Home Authors Posts by Elwood Shelton

Elwood Shelton

Gun Raffle to Support a School?

Gun Raffle

This comes via a Gun Digest editor who was de-junking some draws. It’s a raffle ticket from a couple years back he bought on a grouse-hunting trip to northern Wisconsin. To some, the idea of a gun raffle — with proceeds going to the local school — held at the local tavern (after the pie auction, of course) seems a bit out of the ordinary. As for us, we believe there would be a heck of a lot fewer budgetary shortfalls if more school followed Lugerville and other small towns' leads.


Gun Digest 2015

Gun Digest 2015, 69th Annual Edition

You’ll enjoy this gun book if:

  • You want updated information and gun reviews on both recently released firearms & older guns
  • You’re looking for an accurate firearms catalog
  • You want to read about all things guns, from handloading, to ammunition & more

Collegiate Competitive Shooting Sports on the Upswing

The American university has become known for encouraging an experimental attitude in its students. That’s leading to results some of those institutions may never have expected.

Collegiate competitive shooting is on the upswing, according to a recent article in the Washington Post. And swelling the ranks of these teams and clubs are, in many cases, newly minted shooters.

The above video from the Post, provides a good example in Renee Murphy. The captain of the George Mason University Trap and Skeet Club said she picked up a gun for the first time shortly before heading off to college, then pretty much joined the school’s club on a whim.

The other interesting aspect of the uptick in college-level competitive shooting is where it’s happening. The article begins by profiling competitors at MIT, then goes on to list a number of unexpected institutions:

Teams are thriving at a diverse range of schools: Yale, Harvard, the University of Maryland, George Mason University, and even smaller schools such as Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and Connors State College in Oklahoma.

“We literally have way more students interested than we can handle,” said Steve Goldstein, one of MIT’s pistol coaches.

Want to get into the game? Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to Shotgun Games is an excellent starting point for those interested in competitive shooting.
Want to get into the game? Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to Shotgun Games is an excellent starting point for those interested in competitive shooting.

While interest in these sports is picking up there are many hints dropped in the article that these schools have a long history behind the trigger. Take MIT's practice facilities, for instance:

MIT’s pistol and rifle teams practice about four times a week underneath a gym. The range seems Paleolithic compared with higher-end establishments with expensive electronic target retrieval systems. Students send and retrieve their targets on a metal wire by winding a hand crank. Shooting booths are separated by window screens.

Interestingly, at least for the engineering school, its aging facilities are juxtaposed against its cutting-edged athletes:

Students use air guns and standard .22-caliber competition rifles and pistols. In a pinch, they have made tiny replacement parts for grips with a 3-D printer, giving them an advantage over less tech-savvy schools.

Of course, this being an article in a publication a bit less enthusiastic about competitive shooting than say Gun Digest, there tends to be low-key pearl clutching. In particular, the article wants to make it clear that the surge is due to gun industry money:

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), a powerful firearms lobbying group, has awarded more than $1 million in grants since 2009 to start about 80 programs. A couple who own a large firearms accessories company created the MidwayUSA Foundation, funding it with nearly $100 million to help youth and college programs, including MIT’s. The National Rifle Association organizes pistol and rifle tournaments, including the national championships next weekend in Fort Benning, Ga.

It would have been nice to have had some context to how this sports-wide boosterism compares to other such athletic support at the college level. Wonder if it's more or less than what the athletic shoe industry money has donated to University of Oregon football via Nike founder Phil Knight. Oh well, guess we'll never know.

Don’t let that nit picking sour you on reading the entire article, because it’s worth the time. If anything, it’s heartening to hear about a new generation of shooters discover the joy of a steady hand, sharp eye and crisp trigger break.


gd-shootershearing500

Keep Your Hearing Intact

Stay on target with the hearing protection you need without the size or bulk of muffs with the Sport Shooter’s Hearing Protection Kit.

Video: A Look at the Ruger Scout Rifle in 5.56

When it comes to versatility in application, the Scout rifle system is hard to beat. The concept is meant to be as at home hunting game, as it is in tactical situations. Ruger put a new twist on the rifle the past year, one originally conceived by famed firearms instructor Col. Jeff Cooper. The company released its Gunsite Scout Rifle in 5.56x45mm NATO/.223 Remington. It is certainly a different take on a rifle Ruger initially released in .308 Winchester, but according to the video above is no less a striking a firearm. Jeff Quinn of GunBlast.com found the new iteration of the rifle right on target and a dandy option, especially for someone who maybe searching for a Scout in a more affordable caliber to shoot.

Remington Defense Now Selling to Civilian Market

Remington Defense has a number of products hitting the consumer market soon, including it's long-distance Modular Sniper Rifle pictured above.
Remington Defense has a number of products hitting the consumer market soon, including it's long-distance Modular Sniper Rifle pictured above.

Remington Defense has always been a tease. Most shooters have gotten no closer than a shiny photo on a website to the majority of its innovations.

It wasn’t a matter of the division of Big Green producing products average, everyday shooters found difficult to own due to Federal regulations. Instead, the company never released its firearms to the civilian market, making their procurement rather troublesome.

Adding some of these guns to a safe, however, is about to become a lot easier – though maybe not cheap. The company recently announced it is making select items of its catalog available to the commercial market.

The New York/Alabama-based company has not specified when these firearms will find their way to shooters’ local gun stores. But it has released its initial roster of civilian-market products, which includes two carbines and two bolt-action sniper rifles.

The R4 RGP (Remington Gas Piston) Carbine and R4 Enhanced Carbine are certain to pique the interest of a number of shooters. But the MSR and M2010 might have the potential to be a bit more impactful.

Both rifle systems have been adopted by the U.S. Military and each has the design and calibers to send long-distance shooters’ hearts racing.

The MSR or Modular Precision Rifle is a multi-caliber platform introduced in 2009. Called the Mk21 Precision Sniper Rifle in military service, the rifle won out in the United Special Operation Command’s Precision Sniper Rifle program and was awarded the military's contract in 2013.

The M2010 (in service called the XM2010) is the U.S. Army’s replacement for the venerable M24 sniper rifle, and began service in 2011. But it differs from the older platform in one major way – caliber. The newer bolt-action rifle has added reach on the 7.62x51mm NATO/.308 Winchester chambered M24, instead shooting .300 Winchester Magnum.

MSRPs on these firearms were not available at time of writing.

Remington Defense's initial offering to the civilian market (top to bottom): R4GP Carbine, R4 Carbine, M2010, PSR/MSR.
Remington Defense's initial offering to the civilian market (top to bottom): R4GP Carbine, R4 Carbine, M2010, PSR/MSR.

Remington Defense Firearms Key Features

R4 RGP (Remington Gas Piston)
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO/.223 Remington
Upper: Remington Monolithic RGP
Lower: Remington R4, ambidextrous controls, QD Mounts
Stock: Magpul ACS
Flash Hider: 51T AAC

R4 Enhanced Carbine
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO/.223 Remington
Lower: Billet, ambidextrous controls, QD Cups
Trigger: Geissele Match

M2010
Caliber: .300 Winchester Magnum
Barrel: 24-inches
Stock: Remington Arms Chassis System (Adjustable cheek/length/height), folding buttstock
Trigger: M24 SWS
Includes: Leupold MK4 Scope, AAC Titan QD Silencer, Hardigg Case.

MSR/PSR
Calibers: .308 Winchester/.300 Winchester Magnum/.338 Lapua Magnum
Stock: Modular, folding system (Adjustable cheek/length/height)
Trigger: M24 SWS
Includes: Leupold MK4 Scope, AAC Titan QD Silencer, Hardigg Case, tool kit, soft deployment bag.

Redding Releases a Number of New Precision Reloading Die Sets

redding-lead

Redding is synonymous with precision reloading and has introduced a number of new precision reloading die sets that are sure to keep shooters on target.

When it comes to ammunition reloading the name Redding has resonance. For going on 75 years the New York manufacturer has produced some of the most trusted instruments for loading precision ammunition. From their iconic T-7 Turret Press to carbide dies, Redding has done its part to keep shooters on target.

And the company isn't taking 2015 off in aiding reloaders in holding their ammunition to the tightest possible tolerances. The company has released a number of new and refined products that, by all rights, should have shooters knocking out the X ring more often.

Premium Series Reloading Die SetsPremium Series Reloading Die Sets

Once Redding released a bullet-seating micrometer for its standard dies, reloaders demanded it be part of a set. So was born the Premium Series Set. The two- and three-die sets include the precision adjustment device, but isn’t the only upgrade. The sizing die has also been tweaked, boasting the company’s carbide sizing button. The free-floating button self centers, allowing for more uniform neck sizing. The sets are presently available for 19 different rifle cartridges. Two-die sets include only a full-length sizing die, while the three-die sets also include a neck-sizing die. MSRP: two-die set $144, three-die set $186.

Master Hunter Series Reloading Die SetMaster Hunter Series Reloading Die Set

Shooting for a deer round as accurate as one you’ll find on a competitive firing line? Then the Master Hunter Series might have place on your reloading bench. The die set is an outgrowth of Redding’s popular National Match Series, but is slightly abbreviated. The Master Hunter sets come with Redding’s standard full-length sizing die and competition seating die, but is sans the National Match Series taper crimp die. The seating die is particularly impressive, topped with a micrometer that allows for seating in .001” increments. Available in 18 rifle cartridges, including Nosler two proprietary cartridges – the 26 and 28 Nosler. MSRP: $206.

Dual Ring Carbide Sizing Reloading SetsDual Ring Carbide Sizing Reloading Sets

Redding shot for longer brass life for straight-walled cases with the introduction of its dual carbide ring system. Now it’s offering the innovative die as part of a complete set. The concept behind the dual-ring system is simple, the upper ring sizes the bullet retention portion of the case, while the lower ring puts the body of the brass in line. The sets are available for seven different pistol cartridges. Note, only the standard set comes with an expansion die. The Pro and Competition series dies are designed to work in a progressive press and do not come with an expanding die as most of these systems initiate this function at the powder-drop station. MSRP: Dual Ring Carbide Die Set $194, Dual Ring Pro-Series Die Set $213, Dual Ring Competition Pro-Series Die Set $301.

Micrometer Adjustable Crimping DiesMicrometer Adjustable Crimping Dies

Seating a bullet to its proper depth isn’t the only part of the reloading process that requires minute adjustment. Adding a proper crimp at the proper spot on the bullet’s shank is also a matter of precise orientation. Redding looks to take the guess work out of this important step with this new die. As its name suggests, it is outfitted with a micrometer, adjustable in .001” increments, making what was a time-consuming and inaccurate process a snap. The die is available for seven different pistol cartridges. MSRP: $95.30.

Miscellaneous

Redding has introduced 26 and 28 Nosler dies to its lineup, prices vary depending on model of die. The company has expanded its Nation Match Die Sets to include carbide size buttons and six new cartridges: .204 Ruger, .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, 7mm-08 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 Grendel (MSRP: $269-299). The company is now offering a Drop Tube Extension (MSRP: $19.80) and non-petroleum case lube, Imperial Bio-Green (MSRP: $10.20)

Minnesota Aiming to Shoot Down Suppressor Ban

Things might be getting a bit quieter in Minnesota if one of piece of legislation makes it into law. Rep. Mark Anderson (R) introduced a bill Wednesday that would repeal the Gopher State’s long-standing suppressor ban.

Similar to most states that have repealed bans on the device in recent years, the motivation has been noise control. As pointed out by Anderson in the above video from Minnesota's KARE 11, suppressors don’t mute firearms, but do deaden their report. This virtue has won favor of frequent shooting range patrons and some hunters, particularly those who stalk more wary game.

The bill has the potential to bring Minnesota into lockstep with the majority of the nation. Presently, according to information on SilencerCo’s website, there are 39 states that allow civilian ownership of suppressors, though it is a NFA device and requires registration with the BATF and a tax stamp.

If Anderson’s bill passes the only remaining states that will have suppressor bans on the books are: California, Iowa, Illinois, Hawaii, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont. The District of Columbia also has a ban on the device.


custom-ar

Gun Digest Guide to Customizing Your AR-15

You’ll appreciate this AR-15 book if:

  • You want to learn how to customize an AR-15
  • You need help sorting through the nearly endless array of AR accessories
  • You’re looking for inspiration for your own AR-15 customization

Photo Gallery: 4 New Eye-Catching Guns from Legacy Sports

Legacy Sports always seems to have something cooking with its brands. And 2015 appears to be no different for the Nevada-based importer. Nearly every one of the company’s shotgun, rifle and pistol lines have expanded in one way or another. Here are four firearms that jumped out at us. There is a little of everything for nearly every stripe of shooter, from tools for breaking blue rock to setup for chasing high-country game.

[imagebrowser id=445]


Hawke ScopeHawke Optics Sport HD IR Rimfire SR
Put Your Crosshairs on Hawke

BATF Pulls Proposed Ban of Green Tip Ammo

Green Tip Ammo

AR rifle shooters can heave a sigh of relief, at least for the moment. On Tuesday the BATF pulled back from one of its most controversial proposals in a spell — the ban of M855 ammunition.

As was reported in The Hill, the Federal agency retreated from its effort to shelf the surplus military ammo due to a resounding grassroots and political outcry:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) said it will not seek to issue a final framework for the rule “at this time” after receiving more than 80,000 comments on the proposal, the “vast majority” of which were negative.

“You spoke, we listened,” the ATF tweeted.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) and other gun-rights groups assailed the proposal, and were joined by Republicans in demanding that it be withdrawn.

However, the BATF's entire tweet announcing the pull back should do little to soothe gun owners' hearts. It insinuates the 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition is still very much on the agency's radar:

The Federal agency predicated the proposed ban of the ammunition on Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act of 1986. The legislation defined and banned the use and manufacturer of armor piercing ammunition.

The BATF’s claim was the M855 round met the act's definition of armor piercing, due to its steel perpetrator and the fact it could be fired out of a pistol. As was pointed out by many commentators, the agency’s interpretation of this definition was wildly off the mark.

In addition to gun-right activists and politicians, the proposed ban of what is also known as green tip ammo also drew the ire of law enforcement. On March 3, a representative of the Fraternal Order of Police stated to the Washington Examiner there was no history of the round being used against police, undermining one of the BATF’s main arguments why the ban was needed:

“Any ammunition is of concern to police in the wrong hands, but this specific round has historically not posed a law enforcement problem,” said James Pasco, executive director of the Washington office of the Fraternal Order of Police, the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 325,000 members.


gd_rifletargetstand-500

Get On Target

Video: Review of the Versatile Colt LE 901 16S

The concept of modular firearms is gaining a toehold in the shooting world. For some, the idea of having multiple calibers based off one platform has plenty of tactical and practical allure.

Colt is among the companies that have embraced the notion with its M.A.R.C. 901 series. The Connecticut manufacturer's three models of Modular AR Carbines are sold as AR-10-style rifles, which shoot the hard-hitting 7.62x51mm NATO/.308 Win. round. But they can be switched over, lickity-split, to any AR-15 caliber.

In addition to thumbing off rounds in the above video, Hickok45 also demonstrates exactly how simple the caliber conversion process is on one of the M.A.R.C. Models. In this case it's a Colt LE 901 16S. While it’s not a procedure that can be done on the fly, it’s a simple one, requiring little material and absolutely no tools — save a bullet to push out the retention pins.

The M.A.R.C. 901 is an intriguing series of rifles and it’s a fairly safe bet shooters will see the modular concept continues to be applied as the years go on.


gd_rifletargetstand-500

Get On Target

Rock Island Auction Kicks Off Year in Style

John Ulrich engraved Winchester 1866. Photo: Rock Island Auction
John Ulrich engraved Winchester 1866. Photo: Rock Island Auction

RIA's first four-day auction in its history had a slew of intriguing firearms cross the block. But the one to steal the show was a Winchester rifle, engraved by one of the 19th-century masters.

In the realm of 19th Century firearms engraving, few name carry the weight of the Ulrich brothers. This was a point driven further home recently at the Rock Island Auction Company.

One of the top drawing items of the Illinois auction house’s first event of the 2015 staged Feb. 19-22, was a beautiful specimen of John Ulrich’s work. The silver-plated Winchester Model 1866 rifle, complete with a factory letter of authentication, drew one of the top bids of the historic event.

The lever-action featuring magnificent scroll work surrounding an elk on the left side panel crossed the block for $28,875. But it was not the only classic American firearm to demand top dollar at RIA’s first ever four-day event.

When everything was said and done, the company had moved $5.6 million in firearms, firearms accessories and military collectables.

Civil War Henry Rifle. Photo: Rock Island Auction
Civil War Henry Rifle. Photo: Rock Island Auction

Early in the auction, a Civil War Henry Rifle drew a winning bid of $25,875. Manufactured in 1864, the .44 caliber rimfire was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company and was of a vintage to have perhaps seen action in the American Civil War.

As a sidenote on Henry rifles, while the U.S. Army did buy a number of them, few were ever issued. The soldiers themselves privately purchased most, many with money from reenlistment bounties, according to some sources.

While not commanding as high a price as the lever-actions, another American icon did catch plenty of eyes. A gold-finished Thompson 1927A1, or Tommy Gun, initiated a fierce bidding war before finally being captured for $5,175. The rather flamboyant firearm came with all the accouterments, including 50-round drum magazine and violin carrying case.

Gold-finished Thompson 1927A1. Photo: Rock Island Auction
Gold-finished Thompson 1927A1. Photo: Rock Island Auction

Of the pistols RIA moved at the auction, a pair of Colt Diamondback revolvers far exceeded their estimated price. The double-action handguns, chambered in .22 Long Rifle, found a new home for the princely sum of $4,025.

It was a Borchardt C-93, however that turned out to be the bell of the ball for handguns. The Ludwig Loewe semi-automatic pistol commanded a $10,925 sale price, nearly $3,500 more than expected.

The C-93 was a particularly desirable example given the toggle-lock pistol's (chambered 7.63x25mm Borchardt) serial number. With just three digits, the pistol was certainly one of the early one to roll off the Ludwig Loewe line.

Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Rifle. Photo: Rock Island Auction
Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Rifle. Photo: Rock Island Auction

RIA also moved some obscure – at least by modern standards – firearms. In this category, a Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Rifle took the cake, exiting the door for $12,650. The company also moved a U.S. Ordnance semi-auto replica Vickers Machine gun with tripod and accessories for $7,475.

There were also a number of knives and artifacts that came across the block, including: Nazi-style daggers ($8,625), German dagger and sword accouterments ($8,625) and a flintlock pistol axe combination ($5,462).

The Gun Price Guide that Should Be Your Constant Companion

Sure you can trust this guy and that AR he’s selling you is totally worth $5K.
Sure you can trust this guy and that AR he’s selling you is totally worth $5K.

It might be a New Ithaca Double or a pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 or even a first-generation Glock 17. Whatever the firearm is that’s grabbed your attention at the gun show, shop or swap it’s priced to move.

Or is it?

Sure seems like it, at least from what you remember the last time you thumbed through a price guide. Of course the gentleman with the snap-button western shirt and pomade in his hair looking to hock this potential deal of the century is no help.

In fact, the more the convention center’s fluorescent lights glisten off his hair, the more you wonder if he’s getting the better end of this bargain. Then again, you think to yourself, maybe you’re just being paranoid.

Question is do you roll the dice? Either way there is a good chance you’ll come up snake eyes. Don’t buy and miss a cherry deal on a hot number; or go home and find out you’ve sunk your hard-earned cash into a real clunker.

It doesn’t have to be this way, you know. There is an easier way to make certain you’re getting what you pay for when hunting out new and classic guns.

Discerning and penny wise gun buyers and collectors make The Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices their constant companion. That’s because the authoritative reference has a nose for deals and is always ready to help you sniff them out.

Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices
This little gem should be your full-time gun-buying buddy.

What makes this gun price guide the ideal buddy to drag to the next show or shop isn’t just the more than 15,000 firearm values listed in its pages. Though, admittedly, that does earn it points.

It’s The Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices streamlined size that gives it an edge as a shopping companion. At around 5″x8”, the book is no more trouble to throw in a backpack or tuck under your wing than a pistol in a hard case.

And you’ll be glad you did, because the wealth of information between its covers will have merchants quaking in their Tony Lamas. With prices for six condition grades (NIB, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor) for each of the firearms listed its ready to negotiate the best deal for you.

If you've been keeping up and doing a little back-of-the envelope math, the number of firearms and grades adds up to around 46,000 condition-based values. That covers a whole arsenal and more worth of pistols, rifles and shotguns.

Don’t miss out on making the deal-of-the-century or at least knock that smug smile off the gun show guy’s face. Make The Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices your constant companion whenever you hunt for a new gun.

 


GD-OfficialBookGunsPrices-670x250

The Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices has a nose for deals and is always ready to help you sniff them out. Save Big

Video: Extreme Accuracy and Precision of Rail Guns

A clover-leaf grouping sends nearly any benchrest competitor’s heart soaring, except one perhaps. Linking shots together is really just the tip of the iceberg for rail gun shooters. Putting them all through the same hole is the goal.

Simply put, these firearms are custom built onto a platform that provides the utmost stability, among other extreme enhancements. As Jeff at Taofledermaus (German for bat) points out in the above video, there isn’t a stone left unturned in these shooters’ quest for accuracy and precision.

How well can these one-of-a-kind firearms deliver? Well, as the video shows, a micrometer is sometimes required to determine who takes the day. I suppose on a rig such as a rail gun, a finish with any wider margin would be disappointing for everyone involved.

Photo Gallery: 10 Incredible Guns of Elmer Keith

See the incredible guns of Elmer Keith that are up for auction at James D. Julia.

What Are Some Of The Guns Of Elmer Keith For Sale:

Anybody who knows their way around the business end of a sixshooter knows the name Elmer Keith.

The crusty old cuss was one of the most prolific gun writers of the 20th Century, not to mention firearms innovator. It is because of Keith, in part, we have the .44 and .357 Magnums today. This fails to mention his custom handloads and cast bullets, of which he was also well known for developing.

In addition to writing about and working with firearms, Keith was also an inexhaustible gun collector. And now fans of firearms and the Keith himself, have a shot at owning a piece of his collection.

James D. Julia, Inc., a Maine-based auction house, is putting Elmer Keith’s collection on the block at its March 11-12 and 15-16 events. And it appears the sale has some incredible opportunities to own this unique man’s unique guns. Here are 10 that caught our eye.

“The Last-Word – Old No. 5″

lastword

Custom designed by Keith and Harold Croft, the Colt Single-Action Army .44 Special gained fame in a 1929 article in the American Rifleman titled “The Last Word” where Keith detailed the specifics about the ornate handgun. Expected sale price: $30,000-50,000.

Jim Corbett’s W.J. Jeffery .450/.400 3” Nitro Express

Jim-Tiger

Anyone who has read Jim Corbett’s exploits hunting tigers in India mind will be set reeling by this rifle. This boxlock double rifle was detailed in his book Man-Eaters of Kumaon, where he hunted the deadly feline for the Indian government. One was purported to have killed some 400 people. Expected sale price: $75,000-150,000.

Elmer Keith’s Personal Sidearm and Holster

Keith-Side

As the title suggests, this is no ordinary Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum. Yessir, this is the piece of iron that hung off the old cuss' side, originally shipped to the Idaho Hardware Co., Boise, ID., in 1958. The Model 29 features beautiful ivory grips, engraved with a longhorn steer’s head. And the handgun appears well used, note the wear on the barrel from repeated un- and re-holstering. Expected sale price: $7,000-10,000.

First Ithaca NID 10-gauge Magnum of Col. Charles Askins

Askins-Ithica

There is so much history in this gun it is almost frightening. In addition to being owned by two of the 20th Century’s foremost gun writers – Askins and Keith – the shotgun also is the collaboration of two gun industry giants. Spencer Olin of Winchester-Western Cartridge Company developed the 3 ½-inch loads and had Lou Smith of Ithaca build the monstrous scattergun to chamber it. This is the very first one to roll off the line. Expected sale price: $15,000-25,000.

Consecutively Numbered Smith & Wesson Model 57 Revolvers

41-Mag

Keith and the Smith & Wesson had a long history together and these guns are a testament to their collaboration. The .41 Magnums look to be gifts from the company to Keith, perhaps in celebration for his help in developing that caliber. The double-action revolvers are beautiful in and of themselves, but are made truly unique with Keith’s signature in raised script on the ivory grips. The frames and triggers also have his name engraved upon them. Expected sale price: $10,000-20,000

Hoffman Arms Custom Springfield Rifle

hoffman-real

Hoffman Arms Company built renown as one of the top precision bolt-action rifle makers in pre-World War II America. For many collectors that’s enough to set them on the path to putting one in their gun safe. The one for auction from Keith’s collection takes this pedigree to the next level. The .400 Whelen chamber rifle has “No 1. Hoffman Arms Co, Cleveland, Ohio,” engraved across the top of the barrel, making the unique rifle one of a kind. Expected sale price: $10,000-20,000.

Colt Model 1905 Pistol with Original Holster

1905

Keith is better known for his affinity for revolvers, but that doesn’t mean the man didn’t appreciate a good semi-automatic pistol. This specimen from the Keith collection is rare and important, with the .45 ACP being a step in the path to the famed 1911 pistol. There were only around 6,000 of the model made between 1905 and 1911. Expected sale price: $10,000-15,000.

Gold Inlaid W.J. Jeffery .500 Nitro Express

kynoch

Of all the dangerous game guns, there are few as legendary as the .500 Nitro Express. This Jeffery sidelock double rifle is as spectacular as the caliber. The rifle has exquisite gold inlay, on one side depicting grazing elephants, the other a tiger pouncing on a Sambar stag. The trigger guard has a gold leopard stalking a gazelle. The toe of the rifle boast a gold oval, engraved in English and Sanskrit around what is believed to be the crest of the Raja of Miraj Junior State. The English reads “Chief of the Miraj Junior.” Expected sale price: $50,000-80,000.

Custom Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Bridgeport Style Belt Rig

SAA

This is another sidearm that is easy to insinuate Keith had an affinity for, give the wear on the finish. The Colt .45 was originally a U.S. Cavalry gun, but was customized with a blue finish, adjustable rear sights and ivory grips. The engravings on the grips are of particular interest; one side boasts Keith’s initials, the other the Masonic compass and square, as the owner was a well known Mason. Expected sale price: $3,000-5,000.

Sharps Model 1874

Sharps

This converted .45-120 Sharps might be the bell of the ball for Keith fans, given it’s personal history with its owner. The heavy buffalo rifle was used by Keith to harvest his first bison. Really, little more to be said about a historic rifle with a historic owner and a historic event of which it took part. Expected sale price: $8,000-13,000.

Video: Going Big with the Glock 20

Glock made a lot of noise this year with the introduction of the G40. The long-slide 10mm is just the ticket to get handgun hunters’ hearts a thumping. But, as fans of the Austrian pistols know, this wasn’t the company’s first foray into large-bore handguns.

Glock has had a long history with the 10mm, offering two models in the caliber before this year. The above video, from YouTube gun guru Sootch00, gives a good rundown of one of these beasts – the Glock 20.

Watch the entire video, because he gives a solid synopsis of the round’s history and the gun’s unique applications around the world. He also makes a pretty good case on why, despite being a relatively large handgun, the G20 might be a better personal-defense option than some other large-bore options out there.

Most interestingly, Sootch00’s highest rating of the G20 comes from its shootablity – not a complement common to the caliber. He credits Glock building the pistol around the caliber for this trait, something not found in pistols that are just 10mm adaptations of existing designs.

POF’s Revolt Rifle, Legal in All 13 Colonies

POF-USA's ReVolt Rifle offers shooters a precision AR-platform rifle, legal from sea to shining sea.
POF-USA's ReVolt Rifle offers shooters a precision AR-platform rifle, legal from sea to shining sea.

POF's Revolt Rifle reworks the AR platform with a straight-pull action, making for an extremely precise firearm that has the benefit of being legal from sea to shining sea.

In the world of MIL-SPEC firearms, it can be difficult to be original. But Patriot Ordnance Factory has found a way.

The Arizona-based manufacturer has won a place in many shooters’ hearts with its innovative piston-driven AR-style rifles. Now the company has made a move to put an entirely different twist to the platform.

The ReVolt Rifle, in short, offers shooters the precision of a bolt-action with the flexibility of an AR. POF-USA has accomplished this by making its new creation a straight-pull action, built off the AR platform.

Much of the advancement comes in a often overlooked feature of the AR-style system – the charging handle. POF-USA has enlarged it, making the ambidextrous feature easier to manipulate. And it has also modified how it attaches to the bolt-carrier group, which essentially has remained the same.

The handle fits into a pocket of the carrier, allowing it to be quickly removed from the action. This is plays into the overall design, as the charging hand doubles as a tool, meant to aid in adding or subtracting accessories from the rifle’s rail.

Given the gun doesn’t not rely on POF-USA’s piston system, the already fine accuracy of the AR platform is enhanced. The company boasts the ReVolt is a sub-MOA firearm.

Driving tacks, however, isn’t the rifle’s only selling point. Its availability also could put it atop of some shooters’ wish lists, given POF-USA has designed the ReVolt to be legal in all 50 states – even as the company points out, “The 13 Original Colonies, where the Tories live.”

The gun’s compliance is achieved not only through being a straight-pull action, but also from its captive pivot pin in the front of the receiver. This, at all times, keeps the upper and lower receiver attached.

The firearm, at least in the video below, appears to achieve a decent cycling rate. This is especially true when a bipod and rest are incorporated, freeing up the off hand to work the handle.

Perhaps helping the ReVolt’s rate of fire is POF-USA including its E² Extraction system. Simply put, the chamber has four channels allowing a small amount of gas to escape around the neck of the cartridge, making extraction easier.

The ReVolt is available in two calibers, the Heavy .308 Win/7.62x51mm NATO and Light .223 Rem/5.56x45mm NATO. The firearms are compatible with all MIL-SPEC magazines and comes with a number of POF-USA’s proprietary features (see specs below).

The MSRP of the ReVolt Heavy model is $2,949 and the Light $2,229. POF-USA is also making a Light upper assembly available, MSRP $1,399.

ReVolt Light Specs
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO/.223 Rem
Action: Straight Pull
Weight: 8.2 pound empty
Barrel: 18.5-inches match grade, nitride heat treated, deep fluted, heavy contour
Length: 38.5-inches collapsed
Finish: NP3
Rifling: 1:8, ½”-28 thread
Handguard: POF Free Floating Monolithic M Rail 14.5 inch, M-Lok Compatible
Muzzle Device: POF Triple Port Muzzle Break
Trigger: POF single stage, 4-pound pull
Furniture: LUTH-AR MBA, Magpul MOE Grip
Fire Control: Ambidextrous bolt release, safety selector, bolt catch, magazine release
Includes:
10-round Magpul PMAG

ReVolt Heavy Specs
Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO/.308 Win
Action: Straight Pull
Weight: 9.2 pound empty
Barrel: 18.5-inches match grade, nitride heat treated, deep fluted, heavy contour
Length: 40-inches collapsed
Finish: NP3
Rifling: 1:10, 5/8×24 thread
Handguard: POF Free Floating Monolithic M Rail 14.5 inch, M-Lok Compatible
Muzzle Device: POF Triple Port Muzzle Break
Trigger: POF single stage, 4-pound pull
Furniture: LUTH-AR MBA, Magpul MOE Grip
Fire Control: Ambidextrous bolt release, safety selector, bolt catch, magazine release
Includes: 10-round Magpul PMAG

Beretta APX – Going Full-Sized in Striker-Fired

Beretta APX is the company's first foray into full-sized striker-fired pistols. Photo Beretta
Beretta APX is the company's first foray into full-sized striker-fired pistols. Photo Beretta

As the world’s oldest firearms manufacturer, there is little under the sun Beretta hasn't taken a crack at making. Given this, the Italian company’s newest handgun is a bit of a surprise.

One would have thought that in around half a millennia of gun making, Beretta would have produced a full-sized striker-fired pistol somewhere along the way. Alas it hasn't until now.

The company filled this hole in its catalog at the Feb. 22 IDEX (International Defense Exhibition and Conference Show) held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. At the convention, Beretta unveiled the APX, a model the company said in a press release completes its full-sized pistol portfolio.

While the length of time it has taken Beretta to produce this style of pistol might be shocking, for those following recent events in the American military, the company moving in this direction isn't.

The U.S. Army announced in the summer of 2015 it was set to replace the Beretta M9 as its service pistol; the 9mm had been the branch’s sidearm of choice since 1985, replacing the M1911A1, a pattern of pistol that had seen service in both World Wars. Then in December, the service’s Configuration Control Board denied a submission by Beretta of an updated version of the pistol – the M9A3.

Beretta stated, the APX was specifically designed to meet the needs of military and law enforcement. And announced at IDEX that the pistol would by submitted as the company’s entrant for the U.S. Army Modular Handgun System – the program to find the new military sidearm.

In-depth details about the pistol are scant, outside of caliber and capacity. The APX will be initially available in a 17+1 round 9x19mm model, and 15+1 .40 S&W and 9x21mm IMI. The handgun will feature a Picatinny rail for the addition of accessories and a trigger safety.

The initial iteration of the Beretta APX is bound for the military and law enforcement, however the company plans to release variations for the civilian market. No date was given on this release or the pistol’s pricing.

MUST READ ARTICLES