For well over 200 years, a stretch along the Connecticut River has been the heart of our nation’s firearms industry. This area was appropriately known as “Gun Valley.” In alphabetical order, it included Colt in Hartford, CT, Marlin in North Haven, CT, Remington in Ilion, NY, Ruger in Southport, CT, Savage in Westfield, MA, Smith & Wesson and Springfield Armory in Springfield, MA, and Winchester in New Haven, CT. Today the old “Gun Valley” might be called “Death Valley” as far as firearms are concerned.

What happened? These venerable companies were forced to leave the area by law makers hostile to the firearms industry. The most recent move occurred In October 2021 when Smith & Wesson announced its headquarters move to Maryville, TN. Recent Massachusetts legislative bills would outlaw 60% of S&W’s products. S&W wasn’t alone. Beretta moved its operation from Maryland to Tennessee in 2016. Kimber moved from New York to Alabama in 2020. Remington (now RemArms) has relocated its headquarters to LaGrange, GA. RemArms CEO Ken D’Arcy said it all. “We are very excited to come to Georgia, a state that not only welcomes business but enthusiastically supports and welcomes companies in the firearms industry.” Much of Ruger’s manufacturing now takes place in Arizona as well as North Carolina.

Our Midwest holds some flourishing firearms companies. Henry rifles and shotguns out of Rice Lake, Wisconsin are so well made that they’re guaranteed for life. Springfield Armory of Geneseo, Illinois is producing some of the finest handguns made. Hornady of Grand Island, Nebraska is a leading producer of ammunition and components as is Federal of Anoka, Minnesota. Wisconsin and Illinois were “blue” states in our last election. Yet we see their law makers providing a positive firearms manufacturing environment. It can be done.

Tracing what has become of the original Colt, Marlin, Remington, and Winchester companies would require more column space than I’m allotted, but a Czech company is involved with Colt, and Ruger is manufacturing Marlin rifles. As the once great northeastern portion of our country wallows in ultra-liberal politics, their loss is the South and Midwest’s gain in good people and good jobs.

On occasion, readers, generally women, ask my advice on a first handgun. Primary reasons include protection or self-defense, and less often hunting or target practice. This no doubt relates to the escalating crime rate in our cities. Types of handguns include double-barreled derringers, revolvers, and semi-automatics. Gun size (is it concealable?) depends upon use and personal preference.

In the past, my personal advice has leaned toward revolvers as loading is simple and one can tell by looking at them whether they are loaded. After reading “Defensive Handgunning Myths” by Jerry Stafford in the January 2022 issue of Guns & Ammo magazine, I question my advice.

Stafford begins by saying “There is no good defensive ammunition or load…..Handgun ammo moves too slowly to be effective at immediately immobilizing a hostile threat.” In other words, no concealable or easy-to-carry handgun load has the power to stop an assailant in his tracks. However, just pointing a gun at a would-be assailant should make him think twice. I’ve been there. Other than the big magnum revolvers used for hunting big game, I agree with Stafford.

Stafford goes on to say that “The revolver is a terrible option for the novice shooter.” His reasons include a heavier trigger pull and fewer round capacity. Though Stafford’s points are valid, I don’t see a revolver as a terrible choice for a novice shooter.

If a handgun is used primarily for hunting, I’d recommend a revolver in .357 or .44 Magnum. South Dakota GF&P requires a muzzle energy minimum of 500 foot-pounds at the muzzle, and these calibers meet the requirement. For self-defense, I’d use a full-sized revolver or semi-automatic in my home or vehicle, and a compact 9 mm semi-auto for concealed-carry. Fortunately, our South Dakota is a place where we don’t have to be too concerned with self-defense.

If you buy yourself a handgun, become familiar with it. Be able to load and reload it in the dark. Practice with it. You might consider purchasing it from a dealer who has an indoor range so you know you’re comfortable with it.

Probably because I’m such a lousy handgun shot, primarily because of my tremor, I’m not much of a pistol guy. I own a .357 Ruger single-action revolver that I keep handy. I like to reload my own ammo for it, and I have no desire for more fire power. If you’re a handgun enthusiast, I’d be interested in knowing your thoughts on this subject. Contact me at rwiltz@charles-mix.com.

See you next week.