Timney finds an extra gear for Glocks with its Alpha Competition Series Trigger.
When shooters think triggers, Timney generally comes to mind. From upgrading war-trophy Mauser rifles for the hunting woods to picking up the pace of a souped-up AR-15, the manufacturer has set the standard for more than half a century. Now it’s tackling Glock.
The Timney Alpha Competition Series for Glock raises the bar of aftermarket upgrades for the iconic striker-fired pistol, offering not only performance, but safety. Safety? Quite so, with the trigger’s small footprint leaving the entire upper of the pistol stock, thus maintaining its precise factory integrity. The frame, on the other hand, receives a new trigger bar and shoe that install in true drop-in fashion. As to what it brings to the table, a break-like-glass 3-pound pull weight and minuscule reset that remains the same from shot one through one thousand.
Timney’s expert engineering is one part of the Alpha Competition Series performance. The other, quality manufacturing. Both the trigger bar and sear are Teflon nickel (NP3) coated, adding a layer of resilience to the parts and also eliminating virtually all friction. This also makes the pull smooth as polished marble. The straight aluminum trigger, complete with blade safety, give the pistol a sporty appearance—thanks to the cherry-red blade—and facilitate proper finger placement and linear pull with its flat face. Additionally, the architecture does its part in reducing the felt pull weight of the already snappy trigger.
For its launch, The Alpha Competition is available for Glock Gen 3 and 4 pistols. Expect more options down the line. And, for what shooters get—whether upgrading a race gun or a carry piece—the trigger proves an excellent value at $149.99.
For more information on the Timney Alpha Competition Series Trigger for Glock, please visit timneytriggers.com.
Heritage's Barkeep rimfire revolver is a pint-sized blast.
There are those things that no matter how archaic they become never lose their allure. Fireplaces, antique cars and single-action revolvers. Handgun technology has made the style of wheelgun a living fossil of sorts, with—outside hunting—few practical purposes. Yet, there is always a special feeling fanning back the hammer and tripping the hair-trigger on one of these beauties.
Heritage Manufacturing hit all these right notes in the most recent addition to its stable in its rimfire rendition of the storied Colt “Storekeeper” revolver. Dubbed the Barkeep, the .22 LR/.22 WMR six-shooter offers the same Old West style as the original double-action, but at a price most shooters can afford with an MSRP of $180.
Heritage Manufacturing, Inc., producers of classic-style single-action revolvers, is pleased to announce the newest member of the family—the Barkeep.
This pint-sized revolver has an Old West flair and was inspired by the 19th Century Colt “Storekeeper” model. The single-action Barkeep comes chambered and ships with the affordable .22 LR 6-shot rimfire cylinder and two-inch barrel. This revolver is also compatible and designed to work with an interchangeable .22 WMR 6-shot cylinder option.
Built for optimal concealability in a light and portable package, the Barkeep boasts fixed open sights for fast action and a clean sight picture. Several grip options deliver classic western styling to compliment the standard black oxide or case-hardened frame finish. With a two-inch barrel configuration, this compact carry revolver also includes a stylish ejector pin with a turned wood handle with an “H” logo on top to give it the full days of yore feel. The Barkeep checks all the boxes for form and function.
Product Specs: Caliber: 22LR Cylinder Material: Alloy Steel Capacity: 6 RDS Cylinders Included: 1 Twist Rate: 1:10 RH Cylinder Finish: Black Oxide Firing System: Hammer Frame Finish: Black Oxide or Simulated Case Hardened Action Type: SAO Overall Length: 7.95 in. Safety: Manual Overall Width: 1.50 in. Front Sights: Fixed Overall Height: 4.86 in. Rear Sight: Notch at Rear Grip: Custom Scroll Wood or Gray Pearl
For more information on the Heritage Barkeep, please visit heritagebarkeep.com.
They're called hand cannons for a reason. Learn how to tame big-bore revolver recoil.
This is a topic that just won’t go away, particularly because of the rising popularity of handgun hunting in big-bore revolver shooting, as well as figuring out the best way to handle the heavy recoil associated with the more-powerful handgun cartridges.
Let me put this upfront: Shooting a handgun accurately is much more difficult than is a rifle. Shooting a handgun with outsized recoil is even more difficult and very challenging … to put it mildly. What isn’t difficult is developing a debilitating flinch from shooting these heavy recoil-generating hog-legs. You won’t have the luxury of using your body to stabilize the firearm by bracing the buttstock firmly into your shoulder. But this is obvious.
There are a number of contributing factors to revolver recoil:
Weight of the revolver
Grip type/shape
Bullet weight
Bullet velocity
Platform Options
Many manufacturers offer double- and single-action big-bore revolvers. Smith & Wesson, Taurus and Ruger all produce double-action revolvers from .44 Magnum on up. On the single-action front, Ruger, Magnum Research (BFR) and Freedom Arms all offer big-bore revolvers. While there are others, these manufacturers produce the widest variety, hands down.
Popular with the defensive-shooting group is placing both feet in line, with the pistol held straight out. This isn’t a stable position for heavy-recoiling revolvers.
There are obviously variances in grip shape among all these differing platforms. However, some generalizations are possible. For example, double-action revolvers tend to recoil back into your hand, whereas single-actions will raise the muzzle and pivot upward.
Cartridges to Contemplate
When folks think of hard-kicking revolvers, they automatically think .44 Magnum—the “grandfather” of modern magnum revolver cartridges. From the recoil standpoint, I’ve always considered the .44 Rem. Mag. a threshold cartridge that’s clearly over the limit for many. No doubt, when loaded to specs, the .44 Rem. Mag. will remind you it’s there with every stroke of the trigger.
Moving up to the various .45s (including .45 Colt +P-type loads), the real standout is the .454 Casull, the high-pressure wonder cartridge of the late, great Dick Casull. The 65,000 psi pressure limit ensures snappy (read: violent) recoil impulse, particularly when combined with 300-plus-grain bullets. It goes up from there with the .460 Smith & Wesson Magnum, although its saving grace is the size of the platform its big case necessitates, adding recoil-absorbing weight.
Going further up to the various .475s and .500s just brings more recoil. However, some of the revolvers chambered in the bigger cartridges have weight that aids in taming recoil. The big .50s (such as the .500 JRH, .500 Wyoming Express, .500 Linebaugh and .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum) loaded warmly generate sizable kick that’s definitely not for the neophyte.
Get Into Position
I want to focus on shooting offhand, because this is largely what you’ll do when going to the range. This is also the most productive practice you can conduct before heading to the field.
The author’s grip is a bit unorthodox: He crosses his supporting thumb over, behind his shooting hand’s thumb, locking the hands in place. The revolver will never break your grip if it’s held in this manner—a necessity when fast follow-up shots are needed.
The two reigning offhand shooting stances are the Isosceles and the Weaver stances.
Isosceles Stance: The Isosceles puts both of your feet on line (actually, the latest trend is to drop the strong-side foot back a bit—but not as severely as with the Weaver stance) while you face flat toward the target with both arms parallel and straight out or slightly bent. Equal pressure is applied to the gun in a 360-degree fashion. It’s great for defensive shooting but not so good with a heavy revolver that generates a lot of recoil. When someone is standing flat in front of you, pushing that person off balance is rather easy. Recoil can also push you off balance if you’re standing with your feet on line.
Weaver Stance: The shooter using the Weaver stance pulls the revolver with the weak hand and pushes it with the strong hand. I use a modified Weaver with my weak side forward and my supporting elbow nearly tucked to my side. The Weaver, at least for me, is more logical and comfortable, and the kickback of a recoiling revolver can’t push you off balance. I boxed for a couple of decades, and a fighting stance—leading with the weak side—is natural for me, and it’s a position I automatically assume.
I use and practice a variety of field positions and also shoot off the bench. However, I limit my time on the bench to sighting-in and testing various loads for accuracy. Bench shooting places a lot of stress on the shooter, as well as the equipment, and should be limited accordingly.
Know How to Hold ’Em
Popular today with shooting semi-auto pistols is laying the shooting thumb along the side of the pistol, with the supporting-hand thumb underneath and alongside. Again, this is a great grip for semi-autos that don’t generate a lot of recoil, but it’s not so good when shooting a revolver that kicks. This also keeps the supporting-hand thumb from getting whacked by the slide as it moves rearward and cycles the pistol (a problem clearly not associated with revolvers).
Bench shooting is hard on both man and machine—it and should be a limited part of the shooter’s repertoire.
My grip is rather unorthodox (see the photo on the facing page). My supporting hand plays a very significant role in controlling the movement (or lack thereof) of the revolver. My left hand helps support the revolver’s weight, but I also wrap the thumb behind my shooting hand’s thumb. This keeps both hands on the revolver through the recoil; otherwise, the revolver will break your grip.
This is all in the name of control and fast follow-up. If the revolver gets away from you, it can crease your skull. It’s happened to me while shooting an absurdly powerful revolver that was chambered in .50 Alaskan. It was able to push a 525-grain bullet out past 1,600 fps, and it was “contained” by a revolver weighing fewer than 4 pounds.
Additionally, in the name of consistency (not to mention speed), my supporting hand’s thumb does the cocking. As a result, I won’t disrupt my grip.
I have a tendency to use a considerable amount of grip tension. I don’t let the revolver ride or fly up under recoil. I use enough grip strength to keep muzzle flip to a minimum, thereby enabling fast follow-up shooting.
The author uses a modified Weaver that’s essentially a fighting stance. It’s hard to get knocked off balance when standing this way—no matter how heavy the revolver’s recoil.
Everything I do is in the context of hunting. I’m not one to admire my own handiwork; rather, the point is to get another bullet downrange and into the animal if possible. I don’t grip the revolver so hard that I’m shaking, but enough so that no matter the rest I’m using, or if I’m shooting offhand, my point of impact remains the same. This is my key to consistency.
I often hear folks complain about sore wrists from shooting the big boomers. Clearly, they’re allowing their wrists to articulate through the recoil impulse. My wrists never hurt, because I don’t allow them to bend while I’m shooting. Instead, I allow my elbows to articulate—but not a lot, because I’m concerned about getting back on target as quickly as possible. This will also lessen the perceived abuse meted out by heavy recoil.
Recoil Mitigation
There are many ways recoil can be lessened (or “tamed”). The most obvious option is downloading. But, in the context of this article—and greatly defeating the purpose of this article—we won’t be discussing “neutering” your big-bore revolver as an option.
Here are a few ways to lessen recoil that work alone or in total.
Muzzle brake/porting. A good, well-designed muzzle brake will do wonders for reducing recoil, but it comes with a cost: a significant increase in noise. Keep in mind that the higher-pressure rounds such as the .454 Casull, along with the .460 and .500 Smith & Wesson Magnums, already produce ear-splitting noise and should never be shot without hearing protection.
Custom grips, while somewhat expensive, go a long way toward making even the most raucous loads “pleasant.” The grips on the stainless steel revolvers above are by Rowen Custom Grips, while the set on the blued Bisley are by JRH Advanced Gunsmithing. All were made specifically for the author’s shooting hand.
A brake makes it even worse. Porting, on the other hand, is a completely different animal. It works to reduce muzzle flip, but it doesn’t dissipate recoil—it redirects it. It does, however, make it easier to make fast follow-up shots.
Grips: A grip that fills your hand will go a long way toward making your chosen gun and load more controllable and pleasant to shoot. Whether it’s an aftermarket, mass-produced unit that happens to fit you or a high-dollar, custom set made specifically for your hand, I can’t overemphasize how important a good-fitting grip is.
Gloves: Shooting gloves are a good idea. Anything that reduces felt pain will definitely make you want to shoot—and shoot better. I use two sets/types, depending on what I’m doing. I have a set of dedicated shooting gloves by Pro Aim for when heavy bench-testing sessions are on my agenda. When hunting, I use a pair of shooting gloves by Sitka Gear. They cushion the hand and provide an unrivaled grip on the revolver.
A Sense of Accomplishment
As far as your own limitations are concerned, you need to be honest with yourself. There’s no shame in a low tolerance for recoil. Big-bore revolvers can be very difficult to shoot, because you generally have between 3 and 4 pounds to contain a minor earthquake with each trigger pull. Confidence and competence will go a long way toward filling your freezer with game meat. Confidence follows competence, and consistent competence is the offspring of effective practice.
Shooting a big-bore revolver doesn’t need to be a life-altering experience. There are ways to mitigate the recoil and optimize the revolver to assist with this monumental challenge.
Shooting technique is paramount, but my method might not work for you, and I would recommend experimenting in a controlled environment to figure out what does work best for you. Limiting round count per session will also help you get accustomed to outsized recoil and hopefully keep you from developing a flinch.
Also, if you’ve decided to step up to a big-bore revolver for whatever reason, it would be beneficial to try as many different types of platforms as possible. Seek out a range at which guns are rented. Alternatively, get to know your fellow shooters at your local range, because someone will surely let you try their big-bore revolver.
Do some research up front before even stepping into this realm. It might seem like a daunting task, but once you gain control, your sense of accomplishment will be palpable.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The new Mossberg Reserve Series over/under shotguns offers class and performance.
Few firearms exemplify their particular niche better than over/under shotguns. In them is the beat of wings on autumn air, the triumph of clays smashed mid-flight and an heirloom passed from generation to generation. Mossberg is no stranger to turning out excellent break actions and headlines its 2021 additions with a pair of head-turners.
Dubbed the Reserve Series by the gunmaker, the Silver Reserve Field Series and Gold Reserve Sporting Series offer top-end performance and looks, at a fraction of the average over/under’s price. Starting at $636, Silver Reserve Synthetic Stock, and running up to $1,221, Gold Reserve Super Sport, Mossberg offers a model for nearly every budget. Regardless of price, the shotgun line serves up looks and performance to make them classics.
Mossberg Gold Reserve Series
Common across the Mossberg Reserve Series are chrome-lined bores, dual-locking lugs, tang safety/barrel selectors and ample gauge selection. Silver Reserve guns have a bit more selection, coming in 12-, 20-, 28-gauge and 410 bore, but the Gold Series covers a majority of shooters with 12, 20 and 410 options. From there, the guns depart on several features.
The defining the guns are aesthetics; the Gold Series has more of it. Not that the matt black and satin receivers of the Silver Series doesn’t have a sporting and functional appeal, but the Gold guns boast a bit more jazz. In particular, rich scrollwork on polished silver or blued receivers capped off with jeweled actions and attractive gold inlays on the underside. Furthermore, the stock is hand-selected Grade A black walnut on the high-end Mossberg Reserve Series guns, with cut-checkering on the grips and fore-end.
Mossberg Silver Reserve Series
The competition-ready guns are equipped with 28- or 30-inch vent rib barrels topped off with a front bead sight and ejectors. Additionally, the standard Gold Reserve series, Mossberg offers two premium models—the Black Label, with a 30-inch barrel and blued receiver and the Super Sport, with fully-adjustable cast, comb and length of pull.
As for the Silver series, the guns come with the choice of walnut or synthetic stocks, and 28- or 26-inch barrels (depending on gauge). The guns also are outfitted with shell extractors, not necessarily a bad thing on a field gun. Additionally, this end of the Mossberg Reserve Series boasts a 13.25-inch LOP model for youth shooters.
For more information on Mossberg Reserve Series shotguns, please visit mossberg.com.
Classic guns must have either jaw-dropping looks or a storied history. Ideally, they’ve got both, such as these German pistols of World War II vintage.
Working in gun shops around Detroit, we used to have regular visitors of types you rarely see anymore. Once a week, a month or even a few days in a row, someone would walk in, holding a box or a case.
They’d inevitably start with, “I bought a house in Detroit, and … ” or “My grandparents moved to Florida, and I found … ,” and then open the box or case to reveal a firearm.
Given the age of the homeowners (the old homeowners, not the new ones), along with the fact that many of them were veterans, the iron in question was often something back from a war.
The shops I worked in were not alone in this, and it was common to walk into another gun shop and see something pre-1945 in the used case.
Here are a few of the common handguns you’d see.
Luger
A Luger—of course! There wasn’t a German pistol more desired than a Luger. The ones you saw in gun shops were the ones with no “papers.” The ones with “bring-back papers”—the official permission given by the Army—were snapped up by collectors.
If you see this spring clip on the sideplate of a Luger, it was installed due to Weimar police regulations requiring it.
Mine started life as a “sneak” pistol, manufactured by BKIW in 1929. In order to get around the Versailles Treaty limitations on production volume, it had no chamber date.
Mine wasn’t made for military use; it was meant to be used as a police pistol. As a result, it had the Weimar-required “police safety,” a modified sideplate with a spring clip on top. A bit of history and a warning: If you disassemble a Luger with a round in the chamber, it can remain cocked—and be fired in the disassembled state. I’m not making this up! German police officers apparently did just this often enough to require a regulation and a design change. The safety prevents firing when so (and incorrectly) disassembled. Mine also had a magazine disconnector, but those were all (or almost all) removed when the regulations were changed.
The author’s Luger was made without a date stamp on the chamber—because Germany was making more of them than the Versailles Treaty allowed.
My Luger went to the Hildesheim Rural Police District, where it was inventoried and marked as weapon number 134. Where it was and what happened between 1945 (when it was probably snatched up by a GI in Germany) and my acquiring it, I have no idea. From 1900 through 1945, around 3 million Lugers had been made. And yet, they aren’t commonly seen.
CZ 27
When the Germans invaded a country, they usually kept the small arms and military-industrial production capacity of the conquered country up and running. A lot of the second-line armored vehicles and many trucks were Czech, French, Polish and so on. The CZ 27 (aka Vz 27) is a blowback .32 pistol (for a long time, Europeans were really enamored of the .32) with a complicated manufacturing process, but it was reliable, accurate and dependable.
With an eight-round magazine and all the throw-weight of the thundering .32 ACP, it isn’t Thor’s hammer. However, it was made in large quantities (more than 450,000 during the war) and was issued to army and police units.
The interesting thing about the CZ 27 is the safety. That tiny, little lever that you see behind the trigger? That’s the safety. Press it down until it clicks, and it’ll lock in place—but only when the hammer is cocked. The safety (as much as you’re willing to trust it) is on. How do you get the safety off in order to fire it? You press the small button underneath the safety lever. The lever pops up, and you’re ready to go.
Yep, eight shots of .32 ACP at the ready—and with a spare magazine buried in the full-flap holster, too. Not a true German pistol, but used by the nation in World War II and a great collector's piece.
As mechanically clever as that might be, I suspect that the vast majority of users during the European “fracas” carried it with the safety off—with an empty chamber—and racked the slide when they had need of a supply of .32-caliber “Europellets.”
Obviously, this isn’t a pistol you’d be choosing for an IPSC, IDPA or other competition.
More Classic Military Guns:
Why The Mauser C96 “Broomhandle” Still Looms Large
No, not the Belgian Hi-Power. The Polish one—the VIS35, the Polish 9mm single-stack pistol. As a newly reconstituted country after World War I, Poland began building up its armed forces and arms manufacturing. It bought what it needed to start, but it wanted to have the arms manufacture it needed under its own control (always a wise idea … as we’ve since discovered with pharmaceuticals from China).
The P35 is an all-steel, single-stack 9mm that’s perhaps the strongest 9mm ever made. It’s also … odd.
Here’s how you start taking apart the VIS35: Unload and then lock the slide back. That’s all that lever does.
That lever on the left side on the slide is a decocking lever. The one below it on the frame is a takedown lever. No, it’s not a thumb safety. But there is a grip safety.
The Polish manual of arms called for loading the pistol, chambering a round and then using the decocking lever to drop the hammer. Then, when you needed to shoot it, you’d thumb the hammer back. Or, if you were Polish cavalry, you’d run the hammer against your saddle.
Every good combat pistol has to have a loaded chamber indicator … right?
The VIS35 was relatively rare here, in the United States, for one simple reason: Most of those (the Poles made 50,000; the Germans made 350,000 of them) went to the Eastern Front. About the only way a GI could lay hands on one was if his unit captured a German unit that had been rotated from Russia to France for R&R. This wasn’t unusual. Units that had been hard-used on the Eastern Front would be sent to France, given replacements, allowed to rest, re-equip and train, and then get sent back to Russia.
The rarest of the rare is a shoulder stock for the VIS35. I saw one in a Belgian military museum, and the experts there were not entirely sure if it was real or a very clever fake. Why were they unsure? It was the only one they or anyone they knew “in the business” had ever seen in real life.
FEG 37M
Known to shoppers back in the day as the “Femaru,” this was another local design taken over by the Germans (well, bought by the Germans, because Hungary was an ally, not a conquered territory). The original—the Hungarian model—was in .380 and lacked a thumb safety. The Germans wanted them in .32, and they insisted on a thumb safety. Once the war was up and fully running, the Germans sent inspectors to the Femaru plant. There, you’d have seen wartime pistols with the Waffenamt and acceptance stamp, per German regulations.
The FEG 37M is the first of the pistols we’re looking at here that had a factory lanyard loop installed. On the Femaru, the mag catch was a heel clip. Right next to it was the pivoting lanyard loop.
All steel, chambered in .32 ACP and a hand-filling grip. Nope, there’s almost no recoil.
As a 28-ounce pistol chambered in .32 ACP, the recoil isn’t anything to pay much attention to. It’s accurate and reliable (curiously, even cheap .32s can be quite accurate, and the FEG37M was not made cheaply), but the magazine capacity is only seven rounds.
There were only some 80,000 of these made, and the majority of them went not to the German army, but to the Luftwaffe. Nevertheless, they weren’t sent in specific serial number blocks, nor were they marked as such.
Sauer 38H
This is one of my favorites—and it’s another oddity. It’s a single-/double-action German pistol with a lever behind the trigger for that work. You can decock it by using the lever. You can then re-cock it using the lever. The lever is spring-loaded and pops up—regardless of whether it’s cocked or uncocked. But, there’s a safety lever on the slide that has to be at “fire” to do any of that. The hole drilled through the trigger, up near the frame, was more or less the “cocked”/“uncocked” indicator. On the back of the slide is a loaded-chamber indicator.
This one was only made to the tune of some 116,000 pistols, but it went to the army, Luftwaffe and Waffen SS. Like the others, it’s an all-steel pistol, and it’s chambered in .32 ACP. However, this one, at least, was even more accurate than the usual, quite-accurate .32 pistol.
Back in the 1980s, my gun club had fairly portable steel silhouettes for pistol practice. I won a number of bets getting hits at 50 yards on the steel with a “Nazi .32 pocket pistol.” I’d usually wager five hits in a row for 10 bucks. And, after I made the five hits, I’d bet double or nothing that I could finish the magazine with hits. I never lost, because with the ammo it liked, my Sauer 38H could keep all its shots inside the “A” zone of an IPSC target at 50 yards.
Oh, and the “H” designation? It indicated that it wasn’t striker fired but used a concealed hammer.
P-38
I never warmed up to this German pistol; I never acquired one, I still don’t own one to this day. Sorry about that.
Trophy Pistols
Pretty much everything any enemy soldier was carrying—short of personal property (and even then, some of that wasn’t safe)—was a souvenir. GIs were like locusts, sweeping up whatever was attractive and carrying it, trading it, wagering it in poker games or even mailing it back home. And because police officers were essentially just localized military units in the German organizational structure, what they carried got snapped up as well.
My late father was cheerful in describing the first German “soldier” they captured in Germany … only to find out he was an armed tram conductor (this was more humorous and less hazardous than the first time they encountered a Waffen SS unit).
So, despite the assurance that “it came off a dead Waffen SS major/Panzer commander/fill-in-the-prestigious-enemy-combatant,” most of the German pistols brought back were taken from NCOs. There were a lot more sergeants, machine-gun crew members and the like. And they all received a pistol of some kind. In addition to the NCOs and others who were issued pistols, they were issued or authorized to police, postal and railway security, factory guards, forestry officials and all the various “suits” who ran bureaus, agencies, commissions and the secret police.
Once captured, these men were relieved of their sidearms, medals and sometimes, even uniform jackets and any other souvenirs. These items were stuffed into a duffel bag, which GIs then hauled onto a ship and then back home. Once home, no one really cared all that much (except for a few jurisdictions).
That’s how we came to see a regular stream of such pistols in the 1980s as our veterans started slipping away.
Today? An entire generation of collectors has been snatching them out of gun shops, off gun show tables and from the estates of earlier collectors. To see any of these today in a gun shop is a near miracle. Back then, these German pistols were very common. And now, I regret that I passed them by.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
An expansion of the manufacturer’s dashing FX Series, the pistol is tailored for concealed carry and incorporates one of the hottest technologies of the day. Look closely: It’s hard to miss the slide cut and red-dot perched atop the metal beast. It being Ed Brown, it’s not just any reflex married to the FX2, but Trijicon’s fairly new and ultra-slim RMRcc. At 0.9 inch in width, the micro red-dot is almost tailor-made for 1911s and other slender concealed-carry handguns. The FX2 seamlessly fits the slide and is so low profile (0.9 inch) it’s as unobtrusive as red-dots come. Incidentally, the pistol is available in both .45 ACP and 9mm. MSRP: Starting at $4,295
Trijicon RMRcc
Since we touched upon it with the Ed Brown pistol, we’ll dig deeper on Trijicon’s itty-bitty red-dot. As mentioned, where the renowned optics maker concentrated its efforts with the micro sight is trimming its width. It’s a whole 0.9 inch in breadth. A great move, ensuring there’s no snagable muffin-top when installed on a 1911 or the many new extra svelte polymers. Adding to that, the red-dot is 0.1-inch shorter than the original RMR, and you’ve got about the most carry-friendly optical sight available today. How’s it perform? Need you ask, it’s a Trijicon. Go 3.25 or 6.5 MOA dot and you can expect it to light up on target every time you need it. MSRP: $699
Springfield’s XD-M Elite Compact
Based on the XD-M line, the Elite version of the pistol offers some welcome and practical upgrades. Among the more notable is what Springfield calls its Match Enhanced Trigger Assembly (META). Flat-faced (the old XD-M shoe was curved), the trigger promotes a more linear path while reducing the perceived weight required to trip it. It breaks at a very crisp 5 pounds, without a lick of spongy feel. In addition to this, the 3.8-inch barreled XD-M Elite Compact includes large chevron cocking serrations fore and aft, an ambidextrous slide stop, match-grade barrel and a removable flared magwell. Top-notch features at a price nearly any shooter can afford. MSRP: $559
Hogue Wrapter Adhesive Firearm Grip Line
A better grip without modifying a pistol? Hogue’s got it all wrapped up. Installing in seconds, its polymer adhesive upgrade provides a positive surface on nearly any semi-automatic pistol, vastly enhancing its performance. Also, it generally makes a gun more pleasurable to shoot. Not overly thick, the rubberized grip wrapper provides enough cushioning to take the edge off those long days at the range. Better yet, it conforms to your pistol’s grip closely enough that you don’t lose any familiarity with the firearm. Enhancements don’t come cheaper or easier. MSRP: $14.95
Gerber Crisis Hook Knife
Next to a jack and a spare, you need this in your vehicle—preferably within reach. Designed to get you out of tight situations behind the wheel, the unique knife has specialized tools for the job. A hooked blade slices through seatbelts, cord and even wire without worry of slicing flesh. While at the rear, a hardened and angled pommel makes quick work of automotive glass with a sturdy strike. There’s even an integrated oxygen-tank wrench in the Crisis Hook, a must-have for those who look after elders. Like so much EDC gear, chances are you’ll never have to deploy Gerber specialized tool. But if you do, you’ll be glad you have it. MSRP: $33
Glock 43X and 48 MOS Optic-Ready Carry
Featuring factory-milled slides, Glock gives shooters a pair of optic-ready pistols tailored for everyday carry. But don’t expect the pistols to play nice with every red-dot on the market. Given the gun’s whisper-thin widths, the slide cut is only compatible with specific micro-reflex optics. In addition to this, the Glock 43X MOS and Glock 48 MOS also have non-standard accessory rails. Despite these idiosyncratic features, the 9mms still retains all the features that made them a hit when they were released in 2019. First and foremost, among these is an excellent compromise between an easy-to-carry defensive pistol and capacity. Both the Glock 43X MOS and Glock 48 MOS hold 10 rounds. MSRP: $580
Putting some much-needed rethinking into revolver reloading, this riff on the classic speed strip is right on target. Staggering the two equal-sized rows of three cartridges, the polyurethane speedloader allows three chambers to be loaded at a time. Quick and easy aren’t usually thought of when talking about speed reloads and wheelguns. Believe it or not, the idea behind the K-Pak came from studying another long-time revolver reloading method—the half-moon clip. Two of them have simply been straightened out, put back to back and made of polymer. Compatible with all six-shot K-Frame revolvers—.38 Special and .357 Mag.—the speedloader also fits flat and neatly in nearly any pocket. MSRP: $11.95
Maxpedition Micro Pocket Organizer
Not every situation calls for toting a pack. Still, you need a way to keep your kit organized and within reach. Shake hands with the solution. Truly pocket-sized at 3.5 by 1 by 5.5 inches, Maxpedition’s organizer has an amazing amount of space to hold pens, multi-tools, flashlights and whatever else you might need to tackle the world. A clamshell design, the unit opens to numerous pockets and webbing loops to secure all your goods. On the outside, a mesh front pocket gives you quick access to small items you might need immediately. For the price, few pieces of kit get your everyday-carry system in better order. MSRP: $18.99
Galco Instructor Belts
A contemporary take on the time-tested Ranger belt, this gem removes any hint of flop from carrying a sidearm. That goes for full-sized cannons. Where Galco gets it right is the Type 13 nylon webbing with five independent rows of stitching. Creating a rock-solid webbing, the belt is among the most ridged non-core options on the market, which is saying a lot. Additionally, the strap is outfitted with a Cobra-style buckle, about as durable as they come and easy to get on and off. While the belt is ideal for competition or a day at the range, it’s stylish and stalwart enough for everyday carry. MSRP: $79
Limited-Edition Sig P220 Legion Carry SAO
While it’s not the first single-action-only P220 that has come down the pike, it might be the most conducive to concealed carry. Sig has trimmed down its behemoth design to a tidy 3.9-inch barreled package for its top-shelf Legion line of firearms. The belle of the ball is a marvelous trigger, which breaks like thin ice and resets with a hair of travel. Raising the .45 ACP’s stock, all the Legion accouterments—stainless steel slide with the company’s Electro-Optics X-Ray3 high-visibility day/night sights, front cocking serrations, aggressive G10 grips and Elite Legion gray Cerakote finish. Drooling yet? Act fast, because Sig’s only rolling out 500 of these beauties. MSRP: $1,329
Comp-Tac eV2 Mag Pouch
More ammo is always a must. Comp-Tac makes keeping an extra mag at hand easier than ever with its deep-cover eV2. A hybrid design, the unit features a top-grain cowhide backer, comfortable against the skin and protecting the magazine from sweat. Up front, a Kydex body keeps the mag in place. Keeping up with trends, the eV2 is an appendix-carry option, inside the waistband. Now, some have trepidations about this position for firearms, but for mags it makes a ton of sense, keeping them low profile and within reach no matter what. MSRP: $29
Nightstick TSM-11G
Light, laser and convenience, all in one. Designed to securely mount to the front rail of Glock G42, G43, G43X and G48 pistols, the multipurpose unit gives the shooter the ability to identify and quickly target threats at a push of a button. Even better, it’s rechargeable. Lights and lasers eat a lot of juice, so a rechargeable lithium-ion battery is a godsend—or at least a lot better than fitting a battery bill. As to the TSM-11G’s fine points, the unit is outfitted with a green laser sight, fully adjustable and 150-lumen white light. The light’s dual switches provide the shooter tactile, click actuation in momentary or constant-on use. MSRP: $164.28
DeSantis Sidestep OWB Holster
The combination of classic good looks and modern-day performance pretty much sums up this dashing outside-the-waistband option. It being DeSantis, of course, the holster is made of full-grain saddle leather, making it a comfortable and sturdy hanger for everyday carry. But it’s not just another leather rig. The trailing slot holster features a double-thick sweat shield to keep firearms away from body moisture, and it’s tailored for pistols with or without reflex sights. Meticulously molded in a 15-degree forward cant, the holster cuts down on a gun’s profile, while still facilitating a quick draw. MSRP: $78.99
Tru-Spec Vector Pant
Wait … EDC pants? Honestly, any well-made britches will do. That said, there are purpose-built options that excel at the task and make the prepared life a whole lot easier. Case in point: Vector Pant. Essentially duty clothing, the durable garb is casual enough for everyday applications and as rugged as they come. Constructed of micro rip-stop polyester-cotton blend, the pant is breathable and comfortable and comes with several carry enhancements, including an integrated stretch panel waistband that provides comfort and support, no matter if you carry IWB or OWB. Additionally, a slew of ergonomically laid out pockets allows plenty of room to tote your most important gear. MSRP: $79.95
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2020 EDC issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
For dangerous-game hunting, the quick second shot and excellent balance of the HEYM 89B make it a perfectly logical and economically sound choice.
In a world of black polymer firearms, Heym USA chooses the road less traveled.
The firearms industry is inexorably tied to history. While we have some great, new names that are delivering some excellent products, names such as Winchester, Remington, Rigby, Mauser, Holland & Holland, Marlin and Savage have all been bringing us great firearms since the 19th century. Among those greats—quietly making superb firearms since 1865—is the German firm of Heym.
Establishing its reputation by producing fine double-barreled shotguns and rifles and three-triggered drillings (Friedrich Wilhelm Heym actually patented the first hammerless drilling), Heym survived the tumult of a pair of world wars by making cuckoo clocks and slide rules in West Germany after 1946.
Fast-forward to the end of the 20th century, and you’ll find Heym with a modern firearms facility in a united Germany and Thomas Wolkmann at the company’s helm, producing such famous rifles as the Heym Model 88B double rifle.
The author has taken his Heym Express .404 Jeffery around the world on hunts for all sorts of big game. It remains one of the best rifles he’s ever used.
In the first decade of the 21st century, Chris Sells began to bring the Heym rifles to the American market; his Heym USA is the exclusive U.S. importer of the great German guns. However, Sells is more than an importer; he’s led the redesign of some of Heym’s most significant firearms and worked for the past 15 years to re-establish the Heym brand in the United States.
88B Refinements
The 88B was the flagship of the fleet when Sells began importing Heym rifles. He saw room for improvement in the time-tested 88B and began refining the rifle immediately. The second task was the re-release of the Heym Express, complete with a stock designed by famed gunsmith Ralf Martini. That Heym Express—with its oversized bolt, perfectly designed magazine box and follower, Krupp steel barrel and smooth-as-silk, magnum-sized action—has become my absolute favorite rifle of all time.
Mine is a .404 Jeffery, and it’s traveled the world with me. I’ve never had a rifle so well-balanced, delivering sub-MOA accuracy and fully capable of taking any and all of the world’s game.
Chris Sells Explains The Model 89B
The next Heym USA release was what I consider to be the crowning moment in the company’s recent history: the Model 89B double rifle. After taking a long, hard look at the strengths and weaknesses of the 88B rifle, Sells set out to make the best rifle possible. The company’s done such a good job that I bought one for myself. My 89B .470 NE is a beast, but it’s in no way hard on the eyes.
A Heym Model 89B in .470 Nitro Express that was used during a water buffalo hunt in Northern Australia.
Honored to have taken the first head of African game with the first 89B off the line, I sat down with Sells to get the story of the rifle’s development.
Why The Mauser C96 “Broomhandle” Still Looms Large
“When we began importing Heym rifles in 2006, the 88B Safari was really the flagship of the Heym lineup,” Sells explained. “It had been in the market for more than 25 years and had a solid reputation with both professional hunters and safari hunters, but I felt as if we were limiting our market, because the 88 had a few design elements that were more Germanic in styling.
“Now, the 88 has a very recognizable look to it—specifically, how the metal and wood fit together at the back of the action. But, I’m an enthusiast and a student of double rifles, and it didn’t quite fit the historic profile of a double rifle from the 1920s. I wanted to create—or rather, re-create—a modern boxlock with the efficiencies of CNC machining at an affordable price. We spent the better part of a decade examining the classic double-rifle actions.
Chris Sells poses with the straight-pull Heym USA Carbon Precision and a good mule deer buck. Lightweight and well-balanced, the Carbon Precision is seriously accurate.
“Of those actions, probably the most influential rifle in our design was the Webley PHV-1 (also known the ‘long bar’ because of its long water table). The 88’s long water table was a natural fit, so by rounding the bottom of the action a little, it not only takes on more of the Webley look, it also better fits the hand.
“Of all the changes we made (starting with the 88B), the most noticeable change for the 89, of course, has been to the back of the action, where the wood meets the metal. By simply squaring off the back of the action, all of a sudden, the entire rifle changes. This one element is really the conduit that brings together all the individual, small changes over the past 10 years and packages them in such a way that you can really look ‘beyond the trees and appreciate the forest.’
“Mechanically speaking—and like the 88—the 89B has all the features you’d expect in a well-made double. We’ve added disc-set strikers to the 89, but it still has automatic ejectors, intercepting sears, a non-automatic safety and an articulated front trigger. In addition, they’re still made to order—one-at-a-time—right- or left-handed and stocked to fit each individual shooter!”
The “flagship” of the Heym fleet—the Model 89B double rifle. Chris Sells put years of work into the design … and it paid off!
It’ll Make You Proud
Nevertheless, Heym USA doesn’t only manufacture big-bore rifles. In fact, it’s just released the Heym Carbon Precision, a SR30 straight-pull action with a carbon-fiber barrel and carbon-fiber stock. It’s available in medium calibers and is capable of serious precision shooting. In a world of cookie-cutter precision rifles, Heym’s Carbon Precision has the balance and feel for which Heym is famous, thus setting this rifle apart from the crowd.
For more information on Heym USA, please visit heymusa.com.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Extending trigger time with your hunting iron, Browning introduces .350 Legend ammo tailormade for the range.
Do you need to live around the Great Lakes to give the .350 Legend a day in court? Most certainly not! Developed to conform to that particular region's quirky rifle-hunting laws does nothing to take away from the cartridge as a whole. Thick brush buck trackers and whole-sale hog hunters would do well to turn an eye to this stellar straight-walled option.
That said, no matter who picks up a .350 Legend iron getting handy with one became a world more affordable thanks to Browning. Headlining its range-ammunition roster for 2021, .350 Legend FMJ ammunition. Sounds sort of pedestrian, until you consider up to this point the market has been dominated with hunting rounds. Those might hit downrange, but they also hit the wallet. Though how affordable the is remains a mystery, as Browning has yet to release the MSRP.
As to what a shooter gets, a pretty hot number. Browning tops the .350 Legend ammo with a 124-grain FMJ bullet and sends it running at 2,500 fps at the muzzle. The company touts it as the fastest of any factory loaded ammo for the caliber. True or not, it’s still pretty dang quick.
Interestingly, the .350 Legend target ammo is much lighter than Browning's hunting load, topped with a 155-grain BRX bullet. Given the rifle is suited for shots 200-yards in this shouldn’t moot the FMJ fodder for practice with a hunting rifle. In any case, the new Browning ammo is certainly to add more enjoyment to those that have a Legend in their gun case.
For more information on Browning's .350 Legend ammo, please visit browning.com.
Aiming to shoot 2 miles or further? You need to break out a .50-caliber or other big guns.
Extreme long-range shooting is becoming a popular spectator sport with a host of King of 2 Mile (KO2M) competitions popping up. In the ELR community, the standard is moving to impact a target three consecutive times from a cold bore shot. In other words, you can’t walk into the target; you have to impact it purposefully.
These competitions often start at ranges of about 1,500 yards and then progress out to distances, as the name implies, to two miles. Now, not everyone gets to make the two-mile attempts: This is an elimination race. If you don’t score early and make it into the top 10, you won’t get to attempt the two-mile shots.
I’ve been to several of the King of 2 Mile competitions as a reporter and spoke with many of the competitors about the choices in calibers and equipment they use. This competition grew out of the .50 Caliber competition that’s hosted at the Whittington Center. So, early on, you saw a lot more .50-caliber rifles. Today, the trend has moved to other sporty calibers such as the .375 CheyTac or the .416 from Barrett.
Marine Corps .50-Caliber
Back in the mid-1980s, I was in one of the first Marine Corps units to field the .50-caliber sniper, or SASR. It was a beast of a rifle that was designed by Daisy (yes, the air gun manufacturer), and our rifles were built by Iver Johnson. I remember that name, because my dad had an Iver Johnson .30-caliber carbine from World War II. This .50-caliber rifle felt as if it were going back to that era.
Load development is very important, because it’s the biggest variable you can manage—next to your personal marksmanship skills, that is.
The Marine Corps .50-caliber was big, heavy and had a very short bolt that could be removed from the receiver. Then, you placed a cartridge under the claws of the bolt face to hold it and replaced the entire bolt with an attached cartridge into the rifle to fire. Within the first week, we broke half the scopes on those guns.
Large magnums are not a casual shooter’s rifle. They require a lot of time and energy to master. That said, today, we see shooters doing more with less by reducing the caliber a bit and improving the bullet being shot.
Desert Tech HTI Rifle
I recently worked with a Desert Tech (DT) multi-caliber HTI rifle. “HTI” stands for “hard target interdiction” and is the term used by the military for these big magnums. The DT HTI allowed me to alternate between .50-caliber and .375 CT. In my opinion, the DT platform shines in the HTI calibers. It’s a bullpup-style rifle, so you want the ability to reduce the size of the overall package while keeping all the same barrel lengths.
The Desert Tech rifle allowed me to shoot both calibers on the same day at the same targets. It’s easy to see and harder to put into words the joy of stepping a few dress sizes when launching large projectiles at distant targets. However, I’ll do my best to paint the picture.
‘Smaller’ Calibers
The .50-cal. is an excellent caliber and has been long-serving. However, the punishment inflicted on the shooter is real. The military has guidelines that limit the number of shots it wants a soldier to fire from a .50-caliber rifle. I believe the Air Force limited the number of shots to something like only 10 rounds per day. It was an incredibly small number.
Comparing the Cadex .375CT to any other rifle: This is more in line with a field rifle, as opposed to a big, heavy benchrest style.
Because of the price point, people will often jump into a .50-caliber rifle before mastering the smaller ones. Ammunition availability is there; you can find surplus rounds almost anywhere. On top of that, the Hornady 750-grain A-Max is a terrific match round for guys who want to push the distance beyond one mile.
Get On Target With Frank Galli:
Mils vs. MOA: Which Is The Best Long-Range Language?
My point is that you can do it more effectively—and, most importantly—more accurately with a smaller caliber. The .375 CT is an outstanding caliber to push the limits of ELR shooting for a lot less recoil. That matters when you’re trying to squeeze every bit of accuracy out of the system. The time of flight in these shots is very long, so the way to manage it is to speed up the bullet. And the best way to do that is by dropping a little bullet weight.
Turned, solid bullets are the name of the game, so that also means you’re going to spend more money. Solids are the best way to carry the weight and keep the speed up. During a few of the early KO2M competitions, the shooters noticed their bullets were impacting on the cliff face around the targets. But solids don’t shatter like jacketed bullets and, if they went into the crags, you couldn’t see impact. The solution was to jump up to the .416 Barrett.
The incremental gains on the cartridge were enough to manage the recoil and still jump in weight to see the splash at 2,000 yards. You still have to participate in the event: As a result, managing the shooter is every bit as important as managing the rifle system.
The best part of the Desert Tech platform is the turnkey nature of the system. Laid out are the .50-caliber option and the .375CT components. Switching calibers helps prevent costly mistakes from a dedicated platform.
Does that mean the .50-caliber isn’t competitive? Heck, no! It has all the potential in the world … that is, if the shooter is smart about it. In the case of the .50-caliber, you want to finesse your load: Drop the weight, increase the speed, and get a really effective brake.
Lastly, be aware that many ranges will limit .50-caliber use. You can still shoot your .375 CT beyond the five-second time-of-flight range, given the space. The range personnel won’t say anything when you use it and, compared to the granddaddy of them all, you’ll be treated like a prince.
It’s a great sport. And, because the pace is slower, ELR shooting can be very relaxing.
However, don’t forget to double up your ear protection and put yourself straight behind the rifle to manage recoil. If this is a direction you want to go in, be sure to do your homework, because it’s not cheap: The best loads for this type of competition hover around $9 a shot.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
New products, it’s been a slow roll coming out of 2020. By this time any previous year, the greater shooting world would have a solid handle on what’s hitting the shelves for the next few months. A few surprises would crop up at the SHOT Show, sure. But for the most part, they’d be few and far between. Finally, however, companies are laying their cards down on the table.
Most recently, Winchester announced a full suite of new ammunition heading out to gun retailers in the coming year. Among the most intriguing, its USA Ready Defense line of pistol ammunition. If the name sounds familiar, it should. Winchester has churned out premium range ammunition—both rifle and pistol—under the “USA Ready” banner for some time now. But the new options are a marked break from the FMJ fodder previously defining the line.
As most would suspect hollow-point bullets are the order of the day with USA Ready Defense. Though, they’re hardly a rehash of Winchester’s hallowed Silver-Tip line of defensive ammunition. Taking a cue from some other popular bullet designs, the ammo-maker includes a polymer insert in the bullet’s cavity. Unlike other examples of this technology, the plug isn’t monolithic, but vented. Think the petals of a flower, though, one you wouldn’t want to come nose to nose with.
Winchester calls the design “Hex-Vent” and touts two main benefits—preventing barrier material from clogging the hollow point and directing fluid flow into the cavity. Both assets aim at the same goal—consistent and complete expansion of the bullet when it reaches its terminal destination. Interesting concept, one—at least concerning clogging—has proofed out in other ammo.
As to other aspects of USA Ready Defense, the ammo is loaded with match-grade primers and velocity is optimized for reliable performance, even out of next-generation micro pistols. Caliber-wise, Winchester launched the line with the big three: 9mm (124 grain +P, 1,200 fps MV), .40 S&W (170 grain, 1,170 fps MV) and .45 ACP (200 grain, 1,000 fps MV). Par usual for defensive ammo, USA Ready Defense is sold in batches of 20. Winchester has yet to release the MSRP on the ammunition, nor announced when it will hit store shelves.
For more information on USA Ready Defense, please visit winchester.com.
The 9mm Makarov, or 9×18mm Makarov, is a Soviet pistol cartridge popular not only for its history but oddity compared to other 9mms.
Basic Facts Of The 9mm Makarov:
The 9mm Makarov was used in the Makarov and Stechkin auto pistols.
The cartridge was adopted shortly after the end of World War II.
It is intermediate in size and power between the .380 Automatic and the 9mm Luger.
A solid self-defense cartridge, though a little underpowered.
9mm Makarov Historical Notes
The 9mm Makarov is the current Russian military cartridge used in the Makarov and Stechkin auto pistols. It was adopted shortly after the end of World War II, and its design may have been inspired by an experimental German cartridge called the 9mm Ultra. Other countries from the former Warsaw Pact also use the round. Chinese-made Makarov pistols have recently appeared on surplus shelves, along with 9mm Makarov ammunition.
General Comments
The Soviet 9mm pistol cartridge is intermediate in size and power between the .380 Automatic and the 9mm Luger. Technically, 9mm Makarov can be described as a 9x18mm, although it differs dimensionally from the 9×18 Ultra and isn’t interchangeable with that cartridge. It’s a well-designed cartridge for its purpose, although a little underpowered by Western standards.
It’s satisfactory for small game, when loaded with hunting-type bullets, which are now available. Loading data and components are available from various manufacturers. The Makarov pistol is of medium size and is similar to the German Walther. The Stechkin is a selective-fire type that can be used with the holster stock as a submachine gun. Both pistols are well made. Cases are easily formed by passing 9mm Luger cases over an expander ball and then trimming to length.
To make the most accurate ammunition possible, consider a reloading press upgrade.
Ah, the reloading press: It’s a simple machine that just sits there and does the basic task we ask of it. We huddle around it and operate it while concentrating on the “more important” parts, such as the dies, cases, projectiles and proper powder charge.
But how much thought do you give your press? Is your model the one that could serve you best? As with so many aspects of reloading, the press has seen improvements—some subtle, some radical.
Single-Stage Presses
Looking at the single-stage presses (because the progressives warrant their own article in a future issue), there are many options that could make your life easier at the bench and have you producing more-accurate ammunition.
In a single-stage press, which performs just one operation at a time, rigidity is the key to uniformity. In the older C-frame press (named so for its overall shape), a bit of flexure will be present on all but the largest designs. C-frame presses have served for decades but have become less popular as of late. Even so, Lyman still offers a C-frame press—the Brass Smith Ideal—with a cast-iron body and a 1-inch steel ram.
O-Frame Presses
More popular—and, in my opinion, more effective—are the O-frame presses, which are as rigid as my high school principal and offer the best value from a traditional press. I like my O-frame to be strong, heavy and even over-designed.
Having the proper style of press can maximize your time at the reloading bench.
The classic RCBS RockChucker is an O-frame press, as are its offspring, from the RockChucker Supreme to the RC IV. With a press of this style, you can make wonderfully consistent ammunition.
The size of the opening could pose an issue, depending on the length of the cartridges you’re loading for. I prefer a press with a larger opening over one with a smaller opening, because I reload quite a few of the Nitro Express safari cartridges and longer black powder cartridges and need the room for clearance.
The Redding UltraMag press, with an opening of 4¾ inches, gives me what I need, and I can quickly and easily change the nut to accept the 1-inch die bodies of the largest safari cartridges. I love the additional leverage generated from the design, and this is the perfect press for forming cases.
RCBS has seen the wisdom of a larger opening (and a heavier frame) and has incorporated it into its new Rebel, a heavyweight design new for 2020. Perfect for those who load the magnum-length cases, the Rebel is a pleasure when trying to get the long bullets seated on top of a long cartridge case. Primers are ejected out of the bottom of the ram, so simply slide a trash can under the press, and you’re set. This one’s a winner.
RCBS O-Frame presses are rugged, rigid and represent a great value.
Turret Presses
I grew up using a Lee Turret Press. It’s still on Dad’s bench. The movement between the press top and the rotating head is a bit much for my personal tastes these days. Nevertheless, the sheer volume of ammunition that press is responsible for, as well as the knowledge I gained while behind it, has earned that press a special place in my heart.
But among the various turret press designs, one stands head and shoulders above the rest: the Redding T-7. Weighing more than 25 pounds, this beast has a seven-hole (7/8-inch-14 threaded dies only) rotating turret that allows the reloader to set up several dies simultaneously.
While moving parts on the frame are usually a bad thing when we talk about a reloading press, the Redding T-7’s design sees that nothing moves. Turning the turret head to switch between dies, you’ll have to exert some force, and a detent keeps the head firmly in place.
I regularly use my T-7 for everything from .38 Special and .45 ACP all the way up to the big-bore stuff, such as .458 Lott, .404 Jeffery and .375 H&H. This press has become my all-time favorite design. While a good Dillon progressive can crank out pistol ammunition at a higher rate, using a Redding T-7 is much faster than a one-hole, single-stage press.
The seven-hole turret of the Redding T-7. Additional turret heads can be purchased if the user wants to leave their dies set up.
Unconventional Designs
Nearly all presses have the same basic motion: The case is placed into the shell-holder, and the handle raises the ram, moving the shell-holder and case into one of the various dies.
RCBS abandoned that theory when designing the Summit Press, because the die body moves down to the case. I think of it as a C-frame press that moves where it shouldn’t but has virtually no flexure and makes great ammunition.
Using a 2-inch steel ram, the Summit takes up little room on your bench. Nevertheless, the 4½-inch window allows room for the longest cases, and the die nut can be changed to accommodate the bigger, 1-inch die bodies. I use a Summit regularly, especially for bullet seating, because I can sit the bullet on top of the case with nothing in the way.
The Forster Co-Ax single-stage press uses two parallel rams in a unique design to generate three times the mechanical advantage of other C-style presses. The dies aren’t screwed into a threaded hole; instead, they’re snapped into a recess the shape of the lock ring. Additionally, no shell-holder is used—a set of jaws neatly holds the cartridge case (certain cases with very wide case heads require an adapter). The design results in very consistent alignment and very little effort required to work the ram.
If you have a good single-stage press you feel comfortable with, I’m not going to say that you need to replace it. What I will say is that working the handle a few times on one of the presses discussed here proves how much things have progressed and how tight the tolerances are on modern designs.
The CNC machining on our rifles, pistols, rings and bases have made a dramatic improvement in accuracy, and if you’re trying to make the best ammunition possible, upgrading to one of these presses will likely improve your final product.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The quiet child of the 5.56 NATO, the 300 Blackout is mainly thought of as a specialist. Slap a can on your rifle and the short .30-caliber whispers hell downrange. Perfect for special operations and other clandestine applications.
True enough, the roots of the cartridge are firmly planted in this brand of action, but as a mature and widely-accepted AR-15 option it’s branched out to many other uses. Deer hunting, home defense, even plain old plinking. Have a reason to pull the trigger at short-medium or close range, the .30-caliber most likely fits the bill. Especially with today’s choices of 300 Blackout ammo.
Today, we look at six of our favorites—both super- and sub-sonic—for three popular applications of the cartridge. Suppressed or unsuppressed, these options will get you on target.
Hunting Ammunition
Barnes 120-Grain VOR-TX
Up to whitetail deer, Barnes has nearly the perfect 300 Blackout ammo. Across all calibers, VOR-TX ammunition has built a solid reputation but especially shines in the Blackout. The excellent penetration expected out of solid-copper projectiles, combine with the ability to expand at the cartridge's middling velocities, is a potent mix. Much of the bullet’s terminal consistency is thanks to a specially designed nose cavity, with mushrooming hastened on by its polymer tip. The nose cone also makes the projectile a ballistic wunderkind, with a .358 ballistic coefficient (BC). Not to mention, at 120 grains, it’s an exceptionally pleasant round to shoot. Quick on follow-ups, too. Barnes offers a lighter option—110 grains—which is ideal for smaller fair such as coyotes and varmints.
Sig Sauer 205-Grain Tipped Subsonic
Limited in effective range, hunters are best served by super-sonic 300 Blackout ammunition. However, there are times the hushable fodder excels in the field. Up-close hog busting, for instance. Go this route, bullet design becomes imperative, which is why we favor Sig’s sub-sonic hunting option. A wide polymer tip ensures consistent and devastating expansion, even at the low operating velocities of this class of ammo. While the step-side design is mainly to ensure a full 30-rounds in a standard AR magazine, it also plays a role in excellent terminal ballistics, ensuring the core and jacket don’t separate in the target. As to suppressibility, it’s excellent. Sig pushes it, however, loading the round to the cusp of super-sonic—1,000 fps muzzle velocity.
Despite the close-quarters cred the 300 Blackout brings to the table, ammo tailored for defensive purposes are few and far between. Speer Gold Dot is a marked exception. Optimized for expansion at a range of velocities out to 200 yards, the 150-grain load (.330 BC) is the ideal up-close option to protect hearth and home. Particularly nice, Speer has optimized Gold Dot to perform out of shorter-barreled rifles, down to 10-inches, ensuring top performance out of the most nimble platforms. Similar to the handgun line, the 300 Blackout ammo features bonded-core bullets, which eliminates the No. 1 cause of bullet failure—jack and core separation. Additionally, the design feature ensures impressive weight retention once at its terminal destination, as well as through common barriers, such as auto glass.
Hornady 190-Grain Sub-X
Sub-sonic 300 Blackout ammo, in many respects, is an ideal home-defense option. Highly controllable, with a reduced muzzle flash and next to nothing in recoil, the suppressible stuff allows for fast and accurate close-quarter hits. Making certain those hits count, Hornady Subsonic Ammunition (.437 BC). The 190-grain load features the ammo company’s XTP bullets, engineered for lower velocity performance. Much like Hornady’s Critical Defense handgun ammo, the projectile utilizes a Flex Tip insert in its hollow-point cavity. Resisting fouling from clothing or other material, the polymer ensures the reliable and explosive expansion shot in and out. Also aiding in Hornady Subsonic’s performance is a flat, energy dumping tip, as well as long skivying in the jacket, allowing for controlled expansion. Loaded for a 1,050 fps muzzle velocity, keeps the cartridge’s report very suppressible, while delivering plenty of energy on target.
Target Ammunition
American Eagle 150-Grain FMJ
As usual, American Eagle offers up an excellent choice for range fodder. There isn’t a ton to talk about in its 150-grain load (.406 BC), it’s what most shooters would expect out of a full-metal jacket, boattail target option. Federal loads it respectably, with an average muzzle velocity of 1,900 fps, which combined with bullet weight creates a fairly accurate load out to 200 yards or so. Best of all, American Eagle is typically inexpensive (outside ammo runs such as 2021).
Magtech 200-Grain First Defense Tactical
There’s no need to pitch premium sub-sonic when messing around at the range. Magtech’s affordable 200-grain suppressible FMJ load (.560 BC) frees shooters from breaking the bank when sharpening their skills. Loaded with a 200-grain FMJ bullet and loaded to 1,050 fps muzzle velocity, the load offers short-mid and close range perform that’s easily hushed up. Magtech anneals the cases as well, offering more consistent performance shot to shot and longer case life for those who reload.
Once you’ve turned the knob on the speedloader, let go of it and let it drop. If you try to “speed things up” by lifting it away, you’ll probably hook a cartridge and lift a round clear, such as this one.
We give you three lightning-fast revolver reload techniques to swap six in a hurry.
For this bit of instruction, we’re going to ignore reloading with loose rounds, such as from a box or bucket … or (horrors!) a pocket.
As far as equipment is concerned, you’ve got two choices for doing it quickly: first, a gizmo called a “speedloader.” This holds six rounds in a pattern identical to the diameter and spacing of the cylinder. This is important, because there’s no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to speedloaders. You need one specific to your wheelgun.
The other piece of equipment is a “moon clip,” which can be a half-moon or a full-moon version. Obviously, a half-moon holds a half-cylinder full of bullets, and a full moon clip … well, full.
There are two, solid, dependable methods of revolver reloading, along with one that’s faster but requires a whole lot of practice. We’ll do the solid ones first.
Method #1: The Thumb Press
You’ve just fired your last round in the cylinder. Slide your left hand (we’ll assume you’re right-handed, because lefties have to go through a whole lot of contortions to reload) off the grip and forward a bit while you use your shooting hand to press the cylinder latch. Your left hand cups under the trigger guard and, as the cylinder unlocks, you push the cylinder open with the fingertips of your left hand.
The second method makes sure that all cases are fully ejected from the cylinder. Briskly slap your palm down onto the ejector rod while the muzzle is vertical, and you’ll be done with those pesky empties!
Push the cylinder open and then your fingers through the frame opening while you let go with your shooting hand.
So far, both methods are the same.
The first, and traditional, method is to push the ejector rod with the thumb of your left hand as you turn the revolver muzzle-up. Do this so the empties will fall to the ground and not get hung up on the grips. As you do this, your right hand is reaching for the speedloader or moon clip, so you have more ammo ready just as soon as you rotate the muzzle back down to load.
Method #2: The Palm Punch
The second method is to turn the muzzle up and use the palm of your shooting hand to briskly punch the ejector rod. This revolver reloading technique is favored by those who’re shooting full-power magnum ammunition, because the thumb-press method might not get the fully expanded empties out. Also, some revolvers—snubbies, in particular—don’t have a full-length ejector rod. By briskly whacking the ejector rod, in both cases, you make sure they have enough momentum to get clear of the cylinder.
The method you use depends on the equipment you have, along with the situation you’re in. For competition, if you don’t have moon clips (center), your scores will suffer.
In the second method, you reach for the speedloader after you’ve punched the empties out. This method is a bit slower, but the speed loss is the cost of reliably ejecting the empties every, single time.
Finessing for More Ammo Getting more ammo into your revolver requires just a bit of finesse.
With pistols, reloading is “fast-slow-fast.” You get the next magazine out and up to the pistol fast; you slow down to align it; and then, you slam it home in one move. With revolvers, you go “fast-slow-hands off.”
Get your hand to the speedloader fast, and get a good hold. Snatch it off your belt or out of the holder and get it to the cylinder quickly. Then, slow down. Tip the speedloader at a slight angle and line up two of the cartridges. No, not all six—just two. Once you get those two started, bring the speedloader into alignment with the cylinder and press it forward. And, during this time, you do not take your eyes off the loading process: Glancing up, even briefly, is likely to make you mess up the reload.
At this point, you also have two equipment choices to hasten revolver reloading (well, you’ve made the choice already, but they work differently here).
One is the spring-loaded speedloader. As you press the loader fully forward, the latching mechanism releases the rounds, and the built-in spring pushes them home.
For the other type, you’ll have to turn a knob or press a button. (The button-press ones are old tech, and you might not encounter them these days.)
In either case, spring or knob, you push the speedloader all the way to the cylinder, and then you come to the most important detail of all—one that requires its own, separate paragraph:
Let go of the speedloader! Do not lift the speedloader from the cylinder or try to do anything with it except let go of it and let it fall to the ground. Any extra handling you do risks binding a cartridge rim inside the speedloader and lifting it partially or fully clear of the cylinder. If you do that, you’ve either created a malfunction or dropped as much as 20 percent of your ammo onto the ground.
Once the spring pushes them in—or you turn the knob—let go and let the speedloader fall to the ground. By letting go of it, you ensure each cartridge can cleanly leave the speedloader on its own.
Moon Clip The process is the same right up until you introduce the rounds to the cylinder. If you’re using round-nosed FMJ bullets (this would most likely be for competition work), the rounds are, in all likelihood, self-centering, and you simply have to get any one of them started. Gravity will do the rest.
Here’s the speed load—competition style. With this method, you don’t let go of the revolver with your firing hand and you do the ejecting and loading with your other hand. Notice that the trigger finger keeps the cylinder from rotating when it comes time to turn the speedloader knob.
My friend, Jerry Miculek, has reloaded a .45 revolver so many times that he really just drops the moon clip from several inches away and it self-centers and slides home. (Practice 100,000 times, and that will probably work for you, too!)
If you’re using JHPs, you’ll have to use your moon clip the same way as you would a speedloader: Get two started—on an angle— and then align and press home.
Both of these methods require that you, having reloaded, get your firing hand back onto the grips while moving your left hand to close the cylinder and then slide it back into your firing grip.
Method #3: The Strong-Hand Method
The speedier method is one I thought I’d learned from Jerry Miculek when we were both shooting bowling pins back at the old Second Chance match. There, a single run was your score for the revolver event. You could shoot it many times, but only one run (your best) counted for score. So, saving even a single tenth of a second was important.
Having dumped the empties, you introduce Mr. Wheelgun to Mr. Speedloader. This is the loading process for both the first and second methods. To make sure you get a smooth and fast reload, tip the speedloader into the cylinder. Catch two rounds and line them up. Then, bring the speedloader into alignment and press it forward.
With the speed method, you do some things the same way, but your firing hand never leaves the grips. Your left hand pops open the cylinder, but you also use your left hand to snap the ejector rod to clear the empties. The muzzle can’t point down very much and, as a result, this works best with moon clip revolvers. Then, with your left hand, grab a new moon clip, toss it into the cylinder, and close up.
When I was reloading wheelguns this way in IPSC competition at World Shoots, the moon clips would sometimes sail past my head, making the RO have to duck occasionally. It’s difficult to load this way with speedloaders, because you can’t guarantee that every empty exits (because they aren’t all clipped into a moon clip). And, the speedloader has to have the cylinder gripped so it can’t rotate as it feeds in. Moon clips don’t care. I learned to use the tip of my trigger finger to keep the cylinder from rotating.
When this is all working smoothly, you do save a tenth to a half a second on a reload, compared to an equal speedloader reload. But, it’s a high-wire act; and, if anything goes wrong, you lose more time than a dozen reloads completed this way saved you.
In talking with Jerry many years after the old pin shoot (there’s a new pin shoot now, held in the same place as the old one), he told me he never reloaded that way. So, I clearly must have made it up to try and catch him, or I stole it from someone else (whose name is now lost to history).
Wheelguns might only hold five, six, seven or eight rounds, but you can get them stoked back quickly if you know how—and you practice.
Find that perfect piece of kit to improve your shooting with the help of our best gun gear reviews from the past year.
As you most likely know, the past year saw record gun sales. Brace yourself, the market doesn’t show any sign of letting up as we plunge into the roaring ‘20s. This means discretion is imperative.
Spotty availability of guns, ammo and accessories for the foreseeable future means you should get your mind right on what you need—and which brand best provides it. Education is the key and we’re here to help you down this path. We’ve gathered up our best ammo and gun gear reviews and buyer's guides from the past year to pull back the veil on what’s out there right now. Do your research and critically consider what will enhance your performance—be it hunting, self-defense or plain old plinking—and you'll get the kit you need.
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Don't know which wheelgun to hang in your holster or hit the field hunting with? Check out our best revolver reviews from the past year to get the inside scoop.
There’s never been quite a year like 2020. No, not the incessant rioting and worldwide pandemic. Violence and disease are old as mankind. Instead, the hallmark of the past year was gun sales. There was a lot of them … more than any other year on record.
While nice the ranks of gun owners have been bolstered it did create quite a few headaches. For many the cupboard was bear when at their local gun store. Newsflash: the market should prove equally this in 2021. This means you should have your ducks in a row when you go shopping.
We’re here to lend a hand. We’ve compiled our best revolver reviews and lists from the past year to give you the inside edge on the hottest wheelguns donning your local gun store’s display cases this coming year. Be it a big-bore hand cannon, a svelte snubbie or a rugged six-shooter, you’re certain to find the right revolver for your next buy.
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Available in both .22 LR and .22 WMR, the Taurus Model 942 revolver exceeds expectations and should have shooters looking differently at the Brazilian gunmaker.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
