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Super Sleeper: Why To Consider The .38 Super For Self-Defense

By
Richard A. Mann
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7

A defensive CCW cartridge you’ve never considered: the .38 Super.

The story of the .38 Super starts in 1900, when Colt introduced the John Browning-designed M1900 .38 Automatic pistol. Interestingly, this was two years prior to the introduction of the 9mm Luger. The 9mm Luger was almost immediately adopted by the German military, but the .38 Automatic (ACP) was rejected by the U.S. military, which ultimately adopted the .45 ACP and the Colt Government Model in 1911.

Now, ironically, our troops are carrying 9mm pistols.

In 1929, Colt tried again with an improved version of the .38 ACP. This modernized cartridge had a new name—.38 Super—and the only improvement amounted to nothing more than the cartridge being loaded to a higher pressure: 36,500 psi, as compared to 26,500 psi. This resulted in a velocity increase of about 200 fps.

The King of Competition

Some mistakenly assume the .38 Super is based on the 9mm Luger. It isn’t; the .38 Super case is semi-rimmed, smaller in diameter and longer than that of the 9mm Luger.

The Super was only marginally successful until about 35 years ago, when it became a favorite of practical pistol competitors. In IPSC competitions, there’s a power factor that must be met. It’s calculated by multiplying a cartridge’s bullet weight by its muzzle velocity. Then, the product is divided by 1,000.

The Buffalo Bore 115-grain JHP load for the .38 Super is one of the best defensive loads available. With a muzzle velocity of 1,400-plus fps, it will out-penetrate just about any comparable 9mm Luger load.
The Buffalo Bore 115-grain JHP load for the .38 Super is one of the best defensive loads available. With a muzzle velocity of 1,400-plus fps, it will out-penetrate just about any comparable 9mm Luger load.

At the time, 175 was the lower limit for “major class” (currently, the IPSC major power factor is 165). Competing with a “major” pistol was a huge advantage, because hits were worth an additional point. By using a barrel with a supported chamber in a 1911 pistol, competitors found they could make major with the Super. And, a 1911 in .38 Super held more ammo than one in .45 ACP.

For a time, the Super was the king of competition.

More Self-Defense Cartridges:

The Super for Defense

But what about the .38 Super as a defensive handgun cartridge? Texas Ranger Frank Hammer carried one, and my good friend and former Texas sheriff, Jim Wilson, is fond of the cartridge as well. For an auto-pistol cartridge, the velocity is high, and the recoil is noticeably less than you’ll feel from a .40 S&W or a .45 ACP. From an external ballistics standpoint, the Super might not be the equivalent of a big-block V8 but is, for sure, a supercharged small block.

However, ammunition options in .38 Super are not limitless and, on top of that, .38 Super ammo can sometimes be hard to find. I had a limited supply of .38 Super ammunition on hand from Wilson Combat and Buffalo Bore and fed it all through a Les Baer 1911 Commanche. I started with five, five-shot groups with each load from a sandbag rest at 15 yards. Two of the loads performed very well, and the other two delivered about average accuracy from a 4.25-inch gun at the tested distance. Even so, overall, the Commanche averaged 1.5 inches for 20 five-shot groups at 15 yards.

.38 Super Terminal Performance

Of course, this is well within any reasonable expectation for precision from a defensive handgun. The more important question is, What kind of terminal performance can be expected from a .38 Super?

On the left is the .380 Auto designed by John Browning; in the middle is the 9mm Luger; and on the right is the John Browning-designed—and Colt’s improved—.38 Super.
On the left is the .380 Auto designed by John Browning; in the middle is the 9mm Luger; and on the right is the John Browning-designed—and Colt’s improved—.38 Super.

To find out, I tested three of the four loads I had on hand—one was an FMJ load—in 10 percent ordnance gelatin. On average, the major difference I found when comparing the .38 Super to 9mm Luger was a substantial increase in penetration. Looking at all the 9mm Luger loads I’ve tested over the years, the average penetration depth in 10 percent ordnance gelatin was about 14 inches. The average penetration depth for the three .38 Super loads tested was 2.5 inches—17 percent—deeper. (For what it’s worth, there are only about six quality defensive loads available for the .38 Super, so I tested half of them.)

This increase in penetration is due to two factors.

The first is the increase in velocity, which is about 200 fps when compared to 9mm Luger loads with the same bullet weight. The second is the reduction in recovered-bullet diameter. Due to the higher velocity, bullets fired from the .38 Super tend to deform, with a smaller frontal diameter, which averages about 1.4 times the original bullet diameter.

However, this slight reduction doesn’t negatively impact .38 Super terminal performance, because the higher impact velocity, combined with the dynamic expansion of the bullet, creates a larger wound cavity with the potential for more-serious wounding. This is another way of saying the .38 Super makes a bigger “splash” than the 9mm.

Grand Invention

When it comes to the .38 Super, I think there are several things to consider. The first is that, on average, it will out-penetrate the three most common defensive handgun cartridges (the 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 Auto) commonly chambered in semi-automatic pistols. The recoil of the .38 Super is more manageable than that of a .40 S&W or .45 Auto, and it has a higher velocity than the 9mm Luger. It also allows for a substantial increase in capacity when compared to a .40 S&W or .45 Auto. From the standpoint of the defensive handgunner, all these things are important … and this should make you wonder why the Super .38 is not more popular.

The .38 Super is a fantastic cartridge for the defensive handgun—especially if you’re looking for a handgun with more power than a 9mm and a higher capacity than a .45 Auto.
The .38 Super is a fantastic cartridge for the defensive handgun—especially if you’re looking for a handgun with more power than a 9mm and a higher capacity than a .45 Auto.

Colt, Rock Island, EAA and Llama all offer pistols chambered in .38 Super, as do many custom 1911 builders (such as Les Baer).

Regardless of its performance or popularity as a defensive handgun cartridge, we have to acknowledge that it’s yet another grand invention of John Moses Browning, who also gave us the .45 Auto, .380 Auto, 1911 and the M2 machine gun. Even after 100 years, those three cartridges and two firearms are still being trusted all over the world.

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

3 Dry Fire Drills Enhanced By G-Sight ELMS

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0
Sponsored Content
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.

Adding accuracy and urgency to your dry fire regimen, G-Sight ELMS ups your handgun skills without the need for ammo.

What Dry Fire Drills Does ELMS Enhance:

Like playing Texas Hold’em by yourself, dry fire training isn’t a thrill a minute. Take away the bang and the hit downrange, well, you’ve got some pretty dry (pun intended) trigger time. That said, disciplining yourself to drop the hammer on an empty chamber on a regular basis has always been among the best things you can do to improve your skill as a marksman. Now it’s even better.

In the long-ago—less than five years ago—getting the most out of ammo-free practice was a subjective endeavor. Sure enough, the mechanics were there, honing sight pictures and schooling trigger pulls. But unless you had a sharp-eyed observer picking nits from draw to follow through, at best gauging improvement was a semi-educated guess. No longer, with devices such as the G-Sight ELMS (Expert Laser Marksman System) making alone time with your gun as fruitful as a high-priced class with a seasoned instructor.

What Is ELMS?

We’ve done a full review on what to expect from the G-Sight device previously. Suffice to say, we walked away impressed. But a thumbnail sketch of the system is in order.

There are two parts to the G-Sight ELMS, the laser diode and smart device app. The diode interfaces with your gun, providing what might be considered a virtual bullet—the laser beam. Chambered directly in your handgun, a pressure pad at the rear activates the laser when the firing pin strikes it, thus projecting the laser onto the target.

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.

The other side of the equation, the ELMS app, displays hits. Utilizing a smart device’s camera, it records up to 10 shots giving you an idea of the precision of individual shots and the accuracy of groups. No matter how you cut it, it is a powerful tool.

There’s no substitute for first-shot accuracy. Certainly, many lethal-force encounters require multiple shots to neutralize a threat. However, a dead-nuts center-mass hit goes an incredibly long way in reducing the number of trigger pulls needed to save your skin. This is exactly what the G-Sight ELMS is built for and how it enhances any number of dry fire drills away from general bullseye practice.

Furthermore, you get instant feedback. Not only visual, via shot tracking on the G-Sight app, but also auditory. Hits on the target elicit a sweet ping, nearly as satisfying as knocking a steel target, allowing you to focus where you need to—on target and your front sight.

Drilling In With G-Sight

While general accuracy shooting—plugging away at the X-ring— is worth the time and is an enjoyable diversion. To get the most out of the G-Sight ELMS and dry fire in general, you should strive to work more true-to-life scenarios. No, not a combat roll behind cover. More along the lines of a textbook draw, presentation, trigger pull and follow through. We spell out three areas of practice ELMS enhances below. But, before the cart goes before the horse, a slight word of the aim of dry fire and ELMS work is warranted.

Similar to fielding endless grounders in baseball or running pass routes in football, the goal in ammo-less exercises is building muscle memory. And like those athletic drills, this isn’t accomplished by going full speed from the get-go. Instead, the majority of dry fire work is executed at quarter speed or less, allotting you ample time to perform every movement with the utmost precision. This includes the trigger pull, follow through and reset. There’s magic in the lack of urgency and speed.

Done over and over and over, you’ll program your body to perform these movements with an exactitude. When you pick up the pace this precision will manifest itself. But to start, the keywords are slow, smooth and accurate.

One last note before you start drilling with the G-Sight ELMS—do so safely. Always double and triple check you have no ammunition in your gun or magazines you’ll drill with. A good rule to follow is not to allow any live ammunition in the room in which you’ll practice. One lapse in discipline can cause a lifetime of regret.

Load Up On More Handgun Training:

Presentation
Essentially, this is the foundation of any self-defense dry fire training. At its quick, it’s retrieving your handgun and orientating it toward the target—a skill that requires more practice than it sounds. Utilizing the G-Sight ELMS, this dry fire practice goes a step beyond, incorporating sight-picture acquisition, trigger pull and, of course, accuracy.

Those who carry a concealed handgun should spend time dry practicing their draw so they’re adept at clearing the cover garment out of the way.

When practicing presentation, ideally you’re doing so in steps. That is, clearing clothing, grasping the handgun, orientating your support hand, drawing, etc. Each step of the process you take pains to ensure you’re executing each movement to perfection—including placing a perfect shot with the ELMS. As these slow and deliberate movements become second nature you can speed up, but never to past the point where execution degrades. Finally, when you’re at the point where everything is crisp, clean and relatively quick, you can add an element of urgency with the G-Sight shot timer.

Don’t cheat yourself working on presentation. If you’re practicing with your self-defense handgun, be certain you do so with the holster you’ll carry with and in clothing, you’ll likely wear.

Reload
Chances are in a self-defense situation you won’t need to reload, particularly with the excellent capacity of most modern pistols. But it’s not out of the realm of possibilities. Better safe than sorry, you should be confident and expedient in recharging your handgun with a fresh magazine, manipulating the slide and getting off an aimed shot. Given there are much different mechanics to emergency, speed and tactical reloads than presentation, the G-Sight ELMS goes a long way in honing accuracy on the last part of this practice.

It’s important to practice the reload with a handgun or long gun. This can easily be done during dry practice—just make sure you use dummy rounds.

Reload practice can be practiced standalone or as an extension of a presentation drill. Again, this is where smooth and accurate are at a premium, working each part of the movement in textbook fashion. G-Sight will give you a good gauge if you’re rushing—move too fast you won’t be on target.

Additionally, get into the practice of muzzle discipline with these drills. You’re responsible for every bullet that leaves your handgun, you don’t want any going where they’ll do more harm than good.

Malfunction
Handguns aren’t exempt from Murphy’s law. In turn, you might as well accept you’ll have to deal with a malfunction sooner or later. There are many:

  • Failure to feed
  • Failure to chamber
  • Failure to lock
  • Failure to fire
  • Failure to unlock
  • Failure to extract
  • Failure to eject
  • Failure to cock

Like reloads, addressing malfunctions requires movements that can throw off accuracy—especially given the amped up pressure.

ammo storage-209

We won’t go through how to set up every scenario here, give we have an excellent article on how to stage each type of handgun malfunction. Sufficed to say, G-Sight will give you guidance on where you stand in getting your handgun back in a fight productively. Be patient when practicing clearing stoppages, you’ll find they prove more challenging in maintaining accuracy. But over time you’ll also find you can place meaningful hits as quickly as if you were drawing from your holster.

Kicked To The Curb: Tales Of Recoil And Pain

By
Richard A. Mann
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2

Some take it as a sign of manhood others of unnecessary punishment. One thing is for certain, nobody gets a kick out of excessive recoil.

Hard-kicking guns have been a source of pain and amusement for as long as hard-kicking guns have been around. Big-bore guns are often the hard-kickers … but not always: Lesser guns can pound your shoulder, too.

No doubt you’ve seen Internet videos of folks getting the snot knocked out of them. Sometimes, it’s a surprise, but sometimes, it’s an intentional joke. You might’ve even orchestrated such amusement (I know I have!).

Back in my law enforcement days, we were messing with the department’s new inertia-driven Beretta 1201 FP shotguns. These shotguns would smack you like your mamma used to, especially if you didn’t hold them tightly. One guy was bragging about how he was unaffected by recoil. (Yeah, well, there’s always one of those, right?)

We were shooting hand-thrown clays, and before I handed him the shotgun, I slipped a 3-inch magnum in the tube ahead of a couple of low-brass shells. After the first round of low brass, he turned and grinned to illustrate his magnificent level of manhood.

This standard .45-70 load is not very powerful at all. However, in the <a href=

When the magnum load went bang!, he dropped the shotgun, squalled like a baby and screamed, “Did it blow up?”

Everyone laughed—except him. In fact, I’m laughing again as I write this.

The Gunsmith

I once communicated regularly with a custom builder who made some fantastic dangerous-game rifles. He even handloaded custom ammo for his clients and tested it in order to guarantee sub-MOA precision. I’m not sure you need sub-MOA precision with a buffalo rifle, but I’m damned sure folks will pay handsomely to get it.

At any rate, he called me one night and told me he thought he was allergic to ice cream. I asked how he arrived at that odd conclusion. He said that after dinner every evening, he would eat some ice cream. On several occasions, he’d pass out shortly thereafter. This seemed unusual, and I suggested he visit a specialist.

Come to find out, it wasn’t the ice cream: He’d had a concussion received from continually shooting too damned many rifles that kicked too damned hard. I’m not suggesting the average guy would become “allergic” to ice cream by shooting hard-kicking guns, but I’m confident that if you shoot enough of them, you will become, at a minimum, hypersensitive to shooting them.

Using proper shooting form is one way to mitigate heavy recoil. When shooting a hard-kicking rifle, don’t shoot it across your body—square-up behind the rifle.
Using proper shooting form is one way to mitigate heavy recoil. When shooting a hard-kicking rifle, don’t shoot it across your body—square-up behind the rifle.

Grandpa was right: Too much of a good thing is bad for you, and too much of a bad thing is dangerous.

Master Your Firearms:

Masochistic Magnum Recoil

When I was just starting out writing about guns, I was invited on a turkey hunt. I’m not much of a turkey hunter and have never been much for shotguns—unless the attempted target is flying. There were several big-name writers on this hunt, and they all insisted on 3-inch magnum loads. I can only assume they were seriously pissed off at the turkeys (or maybe just seriously intent on impressing the “new kid”).

All the shotguns were fitted with optical sights, so they all had to be zeroed. In three shots, I had my shotgun—loaded with 2¾-inch loads—dialed in. The other guys? They pounded and pounded targets with little turkey heads on them for hours. Forget jelly-heads, we’re talking jelly-shoulders.

Eventually, they seemed modestly happy with their efforts, even though it was obvious some were flinching as if they’d been in the ring with Mike Tyson. Later that night, copious amounts of alcohol were consumed—I’m sure in an effort to deaden the pain. To add insult to injury, no one killed or even shot at a turkey.

By no means a big-bore, this .35 Whelen load packs a serious punch in a rifle that weighs fewer than 7 pounds—especially when fired from the bench.
By no means a big-bore, this .35 Whelen load packs a serious punch in a rifle that weighs fewer than 7 pounds—especially when fired from the bench.

One of those same writers came to use my range a few years back to pattern some turkey loads he was testing for an article. They were those sadomasochistic 3-inch magnums. He’d shoot a couple times, rub his shoulder and shoot a couple more. After about a dozen, he asked if I’d like to shoot some. I declined. He finished a couple of hours later, asked for some Motrin … and probably went home to cry in the privacy of his own home.

Yours Truly

I’ve never liked rifles that kicked hard and have spent much of my personal life and professional gun-writing career avoiding them. I’ve never wanted to shoot a gun just to see how hard it kicks and have wondered in amazement at those who do.

Still, the circumstances sometimes dictate a certain level of unreasonableness. On more than a few occasions, I’ve had to crawl behind a gun that was, let’s say, “unpleasant” to shoot.

The Griz-Killer

I’ve had a long love affair with the ultra-light rifles of New Ultra Light Arms. They were the first true lightweight hunting rifles. Although many have tried to copy these rifles, they remain the benchmark of that genre. I was provided with one in .35 Whelen to take to Africa on a plains game hunt. Excited about the rifle, the cartridge and the hunt, I got behind it at the bench.

Double-guns are often associated with hard-kicking cartridges. However, most double-guns are heavy, and a heavy rifle is one way to mitigate felt recoil.
Double-guns are often associated with hard-kicking cartridges. However, most double-guns are heavy, and a heavy rifle is one way to mitigate felt recoil.

I pulled the trigger, and … in all honesty, I peed myself just a little. The Hornady Superformance .35 Whelen load pushes a 200-grain bullet to just a shade more than 2,900 fps. Out of that 6.8-pound rifle, that’s almost 40 ft-lb of recoil energy! However, when it comes to recoil, recoil velocity also matters. That rifle/load combination had a recoil velocity 25 percent more than a .308 Winchester.

I emptied my bladder, wiped my watering eyes, manned-up and fired two more shots to get a three-shot group. Amazingly, it measured 0.68 inch, center to center! Fortunately, when shooting from field positions, the rifle was much more manageable, because that’s how those rifles are intended to be shot.

I bought the rifle but never used it again. Later on, I sold it to my best friend, who runs the Baptist Mission in Kodiak, Alaska—partly because I realized I didn’t need to be kicked that hard to kill anything, and partly because he needed a rifle in case he had a run-in with a bear. And, as it turned out, he used it to stop a charging grizzly at only a few feet. It now rides with him on his horse everywhere he goes.

Cowboying-Up

But that wasn’t the hardest-kicking or most-painful-to-shoot rifle I’ve ever fired. The most painful was a Marlin 1985 Cowboy that was chambered for the .45-70 Govt. Granted, .45-70s can kick like the devil when loaded with the heavy Buffalo Bore ammunition, but this rifle—with its hard-plastic butt plate—would bring a tear with every trigger pull, even when using the “anemic” Remington factory ammunition.

Although some will claim a 3-inch shotshell is infinitely more deadly than a 2¾-inch shell, the question is: Are they worth the substantial increase in kick?
Although some will claim a 3-inch shotshell is infinitely more deadly than a 2¾-inch shell, the question is: Are they worth the substantial increase in kick?

I fired a box or two of ammunition through it—the rifle was astoundingly accurate—and sold it. Speaking of .45-70s and Buffalo Bore ammo, I used that combination on my first two African buffalo. However, those Marlin lever-guns had a nice, soft recoil pad. The recoil was forceful (maybe a tad less than a hard hit from a professional linebacker) but not unbearably painful. After about a half-dozen shots, I always got a headache.

As it turns out, those heavy loads are probably not needed for most of the game animals a hunter might use a .45-70 for. On an African safari in 2007, a buddy used those “weakling” Remington loads to take a very nice blue wildebeest. It ran about 30 yards and piled up.

The .500 Cyrus Recoil

The hardest-kicking rifle I’ve ever fired was when a custom gun builder convinced me to take a .50-caliber rifle he’d made to Africa. The wildcat cartridge he’d created was called the .500 Cyrus and was really rather ingenious.

Unlike the .50 BMG cartridge, which shoots a 0.510-caliber bullet, this cartridge fired a true 0.50-caliber bullet. This limited bullet selection, but he’d worked with a custom bullet maker to create some really revolutionary projectiles. Surprisingly, this monstrosity was short enough to fit in an action sized for the .308 Winchester.

The rifle, which was as beautiful as it was demonic, would launch a 345-grain bullet at 2,700 fps. In case you’re mathematically challenged, that’s 5,584 ft-lb of muzzle energy. But, here’s the thing: The rifle only weighed 8 pounds. This meant felt recoil was in the neighborhood of 60 ft-lb—three times that of a .30-06.

Even so, this rifle was incredibly deadly. I used it to take two eland and a blue wildebeest, all with one shot each. When I returned home, the custom builder offered to give it to me. I declined. I told him unless the world was once again infested with dinosaurs, I would never be mad enough at anything—ever—to pull that rifle’s trigger again.

Mitigating Recoil

After almost a half-century of shooting guns, some of which kicked like a violated mule, I’ve found only one foolproof way to avoid the pain: Don’t shoot hard-kicking guns. But, for those of you wanting to flirt with detached retinas and blown-out rotator cuffs, there are a few ways to combat violent recoil.

One way is to select a heavier rifle. On average, 2 pounds of additional rifle weight can reduce felt recoil by as much as 20 percent. You can also invest in one of those recoil pads that strap to your shoulder (for instance, Limbsaver makes one for about $35). They don’t reduce the recoil force, but they do help distribute it over a larger area, thus limiting the pain involved.

The push-pull technique is a good way to reduce felt recoil. It works, but it takes some practice to do it naturally and accurately.
The push-pull technique is a good way to reduce felt recoil. It works, but it takes some practice to do it naturally and accurately.

Another method is a shooting technique taught to me by a Gunsite Academy instructor. He suggested pulling the rifle into your shoulder with your shooting hand while pushing the rifle away from your shoulder with your support hand. In other words, you create sort of a dynamic platform that applies the logic of “opposite force.” In practice, it works wonderfully well and can make a rifle that’ll knock you cross-eyed almost pleasant. On the other hand, it takes a good deal of practice to apply this method unconsciously and with accuracy.

Lastly, there’s no substitute for good shooting technique. Keep the butt firmly in your shoulder, and square your body up perpendicular to the rifle—don’t shoot hard-kicking guns across your body. In addition, make certain you maintain a good cheek weld—don’t let the comb of the rifle smack you in the face.

And, for the love of Elmer Keith, don’t crawl the stock and get your eye too close to the riflescope. That half-moon scar you see on the brow of some shooters is not called the “Weatherby ring” for nothing.

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

Colt Single-Action Army: Owning The Enduring Legend

By
Josh Wayner
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Colt Single-Action Army
Colt Single-Action Army

The Colt Single-Action Army revolver remains among the most coveted handguns of all time. But what's worth spending your money on?

What Single Action Army Revolvers Are Available:

“God created men, but Sam Colt made them equal.”

That adage was more of a premonition than a witty saying. When you look into it, what Colt did with its original revolvers was to offer the individual the first widely produced and available compact repeater for means of defense and offense. It could be said that Colt designed the gun that popularized handguns in general.

The SAA is still produced today by Colt. It’s difficult to get this gun brand-new from the factory, but there are many thousands of fine examples available out in the “wild.”

An Uberti replica with bird’s-head grip (left) and a gen-3 Colt SAA with standard black Colt stocks. The beauty of the SAA is present in both, and they’re both highly functional, as well as esthetically pleasing.
An Uberti replica with bird’s-head grip (left) and a gen-3 Colt Single-Action Army with standard black Colt stocks. The beauty of the SAA is present in both, and they’re both highly functional, as well as esthetically pleasing.

There are three main generations of these revolvers. First-generation Colts entered production in 1873 and were manufactured right up until the beginning of World War II in 1941. These guns are some of the most prized today, and many are still in firing condition.

America’s Legendary Gun: First-Gen Single-Action Army

Because the SAA was in the hands of Americans during our most formative and transformational eras, it became endeared to the public. In fact, there’s hardly been a time when this gun has not had influence on the American psyche. Where older cultures have their swords, knights, samurai and archers, we, as a young nation, found our heroes in the gunslinger, cowboy … and occasionally in the “good-hearted” outlaw.

The SAA is America’s version of a magical weapon. Every imaginable figure in our history has been impacted by this gun: It was in the hands of Custer’s men at the Little Big Horn. It was in the waistbands and sashes of Mexican desperados. Native Americans learned to fear it on the frontier—and treasured them when they adopted them into their own cultures. Bass Reeves, the famous gunslinger and law man, had one in his holster. The story of the Colt Single-Action Armyis the story of American exceptionalism, ingenuity and struggle.

Stoic Heroism: Second-Gen Single-Action Army

The second-generation SAA began production about 15 years after World War II started. At the time, Colt didn’t generally see the SAA as a profitable venture. But the lure of the SAA made its rebirth necessary and was in no small part due to the fact that the postwar era was the “golden age” of Westerns.

Note that the replica (top) has a rudimentary safety lever built into the hammer. The original Colt (below) doesn’t.
Note that the replica (top) has a rudimentary safety lever built into the hammer. The original Colt (below) doesn’t.

The second-generation guns were produced until 1974. There was, again, a sputtering in the manufacture as it resumed in 1976 with what is considered the third-generation SAA. There was intermittent production in the 1980s, but it seemed the SAA was destined to be forgotten as the nation and the public’s shooting interest began to look at new forms of handgunning and competition shooting sports. The end, it seemed, had finally come for the storied “Peacemaker.” However, it again proved to be too important to the American spirit to die in history’s dustbin.

Take A Spin With More Revolver Content:

The New Golden Era

Today, we live in what could be described as the “renaissance” of the single-action. Past times saw the SAA as a weapon on par with, or even better than, many competing designs. Because today’s weapons are extremely accurate, high capacity and lightweight, the SAA is something of a dinosaur, in that it’s not modular, is slow-loading and somewhat difficult to master.

The 1990s saw a dramatic increase in the popularity of cowboy action shooting—a sport that flew in the face of high-speed race guns and polo shirts covered in sponsor logos.

The rampant colt is only present on genuine Colt Single-Action Army revolvers. That pony adds a tremendous amount of value and is a status symbol for some.
The rampant colt is only present on genuine Colt Single-Action Army revolvers. That pony adds a tremendous amount of value and is a status symbol for some.

The 1990s also became a significant decade of the American Western, for which the emphasis began to focus more on gritty realism and less on theatrical heroism. The 2017 Christian Bale film, Hostiles, is a perfect representation of the somber and brutal use of the Colt Single-Action Army on the American frontier.

Americans were not the only ones influenced heavily by the storied culture of the West. Some of the most famous Westerns ever made were filmed in Italy with Sicilians and Greeks filling in for Mexicans and Native Americans. The lasting cultural impact of these films (such as Sergio Leone’s Dollars trilogy), along with the star status of Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef, still influence film and story today. It just so happens that some of the largest manufacturers of replica SAA revolvers and many other contemporary weapons are in … Italy.

SAA Clones

Uberti is one of these major producers of SAA-type clones. It might surprise some, but many of the most significant and important guns on film weren’t authentic Colt revolvers. Virtually all the guns in Leone’s Westerns were made in Italy. Chances are that the SAA you see on screen is a replica, not an original Colt. For that reason, one could argue it’s the spirit of the SAA—and not the Colt rollmark—that makes it soldier on today.

A Cimarron Doc Holliday replica. This isn’t a replica of a historical gun; it’s a replica of the original movie prop from the 1993 film, Tombstone, which starred Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday.
A Cimarron Doc Holliday replica. This isn’t a replica of a historical gun; it’s a replica of the original movie prop from the 1993 film, Tombstone, which starred Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday.

While Colt Single-Action Army revolvers used to be made in a large variety of calibers, there are currently only a couple of versions offered new from the factory. Contrast this with what comes out of Italy: There are, quite literally, dozens and dozens of variations from Uberti, alone; it supplies three major American brands: Taylor’s, Cimarron and Stoeger.

Modern Problems, Modern Solutions

With the increased popularity of cowboy shooting sports came the desire to tweak and improve upon what were seen as the imperfections of the original SAA. One of the big issues was the fact that the hammer could not be lowered on a full cylinder.

The traditional way of loading an SAA was to follow this procedure: Load one, skip one, load four, hammer down. This ensured the firing pin came to rest over an empty chamber in the cylinder. Of course, this meant that for all intents and purposes, your six-shooter was now a five-shooter.

Brownell’s sells a dedicated set of SAA screwdrivers. It’s of critical importance to own a set when maintaining your own sixgun. A set such as this is made with special dimensions to match the screw slots, thus preventing them from getting marred.
Brownell’s sells a dedicated set of SAA screwdrivers. It’s of critical importance to own a set when maintaining your own sixgun. A set such as this is made with special dimensions to match the screw slots, thus preventing them from getting marred.

Ruger came out with the Vaquero in 1993 to appeal to the cowboy market. While it’s cosmetically very similar, the gun is actually based on the company’s Super Blackhawk and employs the same style of transfer bar safety. This gun is not loaded the same way as an SAA. The Vaquero is different: All you have to do is open the loading gate, and the cylinder spins freely. You don’t have to touch the hammer to load and unload the gun.

The New Vaquero was introduced later. It’s much closer in overall dimensions to the Colt Single-Action Army, and the newer version is constructed out of modern materials using modern manufacturing methods—although it does borrow from tradition in some respects: It has nonadjustable sights and a fluted cylinder. However, unlike the SAA, it features the option of magnum chamberings (such as .44 Magnum).

Some of the most sought-after replica SAA revolvers came from a company called United States Fire Arms Mfg. Co. (USFA). The company is now out of business, but in its day, it made some of the finest replicas ever assembled. Unfortunately, the company made some bad investments in its product offerings and subsequently closed. Even so, these guns are still held in high regard, with some of them commanding prices that rival collectable Colts.

Typical loads fired in the SAA and clones are lead and not jacketed. While jacketed bullets can be used, traditional calibers such as .45 Colt and .44 Special tend to do best with traditional bullet profiles.
Typical loads fired in the SAA and clones are lead and not jacketed. While jacketed bullets can be used, traditional calibers such as .45 Colt and .44 Special tend to do best with traditional bullet profiles.

Standard Manufacturing recently came out with the simply named Single Action Revolver. The company boasts that it’s superior in every way to the originals in terms of both individual part and build quality. The price of one of these is comparable to a genuine new SAA from Colt, but it’s less than many gen-2 and gen-3 guns that are available on the collector’s and used gun market.

Is a Real Colt Really Worth It?

When it comes to what you get for your money, it all comes down to how you see value. Of all the manufacturers mentioned in this article, the only one that manufactures investment-quality guns is Colt. That’s not to say that the others are low quality—the exact opposite is true. It’s the fact that the “rampant colt” stamped on the side of a gun is worth more because it’s real Americana. The others are good replicas or in-spirit designs. Yes, they’re solid guns, but over time, they don’t carry the same value as a genuine Colt.

While there are many arguments to be made about what you get for the money, it can’t be said that a genuine Colt Single-Action Army is a cheap gun. Many currently command prices of anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on features and manufacture date. Today, the average price for a gen 3 is about $2,000. A factory-new Colt is listed at $1,799 on the Colt website. The MSRP for a matched set of Ruger New Vaquero cowboy action guns is $1,699.

The treasured Blue Box. Many collectors will pay a premium for the box alone. In fact, a matched SAA and original box can command a substantial price over an unmatched set.
The treasured Blue Box. Many collectors will pay a premium for the box alone. In fact, a matched SAA and original box can command a substantial price over an unmatched set.

Italian replicas from Uberti run as low as $400; on occasion, they can be had for less. As far as quality is concerned, there are differences in what each American importer offers. For instance, some of the imported guns lack recoil shields in the frame, which can lead to peening around the firing pin hole. And, you’ll pay more for a tuned competition revolver from Uberti: usually around $1,000, depending on the model.

Will the Real Single-Action Please Stand Up?

For some people, there’s absolutely no substitute for the original. In my opinion, a genuine Colt Single-Action Army is hard to beat in overall quality, material and construction, accuracy and investment. There are various levels of quality out there; most of this depends on age and collectability. Some of them aren’t worth shooting, because their value would be reduced. For the avid shooter, there’s something to be said about having the original—and the best. Depending on your attitude, these are either museum pieces or examples of living, fireable history that will turn heads at the range.

It could also be said that it isn’t necessary to possess the Colt brand; rather, it’s the spirit it instilled in the heart of every red-blooded American. Colt, itself, has a lot of competition from the replica business (it doesn’t actually produce a large amount of its most famous gun). A pair of Uberti revolvers on your belt will get you on the firing line for much less money.

Note the differences in markings between the two guns. The Uberti (top) has CIP markings common in European guns and lacks a rampant colt stamp, despite retaining the patent date stamping.
Note the differences in markings between the two guns. The Uberti (top) has CIP markings common in European guns and lacks a rampant colt stamp, despite retaining the patent date stamping.

At the end of the day, the single-action revolver is not a truly modern weapon. It doesn’t really have a place on the battlefield or in a concealed-carry rig.

It is a symbol, though, and it represents the wild and untamable spirit of America and our adventurous and pioneering nature.

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

The Rare Pleasure Of Obscure Cartridges

By
Philip Massaro
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0
The .300 H&H Magnum (left) is a rarity these days when compared to the .300 Winchester Magnum (right), but it can be fun and effective in the field.
The .300 H&H Magnum (left) is a rarity these days when compared to the .300 Winchester Magnum (right), but it can be fun and effective in the field.

Common vs. obscure cartridges: Sometimes it pays to paddle against the current. You might find the rarities the most fulfilling to shoot.

Why You Might Want To Shoot An Obscure Cartridge:

  • The challenge of producing key components, such as cases, to reload the ammunition.
  • A connection to historical hunts and hunters and the cartridges they used.
  • Fulfillment to experiment with the performance of cartridges and spice up your gun collection.

Because I’m both a handloader and an aficionado of metallic cartridges, the choice between buying a rifle or pistol chambered for one of the proven—and readily available—cartridges and one of the more obscure, yet “cool,” cartridges has been a struggle.

Yes, ammunition for the .30-06 Springfield, .270 Winchester and 7mm Remington Magnum are available at pretty much any store that sells ammunition, and they’re also very effective hunting cartridges, but it’s great fun to carry an equally effective, yet more obscure, cartridge you’re personally passionate about.

If you’re on any form of social media where cartridges are discussed or perhaps one of the hunting forums, you’ve surely seen the fervor (and sometimes, venom) with which certain cartridges are attacked and/or defended. Shooters will insist that 100 fps or 100 ft-lb of energy will make the difference between anemic terminal performance and blinding devastation.

The .30-06 Springfield, shown here with the 200-grain Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, might be one of the most common and versatile cartridges available.
The .30-06 Springfield, shown here with the 200-grain Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, might be one of the most common and versatile cartridges available.

We hunters feel the need to quantify all things (John Taylor’s Knockout System is a great example of a demonstrative, yet admittedly flawed, means of quantifying the power of certain cartridges), but it’s silly to say that the .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield are as different as peas and apples inside of 200 yards. Further muddy the waters with an obscure or obsolete cartridge, and the sparks will most certainly fly.

Variety Is the Spice of … Ammo

I’ve long handloaded my own ammunition, even for the rifles chambered for the most common cartridges, so I’ll be the first to admit that my view of ammunition availability is skewed: I can usually make what I can’t buy. If you’re the practical type of shooter/hunter (as my father, “Ol’ Grumpy Pants,” certainly is), you can get through with just a handful of cartridges to hunt the whole, wide world.

If you had a good .22 LR, perhaps a .223 Remington or .22-250 Remington for varmints, a 6.5 Creedmoor or PRC for light game and targets, a common .30-caliber for larger game and a good .375 H&H for huge dangerous beasts, you’d be well-served. With the exception of the PRC (and even that is starting to change), all those cartridges are readily available at most places that sell ammunition, and I can’t really find a reason not to use any of the choices I’ve mentioned.

The author took a .280 Ackley Improved to Namibia—with great success. Had the ammo not shown up, there would have been no replacing it.
The author took a .280 Ackley Improved to Namibia—with great success. Had the ammo not shown up, there would have been no replacing it.

But if you’re the kind of sportsman who has a desire to experiment with the performance of a cartridge that’s not one of the most popular, yet is fully capable, or you’re the type of hunter/shooter who reads too many old hunting and shooting books (and I’m most definitely guilty of this), taking one of the vintage cartridges out in the field creates a definite connection to the past. So, while it might not make the greatest financial sense, owning some cartridge that’s a little “left of center” can bring quite a bit of joy.

Being completely honest, a good .30-’06 Springfield (capable of launching bullets weighing between 110 and 250 grains) can cover an awful lot of ground in the hands of an accomplished rifleman. While I’ve gone on record stating that the .30-06 Springfield is wonderfully boring and predictable, some want a different experience. In spite of its age—it’s a robust 114 years old this year—it remains the benchmark for the caliber, and it’s still one of the most popular cartridges ever developed.

Load Up On Reloading Info:

Should everyone be shooting it? Well, variety is the spice of life, but I own a .30-06 rifle in addition to a wide selection of others. Does this make that sweet 1895 Winchester in .30-40 Krag (which offers a performance level capable of taking nearly all the same game as the ’06) in the corner of the gun shop a silly purchase? Absolutely not! The available ammunition for the Krag will certainly not equal that of the Springfield, but if you know that going into the deal, there are steps you can take to feed the rifle. But remember: You’ve got to keep that Krag fed properly.

The .358 Norma Magnum (left) is certainly less popular than the classic .375 H&H Magnum (right), but if you enjoy the performance, there’s no reason not to use it.
The .358 Norma Magnum (left) is certainly less popular than the classic .375 H&H Magnum (right), but if you enjoy the performance, there’s no reason not to use it.

So, let’s take a look at different sources for ammunition or components for that obscure cartridge you’ve become enamored with.

Shopping Spree

Certain companies have been instrumental in keeping the obscure cartridges alive, and there are means of making your own cases, if you’re so inclined. There are companies that specialize in brass cases for these cartridges (such as Bertram Brass from Australia and Roberson Cartridge Company in Texas), and I’ve leaned on their products a number of times.

I hired Hillbilly Custom Rifles of Vermont to build a .318 Westley Richards on a 1916 Gew. 98 Mauser action and made my own brass cases by cutting down and re-forming some .30-06 cases. They worked just fine, but there was just one issue: Many African countries require the headstamp of the cases to match the marking on the rifle; otherwise, they won’t allow the importation.

Don’t expect to find many camps with .338 Federal ammunition hanging around. Nevertheless, it’s still a versatile and effective cartridge.
Don’t expect to find many camps with .338 Federal ammunition hanging around. Nevertheless, it’s still a versatile and effective cartridge.

I bought some properly headstamped Bertram cases and some from Roberson and had a great safari with that rifle in Zimbabwe. There’s just a limited amount of Kynoch loaded ammunition available (at a seriously high price), but I wanted to use the excellent Woodleigh Weldcore bullets in my own handloads.

Depending on the cartridge, you might (or might not) be able to make your own cases from another or have someone competent make them for you. But sometimes, you need to buy the cases. I’m in the process of having a .350 Rigby Magnum rifle built, and while it shares the same shoulder angle as the younger .416 Rigby, it can’t be made from that case. So, it’s Roberson to the rescue again; and, with a good set of dies, I can handload my own ammunition.

There are many examples such as this, and depending on the cartridge you’re passionate about, you can either revive a cartridge presumed to be at death’s door or have a chance to hunt with a wildcat. I would recommend the purchase of The Handloader’s Manual of Cartridge Conversions by John J. Donnelly—if for no other reason than to examine the possibilities of making brass for your obscure choice.

Author Massaro built a custom .318 Westley Richards (very popular a century ago), but the ammunition must be handloaded. Roberson Cartridge Company and Woodleigh Bullets offerings fit the bill.
Author Massaro built a custom .318 Westley Richards (very popular a century ago), but the ammunition must be handloaded. Roberson Cartridge Company and Woodleigh Bullets offerings fit the bill.

Bullet sources for obsolete bore diameters can pose a bit of a problem, but the solutions are increasing. As I stated earlier, Woodleigh Bullets of Australia has long embraced the classic British cartridges of yesteryear, offering a selection of its Weldcore bonded-core soft-points, as well as its FMJ solids, in a wide array of calibers and weights. This manufacturer is well-versed in the classic cartridges (both Graeme Wright and Geoff McDonald are amazing information sources), and their reloading manual is invaluable.

Having good component bullets available for cartridges such as the .280 Ross (.287-inch), the .333 Jeffrey (.333-inch), the .425 Westley Richards (.435-inch), as well as the .475 NE and .475 No. 2, makes the difference between a wall-hanger and a functional rifle. Here, in the United States, Hawk Bullets offers some obscure bullet diameters in its lineup and also offers its customers the option of choosing different jacket thicknesses. I use the Hawk 200-grain .330-inch-diameter bullet in my .318 Westley Richards for deer and black bear, although I’ve yet to connect with the Hawk; they’re very accurate in my rifle.

Among the big hitters in the ammunition industry, Hornady has been instrumental in bringing back a good number of cartridges, providing good ammunition for certain cartridges that are most definitely past their prime (although it usually coincides with a modern rifle being available). The .405 Winchester (the darling of the 1895 Winchester), .450 Nitro Express, .250 Savage, .275 Rigby (specifically, the HV design) and the .348 Winchester are all available from Hornady in factory-loaded form, and their components are also available for most of these.

Mainstream or Obscure Cartridge?

I built a .318 Westley Richards because of nostalgia (it was a very popular, all-around cartridge in East Africa a century ago), but I could have easily attained nearly identical ballistics from the more-modern .338-06 A-Square. I’ll admit that the .338-06 offers a wider selection of bullets (the .318 WR uses a .330-inch-diameter bullet), and proper headstamped brass is much easier to obtain.

The author handloaded for the .300 H&H Magnum for a plains game safari. Although it’s obscure these days, its performance was wonderful.
The author handloaded for the .300 H&H Magnum for a plains game safari. Although it’s obscure these days, its performance was wonderful.

However, I enjoy the connection to the history of the safari with the older cartridge. The same can be said for that .350 Rigby Magnum: I could probably come very close to the ballistics with the .35 Whelen (in and of itself a very useful cartridge) or matched it with the .358 Norma Magnum, but it’s all the stories I’ve read about Denys Finch-Hatton and Bror von Blixen-Fineke, coupled with the opportunity to shoot a genuine 1917 Rigby takedown rifle chambered for that cartridge, that set the hook.

Among the lever rifles, there are plenty of excellent choices, such as the .30-30 Winchester and .45-70 Government—both of which remain superb hunting cartridges—but because I’m a fan of the oddballs, I find myself scouring the gun shops for just the right Winchester Model 71 in .348 Winchester or an 1886 Winchester in .33 Winchester. I suppose I have an incurable attraction to these oddballs.

I believe there are instances for which a “traveling” rifle chambered for a common cartridge certainly makes sense ( … as if you’re going to find any spare ammunition in hunting camp). Odds are, it’ll be a common cartridge. Most African camps have some .375 H&H ammunition on hand, and American hunting camps will have some .30-06 and/or .308 Winchester or maybe some 7mm Remington Magnum or .300 Winchester Magnum. I’d be shocked to find any .338 Federal or 7mm Dakota stuff, but if you enjoy hunting with them, that’s the chance you take when you hunt abroad.

The author’s handloaded .318 Westley Richards worked perfectly in Zimbabwe. The recovered bullet is from a Burchell’s zebra stallion.
The author’s handloaded .318 Westley Richards worked perfectly in Zimbabwe. The recovered bullet is from a Burchell’s zebra stallion.

Do some research of your own. If there’s a cartridge that tickles your fancy, or if you find a used rifle in a gun shop, take a look at the difficulty of obtaining ammunition. Companies such as Choice Ammunition, Superior Ammunition, my own Massaro Ballistic Laboratories and others can give you the handloaded ammunition experience—from professional hands. Poke around the Internet for different sources for ammunition, and you’ll be surprised how much is actually out there.

Maybe that vintage .308 Norma Magnum or .350 Remington Magnum isn’t so hard to feed after all … .

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

Why Would Anyone Want A 9mm Revolver?

By
Josh Wayner
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4

No matter how you slice it, a 9mm revolver is always a compromise.

Why Doesn't the 9mm Revolver Live Up To Expectations:

  • In all but a few cases, the rimless cartridge requires moon or semi-moon clips to function in a revolver.
  • Reliablity can be an issue, because because firing pin depth and primer height is occasionally in question.
  • If a case has split in the chamber or a hot handload has flattened and expanded the cartridge case, clean ejection can be compromised.
  • Most factory loads are optimized for 4-inch barreled pistols, thus lose performance in snubby carry revolvers.
  • It's more difficult to make accurate 9mm ammo when compared directly to the .38 Special.

What image pops into your mind? Cowboys? Gunslingers? Your favorite Western film? Shooting wadcutters in a bull’s-eye match? Hunting game at bowhunting distances?

The vast majority of people don’t think of the 9x19mm cartridge when talking about revolvers. It offers some unique angles for revolver fans … and some deficiencies as well.

9mm Revolvers vs. Semi-Automatics

There are very few revolver designs that are truly optimized for the 9mm cartridge. Of course, there have been many attempts at viability. But, for the most part, revolvers use rimmed cartridges. The frame size, barrel length and many other small design elements give a heavy preference to the use of a semi-automatic when looking at small, rimless cartridges such as the 9mm.

In general, revolvers have never really been designed to use rimless cartridges. It would be a fair assessment to say that they’ve been adapted to that use only in circumstances for which it’s been necessary for military supply channels or commercial relevance.

Here, .38 Special loads (left) display heavy and tough 158-grain Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman bullets made of hard-cast lead. This is a potent load! The 9mm is noticeably shorter than the .38 Special and is easier to load and eject. Nevertheless, as far as dedicated ammunition for use in revolvers is concerned, it offers less.
Here, .38 Special loads (left) display heavy and tough 158-grain Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman bullets made of hard-cast lead. This is a potent load! The 9mm is noticeably shorter than the .38 Special and is easier to load and eject. Nevertheless, as far as dedicated ammunition for use in revolvers is concerned, it offers less.

There existed some problems, because many of the early guns didn’t have chambers cut that would allow them to fire without a moon clip holding the base of the cartridges in place.

It’s possible to use moon clips with both rimmed and rimless cartridges, depending on the revolver model. You insert all the cartridges together and, because they’re held together at the rims, they all eject at once as well. If the chamber is not cut to allow the use of single rounds, the rimless cases can fall deeper into the cylinder and would need to be punched out as a result. The gun would, of course, not fire in this case.

This brings us to the question of reliability in a revolver chambered for rimless pistol cartridges. In my experience, these tend to be the least reliable revolvers, because the critical dimension of firing pin depth and primer height is occasionally in question, depending on if a moon clip is used or not.

A brake on a 9mm? The recoil of the 9mm in a semi-auto is mild, and the slide and recoil process soaks up most of the energy generated by the cartridge. The 9mm in a revolver offers stiffer recoil for a few reasons, the most influential being that it has a great deal of velocity to build up in a very small case. The snappy recoil in a revolver, as opposed to the smoother recoil of the .38 Special (which can use bulkier and slower-burning powder), is noticeable by comparison.
A brake on a 9mm? The recoil of the 9mm in a semi-auto is mild, and the slide and recoil process soaks up most of the energy generated by the cartridge. The 9mm in a revolver offers stiffer recoil for a few reasons, the most influential being that it has a great deal of velocity to build up in a very small case. The snappy recoil in a revolver, as opposed to the smoother recoil of the .38 Special (which can use bulkier and slower-burning powder), is noticeable by comparison.

A revolver is always a manual-ejection proposition. This can be a struggle with rimless cartridges, because most revolvers are designed to push cases out of the cylinder using their rim. Ejection with a moon clip is quite easy and fast; however, it can also be compromised if a case has split in the chamber or a hot handload has flattened and expanded the cartridge case. In that case, the entire gun can be taken out of commission instantly.

Despite the general consensus that revolvers are more reliable than semi-automatics (a fact that’s slowly changing these days due to advanced compact guns), clearing a complicated malfunction with a wheelgun can be next to impossible in the field. The internal mechanisms of many revolvers, while time-honored designs, are fragile compared to modern semi-autos that don’t suffer from issues such as cylinder timing and complicated internal lock work.

Load Up On More 9mm Knowledge:

Why Are 9mm Revolvers still Made?

In my opinion, the sole reason that 9mm revolvers are still made is because of the popularity of the 9mm cartridge. It’s no stretch to say that it’s the most popular centerfire pistol cartridge in the world. It offers a tremendous number of benefits to a tremendous number of people and, as a result, it’s seen spectacular advances in bullet technology and in the guns made to fire it.

The revolver versus the automatic. The Glock 19X is lighter and about the same overall size as the PC 986—despite carrying more than double the ammunition. The 19X is also capable of generating higher velocity and less recoil. Revolvers are excellent, but the claim that reliability is superior is becoming less and less true in today’s pistol market.
The revolver versus the automatic. The Glock 19X is lighter and about the same overall size as the PC 986—despite carrying more than double the ammunition. The 19X is also capable of generating higher velocity and less recoil. Revolvers are excellent, but the claim that reliability is superior is becoming less and less true in today’s pistol market.

The public has accepted the 9mm for its practical assets—great penetration, high capacity and low recoil. Today’s world is no longer a revolver world, because inexpensive and reliable automatic pistols can be had almost anywhere and offer the most benefits to the most people in cost, training and ammo availability.

If you’re a first-time handgun purchaser and are looking to buy a revolver for self-defense, the 9mm cartridge is not your best bet when it comes to reliability in a small self-defense gun. Options such as the .38 Special are far superior in this role. If you already own several 9mm pistols or are set up to reload ammunition for the cartridge, owning a 9mm revolver is more feasible.

9mm vs. Legacy Revolver Cartridges

The pressure at which the 9mm operates is designed to ensure reliable operation in semi-autos. The powder used and the taper of the case are there to ensure reliable feeding and ejection. This isn’t true of the legacy revolver cartridges that the 9mm competes against in a revolver.

The “Jerry Miculek” monogram on the side of this S&W is a blatant hint at the intended use of the revolver. Revolvers are popular in some forms of competition, but they require a completely different set of skills than do automatic pistols.
The “Jerry Miculek” monogram on the side of this S&W is a blatant hint at the intended use of the revolver. Revolvers are popular in some forms of competition, but they require a completely different set of skills than do automatic pistols.

The primary competitor the 9mm faces in a revolver is a .38 Special. While many revolver rounds have come and gone over the years, the .38 Special has never lost relevance. Ammunition for the .38 Special in this role has become more advanced over time, and it’s quite good for what it is.

Today’s .38 Special suffers from several things, including a failure to evolve to meet the cartridge’s realistic end use. Most people who own and shoot .38 revolvers have them with barrels that are 2 inches or less. Contrasting this is most ammunition still designed to work at the velocities generated by 4-inch barrels—the typical standard for law enforcement for more than 70 years in the 20th century. What resulted from this are essentially two classes of .38 Special: one that addresses modern carry guns and one that makes use of slower-burning powders that never achieve significant velocity in small guns.

When looking at the 9mm in a small revolver, it does everything that the .38 Special can. However, it, too, suffers from the fact that most 9mm ammunition is designed around 4-inch barrels common on midsized automatics. The .38 Special generally has an advantage in available bullet weight and bullet types, because there’s no real 9mm ammunition offered specifically for revolvers.

Extracting with a full moon clip is fast and easy. Extraction without one is iffy at best—and impossible in some cases, depending on design. While magazines are flat and easily carried, the moon clip is bulky and easily bent if not stored safely. It’s also easier to hang up on pockets and pouches than a pistol magazine.
Extracting with a full moon clip is fast and easy. Extraction without one is iffy at best—and impossible in some cases, depending on design. While magazines are flat and easily carried, the moon clip is bulky and easily bent if not stored safely. It’s also easier to hang up on pockets and pouches than a pistol magazine.

Extremely powerful options from companies such as Buffalo Bore allow the .38 Special to have a significant leg up on the 9mm with identically sized pocket revolvers. The .38 also has a generally higher threshold for accuracy because the bullets have substantially less “jump” through the cylinder gap into the barrel. That’s not to say 9mm revolvers are inaccurate; it’s just that they’re harder to make accurate when compared directly to the .38 Special.

Ammunition in .38 Special and .357 Magnum specifically designed for self-defense in a short-barreled revolver is typically superior to what is available for 9mm (given identically sized guns). You wouldn’t be bad off with a 9mm LCR, but if it were a first-time gun purchase or something you intended as a backup, there really isn’t a reason to go with 9mm (barring the economic factor or the idea of having a single pistol caliber for all your handguns).

As far as power goes, the 9mm falls into an odd space, because it can produce excellent velocity; but the fact that most factory ammo is not loaded nearly as hot as it could be severely handicaps its performance in a revolver. Factory ammo has to be powerful enough to allow an automatic pistol to cycle, but not so powerful that it could damage the gun.

The highest capacity found in a 9mm revolver is eight rounds. This is the same as many common carry guns that chamber the cartridge with seven in the mag and one in the pipe. It’s more common to find conversion guns that use a spare 9mm cylinder than it is to find dedicated 9mm revolvers.
The highest capacity found in a 9mm revolver is eight rounds. This is the same as many common carry guns that chamber the cartridge with seven in the mag and one in the pipe. It’s more common to find conversion guns that use a spare 9mm cylinder than it is to find dedicated 9mm revolvers.

With a 4-inch barrel on a revolver, you’ll almost always be able to produce higher velocities with identical bullet weights in .38 Special. However, if the same guns were to all use full moon clips, the 9mm would offer a significant advantage in terms of reload speed because of its much shorter case body.

So, Why Own One?

The revolver has become something of a specialized tool. For aficionados of the wheelgun, there’s nothing better than a slick S&W or Colt Python.

I don’t think the 9mm will gain a significant market share of the revolver business. As modern automatics continue to improve, revolvers have to continue to specialize or simply appeal to nostalgia to remain relevant. Many of the revolvers chambered for the ubiquitous 9mm are simply there to feed a niche market.

The Performance Center 986 offers a seven-round capacity. The gun is smooth and crisp, with a trigger to drool over. But it’s not more powerful than S&W’s own Shield 9 and is substantially heavier and with less onboard ammunition. Who’d benefit from a gun such as this? That’s up to you.
The Performance Center 986 offers a seven-round capacity. The gun is smooth and crisp, with a trigger to drool over. But it’s not more powerful than S&W’s own Shield 9 and is substantially heavier and with less onboard ammunition. Who’d benefit from a gun such as this? That’s up to you.

In more than one sense, the 9mm revolver will always be limited by the 9mm cartridge. I doubt there’s a company willing to make a high-pressure, revolver-only 9mm load—knowing that a novice or a devil-may-care shooter might, either by ignorance or design, chamber it in an automatic pistol and blow their hand off. It’s simply not feasible when the .38 Special and .357 Magnum already exist in relative abundance.

At the end of the day, the 9mm chambered in revolver will always be a compromise.

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

6.5 PRC Vs 6.5 Creedmoor: What Does What Better?

By
Elwood Shelton
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4

Nearly kissing cousins, we demystify where the 6.5 PRC excels and when you should turn to the 6.5 Creedmoor.

What Are The Defining Points Between the 6.5 PRC and 6.5 Creedmoor:

  • The PRC has more case capacity and generates more velocity.
  • Generally speaking, this improves the cartridges down-range performance compared to the Creedmoor.
  • Additionally, it also make it favored by hunters.
  • The Creedmoor generates less recoil making it more adept at placing multiple shots in short succession.
  • While not moving as fast as the PRC, the cartridge is a proven hunter.

Plainly speaking, there’s been a lot of hubbub about the 6.5 Creedmoor. Granted, there’s good reason. The ballistically talented cartridge has extended the rifleman’s reach considerably, giving even novices a tool to more aptly hit at a country mile. But don’t act like the almighty Creedmoor is mankind’s first foray into the six-and-a-half, nor its most recent.

Scandinavians have packed iceboxes full of moose meat for nearly a century using the sweet little caliber (6.5×55 Swede). And it’s been in the long-range shooter’s quiver for quite a spell with wunderkinds such as the .260 Remington and .264 Winchester Magnum. More recently, the 6.5mm has taken on a new guise as a do-all beltless magnum—the 6.5 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge). While it hasn’t garnered as much fanfare as the 6.5 Creedmoor, the cartridge nevertheless has done its part in the meteoric rise of the 6.5. And in some cases, arms shooters with what some consider a much more appropriate tool.

So, exactly how does the 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor comparison shake out and which is better at what?

The History Of The 6.5s

In both cases, the cartridges have their genesis at Hornady, under the guidance of David Emory. The company’s former senior ballistician shepherded both the 6.5 Creedmoor and the 6.5 PRC through development and to market. And while the goal of the cartridges is somewhat similar, their origins are different and add symmetry to the 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor discussion.

6-5-Creedmoor-Ballistics-Feat - 6.5 PRC vs Creedmoor

As many have heard by now, the Creedmoor was born from long-range shooting competitions and back-of-the-envelope engineering between Emory and champion shooter Dennis DeMille. A bull session over the shortcomings of long-range cartridges—a majority of which were wildcats at the time—the duo hashed out a list of the characteristic for what would become the 6.5 Creedmoor. These included:

  • Good ballistic coefficient to buck wind and drag
  • Deliver higher velocity than other 6mm and 6.5 rounds
  • Low chamber pressure to extend case and barrel life
  • Low recoil
  • Easy to reload
  • Fit in an AR-10 and short-bolt action

While many shooters utilize the 6.5 Creedmoor for more than ringing steel—it’s a grand medium game cartridge—its birth came about through competition. For the 6.5 PRC, match gold was only half the aim.

George Gardner, owner of GA Precision, had a dual-purpose in mind with the supersized 6.5—hunting and Precision Rifle Series competition. A tough nut to crack, given the two pursuits are at odds by some accounts. Particularly when it comes to PRS rules, which dictate sanctioned cartridges cannot have muzzle velocities exceeding 3,200 fps. To this, he wanted the highest ballistic coefficient (BC) bullets compatible with the cartridge. Furthermore, Gardner also desired a cartridge compatible with a short-action receiver—all the more efficient in competitive situations. After a brief diversion—due to brass shortages—into the 6.5 SAUM (Short Action Ultra Magnum), the concept came to fruition in the 6.5 PRC.

More 6.5mm Info

Creedmoor And PRC Performance

Not miles away, but different enough, the development parameters for the cartridges define the 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor conversation. Where the Creedmoor was a harmonizing endeavor for a balanced competitive cartridge, the PRC was one pushing the redline without going over. In both cases, easier said than done. But difficult to argue successfully accomplished on both counts.

Three 6.5 Creedmoor factory loads from Hornaday (left to right) 120-, 129- and 140-grain bullets. Note the company does not polish out the discoloration from annealing.

Essentially, the dividing characteristic between the 6.5s is their cases. For the 6.5 Creedmoor, Emory and crew turned to the Hornady-developed, though somewhat obscure .30 TC for the parent. What drew them to it were some admirable dimensional traits. In particular, minimal body taper and a 30-degree shoulder angle gave vital capacity to the 1.920-inch case allowing it to seat the long 6.5mm bullets to maximum COL (cartridge overall length), without displacing powder.

Again, Hornady looked in-house for a parent case for the 6.5 PRC—the .300 Ruger Compact Magnum. Providing just the right balance between the case-capacity to reach the 3,200 fps mark at the muzzle and size to operate flawlessly in a short action, the case proved ideal for the PRC project. As a side note, the PRC does not fit the technical definition of a short-action cartridge, with a maximum COL of 2.955. Nevertheless, it works in the abbreviated actions.

The 6.5 PRC has markedly enhanced capacity compared to the Creedmoor thanks to its parent case—around 28-percent—which adds up to more velocity—the 8-percent neighborhood. This adds up downrange. A quick example might shed some light. Take Hornady’s 147-grain 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC Match loads, topped with identical bullets (Extra Low Drag Match), with identical BCs (.697 G1). The PRC pushes its bullet from the muzzle of a 24-inch barrel at 2,910 fps compared to the Creedmoor’s 2,695 fps. That’s a difference of 215 fps, at 1,000 yards this means around 50-inches less drop and push the mark at which the bullet goes sub-sonic by another 250 or so yards.

Trajectory comparision between Hornady's 6.5 Creedmoor 147 gr ELD Match and 6.5 PRC 147 gr ELD Match. Both have identical bullets, with an identical .697 ballistic coefficent. Yet, thanks to a greater velocity, the 6.5 PRC outperforms the Creedmoor downrange.
Trajectory comparision between Hornady's 6.5 Creedmoor 147 gr ELD Match and 6.5 PRC 147 gr ELD Match. Both have identical bullets, with an identical .697 ballistic coefficent. Yet, thanks to a greater velocity, the 6.5 PRC outperforms the Creedmoor downrange.

It doesn’t take a Camp Perry shooter to realize this is a boon to precision shooters. But hunters benefit as well. Velocity is the primary factor in the consistent expansion and penetration of modern hunting bullets. The PRC has it in spades, leading some to dub it the ultimate game cartridge in the caliber, capable of harvesting animals as large as elk.

6.5 PRC Vs 6.5 Creedmoor Usage

While performance certainly draws a bright line in the 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor debate, the cartridges’ applications once again unite them. Both are more than a qualified match and hunting options. Though, shooters organically seem to have defined which is preferred for each discipline.

While the 6.5 Creedmoor is more than capable of putting meat on the table, particularly—but not exclusively—deer-sized game and down, target and competitive shooters have tended to embrace the cartridge. On the flip side, the 6.5 PRC has dominated the hunting market with the majority of rifles chambered for it the sporting variety. Factory-loaded ammo too is also almost exclusively tailored to hunting.

Hornady A-Tip 11 6.5 PRC vs Creedmoor
The 135-grain, 6.5mm bullet—handloaded in the Creedmoor case—was efficient enough to stay supersonic out to one mile.

Performance at the margins is probably what has segregated the two 6.5s to their respective shooting camps. The PRC is most certainly among the tamest magnum cartridges on the market but does generate a greater recoil impulse than the Creedmoor. Match shooters work to track their hits, the less kick tends to make this more feasible. Hunters can endure a blink, but failure in terminal performance isn’t an option. As stated previously, the Creedmoor is a hunter, but the PRC certainly has a magnitude of peace of mind loaded in its larger-capacity case.

Cartridge Deciding Point

Laying out the 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor, which is really better at what? There’s a lot of ‘Meh…” in the answer. The PRC gives the shooter a bit more range and flatter trajectory while offering a little more security when used on big game. But the Creedmoor still goes the distance, in a less punishing fashion, and can still net you a wall hanger. Really, like all things firearms, the deciding point doesn’t so much come down to the cartridge as it does the shooter.

Expand Your Knowledge on Creedmoor Ammo

First Look: Prairie Storm 28- And 16-Gauge Loads

By
Elwood Shelton
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Prairie Storm

Boasting Federal's cutting-edge shot and wad, Prairie Storm gives the classic bores a leg up.

In some places down South, if you aren’t shooting quail with a 28-gauge you’re plum cheating. Hitting just as hard as larger bores, its lighter payload tends to preserve meat, not to mention show what a sharp shot you happen to be. To boot, the ol’ 28 is about a pleasurable as you can get in the recoil department—no small potatoes for any volume wing shooting. No wonder, in recent years it’s crept out of it Dixy stronghold and gained advocates across the country.

Good news if you happen to favor this petite gauge, Federal Premium has expanded one of its most popular and potent upland ammunition lines to it and another classic bore. Prairie Storm is now available for 28- and 16-gauge, giving enthusiasts of these standbys an utterly devastating option for knocking down birds on the wing. Shot is part of the equation in the ammo’s effectiveness, the wad is the other.

To the latter, Prairie Storm utilizes Federal’s Flitecontrol Flex wad, an improvement on the original design. In particular, the wad now has slits to produce back pressure and release the shot, as well as reinforcement at the rear. The toughened up component delivers the same tight pattern shooters have come to expect from Flitecontrol, but in a system that works with ported chokes. A feature shotgunners have demanded for some time.

As to the shot load, it’s Federal’s renowned Flitestopper, a unique payload of 70-percent standard copper-plated lead and 30-percent Flitestopper lead. The latter has a raised cutting ridge on its hemisphere, giving it the unparalleled ability to slice through feathers and flesh, without loss or adverse effects on ballistics or flight characteristics.

At present, Federal offers four loads of Prairie Strom for the two gauges, all in 2 ¾-inch shells. For 16-gauge, there are No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 shot options all with 1 1/8-ounce payloads. And for 28-gauge, there is No. 6 shot option with a 13/16-ounce payload. Across the board, the MSRP on 16-gauge ammo is $35.99 and for 28-gauge $34.99.

For more information on Prairie Storm, please visit federalpremium.com.

Draw A Bead On Shotguns:

Ammo Brief: Going The Extra Mile With The .50 BMG

By
Gun Digest Editors
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Originally designed for Browning's heavy machine gun, the .50 BMG more recently has become an extreme long-range wunderkind.

What The .50 BMG Capable Of:

  • Armor-piercing capabilities when loaded with a sabot round.
  • Accurately achieving hits well past the 1-mile mark.
  • Pushing a 675-grain projectile 3,000 fps at the muzzle.

Historical Notes

The .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) was invented by its namesake and adopted into United States military service in 1918 for John M. Browning’s famous heavy machine gun. His attentions in this area were prompted by a battlefield need recognized during World War I. There have been other developments; and, at least once, the Pentagon considered dropping the .50 BMG in favor of more-modern and generally bigger chamberings. However, the .50 BMG has remained. The advent of saboted loads generating 4,500 fps muzzle velocities and having devastating armor-penetration capabilities, as well as its performance in the Gulf War, cemented its continued existence as a stable part of NATO’s arsenal.

Battlefield use is against light-armored vehicles to ranges of a mile or more. And, used against the unprotected foot soldier, it’s effective to several times that range.

Check Out Our: Reloading Data Center

General Comments

There’s long been interest in the .50 BMG as a quasi-sporting round. Today, the most significant sporting use for this chambering is long-range accuracy shooting, with some competitions exceeding one mile, and there’ve been a couple of King of 2 Mile matches held. The 1,000-yard .50-caliber record, as of this writing, is a five-shot group of just under 2 inches on centers.

Several bolt-action rifles are currently available for the Big 50. The .50 BMG easily launches the 750-grain bullets available for it at 2,700 fps. The lighter, 647-grain bullets available can be launched at 3,000 fps. For obvious reasons, sporting rifles chambered for the Big 50 uniformly feature muzzle brakes and weigh 20 pounds or more. Recoil is harsh until the rifle’s weight approaches 30 pounds.

Commercial ammunition is available for the .50 BMG from PMC and Hornady, among others, that are loading both once-fired and new brass and calling their offerings “factory new.” Components and specialized tools and equipment to handload this cartridge are available to the advanced reloader.

50 BMG Load Data

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

Raise Your Ammo IQ:

6 Gun Sales Worth Catching: Defensive Shotgun Special (Nov. 12, 2020)

By
Gun Digest Editors
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Not finding what you're looking for at your local gun store? Take advantage of these online gun sales, ammo deals and gear specials.

What Are This Week's Deals:

Rounding up the right gun is linear-algebra tough right now. A surge of panic buyers are snapping up pistols, rifles, shotguns, slingshots and peashooters (not to mention ammo) fasters than they roll off the line. In a bid to aid our gun-buying audience, we’re rounding up a few weekly gun sales we believe hit the mark for quality, affordability and, above all, availability. In full disclosure, we’ll make a few bucks (it won't cost you extra) if you use our links. If you don’t, no hard feelings, we get it. Remember, nearly all these items are time and availability limited, so don’t wait … you'll regret it if you do.

TriStar Cobra Tactical

WD tristar-cobra-tactical

Known for performing well above their price points, TriStar’s shotguns are typically solid values. When it comes to extremely affordable home-defense pump-action shotguns, it’s difficult to beat the Cobra Tactical. The 18-inch barreled 12-gauge can handle 3-inch shells and has a respectable 5-round capacity. It’s a pump-action, in turn, reliable as the day is long and has some nice extras, such as a spring-loaded forearms for fast cycling, Picatinny rail on the forearm for accessories attachment and blade front sight. And right now, the Palmetto Armory has them at a price that can’t be beaten!

Black Aces Tactical 12-Gauge

WD Black Ace

A nifty system, all in all. Black Aces’ Tactical 12-Gauge is more than a typical pump-action, it’s a system. The 18.5-inch barreled gun is sold with both a shoulder stock and shockwave grip, allowing shooters an extremely versatile and nimble system. The shotgun is chambered to handle up to 3-inch shells, has a 5-round tubular magazine, front and rear sights and comes with three chokes and a hard case. The nickel plating is nice too, giving the gun a measure of corrosion resistance.

Charles Daly AR-12S

WD Charles-Daly

A pretty svelte and effective system, the AR-12S is also an affordable box-fed shotgun option. A gas-operated semi-automatic, the gun proves a relatively smooth and reliable shooter. AR-style accouterments—carry handle, adjustable buttstock, AR-style controls—make the gun a familiar option for anyone that’s handled the rifle. The 19.5-inch barreled AR-12S comes with a 5-round magazine, is chambered for 3-inch shells and compatible with Beretta/Benelli chokes.

Tristar Sporting Arms KRX Tactical

WD TriStar KRX

The KRX Tactical has been around a spell and has proven somewhat popular. Again, this is a gas-operated, box-fed semi-auto patterned after the AR-15. Thus, the gun is very familiar to many shooters, with its controls and ergonomics what you’d expect them to be. It has some solid upgrades on many of the guns in its class, including a chrome-lined chamber and barrel, full-length Picatinny rail on top and fully adjustable rear sight and fiber optic front.

Ammo Sales

Par for course, ammo is tight out there folks. But Lucky Gunner has two 12-gauge ammo deals available, both 00 buckshot.

Nobel Sport 2-3/4″ 00 Buckshot

WD Nobel

Fiocchi 2-3/4″ 00 Buckshot

WD Fiocchi

Rewiew And Insight On The Guns And Gear For Sale:

First Look: Sauer 404 Synchro XTC

By
Elwood Shelton
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404 Synchro XTC

Lightweight and built for precision, the Sauer 404 Synchro XTC is engineered to seamlessly combined accuracy and flexibility.

What Sets The Synchro XTC Apart From Other Rifles:

  • Switch barrel and bolt-head design allows rifle to jump between numerous calibers.
  • Hand-laid carbon-fiber stock and fluted barrel combine for a featherweight package.
  • Fully adjustable buttstock improves fit and accuracy potential of the gun.
  • Graduated trigger setting lets the shooter know the exact break weight.

Outside the AR world, jumping calibers on the same rifle is a somewhat foreign concept to American shooters. Not so in Germany. Partly as a skirt around somewhat onerous laws and partly a bit of engineering showboating, Teutonic gunmakers have embraced and perfected the switch-barrel concept. Perhaps non more than J.P. Sauer & Sons.

Released around a half-decade ago, the Sauer 404 redefined flexibility with a bolt-action able to climb up and down the spectrum of calibers with the greatest of ease. Thank the ingenious swappable bolt head, along with the interchangeable barrels, for the world’s most protean long-gun. Subsequently, the line has only improved over the years, culminating recently in one of the company's sharpest shooters —the Sauer 404 Synchro XTC. A hybrid hunter-precision option, the rifle incorporates the best of both for a rifle that's accurate and versatile in the same breath.

Where it’s at on the 404 Synchro XTC is its stock. Sure enough, a thumbhole stock is enough to get many to turn their noses up at the rifle. For those who get past this—or just plain love them—there is quite a foundation to the rifle. Rigid and stable, the hand-laid carbon-fiber stock is the ideal platform for consistent accuracy, further aided by a fully adjustable buttstock. Both length of pull and comb height are modifiable, ensuring shooters address the rifle the same every time they're behind the trigger.

And it’s light. The 404 Synchro XTC’s stock and fluted barrel, combine for a 5.9- to 6.2-pound package (depending on caliber), which almost flirts with mountain-rifle heft. Of course, if the rifle is bored up through its modular design it has the potential to thump a bit. But ample recoil pad and the thumbhole’s pistol grip should make it more bearable than a traditional featherweight rifle.

Take Aim At Rifles:

It being a Sauer creation, the 404 Synchro XTC has a load of nifty extras most hunters or target shooters should appreciate. Its manual cocking system, a button at the rear of the bolt that cocks and uncocks the rifle silently, makes it among the safest long guns on the market. And the gun’s adjustable trigger is graduated—marked with Roman numerals—making it simple to discern if the rifle is set for a 1.2-, 1.6-, 2.2- or 2.7-pound break.

At present, Sauer offers the 404 Synchro XTC in 14 different calibers, from .243 Winchester up to .404 Jeffery. Though, there is a little question of price. Hate to burst bubbles, the rifle isn’t cheap, starting at $8,199. On the other hand, the money might be worth it given the Synchro is the closest thing to a do-all rifle there is.

For more information on the 404 Synchro XTC, please visit jpsauer-usa.com.

Magnificent Mite: Wilson Combat EDC X9S

By
Richard A. Mann
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The new EDC X9S from Wilson Combat is a smaller, more compact version of its very-well-received EDC X9.
The new EDC X9S from Wilson Combat is a smaller, more compact version of its very-well-received EDC X9.

Ideally adapted to every day carry, the revamped Wilson Combat EDC X9S is smaller but just as magnificent.

What Sets The EDC X9S Apart From Other Compacts:

    • Built on a rugged alloy frame.
    • Sized to match most of the popular striker-fired compacts.
    • Utilizes Sig P226/228 magazines.
    • Designed sans a grip safety.
    • A bit hefty, it does a number on recoil.
    • Reliable as the day is long.

I would like to introduce you to a new defensive handgun. It’s the EDC X9S from Wilson Combat.

Now, unless this is the first gun magazine you’ve ever read or your Internet is broken, you’ve surely heard of Wilson Combat. The company was founded by Bill Wilson, who started his gunsmithing business in 1977 in the back of his family’s jewelry store in Berryville, Arkansas. Wilson Combat has now grown to become one of the largest employers in the area and a premier manufacturer of what many consider the best custom 1911s in the world.

Younger shooters might not know Bill Wilson’s history. In addition to building an impeccable reputation as a gunsmith, he was the Pistolsmith of the Year in 2002, a top-level IPSC competitor, former director of USPSA and one of the co-founders of the International Defensive Pistol Association.

Those interested in a compact, high-capacity, everyday-carry gun of the finest quality should take the time to “test drive” the Wilson Combat EDC X9S.
Those interested in a compact, high-capacity, everyday-carry gun of the finest quality should take the time to “test drive” the Wilson Combat EDC X9S.

Bill is now retired. Well, not really. Bill doesn’t sit around watching Starsky and Hutch reruns; he supports Wilson Combat by providing research-and-development services. Essentially, he comes up with cool stuff for Wilson Combat to build, and then he shoots it until he knows it works.

In 2017, Wilson Combat introduced the EDC X9. Being a near-perfect amalgamation of the best of what a 1911, Browning Hi Power and Glock 19 had to offer, the EDC X9 is a magnificent defensive handgun.

Still Magnificent, Just Smaller

But, with the understanding that a more compact handgun was more popular for concealed carry, Wilson Combat began working on a smaller version of the EDC X9. The EDC X9S has just been recently released, and I got to spend about a week working with one. Because of its size, reliability and ease of shooting, it’s ideally adapted for everyday carry.

It’s basically an evolution of the EDC platform. Wilson Combat’s main goal with the EDC X9S was to design a first-rate, 10+1-capacity pistol that was about the same basic size as an S&W M&P Shield. But, unlike the Shield or similarly sized Glocks, the EDC X9S is not made of plastic; it’s built on an alloy frame and accepts double-stacked 9mm magazines. In fact, it uses 10-round Sig Sauer P226/228 magazines. The trigger, magazine release, hammer, thumb safety, ejector and tilting barrel recoil system are very 1911-ish in style.

Just slightly larger than your hand, the EDC X9S is similarly sized to the Glock 26 and S&W Shield.
Just slightly larger than your hand, the EDC X9S is similarly sized to the Glock 26 and S&W Shield.

However, the EDC X9S, like all the pistols in the EDC line, lacks a grip safety. The backstrap, which houses the mainspring, is hinged at the top rear of the frame, just as on the larger EDC X9. It’s released by inserting a punch into a hole in the bottom of the backstrap, and it pivots out of the way for access to the internals.

The pistol has a 3-inch, coned-and-fluted barrel that’s ramped. It doesn’t have a barrel bushing but does have a dual recoil spring. The slide is removed just as on any other 1911 but, unlike traditional 1911s, the extractor is external and user serviceable. The pistol’s grip is sculpted with Wilson Combat’s X-Tac treatment, and a similar pattern replaces the common 1911 grasping grooves at the rear of the slide.

Slide and Trigger

The EDC X9S doesn’t have grip panels. The textured sides of the aluminum grip are flat and integral to the frame. For its compact size, it’s not that light. As a comparison, a fully loaded Glock 26 is 4 ounces lighter. This quarter-pound difference is kind of a big deal, because that extra weight is in the slide, helping to dampen recoil and allowing for faster target recovery and follow-up shots. In essence, it makes the EDC X9S more comfortable to shoot.

Thanks to an outstanding trigger—with the shortest reset I’ve ever experienced—the EDC X9S is very easy to shoot fast and accurately. I’ve already written here about the “Forty-Five Drill” I use to evaluate defensive handguns. In that drill, the goal is to draw from concealment and fire five shots into a 5-inch circle at 5 yards in under five seconds. My average time for five runs with the EDC X9S was 3.37 seconds, with only one shot—fired during the first run—landing outside the 5-inch circle. The pistol was also extremely reliable; I tried to make it jam, but I couldn’t.

The EDC X9S Balance

With the EDC X9S, Wilson Combat has done a wonderful job of finding a balance between concealability and shootability. The grip will comfortably fit a wide range of hand sizes. It’s not too heavy, and if you compare all its dimensions with a Glock 26’s, the two pistols are, for all practical purposes, the same exact size. (I have to admit that I like my larger EDC X9 a bit better, but I’m accustomed to carrying a commander-sized 1911/Browning Hi Power pistol on a daily basis. For others who might want high capacity combined with ultra-concealment, the EDC X9S is a better choice.)

The Wilson Combat EDC X9S utilizes a double-stack 9mm magazine for a total capacity of 10+1 rounds. Each pistol is also shipped with an extended, 15-round magazine.
The Wilson Combat EDC X9S utilizes a double-stack 9mm magazine for a total capacity of 10+1 rounds. Each pistol is also shipped with an extended, 15-round magazine.

I consider Bill Wilson one of the best—if not the best—pistolsmiths in the world when it comes to defensive handguns. I’d also rate Wilson Combat as the top source for custom 1911 or 1911-styled handguns.

The new Wilson Combat EDC X9S is the current premier evolution of the 1911, and if you’re looking for a compact carry gun, it should be on top of the list of handguns you want to check out. Although some will scoff at its base price of $2,695 (yeah, I know: You can buy five Glock 19s for the same price), there’s a certain pride and comfort in knowing you own the very best.

EDC X9S Specs
Available Calibers: 9mm
Magazine Capacity: 10 rounds
Barrel Length: 3.25 inches
Overall Length: 6.75 inches
Sight Radius: 5 inches
Height: 4.5 inches
Width: 1.25 inches
Weight Empty: 25.2 ounces
Weight Loaded: 29.7 ounces
Accuracy Guarantee: 1.5 inch at 25 yards

For more information on the EDC X9S, please visit wilsoncombat.com.

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

Raise Your Wilson Combat IQ:

First Look: Sarsilmaz SAR9 X Platinum 9mm

By
Elwood Shelton
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SAR9 X Platinum

Coming with everything you require to carry out of the box, the SAR9 X Platinum ends up a tidy upgrade package.

What Does Sarsilmaz's 9mm Come With:

  • Paddle holster
  • Double magazine pouch
  • Magazine loader
  • Accessory flashlight
  • Carrying case

Sarsilmaz is one of the largest small arms manufacturers in the world that many haven’t heard of. Yeah, historically there's been a few import geeks here and there who’d have one of the Turkish concern’s guns, but not enough of them to really start a trend. This changed somewhat a few years back with the introduction of SAR9 to the American market, giving shooters a Glock-ish option at a decidedly non-Glock-ish price.

Sarsilmaz continues to profit off the tidy striker-fired pistol, recently expanding the line to include the SAR9 X Platinum. While not wandering too far off the company’s winning formula, the gun boasts enough upgrades and extras to pique the interest of those after a decked out 9mm at a decent price. How decent? Sarsilmaz released the black-finished version of the 9mm with an MSRP of $422 and the stainless-steel model with an MSRP of $444. In the scheme of things, not bad for a duty-sized striker-fired.

As to the gun’s bells and whistles, much of it comes in the accessories pack, which includes a paddle holster, double magazine pouch, magazine loader, accessory flashlight and carrying case. Though, the SAR9 X Platinum has a few upgrades on the original iteration, including a Cerakote finished slide with cuts to reduce weight, and a match-style barrel, crowned to ensure the integrity of the bore.

From there, the pistol gets fairly familiar to the SAR9. If you want the full lowdown on the original, Richard Mann did an extensive review on the SAR9. But in thumbnail, like the SAR9,  SAR9 X Platinum is a polymer-framed striker-fired pistol with a fairly low bore axis, which makes it a relatively manageable and quick shooter. It also has a manual thumb safety, which will draw cheers or jeers depending on who you are. And the Platinum comes in at a fairly manageable 27.5 ounces and sports a 4.5-inch barrel. It comes with one 17- and one 19-round magazine or two 10-round magazines in capacity restricted states.

SAR9 X Platinum Specs:
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 15+1 / 17+1
Barrel Length: 4.4″
Overall Length: 7.6″
Overall Heigth: 5.5″
Overall Width: 1.4″
Weight: 27.5 oz.

For more information on the SAR9 X Platinum, please visit sarusa.com.

Load Up On More 9mm Knowledge:

Springfield XD-S Mod.2 OSP Takes The Single-Stack Optics-Ready

By
Elwood Shelton
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XD-S Mod.2 OSP 3

Boasting a slide cut, the Springfield XD-S Mod.2 OSP gives shooters an optic-ready, single-stack option.

What Does the Springfield Pistol Bring To The Table:

  • Compatiblity with a wide swath of micro red-dot optics.
  • Solid base to mount a red-dot without compromising the pistol's concealablity.
  • The performance that has grown the XD-S line's popularity.

Once frowned upon as unreliable and burdensome, red-dot optics have stormed the gun world in recent years. Thank the world’s optics makers for this sea change. Shrunken down and tough as an Abrams tank, the next generation of micro red-dots are at once unassuming and battle tough. Not to mention, once mastered, they’ll get you on target in a split second.

Springfield Armory embraced the aiming technology a while ago, releasing optic-ready models such as Hellcat and XD-M. But the gun company has gone back to its roots with its recent entrant to this niche, expanding its most popular pistol line with a model ready to piggyback a red-dot. Shake hands with the Springfield XD-S Mod.2 OSP (Optic Sight Pistol).

Retaining the features shooters have grown to love, Springfield enhances the pistol with a factory-milled slide for the direct mounting of red-dot optics. At once, the mount reduces the profile of the sight making it more compatible with concealed carry and aids the optic in absorbing the recoil impulse of the pistol. Sure enough, the XD-S Mod.2 OSP is 9mm—not the buckiest of calibers, but enough produces to loosen screws or knock off the zero on lessor systems. When not in use, Springfield supplies a polymer cover plate, which fits seamlessly on the side and features cocking serrations to aid in manipulation.

XD-S Mod.2 OSP 1

The single-stack pistol is available with a factory-installed Crimson Trace CTS-1500 an auto-dimming unit that features a 3.5 MOA reticle. A sight cut in the optic allows XD-S Mod.2 OSP’s U-notch rear and front ramp sights to co-witnesses through the red-dot, but the iron sights do not appear to be high-rise. This could possibly cause issues with other optics. To that end, what other optics play nice with the pistol? Shield Sights series of mini-red dots, SIG Sauer Romeo Zero, Leupold DeltaPoint and the like.

As to the pistol itself, there are few surprises away from the slide. It’s pretty much an XD-S: polymer frame, striker-fired, 7+1-round and 9+1 capacity, ambidextrous mag release, passive grip and trigger safety, fairly positive front and back strap texturing. The one thing to be said, on optic on the pistol isn’t the worst idea to come down the road and should help the 3.3-inch gun accuracy given its terse sight radius. It’s fairly affordable to boot, the standard XD-S Mod.2 OSP’s MSRP set at $425 and the option with a Crimson Trace sight $549.


 

XD-S Mod.2 OSP 2

XD-S Mod.2 OSP Specs:
Caliber: 9mm
Color: Black
Barrel: 3.3″ Hammer Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish, 1:10
Slide: Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish
Frame: Black Polymer w /Enhanced Grip Texture
Sights: White Dot Front, Serrated Rear, Crimson Trace CTS-1500 Red Dot
Recoil System: Dual Captive Recoil Spring w/ Full Length Guide Rod
Grip Width: .9″
Magazines: (1) 7-Round, (1) 9-Round Extended
Weight: 21.5 oz w/ Flush Mag, 22.5 oz w/ Extended Mag
Length: 6.3″
Height: 4.4″ w/ Flush Mag, 5″ w/ Extended Mag
MSRP: $429; Crimson Trace sight $549

For more information on the XD-S Mod.2 OSP Specs, please visit springfield-armory.com.

More On Springfield Armory:

Muzzle Velocity, Accuracy And The Variables That Matter

By
Philip Massaro
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0

Muzzle Velocity 3

Desired muzzle velocity and downrange accuracy prove elusive goals off the reloading bench. Exactly what factors are you dealing with in the chase for each?

Accuracy in a rifle—even though “precision” is the word we actually should be using—is something every reloader is after. And, once we see a muzzle velocity figure published for a particular cartridge, there’s little others can do to drive that benchmark from the mind.

Comparing the data in several reloading manuals, you’ll find some rather wide variations in muzzle velocity figures, even for the same load. You’ll sometimes see significant differences in the maximum charge weight, as well as the velocity for that weight charge. It can be maddening, especially when you’ve chosen a particular cartridge for the velocity potential and you see numbers that are, well, disappointing.

Why does this happen? And why, when you see a target from a friend or acquaintance produce a target from a particular “recipe,” doesn’t your rifle produce a similar group?

Variables to Consider

Firstly, modern rifles are showing more-consistent results than we’ve ever seen. When I was a younger man, anyone who had a 1 MOA rifle was talked about in reverent whispers—as if they owned some mythical weapon blessed by divinity. Of course, many hunters were using iron-sighted lever-action carbines, and minute-of-pie-plate at 100 paces was “good enough.”

But, I feel modern rifles are also the best available. Inexpensive rifles are delivering groups that would have surely turned the heads of our grandfathers. We’re seeing sub-MOA guarantees on more models each year—to the point that a rifle that delivers a 2-inch group at 100 yards causes the shooter to make a face as if they’ve just taken a mouthful of sour milk.

Carefully handloaded 6.5-284 Norma ammunition, which is wonderfully accurate, is slightly below expectations in the velocity department.
Carefully handloaded 6.5-284 Norma ammunition, which is wonderfully accurate, is slightly below expectations in the velocity department.

I’m not suggesting you call off the pursuit of accuracy in your handloads once you hit the 2 MOA mark, but I am saying that not every rifle is capable of ½ MOA performance. The individuality of your barrel most definitely comes into play where group size is concerned, and there are so many variations that it sometimes seems no two are alike.

For example, my 6.5-284 Norma is a Savage rifle—from its custom shop—and it’s most definitely one of the most accurate rifles I own, giving 1/3 to ½ MOA groups out to 500 yards. However, it shows a definite preference for flat-based bullets, and I suspect the bore might be a bit “loose.” In spite of a 25-inch barrel, the velocities for this rifle are lower than expected across the board, further confirming my suspicion.

Also, consider this: I’ve seen more than one of the modern, high-BC bullets need time to settle down, giving better groups at 300 yards than at 100 yards. I suppose the bullet, like a spinning top, needs some time to obtain the perfect stability. I’ve seen this phenomenon with the longer, heavier-for-caliber bullets, such as the Nosler AccuBond, Hornady ELD-X and ELD Match, along with other similar bullets.

Target Muzzle Velocity Figures

Reaching a target muzzle velocity figure in your handloads can be equally challenging.

Taking a look at any box of ammunition, you’ll see a certain muzzle velocity listed. Is that gospel? Certainly not, because the manufacturer has no idea what type of firearm you’ll be firing that ammunition from, its barrel length or any other parameter. The same can be said for a reloading manual.

Keeping a record of the velocities of your handloads will help you in years to come.
Keeping a record of the velocities of your handloads will help you in years to come.

For example, the original .416 Rigby load used a 410-grain bullet at 2,350 fps for 5,000 ft-lb of muzzle energy. This has been a benchmark for comparing newly developed cartridges; and, if a cartridge doesn’t develop those velocity and energy figures, it’s generally been frowned upon.

The problem is, a ballistic pendulum and a long test barrel were used to obtain those “defining figures,” and when original ammunition for the .416 Rigby was put through a modern chronograph, the results were eye-opening. Muzzle velocities of 2,150 to 2,175 fps were observed, lowering the energy values closer to the 4,000 ft-lb mark.

Wouldn’t that make the .416 Rigby ineffective? No one ever knew the difference … certainly not the game animals.

I’ve seen some .308 Winchesters beat the muzzle velocity of the .30-06 Springfield, and I’ve seen .30-06 Springfields that can outperform some .300 Winchester Magnums. In both instances, it had to do with the particular barrel. Such is the way of the world of ballistics: There are no absolutes.

Load Up On Reloading Info:

Accuracy vs. Velocity

In most of my rifles, the majority of which are for hunting, I prefer to squabble over accuracy more than velocity. I’m not willing to give up a whole ton of velocity, but coming up 50 to 100 fps light isn’t going to crush me.

In my .404 Jeffery, the data indicated I should’ve been getting 2,325 fps with the particular powder charge of Reloder 15 I was using. However, no matter how hard I shook the chronograph, all I could get was 2,280 fps. It was the characteristics of my particular barrel and, with extreme spreads of 15 fps, the accuracy was certainly there, averaging ¾ MOA from the big gun.

Using a good chronograph, such as the Oehler 35P seen in the background, will help determine trajectory and wind deflection values.
Using a good chronograph, such as the Oehler 35P seen in the background, will help determine trajectory and wind deflection values.

Working with a custom 7mm Remington Magnum and 175-grain Nosler AccuBonds, I found wonderful accuracy—only to find that the muzzle velocity was slightly more than 2,500 fps instead of the 2,925 fps it should have generated. For reasons I can’t quite explain, this particular powder just didn’t get along with that rifle. Therefore, I switched powders and equaled the accuracy while reaching proper velocities.

There are many factors affecting velocity: barrel length, variations in bore diameter and the little, inexplicable “gremlins” that cause reloaders to mutter inaudible sentences.

Be sure to consider a reloading manual as a laboratory report; that is, it’s a snapshot of the performance of a certain bullet, with a certain powder charge, in the manual’s particular test barrel. This is why all the books of data suggest strongly that you start at the bottom of the charge weights and work up slowly; your rifle might develop higher pressures faster than the test barrel did.

I also recommend that you keep copious notes regarding your rifle and load development. Make note of the case brand, primer brand and type, powder charge (and perhaps even the lot number), and bullet brand and weight. If you experiment with a good number of different loads, you might start to draw your own conclusions regarding your barrel, as compared to the various test barrels.

Don’t get too hung up on it. As long as your loads do what you need them to do, the goal has been met.

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

Best 6.5 PRC Ammo Available Right Now

By
Elwood Shelton
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1

Currently, Hornady offers only two loads for the 6.5 PRC. In truth, they’re really the only two loads you need for this cartridge.

Load up on the right 6.5 PRC ammo and you take your shooting to a new level.

What's The Best 6.5 PRC Ammo

For all the recent fervor around the 6.5 caliber and all their long-range goodness, the 6.5 PRC has proven a slow burn. Don’t misconstrue this. Guns for the magnumtized 6.5 Creedmoor have flourished and the heavy-hitting six-and-a-half has developed a dedicated following—especially among hunters—since its release a few years back. But the comparably, the 6.5 PRC has taken rear mammary to its smaller sibling. The proof is in the pudding, ammunition selection.

Thumb through the virtual pages of any ammo retailer and you find the pickings are somewhat slim for the big dog 6.5. Not nil mind you, but compared to the new(ish) 6.5 Creedmoor—heck even the little cousin 6mm Creedmoor—6.5 PRC ammo doesn’t abound. Luckily what’s out there is good, particularly if you’re looking to take the 6.5 on the hunt. We’ve select four of the best 6.5 PRC ammo options out there presently, hopefully, there’ll be more as the years ware on. But before we go there, perhaps we should discuss why you might want to consider the beltless magnum.

Why Shoot 6.5 PRC

Aside from the stock answer of, Why the heck not shoot it?, there’s a pretty simple reason—it outperforms the 6.5 Creedmoor. You get all the ballistic goodness of the caliber, backed up with a larger powder charge. That means more velocity, which leads to better downrange and terminal performance.

The brass tacks are thus, the 6.5 PRC has 28 percent more case capacity than the 6.5 Creedmoor, which producing an 8-percent increase in velocity. Downrange makes a difference. Take a 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC ammo loaded with the same bullet, you’ll deal with nearly 50-inches less drop at the 1,000-yard mark and enjoy another 250 or so yards more super-sonic flight with the bigger 6.5 cartridge. Not small potatoes.

Trajectory comparision between Hornady's 6.5 Creedmoor 147 gr ELD Match and 6.5 PRC 147 gr ELD Match. Both have identical bullets, with an identical .697 ballistic coefficent. Yet, thanks to a greater velocity, the 6.5 PRC outperforms the Creedmoor downrange.
Trajectory comparision between Hornady's 6.5 Creedmoor 147 gr ELD Match and 6.5 PRC 147 gr ELD Match. Both have identical bullets, with an identical .697 ballistic coefficent. Yet, thanks to a greater velocity, the 6.5 PRC outperforms the Creedmoor downrange.

In the bargain, you’ll still get a relatively mild shooting caliber. Will it kick? More than a 6.5 Creedmoor, but much less than a majority of magnum-class cartridges—of course, depending on the heft of your rifle. It certainly not as drastic as jumping from .308 Winchester to .300 Winchester Magnum. Additionally, the 6.5 PRC is absolutely dynamite on large game, leading many to dub it the ultimate hunting round in the caliber. Pretty tidy package, all in all.

Best Hunting 6.5 PRC Ammo

Hornady Precision Hunter

A Hornady PH

The roots of the cartridge don’t get any deeper than this. Along with Hornady Match, Precision hunter was the 6.5 PRC ammo option to hit the market and still stand up against the competition. The stuff is loaded pretty hot, pushing a 143-grain ELD-X bullet 2,960 fps at the muzzle, giving it the chops to harvest game at the limits of an ethical shot. While the bullet itself has an excellent ballistic coefficient (.625) thanks to its sleek secant ogive, boattail design, and heat-resistant polymer tip, it also performs admirably once it’s at its destination. Designed to retain 50 to 60 of its weight, no matter the distance, the bullet produces devastating wound channels on whatever you lay your crosshairs on.

Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond

A Nosler Trophy Grade

Nosler has met few 6.5 cartridges it didn’t love—this includes the PRC. Luck for hunters, given its Trophy-Grade AccuBond stuff, is among the most potent big-game medicine on the shelves. Topped with the 140- and 142-grain polymer-tipped AccuBond bullets, the 6.5 PRC ammo is tough enough to handle the likes of elk, moose, and everything down. Boasting a bonded-core, the bullet won’t fly apart once at its terminal destination. Aided by the 6.5 exceptional sectional density, it bores deep into game ensuring you hit vitals. It’ll fly too. With a respectable .509 ballistic coefficient, expect Nosler Trophy grade to excel even at your limits.

Federal Premium Trophy Accent

A Fed Terminal Accent

A bit lighter, but no less devastating opting, Federal’s 130-grain Trophy Accent is another option that gets the caliber to live up to its full ballistic potential. A few of the ammo’s basics. The Terminal Accent bullet (.532 BC) is polymer-tipped and has a bonded core, ensuring it hangs together once at its target. And Federal loads them so they scoot at 3,000 fps at the muzzle. But the bullet itself has some interesting design features not found in other 6.5 PRC ammo. In particular, it has a specialized groove, which aids in optimal performance out of a wide variety of rifles. No secret sauce there. But how it’s designed, with an angled rear wall, improves its aerodynamics and reduces bullet drop at longer ranges. Trophy Accent is a great option for those long, windy shots at pronghorns on the prairie or sheep in a gusty basin.

Best Match 6.5 PRC Ammo

Hornady Match

A Hornady Match

As we alluded to above, there’s another Hornady option on this list. The bad of the matter, at present time it’s about the only factory loaded 6.5 PRC ammo tailored to match shooting on the market. Picking are slim folks. The good, it’s an excellent long-range option. Hornady’s Extra Low Drag (ELD) bullets are a favorite of competitive shooters and don’t disappoint in this ammo. A bit heavy for caliber, the 147-grain bullets deliver a highest-in-class ballistic coefficient at .697. This adds up to a projectile that shoots flatter and is more impervious to wind drift. It also maintains its BC in flight, thanks to its heat impervious Heat Shield tip that does not degrade due to air friction. The larger bullet means a tad less case capacity, but Hornady still goes to the hilt, milking 2,910 fps of velocity at the muzzle from it.

More 6.5 Creedmoor

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