With an exceptionally powerful rangefinder and crystal-clear glass, MeoPro Optika LR binos go the distance … and then some.
Some things were just meant to go together. Clock and radio, peanut butter and jelly, laser rangefinder and binoculars. Long-range shooters, hunters and any other marksman that appreciates improved function and less bulk in the field get why that last example is so important. Thankfully, the marketplace has provided.
Among the latest entry into this specialized corner of the shooting world, Meopta’s MeoPro Optika LR series. As the “LR” at the end of its name suggests, the glass is tailored for long-range shooters who routinely push the limits of their rifle’s range and those who hunt open country. This not only goes for glass engineer to go the distance, but also the laser rangefinder that goes the extra mile.
The MeoPro Optika LR line encompasses two models—10×42 HD and 8×50 HD—each with impressive range-finding capabilities. The integrated laser rangefinder measures out to 2,600 yards in the 10x binos and out to 2,950 yards in the 8x. Additionally, the rangefinder features three ranging modes—auto, near ranging and far-ranging. Auto is a continuous setting, giving shooters constant readings on a moving target. Far and near ranging are just like they sound, measuring the distance to the furthest and nearest objects in the aiming circle. The rangefinder also puzzles out incline data, in case a shooter finds themselves above or below their target’s elevation
The binoculars have a simple push-button operation, intuitively situated at the top of the optics and automatic shutoff to extend battery life. Able to read in both yards and meters, the MeoPro Optika LR optics also has four levels of brightness for a clear display in all lighting environments.
As for the optics proper, the Optika LR line boasts HD fluoride glass, coated with the company’s MeoLux lens coating. The combination produces exceptionally clear and bright images, with maximum resolution and contrast. Ample objective lenses do their part to ensure low-light functionality Housed in a lightweight magnesium alloy body, with rubber armoring, the MeoPro Optika LR binoculars withstand rough treatment and brutal environments. As for price, the 10×42 HD has an MSRP of $1,499.99 and the 8×50 HD an MSRP of $1,874.99.
For more information on the MeoPro Optika LR binos, please visit meopta.com
Be there a more important tool on a reloading bench than a reloading scale?
One of the handiest pieces of gear any reloader should own is a good scale.
Weighing the various components of your handload is one of the most essential activities; it’s used for much more than just weighing a powder charge—as you’ll see.
The types of scales used by reloaders generally break down into two categories: the balance beam scales, fueled by gravity, and the electronic pressure scales, which use a piezo unit to measure pressure and convert that into weight. Both scale types can have issues, and both are excellent in their own way. I personally recommend owning both as a means of checking things once in a while.
The Balance Beam Scale
The balance beam scale is one of mankind’s oldest means of weighing an object, and it remains a perfectly viable means of accomplishing all your reloading tasks. While some consider the balance beam to be antiquated, I can assure you that when you want the absolute truth, you should reach for a properly setup balance beam scale. After all, gravity doesn’t wear out. Models with good magnetic damping will speed up your measurements, because the scale will take less time to settle.
With an automated dispenser interfaced with an electronic scale, a reloader can program the RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 to dispense loads for the lightest pistol case or the biggest rifle case with excellent accuracy.
I’ve used a good number of balance beam scales over the years; my dad’s RCBS 505 scale served as the only means of measuring in our minimalist setup, and it served us well.
I like the Redding Model No. 2 Powder & Bullet Scale because, as is the case with most things Redding makes, it’s probably over-designed. Stainless steel bearing seats hold the ground knife edges of the beam for a lifetime of service. The scale is accurate to a tenth of a grain, and the plate at the pointer end of the beam is graduated in one-tenth-grain increments—quickly indicating an accurate measurement above or below your target weight.
The Redding Model No. 2 has a 505-grain capacity, which is perfect for most applications (such as weighing cases, powder and bullets). If I had to find a fault with the No. 2, it would be the small disk at the bottom of the pan hook assembly: It’s flat, and I’ve had the pan slide off more than once. The location of the zero-adjustment screw can be a problem for guys with large hands, but for those who appreciate tools that’ll most definitely last a lifetime, the No. 2 might be exactly what you’re after.
For bigger jobs, the RCBS M1000 is a good scale. It offers increased capacity, measuring up to 1,000 grains. With a unique split-beam design, the M1000 is good for weighing fully loaded cartridges—in order to guarantee each one has a powder charge—or for weighing truly heavy projectiles. It’s a solid choice for an all-around reloading scale, although it will take up a bit more room on your bench.
There are other choices, but among the balance beam scales I’ve used, these three represent the best value out there.
When the electronic scale first came on the market, they lost my trust immediately. I couldn’t get the early units to maintain zero, and the readings I was getting simply weren’t consistent.
The RCBS M1000 is a perfect choice for weighing heavier projectiles, cases or even loaded cartridges. With two counterpoises, it’s a sensible design that’s easy to use.
Thankfully, that’s all changed. Modern electronic scales (or maybe they’re more properly called “pressure monitors”) are fantastic tools that are fully capable of accurate, consistent measurements. I remember that when the RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 powder dispenser first came out, I was amazed at how quickly and efficiently it would throw its powder charge … but I was absolutely certain the weight of that charge was inconsistent and/or incorrect. How wrong I was!
I set out on a mission to get the unit to “vomit” by throwing a false charge or to simply deliver consistent loads that would measure differently than one of my trusted balance beam scales. I have two of the RCBS units and, over the course of tens of thousands of cartridges, I can’t find any fault with either of them.
I’ve heard reports of interference from fluorescent lights, although I haven’t experienced that personally, and I’ve heard that the units need at least 30 minutes to warm up before giving accurate measurements. I do know that moving air will drastically affect the measurements, so be careful with open windows, fans and other sources of a breeze.
My two RCBS ChargeMaster units sit on a sturdy bench (there are virtually no vibrations in my shop), and I level the machines. I’ve had nothing but good results. I can say the same for the ChargeMaster Lite. If the instructions are followed, they work as advertised, delivering precise charges of powder quickly and efficiently.
RCBS’s new MatchMaster powder dispenser uses what’s called a “pharmaceutical-grade scale” for its high-tech operation. It measures—accurately, mind you—down to 0.04 grain; this is something most scales can’t, or won’t, claim. I’ve toyed with the MatchMaster at the SHOT Show, and I’m eager to spend more time with it.
There are many good electronic scales on the market—and not just from RCBS, but from Lyman (I love the Pro-Touch 1500) and Frankford Arsenal, for example. However, my point is that they’ve become utterly reliable.
The Uses
Measuring our powder charge is the first and foremost use of a good scale, but to improve on the consistency of our handloaded ammunition, we can also weigh and segregate the cases and projectiles.
There are many good balance beam scales on the market. Shown are the Redding Model No. 2, the RCBS 505 and M1000 scales.
You’ll find yourself using the scale more often as your reloading skills advance, so you should invest in the best you can afford. I enjoy owning both the electronic and balance beam varieties, and I use both types during each in-depth reloading session. Do some additional research to find the type (or types) that will work best for you, and help make the most of your reloading time.
The 6.8 SPC has endured a rocky road at times. Initial design flaws and a slew of competing cartridges, it’s somewhat a surprise it’s still around. Still, the hard-hitter soldiers on and continues to gain followers. Hog hunters especially have embraced the 6.8. But the snappy cartridge has won deer and predator hunters, as well as the defensive-minded.
Predominantly chambered in AR-style rifles, it’s fairly easy to give the short and squat .270 a shot. Taking advantage of the gun's modular design, all an AR shooter requires is a 6.8 SPC upper—and dedicated magazines—and they’re good to go. A helping of knowledge about the nuances of the cartridge and who turns out platforms that launches it helps, too.
Brief Words On The SPC II
Right now, if you bought a 6.8 SPC upper or rifle, you’d be hard-pressed to find one. Confusing as it sounds that’s not what’s on the market today. Instead, you’d find roll marked on every new barrel “6.8 SPC II”.
So, what does that mean? Our article, Does The 6.8 SPC II Still Have A Place? explains it in depth. But for our purpose here this is what you need to know. Essentially, the 6.8 SPC II has .100-inch of lead, compared to the original design’s .050-inch. Small as it might sound, the improvement made miles of difference in performance. To the quick, it eliminated pressure spikes common in the original design and allowed shooters to launch hot-loads without fear. While it doesn’t play a large role in our present discussion, all the 6.8 SPC uppers discussed have type II chambers. It’s good to know if you happen to hunt out vintage guns.
Always a safe bet for an AR build, Palmetto State Armory does a solid job marrying performance and an affordable price. Though, its 6.8 SPC upper selection is a bit on the slim side, with only one option. PSA’s 18-inch upper, however, is decked out and a solid choice, especially for predator hunters and shooters with a yen to reach out.
This is mainly thanks to the build’s rifle-length, stainless-steel bull barrel. With plenty of bore and excellent heat dispersion qualities, the firetube ensures a complete powder burn and is resistant to barrel whip. Of course, as mentioned in the intro, it boasts an SPC II chamber, with it a 1:11-inch twist rate. In turn, it’ll handle hot loads across a wide spectrum of bullet weights.
PSA’s Lightweight handguard keeps the upper manageable, allows for the addition of a front sight and boasts M-Lok slots at the 3-, 6- and 9-o’clock positions. The bolt is 9310, which might prove a point of contention with carpenter steel devotees. But with the rest of its bells and whistles—forward assist, adjustable gas block, M4 feed ramp—it’s by no means a dealbreaker. MSRP: $639, palmettostatearmory.com
Blackstone Arms
A boutique manufacturer specializing in 6.8 SPC uppers, Blackstone offers a great selection at a relatively competitive price. They cost a smidgen more than the big boys, but not prohibitively so. As far as options, Blackstone offers everything from 10.5 short-barrel uppers up to 20-inch rifles.
Interestingly, the company serves up 5R and 3R rifling in its barrels, depending on the model. Most know how 5R rifling’s off-set lands, with their angled sides, are supposed to help maintain a bullet's ballistic integrity. The concept is the same for 3R, except with three lands to reduce the bearing surface. Reportedly, this reduces pressure and improves the performance of solid copper projectiles. At least that’s the theory; do with it what you will.
As far as choices, we prefer the 16-inch SOCOM upper. Carbine-length, it’s nimble, yet still has enough bore to get the 6.8 to perform. Plus, the upper is decked out with top components, including an Aero Precision upper receiver and a beefy ARP Superbolt. Additionally, Blackstone offers semi-customization, with your choice of handguard, gas block and muzzle device. MSRP: $770; blackstonearms.com
Bison Armory
Bison Armory is found on the 6.8 SPC. It’s since branched out, still, the manufacturer remains dedicated to the punchy intermediate cartridge. It shows in the company’s catalog. Selection abounds, from 8.5-inch barreled pistol configurations, up to a mammoth 22-inch heavy barrel option. If you’re just dying to milk every last ounce of velocity out of a trigger pull there you go. For our money, the company’s 16-inch barreled Recon fits the bill. A middle-ground option, generally quick to target and fairly flawless in execution.
The deal sealer on the model is the heavy stainless steel barrel, which adds some heft to the build, but is worth the extra weight. The upper is still light enough not to prove a burden in the field. But the heavier firetube is a solid target shooting option, giving you the best of both worlds. Furthermore, it boasts a 1:11-inch twist rate, which provides a measure of versatility and, of course, an SPC II chamber. All the other features are there too, and if they aren’t up to your standards you can easily customize them in your order. MSRP: N/A; bisonarmory.com
Radical Firearms
Tighter budget but still looking to build an AR? Radical Firearms is generally a good choice with its priced-right uppers. Its 6.8 SPC uppers are no different, among the most economical on the market today. But don’t let the price fool you, the manufacturer puts out a solid product.
While the company technically offers four models of 6.8 uppers, the distinguishing features are rails and barrel contour. It’s a choice of 12- and 15-inch versions of its lightweight RPR and large diameter MHR rails. In both cases, you get plenty of M-Lok slot real estate and full-length upper rail. Though, on the MHR there is a bottom rail if you run a bipod. The shorter railed models have heavy contour chrome-moly vanadium barrels, the longer medium contour. MSRP: $475; radicalfirearms.com
Berger goes heavy with its .223 Remington options.
Match shooters are no strangers to heavy-for-caliber loads for the .223 Remington. Of course, their stuff is typically hand-rolled. But now the masses have a couple of weighty options when it comes to among America’s most shot cartridges with Berger Ammunition jumping into the game.
On the company’s slate for 2021, .223 Remington 73-grain Boat Tail Target and .223 Remington 77-grain OTM Tactical. As expected from Berger, the additions boast stratospheric ballistics, as well as top-end quality control. All in all nice options if you enjoy stretching your rifle’s legs or bucking the wind on gusty days.
Berger .223 Remington 73-Grain Boat Tail Target
Optimized for top performance in both bolt-guns and semi-autos, Berger’s 73-grain round is designed to outperform current .223 long-range options. The 73-grain BT bullet (.348 BC, G1 Model) has been popular with handloaders for years, known for its superior performance in the AR platform. This is thanks not only to its extremely concentric J4 Target jacket and consistent core weight but also to its flexible tangent ogive design. Conducive with the most common barrel twist rates for the caliber—1:7, 1:8 and 1:9—few should find the round has any hitch in their particular system. Loaded for a 2,820 fps muzzle velocity (out of a 20-inch barrel), the round has the chops for precision work near and far.
Berger .223 Remington 77 Grain OTM Tactical
Engineered as a premium solution for military and law enforcement applications, the 77-grain OTM hits like a freight train. Designed with AR platforms in mind, the round is tailored for 1:8 twist rate and faster, as well as flawless feeding. Again, the 77-grain (.374 BC, G1 Model) provides a superior ballistic coefficient than anything in its class, improving downrange accuracy and performance. Also it boasts a tangent ogive bullet, providing consistent performance across the round’s effective range. And loaded for 2,750 fps muzzle velocity (20-inch barrel), it not only goes the distance, but hits hard when it reaches its destination.
For more information on the new Berger .223 ammunition, please visit bergerbullets.com.
Get On Target With The AR:
Go Small With These 8 Economical AR Pistol Options
Configured to excel in match shooting and the field, the Bergara BMR looks to be a regular do-all rimfire.
A rifleman would have to have been asleep at the trigger not to have caught wind of Bergara by now. The Spanish barrel maker has taken the American shooting world by storm the past decade, delivering turn-bolts that excel in the field, at the range and otherwise. While centerfire tack drivers are its signature irons, a few years ago the gunmaker jumped into the rimfire game with equally impressive results. And it continues to grow its plinker arsenal.
Dubbed the Bergara Micro Rifle (BMR), the gunmaker’s newest addition fills a do-all role in its rimfire catalog, yet lives up to the high standards set by its predecessors. Crossover appeal similar to Bergara’s centerfire B-14 HMR (Hunting Match Rifle), the BMR should prove as comfortable in an NRL22 match as it is bagging a woodchuck.
Better yet, as compared to Bergara’s top-shelf rimfire, the B-14R, the new rifle comes in much less expensive than the $1,245 precision model. The base No. 4 contour steel-barreled gun has an MSRP of $565, while the lightweight No. 6 contour carbon-fiber wrapped barrel option comes in at $659.
Bergara BMR Steel
So, what can shooters expect from the BMR, outside of barrel choice and relative affordability? Overall a very compact package with an excellent selection of calibers. To the latter point, Bergara offers the rifle in perennial favorites .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR, with the barrel length corresponding to the cartridge. The .22 LR boasts an 18-inch firetube, while the magnum rimfires come outfitted with 20-inch barrels, helping them live up to their ballistic potentials.
Bergara enhanced the BMR for the utmost accuracy, carrying over a number of the B-14R’s precision features. Chief among these, a match chamber and a unique, upgradeable trigger. Out of the box, the BMR has the gunmaker’s solid Bergara Performance Trigger, which should prove snappy enough for most shooters. If not, the rifle is compatible with Remington 700 aftermarket triggers, giving shooters a wealth of choice in upgrades. Other notables on the gun include 5- and 10-round detachable box magazines, oversized bolt handle, 30 MOA scope rail and threaded muzzle (1/2-28” TPI) with thread protector.
Bergara BMR Specs Action: BMR Barrel: Carbon Fiber Bergara Barrel. No. 6 taper; 4140 steel matted blued finish. No. 4 taper Twist: 1:16 for .22 LR and .22 WMR and 1:9 for the .17 HMR Barrel length: 18” (.22 LR) or 20” (.17 HMR and .22 WMR) Threaded muzzle: 1/2-28” with thread protector Weight: Carbon Fiber 5 – 5.4 lbs. depending on caliber: steel 5.5 – 5.8 lbs. depending on caliber Length: 36” or 38” overall Mag capacity: 5 and 10 round magazine included Scope mounts: 30 MOA Rail Included Trigger: Bergara Performance Trigger. Compatible Rem700 Stock: Black with tactical grey specks MSRP: Steel Barrel $565; Carbon Fiber Barrel $659
For more information on the Bergara BMR, please visit bergara.online/us.
Everywhere you turn there's a carbon-fiber barrel or stock on a rifle. Does the lightweight material really prove superior to steel and wood?
Across the thousand years that people have been using guns, there have been innumerable materials used to achieve the goal of launching a projectile at a target. In the grand scheme, carbon fiber is just another material applied to that end and not specifically devoted for it.
Muskets were greasy affairs, and anyone who is a muzzleloader aficionado will be familiar with all manner of mess. These shooters use everything from animal fat and butter to wax and entrails to work on their guns and load them. Greased fabric patches are wrapped around round balls and rammed down, waiting to be fired by flint striking steel.
Mass production in the era after the Industrial Revolution saw machine guns with barrels surrounded by water tanks as a means of keeping them cool. The first composite materials saw widespread use as laminated wood or wood-impregnated resins began to see action. Plastics and aluminum were next, and their adoption in arms was slow and faced great criticism.
Some people still won’t touch a “Tupperware” gun, despite the first popular models showing up over a half-century ago. Full steel guns are getting rarer as a result of this, and only fan favorites, like the 1911, are still in common use. Today’s most popular guns make use of steel in strategic places but are otherwise constricted primarily from polymers and aluminum. Further cutting into steel’s territory is carbon fiber.
What Exactly Is Carbon Fiber?
Some treat the material as a brand itself, a status marker showing that an individual can afford an expensive barrel. The material is quite remarkable, and what it does for rifles, in particular, is great—but not completely necessary for most shooters.
Mesa Precision Arms 6.5 CM rifle, a super-light and super-accurate high-end hunting rifle; custom Rem 700 build with X-Caliber CF barrel designed around 120-grain 6.5mm CM loads in a KRG chassis; 450 Bushmaster built by Precision Rifle Company as the ideal straight-walled case hunting rifle and wears an AG Composites stock. ” width=”1021″ height=”574″ class=”size-full wp-image-278849″ /> (Top to Bottom) Mesa Precision Arms 6.5 CM rifle, a super-light and super-accurate high-end hunting rifle; custom Rem 700 build with X-Caliber CF barrel designed around 120-grain 6.5mm CM loads in a KRG chassis; 450 Bushmaster built by Precision Rifle Company as the ideal straight-walled case hunting rifle and wears an AG Composites stock.
The material itself is, in layman’s terms, composed of thousands of strands, each made from carbon atoms. Surprisingly, this isn’t a new material at all, but it’s new to firearms.
The original attempts to generate it for industrial applications goes back to the early 1860s, though it didn’t reach its commercial potential until about 100 years later. It’s essentially a fabric spun into a weave that’s then filled with resins or polymerized composites to achieve a sheet of what resembles cloth. Virtually all firearm applications of carbon fiber are mislabeled and would be more appropriately called “carbon-fiber reinforced polymer,” but that isn’t quite as catchy. This is the same general technology applied to archery equipment and water sports, like kayaking and canoeing.
To make carbon-fiber barrels, most companies use a variation of wrapping it around a steel barrel, commonly called a “liner,” though it could be thought of as a super-thin barrel itself. The attachment points on a carbon-fiber barrel are steel, such as where it threads into the receiver, and at the muzzle where you can thread on a brake or suppressor. Different companies do their wraps in special ways, and you can sometimes identify a brand by the appearance of the pattern in the fibers.
As far as stocks are concerned, many aren’t actually made 100 percent out of carbon fiber, but are instead a shell made of another composite sheathed in carbon fiber to add strength and rigidity. Other companies laminate layers of carbon fiber into fiberglass or other like materials to create a weave of layers that can then be shaped and bedded.
The main con of carbon-fiber parts is that they’re expensive, usually two to three times the cost of comparable steel or aluminum versions. This is what has earned them the reputation as status symbols in several shooting communities. Their use in handguns is limited, to say the least, as the material is really only used for grips or cosmetic enhancements due to the fact that most handgun parts are pressure-bearing or moving. Thus, carbon fiber today is really a rifle thing with minor accessories available for other gun types.
The short, thick carbon-fiber barrel on this compact precision rifle build makes it so that it’s well-balanced and can fit just about anywhere. The heat-resistant SHTF+ wrap from KE Arms keeps rapidly dissipating heat away from the optics and the aluminum KRG forend during long strings of fire. It’s so small that it can drop right into a Hill People Gear pack and away you go!
Is cost the only detriment? Well, in my experience, carbon fiber can be misapplied for certain roles. To illustrate best practice, I built or received three rifles that make use of various carbon-fiber parts from several different manufacturers. It’s possible to make a rifle that’s too light for a given role, and it’s also possible to be severely disappointed by what you receive if you buy into the hype.
The cons discussion here is meant to be honest, and, despite common claims, a carbon-fiber barrel isn’t any more accurate than a steel barrel, considering that it’s itself a steel core with steel rifling. The mechanical and physical principles of accuracy don’t change here, nor does relative velocity of a given bullet when fired through carbon-fiber-wrapped barrels of plain steel barrels. Simply adding a carbon-fiber barrel to your rifle isn’t guaranteed to make it shoot better. The basic thing a carbon-fiber barrel offers is substantial weight savings over a steel barrel of the same contour, with the added benefit of faster heat bleed-off and rigidity to weight.
So, wouldn’t it be more accurate if it’s stiffer? Well, take into account that most standard carbon-fiber barrels are meant to mimic the profile of common heavy barreled guns, the idea being that common stocks would still work without much fitting. The common profile for these barrels is the same as the military M24 contour, with the next popular contour being Remington Sendero, a heavy-class hunting profile thinner than M24 but thicker than a standard hunting-weight barrel. Side by side, a 24-inch M24 contour carbon-fiber barrel won’t outshoot a 24-inch M24 contour steel barrel on paper, but it’ll weigh only one third of what the steel barrel weighs as a rough rule of thumb.
There are some out there who claim a carbon-fiber barrel will last longer than a plain steel barrel, sometimes to the tune of twice the accurate life. This means, in theory, that a .308 Winchester with a carbon-fiber barrel would have an expected accurate life of 10,000 or more rounds, so you’d never need another one if that were true.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not the rifling that wears out but rather the throat and start of the rifling. These areas are susceptible to heat-imposed damage and eventually erode enough to make it so that the bullet has to jump or enter the rifling off-center. High-volume shooters with hot cartridges like 6.5 Creedmoor—a round known for poor barrel life—are enthusiastic about carbon-fiber barrels due to their ability to radiate heat quickly as opposed to steel.
The Mesa’s carbon-fiber stock shows a tight weave pattern under the camo splotches.
Now, a reality check is that this really only applies to people who shoot their 6.5 CM enough to see a reduction in accuracy, not their barrel being blown out into a smooth bore. What does this mean? The average person will never in their life shoot a barrel “out,” and shooting a barrel out for a competitor means they might go from shooting ¼ inch at 100 yards to ¾ inch at the same distance over 3,000 rounds, which is the general “accurate” life of a standard 6.5 CM barrel.
What you need to understand is that carbon-fiber barrels give a slight edge to high-volume competitors at ranges past 800 yards against steel barrels, but this isn’t the norm for most people, and there’s no reason you won’t get a decade of use out of a steel barrel for use in competition before you start to notice it’s no longer consistent at those long ranges.
The positives of carbon-fiber barrels are primarily centered around weight savings and accuracy for a given complete rifle weight. It’s true that you can shave literal pounds off a rifle by switching to a carbon-fiber barrel, especially if you had a heavy-contoured barrel on your existing rifle. If you have a mountain-class light rifle, remodeling your rifle to use a carbon barrel will allow you to keep the short length but add tremendous stiffness and accuracy for the same weight. Short, light rifles suffer from heat-related accuracy problems more than other guns, and it’s very noticeable.
Heat dispersion for hunters isn’t really a big deal and only comes into play when you’re at the range practicing or developing loads for your rifle. Some hunting rifles with skinny barrels are hard to zero and lose accuracy after just a few rounds due to heat buildup. The weight savings is nice in the field but isn’t much of a factor unless you’re climbing or walking. A stand hunter isn’t benefited by this much at all, considering the stationary nature of that type of hunting; weight just isn’t that important, since you’re just walking up to the blind with a nice thermos of coffee, snacks and a book to read.
There really isn’t too much of a debate around carbon-fiber stocks. Stocks are somewhat basic in nature and haven’t changed all that much in the last hundred or more years. A carbon-fiber stock is quite rigid, but not as stiff as a metal chassis. The weight savings over wood, composite or polymer stocks isn’t the same ratio as barrels, so expect to shave about 10 to 20 percent in total weight over a comparably sized conventional stock.
A Look At Upgrades
The three rifles in this article are designed for very different purposes, and all make use of carbon-fiber parts to achieve their ends. The first of these is a top-shelf hunting rifle from Mesa Precision Arms; it was built from the ground up to take full advantage of modern materials and techniques. It’s a hunting rifle chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor, and capable of ½ MOA at ranges to 1,000 yards. It does take considerable practice to use so light a rifle at so long a distance, but it’s not ethical or even likely that you’d be firing on an animal at target distances like that. This rifle excels at ranges inside 800 yards and is a charm for the pack-in hunter with multi-species tags.
Many patterns are unique to a given manufacturer. This barrel is from Proof Research, and it bears their distinctive “Damascus” pattern.
The Mesa has a carbon-fiber stock and barrel and a titanium action. This is a specialty product that’ll almost certainly not be in the safe of the recreational deer hunter. This rifle retails around $5,000 as featured in this article, but it’s truly peerless in terms of raw performance, even against other rifles that use nearly identical components. The lightweight package is specialized and fully tuned with minor details you won’t see, and it shows in field use. This product is representative of just what can be accomplished when technology and craftsmanship are applied in unison. There’s a vast difference in a custom carbon-fiber rifle built by a company that specializes in those materials and a company that simply adds to a product in their existing catalog.
The next rifle is my personal deer rifle, the action custom blueprinted by the fine folks at Precision Rifle Company in my native Michigan. They’re a leader in making accurate rifles that use straight-walled cases, mine being a 14.5-inch pin-and-weld .450 Bushmaster. This rifle uses an AG Composites Alpine Hunter carbon-fiber stock.
Why use a target-style carbon-fiber stock on a big-bore rifle with a cartridge good to 200 yards? The rifle is a special build in that it’s completely specialized for Michigan hunting. I’m an open-field stalk hunter, for the most part, and I rarely if ever use a stand, instead remaining on the ground in blind corners of wheat, soybean or corn stubble. This rifle has the shape necessary for positional shooting unsupported but is light enough that it can be carried easily over distance and in dense cover. A carbon stock makes total sense in this respect, as I can save weight while getting the benefits of a more robust stock.
The last rifle is another specialized custom-built Remington 700 in a KRG Whiskey 3 folding chassis. The rifle uses a rather unique barrel setup, that being a Savage-style finished-chamber with a barrel nut assembly. It’s from X-Caliber barrels, which also manufactured the standard steel barrel on my .450 Bushmaster. The barrel nut setup makes it so that you can install the barrel yourself at home on a standard, non-trued 700 action. The result is a drop-in carbon-fiber solution if you want to try your hand.
This barrel is chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and is 16 inches long. The idea was to make a compact rifle for tactical shooting competition that made good use of 120-grain bullets at high velocity. The 6.5 CM is hot, and this short, stiff barrel bleeds heat while being exceptionally compact with no loss of accuracy or velocity. It launches 120-grain bullets at 2,700 to 2,900 fps, depending on factory or hand-load used. It shoots inside .308 Winchester at virtually all distances with almost no recoil.
While the AG Composites stock here is on a short-range rifle meant for 200 yards and in, it demonstrates light weight and superior ergonomics that make it great on a modern stalking gun.
Specialized uses like this strongly favor carbon-fiber barrels. High-round count and mobility are key here, and a carbon-fiber barrel makes total sense to keep the rifle cool while saving weight and fatigue when moving it. Choosing to build a rifle around a bullet can change your approach, and this one went through several iterations with expert input to get it right, and the X-Caliber barrel here made all the difference.
Cost And Benefits
The truth of it is you might not be benefited by carbon-fiber upgrades if your end use doesn’t involve weight savings or heat dissipation. Cost is certainly a factor here, and the price of upgrades can usually buy you a whole new rifle or a new scope. Carbon-fiber barrels aren’t cheap and can run well over $1,000, not even counting chambering and fitting. Carbon-fiber stocks are more feasible, but they don’t provide significant performance enhancements at the end of the day as compared to conventional stocks.
As this technology marches on, it’ll certainly improve and begin appearing in more places. Today’s carbon-fiber game is still in its infancy. In 10 years, it’ll be likely that this material will be cheaper to produce and will find more end uses, but in our time, it’s still a specialized product best suited for the few who want to pay for a perceived edge.
Revolver grips, it isn't the most scintillating topic. But some consideration in this area goes a long way in taming a large-bore beast.
The grip your heavy-kicking revolver is equipped with matters. Whether it’s a double- or single-action, the handle you hang onto will make your revolver pleasant to shoot—and thereby controllable … or not.
Grip shape determines how the revolver will recoil. Double-actions tend to recoil straight back into the hand. The recoil dynamic of double-action revolvers differs significantly from that of single-actions. The single-actions have a propensity for flipping the muzzle upward.
There are distinctly different types of single-action revolver grips, but as a basic design and type (they’re all variations on the same theme), let’s refer to them as “plow handles.” These grip designs tend to point very naturally but, by design, they’ll pivot upward in your hand. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this grip type; however, when recoil climbs, they become increasingly more difficult to control.
Ruger addressed this “shortcoming” with its interpretation of the Bisley grip frame that was made famous by Colt. It’s a more vertical profile, and frankly, it recoils much more like a double-action, in that it goes back more than a plow handle design. People love them or hate them, but the general consensus is that the Ruger Bisley is a better choice for control and quick follow-up shots under heavy recoil.
However, it can be better when not equipped with narrow, one-size-fits-all factory grips. The chief complaint about the Ruger Bisley is that the middle knuckle of the shooting hand makes painful contact with the trigger guard.
Freedom Arms revolvers are equipped with a grip frame the author finds very recoil-friendly, even with factory grips. In essence, it’s a cross between a plow handle and a Ruger Bisley.
Magnum Research’s BFR single-action revolvers come equipped with a plow handle-style grip. While a rubber grip of the company’s own design is available, it doesn’t work well for the author’s hands. However, Magnum Research recently added its own iteration of the Bisley grip that sort of resembles a banana in profile. That said, the Magnum Research Bisley is, hands down, the best grip for big recoil. It substantially improves control and comfort.
Custom Revolver Grips
There’s a way to make your favorite grip frame a whole lot better: Add aftermarket or custom grips. The key is the fit to your hand. There are many aftermarket grip manufacturers that should be explored because they might have a good product for you.
Hogue makes a particularly good “Tamer” grip for the Ruger Super Redhawk. The better option (for single-actions) is a custom set of grips made for your hand dimensions. Yes, they can be costly, but the final product will be vastly superior than anything mass-produced. When the grip is right, your shooting experience will be greatly improved.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Cutting edge electronic optics, nothing new for Burris. Long before every lens grinder and their mother turned to outfitting their scopes with a range-finder/bullet-drop compensator the Colorado company was churning them out. Despite being a handful size-wise, the Eliminator has become legendary for its ability to help hunters fill their tags. Now Burris has a new set of electronic optics in its sights—thermal scopes.
Night hunting has exploded in popularity in recent decades, right alongside hog and coyote numbers. And with improvements on low-light imaging and aiming solutions, thermal optics have upped hunters' success rates way beyond the days of spotlighting. Burris has gone big in outfitting these shooters with the tools to bag their game with three thermal optics, each coming in at a relatively competitive price. On the slate for 2021, the Burris Thermal Handheld, Thermal Clip-On and Thermal Riflescope. Each offers a different approach to finding game, but all are equally on target.
Burris Thermal Handheld
As its name suggests, the optic is Burris’ off rifle option, giving hunters the ability to scan and identify game quickly and efficiently. Available with 35mm and 50mm objective lenses, the optic is capable of hot tracking targets past 750 yards, offers an incredibly smooth 4x digital zoom feature and excellent magnification. The 35mm model is 1.7-6.8x and the 50mm 2.9-9.2x. Additionally, the picture quality is excellent, with a 400×300 resolution screen with 17μm pixels and 50Hz frame rate. The device also has plenty of bells and whistles enhancing its overall usefulness, including 5 color palettes, stadiametric ranging and picture-in-picture. It also connects to smart devices via wifi, allowing more than one set of eyes to scan the horizon or giving hunters the ability to record what they find. MSRP: $1,999-$2,999
Burris Thermal Clip-On
Dual purpose, the Clip-on can be used either as a handheld thermal or attached to a traditional scope, via a quick disconnect adaptor, to give it thermal imaging capabilities. Pretty slick. Find your target, draw a bead and follow a blood trail all in one handy device. Like the handheld optic, the Clip-On is available 35mm and 50mm objective lenses, both with 1x magnification. It also has a 400×300 resolution screen with 17μm pixels and 50Hz frame rate, for clear images with no lag. Additionally, it offers up to 4x digital zoom, 4 color palettes, picture-in-picture, stadiametric ranging and hot tracking capabilities. MSRP: $2,999-$3,199
Burris Thermal Riflescope
A dedicated night hunting optic, Burris’ Thermal Scope not only offers a way to find game in the pitch dark but get on target. This is hastened on by 10 digital reticles and 7 color palettes, allowing hunters to fine-tune their hunting experience for the best results. In addition to stadiametric ranging, picture-in-picture, hot tracking, and brightness and contrast controls the scope presents a crisp and clear image. In part, this is thanks to the choice of 35mm and 50mm objective lenses, a 400×300 resolution screen with 17μm pixels and a 50Hz frame rate. Similar to the other optics, it offers 4x digital zoom and 1.7-6.8x and the 50mm 2.9-9.2x options to get hunters up-close and personal with their quarry. MSRP: $2,749-$2,999
For more information on Burris Thermal optics, please visit burrisoptics.com.
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Best Concealed Carry Optics: Red Dot, Green Dot Or Iron Sights?
If you're an armed citizen and do any sort of driving, sooner or later you'll need to consider a vehicle gun safe.
What are the advantages of vehicle gun safes:
They are necessary given most cars' poor security.
They should be hidden so they do not draw a thief's attention.
They should attach to the superstructure of the vehicle.
Compared to gun vaults they are lightly built.
This is acceptable, given they are meant for short-term storage.
Most are not fireproof, given the rarity of it in vehicles.
Many handgun safes are acceptable vehicle safes.
The common refrain about “gun-free zones” is “I simply won’t go.” It’s a noble sentiment, steeped in the righteous intentions and completely incompatible with real life. It stings like salt in a wound, but a visit to these less-then-enlightened venues end up on a to-do list more often then you'd figure — be it jury duty, parent-teacher conferences or even work.
Console Vaults are designed to turn the center console into a secure gun safe.
The obvious solution to this unpalatable situation, given our highly mobile society, is to simply stow your gun in your car. Of course, doing so is easier said than done. It's impracticable to downright loony to think you can just toss you 9mm or .45 somewhere sight-unseen and call it secure. Always a consideration, firearms' security is especially imperative on the road. Tempered glass and anemic locks hardly inspire the confidence you should have when not personally accounting for your firearm.
Like the home variety, a vehicle gun safe thwarts crime and keeps your firearms where it needs to be — in your possession. And should be among the top accessories for anyone who carries on a regular basis. Quite possibly, it's the gun owner's best travel companion.
The Necessity Of A Vehicle Gun Safe
Similar to handgun safes, the vehicle variety only offer a moderate amount of protection in most cases, compared to a full-out gun vault. Still, they are more than adequate for short-term storage if they have two important features.
First and foremost, they must easily be hidden away from the general public's prying eyes. Criminals case cars, peering through window searching for valuables. If there’s nothing to offer, they’ll move to the next vehicle. A car gun safe in clear view is like a flashing neon sign screaming “rob me” to the felonious meathead.
Like nearly all of Fort Knox's products, the Auto Box provides the utmost security.
Almost equally important, the gun safe must attach to a structural component of the car. The floor is acceptable, the frame (or something bolted to it) is better. Otherwise, you might as well gift wrap the gun safe, it's become little more than a present a thief can pry or cut open at his leisure in the comfort of his own den.
Aside from theft, a gun safe in a vehicle makes sense as simply a way to secure a firearm on longer drives, say a family road trip and the like. Rolling 300 miles between stops, someplace safe to stow your pistol out of reach of children is wise and will give your side a rest from your gun digging into it.
Vehicle Gun Safe Limitations
While not as hidden as some options, the Titan Gun Safe Pistol Vault allows for rapid-access on the road.
While not a hard-and-fast rule, vehicle gun safes aren’t typically built to the specs of other firearms security devices. It makes some sense. Ideally, vehicle gun safes guard their contents over a much narrower window of time — hours, compared to days, weeks and months. Your hackles shouldn't raise too much, car thieves are also under the gun and won't have as much time to pry and break in, given their much more public area of operations. Furthermore, they aren’t armed with the same robust tools of the home thief, so you typically don't need an absolute excess of armor. They work with screwdrivers instead of pry bars, claw hammers opposed to grinders.
4 Top Handgun Safe Choices For Security And Access
Since automobile fires are rarer than house fires, vehicle gun safe don’t generally offer this line of protection. All in all, they’re simple lined metal boxes, meant purely as theft-prevention devices. Besides, if your car is on fire you might have larger problems than firearms security.
With these factors in mind, gun owners do well to remember a gun safe in their vehicle is for temporary storage. Treating it otherwise temps fate.
Unacceptable Vehicle Gun Safe Alternatives
“Well, I can simply toss my handgun in the center console or glove compartment box,” are infamous last words of a gun-theft victim. While each certainly keeps a firearm out of sight, they offer the same level of security as wrapping a gun in old newspaper and hoping for the best. Something as simple as a butter knife can defeat their locks. Additionally, you can bet any criminal worth his crowbar will check both for valuables once inside the car. If either is your only option you’re better off leaving your gun at home.
Some Of The Best Vehicle Gun Safes
Need more storage? SnapeSafe's Trunk Safe fits the bill with room enough for most long guns.
What is the best gun safe for the road? There are plenty of solid examples of gun safes specifically designed for vehicles that incorporate directly into existing aspects of a car or truck. Some of the cleverest examples are Lock’er Down and Console Vault safes, which are mounted in a center console turning the entire unit into a gun safe. For larger firearms, there are systems such as SnapSafe’s Trunk Safe, which bolts in the boot, essentially converting the better part of one into a gun vault.
However, there are simpler, more straightforward systems. The Bulldog Case Car Safe, for instance, is a relatively inexpensive option that is highly flexible; simply mount the bracket in a car and the safe slides in an out when unlocked. And it’s difficult to do better than Fort Knox’s Auto Box line. Constructed with 10-gauge steel, the hand and long gun safes boast among the best rapid-access mechanical locks around and true security when installed properly.
However, don’t pigeonhole yourself to gun safes with “car” “truck” or “vehicle” in their names. A quality built handgun safe will do equally as well as long as they meet the hidden and secure stipulations. A GunVault NanoVault will more than take care of the job, firmly attached to a seat assembly. Or one of Vaultek's rapid-access models would also fit the bill. There are no points against being creative, as long as your solution holds fast and is hard to find.
Parting Shot
Gun storage on the road isn't the simplest nut to crack, yet it's a reality. There's simply no way to call yourself a responsible gun owner if you leave car door locks to guard your firearms. In turn, part of your self-defense plan must include how to secure your gun when you're away from home. This ultimately means getting a vehicle gun safe. The peace of mind it provides is worth the investment and ultimately will keep you and your firearms safer.
The Brownells feed lip gauge is compact, sturdy, handy and lets you track your magazine wear.
Feed issues with your AR? Brownells Magazine Feed Lip Gauge to the rescue.
In the old days, we knew nothing about AR-15 magazines. They were mysteries. You kept the ones that worked and ditched/sold/traded the ones that didn’t. No one knew why this particular mag worked in my rifle and not yours, and vice-versa.
Life is so much better now, because we have magazines that work in all rifles … or do they?
One way to learn more is to measure things. However, measuring AR-15 magazines is difficult, because those who make them won’t tell us what they should and shouldn’t be. Good luck prying that information out of them; some might be helpful, and some might not.
Here’s the skinny:
Minimum gap between the feed lips: .445 inch
Maximum allowed: .480 inch
Hmmm. That really isn’t as helpful as we would like, is it? And what really matters is that they be parallel, even, unbent and equally level along their lengths.
Brownells Feed Lip Gauge To The Rescue
Brownells offers its Magazine Feed Lip Gauge for those who want to track their magazines.
The gauge has two measuring surfaces that are managed by means of machining the gauge so the measuring part is a tapered bar. Strip the magazine (or just shove the gauge in; I’m too lazy to take them apart) and see if the gauge passed through the lip gap.
If it passes all the way though, the lips are too far apart. The magazine fails inspection. (Of course, if you’re heavy-handed, you can force the gauge through the mag lips, because, after all, they’re just aluminum.) If the bottom of the taper-to-the-small-dimension part won’t pass between the feed lips, the gap is too small, and the magazine fails. The test is simple enough.
Even so, here’s the rub: I have some (not many) magazines that fail the gauge but still work in my rifles. Oh well, life isn’t perfect.
But, what you can do is track your training magazines.
You should have two sets of magazines. (Plus over-supply in inventory). Both sets have been tested, found 100 percent reliable and marked with your name, number, logo or whatever.
The Brownells gauge is compact, sturdy, handy and lets you track your magazine wear.
You keep one set stashed for TEOTWAWKI, or End of Days, or whatever it is you’re prepared for. They’re tested—but not used—and thus, not worn. They’ll be good for as long as you need them.
The other set comprises your training or competition magazines. These get used—and used hard. So, you test them and find they work. You mark them, measure each one, and record what they gauge at. Alternatively, once they pass the gauge, you can record their actual lip-spacing measurement.
In the regular course of taking them apart to clean them (practice and competition can get a lot of gunk inside of magazines) you check the measurement, or you use the gauge to check the gap.
I know, I know. This sounds like a lot of work. But here’s a secret: It’s what the top shooters do, and they do it with all their magazines—both rifle and pistol—when they take them apart to clean them. And, many shooters will even track the relaxed length of the magazine spring to see when it’s time to replace those.
Regular inspection will also uncover damaged magazines. Your magazines don’t always fall on the ground, hitting on their basepads first. Sometimes, they hit feed lips first. When that happens, they can get damaged. If you don’t look, you won’t know, and you’ll find out the hard way … most likely during a match. Cleaning gives you a chance to catch that damage and replace your training/competition magazine with one from your inventory (but not from your End of Days stock).
Yes, this can end up being a lot of effort on your part, but it’s the kind of effort successful people make. And, as to the eternal question, “How many magazines are enough?” I’ll let you know when I get there.
Priced right, the Bushnell RXS-100 is the everyman's red dot.
Have the bankroll, you can spend as much on a red-dot optic as the pistol you’ll mount it on. That use to be the standard. As time has marched on, thankfully the aim solution has moderated to the point nearly it's possible for nearly any shooter to slap one on their heater. Case in point, the new Bushnell RXS-100.
With an MSRP of $99.99, the reflex sight qualifies as an entry-level option, but one that doesn’t appear to compromise. With eight brightness settings, 5,000 hours runtime, fully coated lens, fully adjustable windage and elevation, and automatic shut off, the RXS-100 boasts the bells and whistles of much more expensive sights. However, it boasts a relatively large dot, 4 MOA to be exact. While this may not turn off pistol or shotgun shooters, it could turn out to be a sticky point for some riflemen that appreciate a bit finer aiming point. The sight is directly mountable to Deltapoint Pro standard slidecuts.
More From Bushnell:
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – – Bushnell®, an industry leader in performance optics, announced today the introduction of a new reflex sight – the RXS-100. Designed with user-adjustable brightness settings and multi-platform versatility, the new RXS-100 offers outstanding value at an unheard-of price point.
The RXS-100 is compatible with optics ready pistols and is a desirable option for rifles, shotguns and other firearm models. At the core of the RXS-100 is a crisp 4-MOA Red with eight brightness settings and battery life that provides over 5,000 hours of runtime on the mid setting. The sight
“With the introduction of the RXS-100, we are able to offer users a reliable, affordable reflex sight that has all of the features they requested for under $100,” said Derek Osburn, Director of Optics for Vista Outdoor. “The RXS-100 stands out from other red dots currently on the market by providing a clear, bright dot that has been designed to withstand the harsh recoil experienced when slide-mounted on pistols. We are excited to be able to bring this combination of quality and value to the reflex market and continue Bushnell’s long-standing legacy of purpose-built products.”
A perfect option for pistols, rifles and shotguns, the RXS-100 works across all common red dot mounts with a DeltaPoint® Pro footprint and weaver-style mounting options with the include riser. The new sight utilizes an energy efficient, point source LED to create a collimated beam for a clear, strong 4-MOA red dot. This key feature of the RXS-100 is uncommon in reflex sights at this price point which typically feature less expensive masked LED designs.
The RXS-100 also features a 12-hour auto-off timer to extend battery life. The side-loading battery is designed for easy replacement without removing the sight from the firearm, so zero is retained. Durability of the sight is accomplished by a rugged, aircraft-grade aluminum housing that keeps glass and electronic internal components protected against recoil, as well as rough field use. An oversized hood helps reduce glare and enhances lens durability against impact.
In addition, RXS-100 offers a convenient layout and design, including detented windage/elevation adjustments with 1 MOA per click and digital controls with push-button actuation for brightness setting adjustments. To maximize light transmission, RXS-100 has True Tone coatings that mitigate blue tint on the glass. Other items included with the red dot include basic mounting and adjustment tools, a protective form-fit cover, cleaning cloth and CR2032 battery.
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price for RXS-100 is $99.99.
For more information on the RXS-100, please visit bushnell.com.
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Best Concealed Carry Optics: Red Dot, Green Dot Or Iron Sights?
Rifle bedding, while not the simplest project, is worth the effort when you see the results downrange.
I recently ran a test regarding Boyds Gunstocks’ new Spike Camp riflestock, which featured three stocks built for one barreled action. Those stocks performed very well and very consistently, which was the reason for the test.
However, after conducting that test, I didn’t bed the stocks. There were several reasons for this. It was partly because I wanted to test the stocks in an “apple-to-apple” comparison—and, because no two bedding jobs can be exactly the same, this would’ve prevented that. It was also partly because I’ll bet most of the customers purchasing one of these stocks will not bed them.
But, the most important reason I didn’t bed those stocks was because I don’t consider bedding a barreled action to a stock a task that the average gun owner is capable of doing correctly. Yes, I know: Gun writers have been forever writing about how you should do a little home gunsmithing and bed your own rifles.
While it might seem like a very simple process, it’s actually a quite complex and time-consuming procedure that’s best left to someone who does that kind of thing for a living. In fact, I’ve bedded two rifles. Both jobs turned out OK, but it was just enough exposure to the practice for me to realize it should be left to professionals.
Talk to any gunsmith, and you’ll hear horror stories of customers coming in with barreled actions permanently fused to riflestocks; about actions frozen shut because bedding compound leaked in; and, you’ll hear about rifles that wouldn’t go back together correctly—or, if they did, the bedding job was so jacked that the rifle wouldn’t work.
Here’s a collection of tools and supplies that are needted to perform a high-quality bedding job. Ideally, a mill would be substituted for the Dremel tool.
A good rifle bedding kit will cost between $40 and $70, depending on whether you want pillars or not. If you know what you’re doing, it’ll take about four hours to properly bed a riflestock with pillars already installed. If the pillars need to be installed, add two hours.
You’ll also need some resources and tools that don’t come with the kit—most importantly, a mill or at least a Dremel tool. An inexpensive mill will cost you about $700, and a good Dremel kit about $100. Considering most gunsmiths will only charge between $150 and $250 to bed your rifle, you’re better off seeking their services—at the very least, to save a bunch of money.
In case you’re unfamiliar with pillars, they’re the aluminum tubes that go inside the stock and fit between the action and floor plate of the rifle. The front and rear action screws pass through these tubes/pillars. Pillars help solidify the “marriage” of the action to the stock and provide more strength. And, for lack of a better word to describe it, they’re a major pain to install correctly. Fortunately, Boyds allows you to order the Spike Camp stock with pillars already installed.
As sort of a follow-up, I wanted to let readers know how a properly executed bedding job might improve the performance of one of these stocks. I also wanted to illustrate how involved the proper process of bedding a rifle really is. After all, the acquisition of a new rifle stock might not just be due to the desire for improved ergonomics and looks; it might be part of an effort to make the rifle shoot with better precision.
So, to help with this, I asked a professional, Jerry Dove of Dove Custom Guns, to help out. He does most of my personal gunsmithing work.
Rifle Bedding Process: 12 Essential Steps
Step 1
Before the rifle bedding process proper, Jerry first installed the stock on the barreled action to see if it fit properly. He checked for binding, made sure the barrel was free-floated and ensured there was enough relief around the Timney trigger that I’d installed.
Step 2
Jerry then removed the barreled action from the stock and began marking the stock for material to be milled away. He does this because when you bed a riflestock, you’re adding material to it. In order for there to be enough bedding material added so that it’ll do its job correctly, some material (wood, in the case of the Boyds Spike Camp stock) must be removed. Knowing where to mark is critical and comes with experience.
Step 3
Jerry then took the stock to his milling machine to remove the identified material around where the front and rear action screws—and pillars—come through the stock. This is what the home gunsmith would use a Dremel tool for. The difference is that when done on a milling machine, the cuts are consistent and square with the inletting in the stock.
Step 4
The next step was to mask the stock. Jerry used masking tape and covered the entire stock. Why? You don’t want bedding compound leaching out or dripping on your stock and ruining it. In addition to masking the exterior of the stock, he also used some electrical tape just forward of the recoil lug to help the barreled action release from the stock after bedding.
The next step in the guaranteed release rifle bedding process is to fill all the cutouts and holes in the action with plumber’s putty. This keeps the bedding material from creeping into the action and freezing it up.
Step 6
The action also needs to be coated with something to keep it from being glued to the stock; a release agent, if you will. Jerry has found that wax works best, and he simply coats the entire exterior of the barreled action with it.
Step 7
Bedding compounds have to be mixed. This is accomplished by following the ratio instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Step 8
The bedding compound is then applied to the interior of the riflestock in the areas that have been relieved with the mill. How much do you apply? Well, again, this is where experience comes in. If you don’t apply enough, the rifle will receive no benefit from the process, and you’ll have to go back to step 1 and start over. If you apply too much, you’ll have what could best be described as a “frigging mess.”
Step 9
The barreled action is then installed, and the floor plate is attached with the front and rear action screws. This is a critical process. To make sure it’s executed properly, Jerry uses fake action screws to start, removing them and replacing them with the original screws once everything’s been properly aligned. The screws, both the fake and the real, will need a liberal coating of wax to keep the bedding material from sticking to them. It’s also a good idea to wrap some tape around the barrel near the forend of the stock before installation. This ensures the barrel remains free-floated and centers the barreled action in the stock. How much tape? Again, experience is the best teacher.
Step 10
Once the barreled action is installed, excess bedding material will leach out around the junction of the action and stock. This should be cleaned off immediately.
Step 11
Wait. How long? At least 24 hours. Forty-eight hours is better.
Step 12
Remove the barreled action from the stock and clean up any excess bedding material that happened to get into and onto places it wasn’t supposed to be. If all this is done correctly, the barreled action should come out of the stock … with a lot of wiggling and a little bit of cussing.
Is It Worth It?
A properly executed rifle bedding job should almost guarantee your rifle will show improved precision. Obviously, you reach a point at which your shooting skill and the intrinsic accuracy of the barreled action reach their limits. With the Boyds Spike Camp Stock used for this test, I saw a 16 percent improvement in precision: The average for five five-shot groups, with the Federal Premium 168-grain MatchKing load, shrank from 0.81 inch to 0.68 inch.
Was that level of improvement worth the time, effort and money? Maybe, maybe not. That would depend on what you plan to use your rifle for—as well as if a 1/10-inch decrease in group size is worth about $200. Of course, in some cases, you might see much more improvement. And, you also might find that after bedding a rifle, its former favorite load is not its favorite anymore.
Regardless, when done correctly, bedding often has a way of eliminating those weird flyers you get when shooting groups. Also, a properly bedded riflestock gives you the confidence to identify a flyer as your fault, as opposed to the rifle’s.
I’d recommend bedding all bolt-action riflestocks. Nevertheless, I’d also strongly suggest you let a professional do it. Considering the potential for mistakes and the possible improvement in performance, it’ll most likely be money well spent.
The .17 HM2, or 17 Mach 2, was a joint venture between Hornady and CCI in 2003. A CCI Stinger case, which measures 0.100-inch longer than a standard .22 LR case, was necked down to take a 17-grain, 0.172-inch-diameter bullet. The result was a .17 that fit in a .22 LR action and magazines—the only change in most cases being a barrel—but with effectively double the velocity of a match-speed .22. At 2,100 fps, that little bullet ran flat. Run the numbers, and you see the .17 HM2 rises and falls 2 inches to 137 yards or so.
Hornady and CCI unveiled the round at SHOT Show 2004 hot on the heels of the previous .17 HMR launch. The HMR was a wild success, and much of the industry wasn’t ready for the unprecedented demand in .17 ammo and firearms. So, in 2004, Hornady and CCI made a big to-do of the new .17 Mach 2, which produced muzzle velocities twice the speed of sound. All the major manufacturers had rifles ready to go.
But wild demand never materialized.
Many consumers felt the Mach 2 didn’t do anything the HMR couldn’t do better. The .22 WMR necked down to .17 was indeed flatter and hit with more sauce than the .22 LR Stinger necked down to .17. Small-game hunters engaging critters out to 120 yards were the exception.
Those rimfire hunters quickly realized the .17 HM2 had plenty of killing power, was more than flat enough, bucked the wind better than .22 LR and, most importantly, didn’t make a mess of things if you intended to eat your target.
The Mach 2 was elegant, surgical, deadly, with even less recoil, less noise and much less meat damage. The caveat was it required head shots. The little bullet doesn’t carry enough whoop-ass to instantly dispatch a body-shot squirrel. “Head shots or nothing,” became the Mach 2 small-game hunters’ credo.
In 2018, that thankfully changed. Hornady and CCI saw it fit to bring it back. Savage and Volquartsen put out new rifles in the caliber. (Hat tip to Savage who really never stopped.) Boutique options soon became available from Anschutz and Vudoo Gun Works.
The Volquartsen Summit is my favorite 17 Mach 2 for hunting—not because it’s the most accurate Mach 2 in my collection, but because it’s the most durable, weather-resistant and handiest in the woods.
Topped with a discontinued Nikon ProStaff P3 Target EFR 3-9x40mm scope, in a Magpul Hunter X-22 stock with a Volquartsen 16.5-inch carbon-fiber tension barrel and a Magpul Rifleman Loop Sling, the whole package weighs a shade under 7.25 pounds.
To test current 17 Mach 2 ammo, I went with this tried-and-true hunting setup. The average 0.57- to 0.41-inch five-shot groups at 50 yards are right in line most Mach 2 rifles, in my experience.
Four types of Mach 2 ammo were tested. The widely available CCI VNT, Hornady V-Max and Hornady NTX, plus the recently discontinued CCI V-Max and the long discontinued Eley V-Max, which has been out of production at least 10 years.
All told, 10 five-shot groups of each ammo type were sent into USBR targets at 50 yards. Every shot was chronographed with the Labradar system, which recorded the highest, lowest and average velocity, plus extreme spread and standard deviation. Groups were measured with a set of digital calipers edge-to-edge and 0.172—the diameter of a .17 bullet—was deducted and recorded.
Eley: Eley makes some of the very best rimfire ammunition in the world. That said, its older .17 HM2 offering doesn’t outperform current runs from CCI and Hornady. Why does this matter? Because it’s grown somewhat fashionable in rimfire circles to bemoan “no good ammo” when it comes to the .17s, and while it’s true that only select .22 LR is made to Olympic-level precision, it’s not accurate to think, “If only Eley or Lapua loaded the .17s we’d have better offerings.” In reality, all the Mach 2 ammo performs about the same, and it always has.
CCI VNT: My go-to hunting load surprised me by not printing the smallest groups, as it has done on other occasions in this rifle and others. Notably, the standard deviation is a full 20-fps less than all the rest, which, in my experience, equates to less vertical stringing at 100 yards with Mach 2, but it doesn’t seem to make much of an accuracy difference at 50. It’s also worth noting that at 150 and 200 yards, the CCI and Hornady 17-grain offerings punch clean holes in paper with my rifles.
Some shooters have noticed tumbling, a loss of accuracy, and the ugly tears in paper beyond 150 yards. Accuracy-wise, on good days with little wind, all my Mach 2s will print sub 1-inch groups at 100 yards, but more often linger around the 1.25- to 1.5-inch mark. Just like we’ve seen at 50 yards, it’s common to shoot a very nice cluster of four shots within an inch, with the fifth remaining round “way out” in left field, blowing the group.
Hornady: Hornady printed the best groups of the day, and my guess is their 17-grain V-Max is the best-selling Mach 2 ammunition out there. Interesting enough, Hornady labels their ammo with a velocity of 2,100 fps, whereas the CCI is marked 2,010 fps. All the Mach 2 ammo I’ve ever put through a chrono runs between 2,050 and 2,200 fps, whatever the gun. Pull a Hornady bullet and a CCI bullet, and you’ll see the powder looks identical. The V-Max bullets are identical, save the different-colored tips.
These days, SAAMI has ensured that ammo manufacturers are held to very high standards. Still, weighing and sorting individual rounds can make good accuracy exceptional.
Seeing how they’re all loaded in the same place, I didn’t see much difference until recently when CCI differentiated with the only VNT load. Hornady also has the only lead-free California bullet option, with the 15.5-grain NTX. Some Mach 2 rifles don’t shoot this little copper bullet very well, but the Summit shoots it great. Were it not for a blown group in the .800s (that was probably me), it may very well have come in second place accuracy-wise. It’s also a killing bullet.
Improvement Through Sorting?
One of the criticisms of the .17s is that they’re not made with match .22-level precision. This is true, of course, but it’s possible to improve groups by sorting. Sorting is largely a waste of time when it comes to .22 LR because Eley and Lapua do a much better job sorting their good ammo than any shooter with a powder scale ever could—and they package their most consistent, uniform ammo together under brands like X-Act and Tenex.
With the .17s, the manufacturers don’t get this intense, so it’s on the shooter to cherry pick the most uniform loads. To test this, I sorted a box of CCI V-Max by weight, and another box by cartridge overall length (COAL).
The CCI was very uniform by weight with 35 of the 50 rounds measuring to one-tenth of a grain, according to my RCBS powder scale. There was 0.5 grain extreme spread in weight over all 50, but 45 of those were within two grains of each other. That seems pretty damn consistent for non-premium hunting ammo.
When shooting light, .17-caliber cartridges, small variances between individual rounds can make a big difference. Lesson: It always pays to double-check.
On the other hand, COAL was more spread out. Interestingly enough, the 10 rounds that measured 0.991 COAL varied in weight by +-0.3 grains, so there doesn’t appear to be any deep connection between seating depth and weight. A shooter who wants to make themselves extra crazy or typically finds themselves bored on a Saturday night could do both.
When the sorted ammo was sent downrange to 50 yards in five-shot groups, the weight-sorted rounds proved the most accurate. This was an extremely limited test by only working with two boxes. A better look would involve a brick, or multiple bricks, plus multiple rifles and shooters, but it does show that there’s some value in sorting .17 HM2 for weight if peak accuracy is the goal.
Semi-Auto?
An early issue with Mach 2 was reliability in semi-auto actions, namely the Ruger 10/22. The pressure curve with .17 HM2 compared to .22 LR is dramatically steep. In the Ruger platform, this led to FTEs, out of battery ignitions and cracked brass. A solution was a heavier Ruger bolt, either with a block of tungsten attached on the underside as Volquartsen did, or with a heavy charging handle. Heavy charging handle kits can still be found online, and they work OK, but I’ve had more success by drilling out factory Ruger bolts and slugging them with tungsten.
This is an involved job and not for most everyone. A less involved alternative is finding an out-of-production Volquartsen Mach 2 bolt. Although the used-market price will certainly be more than the cost of a new Savage A17 HM2, a delayed blowback Mach 2 semi-auto works well right out of the box. For those who must have a semi-auto, the masochists will prefer modifying a 10/22. The sane should just buy a Savage.
Best .17 Mach 2 Rifles And Barrels
Savage A17 HM2
Savage has succeeded with semi-auto rimfires where most others have failed, thanks to their innovative delayed blow-back action. Most semi-auto .22 LRs have a direct blow-back action. That is, the detonation primer and powder sends the bullet down the barrel, and also moves the bolt back directly, ejecting the brass, then picking up and loading a fresh round from the magazine. The Savage does much of the same, but the bolt has a top lug that locks in place and delays the blowback a few critical milliseconds.
In the case of 17 Mach 2 (and .17 HMR and .22 WMR), that hair’s width of delay lets the pressure curve drop back to earth, and the bolt can safely and reliably cycle in a new round. The A17 HM2 works, is inexpensive and can be made very accurate by glass bedding action to stock. The only “con” with this rifle is the trigger, which doesn’t live up to the famous AccuTrigger name. MSRP: $379
Vudoo Gun Works Raven
When only the best will do, there’s Vudoo. The Raven is their dedicated small-game rifle, available in .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR and .17 HM2. The heart is the V22 action (V22m in the magnum calibers), attached to a 416R stainless ACE barrel in a “ranch” contour, which tapers down to 0.720 at the threaded muzzle. It sits in a custom Outlander stock by Grayboe, which shoulders, swings and all-around feels like a true sporter.
My .22 WMR is a wand of a rifle except for the big ACIS patterned magazine. Some love it, some don’t, but you cannot argue with the interchangeability of the ACIS and Remington 700 footprint, allowing for the entire ecosystem of aftermarket Remington triggers, stocks, etc. Many react to the price of Vudoo rifles, but as I told a friend recently, “Sell your huge collection of $500 rimfires you never shoot, and you can buy two.” MSRP: $2,395
Volquartsen Summit
My favorite pure hunting rimfire rifle, the Summit from Volquartsen, is an odd duck. Basically, it’s a toggle-bolt 10/22. Primary Weapons System developed the straight-pull 10/22 concept for hunting and running 10/22 platform accessories (stocks, barrels and triggers) with a suppressor.
In 2018, as the ammo companies rolled out new runs of .17 HM2, they released the Summit in 17 Mach 2. Stock options are numerous, but you’d be hard-pressed to find one better in the field than the Magpul X-22 Hunter. It’s light, tight, fast and the tolerances are so legit that I’ve yet to find one that needed a bedding job. Volquartsen ships the rifle with their lightweight tension carbon-fiber barrel with a 0.920-inch bull profile. It’s a perfect balance, in my estimation, of hunting rifle weight versus accuracy. MSRP: $1,225
Savage Mark II FV
Unless you’re made of money, this should be your first 17 Mach 2 rifle. Savage made the Mark II in .17 HM2 when all others abandoned the round—even the ammo companies. The rifle is accurate out of the box and can be improved with a high-quality stock and bedding job. The trigger is among the best compared to other sub-$500 rimfire rifles. It can also be worked on easily with a little kitchen-table gunsmithing. The Mark II FV is a heavy-barreled version, though it’s not a true bull barrel. The thin-barrel version with iron sights, the Mark II F, costs a few dollars less. MSRP: $355
Lothar Walther
For those disposed to taking apart things, barrel maker Lothar Walther makes a variety of rimfire barrels chambered in 17 Mach 2, including tubes for the CZ 455/457, the Ruger Precision Rimfire Rifle, the Tikka T1X and the disgustingly awesome Zermatt Arms RimX action. In all of these cases, a barrel swap is a fairly easy process with minimal tools. Because the .17 HM2 is just a necked-down .22 LR, existing magazines tend to work fine. MSRP: $299-$399
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
A little brother to the VR80, the VR82 moves the semi-auto shotgun line into 20-gauge territory.
Truth be told, the 12-gauge isn’t for everybody. Certainly that's blasphemy to most Americans, who by and large swear by the bore whether they’re knocking down ducks on the wing or confronting bumps in the night. Thing is, there's plenty of buck in the “Twelve”, enough to make it intimidating to some shooters, even outright unusable. Thankfully, there are other gauges doling out less punishment to the user with nearly as much punch downrange. The 20-gauge for example.
Armscor International was thinking along these lines with the introduction of a little brother to its popular VR80 box-magazine fed shotgun. Dubbed the VR82, the 20-gauge rendition of the tactical/competition semi-auto is certain to appeal to the recoil shy or anyone that appreciates what the lighter gauge brings to the table. Though, shooter will have to pay a smidgen more to get into the futuristic-looking 20-gauge, with Armscor setting the MSRP at $729, compared to the VR80’s $699. For a more endurable bore, it might be worth the extra dough.
Essentially, the VR82 is the same gun as the VR80, with the controls (very similar to an AR), ergonomics and operating system identical to the larger gauge. Good news, as those familiar with the line know. Reliable as the day is long, the smoothbore chews through what’s fed to it thanks to a slim, short-stroke gas-piston system that not only cuts down on felt recoil but keeps the shotgun pretty dang svelte. Its slender profile is a nice asset that opens up hand placement on the fore as well as makes for a responsive gun—quick target to target. (At least that was my experience with the VR80, an educated assumption with the VR82). The streamlined system also keeps the gun a light 7.5 pounds, not bad given it sports an 18-inch barreled.
Some of the VR82’s notables include fully adjustable flip-up sights, ample M-Lok real estate on the handguard, full-length Picatinny rail, Mobil choke compatibility and a 5+1 box magazine. Capacity isn’t a concern, given there are 10- and 20-round VR series magazines available. The receiver and handguard are made of aircraft-grade aluminum, thus stand up to regular abuse.
For many, the 6.8 SPC II is better off eating home-cooked meals. Given the cartridge’s—more exactly its chamber design—troubled history, factory-loaded ammo leaves many shooters wanting. Not that the stuff is ineffective, it’ll still put down game and hit the mark. But given the original 6.8 SPC chamber design is what’s on file at the Shooting Arm and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) many offerings are a bit mild.
That said, not all is lost for those without a press and a die library. Those dedicated to turning out 6.8 SPC ammo at this point in the cartridge’s history cook up some pretty potent options. Purpose loaded to take game, split the bullseye or defend the homestead, there are quality choices fit for the cartridge’s primary purposes. Here are six we load up on when it’s time to dust off our 6.8 rifles.
Hunting
Hornady 100-grain GMX Full Boar
Hog hunting buoyed the prospects of the 6.8 SPC, a fact not lost on Hornady. Specifically tailored to get pigs squealing, its 100-grain Full Boar 6.8 SPC ammo is designed to hold together against the notoriously tough critters. This is thanks to Hornady turning to its rock-solid GMX monometal bullet.
A solid-copper projectile, the 100-grain bullet (.274 BC*), retains 95-plus-percent of its original weight, ensuring ample penetration, even through bone. At the same tick, the GMX bullet has a respectable expansion profile. An old trick by Hornady, the projectile’s polymer tip guarantees it mushrooms even at decreased velocities. Range-wise, like most 6.8 SPC ammo, 300-yards in is optimal—plenty enough for most dedicated hog hunters.
American Eagle 90-grain Varmint & Predator
Certainly, the 6.8 SPC doesn’t reach out like a .22-250 Remington or .204 Ruger. The right load, however, and the cartridge is solid in medium-range attempts at pint-sized critters and predators. Topped with Speer TNT bullets and loaded hot, American Eagle’s 85-grain small-game medicine is one such option.
TNT bullets are the real deal when it comes to varmint hunting. First off, the bullet’s terminal ballistics are in a word, explosive. A thin, internally fluted jacket around a core of soft lead leads to instant bullet disruption at the target producing dramatic and definitive hits on small game. An added bonus for fur hunters, there’s rarely pass through, thus a better pelt.
As to reaching the target, TNT offers an excellent ballistic coefficient—.275 in this case—leading to flatter trajectories. As to the 6.8 SPC ammo’s velocity, just shy of 3,000 fps at the muzzle (2,990 fps to be exact) it definitely gives the cartridge some reach.
Hornady 120-grain SST Custom
Hog hunters aren’t the only ones who benefit from taking the 6.8 SPC afield. Those shooting to fill a deer tag in environments where medium-range shots are the norm find the nearly two-decade cartridge a boon. Floating at the top of the weight spectrum for the 6.8 SPC ammo, Hornady’s 120-grain Custom fills this role admirably and perhaps expands its use—say elk.
Again, we’re talking about a close to short-medium range choice, 300-yard in for the best results. The SST (Super Shock Tip) bullet does boast a respectable ballistic coefficient—.400—and the ammo has decent muzzle velocity for the bullet weight—2,460 fps. Still, at 400 yards, the projectile falls in excess of 30 inches, which isn’t the easiest to control for.
Get the round on target and you can expect excellent results, however. The SST is essentially Hornady’s Interlock bullet with a polymer tip, an improved design of a projectile generations of hunters have trusted.
Granted some of the more famed loads are no longer part of SSA’s catalog since it was acquired by Nosler. But the brand still maintains a dynamite selection of options, particularly in the realm of defensive 6.8 SPC ammo. For all intents and purposes, it’s 90-grain BSB (Bonded Solid Base) is a rehash of Nosler Defensive Rifle offering for the caliber. This is good, given the line has some desirable qualities.
First and foremost, the bullet design (the protected tip in particular) guarantees it functions flawlessly in nearly any rifle. An important quality, unless you live for the thrill of clearing malfunctions in life or death situations. Furthermore, the projectile hits hard and opens a devastating wound channel.
There are a couple of things at work here. The soft point tip is semi-flattened, in turn, offers more surface area to initiate expansion. Then there’s the bonded core. Done at the molecular level, the core and jacket stay in one piece pushing a greater amount of mass through the target on a straighter course. Aim at vital, you’ll hit a vital and bore a neutralizing hole through it.
At 90-grains (.227 BC, 2,850 fps) the BCB is also extremely easy to manage, even out of a short-barreled rifle or pistol. In turn, it can run fast shot to shot.
Target/Match
American Eagle 115-grain FMJ
Range ammunition, despite its lowly status, has a tough job. It has to run reliably, shoot accurately and not tax a shooter’s wallet. American Eagle pulls it off. Its 115-grain 6.8 SPC ammo is topped with an FMJ bullet that offers a best-in-class BC at .378 and is kicked out at 2,675 fps. Overall, the stuff hits what it’s aimed at and doesn’t leave you broke in the process.
Sellier & Bellot 115-grain Match
Gaining popularity stateside, Sellier & Bellot has kicked a decent toehold in the range ammunition market. Its 115-grain 6.8 SPC match ammo isn’t the absolute cheapest it offers for the caliber, but the extra coin is worth the accuracy it delivers. The HPBT projectiles offer an excellent .324 BC that leaves the muzzle at 2,477 fps. A little milder option than some might desire, but certainly shootable and on target.
With some slick new designs and tweaks, the Buck Mark Vision Plus URX and Countour URX are born to run.
While its name doesn’t get bantered about like some .22 LR pistols, shooters have long respected what the Browning Buck Mark brings to the table. Chief among these, accuracy and reliability. The slick and still futuristic-looking pistol is a lights-out option in its class. And with Browning not allowing the line to go fallow has only gotten better over the years. Case in point, the two new Buck Mark pistols the gunmaker unveiled for 2021.
Swelling the line’s numbers to 41 total pistols are the Buck Mark Plus Vision UFX and Buck Mark Contour URX 5.5-inch. Purpose-built and advancing the fundamental design, the guns stay true to the line’s roots while offering shooters some much-appreciated amenities and tweaks.
Buck Mark Plus Vision UFX
Nimble and striking in appearance, the Plus Vision UFX addition serve up one of the trimmest models of the Buck Mark line. At 27 ounces unloaded, the straight blowback pistol is among the lightest options, boasting some clever engineering to save weight. In particular, a tensioned outer and cut aluminum sleeve around the Plus Vision’s 5.9-inch stainless-steel barrel. Not only does the machining give the pistol a unique sporty appearance, but also removes material and weight, while promoting heat dispersion.
Browning’s main thrust with the Plus Vision’s weight savings is making the pistol more conducive to the addition of a suppressor. Yup, it has a threaded muzzle (1/2″-28 TPI). Though, if you forgo adding a can it does come with a factory-installed muzzle brake, helping make the already .22’s negligible muzzle flip nearly nonexistent. Also, the new Buck Mark comes outfitted with 16-click adjustable Pro-Target rear sight with white outline, TRUGLO/Marble Arms fiber-optic front sight, UFX rubber over-molded grips and Picatinny optics rail.
Available in with the choice of three barrel-sleeve colors—black, red and blue—there's an option for nearly any taste. MSRP: $719
Buck Mark Contour Gray URX 5.5 Inch
The Buck Mark Contour is nothing new, neither is a 5.5-inch barreled option. But how Browning sets shooters up for success with the new rendition of the highly accurate model is a twist. Breaking from the typical Picatinny optics rail, Browning has opted for a full-length Weaver-style rail on the pistol, offering nearly unlimited mounting options. Finished matte gray, the rail also gives the pistol a dashing two-tone look.
While the addition of an optic is in the books, shooters can also keep things simple with the new pistol, thanks to a 16-click adjustable Pro-Target rear sight and Patridge-style front sight. Furthermore, the gunmaker ensures the utmost control over the .22 handgun, outfitting it with URX over-molded grips. As its name suggests, the handle has finger contours, facilitating an intuitive and commanding grip on the pistol. The 5.5-inch barrel—there is a 7.5-inch barrel model as well—makes for a quick-handling pistol, but with enough weight (36-ounce unloaded) to erases almost all recoil. In short, the pistol has the chops to run fast, accurately. MSRP: $579
For more information on the new Buck Mark pistols, please visit browning.com.
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.
