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Remington XP-100: The Successful Experiment

By
Patrick Meitin
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The author waited nearly 40 years to make his Remington XP-100 dream a reality. It was love at first sight, and the long wait proved warranted, because the handgun has more than lived up to the expectations of his desires.
The author waited nearly 40 years to make his Remington XP-100 dream a reality. It was love at first sight, and the long wait proved warranted, because the handgun has more than lived up to the expectations of his desires.

The unique 57-year-old bolt-action Remington XP-100 Long Range Pistol forever changed the pistol-shooting world for the better.

Why Was The XP-100 Such A Substantial Hunting Pistol:

  • The pistol was the brainchild of Remington’s Wayne Leek and was the first handgun designed for long-range shooting.
  • Leek's based the XP-100 on Remington’s tack-driving Model 40X short-action.
  • The original XP-100 design featured a 10¾-inch, vent-ribbed barrel, rear-positioned dogleg bolt and Du Pont Zetel 101 nylon stock.
  • The pistol was officially launched in 1963 with 5,564-gun run.

    • It intensified interest in handgun hunting and inspired subsequent pistol designs such as the break-action Thompson Contender (1967) and Savage Striker (1999).

As a teen enjoying the fur market spike of the late 1970s and early ’80s, pockets bursting with trapping cash, I coveted a Remington XP-100 chambered in the enticingly labeled .221 Remington Fireball (RFB). But alas, my stepfather, a three-tour Vietnam veteran with conspicuous PTSD, forbade me to own any handgun, no matter how rifle-like. He only grudgingly allowed long-arms in his house—and only after I’d been trained to shoot military style (assuring all potential fun was removed) and had passed a New Mexico hunter’s safety program.

I left home at 17, the XP-100 still in my thoughts, but I was too busy making a living and attending university to run one down. By the time I graduated from college and climbed out of abject poverty, original XPs chambered in .221 RFB had been discontinued.

They would soon achieve collector status. A gun I could have bought in the 1980s for perhaps $200 (they retailed for $99 upon release in 1963) today fetches $1,200 (on average) if it’s in good working order.

Some have called the original Remington XP-100 Long Range Pistol a “bullpup” handgun, because its bolt is located at the rear of the firearm, behind the shooting hand.
Some have called the original Remington XP-100 Long Range Pistol a “bullpup” handgun, because its bolt is located at the rear of the firearm, behind the shooting hand.

Yet, the XP-100/.221 RFB yearning persisted. That desire began to fester as a result of my newfound obsession with small-varmint shooting in the last decade; this obsession included a growing collection of custom rifles, high-magnification optics, the entire handloading program and even authoring a varmint-shooting book, The Predator & Varmint Hunter’s Guidebook. The Fireball cartridge still fascinated me. I eventually purchased a .221 RFB barrel for my T/C Contender, which was quite accurate in its own right, to temporarily satisfy my Fireball “itch.”

Nevertheless, the realities of marriage, a mortgage and miscellaneous living expenses continued to postpone my XP dreams. I’d actually reached a point at which I believed I owned all the firearms needed (heresy—I know). But an XP-100 in .221 RFB remained on my must-have list.

A bargain finally appeared in the form of an XP-100 transformed into a Fireball rifle, its original pistol parts kept safely in storage. Securing a working XP-100 then involved finding a gunsmith to turn back the clock (I now own a 26-inch stainless bull barrel and am contemplating another rifle) and the long wait inherent to gunsmithing.

The Remington XP-100 Long Range Pistol’s centralized grip was revolutionary upon release, giving it a distinctive “space gun” profile and providing excellent stability while shooting.
The Remington XP-100 Long Range Pistol’s centralized grip was revolutionary upon release, giving it a distinctive “space gun” profile and providing excellent stability while shooting.

I took possession of that pistol on a Friday and mounted a scope (Burris’ incomparable 2-7x32mm Handgun), sighted it on Saturday using proven Contender loads (printing sub-1-inch groups) and collected a called-in, 100-yard coyote with it on Sunday. This serendipitous beginning convinced me that all those years of yearning had been warranted.

Remington’s XP-100 Handgun

Remington’s 3.75-pound XP-100 (eXperimental Pistol #100) holds many unique distinctions, including ushering in the age of chambering pistols for powerful, bottle-necked cartridges, introducing unprecedented long-range handgun precision, spawning the highly efficient .221 Remington Fireball cartridge.

The brainchild of Remington’s Wayne Leek, the single-shot, bolt-action XP-100 was the first handgun designed for long-range shooting, which, in 21st century context, means 200 yards or slightly more in experienced/practiced hands—considerably more reach than provided by revolvers that dominated before its arrival.

The Remington XP-100 Long Range Pistol shared the same white diamond-inlaid nylon stock as Remington’s Model 66 .22 LR auto-loading rifle. It was a design some found esthetically ... unappealing!
The Remington XP-100 Long Range Pistol shared the same white diamond-inlaid nylon stock as Remington’s Model 66 .22 LR auto-loading rifle. It was a design some found esthetically … unappealing!

Leek based the XP-100 on Remington’s tack-driving Model 40X short-action, which would eventually influence Remington’s Model 600 rifle. The original XP-100 design featured a 10¾-inch, vent-ribbed barrel, rear-positioned dogleg bolt and Du Pont Zetel 101 nylon stock (mirroring Remington’s Nylon 66 .22 LR autoloader … including inlaid white diamonds and white spacers). It also offered a revolutionary, ergonomic, center-mounted grip to provide excellent balance and stability while shooting offhand during the silhouette matches that inspired its design. Its overall geometry seems more sawed-off rifle than handgun.

A few prototypes (approximately 13) left Remington in 1962, with the official 1963 launch introducing 5,564 firearms. Although many hard-core traditionalists labeled the XP-100 “the ugliest firearm ever conceived,” the handgun helped fuel an intensifying interest in handgun hunting and inspired subsequent pistol designs such as the break-action Thompson Contender (1967) and Savage Striker (1999).

Raise Your Remington IQ:

Introduced in the classic XP-100 Long Range Pistol, the line eventually expanded to include the XP-100 Silhouette Target Pistol in 1980 (it had a 14.5-inch barrel, including 7mm BR chambering); the XP-100 Varmint Special in 1986 (14.5 inches; no iron sights; .223 Remington chambering); the XP-100 Custom Long Range Pistol in 1986 (carved walnut stock; introduction of 7mm-08 and .35 Remington options); the XP-100 Custom Long Range Pistol Heavy Barrel in 1988 (15.5-inch heavy barrel; .22-250 Remington, .250 Savage, 6mm BR and .308 Winchester options added); the XP-100R Custom KS Repeater in 1991 (rear-grip Kevlar stock; blind box magazine); the XP-100 Hunter in 1993 (ambidextrous laminated stock); and the XP-100 Silhouette Pistol, also in 1993 (10.5-inch barrel; walnut stock).

The author’s 1978-vintage Remington XP-100 is stamped with .221 Remington Fireball markings—the round that was designed specifically for this handgun in 1962–‘63.
The author’s 1978-vintage Remington XP-100 is stamped with .221 Remington Fireball markings—the round that was designed specifically for this handgun in 1962–‘63.

These were some of the releases, and many were only available through Remington’s Custom Shop. The rear-grip blind magazine Remington XP-40 (apparently, there are legal issues with the original XP-100 label) survives today as a Custom Shop offering.

Remington’s .221 Fireball

The .222 Remington, the company’s “darling” cartridge going into the 1960s, was initially chosen to fuel the XP-100. Yet, the handgun’s 10¾-inch (1:14-inch RH twist) barrel created excessive muzzle blast and flash. To remedy this, Remington trimmed the .222 Remington case to 1.40 inches and loaded a 50-grain bullet to 2,600 fps. The created .221 still produced substantial muzzle flash, and the “Fireball” moniker was added as an open joke. Recoil proved mild, despite the wicked muzzle blast and flash.

Remington XP-100 Range Test

The cartridge all but faded away in recent decades, although it seems to be making a limping resurgence as dedicated varmint shooters rediscover its extreme efficiency and undeniable effectiveness. That efficiency translates into a cartridge producing 90 percent of the wildly popular .223 Remington’s velocity—while burning only 60 percent of the powder and producing conspicuously less rifle noise and recoil. The Fireball’s efficiency is further illustrated by the fact that it produces 170 to 212 fps per grain of powder to the .222’s 163 to 169 fps per grain of powder (averaged maximum loads, 40-grain bullets, 24-inch barrels).

My XP-100

Remington (serial number B7510184) marks my Remington XP-100 with a 1978 manufacture date—ironically enough, about the time my XP aspirations began to blossom. This also means the bolt can be worked while the safety is engaged, unlike models manufactured before 1975 (there was a recall to remedy this safety issue in 1979).

The author received his Remington XP-100 Long Range Pistol and mounted a scope one day, sighted it in the next and dropped this called-in mountain coyote with it the day after.
The author received his Remington XP-100 Long Range Pistol and mounted a scope one day, sighted it in the next and dropped this called-in mountain coyote with it the day after.

The .221 Remington Fireball soon developed a reputation for lacking enough punch to reliably tip over 200-meter rams in the silhouette game and obviously lacks the horsepower to serve as a big-game cartridge. This relegates it to varmint-shooting choirs. This is what attracted me to the XP-100 and .221 Fireball chambering initially, because I was looking for a compact, highly accurate firearm to deal with ground squirrels, prairie dogs and the occasional coyote, bobcat or fox. In this arena, the XP-100 and .221 Fireball combination excels.

My 10¾-inch XP-100 barrel gives up about 500 to 600 fps to my 24-inch-barreled Fireball rifle. In the real world of burrowing rodents or furbearers, what this indicates is uncertain terminal performance when shooting sturdier bullets—meaning dismantling impacts or anchoring energy transfer, respectively.

For this reason, I choose highly frangible pills with either polymer tips or aggressive hollow-points or those with Hornet labels. This also means I lean toward 40-grain bullets for small varmints, assuring anchoring hits instead of critters reaching their “expiration date” underground.

A 45-grain Hornady Hornet SP over 18.5 grains of classic Alliant 2400 powder produced this .59-inch group when shot from the author’s Remington XP-100 Long Range Pistol.
A 45-grain Hornady Hornet SP over 18.5 grains of classic Alliant 2400 powder produced this .59-inch group when shot from the author’s Remington XP-100 Long Range Pistol.

I love my classic Remington XP-100. I learned to love the .221 Remington Fireball cartridge long ago. Together, they create a varmint-/predator-shooting juggernaut. The pistol is ergonomically perfect and includes a smooth, crisp trigger to accentuate the XP-100’s inherent precision. The Fireball cartridge has what it takes to dismantle 100- to 200-yard burrowing rodents and to drop larger, call-responding predators where they stand. Some have called the XP-100 “ugly.” I, however, call it a “beauty” in every way that counts.

For more information on the Remington XP-100, please visit remington.com.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

First Look: CCI Maxi-Mag Clean-22 Segmented Hollow Point 22 WMR

By
Elwood Shelton
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CCI Maxi-Mag 1

Boasting a polymer-coated, segmented bullet, CCI Maxi-Mag .22 WMR provides a clean and hard-hitting option for the rimfire.

What Are The Advantages Of Maxi-Mag:

  • Unique polymer coating reduces lead and copper fouling.
  • Segmenting bullet offers devastating terminal performance.
  • Loaded hot, the round remains super sonic past 100 yards.

Fun as they might be, rimfires are typically dirty guns. Fouling—lead and carbon—accumulate nearly as quickly as you pull the trigger. Not only does this result in diminished performance, but left un-addressed builds up into more serious problems—such as failure to cycle or chamber rounds.

CCI mitigated this issue somewhat in recent years with its Clean-22 coating technology, a polymer coating that greatly reduces copper and lead fouling in the bore. Now the ammo-maker has kicked it up a notch, offering this advantage for one of the heaviest-hitting rimfire calibers on a bullet meant to dole out serious damage. CCI Maxi-Mag Clean-22 Hollow Point .22 WMR is the first ammo of its kind, offering clean-coating technology on the company’s advanced segmented hollow-point bullet. Should prove quite a combination.

“New Maxi-Mag Clean-22 SHP is the industry’s only segmenting hollow-point bullet in 22 WMR.” said CCI Product Line Manager Dan Compton. “Personally, I like its Olive Drab Green color on the bullet which gives it a hunting look, and I can’t wait to hear stories and see photos from our happy customers who use this new magnum rimfire round on prairie dog towns, in the squirrel woods and for their fur trapping efforts.”

CCI Maxi-Mag 2

Much as its name suggests, the segmented hollow-point bullet in the CCI Maxi-Mag ammo is designed to fragment upon impact. To be exact, the projectile breaks into three equal parts, creating three separate wound channels, increasing the likelihood of hitting a critter's vitals. This being rimfire, we’re talking small varmints, by and large. To this end, the CCI Maxi-Mag provides another great advantage, generally leaving only a small entry wound and no exit. Those who pursue small furbearers are certain to see the positive in this.

Adding to the usefulness of the ammunition, the 46-grain bullet is designed to separate even at lower velocities and longer distances. Not always the case with copper-jacked options. And the CCI Maxi-Mags have the stuff to reach out, leaving the muzzle around 1,875 fps and remains super-sonic well past the 100-yard mark. As to the price, presently the ammo is selling for $18.99 per box of 50 at the company’s website.

For more information on CCI Maxi-Mag Clean-22, please visit cci-ammunition.com.

More Rimfire Info:

Dry-Fire 2.0: Getting On Target With The ELMS By G-Sight

By
Elwood Shelton
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A simple laser diode, G-Sight’s ELMS device gives you a way to measure accuracy while dry-firing.
A simple laser diode, G-Sight’s ELMS device gives you a way to measure accuracy while dry-firing.

No ammo? No problem! G-Sight ELMS allows you to sharpen accuracy while dry-firing for minimal startup cost.

Firearms training … there is life away from live fire and the shooting range. In fact, if you get to the brass tacks of the matter, the work you put into sharpening your skills with nothing more than your gun and an empty chamber might do more to get you down the road to mastery than anything else. Look at some of the greatest gun gurus in the history of firearms, and you see that each had a rigorous and uncompromising dry-fire regime; it didn’t matter their pursuit.

Why is pulling the trigger on an empty firearm so fruitful? One word: repetition. Excelling at a physical endeavor—from a wrist shot in hockey to a bull’s-eye in darts—requires doing it right over and over and over again (and again).

Shooting is no different: Dirt-cheap and highly productive dry-fire training allows you to get that many more shots—even if there’s no bang! in the end.

But there’s a caveat to what is otherwise a sound addition to anyone’s firearms drilling: doing it right. And, for the longest time, outside of self-evaluation, there’ve been few ways to truly get a grip on how well you’re boning up your sight picture, trigger pull, follow-through and aim.

Now, the times are changing.

Rise of the Machine

In addition to keeping us constantly connected and serving up an endless litany of cat videos, the digital age has vastly enhanced the shooting world—no more so than for training. From devices that connect your gun for digital analysis of trigger pull to how you manage recoil, there’s a wealth of diagnostic equipment that helps you get on target. In this cutting-edge world, one of the most useful is also one of the simplest.

There’s not a ton to G-Sight’s Expert Laser Marksman System (ELMS). Yet, this elegant, little piece of equipment goes a long way toward improving your aim. Much as its name implies, ELMS is a laser diode meant to help you sharpen your marksmanship in the comfort of your own home. Simply load it up into your handgun and “go to town,” so to speak.

Well, there’s a little bit more to it than that … .

Far from leaving you craning your eyes to see where each blast from the laser lands, you have the ability to record your shots and evaluate them. Utilizing the camera on your Android or Apple smart device, the G-Sight app records your shots, giving you a crystalline idea of whether you’re banging the 10-ring or if you need a bit more work.

Getting the ELMS device up and running is as easy as sticking it in your gun’s chamber.
Getting the ELMS device up and running is as easy as sticking it in your gun’s chamber.

On the free version of the app, you get a 10-shot mode, along with a grouping mode that measures how tightly you’re grouping. While these are enough to get you going, you can upgrade the app to include a shot timer and unlimited shot recording functions. At around $5, it's well worth it if you find that the device enhances your training.

The shot timer—an upgrade—is especially nice, because it adds a level of urgency to training with voice commands to “ready” and “shoot.” Anything that turns the screws—while demanding accuracy—is generally a worthy addition.

That said, it might not be the ideal spend (the MSRP starts at $54.99) if you’re a striker-fired or single-action pistol shooter. The issue here is that you’ll have to work the slide or cock the hammer after every shot to break the subsequent one. In turn, you’re not measuring how quickly you can accurately place shots on target … although, if you happen to favor a Sig P226, Beretta M9 or any other DA/SA pistols, it might be worth the investment.

Load Up On More Handgun Training:

Your Own Gun

As many might recognize, G-Sight’s ELMS isn’t the first crack at laser training. Yes, there are other similar marksmanship systems out there. Many of them are solid—but almost all of them are lacking.

The big gap, in almost all other cases, is the absence of your own pistol. While it might be fun to squeeze off a few rounds with a plastic facsimile (and there’s no arguing that you’re getting some accuracy training via that method), it’s a pale alternative.

Every gun has its nuances, from balance to trigger break to overtravel. Building the muscle memory to accurately shoot—well and consistently—a particular make and model requires you have that particular gun in hand. That’s the great advantage of ELMS: You have exactly this; and that’s no small thing.

Working in conjunction with your smart device, ELMS gives you instant feedback on how your shots are grouping.
Working in conjunction with your smart device, ELMS gives you instant feedback on how your shots are grouping.

The ELMS device also has a large reach in improving your marksmanship, no matter your firearm. G-Sight makes ELMS devices that fit all the popular self-defense handgun calibers, including 9mm, .38 Special, .380 ACP, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. Additionally, there’s a .223 variant available, in case you want to solidify your aim with your AR-15 or AR pistol.

Parting Shot

Even without a device of some kind to keep tabs, dry-fire is an important part of your training regime. Famed gun writer Jack O’Connor was said to have snapped off countless trigger pulls at a particular brick in his neighbor’s chimney with his .270 Winchester. And competitive shooters spend many of their leisure hours at home, honing every facet of their shot behind an empty chamber. They don’t do it for kicks; they do it because it gets the job done.

The opportunity now exists to get even more out of this vital style of training—which is saying a lot. Technological advancements have made dry-fire more important and productive than ever before. Sure, it’s not quite on par with live fire, but it’s getting closer.

ELMS is a step down this path. We, as shooters, would be fools not to take advantage of it.

For more information on the G-Sight ELMS, please visit g-sight.com.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

FN SCAR 20S: Out-Of-The-Box Precision

By
Patrick Sweeney
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The gas system has two settings: “normal” and “suppressed.”
The gas system has two settings: “normal” and “suppressed.”

Over-engineered and made battle tough, the FN SCAR 20S offers a superb trigger and great accuracy, as well as a lot of fun.

What Makes The FN SCAR 20S So Accurate:

  • A Geissele Super SCAR two-stage trigger breaks like thin ice.
  • Stock is fully adjustable to fit the user.
  • 11-pound weight makes it somewhat milder mannered.
  • Cold hammer-forged barrel is chrome lined, making it stress-free barrel, accurate and wear-resistant.
  • Short-stroke piston operation is extremely reliable.

Back in the earlier years of the 21st century (geez, I’m referring to the 21st century! That still isn’t old), FN designed a set of rifles for the military. The military wanted it all—the sun, moon, stars … and a decaf, no-calorie latte.

The SCAR rifle series ended up being the SCAR-L (for a while, the SCAR 16) and the SCAR-H (for a while, the SCAR 17). The L/16 was an indestructible 5.56 rifle, but it was a bit chunky and heavy for 5.56. The other was an indestructible 7.62 NATO that was, well, a bit chunky and heavy, but not for a 7.62.

At the time, I predicted the end result, and time has proven me right: If you let the end users (the SOCOM heavy-hitters) pick and choose, they’d rather have the 7.62 than an indestructible 5.56.

Mile-Long Top Rail

FN didn’t stop there, so we now have the SCAR as a 7.62 precision rifle. The 17 is still there, but this is the 20S, a rifle built to be a long-range precision rifle … OK, a sniper rifle.

FN SCAR 6

And, to that end, FN didn’t leave anything to chance, as far as making it suitable for long-range precision use was concerned. The stock is adjustable in both length of pull and cheek height. The trigger is a two-stage trigger, with a pull weight that’s factory-set between 3½ and 4½ pounds.

The upper receiver (which is the firearm on the SCAR, unlike the various AR-15 and AR-10 rifles most readers are familiar with) has a top rail that runs the full length of the receiver.

Bone Up On FN Guns:

Weight Considerations

This provides plenty of “rail estate” (and yes, I did invent that term almost two decades ago) to mount optics, iron sights, and thermal and night vision optics. Now, the bare weight of the SCAR 20S is 11½ pounds. Ouch! Adding a full suite of optics can probably push that up close to 20 pounds. And, add on a bipod, laser targeting designator, suppressor, full magazine and a sling, and you’re up to the weight of some of the lighter belt-fed machine guns.

There’s also a rail at the 6 o’clock position on the handguard; so, you could, if you owned one, mount a grenade launcher there. The rest of us will simply use it as a generous length of rail to which we can attach a bipod.

Disassembly is easy: Push one pin across and then take the rest of it apart with your bare hands.
Disassembly is easy: Push one pin across and then take the rest of it apart with your bare hands.

For most of us, this is a heavy rifle. But, for the end users for whom the rifle is built (those hard, fit, 20-somethings who can do pushups until they’re tired of counting), this isn’t a problem.

But—and this especially in the 6.5 Creedmoor chambering—with the 20S you have pinpoint precision out as far as you can hit … or as far as the caliber reaches before the bullet goes subsonic. And, if I might be permitted an aside here: While the 7.62 NATO, with pretty much any loading, will go subsonic at a bit past 1,000 yards at most, the best loads of the 6.5 Creedmoor stay supersonic out to 1,600 yards, even 1,700, depending on atmospheric conditions.

More About the SCAR 20S

OK, back to the 20S details.

The gas system is a short-stroke piston setup, and the original users wanted reliability. To that end, FN made the working parts robust and ensured dimensional stability (that is, everything is made to very tight specs, even when there are generous tolerances for crud to blow out).

If the reciprocating charging handle is a problem, you can easily swap it out for an angled one from HDD Tactical.
If the reciprocating charging handle is a problem, you can easily swap it out for an angled one from HDD Tactical.

One detail I’ve heard about from those who’ve used their SCAR rifles hard is that the rifles are hard on optics. This is mostly the 7.62 crowd—the SCAR 17 users. The 17’s generous gas throttle, along with its robust cycling parts, means that on every shot, the operating system bottoms out in the rear of the receiver … with enthusiasm.

Now, for the shooter, that’s not a big deal. The SCAR is reasonably comfortable to shoot, and the stock, either standard or the 20S, is adjustable, so you can set it up to fit you. A side note here: The SCAR 17—the L—has a folding stock that’s adjustable for length of pull and cheek height. The 20S has adjustable length of pull and cheek height, but it doesn’t fold.
The recoil-and-bounce cycle of vibration acts not unlike that of some air rifles. The double-hit and vibration can rattle apart lesser scopes, so you should really make sure you use top-notch scope brands when kitting-out your SCAR.

The bolt and carrier are robust; that’s a lot of weight cycling back and forth. After shooting the 20S for a while, I installed the HDD Tactical buffer, which took a bunch of the sting out of the recoil. The recoil is “reasonable,” but for a 21st-century rifle of this weight, I was expecting more comfort. That I needed a shock buffer to “civilize” it indicates that the end users are a lot more interested in “always-reliable” than they are in “easy-to-shoot.”

The gas system is adjustable, but the adjustments extend to “normal” and “suppressed.” It isn’t as if you can dial down the gas flow until you get a softer recoil. (Hmmm, perhaps that’s something FN should look into.) The “suppressed” setting isn’t to ease up on felt recoil (remember that hard-chargers are the users in mind) but to keep the cyclic rate at normal levels when firing it with a suppressor on. Yes, the military models are select-fire, but we only have the option of one shot at a time. Still, setting it to “suppressed” when using a suppressor is the right thing to do.

On the SCAR, the upper is the firearm, not the lower.
On the SCAR, the upper is the firearm, not the lower.

The barrel is cold hammer-forged and then chrome lined. This gives a straight, smooth, stress-free barrel that’s both accurate and shrugs off use and wear.

The SCAR short-stroke piston system works the same way as on an M1 carbine (as compared to the long-stroke system of the M1 Garand, for example). The gas is vented out of the barrel and into the gas block, where it strikes the piston. The piston drives back and pushes the carrier assembly back. The piston stops but, having driven the carrier assembly, its job is done.
The carrier cycles back, rotating the bolt, then taking the bolt back, ejecting the empty and, on the return trip, stripping a round out of the magazine, rotating and locking.

One detail you must be aware of: the charging handle. It’s reversible to either side of the receiver and does reciprocate. That is, the handle cycles with the carrier, to which it is attached. If your thumb or hand happens to be up there in the path, you’ll get hurt, and the rifle will fail to cycle. (HDD Tactical also offers an angled charging handle to help keep it out of the way. It, too, is reversible.)

The magazines are modified FAL magazines, because FAL magazines were the starting point at which FN began. However, they’re not interchangeable in either direction (i.e., FAL to SCAR or SCAR to FAL).

The selector and mag catch are ambidextrous, while the bolt release isn’t. Not a big deal on the latter.
The selector and mag catch are ambidextrous, while the bolt release isn’t. Not a big deal on the latter.

The controls are where you’d expect them to be, with an ambidextrous magazine catch behind the magazine well, a bolt release only on the left and a safety selector (also ambidextrous) above the pistol grip.

Testing the SCAR 20S

The accuracy testing for the 20S involved installing a Leupold VX-3i LRP 8.5-25x50mm on top and in a Geissele Super Precision scope mount. Yes, this is pricey gear, but it provides a whole lot of performance for the money, and it’s not out of line with the cost of the rifle—or the ammo, per shot, really.

FN SCAR 20S Range Test

Shooting for groups with such a rig can be nerve-wracking. With a three-shot cloverleaf or a four-shot tight group, the thought, Don’t slap the trigger and ruin this group! looms large. In the course of testing, I was able to get to a private range at which there was steel out to 688 yards. Oh yes, that was fun! And even I, a hosing IPSC pistol shooter, could easily go nine out of 10 on the steel at 688 yards.

At no time did the SCAR 20S fail to function, and it was generous, but not excessive in its ejection.

The Good, the Bad, the Pricey

So, where does the SCAR 20S fit into the pantheon of rifles? Well, if you’re looking for a modern .308 thumper of the carbine and no-sniper variety (although still plenty accurate), you’d go with a SCAR 17. The M14 is long out of the military system, and the SCAR 17 fills the bill there. (There are AR-10 based rifles contesting the position of the SCAR 17. If and when that’s settled, we’ll all be the better for it.)

That’s a lot of mass reciprocating on every shot. That, and a generous flow of gas, is why you install a shock buffer in the rear of the receiver.
That’s a lot of mass reciprocating on every shot. That, and a generous flow of gas, is why you install a shock buffer in the rear of the receiver.

If you want a long-range, self-loading sniper rifle, you’d be hard-pressed to beat the SCAR 20S. However, you’ll have to deal with some issues.

First off, the bottom handguard assembly isn’t the same as that of the 17. So, what about all those accessory rails, handguards and add-ons for the SCAR 17? They won’t fit. Until aftermarket makers, or FN, makes lower handguards for the 20S, you’ll get what there is. The stock doesn’t fold—and the adjustments, while useful, don’t make the 20S any handier. In addition, you have to use the FN magazines. I don’t know of anyone else who’s currently making magazines for the SCAR, so you’ll have to stock up through FN or some other supplier … at almost $50 each.

A minor complaint: The flash hider rings like a tuning fork on every shot. Now, if you’re swapping it out for a muzzle device to mount your suppressor, it’s not a problem. But if you aren’t, you’re going to want to change that just as fast as you can, because it’s damned annoying.

And then, there’s the cost: $4,500. Now, to be fair to FN, you’d eat up a significant amount of that buying an AR-10-based rifle of the same or nearly the same quality—and then you’d have to change what you needed to change to make it the functional and detail equivalent of the SCAR 20S. So, you aren’t going to save much money by “almost equaling” it with some other rifle. Just be prepared for the sticker shock.

The annoying, pinging flash hider—a tuning fork on every shot.
The annoying, pinging flash hider—a tuning fork on every shot.

On the good side, there’s the plethora of rails. The full-length rail on top is almost too much. There are rails on the sides, and the bottom of the handguard offers plenty of space to mount whatever else you need. You have plenty of options, but they’re all Picatinny—no Keymod or M-lok.

For the bulk and weight, once you get the stock adjusted, the rifle fits like a glove. And then, there’s the trigger. FN is coy and understated on the trigger weight on its website, simply stating that it breaks crisply at 3.5 to 4.5 pounds (that’s like saying Sofia Vergara is a “nice-looking” lady).

I’m a spoiled gun writer. I usually consider any trigger installed in a factory-built firearm as a starting point; one that’ll be changed as soon as possible. The trigger on the 20S that FN sent to me doesn’t need changing. I don’t think you would, either. But then, you wouldn’t have to, because upon opening the action, what do I find? A Geissele Super SCAR two-stage trigger … which is what I would’ve put in had the trigger disappointed.

Fun’s fun, but I can’t pay the mortgage by trading guns to the bank. As a result, the 20S will have to go back to FN. If this one ends up in the commercial stream—and not to another gun writer—someone is going to find a superb trigger and cracking good accuracy, as well as a lot of fun, with this 20S. And, given the longevity of FN’s barrels, it’ll still be whacking steel at 700 yards, even after it has passed through the hands of a half-dozen gun writers.

FN SCAR 20S Specs
Type: Gas-operated, self-loading rifle
Caliber: .308 Winchester/7.62 NATO (also available in 6.5 Creedmoor)
Capacity: 20+1 rounds
Barrel: 20 in.
Length: 42.5 in.
Weight: 11 lb., 3 oz.
Trigger: 3 lb., 7 oz.
Finish: Anodized aluminum, black-oxide steel
MSRP: $4,499

For more information on the FN SCAR 20S, please visit fnamerica.com.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

First Look: The Competition-Angled Krieghoff K-80 Parcours-X

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

K-80 Parcours-X

Boasting a bit more weight than the orginial and longer barrels, the Krieghoff K-80 Parcours-X looks to be a clay-busting machine.

The enthrall of double-barrel shotguns is often lost to those outside wing and clay shooting communities. Why in God’s name would someone spend so much on a couple of tubes and a bit of wood? Fair enough point, but one glazing over the utmost engineering poured into the best examples of over-unders and side-by-sides. Perfecting the mechanical, ergonomic and aesthetic aspects of a firearm, then producing a specimen capable of outliving your grandchildren—perhaps even your grandchildren’s grandchildren—is nothing to thumb your nose at. Quite simply, it’s the acme of the gunmaker’s craft, one certain shooters are willing to shell out the biggest of bucks to enjoy.

At the forefront of this niche is German manufacturer Krieghoff International, who recently had competitors drooling over its most recent addition. Presented a the 2020 NSCA Sporting Clays National Championship at San Antonio’s National Shooting Complex, the K-80 Parcours-X has already started to make waves. Of course, the evolution of Krieghoff’s highly popular K-80 Parcours the over/under should prove a clay-busting machine.

In particular, the custom gunmaker's new creation offers a weight choice—undefined at the moment—between the original 8-pound Parcours and standard 8 ¾-pound K-80 Sporting model. Additionally, the 12-gauge boasts 32-inch barrels outfitted with a tapered flat rib and utilizing the company’s new Thin Wall Chokes. Interestingly, this comes on the heels of a 34-inch barreled, competition-focused Parcours Krieghoff introduced just a couple of months ago. The new gun might seem marginally different from some of the existing models, but these subtle modifications have been in demand for some time.

“Our dealers give us the most valuable feedback on what the market is looking for,” says Nick Boerboon Krieghoff International Sales Manager. “In response, we designed a Parcours model that gives shooters a bit more weight in their hands for a smoother swinging option on the robust K-80 frame.”

As to the Parcours line itself, the shotguns are top-of-the-line. The legendary K-80 receiver's lockworks are renowned for the precision at which its parts are milled, as well as the exceptionally hard steel Krieghoff uses. They brag it will last into the millions of rounds. As to the stock, expect high-grade walnut, shaped similarly to the terse lines on existing Parcours as well as some engraving on the receiver.

As to price, Krieghoff didn’t spit one out at the launch, but it’s very much an “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” sort of company. For example, the book price on its standard-grade K-80 Skeet—among the most affordable in the line—is $11,795.

For more information on the K-80 Parcours-X, please visit krieghoff.com.

Draw A Bead On Shotguns:

Ammo Brief: .357 Remington Maximum

By
Gun Digest Editors
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1

The nearly forgotten, ultra-fast, ultra-flat revolver round, the .357 Remington Maximum pushed the boundaries.

How Does The Hot-Rod .357 Remington Maximum Stack Up:

  • This cartridge is a .310-inch elongation of the .357 Magnum.
  • It's capable of pushing a 125-grain bullet up to 1,800 fps at the muzzle.
  • Revolvers chambered for it tended to develop excessive gas-cutting on the top strap.

Historical Notes

The .357 Remington Maximum was announced as a joint venture between Remington Arms Co. and Sturm, Ruger and Co. This cartridge is a .310-inch elongation of the .357 Magnum case.

The first handgun to chamber the round was the Ruger Blackhawk .357 Maximum single-action revolver, introduced in 1983. This was followed, in 1984, by the Dan Wesson double-action revolver, the Seville single-action, stainless steel revolver and finally, the Thompson/Center Contender single-shot pistol. During the same year, Harrington & Richardson chambered its Model 258 single-shot rifle for the round, as did Savage in its Model 24V and Model 24VS Camper over/under rifle-shotgun combination guns. Although Remington developed the commercial .357 Maximum, a similar wildcat cartridge was actually developed by Elgin Gates at an earlier time.

Unfortunately, the .357 Remington Maximum revolvers all developed excessive gas-cutting on the top strap just forward of the cylinder within 1,000 rounds or so when fired with full factory loads. Ruger withdrew its Blackhawk .357 Maximum revolver from production, pending additional research and possible engineering changes. When Dan Wesson revolvers were still in production prior to the company’s purchase by CZ, it eliminated the problem by establishing a .002-inch barrel/cylinder gap for its .357 Maximum revolvers (the Dan Wesson revolvers have interchangeable barrels that are easily replaced and fine-tuned by the customer using a furnished gap tool). Top strap erosion, of course, isn’t a problem with the single-shot Thompson/Center Contender or the rifles chambering the .357 Maximum.

Check Out Our: Reloading Data Center

 

Our Top Articles on .357 Magnum Revolvers & Ammo

General Comments

Efforts to develop ultra-high-velocity revolvers haven’t been crowned with unbridled success. The .22 Remington Jet in the Model 53 Smith & Wesson revolver is another example of a combination that was discontinued because of mechanical troubles. In the case of the .357 Maximum, the cartridge differs from the standard .357 Magnum only in case length, so one can drop back to shooting the .357 Magnum in any Maximum revolver or simply handload to lower-velocity levels using the Maximum case.

Factory ballistics were taken in a 10.5-inch, vented test barrel, and actual muzzle velocity from a revolver with the same-length barrel is about 200 fps slower than the advertised figure.

The .357 Remington Maximum was conceived primarily as an ultra-velocity, flat-trajectory silhouette cartridge. That it would also make a good field cartridge for hunting small and medium game is obvious. Many would consider it a good deer cartridge, but when used in a handgun, it would be rather marginal for that purpose. Of course, a good deal depends on the skill of the person using it and, as noted elsewhere, the older, less-powerful .357 Magnum has killed its share of big game. Certainly, the .357 Maximum has been used as a big-game handgun cartridge, but the measure of success has reflected more upon the person behind the gun than the cartridge.

357 Rem Max Table

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt from Cartridges of the World, 16th Edition.

Raise Your Ammo IQ:

 

Bill Wilson: The Man Behind Wilson Combat

By
Jay Pinsky
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2
With more than 40 years of experience as a competitive shooter, hunter, gun builder and businessman, Wilson has guided Wilson Combat to being known as one of the finest firearms manufacturers in the world.
With more than 40 years of experience as a competitive shooter, hunter, gun builder and businessman, Wilson has guided Wilson Combat to being known as one of the finest firearms manufacturers in the world.

Perfectionism is a ‘disease’ that can drive anyone crazy, but it also drove Bill Wilson and Wilson Combat to the very forefront of the firearms industry.

If you want a firearm to last a day, buy it from someone who just wants to build a gun. If you want it to last a lifetime, buy it from someone who wants to build a reputation.

Since 1977, few brands have worked harder than Wilson Combat to establish and maintain one of the most revered reputations for quality, performance and innovation within the firearms industry. The first five minutes of a conversation with Wilson Combat’s founder, Bill Wilson, will leave no doubt as to why. Because most of America isn’t likely to have that chance, Gun Digest has done it for you.

To know and understand the Wilson Combat brand, one simply needs to know Bill Wilson, who’s never known a life without firearms, despite it not running in his family.

“I really don’t have a mentor for hunting or shooting,” said Bill Wilson. “No one in my family was a shooter or hunted. I’ve always been interested in guns and got my first .22 rifle when I was 10 or so. My first involvement with the firearms industry was in 1974 with a retail store called Sportsman’s Headquarters in Berryville, Arkansas. Wilson Combat came from my competition shooting career and was started in 1977.”

The front of the catalog of what was then known (1977) as Wilson’s Gun Shop.
The front of the catalog of what was then known (1977) as Wilson’s Gun Shop.

Bill’s career as a competitive shooter was critical to establishing Wilson Combat’s reputation as a champion’s brand—the perennial “If you’re going to talk the talk, you’ve got to walk the walk” kind of thing. It’s a challenge Bill Wilson takes seriously to this day. When a customer buys a Wilson Combat firearm instead of another brand, to Bill, there should be a difference, and his standard is designed to ensure exactly that.

“I want the brand to represent the highest-quality defensive and tactical firearms and accessories, backed by the best customer service in the industry,” Bill explained.

Competitive Shooter, Hunter and Businessman

Bill’s early competition in 1973 was shooting police PPC with the law enforcement in Harrison, Arkansas, which led to shooting bowling pin matches and eventually to shooting IPSC/USPSA in 1977. From the beginning, Bill won … a lot.

“As I became a high-level competitor, I needed a better pistol,” he said. “When guns from the top pistolsmiths of the day didn’t satisfy me, I used my jewelry and watchmaking skills to work on 1911s.

“As a competitive shooter, I learned what it takes to make accurate, reliable and durable firearms and accessories,” Wilson added. “As a hunter, I learned patience and determination. As a businessman, I added in customer service.”

One of the most problematic parts of 1911s is their magazine. Wilson Combat is especially attentive to this crucial gun part and has earned a reputation as one of the finest magazine manufacturers in the world.
One of the most problematic parts of 1911s is their magazine. Wilson Combat is especially attentive to this crucial gun part and has earned a reputation as one of the finest magazine manufacturers in the world.

Wilson refused to build a “good-enough” firearm that simply had his name on it. For any firearm to carry the name, “Wilson,” it needed to satisfy one of the industry’s most famous perfectionists who infused a little bit of his heart and soul into each gun’s components.

“My goal was always to build the best product I could, charge what I had to in order to make a living and take care of my customers with a forever customer satisfaction policy,” Wilson said. “I knew that if I did this, everything else would work out fine.”

He thanks and credits Armand Swenson and Jim Clark Sr. for helping him during the early days of Wilson Combat. And for more than 42 years, it’s fair to say things have been more than fine for Bill and the Wilson Combat team.

Quality and Service

“First, I don’t consider the firearms Wilson Combat builds to be ‘factory’ or ‘semi-custom’ guns,” Wilson stated. “While we produce a substantial quantity of firearms each year, we are a true custom shop and will build the customer exactly what they want … and to their specifications. I believe our quality and attention to detail are equal, or superior, to the smaller custom shops that only produce a few guns a year—and cost two or more times what a comparable Wilson Combat firearm costs. We haven’t forgotten what brought us to the dance.”

Bill Wilson is much more than just a businessman who sells world-class firearms; he’s also a world-class competitive shooter and hunter. This photo was taken on his first African safari.
Bill Wilson is much more than just a businessman who sells world-class firearms; he’s also a world-class competitive shooter and hunter. This photo was taken on his first African safari.

So, when does a firearm go from being “just a gun” to a Wilson Combat gun? Bill pointed out that it’s when it survives his custom manufacturing gauntlet.

“A gun becomes a Wilson Combat firearm when it passes our extensive test-fire procedure and quality control. The company is built on a core philosophy of quality and customer service. As our company slogan says, ‘Quality you can trust, service you deserve.’”

Wilson Combat began with custom competition 1911s, which were hand-built by Bill himself. Now, 1911 handguns with the Wilson Combat name on them are still built one by one—not by Bill, but by a team of specialized gunsmiths who scrutinize each and every aspect of the build as if Bill himself were standing over them.

“Our gunsmiths are among the most experienced in the industry; many have more than 25 years of service hand-building custom pistols,” Bill said. “More than 40 years of experience have shown us that this proven team-building philosophy builds more-consistent, higher-quality custom guns than a ‘single gunsmith’ approach.”

Never ‘Good Enough’

The integrity that powers Bill Wilson’s work ethic, drive and personality is something you’re born with; and champion shooter Bill, who’s also a husband, father and grandfather, simply runs Wilson Combat the way he runs his life—without compromise. Bill Wilson’s goal for everything he does is to not just be the best—but to be a little bit better than whatever his best was yesterday.

Bill Wilson’s world-class firearms are the direct result of his world-class competitive shooting performances. At his private ranch in Texas, his walls are covered with championship-winning plaques, trophies and medals from shooting competitions all over the world.
Bill Wilson’s world-class firearms are the direct result of his world-class competitive shooting performances. At his private ranch in Texas, his walls are covered with championship-winning plaques, trophies and medals from shooting competitions all over the world.

“If we stay true to our roots and our policies, and at least one of my five grandchildren ends up running the company, it should be successful until we are legislated out of business,” Bill said.

I’ve been fortunate enough to spend time with Bill Wilson while he was developing his beloved .300 Ham’r cartridge. This man pays attention to every detail, and he simply doesn’t let up. No one buys a Wilson Combat gun simply because it works; they buy it because it works as well as Bill Wilson demands it does.

I can guarantee that Wilson takes a customer’s disappointment—no matter how slight—not only to heart, but also to the drawing board, where he’ll remedy whatever caused the problem. If there’s a problem with a firearm, it eats at him until he figures it out.

WC: Now and Beyond

Wilson Combat now makes a lot more than custom 1911s. You can get small 1911 parts to improve the 1911, such as the company’s 1911 magazines. You can also get customized Beretta 92s, AR-10 and AR-15 models, shotguns and ammunition—and even innovative cartridges such as the .300 Ham’r, created by Wilson Combat.

One of the many competitions Bill Wilson participated in regularly was the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) World Championships. This plaque is from 1979, when Bill competed with the American team. He finished fifth overall that year.
One of the many competitions Bill Wilson participated in regularly was the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) World Championships. This plaque is from 1979, when Bill competed with the American team. He finished fifth overall that year.

So, what comes next for Wilson Combat?

“Hopefully, the future for Wilson Combat is more innovative products that excite our customers and produce a profit for the company,” Wilson explained. “We have an extremely good new-products team, with some very bright people, so I’m excited about the future. Stay tuned!”

For more information on Wilson Combat and Bill Wilson, please visit wilsoncombat.com.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Raise Your Wilson Combat IQ:

Federal Premium HammerDown: Nailing Lever-Action Ammo

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

HammerDown 4

Terminal performance that hits like Thor's hammer, the Federal Premium line of lever-action ammo gases up the classic long gun.

Long-live the lever-action rifle. Even in the face of technological advancements, there’s still nothing quite like the classic iron. It’s fast, reasonably accurate and, face it, about as much fun as you can have with a shoulder-fired gun. Just one problem—ammunition selection. Tubular magazines fairly standard nowadays, modern ammo—in particular spitzer bullets—don’t play nice with the guns.

Thankfully, ammunition-makers have recognized this conundrum in recent decades. Addressing it, they have produced fantastic options to overcome some of these hurdles. The latest to throw its hat in the ring, Federal Premium with its HammerDown line of lever-action specific loads.

In particular, the company has souped-up the specialized hunting ammo for excellent velocities, especially in pistol cartridges. For example, Federal lists HammerDown’s 270-grain .44 Magnum ammo’s muzzle velocity at 1,715 fps and its 170-grain .357 Magnum at 1,240 fps. Both are moving for their respective bullet weights.

HammerDown 1

“Our goal for this new line of ammunition was to deliver enhanced performance in any lever-action rifle. HammerDown provides the velocity and terminal performance required to be an effective and ethical hunting round for medium game, especially with traditional handgun cartridges such as 357 Magnum or 44 Rem. Magnum being shot out of a rifle,” said Federal Ammunition Centerfire Rifle Product Manager Eric Miller. “We also ensured feeding performance in all lever-action rifles: tube feed as well as side gate firearms. To do this, we use modified case geometry to eliminate any feeding issues. HammerDown delivers those main benefits and much more.”

Developed in conjunction with Henry Repeating Arms, Federal is initially offering six loads in HammerDown. In addition to .44 Magnum and .357 Magnum the options include 127-grain .327 Federal Magnum, 250-grain .45 Colt, 150-grain .30-30 Winchester and 300-grain 45-70 Government. In all cases, the ammunition boasts bonded-core bullets—known for their consistent terminal performance and ability to retain mass—smooth-feeding nickel-plated brass cases and Federal’s top-shelf Gold Medal primers.
The only knock, for some, might be the bullets are of a more traditional bent—flat-nosed. Thus they don’t boast the sexy ballistic coefficients of polymer-tipped options. Given dedicated lever-gun hunters take their shots at sober distances this shouldn’t turn many off from HammerDown.

Federal says it plans to expand the line in 2021, however, did not specify exactly how. Presently, the MSRP for HammerDown runs from $24.99 for .357 Magnum at the least expensive up to $50.99 for .45-70 Government for the most.

For more information on HammerDown ammunition, please visit federalpremium.com.

We Found Bulk Ammo In Stock:

Disclosure: These links are affiliate links. Caribou Media Group earns a commission from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Raise Your Ammo IQ:

Is There A ‘Best Way’ To Shoot The Ruger PC Charger or AR Pistol?

By
Richard A. Mann
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1

PC Charger

Here Are The Stances And How The PC Charger Shot:

Using the Ruger PC Charger as the test firearm, we analyze various techniques and accessories that work best with it, AR pistols and other pint-sized heaters.

Have you ever wondered about the legalities surrounding, or the best techniques for shooting, one of those hybrid pistols/AR pistols that look like a rifle with its buttstock and barrel chopped off? If so, maybe this will help.

The Confusion

Ruger’s new PC Charger is, by definition, a pistol. The “PC” stands for “pistol caliber,” which is a bit confusing: There’s really no such thing as “pistol caliber.” “Caliber” refers to the diameter of a bullet; what PC should stand for is “pistol cartridge.” But then, why would a pistol be referenced as being “pistol caliber” or “pistol cartridge?”

Well, this comes from rifles that fire pistol cartridges, which are often referred to as “pistol-caliber carbines.” Ruger offers the PC Carbine, a rifle that fires cartridges commonly chambered in pistols. “Charger” is the term Ruger uses to describe its pistols that are based on rifles; Ruger’s 22 Charger is based on the Ruger 10/22.

If you’re not confused yet, keep reading.

With these pistols—hybrid pistols, if you will—there’s some confusion about how you can actually—legally—shoot them, particularly if they’re equipped with an arm brace. An arm brace is an extension to the rear of a pistol that resembles a buttstock. In actuality, it’s there for the purpose of strapping a pistol—a pistol that’s really too damned big to be shot with one hand anyway—to your arm.

Of course, once attached, it can serve as a makeshift buttstock if you’d like to shoulder the weapon. But does that then make the pistol a short-barreled rifle (SBR)? If so, it then becomes an NFA (National Firearms Act) firearm, which is highly taxed and regulated.

Initially, in 2014, it was OK to put an arm brace on a pistol and shoot it from any position you liked. But, in 2015, the ATF ruled that firing a pistol with an arm brace from your shoulder effectively made the pistol an SBR, required the filing of ATF form 1 … along with the payment of the requisite tax. This, of course, was asinine; how you decide to hold a weapon should have no impact on its classification or the taxes you pay.

Huh??

But that wasn’t the end of it.

In 2019, the ATF revised its position as follows: “To the extent the January 2015 Open Letter implied or has been construed to hold that incidental, sporadic, or situational ‘use’ of an arm-brace (in its original approved configuration) equipped firearm from a firing position at or near the shoulder was sufficient to constitute a ‘redesign,’ such interpretations are incorrect and not consistent with ATF’s interpretation of the statute or the manner in which it has historically been enforced.”

What does that mean? Well, it would appear that you can shoot an arm brace-equipped pistol from any position you choose, but if you shoot it “from a firing position at or near the shoulder,” it can only be done “incidentally, sporadically, or situationally.” This appears to mean you can only do it at irregular intervals or only in limited situations.

Are you still confused? I am. Because of this “ruling,” the conventional wisdom seems to be that you can do it sometimes, but you shouldn’t show it off. (I guess it’s OK to act within the law, as long as you don’t brag about it.)

I know this is a nuisance of minutiae to digest just so you can shoot your pistol. However, it’s extremely important that, as legal gun owners, we don’t break the law—no matter how confusing the law might be. All of this muddlement about how you can legally shoot a pistol with an arm brace got me to wondering about something that’s more important from a practical standpoint. And that’s what’s best or the most effective way to shoot one of these guns.

Ten Tests, Ten Results

I figured I’d find out for myself. I took Ruger’s new PC Charger and fired a string of 10 shots as fast as I thought I could make good hits on a common B27 target at 10 yards from 10 different positions. I timed and scored the results to facilitate a comparison; hits in the X, 10 and 9 rings counted for 10 points; everything else was listed at 0 points. The total of all hits was then divided by the total time, as you would with Comstock, Virginia-count scoring (that is, the larger the final score, the better). The results surprised me, and I suspect they’ll surprise you as well.

I thought the best way to illustrate the information was with a brief discussion of each test/technique.

Baseline Test

A Base Line

Common pistol, two-hand stance (open sights)
First, I wanted to establish how shooting an arm-braced pistol from various positions compared with shooting a common pistol using a two-hand stance. To do this, I fired 10 shots from 10 yards with my Wilson Combat EDC X9 using a two-hand stance and open sights. I scored 90 points, and it took 4.91 seconds for a final score of 18.33.

Technique 1

A Tech 1

PC Charger, one-hand stance (Crimson Trace CTS 1400 reflex sight)
I didn’t expect a lot from this test. After all, trying to fire a 6.5-pound handgun with one hand shouldn’t produce great results. Accuracy-wise, however, with six 10-zone and four 9-zone hits for 100 points, I didn’t do too badly. But it took 10.8 seconds to get those hits for a score of 9.26. This is a stupid way to shoot this pistol unless you’re trying to show off or it’s the only option you have, given the circumstance. It makes the idea of an arm brace seem magical.

Technique 2

A Tech 2

PC Charger, two-hand stance (Crimson Trace CTS 1400 reflex sight)
In this test, the PC Charger was fired with two hands on the pistol grip. I logged 100 points, but it took 11.1 seconds for a score of 9.01, making this method about half as effective as shooting a common handgun in the same manner. The recoil of a 9mm Luger in a 6.5-pound gun is nominal but, given the heavy gun, it was slow to get back on target for follow-up shots.

Technique 3

A Tech 3

PC Charger, two-hands, carbine-style (Crimson Trace CTS 1400 reflex sight)
This was similar to Test 1, except that I held the PC Charger at the pistol grip with my shooting hand and on the forearm—behind the hand-stop—with my support hand, as you might fire a sawed-off shotgun. The point count was 100, and the time was 9.02 seconds. Everything that applies in Test 2 applies here, with the additional note that the hand-stop on the forearm of the PC Charger was very uncomfortable during recoil. That said, it’s a damned good idea it’s there, because it keeps your support hand from inadvertently moving forward in front of the muzzle.

Technique 4

A Tech 4

PC Charger, one-hand with arm brace (Crimson Trace CTS 1400 reflex sight)
I was excited to try out the “magical” arm brace that’s caused all the confusion. I secured the very well-made and folding Sig Sauer PCB Kit for its MPX/MCX to the PC Charger. It attached to the Picatinny end rail with a single screw. Holding the pistol with one hand and with the arm brace strapped on the shooting arm, I again managed 100 points—but it took 11.43 seconds for a final score of 8.75. It was the slowest of any method tested. This was uncomfortable, slow and unwieldy. Sure, I’d suggest you try it, if for no other reason than that you could then agree with me that it’s ridiculous.

Technique 5

A Tech 5

PC Charger, hip-shooting (no aiming device)
Mostly for entertainment purposes, this test involved shooting the PC Charger from the hip without the aid of an aiming device. This was my “Hollywood” test, and with it, I only scored 40 points. However, all 10 shots were fired in only 3.96 seconds for a final score of 10.10. Just as a side note: One shot missed the entire target. With practice, you might get a bit better at this technique, but it’s doubtful you’ll ever be good enough to trust it to save your life or to not shoot things you don’t intend to shoot.

Technique 6

A Tech 6

PC Charger, hip-shooting (laser)
I then installed a Surefire X400 light-and-laser combo and fired another 10 shots from the hip while aiming with the laser. This is where the PC Charger began to shine and perform better than a common pistol. I scored 100 points in 5.33 seconds for a final score of 18.76. This might be the best way to utilize the PC Charger. It’s fast, keeps the gun close to your body for retention purposes, is comfortable and would work well in close quarters. Lasers work!

Technique 7

A Tech 7

PC Charger, strap-resistance (Crimson Trace CTS 1400 reflex sight)
One of the most common methods for shooting a pistol of similar design to the PC Charger is to use a strap and force the pistol out in front of your body while holding it at the grip and forearm, using the strap as resistance. Doing so while using the Crimson Trace reflex sight, I managed 100 points in 7.62 seconds for a final score of 13.12. Not bad … but not nearly as effective as a common pistol with a two-hand stance. Of course, practice will undoubtedly improve performance, and a strap is a good idea on a gun that weighs almost 7 pounds.

Technique 8

A Tech 8

PC Charger, shoulder (Crimson Trace CTS 1400 reflex sight)
Having shot the PC Charger employing several methods, I figured it was now “incidentally, sporadically, or [and] situationally” legal to shoot it by placing the arm brace against my shoulder. I did so using the Crimson Trace reflex sight and logged 100 points in 5.58 seconds for a score of 17.92. This was the third best score the PC Charge managed, and it was very much like shooting an AR-15—but one with an uncomfortable and low cheek weld, which probably explains the slower-than-you-would-expect engagement time.

Technique 9

A Tech 9

PC Charger, arm brace to cheek (Crimson Trace CTS 1400 reflex sight)
In an effort to avoid violating the 2015 ATF ruling, some shooters began placing the butt of the arm brace against their cheek or chin when shooting these hybrid-type pistols. I tried this and found it uncomfortable. Nevertheless, I did achieve 100 points in 7.45 seconds for a score of 13.42. Here’s the thing: If I were using one of these hybrid pistols to defend my life, I’d just forget this technique and put the damned thing against my shoulder. I’d worry about potential ATF violations—if I managed to survive the gunfight.

Technique 10

A Tech 10

PC Charger, arm brace to chest (laser)
The final test—and this was mostly conducted for the purpose of giving me 10 tests to evaluate—was shooting the PC Charger with the arm brace resting on the center of my chest while using the Surefire X400 laser to aim. In 3.66 seconds, I poked six holes in the 10-ring, three in the 9-ring and one in the 8-ring for a total of 90 points and a score of 24.59. It was, without question, the fastest and most effective method of shooting the PC Charger. Unless you have a very short neck or oddly shaped chest, it’ll place an optical sight too low to see through; but with the laser, it’s an extremely effective and highly controllable technique.

Score

For more information on the PC Charger, please visit ruger.com.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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10 Amazon Prime Day Firearms Gear Deals Worth Checking Out

By
Gun Digest Editors
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Here are 10 pieces of gun gear you can save big with during Amazon Prime Day.

What's The Amazon Prime Day Gun Gear:

Amazon isn’t exactly the first place you think about gearing up for your next trip to the range or out hunting. Furthermore, outwardly the eCommerce giant isn’t even all that firearms friendly. Hunt around the shadows of the retailer and it’s a different story. As long as it’s not gun proper or ammunition there’s plenty of gear to get you shooting straight. And there’s no better time to pick out a choice piece of kit than now.

It’s Amazon Prime Day until midnight Oct. 14, giving Prime members the opportunity at excellent deals from the retailer. This includes a good deal of gun accessories, gunsmithing tools and other firearms-related gear. We combed through the site to see what we could see and came up with 10 firearms Prime Day deals worth taking a gander at.

Also, you might consider checking out the Amazon Smiles program, which allows you to donate to your favorite charity through a purchase. Word is Gun Owners of America and other gun rights groups are part of the program, allowing you to give a boost to the 2A community while you shop.

Wheeler Engineering Professional Reticle Leveling System

Scope Level

A precision tool ensuring your scope is perfectly leveled, thus accurate to the utmost. Quality CNC machined to tight specs, the system is comprised of two aluminum level housings calibrated to their integrated levels—barrel clamp and reference. Takes all the guesswork out of mounting a scope.

KZYEE Wireless Borescope

Bore Scope

No more wondering how your bore is holding up once you invest in a borescope. KZYEE’s version is especially handy, linking up to a smart device via WiFi to give you a clear view of the interior of your barrel. Features adjustable resolutions of 1920×1080, 1280×720, 640×480, 2 MP camera, semi-rigid snake and 6 dimmable LED lights.

Tipton Compact Range Vise

Gun Vise

The perfect addition to a range bag or to save space in your gun maintenance area. Collapsing to 11-1/4-inch, the Tipton vise is sized right to go on the road or store in a small cabinet. But expand it and you have a full 17-3/4-inch workspace that keeps your firearms secure while you clean or tinker with them. Constructed of durable nylon, the vise is solvent-resistant and made to deliver for years.

Expand Your Gear IQ:

CVLIFE Carbon Fiber Rifle Bipod

BiPod

Providing all the support at a fraction of the weight, the CVLIFE Carbon Fiber bipod is an excellent addition to any precision rifle. Attaching via the ubiquitous M-LOK system, the bipod is compatible with a majority of modern rifles. Provides 6 to 9 inches of rise without throwing a rifle out of balance for an off-hand shot.

YFEEX AR-15 Gun Cleaning Mat Pad

Gun Mat

The exploded drawing of an AR-15 is a nice touch, perhaps even handy. But the entire gun mat system is what takes the cake. Not only do you get a handy 36.2×12.2-inch solvent-resistant surface to clean your guns, but you also get a magnetic parts tray and cleaning cloth in the deal. Not bad.

OLIGHT Odin 2000 Lumens Rechargeable Picatinny Rail Mounted Tactical Flashlight

Weapons LIght

Your carbine needs light. OLIGHT’S Odin is an excellent option to get the job done. Compatible with Picatinny mounts, the torch produces 2,000 lumens of light, capable of reaching 300 meters. Powers on and off through both a tail cap switch and a remote pressure switch. Best of all, the unit is rechargeable.

Plano 1312 X2 Range Bag

Range Bag

You need something to get your guns and gear to the range. Plano has you covered. A large outer pocket is perfect for guns, shooting accessories, tools or personal items. Three external magazine pouches keep ammo at hand. Integral gun mat gives you space to work on your pistol. And large internal well holds a 1312 ammo can.

LOCKDOWN Dehumidifier Rod

Gun Safe Dehumid

Next to thieves, humidity is your guns’ worst enemy. LOCKDOWN keeps them protected with its Dehumidifier Rods—a must for any gun safe. Slightly increasing and maintaining the air temperature inside the gun safe, the device allows warm air to circulate throughout the safe continually, thus eliminating humidity, mildew, and condensation.

awesafe Quick Access Handgun Gun Safe

Gun Safe

Keeping your handgun under lock and key, but within reach, awesafe’s quick-access model is perfect for a home-defense gun. Featuring both biometric and push-code entry, you can unlock the safe one-handed. Once unlocked, a gas strut opens the lid and a soft blue light illuminates the interior. Made of solid steel sheets and pry-resistant.

Feyachi Gun Bore Snake

Bore Snake

In short, this is handy as all get out. Even if you prefer a cleaning rod to get the job done, a bore snake is a convenient and portable alternative when you're at the range or in the field. Made of durable nylon with a brass bore brush embedded in the cord, a swipe or two will get your rifle or pistol clean as a whistle.

Heavy Metal: Sig Custom Works’ P320 AXG Scorpion

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

Sig P320 AXG Scorpion 3

Marking a new direction for the pistol, the P320 AXG Scorpion is the first commercially available metal-framed pistol in the series.

Important Points Of The P320 AXG Scorpion:

  • Boasts 31.3-ounce aluminum-alloy grip module.
  • Hogue G10 Piranha grip panels and rear insert come standard.
  • Outfitted with X-Series flat skeleton trigger.
  • Comes with XRay3 Day/Night sights with U-notch rear.
  • Features X-Series Optic ready slide, compatible with SIG Romeo 1PRO, Leupold Delta Point Pro, or Trijicon RMR red dots.

Running like a prairie fire, Sig Sauer has burned through the handgun market in recent years. Not that the gunmaker hasn’t always been a major player, it’s minted some out-and-out classics in its decades of turning out pistols. But since the release of the P360, it’s adoption by the U.S. Military, and following up with the P365, the company has been white-hot. Looking to continue this streak, Sig recently released an enhanced version of its popular modular polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol it’s dubbed P320 AXG Scorpion.

Not attempting to reinvent the wheel, the pistol retains all the P320’s popular features that won the handgun legions of fans in the first place. Chief among these, a modular chassis system. For those not familiar with this bit of gun tech, the fire control mechanism is the serialized part, meaning it is considered the gun. Thus, shooters can remove it and jump from frame to frame to match their pistol’s size and configuration to meet their particular needs at the moment. Pretty clever.

Sig builds off this ingenious piece of engineering in the P320 AXG Scorpion with a number of structural and ergonomic improvements for arguably a more rugged and intuitive iron. Most distinctive, the AXG Scorpion’s Alloy XSERIES Grip module.

“The P320 AXG Scorpion is an exciting product introduction because it’s our very first commercially available metal P320, and the first pistol release from SIG Custom Works,” said Tom Taylor, Sig’s Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales. “The P320 AXG Scorpion combines the weight and balance of a metal-framed pistol with the performance and reliability of the P320, delivering a uniquely refined shooting experience unlike anything else. This SIG Custom Works exclusive delivers performance you can feel.”

Sig P320 AXG Scorpion 1

With the same dimensions as the P320 Compact, the 3.9-inch barreled AXG Scorpion has an additional 5-ounces of heft. At 31.3 ounces, the 9mm is still very much an EDC candidate, one that should prove a mild-mannered shooter, producing less felt recoil and muzzle flip. Competent shooters should be capable of running the pistol fast, thanks to its weight, without worry of accuracy degeneration.

Sig outfits the P320 AXG Scorpion with the upgrades to let it run. These include the very positive Hogue G10 Piranha grip panels and rear insert, X-Series flat skeleton trigger and XRay3 Day/Night sights with U-notch rear. Additionally, the pistol features an X-Series Optic ready slide, compatible with SIG Romeo 1PRO, Leupold Delta Point Pro, or Trijicon RMR red dots.

The pistol is finished in a flat dark earth Cerakote and ships with three 17-round magazines, Sig Custom Works Case, challenge coin and certificate of authenticity. As to price, the P320 AXG Scorpion has an MSPR of $1,129.99, so expect it around $1,000 when it hits your local gun store’s shelves.

Sig P320 AXG Scorpion Specs
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 17+1
Sights: X-RAY3 Day/Night
Overall Length: 7.4 inches
Overall Width: 1.3 inches
Height: 5.5 inches
Barrel Length: 3.9 inches
Weight: 31.3 ounces
Sight Radius: 5.8 inches
Accessory Rail: M1913
Trigger: Striker
Trigger Type: Skeletonized Flat Trigger
Grip Module: Carry AXG
Finish: Cerakote FDE
Barrel Material: Carbon Steel
Frame Materal: Aluminum Alloy
MSRP: $1,129.99

For more information on the P320 AXG Scorpion, please visit www.sigsauer.com.

Raise Your Sig Sauer IQ:

Fading Away? The .45 ACP Isn’t Going Anywhere

By
Josh Wayner
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5
The Black Hills 230-grain JHP+P provides dramatic and devastating expansion. In addition, it’s a very tough bullet with great weight retention. This bullet expands reliably, even out of short barrels on carry guns.
The Black Hills 230-grain JHP+P provides dramatic and devastating expansion. In addition, it’s a very tough bullet with great weight retention. This bullet expands reliably, even out of short barrels on carry guns.

Don't believe the hype over the .45 ACP as some dusty relic of a bygone era. The cartridge is better than ever and is here for the long haul.

A Few Reasons Why The .45 ACP Still Rules The Roost:

  • Tested in countless wars, Americans have an inherent trust in the cartridge.
  • While leveled somewhat by modern bullets, the .45 still punches a larger hole in a target.
  • Inherently a subsonic cartridge, it funtions well out of nearly every barrel length.

Americans did not develop the first handguns in the world. However, it can be said that we were truly the first country to create a culture surrounding the handgun. The story of this is also the tale of what is arguably the quintessential American handgun cartridge: The .45 ACP has survived into our modern era, and today, it’s better than ever. However, its relevance is hotly debated.

To really understand why the .45 ACP has lasted as long as it has, all you have to do is look at the tumultuous era of design that existed in the second half of the 20th century. From the time it was introduced prior to World War I until it was (mostly) replaced in the 1980s, there really wasn’t anything better out there.

Establishing Trust

There’s a reason Americans trust the .45 bore. Every time the country goes into battle with some smaller or lighter ammo type, disaster often follows. This was true when the .38-caliber was issued to replace the .45 Colt, and it was again true when the 9mm was adopted to replace the .45 ACP.

Sig Sauer’s Emperor Scorpion 1911 is one of the better production guns you can buy today. This pistol is rugged, reliable and very accurate.
Sig Sauer’s Emperor Scorpion 1911 is one of the better production guns you can buy today. This pistol is rugged, reliable and very accurate.

Because of the terrible combat in the Philippines during the Moro Rebellion (1902–1913), the military wanted a modern gun equal in power to the .45 Colt. It could be said that the American experience in the Philippines soured our view of .38-caliber weapons—including 9mm. A new round was needed, and the choice was the long-standing American favorite, .45-caliber. History happens fast, and by 1904, a design was ready.

Many detractors of the .45 ACP see it as an antiquated round designed around a poor understanding of ballistics in botched tests. While it’s true that the round was developed, at least in part, by shooting corpses and animals, the results can’t be argued with. The engineers responsible for the .45 ACP—including one John Moses Browning—used the best methods of data collection available at the time and delivered a 230-grain bullet at 850 fps. This became the baseline standard for multiple generations of gunfighters and the round to beat for the next 100 years.

The trust forged between Americans and the .45 ACP made it the sidearm cartridge-of-choice in virtually every conflict to date. This further reinforced the relationship the cartridge had with the shooting public. Even today, many other cartridges designed to replace or improve upon the .45 ACP have fallen short.

There are many other options in .45 ACP than just ball loads.
There are many other options in .45 ACP than just ball loads.

Americans truly trust the .45 ACP and the 1911 platform, even if ballistics science says there are better options. A 1911 in .45 ACP is culture. Cartridges such as the .40 S&W and 10mm Auto were supposed to do away with .45 ACP. They didn’t.

Even groundbreaking cartridges such as the 6.5 Creedmoor have struggled with maintaining relevance. The greatest merit that the 6.5 CM had was that it offered an improvement over .308 Winchester in an identically sized rifle. There are already rounds that exceed the 6.5 CM in many arenas: 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC and others like them.

The same thing happened to 10mm Auto: It’s a popular niche round today, but it’s nowhere near the level of .45 ACP in terms of mass acceptance. The trust just isn’t there for most firearms consumers and, in most cases, it’s seen as a “boutique” solution to a non-existent problem.

Raise Your .45 ACP IQ:

Ballistics of the Modern .45 ACP

When we look at how bullets have improved, even in the past 10 years, there’s a significant and valid trend going toward the 9mm in carry guns, law enforcement and military use. As far as technology is concerned, it’s improved substantially. Recent studies by the FBI and others have confirmed that when using modern jacketed, hollow-point, high-performance ammunition, there’s very little difference between major law enforcement calibers such as 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. The studies essentially confirmed that 9mm can accomplish the same thing as the other two when using modern ammunition.

In terms of popularity, the 9mm is the foremost competitor of the .45 ACP. The Seismic 185-grain cartridge (left) offers the highest bullet weight for 9mm, as well as high sectional density. The Hornady 135-grain Critical Duty +P is a state-of-the-art 9mm load that’s an example of why the 9mm is so good today.
In terms of popularity, the 9mm is the foremost competitor of the .45 ACP. The Seismic 185-grain cartridge (left) offers the highest bullet weight for 9mm, as well as high sectional density. The Hornady 135-grain Critical Duty +P is a state-of-the-art 9mm load that’s an example of why the 9mm is so good today.

However, there’s a pretty big difference when looking at FMJ ammo and military bullets. The .45 ACP offers a tremendous advantage in this respect, and we haven’t really had a need to go the same distance in technology with the .45 ACP.

Another area to address is velocity. The .45 ACP is an inherently subsonic cartridge that’s designed for optimum performance at those lower speeds. It’s difficult to find a .45 ACP cartridge that doesn’t function well. There isn’t a large degree of difference in performance from barrels between 3 and 6 inches, considering that there isn’t a large disparity in velocity between those barrel lengths. Jacketed hollow-points and other expanding ammunition will typically work just as well in a compact .45 or a full-sized pistol. Many types of 9mm ammunition aren’t geared toward low velocity. Sometimes, there are significant performance gaps between compact carry guns and full-sized duty guns.

There are certainly ammunition types that have come about recently that offer a tremendous upgrade to this classic. Among these is the advent of non-expanding fluted projectiles such as Black Hills Ammunition’s HoneyBadger line.

The Black Hills 125-grain Subsonic HoneyBadger in 9mm has flutes cut to increase effectiveness at low speed. The old-school 23-grain FMJ is ready to go at subsonic velocities—just as it was over a century ago.
The Black Hills 125-grain Subsonic HoneyBadger in 9mm has flutes cut to increase effectiveness at low speed. The old-school 23-grain FMJ is ready to go at subsonic velocities—just as it was over a century ago.

This ammunition takes the .45 ACP to a different level of performance through penetration and tissue displacement. While smaller calibers benefit the most from this type of bullet, what it offers for rounds such as the .45 ACP is nothing short of stunning. The bullets behave almost like an FMJ but are able to penetrate a diverse range of materials with no risk of clogging, as will a hollow-point. Damage is then done not through expansion, but by means of the rotation of the bullet, itself, causing tissue displacement. The ammunition is also significantly more accurate than many cup-and-core-style bullets or hollow-points.

Another incredible, yet extremely rustic, ammunition offered for the .45 ACP comes in the form of hardcast lead from Buffalo Bore, which is known for producing some of the most powerful ammunition on the market. The 255-grain hardcast load is quite powerful and can throw a bullet at 1,000 fps from a 5-inch barrel. Penetration in gel is dramatic, with bullets commonly passing completely through 36 inches of bare gelatin. This particular load is as powerful as the original black powder .45 Colt loads for the 7½-inch Single Action Army … which is saying something!

Long Live the 1911

It’s impossible to have a discussion about the .45 ACP without looking at the 1911 pistol. The two are forever linked. There have, of course, been other calibers of 1911 made, although none ever achieved the popularity in the 1911 platform as the .45 ACP has.

The Hornady 220-grain Critical Duty features a tough bullet that’s excellent at weight retention and barrier penetration. It’s one of the more powerful loads out there for your .45 ACP pistol.
The Hornady 220-grain Critical Duty features a tough bullet that’s excellent at weight retention and barrier penetration. It’s one of the more powerful loads out there for your .45 ACP pistol.

The 1911 is an old, outdated and overcomplicated “dinosaur” that can be fickle as far as ammo goes. It needs tuning, hand-fitting of parts as benign as safeties and sights, and it can be picky with magazines. The descriptor, “drop-in,” has a completely different meaning with the 1911 than it does with Glock pistols and AR rifles. The idea that you’d have to file something is foreign to many modern gun builders. To work on a 1911 is to have deep knowledge of everything from staking sights to hand-filing slide rails. You also need the right tools.

Despite all that, it’s still the single greatest handgun ever designed. It has its flaws, but there’s a big difference between a well-built 1911 and everything else out there. You feel a sense of confidence when you put your hand on one: The 1911 and the .45 ACP get the job done.

Today’s 1911 pistols are typically quite good from the factory. Most are ready to run, right out of the box, and they don’t need much tuning. Unlike many modern guns, 1911s are, by nature, tight fitting and sometimes require a few hundred rounds to get them going.

As more companies began to produce 1911 pistols, the quality of the models went up and became more accessible to more people.
As more companies began to produce 1911 pistols, the quality of the models went up and became more accessible to more people.

There are a couple schools of thought on this, the first being that a gun that needs break-in is a well-built gun. The other is that the company making it didn’t want to spend the extra time ensuring it was reliable when it shipped. Both have their merits, but it’s a challenge to find a poorly built 1911 behind the counter these days.

The .45 ACP is an American staple. So is the 1911. And they aren’t going anywhere.

45 1911 Range Test

.40-Caliber Cartridges: Marvelously In The Middle Big Bores

By
Philip Massaro
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40 Caliber Cartridges 7

For the lovers of truly big bores, .40-caliber cartridges can provide the perfect balance.

What Are The .40-Caliber Rifle Cartridges:

.405 Winchester
.450-400 3-Inch Nitro Express
.400 H&H Magnum
.416 Rigby
.416 Remington Magnum
.416 Weatherby Magnum
.416 Ruger
.416 Taylor
.500-416 Nitro Express
.404 Jeffery
.425 Westley Richards

Hunting dangerous game requires a cartridge of substantial size, one powerful enough to handle those species that have the potential to turn the tables. There are those who find the lighter cartridges—the 9.3mms and .375s—to be the pinnacle of versatility, because they offer trajectories similar to some of the popular deer cartridges, such as the .308 and .30-06, yet carry enough horsepower to handle even the largest game.

And then there are those who feel that anything smaller than the .500 Jeffery or .500 Nitro Express is a waste of time, because no smaller cartridge could possibly stop a charge. I feel that somewhere in the middle lies the best balance of trajectory, striking power and ease of shooting—those lower .40-caliber cartridges.

Yes, the .various .450s , .470s, .475 and their clones work great. After all, the .450 Nitro Express set the benchmark for dangerous-game cartridges—but their trajectories give up a considerable amount to those lower .40s. And, in comparison to the .375s and 9.3mms, the bullet weight (along with correlative energy) of these lower .40s makes a definite difference when it comes to penetration.

Am I suggesting that cartridges such as the revered .375 H&H Magnum aren’t sufficient for dangerous-game hunting? No sane gun writer would ever put those words in print, and I’m a longtime proponent of the .375. But even with the 350-grain Woodleigh Weldcores, the .375 H&H doesn’t quite hit as hard as the .40s do.

Here’s the crop of the lower .40-caliber cartridges, including their strengths and weaknesses.

.405 Winchester

Starting with the least potent of the lot, the .405 Winchester is a straight-walled cartridge released in the Model 1895 Winchester lever-action rifle. It was a particular favorite of Theodore Roosevelt, who dubbed it his “medicine gun” for lions.

Theodore Roosevelt’s “medicine gun”—the .405 Winchester.
Theodore Roosevelt’s “medicine gun”—the .405 Winchester.

Launching a 300-grain, .411-inch-diameter bullet at 2,200 fps for slightly more than 3,200 ft-lb of muzzle energy, the .405 Winchester is definitely light, especially in comparison to the .375 H&H with heavy bullets. Roosevelt used this .40-caliber on lions and other game on his 1909–1910 safari and obviously lived to tell the tale, but I’m of the opinion that there are much better choices.

.450-400 3-Inch Nitro Express

Three variations of the .450-400 theme: the 2 3/8-inch; the 3-inch NE; and the 3¼-inch NE.
Three variations of the .450-400 theme: the 2 3/8-inch; the 3-inch NE; and the 3¼-inch NE.

The .450-400 (the British naming system uses the parent cartridge first) has gone through several iterations, at various lengths (2 3/8 inch, 3 inch and 3¼ inch) and has been fueled by black powder and smokeless alike. The 3-inch variant has been the most popular with many new double rifles, as well as the Ruger No. 1 single-shot, with ammunition produced by Hornady.

Using a .410-inch bullet, the classic .450-400 3-inch load consisted of a 400-grain bullet at 2,050 fps for 3,732 ft-lb of energy. While its paper ballistics indicate that the .375 H&H 300-grain load has more energy (4,263 ft-lb. vs. 3,732 ft-lb), the heavier bullet weight of the .450-400 gives it an advantage in the field.

The old .40-caliber cartridge (released in 1902) was used by Jim Corbett for tiger and leopards in India, as did John “Pondoro” Taylor in Africa. I used this excellent cartridge for a handsome Cape buffalo in Mozambique. It remains a great choice for a light-recoiling double-rifle cartridge capable of handling all game, including elephant. The .450-400 3-inch is also known as the .400 Jeffery.

.400 H&H Magnum

An obscure offering from Holland & Holland, this .40-caliber is usually revered by its users. Based on the belted .375 H&H case, using an 8-degree shoulder and the .411-inch-diameter bullets of the .450-400, the .400 H&H hasn’t really caught on. Yet, pushing a 400-grain bullet to 2,375 fps is a recipe that’ll most certainly have great success in the field. While I think the ship has sailed, there’s nothing wrong with using a .400 H&H for all dangerous-game hunting.

.416 Rigby

With its voluminous case and a 45-degree shoulder, the .416 Rigby is an absolute classic in .40-caliber.
With its voluminous case and a 45-degree shoulder, the .416 Rigby is an absolute classic.

An undeniable classic, the .416 Rigby was released in 1911. Although fewer than 200 rifles were made up until World War II, the writings of Robert Ruark and John Taylor immortalized the cartridge. Simply put: The 410-grain bullet of nominal diameter at 2,370 fps (modern loads use a 400-grain bullet at 2,350 or 2,400 fps) offered more than 5,000 ft-lb of muzzle energy—and virtually unequaled penetration—due to the high sectional density.

Kenyan professional hunter Harry Selby procured a Rigby rifle in .416 Rigby when his .470 double was accidentally run over, and Robert Ruark’s Horn of the Hunter made both the man and cartridge famous. The .416 Rigby is a huge rimless case with a 45-degree shoulder. The case volume is a direct result of the volatility of cordite in the African and Indian heat in order to keep pressures low.

Its recoil, while higher than that of the .375 H&H, is manageable in a well-fitting rifle. And although the volume of the .40-caliber's case is more than is probably needed with our modern powders, the pressures are low—and that isn’t a bad thing. The .416 Rigby is a flat-shooter, yet it hits like a freight train. To fit properly, a magnum-length receiver should be employed.

Rigby has recently announced the release of the .416 Rigby No. 2, a rimmed version of the classic .416 Rigby that’s built for double-rifles. It shares the same geometry (except for the rim), and its ballistics are nearly identical.

.416 Remington Magnum

The 1980s saw a revival of the .416-inch-bore diameter: Federal brought back the .416 Rigby, and Remington introduced its .416 Remington Magnum, which is officially based on its 8mm Remington Magnum case (but the .40-caliber more than resembles the wildcat .416 Hoffman). Using the belted .375 H&H case as a platform, the .416 Remington Mag duplicates the ballistics of the .416 Rigby, but in a smaller diameter case and at a higher pressure.

The .416 Remington Magnum duplicates the performance of the .416 Rigby—albeit at a higher pressure ... but in a smaller case.
The .416 Remington Magnum duplicates the performance of the .416 Rigby—albeit at a higher pressure … but in a smaller case.

The cartridge received some negative press early on, but in a high-quality, controlled-round-feed action, this cartridge is nothing shy of amazing. With the exception of those who’ve handloaded the Rigby case to the red zone, the Remington variant will match the performance of the older cartridge. Yes, its belt is unnecessary; and yes, the pressure is higher than some shooters like, but in the field, I doubt any animal could ever tell the difference between a Rigby and Remington. It shares the same case length as the .375 H&H and fits perfectly in a magnum-length action.

Living Large With Big-Bore Rifles:

.416 Weatherby Magnum

It was 1989 when Weatherby adapted its big, double-radius case to the .416-inch bore, with the signature increase in velocity in tow. Weatherby’s .416 will push a 400-grain bullet to 2,700 fps, with a correlative recoil level. Of the .416s, I’d say the Weatherby is the least popular, although as with many of its other cartridges, its fans are fervent. With premium bullets, the .416 Weatherby will certainly handle any game that walks the Earth.

.416 Ruger

In 2008, the joint effort between Hornady and Ruger was expanded to include the .416 Ruger—a beltless case designed to fit in a long-action receiver, matching the velocity of the Rigby and Remington cases. Chambered in the Ruger Hawkeye African rifle, the .416 Ruger is affordable, effective and, for reasons I can’t quite explain, remains an unpopular choice.

Affordable and effective, the .416 Ruger will cleanly take any and all game animals. Definitely a dandy .40-caliber.
Affordable and effective, the .416 Ruger will cleanly take any and all game animals.

The design is certainly sound: In both factory ammunition and handloaded stuff, I’ve seen nothing but good results from the .416 Ruger. Even so, perhaps it’s the fact that only Hornady provides ammunition; or perhaps the .40-caliber lacks the “look” of power. Nevertheless, rest assured that the .416 Ruger brings the goods.

.416 Taylor

A wildcat based on the .458 Winchester Magnum and necked down to hold .416-inch bullets, the .416 Taylor is a solid design. DoubleTap has offered factory ammo for it in the past, but it remains a handloaded proposition. However, the .416 Taylor (developed in the 1970s by Bob Chatfield-Taylor) will come close to the Rigby benchmark, driving a 400-grain bullet to 2,350 fps. Donor brass is readily available; and, with a good set of dies, you end up with a belted case that fits perfectly in a long-action receiver.

.500-416 Nitro Express

The .500-416 NE is a rimmed cartridge perfectly suited to double-rifles.
The .500-416 NE is a rimmed cartridge perfectly suited to double-rifles.

This modern rimmed case from Krieghoff uses a 3¼-inch case to push a 400-grain, .416-inch bullet to 2,300 fps and makes a solid choice for a hunter who wants a double-rifle in .40-caliber. Compared to the venerable .450-400 3-inch NE, it has a definite advantage in terminal ballistics and an increase in recoil. Popular in the Krieghoff doubles, the .500-416’s popularity has waned as of late; and, with the introduction of the .416 Rigby No. 2, I expect that trend to continue.

.404 Jeffery

.40-caliber comparison: The slender shoulder of the .404 Jeffery allows for a very smooth -feeding rifle. Loaded with premium 400- or 450-grain bullets, the Jeffery can nearly equal the ballistics of the .416 Rigby and Remington.
The slender shoulder of the .404 Jeffery allows for a very smooth -feeding rifle. Loaded with premium 400- or 450-grain bullets, the Jeffery can nearly equal the ballistics of the .416 Rigby and Remington.

This has become my personal favorite of the lot. According to the best evidence available, it was released in 1905, and although the .416 got the glory, the .404 did the work. The .404 Jeffery uses a 400-grain bullet of .423-inch diameter, with the original load leaving the muzzle at 2,150 fps and modern loads ramping up that figure to 2,350 fps. This puts it in the same league as the .416 Rigby, Remington and Ruger.

Modern bullets have made this .40-caliber even better. If I were forced to pick a single cartridge-and-bullet combination for all my dangerous-game work, it’d be my .404 Jeffery, loaded with 400-grain Woodleigh Hydrostatically Stabilized Solids to 2,280 fps. This combination has accounted for elephant, buffalo and all sorts of plains game animals at ranges from 16 to 225 yards.

.425 Westley Richards

The .425 Westley Richards came onto the scene in 1909, using a .435-inch-diameter, 410-grain bullet at 2,350 fps for slightly more than 5,000 ft-lb of muzzle energy. The design used a severely rebated rim in order to use the standard .473-inch bolt face of the 98 Mauser, as well as the stripper clips to facilitate fast reloading.

The issue posed by the rebated rim was the tendency for the bolt face to ride over the rim and onto the case body, causing a feeding malfunction. While it’s a unique cartridge, the .425 isn’t incredibly popular, and Kynoch is the only ammunition provider … when this ammo is available.

Compare and Contrast

Looking at the performance level among the .375s, lower .40s and the .45s, using 300-, 400- and 500-grain bullets, respectively, you’ll see the trajectories of the .40-calibers staying very close to that of the .375s, where the .45s drop off quite a bit more.

Yes, the .45s have more weight and a greater frontal diameter, but the energy figures between the lower .40s and the .45s aren’t radically different: They both have roughly 1,000 more ft-lb at the muzzle than do the .375s. And, I’ve found there’s a definite ramp-up in recoil when you go to the 500-grain, .45-caliber cartridges, which run at 2,150 fps and upward.

The beauty of the .375s is found in the wide selection of bullet weights (235 to 350 grains). However, the .40s aren’t exactly married to the 400-grain bullet—although it’s the most popular. There are bullets for these cartridges ranging from 300 to 450 grains.

Sectional Density

The classic cartridges—those that made their reputations before World War II during the “golden age of the safari”—all used a bullet with a sectional density greater than 0.300. While our modern bullet construction has lessened that requirement, the premium bullets of traditional weight extend the performance of these cartridges.

The 400-grain bullet for the .450-400 3-inch—the smallest diameter of the lot—has a sectional density of .340. The 410-grain .425 Westley Richards bullet—the largest—has an SD of .310. All have the desired length for a proper dangerous-game cartridge.

Choosing Yours

The choice of one of these .40-caliber cartridges is as subjective as choosing a deer cartridge. Of the cartridges listed, each has their merits. The .416 Rigby and .416 Remington are the most popular, followed by the .404 Jeffery. In spite of its lower velocity, the .450-400 3-inch remains the most popular of the rimmed cartridges—although I predict the .416 Rigby No. 2 will gain ground over the next decade.

If it’s affordability and availability that concerns you, the .416 Remington might be the best value. However, I’ve become enamored of the .404 Jeffery. But with the exception of that .405 Winchester, any of these cartridges will make you a happy hunter.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

On The Hunt With Sierra Prairie Enemy

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

If Prairie Enemy varmint ammo is any indication of what's to come, shooters are very lucky Sierra Bullets has entered the ammunition manufacturing game.

Bang! The next sound, “You got him! Nice shot.” My spotter was elated. So was I.

Sending a white-tailed prairie dog to varmint Valhalla from 495 yards isn’t the end-all-be-all, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t satisfying. Following up a minute later on his buddy, misfortunate enough to poke his head up … well, tickle me pink.

The shots were a grand finale to a two-day varmint hunt this summer in southern Wyoming, sponsored by Sierra Bullets. More than an exercise in pest control, the legendary bullet-smiths set a horde of gun writers free on the sage-addled expanses of the Spur Ranch to showcase the newest addition to its catalog—Prairie Enemy. And what a place to put varmint medicine to the test.

The author barely pulled the rifle off his shoulder in Wyoming with nearly unlimited targets of opportunity and plenty of Prairie Enemy ammunition at hand.
The author barely pulled the rifle off his shoulder in Wyoming with nearly unlimited targets of opportunity and plenty of Prairie Enemy ammunition at hand.

Nestled between the snowcapped Snowy and Sierra Madre mountain ranges, the limitless draws and endless flats of Carbon County provide targets to the horizon. Throw in the ever-present Wyoming variable—wind—and, well sir, you’ve got everything to assay not only a shooter’s mettle but his tools.

One Big Year

Before we get to the finer points of Prairie Enemy’s in-field performance, we should clear the air about something. Yes, the ammo came from the same Sierra Bullets handloaders know and love. The home of the Sierra MatchKing and a slew of other high-performance projectiles. Like countless other reloaders, the company’s little green boxes have become synonymous with accuracy for me. Though, Sierra’s expansion into full-fledged ammunition manufacturer flew somewhat under my radar.

For the record, it occurred in 2019 with the introduction of Gamechanger hunting ammunition, a premium option topped with Sierra Tipped GameKing bullets. Prairie Enemy—pitching Sierra BlitzKing bullets—followed this year. In all, the company now produces 17 loads covering 13 calibers ranging from .204 Ruger to .300 Winchester Magnum. For the ambitious hunter, there are options for about any game in North American … the better part of the globe for that matter.

If I think hard enough, I can vaguely recollect Prairie Enemy ballyhooed at SHOT Show 2020. (Apparently, I had a picture of the line’s display on my phone.) Forgive the cloudiness, it’s been a big year for Sierra. At the convention the news was the company’s partnership with polymer-composite-case ammunition pioneer True Velocity on their impending consumer line.

A truly cutting-edge partnership with True Velocity, Sierra looks to redefine ammunition in the future.
A truly cutting-edge partnership with True Velocity, Sierra looks to redefine ammunition in the future.

Not to overhype this union, but it has the potential of being a big deal. Scoff if you must at the thought of plastic ammo, but there’s a good chance what True Velocity releases in 2020 is the future.

On-Target Ammunition Information:

Lighter, more customizable, highly accurate, potentially cheaper—the cutting-edge ammo could up shooters’ performance expectation as much as, say, polymer tipped bullets. Sierra is right there with True Velocity, topping the high-tech cartridges with MatchKing and Tipped MatchKing bullets.

Incidentally, here’s how the True Velocity will roll out: The initial offerings will include a 168-grain MatchKing and 175-grain Tipped MatchKing .308 Winchester round. The planned follow-up includes 142-grain MatchKing 6.5 Creedmoor and 300-grain MatchKing .338 Norma loads.

The Time Is Right

As to Sierra’s ammunition, it’s an about-time move for a company that up to this point seemed wed to pure bullet manufacturing.

Topped with Tipped GameKing bullets, Gamechanger arms hunters with match precision in the field.
Topped with Tipped GameKing bullets, Gamechanger arms hunters with match precision in the field.

Some stars had to align to make it happen according to Duane Siercks, Sierra’s Ballistic Technician Lead. Acquiring Sierra in 2017, the Utah-based Clarus Corporation holding company has proven much more receptive to evolving the brand to keep them proverbial kings of the hill. One of those steps is factory-loaded ammunition.

Smart move, given pure bullet companies, outside the boutique variety, are becoming rare. Factory-loaded ammunition is where it’s at and the market—even in good times—has an insatiable appetite for it. Especially top-shelf stuff.

Not that Sierra is going it alone … yet. According to Siercks, the company still sources its cases, primers and powders from outside vendors. As is common in the ammo industry, he wouldn’t tip his hand whose assembly line each rolls off. Suffice to say, it’s all top quality. Sierra has a sterling reputation for precision to maintain, after all.

Precision … that raises an obvious question for non-hunters in the audience—So what about match ammunition? Who wouldn’t want MatchKing performance with the convenience of factory ammo loaded to Sierra’s meticulous standards? Precision shooters can officially begin holding their breath, Siercks said it’s in the works. He didn’t have an ETA, but optimistically quipped, “The sooner the better.”

The Tools

Tackling the high-desert varmints Sierra gave us four different loads of Prairie Enemy to work with: 36-grain .204 Ruger, 50-grain .22-250 Remington, 69-grain .223 Remington and 105-grain 6.5 Creedmoor. Though we had none in stock, the company also offers a 55-grain .223, 69-grain .224 Valkyrie and 70-grain .243 Winchester loads. Even before chambering any, it was easy to see Prairie Enemy was top-notch—nickel-plated brass cases, sealed primers and, of course, Sierra BltizKing bullets.

Without even chambering a round, it’s easy to see Prairie Enemy is top shelf, with nickel-plated brass cases, sealed primers and, of course, BlitzKing Bullets.
Without even chambering a round, it’s easy to see Prairie Enemy is top shelf, with nickel-plated brass cases, sealed primers and, of course, BlitzKing Bullets.

Modeled after the renowned MatchKing bullets, although with a polymer tip and much thinner jacket, the projectiles have exceptional ballistic coefficients for their class and explosive terminal performance. And they can be hot-rodded like no other.

A constant concern among varmint hunters is whether their bullets will hold up to the velocities they’ll push them. Breaking up in flight is a real possibility with thin-jacket projectiles. Not BlitzKing.
Utilizing a proprietary gliding alloy (95-percent copper, 5-percent zinc), the bullets are renowned for in-flight integrity. For instance, .20 and .22 caliber BlitzKings remain intact at muzzle velocities up to 4,400 fps. Which is to say, well beyond anything coming out of a factory or off a reloading bench.

Paired with Prairie Enemy, a selection of Ruger rifles from the gunmaker’s American, Hawkeye and Precision Rifles lines. Up top, Burris glass of every shape and magnification. The rifles were an especially nice mix, to my mind, with a variety of barrel lengths from 16 to 24 inches. To the elements, ranges and quarry, Prairie Enemy’s rifle compatibility would also go under the microscope.

The Quarry

Growing up in Colorado I’m intimate with the prairie dog issue.

Targets to the horizon and stiff Wyoming winds weren’t enough to stifle Sierra’s varmint ammunition.
Targets to the horizon and stiff Wyoming winds weren’t enough to stifle Sierra’s varmint ammunition.

Unchecked, their town's balloon to absurd sizes threatening the viability of hay fields and endangering livestock. In Wyoming, some other writers came upon a young bull with a broken hindleg, not for certain, but presumably from a misstep in one of the rodents’ dwelling. To the chagrin of the rancher, this would be chalked up in the loss column, given the bull would have to be put down.

This fails to mention the bubonic plague of which the rodents (more exactly the fleas on them) are a vector. Animal to human transmission is rare but possible; Colorado recorded a case this year in the southwest corner of the state. Additionally, the disease is hell on the animals themselves. At times, the plague runs like grass fire through prairie dogs, hastened by overpopulation, decimating regional numbers.

Which is to say, there are good reasons why the state of Wyoming classifies them and equally prolific ground squirrels and other rodents as vermin, meaning a license is not required to hunt them. It is also why farmers and ranchers greet hunters with open arms and open gates.

That is if you can get the buggers in your crosshairs. If you do with Prairie Enemy, watch out! The stuff hits like Thor’s hammer.

Finally, a headstamp bearing Sierra’s name. Expect to see more in the future.
Finally, a headstamp bearing Sierra’s name. Expect to see more in the future.

For me, the most impressive results came with hot-rod 36-grain .204 and 50-grain .22-250 loads, both pitched from Ruger Hawkeye predator rifles. For factory ammunition, the flat-shooting cartridges were frighteningly on-target, making anything out to the maximum point-blank range a proverbial chip shot. And going long? Those final shots of my hunt came via the .22-250 in the face of 10 mph quartering headwind. That was enough to make me a believer in Prairie Enemy’s accuracy when wielded properly.

I did and saw a heap of good shooting on the hunt—close, mid and long-range. No matter the rifle-ammunition combination, Prairie Enemy did its job—which is saying plenty. All in all, I feel comfortable saying that with the appropriate twist rate-bullet weight combination it will prove accurate out of any iron it's chambered.

And when it gets to its destination … This being a family website, play-by-play of Prairie Enemy’s terminal performance perhaps isn’t warranted. Suffice to say, most shots 100-yards in with most calibers, you’d have more prairie dog to mourn if you strapped a stick of dynamite on its back.

Not to say there weren’t pass-throughs on smaller dogs with the heavier loads. The .223 and 6.5 CM didn’t produce as dramatic detonations, but nonetheless killed the communal gophers graveyard dead. At 105-grains, the Creedmoor was much too heavy for this particular hunt. Still, I’m sure it and the .223 are ideal for long shots on running dogs. We never spotted a coyote, so this remains a theory only.

Prairie Enemy 5

Parting Shot

By no means are the dusty flats of southern Wyoming a laboratory test of Sierra Prairie Enemy ammunition. In my humble opinion, they’re better.

Under real-life conditions on living, breathing game the bullet-smith’s venture into fully-loaded ammunition showed its pluck regardless of caliber or rifle. To me, that speaks volumes louder than quantifying temporary cavities in ballistic gelatin or caliper measuring cloverleaves in paper.

Boots on the ground, Prairie Enemy gets the job done. Personally, with days short and coyotes putting on their winter coats, I’m stocking up on .223 and .22-250.

As hunters, we're lucky Sierra has thrown its hat into the ammunition game.

For more information on Prairie Enemy, please visit sierrabullets.com.

Modern-Day .30-30: Smith & Wesson M&P15 In .300 Blackout

By
Patrick Sweeney
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1

A lightweight carbine, and one with soft recoil, the S&W M&P15 in .300 Blackout is a stellar tool.

What You Get With The M&P15 In .300 Blackout:

  • Bolt and carrier are mil-spec and are given a matte-black finish.
  • Medium-profile barrel is made of 4140 steel, and the barrel is given an Armornite finish.
  • Low-profile gas block has a section of Picatinny rail machined on top, also holds the front of the handguard.
  • Boasts mil-spec trigger parts, with a pull weight on the order of 5 pounds.
  • The carbine buffer tube has a mil-spec-shaped M4 carbine stock with six positions for length.
  • Stock and the gas block each have a sling swivel.
  • At 100 yards, capable of near MOA accuracy with the right load.

When I was learning guns and gunsmithing, Smith & Wesson was the handgun provider to law enforcement. Oh, it offered long guns from time to time, but not ones it actually made. The 21st century has brought us a lot of changes. S&W now makes revolvers, pistols and rifles. No shotguns, but this company would be crazy to try that … and S&W is not crazy.

Also, the .300 Blackout and its predecessor, the .300 Whisper, were once thought of as solely super-quiet, used-with-suppressors thumpers. Hurling 200-plus-grain bullets just under the speed of sound, they were essentially .45 ACP+P carbines that could be made the epitome of quiet.

Well, that also changed.

You can use anything from a five- to a 30-round magazine in your M&P15.
You can use anything from a five- to a 30-round magazine in your M&P15.

You see, the .300 BLK has just the right-sized case to get a 110- to 125-grain hunting-type bullet up to useful velocities. In fact, if you’re willing to go with a carbine or longer barrel, you can get those bullets up to pretty much equal the .30-30.

Handy Hunting Carbine

And S&W has the carbine for it, if not the rifle—the M&P15. Carbines are handier for hunting anyway. S&W starts with its excellent M&P receiver set—a pair of forgings that are machined to mil-spec dimensions. The flat-top receiver is ready for whatever optic or irons you select.

I see this as a good thing, because we all have different ideas as to what comprises the perfect setup for our own hunting situations. When gunsmithing, I had no end of customers who wanted a 3-9X scope on their .30-06 rifle for deer hunting. But where I hunted (and most of the state was the same, truth be told), 100 yards was a long shot, and 9X was more than I needed or wanted. So, “long” shots are most often at 100 yards, max, for most shooters and in most thick-cover situations.

However, S&W gives you the option of having more, if you want it. So, put the scope you want on top, using the rings you want, because S&W made that easy.

The gas block on the M&P15 is fixed and has a rail on top in case you want to mount back-up iron sights. Depending on how hard you are on optics, that might not be a bad idea.
The gas block on the M&P15 is fixed and has a rail on top in case you want to mount back-up iron sights. Depending on how hard you are on optics, that might not be a bad idea.

Inside, the the M&P15's bolt and carrier are mil-spec and are given a matte-black finish. They mate up with a medium-profile barrel that’s made of 4140 steel, and the barrel is given an Armornite finish. This is a surface-hardening and corrosion-resistance treatment that we’re now familiar with; it’s known as a “nitrocarburizing process.” The barrel has a twist of one turn in 7.5 inches—plenty fast enough to stabilize those heavyweights (should you wish to spend an afternoon of giggle-worthy plinking) while hurling 220- to 240-grain bullets downrange at leisurely velocities.

Get On Target With The AR:

Gas Block Details

The gas block isn’t a standard A1 triangle; rather, it’s a low-profile gas block with a section of Picatinny rail machined on top. This means that if you want iron sights on your S&W M&P15, you can do it. Just be sure to order a front sight that’s labeled as “gas block rail” height, not handguard height.

The gas block is also the part that holds the front handguard retaining ring in place. The M&P has standard carbine handguards—not a tacti-cool, free-float handguard. Some might see this as a step back. I don’t.

Free-float handguards are both an individual preference (in that regard, not unlike sights/optics) and more expensive than standard handguards. And, as with the optics, if you have a preference, and it matters that much to you, it’s easy enough to rebuild any AR-15 rifle or carbine.

M&P15: Trigger and More

The lower internals in the M&P15 are vanilla-plain, mil-spec trigger parts, which means it’s a single-stage trigger with a promise of something on the order of 5 pounds of pull weight. I know—we’re all accustomed to a clean, crisp, 3½-pound trigger, but that’s not always an option on an AR-15. And, when it is, it’s an expensive one. This one has a 4½-pound trigger with a short takeup and a relatively clean let-off. As mil-spec trigger parts sets go, this one’s pretty darned good.

The handguards are the standard, round, plastic ones. Even so, they also get the Mossy Oak treatment.
The handguards are the standard, round, plastic ones. Even so, they also get the Mossy Oak treatment.

If you’re still worried that the trigger isn’t “good enough,” fear not. I have, on regular occasions, dropped the small, computer-controlled popup targets on a National Guard range—the 300-meter ones—with a rack-grade trigger on an M4 and iron sights. If you have magnifying optics or a red-dot sight and a deer at 100 yards, a 5-pound trigger isn’t going to be a hindrance.

The pistol grip is a standard A2 with the finger hook on the front face. However, the M&P15's trigger guard is integral to the lower receiver. Even so, it does have a bit of extra room—more than enough for a gloved trigger finger. And, if you’re wearing gloves, the 5 pounds of trigger weight are now a good thing.

On the back end, the carbine buffer tube has a mil-spec-shaped M4 carbine stock with six positions for length of pull adjustment. And again, if you’re sighting-in on a nice summer day in shirtsleeves, you’ll find that the length of pull you’ll need while in a blind, all bundled up on a November morning, will differ from the length of pull you need on a pleasant summer’s day. So, you can easily make it shorter to account for the extra insulation. This is one area in which the AR-15, as the modern sporting rifle, has it all over the traditional rifles and carbines.

The M&P15's receiver set is a forged, mil-spec set. However, it gets a Mossy Oak camo coating before it leaves the factory.
The M&P15's receiver set is a forged, mil-spec set. However, it gets a Mossy Oak camo coating before it leaves the factory.

The stock and the gas block each have a sling swivel, so you can easily install a sling for the hike to your blind. In addition—and not that you need it for most uses—the barrel is threaded at the muzzle, and S&W has installed a flash hider. I don’t know of any load for the .300 Blackout that produces enough muzzle blast to need a flash hider, but the company put one there because, well, some of you are going to install a suppressor, and for that, you need threads.

Blackout-Specific Bullets

As previously mentioned, the .300 Blackout was developed to be a heavy-thumper subsonic cartridge. Nevertheless, to use it for hunting calls for a lighter bullet, and that’s where the 110- to 125-grain bullets come in—unlike bullets designed for other cartridges (the .30 Carbine and the 7.62 AK come to mind), for which a stubby projectile is needed or demanded.

Just to fit the action, the Blackout has different needs. In order to feed properly, bullets have to be longer than the Carbine or AK bullets would be, and this means a bullet meant for the AK round won’t be suitable for loading in the Blackout. As a result, the cartridge-and bullet-makers came up with Blackout-specific projectiles.

The trigger guard is integral to the lower receiver but has plenty of room for a gloved finger.
The trigger guard is integral to the lower receiver but has plenty of room for a gloved finger.

Another reason for the longer bullets, besides reliable feeding, is safety. It’s possible to mix up a .300 Blackout cartridge with .223/5.56 ammunition and not notice it while loading it into a magazine. A properly longer bullet in the .300 will wedge into the .223 chamber neck and prevent the bolt from closing (this situation is called a “clue”!). If that happens, you simply work the bolt to extract the improper cartridge, check the rest and continue.

A too-short bullet, in this instance, might allow the bolt to close. But, when you pull the trigger, bad things happen. Very bad things. So, don’t mix ammo; and, if the bolt won’t close, find out why. And don’t use a .300 cartridge loaded with a too-short bullet.

M&P15 Test Results

Testing the M&P15 was easy. I simply swept a suitable array of hunting loads off the shelf, carted the carbine to the range (along with a suitable scope) and had fun.

The lineup, left to right: Hornady 110 V-Max, Barnes 110 TAC-TX, Sig Sauer 120 HT and Remington 125 AccuTip.
The lineup, left to right: Hornady 110 V-Max, Barnes 110 TAC-TX, Sig Sauer 120 HT and Remington 125 AccuTip.

The scope I selected is a new one to me. It’s Primary Arms’ 1-6X24 ACSS-Raptor, which features a 30mm tube and an illuminated reticle. It’s a first focal plane optic, which means that the reticle apparently increases in size as you zoom up to 6X. For fast engagements, it has a reticle with a horseshoe loop, along with a chevron in the center with holdover bars for bullet drop compensation. Primary Arms is asking $400 for this scope—a smoking-good deal! It might sound like overkill, but I chose a Geissele Super Precision mount.

Considering the trajectory and range of the .300 Blackout, you simply (once zeroed) nestle the horseshoe behind the shoulder of the whitetail in question and cleanly press the trigger. As far as trajectory goes, if you sight-in dead on at 100 yards, your drop at 200 is going to be 5 inches. If you sight-in 1 inch high at 100 yards, you’ll be 3 inches low at 200. If you limit yourself to shots out to 180 yards, your bullet is never more than 1½ inches from your line of sight between 20 and 180 yards. Basically, you just point and click.

Those with sharp eyes can opt for a red-dot sight and use the 1X with the variable-power dot to aim with. Just for plinking fun, I parked an Aimpoint Micro m2 on top and had a merry time clanging the steel plates on my club’s 100-yard range.

Simply Stellar M&P15

Accuracy from the M&P15 and the various .300 loads was everything you’d need, and expect, for a hunting rifle. A lightweight carbine, and one with soft recoil, the S&W M&P15 is a stellar tool.

MP15 Range

OK, here’s a comparison—the classic Winchester M94 carbine in .30-30. Here, we have an iron-sighted carbine with no provision to mount a scope. At 6.8 pounds, it fires a .308-inch bullet weighing between 125 and 170 grains. The current standard is 150 grains. The “book” velocity on a 125-grain bullet is approximately 2,500 fps, but you can chronograph a lot of .30-30 ammunition and never see that. Mostly, your 125-grain bullet will be doing (big surprise) 2,400 fps or slightly fewer. Oh, and your .30-30 is always going to be a five-shot lever gun. But, the M&P15 can easily be fed from a five-shot magazine or can use 30-rounders for plinking.

The M&P15 in .300 Blackout gets a 125-grain bullet up to more than 2,300 fps. Sure, that isn’t the more-than-2,400 fps the .30-30 can allegedly do, but with the M&P15, you get a self-loading rifle of the same weight with easy optics mounting options and velocity that’s more than close enough. And really, I’m not sure the difference matters to any whitetail out there.

The bonus Mossy Oak camo pattern is something that comes with the M&P and saves you the work of trying to camo-paint your own flat-black MSR.

If you have a .30-30 and want to hunt with the same rifle your father, grandfather and perhaps even your great-grandfather used, don’t let me stop you. However, the S&W M&P15 Mossy Oak camo in .300 Blackout could be the start of a new tradition.

M&P15 in .300 Blackout Specs
Type: Gas-operated, self-loading rifle
Caliber: .300 Blackout
Capacity: 30+1 rounds
Barrel: 16 in.
Length: 35 in.
Weight: 6 lb., 9 oz.
Trigger: 4.5 lb.
Finish: Anodized aluminum, black oxide steel
MSRP: $ 1,119

For more information on the M&P15, please visit smith-wesson.com.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

First Look: Federal Fusion 10mm Auto Hunting Ammo

By
Gun Digest Editors
-
0

Fusion 10mm

Loaded to take full advantage of the ‘Perfect 10's' ballistic potential, Federal's new Fusion 10mm hunting ammo is built to fill tags.

Handgun hunting was one almost the exclusive territory of revolvers. Heavy hitters such as the .44 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .454 Casull, .500 Linebaugh, among others, have taken center stage in the up-close and personal pursuit. However, things have changed in recent years. With the 10mm Auto’s recent resurgence, sportsmen have come to embrace the hard-hitting and fast shooting semi-automatic pistol cartridge.

Catering to these shooter’s needs, Federal Premium has introduced a 200-grain Fusion 10mm Auto Hunting option, perfect for the impending hunting season. The crux of the ammo is an advanced bullet design, built for deep penetration and impressive expansion—the elements required to put game down. The bonded-core projectile has skiving on its copper jacket, allowing for consistent mushroom one it’s at its target. And moving 1,200 fps at the muzzle, the ammo has enough velocity to punch through and appropriately penetrate at most ethical hunting distances.

More From Federal Premium:

ANOKA, Minnesota – October 6, 2020 – Federal ammunition introduces a new load to its popular handgun hunting ammunition lineup. The new Fusion 10mm Auto load uses a 200-grain bullet and 1200 fps muzzle velocity take full advantage of the 10mm Auto cartridge, with more energy and better terminal performance on impact. Shipments of this product have begun to arrive at dealers.

“Our Fusion 10mm Auto load delivers the toughness, accuracy, reliability and terminal performance that handgun hunters are looking for,” said Federal Centerfire Handgun Product Manager Chris Laack. “Built with the same molecularly-bonded hunting bullet used in Fusion rifle ammo, it produces ideal upsets and deep penetration when striking game. We know this new load is everything any hunter could hope for in a 10mm Auto hunting cartridge.”

Features & Benefits
-New 10mm Auto load
-1,200 fps muzzle velocity
-Copper jacket is electro-chemically to the core
-Perfectly uniform jacket
-Skived, pre-programmed nose provides consistent expansion
-Maximum weight retention for deep penetration

Part No. / Description / MSRP
F10FS1 / 10mm Auto Fusion, 200-grain, 1200 fps, 20-count / $32.99

For more information on Fusion 10mm Auto Hunting ammunition, please visit federalpremium.com.

Load Up On These Ammo Tips

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