Dean Grennell
Encyclopedia
Dean A. Grennell was an American
firearms expert, a writer/editor, and active science fiction
fan
. He was the managing editor of Gun World magazine and editor of the science fiction fanzine
Grue.
, in 1923. His family moved to rural Wisconsin three years later, and he grew up on a dairy farm
. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps
, where he served as an aerial gunnery instructor during World War II
.
equipment supplier, he became interested in handloading
cartridges for firearms. He eventually became a recognized expert in the firearms field. In the 1950s, he began a long career as a writer on handloading and guns, serving on the staff of various firearms publications. He contributed to such publications as Gun Digest
and Handloaders Digest. In 1966, he became managing editor of Gun World, working with publisher Jack Lewis
. He served as managing editor of the magazine for more than three decades. As of 2010, Gun World magazine was still being published.
He was the originator of the .45 Super
pistol cartridge concept and a co-developer of the cartridge. The cartridge was later developed by Grennell, along with Tom Ferguson and Ace Hindman (of Ace Custom .45s, in Texas). Along with Wes Ugalde of Fallon, Nevada
, Grennell was co-developer of the .25 Ugalde wildcat cartridge
, (also known as the Thompson/Center Ugalde, or .25 TCU.) He was also credited as the inventor of the NEXPANDER cartridge reloading tool, which is still in production.
. His best-known publication was his fanzine Grue, begun in 1953. The title Grue ("The Fan's Magazine") was a play on words for the then-popular men's magazine True
, "The Man's Magazine". In fanzines, Grennell was sometimes called dag, in reference to his initials. He was friends with Robert Bloch
, the author of Psycho.
, Grennell lived in Fond du Lac
, Milwaukee and Germantown, Wisconsin
, and eventually moved to southern California. His wife Jean Grennell died May 29, 1999. They had seven children. He sometimes signed his letters "Dino".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
firearms expert, a writer/editor, and active science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
fan
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
. He was the managing editor of Gun World magazine and editor of the science fiction fanzine
Science fiction fanzine
A science fiction fanzine is an amateur or semi-professional magazine published by members of science fiction fandom, from the 1930s to the present day...
Grue.
Background and military service
Grennell was born near Humboldt, KansasHumboldt, Kansas
Humboldt is a city situated along the Neosho River in the southwest part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,953.-History:...
, in 1923. His family moved to rural Wisconsin three years later, and he grew up on a dairy farm
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
, where he served as an aerial gunnery instructor during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Guns and ammunition
After the war, while working as a salesman for a wholesale HVACHVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
equipment supplier, he became interested in handloading
Handloading
Handloading or reloading is the process of loading firearm cartridges or shotgun shells by assembling the individual components , rather than purchasing completely assembled, factory-loaded cartridges...
cartridges for firearms. He eventually became a recognized expert in the firearms field. In the 1950s, he began a long career as a writer on handloading and guns, serving on the staff of various firearms publications. He contributed to such publications as Gun Digest
Gun Digest
The Gun Digest is an annual firearms book published in the United States.It was first published in 1944 and included articles written by well known writers such as Jack O'Connor and Major...
and Handloaders Digest. In 1966, he became managing editor of Gun World, working with publisher Jack Lewis
Jack Lewis (screenwriter)
Lt. Colonel Jack Lewis or C. Jack Lewis USMC retired , was a former Marine, screenwriter, author of 12 books and an estimated 6,000 magazine articles and short stories, He was the co-founder and editor of Gun World magazine and continued contributing articles to that publication until the time of...
. He served as managing editor of the magazine for more than three decades. As of 2010, Gun World magazine was still being published.
He was the originator of the .45 Super
.45 Super
The .45 Super is a smokeless powder center fire metallic firearm cartridge developed in 1988 by Dean Grennell, a well-known writer in the firearms field as well as managing editor of Gun World magazine...
pistol cartridge concept and a co-developer of the cartridge. The cartridge was later developed by Grennell, along with Tom Ferguson and Ace Hindman (of Ace Custom .45s, in Texas). Along with Wes Ugalde of Fallon, Nevada
Fallon, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,536 people, 3,004 households, and 1,877 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,474.1 people per square mile . There were 3,336 housing units at an average density of 1,095.2 per square mile...
, Grennell was co-developer of the .25 Ugalde wildcat cartridge
Wildcat cartridge
A wildcat cartridge, or wildcat, is a custom cartridge for which ammunition and firearms are not mass produced. These cartridges are often created in order to optimize a certain performance characteristic of an existing commercial cartridge.Developing and using wildcat cartridges does not...
, (also known as the Thompson/Center Ugalde, or .25 TCU.) He was also credited as the inventor of the NEXPANDER cartridge reloading tool, which is still in production.
Science fiction fandom
In the 1950s, Grennell also began a lifetime of activity in science fiction fandomScience fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
. His best-known publication was his fanzine Grue, begun in 1953. The title Grue ("The Fan's Magazine") was a play on words for the then-popular men's magazine True
True (magazine)
True, also known as True, The Man's Magazine, was published by Fawcett Publications from 1937 until 1974. Known as True, A Man's Magazine in the 1930s, it was labeled True, #1 Man's Magazine in the 1960s. Petersen Publishing took over with the January 1975, issue...
, "The Man's Magazine". In fanzines, Grennell was sometimes called dag, in reference to his initials. He was friends with Robert Bloch
Robert Bloch
Robert Albert Bloch was a prolific American writer, primarily of crime, horror and science fiction. He is best known as the writer of Psycho, the basis for the film of the same name by Alfred Hitchcock...
, the author of Psycho.
Personal life
Growing up in Brandon, WisconsinBrandon, Wisconsin
Brandon is a village in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 912 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Brandon is located at ....
, Grennell lived in Fond du Lac
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Fond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The name is French for bottom of the lake, for it is located at the bottom of Lake Winnebago. The population was 42,203 at the 2000 census...
, Milwaukee and Germantown, Wisconsin
Germantown, Wisconsin
Germantown is a village in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 18,260 at the 2000 census. The village surrounds the Town of Germantown...
, and eventually moved to southern California. His wife Jean Grennell died May 29, 1999. They had seven children. He sometimes signed his letters "Dino".
Partial bibliography
Grennell wrote or edited a variety of books about firearms and hunting, including:- The ABC's of Reloading - January 12, 2005 (author, and then editor of some later editions)
- Handgun Digest - September 1, 1995 (co-author)
- The Gun Digest Book of the .45 - October 1, 1989 (author)
- The Gun Digest Book of Handgun Reloading - October 1, 1987 (co-author)
- The Gun Digest Book of 9mm Handguns - November 17, 1986 (author)
- Little Known Game Animals of the World - January 1, 1985 (author)
- The Gun Digest Book of Autoloading Pistols - August 1, 1983 (author)
- Pistol and Revolver Digest - October 23, 1982 (co-editor)
- Home Workshop Digest: "How to make the things you need and want" - January 1, 1981 (author)
- Law Enforcement Handgun Digest - January 1, 1976 (author)