June, 2002

RBCD Performance Plus, Inc.

Earlier this year, we received a couple of letters from Roscoe Stoker, CEO of RBCD (www.RBCD.net). Excerpts from the first (dated 01/10/02) are as follows:

" Please be advised that to date we fired 4,287 round(s) of our standard 32 ACP ammunition in your Guardian 32 ACP, along with 108 high pressure loads. The only problem we encountered was by our test of the high pressure load. We loaded test round(s) to the point of brass failure. Which finally blew into the magazine well and broke one of the grip panels. Some of the final loads developed over 32,000 psi in our test barrel. The high pressure loads were fired at numbers 3,588 to 3,696 in the life of this gun. However, please note that the gun is still in service at this time. This is one heck of a gun." (which recently (03/02) exceeded 10,000 rounds).

The second letter is attached in its entirety. Click here to read. I bring this correspondence to your attention for two reasons:

The first - we're happy to offer Roscoe's experiences as anecdotal but compelling evidence of the solid engineering and durable construction of our Guardian family of pistols. Please note that we continue to insist that only commercially loaded ammunition, which meets recognized industry standards, be fired in our guns. Notwithstanding, our gun's outstanding performance under the extraordinarily abusive conditions described above speaks volumes, we believe, about the expected life of the pistol and its components.

The second ­ we should have clearly specified that performance comparisons we made about the recently released .32 NAA ammunition are being made against conventional hollow point lead JHP bullets, and not against some of the exotic/frangible rounds which exist.

The ballisticians amongst you are doubtless familiar with the debate entitled "Stopping Power: which is the more dominant/appropriate characteristic to consider - Energy (speed-driven) or Momentum (mass-driven)?". Those familiar with the debate tend to have a strongly-held point of view. My ballistics guru, Ed Sanow, advises me that the Energy side of the debate seems to be enjoying favor currently. My intent is not to enter the fray, but to recognize that one exists.

As energy is related to the square of velocity, a comparatively small trade-off in weight returns a substantial increase of energy (but at the expense of momentum, which is directly related to mass; penetration suffers as well). This appears to be the chosen strategy at RBCD. We know that RBCD manufactures ammunition which travels at remarkable velocities (37 gr. 32 ACP = 1800 ft./sec., 45 gr. .380 ACP = 1500 ft./sec.). Each of these rounds delivers in excess of 250 ft.lbs. of energy, which exceeds that delivered by the .32 NAA by better than 25%. We feel that RBCD ammunition delivers extraordinary performance and we thought you'd like to know.
E-Mail Sandy about this Soapbox

Read Dave Spaulding's Review from Law and Order Magazine

For updates on the .32 NAA:

• Sandy's Soapbox - June, 2002
• Sandy's Soapbox - July. 2002
• Sandy's Soapbox - August, 2002
• Sandy's Soapbox - September. 2002
• Sandy's Soapbox - October, 2002

For additional information, contact:
Sandy Chisholm at NAA 610-940-1668
Peter Pi at Cor-Bon 800-626-7266
Ed Sanow 765-869-5815

Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT) checks out the latest edition of the North American Arms catalog. He mentioned that he regularly carries two of the firm's firearm products after receiving death threats several years ago. ASSC's 1996 Congressional Leader of the Year Award was presented to Sen. Hatch "in appreciation of his leadership and commitment in defense of our heritage, our industry and our life"


Photo & caption by Robert M. Hausman - used with permission.