The American Rifleman, Rick Hacker, and the M29

[rockquarry]

The AMERICAN RIFLEMAN has suffered a significant decline in the overall quality of articles for quite some time. Whether it is the fault of the current editor or those above him, or both, I don't know. Management is obviously not very receptive of fresh ideas for new articles. Under the leadership of former editors Ron Keysor and Ken Warner, the magazine was much better, offering a greater variety of material, including technical stuff as well as more handloading & cast bullet articles.

One area where AR is to be commended is the method they still use to evaluate accuracy by firing five, five-shot groups, a very stringent test, particularly for centerfire rifles. I read few gun magazines these days, but I'm not aware of any other publication that does this, at least on a
regular basis.

 

[ddixie884]

I believe there were two handguns "blown up" by EMK. First one, blown case head with the rifle bullet. This resulted in the loading gate being broken, and EMK's trigger finger being nearly severed.
Second one, loose primer pockets in .45Colt brass fired more than one chamber. This resulted in the top 3 chambers and the top strap coming off. The first was with Black Powder, the second with semi smokless. I have not yet seen any documentation that EMK ever blew up a handgun with an overcharge of smokless powder. see below..........

 

[mkk41]

Isn't Mr. Jim Supica , author of the SCSW , somehow involved the NRA magazines?

 

[Jack Flash]

The AMERICAN RIFLEMAN has suffered a significant decline in the overall quality of articles for quite some time. ...

When you're at a gun show some time, buy a couple of American Rifleman magazines from the 1960s. They were really a lot better back then. Usually you can buy them for a quarter or so each now days.

 

[opoefc]

In my post above, where I recited Mr. Hacker's response to my letter critical of his "facts," I indicated I would ask Roy about Mr. Hacker's reference to Roy as the source of the "S" frame label. Roy's response to my query,in part, was " Ed. I have never referred to the N frame as an "S" frame....He ( Mr. Hacker) did not get that from me." Mr. Hacker is digging himself in deeper trying to defend his numerous collection of misinformation! Ed.

 

[DWalt]

One can hope that NRA's efforts to preserve the 2nd Amendment (which is its principal function) outweigh the obvious editorial weaknesses and inaccuracies of contributors. I think all that needs to be said about this article and its author has already been said.

I will certainly agree that the technical quality of AR articles in the 1970s and earlier far surpass those of today. I have also noted that numerous articles in Gun Digest were sloppily written, and I remember one edition from the 1970s, I believe, that was absolutely riddled with inaccuracies and falsehoods in just about every article in it.

 

[CptCurl]

Rick Hacker knows a lot about cigars, I believe. I think I recall an article by him on cigars in, "Playboy." I don't smoke, so didn't read it. I have read some of his gun articles over the years, and they seemed sound.

I'm with you, TS. Keep your eyes on the pics and to heck with the articles!

Just kidding!

 

[mkk41]

Don't have Sportsman's Channel but I just watched the Model 29/.44 Magnum episode of Gun Stories on On-Demand and was simply amazed by this S-frame nonsense.

 

[OldDominion]

I have often heard the phrase: "You are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts." In this article by Hacker, he writes that, " Model 29s were in short supply at the time (due to lack of demand, not popularity, as is commonly believed)..." That is in contrast to historian Roy Jinks who wrote in "History of Smith & Wesson" on page 221: "The sales and reputation of the Model 29 have continued to grow throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s..." Lack of demand? I don't think so Tim...

 

[Nightowl]

Group, I sent Mr. Hacker a letter pointing our disagreements with his article's "facts" about the Model 29 and received a reply, part of which I quote : In a Dec. 15, 2011, recorded interview with S&W historian, Roy Jinks, he stated " The two revolvers used in the first (Dirty Harry) movie were S frame designation and were essentially pre-production N frame Models." While "S-Frame" may not not have been an official S&W term, it has certainly evolved into a generic term= one even used by respected S&W historian, Roy Jinks = for the big frame revolvers before they became N frames." End quote.

Mr. Hacker went on to comment about Elmer Keith's cylinder exploding exploits, etc. and ended his reply with a comment " you may be correct in my misinterpretation of my barrel turning operation - I merely went by what the gunsmith told me."
Signed "Rick Hacker, Field Editor.

That's "The Rest of the Story" I will ask Roy, in the "Questions for Roy", category, his recollection of the citec interview with Mr. hacker in 2011. Ed.

I certainly would like to hear the results of that question?

Thanks Ed.

 

[GF]

The "old" gunwriters wrote for a generation of gunmen.

The new ones write for the gun owner.

PALADIN85020 does an excellent job and he has my respect.

GF

 

[joelitespeed]

It was said in that article that certain revolvers were known to lockup. How can I tell which ones have that "feature" I have a pre 29 4 screw and Im worried about shooting full power loads now.

 

[opoefc]

Nightowl, I posted above Roy's answer to my question about him being the source of the "S" frame asserted by Mr. Hacker. In two words " No way !" Ed.

 

[truckmizer]

It was said in that article that certain revolvers were known to lockup. How can I tell which ones have that "feature" I have a pre 29 4 screw and Im worried about shooting full power loads now.

If you a talking about the ejector rod backing out, left hand threaded rods have a groove behind the knurling and right hand threaded rods don't. I believe the change came with the 29-1. I would avoid shooting full power loads in your 4 screw .44 MAG, they do shoot loose and the frame does stretch.

 

[joelitespeed]

If you a talking about the ejector rod backing out, left hand threaded rods have a groove behind the knurling and right hand threaded rods don't. I believe the change came with the 29-1. I would avoid shooting full power loads in your 4 screw .44 MAG, they do shoot loose and the frame does stretch.

I'll have to check next time im in the safe. Luckily I just picked up a 629-3 yesterday so my 4 screw will be relegated to light hand loads now. Thanks for the info.

 

[hotrod150]

Truckmizer is correct-- per SCSW, the extractor rod was changed to LH thread with model 29-1 in 1962.

 

[joelitespeed]

Mine is 1957/58 and right handed per the details provided. Thanks for the detailed description.

 

[GM4spd]

Note on the Hacker article,he references the James Bond
movie "Live and Let Die",Roger Moore pulls an 8-3/8"
Nickel "N" frame from a shoulder rig. I believe the movie
was 1971,anyway, it LOOKS to me like a Model 27--it looks
like the barrel has a TAPER to it--anyone else notice or
verify this? Pete

 

[shawn mccarver]

In my post above, where I recited Mr. Hacker's response to my letter critical his "facts," I indicated I would ask Roy about Mr. Hacker's reference to Roy as the source of the "S" frame label. Roy's response to my query,in part, was " Ed. I have never referred to the N frame as an "S" frame....He ( Mr. Hacker) did not get that from me." Mr. Hacker is digging himself in deeper trying to defend his numerous collection of misinformation! Ed.

Ed:

This post caused me to go over and read Roy's entire answer. I have to say that the rest of Roy's answer is "worth the price of admission" and if ANYONE complains about the cost of member dues in the S&WCA, I now have a new "sales pitch."

Best,

Shawn

 

[shawn mccarver]

Note on the Hacker article,he references the James Bond
movie "Live and Let Die",Roger Moore pulls an 8-3/8"
Nickel "N" frame from a shoulder rig. I believe the movie
was 1971,anyway, it LOOKS to me like a Model 27--it looks
like the barrel has a TAPER to it--anyone else notice or
verify this? Pete

Roger Moore definitely had a .44 Magnum in the Live and Let Die scene in question.