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The idea was simple. Build a gun tough enough to be carried all day, in a caliber capable of performing a wide range of tasks, while being light enough to go unnoticed when worn. The “Featherweight,” thanks to the pros at Tyler Gun Works and RW Grip Frames, is a light, versatile and discreet Ruger Vaquero featured on the July/August cover of American Handgunner.
Jeff “Tank” Hoover outlines the transformation that included a custom grip frame, front sight, hog-trough rear sight, trigger and other various touches. He lends, “The Featherweight may be the ultimate ‘multi-tool’ in my mind. It’s the insurance policy you pack, yet don’t notice. It can feed, protect or put an animal down should the need arise. It’s what you need to get you through your day — in one piece!”
Clayton Walker argues the Heckler & Koch USP Expert is, decades after its debut, still a great choice. “I’m hard-pressed to think of a polymer handgun that’s more accurate, easier to shoot and has a richer feature set — all with faultless reliability, to boot,” he notes. “If you’ve never had too much trigger time on these guns, the USP Expert officially welcomes you to the party. I certainly don’t plan on leaving any time soon!”
The Baer 1911 Boss .45 up for grabs in the July/Aug Handgun of the Month giveaway is a fitting tribute to the high-performance 1970s muscle car that inspired it. It sports a 5" barrel, chromed complete lower and has 8-round capacity. The winner will also receive a Luna OWB holster from Versacarry and a Flyby knife from Kershaw Knives. Valued at $3,356.98, readers are encouraged to enter the free drawing at AmericanHandgunner.com/giveaways.
Elsewhere in the issue, Roy Huntington shares the at-home modification he made to the front sights on his Walther PP .22 that resulted in something pleasantly unexpected. The Ayoob Files warns: Guns that don’t work can’t stop the people trying to kill you. Always have a backup plan when the first plan fails because when the fight is over, confusion can reign supreme. And in Carry Options, John J. McCarthy, Jr., submits solutions for “Big, Less Big and Small” holsters for a variety of carrying styles and preferences.
Exclusive online articles can be found at AmericanHandgunner.com. Purchase the July/August issue or order a subscription at fmgpubs.com. Digital versions are also available.
CONTACT: TOM MCHALE