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Ammo Brief: .300 AAC Blackout

A quick look at .300 AAC Blackout, the king of .30-caliber AR cartridges.

The intent behind the .300 AAC Blackout was to offer a .30-caliber cartridge that would function in AR-15 rifles without a reduction in magazine capacity, that was also compatible with the standard bolt, and that would offer both supersonic and subsonic performance. The .300 AAC Blackout was developed by Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC), a subsidiary of the Freedom Group, and is almost identical to the .300 Whisper that was originally developed by J.D. Jones.

Cartridges-of-the-World-16th-edition-550×725 (2)
This is an excerpt from Cartridge's Of The World, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

Another way of looking at the .300 AAC Blackout is as a standardization of the .300/.221 Wildcat cartridge. AAC standardized the case dimensions and submitted the cartridge to SAAMI, which has established the cartridge with a maximum average operating pressure of 55,000 psi.

General Comments

From a supersonic standpoint, the .300 AAC Blackout offers performance similar to the 7.62×39 Soviet cartridge. Hunters can expect performance on game to be similar to the 7.62×39 or the .30-30 Winchester. One thing hunters should recognize is that heavy match bullets at subsonic velocities will not expand in game animals. However, Lehigh Defense, working with J.D. Jones, has developed a subsonic bullet load that does offer expansion and good terminal performance at subsonic velocities.

Much of the appeal of the cartridge is its subsonic performance, but there is some contention that optimum performance from an AR-15 is unattainable with either supersonic or subsonic suppressed loads. It is also arguable that a single twist rate offers optimal stabilization with both a 125-grain bullet at 2,200 fps and a 220-grain bullet at 1,050 fps.

300-AAC-blackout-data

AAC suggests that a 1:8 twist be used, and most commercially offered rifles will come so equipped. DPMS, Windham Weaponry, Patriot Ordnance Factory, Advanced Armament, SIG Sauer, Noveske, Bushmaster, and others offer AR-15/AR-10 rifles in .300 AAC Blackout, and Remington offers four factory loads with 120-, 125-, 130- and 220-grain bullets. Both Remington 700 .300 AAC Blackout replacement barrels and loading dies are available.

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt of Gun Digest's Cartridge's Of The World.


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New Guns And Gear Suppressor Special 2024

Looking for a new suppressor or piece of kit to help you embrace the quiet? Check out these 7 new cans and subsonic loads to grow your wish list.

The New Gear:

Silencer Central Buck 30

Silencer Central Buck30
Silencer Central and Buck Commander collaborated to introduce the Buck 30 by Banish, an affordable .30-caliber suppressor designed specifically for deer hunters. Especially nice, it stands out as one of the most budget-friendly options on the market. The Buck 30’s versatility extends from .17 HMR to .300 Winchester Magnum, accommodating a range of hunting scenarios. With multiple mounting options, it provides flexibility for different rifles. It excels in the field, reducing the sound level to a hearing-safe 131 dB, enhancing the hunting experience without the need for ear protection. Compact at 6.9 inches and 13.8 ounces, it ensures minimal bulk and weight.
MSRP: $700


Browning SUB22 Ammunition

Browning Sub22
To get the most out of a suppressor, you’ve got to feed your gun the right ammo. When it comes to .22LR, Browning has hit the nail on the head with its new subsonic offering. Unveiled at SHOT Show 2024, SUB22 features a 45-grain black copper-plated lead round-nose bullet designed to remain subsonic in pistol-length barrels. Leveraging recoil energy for reliable action cycling, it achieves a muzzle velocity of 1,060 fps, dropping to 1,027 fps at 25 yards. With a reported muzzle energy of 112 ft-lb, decreasing to 94 ft-lb at 25 yards, SUB22 is ideal for target shooters and small game hunters seeking maximum noise suppression. Best yet, it offers reliable functionality and performance at an accessible price point.
MSRP: $17, box of 100


Yankee Hill Machine Bad Larry .338 Suppressor

YHM 338
It doesn’t get much bigger than this when it comes to cans. Yankee Hill Machine unveiled its new .338 suppressor, the Bad Larry .338, at SHOT Show 2024, giving long-range shooters a knockout option to tame recoil and report. Constructed from robust 17-4 PH stainless-steel and Stellite/Cobalt 6, the suppressor is durable as the day is long. Furthermore, compatibility with all of YHM’s HUB accessories, the Bad Larry offers a measure of versatility. Full-auto rated with a 136-dB decibel rating, the 7.375-inch-long suppressor isn’t obnoxious when mounted to the end of a barrel.
MSRP: $930


SilencerCo Spectre 9

SilencerCo Spectre 9
Looking for a lightweight option to hush up your pistol? SilencerCo’s new Spectre 9 is just the ticket. Crafted entirely from titanium, this can is designed for both pistol and sub-guns, and weighing a mere 3.9 ounces, it does little to put a platform out of whack. The Spectre 9 boasts competitive sound performance within its size category, is compatible with both 9mm and .300 BLK, and is fully-auto-rated. Playing nice with Alpha accessories and mounting systems, the suppressor offers cutting-edge technology at a decent price.
MSRP: $879


Q PorQ Chop

Q PorQ Chop
If you’ve bought into the new 8.6 Blackout cartridge, then you need to get a gander at what’s coming out of Q. Dubbed the PorQ Chop, the can is tailor-made for the heavyweight subsonic round. Boasting a unique baffle column, the all-stainless-steel suppressor surprisingly handles like a lighter titanium build. Furthermore, Q’s deep draw process makes the can much more affordable while maintaining durability. Additionally, Q employs laser welds and a scratch-resistant nitride finish, elevating aesthetics and military-grade performance. The PorQ Chop ships with an XL Cherry Bomb in M18x1.5 for fast mounting, which is a nice touch.
MSRP: $850


HUXWRX Flow 22 Ti

HUXWRX Flow 22 Ti
HUXWRX has a bit of a funny name, but its suppressors are deadly serious. The Utah concern’s latest rimfire option is no different. An evolution from the company’s Flow 556k, the Flow 22 Ti offers a very manageable option aimed at rimfires but accommodates up to 5.7×28 cartridges. The company’s Flow-Through Technology makes the suppressor a foolproof addition to a gun, eliminating the need for tuning and compatible with nearly any barrel length. Better yet, the design produces zero backpressure, so it’s a downright pleasure to shoot.
MSRP: $500


Winchester 400 Legend Super Suppressed 300-grain

Winchester 400 legend
Winchester kicked off the era of the straight-wall 400 Legend around a year ago. Now, the company is advancing the slugger hunting cartridge with a round tailored for suppressed shooters. The 400 Legend addition to the Super Suppressed line features a 300-grain, open-tipped projectile designed for rapid and maximum expansion. This behemoth leaves the muzzle at 1,060 fps, making for a hard-hitting, yet highly suppressible round. Plus, at 100 yards, it drops a very manageable 7 inches for longer shots in straight-walled country.
MSRP: N/A

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Suppressor Special 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.


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New Guns And Gear March 2024

Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.

The New Guns And Gear:

WOOX Titano

woox
Heirloom looks with state-of-the-art performance, the WOOX Titano stands out in competition stocks. Tailored for Benchrest and F-Class shooters, the stock boasts a stunning American walnut stock and an aircraft-grade aluminum chassis. With a 3-inch fore and wide barrel channel supporting up to 1.20-inch diameter barrels, it accommodates large fire tubes common to comp rifles. Furthermore, WOOX’s Suspense weight system allows you to precisely balance the system with six 2.5-ounce weights. The buttstock is fully adjustable for both the length of pull and cheek rise. Other notables include a smooth-bottom bag rider butt and Integrated thumb rests to enhance grip comfort.
MSRP: $999


Taylor’s & Company 1875 Outlaw Revolver

Taylors 1875
A collaboration with Uberti, Taylor’s & Company offers up a faithful reproduction of a classic Remington single-action, but with a modern twist—it’s chambered for 9mm. While no Old West outlaws pitch Parabellum, the modernization effort makes it easier on contemporary cowboys’ pocketbooks. Available in 7.5- and 5.5-inch barrel lengths, the 1875 Outlaw features smooth walnut grips, a forged blued steel frame, a rear frame notch and a fixed front blade sight. Also, the webbed ejector rod helps the wheelgun cut an unmistakable profile. It’s enough to make Frank James envious.
MSRP: $698


StopBox Chamber Lock

chamber lock
New or old, it’s wise to stop the unauthorized use of a firearm. That’s where the Chamber Lock comes into play. At once, it keeps a firearm safe, yet at hand. Construct-ed from Type II hard-anodized 6061-T6 aluminum, it features a patented mechanical hand gesture code lock, ensuring intuitive use even in low-light or high-stress situations. The lock offers six configurable combinations, expandable to 16 with the Actuator Accessory Pack, although preset combinations are recommended for optimal security. Compatible with most AR-15s and shotguns.
MSRP: $150


MTM Case-Gard Bull Rifle Rest

MTM rifle rest
Dialing in a rifle is the key to a solid shooting platform. MTM Case-Gard provides just this with its affordable Bull Rifle Rest. With an adjustable length between 18.3 and 26 inches, it accommodates nearly any long-gun you shoulder. Additionally, the lightweight rest features slip-free rubber feet and a wide stance, for a wobble-free shooting base. And front elevation adjustments are easily made on the rest, thanks to a screw system allowing you to get a rifle or shotgun situated just right.
MSRP: $43


Mission First Tactical Leather Hybrid Holsters

MFT holster
What a looker! Too bad it’s meant to be kept under wraps. This Kydex and leather gem offers exact tolerances, secure retention and easy re-holstering. Plus, the hanger requires no break-in time compared to its traditional leather cousins. Versatile for AIWB, IWB or OWB use, it accommodates right- and left-hand positioning. Additionally, the American-made hybrids are red-dot compatible and have an audible “CLICK” when you re-holster.
MSRP: $70


Ruger Diamond Anniversary Limited Edition SR1911 Pistol

Ruger Diamond 1911
In celebration of its 75th year, Sturm, Ruger & Company presents its limited-edition 75th Anniversary Ruger SR1911. This iconic pistol features a finely detailed, laser-engraved slide and custom grip panels with intricate scrollwork. Ruger’s CNC-controlled machining ensures precision, while the classic 1911 fire control and positive barrel lockup enhance accuracy. You’ll have to act fast on these beauties, only 750 units are being produced in 2024, and each pistol bears the special R75 serial number prefix and ships in a marked case with two stainless-steel magazines.
MSRP: $1,800


Federal Premium Hydra-Shok Deep .32 Auto

Federal 32 Auto
In the day and age of deep carry, good ol’ .32 ACP is making a bit of a comeback. Federal Premium is supporting its renaissance with the introduction of Hydra-Shok Deep in the pocket caliber. Rigorous testing and stringent manufacturing processes ensure superb accuracy and consistent ballistic performance of this ammo. Furthermore, the notched copper jacket of the Hydra-Shok bullet ensures consistent controlled expansion and adequate stopping power trigger pull in and out.
MSRP: $35, box of 20

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.


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Ammo Brief: 9mm Major

A quick look at 9mm Major, the slightly bigger older brother of the 9mm Luger.

There are good arguments to be made whether the 9mm Major is simply a hot 9mm Luger load … or another distinct chambering shooting 9mm bullets. It’s not a wildcat nor proprietary load; it has a distinct OAL measurement that makes it suitable for some guns and non-functional for others.

Moreover, some ammo makers have special packaging for the 9 Major loads, and it’s dangerous to shoot 9mm Major in many typical handguns chambered for 9mm Luger rounds, so it deserves some clarification.

Cartridges-of-the-World-16th-edition-550×725 (2)
This is an excerpt from Cartridge's Of The World, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

Typical 9mm Luger ammunition is loaded to SAAMI specs of about 32,000-psi chamber pressure, which corresponds to velocities between 850 and 1,200 fps, depending on the projectile’s weight. In turn, 9mm Major ammunition is loaded to reach a Power Factor of 165 in IPSC or USPSA competitions. Power factor is determined by bullet weight times velocity, divided by 1,000.

To reach major power factor in USPSA Open Division competition, a 115-grain bullet must reach 1,435 fps, a 124-grain bullet must reach 1,331 fps, and a 147-grain bullet must reach 1,123 fps. If you look at the 9mm Luger loads and ballistics nearby, 9 Major loads are about 200-fps faster by bullet weight.

Note that 9mm Major ammunition is dangerous to fire in a pistol not designed for the excessive pressure generated by loading to the velocities needed. Many handgun makers caution against the use of +P and +P+ ammunition, and 9mm Major loads can generate pressures above +P+, making them unsafe for most off-the-shelf pistols.

Typically, only competition handguns are designed to accommodate these excessive pressures. The most essential feature in Open guns is a ramped barrel providing full case head support. Non-ramped barrels, or any barrel with a large cutout for the feed ramp, are not safe for 9mm Major ammunition.

9mm-Major-data
*OAL: 1.165 ± .005

General Comments

There’s no prescribed pressure limit for 9mm Major as a wildcat round. Gunpowder selection is crucial when handloading. Only medium- to slow-burning-rate pistol powders are used because they produce lower peak chamber pressures when pushing the bullet to the same velocity as faster-burning powders. On its 9mm Major listing, Atlanta Arms notes, “**Warning: This ammunition EXCEEDS SAAMI Specification and should only be used through a competition race gun.”

Most 9mm Major rounds are loaded as long as possible to help keep peak pressure low. The SAAMI maximum overall length for the 9mm Luger cartridge of 1.169 inches. Black Dot Ammunition (Crawford, Alabama) notes that it loads its 9 Major rounds to 1.160 inches overall, which means the ammunition “will not chamber in most standard 9mm guns to prevent accidentally firing from any non-open type firearms.”

Other ammunition manufacturers load 9 Major, including JJR Ammo, C&S Ammo, Everglades Ammo, Vantage Reloading and Universal Ammo.

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt of Gun Digest's Cartridge's Of The World.


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Range Gear Spotlight: Double Action Reactive Targets

A quick look at Double Action Reactive Targets, self-sealing polymer targets that change color at the point of impact.

Steel targets are all the rage these days, and it’s not hard to see why. They’re durable and long-lasting, but more importantly, every impact rewards you with a very satisfying “ding!” of success. As wonderful as that sound may be, steel targets have plenty of downsides, too—you can’t shoot them too close without potentially eating some spall, you need to remain mindful of the risk of ricochets and you need to repaint them. Besides that, they’re a costly initial investment and, depending on where you shoot, you may need to haul one or several of them between your setup and your truck. Steel is heavy, and that gets old real fast.

Know what’s not heavy? Polymer, and that’s what Double Action Reactive Targets uses to make its products. Not just any polymer, however, but a self-sealing, color-changing reactive polymer.

The company offers a 4-inch swinging gong, a 6-inch swinging gong, a 6-inch knockdown target kit and even a full-size silhouette.  All of these behave like steel targets when shot, minus the ding and the risk of anything coming back at you. The gongs and knockdown targets are also available without the color-changing feature for a few dollars less, but both styles are self-sealing.

Double-Action-Reactive-Targets

As for caliber ratings, the company says it’s tested them with pistol calibers up to .45 ACP and rifle calibers up to .308 Winchester without any issues, but only full metal jacket ammo should be used. Hollow points, wadcutters, flat nose bullets and any other projectile style that won’t make a clean hole should be avoided to prevent damaging the targets.

Double Action Reactive Target’s literature describes the targets as being capable of lasting “hundreds of rounds,” which isn’t very specific, but it likely varies a great deal depending on what you’re shooting them with and other factors.

Double-Action-Reactive-Targets-Silhouette

That said, even if you shoot enough to need to replace one, it won’t hurt your wallet too bad as prices start at just $16 per target.

Steel targets still have their place, but just like what happened with pistol frames, it may be time to recognize the advantages of polymer targets too.

For more information, visit da-targets.com.


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Ammo Brief: .30 Remington AR

A quick look at .30 Remington AR, a cartridge designed for big-game hunting with an AR-15.

The .30 Remington AR was designed by Remington as a big-game cartridge specifically for the company’s R-15 rifle. It was introduced in 2009. Remington engineers started with the .450 Bushmaster case and went from there. A pointed .30-caliber bullet of reasonable weight is longer than a blunt-nosed .45-caliber bullet, so, to keep overall cartridge length compatible with the standard AR-15 magazine, the case was shortened to 1.525 inches from the original 1.7 inches of the Bushmaster design.

Back at its base, the .30 AR case starts with a diameter of 0.500 inch, and from there it tapers to 0.488 inch at the juncture of the body and shoulder. Neck diameter is 0.341 inch, and the case has a shoulder angle of 25 degrees.

The AR-15 rifle in .450 Bushmaster utilizes the standard .223 Remington bolt, modified by increasing its bolt face diameter to a nominal 0.473 inch (same as the .308 Winchester). When this is done, the counterbore wall, or shroud of the bolt, becomes rather thin. This is considered a safe modification because the cartridge operates at a maximum chamber pressure level of 38,000 psi (same as the .30-30 Winchester).

Cartridges-of-the-World-16th-edition-550×725 (2)
This is an excerpt from Cartridge's Of The World, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

But, because the .30 AR is loaded to 55,000 psi, Remington opted for additional case rim support. This was accomplished by modifying the larger-diameter AR-10 bolt to fit the AR-15 upper. The face of that bolt is commonly sized for the 0.473-inch rim diameter of the .308 Winchester, but Remington went one step further by opening it up a bit and increasing the rim diameter of the .30 AR case to 0.492 inch.

By the time the job was done, the only thing the .30 AR case had in common with the .450 Bushmaster case was a base diameter of 0.500 inch. Remington went with a case rim diameter larger than that for the .450 Bushmaster to prevent a bolt built for that cartridge from being used in an R-15 upper with a .30 AR barrel.

General Comments

With a length of 0.305 inch, the neck of the .30 Remington AR is capable of exerting plenty of tension on the bullet, a good thing to have on a cartridge designed to survive the rather violent trip it must take from the magazine to the chamber of an auto-loading rifle. The short, fat case of rebated rim design has a gross capacity of 44 grains, about 10 grains less than in the .308 Winchester case, or approximately the same as in the .30-30 Winchester case.

30-remington-ar-data-table

But because the .30 AR is loaded to higher chamber pressures than the .30-30 Win., it exceeds the maximum velocity of that cartridge. When the 125-grain Core-Lokt factory load is zeroed 3 inches high at 100 yards, it will strike about 2 inches above point of aim at 200 yards and approximately 7 inches low at 300, where it’s still packing upward of 1,000 ft-lb of energy. The .30 AR comes close to duplicating the performance of the .300 Savage when both are loaded with a 125- or 150-grain bullet.

The allure of this cartridge is that it turns the AR-15 platform into a true big-game rifle capable of terminal performance identical to that of the .300 Savage with bullets weighing 150 grains or less. It’s suitable for deer, black bear and similarly sized game out to around 300 yards. Also, wildcatters have necked the .30 Remington AR case up and down, further increasing the versatility of the AR-15 platform.

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt of Gun Digest's Cartridge's Of The World.


Raise Your Ammo IQ:

New Guns And Gear February 2024

Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.

The New Guns And Gear:

Alpha Titan Suppressor Line

alpha titan
Unless you’re still packing a flintlock as your main shooting iron, the rise of suppressors in recent years most likely hasn’t escaped your notice. While a difficult niche to truly innovate in, Alpha Silencers has done a pretty solid job. The Titan series combines two of the most demanded features—aside from sound and recoil suppression—shooters have sought: weight savings and reduced back pressure. To the former, the user-serviceable cans are constructed with rugged titanium, considerably cutting down on overall mass. The latter is hastened on by Alpha’s flow-through baffle design, pushing the expanding gases forward, thus mitigating undesirable gases in a shooter’s face. The line is composed of five suppressors—A22 (rimfire), Titan 223, Titan 30, Titan 9 and Titan 45.
MSRP: Starting at $500


Armasight Sidekick 320 Thermal Monocular

armasight
Generally, owning the night involves a hefty investment coupled with relatively bulky gear. Armasight, however, may have hit the sweet spot with its Sidekick 320 Thermal Monocular. The smallest fully multi-functional 12-micron 320 thermal imaging monocular on the market, the optic opens the dark to scouting, shooting and recon—all at a relatively competitive price. Boasting a 60Hz frame rate delivered to a high-definition 1024×768 OLED display, the unit provides a seamless and crisp image. Furthermore, weighing in a tick under 7.5 ounces, the headset/helmet mountable optic doesn’t add much to an overall loadout. And, it comes with some nice bells and whistles, such as a simplified three-button control system and one-touch video recording.
MSRP: $2,300


FN 5.7x28mm DFNS Ammunition

FN 57
After wandering the wilderness for the better part of three decades, the FN 5.7x28mm has received some much-needed support as of late. Chief among its patrons has been the company that developed the red-hot mite. Perhaps one of the more intriguing developments is FN’s self-defense line of 5.7 ammunition: FN DFNS. Sport-ing a unique frangible copper jacketed, copper-tin metal core bullet, the 30-grain projectile offers devastating terminal ballistics, without pass-through concerns common to the cartridge. Additionally, FN has tuned the ammo’s load for top performance both out of pistols and carbines—with around 1,900 fps velocity reported out of the former and 2,200 fps out of the latter. This is an intriguing option for the fireball, one certainly upping its self-defense resume.
MSRP: $40 per box of 50


Weatherby High Country Rifle

weatherby
Push a few ridges back during hunting season, and you become cognizant of the importance of weight management. This is where Weatherby’s newest mountain rifle proves a valuable asset. Starting at just 5.7 pounds, the Mark V High Country offers an ultra-light hunting rifle that’s easy to carry and deadly accurate. Much of the rifle’s svelteness is thanks to its Peak 44 Bastion stock, a carbon-fiber stick that tips the scales at an incredible 24 ounces. Additionally, the stock’s profile features a more vertical grip, dual front swivel studs and a 3D HEX recoil pad—helping the featherweight not prove too much of a thumper. To the final point, Weatherby also includes an Accubrake on the High Country to tame the gun’s kick even more. Available in a host of popular hunting calibers, the rifle should prove a boon to backcountry hunters.
MSRP: Starting at $2,700


Hornady ELD-VT Bullets

hornady eld-vt
Varmint and long-range bullets, for the most part, have resided at opposite ends of the spectrum. Until now. Hornady has combined the best of both worlds in a unique line of projectiles meant to deliver devastating terminal performance at extremely long distances—the ELD-VT. Conceived as a dual-purpose varmint/target bullet, the offering is meant to strike a balance between the disparate disciplines. It does so by employing the long, sleek and ballistically talented Extremely Low Drag bullet profile, to extend the projectile’s range. Then, it maintains the explosive terminal ballistics at the target with a unique internal design, where the lead core is moved rearward, leaving a cavity that ensures rapid fragmentation and energy transfer.
MSRP: Starting at $33


Girsan MC14T Lady Pistol

girsan
Inspired by the classic Beretta Model 86 Cheetah, the Girsan MC14T Lady offers a self-defense option to women with some unique twists. Like the Cheetah, the Turkish-made .380 ACP offers a tip-up barrel, which allows a round to be loaded without having to manipulate the slide. Not a bad system, especially for those without the hand strength to rack a slide under pressure. Additionally, the hammer-fired pistol comes with an attractive glossy black finish, wooden grip panels and gold-colored accent parts to give it a classy and timeless look. The pistol is also outfitted with a Picatinny-based railed dust cover and ported barrel, the latter mitigating a ton of barrel rise.
MSRP: $682


Smith & Wesson Response Carbine

Smith Wesson
The issue with many pistol-caliber carbines (PCC) is non-compatibility with guns in their own class. That is to say, many of the designs are proprietary. Not so with the Smith & Wesson Response Carbine, which is based on the nearly ubiquitous AR-15 chassis. This makes the 9mm play nice with a great swath of existing parts and accessories, allowing you to tailor the carbine to your needs and wants. Making it even better, the Response boasts what S&W calls its Flexmag System, which makes it compatible with both M&P and Glock-style magazines. As to the carbine itself, it’s outfitted with a 16.5-inch threaded barrel surrounded by a polymer handguard with a Picatinny-style rail on top and M-Lok slots on the sides and bottom. It also comes with a Magpul MOE SL adjustable stock, a flat face trigger and an M&P grip with four interchangeable palm swell adapters.
MSRP: $800

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.


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Ammo Brief: 6.5 Precision Rifle Cartridge

A quick look at 6.5 Precision Rifle Cartridge, aka 6.5 PRC, an accurate, flat-shooting long-range cartridge.

Introduced in late 2017, Hornady’s 6.5 Precision Rifle Cartridge (PRC) was designed to be accurate, shoot flat and shoot long from a compact case utilizing moderate powder charges. The 6.5 PRC produces high velocities for target shooting with performance well beyond 1,000 yards.

The round enters a suddenly crowded field of similarly dimensioned cartridges, including the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5×55 Swede, .260 Remington, 6.5x57mm, 6.5-284 Norma, 6.5-06, 6.5 Remington Magnum and .264 Winchester Magnum, to name a few. Obviously, 6.5 designates the bore diameter, which, technically is 0.2559 inch in diameter, but this new round fires 0.264-inch-diameter bullets, as do the other 6.5mm cartridges.

Cartridges-of-the-World-16th-edition-550×725 (2)
This is an excerpt from Cartridge's Of The World, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

It was created by necking down the .300 Ruger Compact Magnum case, which, if naming conventions for similar neckdowns were followed, it could have been called the 6.5 RCM. To our eyes, it competes most directly with the 6.5-284 Norma. The 6.5 PRC fits in short or medium actions with a standard magnum bolt face (0.532 inch). It features a long cartridge case neck and 30-degree shoulder.

General Comments             

The 6.5 PRC case is 2.030 inches long. Loaded with Hornady’s 143-grain ELD-X bullet, cartridge overall length measures 2.955 inches (according to final SAAMI specs), slightly longer than the 2.825-inch length for the 6.5 Creedmoor. Its case capacity is about 28 percent more than the 6.5 Creedmoor and the 6.5 PRC will push a 143-grain ELD-X bullet to about 2,960 fps. This is 260-fps faster than the Creedmoor, an increase of about 8 percent. The neck length is 0.272 inch, and barrel twist rates seem to favor 1:8 rifling.

6-5-precision-rifle-cartridge-table

At rollout, rifle makers chambering the 6.5 PRC included Christensen Arms, Fierce Firearms, GA Precision, Gunwerks, Hill Country Rifles, Horizon Firearms, McRee Precision, Montana Rifles, Proof Research, Savage, Sauer, Stuteville Precision, Seekins Precision and Trident Armory.

Initial loads include the Hornady 6.5 PRC 147-grain ELD Match (81620), which delivers 2,910 fps and 2,910 ft-lb of energy at the muzzle. To get a 100-yard zero, the round would start +1.5 inches above the muzzle. Then, at 100 yards, the 6.5 PRC would produce 2,645 fps/2,283 ft-lb. At 200 yards, those readings would be 2,518 fps/2,069 ft-lb and -6.5 inches drop. At 500 yards, it would produce 2,275 fps and 1,689 ft-lb and -36.5 inches of drop. The 6.5 PRC 143-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter (81621) load has muzzle stats of 2,960 fps/2,782 ft-lb and 500-yard stats of 2,248 fps/1,604 ft-lb, with -36.2 inches of drop at the longer distance.

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt of Gun Digest's Cartridge's Of The World.


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5 Best Steel Targets For Years Of Shooting Fun (2024)

Updated 1/5/2024

Nothing beats the sweet sound of copper-jacketed lead ringing off steel targets. Here's what you need to know and the models to spend your money on for years of shooting enjoyment.

Why You Should Buy A Steel Target:

  • The sound of a hit gives you instant feedback on how you're shooting.
  • Many can double as pistol and rifle targets.
  • Cared for properly, steel targets last for years.
  • If you shoot a lot, they're cheaper per trigger pull.
  • Honestly, there are few things more fun to shoot at than steel targets.

A warning in moving to steel targets: They’re addictive. Once you hear that sweet “Ping!” of copper-jacketed lead crashing into a plate of high-quality steel, you’ll be left drooling like Pavlov’s dog for more. Never fear: If the steel target bug bites you, you certainly aren’t alone.

View More: http://howardcommunications.pass.us/birchwood-casey-hc-range

As a terminal destination for bullets for decades now, steel targets have become more common in recent years … and for good reason: Over the long run, they’re extremely economical. Furthermore, these shooting-range gems come in every conceivable shape, size and function. From simple silhouettes to ingenious reactive targets, the sky is the limit.

With a wealth of options out there, picking the right one for your training and shooting enjoyment is difficult. But, we’ll try to streamline the process. We collected 5 steel targets that hit the mark not only in their practicality, but also in regard to longevity and pleasure they’ll add to your trigger time.

But, before we get to that, let’s look at why you might want to (read: should) invest in this kind of shooting target.

Advantages of Steel Targets

To many, a target is a target – material make-up doesn’t matter. Certainly, from preseason shooting to tramping after deer, a Redfield sighting-in target is handy. Outside of that, some would ask, what difference does the end destination of your bullet make as long as you’re shooting?

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True enough: Range time is great, regardless of what you set your sights on. But if you dig into the matter a bit more, you’ll find that there are certain advantages steel targets hold over nearly any other kind.

Feedback: The sweet, addictive ping! of pounding away at steel targets isn’t just pleasant, it’s also practical. The sound gives you instant feedback that you’re connecting, particularly if you’re shooting a rapid-fire sequence. Opt for a reactive steel target and you’ll also add a visible confirmation if you’re on target.

Versatility: Buy the proper steel targets in the right sizes and you’ll have something suitable for both pistol and rifle work. Furthermore, they’re easy to configure when you build up a collection, and you can construct a lights-out course of fire.

Longevity: Even with a bag full of masking tape or pasters, paper and cardboard targets last but a shooting session or two – if you’re really chintzy. With proper care, a steel target’s longevity is measured in years, not sessions.

Economy: You pay more at the front end, but given the longevity of steel targets, they prove highly economical. Consider that a stack of 100 IPSC silhouette paper targets will run you about $35 and last a year or less, depending on how much you shoot. On the other hand, a 9-inch tall steel silhouette will last years for about the same price.

Enjoyment: This is subjective, but given that they’re simple to set up and plum fun to plug away at, steel targets tend to offer more shooting enjoyment. Add in some reactive steel targets and it kicks the fun up to another level.

Choosing Steel Targets

There are some factors you need to consider when taking the dive into steel targets to make certain you’re getting the most bang for your buck.

At the forefront, you need to aim at buying AR500 or AR550 steel targets if you’re shooting most calibers above a .22 LR.

View More: http://howardcommunications.pass.us/birchwood-casey-1

We won’t go too far into the weeds about AR500 steel plate here, because we have an excellent explainer on exactly what it is, how to use it properly and why you want to buy it. But for our points here, let’s just say that it’s made to take a beating from centerfire calibers, even up to .50 BMG.

Next, it helps at the front end to figure out what the majority of your shooting will entail. You’ll save money this way. There’s no need to buy a 17-inch tall, ½-inch-thick AR500 steel gong if you plan on plugging away with your 9mm from 10 yards. Along with this, you should also think about what sort of mounting system you’ll require. The bigger the target, the more support it needs, thus the more money you’ll have to spend. But if you’re figuring on something large enough to push your rifle out to 1,000 yards, it might very well be worth the investment.

Now on to the good stuff …

Great Steel Targets From Birchwood Casey

Birchwood Casey World Of Targets Handgun Dueling Tree

Birchwood Casey Dueling Tree

If handgun shooting is your focus, a high-quality dueling tree is among the best options. And Birchwood Casey offers one of the most affordable and convenient models.

Featuring six AR500 steel paddles, the steel targets swing to the opposite side when hit. This offers visual and auditory feedback, as well as making a great option for single and dual shooters. Two really is better than one when it comes to a dueling tree.

With toolless assembly and its own stand, Birchwood Casey’s unit only takes seconds to set up, but takes hours to pull yourself away.

Shoot Steel ½-Inch AR550 Gong Bundle

AR500 Gong

As far as getting into steel targets, gongs are a staple. But it’s better – and more fun – to have more than one at which to plug away.

Shoot Steel offers a great opportunity to instantly create a course of fire with its ½-inch thick AR500 Gong Bundle. Featuring one 8-inch and three 4-inch gongs, it’s a great starter pack and versatile to boot.

The steel targets’ thickness makes them adequate for rifles up to .338 Win. or Lapua Mag. when set up beyond 200 yards. To boot, you can plug away at them with any pistol from 10 yards or greater.

Range Time AR500 IPDA/ IPSC Silhouette Steel Target Pack

AR500 Sill

Great for defensive training or long-range work, silhouettes are a must for any steel-target collection. An excellent deal, Range Time AR500 targets doubles your fun in this style of target with a twofer. If you want to work on engaging multiple threats, this is a perfect option to get you rolling.

At 20-inches tall and 12-inches wide, the steel targets are a realistic size and built to last. Available in 3/8- or ½-inch thick plate, you have a pistol-exclusive option and one capable of taking a hit from a high-powered rifle at distance.

MSRP: $134.98 pack of 2 3/8-inch thick; $209.94 pack of 2 ½-inch thick

Champion Center Mass AR500 Pop-Up Target

AR500 Popper ar

Among the simplest, yet most satisfying reactive steel targets are poppers. Falling over when hit, they give you instant feedback on your shooting, with plenty of enjoyment when they topple. The best kinds are the ones that set themselves back up, and Champion offers an economical option with its Center Mass Pop-up.

Actuated by a hefty torsion spring, the pop-up quickly set itself back in place and is ready for more after being shot. Available in two sizes – 14″x4″ and 20″x6″ – the 3/8-inch thick AR500 steel targets are perfect for any sort of pistol shooting you do.

MSRP: $129.11

Magnum Targets Steel Hostage Reactive IDPA

AR500 Reactive

With a steel hostage and chest flappers that when hit, Magnum Targets really spices up the traditional silhouette. It also potentially makes the style of target more useful. Enhancing drills while demanding the utmost accuracy, the steel target is ideal for honing your self-defense skills to a razor’s edge.

The 12″ x 22″ silhouette is more than enough to stand up to punishments from most defensive calibers. Constructed from 3/8-inch AR500 steel, at appropriate ranges it can also handle some rifle calibers—as long as the bullet delivers less than 2,100 ft/lbs of energy at point of impact. Regardless of what you favor, the target is an absolute blast.


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The Essential AR-15 Checklist

AR-15 wizard Patrick Sweeney reveals the critical things he checks on every AR he brings home.

Few gun scribes have spilled more ink on the AR-15 subject than Patrick Sweeney. In addition to being a respected law enforcement armorer, he’s authored thousands of articles, columns and dozens of books, including the popular title Gunsmithing the AR-15: The Bench Manual—specializing in AR-15 maintenance, troubleshooting, upgrading, gunsmithing and shooting.

GD: So, you’re this world-renowned AR-15 expert, you’re an AR-15 armorer. 

SWEENEY: [laughs] You’re gonna give me a swelled head if you keep this up.

GD: OK, but you find a good deal on a $700 AR-15, and you get it home.

SWEENEY: It used to be that if you spent $600 for an AR-15—and I’m dating myself here—that you were spending your money at the top of what you would be spending for an AR-15. Nowadays, you say to somebody that you got an AR for $600, and they go, “What’s wrong with it? What kind of cheap Chinese whatever is it that you just bought?” And people don’t blink at a $2,000 AR. Well, for $2,000 or $2,400, yeah, it better have all of these details taken care of.

GD: Where do you start? You get it home and what does Patrick do?

SWEENEY: Start at the muzzle and make sure that whatever flash hider or muzzle brake that’s on there is on straight and that your crown hasn’t been mangled or screwed with. You’d be surprised how badly a rifle reacts after somebody has dropped it in the dirt, and now it doesn’t shoot well anymore, so they sell it without telling you. So, look at that and make sure it’s fine.

From there, it’s back to the chamber, and the first thing to check is whether it’s a .223 or a 5.56 leade. Many people poo-poo the idea and think that .223 and 5.56 it’s all the same. I’ve seen enough guns in classes go down from shooting 5.56-rated ammo in a .223 leade that I check it. And except for a few brands like Daniel Defense, Geissele, Colt, a few others, when it says 5.56, you can bet all the money in your pocket that it is 5.56.

AR-15-checklist-barrel
This barrel is marked “5.56 NATO chromed.” That means it was chromed, but it wasn’t a 5.56 NATO throat. Markings can’t be trusted, with a few exceptions.

GD: So, you wouldn’t assume even if it says 5.56?

SWEENEY: I wouldn’t assume so, no. In one class I remember, we had half a dozen rifles with departments that issued them to officers, and the barrels said 5.56. And we gauged them, and four of the six that were marked 5.56 from companies we didn’t know weren’t; they were .223. But 5.56 sells rifles, so that’s what you mark it as. OK, fine, you put a racing stripe on a car; it doesn’t make it a street racer. And in the course of that class, all four of those rifles that had .223 chambers but were 5.56-marked went down with the malfunctions we associate with that particular problem.

M-guns-223-556-gauge
An excellent tool to tell if you have a .223 or 5.56 leade is the 223/556 Gauge from M-guns.

And I told the officers, “You should get that corrected, but we’re going to have a test here.” And sure enough, it was a five-day class, and I think it was the afternoon of Tuesday that these guns started having problems. So I used my gauge and reamer from Ned Christiansen to gauge each barrel and make sure it was [5.56], and if it wasn’t, to ream it out.

AR-15-checklist-reamer
This is the result of using the reamer from Ned Christiansen. A clean, 5.56-length leade that will control pressure spikes in your rifle.

One proviso: If you have a barrel that has been Melanite treated, you don’t ream it because it’s harder than any reamer you’re going to put in there.

popped-primer
A .223 leade means a “popped” primer. In this case, the primer ended up in the locking lug recess and kept the rifle from firing. Don’t blame S&W: This is not their upper on that lower.

GD: OK, what’s your next step?

SWEENEY: Next, we go to the bolt and carrier and make sure that the gas key is properly staked. And if it’s not, take it off, clean it up, tighten it back down with Loctite and stake it. Because if your gas key comes loose, you’ll lose gas pressure, and you’ve got malfunctions—the always “oh my God moment” of short-stroking AR-15s.

AR-staked-gas-key
If the manufacturer didn’t, you must stake your gas keys. The MOACKS tool’s staking bolts crush metal onto the gas key screws, keeping them from loosening and backing out.

Back in the early days, everyone assumed short-stroking meant that the people who made the barrel hadn’t drilled the gas port out large enough. People would go in there, hogging out gas ports … they would drill out the gas port to feed more gas to the leaky gas key so that the gun would cycle properly. And if you fit the gas key properly, so it wasn’t leaking anymore, all of a sudden, your brass is going off into the next county because, oh, they drilled out the gas key. No! Leave the gas ports alone.

Then, it’s onto extractors. If you don’t have an O-ring, or better yet, a defender on your extractor, your extractor’s under tension. The Army says carbines need the gold spring and the O-ring, but rifles don’t. The Army’s wrong. Every AR-15/M16, regardless of barrel length, needs all the extraction you can get on it.

From there, it’s back to the buffer. Personally, I like to run the heaviest buffer that the gun will properly cycle with. And some people like to tune it to this or that … but if it’s a standard buffer and the brass isn’t getting thrown too far, I’ll probably leave it alone. But I’m just as likely to throw a standard buffer into the bin with all the other standard buffers and put in an H or an H1.

The next thing is the castle nut on the buffer tube. It has to be staked. Now, I don’t care if your friend says you can torque it up tight enough or if you’ve got the super-great Loctite that will hold it tight. It’s gotta be staked.

AR-buffer-tube-and-retainer
A properly positioned buffer tube and a securely held buffer retainer. You want yours to look like this.

Last thing, the barrel nut must be tight. The specs say anywhere from 30 to 80 pounds of torque. If it lines up with a gas key with 30 ft-lb, I’m not sure I would go with that. I’ll yank it apart and put in a shim to get it to time up somewhere above 30 ft-lb.

But if you take a no-name AR and do all those things to it, it will run. You may not have the MOA rifle that everybody promises you is your birthright as an American to have, but it’ll run.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.


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New Guns And Gear January 2024

Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.

The New Guns And Gear:

Rock Island Armory TM22 Feather

RIA Tm22
Plinking, pest control, teaching youth—there are a lot of different roles a rimfire rifle can fill. Whether you already own one or several, given its very affordable price, the Rock Island Armory TM22 Feather is worth a look. With aesthetics inspired by old-school AR carbines, the TM22 is a lightweight semi-auto chambered for .22 LR. Despite the removable carry handle rear sight, it still has plenty of modern features. Among these are a top optics rail and fully adjustable stock. Plus, the pistol grip and buffer tube adapter can both be replaced by AR-pattern aftermarket parts. The rifle ships with two, 10-round magazines, but 15- and 25-round mags are available as well.
MSRP: $249


Chiappa Little Badger Take Down Xtreme Rifle

chiappa little badger
Whether you’re a bush pilot or a backpacker, having a firearm of any type can mean the difference between life and death if things go south. When space and weight considerations take priority over firepower, Chiappa’s Little Badger Take Down is a top option. A break-action single-shot .22LR, the Little Badger is capable of breaking down into two pieces, each about 16 inches in length. With a total weight of only 2.9 pounds, this is ideal for anyone who needs a compact survival gun. The rifle features built-in iron sights as well as Picatinny rail segments on the barrel and grip area for attaching accessories like a red-dot or a proper pistol grip. It might not be a standout at the range, but it could save your skin.
MSRP: $310.37


Smith & Wesson M&P22 Magnum

SW MP22
Fans of .22 Magnum should be excited to see Smith & Wesson’s latest foray into the caliber. Called the M&P22 Magnum, the pistol uses the same TEMPO barrel system as Smith’s new M&P 5.7 pistol chambered for 5.7x28mm. This unique system will theoretically improve the full-size polymer handgun’s performance and reliability, but perhaps the most notable feature of the M&P22 Magnum is its 30-round capacity. That’s a lot of firepower for what’s a relatively small package, and it would be just as useful for varmint control around one’s property as it would be fun at the range. Modern features like an optics-ready slide, accessory rail and flat trigger only make it more appealing.
MSRP: $649


Heritage Manufacturing Co. Tactical Rancher

heritage mfg
Tactical is a word that’s not too often used to describe revolvers, but Heritage’s Tactical Rancher is one of them. Just how tactical is it? Honestly, not that much, but it has a Picatinny rail for mounting optics, a threaded muzzle and provisions for attaching a sling, and that’s more than most revolver carbines can claim. The rifle comes with a six-round .22LR cylinder, but it can accept a .22 Magnum cylinder as well. Whatever cowboy operator fantasies you might have, the Tactical Rancher would be a solid way to live them out.
MSRP: $355.99


CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity

CCI
Anyone who shoots a lot of rimfire knows just how dirty these little guns can get. If you’re a high-volume .22LR shooter, CCI’s Clean-22 Hyper Velocity is a great option. This ammo is loaded with 31-grain round-nose projectiles that have been coated in purple polymer, resulting in less fouling. This is especially true if you have any cans on your rimfire guns, as CCI says that Clean-22 will reduce lead buildup in suppressors by up to 80 percent. With an advertised muzzle velocity of 1,550 fps, CCI ensures that the ammo is both accurate and reliable in semi-auto firearms.
MSRP: $10.99 / box of 50


Lapua .22 LR Super Long Range

lapua 22lr
The .22 LR cartridge is good at a lot of things, but shooting at long ranges isn’t one of them. Thankfully, companies like Lapua are working hard to mitigate that. Lapua .22LR Super Long Range was designed specifically for use at distances beyond 100 yards, making it a great choice for any shooter who needs accuracy at extended ranges. The load features a 40-grain round-nose projectile with an impressive G1 BC of 0.172 and an advertised muzzle velocity of 1,106 fps. Whether you’re a hunter, competition shooter or anything else, this ammo should help you hit your mark. It’s not cheap, but it could revolutionize your .22LR rig.
MSRP: About $0.45 per round


Winchester Ammunition XPERT .22 LR

winchester xpert
Winchester Repeating Arms released the Xpert .22LR bolt-action rifle not that long ago, and now Winchester Ammunition has designed the perfect ammo to go along with it. Bearing the same Xpert name, the ammunition features a 42-grain copper-plated hollow-point projectile and has an advertised muzzle velocity of 1,320 fps. Winchester says that the ammo is loaded very consistently and describes it as very flat shooting, making it easier to score good hits at longer ranges. Plus, the im-pressive velocity helps ensure reliable expansion. Whether you shoot paper for sport or game for sustenance, Xpert .22 LR will help get the job done right.
MSRP: About $0.10 per round

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.


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Best Concealed Carry Insurance Options (2024)

Eight major concealed carry insurance programs are now available to millions of Americans who carry concealed.

What are some of the concealed carry insurance organizations offering plans for responsible armed citizens?

According to a recent estimate by the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC), over 21.5 million Americans are now licensed to carry a firearm in the United States.

With that many and more legally licensed citizens — including those who keep guns strictly in the home for domestic protection, along with people who open carry or live in one of the dozen states that do not require licenses — the odds are increasing that someone will have to use their firearm to defend against a serious crime.

Arm Yourself With More Concealed Carry Knowledge

Realizing this possibility, at least eight organizations have recognized the need for some type of coverage plan for the armed citizen who might someday act in self-defense. Unlike television, stopping a villain with lethal force isn’t the end of the drama — it’s often just the beginning.

Stepping up to the plate with protection programs are the United States Concealed Carry Association, Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network, U.S. Law Shield, CCW Safe, Second Call Defense, Lockton Affinity Outdoor, Right To Bear and Firearms Legal Protection. Each has a slightly different approach to the challenge because in this game, there are problems and there are solutions.

The hard truth is that most armed citizens simply have no idea of the legal minefield they step into the second they press the trigger. As more than one of the people we interviewed explained, from that moment, your life is changed forever.

Learn More: 5 Things You Must Know About CCW Insurance

Even if no criminal charge is filed, because we live in a litigious society, there are attorneys just chomping at the bit to make life miserable for armed citizens in civil court. That’s the reality. Defending a life with a firearm can break people — it can destroy life savings, families and jobs.

What You Need To Look For In CCW Insurance

Whether home, auto or concealed carry, insurance policies cover only certain things. In turn, you need to take the time to consider exactly what each option offers and if it will fit the minimum you need to protect you after a righteous shooting.

While many concealed carry insurance policies cover several expenses you’ll possibly encounter (we’ll get to those shortly), there are coverage areas that are essential in a good plan.

Attorney Fees: This is the meat and potatoes of any CCW insurance plan and should be where you put most of your consideration. Criminal and civil defense doesn’t come cheap and if your case goes to trial you might find a bill that runs up to six figures. It is a good idea to review if a policy covers retainer, criminal defense and civil defense and damages.

Bail Bond: Whiling away in a jail cell is a miserable experience, and is detrimental. You need to earn a living, consult with your attorney and put your affairs in order. All of these are difficult to accomplish behind bars, which is why bail-bond coverage is typically part of a sound concealed carry insurance policy.

Coverage Across State Lines: Insurance laws differ from state to state, which can cause problems if you travel with your defensive firearm. If you tool around the country you must read the fine print of where each policy covers you.

Expert Resources: One of the best ways to protect yourself from the legal ramifications of a lethal-force event is to understand the law and your rights. Access to solid and well-researched resources on these topics and concealed carry training prove invaluable and make you a more proficient armed citizen.

Other Areas Of Concealed Carry Coverage

In many cases, CCW policies go well beyond legal expenses and cover some other aspects you might not have considered, but you’ll possibly be on the hook for:

  • Crime Scene Clean Up
  • Negligent Discharge
  • Spouse And Family Self-Defense
  • Property Damage
  • Firearms Replacement
  • Work Loss Coverage
  • Personal Use Of Firearm (non-defensive)

You’ll find there are other areas covered by some concealed carry insurance plans worth contemplating. Many of them fall within the policies themselves, however, some cost extra. Certainly, they’ll make a plan more expensive, but are heartening, given how quickly expenses can add up if you’re involved in a self-defense situation.

Policy Caps

Insurance, no matter what it covers, has caps. In short, there is a set amount of money it will cover, then you’re on the hook for the rest. This goes for any of the add-ons you might select for your plan, as well.

concealed carry Insurance - 3

Your budget dictates how much you can afford in a concealed carry insurance plan, but you want to make certain you don’t undercut yourself when it comes to coverage. On the surface, something along the lines of $250,000 coverage for attorney’s fees might sound solid, but could potentially shelter you from only a fraction of the total expense.

Concealed Carry Insurance Options

Concealed Carry Insurance USCCA

The United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA)

Pros
One of the most established and largest – 660,000 paying members – concealed carry-focused associations in the country, United States Concealed Carry Association brings a lot of gravitas to the game. The company's focus is what it calls its “Three Pillars”—mental, physical and legal preparedness. In turn, the company offers firearms and concealed carry training and resources with membership, as well as an insurance plan that many consider among the best available.

Cons
A deal-breaker for some, USCCA is geographically limited. While membership is available in most states, New York, New Jersey and Washington state residents are out of luck. Also, while not exactly a con, the Platinum and Elite plans cost more money than the entry-level Gold plan despite not offering any extra-legal services. The Gold plan already grants full access to USCCA's self-defense liability insurance and all the benefits that it includes. The two more expensive plans merely grant access to USCCA's CCW knowledge resources. If those options interest you, there's nothing wrong with them, but be aware that if all you want is CCW insurance the Gold plan is all you need.

Membership
Gold Plan: $29 monthly/$299 annual; Platinum $39 monthly/$399 annual; Elite $49 monthly/$499 annual

Legal Resources

  • Self-defense liability insurance for defense expenses with no limits for covered self-defense incidents
  • $100,000 bail expense
  • $2,000,000 annual aggregate liability limit
  • $10,000 for any combination of “incidental expenses”
  • Up to $750 per day loss of earning coverage
  • You choose your criminal defense attorney
  • 24/7/365 access to Critical Response Team

Other Resources

  • Access to USCCA's CCW-related knowledge resources.
  • Concealed Carry Magazine subscription

Armed Citizens Legal Defense

Pros
There are some weighty names from legal, self-defense and firearms areas at your disposal with the organization. In turn, you have some true firepower if you go to trial. Right off the bat, with Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network you get up to $25,000 for bail and $25,000 for an attorney, of your choice, for both criminal and civil cases. As legal proceedings go on, the network can provide more monetary support for criminal, civil, appeals and retrials. Furthermore, it’s an inexpensive organization to become a part of, $135 your first year and $95 per year after.

Cons
ACLDN is not an insurance plan – it’s a pre-paid legal service – so its coverage isn’t as extensive as many others. It doesn’t cover civil damages or compensation while you’re in court or firearm loss protection. Additionally, further monetary support, past the initial $25,000, goes through a review board before it’s awarded. And there’s no tiering to the program – it’s one-size-fits-all.

Membership

$135 Initial 1-year Membership; $95 1-year Renewal

Legal Resources

  • Up to $25,000 paid to the member's attorney by the Network if the member has been involved in a self-defense incident
  • Further grants may be available
  • Up to $25,000 to post bail on behalf of a member who has used force in self-defense
  • Access to Network’s affiliate lawyers
  • Case review by network experts
  • Access to Network’s expert witnesses

Other Resources

  • Eight-DVD set of lectures explaining the use of deadly force for self-defense, the legal aftermath of using a gun in self-defense, and how attorneys prepare the court case defending one who used deadly force in self-defense.
  • Monthly journal

U.S. Law Shield

US Law Shield

Pros
What you get for the price of the plan is among the biggest selling points of U.S. Law Shield (originally known as Texas Law Shield). Essentially, there is no cap on the coverage of legal fees, both for criminal and civil proceedings. This is incredible peace of mind, given how quickly those expenses add up. For $10.95 monthly payments and $19.95 set-up fee, that’s a lot of coverage. No wonder the Texas-based program has some 700,000-plus members and keeps growing. Not the case at one point in its history, the plan is presently available in all states–except Washington, New Jersey and New York–as well as Washington DC and Puerto Rico.

Cons
First and foremost, you have to use an attorney from the network that they choose. This is potentially a turn-off for many, with good reason. In all likelihood, this will be the most important lawyer you’ll ever hire and you’ll have little say on who it is. The other issue, many of the coverage areas that come standard in other policies are add-ons, geographically limited, or unavailable. A good example, nationwide coverage costs another $2.95 a month, which may or may not make a difference to you.

Membership
Individual $10.95 monthly/$131.40 annual; Two Adults $21.90 monthly/$240 annual

Legal Resources

  • No cap on attorney fees criminal and civil
  • 24/7/365 access to Attorney-Answered Emergency Hotline
  • Non-emergency access to independent program attorneys
  • Option to purchase Bail Bond and Expert Witness add-on coverage

Other Resources

  • State-specific educational videos, law updates, and online resources

CCW Safe

CCW Safe

Pros
No cap for criminal and civil legal defense, both covered up front, is the most eye-catching aspect of the CCW Safe plan. Up to $100,000 in bail bond protection doesn’t hurt either. These are generally the meat and potatoes of any concealed carry insurance program and this one has them in spades. In addition to that, the plan has up to $1 million of civil damage protection through its basic permit-holder plan. CCW Safe also offers a multitude of options, including policies for constitutional carry states, home defense and active and retired law enforcement. Note, the coverage differs from plan to plan, so read the fine print.

Cons
While the plans overall are among the most comprehensive, there are a few caveats. You can choose your attorney, however, they must be vetted by CCW Safe first – this may or may not be a con, depending on how you look at it. The constitutional carry plan only works in your state, so you're naked once you cross the state line. And there are certain conditions CCW Safe spell out up front that will negate your policy, such as the use of force against a family member or someone in your residence with your permission. CCW Safe is also not available in New York, New Jersey or the state of Washington (except some NY LEOs).

Protector Plan

$179 annual

Eligibility
Retired/Active Military and Law Enforcement with a concealed carry permit

Legal Resources

  • Access to our 24-hour emergency hotline
  • Critical Response Team on site
  • $500,000 bail coverage
  • Vetting of Attorneys by National Trial Counsel
  • Unlimited Attorney fees covered upfront
  • Unlimited Investigators covered upfront
  • Unlimited Expert Witnesses covered upfront
  • All trial fees covered upfront
  • Firearm Replacement during trial
  • Spouse and children under 18 covered in home only
  • Up to $5,000 in red flag law defense
  • Up to $250 a day of work loss while in criminal or civil trial
  • Up to 10 sessions (up to $1,500) for a licensed counselor
  • Up to $3,000 for crime scene clean-up home
  • Appeals and expungements covered

Add Ons

  • Spouse $100
  • $1 million bail coverage $50
  • $1 million dedicated civil liability $220

Defender Plan

$209 annual

Eligibility
Valid Carry Permit

Legal Resources

  • Access to our 24-hour emergency hotline
  • $500,000 of bail coverage
  • Critical Response Team on site
  • Vetting of Attorneys by National Trial Counsel
  • Unlimited Attorney fees covered upfront
  • Unlimited Investigators covered upfront
  • Unlimited Expert Witnesses covered upfront
  • All Trial Costs covered upfront
  • Firearm Replacement during trial
  • Up to $5,000 in red flag law defense
  • Up to $250 a day work loss while in criminal or civil trial
  • Up to 10 sessions (up to $1,500) for a licensed counselor
  • Up to $3,000 for crime scene clean-up home
  • Appeals and expungement covered

Add Ons

  • Spouse $100
  • $1 million bail coverage $50
  • $1 million dedicated civil liability $220

Constitutional Carry

$299 annual

Eligibility
Constitutional Carry States

Legal Resources

  • Access to our 24-hour emergency hotline
  • $250,000 bail coverage
  • Attorney fees
  • Investigators fees
  • Experts
  • Appeals and Firearm Replacement during trial
  • Up to $250 a day work loss while in criminal or civil trial
  • Up to $5,000 in red flag law defense
  • Up to 10 sessions (up to $1,500) for a licensed counselor
  • Up to $3,000 for crime scene clean-up home

Add Ons

  • Spouse $100
  • $1 million bail coverage $50
  • $1 million dedicated civil liability $220

Home Defense

$299 annual

Eligibility
In-Home Coverage For You And Family

Legal Resources

  • Access to our 24-hour emergency hotline
  • Up to $250,000 in bail coverage
  • Unlimited Attorney fees covered upfront
  • Unlimited Investigators covered upfront
  • Unlimited Expert Witnesses covered upfront
  • Up to $5,000 in red flag defense
  • Appeals and Firearm Replacement during trial
  • Up to $250 a day work loss while in criminal or civil trial
  • Up to 10 sessions (up to $4k) for a licensed counselor
  • Up to $3k for crime scene clean-up home

Add Ons

  • Spouse $100
  • $1 million bail coverage $50
  • $1 million dedicated civil liability $220

HR218

$399 annual

Eligibility
Active, retired, and former law enforcement officers that meet the requirements for the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA)

Legal Resources

  • Coverage for Criminal, Civil and Administrative Actions
  • Access to our 24-hour emergency hotline
  • Critical Response Team on site
  • $1 Million bail coverage
  • Vetting of Attorneys by National Trial Counsel
  • Unlimited Attorney fees covered up front
  • Unlimited Investigators covered upfront
  • Unlimited Expert Witnesses covered upfront
  • All trial fees covered up front
  • Firearm Replacement during trial
  • Up to $5,000 red flag defense
  • Spouse and children under 18 covered in home only
  • Up to $250 a day work loss while in criminal or civil trial
  • Up to 10 sessions (up to $4k) for a licensed counselor
  • Up to $3k for crime scene clean-up home
  • Appeals and expungements covered
  • Dedicated $1MM Civil Liability coverage

Second Call Defense

Second Call Defense

Pros
Of all the options, Second Call Defense perhaps offers the widest spectrum of tiering. You can get into their entry-level plan for $9.95 a month or choose their “Cadillac” plan for $34.95 per month. The top-tier plan is fairly comprehensive, offering $100,000 of coverage for criminal defense attorney fees and $1,000,000 for civil. Furthermore, in the top-end plan, you’re eligible for up to $250,000 in civil damage protection. You also get to choose your attorney.

Cons
The entry-level plan is pretty close to “better than nothing.” It only covers $10,000 of legal fees pertaining to a civil case against you and is very limited in its criminal defense – up to $100,000 toward your attorney fees, $2,000 for a retainer and $1,000 for bail bond. Is that worth $10 per month? You’ll have to decide that for yourself.

Basic

$9.95 monthly; $119 annual

Insurance Protection
Criminal Defense Protection – Up to $100,000
Civil Defense Protection (accidental shooting) – Up to $10,000

Financial Support

  • Immediate Cash for Bond – $10,000
  • Immediate Attorney Retainer – $2,000

Rapid Response Team

  • 24/7 Emergency Legal Hotline
  • Personal Crisis Manager
  • Nationwide Attorney Network Access
  • Local Attorney Referral within 24 hours
  • Emergency Contact Notification

Training & Education

  • Member Newsletter
  • Self Defense News

Add Ons
Spouse $48 annual

Defender

$14.95 monthly; $179 annual

Insurance Protection

  • Civil Suit Defense Protection – up to $500,000
  • Civil Suit Damages Protection – up to $50,000
  • Criminal Defense Protection – up to $100,000
  • Accidental Shooting Protection – up to $50,000

Financial Support

  • Immediate Cash for Bond – $50,000
  • Immediate Attorney Retainer – $5,000
  • Aftermath Cleanup – $1,000
  • Compensation While in Court – $250/day

Rapid Response Team

  • 24/7 Emergency Legal Hotline
  • Personal Crisis Manager
  • Nationwide Attorney Network Access
  • Local Attorney Referral within 24 hours
  • Emergency Contact Notification
  • Expert Witness Coordination
  • Gun Retrieval or Replacement
  • Psychological Support7 – 20 sessions
  • On-Site Assistance

Training & Education

  • Member Newsletter
  • Self Defense News
  • Online Training

Add Ons
Spouse $60

Ultimate

$34.95 monthly; $399 annual

Insurance Protection

  • Civil Suit Defense Protection – up to $1,000,000
  • Civil Suit Damages Protection – up to $250,000
  • Criminal Defense Protection – up to $100,000
  • Accidental Shooting Protection – up to $250,000

Financial Support

  • Immediate Cash for Bond – $250,000
  • Immediate Attorney Retainer – $10,000
  • Aftermath Cleanup – $2,000
  • Compensation While in Court – $500/day

Rapid Response Team

  • 24/7 Emergency Legal Hotline
  • Personal Crisis Manager
  • Nationwide Attorney Network Access
  • Local Attorney Referral within 24 hours
  • Emergency Contact Notification
  • Expert Witness Coordination
  • Gun Retrieval or Replacement
  • Psychological Support – 40 sessions
  • On-Site Assistance

Training & Education

  • Member Newsletter
  • Self Defense News
  • Online Training

Add Ons
Spouse $80 annual


FLP_Logo_Web-Header


Pros
A bit overshadowed by some of the larger players, Firearms Legal Protection nonetheless offers impressive coverage. Again, a tiered program, FLP allows armed citizens to choose a plan that best fits their budget and needs. And as far as entry-level options go, they offer an impressive one: uncapped attorney fees for civil and criminal defense for $16.95 a month. As you go up the ladder, the more expensive plans offer some of the total coverage many look for, such as firearm loss protection, compensation while in court and the choice of your attorney. Also, an interesting and timely twist, all FLP plans cover against Extreme Risk Protection Order, or “Red Flag” laws, accusations.

Cons
As far as entry-level concealed carry insurance is concerned, it’s only applicable to a self-defense event that happens in your state. You can get nationwide coverage, however, you’ll have to spend more. Also, it’s presently only available in 30 states, so Firearms Legal Protection is somewhat limited geographically.

Basic Individual

$16.95 monthly; $199 annual

Eligibility
Coverage for one person in their home state.

Legal Resources

  • Uncapped attorney fees for defense for criminal and civil cases
  • 24/7 emergency hotline
  • Extreme Risk Protection Order Coverage

Premium Individual

$27.95 monthly; $329 annual

Eligibility
Multi-State Coverage

Legal Resources

  • Uncapped attorney fees for defense for criminal and civil cases
  • 24/7 emergency hotline
  • Extreme Risk Protection Order Coverage
  • Bail bond protection up to $250,000
  • Expert witness/investigator fees
  • Lost wages reimbursement
  • Firearm confiscation payment
  • Incident scene clean-up fee
  • My FLP mobile app

Premium Family

$44.95 monthly; $539 annual

Eligibility
Multi-state comprehensive coverage for member, spouse and minor children

Legal Resources

  • Uncapped attorney fees for defense for criminal and civil cases
  • 24/7 emergency hotline
  • Extreme Risk Protection Order Coverage
  • Bail bond protection up to $250,000
  • Expert witness/investigator fees
  • Minor children coverage
  • Lost wages reimbursement
  • Firearm confiscation payment
  • Incident scene clean-up fee
  • My FLP mobile app

Right To Bear

right-to-bear-insurance

Pros
A new player to the game—as in just last year (2021)—Right to Bear has leaped into the CCW insurance game with booth feet. No surprise, the company is under JJE umbrella, the parent of Palmetto State Armory. Offering four levels of coverage, each multi-state (excluding New York, California and Washington), the company offers fairly comprehensive coverage with options for any budget and a fair selection of useful add-ons. Additionally, policy extras, such as psychological support, seem thoughtful.

Cons
Close attention has to be paid to how each policy pays out, given there are per incident and aggregate total limits. Accidental Discharge coverage is an additional expense.

Bronze

$10.95 moth/$115 annually

Insurance Protection
Civil/Criminal defense liability coverage up to $50,000
$25,000 per incident/$50,000 aggregate total

Add-Ons

  • Spousal Coverage $48
  • Compensation in Court $35
  • Bail Bond Reimbursement $75
  • Accidental Discharge $75

Silver

$20.95 monthly/$235 annually

Insurance Protection
Civil/Criminal defense liability coverage up to $500,000
$250,000 per incident, $500,000 aggregate total

Add-Ons

  • Spousal Coverage $60
  • Compensation in Court $35
  • Bail Bond Reimbursement $75
  • Accidental Discharge $75

Gold

$33.95 monthly/ $385 annually

Insurance Protection
Civil/Criminal defense liability coverage up to $1,000,000
$500,000 per incident, $1,000,000 aggregate total

Add-Ons

  • Spousal Coverage $80
  • Compensation in Court $35
  • Bail Bond Reimbursement $75
  • Accidental Discharge $75

Platinum

$50.95 monthly/ $595 annually

Insurance Protection
Civil/Criminal defense liability coverage up to $2,000,000
$1,000,000 per incident, $2,000,000 aggregate total

Add-Ons

  • Spousal Coverage $100
  • Compensation in Court $35
  • Bail Bond Reimbursement $75
  • Accidental Discharge $75

Included On All Policies

  • Multi-State Coverage
  • Psychological Support
  • Expert Witnesses

Lockton Affinity Outdoor Personal Firearm Liability Insurance

Lockton Affinity

Pros
Offered by a subgroup of the Armmlife company, this option is officially called Lockton Affinity Outdoor’s Personal Firearm Liability Insurance, and this is a true individual coverage plan. This makes it different than the majority of the companies on this list that instead offer memberships that gives access to insurance policies or prepaid legal defense. Advertised as coverage for responsible, smart and legal gun owners, Lockton's different plans are easy to understand with four clear tiers offered depending on the coverage needed. Regardless of the plan chosen, they all will cover lawful personal defense instances, accidental discharges, hunting/shooting accidents and lost or stolen firearms.

Cons
As a true individual insurance policy, nothing else is offered alongside the coverage. While many of the other options on this list include coverage as well as various hotlines and legal/training resources, all Lockton offers is insurance.

Plan Limits With Annual Pricing

  • $75 Annual: $250,000 Combined single limit/$50,000 Defense reimbursement sublimit
  • $125 Annual: $500,000 Combined single limit/$100,000 Defense reimbursement sublimit
  • $175 Annual: $1,000,000 Combined single limit/$150,000 Defense reimbursement sublimit
  • $265 Annual: $1,500,000 Combined single limit/$250,000 Defense reimbursement sublimit

Conclusion

That, essentially, is what each of these self-defense insurance plans offers: an advocate rather than just a public defender who might, or might not, have a full grasp of self-defense, much less any sympathy for an armed citizen. It might come as no shock at all to many people, but not all attorneys sympathize with gun owners who fire in self-defense.

People can take their chances with a public defender, or they can rely on the experts associated with these concealed carry insurance membership programs. Clearly, a lot of thought went into each of these efforts, and the ultimate beneficiary is the armed citizen.



Ammo Brief: .22-15-60 Stevens

A quick look at .22-15-60 Stevens, nothing but a blip on the radar in the world of cartridges.

One of a number of cartridges for the Stevens 44 or 44½ series of single-shot rifles, this cartridge was introduced by Stevens in 1896. Actual design is credited to Charles H. Herrick, of Winchester, Massachusetts. It did not enjoy a particularly long life, as most shooters preferred the .25-21 or some of the larger-caliber cartridges. Many shooters claimed the .22-15 Stevens gave better accuracy than the .22 WCF.

Cartridges-of-the-World-16th-edition-550×725 (2)
This is an excerpt from Cartridge's Of The World, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

General Comments

This is an improved centerfire .22 of better killing power than other .22s of its day. With the heavy 60-grain bullet, it would shoot flat for 125 yards or so. As a target or match cartridge, most of the blackpowder .22s fouled the bore badly and required frequent cleaning. Most shooters preferred the larger calibers of .25 on up.

22-15-60-Stevens-data
*Estimated

The .22-15-60 was displaced by the .22 WCF and smokeless powder developments in the rimfire group. Original primer was the 1½ size, the same as the modern small rifle or pistol primer of .175-inch diameter. Charge was 15 grains of FFFFg or FFFg. Lyman No. 22636 or 22637 in 54- to 60-grain weight is the proper bullet. Therefore, if you should have one of these old rifles in shooting condition, you can still shoot it—if you can find cases.

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt of Gun Digest's Cartridge's Of The World.


Raise Your Ammo IQ:

Ammo Brief: 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser

A quick look at 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser, the 6.5mm pioneer.

Jointly developed by Norway and Sweden in 1894, this cartridge was adopted by both countries as an official military chambering. Originally, both countries loaded and used essentially identical ammunition. Later, the Swedes modified dimensions and loaded it to a higher pressure for use in their Mauser rifles, while the Norwegians kept the original version for use in the Krag rifle.

In 1990, the National Rifle Associations of Denmark, Norway and Sweden agreed on a standardized set of drawings and specifications, renaming the cartridge 6.5×55 SKAN. It’s quite popular throughout Scandinavia for hunting all types of game, including moose. It’s also a popular choice for 300-meter target shooting and other forms of rifle competition.

Cartridges-of-the-World-16th-edition-550×725 (2)
This is an excerpt from Cartridge's Of The World, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

Prior to World War II, the 6.5×55 Swedish was almost unknown in the United States. After the war, Canadian and U.S. sportsmen became acquainted with this chambering through the thousands of surplus Swedish Mauser rifles sold in North America. Canadian sportsmen were first to appreciate the virtues of this cartridge in the 1950s and 1960s. U.S. sportsmen arrived at the same conclusions in the 1970s and 1980s.

Other than imported rifles from Scandinavian countries, few sporting rifles in this chambering were available in the U.S. until the 1990s. This has changed, as Winchester has offered its Featherweight M70 rifle and Ruger its M77 rifle in this chambering and Barrett, CZ, T/C, Mauser, Howa and Sauer & Sohn have also chambered bolt actions in this round.

6×55-swedish-mauser-load-data
6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser loading data and factory ballistics.

General Comments

The 6.5×55 was one of the first 6.5mm cartridges to catch on in the United States. For many years, Norma of Sweden was the only manufacturer of this cartridge, until 1991-92, when Federal Cartridge Co. added it to its Premium product line. The cartridge continues to gain popularity, as surplus Swedish Mauser rifles are still being imported.

Two reasons for its growth in popularity are low recoil and superb accuracy. It’s an excellent deer and antelope cartridge, and it’s also suitable for bear and elk under good conditions at moderate ranges. Because of its flat trajectory, it’s an outstanding choice in lightweight rifles for hunting sheep and goat in mountainous terrain.

Lack of suitable bullets and handload data handicapped the full potential of this cartridge for many years. This has changed, as good bullets and reloading data are now available from most component manufacturers. The 140-grain bullets are best for most types of hunting and are also the most accurate. The 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser case is not related to typical Mauser cartridge cases.

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt of Gun Digest's Cartridge's Of The World.


Raise Your Ammo IQ:

New Guns And Gear December 2023

Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.

The New Guns And Gear:

Garmin C1 Pro Chronograph

Garmin chrono
Is it time to jettison your bulky chronographs and Doppler radars? If Garmin has anything to say about it, then … yes. Perhaps a game-changing addition to the company’s catalog, the C1 Pro Chronograph puts the power of radar into a package small enough to fit into a jacket pocket. Shooters who clock their rounds on the regular understand what a big deal this is. Even better, the C1 Pro is completely wireless and works in conjunction with Garmin’s ShotView smartphone app to deliver precise data and catalog it, so you have a dead-nuts ballistic profile at your fingertips. In addition to velocity, the radar offers up a host of other vital information—from power factor to kinetic energy—to give you an unparalleled picture of your ammo’s performance. The unit reads velocities from 100 to 5,000 fps, making it just as handy for archery and airguns as it is your long-range tack driver.
MSRP: $600


Brownells BRN-601

Brownells carry handle upper
A bit out of the ordinary, retro AR builds have proven all the rage in recent years. Who doesn’t want a little something harkening back to the early days of Stoner’s creation? If you count yourself among these ranks, it might be time to check out Brownells. Long on throwback build components, the company has reintroduced one of its classic complete upper configurations—the BRN-601. A detail-accurate replica of the upper receiver on the first AR-15-type rifle adopted in the early 1960s, it features the correct “slickside” receiver, fine-quality matte gray anodized finish, a 20-inch 5.56x45mm NATO barrel with a 1:12-inch twist and chrome-lined bore. Additionally, a chromed slickside M16 bolt-carrier group with a robust 9310 steel alloy bolt comes as part of the package, as does the distinctive original three-prong “duckbill” flash hider.
MSRP: $900


Mesa Tactical-KynSHOT Shotgun Recoil Reducer

mesa tactica
If a shotgun is your preferred method of defense, one of the concerns in wielding it properly is recoil management. Mesa Tactical and Kyntec Technologies take a load off of dealing with kick in an intriguing partnership: Mesa is now the exclusive dealer of KynSHOT Recoil Reducers, which work seamlessly in conjunction with the company’s buffer mounts. Available in adjustable and non-adjustable models, the hydraulic buffer eats up nearly 60 to 90 percent of a scattergun’s recoil (depending on model), making the firearm much more manageable and faster, shot-to-shot. These hydraulic recoil buffers are exclusive to Mesa Tactical and are available as standalone components or as part of Mesa’s AR stock adapter.
MSRP: Starting at $186


Real Avid Master Gun Workstation

real avid gun workstation
Honestly, if you’re going to do any DIY firearms work, you’re going to need the right tools for the job. Real Avid gives you the foundation for this with its new Master Gun Workstation. At the heart of the Master Gun Workstation is a convenient quick-adjustable clamp feature that allows for fast and secure gun placement with one-handed tightening, ensuring a perfectly positioned firearm with minimal effort and frustration. The yoke is also one-hand adjustable for both width and height, and with an impressive 18.3 inches of travel, it’s easily accommodating the longest rifles and shotguns. Plus, it boasts a unique integrated leveling knob to aid optics mounting, with up to +/- 3 degrees of adjustment.
MSRP: $200


MDT Field Stock

MDT field stock
Few DIY rifle projects offer better results than a stock upgrade. This component, after all, is the foundation of an accurate iron. MDT has become one of the industry’s leaders in providing just this advantage, and the company now offers a hybrid system ideal for nearly any precision endeavor. Christened the “Field Stock,” the traditionally shaped polymer stock provides a rock-solid shooting base with its aluminum core, complete with V-block bedding—for air-tight matting with the action. It offers a one-size-fits-all system, with a fully adjustable stock boasting both length-of-pull adjustment and comb rise. The stock is configurable for any shooting discipline with sling swivel studs and its M-Lok forend enables you to customize your rifle for hunting, competition or casual long-range shooting. Presently, the Field Stock is compatible with Remington 700 SA actions.
MSRP: $300


Luth-AR Titanium Nitride Coated Bolt Carrier

Luth-AR BCG
Getting the most out of your AR isn’t simply a matter of upgrading it to hit the mark every time—it’s also ensuring the rifle runs like a top every time you pull the trigger. Luth-AR goes a long way in delivering this peace of mind with the release of its Titanium Nitride (TiN) Coated Complete AR-15 Bolt Carrier. Known for its wear resistance, reducing friction and improving overall reliability, the TiN-coated BCG offers nearly failsafe improvement to your carbine’s internal components. If that doesn’t sell you, the fact the coating also reduced carbon buildup should—because who doesn’t want to cut down on cleaning duties?
MSRP: $150


Hornady Lab Scale

Hornady lab scale
Of all firearms DIYers, reloaders might be the most obsessive. If you count yourself among these ranks, Hornady has produced just the tool for you: Shake hands with the Lab Scale. Engineered to be a best-in-class device, the precise scale delivers unparalleled measurements so you can tune your loads with the smallest margin of error. How tight are the tolerances? Down to the hundredth of a grain, which is borderline ridiculous. But this is likely music to the ears of extreme-range shooters. The lab scale has a 3,000-grain upper limit and allows loaders some interesting functions, such as count, load compare and percentages. Heck, it even comes with a hood to minimize environmental factors when weighing.
MSRP: $566

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.


Get More Guns And Gear:

Gun Deals: Pre-Black Friday, Black Friday And Cyber Monday (2023)

From all across the web, we've searched high and low for some of the best deals we can find! From tactical gear to firearms, from ammo to footwear, we've dug down deep to deliver some delicious discounts!

Take a scroll and see the best Black Friday & Cyber Monday Gun Deals!

Check back often because we're updating this article LIVE throughout the week!

PSA AR-15 in 5.56 NATO with a 16″ barrel and Magpul MBUS sights, just $480!

Keep it simple, keep yourself safe. PSA middy rifle kit that just needs a lower and comes in black, FDE, or OD green.

PSA 16″ Midlength 5.56 NATO 1:7 Nitride MOE Black Rifle Kit Black — $359

PSA 16″ Midlength 5.56 NATO 1:7 Nitride MOE Black Rifle Kit OD Green — $359

PSA 16″ Midlength 5.56 NATO 1:7 Nitride MOE Black Rifle Kit FDE — $359

Blem 16″ mid-length gas system 5.56 NATO upper for just $220! No BCG or CH.

A blem for a killer deal! PSA Freedom AR-15 rifle kit. Just add a stripped lower and build it out! $320

No BCG or charging handle with this upper, but it does come with Magpul MBUS sights! 16″ M4 1:7 twist 5.56 NATO just $280

Something for the battle rifle boys, PSA gen 3 PA10 18″ .308 WIN upper WITH BCG and CH for only $480

Save more money and get a stainless steel barrel with this blem PA10 18″ .308 Win upper! Comes with a BCG and a charging handle for only $470

Another blem, 5.56 NATO, 16″ barrel, PSA PA-15 for $480. Throw a red dot on this and it is ready for anything!

Now that pistols are back on the menu, take a look at this PSA AR-15 Pistol Kit with a 10.5″ barrel, 12″ handguard, and SBA3 EPT brace for just $500

OTHER DEALS

PSA 7″ Nitride 1:7 Pistol Length 5.56 NATO Marauder AR-15 Upper Assembly, Black – No BCG/CH

PSA 16″ Mid-Length 5.56 NATO 1/7 Nitride 13.5″ Lightweight M-Lok MOE EPT Rifle w/MBUS Sight Set

PSA 11.5″ 5.56 10.5″ STS Railed Upper w/BCG&CH

BLEM PSA PA-15 5.56 AR-15 Rifle 16″ Nitride M4 CRBN 13.5″ M-LOK

PSA PA-15 11.5” Carbine-Length 5.56 NATO 1/7 Phosphate BTR Classic Pistol w/Carry Handle

BLEM PSA AR15 Complete MOE EPT Stealth Lower, Black

PSA 10.5″ 5.56 NATO 1/7 Nit 12″ Slant M-lok MOE EPT SBA3 PK

Palmetto State Armory Magpul MOE Lower Build Kit, Black

PSA MFT Minimalist Lower Build Kit, Black

PSA 16″ Mid-length 5.56 NATO 1:7 Nitride 13.5″ Lightweight M-Lok Upper With Nickel Boron BCG & CH

Upgrade your workbench with this Real Avid gun vice and AR-15 armorer’s kit combo

Give your rifle some extra range and versatility with this Sig Sauer Tango 6x24mm LPVO scope

In need of a competent, no-frills red dot sight, the Vortex SPARC II is available for nearly half off

Mira Safety EvakPak Survival Kit

Can you put a price on peace of mind? Be ready for the worst with Mira Safety’s EvakPak Survival Kit. It includes a gas mask, filters, a pouch and potassium iodine tablets for only $324.99!

Walker's Razor Slim Earmuffs

Magpul Patrol Glove 2.0 Lightweight Tactical Leather Gloves

Magpul DAKA GRID Gun Case Organizer Foam Insert for Pelican Vault Multi-Purpose Hard Case

Magpul Case

Tyrant CNC

10% off the best sellers plus free shipping and free stickers. Random orders will also win a free knife, free tactical pen, and more!

Podavach Speed Loaders

One of the most simple and easy-to-use AR/AK speed loaders on the market. We’ve loaded thousands of rounds with ours and love it. Up to 45% off for Black Friday!

Spartan Armor Systems

Up to 25% off sitewide! This means plates, carriers, backpacks, and loads more. Armor up!

Olight

Maybe not the right lighting solution for everyone, but at the Black Friday 50% off prices Olight has going right now, it’s hard to say no. Take a look!

Primary Arms

Save sitewide with Pre-Black Friday codes and then shop the mega sales for Black Friday! Primary Arms optics, mounts, Holosun, Streamlight, TriggerTech, and a ton more are on sale.

Wheeler Tools

You’ll need some tools to finish all the Black Friday builds you just bought! Up to 50% off on Wheeler tools like their F.A.T. wrench, Gunsmithing screwdriver set, roll pin punch set, and so m

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