Making its first foray into bolt-action rifles, Springfield Armory has whipped up a lightweight and deadly accurate hunter in the Model 2020 Waypoint.
How The Model 2020 Waypoint Is Designed As An Accurate Hunter:
Rigid and lightweight hand-laid carbon-fiber stock.
Unique carbon-fiber wrapped barrel that dissipates heat.
Crisp and consistent TriggerTech adjustable trigger.
Rock-solid Model 2020 stainless-steel action.
Springfield Armory has dipped its beak in a lot of areas in the world of firearms—imports, semi-auto rifles, striker-fired pistols and, of course, 1911s. Explicitly missing from its ventures, a bolt-action rifle. Now the company can scrub that off the list.
The Illinois firearms manufacturer and importer is striking new ground with the introduction of the Model 2020 Waypoint. Marketed as a hunting rifle, the bolt-action is the flagship of an entirely new line built around the Model 2020 action. No word on how and when Springfield will expand on its initial offering, but that’s alright—the gunmaker has given shooters plenty to mull over in the Waypoint.
To that end, the company has built a solid foundation for the rifle and its successors with what appears a well-constructed action. The heart of the Model 2020 Waypoint is built from stainless steel and kept to exceedingly tight design and manufacturing tolerances. In addition to a two-lug, push-feed design, the action features glass-smooth EDM-machined lug raceways to improve the bolt’s action. The bolt itself is fluted and employs dual cocking cams and an enhanced extractor to ensure there are no hang-ups, even with high-pressure loads. Finally, Springfield tops everything off with an oversized bolt handle, making operation all the more intuitive and easy.
While the rifle is angled at the game field, it’s taking cues from the tactical end of the market. This is evident in the Model 2020 Waypoint’s stock from AG Composites, complete with full pistol grip, optional adjustable comb, pillar bedding and the wide fore-end of a target model. Unlike typical precision stocks, Springfield’s is featherlight, a function to its hand-laid carbon-fiber construction. Impressively, the lightest models come in well under 7 pounds. Very merciful heft indeed.
Though, the stock doesn’t get to take all the credit for weight savings. The lithest models shave bulk thanks to a carbon-fiber wrapped barrel from BSF Barrels. Its construction is unique. Utilizing a process known as roll-wrapping, a majority of the carbon-fiber sleeve doesn’t make contact with the stainless-steel barrel. Instead, it free-floats allowing the barrel to dissipate heat—also helped by fluting on the barrel proper— to preserve pristine harmonics for repeatable accuracy. The lightweight material is kept in place via two caps.
Springfield Armory guarantees .75 MOA accuracy in the Model 2020 Waypoint and has spared no expense to ensure it. This is no more evident in the gunmaker opting for an adjustable TriggerTech trigger. Leaders in precision fire control groups, the unit in the Springfield rifle is adjustable from 2.5 to 5 pounds and features a patented roller promoting a spotless and repeatable pull. It’s lock time is also lightning fast—1.9 milliseconds—so it cuts down on any potential wobble off-target at the break.
Initially, the Model 2020 Waypoint is available in .308 Winchester, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC. Other notables include AICS magazine compatibility, QD pockets, reinforced M-Lok slot on the fore-end, removable radial muzzle brake (5/8×24 thread pattern), Picatinny optics rail and the choice of Evergreen or Ridgeline camo patterns. One other thing to note, Springfield also offers the Waypoint in more affordable configurations, which non-adjustable stock and fluted stainless steel barrel.
As to cost, all that carbon fiber elevates the price tag. For the whole hog—adjustable stock and carbon-fiber barrel—the MSRP is $2,399; stainless-steel barrel and static stock cuts the suggested retail price down to $1,699.
Springfield Model 2020 Specs Calibers: 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .308 Winchester Capacity: 5 rounds Barrel: Stainless-Steel; BSF Barrels Carbon-Fiber Barrel Length: 20, 22, or 24 inches Weight: 6 pounds 10 ounces to 7 pounds 6 ounces Stock: AG Composites Carbon-Fiber Trigger: TriggerTech Adjustable MSRP: Starting at $1,699
Affordable and high performance, Leupold hits the sweet spot with its new SX-2 Alpine HD spotting scope line.
Unless you’re setting up a tree stand in dark timber, chances are you need quality observational optics. Without a spotting scope or a pair of binoculars, you’ll spend more time on the hoof and less time finding game. Luckily, Leupold has you covered with optics designed to pick out elk from shadows from a country mile.
Recently introduced, the SX-2 Alpine HD spotting scope line delivers impeccable images and ample magnification, upping your chances of filling your tag. Presently two models are available, a 20-60x60mm internal optics and a 20-60x80mm option. In both cases, the scopes offer best-in-class features, ergonomic designs, and field-rugged durability. Oh yeah, and they’re priced in the range most shooters can afford. The MSRP on the 60mm SX-2 Alpine HD is $519.99 and the 80mm $649.99.
“The SX-2 Alpine HD delivers exactly what hunters and shooters want in a spotting scope, and it does it in a price class that you’re not going to be able to beat,” said Zach Bird, Product Line Manager for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “Our in-house optical engineers are working every day here in Beaverton, OR, to bring consumers the product quality they deserve, and the SX-2 is the perfect example — it’s lightweight, rugged, clear, and exactly what you’ll need whether you’re spending the day at the range or heading out in the field.”
Despite their relatively affordable price tags, the SX-2 Alpine HD scopes have top-notch features, including generous eye boxes to reduce eye strain, comfortable oversized eyepieces and water and fog proofing. Perhaps the most useful feature is Leupold's Twilight Max Light Management System that extends the scopes' usefulness into low-light conditions. Intensifying ambient light and reducing glare, the system keeps images clear even in the dim environments hunters find themselves at dusk and dawn.
Furthermore, the scopes will stand up to the toughest conditions. Leupold’s Diamondcoat lenses come standard on SX-2 Alpine HD scopes, making them nearly impervious to scratches. And high-tech lens coatings further protect the lenses from dirt and water build-up, while enhancing and sharpening images. Additionally, there is a rotating tripod adjustment ring to allow for more flexibility when glassing large areas, along with an integrated, adjustable sunshade.
Of course, the SX-2 Alpine HD scopes come with Leupold’s lifetime warranty. A solid package for the price.
For more information on the SX-2 Alpine HD spotting scope line, please visit .
Do you know if your defensive handgun training is up to snuff? The Forty-Five Drill measures your likely reaction if you’re actually attacked.
If you study actual shootings, you’ll soon see a trend. It’s very common for someone—a cop or civilian—to point their handgun at the bad guy and start pulling the trigger.
It seems that this dumping of available ammunition is not a conditioned response; it’s a reflexive one. From a handgun training standpoint, it’s easier to train to a reflexive response than it is to create a new, conditioned response. This is how the Forty-Five Drill came about. It’s an evaluation exercise that establishes your ability to do what you are, in fact, very likely to do if you’re actually attacked.
Testing Your Handgun Training
This drill involves drawing a handgun from concealment and engaging a 5-inch circle at a distance of 5 yards with five shots in fewer than five seconds. I gave it the “Forty-Five Drill” name because it’s made up of four elements of five: 5 yards, five shots, 5 inches and five seconds. Variations of this drill exist, but what they all have in common is the assessment of your ability to shoot a handful of shots into a relatively small area at close range at a fast pace.
I initially developed the Forty-Five Drill as a means for me to test and evaluate handguns, holsters and sights. By conducting the drill on a regular basis, it provides me with a good yardstick to measure my interface with various handguns, sights and other gear. Safeties that are hard to deactivate; sights that are hard to see; lasers that are difficult to activate; holsters that are hard to draw from; and cover garments that are unagreeable all stand out when subjected to this drill. Fundamentally, this exercise gives me a level playing field to learn what works for me and what doesn’t.
Based on my experiences teaching on the range and watching how civilians and police officers perform while others are teaching, I established that only about 5 percent of all police and civilian shooters are capable of performing this drill on demand. By “on demand,” I mean that you don’t get to warm up, practice or game it out. You step up to the line and, at the buzzer, you do your best while using your carry gun, carry ammo and wearing what you normally wear. Realism is key.
It’s easy to make a target for the Forty-Five Drill: Just place an old CD or DVD on a standard MGM carboard IPSC target and paint around it with dark-colored spray paint.
Drawing and shooting five shots from concealment is not the problem. The problem is putting all five bullets inside the 5-inch circle in fewer than five seconds. In fact, on average, you can expect 20 percent of the shooters to miss at least one shot, about 30 percent to miss two shots and about 30 percent to miss three or more shots when attempting this drill. The other 15 percent will get their hits—but not within the five-second time limit.
I’ve conducted this drill so many times that I figured it was about time I established a scoring process to help me better compare guns, gun features, gear and my performance. I kept the scoring just as simple as the drill.
Each hit is worth four points, so in a string of five shots, there are 20 points possible. You take the total points and subtract the time. A perfect score of 20 is unobtainable, because it would require you to get all five hits in zero seconds. While the “on-demand” single run is a good handgun training benchmark, it’s of little value when making comparisons. So, ideally, you run the drill five times, total the points and then subtract the total time.
As it should be, a score of 100 is also impossible. So, I’ve broken down the scoring to reflect various levels of competency:
What’s more important than the scores or any competency level they reflect is how you use them. I’d suggest starting off each handgun training session with an on-demand run of the Forty-Five Drill. Keep a record of your performance and compare it to previous and future runs that you start your training session with.
The Forty-Five Drill is uncomplicated to set up, understand, conduct and score. It’s a great training benchmark for the defensive handgunner.
The five-run evaluation drill is good to conduct at the end of a training session. You can use it to establish a baseline of performance, as well as a means to compare how well you did with a new holster, sight or even a new handgun.
Journal your scores and even keep notes about issues you encounter while conducting the drill; that is, notes about things such as:
The safety was hard to disengage
The laser was hard to activate
The cover garment or holster slowed your draw
The gun just did not feel good in your hand
You might find that your favorite gun doesn’t perform as well on this drill as one you like a bit less. I ran this drill with my laser-sighted .45 ACP Nighthawk Commander, my Lightweight Browning Hi-Power and a prototype of the new X9S from Wilson Combat. I scored 78.24 with the Nighthawk, 83.59 with the Hi-Power and 79.13 with the X9S.
Reflexive Response
The beauty of this drill’s simplicity and its uncomplicated scoring system is that it allows you to easily compare the real-world performance of various guns and gear. More importantly, it evaluates your ability to do something you just might have to actually do one day: draw from concealment and get multiple hits on a single lethal threat—in a hurry. Because this drill reduces the use of a defensive handgun to its most basic application, it could also be called the “Gunfighter Drill.” In essence, that’s exactly what this drill is examining—your ability to reflexively respond with a defensive handgun to a fight your life will depend on.
To conduct the Forty-Five/Gunfighter Drill, you’ll need a shot timer and a torso-type target with a 5-inch circle. The best resources I’ve found for this drill are a PACT Club Shot Timer, an MGM Target Stand and a cardboard IPSC target. The easiest way to make the 5-inch circle is to lay an old CD/DVD on the target in the high chest area and spray around it with dark-colored paint.
Taking the best from half-moon clips and speedstrips, the K-PAK speedloader rethinks reloading the revolver on the quick.
There are plenty of reasons to still consider a revolver for concealed carry. Expedient reloading is not one of them. No matter how you cut it, traditional wheelgun speed loading systems are either bulky or only a step faster than loading loose rounds. Not exactly enduring traits. Zeta6 may have cured this with the introduction with a slick new revolver speedloader combining the best from two existing systems—the speedstrip and moon clip.
“The inspiration for (the K-PAK) design was the moon clip, used since the early 20th century to quickly reload revolvers,” said Michael Lyle, product designer. “We wanted to make the speedloader completely symmetrical, so the user would not have to think about orientation. For this reason, we pointed the two half-round moon clip patterns in opposite directions creating something that we call an offset strip speedloader.”
Pretty simple and ingenious. The K-PACK arranges six rounds into two equal three-round staggered arcs, similar to two half-moon clips. Only these are laid straight and made out of polyurethane. However, like clips, the speedloader juices three chambers at a time, making it an extremely fast and intuitive system.
Better yet, the K-PAK is next to nothing to carry on person. The loader lays flat in a pocket, adding little to a carry kit and eliminating the need for a pouch or similar carrier. Pretty slick.
There’s a rub (Isn't there always?). The K-PAK is designed for use with six-round, K-frame revolvers chambered in .38 Special and .357 Magnum. The latter aspect is no big deal, the former is, given a great many modern concealed carry revolvers hold five rounds and are generally J-frames. Zeta6 explicitly says the K-PAK will not work with Ruger GP100, Security Six, Service Six, Speed Six revolvers or Smith & Wesson L-frame revolvers. However, it is compatible with:
Smith & Wesson Models 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68 and 315
Colt PPS, Detective Special, Agent, Cobra and King Cobra Models
Kimber K6s revolver
Taurus Models 856, 65, 80, 82, 606, 669 and 689
Dan Wesson .38/.357 K-frames
Rossi .38/.357 K-frames
The K-PAK is interesting, to say the least. And with an MSRP of $11.95 for two, it's probably worth experimenting with if you have a medium-frame six-shooter.
For more information on the K-PAK speedloader, please visit zetasix.com.
How Americans perfected—and continue to perfect—the rugged lever-action rifle.
Important Advancements In The Lever-Action Rifle:
Lorenzoni Repeating Pistol of the late-17th century and the German Lagatz Rifle of the early-18th century mark birth of the lever-action.
The 1860 Henry becomes the first commercially successful lever-action.
Used by the Union military in the Civil War, the Spencer Rifle becomes the first repeater adopted by any military.
Winchester 1873 improves on the Henery rifle design with closed tubular magazine, wooden forearm, steel receiver and loading gate.
Marlin 1889 flat-top receiver advances lever-action into the modern era, making them compatible with optical scopes.
Savage 99's rotary magazine allows the lever-action to safely load cartridges with spitzer bullets.
Browning Lever-Action design gives the rifle the ability to shoot belted magnum cartridges.
A mythos has evolved around the lever-action rifle that it’s as American as apple pie and baseball. Why wouldn’t it be? Nearly every silver screen hero and villain—from John Wayne to Clint Eastwood—has worked one to supreme effect. Hell, those of certain vintage will remember the TV show, The Rifleman, which starred—next to Chuck Connors, that is—a large-loop Winchester Model 1892. Legend-building such as that is bound to leave an impression, although the notion is as phantasmic as movie house flickerings.
Unfortunately, the concept of this All-American gun was booted around the dusty cobbles of European gunsmith shops nearly 200 years before Tyler Henry set brass to steel. Fair enough—the Lorenzoni Repeating Pistol of the late-17th century and German Lagatz Rifle of the early-18th century were as rare as baths were in those days. Paucity makes them forgettable. Nevertheless, all the pieces were there—from lever to magazine—to give these arms fair claim to the mantle of the first lever-action. So, to the chagrin of many, our icon has a distinctively Old World accent.
It appears light-years away from what we consider a “lever-action,” but all the parts on this 18th-century Lorenzoni-Action pistol are there to qualify it as this style of gun.
Even so, the origin of the lever-action is no reason to draw a long face, friends. For while the folks “across the pond” might have cooked up the idea, we Americans perfected it. We made the gun the hammer that fashioned a nation, the greatest deer-getter of all time and the symbol of rugged individualism set in blued steel and American walnut.
And, we continue to do so.
The lever-action rifle continues to live large—not simply in our wistful memories of bygone eras, but in cold steel. In addition, the gun remains relevant because, like the country that’s brought its zenith, it continues to evolve while remaining true to its roots. So, yes, the lever-action isn’t as “all-American” as most of us figured. But it sure as heck is an American legend, and it persists in finding ways to retain this crown.
Lever-Action Rifle Goes To War
Frankly, the lever-action isn’t generally thought of as a military arm, despite its many assets that lend it to the task. Yet, it’s fair to say that the American Civil War was the fertile soil from which the lever-action blossomed.
The first commercially successful lever-action rifle, the 1860 Henry, remains highly desirable today. This particular rifle, made in 1862, sold for more than $80,000 at auction.
Perhaps the conflict’s most storied gun was the 1860 Henry Rifle, although it was never formally adopted by either side, nor was it widely used (maybe around 7,000 saw action). It made its way onto the battlefield mainly through the soldiers themselves—almost exclusively Union—who procured them via their own purses. A Henry proved a wise investment.
Whereas the Springfield Model 1861 rifled musket could snap off around two aimed shots per minute—four in skilled hands—the 15-round Henry fired away as quickly as you could work the lever and trigger … which, needless to say, was much faster. Who cares that its .44 Henry Rimfire cartridge was underpowered! That’s a lot of firepower—a true force-multiplier—perhaps summed up by Confederate soldiers, who called it “that damn Yankee rifle you load on Sunday and shoot all week!”
One of Tyler Henry’s greatest contributions to advancing the lever-action was the use of metallic cartridges. In the case of his 1860 rifle, it was the .44 Henry Rimfire—a cartridge of Henry’s own design.
Yet, the Henry is really just a footnote in the War Between the States. The Spencer Rifle, the first repeater adopted by any military, was much more impactful; at least the carbine version was. Some 90,000 of these short-barreled rifles were produced for the Union effort and were mainly used by cavalry. It was arguably the sounder design of the time and quicker to reload, especially with the Blakeslee cartridge tube. However, it was lower capacity than the Henry—seven rounds of .56-56 Spencer Rimfire—and much slower to shoot, given that it had to be manually cocked.
Soldiers of Antietam and Gettysburg later became the farmers and ranchers of the Powder River Basin, San Fernando Valley and other points west. Educated by the hard ways of war, they understood the need apply the right tool to a job. And, by and large, in the yet unconquered frontier, that was the lever-action rifle. Luckily, Winchester had just the gun for America’s Manifest Destiny philosophy.
Interestingly, the Spencer rifle’s lever pulls double duty as a trigger guard. The gun’s large hammer had to be manually operated, slowing down its rate of fire.
As vital as the plowshare or branding iron, the Winchester Model 1873 saw sodbuster and rancher through good and bad times alike. By today’s standards, many would turn up their noses at the thought of a pistol-caliber rifle as the primary long gun; but, at the time, it was a sound system. When a single washed-out bridge was enough to incite a supply chain disruption, it was wise to feed your rifle and pistol from the same trough. Anyhow, the ’73’s black powder .44-40 (later, .38-40 and .32-20) cartridge was more than enough to handle almost everyday Old West tasks—be it taking a deer or defending the homestead.
Essentially, the Model 73 is a Henry rifle, but improved to excel in rugged environments. Chief among its upgrades were a closed tubular magazine, a wooden forearm, a steel receiver and, most importantly, a loading gate. That last point was a doozy, because it erased the need to fiddle with the butt or muzzle end of the gun to reload and introduced a new concept to long guns: topping off the magazine.
No self-respecting cowpoke was without a Winchester Model 1873. Giving shooters ultimate flexibility and plenty of firepower, it was the ultimate tool for fending off bad men and putting meat on the table. Note the loading gate on the receiver: One of the great advancements of its time (first appearing on the Model 1866), it facilitated lightning-fast reloads.
If Winchester was “king” of the American frontier, Marlin was the “queen,” especially during the frontier’s waning days. While it always played second fiddle to the New Haven concern, the gunmaker made some important modifications to its lever-action in the final two decades of the 19th century that were actually more conducive to the way the winds were blowing.
Starting with the Model 1889, the “Marlin Safety” system became standard and perhaps created a better lever-action rifle. Certainly, the improved two-piece firing pin was nice, ensuring you didn’t pop off a round before the action was closed. But the more-weighty design points were the inclusion of a locking lug and, of course, Marlin’s trademark solid top. More metal in the receiver and a tighter lockup made for a stronger gun than did preceding lever-actions.
The Marlin 1889 marked a turning point for the lever-action, with its solid-top receiver and side-ejecting operation making for a stronger gun and one that “played” better with telescopic scopes.
Plus, the side ejection of the ’89 and the Marlins that followed had some distinctive advantages. Canadian and Alaskan “sourdoughs,” for instance, found it was less apt to freeze up than a top ejector—a plus in brown bear country. And, they played nice with telescopic scopes (it’s unlikely that John Marlin aimed for the latter—at the time, they were curiosities—but it certainly set his company up for the next great lever-action era).
On the Hunt
Plenty of shooters still fancy a lever-action in the deer woods. Tradition is mainly to thank for this. However, many of the rifles we cherish today were cutting edge in the time of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. They had to be: The lever-action’s greatest nemesis—the bolt-action—was on the rise, so the icon had to keep up.
Slightly less recognizable is the Marlin 1889. However, it’s no secret at all that one of history’s greatest shooters—Annie Oakley–never left home without at least one.
It was mainly an ammunition issue. Smokeless powder and spitzer bullets were the breakthroughs of the day. Neither played nice with toggle-links and tubular magazines. It required some genius to modernize the lever-action for the 20th century. It was found in two of the greatest—John Browning and Arthur Savage.
Browning’s magnificent Winchester Model 1894 set the standard for smokeless powder-safe lever-actions. Replacing the toggle link with a moving breech block that covered the entire rear of the breech bolt when closed, the rifle was more than up to the job, safely firing higher-pressure propellent from rifle-sized cartridges. Of course, the Model 94 chambered in .30-30 continues to stands as perhaps the greatest lever-action of all time.
To a gun guy, a Savage Model 99 is as recognizable as the mustache on Tom Selleck.
Savage, on the other hand, concocted a truly revolutionary system (pun intended) to incorporate spitzer-loaded ammo. His Savage Model 99’s brass rotary magazine allowed the gun to safely hold touchy ammunition, without the nose dangerously touching primer. He exploited it to great effect, chambering the 99 for the most modern hunting rounds of his day and the past century. The gun’s advantages weren’t lost on hunters: In some hunting camps, the 99-.250 Savage “marriage” is still spoken about in reverent tones.
Even the mid-century belted magnum craze couldn’t bury the lever-action once an adept gun designer set his mind to partner the two. In this case, it was Karl R. Lewis. What he blueprinted for Browning remains one of the most ingenious advancements of the gun.
Considered by many the greatest lever-action of all-time, the Winchester Model 1894 hasn’t waned in popularity. Designed by John Browning, the rifle was the first lever gun that could safely fire smokeless powder.
His Browning Lever-Action (BLR) of the mid-1960s is as near to a bolt-action as a lever gun can get. A rotating bolt head with three locking lugs—originally shallow, like a Weatherby Mark V’s—gave the gun the chops to handle heavy-hitting magnums. The Browning BLR in 7mm Magnum remains an absolute classic and as proficient as any similarly chambered bolt gun, although the gun has won fans with a number of Winchester’s short magnum cartridges—.270 WSM, .300 WSM and .325 WSM.
Return to the Classics and End Times
Sad to say, true lever-action design advancements have somewhat stalled for the past few decades. More companies make them, but little new ground has been broken. For the modern lever gun aficionado, this seems to be A-OK. While there are plenty who love the lever-action for hunting or just plain fun, two categories of shooters seem to drive the market. Funnily enough, both pull much of their inspiration from the Old West.
The rack-and-pinion action of the Browning BLR, which gives a fast, yet smooth, feel.
On one hand, cowboy action shooters are bound to recreate the American frontier down to the spur. This has kept the market roiling for replica 1860 Henrys, Winchester Model 73s, Spencer Rifles, Marlin 1894s and a host of others. It’s even re-planted the lever-action seed in one of its birthplaces—Italy—with both Uberti and Chiappa producing a wealth of Western recreations.
On the other hand, disparate as they might be, are preppers. Much as for their pioneer forefathers, the lever-action is appealing to this category, thanks to its reliability and flexibility. Mossberg was among one of the first to recognize this eight years ago with its tactically styled 464 SPX—complete with ample rails and AR-style, six-position buttstock.
Tastes have changed in lever-actions; this is no more evident than in the Mossberg 464 SPX, which looks capable of handling survival needs during the end of the world.
Others have followed suit. Most recently, Marlin has introduced synthetic-stocked iterations of its Model 336, Model 1894 and big-bore Model 1895. Boasting an upper rail and parachute cord-wrapped lever, they look fit for any SHTF situation.
It won’t stop with replicas and lever-actions with a tactical bent. The gun remains relevant and continues to advance because, in short, it just plain works and only gets better with time.
Fast, powerful and iconic—few other firearms can make this boast. No wonder the lever-action is an American legend. And, it’ll continue to be one for generations to come.
Designed to seamlessly function on the slimmest concealed carry pistols, the Trijicon RMRcc gets on-person self-defense handguns on target.
Red dots have come a long way. Time was, the aiming solution was unwieldy and, worse yet, unreliable—barely fit for the most novel uses. Not anymore. Battle-hardened, the sights have become worthy additions on the most deadly serious firearms. And they keep getting better. Case in point, the new Trijicon RMRcc red-dot.
An advancement of the optic maker’s RMR, the reflex sight shaves down the size making it fit for some of the most popular concealed-carry pistols available. By this, we mean the next generation of ultra-slim polymer pistols and, of course, the svelte 1911. Neither play well with a wide swath of today’s optical sights. At .9 inch in width, the RMRcc has room to spare atop most any slimline pistol presently available.
Trijicon didn’t stop doing away with the sight’s muffin top on slim slides. The company also cut down the height of the RMRcc to an extremely manageable .9 inch, creating an easier-to-carry option that reduces the chance of a snag upon draw. Additionally, tipping the scales at a mere 1 ounce, it adds little to weigh carry pistols down.
It being Trijicon, the reflex sight is built battle tough, giving shooters peace of mind it will function when they need it to. To this end, the body is constructed of 7075-T6 aluminum that is tested to military standards and backed by Trijicon's rigorous testing methodology. Furthermore, the shape of the RMRcc is such that it diverts shock away from the lens, ensuring it’s more important feature withstands the rigors of everyday use. This includes the recoil shock of stouter caliber handguns, such as the .45 ACP and 10mm.
Available with either a 3.25 or 6.5 MOA dot size, the RMRcc provides a bright illuminated aiming point under any condition. It is fully adjustable for windage and elevation (without the need for special tools), parallax-free and features automatic and manual (eight settings) brightness controls. Perhaps best of all, the sight is an energy sipper. Powered by a common 2032 battery, the RMRcc provides up to 4 years of illumination.
The sight works with a wide variety of mounts, making it compatible with a large swath of the most popular compact and slim concealed carry pistols. Presently, the MSRP of the RMRcc is $699.
For more information on the Trijicon RMRcc, please visit trijicon.com.
In the market for a new hunting rifle? Look no further as we review some of the best from the past year.
Dreams of new trophies for the wall and crisp breath in the autumn air, hunting season is finally here. While most already have their trusty iron cleaned up and its scope zeroed in, there might be a few laggers who are in the market for a new rifle. Don’t worry, there are plenty of good ones out there fit for the job. And unlike pump-action shotguns and concealed carry pistols, you can still find many top-notch options at your local gun store. To help you drill down your first or next game-getting hunting rifle, we’ve collected our top reviews from the past year. Be it a lightning-fast lever-gun, deadly accurate bolt-action or cutting-edge mountain rifle, you'll find something to put meat on the table.
Does buying the exact same gun twice make sense? Heck yes, if you're talking about the affordable, accurate and classic hunting rifle, such as the Interarms Mark X in .375 H&H.
If you're after a gritty, dependable and historic rifle that can stand up to the worst of what the world throws at it, then yes, the Mosin-Nagant is worth every penny. Good survival and hunting rifle!
Can you improve on an icon? The new Savage 110 Classic attempts to, with an elevated level of versatility to the traditional wood-stocked hunting rifle.
Light as a feather, the Nosler M48 Mountain Carbon is more than just a dream to carry into the backcountry. It's also a dream to shoot. Now that's a hunting rifle.
Upgraded to excel in the hardest hunts, Wetherby‘s Mark V Backcountry and Mark V Backcounty Ti take the classic hunting rifle design in a new direction.
It's been a 20-year wait for Sig to re-enter the bolt-action market and it's done so in style. Innovative and accurate, the Sig Cross rethinks what the rifle can be.
The Tikka T3 and T3x aren't only budget-friendly, top-performers. The Finnish rifles are also easily customized to excel in any endeavor, from match to hunting rifle.
Editors from the NRA’s American Hunter magazine worked with Remington designers to develop the Remington Model 700 American Hunter rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor.
NRA editors and Remington designers collaborate to build a perfect rifle for hunting whitetail deer. Shake hands with the Remington 700 American Hunter.
How The American Hunter Enchnaces The Traditional Remington 700 Platform:
Bolt features an oversize bolt knob.
Bolt is “jeweled” but in an odd, half-done way.
Boasts moderately heavy contour hammer-forged, chrome-moly steel barrel with 5R rifling.
Barrel is threaded 5/8×24 to allow the easy installation of a suppressor.
My only question was, “what took so long?”
It was after hours at the NRA Annual Meeting and I was sipping some amber amazement with Scott Olmsted, the editor in chief of the NRA’s American Hunter magazine, in some forgotten bar. Scott had just told me about the rifle he and his staff were designing in conjunction with Remington.
“This is going to be a rifle designed by hunters for hunters,” Olmsted said.
That simple sentence sounds like a throw-away, but it’s actually profound. Too many of the rifles hitting the market each year are designed by engineers or marketing people who don’t hunt or shoot much. I know of one major company in the hunting world at which none of the top-level management hunts or shoots at all; they play golf. It’s about time we had a rifle designed by the guys who are out there shivering in the cold, sweating in the sun, enduring the pain from hours of sitting still on stand or sucking air as they hike up a mountain so steep they slide back two steps for every three they take forward.
NRA’s American Hunter is the largest hunting magazine in the world, with more than a million readers each month. As part of the job, the staff editors at American Hunter (full disclosure: I am a field editor for American Hunter) use and hunt with most all of the new guns that hit the market. They see the flaws in the designs, and they see what works. Remington is America’s oldest firearms manufacturer and it makes the most popular bolt-action hunting rifle on earth, the Model 700. So, it made sense to pair up and design a rifle.
Remington Model 700 American Hunter rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor. The muzzle of this barrel is threaded 5/8×24 to allow the easy installation of a suppressor or brake.
Do-All Remington 700 AH
The concept was a rifle designed for hunting the most popular big-game animal, the whitetail deer, but that would work equally well for a wide range of big game. The mythical “do-all” rifle does not exist, but this one comes close, while remaining true to the whitetail baseline.
Remington used this opportunity to launch some new manufacturing techniques that will mimic the way custom gun builders modify the 700 action to optimize performance. The action is the foundation of any rifle. If it’s true and precise, the rifle will perform. Remington trues the action and the bolt lugs to a common center. These are steps taken by custom builders to make a 700 action perform best. The difference is that a custom builder will do it on a lathe, spending hours blueprinting the action, where Remington does it on a production level with CNC machines that do multiple actions at once. The bottom-line goal is the same: a precise and perfect action.
Feature Rich
The bolt features an oversize bolt knob. Not one of those giant blobs as seen on a lot of precision rifles, but a nice, elegant, well-portioned knob that’s a good fit for a hunting rifle. The bolt is “jeweled” but in an odd, half-done way that I must admit is growing on me. I wasn’t a fan at first, but the more I use the gun the more I appreciate that it’s a good match with a hunting rifle as it is almost a camo look.
The heart of any rifle is the barrel. Remington uses a hammer-forged, chrome-moly steel barrel with 5R rifling, which uses five grooves so that a groove opposes a land, rather than lands opposing lands. This is thought to create less bullet distortion and better accuracy. Also, the 5R style of rifling is designed with different, less radical radii in the corners to promote less fouling and easier cleaning.
The logo of the NRA’s American Hunter magazine is laser engraved on the surface of the floor plate.
The barrel is a moderately heavy contour measuring .731-inch at the muzzle behind the threads. It is fluted to cut weight a bit without sacrificing rigidity. Designers decided to go with a shorter 20-inch barrel, a concept that is seeing a lot of interest, particular with younger hunters. From a hunting standpoint this makes sense. A shorter barrel is much easier to use in a hunting blind. Anybody who has ever spooked a buck by hitting the blind wall with the rifle as they were trying to get it out the window probably has nightmares about long barrels. The shorter barrel is easier to use in thick brush and it’s easier to carry. Many hunters who have used guns with long barrels have stuck the muzzle in the mud a time or two. With an overall length of just 39-3/8 inches, this gun is handy to use and carry. Weighing in at 6-3/4 pounds its light enough to carry all day hunting and just hefty enough to soak up the recoil so you can shoot it all day at the range.
Also, because the younger hunters are demanding it, the muzzle of this barrel is threaded 5/8×24 to allow the easy installation of a suppressor. Like it or not, the use of suppressors is growing in popularity with hunters. It protects the hunter’s hearing and it helps keep game from pinpointing your location. I witnessed this a while ago while hunting in Texas for hogs. With our suppressed rifles, the hogs had trouble locating us and it resulted in more shooting opportunities. If you don’t want to use a suppressor or add a muzzle brake, the gun comes with a thread protector installed.
The rifle is, of course, chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. I think it’s a law these days that all new guns must be in that cartridge. No matter, it makes sense as this currently is the most popular hunting cartridge on the market. The 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge was spawned by long-range target shooting and is inherently accurate. This rifle has a 1:8-inch rifling twist rate that works well with the range of bullet weights that are appropriate for hunting or target shooting. I suspect that these rifles will see some offseason use smacking targets so far off that the steel will ring with a different accent.
The metal surfaces are finished in black Cerakote. This looks great and protects against wet weather. The composite stock is by Bell and Carlson, a company that has perfected the art of the synthetic rifle stock and is my first choice on the custom rifles I build. It uses a full-length aluminum bedding block and has the fore-end tip pressure on the barrel that has helped make Remington famous for out-of-the-box accuracy. There are sling swivel studs installed and a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad fitted to the butt. The stock has a cheek piece and an open pistol grip that fits any hand, with or without gloves.
The Remington Model 700 American Hunter rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor has an oversize bolt handle and unique jeweling on the bolt.
The magazine uses a hinged floor plate which has the American Hunter logo laser engraved on the surface. The magazine holds four cartridges.
The rifle features an enhanced version of the Remington X-Mark Pro adjustable trigger, factory set to break at 3.5 pounds. The receiver is drilled and tapped for the larger 8-40 screws, which is another upgrade found on custom rifles. The gun comes with Leupold Mark 4 scope bases, so all you need to mount a scope is rings. I fitted mine with Leupold rings and a Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm scope. This scope is designed for dial up and features a return to zero stop. The rifle shoots sub-MOA with hunting ammo and I feel confident in shooting out to any ethical range with this setup.
The rifle has a serial number starting with 19AH, indicating the year it was made and American Hunter.
This is a limited-edition rifle with only 1,500 being made. Street price is running under $1,000 for this unique hunting rifle. But remember, supplies are limited.
Remington Model 700 American Hunter Specs Type: Bolt-action centerfire rifle Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor Barrel: 20 in.; cold-hammer-forged, chrome-moly steel; 5R rifling, 1:8-in. RH twist; 5/8×24 threaded muzzle. Protective cap included. Magazine: Internal box, hinged; 4-round capacity Trigger: Single-stage, adjustable X-Mark Pro; 3.5-lb. advertised pull weight Safety: Two-position toggle. Does not lock the bolt shut. Sights: Leupold Mark 4 bases installed Stock: Bell and Carlson composite; LOP 13.63-inches Metal Finish: Black Cerakote; jeweled bolt w/black oxide Overall Length: 39-3/8 inches Weight: 6-3/4 lbs. MSRP: $1,349 Street Price: Less than $1,000
For more information on the Remington 700 American Hunter, please visit remington.com.
Designed for small, pocket-type revolvers, the .32 Smith & Wesson gained immense popularity in American and Europe, despite being underpowered.
What You Need To Know About The .32 Smith & Wesson:
Originally loaded with balckpowder, it's exclusively used smokeless since 1940.
Comparable to the .32 Automatic, though the revolver cartridge is less powerful.
Despite being somewhat obscure at this point, factory loaded ammunition is still available.
Historical Notes
Designed for the Smith & Wesson Model 1½ hinged-frame, single-action revolver introduced in 1878, the .32 Smith & Wesson is an old and very popular cartridge that’s widely used in the United States and Europe for low-priced, pocket-type revolvers. Originally a black-powder cartridge, it’s been loaded with smokeless powder exclusively since 1940. In the United States, Colt, Harrington & Richardson, Hopkins & Allen, Iver Johnson, Smith & Wesson and others have made revolvers for this cartridge. In England, Webley & Scott made revolvers for it. Elsewhere in Europe, Bayard and Pickert revolvers chambered it. The original loading used nine grains of black powder.
General Comments
The .32 Smith & Wesson formerly ranked with the .32 Automatic in general popularity—and for the same reasons. It’s low powered and adaptable to small, light, inexpensive, pocket-type handguns. Ballistically, it’s not quite as good as the .32 Automatic. It’s very similar to the .32 Short Colt, but the two aren’t interchangeable because of a difference in bullet and case diameter. Like the .32 Automatic, the .32 S&W is about the minimum cartridge for self-defense. It’s considered inadequate for police work. It’s used occasionally for hunting small game at very short ranges, but it’s too underpowered for consideration as a sporting cartridge. This ammunition is still available.
Marlin’s new-for-2020 150th Anniversary rifle is chambered for the .444 Marlin. It features a high-grade wood stock, checking, engraving, gold inlays and a long-range tangent sight.
Open sights, pitching .444 Marlin from an 150th Anniversary Marlin Model 336, can you hit a country mile? Certainly, but doing so tells us something about the setup.
What Are The Challenges Of Connection Long With A .444 Marlin:
The load used is a 265-grain FP Superformance with an advertised velocity of 2,400 fps.
Zeroed at 100 yards, the bullet drops 8 inches at 200 yards and 6 feet at 400.
A 10 mph, 90-degree crosswind, the bullet will drift about 2 inches at 100 yards and 4 feet at 400.
With nothing more than a 150th Annivesery Marlin Model 336 and steady nerves, you can make hits a country mile with the behemoth .444 Marlin.
For most of the past century, the lever gun was considered a short-range weapon. That wasn’t always the case. When the .30-30 Winchester cartridge was introduced in the 1894 Winchester, it provided much more reach than most lever guns of that age. Of course, it wasn’t long until we had cartridges such as the .30-06 in bolt-action rifles, and “long range” suddenly become a lot farther than it had ever been.
Now, it’s true that lever guns such as the Savage 99, Browning BLR and, most recently, the Henry Long Ranger, have been chambered for modern, flat-shooting cartridges such as the .308 Winchester and even 6.5 Creedmoor. But, these rifles are not traditional lever guns. It’s also true that in 1982, Winchester introduced the .307 Winchester in the Model 94; and, in 2007, Marlin unleashed the .308 Marlin Express. Both offered very improved ballistics over traditional lever-gun cartridges. Ultimately, no one seemed to give a damn: Both cartridges died on the vine.
That begs the question of what a traditional long-range lever gun might be like—as well as if you had one, what you might be able to do with it.
The newer tangent sight from Skinner Sights comes with a thumb screw and an additional sighting notch for 200 yards.
For 2020, Marlin introduced its 150th Anniversary rifle, which is built on the 336 action and is chambered for the .444 Marlin. It has a 24-inch, half-octagonal barrel, checkered, C-grade, American black walnut wood, some tasteful engraving and a gold inlay. It’s a gorgeous, well-made rifle that also comes with something else that would lead you to believe it is, indeed, a beautiful, well-made long-range rifle.
This limited-edition Marlin is fitted with a tangent sight from Skinner Sights. In addition to the standard buckhorn rear blade, a graduated rail with a sliding rear blade can be flipped up so you’re able to shoot at greater distances. This graduated rail is not marked in yardage; it’s marked for reference.
What I wanted to know is how effective this rifle could be at distance.
.444 Marlin Ballistic Facts
The flattest-shooting .444 Marlin load is probably the 265-grain FP Superformance load from Hornady. It has an advertised muzzle velocity of 2,400 fps. If it achieves that, zeroed at 100 yards, the bullet will drop about 8 inches at 200 yards, 30 inches at 300 and 6 feet at 400. Additionally, in a 10 mph, 90-degree crosswind, the bullet will drift about 2 inches at 100 yards, 10 at 200 yards, 2 feet at 300 and 4 feet at 400. This is ballistic fact—at least giving or taking an inch or so, depending on the ballistic calculator you use to do your guessing.
The tangent sight that comes on the Marlin 150th Anniversary rifle is manufactured by Skinner Sights. The one shown here is the second generation.
If you know this to be fact because you’ve confirmed it on the range, and if you have one of the twisty turret scopes to dial in an elevation and windage correction, you should be able to get hits from 100 yards all the way out to 400 yards. But, being able to dial in a ballistic solution isn’t the only consideration. For starters, what kind of fool wants to put a long-range rifle scope on a rifle such as this exquisite Marlin?
Speaking of traditional lever guns, I must quote Ashley Emerson, one of the founders of XS Sights. Ashley was fond of saying, “A man will go to hell if he puts a scope on a lever gun.”
Now, I don’t fully agree with that opinion; I can think of several reasons to put a scope on a lever gun. The most prominent is poor eyesight. If you like hunting with a lever gun, why should you have to give it up because of poor eyesight? Another is, of course, a scout scope, which doesn’t detract as much from the handling qualities of a good lever-action rifle.
On the left is the original Skinner tangent sight for the Marlin Anniversary .444. On the right is the second generation. Notice the addition of the thumb screw on the newer version.
The other consideration has more to do with practicality than aesthetics; it has to do with range.
Let’s say you’re capable of hitting targets out to 400 yards with a scoped, traditionally styled lever gun because you know your data (or “DOPE,” as the long-range gurus like to call it). If you range a deer at 375—but it’s actually 350 (because you ranged the rock behind the deer)—when you input the elevation correction for 375 yards, your bullet will actually strike about a foot higher than your point of aim.
This is the curse of projectiles with poor aerodynamics: A slight mistake in range estimation equates to a miss. This applies to much-flatter-shooting cartridges too, but at much greater distances. To see a 10-inch variation in trajectory over a distance of 25 yards with a .308 Winchester, you’d have to be shooting at about 500 yards.
On the left is the original Skinner tangent sight for the Marlin Anniversary .444. On the right is the second generation. A notch has been added at the bottom of the rail on the newer version.
The final problem is wind. At 10 mph, a 90-degree crosswind will push the referenced .444 Marlin bullet more than 2 feet at 300 yards. Again, with the .308 Winchester, you’ll have to be shooting at about 500 yards to experience the same drift. It’s possible that from your shooting position there’s no wind, but that on the 300-yard journey to the target, the bullet could encounter a steady wind or gust. This could push the slow-moving bullet off course enough to cause at best, a miss and, at worst, a bad hit on an animal.
But, that’s enough ballistic speculation for one article. Let’s look at what I was actually capable of doing with this new Marlin at distance.
Shooting from a seated position with sticks for support, very much as you might do while hunting, my first three-shot group at 100 yards measured under 2 inches. That’s not too shabby, considering the sights on this rifle are a bit coarse and that the eyes looking across them had to be behind corrective lenses to even see them. More practically, I was able to hit an 8-inch steel plate every time at that distance.
With a riflescope, hits at distance with the Marlin Anniversary .444 were easy—all the way out to 300 yards.
At 200 yards, things got a bit complicated, because when I flipped up the tangent sight and slid the sight blade to the very bottom, I found that the bullets were passing about 2 feet over the 200-yard target. The problem was that the sliding sight blade wasn’t regulated for 200 yards. Fortunately, there was some space below the lowest setting that allowed me to see through the slot. I placed the front bead in the center of this “U” and tried again. The bullet impacted about 4 inches above the plate. Holding at the bottom of the 16-inch plate, I was able to get three hits in a row.
I considered that respectable for open sights at 200 yards, but I was a bit disappointed in the settings/configuration of the tangent sight. The sight is made for Marlin by Skinner Sights, so I reached out to Andy Larsson at Skinner to discuss this. He said Marlin didn’t provide him with a rifle to build the sight to, so the company had to guess. I suggested he cut a notch in the bottom of the channel to use at 200 yards. Agreeing this was a good idea, he altered one and sent it to me.
Installed and zeroed, it was almost perfect at 200 yards. Again, firing from the seated position with shooting sticks, I shot a similarly sized good group on the 16-inch plate. Problem solved!
With the Skinner tangent sight, especially the second generation, it’s possible to hold correctly for drop out to 300 yards and beyond.
I’m not sure I could hit a deer at 200 yards in a natural setting every time, because they’re much harder to see than a white steel plate. But I can, for damned sure, “kill” a white, 16-inch steel plate at that distance. (In the interest of full disclosure, out of a subsequent string of 10 shots, I missed the plate three times.)
Reality being what it is, advertised ballistics are rarely achieved. Out of the Anniversary Marlin, the Hornady load averaged 2,313 fps. That’s 70 fps fewer than advertised and equates to an increase in drop of 3 inches at 300 yards. At 300 yards, I was already dealing with about 30 inches of drop, and a 16-inch steel plate looks pretty damned small at that distance. When I tried to put that 1/10-inch front bead on it, the plate disappeared. As you might surmise, this greatly complicates the process of aiming.
Fortunately, with the slider sight blade at the lowest setting, a 6 o’clock hold was needed to hit the steel. This allowed me to see the target, but the distance was pushing the limits of my prescription shooting glasses. Out of a string of 10 shots, I managed four hits. I think the rifle is capable of putting all the shots at 300 yards on a 16-inch, and even an 8-inch, plate, but my eyes and I weren’t.
Even though the .444 Marlin cartridge is similar in size to the .45-70, the .444 works in the smaller, svelter Model 336 action.
I didn’t see the point of attempting 400 yards. This is partly because it’s past the limits of my vision; partly because I didn’t have a steel plate any larger than 16 inches; but mostly because I could barely hit the damned thing at 300 yards. However, what I did do was switch to a riflescope. I have a discontinued super-compact Weaver 6X28mm riflescope that fits wonderfully on lever guns. I attached it, zeroed it and, from a bench rest at 100 yards, fired a three-shot group that measured 1.27 inches, center to center. The Anniversary Marlin will shoot.
After establishing a holdover point, at 200 yards, I rang the 16-inch steel 10 out of 10 times, and the best string of three shots grouped into a nice, little, 3-inch cluster. And yes, this was shooting from the seated position with sticks. At 300 yards, it took several shots to figure out my reference point on the reticle. (Sure, I could have clicked-in the correction, but I was trying to avoid that. That just seemed like a sacrilegious thing to do with a lever gun!) After I figured it out, I hit the steel seven out of 10 times.
Lessons Learned
There were several important takeaways from this experiment.
Shooting with sticks from the seated position, the author hit this 16-inch plate seven out of 10 times at 200 yards with the open-sighted Anniversary Marlin.
The first is that, practically speaking, an open-sighted lever gun chambered for a traditional lever-gun cartridge such as the .444 Marlin has a practical, open-sighted maximum hunting range of about 300 yards. Target sights could extend this distance, at least in non-hunting situations. The neat tangent sight from Skinner looks really cool and works, especially the modified version. However, while you might sometimes get some hits at stupid-long distances, it doesn’t present an ethical answer for hunting past 300 yards.
The second takeaway is that the 150th Anniversary Marlin rifle shoots every bit as good as it looks. Although most people will likely put it up as a collector, if you’re going to get serious about shooting with it at distance, I’d suggest you order the modified version of the Skinner sight and possibly a replacement front sight—one that has a slightly smaller bead so you can see the target you’re shooting at—for when you’re shooting a long way out there.
The third takeaway is that while Ashley Emerson might believe you’re doomed to perpetual brimstone if you put a riflescope on a lever gun, there’s no question that it’ll help you shoot with better precision. It’s not that it makes the rifle shoot better or more accurately; it’s just that it makes what you’re shooting at easier to see. And, well, that’s always a good thing. It’s damned hard to hit stuff you can’t see.
Still, I won’t be putting a scope on this rifle. It was never meant to have one. In addition, I think that given good lighting conditions, I could make a solid hit on a deer or similarly sized critter out to about 200 yards. Ballistically, that’s about the limit of this cartridge anyway. If I need to shoot farther, I have several optically sighted .308s.
For more information on the 150th Anniversery Marlin Model 336, please visit marlinfirearms.com.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Bullets, powder, primers and cases … they aren't all the same, even when they're from the same lot. Understanding the issues surrounding reloading component variations is the first step to overcoming them.
Precision handloaded ammunition is all about consistency in dimension, weight and results. We take great care in the setup and maintenance of our gear (dies, scales and other tools can come out of adjustment) and strive to buy the best components we can afford.
However, we are at the mercy of those who produce the reloading components.
If Brand X bullets deliver the hair-splitting accuracy you’re after when fueled by a specific amount of Brand Y powder and Brand Z primers in Fedchesterton cases, we carefully record that recipe and replicate it each reloading session. But, should the X, Y or Z component change or become unavailable, the end result will invariably change as well.
Dealing With Variations
How can this be helped? What can we do to combat the inevitable (even if slight) reloading component variations?
Regarding the bullets, it’s going to be a decision to use them or not. Certain brands of bullets will definitely run to tighter tolerances than others, and weighing and/or measuring them will show the variations in the projectile. If the weight or dimensional variations don’t affect the accuracy of your load to the point at which you’re uncomfortable, then feel free to load away. A bit of experimentation will show you whether or not you should be concerned.
For example, there’s a particular 150-grain bonded-core, boat-tail bullet that performs very well in my .308 Winchester, and I took the time to weigh out the box of 100 projectiles. The lowest weight was 149.4 grains, and the highest weight was 150.7. I rounded the weights to the nearest ½ grain and ended up with three piles of bullets weighing 149½, 150 and 150½ grains.
This particular rifle gives sub-MOA accuracy with any bullet out of that box, but it gave under ½ MOA when the bullets were segregated. The point here is that if you want to wring the most accuracy out of your rig, bullets of a consistent weight (and, in theory, of consistent dimension) will definitely help you out.
Powder can show variations from one lot to another as well, and that will change pressures, velocity and accuracy. Although the consistency of modern smokeless powder has improved greatly, there are still variations.
I recently had the opportunity to tour the Norma Ammunition factory in Amotfors, Sweden, and was able to examine how this company handles its African PH line of ammunition.
Interestingly, the entire line of African PH ammo is handloaded to stringent specifications, which is rare for “factory” ammunition, but I found the way Norma handles the variation in powder performance even more interesting. Each caliber is—quite obviously—loaded to a specific target velocity. But this becomes much more important when it comes to the ammunition for double rifles, for which the pair of barrels is regulated for a certain velocity.
Norma performs regular testing of its ammunition, adjusting the powder charge slightly to adjust for the variations in each lot of powder. You can do the same with your , depending on the testing environment you have, as well as the variations in environmental conditions, and you might end up developing data for different seasons.
Chris Sells of Heym USA—a guy who knows a good deal about loading for double rifles—taught me how he uses a “winter” load and a “summer” load. My own double has two loads as well, with just a 1-grain variation needed to adjust the velocity.
All three of these are large rifle primers, but switching brands can result in a noticeable difference in performance.
I fully understand that the double rifle is a niche choice, but it illustrates how powder can fluctuate. In order to keep things as consistent as possible, Sells buys his powder in bulk. In a repeating rifle—most often equipped with an optic—we often assume the sighting system has come out of adjustment, when a change in the lot of powder is actually the culprit just as often.
As reloaders, we can’t easily test the burn rate of the powder we are loading nor compare the lot-to-lot variations, other than the results we see in velocity and accuracy. However, in an effort to keep things as consistent as possible, buying an 8-pound jug or a case of 1-pound canisters of the same lot will help keep things consistent in your gun.
An overlooked reloading component, primers can also be a major factor in ammunition consistency. Should you find the need to switch primers from the brand and type with which you developed your load, it’s important that you restart the loading process at the bottom of the listed data and work up again. I’ve seen many loads—at or near the top of the chart—give dangerously high pressures when used with a primer change.
As with powder, I prefer to buy my primers in bulk. I use many different brands and types of primers for my own rifles; and, within certain cartridges, I use a number of different primers for different bullets. They aren’t interchangeable, however … at least not if I want to maintain the accuracy I’ve worked so hard to establish.
I find that if the proper amount of preparation is applied, a good handloader can make just about any brand of case work. Not all brands are created equal, and some brands are of better quality than others. Every reloader will have their particular favorite.
These premium bullets, while wonderfully accurate to begin with, can be weighed and sorted to make things even more consistent.
I’ll certainly agree that those brands of cases that are properly annealed will give the longest life, and it can be immediately obvious with just a visual inspection which brands take the most time and effort to produce the best product available.
I’ll always recommend using the best cases you can afford, but I’ve fueled entire safaris with once-fired brass given to me by a charitable soul. The only consistent thing about them was the marking on the headstamp.
Parting Shot On Reloading Components
In the grand scheme of things, if all our reloading components were absolutely consistent, our ammunition could still be compromised by our technique. Add in the variations of the components, and you have another source of inconsistency.
As with all things in the reloading/handloading world, we need to learn to combat these issues to mitigate the amount of error introduced to the ammunition. Understanding the issues is the first step to overcoming them.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Improving on the CZ 75? Sounds farfetched, but Guncrafter Industries perfects the classic pistol as only they can.
How Guncrafter's Improves The CZ 75:
Each pistol is fully inspected.
It's frame is color case-hardened and given a clear Cerakote finish.
The slides have the flats polished and are given a hot salt blue finish.
The barrel is trimmed flush to the slide, and then it’s treated to a re-crowning.
All internals are inspected, tuned and polished.
The CZ-75 pistol came about because the Czechs were trying to do the right thing.
Working within the Warsaw Pact, they were using their experience as firearms designers and manufacturers to make what the Soviet system wanted. Alas, what the Russians wanted (which was what really mattered) were clones of their issue firearms, the AK-47 and Makarov. The Czechs couldn’t earn hard currency selling the same firearms the Russians were giving away, so they had to make different, market-desired firearms.
And that’s how the world got a high-capacity, double-stack 9mm pistol with a traditional double-action trigger … and the world’s sexiest grip.
No, really; the grip of the CZ-75 (first offered in that year, of course) was so ergonomic that no less than Jeff Cooper—of Gunsite and the 1911—liked it. He liked it enough to encourage the design and manufacture of the Bren Ten, which was a disaster of the first order but did give us the 10mm pistol cartridge. OK, so we’re square there.
The CZ-75 was not, however, available here, in the United States: Because the Czechs (and the Slovaks, with whom they had been combined into one country, later to amicably split) were Communists, we couldn’t buy their products.
The provided magazine with the SP-01 holds 19 rounds, and you can make that even more with a bigger baseplate.
Yes, we could buy Communist Chinese firearms, but not Czechoslovakian ones. Not until after the fall of the Iron Curtain and the split and the Czechs jumping in with both feet to a Western market economy.
OK, history lesson over.
Improvements by Guncrafter
The CZ-75 is now made in a dizzying array of models and features and has posted an impressive array of wins on the international competition circuit. The traditional double-action, decried by traditionalists as an impediment to good shooting? Not so much. In fact, in the international circles of competition—IPSC—the CZ action has it all over the various striker-fired pistols for match wins and titles.
Also, the Czech proclivity to use impressively strong steels in its firearms makes the CZ almost indestructible—so much so that when IPSC competitors were first testing the waters for a load known as 9mm Major (very impressive velocities), the CZ-75 platform was most often seen as the surviving pistol.
The Guncrafter upgrade to the classic CZ-75—in this instance, the SP-01.
With all this goodness, how does one improve such a pistol? Simple: Hand it over to Guncrafter Industries.
The basic elements of the Executive Series (the name, “GI,” applies to Guncrafter’s custom CZ-75s) are impressive. Each pistol is fully inspected, because once you get started doing custom work at this level, there’s no going back. Not that the CZ firm would make a bad pistol, but if there’s something that doesn’t quite rise to the level that GI expects, it would be a bad day to find out halfway through the build. Once inspected, each frame is engraved with the GI logo.
All of them get the frame color case-hardened and are then given a clear Cerakote finish. The already-tough Czech steel gets a harder skin with the color case-hardening, and then the color is protected via the clear Cerakote. You’d really have to have acidic sweat (I’ve known a few individuals with this unhappy trait) or really work your ’75 hard to cause the Cerakote to wear enough to expose the color.
The slides have the flats polished and are then given a hot salt blue finish. The barrel is trimmed flush to the slide, and then it’s treated to a re-crowning to ensure the last thing the bore does is hand the bullet off to the atmosphere in a uniform manner.
To disassemble the GI CZ-75, unload and line up the two lines—one each on the slide and frame. Then, push the slide stop out.
After the internals are, of course, inspected, tuned and, if need be, polished for the best function and trigger pull, the barrel and the small internals are given a DLC finish. Then, each receives a set of Guncrafter industries’ Slim-Tac grips, made of G10.
Model Choices
You have your choice of three models: the Compact, the CZ-75B or the SP-01.
The Compact is just that: a ’75 on which the barrel and slide have been shortened from the standard 4.6 inches of the 75B to 3.75 inches. The magazine capacity is also decreased from the standard 16 to 14 rounds. As an all-steel pistol, it’s going to have soft recoil, and with the 14-round magazine (and frame trimmed to match), it’s going to be easy to conceal—even if its 33 ounces seem a bit heavy. A proper holster will take care of that.
The 75B is the original, with 16 shots in the magazine, a 4.6-inch barrel and slim forward profile that makes re-holstering quite easy (not that re-holstering should be a speed event, but it shouldn’t be a “not a hassle/struggle” event).
The SP-01 is the 75B—but with a frame that extends all the way to the muzzle and which also has an accessory rail machined into it. This model is all-steel, so this factor ups the empty weight of the SP-01 to 41 ounces from the 35 ounces of the 75B.
The CZ-75 frame on the SP-01 has an accessory rail and also adds mass where you want it—ahead of your hands and below the barrel.
The sights on all three models are fixed, with the rear drift-adjustable and the front pinned into the slide.
The trigger work improves on the already-excellent CZ trigger design. In IPSC competition, the CZ-75, in various models, has accounted for an impressive number of world championships, as well as nationals in various countries. You can carry this pistol like a 1911, with the hammer cocked and the safety on. You can carry it with the hammer down and the safety off (it doesn’t have a de-cocking system/safety, so you’ll have to lower the hammer yourself).
Even un-tuned, the trigger on a CZ-75 is nice. But once Guncrafter is done with it, it’s superb! The single action is clean and light, and the double action is smooth. The DA stroke feels like a slicked-up revolver trigger, but without the “crunchy” feel a lot of striker-fired pistols have.
The felt recoil from an all-steel, high-capacity 9mm is as soft as you’d imagine. The ergonomic grip makes it even softer, because the ’75 seems to be made for your hand. Accuracy is what you’d expect from a tuned and known-for-accuracy pistol.
Exemplary and Classy
The question you are, no doubt, asking is, “What is this for?”
Well, you could easily use the Compact or 75B as daily carry guns. As I said, with a good holster, the weight isn’t a problem. In fact, the weights of the Compact and 75B are right in line with a lot of carry guns. A G17 weighs 32 ounces empty; a G19 weighs 30 ounces. So, the 75B and the Compact tip the scales at 3 ounces heavier than a comparable polymer pistol. I don’t think 3 ounces is going to be a burden, do you? As an added bonus, the extra 3 ounces, plus the ergonomic grip, will make the use of +P and even +P+ ammunition for defensive use not an ordeal.
Lower right The GI upgrade includes a color case-hardened frame that’s then given a clear Cerakote finish.
Capacity? The flush-fit magazines hold 16 rounds in the full-sized pistol. An extended basepad gets you 19 rounds, and you can get a Taylor Freelance =5 basepad that bumps you up to 21 rounds per magazine.
Disassembly is easy: Unload and remove the magazine. Ease the slide back until the scribed lines on the frame and the slide match up, and press the slide stop pin out from the left side. Remove the slide assembly. Then pull the recoil spring, and then barrel, out of the slide. Hose, scrub, lube and reassemble.
The SP-01 is a superbly spec’d and classy competition gun. Shooting in Production Division, starting with the hammer down and shooting double-action for the first shot, you’ll be in the same company as World and National Champions Eric Grauffel, Angus Hobdell and Matthew Mink.
The 45 ounces of the SP-01 will dampen any recoil from 9mm loads making Minor, and the DA/SA trigger pull has clearly not stopped those competitors from trouncing striker-fire-equipped pistol shooters. For use as a nightstand gun, the SP-01, with its accessory rail, has a perfect place to mount a light or light/laser combo.
And finally, unlike polymer-framed pistols, if you find that the GI Slim-Tac grips are just not quite to your liking, you can easily swap them from an embarrassingly large host of choices in color, shape, texture and materials.
As custom guns go, the price of these pistols is reasonable. Their performance is exemplary, and Guncrafter even had them in stock when I last checked.
It’s a sweet deal on a smoking-hot 9mm pistol; one that will, depending on your needs, provide defense or match victories. And it looks good as well.
So, what are you waiting for?
Guncrafter Industries CZ-75 Specs Type: Locked-action, self-loading pistol Caliber: 9x19mm Capacity: 16+1 rounds Barrel: 4.6 in. Length: 7.75 in. Weight: 41 oz. Trigger: 5 lb. Finish: Blued slide, color case-hardened frame MSRP: $1,675 (Compact & 75B); $2,175 (SP-01)
For more information on the CZ 75 Guncrafter Industries Executive Series, please visit guncrafterindustries.com.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Intertwined from the beginning, there are few gun-cartridge combinations more storied or proven than the 1911 and .45 ACP. OK, maybe the Single-Action Army and .45 Colt, but that’s a different article.
As has been stated many times before, few handgun systems have more in-the-muck, bullets-are-flying proofing than the John M. Browning-designed pistol and cartridge. Why mess with a good thing? After all, honorable service in two World Wars should prove enough of a resume to satisfy even the most discerning firearm’s snob. In many cases it does.
Wed as ever, certain traditionalist segments of shooters won’t pick up a 1911 unless it’s chambered .45. In private, they might fondle one in .38 Super, but they’ll never tell anyone. And a 9mm 1911? The mere thought is an anathema to all that is right and good, best killed with fire and the earth beneath salted for good measure. If you count yourself among these ranks, it might be time to click on another article.
The fact is, the 9mm 1911 is a fine choice that offers some advantages over the traditional .45 ACP variety. Unclench those teeth; I didn’t state it made it a better gun overall. Simply, for some shooters the benefits of the medium-bore cartridge out of the classical design outweigh those of the big-bore brute.
When talking single-stack configuration, the advantage isn’t as definitive. In this case, a 9mm 1911 beats out its .45 cousin by one or two rounds, generally boasting a 9+1 capacity. However, with double-stack 1911 options, the 9mm excels.
Yes, there are .45 options in the configuration, however, these guns top out around 14-rounds. On the other hand, the sky is nearly the limit with double-stack 9mm 1911s. Run the right magazines, a pistol such as the Rock Island TAC can have 22-rounds on tap. That’s no small advantage over things that go bump in the night or the clock in a practical pistol match stage.
Staccato (formerly STI) even extends the asset over to the sphere of concealed carry. The pioneers of the double-stack 2011 configuration, its 16-round C2 offers the exceptional characteristics of a 1911 with the capacity of a modern 9mm.
Among The Tamest Pistols
The .45 ACP doesn’t get the credit it deserves for its shootablity. It’s a pretty tame large bore. That said, it pales to the demure 9mm, particularly out of a 1911.
Given the pistol is constructed from metal—steel or an aluminum alloy—it has more heft than the majority of other pistols chambered for the “Nine”. It makes a difference; a 27-plus-ounce pistol eats up felt recoil, making the 9mm a veritable kitten.
In the realm of centerfire handguns, few options are friendlier to the recoil shy or make better trainers for new shooters than a 9mm 1911. This especially goes for Government-sized model. Additionally, if speed and accuracy are imperatives, you have them in spades with the marriage of the cartridge and gun.
Forgiving With Aluminum Frame
Dovetailing off the last point, the 9mm is superb out of an aluminum-framed 1911. Lighter and more conducive to concealed carry, these featherweights can prove too much for some in .45 ACP. This is rarely the case when chambered for the medium-bore Luger.
More Affordable To Shoot
Amid an ammunition drought (this was written in 2020), this point loses some of its salience. Nothing seems cheap or accessible right now.
In saner times, however, the 9mm generally proves much more economical to shoot in volume—especially when pitching range fodder. In most cases, it’s not unusual to find FMJ 9mm as much as 40-percent cheaper than .45 ACP, though 30-percent is probably a more common range. Ammo budget being proportionate to range time, if you want to shoot more, the 9mm 1911 is typically a safer bet.
Perfect Companion To A PCC
Say you’re like the rest of the shooting world and positively enamored with pistol-caliber carbines—a 9mm 1911 is more likely for you.
One of the attractions to the PCC is the ability to run the same ammo through both it and a handgun. That option is there for .45 ACP—take the wildly effective Heckler & Koch USC 45 for instance. Pickings get slim moving on from there, such as Hi-Point, TNW, JRC, Kriss and a few others.
On the flipside, 9mm calls the tune in pistol-caliber carbines, with more options than you can shake a stick at. Even more options abound if you count AR-style pistols into the mix. Expect more choices and price ranges matching a 9mm 1911 and PCC, thus a better chance of getting the exact handgun-carbine system you desire.
Refined for superior on-person defense, the limited-edition Sig P220 LEGION Carry SAO is a cut above the rest.
The concept behind Sig Sauer’s LEGION series is to provide the discerning shooter with a pistol a cut above the rest. Impressive, given the guns that make up the series are generally considered classics in their own right. But it’s difficult to argue the behemoth gunmaker’s results in turning out indisputable top-shelf options in the premium line. Take the newly minted Sig P220 LEGION Carry SAO for instance.
Not the first single-action only P220 to come down the pike—Sig has offered them over the years, most recently a 10mm P220 LEGION—the Carry model has some nice enhancements for the system. Chiefly, the gunmaker includes a flat-faced trigger from its Custom Works shop on the .45 ACP, which should ensure a pretty sweet break. Already, the pistol trips muck like a 1911, but should feel even lighter given the shoe design provides better leverage. Additionally, the flat face aids in a more linear trigger press, improving the pistol’s accuracy potential.
The Sig P220 LEGION Carry SAO boasts several other desirable features found in the line, including a stainless-steel slide with the company’s Electro-Optics X-RAY3 high Visibility day/night sights, front cocking serrations, aggressive G10 grips and Elite LEGION gray Cerakote finish. Per its name, it’s configured for carry with a 3.9-inch barrel and very compact 5.5-inch height. Furthermore, the pistol is lightened up a hair thanks to an aluminum-alloy frame, but still weighs in on the heavy side for an on-person piece—right around 30 ounces. Also, it holds its own with other single-stack .45s for capacity, keeping 8+1 round on tap.
There is a catch to the new Sig—it’s a limited edition. The gunmaker announced it's making only 500 P220 LEGION Carry SAO pistols, which means they’ll move fast. Particularly in today’s market. As to what the gem will set you back, Sig hasn’t released an MSRP. However, for context, the full-sized P220 LEGION SAO generally commands the princely sum of $1,200 retail.
This fantastic rifle began as a desire from a client of Reto Buehler. The client had commissioned two big-game rifles from Reto previously and he expressed a desire to have Reto build him a full-sized rifle, but chambered for the diminutive .22 LR rimfire cartridge. Reto couldn’t resist the challenge. He started with a Springfield M22 training rifle and transformed it into the magnificent rifle shown here. It has all the bells and whistles of an express rifle, but chambered for the rimfire cartridge. All work by Reto Buehler.
Reto Buehler British Express Rifle
Photos by Brian Dierks
A typical Buehler British Express rifle, using a Granite Mountain Arms (GMA) small-ring action, Pac-Nor barrel and custom-machined quarter rib, front sight ramp and barrel band. Turkish walnut stock with 24 lpi checkering and light engravings done by John Todd. The GMA factory bottom metal was replaced with a Blackburn/Swift drop-box magazine.
Brian Powley Colt Single Action
Photos by Sam Welch
The Engravers’ Choice Award of Merit at the annual Firearms Engravers Guild of America (FEGA) Exhibition of 2020 was presented to Brian Powley for his masterful engraving of this Colt Single Action, .38 caliber. Brian executed his engraving pattern in keeping with original factory Colt styling. He did an outstanding job. Photos by Sam Welch
Brian Hochstrat Browning O/U
Photos by Brian Hochstrat
Brian Hochstrat knows his way around an engraving bench to be sure. A former professional bull rider, Brian learned early on there had to be a better way to make a living, and took up the art of engraving. This Browning O/U is an example of how he has mastered his art. To use the term magnificent is not strong enough to describe his work. This Browning was awarded the Best Engraved Shotgun prize and the Engravers’ Choice Award of Merit by his peers.
Lee Griffiths Custom Cabot Guns 1911
Photos by Sam Welch
Lee Griffiths is one of the most talented and most unique engravers I know. It doesn’t take a lot of experience viewing his artistry to be able to discern his work from across a big room. At the recently concluded FEGA Exhibition, Lee received two awards, the Artistic Uniqueness Award and the Best Engraved Single Shot Rifle Award.
Marty Rabeno Winchester Model 1876
Photo by Sam Welch
A typical example of Marty Rabeno’s outstanding artistry on one of his favorite canvases, a Winchester Model 1876. I’ve seen quite a number of engravings done by Marty and most all have been on lever-action Winchesters. This exquisite ’76 won the award for Best Engraved Rife and also the Engravers’ Choice Award of Merit at the recently completed Firearms Engravers Guild of America (FEGA) Exhibition.
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This Remington .45 ACP was beautifully engraved by Dale Bass of Amarillo, Texas. His work is new to me, but he is obviously turning out excellent engraving. This 1911 would look great in anyone’s collection.
Melissa McMinn Cabot 1911
Photos by Sam Welch
Melissa McMinn is another engraver who is new to me. While I had not previously seen her work, I do know the engraver who mentored her, John Barraclough. Her unique styling is not often seen, but it is exceptionally well-executed. This Cabot 1911 that she embellished won the Best Engraved Handgun Award at the FEGA Exhibition.
Perfecting your fundamentlas with a rimfire is the ideal—and inevpensive—way to train for the big guns.
Take your precision rifle training to a new level scaling down to a precision rimfire.
Rimfire trainers are all the rage right now. A lot of people are buzzing about the growth of precision rifle shooting, not only in the United States, but also overseas. We see a lot of precision rifle-based series expand around the globe. However, none has the impact of the National Rifle League NRL22.
Not too long ago, elements within the Precision Rifle Series broke off and created the National Rifle League (NRL). This division was seen as a West Coast series. One of the first things the series did to separate itself was to add a .22 league—the NRL22. This series flourished immediately and spread across the country.
Shortly after, Vudu .22 rifles started to hit the market. These rimfire rifles mimic our centerfire counterparts. A Vudu .22 will fit into a Remington 700 footprint chassis system or stock and will accept Accuracy International AICS-style magazines, which were adapted to hold .22s. It was groundbreaking for the precision rifle community: We could practice and scale our .22 trainers to operate the same way as our full-sized guns.
NRL22 Events
As far as competition goes, you only need a single 100-yard bay to host an NRL22 event. Most precision rifle events take up a lot of space. This is not an NRA range with paper targets; rather, it’s a more practical type of competition shot across a vast landscape. With a rimfire, whole families can enjoy the sport of precision rifle shooting without going out of their way.
Mentor kids, get them on the range with a precision rimfire, and you’ll have a future precision rifle shooter in the making.
Today, one-day matches can be found in just about every state. They’re inexpensive to shoot. The course of fire is announced ahead of time, and the NRL supports these matches across the United States. We even see .22 ELR (extended long-range) events, during which shots are taken to 400 yards with a subsonic .22 round.
Shorter-Range Options
To highlight the benefits, the community has created scale factors to replicate long-range shooting with a shorter range. My 6.5 Creedmoor uses 7.2 Mils here, in Colorado, to hit a 1,000-yard target. My Vudu .22 takes 7.2 Mils to impact a 200-yard target, and the wind drift is very similar. It’s an excellent way to practice without spending over a $1 for a single bullet.
For me, the most significant benefit is the ability to invite children into the sport. Shooting sports without a defined path for growth will not survive. Children are the future, so it makes perfect sense to include rifles such as the Ruger 10/22 in the equation. Throw on a Victor Company 10/22 Stock upgrade, and you have a similar feel to a modern tactical stock. There are also some accuracy benefits because of the ability to adjust the action within the Victor Company stock (a fine-tuning adjustment in the rear tang area).
Get On Target With Frank Galli:
Mils vs. MOA: Which Is The Best Long-Range Language?
We know there’s a lot of cheap—or, should I say, inexpensive—rimfire ammunition on the market. For the higher-level competitions, I suggest sticking with quality subsonic variants. Lapua, SK and Prime are the kings of the sport. Subsonic ammunition works wonderfully out to distance.
It’s all about growing the sport: bringing up kids to appreciate and respect firearms.
The design of the .22 bullet doesn’t allow for a good transition from supersonic to subsonic. Because of this, you need to keep them moving at subsonic speeds. A subsonic .22 is accurate beyond 200 yards.
Don’t Skimp on the Scope
We use our expensive scopes for these rifles. I’ve mounted an EOTech Vudu 5-25x optic on my Vudu .22.
Why so much optic? Well, we need the elevation. Because we’re scaled-down inside 100 yards, you need a scope that acts as if it’s shooting at 1,000 yards. Shooters are investing as much with their rimfires as they are with their full-sized precision rifle rigs … but don’t let that fool you either. You want magnification, because a lot of the targets are small. We also need to focus in close with scopes that can manage 10 yards. With higher-magnification scopes, you can power down and focus in on the target. A fine reticle is a big plus too.
A Plethora of Match Positions
You don’t shoot prone for many of these matches; you shoot a variety of off-hand positions that mimic an actual PRS/NRL event stage.
Practice is key to understanding the positions employed: You might shoot off a ladder for one stage and a plastic barrel for another (it’s a carnival-like atmosphere and a ton of fun!). My “Everyday Sniper” podcast co-host, Mike, recently shot a local 250-yard .22 match not very far from downtown Denver. He claimed it was one of the most fun events he has shot in a long time.
The Vudu .22 rifle is the perfect .22 trainer. It offers great accuracy and features that mimic a full-sized centerfire rifle.
Having a creative match director helps: One of the props used was a target on a spring. Once hit, it bounced around like crazy and had to be hit multiple times. It’s a .22 a bunch of fun; there’s no downside.
If you’ve watched the videos, read the articles and thought, Wow, these precision rifle guys have a ton of fun but spend way too much money! I won’t fault you in that observation. We do, indeed, spend a lot of money.
But the growth and expansion of the rimfire industry have changed all that. So, if you want to bond with your children and still enjoy the sport of shooting, get a rimfire. Several companies are now following Vudu’s lead in offering a semi-custom version that uses the same stocks as any other rifle.
And there goes every excuse, right out the window. Get out and shoot!
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2019 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
