Dual purpose and on target, the Viridian HS1 keeps you in control and on the mark.
What the HS1 Brings To Your AR:
M-Lok Mounts
Pressure Pad Activation
Daytime-visible Green Laser
Ergonomic Design for Pistols and Rifles
Single 1/3n battery
Adjustable for Windage and Elevation
Simple concepts oftentimes prove the most useful. That perfectly pegs Viridian's new addition to its catalog.
Pulling double duty, the HS1 is the first and only hand stop laser sighting device on the market. Hard to believe it’s taken this long for someone to cook up this concept, given the AR-15 is more than a half-century old. Yet it should prove mighty versatile as a quick acquisition, low-light option.
“The HS1 combines the functionality of an AR hand stop with the rapid target acquisition provided by a Viridian green laser,” said Brian Hedeen, President and CEO at Viridian. “The combination makes for a much more ergonomic rifle and cuts down on the attachments that add bulk to a gun’s foregrip.”
Where the Viridian HS1 might prove most fruitful is attached to AR pistols and short-barreled rifles (for those who have the pocket change to afford the latter). Generally speaking, both benefit from a hand stop, if for no other reason than keeping digits from creeping dangerously close to the muzzle. Add in a laser sight and you’ve got a tidy and fast close-quarters aiming system. Though, don’t discount its usefulness on a carbine either.
As to the particulars of the Viridian HS1, it uses a highly visible green laser, which extends its use to some daylight applications. M-Lok mounts make it compatible with a wide spectrum handguards. And it has a simple operating system, powering on via a pressure pad on the stop. As expected, the laser sight is fully adjustable for bullet drop and windage and is a relatively light power user, running off a single 1/3n battery.
Of course, given the extended functionality of the Viridian HS1, it does cost more than the average hand stop with an MSRP of $179. But those in search of a fast and accurate close-in aiming solution for their AR that should prove a value.
Looking to extend your big-bore behemoth's usefulness in the field? Accurate 5744 Powder is your answer for taming these beasts.
What Accurate 5744 Offers:
A fast-burning, double-based, extruded powder.
Works in a wide spectrum of cartridges from .17 caliber all the way up to big-bore rifles.
Excellent choice for reduced-velocity big-bore loads.
To a shooter who’s unfamiliar with the recoil of a cartridge suitable for African dangerous-game animals, it can be nothing short of hellacious.
The versatility of the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum, .416 Rigby, .404 Jeffery and .458 Winchester Magnum has been long proven, but to many shooters, the full-house loads represent the fast track to a flinch. Yes, inevitably, the shooter will need to become proficient with the bullet weights and velocities for which these types of cartridges were designed.
Nevertheless, there are many instances for which a hunter would want to use their big-bore rifle on lighter game here in the lower 48 states. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking the .375 for whitetails, but you certainly don’t need 4,000 ft.-lbs. of energy to kill a deer.
Want to take the .404 Jeffery for feral hogs? Do you like to practice with the .470 NE without the punishment to your shoulder? Well, there’s a means of generating low-velocity ammunition without the dangers associated with the weird pressure spikes from under-pressure cartridges: Accurate 5744 powder.
Powder Locker Must-Have
This unique and highly useful powder serves many purposes (although it’s leaned on rather heavily for the reduced big-bore loads) and actually relieves a few headaches along the way. I think Accurate 5744 is a powder every reloader should have in their powder locker; it works in so many different cartridges, and you might find yourself reaching for it more often than you’d think.
Accurate 5744 is a perfect choice for larger, straight-walled pistol cartridges such as the .45 Colt.
In short, 5744 is a fast-burning, double-based, extruded powder that, when used in its normal capacity, is a perfect fuel for large-capacity handgun cases—from the .41 Remington Magnum to the .44 Remington Magnum, .45 Colt and .454 Casull, right up through the behemoth .500 Smith & Wesson. In the rifle cases, 5744 is well-suited to the .17 and .22 Hornet, .222 and .223 Remington, as well as the 7mm-08 Remington, .308 Winchester and the WSM family.
It will serve as a reduced-load powder choice in the aforementioned big-bore cartridges and is an optimum choice in those larger black-powder cartridges, such as the .45-70 Government and the .45-110 and .45-120. It also serves many of the lever-gun cartridges, such as the .30-30 Winchester, .35 Remington, .348 Winchester and .358 Winchester. This powder is one of the most useful, if not the most useful, powders to have in your arsenal.
The size of the extruded grains of Accurate 5744 are significantly larger than those of most other extruded powders, and that additional bulk takes up enough room in the big cases so that no filler is required. In spite of very low load densities, there’s no erratic ignition, and velocities stay rather consistent. And, when you tailor the load to your comfort level, even a beast such as the .416 Rigby can be tamed.
However, because it’s a powder that gives a standard performance level, I’ve had very good results in the .30-30 Winchester case in rifles old and new. My Winchester 94AE XTR, with its 20-inch barrel, likes a 150-grain Nosler Combined Technology round-nose bullet of more than 23.7 grains of 5744 for 2,175 fps. That rifle was never the most accurate, although through handloading, I’ve seen the best results it has had to offer; and the 5744 load ranks among the best of my “pet” loads.
All-Around Great Choice
For this deer season, my father lent me the rifle he shot his first deer with—a sweet, octagonal-barreled Model 1893 Marlin in .30-30 Winchester that was manufactured in 1902. I took it easy on the old girl in regard to pressure and velocity, and it showed a preference for 5744 as well, although the rifle liked the 170-grain slugs, especially the round-nose Nosler Partition. At 2,110 fps, this classic setup will take whitetail, black bear and more.
Accurate 5744 is a bulky powder, as is easily discernible when comparing its grain structure to other extruded powders such as Hodgdon’s Varget.
It also shines in the Winchester Short Magnums, and while the .300 WSM is probably the one of the bunch that will remain with us (just my prediction), Accurate 5744 is also well-suited to the .270 WSM and 7mm WSM. I’ve often found the WSM series to be among the finicky cartridges, but I’ve added Accurate 5744 to the short list of powders (Reloder 17 heads that list) I reach for when loading the WSMs. It works equally well for full-house loads and reduced loads in the .300 WSM, so a reloader can work from .308 Winchester velocities right up though the magnum velocities.
Accurate 5744 is also a great choice for straight-walled cartridges such as the .444 Marlin, .458 Winchester Magnum, .450 BushMaster and the .45-70 Government, especially with lead bullets. It seems to be ideal in those cases, although when the capacity increases to the size of the .458 Lott, you’ll need another choice.
In the larger handgun cases, 5744 works as a standard-performance in some and a reduced-load powder in others. In the .45 Colt—one of my particular favorites—25.0 grains of 5744 will drive the 255-grain lead bullet (made so famous in the classic load for the Colt Single Action Army revolvers) in my Ruger Blackhawk to a muzzle velocity of 1,300 fps. This is a higher-pressure load, reserved for strong actions such as the Blackhawk; however, 18.0 grains will give pressures suitable for all .45 Colt guns at a muzzle velocity of right around 950 fps. In the .454 Casull, it’s a reduced-load powder; yet, in the .44 Remington Magnum, it gives full-power velocities.
Big-Bore Power Without The Recoil
However, it’s in the reduced-velocity big-bore loads where 5744 really shines. I have used it in the .404 Jeffery, .416 Rigby and .375 H&H with great effect. With just 46.0 grains of 5744 and a 400-grain Hornady round-nose, I got 1,725 fps and a reduction in felt recoil of 25 to 30 percent. It’s still plenty of gun for lighter game—think .45-70 with a better sectional density—but it’s much easier on the shoulder and a great way to train with your buffalo/elephant rifle.
As if the .375 H&H Magnum weren’t one of the most versatile cartridges ever made, the use of 5744 makes it even more so. No time at the range can adequately reproduce a real-life hunting scenario, and using 40 grains of Accurate 5744 and a 220- or 235-grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of 2,250 fps brings the big gun down into the realm of the obscure .375 Winchester cartridge. Light bullet, low recoil, yet perfect for deer and hogs—what more could you want? Spending time with your chosen rifle is priceless, and when the time comes to take it on safari or north to Alaska, you’ll be happy it feels so familiar.
Even the .30-06 Springfield and other popular medium calibers can benefit from Accurate 5744, because the velocity can be brought down into the .30-30 Winchester range for a younger shooter or even a new shooter. Want a kid to grow into a big-game rifle without needing to buy several different calibers? Think about the combination of the Savage AccuFit stock (or any other system via which the length of pull can be changed to accommodate a growing hunter) and ammunition ranging from .30-30 power levels right up to full-throttle ’06 stuff. That rifle will stay with him or her for life.
On the Burn Rate Chart, 5744 definitely comes in on the faster end of the spectrum (a bit slower than Hodgdon’s H110 and a bit faster than IMR4198), but because of the way it performs in so many different scenarios, 5744 warrants a place on your reloading bench—even if it’s for no other reason than to offer the reduced loads to new shooters. Pick up a pound and see how nice it is to practice with a big-bore … without the recoil.
When I was growing up in Texas in the 1950s, one of my uncles had a Winchester Model 97 with a 32-inch, full-choke barrel. I remember asking him why he had the 32-inch barrel.
“Turkeys,” he said. “Gotta reach out for them turkeys.”
The Model 97 took its fair share of game in its 60 years of production, but that’s not why it’s remembered.
U.S. doughboys thinning the German ranks in World War I with the “Trench Gun” or “Trench Broom” is what etched this John Browning design into history. The Model 97 was apparently so effective at its job during the Great War that the Germans filed a diplomatic protest over the weapon, claiming the shotgun was illegal (per the Hague Convention, due to it causing unnecessary suffering. Really? Crocodile tears for the purveyors of poison gas and inventors of the modern flamethrower).
Winchester Model 1897 Standard
The 97 was essentially the evolution of another Browning shotgun design, the Model 1893, strengthened to handle new-for-the-time smokeless powders.
The Configurations
The Model 1897 replaced the Model 1893. Similar to the 1893, the new model had several improvements, such as a stronger frame and a chamber made longer to handle 2.75-inch shells. In addition, the frame top was covered to force complete side ejection, and the stock was made longer and with less drop. It was available in 12- or 16-gauge. The 12-gauge could be had in solid or takedown styles; the 16-gauge in takedown only. Winchester offered the new Model 1897 in barrel lengths of 20, 26, 28, 30 and 32 inches in practically all the choke options, from full to cylinder.
The Model 1897 was a great seller for Winchester: During its 60-year production span, 1,025,000 guns were sold.
The Model 1897 adapter allowed the attachment of the M1917 bayonet.
The Model 1897 could be ordered in several different configurations:
Standard Gun 12- or 16-gauge: 30-inch barrel (12-gauge) and 28-inch barrel (16-gauge); plain walnut modified pistol-grip stock, grooved slide handle, steel buttplate (standard).
Trap Gun 12- or 16-gauge: 30-inch barrel (12-gauge) and 28-inch barrel (16-gauge); fancy walnut stock, oil finish, checkered pistol-/straight-grip stock, checkered slide handle. Marked “TRAP” on the bottom of the frame.
Pigeon Gun 12- or 16-gauge with a 28-inch barrel on both gauges; straight-/pistol-grip stock, hand-engraved receiver.
Tournament Gun 12-gauge only: 30-inch barrel; select walnut checkered, straight-grip stock, checkered slide handle, top of receiver matted to reduce glare.
Brush Gun 12- or 16-gauge: 26-inch barrel; cylinder choke has a slightly shorter magazine tube than the standard gun, plain walnut modified pistol grip stock, grooved slide handle.
Brush Gun, Takedown Same as the Brush Gun but with a takedown feature, standard-length magazine tube.
Constructed from carbon fiber, TruGlo's TAC•POD Carbon Pro Bipod cuts down on your rifle systems weight, while maximizing its ruggedness.
How TruGlo's TAC•POD Carbon Pro Enhances Your Rifle:
Lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum construction
Padded rubberized feet for positive surface grip
Pivoting base for precision leveling on uneven surfaces
Long and short models optimized to particular shooting styles
Decking a rifle out for anything except range work, ounces equal pounds should be at the top of the mind. Tack a few things on, next thing you know that lightweight backcountry rifle is a plum drag to tote over hither and yon. Gear makers in recent years have become more conscious of this fact, designing their equipment not only for functionality but also for convenience.
Count TruGlo among them. Best known for its high-visibility aiming solutions, the Texas company recently expanded into featherweight shooting supports with the introduction of TAC•POD Carbon Pro Biopod. As its name suggests, has a healthy serving of carbon fiber in its construction. The legs of bipod are constructed from extremely lightweight and rugged material, while the base and hinges are made of weight-saving aluminum.
In addition to cutting down on the weight of a rifle system, the TAC•POD Carbon Pro also offers the functionality shooters look for in a bipod. Some of these include Picatinny-rail compatibility for easy mounting, padded rubberized feet for a positive surface grip and pivoting base Constructed from carbon fiber and aluminum, the TAC•POD Carbon Pro offers maximum strength with minimum weight. The mount quickly attaches to Picatinny-style rails and has a rotating design for easy shooting angle adjustment without repositioning the legs. Padded rubberized feet provide positive grip retention and the pivoting base offers precision leveling on uneven surfaces. To that last point, it’s a ball-joint design that, when unlocked, allows the bipod to pan, tilt and roll to adapt to any shooting position or surface pitch.
TAC•POD Carbon Pro has equally easy to adjust legs, thanks to twist-lock controls, which allows independent control of each leg. Equally as nice, push-button leg locks for smooth deployment of the system.
Available in two models, short( 6-9 inches) and long (9-13 inches), A push-button leg lock provides smooth deployment—locking the legs in the up or down position. A twist-lock length adjustment allows each leg to independently extend.
As anyone who’s shopped for bipods knows, they generally don’t come in cheap and TruGlo isn’t giving the TAC•POD Carbon Pro away. But with an $82.99 MSRP on the short model and $94.99 on the long model, and given the construction, the bipod proves a relatively good value.
For more information on TAC•POD Carbon Pro, please visit truglo.com.
Priced right and solidly made, the Churchill 220 Field has the right stuff to make hunting season a blast.
What Does The Churchill 220 Field Offer Hunters:
Very manageable 20-gauge chambering
Reliable gas-operation that also mitigates recoil.
Lightweight polymer stock and aluminum receiver.
Balanced handling for a smooth swing and consistent follow through.
Days growing shorter and autumn’s cool winds just around the corner, it’s getting time to think about knocking birds off the wing. Coincidentally, this also means shotguns should rise to the top of the mind.
If either of those itches have struck you, you’re in luck given the European American Armory Corporation unveiled its newest import recently–the Churchill 220 Field. While the polymer-stocked semi-automatic certainly isn’t a British best gun, it is solidly enough built and has the features to ensure a thrilling hunting season this fall. Chief among these, the 20-gauge’s overall affordable price. Manufactured by the Turkish firm Akkar, the gun comes in at a very affordable $414 MSRP, making it accessible to nearly any shooter’s budget.
Youth model's spacer system.
So, what sort of gun do you get for the money? A pretty solid one with the Churchill 220 Field boasting a number of assets that should make it a pleasure to take on the hunt. First off, it’s a featherweight with the 28-inch barrel model—the largest in the line—tipping the scales at 6.3 pounds. The 26-inch barrel model comes in a hair under that and 24-inch Youth version at 5.85 pounds. Many might worry given the lightweight the guns are thumber, but given its gas operation should prove relatively mild—especially in 20 gauge.
Other notables of the Churchill 220 Field include vent rib, slim aircraft-grade aluminum receiver, front bead and excellent balance. The final point makes the semi-automatic extremely smooth on the swing and easy to follow through on shots. All the elements required to birds in the bag. Finally, the Youth model is set to grow with the shooter, featuring a spacer system to modify the length of pull. For the price, the Churchill offers plenty.
Grazing off hi-cap Para magazines, the 9mm Rock Island TAC series keeps plenty on tap for anything that goes bump in the night.
Why The Rock Island TAC Series Is An Ideal Home-Defense Pistol:
Utilizing Para Ordinance magazines, the pistol can potentially 22-rounds of 9mm on tap.
A weighty 3-pounds, the all-steel 1911 is extremely mild to shoot, even with +P loads.
Its lightweight trigger is easy to manage and accurate to boot.
G10 grips keep your hands tightly in control.
Boasting a magazine funnel, the pistol is lightning fast to reload.
An accessories rail lets you tack on a light for nighttime work.
One of the “evergreen” tactical problems that some obsess over is how and when to do a proper reload. Entire book chapters have been devoted to this subject, as well as countless magazine articles.
After all, it would be most embarrassing to be standing at the pearly gates, trying to explain to Saint Peter, “Well, I would have done all right if I’d just had another round or two to use.” The mockery you’d receive from those behind you in line who “knew” they would have done better might be unbearable. (Do they issue halos with an asterisk in heaven?)
Here’s a solution: Have enough ammo in your pistol so that you don’t need to reload. Instead of six, seven or 10 rounds, how about 17 rounds—or even more—and in a pistol that holds a light, has enough heft so that recoil isn’t a problem and that will work and work and work? In other words, how about a steel, high-capacity 9mm 1911 … as in the Rock Island TAC series?
The Rock Island TAC Series
So, take a competition-bred hi-cap 9mm, make it tactical-adapted and have it on your nightstand ready to go. Does that sound like a deal? (Cost? We’ll get to that.)
You can start with the flush magazine for 17+1 rounds. Additionally, you can use, or add, an extended baseplate to gain a couple more rounds. This is a good start.
The Rock Island TAC series on the hi-cap frames are built around the design of the Para Ordnance magazines and frame size (“built around?”—we’ll get into that). The Para is no more, but the established market of pistols means that magazines are readily available (assuming you live in a state that allows them), and they’ve been competition tested (that’s another thing we’ll discuss).
It was fashionable awhile ago to pooh-pooh competition guns as “range queens,” “maintenance hogs” or fussy, match-only guns that choked at the first sign of trouble. Well, that might have been the case when Ronald Reagan was in office, but it hasn’t been the case for decades. The guns you see on ranges these days are the most tested, proven and reliable guns to be had, because there’s a lot of loot, glory and status to be gained with reliability (not to mention personal safety), and those lessons have come down to production guns.
So, the Rock Island pistols are reliable and accurate.
The Rock Island TAC series use the hi-cap Para magazines, holding 17 rounds of 9mm per. If you want more (and who doesn’t?), you simply ring up or click on Taylor Freelance, and Robin and the crew will send you some magazine extensions. These will add four rounds to the count (a few magazines might add only three. That’s one of those quirks of the business beyond the control of anyone involved). That means you’ll be starting the “Bump-in-the-Night Olympics” with 22 rounds in the gun. When you do order extensions, be sure and specify in this case that you have a Rock Island pistol.
When it comes to 9mm ammunition, there are a lot of choices for practice and defense. Find what works for your situation and what your pistol likes.
And a reload gets you 21 more, should you be that deep in trouble.
A full-sized 9mm TAC (you can have a commander-sized one if you want) will tip the scales at 3 pounds. That’s 48 ounces. And, if you find the recoil of 9mm ammo from a 48-ounce pistol is too much, you need to re-think your options. Because it’s all steel, the TAC is going to shrug off 9mm+P loads, and the recoil will still be mild.
So Many Subtleties
The frame has a dust cover with a full-length accessory rail, so there’s almost no option you can’t mount there. Any light that’s made-to-fit-a-Picatinny” rail will fit.
There’s a lightweight trigger and, because this is a 1911, the trigger pull will be a lot easier to handle than on a basic plastic striker-fired 9mm. On the back end is an ambidextrous thumb safety, along with a generous grip safety and beavertail tang, so you’ll have a solid grip, recoil control and ease of shooting.
Below all that is a set of aggressively textured G10 grips that are designed to keep your hands tightly in control of the pistol and recoil.
At the bottom of the frame there’s an accessory that comes to you courtesy of the competition lessons learned: a magazine funnel. Yes, a tapered-top, hi-cap magazine is easy to reload, but a funnel makes it even easier. And, if your hands are the right size, the lip of the funnel acts to lock your grip in place even tighter. If you want a bigger funnel, you can have one, but the competition-sized funnels can get to humongous proportions. And, here’s a plus: The bigger funnel acts even more to give your hand a bottom ledge to lock into and keep your grip secure.
The slide has cocking serrations front and rear, which some shooters object to. They’ll often call the front serrations “holster shredders.” However, this pistol is meant for home defense, so it won’t be seeing a lot of holster use. And even if it does, the price of a shredded holster (which takes a lot of work to achieve) is a small price to pay for all these features.
The ejection port is lowered and sculpted at the rear, and there’s no way 9mm brass is going to fail to exit the scene after it’s been used to fire a round. The sights are also competition tested and proven. The fiber-optic front presents you with a red-dot in the blade—a dot that’s illuminated by ambient light. The rear sight is a low-profile, but adjustable, sight dovetailed into the slide, and it has paired white dots, one on each side of the notch. This is about as fast a setup as you’ll get (short of installing a red-dot optic).
The two white dots on the rear sight work well with the red fiber-optic front blade.
Inside, the barrel has an integral feed ramp, so the cases are fully supported, offering even more support to +P ammunition. The 5-inch barrel is going to wring out just about all the velocity any 9mm load can produce … and, these days, some of them can really generate some energy. Keep in mind, however, that hi-cap 1911s are not all sunshine and roses—they can be a handful.
The mainspring housing is flat and checkered—flat to let you get a grip and checkered to make that grip non-slip. The front strap is smooth, except for a small set of grooves, top to bottom, along the centerline. Rock Island frames are made of ordnance steel—4140 alloy—that’s given a durable, parkerized finish.
Fully checkering the frame would be expensive, so if you really feel you need a surface that’s even more non-slip than the grooves provide, do what the competition shooters do: Put a strip or swathe of skateboard tape on the front strap (for the tightest bond, degrease the front strap first).
Lights and Ammo Choices
What about a light?
There’s no lack of tactical lights for pistols; and here, you’ll have to make a decision based on your situation: What’s the farthest distance you’ll need to light up? How wide an area? What’s the background? The first time I took a super-lumen tactical light to search inside a house that was for sale, the reflection off the newly painted Navaho white walls almost blinded me. So, consider where you’ll be using the light, your needs and what options you have. In this instance for sure, there’s no such thing as “one size fits all.”
Similarly, you’ll want to tailor your bullet penetration to the task at hand. No one else to worry about? Use FBI-compliant ammo for penetration. Family members in adjacent rooms? You might want to consider loads that are less penetrating. As always, pick tools for the task … such as the Rock Island hi-cap 9mm.
An accessory rail is a great place to put a light, because when you pick up the pistol, you also have a light at your disposal. No two-handed juggling will be involved.
Testing the Rock Island TAC 9mm wasn’t any kind of an ordeal: It was a pleasant day at the range for me to generate chrono data, accuracy results and do a bunch of falling-plate drills.
Keeping In Mind … The Last Detail Is Price
Competition guns can be expensive. However, the TAC 9mm is a defensive gun with competition tuning. Its MSRP is just over $900.
Sure, you can get a plastic, striker-fired pistol for less than that, but you lose the nice trigger and the extra recoil-killing weight. Magazines are still readily available (I don’ foresee a time when you won’t be able to source a Para or Para-derived magazine), and they generally cost between $30 and $40 per. For instance, a Taylor Freelance magazine basepad that adds rounds will run you $35.
The Rock Island Armory TAC uses what the industry calls the “short-frame” magazine dimension. Consequently, you’ll want RIA-specific magazine extensions; and, if you order from a company other than Rock Island (but why would you?), make sure to buy magazines that are full length.
I have a drawer full of Para and Para-derived magazines, so when it came time to set up the Rock Island TAC, it was easy to simply haul the drawer to the range, check what fit and then range-test them in order to build a set comprising the TAC 9mm pistol, a main magazine and one or two spares. You probably don’t have a drawer like that, so buy Rock Island Armory mags—or be absolutely clear when ordering from another vendor.
At Your Bedside
With a bit of diligence, you’ll have an ensemble that has 64 rounds of 9mm at your beck and call. And, just to be clear: My Rock Island TAC looks a bit different, because I’ve had it here, at “Gun Abuse Central,” for a few years now. Rock Island changed the markings, but the pistol you’ll find today is the same solidly built hi-cap.
So, there you have it: enough ammo so that a reload is now a very, very small likelihood. But, if you do, there’s plenty more in the next one or two. This, in a soft-recoiling, accurate pistol with a light attached, all ready to go on the nightstand (and locked in the safe when you go to work each day) for security where you live. All this for not a lot of money. Is this still a great country, or what?
Rock Island Armory TAC Series Specs Type: Locked-action, self-loading pistol Caliber: 9x19mm Capacity: 17+1 rounds Barrel: 5 in. Length: 8.75 in. Weight: 48 oz. Trigger: 5 lb. Finish: Parkerized steel frame and slide Grips: G10 tactical MSRP: $906
About this time every year, gun folk get all giddy as they speculate about what new guns will be introduced. Someone, somewhere is hoping and praying Walther will bring back the P-38. Another guy has a pocket full of money—just waiting for Savage to reintroduce the Model 99. And, I’ll bet you that somewhere, someone else is convinced this is the year Marlin will reintroduce the Model 39 TDS (and by the way, if you don’t know what the Marlin 39 TDS is/was, we probably can’t be friends!).
Well, for 2020, you’ll see none of those things. Even so, there are a few gems in the mix. Here are my top 5 picks for the new year—one each for shotgun, rifle, rimfire, pistol and revolvers. Hopefully, at least one of these new guns will inspire you to conduct a quick draw with your credit card.
Shotgun: CZ-USA All Terrain Bob White
Any way you measure it, I’m not a shotgun guy. I think they’re best-suited for shooting things that fly, and I don’t shoot a lot of things that fly. My interest in shotguns is somewhere between very little and non-existent. That having been said, there’s something about the new All Terrain Bob White from CZ-USA that makes me want one … just in case I do need to shoot something that’s flying.
This is a 12-gauge, break-action, side-by-side shotgun with a walnut stock. That’s pretty standard. What’s not standard is that all the metal surfaces are coated with an OD green Cerakote finish. You won’t have to be concerned about rain, sleet or snow or about dropping it in the bottom of the duck boat—or hell, even in the river. CZ's new gun is also fitted with a set of rare-earth magnets that help retain most modern shells. This makes loading easy: You’ll never have to worry about accidentally dumping out the shells while bending over to work with your dog.
I’m addicted to lightweight bolt-action rifles. This means I’m also very fond of the Remington Model Seven. The Seven, essentially a shortened version of the legendary Model 700, was introduced in 1983. It’s been offered in a variety of configurations but, in my opinion, Remington never really took advantage of what this platform offers, at least until recently. Over the last several years, it seems Remington has taken a renewed interest in the Seven. For 2020, it has a new one that should appeal to any big-game hunter who likes light rifles.
The Model Seven Threaded-Mossy Oak Bottomland has a 16.5-inch barrel with 5R rifling, a threaded muzzle and comes out of the box with a 20 MOA Picatinny rail. The stock is covered in Mossy Oak Bottomland camo.
But here’s the cool part: This rifle weighs only 5.5 pounds, which means you can add a compact riflescope and carry around a 6-pound rifle chambered for either the .300 Blackout or .308 Winchester and—as you might have suspected—the 6.5 Creedmoor.
Somewhere between our fixation on the AR-15 and long-range shooting, manufacturers have forgotten about the rimfire rifle.
Not Savage. Its new Minimalist combines a classic laminate stock design with modern esthetics to achieve a lightweight platform with vastly improved ergonomics. This rifle features a button-rifled barrel and Savage’s renowned AccuTrigger. It’s chambered for either the .22LR, .22 WMR or .17 HMR and is offered in two esthetically pleasing laminate stock color combinations. The new gun comes standard with an 18-inch carbon-steel barrel and action.
To appeal to the growing desire for shooters to shoot quietly, Savage was also wise to thread the Minimalist’s muzzle to make it suppressor ready. Savage even provides a threaded muzzle cap with the rifle for times when you don’t want the suppressor attached. But here’s the best news: This rifle should retail for about $300 across the counter.
This pistol started as an experiment. It was a melding of Dan Wesson and CZ pistols and borrows the crisp single-action-fire control of a DW 1911 and combines it with the ergonomics and capacity of a CZ 75. The resulting pistol is, well, special. Intended for competition, and with both full-sized and compact variants, in reality, the DWX has much broader appeal. Its locked-breech barrel system is simple and does away with the standard 1911 link. It utilizes a double-stack magazine, and the sights are easily customized. With the ergonomics of the CZ 75, the DWX is a natural fit for most hands. This is a fantastically versatile and well-engineered pistol that has application in competition, service and self-defense. (However, it’s not cheap.)
Ever since 2005, when Colt discontinued the Python revolver, gun aficionados have bemoaned its passing as if they’d lost a best friend. Often regarded as the “Cadillac” of revolvers, the Python has become one of the most sought-after collectible handguns of all time. In some cases, prices paid for used variants in good condition could fill a gun safe full of Glocks.
The Python was made famous in the 1973 movie, Electra Glide in Blue, where Robert Blake starred as an Arizona motorcycle cop. His character, John Wintergreen, carried a two-tone Colt Python that delivered an on-screen effect similar to what Dirty Harry did for the .44 Magnum. For the past several years, rumors have run rampant that Colt would be reintroducing the Python and, on the first day of 2020, the Internet almost broke with the news that it’s actually happened.
The new Python looks and feels just like the Python of old. It will be offered in stainless steel only (if you’ve been praying for a “Wintergreen Special,” you’ll just have to keep waiting) with either a 4.25- or 6-inch barrel.
But this new Python is not the Python of old. The frame has been beefed up a bit, and the internals have been slightly modified. According to Colt, this will make the new Python better and more rugged than the original. Without a doubt, this is the biggest firearms news of 2020 and possibly the biggest handgun news of the past decade. However, in this age of concealed carry—and with the Python’s $1,500 price tag—the question remains as to whether those who’ve been begging for its reintroduction will actually shell out the cash for a duty-sized revolver that weighs 42 ounces.
You might not be able to get a two-tone Python like the one Officer John Wintergreen carried, but at least you’ll be able to finally put one of these Colt snakes in your holster!
The longevity of the .45-70 Government is the definition of a true classic cartridge.
Why The .45-70 Government Soldiers On:
Available in many classic rifles, including lever-actions and rolling blocks.
Modern ammunition has extended the range of the straight-walled cartridge.
Properly loaded, it's capable of taking almost all North American game.
Adopted by the U.S. military in 1873 with the single-shot “Trapdoor” Springfield rifle, the .45-70 Government continued as the official service cartridge for 19 years. It was replaced in 1892 by the .30-40 Krag. The .45-70 was also a popular cartridge for sporting use, and many repeating and single-shot rifles were chambered for it, including the Remington rolling block, Remington-Keene, Remington-Lee, Marlin Model 81, Winchester Model 86 and Hotchkiss, plus many others.
Although the Krag officially replaced the .45-70, in 1892, all volunteer Spanish-American War regiments—with the reported sole exception of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders—were equipped with the Trapdoor .45-70. And many state militias were armed with the .45-70 Springfields well beyond 1900.
American companies dropped the .45-70 Government as a rifle chambering in the early 1930s. However, it’s staged a major comeback in popularity. Currently, Marlin, Pedersoli, Henry, Taylor’s & Company, Cimarron and others chamber rifles for it.
Winchester once loaded many versions of the basic .45-70 Government case with different bullet weights, shapes and black powder charges. It also loaded one variant of the .45-70-405 Winchester load expressly for the Marlin 1881 lever-action rifle. That load featured a differently shaped 405-grain bullet and was head-stamped “.45-70 Mar.”
General Comments
“Old soldiers never die”—and apparently, neither do old military cartridges. The .45-70 Government has been with us for more than 125 years and is still very much alive. As a short-range cartridge for anything from deer to grizzly bear, the .45-70 will hold its own with most of our more modern developments. Its greatest fault is its curved trajectory that makes it difficult to place shots beyond 150 yards with any certainty. Hornady’s LeveRevolution pointed, polymer-tipped round helps this considerably.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Springfield and most of the other black powder rifles won’t stand pressures of more than 25,000 psi or so. This prevents using heavy loads of smokeless powder. In late-Model 86 Winchesters or other smokeless powder rifles, the .45-70 Government can be loaded to deliver very impressive performance on the heaviest species of big game. Winchester, Remington, Federal, Cor-Bon and Buffalo Bore offer .45-70 ammunition.
Segmenting pellets designed to split in half on impact to double the amount of wound channels
Copper-plated pellets that are buffered to protect the pellets from deformation during the firing process leading to more consistent patterns
Federal’s Triple Plus Wad Column to help deliver the open pattern ideal for close-range performance
When it comes to shotgun ammo, plenty of time has been spent perfecting the payload to knock birds out of the sky. Not so much has been invested in improving loads for home defense. Buckshot—the most popular and potent defensive shot option—remains virtually unchanged from the days it was used to harvest whitetails. Pity, given there’s a motivated segment of the American populace who’s No. 1 choice for property defense is the tried-and-true smoothbore.
Things are changing. With the release of Federal Premium’s Force X2 copper-plated 00 FX2 Buckshot those who trust their safety to shotguns now have a tailored defensive ammunition option. One that truly multiplies buckshot’s already devastating terminal ballistics.
Split through its hemisphere, Force X2 shot is designed to divide equally in half once it reaches its target, maximizing its effect. Instead of 9 buckshot pellets creating wound channels, there are 18 increasing the potential of hitting a threat-neutralizing vital and improving energy transfer. There’s a safety factor to what the shells bring to the table, too. A high energy dump upon impact and lower-mass projectiles in the target are less likely to over penetrate, thus reducing the risk to bystanders. In most circumstances with a shotgun this would likely be a family member.
“Federal’s splitting buckshot is the first significant change to buckshot ammo in over a century. The expert ammunition engineers at Federal decided it was time for improvements in buckshot that would help in some Personal Defense situations,” said Federal Ammunition Shotshell Product Manager Dan Compton. “This new self-defense shotgun load is designed for tremendous energy transfer for a wider and larger amount of terminal damage.”
Federal loads the Force X2 shells to tamp down the 12-gauge’s recoil, potentially allowing better accuracy, particularly shot to shot. Additionally, the shot patterns tight. Force X2 showed patterns of 4½ inches at 7 yards and 14 inches at 20 yards using an improved cylinder choke in tests done by Federal engineers. Patterns of 4¼ inches at 7 yards and 12 inches at 20 yards were achieved with a modified choke. Tests using 10-percent ballistic gel were also conducted, with penetration depth of the shells varying from 5¼ to 14½ inches, with an average of 9½ inches. The average depth when pellets start segmenting is 4.5 inches after impact.
At present, Federal Premium is offering Force X2 ammunition strictly in 2 ¾-inch 12-gauge shells, loaded to produce 1,145 fps of velocity at the muzzle. The MSRP on a box of 10 shells is $22.95.
The Delta Series Compact AR Tool proves the ol’ cliche true: Big things often come in small packagets.
Wheeler Engineering offers that one little piece of gear you can’t live without in the Delta Series Compact AR Tool.
What The Delta Series Compact AR Tool Includes:
AR Carbon Multi-Scraper tool
5/64″ HEX, 7/64″ HEX, 1/8″ HEX
Pivot and Takedown Punch
#2 Phillips
Bolt Waist Scraper
Interior BCG Scraper
T10 TORX, T15 TORX, T20 TORX
A2 Front Sight Tool
3/16″ FLAT, 3/4″ WRENCH, 1/2″ WRENCH
Castle Nut Wrench
So, there you are at the range, having fun with your AR (or other firearm), and you realize something’s wrong: Something’s loose.
You can’t continue unless you tighten it. What—no toolkit? Your gun bag is sans tools?
With a few mutters, you check your car/truck/SUV. No tools. With louder muttering, you check the clubhouse at the gun club. Surely, someone has left a screwdriver lying around—something, anything. Nope; nothing.
Now, with vile curses, you load everything back into your vehicle and sullenly drive home … knowing that within five minutes of getting home, you’ll have the problem solved. If you’d just had a toolkit with you, you could’ve solved the problem there.
Well, how about a toolkit that sits in your gear bag or even your rifle case, ready, just in case?
Big Name, Great Tool
Enter Wheeler Engineering, a division of Caldwell. The tool in particular that is this month’s subject is the Delta Series Compact AR Tool, a name almost as big as the tool.
OK, what we’re looking at is a flat rectangle of stainless steel that will slide nicely into a pouch or compartment of your gun bag. An array of tools resides on its two axles. On one end are three sizes of Allen bits (5/64, 7/64 and 1/8 inch), a Phillips head screwdriver #2, and AR bolt and carrier scrapers.
The round-ended one is the bolt tail scraper for the inside of the carrier. The hole through it is for the bolt tail itself.
The other scraper has a lifting hook for the cotter pin, a cam pin scraper, bolt lug scraper, primer pin scraper and a bolt face scraper (and I’m pretty sure that in a pinch, one of these will work to lift the pull tab on a soda can!).
On the other axle are three sizes of torx drivers (T10, T15 and T20), a front sight adjustment tool and a straight-blade screwdriver with a 3/16-inch flat. In the middle of the assembly is a bar that has a ½-inch wrench opening, ¾-inch wrench opening and a castle nut wrench.
Lots and Lots of Uses
Basically, if there’s anything that comes loose on your gun—anything that can be screwed or wrenched—the Delta Series Compact AR Tool will tighten it; maybe not to the arsenal torque spec, but surely tight enough to get you through the day’s practice and back home again.
And while you’re tightening things, you can also be scraping the carbon off. (You haven’t done that recently, have you? Now’s the time.)
Three Affordable Chronograph Options To Check Your Speed
If you don’t want the Delta Series Compact AR Tool floating around in a mag pouch or banging into other gear in your shooting bag, leave it in the pouch it came in. It’s a heavy-duty woven and formed nylon pouch with a snap. This pouch will ensure the AR Tool stays away from other tools or gear.
You can see the Delta Series Compact AR Tool has a castle nut wrench on the right, along with the torx drivers, front sight tool and screwdriver.
Now, would I build an AR-15 using the Wheeler tool? No; I have tools much better suited to the assembly of a rifle than this one.
However, by the same token, I’m not going to haul that toolkit (which weighs about 15 pounds) out to the range every time I take an AR for practice, drills or testing. Heavens, no. In fact, I don’t take up trunk or cargo bed space with a hydraulic jack in case I need to change a tire. I have the emergency jack my vehicle came with, and I’ll make it work.
That’s what the Delta Series Compact AR Tool is for: If your scope gets loose or the castle nut gets loose (you should have staked it, I’m telling you), you can deal with the problem without having to drive home.
A Word to the Wise
The Delta Series Compact AR Tool doesn’t cost much: just over $30. It doesn’t weigh much or take up much room, so having one in your range bag, gear bag or rifle case—just in case—is prudent … because the tools left in the clubhouse or the work shed of your gun club just aren’t going to cut it (that is, if there are any).
At one time, you could buy a batch of Soviet-era Cosmoline and they’d throw in an SKS for free. Greatly missed, the days of sub-$100 Samozaryadny Karabin sistemy Simonovas went out with the CD player. Still, a savvy and determined gun buyer can scratch up the Cold-War icon at bargain-basement prices if, they’re willing to look. Not at late 1990s early 2000s rates mind you, but cheap nonetheless.
Nowadays if you find a rock-bottom SKS you don’t have to settle for its original wood or fiberglass stocks. Heck, you don’t even have to keep the semi-auto in its traditional configuration. Not with the rise of the SKS bullpup conversion kit.
While the options for reconfiguring your Simonova are exactly legion, they exist and endow the tried-and-true military relic with some interesting assets. We’ll look at some of the top SKS bullpup conversion kits in a moment, but we should take a moment to touch on some other points first.
Why A SKS Bullpup Conversion?
If “Why not?” isn’t a good enough answer for you, we’ve written on the pros and cons of the configuration in our best bullpup rifle options post. For a more in-depth look at the design this is worth a read. But the SKS bullpup conversion has some benefits particular to itself and in comparison to other bullpups.
Inexpensive: While there are affordable bullpup rifles on the market, few are as thrifty as an SKS conversion. Without much effort I dug up a used SKS going for $245. With more work I’m certain I could have found more economical options. Though by and large, the going price of the rifle seems to fall somewhere between $300 to $450.
The average conversion kit will run you another $350 (at the high end $650). In turn, on average you’re in anywhere from $600 to $800 total for a SKS bullpup. Not exactly chicken scratch, but far less than the nearly $2,000 most bullpup rifles demand off the shelf.
Box Magazine: Not that the stripper clip isn’t effective and quick, but this is the 21st Century. Box magazines are the standard and a world more efficient to carry and load. Magazine modification is a stable of SKS bullpup conversions and a good one at that. Why settle for 10-rounds when you potential can have three times as much on tap?
(Fairly) Easy Installation: An SKA bullpup conversion isn’t as simple as swapping stocks. At the same time, it isn’t as intricate rechambering a rifle.
What’s being done to the rifle is fairly dramatic, requiring some major modifications to how it operates. The trigger in particular. That said, shooters with a modicum of mechanical prowess and patients should be capable of switching the rifle over at home.
If the thought of banging around the inside of your rifle spooks you, fear not. Most gunsmiths are well verse in SKSs and can jimmy together your conversion at a fair price.
The Downside As with everything firearms, there are pitfalls to SKS bullpups. Among these, many conversions lack in fore-end real estate, their not left-hand friendly and the typical bullpup cons such as tail-heavy design and sometimes less than desirable trigger loom large. Deal breakers? Most likely not. More like tradeoffs—but it also depends on the shooter.
The explicit downside of the SKS conversion—particularly measured against any off-the-shelf gun—is you’re flying into the unknown. Unless you have a buddy that has one there’s no chance to test fire the configuration. In turn, you’re going by faith its how you want your Simonova.
Top Bullpup Conversion Kits
Shernic Gun Works
Photo: Guns America
Going on around of decade of producing SKS bullpup conversions, Shernic Gun Works (SG) has a good handle on what they produce. It shows. Coming with everything you need to convert your rifle, the SG kit has you covered in one felled swoop and is relatively simple to execute.
As to what you get out of it, an SKS that fairly comparable to a Travor in size and configuration. Lacking somewhat is a Travor-esque fore-end, it’s much more abbreviated on the SG conversion. Still, with the addition of vertical grip, it proves just as nimble.
Constructed of shock-resistant polymer, the bullpup's body is rugged enough for anything the real world throws at it. An extended magazine release hastens reloads. And extra space for extended-capacity magazines ensures you have plenty of firepower on tap.
Innovating the bullpups ergonomics and handling characteristics, Center Balance Systems (CBS) puts a twist on the already unique configuration. The most notable aspect is right in the company’s name—balance.
Much more to the center of the rifle, there more equilibrium to the conversion. In turn, it’s more responsive in the hands with less muzzle rise when shot. Good things.
In all, CBS offers four different kits—the SKSAR, Pug I, Pug II and Pug III. Across the board, the conversions offer plenty of rail space, twin-bar trigger linkage and support-side bolt-release mechanism CBS calls a slam bolt.
Nice as that last point is, eliminating the need to crane around to reach the charging handle, it’s the fore-end that wins points with these bullpups. There’s plenty of it on all but the Pug I, allotting the utmost control over the rifle without the addition of another accessory.
Distinctive and solidly made, Rifle Tech’s Hitech SKS bullpup conversion offers one of the best fits on the market. Mainly, because the company pre-fits all the components to your particular model. Can’t beat that.
Precision has it’s payoffs, aside from a quality fit. It also makes for one of the least painful conversion processes of the available kits. Is it drop-in, as Rifle Tech claims? Not quite. But it’s as close as you’ll get going bullpup.
As to the bullpup itself, it’s a trim affair—which is good and bad. On the one hand, the Hitech bullpup is quick to the shoulder and deftly transitions targets. On the other hand, you’ll most certainly require a vertical grip given the fore-end is nearly non-existent.
Spend the money and the Hitech is available with all sorts of extras—deflector, muzzle brake, rails, etc. But it’s à la carte and can add up quickly.
Economical and absolutely on target, the Savage B22 Precision redefines the affordable match rimfire rifle.
What Makes The B22 Precision So Accurate:
Sports a one-piece machined aluminum chassis from MDT
Chassis is adjustable for LOP and comb height
Outfitted with Savage's adjustable AccuTrigger
Boasts an 18-inch button-rifled barrel
Tactical-style bolt knob that makes short bolt through feel shorter
By any measure, NRL22 (National Rifle League .22-caliber competitions) is the fastest-growing shooting sport in the country, if not the world.
What started as a few small matches three years ago has grown to 189 registered clubs in 44 states and five countries. Most hold monthly matches, the course of fire for which is posted online in advance. As a result, thousands of shooters are lining up at the exact same stages—whether they’re in South Dakota or South Carolina. All it takes is a .22 rifle, some ammo and a 100-yard range.
Savage Arms is no stranger to NRL22. Its lineup of affordable rimfires has dominated the NRL22 base class, for which the combined cost of the rifle and scope can’t exceed $1,050. At the 2019 national match, where the top shooters in the country competed head to head, shooters running the Savage B22 took home three of the top four base class trophies.
This year, the Westfield, Massachusetts, gunmaker has doubled down on that dominance over affordable rimfire accuracy. The B22 Precision, clearly an NRL22-inspired rifle, pairs the successful B22 action and magazine system with a heavy target barrel, chassis rifle and target trigger—all at an MSRP of $599.
Chassis + Trigger = Match-Ready
The B22 Precision was born out of a partnership between Savage and British Columbia chassis builder Modular Driven Technologies (MDT). The chassis is one-piece machined aluminum from buttstock to forend (there’s no swapping buttstocks as can be done on MDT’s other designs). A spacer system allows length of pull adjustments from 12.75 to 13.75 inches. There’s an adjustable cheek riser. There are four M-Lok slots on the forend at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. There’s a forward sling stud and M-Lok slot in the buttstock for a rear sling attachment. The rifle comes with an angled MDT grip with a large palm swell.
The chassis-to-barreled-action fit is exceptional. Torqued down, there’s zero wiggle or flex, and the barrel centers perfectly in the channel. However, finding the best way to torque them together took some experimenting.
Here’s a typical cold bore group. Note that the first shot is low by about an inch. The rest of the shots cluster well. Center-X shot low from a cold bore every time. Others, such as Greentag, shot high by about an inch before returning to center.
With the Savage actions, MDT recommends starting the action screws and then lightly pushing the action forward into the recoil lug before torquing down to about 65 in-lb. When I did this, one of my two B22 magazines no longer “clicked” into the rifle. It fit, but not well. This also threw off the bolt timing a bit. Every 30th or 40th shot didn’t clear the action on ejection, tumbling into the open air between the bolt face and breech and then settling atop the magazine.
Some bullets also caught on the edge of the chamber, shaving some of the soft lead nose—which is detrimental to accuracy. This was especially the case with the flat-nosed bullets I tested. The situation felt dire, but all these issues went away by resetting the action with some rearward pressure. The rifle has performed exceptionally well and without issue since.
Lesson learned: Take your time setting action to chassis and experiment with placement … or, don’t take it apart in the first place.
The aluminum MDT chassis has the fit and finish we’ve come to expect from this British Columbian precision builder.
Besides the chassis, the trigger is what really sets this rifle apart. Rather than the standard rimfire AccuTrigger, Savage developed a new .22 LR target AccuTrigger. The break is crisp and clean, with zero creep or crunch. Mine measured 2 pounds out of the box.
The button-rifled, 18-inch barrel is threaded for a suppressor. There’s an oversized, tactical-style bolt knob that makes the short bolt throw feel even shorter.
The B22 magazines aren’t perfect. I did notice some bullet shaving on the lip of my magazines after about 200 rounds, but at the end of the day, the overall rifle build proved especially accurate, handy and ready to compete—all for a real-world price of under $500.
Ammo and Accuracy
This test rifle was topped with a Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24×50 scope on the provided zero MOA Picatinny rail—an NRL22 base class favorite. To familiarize myself with the particularities of the gun, 300 rounds of CCI Standard ammunition were sent down the barrel. My very best .22 LRs have not shown their true accuracy potential until the 300- to 500-round mark, so it was important to break in the rifle before proper group shooting.
The buttstock is made by MDT and attaches directly to the chassis. Just about the only things on the whole rifle that feel “price point” are the knobs on the cheek riser.
The best chassis/action fit was determined, as explained above, and the 2-pound factory AccuTrigger pull weight was turned back to 1.5 pounds, according to my mechanical Timney pull weight gauge. This is a bone-simple process: Simply turn the target spring clockwise on the.22 LR target AccuTrigger. There’s no adjustment screw as is found on other AccuTrigger models, so the adjustment can be made by hand.
I used U.S.B.R. 50-yard benchrest targets from American Target Company. These card-stock targets make for easy measuring and, with 28 bulls per target, you can do a lot of it. I tested six brands of match ammo. A VSG cleaning felt was sent down the barrel between ammo brands to help re-lube the barrel between ammo types.
In order to let the rifle settle into that new bullet and lube, the first 10 shots of each type were not measured. The five-shot groups of record were measured from the outside edge, and .224 inch (the width of a .22 bullet) was deducted for a final on-center figure. All told, I put 600 additional rounds through the gun while accuracy testing.
All the ammo that was tested. Everything except the Aguila shot acceptably well.
CCI Greentag proved the most accurate on average, with just over half-MOA performance at 0.529 inch. The best group was an absolute stunner—0.268 inch with CCI Standard. Was that group an exception? Yes, but it goes to show the rifle can shoot inexpensive ammo very well. CCI Standard averaged a group size of 0.661 inch. Higher-dollar ammo did well too: Lapua Center-X came in second only to Greentag. Eley Match produced many tiny clusters and showed the best standard deviation (SD) of 9.5—a critical metric if you hope to shoot very long-range.
While every individual rimfire rifle has its own ammo preferences, I know of other Savage B22 Precisions in the world that also shoot CCI Greentag remarkably well. So, if you get this rifle, Greentag should be your first ammo consideration.
The Takeaway
If you’re looking for a sharp-shooting .22 LR that won’t break the bank, the Savage B22 Precision is your next rifle. It’s match-ready out of the box, spits affordable ammo into teeny-tiny groups and looks like a rifle worth twice the price.
While I laid down some very good averages and a few stunner five-shot groups, .22 LRs barrels are like wine—typically improving with age. I have every reason to believe this rifle will shoot even better as the round count eclipses 1,000 (and, as usual, the “monkey” behind the trigger better learns the gun!).
My guess is that this rifle will soon come to dominate base class NRL22 meets. Topped with the likes of a 6-24 Vortex Diamondback Tactical or Athlon Argos BTR, it’s an excellent precision rig for shooters, both new and old. This would make an excellent club rifle as a rig effectively waiting in the wings for new shooters who want to try NRL22 without immediately investing in new kit.
And, while the B22 Precision fills a competition niche wonderfully, that’s surely not the only job you can find for a tack-driving .22 LR. It’s perfectly suited for less-formal precision rifle practice or even small-game duty. I plan to do just that with mine: compete with it all summer and then, come September, lay down a few tree squirrels with it. There isn’t another .22LR on the market that packs so much into what is effectively a $500 rifle.
Savage B22 Precision Specs Caliber: .22LR Magazine: 10-round, B-mag Barrel length: 18 in. Barrel material: Carbon steel; threaded muzzle Barrel diameter: Heavy (0.805 in. at the muzzle) Rate of twist: 1:16 Trigger: Match-grade target AccuTrigger Stock: MDT chassis Length of pull: Adjustable (12.75–13.75 in.) Overall length: 36.6 in. Weight: 7.38 lb. MSRP: $599
For more information on the Savage B22 Precision, please visit savagearms.com.
The article originally appeared in the 2020 Buyer's Guide issues of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Sporting unorthodox integral sights and radically de-horned, the Sig P938 SAS promises to eliminate all potential snags on a draw.
How the P938 SAS Goes Snag Free:
Integral sight system eliminates main feature that causes snags.
Every potential snag point aggressively milled off the frame and slide.
Ultra-smooth Nitron finish on the slide ensures a smooth draw.
There is more to a concealed carry friendly pistol than its height, width and weight. Important as those factors are, there’s also a little question about deployment—how quickly and effectively it can get out of the holster and into the fight. If you’ve ever wondered that’s why most guns meant for on-person defense have nearly every sharp corner and catching edge smoothed away. Hanging up at the moment of truth has the potential to prove plum deadly.
Sig Sauer has gone a step beyond milling away catch points on its pistols, employing a low rise sight design it’s fittingly dubbed the “Sig Anti-Snag” system. And now it’s available on one of its most popular carry options with the release of the Sig P938 SAS. Not that the petite 1911-style 9mm needs all the much help as a quick and efficient self-defense piece, but few will complain about another leg up.
Originally, the Flush-Mounted FT Bullseye Fiber-Tritium Night Sights were found on the Sig P365 SAS, though the system dates back further. The unorthodox sights, situated in the slide itself, are reminiscent of the gutter sight found on Paris Theodore’s ASP pistol and subsequent Israeli systems. No matter the origin, the aiming solution is about as low as you can go and proves surprisingly intuitive to use. As a bonus, it pops like a skyrocket in low light.
In addition to the sights, the Sig P938 SAS has gone through an extensive dehorning process, making it exceptionally smooth, thus less prone to snags. Additionally, it ships with an extended 7-round magazine with pinky extension, which should make the demure pistol easier to manage. Outside of that, the P938 SAS retains all the popular features that made the original a concealed carry favorite, including rugged alloy aluminum frame, stainless steel slide, snappy single-action trigger and familiar 1911 controls.
Sig Sauer did not release a price on the P938 SAS. For those who appreciate optimized carry systems, the price tag might be beside the point. The pistol performance will prove a value no matter its cost.
More from Sig:
NEWINGTON, N.H. – SIG SAUER, Inc. is pleased to introduce the P938 SAS (SIG Anti-Snag) pistol, bringing new innovation to this popular lightweight, micro-compact, concealed carry pistol.
“When we introduced the SAS technology with the P365 it was immensely popular, and the demand for this new technology in the concealed carry market was immediate. The SIG P938 is a very popular micro-compact pistol, so the addition of the SAS technology was a natural fit for this platform,” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales. “Our proprietary SAS technology removes all the snag points from the pistol for a seamless draw. The integrated, flush-mounted FT Bullseye sight mounted directly into the slide is intuitive, and easy for the untrained eye to pick-up for fast target acquisition.”
The SIG SAUER P938 SAS is a 9mm, single action only (SAO), hammer fired, alloy frame pistol with a Nitron finish. The pistol features the SIG Anti-Snag (SAS) technology slide treatment with a flush-mounted FT bullseye fiber-tritium night sight, an ambidextrous thumb safety, and ships with (1) 7-round magazine.
Retro guns and AR-15 rifles seem worlds apart, yet they share a common thread. Whether a shooter skins a reboot Single Action Army revolver or run’s 3-Gun competitions with a cutting-edge build, it’s all for the love of shooting. In this installment of new guns and gear we gather some of the top goods and firearms from both ends of the spectrum. No matter where you fall, you’re sure to find something at which to take aim.
New AR-15s And AR Accessories
Real Avid Master Armorer’s Mat
Whether for workbench or kitchen table gunsmithing, this is a must! Combining a massive protective work mat with ample organizational storage, Real Avid’s Master Armorer’s Mat keeps your AR projects in order. Oil resistant and non-slip, this 48×20-inch mat protects surfaces from permanent stains while keeping all your gun’s parts in one place. Tools and components are kept in order at the side and within reach through a multi-bin system, so you’ll never lose a pin or ring. The mat features an exploded drawing of an AR-15, with each and every part numbered and labeled for fast reference. MSRP: $44.99; realavid.com
Faxon Firearms Bantam
Luckily for shooters, Ohio-based Faxon Firearms has leapt from components to complete builds with the feature-rich Bantam. Honestly, the 9mm carbine has plenty of room to grow, but if you’re looking for a solid, off-the-shelf gun, it more than ticks the boxes. To start, the 16-inch-barreled, blow-back Bantam has several features you’d expect on a more expensive AR-style PC, including a lightweight, 13-inch M-Lok, aluminum, free-floated handguard and last-round hold-open. In addition, it boasts foraged receivers with a tensioning screw to ensure the tightest possible mate-up between upper and lower. Finally, it’s Glock magazine compatible. MSRP: $949; faxonfirearms.com
Odin Works NAV 22 Suppressor
With its first foray into .22 LR suppressors, Odin Works delivers the NAV 22. Tubeless and configurable, the stainless steel and aircraft-grade aluminum can isn’t only a snap to swab out, it’s also configurable to any circumstance. If you need to dampen your rimfire to next to nothing, run all six baffles. If nimbleness is a priority, go minimal with just one. With a dB rating of 113 on a rifle weighing 4 ounces at maximum size and compatible with .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR and .17 Hornet, the NAV 22 has a huge impact for such a compact device. It’s a must-have for anyone who shucks mountains of rimfire. MSRP: $349; odinworks.com
MTM Case-Gard Tactical Rifle Case
Every gun deserves a solid case. MTM Case-Gard provides them one with the introduction of its Tactical Rifle Case. Built and configured like a high-dollar hard case, this molded-plastic carrier is surprisingly light on the pocketbook. The 42-inch-long case boasts rugged snap latches, interior foam padding and multiple tiedown points and keeps your firearms as secure as if they were at home in the safe. Furthermore, if you invest in a couple, they’re stackable, so storing them at home or in your trunk isn’t a hassle. MSRP: $72.95; mtmcase-gard.com
Sig .300 BLK Subsonic Hunting Ammo
The new Sig 205-grain subsonic .300 BLK load is specifically designed for use out of abbreviated barrels favored by those who shoot suppressed. At the same tick, they’re topped with a unique bullet that’s reminiscent of Wilhelm Brenneke’s mini-wadcutter design. However, the stepped side isn’t meant to provide a cutting edge—like Brenneke’s bullet—but it ensures smooth feeding through a fully loaded, 30-round magazine. The Sig 205-grain subsonic 300 BLK has the stuff to stay quiet, moving at 1,000 fps at the muzzle out of a 16-inch-barreled rifle. It’s jacketed lead-core projectile is engineered to reach full expansion at these mild velocities. MSRP: $33.95 (box of 20); sigsauer.com
Achieving nothing less than a masterstroke, Brownells dusted off one of Eugene Stoner’s most underappreciated designs last year: the AR-180 (or, the “BRN-180”). Now, the company has the components so you can build your own piston-driven “cousin” of the AR-15. Paying homage to the original design, Brownells’ lower receiver has the correct lines. However, it’s been upgraded to meet modern shooters’ needs. Some of these upgrades include a rear Picatinny rail to attach a stock or brace; compatibility with mil-spec parts kits; and the ability to accept USGI STANAG-style magazines. It’s fantastic that Brownells has resurrected the “Widowmaker”; even better—you can now build your own. MSRP: $129.99; brownells.com
Fightlite Industries Wood Stock SCR Carbine
It’s never easy to get geeked-up over what’s essentially a compromise AR. Nevertheless, there’s something intriguing about the Fightlite Industries Wood Stock SCR Carbine (perhaps it’s the walnut!). Essentially an AR, this gun has none of the cosmetic features that legislators find so objectionable … meaning that it’s legal, coast to coast. Also, because it’s mil-spec, the SCR is completely upgradeable. Therefore, you can customize it beyond its hardwood stock. It’s currently only available in .223 Rem./5.56 NATO. Perhaps Fightlite will offer it in .350 Legend sometime in the future. MSRP: $1,279.99; fightlite.com
Three Affordable Chronograph Options To Check Your Speed
New Retro Guns And Gear
Galco Ruger Wrangler Holster
Like a thundering stampede, the Ruger Wrangler has run roughshod through the gun world. Galco has gotten into the action of the slick and affordable .22 single-action Army revolver with a classy option to hang the heater. Distinctively Western in appearance, the tanned steer-hide rig is designed to ride high and keep your Wrangler ready for any varmints that get in your path. Boasting an open top, it draws easily but keeps your gun in place the rest of the time—thanks to a sturdy hammer thong retention feature. And, if you want to piece together a complete rig, Galco offers a specially made matching cartridge belt for the holster. MSRP: $79 (holster); $109 (belt)
Shooters Choice Bullseye Box
Whether your guns are new or old, one thing that never goes out of style is keeping them in tip-top shape. Shooters Choice offers you the Bullseye Box, which contains all the needed tools to keep your guns clean as a whistle. A 300-piece, universal gun-cleaning kit, it’s more than enough to tackle any routine maintenance on rifles, shotguns and pistols. Best of all, the Bullseye Box eliminates hunting for the right brush or jag, because it’s packed in a tackle box-style case with ample cubbies and storage space. In addition to patches, bushes, rods, swabs, towels and other tools, the kit also comes with a full complement of cleaning chemicals, oils and grease. In short, it eliminates any excuse you might have for not keeping your guns pristine. MSRP: $175; galcogunleather.com
Red Ryder Model 1938 80th Anniversary Edition
Can you even call it “retro”? It’s never gone out of style. Kids of all ages still pine over the hallowed Red Ryder Model 1938—ready to take down Black Bart and his gang … while avoiding shooting their own eyes out. Now, with nearly a century under its belt, Daisy has released an anniversary model of the hallowed BB gun that, if possible, makes it even more desirable. The 80th Anniversary special edition comes with some extras not found on ordinary Red Ryders, including commemorative engraving on the forearm and medallion in the buttstock. Otherwise, the trusty lever-action has everything else that’s endeared it to American youths: wood stock and forearm, saddle ring, real leather thong and adjustable rear sight. Classic as ever! MSRP: $39.99; daisy.com
Bond Arms Grizzly
Long the staple of riverboat gamblers and ladies of the night, the derringer has found new life as a modern-day back-up gun. And, nobody does these petite pistols better than Texas’s own Bond Arms. Joining the gunmaker’s extensive catalog in 2020 is a potent .45 Colt/.410 bore that goes by the name “Grizzly.” Part of Bond’s Rough Series, this twin-barrel (3 inches) pistol is built of stainless steel and features a bead-blasted finish, rebounding hammer, retracting firing pins, spring-loaded, cammed locking lever and cross-bolt safety. Lively rosewood grips, engraved with a grizzly bear, top it all off. As on all Bond derringers, you can swap barrels on the gun. The Grizzly comes with a leather holster that’s embossed with—you guessed it—another grizzly. MSRP: $377; bondarms.com
Uberti Short Stroke KL CMS
A bit like mounting a V8 inside an Appaloosa, Uberti’s competition-focused, single-action Army (SAA) adds modern muscle to a throwback gun. Co-designed by Cowboy Mounted Shooting World Champion Kenda Lenseigne, the Short Stroke KL CMS Pro is among the fastest shooters around today. This is thanks to a terse hammer throw that greatly cuts down cocking and cycling time on the 3½-inch-barreled .45 Colt revolver. Aiding in this is a wide, low and deeply checkered spur with plenty of real estate to cock it back, as well as a custom-grade mainspring and modified birdshead grip. It’s available in stainless steel with a blued barrel and color case-hardened frame. MSRP: Starting at $739; uberti-usa.com
Steinel Ammunition 6.5x52mm Carcano
Despite one particular Carcano rifle’s notorious past in 1960s Dallas, the former Italian military service rifle is still a worthy, if not desirable, addition to a collection. It’s an even a better one, now that Steinel Ammunition is turning out something to feed it. Known for tackling some of the harder-to-find military calibers, Steinel has tacked on an 6.5x52mm Carcano option. A 160-grain load delivers a muzzle velocity of 1,770 fps, which gets fairly impressive results out of the soft-point, round-nose bullet. By Steinel’s telling, the .267-caliber bullet mushrooms to around .516 inch at shorter ranges and offers nearly 39 inches of penetration—plenty good enough if you’re looking to turn an old war relic into a whitetail-season staple. MSRP: $31.99 (box of 20); steinelammo.com
Brownells Retro 4X AR Optic
Rounding up a reasonable facsimile of an original optic for your retro AR build became a world simpler, thanks to Brownells. Adding to its rich catalog of throwback rifles, this gun parts retailer now includes a dead ringer for the 1970 vintage Colt AR-15 carry handle optic. Exceeding simple looks, the Brownells Retro 4X is a performer, perhaps surpassing the original as a result of modern manufacturing processes. Because of it multi-coated lenses, fog-, waterproof and fine controls, you can dial in the scope to drive tacks. And, its slight duplex reticle and low power make it intuitive to use—not to mention that it’s fast-moving from target to target. It’s just the thing to crown your reproduction gem. MSRP: $299.99; brownells.com
The article originally appeared in the June and July 2020 issues of Gun Digest the Magazine.
With tools to improve recoil management, the Mantis X10 Elite gets you on target again and again … fast.
What Are Some Of The Shooting Facets The X10 Elite Helps You Improve:
Trigger Pull Mechanics
Split Time Between Shots
Recoil Management
Smoothness Of A Shotgun Swing
Draw Mechanics
The old joke goes: Want to know what it’s like to own a boat? Pour cold buckets of water over yourself while burning $100 bills, and you get the idea. Shooting isn’t too far off—just without the deluge of water.
Every time you want to get out and hone your skills by pitching supersonic lead (not to mention the purchase price of the hardware), you’ve got to crack open the piggy bank. Outside the spendthrift .22 LR, your ammunition tab can skyrocket faster than an Atlas rocket with almost every other gun you aim to master. Unless you’re rocking a Jeff Bezos-sized credit limit, cost matters. Which is to say that it’s good practice to make every shot count.
But how do you accomplish this, short of hiring a personal firearms instructor?
Subjective analysis can only take you so far. You almost need someone splitting hairs over every trigger pull, poring over its minutia and giving you expert advice on how to improve.
Whether you slapped at the trigger or achieved textbook trigger-pull perfection, the X10 will let you know precisely how you performed.
Amazingly enough, you can get exactly that every time you head to the range—and for hundreds of dollars less than it would cost to have a pro at your elbow.
Technological Edge
The Mantis X is no secret, having stormed the stage a little over a year ago. Gun Digest was among the first to put this personal training device through its paces … and walked away as impressed as the rest of the gun world at large.
Yet, the mad geniuses behind this unimposing device have vastly stepped up their technological game with version number 2, perhaps making it one of the most useful investments any shooter can make if they have a yen for self-improvement.
But before touching upon where the new Mantis X10 Elite (MSRP: $250) is now, perhaps we should go over exactly where it came from.
Helping you visualize the path of your gun’s muzzle during recoil, the device and app gives you the tools to manage it and correct any problems.
The trigger finger: Like it or not, that one, single digit has more to say about drilling bull’s-eyes than all the breath control and skeletal support in the world. If you slap at it or don’t apply enough of it (or too much of it), you’ve got a target full of fliers—after which you find yourself with a fistful of your hair. Worse yet, outside of downrange results, you’re left guessing exactly what’s going wrong inside the trigger.
Unless you run a Mantis. Attaching to your pistol, rifle or shotgun, this device gives you instant feedback regarding how your shot breaks via its smartphone device app. Grading each shot between 0 and 100, it dissects the intricacies of your trigger pull, letting you know if you’re filching before the moment of truth or delivering textbook perfection. More useful, it maps this progression—or, in some cases, regression—over time, giving you a baseline to improve from.
It’s the same concept pro baseball players use to analyze their swing. They can’t see exactly what’s happening when the bat meets the ball—nor can you when your finger finishes its path.
While trigger-pull analysis is the heart of the Mantis system, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. This device/app also features:
Training drills
Shooting courses
Shot timer
Dry- and live-fire modes
Smoothness analytics (for shotgun swing)
Want to know where you hit? Now you've got a running record.
The new twist with the Mantis X10: It not only aims at making you more accurate, but faster on the trigger as well.
Managing The Big “R”—Recoil
Anybody can rattle off a string of rounds speedily, but hitting something while doing so; well, that’s another matter. Accuracy is only achieved if you learn how to manage the recoil of your gun.
The Mantis X10 Elite pulls back the veil on this aspect with what it calls a “Recoilmeter.” As its name suggests, it takes measurements of how much your gun hops when you send a round downrange. But the data it outputs is much more functional than the foot-pound of thrust your body absorbs.
Instead, the device outputs several key measurements that give you a clear picture of how you’re managing recoil from shot to shot:
Recovery time
Muzzle rise (in degrees)
Recoil width (how many degrees your muzzle swings off axis)
Recoil angle (which direction your muzzle travels)
For the sake of simplicity, Mantis creates a map of the vertical path of the front of your gun. Perfectly managed, this path would draw an exact up-and-down line (good luck with that!).
Not only does the X10 easily attach to nearly any accessory rail, but an included mounting bracket allows you to attach it to any firearm.
The best of us most likely will draw a lower-case cursive “L”—at the worst, maybe a cursive “Z”— with the path of the gun canting on the return to the centerline. But the more you straighten it out, the more efficient your recoil management is and the more quickly you can shoot accurately.
More In The X10 Elite Bundle
Mantis envisions the X10 as more than a staple for shooters boning up on their defensive handgun skills. Included in the package is a mounting bracket that allows you to attach it to any gun you have in your safe—from a trusted deer rifle to a clay-splitting over/under. Heck, you can even rig it up to a bow to make sure you let your arrows fly as true as your bullets.
The company has also expanded the X10’s analytic capabilities over the original (holster-draw analysis handguns and consistency comparison shotguns). In essence, it’s just short of an entire firearms academy, all in a device that weighs under an ounce.
For more information on the Mantis X10 Elite, please visit mantisx.com
Fall in love with the 125-year-old .30-30 Winchester all over again, this time on the reloading bench.
Does anyone shoot a .30-30 anymore? I mean, it doesn’t say “Creedmoor,” it doesn’t launch bullets with a BC of .900, and it sure won’t take an elk at 700 yards.
However, the resounding answer is, Hell, yeah! It still makes an excellent close-quarters rifle for deer, black bear, feral hogs and more. It’s very easy to shoot, it usually comes in a slim, svelte rifle that’s easy to carry, and it handles well in the thick woods.
Is it sexy? Certainly not by modern standards, but there’s absolutely no arguing the effectiveness of the cartridge in the hands of a hunter who knows how to get within 100 or so yards of their quarry.
Like my father, I took my first whitetail with a .30-30. I had a Winchester Model 94, and my father had a Marlin Model 1893. It was affordable to shoot (to this day, a decent box of ammo can be had for under $20), and while I’ve had many rifles since, I can honestly say that I’ve had more misfires with factory .30-30 ammunition than probably all others combined. Across the multitude of Marlins, Savages, H&Rs and Winchesters, it seemed as if the 1980s and ’90s were eras of lousy .30-30 ammunition.
However, it did have an upside: It drove me to learn how to handload my own ammunition.
The .30-30 Backstory
With a big rim for positive headspacing and a neck long enough for good neck tension, the .30-30 Winchester isn’t at all hard to handload. Historically, it has the honor of being the first American small-bore cartridge designed around smokeless powder, and it’s simply a .38-55 Winchester case necked down to hold .308-inch-diameter bullets.
For the New York bear season, especially the early season when the vegetation is still thick, a .30-30 and a round-nose Partition make perfect sense.
At the time, our beloved .30-caliber was not anywhere as popular as it currently is (.32-caliber was actually more popular in the late 1890s), but as the .30-30 Winchester, along with the .30-40 Krag, it was about to change all that. The John M. Browning-designed Model 1894 Winchester would be the major vehicle to bring the cartridge to the masses, going on to sell more than 7,000,000 units—with the majority in .30-30 Winchester.
The very name of the cartridge hints at the proper powder charge; while using the black powder-era nomenclature, the latter number in the name is actually the smokeless powder charge. (My own favorite loads weigh at or near 30 grains … but more about that in a minute.)
Like so many of the rimmed, lever-action cartridges of that era, the .30-30 Winchester has a rather thin case. While this doesn’t pose an issue if pressures and velocities are kept in check, when a reloader tries to push the envelope, the case will often fail prematurely, usually in the form of cracked necks. In some lever guns, excess pressure could manifest itself in the form of primers popping out of the pocket slightly.
Barrel Lengths & Velocities
I’ll say this straight-faced: Trying to turn the .30-30 Winchester into the .300 Savage or .308 Winchester is no good for you or your rifle, but if you accept the parameters of the cartridge, you’ll have a lifetime of great shooting. The factory ammunition for the .30-30 lists the 170-grain load at roughly 2,200 fps and the 150-grain load at 2,400 fps. Those numbers are usually spot-on in the longer-barreled rifles, but no so much in the carbines.
At 125 years old, Winchester’s .30-30 still makes an excellent hunting cartridge.
For example, my Winchester Model 94 AE XTR is a light and handy rifle, but its 20-inch barrel gives velocities about 150 fps lower than the advertised values. My dad’s 1902-vintage Marlin Model 1893 (with its 26-inch barrel) gives muzzle velocities much closer to those listed on the box.
Does that mean my rifle is ineffective? No, but it does affect the trajectory out past 100 yards, and I’m not comfortable shooting iron sights much farther than that anyhow.
So, when reloading for the .30-30, plan to see velocities commensurate to your barrel length. Handloaded ammunition for the .30-30 will generally run about 50 fps behind factory ammunition, and then, you should adjust for your barrel length—about 25 to 30 fps for each inch of deviation from the test barrel—adding speed if your barrel is longer and subtracting if it’s shorter.
Best .30-30 Winchester Loads
The most accurate load in my Winchester 94 uses a 170-grain Hornady InterLock round-nose bullet over 30.0 grains of IMR4064, sparked by a CCI 200 primer, with a muzzle velocity of 2,025 fps. It’ll print three in an inch at 50 yards, and just over 2 inches at 100. At 170 grains, the Hornady Interlock has enough sectional density to give good penetration on both deer and bear.
I also like the 170-grain Nosler Partition—with a good round-nose design so there’s no issue in a tubular magazine—over 31.2 grains of IMR4320 in the longer-barreled Marlin, giving 2,190 fps. The same bullet is equally accurate with 27.0 grains of Norma 200 powder (while not nearly as popular as the IMR, Hodgdon and Alliant powders, the Norma series is excellent stuff). Be sure to check the barrel length on the test data, and if your barrel is longer, it’s most important to start at the bottom of the scale and work upward.
If you live in a lead-free zone or prefer the performance of a monometal bullet, the 150-grain Nosler E-Tip, with a round, polymer tip and boat-tail (for ease of loading), makes a great choice. That Marlin 1893 likes a charge of 31.5 grains of IMR4895 for 2,415 fps.
I like to seat my bullets to the middle of the cannelure, and I set my seating die up for a good roll crimp. Both these rifles use a side-loading gate and a tubular magazine, and the nose of the bullet will be used to push the previous cartridge farther into the tube magazine; even with the .30-30’s good neck tension, the bullet can be pushed into the case without a good crimp.
A standard large rifle primer (I lean heavily on the Federal 210 and the CCI 200) will work just fine for the .30-30 case, because the capacity usually runs between 34 and 36 grains, depending on brand and bullet seating depth. For powder choices, the .30-30 likes medium-burning choices such as IMR4064, IMR4320, Varget, Reloder 15 and IMR4895. I’ve had good results with Norma 200 and Accurate 5744 as well.
For lever rifles, I highly recommend full-length resizing all your cases, because the rifles don’t have the power to cam the action closed like a bolt rifle does. Keep things consistent, and I bet you’ll fall in love with the 125-year-old cartridge all over again.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
