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Elwood Shelton

Video: Army Primer on Ballistics

What is ballistics? Well, like love it’s, complicated. But if you have around 20 minutes, this video of a vintage U.S. Army training film does a pretty good job of demystifying the multifaceted subject.

The film, circa 1949, touches on all three forms of ballistics – internal, external and terminal. And it gets into some more complex subjects, of which some shooters unfortunately are never exposed.

On this point, the film does a superb job of explaining how the physical shape of a propellant actually influences its burn rate and pressure it produces. Good info, especially for those who wondered how some modern gunpowders can achieve higher velocities, with reduced chamber pressure.

As kind of a fun twist, the film isn’t purely concerned with ballistics in regards to small arms. It also applies the concepts to artillery and missiles. Even so, it’s worth an entire watch, if you’re looking to bone up on the subject.

More than anything, the video will make you appreciate how far we’ve come regarding ballistics in the half-century since the film was made. Just be happy that putting together ballistic data on your firearms doesn’t require a room-sized “computing machine” or a slide ruler, for that matter.


Ballistics

Philip Massaro's next important reference on reloading — Understanding Ballistics: Complete Guide to Bullet Selection

 

Black Hills Ammunition’s New Cartridges

If you are a cowboy action shooter, you’re most likely familiar with Black Hills Ammunition. The company made a name, in part, feeding old west single-action revolvers and repeating rifles with authentic ammunition for that genre of firearms. But the South Dakota company has full lines of cartridges for modern rifles and handguns. And it’s a catalog that continues to grow; below are the newest additions to Black Hills Ammunition’s lineup for 2015.

.338 Lapua, 250-grain Nosler AccuBond. Photo Black Hills Ammunition.338 Lapua, 250-grain Nosler AccuBond

Black Hills already had a modest lineup of rounds for the precision long-distance .338 Lupua. But the company has expanded its collection with a round topped with a shooter favorite – Nosler AccuBond. The company's aim with the load was to provide a premium performance option in a caliber that has few off the shelf. The 250-grain projectile was chosen, according to the company, due to its optimum performance in rifles with standard twist rates. Black Hills measured the round’s muzzle velocity at 2,850 fps and muzzle energy at 4,500 ft-lbs.

.308 Winchester, 168-grain Sierra Tipped MatchKing. Photo Black Hills Ammunition.308 Winchester, 168-grain Sierra Tipped MatchKing

Black Hills Ammunition has expanded its partnership with Sierra Bullets to produce what should be a top load for precision shooters. The company is releasing a .308 round topped with a Tipped MatchKing bullet in the popular 168-grain weight. The weight is preferred choice of many match shooters and law-enforcement snipers. And it should prove even more so with the Sierra bullet’s superb ballistic coefficient, which ranges from .462 to .535, depending on velocity.

5.56x45mm, 70-grain Hornady GMX. Photo Black Hills Ammunition5.56x45mm, 70-grain Hornady GMX

Black Hills new 70-grain 5.56 is just the medicine for those searching for a high-performing monometal round. The load features a Hornady GMX monolithic copper alloy bullet. The longer projectile offers shooters an outstanding .350 ballistic coefficient. This combined with its weight and 95-percent retention of mass after impact, the round has excellent terminal ballistics and can really reach out and touch a critter. It also gives law enforcement a solid choice for a barrier penetration. Note, the load is designed to function with 1:7- and 1:8-inch twist rates.

 

5.56x45mm, 69-grain Sierra Tipped MatchKing. Photo Black Hills Ammunition5.56x45mm, 69-grain Sierra Tipped MatchKing

Black Hills has been busy with one of America’s most popular calibers – the 5.56. This new load is 69-grain round designed for the 1:9-inch twist rate, common in many AR-style rifles. Mated with a Sierra Tipped MatchKing bullet, the round offers shooters an impressive ballistic coefficient for the caliber – .375. This gives the round the qualities of a standard 77-grain load in a lighter projectile.

Canadian Rangers Bidding Farewell to the Lee-Enfield

The Canadian Rangers will start to phase out the Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I this summer.
The Canadian Rangers will start to phase out the Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I this summer.

General Douglas McArthur made famous an U.S. Army balled when he quoted the refrain, “Old Soldiers never die, they just fade away.” That certainly seems to hold true in regards to the Lee-Enfield.

For some time now, it has been known the venerable British bolt-action rifle was going to take another step in disappearing from military service completely. Canada has been discussing switching its Rangers over from the No. 4 Mk1 since 2011, but things have picked up in recent months.

Colt Canada was selected to design the new rifle last fall for the force and will have a batch of 125 ready to be tested at the 2015 Operation Nanook training exercises. After which, the new platform will be phased in from over the next few years. Here are the specifics about the move from The Globe and Mail:

After testing and tweaks, Colt Canada will then make more than 6,500 rifles, along with spare parts and accessories, which the Canadian Rangers will gradually start to use between the middle of next year (2015) and the end of 2019.

The new rifle is expected to be similar to the Lee-Enfield, especially in one particular design feature – it is reported to be a bolt-action. This is important, given the Rangers usual area of operation.

The Rangers are a Canadian Forces reserve whose main duties are sovereignty patrols and surveillance in the country’s sparsely populated northern regions. These volunteers – many Inuit – operate in and around the Artic Circle.

Bolt-action rifles provide the Rangers with a robust platform that functions no matter what in the sub-zero conditions. That’s a piece of mind for the reservists, whether the they have to face down potential invaders or a rogue polar bear.

The switch is being made from the Lee-Enfield, mainly due to the lack of replace parts and rifles. The .303 British chambered rifles were purchased in 1947, according to the Metro News, a few years after the Rangers were formed.

Amazingly, Rangers, up to this day, were outfitted from this batch. For any gun enthusiasts, the thought of pristine, unfired Lee-Enfields, in their original boxes is enough to send the mind reeling.

There is no word if there will be any surplus Lee-Enfield rifles available, but here's to hoping.

Walther Expands Tactical Rimfires with the HK G36

Walther has expanded its tactical rimfire collection to include Heckler & Koch's G36.
Walther has expanded its tactical rimfire collection to include Heckler & Koch's G36.

Looking for some tacticool in your plinker? Walther's version of the HK G36 might be right down your alley.

Walther has always been able to capture a cool factor in its guns. Perhaps that’s why the PPK ended up as James Bond’s preferred sidearm for all those years.

In more recent times, the German gun maker has undertaken an intriguing project, producing rimfire models of historic tactical firearms. From Uzis to M4 Carbines, Walther has a load of iconic pistols and rifles all chambered in .22 long rifle.

The company’s most recent edition to the collection is its take on a firearm from another Teutonic gun maker – also known for producing some slick wares itself. A .22 long rifle version of Heckler & Koch’s G36 joined Walther's rimfire family at the 2015 SHOT Show and appears to be dead on.

The G36 is not as well known as some of HK’s other firearms, such as the one it replaced as the Bundeswehr’s (German Federal Defense) main service rifle in the 1990s – the G3. But the .223 Remington/5.56x45mm has seen its share of action in around two decades of use.

Walther’s .22 take on the original should get purists' hearts a thumping, given the attention to detail. But it’s more than the rimfire rifle’s aesthetics that makes it intriguing. The gun's action is also pretty nifty.

Like the HK iteration, the entire bolt-carrier group – including charging handle – moves on Walther’s version of the G36. It seems like a nice touch, for those shooting for authenticity in their plinkers.

The similarities between the original and .22 caliber don’t end there. Some of the other features the 5.56 and .22 G36s share include a folding stock (Walther can fire folded too), three-pin assembly using HK pins, brass deflector, bolt hold open and ambidextrous safety and charging handle.

Like the original H&K G36, Walther's rimfire model features a folding stock.
Like the original H&K G36, Walther's rimfire model features a folding stock.

The charging handle is especially intriguing, no matter if you’re talking about HK’s or Walther’s version. The handle is on top of the receiver and flips to one side or the other, depending on the shooter's preference. When firing, it is conveniently tucked away on top of the rifle’s receiver, so its reciprocation doesn't get in the way of shooting.

Walther’s G36 comes with a muzzle break that can be removed and the barrel has a 1/2″x28 thread. This is standard for rimfires and allows for the addition of nearly any suppressor. The gun is a straight blowback semiautomatic and has 10-, 20-, and 30-round magazines available.

The Walther rifle has a fixed and hooded front sight and an aperture rear that is adjustable for windage and elevation. The rifle has an 18.1-inch barrel, weighs 5.1 pounds without a magazine and is 37.8 inches in overall length with the stock unfolded and 28.2 inch with it folded.

As a sidenote, the length of the Walther G36 are only about an inch shorter than the first iteration of the HK original.

Walther’s new .22, however, does run a bit more than most rimfires presently available on the market. But, for those who pine tacticool in their plinkers, the G36’s MSRP of $599 might not be too steep.

Walther's HK G36 Specifications
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
Mag Capacity: 10/20/30 rnds
Weight with Mag: 6.74 lbs
Overall Length: 37.8 in
Barrel Length: 18.1 in
Operation: Blowback
Front Sight: Fixed Front Sights
Rear Sight: Adjustable For Windage & Elevation

ArmaLite’s New Competitive Rifles Due on Store Shelves

Armalite is going for the gold with its 3-Gun Series. The rifles are chambered in both .223/5.56 and .308/7.62.
ArmaLite is going for the gold with its 3-Gun Series. The rifles are chambered in both .223/5.56 and .308/7.62.

Competitive shooters look for any edge to shave time or group tighter. And ArmaLite intends to give this spirited group of gun enthusiast a leg up.

The Illinois-based company is now shipping its line of competitive rifles, which it bills as “ready to dominate… straight out of the box!” And from what the company has released about its 3-Gun Series, they appear to be loaded with a number of extras that should take first place with many sporting shooters.

One of the more interesting aspects of the line is it is not purely made up of AR-15 style rifles. Along with models chambered in .223 Remington/5.56×45 NATO – dubbed the M-15 3-Gun – the company has also released AR-10 versions.

The .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO rifles – called the AR-10 3-Gun – could definitely find a place with match shooters looking for the superior long-range ballistics the larger caliber allots.

Both of the calibers have options that help them conform to the style of competition they will be applied. Among the more notable features along these lines are the available barrel lengths.

For those searching for a more maneuverable firearm, ready to tackle any 3-gun stage, there is a 13.5-inch barrel model. Those who require a more steady platform for high-powered rifle competition, there is a 18-inch barrel option.

All of the rifles come outfitted with ArmaLite’s tunable muzzle break, allowing shooters find the sweet spot to reduce muzzle flip and directional recoil. In the case of the shorter-barreled models, the unit is pinned and welded to avoid the definition of short-barreled rifle – which would require a tax stamp.

The rifles are outfitted with Luth-AR MBA-1 precision adjustable stocks that allow shooters to modify the firearms’ dimensions to theirs. The stock boasts both adjustable comb height and length of pull.

Keeping with the adjustable theme of the rifles, the 3-Gun Series also comes with an adjustable gas block. The guns should also win fans among the trigger conscious with a factory-installed Timney Triggers that have a crisp 3-pound pull weight.

The units are relatively light, the AR-10 models weighting in at 8.8 or 8.9 pounds depending on barrel, the AR-15s 6.6 to 7.8. Much of the weight savings comes from the from its KeyMod rail, which have 2-inch MIL-STD 1913 base at the front for sights.

The upper and lower receivers are both forged 7075-T6 aluminum. The AR-15 rifles ship with one 30-round PMAG, the AR-10 with one 25-round PMAG.

The MSRP on both AR-15 models is $1,599 and AR-10 is $2,099.

3-Gun Series Specs
M-15 3-Gun
Caliber: 5.56X45 mm / .223
Barrel: 13.5″ or 18″ stainless steel
Rifling Twist: 1:8″ RH
Muzzle Device: ArmaLite tunable brake, pinned / welded brake to make the external length 16″
Front Sight Base: 2″ MIL-STD 1913 rail section at forward 12 o'clock position of handguard
Upper Receiver: Forged, flat-top with MIL-STD 1913 rail, 7075-T6 Aluminum
Lower Receiver: 7075-T6 Aluminum (forged)
Trigger: Timney 3 lb. single-stage
Stock: MBA-1 light weight precision adjustable for length-of-pull and comb height
Overall Length: 13.5″ barrel – 34.5″ / 35.5″; 18″ barrel – 39.5″ / 40.5″
Weight: 3.5″ barrel – 6.6 lbs.; 18″ barrel – 7.8 lbs.
Finish: Anodized aluminum upper/lower receiver, manganese phosphated steel barrel
Included with Rifle: One 30-round Magpul PMAG

AR-10 3-Gun
Caliber: 7.62X51 mm /.308
Barrel: 13.5″ or 18″ stainless steel
Rifling Twist: 1:10″ RH
Muzzle Device: ArmaLite tunable brake pinned and welded to make the external length 16″
Front Sight Base: 2″ MIL-STD 1913 rail section at forward 12 o'clock position of handguard
Upper Receiver: Forged, flat-top with MIL-STD 1913 rail, 7075-T6 Aluminum
Lower Receiver: 7075-T6 Aluminum (forged)
Trigger: Timney 3 lb. single-stage
Stock: MBA-1 light weight precision, adjustable for length-of-pull and comb height
Overall Length: 13.5″ barrel – 36.3″ / 37.3″; 18″ barrel – 40.3″ / 41.5″
Weight: 13.5″ barrel – 8.8 lbs.; 18″ barrel – 8.9″
Finish: Anodized aluminum upper/lower receiver, manganese phosphated steel barrel
Included with Rifle: One 25-round Magpul PMAG


Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Digital Collection

Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Digital Collection

The Gun Digest Book of the Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Digital Collection is a four-volume series of the ultimate AR-15 guides – Gun Digest Book of the AR-15, Volume I-IV. With this collection, you will learn all about the AR-15 parts and accessories necessary to customize your gun.

Inside Look at How a Silencer Works

Wonder how a suppressor works or just need a refresher? Well, SilencerCo and the American Suppressor Association have cooked up a heck of infographic demonstrating the finer points of the system. But there is more than just an animated glimpse at the inner workings of a silencer in the infographic. It also gives an interesting look at some of the other science involved in the operation of suppressors, along with some trend lines regarding the firearm accessory.

how-do-silencers-work

Burris Introduces Cost-Saving Tactical Optics Kits

AR-332 Tactical Optics Kit with case
Burris aims to defray the cost of tactical optics by offering bundles of some of their popular aiming solutions.

Nowadays, it's pretty easy to spend more on a scope than a rifle. But Burris is trying to defray the cost of optics by offering some of its popular aiming solutions as affordable all-in-one kits.

Topping off a firearm with new glass is often times a painful proposition. For most shooters it causes a sharp cramp right in the pocketbook.

Whether a hunting scope for elk season or a reflex sight bound for a striker-fire pistol, it’s easy to spend more on an aiming solution than it is on the firearm itself. Burris, however, is attempting to defray some of those costs with the introduction tidy little tactical optics bundles.

The Colorado-based company’s Tactical Kits mate one of its prism sights with either a secondary red-dot site or a magnifier. In all, the Beretta subsidiary’s kits shoot to knock off more than $100 off the total price if each optic was purchased individually.

AR-332 Tactical Optics KitAR-332 Tactical Kit (MSRP $599)

The AR-332 optic aims to be a solid solution for close-quarters to intermediate shooting. The 3.5-inch long 3x optic has 60 MOA of adjustment for both windage and elevation with ½ MOA click values. The device’s Ballistic CQ reticle is designed for quick target acquisition at close range, outfitted with a circular center. But it can also reach out, with three smaller dots providing trajectory compensation out to 600 yards. The reticle is designed to handle nearly any lighting situation with three colors – red, green and black. The red and green illuminations each have five brightness settings. The AR-332 runs off one CR2032 battery and attaches via a Picatinny rail mounting system. The kit comes with a FastFire 2 red-dot sight – described in further detail below – anti-reflection device and carry case.

AR-536 Tactical Optics KitAR-536 Tactical Kit (MSRP $659)

While the AR-536 is comfortable up close and personal, the optic is meant to give shooters an edge at longer distances. At 5x magnification, the optic is ideal for more precise work at long distance and is enhanced with the drop-compensating Ballistic CQ reticle. The reticle has three color settings – red, green and black. The red and green each have five illumination settings, allowing it to adjust to any lighting situation. The optic has 60 MOA windage and elevation adjustment and can be precisely tuned with a 1/3 MOA click value. The optic itself weighs in at 18.8 ounces and measures in at 5.8 inches; it runs off one CR2032 battery and is compatible with Picatinny rails.The kit comes with a FastFire 2 red-dot sight – described in further detail below – and anti-reflection device.

AR-1X Tactical Optics KitAR-1X Tactical Kit (MSRP $539)

The Burris AR1X sight allows for fast, both-eyes-open shooting in tactical or competitive circumstance. And while it has both red and green illumination settings, the device need not even have power to function. With its Ballistic CQ 1X reticle etched onto its prism, the optic functions no matter what. But the AA battery-powered optic also can adapt to any lighting situation with five illumination setting for its red and green settings. The AR1X boast 120 MOA windage and elevation adjustment in ½ MOA increments. The unit is compatible with Picatinny rail mounting systems. The low-powered optic is also set to do long-distance work with the kit coming with an AR-Tripler, described in further detail below.

FastFire 2 Red Dot

With the ability to be top or sided mounted on both the AR-332 and AR-536, the FastFire 2 Red Dot gives each system a solid close-quarters or back-up option. The unit has a 4 MOA dot with 115 MOA elevation adjustment and 86 MOA windage adjustment. Making the FastFire even handier is its automatic brightness adjustment, which adapts to any lighting environment. The unit is low-profile at 1.8 inches and weighs in at .9 ounces. The unit uses one CR2032 battery and attaches via Picatinny Rail.

AR-Tripler

The AR-Tripler helps shooters reach out, while still facilitating both-eye-open shooting. The device works in conjunction with the AR-1X, giving the optic an additional 3x of magnification. And it’s designed to be mounted in tandem with the lower-power optic, via a pivot ring, which allows shooters to flip it to the side when not in use. The unit weighs in at 6.25 ounces and is 4 inches in length.

Photo Gallery: A Few More New Guns for 2015

As is the case every year, there is a flood of new and modified firearms released in December and January. The world’s largest outdoors exposition – SHOT Show – and a number of other conventions have a tendency to get manufacturers to shift into overdrive.

Of course, the shear volume of the latest and greatest handguns, rifles and shotguns at this time of the year means quite a few fly under the radar. But we at GunDigest.com aren’t going to allow these strays to break from the herd.

So, without further ado here are a few new and tweaked firearms hitting the market in the coming year. It’s a whole hodgepodge, almost certain to get shooters expanding their wish list.

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Is M855 Ammunition Set to be Banned?

For enthusiasts of AR-style firearms, this past Friday the 13th truly turned out to be unlucky.

The ominous date marked a push by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to ban a popular military surplus round. In a white paper, the federal agency spelled out its plans to rescind an exemption of 5.56x45mm SS109/M855 ammunition, deeming the round to be “armor piercing.”

Better known as “green tips,” the ammunition was previously exempted from 1986 federal legislation. The bullet has components that are listed within the legislation's definition of armor piercing, in particular the steel penetrator in the tip that sits atop a lead core; there is also a lead-free variation that has a tungsten core.

The ammunition received an exemption, since for most of its existence it was exclusively used in rifles and the 1986 legislation was primarily concerned with armor-piercing handgun ammunition. But the BATFE is set to reverse itself after nearly 30 years, citing the growth of AR pistols as a need to withhold the military surplus round from the civilian market.

The agency points to an urgent need to protect law enforcement from what it considers an armor-piercing round for the ban. This, despite the fact crimes committed with firearms chambered 5.56 NATO are rare.

As a sidenote, U.S. Military and NATO do not classify the 62-grain green tip round as armor piercing, designating it instead as standard ball ammunition. The tungsten carbide cored M995 — or black tips — is classified by both entities as armor piercing.

The new regulations also propose a new test as to what constitutes sporting ammunition, if the bullet is composed of material the BATFE considers armor piercing and functions in both rifles and handguns:

Category I: .22Caliber Projectiles
A .22 caliber projectile that otherwise would be classified as armor piercing ammunition under 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(17)(B) will be considered to be “primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes” under section 921(a)(17)(C) if the projectile weighs 40 grains or less AND is loaded into a rimfire cartridge.

Category II: All Other Caliber Projectiles
Except as provided in Category I (.22 caliber rimfire), projectiles that otherwise would be classified as armor piercing ammunition will be presumed to be “primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes” under section 921(a)(17)(C) if the projectile is loaded into a cartridge for which the only handgun that is readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade is a single shot handgun. ATF nevertheless retains the discretion to deny any application for a “sporting purposes” exemption if substantial evidence exists that the ammunition is not primarily intended for such purposes.

There is plenty of minutia on the issue that could have far reaching impact on shooters. The above video, from Military Arms Channel, does a pretty solid job jumping into fine print of the proposal — it is definitely worth an entire watch.


Cartridges-World

Cartridges of the World, 14th Edition

 

Photo Gallery: Sneak Peek at RIA’s Upcoming Firearms Auction

Rock Island Auction Company is shooting for the stars to start 2015. The Illinois auction house is set to stage it biggest sale to date with its first four-day event. And, as usual, the block will be crowded with an incredible volume of rare, unique and historic firearms.

According to RIA’s press release, the Feb. 19-22 firearms auction will include more than of 7,000 items in 3,600-plus lots, including more than 700 Colts, 600 Winchesters, 400 Remingtons, and 300 Smith & Wessons.

With Civil War weapons to Colt snake guns ready for sale, there appears to be a little something for everyone. That includes high-end bidders, with the lots from The William Baird Colt Collection and The Estate Collection of Donald Kotecki.

It will take a lot for RIA to outdo its $47.5 million in sales in 2014. But as the photo gallery below shows, the top-notch auction company appears set to make a run at it.

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2015 Standard Catalog of Firearms

Your top resource for firearms values, 2015 Standard Catalog of Firearms, 25th Edition

 

Escort Introduces the M87 Pump-Action Shotgun

The M87 is the first walnut stocked pump-action shotgun Escort is offering in America.
The M87 is the first walnut stocked pump-action shotgun Escort is offering in America.

There is just something about a shotgun stocked in a stick of walnut.

The classic wood's fine texture and grain bring a firearm – particularly those made specifically for sporting purposes – to a whole different level of aesthetics. Of course, there is typically a bit more of a price to pay when shooters opt for a firearm decked out in walnut rather than a polymer material.

This is why Escort Shotguns' newest addition to its lineup appears so intriguing. Imported by Legacy Sports International, the M87 pump-action shoots for a solid looking shotgun at an affordable price. With an MSRP of $350, the M87's satin-finished walnut stock is well within reach of almost any shooter.

Part of what makes the gun so affordable is where it is manufactured and its proximity to key materials. Escort is a brand of Turkish gun maker Hatsan Arms, which means it has one of the world's richest walnut supplies at its finger tips.

The M87 appears to be an American version of the Escort WS and will be offered in both 12- and 20-gauge stateside. In addition to the standard model, their will also be a youth version available.

The new Escort smoothbore, no matter the gauge, will be offered in two barrel lengths, 28 and 26 inches. In both variations, the shotgun has a 14.5-inch length of pull, which makes the gun's overall length either 48 or 46 inches, depending on the barrel length.

The M87 shouldn't be a burden in the field, weighing in from 5.8 to 6.8 pound, depending on the model. To ensure it can easily be toted around, the shotgun comes pre-fitted with sling swivels, located at the front of tube magazine and the buttstock.

The youth edition is set up to give new shooters a more manageable platform, which should provide a lower-recoil firearm upon which to cut their teeth. It is a 22-inch barreled 20-gauge that tips the scales at 5.8 pounds and has a 13.5-inch LOP.

All models have a 4+1 capacity and come with three Escort V3 Removable Chokes in full, modified and improved. Choke choices don't end there, with the shotgun threaded to be compatible any made for Remington 1100 shotguns.

The gun come outfitted with a rubber butt pad, to help reduce felt recoil. It has a front fiber optics bead set atop a ventilated rib. And has a large slide release button, to make it easier to operate with gloves on.

The stock is made to gain a solid purchase, boasting checkering on the slide and grip.

Video: Dry Firing in Field Conditions

When it comes to dry firing with a rifle, the practice should be as much about learning to acclimate to field conditions as it’s learning about a rifle’s idiosyncrasies.

Anymore, it seems a lot of the discussion on dry firing revolves around handguns. But the exercise definitely has its place in the world of rifle shooting.

Famed hunter and gun writer Jack O’Connor, for instance, was avid about dry firing, finding time every day to pull the trigger on his rifle. But there is more to it than just getting behind the business end of your favorite long gun and firing away on an empty chamber.

In many cases, the practice should be as much about learning to acclimate to field conditions as it’s learning about a rifle’s idiosyncrasies. This is where the above video from Wyoming custom gun maker GunWerks hits the nail on the head.

The instructional quickly covers the basics of the practice, such as working on breath control and keeping the crosshair steady. But perhaps its most salient point is to practice these skills in the positions they’ll likely be utilized.

It’s faulty logic to believe knocking the eye out of the bull from a bench rest equates to bagging a trophy buck from the kneeling position or confidently wielding a personal defense carbine in modified offhand.

Deftly shooting in the field, in many respects, is a matter of understanding and adapting to variables. A sled or bench rest, in most respects, sterilizes the practical challenges out of shooting.


GD_LeatherwoodRiflescopeVP-500

Leatherwood USMC Sniper Riflescope Value Pack — Shooting references and the scope to get you on target.

Three New On-Target Optics from Steiner

Steiner has releases some fairly intriguing new optics this year that aim to take shooters to a new level of accuracy.
Steiner has releases some fairly intriguing new optics this year that aim to take shooters to a new level of accuracy.

When it comes to drawing a bead, Steiner Optics is one of the favorites among many shooters. And the German subsidiary of Beretta continues to churn out aiming solutions to fit nearly any situation. This year has proven no different with Steiner introducing or refining a number of scopes, sights and other accessories to get shooters on target. Here’s a look at three innovative offerings from the company’s new releases. Sorry, no MSRPs were available at time of writing.

Steiner Intelligent Combat SightSteiner Intelligent Combat Sight (ICS)
Steiner has come out with a number of new riflescopes this year, but the most interesting might be its Intelligent Combat Sight. The unit has an integrated laser rangefinder and ballistic calculator, in addition the 6x40mm scope itself. The system provides shooters with trajectory compensation, automatically calculating point of aim based off ammunition ballistics, measured distance and angle to target. Steiner designed the calculator for the 7.62x51mm round, but it can be adjusted to work with 5.56 NATO, 300 Blackout and .300 Winchester Magnum cartridges. The ICS runs off one CR123A battery and has a Picatinny rail on top for mounting a backup iron sight.

 

Steiner Micro Reflex SightSteiner Micro Reflex Sight
Steiner doesn’t look like it’s adding much with its new MRS, except faster target acquisition. That’s because the 1x holographic sight weighs in at less than 3 ounces – officially 70 grams. The sight has a 3 MOA red dot that can be set for automatic illumination control or manually adjusted through three brightness levels. It is fully adjustable for windage and elevation and mounts to any Picatinny rail. The until delivers 550 hours of operation off one CR1632 battery and is submersible to 10 meters.

 

Steiner SBAL-PLSteiner eOptics SBAL-PL
The SBAL-PL shoots to make the most of rail space, combining an adjustable laser sight and flashlight into one package. The device has a green laser-aiming module situated above a 500-lumen flashlight in rugged 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum case with a hardcoat anodized finish. The waterproof module offers shooters the ability to utilize the laser and flashlight functions independently or in conjunction. These functions are controlled by an ambidextrous switch and are run off a CR123 battery that can be changed without removing the device from its mount. The unit is designed for use on mid- to full-sized pistols or a rifle, and adds 4 ounces to a firearm.


custom-ar

Gun Digest Guide to Customizing Your AR-15

Nite Owl Firearms set to take Flight

Evans Machining Services is launching its own firearms brand – Nite Owl.
Evans Machining Services is launching its own firearms brand – Nite Owl.

Evans Machining Services has cut and coated its share of metal for the firearms industry. Now the Pennsylvania company is taking a crack at manufacturing the whole kit and caboodle. The firm is getting into gun making with the launch of Nite Owl Firearms at the upcoming Great American Outdoors Show in Harrisburg, Pa. And to get things rolling, Evans has chosen an extremely popular pattern of firearm to start off.

The company's initial offering is the NO9,  a polymer framed, striker-fired 9mm pistol – a style and caliber that has dominated the market in recent years. But Nite Owl has thrown an unusual twist in its first gun.

Right off the bat, the NO9 will be available in both right- and left-handed models. Typically, if a company ever builds a southpaw iteration, it is years down the line from the introducing of one configured for a righty. More common nowadays are pistols configured for ambidextrous control.

The NO9 is also just the start for Nite Owl. According to the company’s website, it will introduce a .45 ACP model in the future, and then expand to 12 models overall. Nite Owl plans on offering full-sized, compact and sub-compact – right- and left-hand version – of the two calibers.

No matter the variation, the NO9 appears set up to handle any of the duties of a polymer pistol. In particular, the handgun looks to have the dimensions to fill the role of a concealed carry pistol.

The NO9 has a width of 1.12 inches, overall length of 7.2 inches, 4.17-inch barrel and an unloaded weight of 28 ounces. While not as slender or small as some other options on the market, shooters should still be able to comfortably conceal the pistol.

The new pistol has both active and passive safeties. Common to polymer pistols, the NO9 has a blade safety situated on the trigger. It also has a firing pin block that helps the firearm avoid a negligent discharge if dropped.

Nite Owl appears to have paid special attention to the grip texture, which is abundant and fairly aggressive. It also has ample rail space situated beneath the muzzle for the addition of an accessory.

The pistol’s slide is outfitted with cocking serrations both fore and aft. The handgun has three-dot sights. And it is compatible with M9 Beretta-style magazines; the 45 will use Para P14 style magazines.

The NO9 should win over those who like to buy American, as the entire pistol is made in house by Nite Owl. And company is backing up the firearm with a full lifetime warranty.

The MSRP of the NO9 is $675. No information about the release of future models was available at time of writing.


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Video: Magpul Introducing Glock Magazines

Magpul has expanded its horizons in 2015, extending its magazine catalog to include a slew of new firearms. But there is one model in particular that has the potential to reach a rather wide swath of the shooting world.

That is because the Wyoming manufacturer’s PMAG 17 GL9 is meant to keep a good part of Glock’s lineup well fed. The 17-round magazine is compatible with all full-sized, compact and sub-compact Glock 9mm pistols, though the magazine will have some overhang in the smaller-framed handguns.

The best part of Magpul’s new product is its price tag. At $15.95, there are few options less expensive. And it’s a fair bet almost none of the cheaper options out there demand the trust Magpul has built over the years.

According to a post on Magpul’s Facebook page, the Glock magazine will feature a new proprietary all-polymer construction. It will also boast a high visibility anti-tilt follower, SS spring, removable floorplate for cleaning, Dot matrix for mag marking, ridged floorplate edges for better grip and a indicator window.

Magpul will begin shipping the PMAG 17 GL9 in March, according to the company's website.


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Savage Introduces the Model 11 Scout Rifle at SHOT

Savage is shooting at making the versatile Scout Rifle even more so with the Model 11 Scout.
Savage is shooting at making the versatile Scout Rifle even more so with the Model 11 Scout.

At the heart of the Scout Rifle concept is versatility. The rifle is meant to be as capable in tactical use as it is harvesting game.

Savage, however, has taken the idea of flexibility in a different direction with the release of its new version of the gun. The Model 11 Scout Rifle is meant to be as adaptable in ergonomics as it is in application.

The Massachusetts manufacturer accomplishes this by the inclusion of some adjustable features on the rifle’s stock. To better transition between optics and open sights, the Model 11 has a modifiable comb. And to make it a better fit to an individual’s body size and preferred shooting position, the length of pull can be adjusted via butt pad spacers.

The .308 Winchester’s stock itself should also aids the rifle’s accuracy, given it's Savage’s popular AccuStock. While it appears to be an injection-molded stock on the outside, the AccuStock boasts an aluminum chassis on the interior, outfitted with a three-dimensional bedding system that free floats the barrel and offers rigidity to the platform.

The ATK subsidiary also has included the AccuTrigger on the Model 11, allowing shooters to tune the trigger pull to their preferred weight. The system, as crowed about in the video below by Tactical Life, can be dialed all the way down to 2.5 pounds.

The other new feature the Model 11 boasts is the Savage’s new 10-round detachable magazine. Extra magazines will be sold separately and are compatible with a number of other Savage firearms.

The rifle shouldn’t prove to be a burden in the field with a respectable weight. The Model 11 tips the scales at 7.8 pounds. And at 40.5-inches in overall length, the firearm should prove to be very maneuverable.

Some of the rifle’s other features include an 18-inch button-rifled barrel topped with a flash suppressor, a tang safety and sling swivels.

Savage plans to release the Model 11 Scout Rifle to the public this month. The present MSRP is $794.

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