VooDoo Innovations dives into complete rifles with the economical Witch Doctor and Dark Moon carbines.
Build your own AR or had to replace a part, most likely you’re familiar with VooDoo Innovations. A subsidiary of gunmaker Adams Arms, the brand has become best known for its aftermarket pistol barrels, pistol slides and top-shelf AR parts. Now, the company is endeavoring into new territory—guns proper.
Ominously named, the Witch Doctor and Dark Moon are priced not to scare even the thriftiest shooter away. In fact, with $750 MSRPs on both accounts, the carbines most certainly fit the definition of entry-level options accessible to the vast majority of the shooting world. At the same tick, the M4 pattern guns aren’t the stripped-down shooters many expect at this price point, offering a lot of bang for the buck.
“VooDoo Innovations grew out of a desire to improve upon existing platforms,” said VooDoo Innovations Vice President of Sales and Marketing Michael Halleron. “Having a history of manufacturing parts, we decided it is time to go back to the source and begin making firearms based on our knowledge of what it takes to deliver guns people want. This way we can ensure they run the way we expect, off the shelf, and at a price that makes sense. The Witch Doctor and The Dark Moon do just that.”
VooDoo Innovation Dark Moon
When it comes to desirable assets, VooDoo Innovations opting for free-float aluminum handguards is probably at the head of the line. Polymer drop-in types are common on budget ARs, and while more than functional don’t exactly milk the most out of the platform. On both counts, the VooDoo Innovations handguards have plenty of M-Lok real estate with slots at the 3-, 6- and 9-o’clock positions, though the models differ in how much Picatinny rail they offer up top. The Dark Moon is the full-rail model with a bit more flexibility for mounting optics, while the Witch Doctor has an ergonomic rail that facilitates a comfortable and controllable forward grip. From there, the 5.56 NATO carbines get awful similar.
The features the guns share include a 16-inch M4 barrel (1:7 twist), mil-spec trigger, M4 6-position buttstock, A2 flash hider. Additionally, the carbines are both built around forged aircraft-grade aluminum receivers and tip the scales at around 6 pounds. Pretty standard fare. Still and all, both VooDoo Innovation carbines are good-looking and if they perform most certainly present shooters with a solid value.
For more information on the VooDoo Innovation carbines, please visit voodooinnovations.com.
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Precision reloading is a process in which the results are directly proportional to the efforts you put in. If you’re careful in the preparation of your cases, taking as many precautions as possible to keep things uniform, you will—or, at least you should—see the benefits on the target.
I look at it as if it were a cooking recipe: If you start with poor ingredients, even the best technique in the kitchen won’t save your dish. Likewise, if you’re trying to cook over an open fire when the dish calls for a specific controlled temperature, odds are, it just won’t come out right.
Case Prep
As reloaders, the preparation of our cases is where we have the most control. Our projectiles can be sorted (according to weight, length of base to ogive, etc.), and our brand and type of both primer and powder can be experimented with. No; we can’t control their performance; we can only work around what they deliver. The cases, however, although they come in a particular shape, can be modified or trued to give the most uniform results.
Quite obviously, starting with the best cases you can will be the most advantageous, but no matter what you start with, steps can be taken to make it the best possible.
The author’s 6.5-284 Norma ammo is carefully assembled around the 140-grain Hornady ELD Match bullet.
If you’re using fired brass, a good visual inspection should be the first step in the process. If there are any signs of excessive stretching, any cracks in the case or even excessive corrosion, I would send that case to the Great Rifle Range in the Sky, first crushing it flat with a pair of pliers to make sure it won’t be used again.
If the brass is new—no matter the brand or reputation—I give it the same type of inspection. I’ve found cases of another caliber mixed in, cases with the flash hole drastically off-center or without a flash hole altogether, cases with rims bent beyond hope and so on.
If it’s fired brass, I use a universal decapping die to remove the spent primer and then begin the cleaning process. I use a combination of an ultrasonic cleaner to get out all the gunk and residue, along with a tumbler with some sort of media to polish the case after I’ve cleaned it.
Resizing Die
The resizing die is the next step; and if you want to get serious about things, you might want to measure the shoulder dimension of your fired cases against the SAAMI specification.
Bushing dies will help extend brass life, as well as reduce brass flexure. This can aid in uniform neck tension.
A must for precision reloading, a Redding Instant Indicator—with the SAAMI dummy for your chosen cartridge—will quickly and easily tell you where your chamber dimensions are in comparison to the specs and by adjusting the amount of shoulder bump through the use of Redding’s Competition Shellholders. You’ll then have a case with a shoulder-to-base dimension that matches your particular chamber; yet, it will have a diameter that complies with the SAAMI specification, allowing for easy feeding (unlike the hard bolt-close associated with neck-sized cases). This little trick has made some undeniable improvements in accuracy in more than a few rifles. If you find that your chamber has a variation of more than 0.002 inch from the SAAMI spec, I’d suggest looking into this technique for your precision rifle.
Bushing Die
Should you want to maximize your brass life, a bushing die can be used for resizing so that the case neck will be worked as little as possible. Measure the diameter of a few loaded cases, take an average of that dimension, and use the correlative bushing in the resizing die. Instead of shrinking the case neck and mouth to a dimension too much just to have the brass worked over the expander ball, the bushing dies only reduce the case diameter enough to give good neck tension. You’ll see longer case life and fewer cracked necks over time.
Trimming cases to length is important because it aids in uniformity of neck tension and gives a good, square case mouth. The trimming process will leave burrs on both the inside and outside of the case mouth, so they’ll need to be removed for both ease of feeding (on the outside of the case mouth), as well as for smooth bullet seating (on the inside of the case mouth).
The Redding Model 15P chamfer tool uses the flash hole to put a concentric chamfer on your cases … just one little step toward the most uniform cases you can have.
If you want to get geeky with a specialized precision reloading tool, a precision chamfer tool will put a uniform chamfer on the inside of your case mouth. Redding makes a cool one—the Model 15P, which uses the flash hole as a pilot hole, making the chamfer as square to the centerline of the case as the flash hole is centered in the primer pocket.
Out Of Your Control
Although it might seem at this point that you’ve taken nearly every step and precaution to have the most uniform cartridge cases possible, there are some problems you can’t solve.
If your primer pockets are too small, you can use a reamer to bring them to the proper dimension. However, if you’re shooting a high-pressure load, you might find that the primers seat much too easily. What has happened is that the primer pocket has stretched. I know no remedy for this situation, and the case should be destroyed.
Neck wall thickness is another dimension completely out of your control. Sorting your cases by neck uniformity is a great idea, because the most uniform case necks will give the best concentricity, which usually equals the best accuracy. Large variations in case neck thickness are irreparable, and those cases showing neck thickness variations of more than .0015 inch should be set aside and not used for precision reloading projects.
The author’s Savage Model 116, along with well-tuned handloads, gives excellent results on the range.
Grab a Redding Case Neck Gauge, and you’ll quickly and easily be able to see exactly what’s going on with your brass. Because this gauge uses a large indicator dial, an appropriately sized mandrel and a caliber-specific pilot stop, it’s a simple and effective tool. Place the resized and expanded case on the pilot stop, which will push the alignment pin through the flash hole, and the set probe of the dial to touch the center of the case neck. Set the dial to zero and rotate the case 90 degrees at a time, observing the measurements carefully and setting aside any out-of-spec cases.
Just as if you had bullets that weren’t the proper diameter, a case with a neck thickness of improper consistency will certainly not be centered in the case. Therefore, it won’t be aligned with the rifle’s bore. If you’re starting with components that are out of alignment, you can easily see how it would be nearly impossible to come out of the reloading process with precise ammunition.
Take the time and make the effort in preparing your cases, and you’ll be much happier when you walk downrange and examine your targets.
A talk on straight-wall cartridges is, for the most part, a regional discussion. Not that it hurts to have a rifle chambered for one in your arsenal if you live big county out West. It’s an interesting and unique addition and most are mighty fun to shoot. But for overall practicality, straight-wall cartridges are a topic for the good folks around the Great Lakes region.
In the past decade, state wildlife management agencies in the region have opened what were once shotgun-only deer grounds to rifles chambered for straight-wall cartridges. Ever perceptive, the market has responded by expanding this somewhat forgotten corner of the firearms world. Perhaps the most notable in recent years has been the .350 Legend. Plenty of fanfare and spilled ink has greeted the latest and greatest do-all deer medicine. But does it deserve the attention?
One sure way to cut through some of the tall grass is measure it against an established cartridge that’s already proven its worth. And when it comes to straight-wall Midwestern deer options that would be the .450 Bushmaster. A behemoth by any standard, the large-bore rifle cartridge has been the go-to for many if not most hunters around the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Erie up to this point.
So when it comes to the .350 Legend vs .450 Bushmaster, is there any discernable advantage of hunting one or the other?
Matching Them Up
Since the topic is hunting, we’ve selected two respected hunting rounds in common weights for calibers and with similar style bullets to side-by-side the cartridges. In the .450 Bushmaster’s corner is Hornady’s 250-grain FTX load, which has a listed muzzle velocity of 2,200 fps, is topped with a flex-tip bullet and has a ballistic coefficient (BC) of .210. For the .350 Legend, the ammo of choice is Winchester’s 150-grain Deer Season XP, with a listed muzzle velocity of 2,325 fps and a BC of .223. The data in both cases are from a 20-inch barrel, which is somewhat common in the field and is the standard test length utilized by most ammunition companies.
.350 Legend vs .450 Bushmaster Ballistics
At reasonable straight-wall cartridge hunting distances, for both velocity and trajectory, there is no real out-and-out winner between .450 Bushmaster vs .350 Legend. Both shed velocity like mad, the Legend losing 29-percent of its muzzle velocity at the 200-yard mark and the Bushmaster 31 percent—1,648 fps and 1,515 fps respectively. Still, the clip each moves at this range is more than adequate to ensure satisfactory penetration, proper bullet expansion (if you are using such a projectile) and an ethical kill.
The .350 Legend Winchester load put to the test.
As far as trajectory, both start to drop excessively at 200 yards, 7.58 inches on a scope zeroed for 100 yards in the .350’s case and 8.96 in the .450’s. Yes, the Legend does tend to shoot a fraction flatter at distance, but not substantially so. In terms of maximum point-blank range, it’s only a 16-yard difference on a 14-inch target (roughly the size of a small deer’s vital zone). Or more plainly speaking, you’d dial a scope on a Bushmaster up .2-inch more than on the Legend when sighting in at 100 yards.
There is a difference between the two, and the edge goes to the .350 Legend, but it doesn’t have such an overwhelming advantage to say it’s hands-down better.
Often overlooked, much to the detriment of the hunter, is how much “kick” they’ll endure from a particular rifle-cartridge combination. Certainly, some pride themselves in how much recoil they can endure. That’s fine and dandy. More power to them. But if you get behind the business end of a gun you dread to drop the hammer on, you’re sandbagging your potential in the field. It won’t matter a lick how far a cartridge can send a bullet and how devastating its terminal ballistics are once at its destination if you develop a flinch and send it anywhere but the vital zone.
As it concerns .350 Legend vs .450 Bushmaster, the smaller-caliber cartridge has a decided advantage.
Utilizing a lighter bullet with a smaller powder charge, it can generally be said it produces less recoil. Absolutely, it depends on what rifle you use—more exactly its weight—as to how many foot-pounds of energy will jolt into your shoulder. But the .450 Bushmaster and .350 Legend are chambered in very similar rifles, some from the same line with minuscule differences. They track closely in weight, thus when chambered Legend tend to be more pleasurable to shoot.
And truly, it is a pleasurable cartridge, very much akin to the .30-30, which by almost anyone’s standard is extremely manageable. Benefits abound with a tamer rifle. Not only does it reduce the possibility of developing a flinch, but it also improves the ability of the average hunter to deliver an accurate follow-up shot. That said, the Bushmaster—while stout—isn’t the North American version of the .500 Nitro Express. Shoot it enough and know what to expect and it shouldn’t prove prohibitive, except to the most recoil shy.
.350 Legend vs .450 Bushmaster Rifles
Again, there isn’t a bright clear advantage when it comes to rifles chambered for cartridges. Much of this is attributable to the Legend and Bushmaster competing for the same hunters. Why wouldn’t they be in similar rifles?
Ruger Ranch Rifle in .450 Bushmaster
It goes so far as, previously mentioned, manufacturers offering the same model rifle in both .450 Bushmaster and .350 Legend. For instance, Ruger chambers its American Ranch rifle for both cartridges, with few differences between the two.
If there is an apparent divide in .450 Bushmaster vs .350 Legend rifles it’s muzzle devices and barrel contour. By and large, .450 Bushmaster rifles are outfitted with medium to heavy contour barrels, a function of its large bore. Additionally, but not across the board, many are factory outfitted with muzzle brakes to help mitigate some of the angry mule in the cartridge-rifle combination.
On the other hand, the Legend is available with thinner sporter contour barrels. And, outside a flash hider on an AR, don’t usually come with a muzzle device standard.
.450 Bushmaster Vs .350 Legend Cost
Rubber meet road, because if there is anyone point in .450 Bushmaster vs .350 Legend battle where one wins out, it’s here.
For all the .450 Bushmaster’s assets, economic shooting isn’t one of them. On average, factory loaded ammo for the beast rings up north of $1 per trigger pull, which in a word is spendy. The .350 Legend is a blue-light special (if you remember that analogy) in comparison. Year-round, you can find ammo at less than 50₵ per round, which isn’t 5.56 NATO cheap, but is thrifty.
One other advantage of the .350 Legend not mentioned in the text, greater magazine capacity.
The only way to get near that with a Bushy is to load your own ammo. Now I won’t dissuade anyone from getting involved with reloading ammunition. It’s great skill and potentially one of the best hobbies you’ll ever pick up. But in all honesty, it isn’t for everyone—be it due to tight quarters or time constraints. Therefore, some might be stuck with the full Bushmaster tab.
Parting Shot
When it comes to .450 Bushmaster vs .350 Legend, is there a clear winner? If your pocketbook is tight or you don’t appreciate your shoulder getting thumped, then I suppose there is. The .350 Legend takes it easier on each by a fairly wide margin.
On the other hand, performance-wise, the dividing line is thin enough so it's difficult to tip fence-sitters one way or another. That’s alright. The hunting world is big enough for both the .450 Bushmaster and .350 Legend, and either will put meat on the table. In the end that’s what counts.
Lighting up your aiming solution with a laser sight isn't a gimmick, it's plum revolutionary.
So, here’s the problem: You’re violently accosted by a goblin with murderous intent. Maybe he has a club, a knife, a gun or tire tool. It really doesn’t matter—regardless of the goblin’s chosen weapon, his plan is to use it on you. He’s only about 30 feet away, and you have mere seconds or less to react. What are your options? The liberal left would suggest you put your hands up and beg. Those of us who understand that our safety is our own responsibility will fight back.
Now, the bad guy is even closer. You clear your cover garment and draw your handgun, and it’s time to properly execute the most difficult element of shooting to save your life: You have to shift your focus from the thing you’re most afraid of to that very small front sight on your pistol. Then, you have to place the front sight on the stopping spot, position it in the rear sight notch and press the trigger … without altering sight alignment.
Yes; it’s just as hard to do as it sounds!
Most of us struggle to complete that exercise in fewer than three seconds when we are not about to piss our pants. Logic dictates that the best solution would be to make the shot without having to shift our visual focus. Some folks call that “point shooting,” and while point shooting can work at extremely close range, it was largely abandoned—because point shooting is very accurately named. There’s a reason it’s called point shooting and not point hitting.
What if we could very swiftly and accurately use a handgun to place a shot into the stopping spot on a bad guy and never have to take our eyes or focus off that bad guy? Wouldn’t that be a magically wonderful and effective way to address the situation? Of course it would. If you believe otherwise, you’re either as high as my grocery bill (I have three kids), or you’ve forgotten where you put your tinfoil hat.
Laser Sight: Crutch Or Essential?
This is why a laser on a defensive handgun is a good idea. It allows you to maintain a target focus. In other words, you can keep your eyes on what you’re shooting at. What a novel concept! Don’t you realize this is the exact reason a scoped rifle is so much easier to shoot accurately? The riflescope puts the sight (the reticle) and the target into the same focal plane.
A critical aspect of utilizing a laser sight on a defensive handgun is that it must be zeroed correctly. The dot should appear on the target directly above the front sight at about 10 yards.
I continue to be flabbergasted by the number of shooters who claim a laser is just a crutch or gimmick.
OK; let’s think about this logically. I can point my handgun at a bad guy, and a little red or green dot will appear on his torso. I can then move the handgun so that this highly visible dot is in the exact spot I want to place the bullet. I can then pull the trigger, and … guess what? The bullet will land in the exact place the little bright dot was pointing. I don’t know about you, but this is not only logical, it’s a revolutionary way to hit things with handguns.
Why are some so critical of laser sights? Well, there are several reasons.
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The first is that early handgun lasers were ridiculous contraptions that were very unreliable. That was late in the last century. Crimson Trace solved those problems more than 20 years ago.
Another reason is that some believe the laser will fail when you need it most. This is largely due to a mistrust of technology and electricity. Um, electricity is pretty damned reliable; after all, you trust it every day when you drive your car or ride in an airplane. And, if you’re worried about battery failure, check the damned thing on a daily basis. (For what it’s worth, Crimson Trace offers batteries for life when you buy one of its lasers.)
It’s the little compact handguns such as these that are popular for concealed carry. They become easier to shoot accurately with a laser sight.
Maybe the most common reason for distrust of lasers is that some people think when you go to stop that bad guy and his knife and don’t see your laser on target, you’ll melt into a pile of indecision and ultimately be carved up into little slices of gruesomeness.
Countering Laser Sight Arguments
There are three very simple and practical counters to this argument. The first is training.
No matter the handgun, rifle or shotgun you plan to defend your life with, if you’re not training with it, you’re a fool—or so bleeping lazy that self-preservation is probably not a serious concern of yours in the first place. Frequent practice with a laser-sight-equipped handgun will not only speed up your engagement times, it will also help you learn and develop the ability to point your handgun at the right spot almost instinctively.
The second solution is to zero your laser sight correctly. Although there are several schools of thought regarding how this should be done, for a defensive handgun, there is really only one correct answer: The laser should appear just above the front sight at realistic self-defense engagement distances—something between 5 and 10 yards. When this is done, you’re looking for the laser in the exact spot you should always be looking—at the front sight.
The third aspect is that when you present your pistol to the target, you always draw to the front sight. What I mean by this is that your default should be to look for the sight as your handgun is pressed toward the target. However, more than likely, you’ll see the laser on the target way before you have a chance to see the front sight. If for some reason (dead batteries, broken laser, failure to activate due a bad grip) you don’t see the laser where it’s supposed to be, guess what? The front sight will be there. A laser sight on a defensive handgun is a redundant sight system, just like the combination of a red-dot and open sights is on an AR.
Without question, you can shoot more accurately and faster with an instinctively activated laser sight. Yes, there’s a training curve, but improvement comes quickly.
There are plenty of other arguments to support the use of a laser sight on a defensive handgun—most notably, low light. In near darkness, open sights can become invisible. Other reasons are when shooting from unconventional positions, such as across your body; when you’re on the ground; or even on your hands and knees. In those positions, getting the sights in front of your eyes can be very problematic. With a laser sight, it’s unnecessary to get the handgun between your face and the threat/target.
Are you getting the picture? A laser sight on a defensive handgun is, if not a necessity, a damned fine idea.
But, as with everything in life, there’s more to the concept than might be readily apparent. The type of laser sight might be more important than simply having one. In my opinion, the only type of laser sight that should ever be installed on a defensive handgun is one that’s instinctively activated. By that, I mean the laser should come on when you establish a shooting grip on the handgun. If you have to do anything else, if you have to push some additional button or flip some kind of switch, you have the wrong laser. Sure, you could argue that these types of activations are applicable for tactical teams or military units, but we’re talking about regular folk like you and me, not highly trained assault teams.
I’ve been a proponent of instinctively activated lasers on defensive handguns for more than 20 years. I even wrote a book about it: Handgun Training for Personal Protection, How to Choose & Use the Best Sights, Lights, and Lasers (Gun Digest, 2013). And, for more than 20 years, I’ve been using and trusting instinctively activated lasers from Crimson Trace.
Are there other practical options? Probably. I periodically test new laser sight products, but I’ve yet to discover anything that’s as reliable and sensible as what Crimson Trace has to offer.
Top Crimson Trace Handgun Laser Options
Crimson Trace Laser Grips are easy to install. They simply replace the grip panels on your pistol or revolver.
Regardless of the defensive handgun you’ve chosen, there’s a high probability Crimson Trace makes either a set of laser grips or a laser guard for it. I have several handguns I trust to carry for personal protection. With just a few exceptions, they’re all equipped with either Crimson Trace Laser Grips or LaserGuard.
Crimson Trace Laser Grips The genius behind the Crimson Trace Laser Grip is that it doesn’t really seem like an addition to your handgun. You simply remove the grip panels on your handgun and install the laser grips. They have an activation button that’s either on the front strap or back strap of the grip, right where your middle finger or the palm of your hand rests when a proper shooting grip is obtained. This is where the brilliant instinctiveness of the concept is activated: You don’t have to think about it; you just grip the pistol, and the laser comes on.
For revolvers and semi-automatic handguns with grip panels, these laser grips replace the factory stocks. For the more modern polymer-framed pistols such as Glocks, Crimson Trace’s Laser Grip wraps around the grip—high, where the web between your thumb and index finger contacts the pistol. Although most laser grips, regardless of the type, increase the grip size slightly, in most cases, you’ll hardly notice it at all. One of the most appealing facets of Lasers Grips is that they don’t impact holster selection. MSRP: $220–$410.
Crimson Trace LaserGuard The LaserGuard from Crimson Trace is a bit of a different “animal.” The LaserGuard attaches to a pistol’s dust cover forward of the trigger guard and under the barrel. It’s made from a rugged polymer material and sort of sandwiches the forward frame of the pistol. Because a portion of the LaserGuard extends back under the trigger guard, it still offers that instant, instinctive activation when a shooting grip is obtained. The downside of the LaserGuard is that it will require a special holster, because it adds bulk to the pistol. However, it only adds minimal weight: a LaserGuard weighs between 3 and 4 ounces. And, there’s a big plus to the LaserGuard: In addition to the instinctively activated laser sight, it can be had with an instinctively activated white light (Surely, I don’t have to delve into the benefits of a light on a defensive pistol!). MSRP: $250–$330.
For more information on Crimson Trace laser sights, please visit crimsontrace.com.
Among the engraved Ruger Red Label models offered was this limited edition commemorating the 50th anniversary of Sturm, Ruger & Co. in 1999.
No longer in production, the Ruger Red Lable is still considered iconic. And at one time, it made the gunmaker the only outfit manufacturing pistols, rifles and shotguns.
What Made The Ruger Red Label A Unique Over/Under:
First introduced in 20 gauge, a 12 gauge added five years later.
Originally outfitted with fixed chokes, interchangeable tubes becoming an option in 1988 and then standard fare in 1990.
Gun included a single selective trigger, selective automatic ejectors and a checkered American walnut stock.
A pistol grip or English-style straight grip were both available.
A unique feature of the box-lock action was a completely smooth design with no exposed screws or pins.
Sturm, Ruger & Co. is known for creating some of the most popular firearms in American history; some can even be called icons. These would include the Ruger Standard Model .22 pistol, dozens of single- and double-action revolvers, and many rimfire and centerfire rifles, including the ubiquitous 10/22, now in its 55th year of production.
All of this was accomplished by a company that’s still a relative newcomer to an old industry. From a modest beginning in a Connecticut barn 70 years ago, Ruger became the only gun company to manufacture all categories of firearms in the USA: pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns. In 1977, Bill Ruger accomplished his feat of rounding out all the gun categories when the Red Label over/under shotgun was announced. It remained in production until 2011, and after a couple of years, it briefly returned to the catalog in 2014.
The Ruger Red Label, unlike many other over/unders or doubles, was first introduced in 20 gauge, with the 12 gauge added five years later (1982). The sleek, little 28 didn’t come along until 1995 and is rare enough to bring a premium. Fixed chokes in the common patterns of improved/modified, modified/full or skeet/skeet were standard, with interchangeable tubes becoming an option in 1988 and then standard fare in 1990.
Other features included a single selective trigger, selective automatic ejectors and a checkered American walnut stock with either a pistol grip or English-style straight grip. A unique feature of the box-lock action was a completely smooth design with no exposed screws or pins. This served as an ideal background for many engraved models, which were available at extra cost from several master engravers.
The Red Label was introduced with a suggested retail price of $480, which would equal a little more than $2,000 today. Remington’s Model 3200 was the only other quality over/under made in America at the time; it was priced in the $1,000 range.
In R.L. Wilson’s excellent book, Ruger and His Guns (Chartwell Books, 2007), William B. Ruger spoke with pride about his new over/under shotgun and the changes in manufacturing processes:
A single-barrel Ruger Red Label trap model was introduced in 2000. It featured an adjustable buttstock and cheekpiece. Only about 300 were made, making it one of the rarest Ruger firearms.
“We make the finest pair of shotgun barrels that could ever be built. We put the money into the machine instead of in hand labor. All the great, old-time gunsmiths—the men who made the beautiful things—are today building the beautiful equipment to build the beautiful things. Perhaps you could say that, except for engraving, gold inlaying and elegant finish, [by] using machines, you can easily surpass the work of the finest person in terms of truly mechanical movement, the precision of the apparatus. You have to remember—fine watches are not made with files.”
The Red Label was not without its critics. Some shooters complained about the gun’s weight and poor balance with longer barrels. However, depending on personal tastes and shooting style, many liked the design. Even so, by 2010, the price had risen to $1,900, and production had dropped to only 1,323 guns. The time had come for a change, and the original model was discontinued in 2011.
A redesign was already in the works. Ruger addressed some of the criticisms with a new version in 2013. Improvements included a change in the gun’s center of gravity, resulting in enhanced shooting performance and handling in the field. Extended forcing cones and back-bored barrels helped address the recoil issue. The new model had a suggested retail price of $1,399—about $500 less than the version it was replacing, mainly due to streamlined production costs.
In January 2015, the company announced that the Red Label was no more. Increased competition from European gunmakers had reached a point at which Ruger could not meet revenue expectations.
Long on upgrades, Smith & Wesson introduces a gem with the Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ.
What Are The Pistol's Improvements:
Choice of black, silver and gold accents
Ported barrel
Flat-faced, skeletonized trigger
Aftermarket sights
Tuned action
Smith & Wesson, among others, has struck a chord with those who’ve previously found semi-automatic pistols somewhat inaccessible. Focusing on ways to make manipulating the gun easier, in particular the slide, the company M&P Shield EZ variants have opened the style of handgun to a greater swath of the shooting world. Now established, the 9mm model is getting some out and out upgrades.
Recently introduced, the Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ has the look and performance you expect out of a gun from the company’s custom shop. In addition to some eye-catching finishes, the pistol has a number of other notable improvements, including ported barrel, flat-faced skeletonized trigger, aftermarket sights and a tuned action. As to its looks, you can choose from black, silver and gold accents, which certainly give the gun a unique appearance. And really the extras available in the Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ won’t run you much more over the standard models, with an MSRP of $588.
What hasn’t changed is what makes the pistol easy to manipulate. Like its predecessor, much of the magic of the pistol is thanks to Smith & Wesson breaking from market logic. Opting for an internal hammer, as opposed to the dominant striker-fired, the company was able to incorporate lighter springs into the gun. This, in turn, means less resistance from the slide and less force required to manipulate it in an effective and efficient manner.
More from Smith & Wesson:
Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ features easy to rack slide, easy to load magazine and custom upgrades
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Smith & Wesson Inc. today launched the new Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ, chambered in 9mm and featuring a variety of Performance Center upgrades. Building on the popular M&P9 Shield EZ pistol, the new Performance Center models share the same easy-to-use features found across the entire M&P Shield EZ series, and are further enhanced with premium Performance Center features. The Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ pistols are available with striking black, silver, and gold accents, and include a ported barrel, flat face trigger, tuned action, and more.
Tony Miele, Sr. Director, New Products and Performance Center, said, “Performance Center has the ability to design and manufacture specialty upgrades normally found in aftermarket work, straight from the factory. With the popularity of the M&P9 Shield EZ, we set out to develop Performance Center versions with porting, a tuned action, aftermarket sights, and more. These new pistols deliver easy-to-use features with the custom upgrades that our customers expect the Performance Center to deliver.”
Built for personal and home protection, the new Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ pistols are the latest addition to the M&P Shield EZ family and feature an 8+1 round capacity and a 3.8” barrel. The Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ pistol ships with two 8 round magazines that feature a load assist tab for quick, easy loading, as well as a picatinny-style equipment rail to accommodate accessories. The pistol also features an optimal M&P pistol 18-degree grip angle for a natural point of aim, HI-VIZ® Litewave H3™ sights, and a light, crisp trigger.
For more information on the Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ, please visit smith-wesson.com.
Want all the goodies that made the G3 among Taurus' most popular pistol, but in a package fit for concealed carry? Meet the shrunk down G3c.
How The Taurus G3c Is Tailored For Carry:
More compact 3.2-inch barrel
Enhanced 3rd generation trigger
Rugged steel front and rear sights
This one was as inevitable as the earth’s rotation. The moment the full-sized Taurus G3 hit the market it was a sure bet sooner or later the gunmaker would follow up with a compact model more in tune with concealed carry. That moment has come.
The newly released Taurus G3c gets pretty close to being a reboot of the foundation of the G line of striker-fired pistols—the G2. However, the economical personal-defense option isn’t a carbon copy. Taurus included a number of improvements it integrated into the original G3 to create what should prove a very competent 9mm.
Most notable is the inclusion of Taurus’ 3rd generation trigger launched in the full-sized pistol. The rub on the design is it has a flatter face to promote a more linear trigger pull, thus improve its accuracy potential. Other tweaks include front cocking serrations, steel front and rear three-dot sights and enhanced grips, read a more ergonomic palm swell. Outside of that, the G3c is fairly close to the G2 variants, particularly in size and weight. All have 3.2-inch barrels, 1.2-inch width and tip the scales at 22 ounces.
The Taurus G3c comes in at a very affordable price point with an MSRP of $305.54 and ships with three magazines—10- or 12-round, you’re choice. If you need to up your firepower, 15- and 17-round magazines are available separately.
More From Taurus:
Bainbridge, GA – Taurus, manufacturer of premium handguns for defense, hunting, and sport shooting, is excited to introduce the newest addition to its G-series line of semi-auto pistols, the G3c.
The new G3c 9mm imbues the innovation and performance established by the full-size G3 9mm polymer-frame, striker-fired pistol introduced last year while continuing the go-to dependability and value of the popular G2 series compact Taurus 9mm handguns. The G3c is a great choice for first time, as well as seasoned shooters.
Building on the proven foundation that has made the Taurus G-series among the most popular personal defense/EDC pistols ever, the G3c advances function, reliability, and durability to the next level, starting with the ergonomic frame. Featuring a skillfully contoured palm swell, highly textured grip panels, memory pads for precise and repeatable finger/hand placement, as well as a sculpted, extended magazine base plate, the G3c offers a glove-like fit for most shooters' hands to promote accuracy, ease of operation, and firearm retention. To assist in tactical mag changes in the event dust or grit prevents the magazine from dropping freely, the G3c mag extension includes easy-grip bevel cuts.
Among its many ergonomic features, the G3c offers the 3rd generation trigger system found in the G3, carefully redesigned with a flat trigger face to concentrate finger pressure on the front of the shoe for a straighter pull. This feature allows for shorter trigger reset as well, to promote the delivery of quicker follow-up shots while minimizing trigger jerk. The exceptionally crisp trigger break reduces shot disturbance for greater downrange accuracy.
To assist in operation for shooters of all hand sizes, the G3c has an upgraded slide design that includes both front and rear serrations. This ensures a more positive grip while manipulating the slide for charging, clearing, and makes press-checks easier in ill-lit or dim conditions. For normal light conditions, a visual chamber indicator replaces the mechanical indicator, reducing parts and streamlining the slide profile.
Durability also factors strongly in the new G3c pistol. The G3c slide is treated with a Tenifer finish to minimize scuffing and maximize corrosion resistance, ultimately reducing friction for smoother operation.
Front and rear sights on the G3c have also been upgraded to all-steel construction to withstand the rigors of daily carry. The rear sight is drift-adjustable and includes serrations to reduce glare and promote faster sight acquisition. The G3c is also upgrade-compatible. The rear dovetail is cut with dimensions that accept common aftermarket sights.
The G3c comes from the factory in 10- or 12-round capacities with three magazines included. Available separately are 15- and 17-round factory magazines available at Taurus.
Part of the G-series legacy is an impressive performance-to-price ratio, the G3c does not disappoint. With an MSRP of $305.74, the G3c delivers comfort, reliability, and performance on par with or exceeding that of compact pistols costing significantly more.
The “cape,” or deflector, is attached to the cross piece—ready to deflect brass and drop it right at your feet.
So, picking up spent cases is a drag, particularly if your AR kicks them all over hell and high water. Which is what makes Kinetic Energy Tools brass deflector an out-and-out godsend.
How This Brass Deflector Cuts Clean-Up Time:
Attaches to a scope or Picatinny rail.
Deflects spent brass straight down in one spot.
Made of heavy-duty, heat-resistant nylon and is durable for thousands of rounds.
Folds up to fit in a range bag.
Some people fuss—even obsess—over AR-15 brass ejection direction and distance. I’m pretty easygoing about which way it goes and how far. Except.
Except when I have to pick it up. My gun club has a “you-shot-it-you-pick-it-up” policy. I know; I wrote the club’s rule book. Literally.
So, there’s your AR brass, strewn all over the range, even when you were standing in one spot. What to do?
Well, there’s the military or CMP gizmo, which is a plastic deflector that clips into the carry handle of your AR.
Oh, wait! No carry handle? And no desire to simply change the direction? And the CMP device is just there to keep from tossing brass on the guy next to you.
Kinetic Energy Tools To The Rescue
The Kinetic Energy Tools (KET) brass deflector is simplicity itself. You take one of the three plastic clips, and you attach the tongue to it. Then, slide the plastic stiffener into the tongue. Clip the assembly onto the top rail of your AR-15. Every AR has a top rail these days, right? Then, you attach the deflector cape onto the clip.
Voilà! Your brass is dropped at your feet. You could, if you were diligent enough, even put a cardboard box at your feet right where the brass drops and have the majority of it fall into the box and save you time.
If you have a scope attached where the clip would go, use one of the two scope clips (one clip is 1 inch; the other is 30mm). The three clips are necessary simply because some people, even though they have a top rail on their receiver, have the rail so crowded with optics that the only place left is on a scope.
The tongue has a length of hook-and-loop fastener on it, and you can adjust just where and at what angle the “cape” (deflector) sticks in place.
Here, you see the KET clip on the top rail, with the attachment panel standing out over the ejection port.
Now, someone will probably get the bright idea of “Let’s stick a bag on there and save the picking up.” Bad idea: The weight of the brass will hamper your aim, and you’ll build bad habits of swaying and compensating for the weight.
Light Bulb Moment
The deflector is made of heavy-duty fabric—what appears to be Cordura nylon—and you can have your brass deflector in any of six colors or color combinations.
There are also two hook-and-loop panels, so you can attach a morale patch, club patch or other extra if you wish to have that look.
The KET Brass Deflector attaches to scopes and Picatinny rails dropping spent brass to the ground by the shooter’s feet. Clean up has never been easier. Get Yours Now
Because it’s lightweight and heat resistant (not that I expect to subject my brass deflector to any significant heat. But it’s nice to know that hot brass won’t be a problem), you can use it until it gets so grubby from powder residue, dirt, grime and mud from the range that you can’t stand to touch it. Remove any patches and just slosh it around in some soapy water, rinse, and leave it in the sun to dry—but don’t leave it where some light-fingered member of your gun club might see it.
When you’re done shooting, pop it off your rifle, fold or wad it up, and stuff it back into your range bag for the next time. The whole combo takes up less space—a lot less—than a 20-round AR-15 magazine.
This brass deflector is definitely one of those forehead-smacking, “why-didn’t-I-think-of-this?!” ideas. And, at the price ($33), you’d be wise to get two—not because it’s such a hassle to move it from one rifle to the next, but because you’re going to stuff it into a range bag or a rifle case at the end of the day and probably use a different bag or case for your next trip. In that case, what do you do? Why, you use your backup KET Brass Deflector, of course.
Head-shooting an alligator isn’t the same as shooting a human trying to kill you. Even so, the two have one thing in common: If you place your shots poorly, things tend to get progressively worse.
Proper shot placement is a rather effective at solving complex problems—whether they’re caused by a human or a large and toothy reptile.
Effective self-defense with a handgun encompasses a variety of elements such as reliability, shooter skill, ammunition performance and shot placement. Alligators aren’t included in this list, but they are relevant. No, I’m not suggesting you’ll have to defend your life from an attacking alligator. However, depending on your job description or level of stupidity, it’s a possibility, just not likely.
Alligators are relevant because they are notoriously difficult to kill. The nervous system of this apex predator is extremely advanced, and the species is considered to be more than 150 million years old. If you want to kill one with a firearm—and do it quickly—you have to shoot it in a specific spot. If you can hit that spot, the caliber of your bullet, its design and the cartridge it was fired from matter very little. In fact, alligators are often effectively hunted with .22 Magnum rifles.
I know all this because on several occasions, I’ve hunted alligators with a man who might know more about them than anyone else.
Wayne “Hoho” Brooks lives in Christmas, Florida, and raises and hunts alligators for a living. He learned about ’gators from his father, who was instrumental in early American ’gator farming. When I hunted with Hoho, we cruised the Everglades in an air boat and used compact handguns—.380s and 9mms—that were easy to carry on your person, just like lots of folks who carry for personal protection every day.
This 12-foot-long alligator was taken with a single round of Winchester Silvertip ammunition from a .380 ACP compact handgun. As an African professional hunter friend of mine so often astutely observes, “It’s about the placement of the pin prick, not the swing of the sledgehammer.”
On my first hunt I asked Hoho, “Is this enough gun for ’gators?”
Only if You Can ‘Shoot’
He grinned and replied, “Only if you can shoot.” He did not mean “shoot,” as in your ability to pull the trigger; he meant “shoot,” as in your ability to hit the right spot.
To kill an alligator with a .380, you simply shoot it just behind the rectangular hard plate on top of the head. A bullet from just about anything placed here—in an area about the size of a golf ball—ends all of the excitement immediately.
I’ve probably taken a dozen alligators with .380 and 9mm Winchester Silvertip ammunition, which are not loads most consider to be premium when it comes to personal protection. I’ve also seen several ’gators that were poorly hit become a boat-side fiasco, during which teeth were the only thing you could seem to see or think of.
Modern defensive ammunition for the 380 ACP is very good. No, it won’t compare to the 9mm Luger or larger-caliber cartridges, but with proper shot placement, the desired result will be achieved.
The point of all this isn’t to give you advice on what kind of alligator gun to buy or what kind of ammunition to load in your ’gator-getter. I mention this because if you’re trying to shoot to save your life with a handgun, act as if you’re shooting alligators. By that, I mean: Put the bullet in the right spot!
Putting The Bullet In The Right Spot
When it comes to firearms training, we too often get caught up in ninja-like drills and gyrations on the range. What will matter most is quickly hitting the right spot.
Shooting African buffalo is very similar to shooting alligators or bad guys: Place the first shot poorly, and you’d best hope your life insurance is paid up. Buffalo tend to get, well, pissed off when you shoot them poorly, and they develop an insatiable desire to explain that to you in a very inhospitable manner. Shoot them right, and they run several yards, fall over and die.
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Of course, most of the tactical wizards of the world—folks who’ve never seen someone get shot or even seen someone who’s been shot—like to pontificate about how a .45 ACP is so much more effective than a 9mm and how much of an imbecile you must be if you carry a .380 for self-defense. Never mind the fact that a properly placed bullet from a .380 ACP will stop a 300-pound alligator—instantly.
Triangles
Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking all this talk about alligators deals with head/brain shots. Well, you’re 100 percent correct. If you lung-shoot an alligator with just about anything less than suitable for African buffalo, you’ll have what a friend of mine likes to call a “situation.” I’m not suggesting you attempt to shoot an attacker in the head—that’s a damned small moving target that’s not easy to hit when you’re scared as hell. What I am suggesting is that you practice shooting so that when you have to shoot to save your life, you can put the bullets where they belong.
This common self-defense load from Federal for the 9mm Luger will work just fine for personal protection—as long as the shooter does their part with correct shot placement. It works just fine on alligators too.
Where is that? Imagine a triangle that has the two nipples and the junction of the collar bones as its three angles. On the average human, this isosceles triangle has an area of about 24 inches. This area equates to a circle with a diameter of about 5½ inches.
If you can’t regularly—and on demand—put all your shots from whatever distance you’re shooting into a 5-inch circle, you need to spend more time working on the basic fundamentals of marksmanship: sight alignment and trigger control. Ideally, you should be able to put your shots into a circle half that size, because your worst shot in practice will likely be your best in a gunfight. And, you might very well need to execute a head shot as part of a failure drill or because that’s the only target you have.
Simply put, spend more time training to kill alligators. Properly shot placement rather effective at solving complex problems, whether they’re caused by a human goblin or a large and toothy reptile.
If you think engraved guns are things of dusty old trade shops, then you haven't seen what the modern masters are turning out.
This article is an excerpt from The Illustrated History of Firearms, 2nd Edition. From the earliest hand cannons dating back to 1350, to the finest sporting rifles of the 21st Century, this 2nd edition of The Illustrated History of Firearms covers them all. Get Your Copy
Despite the masterpieces of earlier eras, the most beautiful firearms engraving of all time is being done in the modern era. Master artisans still carve beautiful works by hand. The relatively new technique called “bulino” expanded the possibilities of engraving. Bulino uses hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of hand-punched dots of varying diameter and depth to create almost photo-realistic images on metal. Machine or laser-cut engraving has made attractively decorated firearms accessible to the mass market, but the works made with a machine process can never compare to the handwork that created the pieces shown here.
Browning Auto .22 rifle with Old West scenes by Lee Griffiths.
Manrico Torcoli bulino engraving of nudes and big cats on Peter Hofer single-shot rifle.
Giancarlo Pedretti bulino hunting dog scene on Connecticut Shotgun over/under.
Alfredo Bregoili swan & vine engraving on Rizzini side-by-side shotgun.
Engraved guns don't get much more spectacular. Firmo Fracassi bulino engraved Rizzini sshotgun, circa 1989. Fracassi is generally considered the finest bulino engraver in the world.
“Vampire Hunter’s Kit” by Colt Master Engraver Leonardo Francolini, circa1977. Colt Detective Special engraved with bats in the flutes, a cross over the muzzle, and a rampant colt on a coffin. It is in a coffin-shaped case with silver bullets with carved vampire faces, an oiler labeled “Holy Water,” and a wooden stake attachment for the cleaning rod. It has been called “One of the most unusual guns Colt ever made,” and “Francolini’s greatest masterpiece.”
Manrico Torcoli bulino engravings of elephants in the mist engraving on Beretta EEGS double rifle.
Lee Griffiths nautical-themed Bergmann Bayard pistol.
Manrico Torcoli bulino engravings of cape buffalo in the mist engraving on Beretta EEGS double rifle.
Angelo Galeazzi bulino engraving, Beretta Set of Five double shotguns depicting the history of hunting.
Stocked in German beechwood, the Rossi Rio Bravo lever-action rifle offer rimfire fans a class way to pitch .22 LR downrange.
How The Rossi Rio Bravo Measures Up:
Outfitted with 18-inch barrel
Weighs in at a manageable 5.5 pounds
Boasts 15-round tubular magazine
Comes with factory-installed sling swivels
Lever-action rifle and .22 LR—a match made in heaven. If you're honest with yourself the combination and a mountain of plinkable targets might make for nearly the perfect lazy summer afternoon. Rossi arms you up for just such enjoyment with the newest addition to its already healthy lever-action rimfire rifle collection.
Dubbed the Rio Bravo, the 18-inch barreled lever-action rifle is a classy-looking iron, thanks to its German beechwood stock. And it is set up for nearly any task you could ask of a quick-firing rimfire, from pest control to small-game hunting and, of course, drilling bullseyes. It should prove a fast on the target as well, boasting a semi-buckhorn rear sight, which is perhaps only second to a ghost ring in expedients and accurate target transition.
Other notables on the rifle include 15-round tubular magazine, cross-bolt safety and very manageable weight—5.5 pounds. It looks to be a solid iron for youth and those just cutting their teeth on shooting sports, as well as seasoned rimfire aficionados. Plus, it’s priced to move with an MSRP of $347.
More From Rossi:
Bainbridge, GA – Rossi®, manufacturer of specialty rimfire rifles, break-action shotguns, and straight-wall cartridge lever-action and revolver rifles, introduces a new .22 LR long gun called the Rio Bravo.
The Rossi Rio Bravo is based on the company's popular line of R92 lever-action firearms. Featuring a rich German beechwood or rugged black polymer forearm and stock with polished black metal finish, the Rio Bravo brings the traditional rifle experience to the rimfire category.
The hammer-fired rifle is built with a smooth sliding lever action and incorporates a cross-bolt safety system. Up to 15 rounds of .22 LR can be fed into the magazine tube to deliver extended firing sessions between reloading. The Rio Bravo utilizes traditional buckhorn sights on the wood model while the synthetic model will have fiber optic sights and the rear sight can be adjusted for precise zero. For easy carrying in the field, the rifle includes a barrel band sling stud mounted ahead of the front sight and a rear sling stud in the stock.
The Rio Bravo is well-suited for small-game hunting, adventurous target shooting, around-the-farm pest control, and can be used for youth training.
Rio Bravo Specs: Caliber: .22 LR Capacity: 15 rounds Finish: polished black Furniture: German beechwood or black synthetic Action: lever Safety: cross-bolt Barrel Length: 18 in. Overall Length: 36 in. Weight: 5.5 lbs.
For more information on the Rossi Rio Bravo, please visit rossiusa.com.
Despite other .30-calibers supplanting the .300 Savage in popularity, the efficient cartridge still proves a favorite of hunter for its accuracy and legacy.
What You Need To Know About The .300 Savage:
Ballisticly, very similar to the .30-06 Springfield and .308 Winchester.
Gained popularity with the success of the iconic Savage Model 99.
Winchester, Hornady, Remington and Federal offer this cartridge in commercial loads.
Historical Notes
Developed and introduced by Savage Arms Co. for the Model 99 lever-action rifle in 1920, the .300 Savage was later chambered in Savage’s models 20 and 40 bolt-actions. The .300 Savage was intended as a cartridge that would work through medium-length actions and deliver ballistics similar to the .30-06.
Remington chambered it in the Model 81 autoloader, 760 pump-action and 722 bolt-action. The cartridge achieved considerable popularity, but it has since lost out to the superior .308 Winchester.
The .300 Savage provided fans of lever-actions, pump-actions and semi-autos with performance close enough to the .30-06 to make rifles of this type useful for most American big game.
The original factory load used a 150-grain bullet and matched the original .30-06 sporting load at 2,700 fps. If loaded to original factory pressure levels with IMR4064, it can significantly, but safely, exceed that velocity. It’s not adequate for moose or brown bear, but it is a fine deer and elk cartridge and is a better choice than the .30-30 for deer under any conditions.
The .308 Winchester fulfills the same function as a short-action cartridge and has somewhat more power, so it has gradually replaced the .300 Savage. However, many thousands of .300 Savage rifles are still in use, so the cartridge will continue to be loaded for many more years. In a bolt-action rifle, it’s as accurate as any other .30-caliber. Winchester, Hornady, Remington and Federal offer this ammunition as commercial loads. Smaller concerns, such as HSM and Jamison Brass and Ammunition, also make runs of this load.
Composed of rugged polycarbonate and securable nearly anywhere, the Snap Safe TrekLite keeps your gun under lock and key anywhere you roam.
The Snap Safe TrekLite is large enough to hold a Government model and a spare magazine or two.
OK, you have a CPL (and who doesn’t these days?), but there are still places you can’t go when you are carrying. If you are smart, you keep a laminated card in your car to remind you, Can I go into XYZ? while carrying.
And if you can’t?
Just leaving your sidearm tucked underneath the seat while you “only take a minute” to go into the post office, DMV office or bank is an invitation to disaster. If it’s gone upon your return, you have many headaches, possible liability and perhaps even revocation of your CPL … and that’s if nothing is done with your “missing” firearm.
So, lock it up.
TrekLite Safe
The TrekLite from Snap Safe is just the ticket for that. Instead of a heavy steel box, which can rust if left in the car, you have a rugged polycarbonate-made box that’s not only lockable, it can also be secured to the car.
The box is big enough to hold a 1911 Government model or similar-sized carry gun. So, there’s room for the pistol, the magazine or magazines, a knife and all the stuff you usually carry but isn’t allowed where you are going.
The lid locks with a key that you keep with you. The box is tightly fitted and tough enough so that someone isn’t going to be prying it open without “manly” tools (if someone can get it open bare handed, they probably don’t need a pistol).
A bonus is the anchoring cable. It’s really stout and vinyl coated, and the securing method to the box does not protrude into the box. As a result, you don’t have to worry about your anchor marring your blaster.
To anchor the TrekLite in place, loop the cable around or through something. Then, loop it through itself before attaching it to the TrekLite safe.
Loop the cable around a seat bolster in your car or truck and then through itself. Slip the end into the slot in the box, add your pistol and extras, and lock it. Tuck it out of sight, and it’ll be there when you return.
A quick aside here: Some will advise that you unload the pistol when storing it. Me? I figure the more you’re handling it—simultaneously trying to stay inconspicuous—the greater your chances are of having an accident.
So, my process is to get myself settled, get the box ready and then take a final look around. Then, in an easy, smooth, unremarkable motion, I draw and slide the pistol in and close the lid. When returning to my car, I look to make sure no one is paying attention (it’s remarkable how much you can “disappear” if you don’t draw attention to yourself), and then I unlock, remove and holster my firearm and get on with life.
The standard rule is that you don’t store a loaded firearm in a safe. However, we have to weigh competing harms here. While in a hotel room, at home or visiting friends or relatives, you have plenty of time—and privacy—to unload and store. With a vehicle, the more you’re moving and the more you’re handling, the greater the chances are of being observed … and the greater the chances of an AD/ND.
As a friend of mine is wont to say, “We each have to find our own salvation.” I do it my way. If that doesn’t work for you, then do it your way. I won’t judge.
Speaking of hotel scenarios: The Snap Safe TrekLite works great—provided you make sure the metal thing you’re attaching it to can’t be lifted, moved or disassembled. It would really be too bad to attach it to the bed, only to discover later that simply lifting the box spring allowed the safe and its items to be taken.
The cable attaches to the TrekLite in such a way that it won’t scratch your sidearm.
The Snap Safe TrekLite is also TSA-approved. In this instance, you use the cable looped around the interior struts of your suitcase; that is, the ones for the trolly handle. You might have to make a couple of slices in the lining to gain access. So, lock your pistol in the safe and then secure it inside the suitcase. Proceed normally with airline rigamarole and TSA regulations. Leave it on top of your clothing, in case TSA wants to see it. And keep the key: The regulations require that if the firearm is unlocked for inspection, it must be done in your presence. Don’t hand over the keys.
The best part of the Snap Safe TrekLite—besides weighing only 25 ounces (less than your sidearm might weigh)? It has an MSRP of $28.
Really, you should buy one just because it’s inexpensive; so if you ever need one in the future, you’ll already have it.
For more information on the Snap Safe Treklite safe, please visit snapsafe.com.
Designed for the .50 BMG and featuring an integrated muzzle brake, SureFire's SOCOM50-SPS suppressor does away with a majority of an extreme long-range rifle's recoil and muzzle flash. It also does a number on its report too.
What The SOCOM50-SPS Delivers:
Delivers up to 99 percent flash reduction to conceal the shooter’s location
Significant sound and dust signature reduction
Tight tolerances and bore concentricity result in excellent accuracy
There’s nothing small about the .50 BMG. That goes for its report, recoil and muzzle flash. As they say in the late-night infomercial, “If there was only some way to take care of them all.”
If you tinker in extreme long-range calibers you know there is—a suppressor. Of course, cans large enough to muzzle a .50 BMG aren’t exactly falling off store shelves, which makes SureFire’s latest addition to their lineup so welcome. Boasting some clever engineering, the SOCOM50-SPS should make your massive zip-code-to-zip-code cannon just a tad more manageable.
So, what does SureFire’s device bring to the table that other .50-caliber suppressors don’t? For one, an integrated muzzle brake, which by the company’s numbers whittles away a rifle’s recoil by around 66 percent. Additionally, this design point also does away with 99 percent of the muzzle blast, thus keeping your firing position clandestine. Well, as clandestine as you can get pitching .50 BMG.
SureFire’s new suppressor isn’t chicken scratch, with a healthy $2,950 MSRP. But if you’re the type that shoots .50 BMG for fun or profit, top-shelf prices are nothing new.
More From SureFire:
Fountain Valley, CA—SureFire, LLC, manufacturer of the world’s finest—and most innovative—illumination tools and tactical products, is proud to announce the SOCOM50-SPS suppressor. This innovative suppressor tames the violent recoil, flash and sound of.50-cal precision rifles resulting in immense tactical and health benefits for the shooter.
The SOCOM50-SPS utilizes an integrated muzzle brake which decreases recoil by 66% to greatly reduce impact on the shooter and allow faster follow-up shots. This reduction in recoil occurs all while maintaining muzzle flash reduction by an amazing 99% to conceal the shooter’s location.
The violence of the .50-caliber rifle platform isn’t confined forward of the muzzle. Blast overpressure and acoustic exposure from unsuppressed .50-cal rifles have a substantial negative impact on the end user. Recent testing by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) has shown the SOCOM50-SPS to virtually eliminate blast overpressure. Additionally, the sound from unsuppressed .50-cal rifles is typically so high that most hearing protection does not provide enough noise reduction to sufficiently protect the shooter from hearing damage. The SureFire SOCOM50-SPS reduces sound at the shooter’s ear by approximately 30 dB, preserving the shooters hearing, aiding their ability to communicate, and increasing their operational performance overall.
The SOCOM50-SPS suppressor mounts to rifles via the SureFire muzzle brake. Together they provide rock-solid attachment in seconds with extremely minimal and consistent point-of-aim/point-of-impact shift for supreme accuracy. Compatible muzzle brakes include the SFMB-TAC50, SFMB-HT1 and SFMB-M107.
SOCOM50-SPS Specs: Caliber: .50 BMG Construction: Stainless Steel Coating: DLC and Cerakote Finish Body Color: Black Diameter: 2.5 in Length: 14.4 in Weight: 86 oz
For more information on the SOCOM50-SPS, please visit surefire.com
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The Suppressor: How Is It Made, It Works And How To Buy One
No reason to settle for off the shelf. Your perfect Magnum Research BFR is one click away. Better yet, it won't break the bank.
Custom revolvers have been a staple of my handgun life, a clear obsession and, well, an expensive habit.
I justify the practice of commissioning revolvers being built by gunsmiths (who charge more by the hour than plumbers) by convincing myself that I want the revolver the way I want it, plain and simple. It’s clearly a form of rationalization, but I’m okay with it … my wife, not so much.
What if I told you there’s another way of getting what amounts to a full-blown custom without the steep price tag and lengthy waits associated with a custom single-action revolver build? Would it pique your interest?
The author’s favorite production grip frame by far is Magnum Research’s interpretation of the Bisley grip. His was fitted with black Micarta—one of the most durable grip materials available to mortal man.
It should. It shifted my focus entirely.
The custom revolver world is an underground subset of hardcore revolver geeks who live and breathe custom-tailored, single-action revolvers from such legendary builders as John Linebaugh, Hamilton Bowen, Jack Huntington, Jim Stroh, Dave Clements, John Gallagher and Alan Harton, to name a few. With these coveted names come long waiting lists, high price tags—and artwork in blued steel and walnut.
Form Follows Function
I’m a handgun hunter, and I make no bones about it. Even those pretty custom revolvers of mine get carried in the field and dragged through the mud and inclement weather. That’s why I have them. If they can’t tolerate field conditions, however they are defined, they don’t deserve space in my safe. So, form follows function for me.
The long-framed BFR is equipped with an oversized, counterbored, five-shot cylinder. Originally designed to encapsulate the .45/70 Government, the extra-long cylinder features enough free bore to ramp speeds up to impressive levels.
Enter Magnum Research and the BFR—the “Biggest, Finest Revolver.”
Established in 1999, Magnum Research entered the revolver-building business with the introduction of the BFR, chambered in the old warhorse .45-70 Government. Magnum Research has since redesigned its revolvers; and today, the company produces both long- and short-framed revolvers in a range of calibers to suit just about everyone’s needs. There is no wider assortment of hunting calibers and configurations offered under one roof than that of Magnum Research. There is literally something for everyone and every game animal to walk this earth.
A subsidiary of Kahr Arms, Magnum Research of Minneapolis, Minnesota, offers a whole line of long-framed and short-framed stainless steel, single-action revolvers in both standard caliber/configurations and a plethora of custom Precision Center offerings.
MR Precision Center: Build Your Own
The big news out of Magnum Research’s Precision Center is the Custom BFR website (CustomBFRrevolver.com). This is where the consumer can build his or her very own custom-configured BFR revolver from a host of options from standard catalog calibers, as well as a number of Precision Center-only calibers. This also includes barrel length, barrel type (round or octagonal), fluted or unfluted cylinders, and a number of cool finishes—such as color case hardening and the new-for-this-year black nitride finish.
Magnum Research outfits all its revolvers (custom and production) with LPA’s excellent, fully adjustable rear sight. This feature is moot, because the author equipped his BFR with an optic mounted via the supplied sight base.
Everything is headed up by production and BFR supervisor and master gun builder Brett Pikula, who takes excessive pride in turning out truly fine revolvers for the discriminating consumer. Granted, some of the more eclectic custom features requiring specialized machine work aren’t available from the Precision Center; there is a long enough list of options to make your revolver uniquely yours. Many more options do exist, so we recommend you head over to the website and look for yourself. I am sure you will be able to find something there that will appeal to you.
The Precision Center is busy taking custom customer orders for unique BFR revolvers on a daily basis, and the current wait time is right around four months.
Outfitting the Long-Framed BFR
When the Custom BFR website was launched, I saw my opportunity to outfit a long-framed BFR the way I wanted it.
The new website is a snap to negotiate (CustomBFRrevolver.com). Seen here is the options list from which you build out your custom BFR.
Using the site is a piece of cake. Simply go down the list of options, choose them with a click, and watch the revolver come together. Even someone as computer illiterate as I am had no trouble negotiating the new website. The beauty of it is that not long after submitting my order, I received a call from my FFL! It’s that simple. This site is so easy to use, I fear it’s going to cost me a lot of money in the very near future.
This revolver is to be my do-everything wonder revolver. For that reason, I felt the .460 Smith & Wesson Magnum personifies the term, “Jack of all trades.” I was reluctant to embrace this cartridge when it was first released to the public, because it was saddled with less-than-ideal bullets for big game, with an emphasis on velocity and longer ranges. I was not impressed.
Then, a good friend and hunting partner purchased a BFR in .460 S&W and proceeded to knock down virtually all game—ranging from smallish Texas whitetail up through Cape buffalo and a whole lot in between—with one load. I took notice. When I shot it, the abuse level, when loaded to maximum big-game-wreaking levels, was negligible, to say the very least. Hmm … maybe there’s something to this.
Just like every other piece of this revolver, the fit and function of the loading port gate is precise and easy to manipulate.
Let me note that many justify the purchase of a .460 (of either variant) by citing the flexibility of being able to shoot .45 Colt, .454 Casull and .460 Smith & Wesson through the same firearm without ill effects. It sounds great on paper, but I will say that in my experience, the shorter .45-caliber cartridges tend not to deliver accuracy to their inherent potential. That same free bore that is so useful to the .460 and its long case (1.8 inches) seems to work to the detriment of the shorter-cased .45s. It’s just too long a jump for the bullet. I’m not saying you won’t get acceptable accuracy from shooting cowboy-action-level .45 Colt loads through your BFR or Smith & Wesson; and I didn’t order this large chunk of steel to shoot powder puff loads through it with okay accuracy. These revolvers are capable of amazing accuracy, and they deliver an impressive payload at rather high speeds.
More Details
So, my new custom BFR would be a .460 built on MR’s stretch-framed revolver. I’ve spent time with the 10-inch variant of the stretch-frame, and the balance was poor for anything outside of a situation where a solid rest is available. Any revolver I take to the field absolutely must be able to be shot while standing on my “hind” legs. However, with the 7½-inch barrel, shootability increases exponentially, and it can be shot comfortably offhand. I specified a 7½-inch barrel.
MR’s excellent Bisley grip frame got the nod, because there was nothing commercially available that is better for controlling recoil and mitigating its negative effects. It looks odd—sort of like a banana in shape—but it flat-out works.
Back from getting the black nitride finish applied, the custom .460 BFR is ready to reassemble.
Like all BFRs, this one was equipped with an oversized, counterbored, unfluted, five-shot cylinder. Keep in mind that the length of the cylinder was originally designed to encapsulate the massive (by revolver standards) .45/70 Government. While it seems that a shorter cylinder would be beneficial, the longer free bore of the too-long cylinder seems to work in the .460’s favor, delivering consistently higher velocities than the equivalent X-frame by Smith & Wesson, even when equipped with a longer barrel.
Also like all BFRs, this one has a free-wheeling pawl, making loading and unloading a stress-free exercise: The cylinder will rotate in either direction when the loading gate is open. A locking base pin keeps the cylinder supported in the frame.
The excellent LPA adjustable rear sight was mounted on my custom BFR; it was of no consequence, because I would be taking advantage of the .460 Smith & Wesson Magnum’s long-range prowess by mounting an optic.
‘Darth Vader’ … Plus
As you’ve been able to surmise from the photos, I chose an all-black theme with black nitride covering all of the revolver’s metal, rounded out with black Micarta grips. Think “Darth Vader”—but with a whole lot more attitude and a much louder bark. This thing is downright evil-looking. Black nitride is one tough finish that is nearly impervious to scratching and mishandling. It will make for a great field revolver in virtually all weather conditions.
I intend to drag this piece around the world on a variety of big-game hunts.
It’s a big revolver, but with its 7½-inch barrel, it is surprisingly balanced. I would equip it with a red-dot and scope with Leupold quick-detach rings on the supplied optic base and then switch between them, depending on the hunt and the terrain. The trigger breaks at a creep-less 3 pounds and is as good as any custom I have handled/shot from the top dogs of the custom-revolver-building world.
Testing the BFR
I gathered myriad factory ammunition from Hornady, Buffalo Bore, Federal Premium, Swift and Underwood to test through this beast.
Brett Pikula personally fits, assembles and builds these custom offerings.
Let me say that you will not go unnoticed at your local range. This thing is loud, necessitating doubling up on hearing protection in an attempt to hang on to what hearing I have left (my hearing isn’t nearly as bad as I let on. Don’t tell my wife). The high SAAMI-specified maximum pressure is 65,000 psi, so, like its older sibling, the .454 Casull, it creates a very loud report.
The big BFR delivered laser-like accuracy from nearly every load I ran through it (see the accuracy table at the top of this page). It is rather remarkable—a testament to the quality of the loads that are produced for this high-speed .45-caliber cartridge.
Recoil, as I mentioned previously, wasn’t all that bad. Okay; maybe I’m not the most sensitive fella on the recoil front. However, I can say with certainty that compared to some of my other staples, it really isn’t all that bad. The weight of the BFR absorbs much of the abuse, making it, dare I say, rather pleasant to shoot—except, of course, for the ear-splitting noise levels.
The finished product, reassembled and ready to test-fire, will then get boxed and shipped to the anxious person who ordered it. Turn-around time is quick.
My relationship with my .460 BFR is still in its infancy, but I really like what I have seen thus far. The finish should prove to be tough in the field. The efficacy of the round has already been proven, and the accuracy is undoubtedly promising.
Everything I wanted was obtained via a simple click on the online order form—and I didn’t have to wait years to make noise on my range. So, what’s next? Well, I’ll keep you posted!
Springfield Armory Vickers Tactical Master Class is a fighting 1911, enhanced to give you the edge and priced within nearly any shooter’s budget.
If you have the money, a Vicker’s 1911 proves a fairly good investment. Input from U.S. Army 1st SFOD-Delta combat veteran Larry Vickers, these guns are out-and-out fighters with BBQ-gun good looks. You can thank Wilson Combat’s master manufacturing methods for the latter aspect. Of course, for many, these gems remain little more than glossy-magazine-page daydreams given their price tag.
Perhaps no longer. An interesting partnership has arisen to put Vicker’s designs into more hands. It goes by the name Springfield Armory Vickers Tactical Master Class 1911, though Wilson Combat and Lipsey also play roles in making the .45 ACP come to fruition.
At $1,495, the 5-inch barreled pistol still isn’t chicken scratch, but it falls well within the budget of more shooters than Wilson Combat options with Vicker’s roll mark. Springfield doesn’t skimp either with the Vickers Tactical Master Class. It’s up to snuff, built around a forged steel frame and slide. Furthermore, it boasts a number of other desirable assets including aluminum match-grade trigger, Wilson Combat Bullet Proof hammer and safety, 8-round Vicker’s Duty Magazine, G10 grips and Vicker’s Elite Sights. The sights are especially nice, U-notch night sights that are very intuitive. On one other point, the grips and cocking serrations are pretty unique, both a woven pattern that facilitates an aggressive and positive handle without being uncomfortable.
For the price, the Vickers Tactical Master Class looks to be a tidy and effective package.
More From Springfield:
GENESEO, ILL. (06/08/20) – Developed in concert with retired U.S. Army 1st SFOD-Delta combat veteran Larry Vickers of Vickers Tactical, Springfield Armory® is proud to present the new Vickers Tactical Master Class 1911, a Lipsey’s® Distributor exclusive offering.
Harnessing its decades of 1911 manufacturing experience and the rugged foundation of forged steel major components to deliver a lifetime of service, Springfield Armory brought a lot to the table in developing this new combat-grade pistol. Combine that with the unassailable credentials of Larry Vickers, and you have a .45 ACP pistol ready for any possible contingency.
“We are extremely proud to have partnered with respected firearms expert and combat veteran Larry Vickers of Vickers Tactical on this exciting new pistol,” says Dennis Reese, CEO of Springfield Armory. “This pistol, which combines Vickers’ tactical expertise with Springfield Armory’s renowned manufacturing skills, delivers a top-tier 1911 for the most serious of applications.”
“I’m pleased with the Vickers Tactical Master Class 1911 and how a real team effort brought it together. Springfield Armory, Lipsey’s, Wilson Combat and I got to work to bring a superb quality pistol to the market at a great price point. I’m proud to be a part of it,” explains Vickers.
Priced at an MSRP of $1,495, the new Vickers Tactical Master Class is designed from the ground up to deliver when it counts. As a Master Class pistol, it features premium grade components and exceptional attention to detail. Featuring a forged carbon steel slide and frame with Springfield’s Black-T® finish and a 5″ forged match-grade stainless steel barrel, this Master Class pistol is designed for intensive round counts and harsh environments.
The slide features the iconic Vickers Tactical logo as well as the Vickers Elite Battle Sight rear matched to a tritium/luminescent front dot. Specialized proprietary slide serrations at the rear ensure reliable and consistent racking of the slide under any condition.
The rugged pistol weighs in at 41.5 oz. with an empty magazine, and has an overall length of 8.6″. The pistol comes packed with two eight-round Vickers Duty Magazines. The rugged green grips are made from G10 and also feature a Vickers Tactical logo. Rounding out the package are a Wilson Combat Tactical single-sided thumb safety and Bullet Proof® Commander Hammer.
Delivering a pistol from a manufacturer that knows how to build a 1911 right and a combat veteran who knows what features it needs, the new Vickers Tactical Master Class is a must-have addition for the collection of any serious handgun shooter.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 of the best concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
