, Kurt Schinze of St. Joseph, Kiki Chosid of Creve Coeur, Shiela Daniels of St. Charles, Phil Daniels of St. Charles, Jerry Bohnert of Pevely, Chris Strannigan of Lake Lotawana, Fred Smith of Arnold, Skip Semmons of Columbia, Mike Barron of Creve Coeur, Chris Stark of Springfield, Kevin Thomas of Sedalia, Dennis Schmidt of Wildwood, James Henderson of Festus, William Reinhold of St. Louis, Dan Estes of Quitman, and James Kaan of Sunrise Beach. Tournament summaries of the specific award won were in previous issues of THE MISSOURI SHOOTER. 2000 MSSA-NRA Junior Competitive Rifle Camp By John Leinberger This year�s MSSA-NRA Junior Competitive Rifle Camp will be held June 22-25, 2000, at the Bucksnort Rifle Range, Marshall, MO. For more information please contact Cheryl Teeters (906) 249-3301 or John Leinberger (573) 943-6632. (PageMaster's Note: CLICK HERE for a photo album from the '99 SB Camp!)
Wanted: High School Sophomores Or Juniors Applications are available for High School sophomores or juniors to apply to attend the NRA sponsored Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.). The event will be held June 19-25, 2000 in Washington DC. All expenses will be paid by the NRA, except transportation to and from Washington, D.C. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the NRA, the US Government, and see some of the sights and museums in Washington. Participants are also eligible to compete for some college scholarships. The qualifications/requirements include:
If you or someone you know is interested in this opportunity, please contact MSSA secretary, Harold Miederhoff for more information and applications. He can be reached at MSSA, Box 10170, Columbia, MO 65205 or by e-mail at [email protected]. The application deadline is March 15, 2000. This seems to be a great program, now in its fifth year with lots of positive feedback. DO IT NOW, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AND QUALIFY! (PageMaster's Note: CLICK HERE for NRA info on YES 2000!) S.H.O.T. Show Viva Las Vegas By Mitchell Peters The most fun an NRA member could have, would be to attend the S.H.O.T. Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 16-18, 2000. S.H.O.T. stands for Shooting, Hunting, Outdoors, Trades. This is where our favorite companies show off the latest and greatest products. In other words toys for big boys. The three day exposition will be held at the world famous Flamingo Hilton. As a bonus the NRA winter board meetings will be held simultaneously. The meetings are open to NRA members. THE MISSOURI SHOOTER would love to hear from any MSSA members fortunate enough to attend. Simplified Gun Purchase By Dennis Quinn Some gun purchases stand out in your memory more than others do, but the time I bought a pistol out of the trunk of a police car will always be on the top of my list. Many years ago a friend asked me to accompany him to Arkansas so that he could meet his girl friend�s family. We arrived in Marmaduke, AR late on Friday night and after meeting everybody (it turned out she had a huge family) we settled in for the night.Saturday morning we were treated to an unbelievable farm breakfast which included plenty of conversation about the area, farming, and hunting. I mentioned that I was in the market for a .22 caliber pistol. Everyone agreed that the Coast-to Coast Hardware Store was the place to go. A trip to town in the back of a �55 International Harvester pick-up truck, only turned up the usual Iver-Johnson and HiStandard revolvers. They were tempting but I really wanted something better. The store manager suggested I find the sheriff and see if he had any pistols for sale. While I was thinking that this seemed strange, the store manager called the sheriff�s office to locate him. In no time at all a �61 Dodge police car pulled up in the alley. When the sheriff opened the trunk, it looked like a one man gun show. There were rifles, pistols, and shotguns. Some were in cases, some in boxes, and some were in piles. I looked at an assortment of Colts, and Smith�s and even an Erma Luger, but the gun that caught my eye was a Browning Challenger. Being a Browning naturally meant it was the most expensive of the bunch. However I had a smile on my face when I handed the sheriff $65.00, no tax, no permit and no B.S. He even included a box of Remington .22 long rifles so I could test it out. That was business as usual in the early 1960�s when people could trust each other...to bad it�s not the same today. Editors Note: Regarding Submissions for Publication I gladly welcome any true and original shooting, hunting or firearm related article, experience or story submitted by MSSA members. This is your opportunity to pass on your personal experiences and promote your interests. Any junior members are also welcome to submit their school compositions and reports that relate to the above subjects. You don�t have to be a Hemingway. Just write it like you would speak it. I can fix spelling and grammar errors. Include your name address and phone number, in case I need to contact you regarding questions, or editing. Please contribute regularly. Deadlines for publication are Dec. 20, Mar. 25, June 25, and Sept. 25. This will correspond with the quarterly issues. Please e-mail your articles to me as an attachment, in Microsoft Word if possible. We would also like to try to incorporate some graphics or photos. If you can gain access to either a scanner or digital camera, forward the image as an attachment to e-mail. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon. My e-mail address is: [email protected] Mitchell Peters Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club 2000 Training Calendar EDITORS NOTE: I would like to publish your gun club or organizations calendar of upcoming events. Please email me your schedule or the URL for your Club website.  National Rifle Association Affiliate
Sponsors Fund Raiser for Disabled
By Mitchell Peters, information provided by David Jones L. to R.: Mr. Robert Baumer, Dr. David Oliver, Mrs. Nancy Boyer, Mr. David Jones and Mr. Vic Paulsenberger present donated Marlin 336 30/30 rifle to the Developmental Disabilities Council of Washington County How can you raise money for a good cause in October? That was the question being asked by the Developmental Disabilities Council of Washington County (DDCWC), MO. The Gateway Gunowners Association (GGA) and the NRA had the right answer. The Association donated a deer rifle, right before the 1999 firearms deer season. The DDCWC raffle for the rifle, concluded following ceremonies honoring the NRA on Nov 8, at a meeting held in Potosi. Representing the Association, were NRA Board members David Jones, Dr. David Oliver, NRA activist Bob Baumer, and GGA Treasurer Vic Paulsenberger. All four are from the St. Louis area and MSSA members. Also present were State Representative Wayne Crump of Potosi, and Mrs. Melody Cannon, an aide to Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson�s Farmington office. Representative Wayne Crump is the current House Majority Leader and a long time supporter of the NRA and Missouri Concealed Carry. Mr. Bob Baumer drew the ticket and announced the lucky winner. A very happy, Mr. Danny Rulo of Potosi claimed the Marlin 30/30. Mr. Rulo expressed his enthusiasm for hunting and winning the rifle. The fundraiser brought in $1,550., to support ongoing activities of the DDCWC for the rest of 1999. The NRA sponsors shooting programs and matches for the disabled. The GGA and DDCWC are planing for the rifle raffle to be an annual event. National Rifle Association Seeking Suggestions By Mitchell Peters The National Rifle Association is seeking suggestions from members of state affiliated associations to increase membership in those associations. The NRA is looking for specific ideas and strategies, from the grassroots level. They have set aside funds to develop the best and brightest ideas into new programs to support state affiliates. While some state affiliated associations are large and strong there are many that need help to grow. Unfortunately our Missouri Sport Shooting Association is in the latter category. I am ashamed to say that less than 1 percent of Missouri�s NRA members belong to the MSSA. If you think you have a good idea, please email either of our resident NRA Directors: Mr. David Jones or Dr. David Oliver. Thirty Year Firearm Restoration Project Nears Completion By Corbett Schuch This story begins over thirty years ago. A co-worker mentioned he wanted to purchase some retirement property in Florida. He knew I was a shooter, and asked if I would like the opportunity to buy his guns. I told him I had a piece of property in Florida, and we might arrange a trade. After much haggling we were close, but not quite in full agreement. That was when I spotted what looked like an old rifle back in the corner by his work bench. I pointed and told him if he threw that one in, we had a deal. He agreed and we completed our business. The last thing to finish the transaction was to record the serial number of the deal-clincher. When he brought it out into the light, I was shocked to see three barrels instead of the usual one! He informed me that it was a double 16 Gage and 8mm x 57JR Drilling, made by Hubertus of Suhl, Germany. He had brought it home during WW2. He pointed out brass plates holding the three broken segments of the wood stock together. the long crease in one 16 Gage barrel, and the splintered remains of the missing horn trigger guard. He told me he had never gotten around to making the necessary repairs. At that point, the prospect of owning such an unusual firearm was all that kept me from calling the whole deal off! I started looking forward to this restoration project with great anticipation. The tight condition of the Drilling�s action and the clean bores of all three barrels convinced me the project was worth attempting. My first step was to repair the three broken pieces of the stock. This was accomplished by removing the brass plates, which were held in place with screws. I drilled a hole through the grip area into the stock body and inserted a long bolt. I cross-drilled the bolt for a metal rod and counter-sunk the rod into the two pieces that would become the grip. All of this was covered with walnut colored epoxy, then fit and clamped together. When the epoxy was dry, I cleaned off all the excess and was happy to see the pieces were in their proper place and the repair seemed to be sound. I filled all the screw holes and assembled the stock to the rest of the gun. Everything fit snug and tight, but the lever that raised the rifle sights no longer functioned properly. The old wood had shrunk around the tang area, and no longer allowed the tang screw to properly tighten without springing the action. I tried experimenting with shims under the tang until everything worked correctly when tightened. These shims were later replaced with glass bedding compound for a more permanent repair. The next task was to make a trigger guard. I could not find a horn blank. I decided to settle for a metal trigger guard, even though this was not authentic. The only guard I found that gave full coverage to the required area was made for a musket. The trigger guard blank required significant amounts of, cutting, brazing, filing and trial fitting. Finally it matched the action and stock recess without gaps. I left the guard unpolished and unfinished. My primary objective was to test fire the Drilling. Therefore the next step required an experienced gunsmith. I wanted to determine if the creased barrel could be repaired to shooting condition. By luck I chose a gunsmith who was very familiar with Drillings, and also owned two of them them. He reassured me I had a good, safe gun and he could "bump out" the dented barrel without much trouble. He also asked me a very important, but unexpected question. Would I like him to lengthen the shotgun chambers to take 2-3/4�� shells, or was I planing to limit my shooting to the use of 2-1/2�� shells or brass shells? Of course I told him he should lengthen the chambers. I never suspected they were shorter than standard American chambers. This probably saved me a lot of trouble later! When the work was completed, I was delighted with the smooth, round barrel that resulted from the "bump out" procedure, as well as the smoothness of the lengthened chambers. I also inquired about possible loads for the rifle; he told me that he had used .32�� round shot in his 8mm x 57JR rifle with a reduced powder charge. This loading provided him good results hunting squirrels. After I had the Drilling back in hand, the search for 8mm x 57JR ammunition and/or empty cases for reloading was on! At that time loaded ammunition was not available in this country. I was told my only hope was to inquire at gun shows. I tried this approach and became acquainted with another Drilling owner, who was nice enough to give me a partial box of empty cases. From him I learned all 8mm bullet diameters were not dimensionally the same. To reload this 8mm cartridge I would need special dies and .318�� diameter bullets instead of the normal .323�� diameter ones available in this country. Lucky me! Another unexpected "trouble saver" passed on in casual conversation! Many hours of investigation and searching brought me to a pawn shop where I acquired a set of very old 8mm x 50 reloading dies, This cartridge had a shorter and larger diameter case but also used the .318�� diameter bullets. This allowed me to neck size and seat bullets properly. I also found a gun shop selling bulk .32 Special caliber 170grn. bullets. These bullets were actually .319�� diameter. I was told this would be no problem, provided I reduced the recommended powder charge. The thing I was not told -no one knew what the "recommended" charge was! More research led me to the "Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders" by Parker O. Ackley, and other reloading books. These books had formulas and other information to derive an acceptable starting load. One of the books mentioned a formula that used the weight of water held in different cartridge cases to determine the relative volume of each. I used this method to compare the case volume of cartridges that had known loading data and approximately the same size case as the 8mm x 57JR. I then interpolated the results up or down depending upon which of the cases had the most volume. This helped me to determine a safe starting load for the 170grn .32 Special bullets by comparison with 170 to 180grn. loads for 30-06, 30-40 Krag and other similar loads. The resulting 8mm x 57JR starting load was tested by tying the gun to an automobile tire and pulling the trigger remotely from behind a large tree. The gun remained in one piece, and the primer did not show any signs of excess pressure. Three shots fired from the bench at 50 yards overlapped each other, giving proof that the forgoing effort was not in vain! Subsequent firing of the shotgun barrels also proved them to be sound. My initial success led to the desire of replacing the repaired stock with a new one. After scanning many ads I sent for a good two piece English Walnut blank from Mr. Bill Dowtin of Flagstaff, Arizona . When I received the blank, it proved to have good, tight, well figured grain which would make a beautiful stock. Sadly, the blank sat for many years, waiting for me to save enough money to have it rough cut and fit to the action. Fortune finally smiled on me (or laughed in my face) and I had enough money to proceed with this project. I made arrangements to send the gun and stock blank to ��Great American Gun Stock��, Yuba City, California. They had a duplicating machine and would do custom work. The fine English walnut blank would finally be cut and fitted to my Drilling. I requested the owner Mr. Henry Pohl also return the old stock separately. I wanted to be able to re-install it for use in rough hunting conditions. The long awaited day of the Drilling�s return finally came. Unpacking the box became more work than expected, as the barrels, action, both stocks and both fore-ends were all wrapped individually. All the small metal parts (including screws, etc.) were tied in a plastic bag to the old stock. A larger disappointment came as I started to unwrap the new stock and found it had only been rough cut. The stock was not cut to length or shaped for the butt plate, or inlet to fit to the action! The company was out of State and I had pre-paid prior to shipment. I felt I had little recourse. I started to prepare for fitting the stock myself. I began by practicing on a much less expensive piece of American Black Walnut. It didn�t take long to find out it would be foolish for me to proceed any farther. Not wanting to ruin the nice English Walnut stock, I packed the pieces away and started saving again. This time I would take it to someone local, to complete the fitting. I intended to do the final shaping and finishing myself! While on a hunting trip, I had occasion to visit ��Scott�s Archery & Pro Shop�� of Fulton, Mo. I spotted a group of rifles that had been custom stocked. Upon examining these, I struck up a conversation with the owner, Mr. Mike Youngdahl (deceased as of Oct. 98). I found some of the best work had been done by a gunsmith in the St. Louis area, Mr. Ken Erickson. (he works out of ��Catfish Guns�� in Imperial, MO) This led me to contemplate having Mr. Erickson do the stock fitting work to my Drilling. Family and fortune both smiled on me this time!! Mr. Erickson and I agreed upon an estimate to fit the stock to the Drillings action, which included cutting the stock to length and installing a new butt plate. When my wife found out I had again saved enough for the stock work, she told me this project had gone on long enough! She remembered how impressed I had been with Mr. Erickson's custom stocks. Completely unexpectedly she said we could withdraw the remaining cost from family savings, and have the stock completely finished by him. What a pleasant shock! After recovery, I made a quick call to Mr. Erickson and inquired about the possible change to the scope of the project. Knowing from our previous conversations that my finances were limited, he said he would need a little time to "run a sharp pencil" on this, and would get back to me with a price we could both live with. It seems this story is not quite complete, but the end is near. Oh how young and foolish I was thirty years ago!! The original title of this story was "The Trials and Tribulations of a Drilling Owner" which accurately summarizes my experience. However, the quest of trying to restore this Drilling over all this time, has taught me the value of patience and perseverance. I have gained a wealth of firearms knowledge, pursuing a seemingly simple project. A short follow-up article will be forthcoming after the stock work is completed and I try the drilling out on a future deer or boar hunt. I have always been fascinated by a cliff-hanger, hope you are also!
By Mitchell Peters Mitchell Peters, Editor of THE MISSOURI SHOOTER meets Charlton Heston, NRA President MY PRESIDENT IS CHARLTON HESTON reads the one and only bumper sticker on my big Ford F-250 SUPERDUTY pick-up truck. The truck and the bumper sticker; are political and cultural statements. If this gives you any insight into my temperament, you can well imagine... my low opinion of celebrities, politicians, professional athletes�, etc. However, Charlton Heston, living American icon is one exception to my rules. Mr. Charlton Heston came to St. Louis University on November 3, 1999 to give a speech. Thanks to NRA Director, and fellow MSSA member, David Jones, I was invited to the reception as a "well-wisher". Thank you David Jones. After an hour of pleasant conversation with fellow NRA/MSSA members including among others, MSSA President Steve McGhee, THE MAN, arrived. Actor, scholar, political warrior, American patriot, here was Charlton Heston no more than seven yards away. At 76-years old, his gait was a little stiff and wobbly, and his face furrowed. Yet inner strength and intelligence radiated from him, leaving no doubt who and what he is. Things went well with Chuck. First we all lined up for a picture. No real conversation was possible with THE MAN, as the line pushed forward. I said, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir". He replied "Likewise I�m sure" in that classical voice that exudes confidence, experience and strength. I wanted to tell him a thousand things; I wanted to ask him a thousand more. I have seen this and that movie, I read your book, I mean books. How long have you... what is your favorite.... It wasn�t going to happen. It didn�t. I had a photo taken and shared a firm handshake. Do not mistake that short sentence for disdain or disappointment. That twenty seconds is and will be one experience I will cherish and remember with about the other dozen or so defining moments of my life. Next he sat at a table signing books for those that had them. When my turn came he signed mine without looking up, he appeared tired yet dutiful. I said [To Be a MAN] was one of my wife�s favorite books. Without looking up or stopping, he replied, I�m glad you liked it". We moved on to the lecture hall. We took our reserved floor seats, second row stage left. Once again, Thank you David Jones. We sat in front of three female coeds. They seemed bright, alert and very young. In small talk I learned that there were protestors both outside and inside the hall. The protestors were either passionless or very polite; there was no noticeable disruption, outbursts etc. I do not think there were many radicals from either camp present. The house was packed, the floor and isles crammed with students--- a fire marshals worst nightmare. After no more than fifteen minutes Mr. Heston was introduced and then he began his speech. The speech was not about gun owner�s rights, the Second Amendment or the cultural war. However each theme was mentioned. The speech was not inspirational or controversial. His speech was not excellent. It was entertainment for the masses both liberal and conservative. He was not playing to the NRA crowd. The speech rambled on about great men, and how great America is [was], with references to American history, World history, famous quotes and passages. Mr. Heston had a broad repertoire of personal stories; anecdotes and lines form his encyclopedic cast of characters. He frequently called on these to make a point or interject humor. It was very reminiscent of "the Great Communicator"-Ronald Reagan. Mr. Heston obviously has a wonderful memory for speeches, quotes, monologues and theatrical parts-go figure. He did make a key point that the Second Amendment is a defining difference between our great democracy and all others current and historical. Lastly came a question and answer period. He was just a notch below brilliant. Seven questions were lobbed at him, four softballs and three grenades. Three attacks on gun ownership, the Second Amendment and Mr. Heston�s role as president of the NRA. All his concise answers were intellectually sharp. He wielded responses with the same cutting power that his Scottish ancestors wielded their Claemohr. Mr. Heston left the stage, and we proceeded out of the hall. I was an emotional contradiction of uplifted spirit and introspective silence. Gun Ownership in Jeopardy for U.S. Soldiers Serving in Germany By LTC Thomas P. Urich Sometimes you don�t know what you have until it�s gone. Imagine that you received a letter from the State Highway Patrol stating that they know you recently moved to the state and own firearms. Next they commence to inform you that your firearms are not legally registered and you are violating state law. Furthermore, they explain that there is no way for you to register them, nor sell them, or move them from your residence for any purpose. Sound a little far fetched? Think it won�t happen? Please read on, it is currently occurring to U.S. soldiers serving in Germany. American servicemen and women are experiencing that scenario right now. The German government earlier this year revoked a previous law that allowed the US Forces to create policy and administer the registration of privately owned weapons kept in Germany by US servicemen. The law had been in effect with only minor revisions since the end of the WW2, when the US began stationing forces in Germany. US Armed Forces requirements for privately owned weapons were very restrictive compared with what most US citizens experience. However the policy allowed for the private possession and use of firearms. After the service member received permission from his/her commander to possess the weapon it had to be registered. Procedures required registration of each firearm with the US Forces Provost Marshall�s Office and an administrative fee of $8.00 per firearm (this also included Air rifles and BB guns). Additionally there are specific requirements on the storage and transportation of all firearms and ammunition. You can well imagine my frustration and anger at receiving a letter from the US Forces Provost Marshal saying that I was required to keep my guns locked up and not to transport them anywhere. Equally aggravating, I am also prohibited from purchasing any firearms from German sources. On prior tours to Germany I have acquired some very fine used European firearms at decent prices. Firearms can still be purchased and shot at post "Rod and Gun Clubs" where those facilities exist, however the firearm must remain stored at that facility until further notice. The intent of the new German law is to have US Forces meet the same requirements German citizens must follow in order obtain a weapon registration permit. The WaffenBesitzKarte or (WBK) allows the possession and the use of firearms, but restricts quantity and type. Basically, the requirements for Germans are: be a resident, justify a need for the firearm, be law abiding and of good character, receive required marksmanship and safety training, pay expensive registration fees, and obtain permission from the proper authorities. Furthermore, to meet the resident requirement one has to reside in Germany for 3 years. The justification of need falls into 3 areas: hunting, sport shooting, and collecting (notice that self defense is not considered a need).
To determine you are law abiding and of good character, an intensive background check is conducted. Offenses such as poaching, DUI, bankruptcy, or even minor misdemeanors will probably disqualify applicants as it indicates they are not of good character. Required marksmanship and safety training consists of programs of instruction much like the NRA rifle, pistol and shotgun courses, without any self defense references. Registration fees are expensive and vary from state to state (Laender). In the state of Hessen, the blank WBK costs $80 with a $20 fee to add or remove each firearm. Permission from the proper authorities is just that- permission (not a right), which can be denied if they feel you don�t qualify. Note there are exceptions to the rules and to the types and quantities of firearms allowed, but ultimately possession is based on obtaining permission versus a right to bear arms. US Forces Headquarters in Germany, aware of the revocation proceedings had thorough discussions with German officials. They thought they reached an understanding that the implementation date would be 31 Dec 2000. This would have allowed time to establish procedures for US Forces personnel to meet the new requirements. Inbound personnel and new weapons purchases would have continued under the old agreement, until that time. In September 1999 German officials came back with a ruling that US Forces had misunderstood their intent and that the requirement to meet German Law was effective 31 March 1999. However all firearms legally registered before that date would be "grandfathered". Since US Forces had continued to register weapons under the old policy with a view toward 31 Dec 2000, there are approximately 2000 personnel with legal, U.S. registered weapons that are in violation of German law. If apprehended transporting a "so called" unregistered weapon by German authorities, U.S. personnel face fines of $5000 and or confinement of up to 3 years. I am personally caught up in this fiasco because I transferred to Germany in July, 1999 and shipped over a couple of firearms. Negotiations continue between German officials and US Forces to implement procedures acceptable to both. While I speculate that agreement will eventually be reached, I am sure there will be limits on how many firearms we are allowed to posses, particularly handguns. In the mean time we are caught in limbo. The biggest lesson from this situation is not how they resolve the legal issues here in Germany, but to ask myself these questions: When I return from this tour will I still have my Second Amendment Rights-to keep and bear arms? Will I be limited to the type and quantity of firearms that I can own? Am I doing all I can to ensure that I will still have my Second Amendment Rights when I return? Am I doing all I can to ensure that other Americans including my children will still have the right to keep and bear arms in the future? Have I written my Congressman and Senator? Have I provided enough financial support to organizations fighting for our Second Amendment Rights? Have I preached to convince gun-owning friends the need to join those organizations? Have I taken the time to introduce a non-gun owner to the shooting sports? Are you doing all you can? If you are like me you probably fell short on the answers to these questions. But as for me in regards to my current experiences in Germany, "been there, done that, got the tee shirt and I didn�t like it one bit"! So I know what I am going to do more of in the future, why don�t you join with me? Editors note: I want to sincerely thank LTC Urich for his informative article. I was totally unaware of this situation in Germany. I have not seen or heard any other articles about this in the main stream media or numerous gun publications. There are some unfortunate similarities to the SKS detachable magazine rifle confiscation and ban currently being implemented in Kalifornia (socialist spelling). Tom, I am very sorry to inform you that if you are expecting any help from the anti-gun Clinton Administration or the US State Department... don�t hold your breath. This German example is probably a pilot program to be implemented in the US in the near future? Readers can draw their own parallels to Adolf Hitler and his legacy. Member Receives CMP .22 Match Rifle Just wanted to drop you a line about the CMP rifles you discussed in the last MSSA newsletter. Got my [Remington] 541X today and it�s immaculate! I�m no expert but it appears to be unissued. The rear sight assembly hasn�t been fitted to the mounting rail on the receiver. The bolt had one barleycorn size dark spot on the back (I assume this to be rust) yet the finish was unaffected. The bolt overall still had all of the bluing on the lugs indicating to me that it had not been installed except for fitting. After cleaning and oiling, I showed the rifle to a friend that collects guns. After examining the rifle and discussing it, (he had never heard of a [Remington] 541X) he offered me twice what I paid. I turned him down and instantly decided not to shoot it. I can�t wait to see what the H&R M12 and the Mossberg M44 look like. Like you said, it ain�t often you can get some of your hard earned tax dollars back. Anyone that passes up this opportunity to do so is missing out! Sincerely, Harold E. Elliot, proud MSSA member.  The
New FBI Headquarters is housed in the J. Edgar Hoover Building located at 10th
St. and Pennsylvania Ave., Wash. D.C.
The FBI Tour, Washington D.C. By Mitchell Peters Editor�s Notes: This summer, in mid-July of 1999, I visited Washington D.C. and took the FBI tour. While on the tour I was a little surprised to see one foreign name on the "The Ten Most Wanted List", (I guess I don�t pay enough attention to these things). The name was Usama Bin Laden; a Saudi national wanted for various acts of international terrorism directed against the United States of America, etc. I suspect many of you recognize the name. We decided to take the tour straight from the airport. It was late in the day and we were a little tired. It turned out to be a good decision. The very next day the tour was suspended until further notice. The reasons given were vague, unspecific security concerns. The security around and inside the building was deadly serious and at a high state of alert; but it was purposely made to look routine and low key. Most of the following story is written from notes I made immediately after the tour. The first briefing on the tour included a prohibition on pictures, drawings, sketches, tape recordings, video recordings or notes! There may be a few minor inaccuracies, however I believe my account to be factual and generally correct. I especially paid attention to firearms details. "The FBI tour is designed to inform visitors of the responsibilities, organizational structures, accomplishments, history, and law enforcement services of the Federal Bureau of Investigation." This is a quote from the very extensive and complete website at www.fbi.gov. I highly recommend the website, for those of you with Internet access. The tour is at the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Headquarters (FBIHQ) Building, 10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. The one-hour, guided, walking tour is free. It is open between 8:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday except federal holidays. There are no age restrictions, however I do not recommend it for children under twelve unless they have a long attention span. There is no public parking or dining facilities. Reservations are not required however during the summer and peak periods there can be long waits. The good news is the outside wait is primarily in the shade with overhead cover. The tour begins at a security checkpoint at the corner of 9th and E Street, N.W., at the J. Edgar Hoover Building, (dedicated in 1975). This modern, massive reinforced concrete structure takes up a whole city block. There is no street level access or parking at the building. The few entrances are uphill, narrow and well attended. Anyone remotely observant of his or her surroundings is immediately aware that this is an enormous and serious fortress. You are lead, single file up a ramp and then through a metal detector and combination x-ray/hand search of all bags and backpacks. Then you wait in a moving line for your orientation briefing. The briefing consists of a laundry list of prohibitions, presumably for security reasons. Next you meet your guide (an intern) and proceed through a short maze of turns that opens into a large room of museum quality displays and exhibits. The first phase of the tour is a series of exhibits explaining the structure and organization of the FBI, some of the most famous cases (gangsters and spies), "The Ten Most Wanted List", services and jurisdictions, and investigative services and responsibilities. Some of the exhibits were very interesting, a few included firearms. Many of the guns on display were famous and historic evidence. There was one large exhibit of guns that could generally be classified as the former property of infamous gangsters. Some of the guns looked to be in near excellent condition, others were well-rusted relics. There were three guns that had once been carried by John Dillinger. They were a Smith and Wesson, Model 1917 .45 ACP revolver, a Colt M1911 .45 ACP auto and a stockless Model 1921 Thompson .45 ACP submachine gun. Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd was represented by a Colt M1911 .45 ACP auto with an extended magazine. I would estimate it to hold 10-12 rounds in lieu of the standard 7. Alvin "Creepy" Karpis also had a Colt M1911 .45 ACP auto, and a Colt M1908 .380 ACP auto. Some of the other anonymous guns in the same display included: a Colt Monitor B.A.R. (a favorite of Clyde Barrow), several .38 revolvers, a cut-down Browning Auto-5 shotgun, A Model 1927 and a very rusty M1A1 Thompson submachine guns, a very rusty German MG-42 and various semiauto pistols from .25 to .45 caliber. The only other guns displayed on this portion of the tour were a Mac-10, a TEC-9, and a photograph of an Arab type wielding an AK-47, all in an exhibit on terrorism. The overwhelming conclusion I drew from the gangster display was the .45 ACP was the caliber of choice, and the Colt M1911 .45 ACP was the pistol of choice. This was probably due to a combination of factors. Many of the "gangsters" had prior military service and were familiar with the M1911 pistol and cartridge. The availability of the M1911 was good and its flat profile favored concealment. The cartridge was interchangeable with the also popular Thompson submachine gun. But above all the, legendary and proven man-stopping ability of the .45 ACP had to have been a strong consideration. The Luger available in 9mm and .30 cal, was a contemporary alternative, however not a single example was represented. The next part of the tour was down a windowed hallway between several working, FBI laboratories. The first stop was a large forensic lab, in which they were conducting various biological and organic tests and analysis. There was a large wooden crate on the floor ala the "X Files", the dimensions were about 2� X 2� X 7� and it was labeled FBI LAB, Criminal Evidence, KEEP REFRIGERATED. I wonder what was in that one? So did the kids. Alien autopsy? The next stop was the famous ballistics and firearms lab. I stood there numb with envy and almost wetting myself. Along about a fifty foot stretch of windowed wall was the FBI firearms and ammunition collection. 5,000 firearms. The guide explained most were confiscated evidence, however a few were donated by individuals and organizations. The guns are mostly used for identification and comparison in investigations. They are not all different. They have numerous variations of some guns like the M1911/1911A1 series. There may only be as few as an overwhelming, 3,000 different guns. I really would have liked some free souvenirs from that room. As I regained control of my motor skills and my eyes began to clear and focus, I began to identify some of the guns. There were some very common guns such as a Marlin model 60 .22 semiauto rifle and a Remington model 870 Wingmaster 12-gauge shotgun. There were a few rare ones too, A WW2 German parachutist full-auto rifle-the FG-42, and MP-43 and MP-44 Sturmgewehr (real and original assault rifles). A short list of what I could identify and remember follows in no particular order: STEN gun, Bergman MP-18, Berreta 92, CETME, FAL 50.60, Vickers water-cooled, machinegun, MG-42, MG-34, AR-70, Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk. 1, AR-18, MP-38, M-16, XM-177, Stg. 57. FBI current and former issue guns-Glock 23, SIG P-226, 1927 Thompson. G-3, Mannlicher- Carcano m-1938, UZI, ROMAK, AK-74, AKM, AK-47, Naval Luger, Artillery Luger, cone hammer- broomhandles, 1873 Colt SA, S&W M-59, Remington 700, Browning Auto-5�s, M-1918 B.A.R., Winchester M-12, 94, 70, K-98k. I could have stayed right there for an hour, but the shepherd and the sheep were getting too far ahead. It was obvious there were not many NRA members in the group. As I got to the end of the lab, I paused at the ammunition collection, long enough to see how it was stored. Each example included one complete round and one "broken" down round. The disassembled round had the powder and projectile(s) stored in smaller containers. I would guess that there were at least 300 cartridges on display. They were all designated with a five-digit number, for example xx,xxx. Does that indicate that there maybe as many as tens of thousands of samples in the collection? The next stop was the automotive lab. The FBI maintains thousands of samples of auto: paint, glass, plastic, fluids, and tire tracks. There is an extensive library of every automobile ever produced to include pictures, specifications, dimensions etc. Yatta, yatta, yatta, its not guns. Lastly we passed several displays of confiscated and or forfeited property. The items included a rare Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a ten-foot stuffed Kodiak bear and several million dollars worth of jewelry, precious metals, and gemstones. Yatta, yatta, yatta, its not guns. Finally came the highlight of the tour. We were going to see the famous FBI firearms demonstration. We were seated in a small auditorium, facing a large dark curtain. A well-dressed agent appeared and introduced himself. He began his briefing by explaining the FBI firearms policy in simple terms; an agent will only use his weapon to save a life. The demonstration would include three issue weapons, a S&W Model 13 .357 magnum revolver, a Glock Model 22 .40 cal. S&W semiauto pistol, and an H&K MP-5 10mm submachine gun. The FBI also issues a few other firearms under certain circumstances. However these we would see demonstrated and one other-the Glock Model 23 are by far the most common issued. The Glock recently has begun to replace the SIG P-226/228 series of guns for financial reasons. The Glock pistols are about $400. dollars cheaper per copy. The agent did think the issued SIG�s would remain in the system for sometime because they were well liked by those carrying them. The curtain was drawn and the agent entered the range. We viewed the action through a large sound-reducing window. The first weapon used was the S&W Model 13. The target was a full silhouette at seven yards and front lit. The agent was standing in a typical position. He popped off six rounds in about 30 seconds, and then back lit the target so we could see his six-inch group in a vertical string, located from the sternum to the lower jaw. My first thought was�so, I can do that, and I certainly don�t get as much practice or training. The "never-been-shooting sheep" applauded enthusiastically as if we were looking at one ragged hole in ten seconds. I really don�t mean to knock the FBI agent, I guess I just expected more. Next the agent demonstrated the Glock. The same target and conditions except for back lighting. This time he fired 13 rounds in not much more than 30 seconds. The group was centered in the chest and about four inches big. That seemed very respectable and once again the "never-been-shooting sheep" applauded enthusiastically. Last but not least, was the H&K MP-5. The gun had a laser sight and a fixed stock. The same target at the same range. This time the lighting was both backlit with revolving red and blue police car lights. I had never seen this lighting on a range before, and it was a little unnerving. The agent shot three single shots then three, three round bursts and one long burst of eighteen rounds in less time than it takes to tell. The group was spread all over the center of the target at least eight or more inches. Again I was unimpressed; I shot that same group with a clunky, M-3 grease gun at fifty yards when I was a "tanker" in the army. But once again the "never-been-shooting sheep" applauded even more enthusiastically. The agent concluded with a short "Question and Answer" period. I was both amazed and amused by the stupid questions the "sheep" asked. I did manage to ask why he had not demonstrated the Glock 23, which is more commonly issued than the Glock 22. He responded the Glock 23 had been jamming all day. Well that would not inspire confidence in a gun I was carrying to defend my life. I own a Glock and I like it. I also like 9mm parabellum as an efficient, easy to shoot cartridge. But my chances of depending on it to save my life are a lot less than a FBI agent. Also why would they issue a submachine gun in (10mm) a different caliber than their handgun (40 caliber)? I could not help but think back to the choices of the gangsters, the cartridge-.45 ACP, the pistol- Colt M1911 and the submachine gun- the 1921 or 1927 Thompson. Their fundamental choices were a proven man-stopping cartridge, a combat proven handgun and submachine gun, furthermore cartridge interchangeability between the pistol and submachine gun. I will concede the Thompson and M1911 are arguably not the best choice with currently available alternatives. However I certainly would not feel disadvantaged, armed with either. I am sure the FBI has lengthy studies concerning the firearms currently issued. I can�t help but wonder if just perhaps, they may have lost sight of some basic fundamental principles. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." -George Santayana ADVERTISING: FOR SALE / WANTED If you were an MSSA member, you'd be able to advertise free in our printed publication, and this issue you would have seen ads (some to buy, some to sell) for a Clark Custom .38 Longslide, an NRA cloth coat, a 10-X International leather coat, cloth shooting pants, an Junior NRA SB cloth coat, a Mod 70 Ultra Match, an M1A1 Match Rifle, a Marlin 9 Camp Carbine, a Tasco Spotting Scope, 16 gauge Remington 48s and 1100s, and Anschutz 1807 Standard rifles. Ready to JOIN MSSA yet? TEN GOOD REASONS TO JOIN THE MSSA
Ready yet? JOIN MSSA TODAY! The Mission of the Missouri Sport Shooting Association Edited by Mitchell Peters The MSSA is the Missouri State organization affiliated with the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), National Rifle Association (NRA), USA Shooting and the Conservation Federation of Missouri. The shooting sports and gun ownership has been an important part of Missouri�s heritage. However that doesn�t mean that those freedoms will always be around for you and your children to know and enjoy. The future of shooting sports, hunting and gun ownership will be determined by the actions that you take today and tomorrow. Purpose (From the Bylaws of the Association) The purposes and objectives of the Missouri Sport Shooting Association are: To promote and defend the individual citizen�s right to keep and bear arms for all legitimate purposes. To promote and further marksmanship training and competitions in the use of rifle, pistol, shotgun, and archery equipment to the end that such skill shall be of use and benefit in defense of person, property, state and nation, and in all shooting sports. It shall be the further purpose of this association to promote and perpetuate the legal sport of hunting. Mission Statement The mission of the Missouri Sport Shooting Association (MSSA) is to help protect and preserve the shooting sports at the state level. MSSA will promote and improve the shooting sports by sponsoring marksmanship training and competitions throughout the state of Missouri. MSSA will work for the rights of the gun owner, shooter, collector, hunter, archer, black powder enthusiast, and trapper. MSSA will support the free exchange of ideas, information and education related to gun ownership, shooting, hunting, firearms and related topics. |
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