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MAY 4, 2021

Bushnell and Hoppe’s congratulate pro shooter Jessie Harrison on her first-place finish at the 2021 World Speed Shooting Championships. Harrison was successful in claiming the High Lady Overall title and first place in the Lady Open Division.
Bushnell congratulates pro shooter KC Eusebio on winning his eighth World Speed Shooting Championship title. Eusebio, equipped with a Bushnell First Strike 2.0 reflex sight, was successful in claiming the High Overall title and two first-place finishes in both the Open and Rimfire Optics Division during the 2021 world championship.
Hornady congratulates Sean Murphy and Greg Hamilton on their performance at the Real World Sniper Challenge in Refugio, Texas. Murphy and Hamilton took first place using Hornady 6.5mm 135 gr. A-TIP Match bullets in their rifles and 9mm 125 gr. HAP bullets in their pistols.

The Escort BTS bullpup offers advantages of the VTS series shotguns in a compact, portable package. This next-generation shotgun is available in either 12 ga or .410 cal and is offered in either black or FDE Cerakote.
Ed Brown Products, Inc. is excited to be adding the F4 to the Fueled Series of custom pistols, based on the popular Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 9mm.
Galco’s Corvus Holster can be worn as a belt holster or inside the waistband. It’s an open-top Kydex holster with forward molding.

Phoenix Weaponry, a custom firearms manufacturer, announces greater manufacturing capacity and availability for their free float AR-style handguard.
Galco’s day planners are compact carry firearms cases that are functional day planners – the iDefense even holds the sidearm and spare ammo along with a tablet computer.
Champion Range & Targets announced the arrival of their new Small Frame ear muffs. These new muffs are designed specifically to fit smaller heads, making them ideal for shooters that find traditional hearing muffs too large.

SIG SAUER, Inc. is proud to release an exclusive video featuring President & CEO Ron Cohen highlighting the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons Program.
Riton Optics is excited to announce Chattanooga Shooting Supplies Inc. as the newest distributor of Riton Optics products.
Hornady is proud to add Phillip Velayo to Team Hornady. Phillip is a 10-year Marine Corps veteran, having served his entire career in the Scout Sniper community.

Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc. announces the recent promotion of Joel Miller to Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. announced that it plans to divest its Thompson/Center Arms brand. This decision is part of the Company’s broader strategic plan that will focus on its core Smith & Wesson brands.
With 90 percent of wildland fires in the United States caused by human actions, the National Shooting Sports Foundation is reminding outdoor recreationists, including target shooters and hunters, to take precautions so they don’t accidentally ignite a wildfire.

The U.S. Concealed Carry Association made a statement in support of Sen. Cornyn's introduction of the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. The proposal allows responsible individuals with concealed carry rights in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state with concealed carry laws.
The Luth-AR Modular Trigger Assembly is a drop-in component. The housing is made from anodized aluminum and the internals are made to produce a 3 1/2 lb. trigger break.
Cold Steel announces the release of the Natchez Bowie in 3V. An elegant blade directly inspired from the infamous 19th century “Under-The-Hill” landing below the Natchez Bluffs, the Natchez Bowie in 3V hearkens to its namesake frontier fighter.

Honored American Veterans Afield and The Independence Fund partnered to host a precision long-range 22 caliber shooting event at the Andover Sportsman’s Club in Andover, Connecticut. Six veterans from the Army, Army National Guard, Navy, and Marine Corps participated in three days of training and target shooting.
Picking up where Shooting Industry’s two previous Woman’s Issues left off, the third annual edition endeavors to help store owners educate, equip and empower female customers. Over the past 14 months, millions of women have become first-time gun owners — raising the stakes considerably for retailers to earn and retain their business.
EOTECH announced a new offering of a consumer financing option on their website. The financing firm EOTECH partnered with is Credova.
SIG SAUER’s MODX-45 Pistol Suppressor, an extension of the MODX line of pistol suppressors made of 3-D printed titanium baffles, is now available and shipping.
Orchid LLC and Williams Mullen’s Firearms Industry Group, hosts of the 2021 Firearms Compliance Conference, announced that SB Tactical is a silver sponsor of the 2021 Firearms Industry Compliance Conference
Outdoor Edge announced that it has renewed its partnership with the award-winning outdoor television show Struttinbucks for the second year.
 

After some tumultuous times in an enthusiasts’ organization, the latest edition of a great text has arrived. From the people at Snub Noir, the new organization, Ed Lovette’s new edition of his recognized standard, The Snubby Revolver: The ECQ, Backup, and Concealed Carry Standard (3rd Edition) is now available.

Ed’s the ‘Founder Emeritus’ of the new group, founded by Michael deBethencourt. Staffers at the new publication include friends Mike Boyle, Bill Bell, Rob Garrett, Jim Higginbotham – as well as people new to me, like Jordan Bell, Hany Mahmoud, Steve Rustad and Jeff Lehman.

As to the book, I was one of a group that was asked to proof it. I did. Part of the reason I was asked is that I answered some questions for the estimable Mr. Lovette. For me to get asked for an opinion by Ed Lovette, someone I’d classify as an actual expert, was really a treat.

That he didn’t agree with me didn’t matter as, unlike a good many these days, we’re adults and we understand what it means when Evan Marshall tells us, “We’re all victims of our own experience.”

I was thrilled to be involved for a very small part of the book because I’d get the shot at reading the pre-production galley. I knew I’d learn something – and I did.

Like earlier editions, he seeks to answer the question “Why a snub nose revolver?” and to take it beyond simple selection to best practices for gear acquisition, learning and training, tactics – including awareness and avoidance – and bringing us up to date with all the new guns and support gear devised and produced since his earlier efforts.

Above, the NYPD version of the M64 snub -- a large (K-frame) revolver with a dehorned hammer and rendered trigger-cocking only before sale. Below, at a law enforcement conference at Richmond VA, the author demonstrates a close-range shooting position empty-handed.

Why the snub revolver? One reason was explained as far back as 1930 in a book by J. Henry Fitzgerald, a Colt employee – another pro, one who is quoted in Ed’s book. He starts with something I didn’t see broadly discussed except inside police circles starting in the late 1970s – the weapon retention advantage. A short revolver – by its definition round and not easily seized – gives the wielder more to grasp than an attacker can grab. This gives the revolverero more leverage (“The longer the lever,” according to gun retention technique inventor James Lindell, “the greater the leverage.”) – and that speaks well for success.

And, as pointed out by a great gun writer of the great old days, if the gun-grabber’s hand happens to cover the muzzle while the cylinder can still turn, it becomes a self-resolving (and loud) problem. Fitz goes on to explain that the short gun is more readily used in extreme confined spaces (an automobile). Fairbairn agreed that the “cut-down revolver” was the best for the “very close quarters” speed required of a plain-clothes officer in 1942.

In the current era of the semi-auto, we know from increasing field experience that extreme close-range conflict – from an entangled struggle, perhaps in an automobile interior or an elevator – there’s a great likelihood the self-loader will choke … due to compromised hold, interference with clothing, other obstructions, the offender’s hands. This is unlikely with the round gun.

Another pair of NYPD authorized revolvers from "the day," the S&W M640 (top) and the M640-2 (38-only version of the M640-1). Below, even the very light revolvers can be effective out to 25 yards, as shown with the S&W M&P340 below.

The gun that’s literally always available and can be very quickly employed is best. Ed Lovette tries to help you get the best use of it by setting the stage, explaining the dynamics of lethal encounters, demonstrating the best way to run the gun (and keep it running), considerations – and training advice -- for what some call “nontraditional users” (especially moms), sights-stocks-triggers, practice and ammunition.

Ed uses case histories from law enforcement and military engagements as well as offering a study of incidents involving non-sworn citizens. There’s a lot packed into 206 pages.

It takes some time to unpack. It’s worth reading, rereading and then picking & choosing segments to completely digest the information.

The snub revolver has “unique capabilities.” It requires only your best efforts to use it to your success. This book will help you realize that success.

Ed’s work comes highly recommended by many – including me. While I got a ‘review copy’ of the book, I purchased a pair as gifts.

Buy it, read it – and learn from our history.

-- Rich Grassi

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