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Jorge Amselle

5 Best Scout Rifles To Seriously Consider For Survival (2024)

The scout rifle needs to be short, lightweight, handy and chambered in .308 Win./7.62 NATO — a rifle to do just about anything needed from hunting to self-defense.


What are five great do-all scout rifles?:
R6774-Scout-Rifles–4

What Are Scout Rifles?

The concept of the scout rifle was developed by recognized gun expert, the late Lt. Col Jeff Cooper. The rifle needed to be accurate with iron sights to 500 yards and powerful enough to take down large game animals for hunting or self-defense. For this, Cooper selected a bolt-action rifle (as these are far less restricted than semi-auto rifles) less than 40 inches long and weighing under 6.5 pounds.

He also chose the .308/7.62 caliber as an ideal all-purpose round and, as it is common with many militaries around the globe, easy to find.

There are many rifles that fit Cooper’s criteria but then he added one very distinctive feature — a forward-mounted magnified optic with extended eye relief. Extended eye relief scopes are more commonly seen on handguns but there was method to Cooper’s madness.

Speed and reliability were two of his concerns (another reason to opt for a bolt action) and he wanted to keep the area above the action free of any obstruction (like a scope). This allowed for scout rifles to be reloaded faster with stripper clips and ensured that ejection of empty cases was not engendered in any way.

Precision Shooting: Savage's Accuracy Enhancing AccuFit System

Lastly, Cooper felt that having an extended eye relief scope prevented the development of tunnel vision and allowed the operator full peripheral vision and situational awareness. One drawback of extended eye relief scopes is that they lack the full magnification of larger rearward-mounted optics. Cooper felt that 2-3x magnification was sufficient.

There were some other less distinct features that Cooper insisted on, but they are not necessary to the core concept of the scout rifle. After all, he was building the rifle in his mind from scratch, so anything is possible. Only one company built Cooper his scout rifle while he was alive, the Steyr Scout. Since then, several more companies have come forward with their own Cooper-inspired scout rifles. Here, we're going to go over what we think are the five best scout rifles currently on the market.

Steyr Scout Rifle

The Steyr Scout gives you the option of mounting an extended eye relief scope, and even has a built-in bipod that tucks up into the stock. - Scout Rifles - Steyr
The Steyr Scout gives you the option of mounting an extended eye relief scope, and even has a built-in bipod that tucks up into the stock.

The original Scout Rifle, the Steyr Scout has all the features Cooper wanted. It’s a lightweight rifle with backup ghost ring iron sights mounted on the receiver and not the barrel, a magazine cutoff device to be able to fire one shot only or with a 5-round detachable magazine. The polymer stock has a backup 5-round magazine in the buttstock. The fore-end of the stock sports an integral bipod that folds up completely into the stock, an accessory rail and five sling attachment points, another Cooper notion.

The Steyr Scout has a three-position safety with a fire option and two levels of safety, one locks the bolt and one does not. Of course, the rifle is available in different colors and calibers, as Cooper recognized that in some countries civilians are not allowed to own firearms that can function using military calibers. Extended capacity magazines (up to 20 rounds) are also available.

Steyr Scout Specs:

  • Caliber: .308 Win.
  • Barrel: 19 in.
  • Overall Length: 38.6 in.
  • Weight: 6.6 lbs. (without magazine)
  • Sights: Iron with rail
  • Stock: Plastic
  • Action: Bolt
  • Finish: Black, gray or green
  • Capacity: 5+1 rounds
  • Price: $1,889

Pros:

  • The most true to form scout rifle based on Cooper's concept
  • Lightweight
  • Holds spare mag in stock
  • Integrated bipod

Cons:

  • Bipod known to be fragile
  • Non-standard magazines
  • Expensive

Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle

The Ruger “Gunsite Scout Rifle” was developed in conjunction with the staff at the world famous shooting facility. - Scout Rifles - Ruger Gunsite
The Ruger “Gunsite Scout Rifle” was developed in conjunction with the staff at the world famous shooting facility.

Ruger developed their own scout concept and dubbed it appropriately the “Gunsite Scout Rifle.” Gunsite is, of course, the training facility established by Jeff Cooper.

These scout rifles feature a forward-mounted Picatinny rail for optics, ghost ring backup iron sights, a detachable 10-round box magazine (5 rounders are available), and a traditional scope mounting option. They are available in several different calibers.

The rifle was developed in conjunction with the Gunsite Academy and features their name engraved on the receiver. Interestingly, this rifle features a grey laminated wood stock that is weather resistant and includes rubber spacers that can be used to adjust the length of pull at the buttpad.

A synthetic stock model is also available, and in both stock types the barrel remains free floated. The barrel, available in two different lengths and in either stainless steel or blued, is cold hammer forged for improved accuracy and longer life. The barrel is topped off with a choice of different muzzle devices, a flash hider being the most common.

Ruger Gunsite Scout Specs:

  • Caliber: .308 Win.
  • Barrel: 16.1 in.
  • Overall Length: 38.5 in.
  • Weight: 7.1 lbs. (without magazine)
  • Sights: Iron with rail
  • Stock: Laminate
  • Action: Bolt
  • Finish: Black, gray or black
  • Capacity: 10+1 rounds
  • Price: Starts at $1,479

Pros:

  • Durable and attractive wood stock
  • Compact overall length
  • AICS-pattern magazines
  • Included muzzle brake

Cons:

  • Heavier than some others on the list
  • Relatively expensive

Savage 110 Scout

savage-110-scout
The Savage Scout rifle is built on Savage’s legendary action and has the company’s excellent AccuTrigger.

Savage is known for making very accurate rifles at reasonable prices, and the Model 110 Scout is no exception.

They key to any modern Savage rifle is the AccuTrigger, which allows you to adjust the trigger pull for increased comfort and accuracy.

The Savage AccuStock provides a rigid interface between stock, action and barrel, and supports parts along the entire length rather than at just two points. This diminishes pressure on the barrel and improves accuracy.

Like other scout rifles, the Savage 110 Scout is a bolt action with a forward-mounted optics rail, backup iron ghost ring sights, and a synthetic stock. It also features a detachable box magazine with 10-round capacity, a muzzle brake and an adjustable stock.

Savage 110 Scout Specs:

  • Caliber: .308 Win.
  • Barrel: 16.5 in.
  • Overall Length: 38.5 in.
  • Weight: 7.72 lbs. (without magazine)
  • Sights: Iron with rail
  • Stock: Synthetic
  • Action: Bolt
  • Finish: Flat dark earth
  • Capacity: 10+1 rounds
  • Price: $959

Pros:

  • Ships with AccuTrigger
  • Stock is adjustable for both LOP and comb height
  • AICS-style magazines
  • Ships with muzzle brake

Cons:

  • Users seem to dislike its iron sights
  • On the heavier side

Mossberg MVP Scout

The handy little Mossberg MVP Scout can accept both M1A and AR-10 mags. - Scout Rifles MVP
The handy little Mossberg MVP Scout can accept both M1A and AR-10 mags.

Mossberg seems to be mostly known for its Model 500 shotgun, but the company makes plenty of popular rifles as well, including the Mossberg MVP Scout. One thing that sets the MVP Scout apart from other scout rifles is that it can accept both M1A and AR-10 magazines.

The longer length top Picatinny rail allows for more expansive options for optics while the backup iron ghost ring sights include a front fiber optic for improved visibility.

The short barrel is threaded so it can accept standard AR muzzle devices (Standard A2 flash hider is included) as well as a suppressor if so desired. The trigger pull is user adjustable from 3 to 7 pounds, the bolt handle is oversized for easier use, and the synthetic stock includes side rails for mounting accessories.

The rifle can be purchased with a Vortex scope and comes with a sling as well. It is only available in one size and caliber.

Mossberg MVP Scout Specs:

  • Caliber: .308 Win.
  • Barrel: 16.25 in.
  • Overall Length: 37.5 in.
  • Weight: 6.75 lbs. (without magazine)
  • Sights: Iron with rail
  • Stock: Synthetic
  • Action: Bolt
  • Finish: Black
  • Capacity: 10+1 rounds
  • Price: $734

Pros:

  • Very affordable
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Adjustable trigger
  • Uses AR-style mags

Cons:

  • Some users reported issues with bolt smoothness and finish quality

Springfield M1A Scout Squad

The Springfield Armory Scout Squad is a hard-hitting .308 semi-auto that accepts a forward-mounted optic. - scout rifles m1a
The Springfield Armory Scout Squad is a hard-hitting .308 semi-auto that accepts a forward-mounted optic.

Jeff Cooper was asked about the possibility of scout rifles being semi-automatic and he was certainly not opposed but insisted on reliability.

There is hardly a more battle proven and reliable semi-auto rifle than the M1 Garand and the M1A. Springfield Armory has been churning out M1A rifles for some time and has developed a scout version as well.

The Springfield Armory M1A-A1 Scout Squad takes the standard M1A concept and turns it into a much smaller and handier rifle with forward-mounted Picatinny rail, synthetic stock, and a recoil-reducing muzzle brake.

The rifle sports an 18-inch barrel, two-stage trigger, aperture adjustable iron sights, a standard box magazine, and gas piston-operated reliability in 7.62 NATO.

Springfield M1A Scout Squad Specs:

  • Caliber: .308 Win.
  • Barrel: 18 in.
  • Overall Length: 40.33 in.
  • Weight: 8.8 lbs. (without magazine)
  • Sights: Iron with rail
  • Stock: Synthetic
  • Action: Semi-auto
  • Finish: Black
  • Capacity: 10+1 rounds
  • Price: Starts at $1,945

Pros:

  • Semi-auto
  • Included muzzle brake

Cons:

  • Heavy compared to most bolt-actions
  • More expensive than most others on list

Editor’s Note: This excerpt is from Modern Survival Guns: The Complete Preppers' Guide to Dealing with Everyday Threats, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

M1 Garand: America’s Original Battle Rifle

Updated 8/17/21

The World War II-era M1 Garand, chambered in .30-06 caliber, was the first semi-auto issued to American fighting men. Photo: Public Domain
The World War II-era M1 Garand, chambered in .30-06 caliber, was the first semi-auto issued to American fighting men.

Built like a Sherman tank, accurate to 1,000 yards and available on the surplus market, the battle-worn M1 Garand still soldiers on.

What makes the M1 Garand the “greatest battle implement ever devised”?

  • The M1 Garand was the first semi-auto rifle issued to American military personnel.
  • The rifle is a long-stroke gas-piston-operated firearm, similar to the AK-47.
  • The M1 Garand's operating handle doubles as a forward assist.
  • The M1 is top-loaded, fed with an eight-round clip of .30-06 Sprg. ammunition.
  • Its magazine can be topped off; however, this is not recommended.
  • The M1 weighs between 9.5 and 10 pounds, depending on the wood used for the stock.

The M1 Garand is perhaps the most storied battle rifle in U.S. history, having stormed the beaches of Normandy and Iwo Jima. It was a cornerstone to America's victory in Europe and the Pacific and hold a revered place in soldiers' and shooters' hearts.

The grand M1 is still available today and not only makes a unique addition to a collection, but also provides endless hours of enjoyment. The Garand is a competent target rifle, has been used to take more than one deer, and is a solid survival option if need be. And yes, you can still purchase one.

Here's what you need to know about the M1 Garand if you're in the market for the old warhorse.

Table Of Contents

Rifle Basics
History
Clips Vs Mags
Operation
Gas System
Production Figures
Maintenance And Disassembly
Sights
Shooting
Buying An M1

M1 Garand Basics

The M1 Garand, generally chambered in .30-06 Springfield, was the first semi-auto issued to American fighting men when our enemies and allies were still carrying bolt-action rifles little different from those of World War I. This revolutionary design was adopted by the U.S. Military in 1936 after more than a decade of development and even then saw some key changes before ending up as the rifle carried to victory in WWII and Korea.

In fact, the M1 Garand was so successful that it continued to see use in Vietnam and with reserve troops into the early 1970s, although it had been officially replaced in 1957 from front line service. Even then, the Garand was still in use with the militaries of a dozen friendly nations that we equipped, including the Greek Army well into the 1980s.

The M1 can weigh between 9.5 and more than 10 lbs. empty, depending on the type of wood used. Add a sling and buttstock cleaning kit, and the scale tips up. Of course, this much weight soaks up a lot of recoil, which helps with weapon fatigue and faster follow-up shots.

M1 Garand History

Designed by Canadian-born John C. Garand, a long-time Springfield Armory engineer, the rifle that bears his name is a long stroke, gas piston-operated, eight-shot clip-fed semi-automatic rifle chambered in the same .30-06 cartridge as its predecessors, the 1903 Springfield and the M1917 Enfield.

The long-stroke piston on the M1 is like that found on the AK-47 and constitutes a long steel operating rod that is one piece with the charging handle and joins the rotating bolt, which features two locking lugs on its face.

When firing, the operating rod, handle, and unlocked bolt move back as one unit, improving the rifle’s reliability in field conditions but also negatively affect precision accuracy. In addition, the bolt handle can serve as a forward assist to properly seat a round. Nevertheless, the M1 was considered very accurate and was used in the sniper role with scoped variants as well as in modern competition.

Even using iron sights the Garand is capable of outstanding accuracy and continues to be popular for competition.
Even using iron sights the Garand is capable of outstanding accuracy and continues to be popular for competition.

It is possible that Mr. Garand may have come up with different features on his rifle if left to his own devices, but the terms that the military contract called for set the stage. The most off-putting feature to our modern eyes is undoubtedly the clip mechanism, which was demanded instead of a removable magazine.

Clips or Mags?

Although many people use the terms interchangeably, a clip and a magazine are not at all the same. A magazine holds the ammunition to feed into the gun; a clip holds the ammunition to be loaded into the magazine.

The M1 has a fixed internal magazine, which is fed from the top by a spring metal clip holding eight rounds. Without the clip, the M1 becomes a single-shot weapon with the shooter only being able to load one round at a time.

The eight rounds are staggered in the clip, and there is no top or bottom, so it doesn’t matter on which side the top round is located (which is handy for a battle rifle). On the last round fired, the clip automatically ejects, and the bolt locks to the rear.

Retracting the bolt and depressing the clip latch located on the left side of the receiver manually ejects a full or partially full clip. Magazines can be topped off, but this is not easy or recommended, and it is far better to eject a partially expended clip and replace it with a fresh one. Both 2- and 5-round clips are commercially available.

M1 Rifle Operation

Operating the M1 is simple, but takes a bit of practice at first. Once the bolt is locked to the rear, a full clip is inserted through the top of the receiver and pressed down. The bolt then automatically releases to go forward and load the first round. It is best to do this with the thumb of the right hand while using the palm to hold back the bolt handle, otherwise the bolt could slam onto your thumb with some force, causing the infamous “Garand thumb.”

Moreover, the safety catch is somewhat novel and reminds me of those found on SKS rifles. To engage the safety on the M1, depress the metal catch in front of the trigger guard toward the trigger. This moves the steel tab into the trigger guard, partially blocking access to the trigger.

Garand-lead
Overall, the Garand is a simple rifle system to master with a bit of practice. The biggest obstacle is avoiding the dreaded “M1 thumb” when loading.

When you are ready to fire, simply place your finger on the trigger and push the safety bar forward and out of the trigger guard area.

M1 Garand Gas System

The final gas system adopted for the M1 uses a hole in the bottom of the barrel toward the front of the rifle to divert gas against the front of the operating rod.

The short gas tube located underneath the barrel at the front was made from stainless steel to prevent corrosion; it was then painted black since the stainless steel would not be easily Parkerized. This accounts for the difference in finish of this part from the rest of the rifle. It should also be noted that a lot of military .30-06 ammunition is corrosive because it has sodium in the primer and requires the use of water to clean properly and prevent rust.

Garand Production Figures

During World War II, Springfield Armory (the government armory not the Springfield Armory we know of today) and Winchester Repeating Arms produced approximately five million Garands. After the war, another nearly 1.5 million were produced by Springfield Armory, Harrington & Richardson Arms, and International Harvester Corporation.

Almost every M1 has undergone some sort of arsenal repair or rebuilding, which often included new barrels and replacement parts from different manufacturers. Even Beretta produced Garands using Winchester machinery after the war, and Beretta parts can be found on M1s imported from service with European armies.

I have owned several, all purchased through the Civilian Marksmanship Program or CMP. These differ significantly from M1s that may have found their way back to the U.S. from commercial importers.

That’s because CMP guns are all genuine U.S. Government surplus that have been inspected, repaired and test fired by CMP armorers and are free of those annoying import marks.

Maintenance And Disassembly

Maintenance and disassembly of the M1 Garand is straightforward, although at first glance it does seem like there are a lot of parts to keep track of; of course, they must be reassembled in the correct order, too. Also, it is best to assume that any ammunition you use, except for modern commercial stuff, is corrosive — requiring you to clean accordingly.

The M1 Garand clip is an 8-round stamped steel part.
The M1 Garand clip, the magazine is part of the rifle. It loads pretty quickly once you get a hang of feeding in the clip. Photo courtesy garandgear.com.

M1 Sights

The front blade sight is fixed, but the rear peep is outstanding with elevation adjustments in 25-yard increments out to 1,200 yards with easy windage adjustments. Mounting a scope on a Garand is no easy task and in order to keep the rifle as close to original as possible it's best to stick with iron sights.

Shooting the M1

This is a large, heavy rifle, and I can’t say that I would have relished having to carry it in combat. It is easy to understand why a lot of American soldiers preferred the M1 Carbine. Still, the rifle is very well balanced, shoulders easily, and the recoil — even with the full-sized .30-06 battle round — very manageable.

Accuracy on the range firing at 100 yards from a bench rest and using the standard iron sights was very good — as good as most of the scoped ARs I shoot. My best group was an impressive 1.4 inches using Remington ammo, but the Greek 1980s vintage surplus stuff also produced a 1.4-inch group.

Keep in mind that this is out of a WWII vintage, semi-auto, beat up, rebuilt, Greek loaner rifle using ammo that was made in Greece when Jimmy Carter was president.

Many variants of the M1 Garand were created during and after the war, including a never-issued tanker and paratrooper model as well as select-fire versions and ones with detachable magazines. Some were also chambered and issued in 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Winchester), especially once the .30-06 round was phased out.

M1 Garand For Sale

The best place to get a real American M1 Garand is still through the CMP, and they have various grades available, although supplies are dwindling. Rack Grade guns are the cheapest and have the most replacement parts and wear. Criteria for purchase is easy to meet, and CMP ships the rifle directly to your door.

Given the interest in the rifle, away from CMP, Garand prices have soared. At gun shows, it's not unusual to find a common model, such as one from the Springfield Armory, draw in excess of $1,000. Rarer and more collectible ones, such as International Harvester M1 Garand, demand a premium price, even in rough shape.

U.S. M1 Garand .30 Caliber Specifications:
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Barrel: 24 in.
Overall Length: 43.5 in.
Weight: 10.5 lbs. empty
Stock: Walnut
Sights: Fixed blade front, adjustable peep rear
Action: Semi-auto
Finish: Parkerized
Capacity: 8-round clip
Price: $525
256-835-8455
www.odcmp.com

Editor’s Note: This excerpt is from Modern Survival Guns: The Complete Preppers' Guide to Dealing with Everyday Threats Elwood Shelton contributed to this post.


Dig Deeper into the M1 Garand:

AR-15: The Ultimate Survival Gun?

Power, speed, accuracy, capacity, ease of use, versatility and reliability all go into making an ideal survival gun, and the AR-15 has these assets in spades.

Why the AR-15 is an ideal survival gun:

  • Mid- to long-range accuracy
  • High-velocity cartridge
  • Lightweight
  • Common and inexpensive ammunition
  • Large magazine capacity
  • Easily configured
  • Abundant parts
  • Light Recoil
  • Relatively simple maintenance

When it comes to survival, the best choice is a rifle that combines power, speed, accuracy, capacity and reliability, ease of use, versatility, accessories, and lightweight. To me, there is only one choice: the AR rifle. Its popularity ensures the availability of plenty of spare parts for repairs. Its modularity makes it easy to repair and work on. This modularity allows the versatility to change barrels and cartridges within a certain range.

AR-15 Survival Guns

The AR is the single most versatile rifle available. It can be adapted to fire over a dozen different rifle and pistol calibers. The design makes it easy to install optics and scopes; the collapsible stock allows the length to be adjusted so different-stature shooters can comfortably use the same rifle. All of these features help explain why it is so popular.

The AR serves primarily for self-defense, used to quickly and accurately engage multiple assailants should the need arise. You could certainly use other rifles for such tasks, and I will recommend many, but the AR stands above them all. It is true that the AR may not be the best firearm to use in all defensive situations. Sometimes a shotgun or a pistol will be better suited for specific jobs.

The AR is traditionally chambered in the 5.56x45mm NATO (interchangeable with the .223 Remington caliber) cartridge. Some have questioned the effectiveness of this cartridge, but the U.S. Military has been using this round as their primary rifle caliber for 60 years, through many wars and other interventions. If it were not effective, we would not still have it. As with any firearm, the weight and type of bullet can be easily changed to deliver better performance, and while not all loadings may be ideal for hunting, many are used effectively on deer, feral hogs, coyote, and other game animals.

Some have argued that a 5.56mm AR is bad for home defense because the round will over penetrate and pass through walls, endangering other occupants or neighbors. Yet Police SWAT teams are increasingly switching from 9mm submachine guns to 5.56mm ARs exactly because they penetrate less than the 9mm, especially with proper ammunition selection.

The AR is extremely weather resistant and was designed that way from the start for military use. The receiver is aluminum, the stock polymer, the barrel and bolt carrier chrome lined and phosphate finished. The rifle is not completely rust or corrosion resistant, but it is almost as close as it gets. It was designed to be lightweight at about 6.5 lbs. The carbine version is very compact and can be easily broken down into two parts for ease of transport.


More Survival Gun Articles:


When it comes to parts and accessories, manufacturers are busy producing almost anything you can imagine. It is very easy to take a 6.5-lb. AR carbine and turn it into a futuristic 11-lb. powerhouse. There are many AR manufacturers, and most of their guns are built to Mil-Spec, meaning that they have complete parts interchangeability. I will include a few full reviews below, but first I’ll give a round-up of some of the popular AR manufacturers.

Note: When it comes to survival, don’t try to get fancy. Many ARs are sold specifically for competition, varmint hunting, in odd calibers, or with non-standard features to appeal to select shooters. That is not what you want. You want the standard Mil-Spec AR carbine. Keep it simple. When it comes to accessories, add only what you think you really need and will actually use. Special coatings or treatments are fine and even the use of custom drop-in trigger kits is OK, as these can be easily replaced with Mil-Spec trigger kits.

Editor’s Note: This excerpt is from Modern Survival Guns: The Complete Preppers' Guide to Dealing with Everyday Threats, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

Ammo Storage and Malfunctions: Yes, They Can Be Related

Proper ammo storage can keep your defensive ammo effective for decades. Find out how to store and maintain your ammo to avoid malfunctions and deterioration.

Modern ammunition is made with sealants to protect against the elements, but nothing lasts forever. If ammunition is properly stored, it will remain effective for decades, but if it isn’t stored properly, its lifespan can be reduced. All ammunition should be stored in a cool, dry place away from moisture and humidity.

Ammunition you carry on a daily basis is subject to being knocked about, exposed to dust, debris, lint and sweat as well as temperature changes, etc. My recommendation is to replace your carry ammunition at least annually. Just shoot the old stuff and get a new box of the ammunition you like to carry.

ammo storage-208
Store ammunition in its original box in a cool, dry place with no moisture or humidity.

If ammunition looks old or corroded, don’t use it for carry purposes. There are plenty of gun owners who will gladly take old ammunition off your hands if you feel uncomfortable using it. If your ammunition gets dusty or dirty, you can clean in by wiping it down with a clean cloth. Do not use any solvents or oils on your ammunition, because this is much more likely to damage it. Even if you can’t see it, solvents and lubricants can get into your ammunition and compromise the chemicals that make up the powder and primer.

Three Types Of Ammo Malfunctions

Just as your gun can malfunction, so can your ammunition, especially if it has not been properly stored. There are three basic types of ammunition malfunctions:

  • Misfire
  • Hang fire
  • Squib load

Misfire is when the round simply does not go off. On the range, always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction (downrange) and wait 30 seconds before you clear the objecting round. It could be that a round simply did not exit the magazine, so there was nothing in the chamber. It could also just be a hard or bad primer.

Wait 30 seconds with the gun pointed in a safe direction in case you have the second type of malfunction, a hang fire. A hang fire is a perceptible delay in the ignition of the cartridge. It might be a function of corrupted powder and the round does not go off right away. It might take as much as 8 seconds for the round to detonate and fire.

You don’t want to be waving the gun around or looking down the barrel when that happens. You also don’t want the cartridge detonating while you’re opening the chamber, because that will create shrapnel and possibly injure you. Fortunately, hang fires are very rare. I have experienced one only once, and that was with some 50-year-old French military surplus rifle ammunition, and the delay was only a split second (but still noticeable).

ammo storage-209
Bad ammo can cause all types of malfunctions, including this stove pipe.

The last basic type of malfunction is a squib load. This is the result of an underpowered cartridge. The cartridge fires, but it will sound and feel noticeably different from a normal round. The gun will kick a lot less, and it will sound much quieter. It could be that only some of the gunpowder ignited or that there was no gunpowder in the cartridge—only the live primer.

If you experience this, cease firing immediately and inspect the barrel for any obstructions, because the cartridge might have had enough force to send a bullet halfway down the barrel and left it lodged there. If the barrel is clear, you can continue to shoot. You should never fire a gun with an obstruction in the barrel because this will damage or destroy the gun and likely cause injury to you.

Here’s another warning when it comes to ammunition. Most people who carry concealed do so with a round in the chamber. Occasionally, you will have to unload your gun—when storing or cleaning it, for example. When you reload and re-chamber a round, be conscientious of which round you are chambering. If you continually chamber the same round over and over again, the bullet will gradually and almost imperceptibly become seated deeper and deeper into the cartridge case. The result of this powder packing is that when the bullet is fired, it will generate a much higher and possibly unsafe chamber pressure. This is only a problem with semi-automatic handguns. I would not re-chamber the same round more than a couple of times. After that, use a different round.

If you find yourself in a life-threatening situation, where you have to use your concealed-carry handgun, some of these rules are significantly relaxed. If you experience a misfire under these circumstances, immediately clear the recalcitrant round and load a fresh one. With a revolver, this is much easier because all you have to do is squeeze the trigger again to rotate the cylinder and bring a fresh round in line with the barrel.

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to Concealed Carry.

So You Want To Buy A Gun: New Or Used?

A high-quality handgun can cost hundreds of dollars, whether it’s new or used. These tips can help you make the right choice when you buy a gun.

I gave up buying new cars a while back. I like new cars, but my practical and cheap side won out and now I buy only used vehicles. Of course with a used car, your options are more limited and the car’s features might not include everything you want. Also, you don’t really know how well the previous owner maintained the car or what mechanical issues might arise.

Buying A New Gun

When you opt to buy a new handgun, you have the liberty to select exactly what you want. You can choose the size, caliber, color, sights, grips, accessories, manufacturer, etc. Most guns stores will special order anything you want if they don’t have it on hand, and you get the benefit of a manufacturer’s warranty should anything go wrong. With a new gun purchase, many gun stores will also stand behind the product and assist you in dealing with the manufacturer if you have any issues.

When you buy a new gun, you also get all of the extras the manufacturer wants you to have. This includes the original box or case. Most modern gun boxes are made from polymer and offer secure protection for your gun. Many can be locked shut with a simple padlock, making them good for transportation or even basic home security.

A trigger or cable lock will also be included for added safety, and all of the accessories will be included as well: cleaning rods, disassembly tools, spare magazines, warranty cards and, perhaps most important, the owner’s manual. Of course, buying a new gun means paying full price and for some guns that are in high demand and hard to find, you might even pay more than full price.

Buying A Used Gun

When you buy a used gun, you can save 20 or 30 percent or more from the cost of the same gun new. This is for a used gun in good working condition. However, it’s up to you to determine whether the used gun you are considering is indeed is good condition. Make sure all of the controls on the gun function as they are intended to.

For semi-automatic pistols, make sure all the safety devices are fully functional. If there’s a grip safety, squeeze the trigger without pressing it to make sure it works. If there’s a thumb safety, activate it and try to squeeze the trigger, then deactivate it and try to dry fire the gun. Take special care to note how the trigger feels. It should not be overly heavy or gritty. Make sure the gun fires in both the single-action and double-action modes if so designed. If there’s a de-cocking mechanism, try it out as well.

buy a gun-pistol
When buying a used pistol, the gun should fit together well without excessive play in any of the parts.

Check the takedown lever for proper functioning and disassemble the gun. If the gun is very dirty, it’s a good indicator that it was not properly maintained. Sometimes guns that are having issues just need a thorough cleaning, or there might be a more severe problem. If the gun is already dirty, it will be more difficult to determine the situation you’re dealing with.

You also want to check the barrel. There should be no bulges anywhere along the outside. Inspect the rifling and look for rust, pitting or uneven wear. If you see a ring inside the barrel, that’s a bad sign. Check the muzzle end of the barrel, especially where the rifling ends. It should be sharp and crisp. Look for excessive wear in this area. The gun should fit together well without excessive play in any of the parts. Check the slide to frame fit.

Most manufacturers offer a transferable lifetime warranty on their guns no matter who owns them and will repair any problems. However, if the previous owner has tampered with the gun or made gunsmithing changes, the warranty might be void.

For revolvers, the cylinder lock-up and timing is the most important consideration. Make sure the chambers are aligning properly with the barrel and there’s no play in the cylinder, especially when the revolver is cocked. Make sure the trigger is functioning properly and that you cannot push it forward once it’s cocked. Check the trigger squeeze in single- and double-action, making sure it is neither too heavy nor too light. The gun’s cosmetics can also be an indicator of proper care and maintenance.

buy a gun-revolver
For revolvers, make sure there’s no play in the cylinder, especially when the revolver is cocked.

Where To Buy A Gun

A gun store is the most obvious place to purchase a gun and where most people start. This makes sense, because a gun store will have fixed hours of operation and requires little advance planning to visit. It is a formal business that occupies a fixed physical location, so if you have concerns, questions or problems you can easily return and ask for assistance.

A gun store will generally be welcoming, well lit and well appointed, with organized and labeled merchandise. Prices are clearly displayed, and the staff will generally be knowledgeable and helpful. If you go to a gun store where this is not the case, you might want to go elsewhere.

The biggest advantage of shopping at a gun store is that the staff will have plenty of time to talk with you and answer your questions. They will have a good selection of handguns for you to hold and try out to see what you like and what works for you. They will have a full selection of ammunition, holsters and accessories to match your gun. There is simply no substitute for being able to handle a variety of guns and products before deciding which to purchase.

Many gun stores will also have an on-site gunsmith or access to one who can make repairs or adjustments or customize your gun any way you prefer. Because of the Internet, gun stores have had to adjust and become more competitive in their pricing. However, you will still generally pay a premium for the convenience and the service, but for many folks it’s money well spent.

Some gun stores will not handle transfers of guns you bought online or will charge an exorbitant fee, especially if it’s a gun they have in stock themselves. But many others will handle transfers of firearms from other sources to you for a reasonable fee.

800px-Houston_Gun_Show_at_the_George_R._Brown_Convention_Center
Gun shows are a good place to shop for new or used firearms. Photo by M. Glasgow

Gun shows are another great place to shop. There are usually dozens of dealers and vendors selling guns and everything gun-related, including holsters, clothing, ammunition, safes, cleaning kits and accessories. At some of the larger shows, there are hundreds of tables full of guns and gear, and some vendors offer on-site training and gunsmithing services, as well as making custom holsters while you wait.

The selection and opportunity to see and touch all of this equipment is unmatched by any gun store, and because there are so many dealers competing for your business, the prices are very competitive. Gun shows can be extremely entertaining to walk around and see new and interesting products. For the beginner, they can also be overwhelming.

Vendors at guns shows are usually very busy and have little time to answer questions or demonstrate their products. Some are even downright impatient, to be honest. If you want to go the gun show route for your purchase, it’s best to have done all of your homework in advance and know exactly what you want. The vendors are only there for the weekend, so if you have a problem, you are on your own.

If you want something custom or out of the ordinary, you are also unlikely to find it, since the vendors will focus on the most popular guns and won’t be around to special order anything for you. Many of these dealers also have physical locations where you can go to make a purchase or special order after the show, but they might be located far away from you.

There will be a lot of buying and selling of used guns at these shows. There’s plenty of room to haggle, and good deals can be found. But again, as with any used gun purchase, there’s no sure way to know if the gun is in good working order. If you buy a used gun from a dealer or anyone else at a gun show, they’re typically sold “as is.” The best prices will be for used guns from private sellers. Usually, there will be some folks walking around with a sign stating that they have a gun to sell, and they are open to haggling.

You can also expect to save money on new guns at gun shows. In my experience, the gun show price for new guns is generally about 10 percent less than the gun store price. This difference might not be worth it if you have a lot of questions or prefer a calmer buying experience.

The Internet is another excellent resource of information and reviews for different guns. There’s no shortage of bloggers who will tell you exactly what they think of a gun. Some are better than others and it’s best to read a variety of reviews. You can also purchase a firearm online and have it shipped to a local dealer who can then transfer it to you.

The Internet is especially helpful for locating rare or hard-to-find guns, and you can find the absolute best prices. Keep in mind that you will have to cover shipping (which on handguns has to be overnight) as well as the transfer fee your dealer charges, so you might not save as much as you think.

The Internet is also a great place to purchase holsters and accessories but again, when you buy stuff without first handling it, sometimes it doesn’t work out for you. In most places you can also order and receive ammunition directly to your door from Internet vendors.

There are several websites that host firearms auctions and sales. There are also major firearms distributors who sell customer direct from their websites and ship the gun to a dealer close to you who has already agreed to handle the transfer for them.

Know The Law

You want to do the right thing and follow the law. Ask your local licensed gun dealer and also check with the state and local police either online or by calling if you have specific questions about the laws regarding purchasing and owning a gun.

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to Concealed Carry, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

Choosing A Handgun For Concealed Carry: Factors To Consider

When choosing a handgun for concealed carry, the gun must fit the individual, not just the task at hand. Use these tips to find the best handgun for your needs.

A gun is a tool and you need the right one for the job. But, unlike most other tools, guns are made to fit the individual, not just the task at hand. The gun you use to hunt pheasants could be used for self-defense but probably not for concealed carry. Likewise, a gun that might be great for home defense might not be well suited for concealed carry. The gun that a full-grown man can shoot and carry comfortably might not be the right gun for a smaller-stature person.

That said, high-quality firearms can be expensive, and it’s imperative you train regularly with each gun you carry. While it would be nice to have the resources to own a different gun for various clothing options and for all four seasons, and to have the time to train and become proficient in their use, this is not realistic for most people. Most people who carry a concealed firearm stick with one or two guns. What follows are a few basic ideas and suggestions to find the gun that will best suit your needs the majority of the time.

Revolvers

One of the earliest single-barrel repeating handguns was the revolver, so named because the cartridges are stored in a cylinder that revolves to line each cartridge up with the barrel in turn. The oldest self-contained, cartridge-firing revolvers operated in single-action mode, meaning the user had to manually cock the hammer for each shot in order to fire the gun. These types of single-action revolvers are still being made, but are relegated to use by collectors and history buffs, as well as cowboy action shooters. While they can certainly be used for self defense and concealed carry—and many were used that way in the past—they are not ideal for the modern handgun user.

The modern, double-action revolver was developed more than 100 years ago. Pulling the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer to fire the gun. The result is that double-action revolvers are very easy to operate. They don’t have a safety latch you need to disengage before you can fire or a lot of other extraneous controls.

Replacement grips make it easy to adjust the revolver for a custom fit.
Replacement grips make it easy to adjust the revolver for a custom fit.

Advantages Of Revolvers For Concealed Carry

Simplicity is the hallmark and main advantage of using a revolver for self-defense. Pushing or pulling a simple latch can swing the cylinder of the revolver swung open, revealing the separate chambers that each hold one cartridge. To unload it, you just tip the barrel up and press the extractor rod in the front. To load, you tip the barrel down, insert the cartridges and then close the cylinder. The revolver is now ready to fire.

Even those with weak hands or other ailments can easily accomplish this simple operation. Since there are no other buttons or mechanisms, the revolver, now loaded, is always ready to be fired and the user doesn’t have to worry about doing anything other than aiming the gun and squeezing the trigger. If a cartridge malfunctions in an emergency, the user can squeeze the trigger again and the cylinder will rotate to the next cartridge and fire that one. Note: If a cartridge fails to fire on the range, keep the gun pointed downrange and wait 30 seconds before proceeding.

Many revolvers are also more versatile in the ammunition they can use. Since the chambers are individual, bullet shape can be more varied. Also, each chamber is sized primarily for width, so it’s easy to use smaller-caliber cartridges that are the same diameter. The most common revolvers used for personal defense are chambered in .357 Mag. and .38 Special, which have the same diameter. The Magnum is longer and more powerful.

If you buy a revolver chambered in .357 Mag., you have the option of shooting .38 Special ammunition, which is cheaper and has a lot less recoil. A revolver chambered in the more powerful cartridge will have a slightly longer cylinder and is generally larger and heavier than one built for .38 Special ammunition. However, the ammunition versatility enables you to switch among cartridges if ammunition of one type is harder to find. The other advantage is that different people with different sensitivities to recoil can use the same gun by simply changing the ammunition.

Be aware that while you can load the shorter .38 Special cartridges in a revolver chambered for .357 Mag., the inverse is not true and should never be attempted.

You also have much more versatility on grip selection with a revolver. Underneath the grips of most revolvers there’s a small metal frame. The grips simply fit around this, and you can choose between a small grip, which is easier to conceal, or a larger grip, which makes the gun more comfortable and easier to shoot. A grip can be selected to fit the shooter’s individual hand size and shooting preferences.

Revolvers are much less prone to jamming or malfunctioning, and they can be fired through clothing (such as from inside a pocket) if needed with much less risk of the clothing interfering with the operation of the gun. They are easier to clean because there is no disassembly—you just open the cylinder, unload and clean it. Finally, in a worst case scenario, where there’s a struggle and you have to fire at contact distance (the barrel of the gun is pressed against an assailant), this pressure will not stop the revolver from functioning.

Disadvantages

One of the main disadvantages of a revolver for personal protection is its limited cartridge capacity. Revolvers typically accommodate six rounds in the cylinder, but smaller pocket-sized revolvers might have only a capacity of five rounds. There are larger revolvers that will fit as many as eight rounds, but these are generally ill-suited for concealed carry because of their size. The other disadvantage is that revolvers are slower to reload because you have to eject the spent cartridges and then reload them one at a time. A speed strip or speed loader can expedite the process somewhat.

Because of the cylinder, revolvers are also a bit wider, which can make them somewhat harder to conceal. In a double-action revolver the only “safety” is the pull-weight of the trigger and the length of the trigger squeeze. For most double-action revolvers, the amount of pressure the shooter needs to apply to the trigger in order to fire the gun can vary from 9 to 17 pounds and require an inch of travel. For some people, this might be too much to comfortably handle, but even for the most experienced shooters it can sometimes pose a problem.

The more pressure you have to apply to the trigger and the more time you spend squeezing the trigger, the harder it is to keep the sights on target. Shooting a double-action revolver both rapidly and accurately takes a lot of practice, but keep in mind you only need to achieve combat accuracy for self defense, meaning center mass hits at very close distances.

One consideration that applies to concealed carry in particular is with revolvers that have an exposed hammer. An exposed hammer gives the shooter the option of firing the gun in the standard double-action mode or in single-action mode by manually cocking the hammer. In single-action mode, the trigger becomes much lighter to fire and has much less distance to travel. This makes it easier to fire with greater accuracy, but it’s very seldom needed in a self-defense situation. The disadvantage is that the exposed hammer can get caught up in clothing when you draw it from a holster quickly.

While revolvers are generally very reliable, they are not jam proof (contrary to popular perception). Jams or malfunctions can occur as a result of an ammunition issue that can lock up the cylinder and prevent it from turning. Likewise, if dirt or debris gets stuck underneath the cylinder extractor, the cylinder won’t turn and the gun will not fire. Clearing these malfunctions requires opening the cylinder (if you can), dumping the entire contents, clearing the debris and reloading. If you have no spare ammunition, you will need to salvage the dumped rounds that are still good. This will be time consuming.

Semi-Automatic Handguns

A modern semi-automatic pistol is an entirely different animal, and there are several features of note. First, there’s a magazine contained inside the grip that holds the cartridges, the number of which depends on the size of the magazine, the size of the gun and the size of the ammunition. Above the grip and frame is the slide, which operates the gun. Inside the slide is the barrel with a chamber that holds one cartridge at a time located at the rear.

The use of a magazine means the shooter can reload a pistol quickly and easily.
The use of a magazine means the shooter can reload a pistol quickly and easily.

Operation of a pistol is as follows. First, load the desired number of rounds one at a time into the magazine, up to the maximum it will accommodate. The magazine is spring loaded, so the more rounds you load the harder they are to push down. Many people prefer to use a loading tool that makes the job much easier on the thumbs. Also, note that it’s very easy to load the rounds in backward and that the gun won’t work if you do, so pay attention that the rounds face the front of the magazine.

Next, insert the magazine fully into the bottom of the grip until it clicks in place. Chamber the first round by fully retracting the slide and then releasing it. This strips the top cartridge from the magazine and feeds it into the chamber at the rear of the barrel. At this point the gun is ready to fire, and when you squeeze the trigger, the slide will retract on its own, expelling the empty cartridge case, and then go forward to load a fresh cartridge into the chamber. The gun will fire with each squeeze of the trigger until it is empty.

There is significant variety in design for semi-automatics (far greater than for revolvers) and the choices can seem daunting. It’s important to understand the basic design differences and their advantages and disadvantages in order to select the handgun that will best fit your individual needs and preferences.

Advantages Of Pistols

There’s a good reason why police departments across America made a determined switch from revolvers to semi-automatics: firepower. A full-sized pistol can accommodate as many as 17 rounds or more plus one in the chamber. An officer usually carries two spare magazines as well, so he can easily and quickly reload by simply pressing the magazine release button (which drops the empty magazine) and inserting a full magazine.

Of course, most people are not going to select a full-sized pistol for concealed carry. But even with a very compact pocket pistol with only a six-round magazine, when you count the round in the chamber, the carrying capacity is seven rounds—two more than in a pocket revolver. And you can also carry a very flat and compact spare magazine should you need to reload quickly.

Due to their design, semi-auto pistols are flatter and smaller than any defensive revolver, which makes them easier to conceal. The way the slide operates also helps to reduce recoil relative to the cartridge and the size and weight of the pistol. Many pistols will also go to slide lock—the slide locks to the rear and the action is open—on the last shot. This provides immediate visual confirmation that the gun is empty.

Like revolvers, semi-automatic pistols can be had in single-action, double-action or both. The key difference is that a single-action pistol needs only to be cocked for the first shot. The slide operation automatically cocks the hammer for each subsequent shot. A double-action-only pistol might have a hammer (visible or internal) or might be striker-fired. The advantage to both single-action-only and double-action-only pistols is that the trigger pull is the same for every shot.

Singe-action and striker-fired semi-autos also have the benefit of a relatively light trigger squeeze, with a short trigger pull in the case of the single-action and a long trigger pull in the case of the striker-fired pistol. They both also generally have short resets so the trigger doesn’t have to go all of the way forward before it can be squeezed again to fire it. This makes it easier to shoot faster, which is an advantage in a close-range defensive scenario.

Many semi-automatic pistols use both double-action and single-action operation. Typically, the hammer will be in the down position for the first shot, making it a longer and heavier double-action trigger squeeze. The gun will operate in the single-action mode for all of the following shots. The advantage with this system is that you have the safety of a long, heavy trigger pull for the first shot and the accuracy and speed of a single-action trigger squeeze for all of the following shots. You do need to get used to two different trigger pulls, however.

Disadvantages

The main disadvantage of the semi-automatic pistol is that there’s a steeper learning curve for beginners. Each pistol might have controls that are different from others. The magazine release, which allows the user to remove the magazine, might be in different locations and might be located on different sides of the gun. Many semi-automatics (less so on small pocket pistols) will also have a slide lock/release lever that locks the slide to the rear. Each will have its own method of disassembly for cleaning and maintenance, and some of these can be a bit complicated.

Different semi-automatic pistols have different safety mechanisms, ranging from grip safeties that require a firm grip to operate to thumb safeties that must be manually deactivated. Some pistols have trigger safeties that prevent the trigger from moving backward unless squeezed from the middle. Others have various internal safeties that are always in effect until the trigger is squeezed.

The grip size on a pistol is also largely fixed, although there are replacement grips and other accessories that can help adjust the grip to suit the individual better. Many pistols also include replaceable panels, but this is found mostly on the midsize and larger pistols. Operating the slide might also be difficult for someone with smaller hands, hand injuries or poor hand strength, although some manufacturers make pistols with slides that are easier to manipulate. With practice most people can handle slide manipulation.

Reliability can also be a concern. If anything obstructs the movement of the slide, such as clothing, it likely will not cycle properly. Pistols are also much more sensitive to ammunition selection, and some types of ammunition might not function reliably in some pistols. With certain types of pistols, it’s possible to inadvertently hit the magazine release and then be left with the one shot in the chamber and a magazine on the ground.

Clearing jams is typically faster with a pistol, depending on the nature of the malfunction. The types of malfunctions that can occur with a pistol are more varied, although there is a generally accepted standard method for dealing with these quickly. First, slap the base of the magazine to make sure it is fully and firmly inserted. Next, rack and release the slide to clear the malfunction. These steps should be done while maintaining your focus on the threat (and not looking at the gun). If this fails to correct the malfunction, look at the gun to diagnose the nature of the problem and correct it. Note: If possible, taking cover at this point might be a good idea.

Most modern pistols are designed with what is called a hammer drop safety. This is an internal mechanical device that prevents the gun from firing if it’s accidentally dropped. It is unusual, but if you drop a loaded gun at just the right angle on a hard surface with just the right amount of force, there’s a chance it will fire. The hammer drop safety is designed to prevent this.

However, there is no such safety on some pocket pistols and some older pistols. In these cases, the manufacturer recommends carrying the gun with an empty chamber. This means that for concealed carry, you would have a full magazine in your gun but no round in the chamber. If you needed to use it, you would first have to chamber a round, which will slow you down and is not ideal. Most people (myself included) ignore this warning and prefer speed over the very slight risk. The choice is yours, however, and if you opt for one of these pocket pistols, you have been warned.

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to Concealed Carry, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

Modern Survival Guns: Walther Colt M4 OPS .22

The Walther Colt M4 OPS .22 LR is a dedicated survival gun chambered in the ubiquitous rimfire cartridge. Its function and accuracy excel over ordinary .22 conversion kits.

  • Made by Walther, this Colt-licensed .22 is remarkably well built.
  • A dedicated .22 AR-style rifle has advantages over a .22 conversion kit.
  • The Walther Colt M4 OPS exudes detail and authenticity, making it a dandy trainer.
  • The rifle sports a match-grade barrel and exhibited excellent accuracy.

Walther Colt M4 OPS .22
The Walther-made Colt M4 OPS tactical AR carbine is a fully-licensed reproduction of the original Colt M4, only chambered in .22 LR.

Walther Colt M4 OPS

The advantage of conversion kits for your standard AR is that they are cheap and essentially give you two guns. However, the rifling on the AR is not standard for the .22 LR nor is the sizing of the barrel exact. The kits work, but many people prefer a dedicated AR-style rifle exclusively chambered in .22 LR, which improves the rifle’s function and accuracy.

Among ARs, the most popular are the carbine versions, and if you want a real M4, you must get a Colt. The problem is that Colt only sells the M4 to the military and law enforcement, and they don’t make one in .22. Colt does make other AR carbines for the civilian market but not in .22. Fortunately, Walther Arms has a fully licensed Colt M4 replica in .22 LR.

Walther Arms is a renowned German firearms manufacturer with more than 125 years of history and a solid reputation for quality and innovation. The company produces several licensed versions of famous firearms that they dub Tactical Rimfire Replicas. These full-sized replicas are made in Germany and come with all the details, weight, and handling characteristics of the originals.

The Walther-made Colt M4 OPS tactical AR carbine is a blowback-operated semi-automatic and is designed to be as close in appearance to the full-auto carbine currently issued to the U.S. Special Forces. The controls function just like on the original, which makes this an excellent rifle to use as a low-cost trainer.

Features and Innards

The Colt M4 OPS looks very authentic on the outside, but it’s a completely different animal on the inside. The rifle comes with a 16-inch steel match-grade barrel that is located inside the Parkerized metal barrel sleeve that replicates the contours of an M4 barrel. The barrel is topped off with an A1-style flash hider that is one of the few steel components in the rifle.

The front sight is a standard A2 gas block, and it is properly “F” marked for a carbine. It includes the bayonet lug and the front sling swivel. Carbines have a slightly different elevation of the front sight than rifles and should be F-marked. The front sight is adjustable for elevation as well.

One thing that distinguished the M4 OPS rifle from the other Colt AR replicas that Walther offers is the free-floated quad rail handguard. This handguard offers 6 inches of Picatinny rail space at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions and features Knight’s Armament-style one-piece polymer-ribbed rail panels for improved comfort while handling. They come off easily with a simple spring steel push lever and allow for the easy addition of any desired accessories such as lights, lasers, bipods, or forward vertical grips.

The upper and lower receivers are both made from aluminum like the original. The left side of the lower receiver carries all the proper markings with the Colt rampant horse logo and is labeled “M4 Carbine” above the serial number. It is marked “Hartford, Conn. USA” as appropriate. It does differ in listing the caliber designation as .22 LR. The real manufacturing information from Walther is on the right side of the lower receiver.

The Walther Colt M4 OPS is true to the original in most every detail and allows for low cost training and practice.
The Walther Colt M4 OPS is true to the original in most every detail and allows for low cost training and practice.

 

Getting the Details Right

I was impressed with the attention to detail in this replica. The trigger guard has the detent tab and hinges down for use with mittens or gloves, as the original. The upper and lower receivers look and feel just like on a real AR. The magazine release button works the same way, and the safety selector rotates 90 degrees from safe to fire (there is no full-auto marking, however) with the same resounding click and feel as the original.

The bolt release/hold is a separate piece and, rather than simply molded on, it is made from polymer instead of metal and is not functional. There is a steel forward assist that looks and feels real and moves as designed, but it too is for looks only. The dust cover is made of steel but remains fully functional, although the latch itself is polymer.

The metal charging handle has a functional latch and retracts to load and operate the rifle, but only about one-third of the distance as on an actual .223-chambered AR.

The furniture on the Colt M4 OPS is very accurate as well, with the polymer pistol grip and collapsible stock that includes a rear sling swivel. These did not seem quite as sturdy as on the real thing, but they don’t need to be. I also noticed that the adjustable length of pull on the stock provided five positions instead of six.

The upper receiver has a flattop design with Picatinny rail that forms a continuous length with the quad rail handguards. This provides 13 inches of uninterrupted space on which to mount optics. An A2 removable rear sight is included, allowing for both windage and elevation adjustments and includes dual aperture peep sights with the larger opening for shorter distances and the smaller opening for distances greater than 200 meters. This may be slightly optimistic, given the rifle’s chambering.

Disassembly of the Colt M4 OPS starts off very similarly to a standard AR. The takedown pins at the front and rear are fully functional but not captive. I found them to be very stiff and used a punch and a few taps from a light hammer to remove them. At that point, the upper and lower receiver halves came apart easily, and the guts of the rifle were exposed. There is nothing AR-like about the internals here. You get all zinc metal alloy construction that is housed inside an aluminum cover.

Ammo Adjustable Regulation

At the rear of the zinc receiver, inside the false upper receiver and just below the charging handle, there is a screw that can be turned to tune the bolt speed to correspond with the types of ammunition being used.

For high-velocity ammunition, the bolt speed can be increased by turning the screw clockwise. For low velocity, the bolt speed can be slowed by turning the screw counterclockwise. This should only be done if the rifle is experiencing cycling problems with the ammunition you are using. I tested three different types of ammunition and found that the rifle functioned just fine and no adjustment was necessary.

Operation on the Colt M4 OPS is almost identical to the real thing. From a training perspective, this is close to ideal, as the manual of arms will not significantly change. The 30-round magazine loads easily with dual side tabs that help the process along by allowing the operator to lower the follower and drop the rounds in.

The bolt hold open device is internal and will only lock open on an empty magazine. This is not ideal, but not uncommon for rimfire rifles. Once a full magazine is inserted, simply retract and release the charging handle to chamber a round, flip the safety selector to the fire position, and squeeze the trigger.

Load Up On .22 LR Mags

There are 10- and 20-round magazines available, but most people will opt for the 30-round mag. These are solidly built and not at all flimsy, but I found it to be too long for comfortable prone or benchrest shooting. It is in fact 2.5 inches longer than a standard AR 30-round magazine. I believe that the 20-round mag would be more comfortable and look more authentic.

From left to right: .22 Short, .22 LR, and .22 Magnum. The .22 LR is the most common and popular.
From left to right: .22 Short, .22 LR, and .22 Magnum. The .22 LR is the most common and popular.

 

Also, the reader should be aware that most dedicated .22 ARs use proprietary magazines, and they don’t often interchange between manufacturers. If purchasing aftermarket .22 AR magazines, check with the manufacturer beforehand to ensure proper fit and functioning.

The single-stage trigger had a fair amount of creep and a mushy yet heavy feel at the same time. I measured it at 8 pounds and found it to be a challenge in precision shooting. However, bad triggers are very common in real ARs and a creepy, mushy, heavy trigger is entirely Mil-Spec. Of course, with a standard AR, you can change the trigger, but not here.

How It Performed

The rifle weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces when empty, which places it very close to a real AR carbine. It was sized and weighted properly, and the extensive use of metal and aluminum gave it a very real feel. It was light and easy to handle on the range, and I experienced no malfunctions firing offhand or from the bench.

Given the rifle’s tactical design, I opted for a red-dot sight with no magnification for accuracy testing at 50 yards from an improvised benchrest position. I say ‘improvised’ because the length of the magazine necessitated it. I mounted a Bushnell TRS-25 HiRise red-dot sight, which fit perfectly and features a 3 MOA dot. The 11 brightness settings make the dot visible in all light conditions and helped wring out the rifle’s accuracy potential.

Buyers of ARs chambered in .22 LR have a lot of options. You can buy a conversion kit that replaces the bolt carrier, or you can purchase a dedicated .22 upper receiver for your standard AR lower.

But for many, there is nothing better than an entirely dedicated rimfire AR rifle, and if you want one that looks and feels as close to the real thing as possible, you are only going to get it from Walther Arms. The licensed Colt M4 OPS is an accurate rifle that pays homage to America’s Special Forces and provides you with cheap, fun, and reliable operation.

SPECIFICATIONS

Walther Colt M4 OPS
CALIBER: .22 LR
BARREL: 16.1-in. match
OA LENGTH: 31.1 in. collapsed, 34.4 in. extended
WEIGHT: 6.2 lbs. empty
STOCK: Polymer-adjustable
SIGHTS: Adjustable iron sights
ACTION: Semi-auto blowback
FINISH: Blued
CAPACITY: 30, 20, 10 rounds
PRICE: $639
www.waltherarms.com
479-242-8500

Editor’s Note: This excerpt is from Modern Survival Guns: The Complete Preppers' Guide to Dealing with Everyday Threats, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

Modern Survival Guns: Beretta M9A3 Review

Beretta’s most famous firearm might well be its Model 92 pistol, first offered in 1975 in 9mm. Now, the impressive new Beretta M9A3 model is a serious contender as a modern survival gun.

  • Beretta's M9 is time proven, being the standard-issue U.S. Army pistol for many years.
  • Now it is back with refinements appealing to civilian shooters, especially preppers.
  • The Beretta M9A3 configuration holds 17 rounds and has an earth tan Cerakote finish.
  • It also has an extended 5.1-inch barrel, built-in 1913 accessory rail and improved grip.
  • Night sights are standard on the M9A3, which is a DA/SA design.

A Closer Look At The Beretta M9A3

Of course, military missions and doctrine change over time, and the Beretta M9 has kept pace. Now, they have developed the Beretta M9A3 with even further significant changes.

The M9A3 is a short-recoil, semi-automatic, hammer-fired pistol with a standard 17-round capacity magazine firing in double action for the first shot with the trigger pull both cocking and releasing the hammer, and single action for all subsequent shots.

The latest Beretta is the M9A3 (not officially adopted by the military), which features a desert tan finish, threaded barrel, night sights, and a smaller grip with interchangeable panels. - Beretta M9A3
The latest Beretta is the M9A3 (not officially adopted by the military), which features a desert tan finish, threaded barrel, night sights, and a smaller grip with interchangeable panels.

The tilting locking block has been redesigned for a longer service life. The 17-round magazine itself is one of the many improvements, adding two extra rounds from the original mag design and a PVD coating.

To further appeal to combat troops in arid environments, the M9A3 has a two-tone earth Cerakote finish on the slide and barrel, which provides improved lubricity, corrosion resistance, and durability. This finish creates a reduced IR signature, too.

The steel components that are left in black feature Beretta’s special Bruniton finish, a Teflon-based paint finish that provides far superior corrosion resistance over bluing or Parkerizing. Tritium night sights are standard on the M9A3.

The Beretta M9A3’s barrel has a chrome-lined bore and chamber and has been extended to 5.1 inches and threaded with a 1/2 x 28-inch thread pattern to use with standard suppressor devices. A knurled thread protector is included as well.

The earth color anodized frame on the M9A3 has been significantly upgraded to respond to changing military needs.

At 25 yards this full-sized Beretta pistol is capable of solid combat accuracy. - Beretta M9A3 2
At 25 yards this full-sized Beretta pistol is capable of solid combat accuracy.

At the front dust cover, Beretta has added a three slot MIL-STD 1913 accessory rail, a big improvement over the M9’s lack of any rail and the M9A1’s single slot rail. The traditionally squared trigger guard has been machined much flatter in the front to more easily accommodate rail mounted accessories.

Another improvement is the grip, with the backstrap now featuring a flat mainspring housing instead of the traditional bulged type. This significantly reduces the size of the grip, which was sometimes hard to handle for smaller stature shooters.

To further reduce grip size, the M9A3 uses slim Vertec Thin Grip panels that feature distinct and aggressive checkering. Beretta does include Hogue rubber over-molded replacement grips that provide an original grip size and feel.

Left-handed shooters will appreciate the reversible magazine release button, which has been enlarged for easier and faster manipulation.

The rest of the controls on the M9A3 remain standard, with a left-side slide lock/release and the takedown lever directly in front of it on the left side of the receiver.

The Beretta M9A1 is an improved version that adds a Picatinny rail to the frame, high-profile three dot sights, heavy checkering, and a beveled magazine well.
The Beretta M9A1 is an improved version that adds a Picatinny rail to the frame, high-profile three dot sights, heavy checkering, and a beveled magazine well.

The use of polymer parts, reducing both manufacturing costs and weight, is minimal on the M9A3 and limited to the recoil spring guide rod, lanyard ring, magazine floorplate, and follower.

Beretta was established in 1526 and is the oldest continuously operating firearms manufacturer in the world. It is family owned, having been passed down through 16 generations. This gives Beretta a level of tradition and pride in manufacturing that is unparalleled.

The M9A3 continues this tradition and is made entirely in the United States. Today, after 30 years, the M9 is still serving the needs of our military both at home and overseas, and the new M9A3 shows no signs of slowing down.

Editor’s Note: This excerpt is from Modern Survival Guns: The Complete Preppers' Guide to Dealing with Everyday Threats.

Modern Survival Guns: Windham Weaponry MPC 16 AR Carbine

The Windham Weaponry MPC 16 doesn’t have a lot of extra bells and whistles — making it a top pick for a survival gun.

How the MPC 16 thrives as a survival gun:

  • Windham Weaponry ARs have a lineage of quality going back to the Bushmaster days.
  • For survival, a simple, rugged AR-15 might be all you need; Windham's MPC 16 delivers.
  • Completely Mil-Spec throughout, this 16-inch-barreled carbine runs reliably.
  • It can also be handled by a variety of shooters based on skill level and experience.

R6774-WindhamThe Windham Weaponry MPC 16 is simple, which makes it easy to maintain and use. During the stress of a survival situation, you don’t want things overly complicated. Photo: Windham Weaponry-Weaponry-MPC-16-115
The Windham Weaponry MPC 16 is simple, which makes it easy to maintain and use. During the stress of a survival situation, you don’t want things overly complicated. Photo: Windham Weaponry

Windham Weaponry, named after the town of Windham, Maine where the guns are made, may be an unfamiliar name, but it is far from a new manufacturer. The factory, machinery, owner, and most all the employees were formerly under the Bushmaster name. Now, that same experience and attention to detail are being devoted wholeheartedly to this endeavor.

I was quite eager to see how the new Windham Weaponry MPC 16 would look and perform, and I was not disappointed. The rifle is an M4-style carbine with a direct gas impingement system chambered for 5.56 NATO. The rifle’s solid, proven design and features — without a lot of extra bells and whistles — lend themselves ideally for use as a survival rifle.

Both the upper and lower receiver of the MPC 16 are manufactured from forged 7075 T6 aluminum and have a hardcoat black anodized finish. The upper receiver has a flattop design with a removable carry handle and A4 dual aperture sights that are elevation and windage adjustable.

There are no indexing marks on the top Picatinny rail; so, you would need to take care when removing and replacing optics to maintain proper zero.

The 16-inch chrome-lined barrel of the MPC 16 has an M4 profile and is made from Mil-Spec 4150 chrome-moly vanadium steel. Chrome-moly results in increased carbon content in the steel and adds significant strength and durability, both very desirable features in a duty rifle.

The 16-inch chrome-lined barrel on the Windham AR has an M4 profile and is made from Mil-Spec 4150 chrome-moly vanadium steel. Photo: Windham Weaponry
The 16-inch chrome-lined barrel on the Windham AR has an M4 profile and is made from Mil-Spec 4150 chrome-moly vanadium steel. Photo: Windham Weaponry

The barrel has a standard 1 in 9-inch twist rate, which does a good job of stabilizing a wide range of bullet weights, including very low-weight projectiles.

Another Mil-Spec feature is the addition of M4 feed ramps at the back of the chamber. The standard threaded muzzle is topped off with a removable A2 flash hider, and the front sight base is elevation adjustable.

Standard Mil-Spec AR

Some folks are sticklers for properly F-marked bases on carbines; the Windham Weaponry AR is not so marked, but this is a distinction with very little real-world application.

Because of the difference in sight radius of a carbine over a rifle, an F-marked sight base is infinitesimally lower than a standard base. This is only an issue when using iron sights at distances past 200 yards, and it can easily be corrected by installing a taller front sight post.

The CAR black plastic handguards have double aluminum heat shields and were extremely effective at protecting the carbine-length gas tube (as well as my hand) from a hot barrel during a full day of range testing. The bolt and bolt carrier are phosphate finished and chrome-lined.

The MPC 16's bolt carrier has a Mil-Spec M16 contour (as opposed to a cheaper commercial bolt), which is stronger and heavier to ensure longer and more reliable operation — and it’s paired off with a standard carbine buffer. It should be noted that Mil-Spec M-16 bolt carriers are legal to install in semi-auto rifles.

The controls on both upper and lower receivers, dust cover, forward assist, bolt release, magazine release, charging handle, and safety selector are all located in the familiar places with nothing ambidextrous. The trigger guard is the fold down aluminum type for use with gloves.

The M4-type collapsible buttstock has six positions for length of pull to adjust for shooters of varying stature or with use while wearing body armor, and it features the Windham Weaponry logo.

The stock of the MPC 16 was well installed and exhibited excellent fit with very little play. Also, the fit between the upper and lower receiver was excellent with only the slightest amount of play between the two. The lower receiver comes with a standard military-type plastic pistol grip with finger grooves and a slightly flared magazine well.

During his range sessions, the author did not experience a single malfunction of any sort from the Windham, and it performed admirably, certainly capable of 1 MOA accuracy.
During his range sessions, the author did not experience a single malfunction of any sort from the Windham, and it performed admirably, certainly capable of 1 MOA accuracy.

The trigger is of the standard, single-stage AR variety with the typical utilitarian feel I have come to expect. Unfortunately, that means it’s not great, and the trigger exhibited a fair amount of noticeable creep that felt quite gritty, but mercifully avoided any stacking or over-travel.

It did break consistently at 7.5 lbs., and it should be noted that this was not developed as a sniper-grade rifle but rather as a utility survival gun. And in that regard, it should serve well.

Survival Gun Simplicity

At 6.9 pounds, this isn’t the lightest AR carbine one can purchase, but it is lighter than some of the feature-laden alternatives out there, and its short overall length and excellent balance make it easy to handle and pleasant to shoot. During my entire range session, I never experienced a single malfunction of any sort, and the rifle performed admirably.

Accuracy from a bench rest at 100 yards was about what one should expect from a Mil-Spec rifle, with groups measuring from the best of the day at 1 MOA to the worst at 4 MOA and averaging in between. With the right ammunition and a better trigger, this rifle is certainly capable of pinpoint accuracy.

Windham Weaponry ships their rifles in a black hard plastic case with one 30-round magazine, a sling, and a well-illustrated operators’ manual. Currently, the company’s offerings include state-compliant models.

Specifications:

Windham Weaponry MPC 16
Caliber: 5.56mm/.223 Rem.
Barrel: 16-inch chrome-lined 1:9 twist
Overall Length: 36.25 in. stock extended, 32.5 in. collapsed
Weight: 6.9 lbs. empty
Stock: M4 double heat shield handguards/6-position telescoping buttstock
Sights: Removable A4 adjustable rear sight and A2 standard base front
Action: Semi-auto
Finish: Black hardcoat anodized
Capacity: 30-round magazine
MSRP: $1,086
Contact: 855-808-1888; www.windhamweaponry.com

Editor’s Note: This excerpt is from Modern Survival Guns: The Complete Preppers' Guide to Dealing with Everyday Threats, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

How To: Concealed Carry In Your Car

Can I carry my gun while traveling in my car? In many cases yes, but there are certain considerations to concealed carry in your car.

Can you carry a gun in your car?

  • Before you concealed carry in your car, know state and local gun laws.
  • With more room in a vehicle, carrying a secured rifle or shotgun is an option.
  • The console and glove box are two options for a handgun, but there are others.
  • If you carry a gun in your car, check it regularly.
  • This is done not only to ensure functionality but also that it has not been stolen.

Most people don’t think of their car or truck as part of their concealed-carry system. But keeping a gun in your car, especially a shotgun or rifle, can absolutely be part of your personal defense plans. I would caution anyone doing this to be mindful of local and state laws as they relate to concealed carry in your car, especially if you cross state lines.

Living close to the Maryland/Washington, D.C. border — two of the least gun-friendly places in the United States — and conducting business and having family in both places, I do not keep a gun in my car. I don’t want to take the chance that I might forget that my gun is in my car and end up arrested. In D.C., it’s a felony to even have ammunition.

concealed carry in your car - 1

A close friend put it better than I could regarding why vehicle carry is a good idea. The fact is, he explained, a handgun is completely unsuitable for self defense. The only reason anyone carries or uses handguns is that they are smaller and more convenient than rifles or shotguns. A handgun, for him, was primarily a tool to use in an emergency that could help him get to a “real” gun. Rifles and shotguns are far more powerful than handguns, and accurate from longer distances.

Vehicle carry of long guns is especially appealing when traveling. If you’re planning a weeklong getaway to the mountains or the beach — even if you have no plans to go shooting — it’s a great comfort knowing you have the means with you for serious personal protection. Likewise, if you are on a drive far from home where there’s a possibility of being stuck or stranded, you might feel under-armed with just your pocket pistol.

Keeping a loaded (or unloaded, depending on local laws) rifle and/or shotgun in a case in your vehicle is a good backup for times when your handgun might not be enough gun. With this type of carry, make sure to keep your long gun cased and preferably locked or secured in some manner, in case your car gets stolen or broken into. You will also want to keep the case out of sight, because thieves will often smash and grab what they can see of value.

There are rifle cases for carbines designed to look like a tennis racket case. Blackhawk makes a whole line of these “Diversion” bags. Renegade Ridge Tactical makes a great diversion bag for a carbine rifle that fits on the back of the driver’s or passenger’s seat in a vehicle and allows for very fast access of a loaded rifle.

concealed carry in your car - gun case

Of course, many people also choose to carry handguns in their vehicles. Depending on your state and local laws, you may be able to carry a loaded or unloaded gun with you at all times in your car. You may be able to keep it unlocked and within reach, say in a center console or glove box. Of course, if you have a concealed-carry permit, you will have more options in this regard.

Several companies make gun cases, car handgun safes and other options specifically for concealed carry in your car. One innovative design comes from Titan Gun Vault, which has a locking steel case that pops the gun up grip first when you open it. It also has a separate area for a loaded magazine so you can carry an unloaded gun and load it very quickly if needed. Be aware that in some areas, a full magazine within reach of a semi-automatic pistol could be considered a loaded gun.

There are other concealed carry car holsters available. Some actually secure the gun, such as The RAC, which looks like a bike lock. Some vehicle gun mounts only hold a firearm in place with a simple holster or magnet, such as the one from Magna-Arm. This type of car gun holster might also be suitable for people who are not allowed to carry at work. At least you can be armed while going to and from work.

Concealed carry in your car - 3

One of my concerns with keeping a gun in my car — besides the fact that if it’s the only gun I carry, I’m defenseless when I’m away from my car — is that it could get stolen. For this reason, you probably shouldn’t keep your most expensive guns or family heirlooms in your vehicle on a full-time basis. A friend keeps a cheap but reliable shotgun and rifle in his vehicle, what some folks refer to as “trunk” guns.

Unless you are always parked in a climate-controlled garage, your vehicle will be subject to temperature extremes, humidity and the usual bumps and shakes as you drive. All of this is harmful to guns and ammunition over the long term — the more exposure, the worse the problem becomes.

My recommendation is to check on your gun at least every couple of weeks to make sure it’s still there and that it has not developed any rust or maintenance issues. Any ammunition you keep in your car should be replaced at least annually, if not every 6 months. Take it to the range and shoot it up. This will help improve your shooting while ensuring that your ammunition is as functional as possible at all times.

Finally, there’s a very important caveat. If you lend your car to anyone, make sure they are aware that you keep firearms inside, that they are not a prohibited person or will not be violating any laws by transporting the firearms, and that they will not be traveling to any place where the firearms are not legal to transport or possess. Better yet, remove the firearms from your vehicle before lending it to anyone if there are any doubts at all.

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt from Gun Digest's Shooter's Guide to Concealed Carry.

Proper and Effective AK Use

Proper AK Use and Operation main

Proper AK use and operation is something anyone who plans on owning one should become familiar with. Learn more about its unique operation here.

All AK-pattern rifles use a long-stroke gas-piston system of operation. The gas bled from the barrel directly impacts a long, chrome-plated steel piston that is permanently affixed to the bolt carrier and charging handle. This carries the rotating bolt, which features two locking lugs on its face. When fired, the operating rod, handle and unlocked bolt move back as one unit, improving the rifle’s reliability in field conditions.

This is nevertheless a lot of mass slamming back and forth, which can increase perceived recoil and shift point of aim, affecting accuracy. Indeed, AKs are not generally admired for their accuracy, although they are capable of achieving very good results. The effect of this system on reliability is undeniable however, and is one of the AK’s key strengths. The rifle’s inherent reliability is attributed to its design and basic method of operation. No need to look for lots of extraneous controls or ambidextrous add-ons — there aren’t any, really.

AK Use - loading cartridgesLoading and Firing

The standard AK magazine uses a staggered column design in which the cartridges sit diagonally one above the other. This maximizes the magazine capacity. The feed lip at the top of the magazine uses this staggered column system to keep the rounds in place until they are pushed forward from the rear. As a result, the opening at the top of the mag is wide enough so that rounds can be inserted straight down and will stay in place.

Unlike a pistol or single-column magazine where the rounds have to be inserted at the front and then pushed down and back under the feed lip, AK magazines load like an AR: just push the rounds straight down. This makes loading easy and allows for the use of various speedloaders — you can load the magazines from a pre-loaded 10-round stripper clip using an adaptor.

AK Use - loading a magazineTo place the magazine into the rifle, the system is very different than what American shooters are accustomed. The AK mag must by inserted by first placing the front lip inside the receiver and rocking it back so that it locks into place. This can provide a loose or tight fit, depending on the make of the rifle and magazines.

To remove the magazine, simply press forward on the paddle release behind the magazine and rock it forward and out. The mag will not simply drop free when you press the release, as it is still hooked at the front.

AK Use - unloading a magazineTo load a round, make sure that the safety is in the down/off position. When the safety is in the up/on position, it blocks both the trigger and bolt handle. The right-side charging handle protrudes for easy manipulation. Pull it all the way back and release it to load the rifle. As the charging handle is attached to the bolt, it can be used as a forward assist as well. Since it is attached to the gas tube, it will reciprocate when the rifle is fired, so left-handed shooters should beware.

AK Use - bolt handleIf you are not immediately going to fire the rifle, the safety should be engaged. The right-side safety is a simple latch that you push up to engage, down to fire. There is no bolt hold open device, and the bolt will not remain open on an empty magazine (unless you are using one of those Yugoslavian mags).

AK Use - safetyThe rear sight can be adjusted for elevation using a slide mechanism. The front sight can be adjusted for elevation as well. Actually, the front sight can be adjusted for windage, too, but this requires a special tool, and it should have been at least bore-sighted at the factory, so adjustment should not be needed.

AK Use - shooting the AKThe trigger fires the gun. You squeeze it.

These are all the basic controls on a standard AK. However, some customized AKs and newer variants may include thumb-operated safeties, improved magazine releases and ambidextrous charging handles which may or may not reciprocate. Make sure to become familiar with the operation of your specific rifle.

This article is an excerpt from Gun Digest Guide to the Modern AK.

AK-47 Review: Krebs Custom KV-13

The Krebs KV-13 has 9.5 inches of Picatinny rail on top, ideal for optics, lights and other add-ons.
The Krebs KV-13 has 9.5 inches of Picatinny rail on top, ideal for optics, lights and other add-ons.

Get the most out of your Kalashnikov with the Gun Digest Guide to the Modern AK.

Marc Krebs from Krebs Custom in Wauconda, IL, is arguably the best custom AK manufacturer around. It seems he’s always experimenting, looking for ways to improve the AK platform. He even manufactures several aftermarket improvements as well as working on customers’ rifles. And makes his own complete rifles, usually from Russian Saiga receivers. His latest, the KV-13, really exemplifies what he has achieved.

For this build, he selected another Russian AK-pattern rifle: the VEPR made by the famous Molot (Vyatskie Polyany Machine Building Plant) factory. VEPR AKs are rock-solid reliable. What sets them apart is that the traditional gun made by Molot was the RPK squad automatic weapon.

Notably, the VEPR uses a standard stamped receiver that has been beefed up for heavy use and is 50 percent thicker on each side. It uses a heavy duty front trunnion, which is where the barrel connects to the receiver and the bolt locks. This makes the receiver much stronger with less flex when fired. The rear of the receiver has an angled cut that requires the use of an adapter to install different stocks.

The Krebs Custom KV-13.
The Krebs Custom KV-13.

Krebs first cuts the barrel down to 14 inches, then adds a permanently attached muzzle brake to bring the legal barrel length to 16 inches. The four-prong brake itself is made by Krebs and very effectively reduces muzzle flash. The gas block is the modern type with a 90-degree angle, but it is hard to see because of the custom KeyMod handguard.

This handguard provides 9.5 inches of Picatinny rail on top between the front sight and the dust cover. The sides and bottom of the aluminum unit feature the KeyMod system, co-developed by Noveske and VLTOR, allowing you to more easily install rails or accessories anywhere along the handguard. It runs 12 inches from the front of the receiver almost to the muzzle brake and facilitates a hands forward grip, while doing an excellent job of dissipating barrel heat.

The Krebs KV-13 is fitted with a four-prong brake that is very effective at cutting down muzzle flash and recoil.
The Krebs KV-13 is fitted with a four-prong brake that is very effective at cutting down muzzle flash and recoil.

As for the action, Krebs takes this already reliable system and improves it by smoothing and dehorning the edges. The trigger has been tuned and is far crisper and more comfortable than any standard AK trigger I have ever tried. Krebs adds an outstanding safety selector that can operate as a bolt hold open and bolt release using just the trigger finger and a finger extension. This safety selector is an easy upgrade to most any AK.

The sights on the KV-13 are outstanding. Instead of the usual short radius post and notch sights you find on most AKs, Krebs has installed true AR-style peep sights with a 19-inch sight radius. The rear sight is adjustable for windage, the front for elevation. The left side of the receiver has the standard AK optics rail for installing a scope.

The polymer pistol grip is the TAPCO SAW style, which is large but comfortable and features significant interior storage space. An ACE folding stock adapter has been installed and mated to a mil-spec AR buffer tube so any compatible AR collapsible stock will fit. In this case, Krebs installed the six-position Magpul CTR stock. Folding the stock is fairly easy and really makes this a super compact gun for transport or storage. Of course, it can be fired with the stock folded.

The KV-13’s safety selector doubles as a bolt hold open device.
The KV-13’s safety selector doubles as a bolt hold open device.

The KV-13 will accept any standard AK magazine, one steel mag was included. I found the fit to be a bit tight. The fit and finish on the rifle is quite good, using the KrebsKote solvent-proof finish to replace the standard Russian bluing.

On the range, it was very handy and well balanced. Empty cases are ejected brusquely and tended to land about 20 feet away and slightly forward. There were certainly no failures of any sort.

For accuracy, I used a forward-mounted Zeiss Z-Point red dot sight. I tested at 100 yards, which worked fine with the 3.5 MOA dot on the Z-Point. Accuracy was combat-acceptable with groups ranging between 3 and 5 MOA. No one ever claimed that the AK was a target rifle, but it is most certainly reliable and tough. Krebs can build AKs to suit your tastes, so many options abound.

With stock folded, the KV-13 is a compact package with a lot of punch.
With stock folded, the KV-13 is a compact package with a lot of punch.

SPECIFICATIONS
Krebs Custom KV-13
CALIBER: 7.62x39mm
BARREL: 16 in. with brake
OA LENGTH: 26 in. folded / 33.75 in. collapsed / 37.75 in. extended
WEIGHT: 8.5 lbs. empty
STOCK: Polymer collapsible folding stock
SIGHTS: AR-style peep
ACTION: Semi-auto
FINISH: Blued
CAPACITY: 30-round magazine
PRICE: $1,850
847-487-7776
www.krebscustom.com

Firearms D.I.Y.: Building Your Own Custom AK

Custom AK
Given the volume of aftermarket parts and upgrades now available, it's no trouble making a custom AK.

Get the most out of your Kalashnikov with the Gun Digest Guide to the Modern AK.

For many years now, fans of the AR rifle have been able to buy off-the-shelf parts to completely personalize and customize their guns. Today, AK owners have nearly as many options.

The fact is that the design of the AK, based as it was on the utilitarian needs of a ruthlessly efficient Soviet empire, is a little lacking in the area of consumer-friendly features and ergonomics. Fortunately, we live in a wonderfully chaotic free market and, combined with good old Yankee ingenuity, there are a growing number of aftermarket accessories that can turn the stock AK into a much more tactical weapon with improved functionality.

What follows is my own experience in selecting parts and building my own custom AK. For this project, I began with a made-in-the-USA AK rifle: The I.O. Inc. Sporter. This semi-automatic, gas-operated, long-stroke piston system rifle is chambered in the traditional 7.62x39mm, and the construction and design is based directly from Polish AKM blueprints with a stamped receiver.

The main improvement most shooters will make — often the first accessory they purchase — is a suitable optic, either a red dot holographic sight or one with magnification. However, the iron sights on the Sporter, like those found on most AK variants, are utilitarian. They are typical notch and post variety, with no top Picatinny rail as AR rifle owners have become accustomed. Many AKs, like my Sporter, include a left-side steel CNC-machined scope mount, but these are not ideal.

The first thing I installed was the Parabellum Armament AK-47/74 Adaptive Rail System (AKARS). This is a perfect solution for optics, providing a rock steady 5.5 inches of Picatinny rail as low as possible on top of the receiver cover. The AKARS actually comes in two parts: the Picatinny rail with integrated rear sight (which replaced the standard rear sight), and a new receiver cover with an attachment point for the front sight mounted rail section.

On top of this rail, I opted for the Aimpoint Micro T-1 red dot sight with a new 2 MOA dot instead of the standard 4 MOA. Made from high strength extruded aluminum and waterproof to 25 meters, this unit features a five-year battery and 12 brightness settings, including four for night vision. There is plenty of room left for a magnifier if so preferred.

Adding rails to your AK is one of the quickest modifications you can make and opens a wealth of customization options.

What I really like about the AKARS is, once the unit is assembled and locked down, there is never any need to remove it. To field strip and clean the gun, the entire top rail and receiver cover simply hinge up for access and snap back down to close. The unit retains zero for optics and, since it is low enough, allows for co-witnessing the iron sights for backup. The new rear sight provides a wider notch than the factory original, for faster target acquisition. It is not, however, elevation-adjustable, but this is hardly necessary at combat ranges of less than 300 yards.

Another area of complaint, at least for American shooters, is the AK’s short length of pull, which is fine if you wear a lot of body armor or heavy clothing in sub-zero temperatures. Command Arms Accessories (CAA) offers a lot of AK upgrades, not least of which is their AKTS aluminum buttstock tube. This sturdy unit accepts any commercial AR collapsible stock and gives the AK an adjustable length-of-pull from 12.5 inches to almost 16 inches.

The AKTS, available for milled-receiver AKs and with a recoil reducer, has length numbers on top so you can return the length-of-pull to your desired position without having to guess at it. It includes ambidextrous sling attachment points. I especially liked this unit because of its solid construction and sturdy feel.

I then added the BULS-Battlelink Utility Low Profile Stock from Mission First Tactical (MFT), a tough polyamide AR stock with a lot of well-designed features, including front and rear ambidextrous quick-detach sling swivels. This stock accepts MFT’s GPS attachment kit and adjustable cheek piece. The rear of the stock has a rubber non-slip buttpad and a water tight storage compartment for batteries, small cleaning kit, spare parts or other accessories.

The high quality of MFT’s stock accessories for the AK led me to install their extremely comfortable and ergonomic pistol grip. This is not to say that the standard AK grip is bad, but I prefer a wider one. The MFT Engage grip is not only wider but well-textured for a firmer hold in inclement conditions, with comfortable finger grooves and a sizable internal storage space.

For the ultimate in accessorizing the AK, a new handguard rail system is essential, and while there are many options in this regard, I stayed with MFT’s TEKKO Polymer AK47 Integrated Rail System. This two piece unit is lightweight and comfortable with sufficient rails at top, bottom and both sides for multiple accessories, including lights, lasers, vertical grips and bipods. The lower rail includes a cover that neatly hides it when not needed. Given the propensity of the usual AK handguard to heat up under fire, I opted for the MFT REACT Short Vertical Grip, which protects the hand, offers sufficient purchase and does not interfere with magazine changes. It includes its own waterproof storage space and matches perfectly with the rest of the MFT stock furniture.

The standard AK slanted muzzle brake was designed to vent escaping gas up and right to counter the effect of recoil in full-auto fire. In low light conditions, however, this does nothing to mitigate muzzle flash (which can be intense), so instead I installed an M16-style birdcage flash hider from TAPCO, which included a handy front sight elevation adjustment tool.

Options, such as paddles for the magazine release, abound and make the good old Kalashnikov more pleasant to shoot.

The paddle safety on the AK is already easy to use and ambidextrous, but I am used to being able to drop a magazine with my trigger finger alone. For that, CAA makes a very easy to install polymer unit that extends the magazine release and allows for ambidextrous operation with one finger. You still have to rock the magazine forward and out, but this makes it a lot faster.

Another source of complaints with the AK is in the safety, which is almost impossible to operate with the trigger finger unless you remove your hand from the pistol grip. Here, there are two excellent solutions: the first from US P.A.L.M, an enhanced drop-in AK safety with a lowered, extended trigger finger tab that makes flipping it on or off simple while keeping a firm grip. Another enhanced safety from Krebs Custom has an extended trigger finger tab and adds a cutout to allow you to lock the bolt open (something range officers will appreciate).

In keeping with the all-black polymer look of the rifle, I added the excellent 30-round waffle pattern polymer mags from US P.A.L.M. These are truly built tough, with an integral floor plate and vented self-cleaning, low-friction follower. The locking surfaces that engage the magazine release and receiver are of stainless steel, embedded into the polymer for maximum durability under any conditions.

Lastly, I added the Blue Force Gear Victory one-point sling with a quick-detach swivel. This adjustable, value-priced, black nylon sling features a quick-release option for fast removal.

On the range, the improvements to the I.O. Inc. Sporter AK proved their worth, making magazine changes and hits effortless and fast. The improved ergonomics aided greatly in the handling and feel of the rifle, as well as adding distinctly to its appeal. The Sporter is a high quality AK that can be had for less than an AR, but performs equally well, with good accuracy and no malfunctions.

This article is from Gun Digest Guide to the Modern AK.

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