Saturday, February 03, 2007

GUNS Magazine, February 1957

IF YOU WANT to out-shoot and out-hunt the experts, take the sage advice of one of the world's best shooters and hunters, the Rev. Oswald T. McGinn, a 78-year-old Catholic priest now in retirement. The gun-toting padre has not retired from shooting and hunting, however, and he can hit just about anything he shoots at. His unconventional technique violates every rule in the book, except the Good Book. Seeing some of the many exhibition shoots he has given might make one wonder if his bullets are guided by the sure hand of God.
"The Shooting Priest of Texas"--is that a great title or what? I can't begin to tell you the sense of joy it gave me to read about this wonderful man, and the sense of contempt I feel for some of his modern-day counterparts. Things sure were different 50 years ago, right down to Fr. McGinn being welcomed in schools to teach the kids real gun safety, as opposed to today's hysteria reflex conditioning. I haven't been able to locate any more about him on the internet, so if you have any information, please share it with us.

This issue also features "The Case for Legalized Machine Guns", which demonstrates how "matches train Swedes for national defense" (incidentally, according to Firearms Laws in Sweden, unless the law has changed in the last few years, they still do, albeit with some stringent requirments), and gives us another great and authoritative quote about the National Firearms Act of 1934--burn this one into memory:
Lt. Col. George M. Chinn of the US. Marine Corps, has stated: "No single law has done more to damage the national defense of the United States than that machine gun act."
Also in this issue:
  • "Pistol Shooting at Rifle Ranges"
  • "America's Youngest African Hunter"
  • "Making a Handgun Holster at Home"
  • "The Rawest Racket in Hunting"
  • And much more, including the classic period ads
Download your copy now. It's free, at least until it disappears in a few months to be replaced by "newer" issues. But if you missed previous issues, don't worry--GUNS Magazine is putting them on CDs for a very reasonable price.

4 comments:

E. David Quammen said...

Thank you, once again, David!

ptg said...

The Padre reminded me of my youthful fascination with Ed McGivern. Machine guns? Chances are you have one at home. I remember reading a case where the government definition of "readily convertible" meant "with 6 hours in a machine shop".

A good machinist could make a full-auto gun out of bar stock in 6 hours. Heck, Pakistanis with only hammers and files can make an AK knock-off almost as fast.

Anonymous said...

This page describes the Swedish laws a bit better:
http://www.mvs.chalmers.se/~m95perm_2/skytte/licens.html

Unknown said...

Fr. Oswald T. McGinn is the uncle of my grandfather of the same name, from Cheboygan, Michigan. Fr. McGinn also wrote a book on hunting (American big game and how to hunt them;: Moose, elk, deer and caribou; also chapters on bears, beavers, wolves, big game rifles, guides, etc., (Unknown Binding)1931
by Oswald T McGinn)

He and his brothers are something of a legend in our family, much loved and respected hard-drinking, hard-playing, hard-hunting tough northern Michigan men. Well educated and usually found outdoors. I do not remember him, but remember well his brother, my great-grandfather. Hardy northern Michigan stock, all of them.