CANADIAN JOURNAL

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

Fully Committed On All Fronts CANADA’S NATIONAL FIREARMS ASSOCIATION

PM 40009473 Return undeliverable to: Canadian Firearms Journal, P.O. Box 49090, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 6H4

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_01_COVER_FINAL.indd 1 2020-12-10 2:05 PM TYPE 81 LMG The Type 81 LMG is an infantry support version of the Type 81 family. Chambered in the same 7.62x39, the rifle was designed with a number of changes over the standard Type 81 to support its role. A thicker and longer chrome lined barrel was added for better retained accuracy during high volume firing, a folding bi-pod was attached to the barrel for firing support and the front sight was moved to the end of the barrel to provide a longer sight radius for added precision. A top mounted carrying handle was mounted to the rear sight post and the rear changed to “club foot” style to allow the user to fire from the prone position more comfortably.

Supplied with two 5/30 magazines, with and drum magazines available as optional accessories. All parts and components are new production. Non-restricted. Priced at just $1499. Very limited quantities.

TACTICALIMPORTS.CA [email protected] 800.994.6223

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_02-03_CONTENTS_FINAL.indd 2 2020-12-11 10:08 AM CANADIAN January/February 2021 FIREARMS JOURNAL

COLUMNS 50 34 LEGAL CORNER HANDLOADING SECRETS 4 Municipal Bans: When Making ammunition with an F-Class champion ON THE COVER Ideology Trumps Common Sense GUY LAVERGNE TIMOTHY FOWLER 5 FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK 54 36 New Year – Ongoing Challenges NFA BOOK SHELF THAT’S LOUD! AL VOTH The importance The Browning High Power of hearing protection Automatic DUANE RADFORD 6 BILL RANTZ PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 42 Compensation, Courts & Closures FEATURES SHELDON CLARE REVOLVER MECHANICS The finer points of transfer bars 16 BOB CAMPBELL 8 VICE-PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE DEMISE OR REBIRTH? Remington Arms Co. 46 Sweeping Legislative Reform sold off in parts BLAIR HAGEN GRASSROOTS RIMFIRE JEFF HELSDON Improving skills & making friends 11 TYSON SOMMERVILLE POINT BLANK 22 49 I Fear The Government GOING SMALL – LEGALLY LEUPOLD TRACER SUNGLASSES Who Fears My Gun Bersa’s Thunder in 380 Auto CHRIS MCGARRY AL VOTH Comfort & style with a purpose JEFF SMITH 28 12 CANADIAN FABARM’S STORY FIREARMS JOURNAL PRESERVING OUR JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 FIREARMS HERITAGE A high-performance Italian The Unseen Soldiers - Part Two maker returns to Canada GARY K. KANGAS & DARYL DREW LOWELL STRAUSS 14 32 POLITICS & GUNS TOOL BASICS

Fully Committed On All Fronts Eight essential tools for gun owners CANADA’S NATIONAL FIREARMS ASSOCIATION Transforming Canada PM 40009473 Return undeliverable to: Canadian Firearms Journal, BRUCE GOLD JEFF HELSDON P.O. Box 49090, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 6H4

MISSION STATEMENT Canada’s National Firearms Association exists to promote, support and protect all safe firearms activities, including the right of self defense, firearms education for all Canadians, freedom and justice for Canada’s firearms community and to advocate for legislative change to ensure the right of all Canadians to own and use firearms is protected. The contents of the Canadian Firearms Journal are copyrighted and may be reproduced only when written permission is obtained from the publisher.

January/February 2021 www.nfa.ca 3

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_02-03_CONTENTS_FINAL.indd 3 2020-12-11 10:08 AM On The Cover

his month’s cover shows a Ca- Tnadian gun-owner engaged in what is likely our number one winter hunting activity – predator hunting. Waiting for a fox, coyote or wolf to respond to a call when it’s -20 degrees takes stamina and patience. It takes a good rifle too, and in case a pack shows up, it helps to have a semi- auto, like the M305 he’s holding. This image was captured several years ago, but that rifle is now prohibited because our government thinks it’s unsuitable for hunting. Naturally, they didn’t ask any hunters, probably just some residents of downtown To- ronto. Hopefully a change in govern- ment will see like this back in the outdoors again soon.

Canadian Firearms Journal

The Official of

Editor Al Voth [email protected] General Manager [email protected] Ginger Fournier 780-439-1394 Accounts/Membership [email protected] General Information [email protected] Legal Inquiries [email protected]

National Executive National President 1-877-818-0393 Sheldon Clare [email protected] EVP, Communications 1-877-818-0393 Blair Hagen [email protected] Treasurer 1-877-818-0393 PM 40009473 Bill Rantz [email protected] Return undeliverable to: Secretary 1-877-818-0393 Canadian Firearms Journal, P.O. Box 49090, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 6H4 Jerrold Lundgard [email protected] PRINTED IN CANADA

4 www.nfa.ca January/February 2021

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_04-08_EDITOR_PRESIDENTMESSAGES_FINAL.indd 4 2020-12-10 2:11 PM From The Editor’s Desk Al Voth

’m fortunate in that I seem to be an new administration south of the border, even exporting into the US. Much to the Ioptimist by nature. For me, the glass as well. In fact, it’s been promised – frustration of the gun-banners, we’ve is always half full instead of half empty. repeatedly. While it’ll be interesting made some major progress in building a So, it’s easy for me to look forward to to watch and see how things play out Canadian firearms industry the last few this coming new year. This time, I’m across the street at our neighbour’s, years, and this should help even more. sure most people feel likewise, as we we can expect significant fallout here Besides being a story unto them- eagerly anticipate getting back to what on the north side of the street, as well. selves, shortages will affect us here used to be normal. Hopefully, during Of course, I’m referring to shortages at the CFJ, in terms of accessibility to the course of the year, the problems caused by American demand exceed- the products we can review for you. COVID-19 generated will pass into his- ing supply. It’s going to affect us here in However, we’ll do our best to keep you tory, although we taxpayers will still be Canada, too. informed on how best to spend your left with the bill to pay. As I write this, I’ve heard that one (after tax) money. Toward that end, I Unfortunately, the problems Cana- major ammunition manufacturer in the trust the content in this issue will as- dian gun owners face because of a US has back orders for $1 billion worth sist, and that you’ll be informed and government determined to confiscate of ammunition and expects this situa- entertained for a little while during a many of our firearms will still loom tion to get worse. Factor in the market Canadian winter. over us this year. But instead of fight- disruption caused by Remington’s And perhaps what you read here ing COVID, we can direct more of our bankruptcy, and it’s not hard to predict will inspire you to think about writ- energies to fighting this bad legisla- that 2021 will be a year of shortages and ing something yourself. We’re always tion. The key to doing this is replacing increasing prices for guns and ammu- looking for great written content and the current government with one that nition. However, my optimistic nature compelling photographs, so if you’d understands we aren’t the problem. tells me this will be the motivation for like to give it a try, get in touch with With the US election settled, it’s new Canadian manufacturers to appear me and perhaps we can turn you into likely we can expect gun banning and and assist in filling the supply gap on a published author. After all, it’s your confiscations to be on the agenda of the this side of the border, and perhaps magazine.

January/February 2021 www.nfa.ca 5

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_04-08_EDITOR_PRESIDENTMESSAGES_FINAL.indd 5 2020-12-10 2:11 PM President’s Message Sheldon Clare

Make sure your elected and nominated representatives understand that support for licensing and registration is support for failed Liberal gun control policies – period.

Assurez vous que vos élus et leurs représentants comprennent qu’appuyer l’enregistrement et l’émission de permis, c’est appuyer des politiques qui ont échoué, point final.

here seems to be an awful lot of of the political spectrum. Hopefully, Liberal gun control policies – period. Tpolitical capital being expended the Conservatives resist the tempta- The Liberals continue to make the on getting so-called “red flag laws” in tion to take CPC policies to the left logically fallacious, slippery slope Canada, which is in fact something we and remain true to their base. People claim that since their previous gun already have. This is in addition to the without something to vote for tend to control efforts haven’t worked, more is continued promotion of the so-called stay home. needed. They are already talking about buy-back of people’s newly prohib- If anyone was still confused about central storage and other such non- ited firearms. The fact of the matter the purpose of the Liberal registration sense. All their proposals simply drive is you can’t buy back something you and licensing program, the OiC should more wedges between Canadians, to didn’t own or sell in the first place. It’s have cleared that up. Registration serve ideological purposes without really just legislated theft with a claim only exists to build lists for confisca- actually doing anything of value. Never of compensation, using what Liber- tion. Licensing was supposed to be a give up your firearms. als seem to believe are endless tax revenue-generating measure but has Our supported court challenge to the dollars. We’ll see how that goes, but I turned into a means of identifying OiC of Parker v. Canada continues. It don’t see any of it going as they might and tracking firearms owners. Neither was the first challenge filed; despite expect. People are simply not going have anything whatsoever to do with what some might have you believe. As to give up their property. And they stopping bad people from committing well, so does our application to inter- especially won’t give it up at the order crimes. Licensing and registration, in vene directly. As we predicted, section of a Liberal government as corrupt as contrast to what one ignorant speaker 74 challenges have not been success- this one appears to be. Hopefully, our often claims, is most certainly not “… ful, with one court in Newfoundland court case is successful, and we can something Canada got right.” No, it is clearly stating that it has no jurisdic- defeat the Liberals in the next federal merely a Liberal gun control system tion to hear such a case due to the nul- election. run amok with the purpose of relieving lification of registrations originating Regardless, it is clear the Liberals you of your property. Make sure your not from the Firearms Registrar, but have very much adopted an authori- elected and nominated representatives rather from the OiC.

tarian left position, such that there is understand that support for licensing The affidavits are piling up and the DREAMSTIME no more room for the NDP on the left and registration is support for failed lawyers have their work cut out for

6 www.nfa.ca January/February 2021

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_04-08_EDITOR_PRESIDENTMESSAGES_FINAL.indd 6 2020-12-10 2:11 PM them. As Ms. Parker’s lawyer, Solomon We have also been looking into yet tendre l’illogisme erroné que puisque Friedman, put it, “…it’s a marathon, another range closure, this one in leur contrôle actuel des armes à feu not a sprint.” There is certainly pres- Alberta. The claim is often about public ne fonctionne pas , il en faut encore sure to be “doing something,” but I can safety, but in fact these are almost plus. Ils parlent encore d’entreposage assure you the legal aspect is being always noise complaints by neighbours centralisé et d’autres conneries. Toutes professionally managed by the NFA who moved into an area knowing full leurs propositions ne font que diviser and our very experienced lawyers, well a firearms range was already there. les Canadiens et servent à pousser leur including Guy Lavergne. In the mean- Hopefully, we can help find a solution idéologie sans rien accomplir qui ait time, it is particularly important to be which will either allow the club to re- une valeur. Abandonner jamais vos getting ready for an election which open or give it the ability to relocate. armes à feu. could happen at any time. Be involved Hunting season is winding down as I Notre poursuite devant les tribunaux, in the nomination process for your write this, and I hope those of you who Parker vs Canada, en regard du décret local electoral district, and make sure hunt enjoyed much success with your continue. C’est la première poursuite you are supporting candidates who wanders through the woods. Keep intentée devant les tribunaux, con- will support you on firearms issues. your powder dry. trairement à ce que certains essaient de vous faire croire. Notre requête pour intervenir directement continue aussi. Comme nous nous y attendions, les contestations via l’art 74 ont été Message du sans succès. Il y a même une cour de Terre-Neuve qui a affirmé ne pas avoir la juridiction pour entendre la cause Président puisque les annulations des enregis- Sheldon Clare trements ne provenait pas du registrai- re des armes à feu mais du décret. Les affidavits s’accumulent et les avocats ne chômeront pas. Me Solo- mon Friedman, avocat de Mme Parker a bien décrit la situation en disant que c’est un marathon et non un sprint. l semble qu’il y a beaucoup de résistera à la tentation de glisser vers Nous sentons la pression pour “faire Icapital politique qui se dépense la gauche et qu’ils demeureront fidèles quelque chose” mais je vous assure pour que nous ayons de nouvelles à leur base. Ceux qui ne voient plus que l’aspect légal est entre les mains lois permettant des saisies préven- pour qui voter, ont tendance à rester professionnelles de l’ACAF et de nos tives - alors que ces lois existent déjà. chez eux. avocats chevronnés, incluant Me Guy Nous sommes aussi témoins d’une Si quelqu’un n’avait pas encore com- Lavergne. Entre temps il est très im- promotion agressive d’un programme pris l’objectif désiré du programme portant d’être prêts pour une élection de rachat des armes qui appartien- des permis et enregistrements, le qui peut survenir n’importe quand. nent aux citoyens et qui viennent de récent décret devrait les avoir éclairé Impliquez vous dans le processus de devenir prohibées. Franchement, il complètement. L’enregistrement est mise en candidature dans votre cir- n’est pas possible de racheter quelque l’outil qui construit des listes d’armes conscription et assurez vous d’appuyer chose qui n’a jamais été à vous ou que à confisquer. L’émission de permis des candidats qui seront d’accord avec vous n’avez pas vendu. Ceci est du vol devait être une mesure pour permettre vous envers les enjeux par rapport aux par législation avec une compensation de générer des revenus mais ils l’ont armes à feu. qui provient de ce que les Libéraux transformé en moyen d’identifier et Nous sommes impliqués à véri- semblent croire est une source in- de suivre les propriétaires d’armes à fier les raisons de la fermeture d’un épuisable d’argent des contribuables. feu. Ni un ni l’autre ont été utile pour autre club de tir, cette fois en Alberta. Nous verrons comment ça ira mais empêcher les méchants de commettre Ils prétendent souvent qu’il s’agit de je ne crois pas que cela ira comme ils des crimes. L’émission de permis et sécurité publique mais en réalité ce le pensent - les gens ne remettrons l’enregistrement des armes, contraire- sont presque toujours de plaintes de pas leur propriété privée. Ils ne les ment à ce qu’un conférencier ignorant bruit de la part de voisins. Ces gens remettrons surtout pas suite à un ordre prétend souvent, ne sont certainement sont déménagés à proximité, sachant d’un gouvernement Libéral si cor- pas: “des choses que le Canada a bien très bien qu’il y avait un club de tir. rompu que celui-ci semble être. Nous fait”. Non. Ce n’est qu’un système Nous travaillons fort pour trouver souhaitons vivement gagner notre Libéral de contrôle des armes qui a une solution qui permettra au club de poursuite et que nous pourrons dé- dérapé et qui a été conçu pour vous réouvrir ou de lui donner la chance de faire les Libéraux lors de la prochaine dérober vos biens. Assurez vous que déménager. élection fédérale. vos élus et leurs représentants com- La saison de la chasse ralentie. Peu importe, c’est clair que les prennent qu’appuyer l’enregistrement Comme j’écris ces lignes, j’espère que Libéraux ont adopté une position au- et l’émission de permis, c’est appuyer les chasseurs parmi vous avez eu du toritaire de gauche ne laissant aucune des politiques qui ont échoué, point succès durant vos promenades dans place au NPD. Espérons que le PCC final. Les Libéraux continuent de pré- les bois. Gardez votre poudre sèche.

January/February 2021 www.nfa.ca 7

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_04-08_EDITOR_PRESIDENTMESSAGES_FINAL.indd 7 2020-12-10 2:11 PM Vice-President’s Become an Message Blair Hagen NFA

ell, 2020 is behind us and I think prisoners in their own country for the government is going to be attacked FIELD WI echo the sentiments of most by duration of the war. by the media, the civil disarmament saying the attacks by the Liberal gov- Fast forward to today, and the say- lobby and that lobby’s allies in the ernment on the rights, property and ing, “Same circus, different clowns” Liberal party. Those attacks have got freedoms of Canadians this year, in comes to mind. to be ignored and dismissed. That OFFICER combination with being insulted, pa- But instead of belaboring this, I want government has got to have the cour- tronized and degraded on a daily basis to concentrate on something different. age and intestinal fortitude to do the in the name of “health and safety,” will This Liberal government, stripped of right thing. not and should not be forgotten. its parliamentary majority in the last However, far more than much- Canadians need to take stock of election, corrupt and scandal-ridden, needed legislative reform is required. what has been done to our rights and and led by an unqualified leader, will A message must be sent. A strong freedoms and there needs to be a likely fall within the next two years. message to counter the one sent by reckoning. There will be a federal election. the Liberals with their C-71 legisla- At the time of this writing, the Liberal We’ve defeated the Liberal Party and tion and Order in Council. A message government still has not formed a plan the civil disarmament lobby before. so strong, they will feel the legislative or budget to implement its Order in We’ve elected governments and have impact on their civil disarmament Council to confiscate over 200,000 piec- had legislative victories in the very agenda in grave and serious ways for Are you a firearms activist es of private property of Canadians. recent past. Should the Conservatives decades to come. This is designed to be the biggest form a government, they have prom- The government delivering that eager to make a difference mass confiscation of property since ised to rescind the confiscatory Order message needs to come to terms with the disenfranchisement of Canadians in Council imposed by the Liberals. these facts: the criminalization of the and fight to protect gun owners’ rights? of Japanese origin during the Second But the very serious question we are simple ownership of firearms must World War. Just to remind those who asking now is how should and how end. The regulatory and enforcement may not be aware, after the attack on will that Conservative government environment threatening the rights Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, North Americans reform Canada’s failed, discredited and property of Canadians must be of Japanese origin had their homes and broken firearms laws? turned on its head. Firearms law re- Volunteer and join our leadership team today! and property confiscated and were The previous Conservative gov- form legislation must fundamentally confined to detention camps in the in- ernments did legislate firearms law change the very nature of our laws, terior of Canada and the United States. reforms, the first in modern Cana- abandoning the goal of civil disarma- All done purportedly for purposes of dian political history, but they fell far ment for good. public safety and national security, as short of what was needed to secure Many NFA members are also Canada and the United States were the rights, freedoms and property of members of the Conservative Party. FIELD OFFICER PROGRAM: at war with the Empire of Japan. Canadians. This is partly why we find We know you constantly remind your How stripping these Canadian ourselves in the situation we have EDAs, your CPC candidates, your citizens of their rights of citizenship now. The legislative agendas of those members of parliament and the CPC 1-877-818-0393 // [email protected] and property was supposed to achieve governments were cautious, timid Party brass about the need for firearms those goals is a bizarre concept today, and not wanting to suffer the wrath legislation reform. You need to keep and it was controversial even then. of mainstream media. Of course, that doing this loudly and incessantly. Never mind the betrayal of the laws wrath came anyway, for having the For the edification of everyone else, and the very founding principles audacity to reform laws which threat- NFA has already started that conver- of Canada. However, the move was ened the rights, property and culture sation with those that may well form popular with a certain segment of the of Canadians. government, but we need you, your population, and politicians wanted Legislation from the next govern- friends, your family, your co-workers to demonstrate that they were “doing ment must be swift, bold and deci- to join us in that conversation so that something.” It was all enforced and sive. That’s going to be controversial, when the time comes there will be implemented by the RCMP with great probably even more controversial no confusion, no misunderstandings, vigor and enthusiasm, as these Ca- than Liberal rights and property con- only swift, bold and decisive legisla- nadians essentially became detained fiscation measures. As a result, that tive .

8 www.nfa.ca January/February 2021

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_04-08_EDITOR_PRESIDENTMESSAGES_FINAL.indd 8 2020-12-10 2:11 PM Devenez AGENT DE TERRAIN NFA

Êtes-vous un(e) activiste voulant faire une différence et se battre pour protéger les droits des propriétaires d’armes à feu? Joignez-vous à notre équipe de bénévoles dès aujourd’hui!

PROGRAMME AGENTS DE TERRAIN 1-877-818-0393 // [email protected]

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_10-11_AD_POINTBLANK_FINAL.indd 10 2020-12-11 11:35 AM Devenez Point Blank AGENT Chris McGarry DE TERRAIN fear the government who fears “I my gun.” No doubt, if you or I were to utter those words to the The recent period of stress and economic average uninformed citizen walking uncertainty inadvertently the streets of one of our major cities, sparked a boom in whose only thoughts are on what and ammunition sales. happens today, we might be labeled a right-wing paranoid conspiracy theorist. NFA Unless you’ve been living under a rock (even then, chances are you’d have an inkling about what’s going on), 2020 was a year for the ages, but almost entirely in a negative, even nefarious way. The worst pandemic to strike the world in just over a century broughtWho needswith it staggering economic falloutan AR-15? and considerable political unrest, the likes of which has not Êtes-vous un(e) activiste voulant faire been seen in North America or the Free World in decades. une différence et se battre pour protéger During the late spring months when Canadian society went into les droits des propriétaires d’armes à feu? lockdown mode in a concerted effort to flatten the curve of the burgeoning place in Nova Scotia on April 19 and should question why governments COVID-19 virus, police forces 20, 2020, were the perfect opportunity are so keen on making people even nationwide had to deal with a spate to strike. Barely two weeks later, Prime more helpless. The answer, it would of property-related crimes, break-ins Minister Justin Trudeau announced seem, is that the powers that be crave Joignez-vous à notre équipe of businesses that were temporarily an immediate ban on as many as 1,500 a monopoly on force. In other words, shuttered, as well as domestic violence. makes and models of “military-grade we must be genuinely worried about de bénévoles dès aujourd’hui! This period of stress and economic assault-style weapons,” even though no any government who pushes for civil uncertainty also inadvertently sparked such type was used in this rampage. disarmament. a boom in firearm and ammunition In the days following the attacks During the summer of 2020, cities sales, courtesy of Canadians mindful that claimed the lives of 23 people, in the United States (and, to a lesser of personal and home security, emotions across the country were extent, Canada) were rocked by considering hunting in the event of understandably high. Gun rights mass protests and even violent riots food shortages or those using their activists on social media forums whereby the demonstrators called PROGRAMME AGENTS DE TERRAIN downtime to buy a first firearm worked diligently to counter for the abolition of law enforcement elected to partake in target shooting. emotionally driven cries for even agencies. Outlandish tinfoil hat 1-877-818-0393 // [email protected] This surge also brought with it a tighter laws or outright bans. I too conspiracy theories notwithstanding, it renewed interest in civilian firearms clashed with more than a few of these is imperative to question as to whether ownership by unlicensed folks who misguided gun control proponents, there is a deeper, more sinister agenda now want firearms and ammunition, a whose flawed logic was as alarming playing out. In any event, this societal sudden turn of events which will only as their indifference to how civilian breakdown is further concrete proof strengthen the firearms lobby. disarmament played a major role in that the police cannot protect every Nonetheless, even as the formulating some of the bloodiest citizen. psychological and physical parameters dictatorships of the 20th century. of civilized society were being tested History books are filled with endless Chris McGarry is an author and editor. and even eroded, the federal Liberals bloodstained pages of tyrants whose When not writing, you can find him were determined to stop at nothing to lust for absolute power commenced reading dystopian fiction, traveling have their way regarding the party’s with disarming the populace they ruled around the world, working out in the

ISTOCK longstanding fanatical gun control over with iron fists. With so much civil gym or playing music trivia. www. agenda. And the shootings which took unrest happening all around us, we chrismcgarryauthor.com.

January/February 2021 www.nfa.ca 11

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_10-11_AD_POINTBLANK_FINAL.indd 11 2020-12-11 11:35 AM Devenez AGENT DE TERRAIN NFA

Êtes-vous un(e) activiste voulant faire une différence et se battre pour protéger les droits des propriétaires d’armes à feu? Joignez-vous à notre équipe de bénévoles dès aujourd’hui!

PROGRAMME AGENTS DE TERRAIN 1-877-818-0393 // [email protected]

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_10-11_AD_POINTBLANK_FINAL.indd 10 2020-12-10 2:18 PM Preserving Our Firearms Heritage Gary K. Kangas & Daryl Drew

Vintage Pacific Coast he Second World War Militia Ranger kit from Twas a time of worldwide a private collection. stress and turmoil, with no exemptions for Canada. Unfortunately, many Cana- fishing boat, which had been dians today do not know this painted grey with a Navy number country was under direct on it. Frank told me, “I was on attack on the east coast by this little boat accompanied by a German U-boats and on the skipper and radio man. I was the west coast by Japanese sub- gunner armed with a 303 British, marines and firebombs. a First World War Lewis gun. I then knew we were just bait for ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY the Japanese Navy.” He shared FISHERMAN’S RESERVE that their job was to spot Japa- In anticipation of war, the nese vessels and submarine con- Canadian government ning towers, then radio Pat Bay formed a Royal Canadian from where they would scramble Navy Fisherman’s Reserve in fighter planes to attack. 1938. Its formation resulted The Gumboot Navy was dis- from the opinion that the solved in February 1944 when geography of BC’s coast, the government no longer saw a with its many obscure need for the reservists. The mem- inlets, was a perfect place bers were discharged, and some for enemy ships to hide. joined regular military units or By 1940, the Fisherman’s the Canadian Navy. Reserve had 17 ships with 150 officers and men. They PACIFIC COAST had surveillance patrols all MILITIA RANGERS along the coast extending to After the 1941 attack on Pearl the Queen Charlotte Islands, Harbor, there was a call to arms, now known as Haida Gwaii. and in March 1942 the Canadian The small fishing boats were Army issued a General Order for manned by a skipper, radio a militia to be on duty in British man and gunner armed with Columbia. The first unit of the a First World War Lewis gun. Pacific Coast Militia Rangers was The larger ships had depth raised in Victoria as Company charges and mine sweeps. No.1. By July 1942, there were The Reservists viewed them- 10,000 men and 123 companies selves as an independent unit from the informative. Frank was asked to join serving in British Columbia. The militia Navy and refused to wear the regula- the Royal Canadian Fisherman’s Re- men were unpaid, wore no uniforms, tion uniforms. Instead, they wore Navy serve due to his knowledge of Vancou- and their firearms were personally caps, sweaters, wool pants and gum- ver Island’s coast, plus he was a hunter owned. The only identification was a boots. Thus, they became known by the and one of the top trap shooters in BC. fabric armband which was marked moniker, The Gumboot Navy. A great Training began in 1941, after the at- PCMR and the company number. many of the vessels were fishing boats tack on Pearl Harbor had galvanized The Pacific Coast Militia Ranger’s confiscated from Japanese Canadians, all levels of government into action. officers were elected by the member- then painted grey with official num- By 1942, there were 48 vessels manned ship of the company, but they could also bers affixed. by 475 officers and men. The Japanese vote the officer out. Once an officer was An interview I conducted with a most submarine U 1-26 shelled Estevan elected, the information was communi- interesting and colourful First Nations Point in June 1942, heightening the cated to the Pacific Coast Militia Ranger fisherman, Frank Planes, was highly alert. Frank was assigned to a small headquarters at Pacific Army Command.

12 www.nfa.ca January/February 2021

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_12-15_PRESERVINGHERTI_POLITICS&GUN_FINAL.indd 12 2020-12-10 1:54 PM demonstrating the value of their special military skills. The 1st Special Service Force then went on to do battle with distinction in French Morocco, then re- turned to Italy with the US 36th Infantry Division. With their special skills, they climbed mountains and attacked the Germans with surprise and daring. The mountain battle of La Difensa on Dec. 2 was a fine example. The staff officers of the US 5th Army estimated Modern the battle would take four to five days. reproductions of the 1st Special The combined US and Allied forces, Service Force supported by the 1st Special Service shoulder patch Force, won the battle in two hours. The and their famous Force went on to fight at Anzio, where sticker. the Germans referred to them as the Black Devils because the unit’s mem- bers blackened their faces before com- bat. They instilled fear in the Germans The individuals recruited were commando unit under the direct com- by placing stickers with the unit patch selected from those who could not mand of the United States 5th Army. on German fortifications and German serve in the regular forces due to some The unit was trained at Fort William dead, stating in German, “The worst is physical impairment or age. The pre- Henry Harrison near Helena, Mont. yet to come!” Their performance at the ferred applicants were outdoorsmen, Most people know this unit as The battles of Monte Arrestina and Rocca loggers, fishermen, cowboys, hunters, Devil’s Brigade, thanks largely to a Massima is legendary, in that they sharp shooters, timber cruisers, sur- star-studded movie released in 1968 captured seven bridges intact, which veyors, trappers, prospectors, farmers featuring William Holden, Cliff Rob- were about to be demolished by the and First World War veterans. Chinese ertson, Vince Edwards, Andrew Prine withdrawing Germans. After the fall Canadians and First Nations were and a host of high-profile actors of of Italy, the Force was involved in the enthusiastic recruits. Membership in the era. The Devil’s Brigade name is invasion of France during August 1944. the PCMR did not require a medical entirely fictitious, but it does conjure It was a sterling performance by any examination and did not involve age up images of heroism and daring do military standard. restrictions. Membership was limited in covert operations. Thanks to the The unit was disbanded Dec. 5, 1944, to those who could do the work, with movie, these are the most famous and and was honoured by a parade, with the documented age range spanning dramatic of the unseen soldiers. the Canadians acknowledged by the from 13 to 90. All these Rangers were Initially, an officer of the high com- American troops with a Pass in Review. expected to function in the bush with- mand suggested that an elite com- The surviving members were as- out help. A quote from David B. Clark’s mando unit such as this would be a similated by Canadian and American book, “The active army members who military disaster, arguing that a small, regular forces units. trained with the Rangers learned very elite unit would be outnumbered and The Royal Canadian Navy Fisher- quickly that the Rangers knew what overwhelmed and unable to hold an man’s Reserve, the Pacific Coast Militia they were doing in the deep bush.” area. However, the theory was revised, Rangers, and the 1st Special Service By mid-1942, the Rangers were re- and the unit was formed in July 1942 Force were, for different reasons, all ceiving government-supplied equip- with half American and half Canadian unseen soldiers. But their service is a ment and arms. In July of 1942, the members, with a commanding officer credit to Canada’s military history and government purchased Winchester being an American and the second-in- a preserver of our firearms heritage. Model 1894 .30-30 and a command a Canadian. The Canadian limited number of Marlin .30-30 car- members of the 1st Special Service bines for issue to the Rangers. And as Force remained members of the the Second World War unfolded, the Canadian Army and were paid by the Sources: Pacific Coast Militia Rangers devel- Canadian government. However, all Nauticapedia.ca oped into a formidable guerilla army. members were supplied with uniforms Reminiscences of Frank Planes By stand down in 1945, 15,000 Pacific and equipment by the US Army. Southern Vancouver Island Coast Militia Rangers had served, and In 1943, this well-trained elite fight- Rangers Historian they could purchase their Winchester ing unit was deployed to the Aleutian David B. Clark carbines for personal use. Islands to attack the Japanese Occupa- The CFB Esquimalt Naval and tion Force stationed there. When they Military Museum Site 1ST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE arrived, the Japanese had already evacu- The 1st Special Service Force was estab- ated. The Force was then sent to Italy, Wikipedia lished in 1942 as an American Canadian where its members served heroically,

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_12-15_PRESERVINGHERTI_POLITICS&GUN_FINAL.indd 13 2020-12-10 1:54 PM Politics & Guns Bruce Gold

This Liberal gun ban is just part of their drive to re-invent how governance is done in Canada. Responsible government is being replaced, step by step, with direct cabinet rule, censorship and arbitrary governance.

piggy backed on a mass shooting. The Liberals used a mass shooting in 1989 (Mon- treal Massacre) and 31 years later in 2020 (Nova Scotia shooting) as a pretext to launch a virtue signaling gun grab, or perhaps more he policies of Trudeau and his Lib- Like one of the Stuart kings, he has accurately, a vote grab. The official Teral Party are designed to increase simply dismissed (prorogued) parlia- justification for this was an increased their own political power by comman- ment when numerous major scandals public demand for more measures ad- deering governance in Canada. This is become too awkward. He then used a dressing gun violence. This supposed not without historical precedent. If we confidence vote to stonewall any fur- demand was a direct contradiction of look back to the English Civil War (1642 ther investigations into illegal patron- the government’s major survey in 2018 to 1651) we can see the same struggle age and other corrupt practices. His (137,000 respondents). In this survey, between autocratic rule (divine right of budget and project spending remain a 76 per cent of respondents did not kings) and representative rule (parlia- secret. see any need for further limitations ment). Promoting a statist top-down Reversing a centuries-long struggle on “assault weapons” and 80 per cent approach to governance is not surpris- to free ourselves from arbitrary rule by did not see the need for further limits ing with a PM who considers himself a elites, the Liberals secretly prepared on . Immediately after the philosopher king and publicly declares an Order in Council to criminalize tens Nova Scotia shootings, polls began to the superiority of dictatorship’s arbi- of thousands of Canadians through an reflect the public’s emotional response trary power. arbitrary gun ban of commonly owned to the shooting, giving the Liberals the From mandating ideological litmus “assault weapons” (no legal definition). political window they needed to push tests for government support (summer The governor in council (a creature forward their anti-gun-owner agenda. student job funding) to direct cabinet of the Liberal cabinet) declared that When asked in court what studies sup- rule through Orders in Council, the none of the newly banned firearms ported the claim of “no reasonable use,” pattern of direct rule by the anointed, were “reasonable for use in Canada for the Liberals replied that the documents

our intellectual and moral superiors, hunting or sporting purposes.” were cabinet secrets and Canadians ISTOCK is demonstrated again and again. This gun ban, like most gun bans, had no right to see them.

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_12-15_PRESERVINGHERTI_POLITICS&GUN_FINAL.indd 14 2020-12-10 1:54 PM GUNS & LAW confiscating hundreds of millions of 2005), only 1,572 of 5,206 homicides (30 When the Liberals reclassified some dollars in private property. per cent) involved a firearm. Only 118 1,500 firearms (so far) into the pro- That leaves the category rifle/shot- homicides involved a registered gun hibited classification, they declared, gun. The Liberals have told us their of any kind (2.2 per cent of homicides), “These weapons were designed for new gun ban and confiscation does only 111 registered firearms owners one purpose and one purpose only: not apply to . However, it were accused (111/5206 = 2.1 per cent). to kill the largest number of people does. Which ones the regulation is un- Trying to reduce homicides by crack- in the shortest amount of time.” They clear about, since the ban on bore size ing down on the supposed assault stated, “There is no use and no place is simply 20 millimetres or greater. weapons problem means focusing for such weapons in Canada.” We That would seem clear, except the tens of thousands of police hours and might therefore ask if the RCMP will drafters seemed ignorant as to how hundreds of millions of dollars on a continue using “assault weapons” (pa- close this is to the size of 12-gauge tiny percentage of the problem. It’s a trol carbines) whose only purpose is to shotguns (nominally 18.5 millime- decision diverting scarce resources to kill as many Canadians as possible as tres, but can be up to 20 millimetres virtue signaling. fast as possible? in some overbored guns). Including With this declaration, tens of thou- the or choke recess puts CONCLUSION sands of Canadians found they were 12-gauge shotguns over the limit, and This Liberal gun ban is just part of suddenly criminals, and hundreds the Order in Council does not state their drive to re-invent how gover- of millions of dollars in what had how it is to be measured. A mere ad- nance is done in Canada. Responsible been legal property was going to be ministrative trifle which can put you in government is being replaced, step by seized without compensation. There jail with a criminal record, especially step, with direct cabinet rule, censor- is neither compensation nor grand- since the measurement procedure can ship and arbitrary governance. The fathering in the Order in Council, be changed without notice. procedures and legal precedents only vague talk of intentions. There The RCMP responded to the public established in the gun control file are is also a difficulty since the Order in alarm on this shotgun confiscation now accepted process, available for Council and its legal authority to make by stating that the secretive Firearms any other agenda that appeals to our changes in classification does not Reference Table defines the bore as activist rulers. include nullification. This nullification the diameter of the barrel forward of Think this isn’t your problem? Just process is a legal step beyond chang- the chamber but before the choke. remember that SUVs contribute to ing the firearm’s status to prohibited, However, this detail of measurement global warming, so maybe they should which would have left them open for is not part of any Canadian law or any be banned and confiscated. I know, use with a prohibited licence. With Order in Council. The FRT is merely this is obviously a completely unre- nullification, the firearm becomes an internal document of the RCMP alistic and absurd speculation, which completely unregistered and illegal for and nothing more than their opinion will never happen. Just like bypass- any use. There is no legal basis for this as to how it should be measured. ing parliament with secretly created nullification, as it is not mentioned Bizarrely, this amateurish twaddle, laws that criminalize thousands, and in the Firearms Act and, despite the which has no standing in law and is confiscate millions of dollars of private RCMP’s claim, is not mentioned by the not part of any legislation, is used property will “never happen.” Order in Council. The Liberals and the by police, courts and legislators as if RCMP are simply inventing a new law it was the law. This detail makes all without any Parliamentary or other statistics about rifles/shotguns com- legal authority to do so. pletely worthless, since the legality of REFERENCES the millions of 12-gauge shotguns is Mauser, Gary A., A Presentation to THE STATISTICS FALL APART just the current opinion of RCMP bu- Senate Committee on Legal and The criminal use of “military assault reaucrats. The failure of the category Constitutional Affairs, The Senate of weapons” is so minimal in Canada to distinguish between rifles and Canada (March 2012). http://dx.doi. that there is and never has been any semi-automatic rifles (if this is what org/10.2139/ssrn.2040531. legal definition of what they are. There is meant by “assault rifles”) reduces Statistics Canada. Table 35-10- are no statistics on the criminal use the rest of the category’s statistics to 0072-01 Number and percentage of of “assault weapons,” however whim pure speculation. But of course, all homicide victims, by type of firearm or fancy defines them. There are two crime gun type statistics are largely used to commit the homicide. categories which somewhat fit. These speculative, since a large percentage Statistics Canada. Table 35-10- are automatic weapons and rifles/ of crime guns are never recovered. 0069-01 Number of homicide shotguns. Automatic firearms have victims, by method used to commit been banned since 1978, and from LICENCED GUN OWNERS the homicide. 1991 to 2018 there were 144 homicides There are still the licenced gun own- Statistics Canada 2005 Homicide with automatic weapons. Out of 16,855 ers, the true target of the gun ban. Do Tables, Firearms Homicides by homicides, this is about 8/10th of one they constitute an immediate threat Owner, Licence and Registration per cent. Even if they were not already to public safety which must be met Status, 1997-2005. illegal, the statistics don’t justify with secretly prepared gotcha laws? criminalizing tens of thousands and If we look at StatsCan data (1997 to

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TK CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_16-21_DEMISEORBIRTH_FINAL.indd 17

TK Vista Outdoors, purchased by Remington’s division was ammunition company of the parent Federal. DEMISE OR REBIRTH?

January/February 2021 T when bankruptcy proceedingsapproved both Federal PremiumandSavage). time when facturer (withtheexceptionofshort was bothagunandammunitionmanu American firearmsmanufacturerthat the samesite. est factoryincontinuousproductionon facturer intheUnitedStatesandold claimed tobetheoldestfirearmsmanu company inIlion, NY. The company when EliphaletRemingtonstartedthe of years. shortages inCanadaforthenextcouple It’s expectedthiswillcauseturmoiland oldest gunandammunitioncompan tory withbankruptcy ofNorthAmerica’s That allcametoanendinSeptember Remington Armswas startedin1816, its largestshake-ups inrecenthis he firearmsretailsectorsaw oneof Vista OutdoorInc. owned The company was theonly www.nfa.ca y. - 2020-12-10 3:06 PM - - -

17 RIGHT: Marlin is now owned by Ruger and it will be some time before we know which models (like this 39A) that company will produce.

BELOW: The Model 700 was one of the guns Remington built its reputation on.

Marlin. DPMS, HHR and Parker went to JJE Capital, Bushmaster was sold to Franklin Armory and the accessory business by Tapco.

CANADIAN RIPPLES Wes Winkel, owner of Ellwood Epps in Orillia, Ont., and president of the Canadian Shooting Arms and Ammu- nition Association, said ammunition shortages are being felt throughout the industry and predicted Remington product shortages for up to two years. For Canadian shooters, the bankrupt- cy couldn’t have happened at a worse time. There were already shortages of ammunition and guns due to increased sales from “the COVID effect” in both Canada and the US. And these were augmented by the temporary shut- the sale of the company in parts, on July 27, 2020. This was at a time down of some production facilities. with various companies scooping when gun and ammunition companies Winkel said Remington was one of up its assets. were doing a brisk business due to the largest suppliers of sporting am- COVID, but Remington’s problem was munition in Canada, a large reloading WHAT HAPPENED? they didn’t have the cash to procure component supplier, an ammunition The trail to the end was a rocky one raw supplies to build ammunition supplier to military and police, as well filled with a product recall, a lawsuit or guns. as being one of the largest suppliers of associated with one of its products As a result of the bankruptcy filing rifles and shotguns. being used in the Sandy Hook Elemen- and with no purchasers for the entire “It will have an effect in more ways tary School shooting and a previous company, its assets were auctioned than anyone can imagine,” he said. bankruptcy two years ago. This was a off and Remington, as it has been “And not just to the guys who shoot quick fall from grace for a company known, is no more. Vista Outdoors, the Remington. It will impact all availabil- that was the top American rifle manu- parent company of Federal Premium, ity, because the guys who shoot Rem- facturer just five years earlier, accord- purchased Remington’s ammuni- ington ammunition will have to switch ing to statistics from the US Bureau tion business and the Lonoke, Ark., to Federal or Winchester. There’s a lack of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and ammunition plant. Barnes Bullets was of inventory now, but the shortages Explosives. Sales in 2019 dropped to sold to Sierra Bullets. Remington’s will double or triple.” $437 million, which was a big fall from firearms business and Ilion, NY, plant Winkel talked to the president of Vis- $865 million in 2016. was sold to the Roundhill Group, a ta and got some insight into what will The final result was Remington filed capital investment group. And Sturm, occur with Remington ammunition. He for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Ruger and Company purchased reported Vista will continue to produce

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_16-21_DEMISEORBIRTH_FINAL.indd 18 2020-12-11 11:47 AM Remington’s Ilion, NY, plant is claimed to be the oldest factory site in the US still producing its original product.

HIGHLIGHTS IN REMINGTON’S HISTORY

1816: Remington started by Eliphalet Remington.

1865: E. Remington & Sons was incorporated, and stocks were available.

With Sierra 1888: Marcellus Hartley and partners Bullets acquired the company and reorganized purchasing it as Remington Arms. Barnes, the future of the 1912: Union Metallic Company product line, merged with Remington Arms and the including this company is known as Remington U.M.C. slug offering introduced in 1920: Remington started to 2020, is still manufacture hunting knives, household up in the air. utensils, cash registers and typewriters.

1933: E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. acquired 60 per cent controlling interest of Remington. The company purchased Champion Trap and Target.

Remington ammunition, but retailers 1934: Remington acquired Peters and wholesalers will order it from Fed- Cartridge Company. eral starting in the beginning of 2021. back to 1816,” Chris Metz, Vista Out- 1950: Remington introduced the Model Domestically, one of the challenges lies doors Chief Executive Officer, said in 870 Wingmaster with many federal bureaucrats work- a press release. “We are excited and ing from home and it now taking three honoured to add the iconic Remington 1962: The Model 700 centrefire bolt- to four months to get permits from the brand and green box to Vista Outdoor’s action hit retail shelves. federal government which reflect the portfolio of ammunition brands, and 1970: A new Remington ammunition manufacturer change. Remington accessories to our portfolio plant is built in Lonoke, Ark. In his store, Winkel sees the Rem- of hunting and shooting accessories. 1993: DuPont sells Remington to RACI ington Accu-tip dominate sabot slug The Remington brand is beloved by Acquisitions. sales, Remington UMC is a dominant hunting and shooting sports enthusi- player in the economical handgun am- asts everywhere and we look forward 2007: Cerberus Capital Management munition market and Hypersonic steel to restoring it to greatness by leverag- acquired Remington Arms. The is about 30 per cent of the waterfowl ing Vista Outdoor’s scale, manufactur- company was millions in debt, with no shell sales. In addition, the long-range ing infrastructure, distribution chan- profit from 2003 to 2005. pheasant, round-nose ammunition for nels and Centers of Excellence.” 2007: Remington purchased Marlin lever-action calibres and CB .22 rimfire Barnes ammunition will be distribut- Firearms. are all popular. ed in Canada through the Sierra sales “When you add it all up, it repre- team and importers. 2009: Barnes Bullets acquired by Remington. sented 35 per cent of my ammunition On the Marlin front, Winkel said pro- sales,” he said. duction has halted while the final de- 2014: Production started of the Winkel understands the Remington tails are being worked out and because Huntsville, Ala., plant. brand name will continue. The Hunts- no raw materials were purchased. A 2018: Remington declared Chapter 11 ville, Ala., Remington ammunition press release from Ruger, dated Sept. bankruptcy but emerged from it within plant will close, but the machinery will 30, states once the purchase is com- months. Problems with its X-Mark be moved to a Vista facility. plete, Ruger will begin the process of and a recall were blamed. “Remington ammunition and acces- moving Marlin assets to its plants. sories have a storied role in America’s “The important thing for consum- 2020: Remington declares bankruptcy sporting heritage, with a legacy dating ers, retailers and distributors to know again and is sold off.

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_16-21_DEMISEORBIRTH_FINAL.indd 19 2020-12-10 2:28 PM at this point in time is that the Marlin brand and its great products will live on. Long live the lever gun,” said Ruger President and CEO Chris Killoy. Early indications are Remington guns will be manufactured in the same factories and distributed through the same channels. However, Winkel said he expects a slow return to market because they couldn’t obtain raw materials. In late-breaking news, the Roundhill Group terminated 585 employees at the Ilion plant in late October. The company has applied for a federal license to manufacture firearms, which is expected to take 60 to 90 days. Union rumours are 400 employees will be hired back. Of course, there are no Canadian sales of Bushmaster and some of the other former modern sporting rifle products due to Canadian government bans. “As far as supply issues go, I think it will take about 24 months to correct, provided Mr. Trump wins [the US election],” Winkel said in mid-October. “I think you will see more like a two to three-year recovery if Mr. Biden wins. This is because he has announced so many potential regulations around firearms and ammunition that we will see stockpiling in the US at unprec- edented rates.” He pointed out this hoarding south of the border could be even more severe for Canadian gun owners than when Obama won because then the industry was flush with inventory. Now, with COVID, there’s already shortages. “We have ammunition orders we are placing now with Winchester and Fed- should follow soon. It might take a few decision was to change the company, eral for ammunition and they’re telling weeks for the new owners to make get back to the basics of the company. us to expect third-quarter delivery,” some changes.” Remington, Barnes, Marlin are world- Winkel said. “The orders we’re placing wide renowned products so go back today will be delivered next September PRE-BANKRUPTCY to the basics and start building some and October.” Prior to the bankruptcy, Alberta-born great guns. Pay attention to the quality, Warranty for Remington and Marlin Remington CEO Ken D’Arcy discussed make sure they are the highest quality will still be with the Gravel Agency – with me some of the issues facing the and start innovating and bringing out the long-time Remington distributor in company at the time. new products.” Canada – through the end of the year; The company D’Arcy walked into was In early June, D’Arcy said going but after that, Winkel is unsure. He one that had acquired many different forward in the short term, one of the said there are some worries among Ca- brands in the last decade-plus: Marlin, largest challenges being associated nadian distributors about the continu- Barnes, Bushmaster, DPMS, Stormlite with the surge in ammunition supplies ation of existing arrangements. Tactical and AAC. He said it wasn’t would be a shortage in raw materials. “As much as we hate to see it broken done properly. He told me there is a long lead time on and sold in pieces, it will allow these “When you’re acquiring other acquiring components for ammunition, great American brands to flourish brands, you have to integrate them from brass to primers and powder. again with new investments,” said properly,” he explained. “They didn’t “We, like most firearms companies, Hugo Laliberté, Senior Vice-President integrate them at all. Subsequently, have come through COVID fairly well,” Sales, Marketing, Business Develop- what happened is the company got he said. “Q1 was pretty strong, but Q2 ment for the Gravel Agency Inc. “An far too big a footprint, and that had to is going to be challenging because of increased availability of products be rectified. When I came in, the clear the raw material supply.”

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_16-21_DEMISEORBIRTH_FINAL.indd 20 2020-12-11 11:47 AM THE CANADIAN CONNECTION Ken D’Arcy, the president of Remington Outdoor Company when it entered bankruptcy, came to the company as a turnaround guy.

Growing up in the Calgary and Banff area, D’Arcy was more interested in the slopes than firearms. His father was in the oil industry and his grandfather was the stationmaster for the railroad in Banff. He had some exposure to shooting with relatives on his mother’s side, who were farmers in northern Alberta. As a competitive skier when he was a teen, D’Arcy wanted to go into the sporting goods business, with the goal of owning his own store. He quickly found he didn’t like dealing with customers all day. He then transferred to the wholesale side as a technician, and then progressed through area manager, sales manager and vice- president of sales. “I was with a company at the time that was financially strapped because of poor management. The owner of the company didn’t know what to do with it or how to save it,” D’Arcy said. He left the company but was asked by the manufacturer to come back and run all marketing and sales. The company bounced back and became number one in its sector in Canada. “I started to build a name as a turnaround person,” D’Arcy said. He then moved to Europe, then back to the US in charge of Bolle eyewear, which he also turned around. Although he didn’t initially have any formal schooling, while in upstate New York, D’Arcy took executive management courses. With a growing reputation of rebuilding companies, D’Arcy moved to Crosman as its CEO. Brought in by an equity company, the original intent was he would be an interim CEO to prepare the company for sale. At that time, Crosman was smaller and losing money. The equity company changed its tune and decided to keep Crosman. “I bought into the company in a substantial way,” he said. “I was involved with the company for the next 10 years. We took it from a small company to the largest company in the world in the airgun category.” Eventually Crosman was sold in 2012 and D’Arcy left. He spent the next few years as a professional racecar driver and did a lot of business consulting. That challenge turned Ken D’Arcy, a Canadian, into the bankruptcy. Ac- had the unfortunate There was a change in his personal life prior to starting with cording to media reports, duty of overseeing the Crosman – D’Arcy became interested in shooting. In the late 1990s, breakup and sale his daughter was a competitive skater and he was looking for the court papers D’Arcy of Remington. filed said the situation was something to do with his son. due to elevated inventory “There was a gun club close by and he said, ‘I’d like to go there,’” levels and a wide range D’Arcy recounted. “We went and I started shooting skeet. From of brands that extended the company there, I went back to Denver and started doing it seriously. That’s beyond its core focus. The documents how I started shooting again from childhood to adulthood.” agreed with D’Arcy’s earlier remarks About 20 years ago, he started hunting. Admittedly a meat hunter, that there was increased demand dur- he said, “My freezer is full of different kinds of meats. Best meat ing COVID, but also increased challeng- there is. It’s more fun to get that than to run to the grocery store.” es due to plant shutdowns and a need for capital to purchase raw materials. Although he has hunted around the world, D’Arcy stressed he is Going forward, it looks like Canadian not what he would consider a trophy hunter. “My walls are not lined with horns,” he said, adding, “I have nothing against that.” fans of Remington ammunition and guns, Marlin guns and Barnes Bullets Then, when Remington came out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy will still be able to buy these brands. protection in 2017, JP Morgan requested D’Arcy be placed on the However, there will be varying delays company’s board of directors. He stayed in that position until in their reappearance in the Canadian his CEO appointment. With Remington going into Chapter 11 for market, as well as some short-term a second time at press deadline, D’Arcy couldn’t be reached for shortages. further comment on the latest.

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_22-27_GOINGSMALL_FINAL.indd 22 2020-12-11 10:21 AM GOING SMALL – LEGALLY

The Bersa digested every nyone well versed in Canada’s locks has determined that Canadians type of ammunition tried gun laws will quickly conclude can only be entrusted (barely and re- and has never failed to A feed, fire or extract. that Goldilocks has a permanent seat luctantly) with guns which are exactly in the Liberal cabinet. After all, why the right size. else would we be in a position where So, to keep Goldilocks happy and to guns which are too small are prohib- stay out of jail, we avoid guns which ited, as are guns which are too large. are too small or too big. However, We’re told rifles capable of generat- through some creative manufactur- ing more than 10,000 Joules energy, ing, it is possible to push firearm and guns with a bore size greater design right up to those limits she has than 20 millimetres are too large and established as acceptable. powerful for us to own. But handguns I’m old enough to have been around with barrels less than 105 millimetres when Goldilocks first showed up with in length, or of .25 or .32 calibre, are her theory about too small guns, so deemed too small and weak. Goldi- I made sure I was grandfathered to

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_22-27_GOINGSMALL_FINAL.indd 23 2020-12-11 10:21 AM Sights are excellent for a small gun, with the rear being screw adjustable for windage.

own these little pea shooters. As a result, I can enjoy this fascinating part of the firearms world. However, most Canadian handgun owners aren’t grandfathered for the little guys, and they need alternatives. Thanks to the folks at Tactical Imports, they now have a great one in the form of the Bersa Thunder semi-auto pistol in 380 Auto.

THE CARTRIDGE The 380 Auto is the smallest com- monly available centrefire pistol cartridge Canadian shooters are entrusted with. The cartridge is small A built-in lock and weak enough that it works fine located just above with a action. This means the trigger effectively chambered for it don’t need a disables the pistol. locking system other than the weight of the reciprocating slide and the ten- sion found in the spring. This simplifies design, and subsequently production, resulting in cheaper pric- South of the border, where self- cally becomes legal. Enter the Bersa ing. Bullet diameter is .355 inches, the defence is considered a right instead Thunder. same as the ubiquitous 9mm Luger. of a crime, the 380 Auto is generally However, the 9mm is suited for bul- considered the smallest chamber- THE MANUFACTURER lets up to 147 grains, while the 380 ing for defensive use. As a result, a Bersa is an Argentinian firearms Auto typically tops out at 115 grains, great assortment of small 380 Auto manufacturer which was started with bullets in the 90 to 100-grain pistols and suitable ammunition are by three Italian immigrants in the range being most common. Veloc- available for those participating in mid-1950s. They were all mechani- ity is also substantially less with the concealed carry. Most of these guns cal engineers, with one of them an little 380 Auto, with factory 90-grain are prohibited in Canada because ex-Beretta employee. They began by loads reaching about 1,000 feet per their barrels are under our 105-milli- making parts for other manufactur- second from a four-inch barrel. The metre minimum length. However, if a ers, but eventually branched out into 9mm Luger will exceed 1,300 feet per small gun in this calibre is produced making their own guns. The Bersa second with the same bullet. with a 106-millimetre barrel, it magi- name appeared in the 1960s and is

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_22-27_GOINGSMALL_FINAL.indd 24 2020-12-11 10:21 AM Field stripping Left to right is simple and are 30 Reid, completely 32 Auto and 9mm Luger tool-free. cartridges.

A RE-BARRELING OPTION

Little pistols chambered for the 32 Auto are doubly prohibited, as they are chambered in an “evil” .32 calibre cartridge and the barrel is typically under 105 millimetres in length. However, it is possible to move these pistols from the prohibited class into restricted. This is courtesy of heroic efforts by the folks at Ellwood Epps, a well-known firearm retailer and gunsmith shop in Severn, Ont., about 30 minutes north of Barrie. For several years now, they have been offering a re-barreling option which replaces a too short barrel on 32 Auto handguns with a longer, legal tube. Additionally, the chambering is changed to a cartridge they call the 30 Reid. This cartridge is simply a 32 Auto necked down to accept a .308 to .309-inch diameter bullet. Only the barrel is changed, with no other modification necessary. So, with a based on the first two letters of each the front of the slide. And since it’s longer barrel of smaller calibre, the gun of the founder’s first names. Design hanging out there anyway, it might as magically becomes restricted instead of and manufacturing quality seem to well be threaded. Of course, a thread prohibited. have steadily increased, resulting protector is supplied, and it must be in increased sales and culminating removed for disassembly. And I’m not kidding about magic. After in the late ‘90s when they won the Field stripping is easy and com- all, the 32 Auto shoots a bullet .312 contract to supply the Argentine pletely tool free. Just remove the inches in diameter, while the 30 Reid Armed Forces and with magazine, make sure the chamber is uses a bullet three to four thousandths their issue sidearms. Today they are a empty, and retract the slide while ro- of an inch smaller. That’s about the global supplier of firearms to military, tating the takedown lever downward thickness of a sheet of writing paper. law enforcement and sport shooters. 90 degrees. This allows the slide to But it’s enough to make a pistol legal. retract further than in normal opera- Of course, feeding any gun so modified THE THUNDER 380 tion, so that when fully to the rear, is strictly a handloading proposition, so Bersa’s website lists eight different lifting the rear portion disengages Epps has dies available as well. I’m told Thunder models, with chamberings it from the rails. The recoil spring, ordinary 32 Auto brass works fine and in 22 LR and 380 Auto. Even a quick which surrounds the barrel, then Hornady has suitable bullets. They can look shows they all have a similar pulls the slide off towards the front. tackle most 32 Auto pistols, and while lineage, with barrel length, magazine That barrel is fixed to the aluminum it’s not a cheap way to get a little gun, it capacity and cosmetics accounting frame but can be cleaned from the can save a nice pistol from the smelter. for some of the differences. To date, chamber. is six grooves with a Contact them for details and pricing: Tactical Imports is offering Canadian right-hand twist. www.ellwoodepps.com. shooters one variation of each cham- This pistol is fitted with a magazine bering. safety and won’t function unless the The Thunder is clearly similar to eight-shot magazine is in place. The the Walther PP series of handguns, pistol’s primary safety is located on retaining many of the features found the left side of the frame, and when in these gems. However, I see Beretta moved to the safe position drops the A CZ model influences here too, with all combin- hammer. It can also be left in the safe 50 handgun ing to make a sweet little gun boast- position with the hammer down. But converted ing a 108-millimetre barrel. Naturally, there’s no way to engage the safety from 32 Auto since the gun wasn’t designed for a when the hammer is cocked. There- to 32 Reid. barrel that long, some of it sticks out fore, any first shot from a condition

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_22-27_GOINGSMALL_FINAL.indd 25 2020-12-11 10:21 AM of safe must always be double action. There’s also a built-in lock which, AMMUNITION VELOCITY AVE. GROUP SIZE when activated, disables the gun so completely the slide can’t even be HANDLOAD: fully retracted. This inconspicuous Hornady 90-grain XTP 992 feet per second 1.32 inches device is accessed on the left side of 3.2-grain Titegroup, Rem. case, the pistol and operated using a one- Federal 100 primer, COL 0.965 inches eighth-inch hex nut driver. Of course, one is supplied with the gun, but if FACTORY AMMUNITION: it’s lost, a well-equipped tool store should have a replacement. Federal, 95-grain FMJ round nose 957 feet per second 0.93 inches The sights are excellent for a small Hornady, 90-grain FTX, Critical Defense 981 feet per second 1.20 inches gun, with both front and rear mount- ed in dovetails cut into the slide. The Hirtenberger, 95-grain FMJ round nose 919 feet per second 2.21 inches rear sight is screw-adjustable for windage, but there is no provision for Norma, 95-grain FMJ round nose 985 feet per second 1.52 inches elevation adjustment. Both sights are Geco, 92-grain FMJ round nose 829 feet per second 1.02 inches black, with white dots, for the typical three-dots-in-a-line sight picture. The slide release lever is on the left side of the gun as well, as is the magazine release button. The maga- zine holds its eight rounds of 380 Auto in a single-stack arrangement have large hands, they suit me best. shelf. It all shot reasonably well, with and is equipped with windows which But I will need to shave down the the enclosed chart showing a few allow a quick inspection to determine wood leading to the magazine release, standouts. Velocities were measured remaining rounds. A finger extension as it’s thick enough there to interfere with a LabRadar chronograph. Ac- on the base plate helps with main- with thumbing that button easily. curacy is the average of two five-shot taining a secure grip when firing. The rear of the pistol’s grip has a groups. generous beavertail, which results HANDLING in consistent hand positioning and I found that with most ammunition, Overall, the handling characteris- helps keep the little gun from rotating the pistol shot about one or two inch- tics of the Thunder 380 are excel- in the hand during recoil. The front es low for me. The listed handload lent. Single-action trigger pull on of the grip is only long enough to was an exception in that it printed my gun measures three pounds, 13 accommodate two fingers, but that exactly to point of aim. Adjusting ounces, with some creep and after- finger extension on the magazine the gun’s lateral point of impact just travel, but it’s not gritty so it doesn’t works perfectly to give the pinkie required a screwdriver. With no pro- detract from shooting the gun well. somewhere to grab. vision for elevation adjustment, a gun The double-action trigger stroke is that shoots too low can be corrected wonderfully smooth, measuring a RELIABILITY by filing down the front sight, but in consistent 7.5 pounds. I had no prob- Many knowledgeable shooters main- this case, I don’t think I’ll touch it, as lem shooting excellent groups when tain that reliability is the single most the handload will be its most com- limiting myself to double-action only. important feature of any handgun, mon diet. In fact, it’s so good that I wouldn’t and if that’s the case the Thunder 380 mind seeing this gun available with a is a winner. So far, I’ve shot seven APPLICATION double-action-only mechanism. different types of ammunition in this Considering the limitation imposed The rest of the gun’s handling char- pistol and have yet to experience a by its small profile, the Bersa’s accu- acteristics are equally well executed. malfunction. This little gun’s reliabil- racy doesn’t leave much to be desired. The safety has just the right amount ity has been stellar. Everything works, It’s certainly capable of punching of tension and the slide release lever all the time. I even fed it some out paper or hitting steel at moderate is perfectly positioned for the gun of spec, lead bullet reloads, and this distances. It would even be a good hand thumb of a right-handed shoot- pistol chewed through them without choice for fun matches which specify er. Unfortunately, there’s no provision a hiccup. I’m impressed. small guns, such as the James Bond- for ambidextrous use by left-handers. themed competitions some clubs Although, when held in the left hand, ACCURACY have hosted. And of course, there’s the trigger finger can manipulate all In keeping with this pistol’s small size nothing wrong with wanting a 380 the controls except the safety, so it’s and short sight radius, I did my ac- Auto in the collection, just because. not a total loss for southpaws. curacy testing at 10 metres. Included With a retail price well under $500, My gun arrived with two grip op- was one handload, a couple of current the Thunder 380 is a top choice if tions, a set of black plastic panels and factory offerings and some old Euro- you’re looking to add a fun gun to an attractive pair of wood ones. Since pean ammunition I found squirreled your collection. Goldilocks approves the wood panels are thicker and I away in the back of my ammunition it and I can recommend it.

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_22-27_GOINGSMALL_FINAL.indd 26 2020-12-11 10:21 AM CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_22-27_GOINGSMALL_FINAL.indd 27 2020-12-10 2:59 PM

FABARM’S STORY

rushing clays and killing birds at is one of those companies, and inno- its two flagship models: the semi-au- Cextra-long range is easy! All it takes vations in their shotgun designs have tomatic Lion H35 Titan firearm and the is using the right shotshell with the raised the bar on shotgun ballistics and Axis over-and-under. During this time, correct shotgun/choke combination, and performance. Fabarm also launched the new Tribore you’ll score hits others only dream of. HP barrel. It was the first barrel design No sweat, right? FABARM’S HISTORY to include an 82-millimetre choke tube So how do you find that perfect com- Fabarm is an Italian firearms manufac- with hyperbolic profiles. bination? I may have found the shotgun turer founded around 1900. Its name The launch of the XLR 5 shotgun in company that’ll take your shooting to comes from Fabbrica Bresciana Di Armi, 2008 marked the beginning of a banner the next level. With their patented tech- which translates to Arms Manufacturer year for Fabarm. XLR, which stands for nology, Fabarm shotguns could make in Brescia. extra-long range, utilized their Tribore it easy to find the ideal shotgun/am- During the first two decades of the HP technology. Fabarm also upgraded munition combination for any shooting 20th century, early production was the XLR receiver, milling in grooves for scenario. mainly side-by-side shotguns (Anson- Weaver optic mounts. In the good old days when lead shot type boxlocks) and pistols. Then, after In Canada, the Migratory Bird Act was the only option, hunters opted the Second World War, Fabarm added mandates non-toxic shot for waterfowl for full chokes to get tight, long-range over/under shotguns, also expanding hunting; however, lead is still allowed patterns. But that all changed with new into manufacturing break-down bar- for most upland hunting, as well as regulations for waterfowl hunting when rels for other brands. In the mid-1950s, target shooting at ranges. In contrast, non-toxic shot became mandatory. Steel Fabarm built compressed air rifles and since 2008, many European countries was the non-toxic metal of choice for 9mm Flobert carbines. Fabarm intro- require non-toxic shotshells for all types shot because it was relatively inex- duced its first semi-auto shotgun, the of shooting. Fabarm’s Tribore HP barrel pensive. Unfortunately, steel has a few Goldenmatic, in the late 1960s. and hyperbolic choke tubes excel with shortcomings that hamper downrange The 1970s was a decade of growth at steel shot shotshells and are now the performance. Hard steel shot doesn’t Fabarm, adding several models to its only choke tubes which can use high- compress like lead, and traditional full- growing line of shotguns, including performance steel shot ammunition choke constrictions were not an option. pump-action, break-action and a new in choke tubes tighter than modified, Therefore, patterns opened up and semi-auto. The famous STL, an over/ including full choke. This technology long-range lethality decreased. under competition shotgun, was born, made Fabarm a popular choice among Since the early 1990s, shotgun winning several world championships, hunters and target shooters using steel manufacturers, ammunition makers while their four-lug side-by-side shot- shot. When I first read this, I sat up and and aftermarket choke tube compa- gun became a world leader in shooting took notice. After all, shooting steel shot nies have tried to build products that live pigeons. The gas-operated Ellegi through a full choke is a game-changer deliver enhanced downrange patterns shotgun debuted as well, featuring the for field shooting. and performance. Fabarm, a firearm lightweight Ergal 55 frame. In 2008, Fabarm, with the Gardone manufacturer with a 120-year history, From 2004 to 2005, Fabarm introduced Val Trompia Italian CIP Proof House,

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_28-31_FABARMSTORY_FINAL.indd 28 2020-12-10 3:02 PM January/February 2021 www.nfa.ca 29

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_28-31_FABARMSTORY_FINAL.indd 29 2020-12-10 3:03 PM developed a bench test for all their lat- est products. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and customer safety is paramount, therefore every Fabarm firearm is proof certified, some to an im- pressive 1630 BAR pressure rating. That is a testament to the Fabarm Tribore design and its ability to handle the high pressures of steel shot through a full choke. In a world of marketing hype, it’s sometimes hard to wade through all the claims of better ballistics. Fabarm not only claims their shotgun can handle the pressure of full-house steel shot loads, but they also certify it via in an independent proof house. An arrangement between Fabarm and Caesar Guerini (another prestigious Italian firearms manufacturer) gave rise TOP ILLUSTRATION: to the XLR5 Velocity shotgun in 2012. Fabarm’s Tribore barrel has three areas that This shotgun incorporated new features improve performance. not yet known to sporting or trap semi- automatic shooters. BOTTOM ILLUSTRATION: In 2014, Fabarm created a professional Gas pressure division to supply military and police compresses the elastomer inside the market sectors with their purpose-built piston, increasing STF/12 pump-action shotgun. friction and acting as a Today, a modern 10,000-square-metre brake for the action bar, factory produces nearly 20,000 firearms thereby reducing recoil. per year. Fabarm is proud of its 100 per cent Italian production, and invests heavily in both its research and devel- opment and industrial facilities.

EXCLUSIVE FABARM FEATURES Fabarm’s hallmark Tribore barrel de- another unique feature and is found in rives its name from the three internal their semi-auto shotguns. They created Martial 12-gauge sections: an extra-long forcing cone, an a piston with a soft polymer insert to pump-action tactical over-bored barrel and a conical area regulate reloading, and as a bonus it of- shotgun is available in several configurations, just before the choke. The design is a fers incredible recoil reduction. As pres- such as the 14-inch concrete application of the Venturi prin- sure from the shot flows into the piston, O.D. Green version ciple, whereby expanding gases acceler- it compresses an elastomer insert which shown here. ate as they move through a constriction. acts like a brake, reducing recoil. It’s In the Tribore barrel, this constriction a foolproof design that eliminates the is the conical area (see illustration). By valves found in other gas-operated increasing the choke tube length and shotguns, and it cycles everything from replacing a straight conical section with light target loads to hard-hitting heavy a hyperbolic curved conical section, field loads. the HP choke tubes allow hunters to shoot steel shot ammunition through FABARM IN CANADA improved-modified and full chokes, I’ve done a lot of shotgun, shotshell something not possible with other and choke research and testing over manufacturer’s designs. the years, so Fabarm’s shotguns built Fabarm’s Pulse Piston gas system is to shoot steel shot through a full choke

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_28-31_FABARMSTORY_FINAL.indd 30 2020-12-10 3:03 PM Fabarm produces a wide assortment of hunting and sporting shotguns.

caught my attention. I’ve wanted to Fabarm’s line consists of a selection of field test a Fabarm Tribore HP barrel for sub-gauge ELOS shotguns in 20- and years. To my chagrin, Fabarm shotguns 28-gauge. The Classis side-by-side have been about as rare as hen’s teeth shotguns will be available in 12- and in Canada, at least in the gun shops 20-gauge. Pump-action shotguns from I frequent. But there’s good news for the Fabarm Professional Division Canadian shotgunners. A new distribu- include both the Martial and SDASS tion channel means a full line of Fabarm lines, including several different barrel shotguns and accessories will be avail- lengths, finishes and options. able at local dealers across Canada this Fabarm supports their shotgun line year. with a complement of extra barrels, On the hunting side, look for the L4S stocks, chokes, muzzle brakes, front with different wood grades and receiver sights, scope mounts, gun cases and finishes in both left and right-hand more. All these products are either on versions. The XLR family of shotguns route or landed in Canada and will be shows well in black synthetic, as well on dealer shelves in the coming months. as several camouflage patterns. The new Columba Palumbus features the PARTING SHOTS Record-Breaking Shotgunner True Timber Strata pattern. The SDASS Italy is known for its fast cars, fine wine On Nov. 7, 2013, John Yeiser 2 Chasse composite or fancier Chasse and tailored suits. Given Fabarm’s became the world’s fastest Grey are two pump-action models in proprietary technology and audacious American trap shooter. Yeiser the Fabarm hunting line. shotguns, we can add shotguns to the used the XLR 5 Velocity shotgun, Several models of the ELOS and Axis top-tier list of products from the Italian breaking 25 clays (ATA rules) in over-and-under are available for hunt- Republic. precisely 64.14 seconds! Watch ing if you’re a break-action fan. Sporting I’m excited to know Fabarm will be the record-breaking event on the and competition shotguns include Axis, more widely available in Canada. And Fabarm USA YouTube channel STL Competition and ELOS Trap over/ when I get to test one later this year, https://www.youtube.com/user/ unders, along with the LS4 Sporting I’ll tell you how easy it was to pick my FabarmUSA. and XLR 5 Velocity semi-auto shotguns. secret extra-long range load.

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_28-31_FABARMSTORY_FINAL.indd 31 2020-12-10 3:03 PM TOOL BASICS

un owners always need a few driver from camming out of the slot as rifles, is a great example. Usually Gtools for basic maintenance. After when force is applied. This is espe- it’s simply a matter of a few taps with all, the right tools can save a trip to cially important when working on older a hammer and punch for removal. the gunsmith or salvage a day at the firearms. But there are always stubborn pins as range. Here are my thoughts on eight If purchasing a screwdriver set for the well, which means quality punches essentials we should all have. first time, look for one with interchange- are important. Handguns always seem able bits. This saves significant cash. to have more pins than long guns, SCREWDRIVERS Chapman was the old standard for gun- and to detail strip one of these always Guns are put together with screws smith screwdriver sets, but there is more requires punches. of varying drive patterns, so a broad competition now, with Real Avid and Several manufacturers have put range of styles is necessary. I’ve seen Wheeler offering quality alternatives. A together punch sets for gun owners, slot, Phillips, Torx and hex styles used good set will last a lifetime. with Real Avid, Wheeler and Lyman all on guns. And, of course, there are vary- offering good alternatives. ing sizes of each. Using the wrong size PUNCHES can ruin the screw or scratch your gun. Because pins are used in the assem- ALLEN KEYS

Quality slot-type gunsmith screw- bly of almost all firearms, a variety of Allen or hex keys are another essential drivers are hollow ground, which punches are essential. Removing the tool, often for scope mounting, but also means the area above the blade tip is trigger assembly from most semi- other purposes. Many screwdriver kits ISTOCK parallel (not tapered) to prevent the automatic or pump shotguns, as well don’t come with Allen keys and if yours

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRURY21_32-33_TOOLBASIC_FINAL.indd 32 2020-12-10 3:14 PM Dealing with threaded fasteners requires a screwdriver and hex key set, as well as a torque limiting driver.

Almost all guns use pins in their assembly, and therefore require punches for detailed takedown.

Rifle work is easier with a gun holder, bore sighter and a scope leveling device.

doesn’t, good quality sets can be found come in laser models, which fit in the need for regular application of grease from various tool manufacturers. end of the barrel with adapters to fit was reinforced when a friend had a the different bore sizes, as cartridge- tube stuck in a shotgun barrel, to the SCOPE LEVELER like laser inserts and the more tradi- point the barrel was toast. With long-range shooting becoming tional optical models. more popular, a scope leveler becomes TORQUE WRENCH more essential. If the scope isn’t level, GUN HOLDER & MAT Tightening the rings on a scope is a the vertical axis isn’t perpendicular A gun holder (also called a gun vise) delicate balancing act between ensur- to the barrel and this is magnified at is essential when mounting a scope, ing it is tight enough that it won’t shift longer distances. Even if purchasing a cleaning a bore or even driving out from the recoil forces, and not over- combo rifle and scope package, there pins. It can almost be like a second set tightening it to the point of damaging is no assurance the scope is mounted of hands. A bench mat addresses the the scope. Although I have never done properly. question of what to do with a half- it, I have heard the horror stories of Popular models are the Wheeler kit, assembled dirty gun, in that it allows denting the scope tube by using too which includes magnetic bubble levels parts of a disassembled gun to be laid much force when tightening the rings. to go on both the gun and scope, and out for cleaning or other maintenance/ The simple solution to this is to use a the Segway Leveler, which repair tasks. Many manufacturers offer torque wrench and tighten all mount- uses an elastic band that goes under both holders and mats, so shop around ing screws to the manufacturer’s the rifle to hold a bubble level and a for the option that fits your needs best. specification. And, naturally, a torque panel marked with a series of horizon- wrench can be useful for putting the tal lines for a visual reference to the CHOKE TUBE GREASE right tension on all other gun screws/ reticle. I have used both and there are If you have ever had a choke tube stuck fasteners as well. Real Avid, Lyman, scope and gun combinations that one in a shotgun barrel, the importance Vortex and Wheeler offer options in works on, but not the other. of choke tube grease becomes excru- torque wrenches. ciatingly apparent. A little dab of this BORE SIGHTER grease applied to the threads provides BAG IT? This isn’t at the top of the list of a layer of lubrication between the Now, with your shopping list filled for necessary tools, but it can sure come choke tube and . the next year or two, the big question in handy if switching scopes between Think this is only necessary for is how many of these essential tools rifles or installing a new one. A bore waterfowlers who get their gun wet? should also be in your range bag? sighter can save ammunition, going Think again. I had a rifled sabot slug Meaning you will need duplicates. The part of the way towards justifying the tube stuck in the barrel after a few scope-leveling tool to double check cost, and they always save time and sighting-in shots and a couple more mounting at the range, the Allen keys frustration at the range. Bore sighters shots during deer season. Also, the and the screwdrivers have my vote.

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRURY21_32-33_TOOLBASIC_FINAL.indd 33 2020-12-10 3:14 PM HANDLOADING SECRETS

atches are often won or lost in “Mthe loading room,” says Bob Ray- mond, top F-Class competitor, shooting instructor and handloading expert. Bob should know, as he’s a gold medal- winning shooter in that discipline. He told me, “I’ve been reloading since I was in my teens. I was doing a lot of varmint shooting, and that’s when I started handloading. Then I got into benchrest, where you certainly need to load for accuracy. Same thing for F- Class Open. You can’t find factory am- munition in some of the cartridges we run in F-Class, other than maybe 308 Winchester, which will work accurately out of the box.” Bob learned to shoot in the Ot- tawa Valley back when farmers were happy to welcome a kid with a rifle chambered in 22 Short to eliminate groundhogs and their troublesome holes. His shooting progressed to benchrest and on to F-Class, where he is a winning competitor in F-Class Open. He is a chief firearms instruc- tor for the Firearms Safety Education Service of Ontario, a safety officer for his range and was chief instructor of the Ontario Rifle Association for a lot of years. He currently shoots the 284 Winchester, mandated by the national team, running a second focal plane Vortex Golden Eagle riflescope up to 60X in magnification with a one-eighth MOA floating dot. His preference is the 280 Ackley Improved, but either way, he’s an extremely detailed and precise handloader. His passion for shooting led him to collect the best of reloading and sup- plemental equipment, acquired over decades of reloading. He has plenty to share about the method and tools he uses to chase accuracy with handloads.

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_34-37_HANDLOADING SECRETS_FINAL.indd 34 2020-12-10 4:37 PM The Guide Gun comes with a muzzle brake, a counterweight replacement and a simple thread protector cap.

Prior to loading, bullets are sorted for length (left) and ogive position (right).

Bob is proud of the fact some of the labelling and cleanup. Bob Raymond’s Arsenal air dryer to remove moisture shooters he instructed have passed process is 21 separate steps. Think of from the brass. him in shooting performance. He is this list as sort of a pre-flight checklist. still in touch with many of them and Even experienced pilots use simple NECK TURN celebrates their successes too. checklists to keep everyone safe. Hand- Bob uses a K+M Precision Shooting Bob believes his 21-step loading loaders should too. Products’ neck turning tool to turn process, when followed properly, gives necks to a uniform thickness. Ad- him an accuracy edge when cham- INSPECT CASES & REMOVE PRIMERS ditionally, the throat reamer removes pionships are on the line. He shared Deprime, without sizing. Bob removes a doughnut of brass that sometimes his experiences with me, detailing the neck bushings from his Redding forms inside the neck of the 284 Win- each of the steps he follows. The goal Competition Dies to achieve this. chester. It’s all part of getting consis- of precision handloading is to manu- He inspects cases at the same time, tent tension on the bullet at the case facture loaded cartridges as near to watching for split case mouths or other neck. identical as possible. Each of the steps issues. Because he uses an electric in his process is done to achieve either annealer, case necks rarely split. In- TRIM CASES consistent or to reduce stead, his cases tend to fail because of Bob’s 284 Win. brass gets trimmed after runout and keep the bullet aligned expanded primer pockets. every firing with the Giraud Tool Com- with the bore. Bob’s LabRadar has pany power trimmer. He notes that indicated standard deviations as low as CLEAN THE BRASS some rounds, like the 6.5 Creedmoor, two feet per second, and with groups Handloaders love shiny brass and the 260 Ackley Improved and the other in .25 MOA range, it indicates all the first step after removing the primer is a 6.5s, seem to not require trimming be- variables are well in hand. cleaning session in Hornady’s Ultra- yond that first trim. Reloading manu- sonic cleaner and Hornady’s One Shot als give a 10-thousandth-of-an-inch THE PROCESS Sonic Clean solution. range for brass length and recommend Reloading manuals normally take the trimming to minimum length after the reader through every step required to DRY THE BRASS first full-length sizing. Because F-Class make a safe, repeatable handload. My After initial cleaning, Bob rinses the rifle chambers are machined to tighter current Hornady loading manual lists brass with distilled water, then uses tolerances than off-the-shelf rifles, 13 separate steps, plus two more for a wet-dry separator and a Frankford brass must be trimmed every firing.

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_34-37_HANDLOADING SECRETS_FINAL.indd 35 2020-12-10 4:37 PM ABOVE: The Annealing Made This bullet seating Perfect machine press by 21st is Bob Raymond’s Century Shooting favourite piece of measures the reloading gear. force required to seat the bullet.

Most handloaders are fine to monitor brass length and trim back to the rec- ommended minimum once the length approaches maximum.

CHAMFER INSIDE, DEBURR OUTSIDE While trimming brass makes the case mouth square, chamfering bevels the inside edge. A 30-degree inside chamfer makes bullet seating easier, and deburr- set you back more than $1,000, depend- little and you end up with a stuck case. ing the outside of the case mouth helps ing on the exchange rate. Bob has tried Too much, which is the more common the cartridge load into the chamber. several methods of annealing and never issue, and lube trying to escape under Note that Redding has an inexpensive found satisfaction until he bit the bullet pressure deforms brass. manual 30-degree VLD chamfer that in- and bought the AMP. dexes off the primer hole as an alternate “The AMP annealer is a lot of money, FULL-LENGTH SIZE to the power trimmer Bob uses. but it is flawless, and it works beauti- Bob uses Redding Competition bushing fully. They provide a service where style dies, which allow control of every UNIFORM PRIMER POCKETS you send in six spent cartridges (after aspect of neck sizing, shoulder bump A primer pocket uniforming tool by 21st punching the primer holes out with a and bullet seating. Every firing, Bob Century Shooting is Bob’s preferred drill so they’re I.T.A.R. compliant), then does a full cartridge resize. Technically, tool for this step because he can control they send you the data to program your he is looking for one-thousandth-of- seating depth and it cleans out any re- machine for that specific lot of cases.” an-inch shoulder bump, with two-thou- maining carbon. “After ultrasonic clean- sandths-of-an-inch neck tension. ing, the primer pockets are normally ULTRASONIC CLEAN squeaky clean – but sometimes not so Yes, the brass is ultrasonically cleaned TUMBLE IN PLAIN MEDIA much – and you want to uniform them again. This is another trip through the plain to make sure they’re all the same depth corn cob media, this time to remove the and size,” said Bob. RINSE & DRY lubricant. See above. ANNEAL BRASS POLISH NECKS Annealing involves heating the necks TUMBLE IN PLAIN MEDIA Now a high-speed drill press and a blue of brass to eliminate work hardening More cleaning, this time in dry corn cob nylon Iasso brush with Fitz or Brasso and ensure uniform neck tension. Bob media. cream is used to remove carbon and pol- says this process is one of the most ish the inside of the cartridge case neck. significant in his routine. He rarely has LUBRICATE CASES a neck split and uses the Electric AMP Apply lube to the outside of the case TUMBLE IN PLAIN MEDIA (Annealing Made Perfect) annealer and the inside of the case neck. There It’s another trip through the corn cob from New Zealand. This piece of kit will is a trick to lube – use just enough. Too media and the tumbler.

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_34-37_HANDLOADING SECRETS_FINAL.indd 36 2020-12-10 4:38 PM ABOVE: A .25 MOA group and a single- A bullet tipping digit standard die, specific to deviation are the bullet brand, result of extreme calibre and ogive handloading efforts. is used to reshape the meplat for improved ballistic coefficient and a strain gauge to seat bullets to five psi consistency. tolerance. Before seating bullets, he modifies the bullet tips, having found that tipping his bullets yields a 1.5 minute of angle improvement, or about 15 inches less drop at 1,000 yards. He also reports that the new Hornady A-tip achieves the same results he does by tipping his own bullets, right out of the box. Most handloaders will not need to tip bullets or seat with a strain gauge.

INSPECTION It’s now time to admire and inspect the finished rounds, then clean up the mess CLEAN PRIMER POCKETS ADD POWDER and head to the range. This step is focused on removing any Bob’s initial charge is measured in This 21-step process is far beyond bits of corn cob media which have be- grains, but each subsequent load is what most loading manuals provide come stuck in the case’s flash holes. measured in grams to four decimal as direction, and you’ll have to decide places with an A&D FX 120 laboratory- what parts of Bob’s process to adopt. INSERT PRIMERS grade scale. He uses the Adam McDon- There is a near limitless collection of Bob uses a hand priming tool by 21st ald auto trickler and throw scale, which options to improve consistency. No Century Shooting for this task. Many is connected by Bluetooth to an applica- matter where you land with the process handloaders recommend using a hand tion on his phone. Charges are dropped steps, handloading will teach you more primer, reporting they seat primers into the case using an Area 419 long about cartridges, primers, powder burn more consistently. In addition, Bob drop tube, which is made from alumi- rates, ballistics and shooting than any weighs primers and removes primers num billet. The two-feet-per-second other aspect of the shooting sports. with greater than +/- 0.2-grain variance, standard deviation he’s able to achieve As rewarding as the act of reloading making three batches of primers, low, speaks to how accurately powder and is, the real fun starts at the range. Check medium and high. Those medium ones primers are measured. the next issue of the Canadian Firearms are the bulk of the primers that fit his Journal where I’ll interview gold-medal +/- 0.2-grain variance. Everything else SEAT BULLETS winners Bob and Ken Thiessen for an gets moved off to be loaded in casual Bob uses Wilson seating dies, a 21st in-depth look at F-Class and their expe- shooting loads. Century Shooting press equipped with riences in the sport.

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_34-37_HANDLOADING SECRETS_FINAL.indd 37 2020-12-10 4:38 PM THAT’S LOUD!

here’s a saying that hearing loss Tis often experienced before it’s even noticed. I believe this is true, and it should be a red flag to all of us. It’s possible you’ve experienced damage to your hearing from workplace noise and/or your personal lifestyle and don’t even know it unless you’ve been monitoring your hearing. Furthermore, most people experience a gradual de- terioration in their hearing as they age, so hearing issues tend to creep up on them. For firearms owners, however, there’s a much greater danger, because loud noises from firearms can eas- ily damage our hearing. For example, multiple people firing guns at shoot- ing ranges or even individually while hunting can damage our hearing. And then there’s the possibility of a fellow waterfowl hunter shooting over us in a blind, that can cause a traumatic hear- ing loss, never mind being dangerous.

CONTROLLING NOISE EXPOSURE Decibels is a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale. To quote an online source, “Expo- sure to noise greater than 140 decibels can permanently damage hearing. Almost all firearms create noise that is over the 140-decibel level. A .22-cali- bre rifle can produce noise around 140 decibels, while big-bore rifles and pistols can produce sound over 175 decibels.” Initially, noise-induced hearing loss affects a person’s ability to hear higher frequency sounds and eventu- ally the loss spreads into those lower frequencies involved in speech. You may find it difficult to understand some words during an initial phase of

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_38-41_THAT'SLOUD_FINAL.indd 38 2020-12-10 4:41 PM The author’s favoured Many earmuffs, like these by earmuffs are Peltor’s Caldwell, feature electronics which 3M OPTIME 105. allow the wearer to hear what’s happening in their surroundings while protecting from sounds above 85 decibels.

hearing loss, as in the higher pitch of a especially for AR-15 or similar semi- as class A, B or C or grade 1, 2, 3 or female’s voice. More severe symptoms automatic rifles.” Nonetheless, every 4 based on the level of protection of hearing loss may include dizziness reduction in noise can help preserve they provide. It may come as news to or balance problems, pain in the ears our hearing. firearms owners that double protec- and tinnitus (a chronic ringing sound tion (i.e., wearing muffs and plugs) in your ears). In all these cases, you HEARING PROTECTION DEVICES provides a minimum five-plus decibels should see an ear specialist. Because the noise of firearms exceeds protection added to the highest at- The best course of action for firearms 110 decibels, the provincial occupa- tenuation of any single type of hearing owners is to wear appropriate personal tional health and safety guidelines protection device. hearing protection, especially since where I live recommend an ear plug In corroboration with the SCA rec- suppressors are prohibited devices plus a Canadian Safety Standard ommendations, the American National here in Canada. On that note, accord- (SCA) A or B-class earmuff and limited Institute for Occupational Safety and ing to findings in the Canadian Audi- exposure time to keep sound reaching Health (NIOSH) recommends hunt- ologist, “Suppressors reduce but do not a person’s ear drum below 85 decibels. ers and shooters use double hearing eliminate hazardous noise exposure, CSA classifies muffs and earplugs protection every time a firearm is

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_38-41_THAT'SLOUD_FINAL.indd 39 2020-12-10 4:41 PM Whenever possible, ear plugs should be worn with earmuffs to provide a double level of protection.

discharged. Double protection involves onds when sounds above 85 decibels An audiologist will also be able to wearing both earplugs and earmuffs. occur. More recently, in accordance determine if a person’s hearing loss is They claim that the best combina- with recommendations from our pro- consistent with noise-induced damage. tion is a deeply inserted foam earplug vincial Workers Compensation Board, If necessary, hearing aids calibrated and a well-seated earmuff. Further, I purchased 3M OPTIME 105 PELTOR to each ear can be fitted and adjusted/ special care must be taken to ensure earmuffs with a headband, and cur- programmed accordingly. Periodic the earmuff remains sealed against the rently use these. audiological assessments are recom- side of the wearer’s head when safety mended to monitor hearing sensitivity glasses are worn. NIOSH examined CONDUCTING AUDIOMETRIC TESTS over time and to ensure hearing aids the performance of several types of Your hearing should be tested in a maintain their calibration and are hearing protectors with a variety of sound booth by a qualified audiolo- cleaned to clinical standards. firearms. Earplugs were able to reduce gist to determine the extent of hearing It may be possible for you to register the peak sound pressure level (SPL) loss (if any) and, just as importantly, to a hearing loss claim to your provin- by 10 to 30 decibels and standard ear- monitor for possible changes in your cial Workers’ Compensation Board muffs yielded 20 to 38 decibels of peak future hearing ability. It’s important (WCB). The claim should include a reduction. to have a baseline test to establish medical discharge form, if applicable, Previously, I had been using mainly a benchmark going forward. Many from the Department of National Caldwell E-MAX LP electronic stereo audiologists will provide this test free Defense and an Armed Forces release. hearing protection earmuffs. These of charge. Your hearing threshold level The claim should also include prior specially designed muffs protect in decibels will be measured in each service records from your former against hearing loss while amplifying ear and an assessment will be made of employer where you believe you may sounds, allowing the wearer to hear word recognition in both ears. The au- have suffered damage to your hear- normal conversation and range com- diologist will then be able to determine ing, including all audiograms. In my mands. The electronic amplification the estimated accuracy in terms of it province of Alberta, the WCB policy system shuts down within millisec- being either good or poor. states: “Hearing loss may be trau-

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_38-41_THAT'SLOUD_FINAL.indd 40 2020-12-10 4:41 PM WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? Earmuff is a type of hearing protector. Earmuffs have a headband Hearing protection is and ear cups with a soft outer ring as essential as any or cushion that fits tightly against other range equipment. the ear or sides of the head around the ear. Earplug is a type of hearing protector worn in the external ear canal or in the concha against the entrance to the external ear canal. matic, noise induced or both. Trau- or stolen hearing aids, or those dam- matic hearing loss is usually sudden aged by causes beyond normal wear or acute and traceable to a specific and tear, are not covered by the WCB. incident. Noise-induced hearing loss is the gradual loss of hearing due to WRAP-UP REFERENCES prolonged occupational exposure to Canadian audiologist and author 1. CSA Standard Z94.2-02 Hearing excessive noise levels.” In Alberta, an Colleen G. Le Prell cautions, “Fire- Protection Devices - Performance, applicant must qualify one way or the arm noise is dangerously loud, and Selection, Care and Use” other; in the case of the latter situation, those who engage in hunting or http://umanitoba.ca/admin/ vp_admin/risk_management/ehso/ a person must qualify for two or more other shooting activities should be media/standard_csa_hearing_ years of work-related noise exposure concerned and counselled about the z94_2_02.pdf within the province. I mention these urgent need to protect their hearing.” points because of the cost of hearing Firearm owners should follow due 2. Sound Level Suppressors aids and annual checkups, which are diligence when it comes to hearing for the Reduction of Firearm formidable. protection because it is not possible Noise: Implications for Hearing Quality hearing aids may cost in the to fully restore hearing loss, although Conservation by Colleen G. Le Prell. order of several thousands of dollars, some improvement may result from Canadian Audiologist (2017): https:// canadianaudiologist.ca/firearm- so their value should be included as wearing hearing aids. If you don’t suppressors-feature/ a rider in your homeowner’s insur- wear hearing aids, there’s a risk of ance policy in case of loss. During a developing tinnitus, which is incur- 3. The National Institute for University of Alberta alumni trip to the able. There are consequences! My Occupational Safety and Health Orient a few years ago, a fellow trav- recommendation to firearms wnerso (NIOSH) – Firearms and Hearing eler lost his hearing aids in Tiananmen is to play it safe and follow the above Protection: https://www.cdc.gov/ Square in Beijing, on the first day of procedures to avoid or minimize niosh/nioshtic-2/20031787.html our land trip. It can easily happen. Lost hearing loss.

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_38-41_THAT'SLOUD_FINAL.indd 41 2020-12-10 4:42 PM REVOLVER MECHANICS

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hen it comes to the subject of Wrevolver safety, most shooters assume that revolvers are safe to handle, carry fully loaded and drop with no chance of an accidental discharge. This isn’t necessarily true. Instead, it varies depending on revolver design. The first revolvers were single-action designs in which the hammer nose, or a firing pin mounted on the hammer, would rest on a percussion cap or a cartridge if the revolver were fully loaded and the hammer down. This meant that a blow to the hammer, such as by drop- ping, could cause the revolver to fire. The proper technique for loading single- action revolvers of this type is to load one cartridge, skip a chamber, then load four chambers. Once that’s done, cocking, and carefully lowering the hammer, causes it to rest on an empty chamber. This was the preferred system for many years, effectively turning all six-shot revolvers into five-shooters. However, as early as 1862, a custom cylinder for Colt revolvers featured a notch for resting the ham- mer nose between chambers, to prevent this type of unintentional discharge. The current production North American Mini Revolver relies on the same system. About 1895, Iver Johnson developed a transfer bar system in their double- action revolvers. They made a big deal about this feature, including publishing advertisements which showed how the hammer of an IJ revolver could be struck with a hammer and not discharge. “Ham- mer the hammer” became an advertising slogan for their guns, and other manufac- turers suddenly had to catch up. Subsequently, a hammer block was introduced in both Smith & Wesson and Colt revolvers. However, the hammer block works in a different manner than a transfer bar, practically the opposite, in

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_42-45_REVOLVER MECHANICS_FINAL.indd 43 2020-12-10 4:58 PM Ruger’s Transfer bar system is a big improvement in safety over older single- action revolvers.

fact. The hammer block slides out of the path of the hammer just Iver Johnson before firing and allows the hammer promoted the safety to strike the firing pin. Smith & Wes- of their revolvers son also incorporated a hammer re- with a “Hammer the bound into their hammer block design. Hammer” slogan. With this feature, the hammer retracts after firing as the top of the rebound slide moves the hammer to the rear. Competition has many advantages, including moving manufacturers to make safety improvements. A true transfer bar system uses a bar that completes the connection between the hammer and the firing pin. Nor- mally, the transfer bar is positioned out of the way, but rises to a position between the hammer and the frame- mounted firing pin as the action is operated by pulling the trigger. When the hammer falls, it strikes the transfer bar, transferring energy to the firing pin and firing the revolver. After firing, the hammer moves to the rear and the mer. In this type, the trigger spring the break top or hinged frame revolver, transfer bar lowers to its original posi- will force the hammer back as the sear the firing pin safety is intended in part tion, recreating the gap between the moves into a recess in the hammer, to make it less difficult to break the hammer and the firing pin. The only preventing forward hammer move- revolver open. Most such designs are real question is why this system hasn’t ment. This seems an elegant system if not particularly strong. been adopted in single-action revolv- the parts are strong enough to prevent When Charter Arms introduced their ers until recently. hammer movement. Interestingly, Undercover in the 1960s, followed An almost forgotten safety mea- all double-action revolvers are not closely by the Ruger Security Six, sure was Winchester’s trigger safety necessarily safer than single-action each used a transfer bar system. The interlock applied in the 1873 lever- revolvers. Colt did not introduce the Ruger single-action Blackhawk did not action rifle. This safety notch, unlike Positive Lock until 1906. The early Colt originally feature a transfer bar. After a the ones on revolvers, actually works New Service and New Police did not couple of accidents and a big pay- well. Single-action revolvers with a have the effective Colt Positive Lock. out, Ruger incorporated the modern safety notch require the shooter to pull The Positive Lock is simply machined transfer bar system into Blackhawk the hammer back slightly, setting the parts added to the action. A pin in revolvers. The system was even de- notch. In my opinion, a safety notch the trigger and machined cuts in the signed to allow adding the transfer bar that doesn’t set automatically isn’t frame were the high points. However, to older Blackhawk revolvers. Ruger truly useful, especially since these the Colt design is a hammer block, not still offers this service. Just the same, notches are not suitable for serious use a transfer bar. Webley revolvers also some treasure their older, unmodified as they are fragile and easily broken if feature a type of hammer block which Ruger single-action revolvers. I am the firearm is dropped. official literature referred to as the not one of these. All my revolvers are A development in double-action “mainspring auxiliary.” This system re- the transfer bar type. My single-action revolvers was the rebounding ham- tracts the firing pin, an unusual step. In guns are Piettas and my Rugers fea-

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_42-45_REVOLVER MECHANICS_FINAL.indd 44 2020-12-10 4:58 PM on the mainspring and mainspring seat are another possibility. The spring should not bind during the operation of the trigger action. The spot where the hammer strut fits into the hammer needs polish in almost every example you will encounter. Emery cloth on a rod works well. An alternate is to roll up a sliver of emery cloth and put it on the end of a drill and spin the drill. Some polish the hand or pawl that serves to index the cylinder, but it’s easy to adversely affect timing by over polishing that piece. The engage- system or a type of hammer block that ment between the ejector star and ensures safety. Smith & Wesson, as an hand must be solid. Don’t weaken Ruger’s double- example, doesn’t use a true transfer the bolt stop spring. The transfer bar action revolvers use bar system anymore, but the revolvers itself rides in a channel, and a burr or a simple and reliable transfer bar system use frame-mounted firing pins. uneven spot there will roughen the I think we could all agree that action. Run emery cloth through that transfer bar single-action revolvers are opening to clean it up. After working much safer. But some don’t feel the with Colt, Pietta and Uberti revolvers, ture the transfer bar. The real danger transfer bar action can be as smooth. I have found these simple procedures today, I believe, is that there are both While it’s true that it feels a bit dif- work well. types of single actions in production, ferent, it can be smoothed up. The Transfer bar revolvers, from early the original and the transfer bar. If in procedure is simple enough. First, pol- Iver Johnson’s to the latest designs, doubt, keep an empty chamber under ish the ball end of the hammer strut. are a great improvement in safety the cylinder. All modern double-action It doesn’t take a lot of effort and the and often as smooth operating as revolvers have either the transfer bar result will be a smoother action. Burrs any other revolver. Nathaniel Milljour Nathaniel

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_42-45_REVOLVER MECHANICS_FINAL.indd 45 2020-12-10 4:58 PM 46 www.nfa.ca Janaury/February 2021

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_46-49_GRASSROOTS RIMFIRE_FINAL.indd 46 2020-12-10 5:09 PM The CZ rifle shared over the course of the day.

recently had the pleasure of trying while most other people were using I a new shooting discipline when I and were shooting sans- was invited to participate in a 50-metre sling, putting them in sporting. prone match. To my understanding, Part of the basic rules were that we we followed the rules set out by the had 30 minutes to shoot a total of 20 Alberta Smallbore Rifle Association rounds at four targets. We could take (www.absbrifle.ca), more or less. You’ll as many sighter shots as we needed at have to forgive any technical errors in the appropriate targets (placed near this story, as I am still unsure of all the the top of our target paper). The shoot- rules and regulations surrounding this ing had to be unsupported, meaning discipline. They were explained to me, no bipods or sandbags. At this point, I but I can’t help but feel some excep- could feel myself starting to panic, and tions and allowances were made to al- my only goal became to avoid embar- low anyone to compete with whatever rassment. they brought. It was all for fun so I feel Lucky for me, there were nine of us, no one was hurt, but serious shooters and since only three could shoot at in this discipline may take issue with a time I got to see some other shoot- it – understandably so. If you feel the ers go first. It looked simple enough, need to write to the editor about me, but 50 metres can sure seem far away please do so nicely, he forwards the let- some days. When it was finally my ters to me and I’m quite delicate. turn, it was… well… ugly. The day’s The match was a rimfire shoot taking light rain had turned to heavy rain, place at the farm of a family friend, but luckily the shooting line was un- Russ. Despite owning several 22 LR der cover. I struggled to understand rifles, none of mine seemed up to the how to best utilize the sling. Also, in task of a marksmanship competition my fury of discomfort in holding up a – neither did I, for that matter. At any 10-plus-pound rifle, I cross-fired onto rate, my stepdad, Darrell, was also my neighbour’s target. Wayne, the attending the event so he was kind fellow next door, was using a beauti- enough to allow me to use his rifle and ful Marlin 39A with a Skinner peep ammunition. He also paid my match sight. We both agreed on which hole fee. Bonus! in his target was mine, it was the one The rifle we were sharing was a CZ that looked like a flier. After that first that had been highly customized for volley, I was in second last place and long-range, precision competition. This things weren’t looking good. means heavy, with a high-power optic. We took a break and had some amaz- He also affixed a support sling and lent ing chilli for lunch, eating inside Russ’ me a glove. I was informed this rifle garage, which was more of a comfort- put us into the hunting rifle category, able workshop, complete with a wood

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_46-49_GRASSROOTS RIMFIRE_FINAL.indd 47 2020-12-10 5:09 PM 3

4

stove. While we ate, we noticed the rain had turned to huge snowflakes. February in Alberta, you never know what the day will hold. The first group went out to shoot again in that heavy snow. Then, just as they finished and Darrell got comfortable on the line, the snow stopped, a lucky break for us. His shooting went well, but somehow he only put 19 rounds on paper. None of us could figure out where the 20th went, with our best guess being he ABOVE: Winter loaded one of his four magazines with shooting in only four rounds. Then it was my turn. Canada has its I had learned from my first round that challenges. 30 minutes is a long time, so I took the time to get comfortable and find a way RIGHT: The author’s wall- to make the sling work for me. In the hanger target. previous relay, I had used a lot of my bicep to hold the gun up. This time I slid the sling farther up my arm, above my elbow and put my hand behind the sling swivel. This allowed me to relax my arm and get some serious stability. I also dropped the scope down from simply would not have been the case. I’m thinking that money is ear marked 20x to 12x just to reduce the shaking. There were no awards or prizes for for a proper match rifle, just in case I get This volley went substantially better winning, since it was such a small invited back. and I felt quite good about it. event put on strictly for fun. However, My final and best target now hangs on After that relay, we decided there Russ, to keep it exciting, took our the wall of my gun room. I like it there, was enough daylight for a third try. match fees and took half to pay for as a reminder that these informal, grass- Everyone’s targets seemed to improve targets and lunch, raffling off the other roots, fun shoots still exist. Sometimes as the day progressed, but I felt I really half in a 50/50-style draw. Wouldn’t it seems everyone wants a social media improved by my third target. By the you know it? I won that too. As you’ll bonanza with sponsors and prize tables. time the dust settled, Russ beat me by recall, someone else paid my match fee I worry that can make us lose sight of a mile, but I still took first in my divi- and I used a borrowed gun with free the point of shooting competitions: to sion (barely) of only four people. Had ammunition. I was up $90 after a day become better shooters and make some it not been for the third round, that of free shooting. Hard to beat that deal. friends along the way.

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_46-49_GRASSROOTS RIMFIRE_FINAL.indd 48 2020-12-10 5:09 PM prairie sniping gophers or traversing rough country. The bronze lenses, which continue the wrap around look, provide excellent clarity and colour definition. While I have not been able to use them under snowy conditions, I did use them while fly fishing. The excellent polariza- tion in the lenses cut the surface glare and I could see trout rising from the stream bottom to snatch my dry fly from the surface. The yellow lenses are ideal when shooting under cloudy or low-light sce- narios, such as first and last light while hunting. I found they offered a great deal of clarity while on an elk hunt in late September as the sun disappeared behind a ridge. I have also used them as driving lenses in the evening where they cut the glare from headlights. The clear lenses, of course, are ideal for indoor shooting under proper lighting conditions. The Shadow Tan with bronze mirror model is the only set of glasses in the arly in 2020, iconic optics com- view while protecting your vision. series to offer interchangeable lenses, Epany Leupold introduced a series The lenses also have a hydrophobic but you can’t use your vision prescrip- of high-performance eyewear. The styl- coating, which sheds water and aids in tion in them. However, some of the ish series of high-quality sunglasses providing clear vision. To protect the other glasses offer being able to use consists of five models designed and lenses, there is a Diamond Coat coat- prescription lenses as a trade-off to manufactured in the United States and ing which helps resist scratches. interchangeability. meant to appeal to hunters, shoot- I have found these Leupold glasses to The Leupold Tracer glasses per- ers and outdoor enthusiasts. They are be very comfortable due to the wrap- formed very nicely during daily wear available in polarized and non-polar- around style of arms which, combined and while hunting and target shooting. ized lenses, with some models rated with the light weight of the glasses and They are a well-thought-out design for ballistic protection. the non-slip nose bridge, make it easy that should appeal to Canadian shoot- For several months, I’ve been wear- to forget I have them on. The snug yet ers. For more information, contact your ing a pair of their Tracer series of comfortable fit keeps them in place Leupold dealer. Canadian retail is glasses, specifically, the Shadow Tan without the annoying need to constant- $212.99. model with bronze mirrored lenses. ly push them into place. This is impor- This set comes with a set of clear and tant when spending long hours on the yellow lenses, all housed in a well- padded case. These lenses are rated to ANSI Z87.1 for ballistic protection and the bronze-coloured lenses are polar- ized to cut glare from snow, sand or water. Additionally, they provide Day- light Max UV protection for a sharp

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_46-49_GRASSROOTS RIMFIRE_FINAL.indd 49 2020-12-10 5:09 PM Legal Corner Guy Lavergne, Attorney at Law

n the most recent speech from problem with that expression is that Ithe Throne, the federal Liberal it puts the emphasis on the means government reiterated its intent to used to commit the violence (i.e. the empower Canadian municipalities gun), rather than the crime itself. In to ban handguns on their respective this approach, the underlying context territories. This statement of intent is totally omitted. The reality is that A municipal handgun ban will came in the wake of an alleged surge so-called gun crime is, in the vast only affect individuals whom the in so-called gun crime in major majority of cases, a misnomer for authorities believe unlikely to Canadian cities. The narrative goes gang-related violence. compromise public safety. that limiting the ability of civilians Criminal gangs exist, not for the Une interdiction de possession to own handguns should result in purpose of committing violence d’armes émanant d’une a correlative reduction in so-called with guns, but because there is municipalité n’affectera que gun crime. As is usually the case with significant money to be made in les individus que les autorités most gun-control initiatives, most of carrying out illegal activities, such considèrent non susceptibles de the media jumped on the bandwagon, as the drug trade, prostitution rings, compromettre la sécurité publique. without questioning the rationale of illegal gambling and loan sharking. the initiative. Please allow me to look Violence, and especially gun-assisted at it from a legal standpoint. violence, is the means used by criminal gangs to protect their share What Is Gun Crime? of the pie against rival gangs and to “Gun crime” is generally meant assert their power. to refer to the usage of firearms in connection with a criminal activity, Guns Are Already Banned In Canada such as intimidation or murder. The If guns were freely available in

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_50-53_LEGAL CORNER.indd 50 2020-12-11 12:03 PM Canada, it might be defensible to formal prohibition order. but whom the law treats as criminals argue that banning handguns might, Of course, none of this really matters merely because they possess firearms somehow, influence so-called gun to criminals. They do not apply for without being licensed. One thing violence, although statistics from firearms licences (since they would is certain, it will have no effect south of our border might tend to be denied) or procure firearms at the whatsoever upon members of the prove otherwise. However, Canada is local gun store, unless of course they third group (the actual criminals), not the United States. The one factor do so by breaking into the gun store which is the group responsible for the that is never mentioned in any media in the middle of the night. They also so-called gun violence. discussion of gun control is that ignore firearms prohibition orders. Ask yourselves these questions: possession of any firearm is already Why would a criminal who is in banned in Canada. Indeed, the Who Will Be Affected By A illegal possession of a handgun (in centre piece of Canadian gun control Municipal Ban On Handguns? and of itself a criminal offence) and is section 91 of the Criminal Code, In any municipality, there are up to possesses said handgun for illegal which makes it a criminal offence to three classes of individual handgun purposes, surrender it because of a possess a firearm. Of course, section owners: mere municipal bylaw? 91 of the Criminal Code has its own First, there are individuals who How is legislation, that further built in exception, which exempts legally own handguns for collection restricts the legal availability of individuals who hold a firearms and/or sporting purposes and who, by handguns, supposed to preclude licence and, in the case of handguns, a and large, comply with existing laws. criminals from continuing to use registration certificate, from criminal Those individuals are those whom illegal means to procure them? liability. the police and other government Contrary to popular belief, a authorities deem not to represent a Fooling The Public firearms licence is not a certificate threat to public safety, as confirmed Unfortunately, most members of the of competence, nor is it merely a by the fact that they have been issued public are not aware that criminals document that can be obtained in firearms licences by those same cannot procure guns legally in exchange for the payment of a fee. authorities. Canada, and neither, apparently, are Per section 4 of the Firearms Act, Then, there are those people who the media. As a result, politicians a firearms licence is a temporary possess handguns without being have almost free rein to propose authorization, issued by a government licenced, but do not engage in ludicrous and ineffective solutions, by authority (a chief firearms officer) to criminal activities. Those are often pretending to address the problem of do something (i.e. possess a firearm) people who have held their firearms so-called gun crime, when in fact they that would otherwise be a criminal since before licensing became a legal merely pursue a social engineering offence. The issuance of firearms requirement, or who have received or political goal: removing handguns licences is a discretionary process, them from friends or family members, from civilian hands. and a licence may be revoked at any often through inheritance. Most often, In previous declarations on this time for any good and valid reason, they are ignorant of existing licensing topic, the federal government per section 68 of the Firearms Act. requirements. The law views them indicated that the co-operation of Before issuing a firearms licence, a as criminals merely because they are the provinces would be required chief firearms officer is supposed non-compliant, even though they do to implement this ludicrous plan. to carry out an investigation of the not endanger public safety. References to provincial co-operation licence applicant. Any concern for Finally, there are true criminals who were omitted in the latest speech the safety of the applicant, or for possess or have access to handguns as from the Throne. Some provinces public safety in general, is supposed tools of their trade. They procure them have already indicated they would to result in the denial of the licence illegally, either through contraband take action to preclude their or, in instances where the licence has or theft, since the lack of a licence municipal authorities from jumping already been issued, in its revocation. precludes them from procuring them on the federal bandwagon. The city After a firearms licence is issued, the legally. They are the ones who are of Toronto has recently indicated continuing eligibility of licensees responsible for the great majority of that it would prefer a national ban. is being verified on a regular and events characterized as gun violence. This might be an indication they do frequent basis. Irrespective of whether they have not want to bear the blame when Hence, firearms licensees are a criminal record, the police forces the initiative is shown to be a red individuals whom the government generally know exactly who they are. herring. authorities, including the police forces Any initiative by a municipality to Yet, this Liberal government (since most CFO offices are operated ban the possession of handguns on appears to be going ahead with this by police), have deemed˜ to be unlikely its territory will, first and foremost, ludicrous plan. Law-abiding gun to compromise public safety. Needless affect the first group of handgun owners are being targeted because to say, an individual’s membership owners (the licensed sports shooters any legislation that affects them is or participation in a criminal and collectors), those whom the CFO unlikely to lose the Liberals any votes, organization such as a street gang, has deemed not to be a threat to and likely to win them more votes even in the absence of a criminal public safety. Such an initiative might from the people who are fooled into record, renders a person ineligible to also affect members of the second believing that an initiative such as hold a firearms licence, even without a group, who have no criminal intent, this will make them safer.

January/February 2021 www.nfa.ca 51

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_50-53_LEGAL CORNER.indd 51 2020-12-11 12:03 PM Rubrique Juridique Guy Lavergne, avocat Interdictions de possession d’armes de poing par les municipalités: quand l’idéologie l’emporte sur le bon sens

ans le cadre du plus récent Ddiscours du trône, le gouvernement libéral fédéral a réitéré son intention de donner aux municipalités canadiennes le pouvoir d’interdire les armes de poing sur leurs territoires respectifs. Cette déclaration d’intention fait suite à une prétendue recrudescence de ce qu’on appelle la « criminalité par arme à feu» dans les grandes villes canadiennes. Le narratif est à l’effet que limiter la capacité des civils à posséder des armes de poing devrait entraîner une réduction corrélative de ce qu’on appelle la criminalité par arme à feu. Comme c’est habituellement le cas pour la plupart des initiatives de contrôle des armes à feu, la plupart des médias ont sauté dans le train, sans remettre en question la rationalité de l’initiative. Permettez-moi de l’examiner d’un point de vue juridique.

Qu’est-ce que la criminalité par armes à feu? The Liberal government appears L’expression « criminalité par violence, et en particulier la violence to be going ahead with its plan arme à feu » désigne généralement armée, est le moyen utilisé par les to allow municipalities to ban handguns. l’utilisation d’armes à feu en lien dans gangs criminels pour protéger leur le cadre d’une activité criminelle, part du gâteau contre les gangs Le gouvernement libéral semble comme l’intimidation ou le meurtre. rivaux, et pour affirmer leur pouvoir. déterminé à aller de l’avant avec Le problème avec cette expression, son plan visant à habiliter les c’est qu’elle met l’accent sur le moyen Les armes à feu sont déjà interdites au Canada municipalités à bannir les armes de poing. ou l’objet utilisé pour commettre la Si les armes à feu étaient disponibles violence (c’est-à-dire l’arme à feu), librement au Canada, il serait peut- plutôt que sur le crime lui-même. être défendable de soutenir que qui fait de la possession d’une arme Dans cette approche, le contexte l’interdiction des armes de poing à feu une infraction criminelle. Bien sous-jacent est totalement évacué. pourrait, d’une façon ou d’une autre, entendu, l’article 91 du Code criminel La réalité est que ce qu’on appelle avoir un effet sur ce qu’on appelle prévoit une exception, laquelle la criminalité par arme à feu est, la violence armée, bien que les exempte les personnes qui détiennent dans la grande majorité des cas, un statistiques du sud de notre frontière un permis d’armes à feu et, dans le euphémisme pour la violence reliée tendent à prouver le contraire. cas des armes de poing, un certificat aux gangs criminels. Toutefois, le Canada n’est pas les États- d’enregistrement, de responsabilité Les gangs criminels existent, non pas Unis. Le seul facteur qui n’est jamais criminelle. dans le but de commettre des actes de mentionné dans aucune discussion Contrairement à la croyance violence avec des armes à feu, mais médiatique sur le contrôle des armes populaire, un permis d’armes parce qu’il y a beaucoup d’argent à feu, c’est que la possession d’une à feu n’est pas un certificat de à faire dans le cadre des activités arme à feu est déjà interdite au compétence; il ne s’agit pas non plus illégales, comme le commerce de la Canada. En effet, la pièce maîtresse d’un simple document qui peut être drogue, les réseaux de prostitution, du contrôle canadien des armes à obtenu en échange du paiement les jeux illégaux et le prêt usuraire. La feu est l’article 91 du Code criminel, d’une redevance. En vertu de la

52 www.nfa.ca January/February 2021

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_50-53_LEGAL CORNER.indd 52 2020-12-11 12:03 PM Loi sur les armes à feu, un permis qui possèdent des armes de poing: criminalité par arme à feu. d’armes à feu est une autorisation Premièrement, il y a des personnes Posez-vous ces questions: temporaire délivrée par une autorité qui possèdent légalement des armes Pourquoi un criminel qui est en gouvernementale (un contrôleur de poing à des fins de collection et/ou possession illégale d’une arme des armes à feu) pour faire quelque de tir sportif et qui, dans l’ensemble, de poing (en soi une infraction chose (c’est-à-dire posséder une se conforment aux lois existantes. Ces criminelle) et possède cette arme de Interdictions de possession d’armes de poing par les arme à feu) qui serait autrement une personnes sont celles que la police et poing à des fins illégales, la rendrait- infraction criminelle. La délivrance de d’autres autorités gouvernementales elle en raison d’un simple règlement municipalités: quand l’idéologie l’emporte sur le bon sens permis d’armes à feu est un processus considèrent ne pas représenter une municipal ? discrétionnaire, et un permis peut menace pour la sécurité publique, Comment une loi qui restreint être révoqué à tout moment pour comme le confirme le fait que ces davantage la disponibilité légale toute raison valable, conformément mêmes autorités leur ont émis un des armes de poing est-elle censée à l’article 68 de la Loi sur les armes permis d’arme à feu. empêcher les criminels de continuer à à feu. Avant de délivrer un permis Ensuite, il y a ces personnes qui utiliser des moyens illégaux pour s’en d’armes à feu, un contrôleur des possèdent des armes de poing sans procurer? armes à feu est censé mener une avoir de permis, mais qui ne se livrent enquête sur le demandeur de permis. pas à des activités criminelles. Il s’agit Tromper le public Toute préoccupation quant à la souvent de personnes qui détiennent Malheureusement, la plupart des sécurité du demandeur, ou pour la ces armes de poing depuis avant que membres du grand public ne savent sécurité publique en général est le permis ne devienne une exigence pas que les criminels ne peuvent pas censée entraîner le refus du permis légale, ou qui les ont reçues d’amis ou se procurer légalement des armes ou, dans les cas où le permis a déjà été de membres de la famille, souvent par à feu au Canada et les médias ne le délivré, sa révocation. Une fois qu’un héritage. Le plus souvent, ils ignorent savent apparemment pas non plus. permis d’armes à feu est délivré, les exigences en matière de permis. La En conséquence, les politiciens ont l’admissibilité continue du titulaire du loi les considère comme des criminels presque le champ libre pour proposer permis est vérifiée de façon régulière simplement parce qu’ils ne sont pas des solutions ridicules et inefficaces, et fréquente. en règle, même s’ils ne mettent pas en en prétendant s’attaquer au problème Par conséquent, les titulaires danger la sécurité publique. de la soi-disant criminalité par arme de permis d’armes à feu sont Enfin, il y a des vrais criminels qui à feu, alors qu’en fait ils ne font que des personnes que les autorités possèdent ou ont accès à des armes poursuivre un objectif re réingénierie gouvernementales, y compris les de poing comme outils de travail. Ils sociale ou politique, soit de retirer les forces de police (puisque la plupart se les procurent illégalement, soit par armes de poing des mains des civils. des contrôleurs des armes à feu sont contrebande, soit par vol, puisque Dans des déclarations antérieures intégrés aux forces policières), ont l’absence d’un permis les empêche de à ce sujet, le gouvernement fédéral jugé peu susceptible de compromettre les obtenir légalement. Ce sont eux a indiqué que la coopération des la sécurité publique. Il va sans dire qui sont responsables de la grande provinces serait nécessaire pour que l’appartenance ou la participation majorité des événements qualifiés de mettre en œuvre ce plan ridicule. d’une personne à une organisation « criminalité par arme à feu». Qu’ils Les références à la coopération criminelle, telle un gang de rue, même aient ou non un casier judiciaire, les provinciale ont été omises dans le en l’absence d’un casier judiciaire, forces de police savent généralement dernier discours du Trône. Certaines rend une personne inadmissible à exactement qui ils sont. provinces ont déjà indiqué qu’elles détenir un permis d’armes à feu, Toute initiative d’une municipalité prendraient des mesures pour même sans ordonnance d’interdiction visant à interdire la possession empêcher leurs autorités municipales formelle. d’armes de poing sur son territoire de se prévaloir de cette initiative Bien sûr, rien de tout cela n’a touchera d’abord et avant tout le fédérale. La Ville de Toronto a vraiment d’importance pour les premier groupe de propriétaires récemment indiqué qu’elle préférerait criminels. Ils ne demandent pas de d’armes de poing (les tireurs et les une interdiction nationale. Cela permis d’armes à feu (puisqu’ils leur collectionneurs), ceux-là même pourrait être une indication que ses seraient refusés) et ne se procurent pas que le contrôleur des armes à feu a dirigeants ne veulent pas porter le d’armes à feu au magasin d’armes à jugés ne pas constituer une menace blâme, lorsque l’initiative se sera feu local, à moins bien sûr qu’ils ne le pour la sécurité publique. Une telle avérée être un mirage. fassent en s’introduisant par effraction initiative pourrait également toucher Pourtant, ce gouvernement libéral dans le magasin d’armes à feu au les membres du deuxième groupe, semble aller de l’avant avec ce plan. milieu de la nuit. Ils font également qui n’ont aucune intention criminelle, Les propriétaires légaux d’armes à fi des ordonnances d’interdiction mais que la loi traite comme des feu sont ciblés parce que toute loi d’armes à feu qui sont prononcées à criminels, simplement parce qu’ils qui les touche est peu susceptible de leur égard par les tribunaux. possèdent des armes à feu sans faire perdre des votes des libéraux, et être titulaires d’un permis. Une susceptibles de leur en faire gagner Qui sera touché par l’interdiction chose est certaine, elle n’aura aucun davantage de la part des gens qui sont municipale des armes de poing? effet sur les membres du troisième ainsi dupés et à qui l’on fait croire Dans n’importe quelle municipalité, il groupe (les vrais criminels), qui est le qu’ils seront ainsi davantage y a jusqu’à trois catégories d’individus groupe responsable de la soi-disant en sécurité.

January/February 2021 www.nfa.ca 53

CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_50-53_LEGAL CORNER.indd 53 2020-12-11 12:03 PM NFA Book Shelf Bill Rantz The Browning High Power Automatic Pistol

obert Blake Stevens the design created was not Rfounded Collector a Browning, nor a high- Grade Publications. They are powered pistol. However, a Canadian company based Stevens indicates it is difficult in Cobourg, Ont., which has to think of a viable modern published excellent, pro- design which is not part of its fessionally researched and lineage. curated books since 1979. Every Collector Grade pub- Mr. Stevens passed away on lication reflects the respect April 22, 2018, at the age of this company has for the au- 79. He was an accomplished thors who spent a significant writer, researcher and his- portion of their lives writing torian, serving as editor for such detailed and informa- dozens of other books pub- tive books. Each publication lished by Collector Grade. features high-quality paper, The first edition of The sewn-in pages, plus a deluxe Browning High Power Auto- case-bound cover with lami- matic Pistol was published nated dustjacket. Books are in 1984, followed by an shipped securely packaged Expanded Edition in 1990. and will arrive in perfect The currently available 2014 condition. Limited Edition contains all Several Collector Grade material available in earlier books, including the Great editions, plus a section con- Remington 8, and Model taining previously unknown 81 Autoloading Rifle and facts and recently developed Mauser Smallbore Rifles: models. Sporting Target & Training This book will be used Rifles published by Collector extensively by Browning enthusiasts chief of new armament development, Grade, are no longer available. Prices as a research source. Sought-after Monsieur Dieudonne Saive. for these two books have soared to information may be readily accessed The Browning High Power Auto- several times the original price at using the table of contents, which matic Pistol will familiarize readers internet book dealers. lists 16 chapters with numerous with models produced over 90 years. The Browning High Power Auto- subsections. The easy-to-read text is Variations are identified and de- matic Pistol is fairly priced at $79.95 informative and supplemented by scribed in exacting detail, which will USD. Current Collector Grade pub- over 300 illustrations, including pho- be appreciated by collectors when lications may be viewed and ordered tographs, diagrams, charts, patents evaluating the originality of any online at www.collectorgrade.com. and part lists. Browning High Power. Even a slight Blake Stevens covers the complete variation or special marking can history, development and evolution drastically affect the rarity and value Title: The Browning High Power of the Browning High Power from of a collectable firearm. Automatic Pistol (2014 Limited Browning’s workbench in Ogden, Canadian Browning enthusiasts Edition) Utah, in the early ‘20s to the revo- will enjoy the section on the Cana- Author: R. Blake Stevens lutionary FN P90 Personal Defense dian connection, which covers the Publisher: Collector Grade Weapon. John Inglis Company’s production Publications Incorporated Browning’s contractual relationship of the Inglis High Power in Toronto. 0-88935-089-2 with Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Collector Grade also publishes Inglis ISBN: Guerre (FN) allowed the development Diamond – The Canadian High Power Pages: 304 of the Browning pistol to continue Pistol by Clive M. Law (1954 to 2017), Size: Hard cover with dust jacket, long after his death in November who was recognized as the subject leather bound, 8.75 inches 1926. Stevens indicates the original matter expert on the Canadian Inglis by 11.25 inches Browning design was modified exten- High power. Photographs: Black and white sively over the coming years by FN’s In many ways, the evolution of

54 www.nfa.ca January/February 2021

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CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_54-55_NFA BOOKSHELF_FINAL.indd 55 2020-12-10 5:24 PM CFJ_JANUARYFEBRUARY21_54-55_NFA BOOKSHELF_FINAL.indd 56 2020-12-10 5:24 PM