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by Shane Jahn Proper shooting practice is important before we take to the field on hunting adventures. No matter what we hunt with, rifle, handgun, or bow, quality practice sessions help ensure we are ready when the stars align and the animal we are pursuing steps out to offer the shot. Our armaments of choice can dictate the levels of proficiency required to accomplish our mission. Hunting from box blinds with a scoped rifle might require less range time if shooting distances are not extreme and a solid rest is available. This hunting method may remove some of the variables that play into making the all-important accurate shot. That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t spend time at the bench to ensure the rifle, optic, and ammunition are dialed in. Practicing field positions is another important piece of the hunter’s puzzle.

By Steve Ostrem We're pleased to welcome Steve Ostrem to Gun Tales. Steve brings the kind of varied, hands-on experience we all value. He served in the U.S. Army Military Police in West Germany before earning degrees in French and German from the University of Wisconsin and studying abroad at the University of Trier. He later became a professional gunsmith and Class A machinist before joining Brownells in 2004, where he spent years as a Gun Tech and eventually moved into full-time video production (watch Steve on Brownell's YouTube). Steve’s first firearm was a Browning High Power, but somewhere along the way he developed a real appreciation for revolvers—which, of course, makes him right at home with us. —Matt It may seem laughable to call the venerable 45 ACP a forgotten cartridge, yet in the realm of single action revolvers it remains almost totally eclipsed by the mighty 45 Colt. Tradition and nostalgia play a large part in this, to be sure, and there’s simply no denying that the larger case is capable of much greater performance, especially in the larger-framed guns like the Ruger Blackhawk. Still, from a practical standpoint, the relatively diminutive ACP case has a lot to offer.

by Shane Jahn From the time in high school when I discovered Skeeter Skelton’s articles and his admiration for the Smith & Wesson Model 27, I wanted one. The big N-frame chambered in 357 Magnum made sense to me. I think it’s one of the best-looking double action revolvers ever made. Of course, Skeeter’s editorials infused a need for a five-inch gun that still eludes me to this day. I stumbled onto one at a gun show many years ago. The proprietor of the table conveyed an attitude of arrogance that did not sit well with me, and I walked on. Subsequent reflection on the brief interaction revealed I probably should have swallowed my pride and bought it. At least the revolver would have been mine. On second thought, nah, I likely would have associated the gun with the conceited geezer. I’ll find another one, one of these days.