Sheriff Jim Wilson

Far from being antiques, modern single-action revolvers are extremely popular among today’s handgunners. In this day of higher-capacity semi-autos and double-action revolvers, it’s difficult for some to consider the single action as a viable choice for personal defense. But, single-action revolvers were

originally designed as fighting guns and they did an excellent job of taking care of defensive chores for many, many years.

Today, the modern semi-automatic pistol and double-action sixgun have the old single action beat in capacity and speed of reloading. But, center hits stop dangerous attacks, not the amount of ammo your gun carries or how fast you can recharge it. Let’s look at some of the shooters who favor the single action and examine some of the techniques that make the single action a viable choice.

Click here to visit Shooting Illustrated to read the rest of this article.

Among the calibers that came from the military is the 7×57 mm Mauser.

It’s surprising how many of our most useful and reliable cartridges started life in the military. Some that quickly come to mind are the .45 Colt, .45 ACP, .308 Win., .223 Rem., and the glorious .30-’06 Sprg. And right in among those, I also have to add another great performer, the 7×57 mm Mauser. The 7×57 mm, although less popular in this country, is an excellent performer featuring good accuracy and moderate recoil.

Click here to visit American Rifleman to read the entire article.

Our Australian buffalo hunt couldn’t have been more successful. Il Ling and I used the 350 gr. Barnes TSX bullets, in .375 H&H, to take eight head of buffalo and one Australian Wild Ox.

We were hunting with Simon Kyle-Little, of Australian Big Game Safaris, on the Walker River, in Eastern Arnhem Land. This area is all tribal land, some 12 million acres of it, and Simon’s concession is 2 million acres. And, on those 2 million acres, the only fence is the one around the camp garden. Our hunting companions were Dr. Dean Taylor, Vee Miller, and Doug Miller.

Asian buffalo, bantang, and wild ox, were all brought to northern Australia about 1830. At this time, there were forts being established and the idea was that these animals would feed the soldiers. However, a few years later, the forts were abandoned and the various bovine were released to fend for themselves. The animals have run wild ever since.

Our specific load for the Barnes 350 gr. TSX bullet consisted of Remington cases and enough Ramshot Big Game powder to drive the bullets to 2300fps. This proved to be a very accurate load on paper and very comfortable to shoot. As our hunt proved, there is absolutely no need to drive the 350 gr. TSX bullet any faster. The .375 H&H does not have to pound you to give good results.

During our hunt, we took buffalo at distances from 12 yards to 272 yards (a one-shot kill). The Barnes bullets that we recovered showed good expansion with all of the petals intact. However, as you can imagine, several of our shots gave full penetration and the bullets were not recovered. In these cases, however, the exit wound clearly showed that the bullets had expanded.

The biggest adventure that I had on this hunt was collecting an Australian Wild Ox. These animals are the original short-horned European cattle that have run wild in Australia since the 1830s. They are quite a bit spookier than the Asian buffalo and the big bulls prefer to stay in the really heavy timber, either in the swamps, or along the wooded ridges. Usually, when you see a wild ox, you are looking at his rump and he is leaving. In spookiness, I would compare them to whitetail deer.

In other parts of Australia ranchers will have wild cattle, inside their fenced pastures, and improperly call them wild ox. Nothing could be further from the truth. These are merely scrub cattle of all different colors. The true Australian Wild Ox is red in color and found in only the most remote areas. The SCI recognizes the Wild Ox only when it is red in color and taken in remote areas, specifically not on ranches.

At any rate, I took my Wild Ox in the heaviest brush of the coastal swamp region. When I first saw him, he looked like a red freight train moving across a small opening in the brush. I shot him on the point of the left shoulder at @ 20 yds, and broke that shoulder and leg. As he spun and thrashed, I was able to move in closer and shoot him in the right shoulder at @ 12 yards. Simon came in to about seven yards and spined him with his BRNO .375 (the spine shot was not needed, but we had no way of knowing that at the time). This big bull was every bit of 2,000 pounds and had a massive set of horns. Altogether, a great trophy!

I can’t recommend Simon Kyle-Little enough. He has been guiding Australian hunts for 28 years. He runs a clean, efficient hunting camp and he knows his game. Based upon the client’s physical condition and desire, Simon can do a spot & stalk hunt or the more strenuous, day-long hunts into heavy brush. Naturally, the heavy brush is where the big bulls are going to be found.

Simon’s wife, Elspeth, is a past master at getting all of the client’s permits and documents in proper order. Two of our hunting companions wrote down the serial numbers of their rifles in the wrong sequence. This usually results in the rifles being confiscated. However, in both cases, Elspeth was able to get the mistake corrected and the guns returned to the hunters in time for their hunts. More importantly, Simon & Elspeth conduct their hunts in a pleasant, honest manner that makes you want to go ahead and book another hunt right away. Check out their web site at www.australianbiggamesafaris.com.au.

My story on this buffalo hunt will appear in the NRA’s American Hunter magazine. I’ll also write up the Wild Ox hunt separately, and you can expect it to appear in another magazine.

See ya down the road…..

In just a couple of days we’ll be off to the Northern Territory of Australia on a buffalo-culling operation.  We’ll be hunting with Simon & Elspeth Kyle-Little (www.australianbiggamesafaris.com) on the Gove Peninsula in the Northern Territory.

I’ll be shooting my Ruger #1, in .375 H&H, with a Leupold 1.5×5 scope.  Il Ling will be shooting her brand new CZ 550, also in .375 H&H.  Thanks to our friend Jason Morton, at CZ USA, for getting that rifle out to her so quickly (www.cz-usa.com).

We’ll both be shooting a new Barnes 350 gr. TSX bullet for the .375.  The bullets are loaded over a suitable load of Ramshot’s Big Game powder, pushing them at a bit over 2300fps.  This new bullet and load are surprisingly accurate and has produced ¾” groups in both of your rifles.  Jessica Brooks tells me that Barnes will put the new 350 TSX and a 350 gr. banded solid in their 2010 Barnes Bullets catalog (www.barnesbullets.com).

Anyway, we are really excited about this hunt.  We’ll have some good friends along to share camp with and it should be all-around great fun.  I’ll be writing the hunt up for American Hunter magazine.  And, of course, will have a full report, with photos, for my web site when I get back.

See ya down the road….

Well, finally, here is my new web site. I will be updating it on a regular basis and sharing events, thoughts, and ideas, with you. If you have information or questions, you can reach me at jw.44@sbcglobal.net.

WEB SITE
Thanks go to my friend Carlos Vazquez for designing and maintaining this web site. I highly recommend his work and, if you’re needing a web site, or work done on an existing web site, you can contact him at Dichotomy Consulting. I think you’ll be pleased with his service.

WRITING ENDEAVORS
In the spring of 2008, I quit Shooting Times and Intermedia. Almost immediately, I began an association with NRA Publications. I’ve got a regular column (Straight Talk) in Shooting Illustrated, and I do feature articles for Shooting Illustrated, American Rifleman, and American Hunter magazines. In addition to that, you’ll see my articles in the various Wolfe publications, Handloader and Rifle magazines.

Joe Graham, John Zent, and the crew at the NRA, are great folks to work with and I am really enjoying this association. I’ll say the same for Don Polacek, Dave Scovill, and Roberta Scovill, at Wolfe Publishing Company. This change in writing jobs also brings with it the opportunity to do a lot more hunting and writing about hunting. As you can imagine, that just about broke my heart. But, in the words of that Great American John Wayne, “A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do!”

TELEVISION WORK
In conjunction with my association with the NRA, I have also increased my television work. You’ll see my regular weekly segment on American Guardian TV on Wednesday nights, on the Outdoor Channel. And I am also featured on the American Rifleman show and the American Hunter show, also on the Outdoor Channel.

In fact, back in March, we had a great aoudad hunt down along the Rio Grande, in the Chinati Mountains of the Texas Big Bend. We filmed it for the American Hunter show and I think you’ll find it pretty exciting. I can tell you this, with the passing years; those mountains seem to be getting steeper. Must be a global warming thing.

So, anyway, welcome to my new web site. I hope that you enjoy it and will visit it often. I’ll do my best to have an update of some kind for you each month. Let me hear from you with your questions, thoughts, and ideas.

See ya down the road……

Sheriff Jim Wilson is the latest addition to the prestigious list of columnists featured monthly in Shooting Illustrated, The Definitive Source for The Modern Shooter. Wilson, arguably one of the most respected gun writers in the industry, has his first installment in the August issue of the magazine.

Wilson served as a Texas police officer in Crockett and Denton counties for nearly 30 years. In 1988 he was elected sheriff of Crockett County, a position he occupied until his retirement in 1996. Since then his byline has appeared in a variety of publications, covering firearms, ammunition, personal protection and much more.

“I can’t think of a better writer to provide accurate information on self-defense, facing down a bad guy or accurately depicting strategies or situations readers may someday encounter,” said Shooting Illustrated Editor in Chief Guy J. Sagi. “His column is named ‘Straight Talk,’ partly because of his style that has garnered such a loyal readership, but also because he will be delivering the truth about self-defense, without all the hype.”

For more information about Shooting Illustrated, visit www.shootingillustrated.com

To read the original news release at The Outdoor Wire, please click here.

Even an experienced law enforcement veteran like the Sheriff can benefit from good defensive firearms training. Here’s what he learned at a recent visit to Gunsite.

Let’s suppose for just a moment that you have recently completed your concealed-carry licensing class. You spent a few hours in a classroom, mainly going over your state’s pertinent laws, and you spent a few more hours on the shooting range, banging away at a rather large target–primarily demonstrating that you could do that without shooting yourself.

Now let’s fast-forward a couple of weeks to a dark, restaurant parking lot, where three armed thugs are intent on taking your money, your car, your lady friend, and your life. Wouldn’t that be a terrible time to realize that you really needed more training in order to adequately protect you and yours? When you think about it, only a fool would try to fly an airplane without first taking lessons. Trying to play the piano without lessons could also be life threatening, depending upon the temperament of your family and neighbors. Fortunately, there is good defensive training available, if the individual will only take advantage of it. And it could save your life–literally.

I have sung the praises of the Gunsite Academy from time to time in the pages of Shooting Times. Located in northern Arizona near the town of Paulden, Gunsite was founded in the mid-1970s by Col. Jeff Cooper, the father of the “Modern Technique of the Pistol.” Owen “Buz” Mills, the current owner, is dedicated to continuing the tradition begun by Col. Cooper and to providing realistic, practical defensive training for military, law enforcement, and honest citizens.

Read the rest of the article at Shooting Times.

At the 2006 SHOT Show I was approached by my friend Ed Brown, of Ed Brown Products Inc. As most of you know, Ed builds some of the nicest bolt-action rifles and 1911 pistols that can be had today. Anyway, Ed proposed the idea that he and I would design a 1911 pistol based upon my ideas of what such a pistol should consist of and offer it as a limited edition “Sheriff Jim Wilson .45 ACP”. As of January 2007, this .45 auto is a reality and I have to say that Ed and his crew did an outstanding job on the gun. For those of you who might be interested in obtaining a “Sheriff Jim Wilson” 1911 pistol all you have to do is visit the Ed Brown web site, then contact them to place your order. The gun will be shipped to the FFL dealer of your choice.

It has been, and continues to be, my policy not to endorse certain products. That’s just not fair to the other manufacturers whose products I am assigned to test and evaluate. So I want to make this very clear: the gun will be a limited-edition piece, made only during 2007, and, most importantly, I have no financial interest in the gun, or in Ed Brown Products, Inc.

Long before Ed and I engaged in this project I had stated, in print, that his guns were among the finest that are made today. I stand by that statement but am quick to point out that there are numerous manufacturers of excellent 1911 pistols from which to choose. The Browns are good people and I consider them my friends. They build great handguns, as does Les Baer, and custom pistolsmiths Wayne Novak and Hamilton Bowen. And I think you will also be pleased with 1911 pistols from Springfield Armory, Kimber, and Para-Ordnance.

For all that, I really appreciate Ed Brown honoring me with this fine limited-edition 1911. If you choose to order one I know that you will be pleased with the material and craftsmanship that is reflected in this pistol.

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Speaking of Wayne Novak (www.novaksights.com), Wayne has come up with a gizmo that experienced 1911 shooters will really appreciate. For years, about the only complaint that you heard from 1911 shooters was that the grip safety on a 1911 was often difficult to get a good purchase on. This became especially true when we began to shoot with the “high thumb” position. Letting your shooting thumb ride down on the 1911 thumb safety, and stay there, just makes too much sense. It gives you more control over the pistol and keeps you from accidentally engaging the thumb safety during a shootout. The only problem with that is that we often have trouble engaging the grip safety with this style of shooting.

With all of that in mind, Wayne and his crew designed a unit called The Answer. This is a one-piece, solid backstrap that replaces the issue grip safety and mainspring housing. There is no longer a grip safety.

Now before everyone gets all excited about safety liability law suits, let me remind you that John Browning originally designed his guns without grip safeties. His later pistol, the Browning Hi-Power doesn’t have one. However, at the request of the U.S. Army, Browning designed a grip safety for his 1911. This is the only reason that the 1911 pistol has a grip safety. Look in any gun catalog and see how many other models of auto pistols currently use a grip safety. You’ll find that it’s very few.

Recently, I sent an older model Colt Commander off to Wayne Novak to have The Answer installed. At the same time, Wayne did some other custom work on the gun. At my request, he installed a set of his famous fixed-combat sights (with none of those silly, damned dots on the rear sight, either). However, he did put a gold bead on the front sight. This gold bead is extremely easy to see (even for old eyes) in any kind of light. Novak also installed a custom barrel in the Commander, tuned the action, and did a great blue job on the pistol. It is a great gun to shoot and has quickly become one of my favorite carry guns.

Beginning shooters should take note that THE ANSWER, from Wayne Novak, is completely safe if you remember and abide by the simplest of safety rules: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO SHOOT.

Again, I have no financial interest in Wayne Novak’s company, or in THE ANSWER. It’s just a new product that I feel 1911 shooters should be aware of.

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Early in 2007, Jim Zumbo wrote a piece for an internet blog in which he abused the use of “black rifles” for sporting purposes. Essentially, he said that rifles like the AR-15 and AK-47 had no place in the sporting field and, in fact, he had no use for them at all. He also suggested that game departments ought to outlaw their use.

The response from shooters was overwhelming in opposition to Mr. Zumbo’s comments. As a result of this, virtually every company that had Zumbo on its payroll dropped him. This includes Outdoor Life magazine, Remington, Cabela’s, and several others. Jim Zumbo has since apologized for his remarks.

Now, I don’t know Jim Zumbo and don’t have anything against him. And, not knowing him I can’t comment on whether or not his apology is sincere, or just that of a guy trying to get back in everyone’s good graces. But there is an issue here that goes beyond this incident.

In the next few years we may be faced with a massive assault on our rights as gun owners. And this is not the time, nor is it ever the time, to be knocking someone else’s shooting sport. All we have a right to expect from another shooter, or hunter, is that his conduct be lawful and sporting. I may not care too much for trap shooting but I sure don’t need to be knocking it in a public fashion. It is critically important for us to stick together in our support for the spirit of the 2nd Amendment.

If you’re not a member of the National Rifle Association, shame on you.

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In October of 2006, I spent a week at Gunsite (www.gunsite.com). This is the school that the late Col. Jeff Cooper founded out north of Prescott, Arizona. I was there as a guest of Smith & Wesson, and a host of other companies, to spend the week shooting and using new products. I also had the chance to spend time with the new owner, Buz Mills, and his fine staff. I was impressed enough with their teaching skills that I booked another school with them for May of 2007.

Gunsite is a great place to learn the basics of defensive use of the handgun, as well as develop useful skills with the rifle and shotgun. A little over a year ago, I visited with a lady from Arizona who wanted to learn defensive handgun skills and get her Arizona Concealed Carry license. At my suggestion, she booked a class at Gunsite and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Later, I wrote her story up for one of my Gun Smoke columns.

But Gunsite is far more than a school for beginners. It’s a great place for experienced shooters to re-sharpen their shooting skills. That’s the reason that I’m going back in May. Left to our own devices, we tend to practice what we’re already good at. A good shooting school will make you stretch just a bit and work on those things that need improvement.

I want to thank all of you that have made favorable comments about our Guns&Ammo television show on the Outdoor Channel. We will be filming more segments of the show in May and again in August. Please contact Shooting Times Magazine, or Guns & Ammo Magazine, and let us know what you’d like to see included in future shows. Also please visit our web site at www.shootingtimes.com.

In September of 2006, we lost one of the giants of the shooting industry when Col. Jeff Cooper passed away. Colonel Cooper was a life-long student of firearms, a magnificent teacher, a thought-provoking man, and the founder of The Modern Technique of the Pistol.

In re-reading some of his writings I came across his comment as to how much he disliked the salutation, “Have a nice day.” He suggested, instead, that we greet each other with a more appropriate line: “Shoot straight.” So, in honor of the Colonel that is what I am going to use from now on and I suggest that you do the same.

Shoot Straight

In October of 2006, I spent a week at Gunsite. This is the school that the late Col. Jeff Cooper founded out north of Prescott, Arizona. I was there as a guest of Smith & Wesson, and a host of other companies, to spend the week shooting and using new products. I also had the chance to spend time with the new owner, Buz Mills, and his fine staff. I was impressed enough with their teaching skills that I booked another school with them for May of 2007.

Gunsite is a great place to learn the basics of defensive use of the handgun, as well as develop useful skills with the rifle and shotgun. A little over a year ago, I visited with a lady from Arizona who wanted to learn defensive handgun skills and get her Arizona Concealed Carry license. At my suggestion, she booked a class at Gunsite and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Later, I wrote her story up for one of my Gun Smoke columns.

But Gunsite is far more than a school for beginners. Its a great place for experienced shooters to re-sharpen their shooting skills. Thats the reason that Im going back in May. Left to our own devices, we tend to practice what were already good at. A good shooting school will make you stretch just a bit and work on those things that need improvement.