November 29, 2011
By Jim Bequette
With Christmas just around the corner, it's time for me to poll our staff of writers and editors on their respective wish lists.
Well, our writers and editors range in age from the mid-30s to mid-60s, but they were all eager to get their wish lists in. But these lists aren't for Santa, they're for our manufacturing friends in the shooting sports industry.
Let's hope they're listening, and feel free to leave your own Christmas wishes below.
Jim Bequette Me? I'll keep things simple. I've always liked interchangeable-barrel shooting systems, so I'd like a rifle manufacturer to introduce a platform that allows shooters to simply switch-out barrels without sacrificing accuracy. I'd also like to see a major manufacturer introduce an economy-grade bolt-action rifle. I think there's plenty of room and the demand is growing.
Dick Metcalf AR authority Dick Metcalf, who now handles our 'Modern Sporting Rifles ' column, has a few wishes in that area. 'I want
Stag Arms to chamber their rifles for the .30 Remington AR, both right- and left-hand versions. Mossberg also needs to chamber its new MMR for that cartridge. They'd make great deer rifles because the .30 RAR puts .308 ballistics into a lightweight AR15 platform. '
Dick would also like to see S&W introduce a slim, really compact 9mm single-stack pistol. I hope the boys in Springfield are listening...
Garry James Garry James, who has been with Guns & Ammo longer than anyone, didn't want to get short-changed when listing his wishes. 'Now that Browning has come out with their wonderful 1911-.22, it would be great for them to continue the roll with a miniaturized version of the Hi-Power. This is"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_rifle">Baker rifle. 'It's one of the world's legendary military arms — a truly historic piece, handy and a good shooter. '
Eric Poole Eric Poole, SIP editor and frequent contributor to G&A, had a list longer than anyone. Some of the highlights would be a reintroduction of the
Remington Nylon 66 and the M1-Garand.
'The Nylon 66's street value has spiked the last few years, and not many rifles can claim a Guinness World Record like this one. The Nylon 66's 50th anniversary will be 2016. Rumor has it Remington might consider re-releasing this model. '
'Someone needs to bring back the M1-Garand. The year 2012 marks the 75th anniversary of what many still consider the greatest battle rifle ever. '
Payton Miller Executive editor Payton Miller: 'A blued 3½-inch reintroduction of the
Smith & Wesson Model 27 . It's the coolest-looking N-frame ever made. Next, a factory 250-grain load for the .358 Winchester. The only load made now by Winchester is a 200-grain one. Go big or go home! '
Patrick Sweeney Handgun Editor Patrick Sweeney? 'I'd like to see an update of the old .38 Special FBI load; a 158-grain lead hollow-point +P with some sort of polymer-coated bullet. And I'm still looking for a
.327 Federal Magnum trail gun, something like the old S&W K-32, but in .327. '
Richard Venola Richard Venola probably needs a new red plaid shirt, his current well-worn one has been featured both in these pages and on G&A TV. But on the gun side, he quickly prioritized. 'I'd like SIG to offer the
P238 with another round of magazine capacity and another three-quarter inches of barrel. And I wish for a Garand-based action sized between the Ruger Mini and the M1A. '
Craig Boddington Even Craig Boddington, who has 30-plus years on staff and has hunted everywhere, has guns he'd like to see brought back again.
'How about a new
Model 88 Winchester and a reintroduction of the rotary-magazine Savage 99. Both rifles could be offered in some of our great new compact cartridges and, of course, the .358 Winchester. '
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