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Sig P210: A Classic For The Ages, Made New

By
Patrick Sweeney
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P210 18

Slick lines and even slicker accuracy, the Sig P210 proves an enduring piece of Swiss engineering.

If you hear the phrase “classic IPSC,” your thoughts will probably drift to a single-stack 1911, most likely a Colt, chambered in .45 ACP. It will not have a red dot sight, it won’t have a compensator, and, if you were active back then, it probably has some funky, hand-cut checkering.

The first IPSC World Shoot was held in 1975, in Zurich. The second and third were each a year later, then the three after that at two-year intervals, until, beginning in 1983, the schedule was changed to every three years. The inaugural World Shoot was won by Ray Chapman, using a 1911 in .45. However, the championships were not won with a .45 again until 1979. In between, in Salzburg, Austria, and Salisbury, Rhodesia, they were won with a 9mm. Heresy. Worse yet were the pistols that were used. In 1977, Dave Westerhout used a Browning Hi-Power, and, in 1976, Jan Foss had used a SIG P210. The IPSC world in the late 1970s was all abuzz, and people were fairly concerned. Not only had 9mms been used to win, but one of them had even been a single-stack!

This is a normal target for the P210, as long as the shooter pays attention and does their part.
This is a normal target for the P210, as long as the shooter pays attention and does their part.

Origin Of The Sig 210

The P210 began life before WWII, when the Swiss determined that the M-1900 Lugers they had been using were perhaps not the best military sidearm to be had. In 1900, the Luger was cutting edge, and the .30 Luger cartridge it was chambered in was a real hot number. But, by the late 1920s, it was clearly not up to snuff. So, the Swiss Army embarked on a replacement plan. They liked the technical designs of Charles Petter and licensed the principles of his M1935, which had been adopted by the French. The Swiss wisely adopted the idea, but not the actual French pistol, itself an under-powered little beast. The irony of a Swiss designer developing a French pistol that the Swiss then had to pay to license is a head-scratching one. But I guess Charles wasn’t the first one to find a warmer reception away from home.

Advancing plans for the new gun was slowed with the start of WWII, since the Swiss had bigger problems than replacing useable, albeit less than optimum, sidearms. But the advancement didn’t entirely stop, and, once the war was over, the Swiss proceeded to finish testing and adopting their new pistol. In Swiss service it was known as the Pistole 49, in 9mm Parabellum, .30 Luger, and .22LR. The first and last are obvious choices; the Swiss wanted the 9mm for its greater performance and common availability, while the rimfire made for an inexpensive practice pistol. But 7.65X21? Remember, in the Swiss defense system, every citizen is a member of the defense. Once through basic training, everyone goes home with a rifle and ammo and, when they retire, they generally retain the individual weapons. A family may have four or five generations of smallarms locked in the home armory. When adopted in 1949, the Swiss had a half-century of the .30 Luger ammunition existing as the established standard, and there was probably a large amount of it on hand. Since the difference was a new barrel and recoil spring, why not make it in 7.65?

The magazine well is now beveled, for faster magazine changes. Back in 1949, no one cared about fast mag changes. Now we do, so the P210 has been updated.
The magazine well is now beveled, for faster magazine changes. Back in 1949, no one cared about fast mag changes. Now we do, so the
P210 has been updated.

The P210 is a single-stack, all-steel 9mm, and the aspects of the Petter design that the Swiss adopted were worth it. The military pistols were clearly products of their time and place. The grips were wood or plastic, and there was a half-rectangle steel bracket on the left side of the frame, with the grip on that side cut away for clearance. Given that the lanyard loop, safety, and slide stop were all on the left side, convenient for right-handed shooters, I have to conclude that no one in the Swiss Confederation is born left-handed. If there was ever a lanyard clipped to the loop, I’m not sure you could comfortably shoot the P210 left-handed.

Below the lanyard loop was the heel clip, the typical European method of retaining magazines. I have long wondered what the horror or fear of magazines falling free is, such that it grips European firearms designers (or buyers) with the need for such a three-handed design. It also had a magazine disconnector, so, when the magazine was out, it was a steel club. The Swiss Army replaced the P210 with the SIG P220, in 1975, but production of the P210 continued until 2005. I can easily imagine that the P210/Pistole 49 continued to be made because people still wanted it.

The extractor is external, but set into the slide and protected from just about everything.
The extractor is external, but set into the slide and protected from just about everything.

P210-9 Redesign
One big reason for this is the gun’s accuracy. However, used P210s couldn’t satisfy the market for highly accurate, beautifully machined pistols, so, SIG Sauer undertook a slight redesign and began making them again. The one we have here is the P210-9, the modern version of the P210, and the improvements have all been for the good.

First up, one aspect of the original that was not all that satisfactory was the shape of the tang. Designed back when handguns were still being fired one-handed, the tang worked fine for a low-thumb, one-handed hold. But the moment you tried to fire it with anything like a modern grip, you would pay the price. I am particularly disadvantaged in this regard, and the original P210, along with a select few other pistols, is one I simply cannot shoot without assistance, as in I have to wear gloves or prepare my hand with duct tape before shooting. If I do not, I will bleed. Not an exaggeration, shooting a P210 can have me bleeding like a stuck pig, in less than a box of ammo. With a pristine P210 going for more than two grand, you can imagine the looks of horror that would create from the owner who so rashly loaned me one. The P210-9 variant, imported by the SIG Sauer folks in New Hampshire, has a re-designed tang. It is now in the same league as a beavertail safety on a custom 1911 and protects the hand from the hammer. I was able to spend a full day shooting the new 210 without fear of bleeding.

The grip screw is a torx type (as is the trigger package screw), so make sure you have one of these (a No.15, specifically), when it comes time to work on your P210.
The grip screw is a torx type (as is the trigger package screw), so make sure you have one of these (a No.15, specifically), when it comes time to work on your P210.

The new P210 has a proper, American-style magazine catch. Nestled right behind the trigger guard, it allows the magazine to drop free when pushed. And, yes, the magazine does drop free, there being no magazine disconnector in the new pistol.

The grips, since they do not have to accommodate a lanyard loop, are symmetrical, but not interchangeable. They are made of oiled hardwood, and the fit is such that you can remove the grip screw (a torx-headed screw, by the way) and still have little or no fear of losing the grips. In fact, if you aren’t careful, you risk damaging the grips, trying to take them off the frame.

The grip shape, under the grips, makes no concession to hand shape. The front strap is proportioned for your hand, but the rest of the frame is simply a place to hold the magazine. The grips are expected to make the grip fit your hand. That’s a proper bit of engineering.

The grips are tightly fitted, so, even after you remove the screw, you have to wrestle with them. They aren’t fragile, but, if you’re ham-handed, you can damage them.
The grips are tightly fitted, so, even after you remove the screw, you have to wrestle with them. They aren’t fragile, but, if you’re ham-handed, you can damage them.

The thumb safety is not what people will expect. Instead of being a lever at the back of the frame, like the 1911, it is a lever in front of the grip. Your thumb can reach it, but, if you haven’t practiced with it, it will be a bit awkward. On the -9, the safety is fitted so as to be easy to move back and forth (or up and down, if you will), and it is only the thickness of the grip panel that makes it a bit of a reach. If you really wanted to use the 210-9 as a competition gun and had to have ready access to the safety, you could carve on the grip to make that possible. You might want to consider doing so to a spare grip set, so you will have the original grips un-molested for the future.

The slide stop is big, hard to miss, and, for me, a bit in the way. My thumb is long enough to reach it in my firing grip, and the slide stop is big enough to bump, if I’m not careful. Of course, on reloads, being big and hard to miss is good, because dropping the slide via the “slingshot” method isn’t easy.

The tang has been raised, extended, and sculpted to protect your hand from the hammer.
The tang has been raised, extended, and sculpted to protect your hand from the hammer.

The slide on the -9 has fixed sights, with both the front and rear held in transverse dovetails. An interesting detail, laid out in the owner’s manual, is that both the front and rear come in a variety of sizes (denoted with numerical markings), so that, if a particular pistol is off the sights, the blades can be swapped, mixed, and matched until it is dead on. The brother P210 that SIG is importing is the P210 Legend Target, which has an adjustable rear sight.

The 210-9 lacks a barrel bushing; the Swiss are clearly comfortable with the idea of precision machining and keeping the tolerances close enough so that they can produce an accurate pistol without the need of a bushing. Disassembly is easy. Unload and then ease the slide back a quarter-inch or so. Press the slide stop out to the left and, once it’s clear, you can slide the upper assembly off the frame. The recoil spring is a captured unit, and it has an interesting attention to detail—the head of the recoil spring assembly has stamped on it the torque limits of the rod assembly. The “5 Nm” is newton-metres, a measure of torque, which translates to just over 44 pound-inches. In other words, it’s tightened down about the same as a scope mount screw and meant to stay there.

The magazine catch is now in the normal place, behind the trigger guard.
The magazine catch is now in the normal place, behind the trigger guard.

The recoil spring guide rod has a hole in the end, and it is part of what the slide stop shaft passes through. The barrel lugs are like the cam slot of other pistols that you may be more familiar with (no link here), but with a twist. The lugs are made as a pair and widely-spaced (as handgun parts go), so they provide a wide base for the barrel on the slide stop. I have to think that has something to do with the accuracy. The barrel locks into the slide the same way as every other Browning-derived pistol does, with lugs on the barrel engaging slots in the slide.

One aspect of the P210 is obviously contrary to the way things are now done. The rails on the frame are on the inside, while the rails on the slide are on its outside. The idea was to reduce wear and retain accuracy. It also increased potential accuracy, but not due to the inside-outside design. A secondary aspect of the design is that the contact between the slide and rails extends a lot further on the 210 than it does on other pistol designs. Think of it like sight radius: the further apart the sights are, the easier it is to notice aiming errors. On rail contact, the further apart the front and back contact points are, the more aligned the slide and frame will be. I love the 1911, but the P210 has twice the rail length as the Browning. That increases repeatability, which improves accuracy.

The P210 safety pivots under the grip, pushed by the tip of your thumb. It is there so the hammer/sear assembly can be removed as a single unit. Actually, very clever, even if it only blocks the trigger bar.
The P210 safety pivots under the grip, pushed by the tip of your thumb. It is there so the hammer/sear assembly can be removed as a single unit. Actually, very clever, even if
it only blocks the trigger bar.

One of the Petter details included was a hammer/sear assembly that went into or came out of the frame as one piece. No separate hammers, sears, etc. Now, I see this mostly as an organizational advantage. If you are the armorer of a police force or military unit, you can have a set of pistols that are issued to the troops, and you can have, in the armory, a selection of assembled, tested, and sealed units. If someone has a problem or a pistol shows wear, it is perhaps a minute to swap out the old, install a new, and send the owner on their way. No downtime for the officer or pistol, and now you, the armorer, can work on the recalcitrant assembly without someone hanging over your shoulder or having to deal with the paperwork of checking in the busted pistol, issuing a new one, and repeating all that when the repair is done.

But for that, it is a cracking good idea, and, had I a hat, off it would be to the Swiss for having adopted it. For us, however, it doesn’t matter much. The trigger assembly and its removal isn’t mentioned in the owner’s manual (SIG would be very happy if you just left it alone), and unlike the old design, where the assembly was held in with a pin, the -9 has the assembly locked in place by means of a screw up through the tang. Again, it’s a torx, and there’s no need to remove it. If you do, you’re on your own.

P210 9

The slide and frame are machined from steel billets, given a satin matte surface, and then treated to the SIG Nitron finish. The trigger, safety, hammer, and slide stop are left bright, but not polished to a mirror finish.

The interesting thing—as if all the above was of no interest—is the trigger. We are used to light and crisp, or “combat” and crisp, and the Swiss clearly have a different idea about these things. The trigger is light, but it has take-up, and then it has travel, which, if you aren’t slowly pressing, feeling as you go, feels the same. It’s almost as if it were the world’s shortest double-action PPC trigger. I first felt a trigger like this when test-firing an Stg90, the Swiss military rifle in 5.56. That trigger was light, but with enough travel that you know you’re pulling the trigger. On the -9, this took a bit of dry-firing to get used to, as I found transitioning from “regular” triggers to the P210 trigger to be too much in one range session. When I tried, I ended up nearly perforating my chronograph a few times, as I, too, up the slack on the P210 trigger and shot sooner than anticipated.

But, I’m glad I persisted. I’ve been mentioning accuracy all along, and the P210 is a scary-accurate kind of handgun, a one-inch-groups-at-25-yards kind of handgun. And, unlike some pistols, the P210 did not get picky about what it liked to shoot. Yes, it shot better with some, but the differences were almost immeasurable. I mean, if one ammo groups a quarter-inch larger or smaller than another, can we really say the pistol “prefers” it? That level of accuracy, and that small of a difference, requires several things. First, a Ransom rest, of which mine is on loan and for which I do not have a set of P210 holders. Second, you need a pile of ammo, all of it with the potential for gilt-edged accuracy. And you need the the time to shoot groups, and I mean statistically significant groups, not your basic five-shot groups and not even four consecutive five-shot groups, but real number-crunching efforts like five ten-shot groups with each brand and bullet-weight ammo. This is the kind of shooting that’s a full-time job by itself.

Here you can see the torque spec on the recoil spring assembly, as well as the wide cam lugs of the barrel feet.
Here you can see the torque spec on the recoil spring assembly, as well as the wide cam lugs of the barrel feet.

Explore Related SIG Sauer Articles:

On The Range With the P210

So, once I had done the usual group-testing, I amused myself by plinking—on the 100-yard range. Pick an object, something safe to shoot at. Aim, press. OK, it got hit, now what? Pick something smaller. Same results. This handgun is almost scary to shoot, and a little intimidating to own. Imagine owning a handgun and knowing that, if you shoot it at the gun club, everyone knows that any miss, any shot that drops a point is your fault and not the gun’s. A P210 would be brilliant for shooting in a PPC league. Do some experimental reloading, find a load that shoots small groups (won’t be too difficult), hits to the sights, and prepare to have your average rise.

Sig P210 Range

One small obstacle might be magazines. With an MSRP of $72 each, you will want to take really good care of them and not let them get stepped on during the winter indoor leagues and tight range spaces. You certainly don’t want to drop them on concrete with the same abandon you’d jettison a $15 1911 magazine. But, if you can see your way to four or five of them, you’ll have a tack-driving 9mm to shoot.

You can see how long the rail engagement is between the slide and frme. This can only have a good effect on acuracy.
You can see how long the rail engagement is between the slide and frame. This can only have a good effect on accuracy.

Oh, and those early days of IPSC? After Ross Seyfried won the World Shoot in 1981 with a very plain, by today’s standards, .45 1911, the world changed. Starting with Robbie Leatham, in 1983, the .38 Super was king of the hill. Then, in 1990, the 9X21 gained glory, and that’s the way it has been. There will not be another World Shoot champion using a .45 ACP pistol until 2014. Maybe. Then, the new Single-Stack/Cassic Division will be contested, and the .45 has a chance again—unless someone wants to give it a try with a P210. This one is certainly up to it.

Sig P201 Specs:
Type: Hammer-fired semiauto
Caliber: 9mm Parabellum
Capacity: 8+1
Barrel: 4.7”
Overall length: 8.5”
Width: 1.3“
Height: 5.6”
Weight: 37.4 oz
Finish: Nitron
Grips: hardwood wrap-around
Sights: steel patridge
Trigger: single action
Price: $2,199
Manufacturer: Sig Sauer

For more information on the Sig P210, please visit sigsauer.com.

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt from the Gun Digest 2013, 67th Edition

Raise Your Sig Sauer IQ:

First Look: Hornady’s Military-Approved 6mm ARC

By
Elwood Shelton
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6mm ARC

Light and able to go the distance, Hornady's new 6mm ARC cartridge adds another arrow to the rifleman's quiver.

How The 6mm ARC Goes The Distance:

  • Essentially a 6.5 Grendle case necked down to accept 6mm bullets.
  • Case slightly shortened and shoulder moved back to make it compatible with low-drag bullets, even out of an AR-15.
  • Low chamber pressure makes it very low recoiling.
  • Both in velocity and trajectory outperforms 7.62 NATO.

There’s a way to things, generally speaking, even in the ammo world. Not with the 6mm ARC.

Hornady’s announcement of the new cartridge June 3 came with an unusual addendum—it had already been adopted by the Department of Defense. Where and by whom is shrouded in mystery, the breach of protocol isn’t. Unannounced cartridges simply aren’t—or weren’t—picked for military service and are generally surrounded with fanfare as they jockey for their place in the military’s arsenal. Nearly every ammo enthusiast and defense geek enjoy the horse race. So much for that.

As to the role the 6mm ARC fills, it’s an alternative to the long-serving 7.62x51mm NATO. My stars and garters, where’s the fainting couch? Not the 7.62, a cartridge that’s been steady as concrete footings since chambered in late-phase M1 Garands! Except, as Hornady tells it, there’s some solid logic jumping on the smaller bore, lower pressure 6mm ARC’s bandwagon.

The first prong, it extends a soldier’s effective range well past what he or she would be capable of if armed with a rifle chambered 5.56 NATO. In the past, curing the need to reach out was accomplished by moving up from the small-bore round to the 7.62. Expect, to do so meant a larger rifle and heavier load of ammo. This leads to the second prong, the 6mm ARC offers an overall lighter system. Run out of the same pattern rifles as the 5.56, the cartridge reduces a soldier’s burden in the field.

6mm ARC 1

As to the cartridge itself, there’s a lot of familiar parts that go into the 6mm ARC. Essentially, it’s a 6.5 Grendel necked down to accept a 6mm bullet, though there are a few nuanced tweaks that are notable. Namely, the shoulder is pushed back and the case shortened making it compatible with the long, high ballistic coefficient low drag bullets. Additionally, the 6mm ARC proves shootable, with the low-recoil that has made the 6mm a staple in precision shooting competitions for years. This, in part, is thanks to a very low chamber pressure; the cartridge’s maximum is 52,000 pounds per square inch.

As to performance, the 6mm ARC does a lot with a little. Hornady’s 108-grain ELD Match kicks a bullet 2,750 fps at the muzzle and drops 44.8 inches at 500 yards. Side to side, this is 3-inches less than the company’s 168-grain match .308 round at the same distance. At the same tick, it maintains its velocity better than the .30-caliber, moving 1,971 feet at the 500-yard mark and staying supersonic well past 1,000 yards. Not only is this an advantage for soldiers, but anyone who has a yen to reach out hunting, target shooting, or otherwise.

6mm ARC Drawing

In addition to the ELD Match round, Hornady is offering two other 6mm ARC ammo options out of the gates, a 105-grain Black BTHP and 103-grain Precision Hunter. On how to launch the new six, eight gunmakers have already signed on to make both bolt-action and AR-15 rifles, including Adams Arms, APF Armory, Barrett, Brownells, Christensen, CMC Triggers, CMMG, GAP, Geissele, Howa, Lantac, Mossberg, NEMO, Noveske, Odin Works, Proof, Radical Firearms, SanTan Tactical, Uintah Precision and Wilson Combat.

Given the shooting world’s penchant for long-range marksmanship as of late, the 6mm ARC certainly adds another arrow to the rifleman’s quiver. At the very least, it reignites the caliber wars.

For more information on the 6mm ARC, please visit hornady.com.

On-Target Ammunition Information:

Trigger Control: Mastering The Mechanics Of A Precision Press

By
Frank Galli
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Of all the fundamentals of precision marksmanship, trigger control is among the most weighty for consistent and accurate shooting.

What Are The Finger Mechanics Behind Trigger Control:

  • The trigger shoe squarely on the pad of the finger.
  • Finger should create a 90-degree angle at the second joint.
  • The trigger finger should not touch the stock.
  • When executing the press, the trigger finger should move like a hinge straight to the rear.
Precision-Rifle-Marksmanship-2
This is an excerpt from Frank Galli's new book, Precision Rifle Marksmanship available now at GunDigestStore.com

Trigger control is defined as the manipulation of the trigger without disturbing the rifle or the lay of the sights on the target. Most errors when shooting can be attributed to improper manipulation of the trigger. In fact, we are such creatures of habit, we can improperly actuate the trigger over and over yet still manage to group well. This is the most influential point, because we are turning on the machine. Pressing the trigger to the rear starts the process. In most people’s minds it is also the end, which causes them to inadvertently affect the shot placement. We literally beat the bullet out of the bore by moving the rifle and altering the sights off the target. In some cases, the shooters are so relieved at having fired the shot that they immediately disengage from the rifle. This is a bad idea.

Firing Hand Mechanics

The purpose of the firing hand is to manipulate the trigger and hold the rifle into the shoulder pocket. We aren’t gripping it like a handgun, rather holding it straight back to the rear. This requires very little pressure, so we don’t want to have a death grip on it. The shooter should establish a firing position on the stock that starts from the trigger back and not from the stock forward. This is more a mental process than a literal one, as we don’t want people putting their fingers on a live-weapon trigger first. The initial practice should have the shooter visualize the trigger finger before the grip. You can do this during dry practice, which is highly recommended.

Trigger Finger Placement

We want to place the trigger shoe squarely on the pad of the finger, creating a 90-degree angle with the finger and second joint. This will vary slightly from shooter to shooter based on their hands, and type of stock, but the goal should be to get the fingernail to point to 9 o’clock for a right-handed shooter, 3 o’clock for a left-handed shooter. This right-angle position should be there before the trigger is pressed and remain there afterward. Shooters who find their trigger fingers curling or even flying off the shoe, need to work on their trigger control and follow-through.

Look at the trigger finger when placed on the shoe. Is your finger starting and stopping at 3 o’clock (or 9 o’clock for a right-handed shooter) when manipulating the trigger?
Look at the trigger finger when placed on the shoe. Is your finger starting and stopping at 3 o’clock (or 9 o’clock for a right-handed shooter) when manipulating the trigger?

When addressing the stock, regardless of the type, we want to make sure the movement of the trigger finger is not touching the stock. In the old days, they called this “dragging wood” for the obvious reasons. If the trigger finger is resting against the stock, you will influence the rifle, which is not good. As our skin moves, it compresses the muscles and pushes our flesh out under the skin creating a lateral movement on the stock.

The trigger finger should be moving like a hinge, straight to the rear using our body mechanics to our advantage. If the fingernail starts at 9 o’clock and ends at 9 o’clock, you can rest assured you are manipulating the trigger straight back to the rear. In many cases, you’ll find the finger is moving much less than it moves if you are incorrectly pressing the trigger shoe.

Get On Target With Frank Galli:

Other Fingers … Where Do They Go?

The three fingers below the trigger finger should be pressing the stock straight back into the shoulder pocket. The pressure should not be so great to discolor them visually. We want to develop a front-to-back management of the stock, and the thumb should be there to support this front-to-back pressure. It’s not necessary to engage the thumb. Depending on the stock type, many will lay the thumb on the strong side or use it as a reference point on the stock, putting it in an out of the way place. We call this floating the thumb, and it is a perfectly acceptable position as we don’t need our thumb for the task of shooting.

Correcting Trigger Control Errors

Correcting a shooter’s trigger control is our main priority when teaching classes. One of the most common errors in trigger control is variety. We see shooters manipulating the trigger in a different way every single press. No consistency is what we observe.

Press, break and freeze. That is the mantra.
Press, break and freeze. That is the mantra.

Do not underestimate dry practice. It takes roughly 3,000 repetitions to create a new positive neural pathway and about 9,000 repetitions to fix a bad habit. The worst part about fixing bad habits is those 9,000 new repetitions have to all be exact. When dry firing, you can watch your finger.

It’s OK to dry fire your centerfire rifle. There should be no damage to the system. If you feel uncomfortable doing so, invest in a snap cap to absorb the impact of the firing pin. But it is generally safe to dry fire a centerfire rifle.
Dry practice needs to be carried out as if it is a live shot. Sloppy dry practice will instill sloppy fundamentals. Invest in perfect practice. Don’t just sit there snapping the trigger, engage the rifle like your life depends on it. The more you dry practice, the better shooter you will become. For indoor dry practice, consider purchasing an Indoor Optical Training Aid (IOTA) lens device; this allows you to focus your scope indoors at 11 feet.

Given time and opportunity before a shot, always dry fire. Set up your position so, without breaking that position, you can easily reach over and insert a live magazine or load a live round so the actual shot mimics the dry fire. We see shooters all the time dry fire perfectly and then change their hand position or cadence of fire by simply going live.

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt of Precision Rifle Marksmanship: The Fundamentals – A Marine Sniper’s Guide to Long Range Shooting.

New Guns And Gear May-June 2020

By
Gun Digest Editors
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Big-bore beasts and some of the top gear of the year, your wish list is about to expand with these 21 pieces of new guns and gear.

What Are The New Guns And Gear:

Savage Axis II Precision

Savage Axis

It’s difficult to make the case that Savage’s new chassis rifle is a big gun—until you get a gander at the price tag. Among the most affordable precision rifles to hit the market, the Axis II Precision could well have an oversized impact on the market. However, while the rifle is affordable, it doesn’t skimp. Savage partnered with well-respected chassis-maker Modular Drive Technologies, mounting the Axis-barreled action in an exclusively designed chassis. The rig’s rigidity makes the long shot come in and boasts plenty of M-Lok slots on the forend to attach your accessories. Outfitted with a 22-inch carbon-steel, button-rifled heavy barrel, this rifle has excellent harmonics. It’s available in six chamberings, including 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester.
MSRP: $949

Stoeger Freedom Series P3000 Supreme

Stoeger

Big guns have a place in home defense, especially when you’re talking about a 12-gauge shotgun. Maximizing the bore’s performance and your spending power, Stoeger has introduced one of the most affordable tactical options available. Perhaps the most eye-catching aspect of the Freedom Series P3000 Supreme (aside from its ability to digest 3-inch magnum shells) is its buttstock. A six-position telescoping unit, it features an adjustable cheek rest and folds up for compact storage and transportation. This shotgun comes with a rubberized pistol grip, ghost ring rear sight, integrated sling attachments and a fixed cylinder choke. It weighs 7.3 pounds, so it’s more than enough to protect hearth and home. MSRP: $469, stoegerindustries.com

Henry Lever-Action Axe .410

Henry Shotgun

Uniquely in its own class, the Henry Repeating Arms Lever-Action Axe .410 might lack in overall practically, but it’s one of the most enjoyable guns you’ll ever strip from a scabbard. With a barrel length of just 16 inches, the firearm is extremely nimble, surprisingly controllable and fast on target acquisition. It fires 2½-inch .410 shells and boasts what Henry calls its “Axe Handle” grip. You can work the lever and get her to sing. A side-loading gate also means you can keep it in action, giving you a fast means to top off its five-round tubular magazine. And, because it’s made by Henry, there’s plenty of walnut and blued steel to give this smoothbore a timeless look. MSRP: $970, henryusa.com

Wilson Recon Tactical .350 Legend

Wilson Recon-Tactical

Caliber-wise, the .350 Legend might not qualify as big gun fodder, but performance-wise, this ingenious straight-wall cartridge more than falls into this class—especially out of Wilson Combat’s excellent Recon Tactical Rifle. It’s a new chambering to the legendary line, making a hard-hitting legend a practical/tactical option. Decked out with a match-grade barrel, mid-length gas system and two-stage M2 trigger, the 16-inch-barreled rifle is operationally sound and extremely accurate. It’s also long on top-end components, including a lightweight M-Lok rail, BCM Starburst Gunfighter Grip, Roger’s adjustable Super-Stoc, and NP3-coated premium bolt and bolt-carrier group. Weighing a manageable 7 pounds, the flat-top Recon Tactical is agile enough to guard the homestead or put meat on the table. MSRP: $2,250, wilsoncombat.com

Limited-Edition 150th Anniversary .444 Marlin

Marlin 444

Celebrating its 150th anniversary, Marlin has introduced limited-edition guns to commemorate the moment. This includes one of Marlin’s most popular big-bore lever-actions: the .444 Marlin. Chambered for the smashing .444 Marlin cartridge, this rifle is long on custom-grade extras that make it an instant classic. Among these are a 24-inch, half-octagon/half-round barrel, an American black walnut stock and Skinner ladder sights. Of course, there’s even more: eye-catching scrollwork and gold inlay, as well as traditional checkering on the stock. The rifle ships in a commemorative box and has its own special serial number. If it’s caught your fancy, don’t wait too long: The limited-edition .444 Marlin will only be around as long as the company’s anniversary. MSRP: $1,899, marlinfirearms.com

Expand Your Gear IQ:

150th Anniversary .444 Marlin 265-Grain Softpoint

Marlin Ammo

If you opt for the commemorative Marlin (and even if you don’t), you need something to send out of that baby. Marlin has you covered. In conjunction with its special-edition, 150th anniversary guns, Marlin has also introduced a limited-edition ammunition line—including a whopper for the .444 Marlin. A 265-grain load, topped with Remington’s softpoint Core-Lokt bullet, this ammo should prove an excellent choice for taking nearly any game. Furthermore, the load has been optimized for top performance out the .444 Marlin’s 1:20-inch-twist barrel. In short, this stuff is accurate.
MSRP: $45 (box of 20), marlinfirearms.com

VersaCarry Padded Cobra Sling

Padded-Sling-Arc-Angel-Brown-Front-Coiled-Up-New__30410.1564166218

Big guns generally have a big problem: weight. VersaCarry removes this burden with its premium Padded Cobra Sling. More than good-looking gun leather, this rifle sling is designed to evenly distribute the weight of a firearm. It also provides cushioning so the strap doesn’t bite into your shoulder. Handcrafted from water buffalo hide and reinforced at load-bearing points, this sling is up to the toughest field conditions, and it’s made to last a lifetime. You’ll be glad you have the Padded Cobra Sling every time you hit the field. MSRP: $80, versacarry.com

Galco FasTrax PAC Elite Waist Pack Holster

Galeco

Waist packs might not be every armed citizen’s cup of tea, but they certainly have a place in the pantheon. Particularly with how Galco has rethought the implement. Utilizing an innovative pivoting holster and an external activation cord, the FastTrax Elite Waist Pack Holster is fast and convenient. The cord opens the pack in the wink of an eye, while the holster consistently presents your piece, so you aren’t left fishing around. Miles away from the way old waist packs worked. Made of soft leather and Galco’s Comfort Cloth, the pack is an excellent option for active types that find it a challenge to carry on-body. MSRP: $99, galcogunleather.com

CZ Shadow 2 SA

CZ Shadow

A CZ Shadow 2 with a single-action trigger? Sign me and about anyone else who cherishes speed, accuracy and capacity. The renowned Czech-American manufacture recently expanded its line with exactly this model, aptly named the Shadow 2 SA. CZ has baked everything about the original pistol—from 17-round double-stack magazine to trademark blue aluminum grips and CZ ergonomics—into the new iteration. Only this one comes with a featherlight trigger that breaks like thin ice, especially compared to the first pull of the older DA/SA Shadow 2. Given its snappy trip, the Shadow 2 SA should prove an excellent option for a full-fledged competitive match or simple precision plinking. MSRP: $1,349, cz-usa.com

Ruger PC Charger Pistol

Ruger

Arguably the perfect gun to pair with your PC Carbine, the band new PC Charger Pistol has everything its big brother has … and more. To the more, the 6.5-inch barreled pistol most certainly is more nimble and convenient to tote around, perhaps the ideal backpack guns. To the fine point of the 9mm, like the carbine it also feeds off SR and Security-9 magazines, as well as Glock, giving it plenty of versatility. Furthermore, it has the same dead-blow blow-back system as the long gun, making it a real smooth shooter. A tungsten weight at the back of the bolt reduces recoil and shorten bolt travel, helping eliminate muzzle rise and picking up its shot-to-shot pace. It’s a wicked little devil and a great partner for Ruger’s popular carbine. MSRP: $799, ruger.com

MTM In-Safe Handgun Cases

MTM

At first blush, handgun cases designed for a gun safe sound self-defeating. But take a second and look at your vault and think if some sort of organization system might be warranted. If you’re like most gun owners, the answer is most likely yes. This is exactly what MTM offers in these handy polymer cases. Stackable and lockable, they keep your pistols and revolvers in perfect order until you need them. At the same tick, they save on precious safe space. With closed-cell foam padding at the bottom, they also ensure the integrity of your guns over the long haul. Best of all, the cases are sold in packs of three, so you can get your handguns—all of them—in order right off the bat. MSRP: $16.95, 3-pack of 9-inch cases; $18.95, 3-pack of 12-inch cases; mtmcase-gard.com

FN 503 Slim

FN

Spreading like a prairie fire, slimline pistols optimized for concealed carry have become among the dominant styles of defensive weapons. Now FN is in this game. Purpose-built for on-body defense, the 503 Slim is perfectly proportioned to comfortable stay under wraps. Much of this is thanks to its 1.1-inch width, but FN didn’t stop with the pistol’s overall proportions. The gunmaker also outfitted the 6+1 (8+1 extended mag) 503 Slim with low-profile, snag-free three-dot iron sights and a minuscule 4.6-inch height. FN didn’t compromise performance for convenience, giving the 3.1-inch barreled pistol a very crisp 5-pound trigger and a very aggressive grip texture, so you maintain control. The single-stack 9mm is more than ready to be your next everyday carry piece. MSRP: $549, fnamerica.com

Zeiss Precision Rings

Ziess

A precision rifle and precision scope require another element to live up to its full potential—precision rings.
Look no further than Zeiss to fill this role. More than familiar with the needs of high-quality optics, the German manufacturer has introduced six new rings to its Precision Ring line. The new offerings include two 30mm ring heights along with four 34mm options.Like the original, the new precision rings are sleek, lightweight and Mil-Spec grade, yet up to the most rugged environments and include some pretty dandy extras. Some of these include an integral recoil lug and anti-cant bubble level. MSRP: Starting at $179, zeiss.com

MDT Crossover (XRS) Chassis

MDT

Outside of pure long-range match work, rifle chassis are becoming more flexible. Modular Driven Technologies (MDT) looks this direction with its XRS chassis. At its heart are the same rigid aluminum, monolithic receiver and V-block bedding. But on the outside is a polymer skin, keeping the system light and rugged. The chassis features an adjustable length-of-pull spacer system with 2 inches of play, as well as comb rise. The 12.5-inch forearm has ample M-Lok slots for the easy addition of accessories. And, of course, the system is fully compatible with ACIS magazines. Nice package for a do-all system. Currently available for Remington 700 short action with Rem783 SA; Tikka, Savage, and Howa 1500 short action variants soon to come.
MSRP: $99.95, mdttac.com

Sako S20

The Sako S20 tactical stock configuration.
The Sako S20 tactical stock configuration.

Shooting at one rifle to do it all, Sako has come up with an ingenious new system with its S20. Billed as the first true cross-over bolt-action, the rifle lives up to its moniker adapting to both precision and hunting applications. Sound like a stretch, but more than doable with an interchangeable chassis stock system. A thumbhole version it’s the perfect configuration when you’re heading out to put meat on the table; then slap on the sniper-precision stock when you’re looking to ring steel a mile out. Inside the S20 stock is an aircraft-grade aluminum chassis that carries all the recoil forces. The durable structure of the frame has been carefully designed for maximum stiffness to increase accuracy and robustness. Available in eight calibers, the S20 is made to do about anything. MSRP: TBA, sako.fi

TriStar Trinity Over/Under Shotguns

TriStar

Think a sharp-looking and shooting over/under is out of your price range? Think again. TriStar’s newly minted Trinity line delivers both beauty and function to every smoothbore aficionado, no matter the size of their pocketbook. Right off the tick, it not only comes with eye-catching engraving, but also 24K gold inlay, which gives the Turkish-made 12-gauge an heirloom look. Topping this off is a rich stick of walnut, semi-gloss finished. Yet it’s more than just a looker, with the 3-inch chambered O/U featuring a solid frame, self-adjusting locking lugs, top tang safety selector and safety and steel mono-block barrels. The gun comes with 5 interchangeable Beretta/Benelli Mobil style choke tubes (SK, IC, M, IM, F), choke box and choke wrench. MSRP: $685, tristararms.com

Leica Amplus 6 Riflescope Series

Leica Amplus-6_3-18x44i

Nearly without peer, Leica is no stranger to producing top-performing riflescopes. Though, recently, the German optics maker might have outdone itself. Its new Amplus 6’s features are designed to get you on target, no matter your application, deliver unparalleled clarity and accuracy. Chief among its assets, 6x zoom, which brings your target up-close and person, allowing you to precisely place your shots. This is complemented by a sharp illuminated dot and large exit pupil, giving you not only a clear mark of where you’ll place your bullet, but the ability to quickly transition targets. Available in 1-4x24mm up to 3-8x44mm, the line has an option for every potential shooting situation. MSRP: Starting at $1,199, leica-camera.com

CITADEL BOSS 25 12ga.

Citadel

With performance as wicked as its looks, the BOSS25 is in charge. A creation of Citadel (imported by Legacy Sports), the 12-gauge is based on the popular AR-15 rifle making it an ideal and familiar choice for competition or self-defense. Capable of chambering 3-inch 12-gauge shells, the magazine-fed shotgun also has plenty of versatility and is long in features. Some of the more notable include an 18.75-inch chrome-lined barrel, muzzle brake, textured grip fore-end, fully adjustable folding sights and top-Picatinny Rail for the addition of an optic. Weighing in at 8-pounds, it’s no lightweight, but proves a fairly manageable shooter. MSRP: $579, legacysports.com

Dan Wesson Vigil 1911 Series

Dan Wesson

Dan Wesson pistols are many things … inexpensive isn’t one of them. Though, the custom gunmaker is pushing to get more of their excellent 1911s into more shooters’ hands with the introduction of the Vigil Series. An entry-level option, the aluminum-frame pistols come in well below most of the Wesson’s other lines, yet offers the company’s trade-mark performance. Lightweight, the Vigil Government Model, for instance, comes in nearly 6-ounces lighter than comparably-sized pistols, and has a slew of other features. Beveled magazine well, carry bevel treatment, undercut trigger guards and hand-polished flats all come standard. As does an extremely crisp, creep-free Dan Wesson trigger, set at 3.5 to 5 pounds. Available in Government, Commander and CCO (compact) models, in both 9mm and .45 ACP, there’s a Vigil for every shooter. MSRP: $1,298, danwessonfirearms.com

Stoeger STR-9 Compact

Stoeger Pistol

Glock performance at a fraction of the price, Stoeger pulled off quite a coup with the STR-9. Now, the gunmaker is aiming to continue to capitalize off its dandy striker-fired with the introduction of a made-to-carry iteration. With a 3.8-inch barrel, 6.9-inch overall length and 24-ounces in weight, the STR-9 Compact is certain to prove popular with those shooting at an affordable carry piece. While its price is rock-bottom, Stoeger has skimped on the STR-9. The 10+1 capacity 9mm (13+1 extend), outfitting it with sturdy three-dot iron sights, with the option to upgrade to Tritium night sights for a bit extra money. Like the original, the compact has a snappy trigger and easy-to-manipulate slide, thanks to aggressive cocking serrations. MSRP: $329, stoegerindustries.com

RRA LAR-15M .450 Bushmaster

Rock River

While there have been advancements in straight-walled cartridges, when it comes to hunting—particularly with an AR-15—the .450 Bushmaster still reigns supreme. Rock River Arms (RRA) now gives you the perfect way to launch the behemoth. Offering 1-MOA accuracy at 100 yards, the LAR-15M, is the perfect option for hunting season or if you’re simply looking for a precise large-bore rifle. RRA delivers this down-range performance through a top-end build, which includes a 16-inch stainless-steel, cryo-treated barrel. It enhances the system with a high-performance proprietary two-stage trigger and six-position Operator CAR stock. Topping it off is a lightweight, free-floated handguard with plenty of M-Lok real estate so you can add your must-have accessories. The LAR-15M is the whole package and a little bit more. MSRP: $1,100, rockriverarms.com

The article originally appeared in the May and Shooter Guide 2019 issues of Gun Digest the Magazine.

.450 Bushmaster Ammo: Is There A Cheap Way To Keep One Fed?

By
Elwood Shelton
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3
The .450 Bushmaster ammo can prove taxing
Especially in terms of hunting, going big-bore can pay dividends. But fitting the bill for .450 Bushmaster ammo can prove taxing.

Staying flush in .450 Bushmaster ammo, given its price, can prove a challenge. That is unless you take its production into your own hands.

Why You Should Consider Reloading For The .450 Bushmaster:

  • The basement for factory ammo is around $1 per round.
  • Reloads, depending on brass life, can cut that in half if not by two-thirds.
  • You have the potential of a much more accurate round than what you'd buy off the shelf.
  • While most factory ammo is hunting focused, you have many more options off your reloading bench.

The old joke goes, if you want to know what it’s like to own a boat pour cold water over yourself while burning $100 bills. Owners of a rifle chambered in .450 Bushmaster can empathize. Not so much with the physical soaking, but with the monetary one. Trigger-time with the big-bore beast is a lot of things—fun, fruitful, impressive—but cheap isn’t one of them.

Outside .338 Lapua Mag and .50 BMG shooters and other extreme long-range cartridges, few wrangle with a more confiscatory ammunition budget than devotees of the .450 Bushmaster. Basement, you’re looking at $1 per trigger pull and it goes up steeply from there. Spendy, to say the least. Insane when compared to the typical price of widely used AR/hunting cartridges, which you can send roughly 1 ¼ to five rounds downrange for the same cost of one Bushmaster.

Just to get a better handle, here’s how several popular and common cartridges shake out per round per AmmoSeek.com:

  • .223 Remington: 18₵
  • .30-06 Springfield: 49₵
  • .270 Winchester: 58₵
  • .300 Winchester Magnum: 75₵
  • .300 Blackout: 65₵

Quite a pickle, one that has ramifications. Proficiency and mastery depend on training. The more it costs to train, likely the less you’ll do. The less you do, the more your proficiency suffers. In short, not good.

Economics Of .450 Bushmaster Ammo

So, why the top dollar when it comes to .450 Bushmaster ammo? It’s history mainly. Designed more than a decade ago, the main purpose of the .450 Bushmaster was a hunting round for the AR that hit harder than the standard .223. Mission accomplished, with the cartridge more than capable of kicking a 250-grain bullet out at 2,200 fps at the muzzle. More than enough to put any whitetail into permanent relaxation.

Hornady was among the first to offer factory-loaded .450 Bushmaster ammo.
Hornady was among the first to offer factory-loaded .450 Bushmaster ammo.

Hornady was fast out of the gates with an excellent load topped with a 250-grain Flex Tip bullet designed for the Bushy. From there, the concept and ammo options proved a slow burn.

The .450 Bushmaster ammo market never really caught fire from there, until certain Midwestern states greenlit the cartridge for their deer seasons. This spurred some growth in ammunition options, with Remington, Winchester and others getting into the game. But overall, demand was regional. No reason to dial the .450 Bushmaster ammunition line to 11 if there was only marginal interest outside some of the Great Lakes states.

In turn, the majority of the factory-loaded stuff is all hunting oriented, generally loaded with a bullet purpose-built for the job and expected to sell in mass in only a few states. Unfortunate, given .450 Bushmaster ammo is ripe for diversification, given its inherent design.

A Different Route To .450 Affordability

The .450 Bushmaster is a rifle cartridge, but loaded with a pistol bullet. A fairly abundant pistol bullet to boot—. 45-caliber (.452). True enough, not all .45 bullets are up to the demands of the .450 Bushmaster—generally speaking, it's got to be the variety meant for souped-up .45 Colt or .454 Casull. But given the popularity of these calibers, there is still a wealth of options—affordable ones at that. Which means, you guessed it, the .450 Bushmaster is ripe for reloading.

Like any straight-walled cartridge, there aren't many curveballs reloading the .450 Bushmaster. However, keep to your specs if you're shooting it through an AR.
Like any straight-walled cartridge, there aren't many curveballs reloading the .450 Bushmaster. However, keep to your specs if you're shooting it through an AR.

True enough, handloading takes the pressure off your wallet no matter the caliber, but it’s absurd with the Bushy. Assuming you’ll use the bass a minimum of four times (a very conservative estimation), it’s possible to whittle down your per-round .450 Bushmaster ammo costs to less than half that of the factory stuff. Twice as much training for the same cost, perhaps three times as much if you’re a savvy reloading components shopper.

Even better, you have the opportunity to greatly diversify your .450 Bushmaster ammo options. Be it an FMJ target round or a gas-checked lead hunter, you have a wealth of possibilities when it comes to loading for this behemoth.

Go Big!:

Aside from the standard reloading advice of building up your loads, piecing together your own .450 Bushmaster ammo doesn’t hold a ton of surprise. Being straight-walled case with a slight, special attention must be paid to expanding the mouth before seating the bullet, then crimping after the bullet is seated. In both cases, a little goes a long way. In particular with the crimp, given the cartridge headspaces off the mouth. A few thousands of an inch is enough to get the job done.

Case length can end up being an afterthought for many with straight-wall cases, but this is a mistake if your Bushmaster happens to be an AR-15. It is wise to keep to book numbers and trim to length unless you enjoy clearing jams.

Not common in factory loads, a target option with a FMJ bullet in .450 Bushmaster is more than doable on the reloading bench.
Not common in factory loads, a target option with a FMJ bullet in .450 Bushmaster is more than doable on the reloading bench.

As to powder, most .450 Bushmaster ammo calls for propellants with burn rates similar to big-bore handguns—in the medium range. Unusually, a crowd favorite for the cartridge is Hodgdon’s Lil Gun, a specialty powder developed for .410 shotguns. It and most powders match well with a 250- to 260-grain bullet, particularly standbys such as Hornady Flex Tip, which moderately improve the bullet’s ballistic coefficient. Not quite consistent MOA improvement, but dead-on minute of deer for certain.

No matter your choice of components and power, you should keep your expectations within reason. Out to 200 yards, the .450 Bushmaster tends to be flat shooting and with enough tinkering and familiarity with your rifle, you can get respectable accuracy. But you’re also dealing with bullets—by and large—with poor sectional density—essentially how well they’ll penetrate. In turn, especially for hunting, you shouldn’t go in thinking you’re going to cook up a magical round that's going to double the effective range of your Bushmaster.

Parting Shot

Big-bore rifles still have a place in the pantheon of shooting, particularly the modern iterations made to beef up the tried-and-true AR platform. Not only are they unique, but for certain geographical regions, they’re indispensable tools for hunting. Even with more competition to the market, the .450 Bushmaster will remain the first choice for many, especially if they take the time to reduce the cost of feed one.

Ammo Brief: Smoking Hot 28 Nosler

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

28 Nosler 1

OK, you have an itch to send a 7mm screaming to its limits, then the 28 Nosler is right down your alley.

What Are The Specifics Of The 28 Nosler:

  • Shares the same case dimensions as its sibling, the 26 Nosler.
  • Its fat case gives it ample powder capacity.
  • Loaded hot, it can kick a 160-grain bullet out at 3,300 fps at the muzzle.

Historical Notes
In 2015, Nosler created its new .28 Nosler by necking up the .26 Nosler case—itself a derivative of the 7mm RUM case, which descended from the .404 Jeffery. Nosler supports this new cartridge with Nosler brass, Trophy Grade ammunition and M48 rifles in 26-inch barrel configurations.

The .28 Nosler is the only cartridge in the family (.22, .26, .27 [wildcat], .28, .30, .33, .35 and .36 Nosler) that shares all the .26 Nosler case dimensions, with the exception of being necked-up. The .27 Nosler wildcat was changed from the .26 as well. The case might be the same length, but the shoulder datum was brought back to a shorter dimension.

Nosler said there were two main reasons these features were changed between cartridges: Designers wanted to stay within a 3.340 maximum COAL and had to design around the longest-ogive Nosler bullets in each caliber. Getting up to .30-caliber-and-larger sizes necessitates shortening the brass—and therefore, moving the shoulder accordingly to preserve adequate neck length.

The most important reason the shoulder and length dimensions were changed was to prevent cross-caliber chambering. For example, bullet and neck diameter, alone, are not enough to guarantee that someone can’t force a .28 Nosler shell into a .27 Nosler chamber. By bringing the shoulder back on the .27, it can prevent serious injury if a shooter inadvertently chambers and fires a larger-caliber shell in the smaller chamber.

On-Target Ammunition Information:

General Comments
The fat case creates powder space, with a water capacity of 93.8 grains when loaded with a 150-grain AccuBond Long Range spitzer, according to Nosler specs. The rebated-rim centerfire rifle cartridge shares the same overall cartridge length (3.340 inches) as the .26 Nosler, which allows it to be chambered in standard-length actions. Likewise, the .284-caliber (7mm) centerfire .28 Nosler has the same 3.340-inch maximum cartridge overall length as the .30-06, but the case length is 2.590 inches, with a 35-degree shoulder. Accordingly, the .28 Nosler cartridge case can be formed by necking up a .26 Nosler case to 7mm (.284 inch) diameter.

Slower-burning powders and high load densities generally yield the best loads. Some of the best are with Norma 217 and RL 33, but other propellants of similar speed also give excellent results. For family “bragging rights,” the .26 Nosler is capable of firing a 129-grain AccuBond LR bullet at a muzzle velocity of 3,400 fps, but the .28 Nosler launches a 160-grain AccuBond at 3,300 fps, and the .30 Nosler fires a 180-grain AccuBond at 3,200 fps.

Nosler

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

Colt Python: Is The Reboot Revolver A Plum Or Lemon?

By
Patrick Sweeney
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7
The Colt Python is back—and it’s badder than ever! Well, in most respects, it’s actually “gooder” than ever.
The Colt Python is back—and it’s badder than ever! Well, in most respects, it’s actually “gooder” than ever.

The re-introduction of the Colt Python has been a rollercoaster of excitement and disappointment. So what's the story: is this the second coming or a troubled handgun?

How Does The New Python Differ From The Old:

  • Improved stainless steel used in the frame and barrel.
  • More cross-section at the rear of the frame for a more resiliant sight base.
  • Simplified internals with fewer parts.
  • Updated dual-action leaf spring.
  • Front sight is user replacable.

The Colt Python was lusted after by many. It was not, however, acquired by many. Part of that was due to the cost, because the Python typically cost twice as much as any other DA revolver of its time. It was first offered by Colt back in the mid-1950s, but the earliest movie reference I can find is from 1969. After that, it was quite the popular option.

Nevertheless, the price put off a lot of shooters; that, and the reputation for being a bit fragile. Even well into the IPSC competition era, not many people who owned .357 Magnums shot a steady diet of .357 magnum-level ammo through any handgun. Most shooters would put a box of magnums through their revolvers once a year. If they shot more, it was more likely that the revolver in question saw mostly .38 Special ammo. The .38s cost less and also hammered your hantds less.

Colt being Colt—that is, a wholly owned subsidiary of one mega-corporation or another—it simply kept on making Pythons and charging what it could … until it just couldn’t do it anymore. And then, Colt stopped making Pythons.

The reaction was immediate. Prices shot up. Unfired Pythons, new in the box, started selling for stupid-high prices. I mean, when you could sell a NIB Python for enough to purchase a well-equipped small car, the 21st century was not turning out the way I’d expected.

The new frame shape and rear sight: The sight has to be tougher than the old one, because that sight was fragile.
The new frame shape and rear sight: The sight has to be tougher than the old one, because that sight was fragile.

The next step was amazingly un-Colt. The company fired up the AutoCAD and set about making a new Python. I wish Colt had called it that—the “New Python,” I mean. We will, for a long time forward, have to go through the “Who’s on first?” routine of “a new Python or a New Python” to distinguish the new stainless ones made in the 21st century from an unfired one made “back in the day.”

The New Colt Python

Colt selected a new and improved stainless steel and took advantage of the advances in metallurgy since the Chevy Bel Air was the hottest thing from Detroit. It changed the frame at the rear sight to give it a bit more cross-section and to accommodate the new rear sight. That’s a very good thing, because the rear sight on Pythons (and also used in old Gold Cups) was known to be fragile. The new one looks tougher. The front is a red ramp, just like the old ones. However, you can change this one on your own.

The internals have been changed. Colt managed to keep the basics of the Python action, but it dropped the parts number of the lockwork by over a dozen. Fewer parts are usually a good thing. Colt kept the dual-action leaf spring, but it updated it.

One of the details of modern manufacturing is the 2D punch code. If they don’t have it yet, every firearm you buy soon will.
One of the details of modern manufacturing is the 2D punch code. If they don’t have it yet, every firearm you buy soon will.

The original used a “V” spring. Properly made, these will last almost forever. British Best shotguns customarily use V springs, and some of those shotguns have recorded hundreds of thousands of rounds without a fault. The problem is, they require skilled workmen to fabricate them, and people with those skills cost money to employ. Worse yet, the Python action required skilled workmen to assemble—and time. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: The Python was designed at a time when steel was expensive and skilled labor was cheap. Today, those variables are flipped. As a result, the new Python uses a two-arm spring that isn’t a “V” but a “U” in shape.

Internals

Some of the internals show the hallmarks of MIM fabrication, which, in and of itself, is not a bad thing anymore. It used to be, but isn’t. The end result of the changes is a markedly improved double-action pull.

I had a chance to test the new Python against three classic Pythons, as well as my own 1936-made Official Police—the same frame the Python was built on. The DA on the new Python is much better: The old Pythons had a 9-pound DA (the OP was a bit heavier than that, but it’s also a .22LR and needs a bit more “oomph” to ensure ignition), and the new Python shows a 7-pound DA stroke. Back when I was shooting PPC, I would have put up with the Python cost (and fragile rear sight) to get an out-of-the-box DA of 7 pounds.

The muzzle on the Python has a recessed crown now. Back in the day, it was just a flat face with a slight bevel at the bore.
The muzzle on the Python has a recessed crown now. Back in the day, it was just a flat face with a slight bevel at the bore.

Alas, all is not sweetness and light. The single-action pull of the old Pythons and the OP was 3 pounds—clean, crisp and perfect for those wanting to shoot bullseye (which was pretty much the only competition to be found back in 1955, the first year of Python production). The new Python has a 5-pound trigger pull, and it isn’t clean and crisp. However, the bright side of this is that making a single-action trigger pull cleaner and lighter is a whole lot easier (especially with the Python) than doing the same to the DA. So, Colt has done the hard work for us here.

Externals

The externals are much the same, but there are a few improvements. The barrel is the same full, under-lugged design, with the vent rib on top. However, where the originals were just a flat face, the crown is recessed. The front sight on the originals was pinned in place. If you wanted it changed, you needed either a pistol smith or pistol-smithing skills and tools. Now, the front sight is user-changeable.

The ejector rod is the same (the too-short-to-fully-eject length) as the originals. I just have to shake my head. With all the extras Colt put in, couldn’t it have made the ejector rod longer enough to at least make sure .38 Special cases would clear the star?

This is the red ramp sight that was such a leap forward back in the 1950s. Now, we take it for granted or even view it as a bit “retro.”
This is the red ramp sight that was such a leap forward back in the 1950s. Now, we take it for granted or even view it as a bit “retro.”

The six-shot cylinder still has the locking slots cut off center to allow for the thickest possible chamber wall. The action is still timed so the instant the cylinder locks up, the hammer falls.

Colt also went with a set of walnut stocks; it calls them “target” stocks. They do look good, and they do feel good in the hand … at first, anyway, for me. There’s a sculpting line on the upper rear of the grips to make the lines clean, smooth and flowing. It’s also a line that puts an edge right at the heel of my thumb. My grip is not like most. I choke up on a revolver to the point that the hammer brushes my hand in DA shooting. That sculpting line hammers my hand on every shot. So, I have to either hold lower, wear gloves … or swap grips.

With .38s, the Python is a pussycat. Of course, with 42 ounces of steel behind it, how much recoil can a .38 Special produce? Even a +P one? And, as I mentioned before, that’s what most shooters would put through their Pythons back then—and most probably will today. We, of course, won’t.

The author contacted Colt to address Internet reports of the revolver’s cylinder failing to advance between shots. According to Colt, a very small number of new Pythons were returned to the factory for “functional issues.” Interpret that how you will, but the author fell in love with his new snake gun.
The author contacted Colt to address Internet reports of the revolver’s cylinder failing to advance between shots. According to Colt, a very small number of new Pythons were returned to the factory for “functional issues.” Interpret that how you will, but the author fell in love with his new snake gun.

Now, when the Python—the new Python—came out, there were a few people who promptly broke them. (For a change, that wasn’t me.) Word spread that the new Python had some dodgy part or parts, and they would break if you looked at them cross-eyed. Oh, really?

Becoming a Believer

After I did the expected testing and shooting, I dug into the ammo bunker and came up with a pile of .38 and .357 ammo. And a pair of gloves.

I figured that on a range trip, I’d shoot as much .357 as I could stand and then switch to .38s. I’d see if I could break the Python (hey, it was a loaner, so we needed to know, right?). Well, I failed. The Python shot just fine and perked right along through all the ammo I tested in it.

To find out what was up, I asked my source at Colt, Justin Baldini. Out of the 4,000-plus Pythons shipped to date, Colt has had fewer than 10 returned for a functional issue. So much for the pants-wetting hysteria of Internet “experts.” Additionally, the company’s had about 40 returned for cosmetics (mostly of them because some people were unhappy with the crowning treatment).

The new Python has one fault the old ones had: The ejector rod isn’t long enough to fully press out the cases.
The new Python has one fault the old ones had: The ejector rod isn’t long enough to fully press out the cases.

Now, the ammo I tested I grabbed off the shelf as a cross-section of likely ammo that end-users might choose. I chose the Hornady because it’s soft-shooting and accurate, and you could shoot it all day and not work up a sweat. The high-velocity crowd will be pleased with the Super Vel, because if you have to get a .357-inch bullet there as quickly as possible, this is the one. For those who want to practice for defensive, 125-grain JHPs, the Sig load will replicate the recoil and muzzle blast they produce. And for hunters? Yes—Hornady FTX LeveRevolution is “rifle” ammo. However, if you want to use a .357 Magnum for hunting, this load, in the Python, is going to work well.

Python

Sure, the corner on the grips pounded me, even through the gloves, but that’s what gloves are for. And were I to keep this Python, I’d find grips that fit me better. This one is going back to Colt in due time, because I got the “gotta-have-a-Python” bug out of my system a long time ago.

But that doesn’t mean you have to pass up one of them. Turn off the Internet video, go out and handle one at a gun shop near you. Once you stroke through the DA trigger pull, you’ll be a believer.

Colt Python Specs:
Type: Double-action revolver
Caliber: .357 Magnum
Capacity: 6 rounds
Barrel: 4.25-in. or 6-in.
Length: 9.75 in.
Weight: 42 oz.
Trigger: 5 lb. (SA); 7 lb. (DA)
Finish: Polished stainless steel
MSRP: $1,499

For more information on the Colt Python, please visit colt.com.

The article originally appeared in the June 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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First Look: Phoenix Weaponry Integrally Suppressed Shotguns

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

Phoenix Weaponry Eliza Action

Lovingly dubbed “Cindy” and “Eliza”, the integrally suppressed shotguns from Phoenix Weaponry speak with a soft voice, but pack a punch.

Unless you’re Anton Chigurh, you might generally consider suppressors a pistol or rifle deal. That’s pretty much where the market is centered, but certainly, cans aren’t exclusive to these types of firearms. While more niche, noise-reduction devices are available to knock the edge off your shotgun, which given some model’s reports is no bad old deal. Though, up to this point, few have come close in terms of elegance to what Phoenix Weaponry has cooked up. Meet “Cindy” and “Eliza”.

Integrally suppressed Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 pump-action shotguns, the system enhances the smoothbores’ noise signature and enhances their performance while maintaining much of the guns' original footprint. Cindy is Phoenix Weaponry’s entry-level model, while Eliza is an upgraded iteration with top-to-bottom enhancements(more on that in a second). In both cases, the outcome is impressive, though it takes the custom gunmaker some doing to get there.

Phoenix Weaponry Eliza integrally-suppressed shotgun.
Phoenix Weaponry Eliza integrally-suppressed shotgun.

Phoenix Weaponry starts with an 870 or 500 factory barrel, removes a fore section of sight rib where the suppressor mounts and machines ports into the sides of the barrel. From there, the rear sleeve cap is installed along with the front suppressor threads and the company’s proprietary 6-inch Delta Monocore suppressor core. Finishing it off, Phoenix Weaponry fits a sleeve and end cap … voilà, an integrally suppressed barrel. One, worth mentioning, that doesn’t do much to add to the shotgun’s overall size or weight—tacking on 1 pound and 5 inches in length.

“We have achieved the perfect balance between sound suppression, ability to change your chokes, and ammo functionality up to 3.5-inch shells.” Phoenix Weaponry Owner Aaron Cayce said. “You can use everything from buckshot to birdshot and even slugs through our integrally suppressed shotguns.”

As to the models, Cindy is pretty much an off-the-shelf 870 or 500 with the suppression system install, as well as the forcing cone extended and chamber polished. Eliza is, well, a bit more dolled up. Along with Cindy’s assets, it also has its action deburred and polished, as well as your choice of winter/spring/summer Duracoat camouflage, Magpul, Houge or Mesa Tactical furniture and the addition of a side-saddle shell holder.

The basic Cindy and Eliza packages are 12-gauge, but being a custom gunmaker Phoenix Weaponry will put the system together in other bores. Of course, the guns are NFA items, in turn, you owe the Feds their cut—both in money and hoop-jumping. And the manufacturer already isn’t exactly giving them away, especially compared to stock 870s and 500s. The base price for Cindy is $1,350 and Eliza $2,550. But if you’re shooting for a stealthier Turkey season or the like, either shotgun will most likely prove a great value.

For more information on Phoenix Weaponry's Cindy and Eliza, please visit phoenixweaponry.com

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First Look: Rock River Arms RUK-9BT

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

RRA RUK-9BT

Meet your backpack's new best friend, the small and mighty RUK-9BT 9mm.

Coronavirus be damned! Rock River Arms (RRA) is releasing guns, pandemic, or no pandemic.

In the Illinois gunmaker’s sights as of late is its AR pistol lineup, which it recently bolstered with a 9mm option that goes by the handle RUK-9BT. Overall a slick and compact option that boasts the features most look for in this terse style of gun, include Glock magazine compatibility. Face it, the Austrian company calls the shots when it comes to mags. But hey, makes it simple to build a collection.

As to the RUK-9BT’s tale of the tape, it comes in at a very manageable 5 pound and measures in at 24-inches with the SB Tactical SBA3 5-position brace fully extended, a hair over 21 inches collapsed. The pistol’s 4.5-inch chrome-moly-lined barrel is topped off with a Smith Vortex flash suppressor and is mated with aircraft-grade aluminum extruded and billet receivers. RRA tops the RUK-9BT off with its proprietary two-stage trigger, lightweight free-float 4.25-inch handguard (M-Lok compatible) and NSP flip-up sights. A tidy package, fit for any backpack or truck cab.

The MSRP on the RUK-9BT is $1,350 and ships a handstop and one magazine.

More From RRA:

Colona, IL – Rock River Arms, one of the industry's most respected names in Modern Sporting Rifles and pistols, has announced an addition to the company's expanding lineup of AR-platform pistols. The new RUK-9BT was developed to address the needs and interests of shooters with an eye toward home and mobile defense capabilities.

The RUK-9BT is highlighted by a 4.5-inch chrome-lined barrel chambered in 9×19. Combined with its 4.25-inch RRA lightweight free-float handguard and SB Tactical SBA3 adjustable stabilizing arm brace, the RUK-9BT is exceptionally compact, light, and sized for maximum portability.

Based on RRA's own BT-9 billet lower receiver, the RUK-9BT incorporates a flared magwell that accepts GLOCK magazines. This allows the pistol to work in unison with a 9mm GLOCK primary or backup carry gun, ensuring ammo and magazine cross-compatibility anytime, anywhere.

Additional standard features of the RUK-9BT include an RRA two-stage trigger for precise trigger control and reduced shot disturbance, an integrated winter trigger guard to accommodate gloved hands, Smith Vortex flash suppressor, Low-Pro hand stop, and a Hogue rubber grip that offers superior firearm retention in a pistol platform. Also included are RRA's NSP flip-up front and rear sights designed for use as the primary sighting system or as a backup for an owner-installed red dot optic.

RRA RUK-9BT Specs:
Caliber: 9mm
Lower Receiver: BT-9 billet aluminum with GLOCK-compatible flared magwell and integrated winter trigger guard
Upper Receiver: extruded aluminum A4
Barrel: 4.5-inch chrome-lined, 1:10 twist
Muzzle Device: Smith Vortex flash suppressor, 1/2-36 thread
Trigger: RRA two-stage
Handguard: RRA lightweight free-float rail, 4.25-inch pistol length, M-LOK compatible
Grip: Hogue rubber pistol
Arm Brace: SB Tactical SBA3 stabilizing arm brace, 6-position adjustable
Length: 23.5 inches extended
Sights: RRA NSP flip-up front and rear
Includes: one GLOCK-compatible magazine, Low-Pro M-LOK compatible hand stop, manual, warranty
MSRP: $1,350

For more information on the RUK-9BT, please visit rockriverarms.com.

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First Look: Savage Arms 110 Ultralite

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

Savage 110 Ultralight

Lean, accurate and well priced, the Savage Arms 110 Ultralite is ready for your next backcountry adventure.

Stripped down and light … there’s a time and place for it. Say, for example, elk season and that saddle two ridgelines back. About then not only does it pay to weight out your kit, but also run a rifle lean and tough as a belt-holder welterweight. Of course, you’ll pony up a mint to procure such an iron or you would have until late.

Mountain rifles still run at a premium end of the market, logical given their use of cutting-edge lightweight materials. In recent years, with bigger names jumping into the game, the specialized shooters have become less exorbitant, though still on the spendy side. Case in point, Savage Arms 110 Ultralite.

Built on the company’s tried-and-true Model 110 action, the gun has a number of notable modifications to make it near as easy to hump in and out of the woods as your shadow. Chief among these, a carbon-fiber wrapped stainless steel barrel. Manufactured by PROOF Research (Who else?), the fire tube not only lightens the 110 Ultralite’s overall burden but also ups its accuracy potential with its rigidity and cut rifling. To boot, it comes with a threaded muzzle—5/8-24 pattern, with factory-installed cap—in case you run a brake or suppressor on the hunt.

Savage 110 Ultralight 3

Savage doesn’t stop there, engineering a number of other weight savers into the rifle, including a spiral-fluted bolt and skeletonized receiver. In the end, your left with a rifle that runs 6-pounds or less, depending on caliber. And to that end, there are ample choices with the 110 Ultralite coming in some eight chamberings. These include standbys such as .30-06 Springfield, .280 Ackley Improved and .270 Winchester, along with new favorites like 6.5 Creedmoor and 28 Nosler.

A tidy package fit for a serious back-country hunter, but it will still cost you. Savage has a $1,499 MSRP on the rifle, which compared to a stock 110 hunter is a bit steep. But shop other mountain rifles, it comes in at a relative bargain—one certain to make your next high-country adventure much less backbreaking.

Savage 110 Ultralight 1

110 Ultralite Specs:
Action: Bolt
Barrel Color: Black Carbon Fiber
Barrel Finish: Matte
Barrel Length: 22-24 inches (depending on caliber)
Barrel Material: Carbon Wrapped Stainless
Calibers: 308 Win., .270 Win., 28 Nosler, 280 AI, .30-06 Springfield, .300 WSM, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC
Magazine Capacity: 2-4
Hand: Right
Length of Pull: 13.75 inches
Magazine: Detachable Box Magazine
Overall Length: 42.5 inches
Rate of Twist (in): 1 in 10 5GR
Receiver Color: Melonite Black
Receiver Finish: Matte
Receiver Material: Stainless Steel
Stock Color: Grey
Stock Finish: Matte
Stock Material: Synthetic
Stock Type: Sporter
Weight: 5.8-6 pounds (depending on caliber)
MSRP: $1,499.00

For more information on the Savage 110 Ultralight, please visit savagearms.com.

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Lipsey’s Ruger No. 1: Not Just Another .30-30

By
Richard A. Mann
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1

Ruger No. 1 4

Lipsey’s Ruger No. 1 K1A Light Sporter in .30-30 Winchester offers single-shot elegance.

While the Internet is all ablaze with arguments about the 6.5 Creedmoor and whether anyone should be shooting animals at long range (does anyone know the real definition of “long range”?), in the real world, real hunters are creeping through the timber with a .30-30 and bringing home the venison.

In fact, the .30-30 Winchester has been doing that for more than a century. As effective as the cartridge has been, it is, however, indelibly linked to the lever-action rifle. Fortunately, Lipsey’s thinks outside the box.

Exclusive Offerings

Lipsey’s (Lipseys.com) was formed in 1953 as a wholesale hunting and fishing distributor. The original name of the company was S&S Sporting Goods. In 1977, the business was purchased by Richard Lipsey and family and, in 1993, the name was changed.

For those who handload, Nosler’s 125-grain AccuBond bullet is an ideal companion to the Ruger No. 1 in .30-30. At distance, it will shoot flat and hit hard while delivering excellent terminal performance.
For those who handload, Nosler’s 125-grain AccuBond bullet is an ideal companion to the Ruger No. 1 in .30-30. At distance, it will shoot flat and hit hard while delivering excellent terminal performance.

Located in Louisiana, Lipsey’s is one of the largest independently owned, single-location firearms distributors in the United States. The company is very proud of its relationships with firearms manufacturers, and these relationships allow Lipsey’s to frequently offer exclusive/limited-edition firearms.

For the most part, Lipsey’s exclusive firearms are well-thought-out variations of popular models. No, they’re not “Elvis” commemorative guns; they’re guns that have a track record of being appreciated by shooters, but with a different stock or finish or that are quite commonly chambered for a cartridge that’s not a standard offering by the manufacturer. Because shooters and hunters have emotional attachments to some guns and cartridges, this latter type of exclusive offering often has a great appeal.

An excellent example of a popular cartridge that’s missing from most standard lines is the .257 Roberts. It has a cult-like following, but those who are in love with it have limited options when it comes to new guns. Lipsey’s worked with Ruger to develop an exclusive Ruger No. 1 in stainless steel and with a Mannlicher-style stock.

Another .30-30 Winchester Chambering

And that brings us to the subject of this dissertation: Another exclusive Lipsey’s Ruger No. 1 is available chambered for the .30-30 Winchester. Now, what you’re probably wondering is, Why, for the love of Jack O’Connor, would someone chamber a lever-gun cartridge in a single-shot?

We all hope to get the job done with one shot, but it might not work out that way. Having a mechanism to swiftly load a single-shot rifle is a good idea for hunters.
We all hope to get the job done with one shot, but it might not work out that way. Having a mechanism to swiftly load a single-shot rifle is a good idea for hunters.

To find the answer, just go back and read the first paragraph. I’ll repeat it here just to make sure you get the point: The .30-30 Winchester has been killing big-game animals all over the world for over a century. African professional hunter Wally Johnson even used a .30-30 to kill lions. Simply put: It works. Yeah, I know, by modern standards, it’s considered a ballistic underperformer … but do you really know the terminal performance capabilities of the .30-30 Winchester?

Testing Effectiveness

A few years back, I tested a variety of Remington Core-Lokt loads at 100 yards in 10 percent ordnance gelatin. The goal was to reveal the effectiveness of what is now considered an antiquated bullet style.

I tested loads for the .243 Winchester, .270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield and .338 Winchester Magnum. The average penetration depth was 19.25 inches, and the average expansion was 1.95 times original bullet diameter.

The Ruger No. 1 is a single-shot rifle with a Farquharson-style internal hammer and falling-block action. It has been in production since 1967.
The Ruger No. 1 is a single-shot rifle with a Farquharson-style internal hammer and falling-block action. It has been in production since 1967.

The old .30-30 Winchester with a 150-grain Core-Lokt bullet penetrated 3.75 inches deeper than the average and expanded to 1.72 times 0.30-caliber. For those who do not own a calculator or might be mathematically challenged, that .30-caliber bullet had an expanded diameter of 0.53 inch. And, by the way, the .30-30 Winchester load expanded just as much as the .338 Winchester magnum load—and penetrated deeper!

You’re probably thinking that while the .30-30 might be effective at close range, those blunt-nosed bullets have a trajectory as if you’re throwing a couch. Well, you’re right: With a real-world muzzle velocity of about 2,400 fps, a .30-caliber bullet with a ballistic coefficient of under 0.200, when sighted dead-on at 100 yards, will drop 8 inches at 200 yards and 30 inches at 300 (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson—the strongest man in the world—might, indeed, throw a couch flatter than that!).

The Ruger No. 1 Logic

However, if you could load a bullet such as a Nosler 125-grain AccuBond to, let’s say, 2,550 fps, all of a sudden, the .30-30 Winchester takes on a different personality. The thing is, in its most common form—which is a lever-action rifle—you can’t use pointed bullets such as the Nosler 125-grian AccuBond.

An ammo-management device for a single-shot rifle is a must. This Versacarry Ammocaddy that attaches directly to the rifle stock via Velcro is a perfect solution.
An ammo-management device for a single-shot rifle is a must. This Versacarry Ammocaddy that attaches directly to the rifle stock via Velcro is a perfect solution.

And there lies the beauty of a Ruger No. 1 in .30-30 Winchester: You can use pointy, highly aerodynamic and more terminally efficient bullets that will shoot flatter and deliver a higher level of terminal performance.

For example, if you push a 125-grain Nosler AccuBond to 2,550 fps and sight the rifle dead-on at 100 yards, that bullet will only drop 5 inches at 200 yards and only 18 inches at 300. Just as importantly for the hunter, at 200 yards, that bullet will be traveling almost twice as fast as a 150-grain round-nosed bullet and will deliver more than twice the energy. In addition, a 150-grain round-nosed bullet fired from a .30-30 Winchester will not impact with a fast enough velocity at 300 yards to initiate expansion.

So, there you have the logic behind the concept of a Ruger No. 1 chambered for the .30-30 Winchester. Sure, you could still shoot all the commercial factory .30-30 Winchester loads—even the flatter-shooting LeverEvolution options from Hornady. But, with the Ruger No. 1, you have the option of custom-loading just about any .30-caliber bullet you’d like.

The Alexander Henry-style forend on the Lipsey’s Ruger No. 1 in .30-30 Winchester adds a bit of class to an already elegant rifle.
The Alexander Henry-style forend on the Lipsey’s Ruger No. 1 in .30-30 Winchester adds a bit of class to an already elegant rifle.

When I found out Lipsey’s had teamed with Ruger to offer an Exclusive No. 1 chambered for the ,30-30 Winchester, I had to have one. With all the metal in stainless steel contrasting with rich walnut, it’s a visually appealing rifle (that’s gun writer speak for saying it’s damned beautiful). The rifle is fitted with a quarter rib that includes a folding leaf rear sight and integral scope mounts. There’s also an elevated gold-bead front sight. It has the very attractive, grooved Alexander Henry forend and a slim, 22-inch stainless steel barrel with a 1:10 twist. As with all Ruger No. 1 rifles, scope rings (medium height) are included, and out of the box, it weighs 7 pounds.

Scoping the Ruger No. 1

The first priority was to scope this rifle, because my old eyes just don’t work as they used to with open sights. One of the issues with scoping a Ruger No. 1 deals with eye relief.

Because the rings attach directly to the quarter rib, they place the riflescope a bit far forward. If you’re one of those who really stretches their neck forward when they shoot, this is not an issue. However, “turtle-necking” is not conducive to accurate or snap shooting. Your head should remain erect when you shoot a rifle, and your neck muscles should be relaxed. The hurdle for me was to find a riflescope offering enough eye relief so that I could shoot the Ruger No. 1 properly and comfortably.

An Aside: The VX-Freedom Scout

Ironically, I’d just received a new Leupold riflescope to test: the renovated VX-II 1.5-4X28 Scout Scope ( now called the VX-Freedom Scout). In truth, this isn’t a scout scope; scout scopes should have a minimum eye relief of about 10 inches. The VX-Freedom has 6.9 inches of eye relief on low power and 6.0 inches on the highest magnification. As it turned out, this is just about the ideal eye relief for the Ruger No. 1.

The Ruger No. 1 has a two-position safety that is located on the rifle’s tang. The “fire” position is the forward position.
The Ruger No. 1 has a two-position safety that is located on the rifle’s tang. The “fire” position is the forward position.

I mounted it in the rings supplied with the rifle, but it was too high for optimum use. So, I had to order a set of low stainless rings from Ruger. Mounted in those, the VX-Freedom was superbly suited to the Ruger No. 1.

This is a fantastic little riflescope. It’s exceptionally clear, adjustments are spot on, and it holds zero without fail. Just as importantly, it’s compact. At fewer than 10 ounces, it’s very light for a variable-powered optic. The power range was also ideal when paired with my intentions for this rifle. I wanted to use it for deer and bear here, in West Virginia. With this riflescope set at 1.5x, I could easily execute a swift snap shot on a bounding whitetail; and, at times of reduced light, or if I needed to reach out a bit, 4x magnification would suffice.

125-Grain Nosler AccuBond Handloads

I didn’t even mess with shooting factory ammunition for this rifle. My intention all along was to load the excellent 125-grain Nosler AccuBond. I’ve used it in Africa with great success out of a .30 Remington AR bolt-action rifle on a variety of species. I was set on it as the primary projectile for this rifle. I took some once-fired, nickel-plated Federal brass and dropped in 33 grains of Benchmark powder ahead of a Remington 91/2 primer. I then seated the bullet so it was just off the lands. The first three shots clustered into a nice group measuring 0.74 inch, center to center.

The grip of the Lipsey’s Ruger No. 1 in .30-30 Winchester has a stainless cap with a brass Ruger emblem inlay.
The grip of the Lipsey’s Ruger No. 1 in .30-30 Winchester has a stainless cap with a brass Ruger emblem inlay.

I loaded up 40 more rounds, fired five to zero the rifle 1 inch high at 100 yards, and fired several more at 200 yards to check trajectory and precision. At 200 yards, the bullets dropped about 3 inches, and a three-shot group measured 1.47 inches, center to center. It was one of the easiest and fastest load workup and zeroing sessions I’ve had. I just knew this rifle and I were destined for greatness.

I was wrong.

As it turned out, I hunted the entire West Virginia deer season, and the only deer with antlers I put eyes on was while I was hunting with my daughter. I didn’t even have a rifle with me (after all, it was her hunt).

However, for me, there were two positive takeaways. The first was that Lipsey’s exclusive Ruger No. 1 in .30-30 Winchester and I sure looked good in the timber. The second? Well, there’s always next year.

Consider This

There should be three takeaways for you. The first is that overlooking the ballistic potential of the .30-30 Winchester as a big-game hunting cartridge is a mistake. For those of us who hunt on our hind legs and believe success is found with feet—not fps—the .30-30 Winchester will get the job done.

Ruger No. 1 1

The second is that this exclusive-edition Ruger No. 1 is a fine-shooting and good-looking rifle your hunting buddies will covet.

The third is that visiting the Lipsey’s website on a regular basis is a good idea; you never know what the next exclusive gun it offers will be. It just might be a rifle you’ve always wanted but that’s now chambered for a cartridge you cannot live without.

Lipsey’s Ruger No. 1 Specs
Manufacturer: Ruger
Distributor: Lipsey’s
Model: K1A Light Sporter
Action: Single shot
Chambering: .30-30 Winchester
Finish: Brushed stainless
Stock: Walnut
Weight: 7 lbs.
Capacity: 1
Barrel: 22 in., 1:10 twist
Overall Length: 38.5 in.
Sights: Gold-bead front, folding leaf rear
Safety: Two position, tang mounted
Accessories: Stainless steel, medium-height scope rings
MSRP: $1,919

For more information on the Libsey's Ruger No.1, please visit ruger.com.

The article originally appeared in the December 2019 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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Reloading: The Art of Seating Primers by Hand

By
Patrick Sweeney
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0
The RCBS hand-priming system does not come with a shell holder, so be sure you include one in your order.
The RCBS
hand-priming system does not come with a shell holder, so be sure you include one in your order.

Seating primers by hand is time consuming, sometimes arduous and a must for building those rounds that really matter.

There’s a phrase the British use: “Horses for courses.” This means you select the tool for the job and not figure out a way to make the (perhaps not entirely suitable) tool you already have do the work that needs be done.

When it comes to priming cases, every reloading press made comes with an adapter to seat primers. This is an interesting situation: You have a 2-foot steel handle onto which you can throw your entire body weight as a lever to seat a pressure-sensitive item that weighs the smallest fraction of an ounce. Those who use this method have to learn a particular sensitivity to the feedback the operation provides them—and put up with a few mangled and even detonated primers as they learn the limits.

Or, you can go with something that has less leverage and more sensitivity.

Here’s The Right Tool

The RCBS hand priming device is just such a tool. It has a tray onto which you can slide an entire sleeve of primers—100 in all—so you don’t risk handling them, dropping them and getting body oil and sweat onto them, possibly causing problems.

The process is simple: You assemble the primer system with either a large or small primer adapter and seating rod. You install a shell holder appropriate for the caliber you are seating. You then slide on the tray of primers, close the lid and get to work.

Tilting your hand allows you to slide one primer at a time into the feed system, install a case, seat and then repeat.

However, There Are Limits

First of all, you have to have a shell holder for each caliber you want to seat primers in. Luckily, this isn’t a big deal. Shell holders are $10 to $12 each, and one size fits many. If, for example, you buy the shell holder for a .30-06, it will work for any case that has the same rim diameter; you know—all the usual suspects. Second, your brass has to already be cleaned, sized, de-primed, trimmed (if it’s a caliber that needs trimming) and ready to load.

This isn’t much of a problem, because you’ll have to have done all this to your brass anyway for any other priming system. It’s a tad slow, but it’s precise and allows for great sensitivity in seating.

Load Up On Reloading Info:

OK, a bit of a confession here: I use this setup only for some reloading, not all. On my progressive presses, primer seating happens as part of the loading process. So, I feed clean brass in and let the press do the sizing, de-priming, seat primers as the case moves along and finish with powder, bullet and crimp. Most of my ammo for most of my shooting is loaded this way.

Great For Sensitive Seating

I did use the RCBS (and other, earlier systems) for sensitive primer seating—specifically, revolvers with tuned actions. When a DA revolver has the action slicked up and lightened to the point that factory primers become a bit uncertain to ignite, you have to go to extra lengths. Consequently, I would change the reloading process for my competition ammunition.

With just hand strength to seat primers, as well as poor leverage, you have great sensitivity about just how the task is going.
With just hand strength to seat primers, as well as poor leverage, you have great sensitivity about just how the task is going.

This was for .45 ACP, but the process would work fine for other calibers. I’d clean the brass as squeaky-clean as I could and then used a special toolhead setup to just resize and deprime. Then, I’d tumble the de-primed brass to clean out the primer pockets. Why? Because if I’m going to do all this work, I want to get as much benefit as possible, that’s why.

I’d inspect the cases after the second cleaning to make sure there were no primer flash holes with tumbling media caught in there (there was always some). Then, I’d hand-seat primers, making sure they were fully seated and at the optimal sensitivity.

Finally, they’d be run through another toolhead setup with a sizing die lacking a decapping pin and no primers in the primer feed system. They’d be sized (not that they needed it) and then get powder in the already-primed cases, bullet and crimp.

Yes, Yes … And Yes

Was it a lot of work? Did it take extra time? Was it worth it?

Well, the two team gold medals from IPSC World Shoots resting on the counter in my office would say, “Yes.”

All my practice ammo was loaded the regular way for most of the shooting. But when it came time to load the match ammo and the practice ammo with the match trigger-setting tune-up a couple of weeks before a Nationals or the World Shoot, that ammo was loaded the second way.

If you are loading experimental ammo and want to decrease the weight of variables, hand-seating primers will help there. To get the greatest sensitivity and consistency in match ammo, hand-seating works.

If you want volume, you have to settle for a certain amount of “common denominator” in primer seating consistency—a lot of time, but that’s just fine. For the rest of the time, there’s the RCBS hand priming tool.

The article originally appeared in the November 2019 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

First Look: Speer Gold Dot Rifle Ammunition

By
Elwood Shelton
-
0

Speer Gold Dog Rifle 2

Offering excellent accuracy and terminal performance, Speer Gold Dot Rifle Ammunition proves a deadly defensive option for your long gun.

Studied or practiced concealed carry for any amount of time chances are you’ve heard of Gold Dot. Speer’s tried-and-true defensive ammunition has been the choice of numerous law enforcement agencies and armed citizens for years, offering consistent and devastating performance. Now, the ammo-maker is taking the line in a new direction, one might say it’s going big with Gold Dot.

The Speer Gold Dot Rifle ammunition line offers loads for three of the most popular personal defensive long-gun calibers: .223 Rem., .300 Blackout and .308 Win. And like the company’s handgun options, each is tuned for the utmost accuracy and terminal performance. Despite a new twist to the line, Speer achieves this by employing much of the same engineering that went into Gold Dot handgun ammo, particularly bullet design.

The bullet’s bonded core process—what Speer calls “Uni-Core”—is what makes this stuff dynamite. It comes down to weight retention, with the soft-point’s alloy lead core chemically bonded to its copper jacket ensuring it doesn’t break up once it reaches its target. At the same time, it has an excellent expansion profile, consistently and massively mushrooming. This combination creates a single devastating wound channel, thus increases the chances of neutralizing a threat.

Speer Gold Dog Rifle 1

In all, there are five Speer Gold Dot Rifle loads:

  • 55-grain .223 Remington: Muzzle Velocity 3,600 fps, BC .251
  • 62-grain .223 Remington: Muzzle Velocity 2,750 fps, BC .310
  • 75-grain .223 Remington: Muzzle Velocity 2,775 fps, BC .400
  • 150-grain .300 Blackout: Muzzle Velocity 1,900 fps, BC .330
  • 150-grain .308 Winchester: Muzzle Velocity 2,820 fps, BC .414

The other notable, Speer has opted for a nickel-coated case for Gold Dot Rifle. No big surprise. Common to the Gold Dot family, the more lustrous metal generally is considered smoother feeding and makes it easier to check the status of a gun. As to cost, a box of 20 runs between $25.99 and $30.99, depending on caliber and bullet weight.

More From Speer:

LEWISTON, Idaho –– Speer Gold Dot Handgun ammunition’s reliability has made it the No. 1 choice for law enforcement. Now Speer is offering the same performance for self-defense rifle applications. New Gold Dot Rifle ammunition is engineered to provide industry-leading performance in FBI protocol testing through barrels less than 16 inches long. Shipments of this new product have begun to arrive at dealers.

Speer Gold Dog Rifle 3

The bullets loaded in the new Gold Dot Rifle ammunition line are built using Speer’s exclusive Uni-Cor method. The jacket is bonded to the core one atom at a time, virtually eliminating core-jacket separation and creating a projectile that’s accurate, tough and consistent through all common barriers.

Features & Benefits
-New self-defense rifle loads optimized for peak FBI protocol performance through barrels shorter than 16 inches
-75-grain 223 Rem. recommended for 1-in-9-inch barrel twist or faster
-55-grain 223 Rem. option offers reduced penetration for less risk to bystanders
-Consistent penetration and expansion through common barriers
-Extremely uniform jacket maximizes accuracy
-Gold Dot technology virtually eliminates core-jacket separation
-Nickel-plated brass
-Reliable, sensitive primers

For more information on Gold Dot Rifle ammunition, please visit speer.com

Load Up On More Defense Ammo:

Buffalo Bore Ammo: Strictly Big Bore, Strictly Business

By
Max Prasac
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0

Deadly serious shooting requires deadly serious ammunition. Buffalo Bore fits the bill perfectly, dusting its competition in every possible way.

How Buffalo Bore Ammunition Goes A Step Beyond:

  • Company legitimized the .475 and .500 Linebaughs with first factory loads.
  • Best known for big-bore calibers, ammo maker catalog starts at .223 Rem and goes up from there.
  • Hardcast lead bullets are the manufactures bread and butter, but they offer a full array of monometal bullets.
  • Extensively tested, the ammo often times they help shooter home in on the correct load for their gun.

Tim Sundles of Salmon, Idaho, is the proprietor of Buffalo Bore Ammunition. An enthusiastic hunter and real outdoorsman, Tim has the distinction of bringing the fabulous .475 and .500 Linebaughs to legitimacy with the very first factory ammunition ever offered and turned a hobby into his life pursuit, as well as a thriving business based on high-quality products.

It didn’t start out that way, because he was a contractor in northern California before making the move to the ammunition manufacturing industry. Tim credits Ross Seyfried with the patience and willingness to impart to him the finer points in load development, both in theory and practical application. And when he starts getting impatient, Tim is quick to remember the graciousness of Seyfried.

Pre-Buffalo Bore Background

Tim started out in 1983 with the release of the FA 83 in .454 Casull. He immediately bought six of them and began experimenting with a variety of loads.

Prior to the release of the FA 83, Tim had been playing with heavy .44 Magnum and .45 Colt loads. He got to know John Linebaugh and was introduced to the .500 Linebaugh. In those days, brass and bullets were hard to come by, but Tim commissioned John to build him a number of .475 and .500 Linebaugh revolvers. Tim performed a lot of load development for these cartridges, and John kept sending his customers to Tim to load ammunition for them.

The handwriting was on the wall: One day, John asked Tim to go into the business of manufacturing specialty ammunition—particularly for John’s signature cartridges, the .475 and .500 Linebaughs. Tim contacted Starline to make brass and, in 1997, he opened the doors of Buffalo Bore Ammunition.

GO BIG!:

Tim started out by making .475 and .500 Linebaugh ammunition, but soon, he added the popular .44 Magnum, .45 Colt and .454 Casull. Eventually, he contacted Bob Baker of Freedom Arms and pestered him to build a revolver in .475 Linebaugh. By the time Freedom Arms offered the Model 83 in .475, Buffalo Bore had ammo on its shelves, ready to supply the masses of “masochists.”

A Herd of Ammo Choices

Tim also quickly moved into the realm of the rifle and offers variety with each caliber category in the form of various bullet choices. These meet every need—from punching paper, shooting steel and hunting everything from woodchucks to elephant (and everything else in between that walks, crawls or slithers).

The Buffalo Bore lineup includes calibers from .223 Rem. all the way up to .50 Alaskan, but the brand is best known for building top-notch big-bore hunting ammo.
The Buffalo Bore lineup includes calibers from .223 Rem. all the way up to .50 Alaskan, but the brand is best known for building top-notch big-bore hunting ammo.

The impressive Buffalo Bore lineup starts at .223 and covers some less-likely calibers, such as .348 Winchester and .35 Whelen, all the way up to .50 Alaskan. Tim even has you lead-free California types covered with a wide range of Barnes monometal loads.

A forward thinker, Tim offers a number of differing lines of ammunition for various purposes. He went a step further than most ammo manufacturers by creating ammunition lines to help consumers home in on the correct load for his/her application.

Taking the guesswork out of your choice is a welcome attribute for purpose-built ammunition, such as the aforementioned “lead-free” line of California legal hunting ammunition that features copper Barnes bullets.

Tim also set about creating pistol loads that could turn the average personal-defense pistol into a credible bear-defense weapon.

“So many people have one pistol for street carry or home defense. We wanted them to have a viable outdoor load when they go camping, hiking or fishing,” Tim explained.

Well aware of the positive attributes offered by flat-nosed, hardcast bullets in bigger calibers on large game, he created a line of ammunition dubbed “Outdoorsman” in 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .40 S&W, 10mm and .45 ACP. These feature a heavy-for-caliber, hardcast, flat-nosed bullet for uncompromising straight-line penetration.

The newest line of ammunition from Buffalo Bore is the Dangerous Game (DG) line, which focuses on big-game revolver calibers. Featuring Lehigh Defense-sourced copper flat-nosed, solid bullets, The DG line guarantees unequaled penetrative potential and is impervious to heavy bones. The .45/70 Government is included in this impressive lineup.

Buffalo Bore Ammo 5
Buffalo Bore ammunition is never far from the conversation when hunters discuss dangerous game, where a hunting bullet can very quickly become the last line of defense.

Tim was candid when we spoke: “If your main concern is price, we’re not your company, but if performance is your greatest concern, look no further than Buffalo Bore.” Indeed, Mr. Sundles.

Today, Buffalo Bore offers quality ammunition in roughly 70 or so calibers and more than 250 different loads.

The Dangerous-Game Line of Handgun Ammunition

For hunters seeking the ultimate terminal performance on game, the choices are many. For those thrill-seekers wishing to pit their mettle against dangerous game, the choices are more narrowly represented, with prices to typically match their exclusivity. And the field narrows to a sliver for the handgun hunter seeking the ultimate test against animals that are labeled “dangerous” out of a propensity to inflict damage upon those brave (or mentally challenged) enough to throw their hat into this dicey ring, where the battle isn’t concluded by a draw but by the drawing of a last breath.

JRH Wild Bovine Testing

With that in mind, a group of handgun hunters (yours truly included) began gathering at Action Outdoor Adventures, a hunting preserve in Hondo, Texas, with the sole purpose of testing handgun loads, calibers and bullets on wild bovine flesh.

I have tested bullet performance in a number of “accepted” media, knowing full well that nothing makes up for real flesh and blood (and don’t forget bone) when testing the terminal effectiveness of a given load.

Taking it a step further: Testing bullet performance in live, 1,000-pound-plus wild bovines, with their correspondingly heavy frames and musculature (and often bad attitudes, as I have found out on numerous occasions), is the finest and most definitive testing available. Of course, this comes with a price that is significantly higher than, well, wet newsprint testing (but it’s all in the name of science).

This modest first gathering, officially dubbed the “JRH Holiday Bovine Bash” (in honor of the man who first cooked it up—master gunsmith and handgun hunter Jack Huntington), has evolved into a week-long, hard-core test that results in mountains of usable data on terminal bullet performance out of revolvers.

The “Love Child” Bullet

With that in mind, I approached Tim Sundles roughly two years ago about creating a line of dangerous-game ammunition utilizing a monolithic solid bullet. In our extensive (and expensive) bovine flesh-testing, we have found that the preferred hardcast bullet has limitations based on material capability: It cannot be overdriven, because the nose shape will be compromised and, in some cases, bone impact will do the same, thus impeding straight-line penetration and damage.

Got a large-frame wheelgun that requires a very special diet? The Buffalo Bore menu has lots of options.
Got a large-frame wheelgun that requires a very special diet? The Buffalo Bore menu has lots of options.

The solution is a bullet of the same type (with respect to nose profile) that is made from a material impervious to high-impact velocities. At the time of my proposition, there were scant few options available on the monolithic solid front that were not cost prohibitive.

Once I got wind of Lehigh Defense’s flat-nosed, copper handgun bullets—which were priced at a reasonable level, considering the precision quality of the products—I revisited this tiring conversation with Tim.

He responded in the positive, and the connection was made between Buffalo Bore and Lehigh Defense. In a matter of months, the resulting “love child” consists of nine different calibers: .44 Magnum, .45 Colt +P, .454 Casull, .460 S&W Magnum, .480 Ruger, .475 Linebaugh, .500 JRH, .500 S&W Magnum and the ubiquitous .45/70 Government, giving lever-action fans a direct path to Africa’s Big 5.

These bullets cost a little more but are a pittance, compared to the misfortune of watching a five-figure trophy fee disappear into the brush, never to be seen again—all because you wanted to save a few pennies on bargain-basement bullets.

There are many areas in which you can save a few dollars here and there, but your ammunition isn’t one of them. Spare yourself the headache and heartache.

For more information on Buffalo Bore, please visit buffalobore.com.

The article originally appeared in the December 2019 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Springfield Armory M1A: The M14 Soldiers On

By
Elwood Shelton
-
5
Springfield Armory M1A National Match ... still a favorite among those going the distance.
Springfield Armory M1A National Match … still a favorite among those going the distance.

While the short service life of the M14 should have made it a military footnote, the design remains as popular as ever thanks in part to the Springfield Armory M1A.

What Are The Current M1A Variations:

  • M1A Standard Issue
  • M1A National Match
  • M1A Super Match
  • M1A Loaded
  • M1A Scout Squad
  • M1A SOCOM

Short service typically doesn’t equate to legendary. The M14 is a decided exception.

Among the briefest runs (1957-1964) as the American military’s main battle rifle, the steel and birch (sometimes walnut) beast has all the makings of a historical footnote. Today, the rifle spurs debate hot enough to cook off a freshly chambered round. Did the M14 get the short end of the stick in as the country’s infantry spear point? Or only was it only there due to politics and nostalgia? When not flaming each other in the comment section of a post, honestly, both sides have valid points to the worthiness of the rifle. No matter what banner you hoist in the fray, there’s no denying the M14 won’t soon be forgotten.

Barbershop-worthy ponderations fuel one part of the rifle’s longevity. Springfield Armory, the other. Cornerstone to the gunmaker’s catalog, its semi-auto rendition of the M14—the equally iconic M1A—keeps the legend alive. And even if you’re a dyed-in-the-wool AR, AK, FAL, G3, or what-have-you man or woman, if you’re honest with yourself, you’d make room in your gun safe for this throwback icon.

A Much Too Small Thumbnail Of The M14

Blood blue as a Boston brahmin, the M14 is a direct descendant of perhaps America’s most cherished battle rifle—the M1 Garand. Which to some extent may have also set it up for bumpy road from the start. When your pop whipped the Germans and Japanese in one fell swoop and has battles such as Normandy, Bastogne, Monte Cassino, Tarawa and Iwo Jima on his resume, it’s fair to say you have a lot to live up to. For the most part, the M14 did a solid job stepping into the Garand’s shoes. Confirmed kills at 500-yard-plus, the M14 was an out-and-out killer in a studied marksman’s hands and as reliable as its predecessor. “Jam proof” is a bridge too far, but overall it could chew through ammo in the nastiest of circumstances. Leave it at that the M14 would have fared well on most counts.

Meant not only to succeed the M1 Garand, but a host of other military firearms, the M14 had a load of expectations heaped on its shoulders.
Meant not only to succeed the M1 Garand, but a host of other military firearms, the M14 had a load of expectations heaped on its shoulders.

Except replacing the “greatest battle implement ever devised” was only the start. The M14 was set up with an almost impossible task: take the reins not only from the Garand, but a host of other proven weapons systems—M2 Carbine, M3 submachine gun and the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), among others. Disparate guns for disparate purposes. One gun to rule them all was only going to lead to disappointment. The M14 did.

First off, to understand why the rifle succeeded and struggled we have to look at exactly what it was. And what it was was an improved M1 Garand. Built around the gas-operated rotating bolt similar, but not a mirror of the Garand’s, the rifle proved extremely reliable. To this, the Ordnance Department added a removable box magazine—a 20-round job that rocked in similarly to an AK—which gave it more capacity, as well as, theoretically, a faster reload time. It also boasted an excellent 22-inch barrel and was chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO, a ballistic twin to the Garand’s .30-06 Springfield, but a more efficient cartridge in a semi-auto/full-auto system. Adding on the same rear aperture sight and buttstock as the M1 meant you knew the M14 if you knew the Garand, and found some much-wanted upgrades along the way.

The flipside, it was large, weighing more than 10 pounds loaded. And more notoriously, it was select-fire. The rub with select-fire, the M14 was about as agreeable as an angry badger, particularly fired from an unsupported position. The 7.62 is a rifle cartridge, not an intermediate rifle cartridge, but a full-fledged, centerfire rifle cartridge fit for taking down any North American game or enemy soldiers and is still favored by many precision shooters. Stopping power abounds, and so does recoil. When flipped over to rat-a-tat-tat and moving some 750 bullets downrange per minute, it proved more than the average soldier could wield to any effect. The first shot, yeah, it was on target. After that, it’s anyone’s guess—usually high and to the right, ineffectively or dangerously so. Perhaps this is why the selector of the M14 takes such conscious effort to dial to full auto.

While its service as the U.S.'s main battle rifle was short, the M14 has played an important specialized role, especially in recent conflicts serving as the fast shooting, accurate tool of designated marksmen.
While its service as the U.S.'s main battle rifle was short, the M14 has played an important specialized role, especially in recent conflicts serving as the fast shooting, accurate tool of designated marksmen.

So yes, it could engage close targets with a high volume of fire—what study after study coming out of World War II said was key and was reinforced in the confines of Vietnam jungles. But with impact to influence a firefight, that’s negligible. Certainly, in this facet, it struggled against the dominant arm of the day—the Soviet AK-47. Plus, .30-caliber isn’t exactly peanuts to spray around the countryside and adds a whole heap of weight to a kit.

So, was that it? Did weight and disagreeableness in full auto kill the M14’s military career? Was 7.62 too expensive to feed a proverbial bullet hose? Did Defense Secretary Robert McNamara hit on to something about wood and steel being the wrong material for a jungle fight? Or did just plain politics (of which there was a lot) lead to the demise of the M14 and the adoption of what would become known as the M16?

Honestly, there’s a book's worth of parsing out in those questions and about a metric ton of other queries. For our purposes, it's fair to say the M14 succeeded in some areas, labored in others, but for the most part, proved a legitimate improvement of the M1 Garand. So much so that it found a second life in the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, where long-range engagements became more common. And it still has civilians pining for it today. In the latter case, Springfield Armory is owed a debt of gratitude.

Born Again As The M1A

When McNamara switched the military’s horses, he did so mid-gallop. All the branches accepted the M16 in 1964 and all M14 purchases were cut off simultaneously, which left a heap of spare parts for the dispossessed rifle. Around a decade later, an enterprising company figured there was money to be made in all those M14 bits and pieces. Springfield Armory (the company) couldn’t have been more correct.

Built from surplus military parts, the orginal M1A Springfield sold was a dead ringer for an M14, save the select fire.
Built from surplus military parts, the original M1A Springfield sold was a dead ringer for an M14, save the select fire. Photo: Rock Island Auction Company

The Springfield M1A tapped into the lore of the M14, a rifle, once accurized, that was up to snuff of the original National Match iterations of days gone by. Of course, Federal firearms regulations being what they were and are, the accurate irons underwent one major modification—they are semi-automatic, so not true-to-life M14 clones. That said, there’s not much separating the M1A and M14—one fairly inconspicuous lug in the receiver. So, as real McCoy’s go, Springfield Armory the company was right on target with their rifle.

Much of this was a function of using USGI surplus to build the rifle, but as that stock has dried up the company has had to procure or make their own parts. Yes, the receivers are investment cast, not drop forged like original milsurp builds. Aside from that, the M1A is a spitting image of the M14, which in the hands of a knowledgeable shooter is more than evident downrange. It’s little surprise that the M1A is still a staple at high-power rifle matches, found occasionally on the hunt and is the rifle of choice for the Appleseed Project. Love it or hate it, the rifle performs. And it’s evolved.

The Many M1A Options

The firearms market being what it is, if you aren’t innovating you’re most likely falling behind. In turn, Springfield has progressed the M1A over years matching and sometimes anticipating shooters’ tastes. All the while, they have remained true to the foundation of the modified M14 design, particularly the pillars of accuracy and reliability.

M1A Standard Issue
M1A M14 Standard 2

A faithful reproduction of the M14, the M1A standard is the semi-auto rendition Springfield has marketed since 1974. Originally composed of surplus parts, the .308 Win. is now an in-house build, but still right on target with a 22-inch barrel, long birdcage flash suppressor, adjustable rear aperture sight and National Match front sight. You can stay old school with a walnut stock or choose a little more element-friendly composite.

M1A National Match

Springfield Armory M1A National Match ... still a favorite among those going the distance.
Springfield Armory M1A National Match … still a favorite among those going the distance.

Match shooters rejoiced when this model came out, loaded up with everything to gun for gold. Competitive upgrades include medium weight match barrel, glass bedded stock, tuned two-stage trigger and .595-inch micro-adjustable hooded aperture rear sight (1/2 MOA per click). Chambered strictly in .308 Win., the rifle is available with a 22-inch carbon steel or stainless steel barrel.

M1A Super Match
M1A M14 Super Match

Essentially a National Match with one weighty upgrade—a 22-inch Douglas Heavy Match barrel, carbon or stainless steel. The .308 Win.’s six-groove, 1:10 twist bore is push-button rifled, a process only second to cut rifling for uniformity. In addition to barrel material, you can choose between a glass-bedded walnut stock or McMillan fiberglass stock.

M1A Loaded
M1A M14 Loaded

Configured for long-range work, the M1A Loaded offers much of the same accuracy potential as the National Match at a bit more affordable price point. There are also some interesting options in the series, including both .308 Win. and 6.5 Creedmoor chamberings, and fully-adjustable precision stock. Of course, if you want, walnut is still available.

M1A Scout Squad
M1A M14 Scout

Perhaps not a by-the-book rendition of Col. Jeff Cooper’s scout-rifle concept, the M1A Scout Squad is nonetheless an interesting twist. In addition to trim dimensions, thanks in part to its 18-inch barrel, the .308 has a Picatinny rail to forward mount a scope. Additionally, it’s available with a wood or black composite stock.

M1A SOCOM
M1A M14 SOCOM

Perhaps the most radical break from the traditional M14 design, the SOCOM makes the “gravel belly” system fit for close quarters. The most abbreviated M1A in the line, the carbine has a terse 16.25-inch barrel, kept short by a radical redesigned break that keeps the .308’s recoil manageable without increasing its footprint. It also comes in some interesting configurations, including an adjustable buttstock model with AK-style grip. More recently, the “Tanker” SOCOM hit the scene, a take on concept Garands of World War II.

Parting Shot

Arguments over whether the M14, therefore the M1A, deserves the title of an all-time great rifle won’t subside anytime soon. It’s a Rorschach test of sorts. Some view it as an overpriced relic, while others see the last great fighting implement. In any case, the rifle certainly improves on an already proven system. It will pick fleas at 500 paces in the right hands, and it’s demonstrated it was battle-worthy 40-years after it was written off. It’s a mixed legacy to be sure, but one any true shooter should make room for in their collection.

For more information on the M1A, please visit springfield-armory.com

More On Springfield Armory:

Classic Guns: Remington Model 760 Series And Other Pump-Actions

By
Jerry Lee
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2

The Remington Model 760 was exceptionally accurate and fast shooting, but was far from the first pump-action gem “Big Green” turned out.

What Are The Advantages Of The Pump-Action Rifle:

  • Among the fastest manually operated actions.
  • Inherently, the pump is ambidextrous.
  • The rifle can use loads semi-autos would fail to cycle.
  • Certain designs have proven exceptionally accurate.

The slide-action, or pump, firearm has often been described as uniquely American. While the first patent for the design was issued in the 1850s in England, pump guns—both shotguns and rifles—never really caught on in the United Kingdom or Europe. Many shooters “across the pond” look upon them with disdain, as do some in the United States. Yet, others swear by them.

The pump has many advantages: It’s the fastest and easiest to use of the manually operated actions; it’s ambidextrous (although empty cases are ejected into the lefty shooter’s field of view); and the operation gives the pump the ability to use ammo loads of varying power that a semi-auto would fail to cycle.

Slide-action fans have been compared to drivers who prefer a stick shift transmission. Some people just prefer a hands-on relationship with things. There are hunters who have nothing but slide-action shotguns, rimfires and centerfire rifles in their gun safes. If you like a pump, you like a pump.

Pump-Action Shotgun's Backstory

Remington has a long history with slide-actions. What was called the Remington Repeating Shotgun was introduced in 1908. Two years later, it was renamed the Model 10.

Remington pump shotgun designs evolved through the first half of the century. Several popular models were offered: the Model 17, 29 and the 31. Then, in 1950, the great Model 870 was announced. It is still in production, with more than 11 million sold, making it the most manufactured shotgun in firearms history.

This Model 760 Gamemaster is a .30-06 manufactured in 1956.
This Model 760 Gamemaster is a .30-06 manufactured in 1956. Photo: GunsAmerica.com

Slide-action rifles became a part of Remington’s legacy in 1909 with the introduction of the Model 12 .22 rimfire. It evolved into the 121 in the 1930s and was replaced in the ‘50s by the 572, which is still in production today.

Remington Centerfire Pump-Actions

The focus of this month’s column is the Remington centerfire slide-action family of firearms.

More Gun Collecting Info:

Big Green’s history with this category of rifles goes back to the Model 14. It was introduced in 1912 and was chambered for three Remington rounds: the .25 Rem., .30 Rem. and .32 Rem.—all rimless versions of the .25-35, .30-30 and .32 Win. Special.

A variant, the 14½, was added in 1913 and was offered in the popular .38-40 and .44-40 Winchester calibers. The Model 14 and 14½ were in production until 1935, when they were replaced by the Model 141, which was made until 1950. The 141 was chambered for the same cartridges as the Model 14—.25 Rem., .30 Rem. and .32 Rem.—as well as the .35 Remington.

Another early Remington slide-action centerfire was the Model 25, in production from 1923 to 1936. It was offered in .25-20 and .32-20, two very popular small-game cartridges of the day.

In April 1952, Remington introduced the first slide-action rifle that was chambered for popular big-game cartridges such as the .30-06, .270 Win. and .300 Savage. This was the Model 760 Gamemaster. Other original chamberings included the .222 Rem., .244 Rem., .257 Roberts, .280 Rem., .35 Rem. and later, the .243, 6mm Rem. and .308 Winchester.

The Model 760 was replaced in 1981 by the similar, but upgraded, Model 7600. It’s still in production today.
The Model 760 was replaced in 1981 by the similar, but upgraded, Model 7600. It’s still in production today.

The Model 760 introduced several improvements over the 141, including dual-action bars and a detachable magazine that allowed the use of spitzer bullets. The standard model came with a 22-inch barrel, but there was also a carbine version with an 18½-inch barrel.

The slide-action Model 760 was an accurate rifle and was able to keep up with the famous bolt-action target guns. In 1961, a U.S. shooter won the double-shot aggregate at the World Championship in Oslo, Norway, with a 760, and another took second place in the single-shot World Championship in Cairo, Egypt. 1

The Model 760 remained in production until 1981, when it was replaced by the Model 7600. Over its 28-year run, 1,034,462 Model 760 Gamemasters were manufactured. This included several Deluxe and High Grade models, such as Remington’s Peerless and Premier grades, which featured extensive engraving. 2

Some of the rarer calibers are worth a considerable premium over standard chamberings.

FOOTNOTES
1: Pa Was a Pump Gun Man, 62nd Edition, Gerald Peterson, Gun Digest, 2008
2: The History of Remington Firearms, Roy Marcot, Chartwell Books, 2011

For more information on Remington pump-action guns, please visit remington.com.

The article originally appeared in the October 2019 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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