http://www.lafayettejc.com/columns/200302235local_sports1045978479.shtml
Not since 'Dirty Harry' has a Magnum handgun drawn this much attention
By Brent Wheat, For the Journal and Courier
This corner prides itself on bringing readers the latest, greatest and most important news from the outdoor world, but we blew it this time.
We had the hottest national firearms story in our hands at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trades (SHOT) show last week in Orlando but we didn't realize its significance.
For that, I apologize.
Apparently the anti-gunners got their collective panties in a bunch over the new Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum handgun, introduced at the show as "The most powerful production handgun in the world!"
In typically unbiased fashion (note the sarcasm), The Associated Press wrote about the gun and made sure to feature quotes from the head of an antigun group on this latest threat to law and order.
The Feb. 13 story by Trudy Tynan gave a brief overview of the gun, then said that "some dispute the wisdom of producing such a powerful handgun."
The "some" is Tom Diaz, senior policy adviser of the Violence Policy Center, a Washington-based anti-gun group. "It boggles the mind," Diaz said, predicting the gun will bring "a new order of threat to law enforcement."
Scripps Howard News Service writer Lowell Branham questioned the objectivity and slant of Ms. Tynan in a column that pointed out the factual errors of the wire story. For example, the AP story sniffed, "The introduction of the big gun marks a sharp departure for the 150-year-old company, which for the past five years has concentrated on the development of lightweight revolvers using alloys of rare metals."
This is far from the truth.
While Smith & Wesson has been building lightweight revolvers, it has also introduced many other new products including a 1911-style autopistol that attracted much attention. In case you weren't aware, the 1911 is intended for only two purposes: shooting competition and self-defense in the hands of law enforcement, military and properly licensed citizens. That means shooting people.
The story also used the last two paragraphs to point out that shooters ostracized the gun maker when it made the ill-fated agreement with the Clinton administration that nearly drove the company out of business. As Tynan wrote, "In 2001, the ailing gunmaker was sold by its British owner to an Arizona startup company that all but abandoned the agreement with the government and adopted an aggressive and unapologetic marketing stance."
As well it should, I might add.
It was also reported by CNS news.com that Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) doesn't like the gun either. According to the story reprinted in the National Shooting Sports Federation newsletter, Davis said, "You don't go out hunting deer with a revolver. Those of us who live in big, urban centers have a different fear and a different take than some people who may live in different environments."
He promises to introduce legislation in Congress to ban the gun. As far as hunting with a revolver, my deer hunting partner was apparently shooting at me the past 10 years instead of all that venison we brought home.
So what is all this hullabaloo about?
I handled the Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum and found it interesting but not very practical for Dirty Harry wannabes. Weighing in at four and a half pounds with a barrel over eight inches long, it is quite a handful even for folks with big meaty paws like me. The trigger seems very rough for such a good quality weapon, though that might be a quirk of the display gun that was being dry-fired every five seconds.
The 500 Magnum is in the same class as a medium deer rifle in terms of ballistics, though the half-inch hole produced by the bullet would certainly allow a great deal of cold air into the target. It is clearly a hunting weapon that would be difficult to conceal unless you were wearing a down trench coat.
At a suggested retail price of nearly $1,000, it seems unlikely that your local methamphetamine addict will buy one to knock off the corner liquor store. Ammunition prices haven't been announced but $40 a box or more could be expected for the big cartridges.
In final review, this engineering masterpiece has generated far more negative coverage than a simple tool should deserve. If you are looking for a great big handgun to hunt dangerous game or just want to own the latest shooting toy, buy a 500 Magnum.
If you think this gun is going to be killing police officers and toddlers by the hearse-load, go find something else to fill your pointy little head with worry.
Not since 'Dirty Harry' has a Magnum handgun drawn this much attention
By Brent Wheat, For the Journal and Courier
This corner prides itself on bringing readers the latest, greatest and most important news from the outdoor world, but we blew it this time.
We had the hottest national firearms story in our hands at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trades (SHOT) show last week in Orlando but we didn't realize its significance.
For that, I apologize.
Apparently the anti-gunners got their collective panties in a bunch over the new Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum handgun, introduced at the show as "The most powerful production handgun in the world!"
In typically unbiased fashion (note the sarcasm), The Associated Press wrote about the gun and made sure to feature quotes from the head of an antigun group on this latest threat to law and order.
The Feb. 13 story by Trudy Tynan gave a brief overview of the gun, then said that "some dispute the wisdom of producing such a powerful handgun."
The "some" is Tom Diaz, senior policy adviser of the Violence Policy Center, a Washington-based anti-gun group. "It boggles the mind," Diaz said, predicting the gun will bring "a new order of threat to law enforcement."
Scripps Howard News Service writer Lowell Branham questioned the objectivity and slant of Ms. Tynan in a column that pointed out the factual errors of the wire story. For example, the AP story sniffed, "The introduction of the big gun marks a sharp departure for the 150-year-old company, which for the past five years has concentrated on the development of lightweight revolvers using alloys of rare metals."
This is far from the truth.
While Smith & Wesson has been building lightweight revolvers, it has also introduced many other new products including a 1911-style autopistol that attracted much attention. In case you weren't aware, the 1911 is intended for only two purposes: shooting competition and self-defense in the hands of law enforcement, military and properly licensed citizens. That means shooting people.
The story also used the last two paragraphs to point out that shooters ostracized the gun maker when it made the ill-fated agreement with the Clinton administration that nearly drove the company out of business. As Tynan wrote, "In 2001, the ailing gunmaker was sold by its British owner to an Arizona startup company that all but abandoned the agreement with the government and adopted an aggressive and unapologetic marketing stance."
As well it should, I might add.
It was also reported by CNS news.com that Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) doesn't like the gun either. According to the story reprinted in the National Shooting Sports Federation newsletter, Davis said, "You don't go out hunting deer with a revolver. Those of us who live in big, urban centers have a different fear and a different take than some people who may live in different environments."
He promises to introduce legislation in Congress to ban the gun. As far as hunting with a revolver, my deer hunting partner was apparently shooting at me the past 10 years instead of all that venison we brought home.
So what is all this hullabaloo about?
I handled the Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum and found it interesting but not very practical for Dirty Harry wannabes. Weighing in at four and a half pounds with a barrel over eight inches long, it is quite a handful even for folks with big meaty paws like me. The trigger seems very rough for such a good quality weapon, though that might be a quirk of the display gun that was being dry-fired every five seconds.
The 500 Magnum is in the same class as a medium deer rifle in terms of ballistics, though the half-inch hole produced by the bullet would certainly allow a great deal of cold air into the target. It is clearly a hunting weapon that would be difficult to conceal unless you were wearing a down trench coat.
At a suggested retail price of nearly $1,000, it seems unlikely that your local methamphetamine addict will buy one to knock off the corner liquor store. Ammunition prices haven't been announced but $40 a box or more could be expected for the big cartridges.
In final review, this engineering masterpiece has generated far more negative coverage than a simple tool should deserve. If you are looking for a great big handgun to hunt dangerous game or just want to own the latest shooting toy, buy a 500 Magnum.
If you think this gun is going to be killing police officers and toddlers by the hearse-load, go find something else to fill your pointy little head with worry.
