Firearms News June 2023 — Issue #12: Two Bobs and a Buck

This Month in Firearms News:

On the cover: Two Bobs and a Buck: The Smith & Wesson 460 XVR Hi-Viz - If you were lucky enough to win the “awesome childhood mega-lottery” and grow up in a family that treasured the outdoors and promoted firearms proficiency and safety, chances are there was a term that followed you throughout your fledgling years as a young shooter. This term was “logical progression” and it meant that the firearms you initially had access to were small caliber weapons with simple and safe to manipulate actions. For many of us, our humble beginnings consisted of “learning the ropes” with the aid of Red Ryder BB guns (“Black Bart” attacks and “a compass in the stock with this thing that tells time” optional), variable pump air rifles or single-shot .22 rifles. Once familiar with these “apprentice” weapons, we invariably moved to more complicated and power- ful ones. 

Poor trigger discipline and falling asleep on duty...Rikk R’s awkward rookie years as a firearms enthusiast! Looking back on my childhood and early adolescence, I’m fairly certain my firearms apprenticeship (under the strict tutelage of my good ‘ol dad) could be classified as an “accelerated program.” I graduated from the same Daisy Red Ryder my father adventured into the woods with as a child to a Marlin Golden 39a lever action .22 rifle capable of holding 19 rounds of .22 long rifle in its tubular magazine. Shortly thereafter, my father, an avid trap shooter, introduced me to his arena of “Dirty Birds” and “Handicap Shoots.” 

Also inside:

• Small Arms of the Canadian Armed Forces, Part II
• Henry All-Weather Side Gate Big Bore
• The Spencer Rifle
• The Life and Times of a 1921 Colt Thompson Submachine Gun

Pick up a copy at your local magazine stand, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, or major book retailer. Firearms News prints two exciting issues per month so be sure to get both copies or subscribe!