A quick look at the new Davidson’s Exclusive Ruger Mini-14 Tactical in 300 Blackout, featuring a stainless steel finish and Samson folding stock.
If all you want is a Mini-14 chambered for 300 AAC Blackout, Ruger already has you covered with the standard Mini-14 Tactical model. While very functional, the black synthetic furniture leaves something to be desired in the aesthetics department. For those in the market for a 300 BLK Mini-14 with a little more style, the new Davidson’s Exclusive variant is worth taking a look at.
The Davidson’s Exclusive variant of the Ruger Mini-14 Tactical in 300 BLK has all the same practical features as the standard model, including its 1/2×28 threaded 16.1-inch cold hammer-forged barrel, heat shield, protected blade front sight/ghost ring rear sight and front/rear sling swivels. The receiver also has integral scope mounts machined into it, and each rifle will ship with a set of 1-inch scope rings and a section of Picatinny rail for attaching optics. Where the Davidson’s Exclusive variant differs is its stainless steel finish and the inclusion of a stainless steel Samson side-folding stock. This stock isn’t just iconic and cool-looking, it also adds a greater level of versatility to the Mini-14 in terms of transportation and storage.
Paul Dickson, Sr. Merchandising Manager at Davidson’s, said this about the new Mini-14 variant:
Davidson’s is a decades-long partner with Ruger and we have made hundreds of exclusives with them … They have always been eager to partner with us on bringing unique firearms to the market over the years and we’re excited to introduce this one.
The Davidson’s Exclusive variant of the 300 BLK Ruger Mini-14 Tactical has an MSRP of $1,849 and each gun will ship with two 20-round Nickel Teflon steel magazines.
XTech Tactical just announced a new line of Glock-compatible magazines, and the company says they’re even better than OEM mags.
XTech Tactical is primarily known for its 7.62 AK mags, but the company has just announced a new line of Glock-compatible magazines. Part of XTech’s MAG series, the new magazines are made of steel-reinforced polymer and are compatible with all Glocks and Glock-inspired pistols, PCCs and carbines. They will also supposedly be compatible with all aftermarket components and accessories designed for Glock-style mags, such as magwells and baseplates.
With features like a proprietary baseplate material, steel reinforced magazine bodies, 17-7 stainless steel springs and “no stick” followers, XTech says that their new pistol mags are even better than factory Glock examples. They’re also available with enhanced baseplates with scallops for faster reloads. The lineup of Glock-compatible magazines from XTech currently includes 15- and 17-round models (with and without enhanced baseplates) for Glock 17s, Glock 19s, Glock 26s and the PSA Dagger Compact. MSRPs range from $24.99 to $39.95.
Jeremy Deadman, President of XTech Tactical, said this about the new mags:
A few years back we determined that to hit our goals as the world’s leading magazine & magazine extension company, mags for Glocks were a must. A core pillar of our business is to raise the standards for quality, durability & innovation in our market, and the MAG line does just that. As XTech is known for, we gave our customers a voice. They wanted better springs, they wanted better baseplates, they wanted more capacity options, and they wanted a better baseline price. We are excited that we were able to hit each of those notes!
Properly running a shotgun isn’t as easy as it should be, but here we give you some tips on aiming, shooting and reloading scatterguns.
I’m switching shotguns. I’ve used a variety of Remington 1100s for something like 4 decades now, but time overcomes everything. They’re elderly; keeping them running is work, and there are better options.
The one I’ve selected is the Mossberg 940 JM Pro. Built by Mossberg for competition and defense, the 940 in the JM Pro model is advanced to being a top-tier competition shotgun, with input from my friend Jerry Miculek. He saw to the enlarging of some of the controls, the opening-up of the loading port and a stock that can be rebuilt to fit you.
The 940 JM Pro has oversized controls, the better to run the gun.
Oh, and there’s a base machined into the receiver for direct-mounting of a red-dot optic. Its soft-recoiling gas system that adjusts for a wide variety of loads, which is a big help as well. Who wants a picky shotgun?
How Can You Miss With a Shotgun?
In introducing new or relatively new shooters to using shotguns in 3-gun, multi-gun and bowling pin competition, I always run into the same question: “How can you miss?” And after a bit of practice, the next question is: “How can you reload faster?”
The urban myth (or tactical myth, whatever) is that shotguns only need to be pointed, and the spread of shot, like a veritable cloud of pellets, will do the rest. Nicknames? “Alley sweeper,” “trench hose” or “scattergun.” And one I heard just the other day, “scattergun chainsaw.” (I’m still shaking my head over that last one. I’m almost afraid to ask.)
This pointing idea comes from the British use of shotguns, where a ridiculously rich and titled landed-gentry hunter would have a shotgun “bespoke,” that is, fitted to him as if it were a suit. Such a fit and proper training means they simply have to mount the shotgun and look at the target, and they hit it. Of course, the “scoring” system is to hit a flying bird at 30 yards or so with an ounce of shot. Out there, the pattern is just under or just over 3 feet in diameter.
Our task is much more difficult. For a 3-gun or multi-gun competitor, the target is a pepper popper, and it requires being struck by more than just the dozen-or-so pellets that will do in a grouse or pheasant. A bowling pin, at 25 feet, is even smaller. You have an area of maybe the size of a pair of playing cards, and you have to put enough pellets on it to drive it off of the table. You have to aim.
And, in a defensive scenario, aiming is even more important due to the simple fact that every pellet you launch has a lawyer attached to it.
This means getting your face down, hard and tight, onto the cheekpiece of the shotgun. A sloppy fit means your pattern will go high of your intended point of impact. In the 940 JM Pro, the stock can be adjusted so it fits you as much as the various swappable parts permit. Nothing works for everyone, so I suppose there are going to be shooters out there who even the JM Pro can’t fit, but not many.
At The Pin Shoot, shotguns and gunners go through cases of slugs and buckshot. The Mossberg 940 and the 940 JM Pro survive this use without a problem.
Managing the Push
And then you have to control recoil.
The traditional way to control recoil was to not let the shotgun get a running start. That is, to press the shotgun into your shoulder using both hands as firmly as was humanly possible. Oh, and not out on the shoulder joint, by the way. High and inside, up and more to the centerline, almost onto your collarbone. Since the shotgun doesn’t get a running start, it can only push you—not punch you.
I learned this a long time ago as a skinny teenager, learning to shoot centerfire rifles: the M1 Garand in particular. You aren’t really decreasing felt recoil; you’re simply controlling it in a manageable way that doesn’t beat you up.
The other way is called the “push-pull” method. Here, your firing hand pulls the shotgun back, just enough to be snug against your shoulder and so it doesn’t move around during recoil. Your other hand pushes the forearm away from you. The idea is for the moment before and during firing a shot, you’re doing your best to shove the forearm off of the receiver.
Both of these are work. But they both need to be selectively applied. You don’t tighten up at the beep and stay that tight all through a stage. Mount, aim, lock up, fire, repeat, unlock, move to the next target or array, and repeat. Well, in bowling pin shooting you do stay locked up, but that’s for all of 4 or 5 seconds. Just before the beep, use whatever method you have selected, lift, hose 8 pins, and relax.
Which is better? I wish I could tell you from personal experience. Alas, I have spent so many years (since the middle of the Carter administration) doing the older method, both hands crush in, that every time I try to use the push-pull method I somehow screw it up. Those who start with it report that it works well, and they don’t suffer from recoil.
Good for them. Me? I’m stuck with the old method, and it seems to work well for me, too.
Feeding the Pellet Pusher
Then, there’s the matter of reloading, and shotguns don’t hold much ammo.
The shooting part is very quick, and how to shoot fast, sliding from one target to the next, is an entirely different article. For 3-gun and multi-gun, the way to win stages—and matches—is to be faster on the reloads than the others. Here we have competing imperatives on how to reload: tactical, classic competition and multi-gun competition.
The loading port is deeply beveled, and the forearm notched, so you won’t chew up your hands getting shells in there.
We’re aided in all three by the enlarged loading port of the 940 JM Pro, and its lack of sharp edges. The tactical method is one I never liked, never practiced much, and I don’t like the downsides of. That one is simple: When you need to reload, you leave the shotgun mounted on your shoulder. You reach down with your off-hand (yes, you have to let go of the shotgun) and snatch another shell from wherever you’ve got them stashed. Then, lift up and stuff the shell into the loading port. The downsides? You can’t see the port. You’re holding a heavy shotgun with one hand, and it can easily be snatched away. The advantage: It stays pointed at the bad guy or guys, or their direction.
The problem with the tactical reload is that you’ve got a long heavy hunk of shotgun hanging out in space. And it’s a slow reload, too.
The classic competition reloading works like this: Bring the shotgun down from your shoulder and roll it over so it’s loading port-side up. Shove the stock back and clamp your elbow down to fix the stock between your arm and your side. You can hold it either with your off-hand and load with your strong hand, or keep your strong hand on the stock, and load with your weak hand.
One of the old-school reloading methods has you tucking the stock under your arm and feeding with the strong hand. Your off-hand is going to hit a hot barrel, though.
The advantages? You have a more-secure hold on the shotgun. It’s port-side up, so you can see, even with peripheral vision, to load. You can even load by feel, the shotgun is close to you. And the muzzle is still, more or less, at the bad guys, while still in a safe direction. The downside? You have to rotate the shotgun, and if you hold it with your off-hand, you’ll be holding a hot barrel.
If you don’t want the hot-hand problem, then keep the shotgun in your strong hand and reload with the off-hand. Either old-school way, you can keep an eye on the surroundings and load by feel.
The multi-gun method changes everything. Well, except for your off-hand being on a hot barrel. Here, when it comes time to reload, you rotate the shotgun port-side up again. But, instead of tucking the stock between your elbow and your side, you lift it up and put it aside your head, with the buttplate high enough up to easily reach the loading port. The shells are held in what’s called a caddy, stacked two vertically in the rack, or caddy. An example would be the double Alpha Academy Quad Loader.
The new multi-gun reload involves sliding the shotgun up past your head, turning it over and then stuffing two shells at a time into the loading port.
The loading process is also different. Here, you grab two shells with each reach. (The loader holds them that way.) You have your thumb against the primer of the second one, and the nose of the first one protrudes out of your fist.
To load the multi-gun way, you hold two shells in line like this. You need a special belt shell holder to do this, however.
Reach up, shove the nose of the lead shell into the loading port, and against the follower, and then shove and thumb. As your fingers come in contact with the receiver, slide them out of the way, and finish with a thumb-push. Two shells in, in a second or so. Repeat two shells at a time until you are back up to capacity.
Slide your fingers out of the way and finish pushing the reload in with your thumb. Repeat in pairs until you’re loaded up.
This is the fastest way to reload a shotgun, short of the really specialized tube-loaders. The disadvantages are simple: You need the caddy to load this way. And, your shotgun is muzzle-down while you do this. If you’re dexterous enough, you can forego the off-hand on the hot barrel and maintain your grip on the forearm. That’s a matter of practice and testing. Some can, some can’t.
If you’re flexible and dexterous enough, you can keep your hand off the hot barrel and still reload in the multi-gun method.
If you’re reloading from belt loops, a sidesaddle (never liked those, but some nearly worship them), a pocket or a carry bag, the multi-gun approach is not going to work. The time it takes fussing over getting two loose or looped shells into your hand in just the right way to two-load them is time better spent getting them in there individually and quickly.
All of these points are the same regardless of what kind of sighting system you use. Well, the bead sights are more susceptible to slow shooting and misses by not having your head down tight on the cheekpiece, but even ghost rings and red-dot optics won’t be happy if your face wanders when you mount the stock.
Conclusion
Once you learn how to run a shotgun effectively, it’s a wicked-good tool for competition or defense. But it won’t come easily—the sheer physics of launching a 1-ounce payload to supersonic velocities exacts a toll. And the payload package cannot be downsized or conveniently stored ready for us. That’s life.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
We take a look at the Streamlight ProTac HL-X Pro, one of the excellent long gun light options available at GunMag Warehouse.
When it comes to choosing accessories for your modern carbine or rifle, GunMag Warehouse has a lot of options available, but the two pieces of kit that should always have top priority are a sling and a weapon light. Optics, suppressors and everything else are great, but in terms of practical importance, all pale in comparison to the sling and light.
Without a sling, at least one of your hands will always be occupied with retaining your gun. Without a light, you’re at a major disadvantage whenever the sun is down or you’re in a dark building. Today, we’ll be taking a look at GunMag Warehouse’s most popular long gun light model, the Streamlight ProTac HL-X Pro.
Why Streamlight?
GunMag Warehouse carries weapon lights from just about every manufacturer you can think of, so why is the Streamlight ProTac HL-X Pro their best-selling model of long gun light? It comes down to value.
Yes, there are some better weapon lights out there, but they also cost two or three times more. If you’re not putting your gear through heavy abuse on a regular basis or using it in a professional context, those options are probably overkill for most people. That’s where Streamlight comes in.
The MSRP is $248.99, but GunMag has it listed for only $137.99. As far as rifle lights go, it will be hard to find a better bang for your buck than that.
Streamlight ProTac HL-X Pro Features
The specific package in question we’ll be looking at is the Streamlight ProTac HL-X Pro CR123A Battery Weapon Light System. This bundle includes the light with a Jack-Cap, a momentary pressure switch, an M-LOK mounting kit, some hardware, an Allen wrench and the two necessary CR123A batteries. With what’s included, you can mount the ProTac on either Picatinny rail or M-LOK and activate it with either the button on the tail of the light or with the remote pressure switch. You’ll even find a strip of double-sided tape and some zip ties in the box to help mount the pressure switch on a variety of setups. Whichever way you do it, mounting the light is quick and easy.
For testing, we threw the ProTac on a mid-length retro AR-15 using a bayonet lug Picatinny mount and attached the pressure switch with some good ol’ 100 MPH tape.
The light itself features a durable yet lightweight 6000 series machined aluminum housing and an advertised output of 1,000 Lumens and 50,000 Candela. Streamlight says the beam is capable of reaching out to 447 meters. Are there brighter lights out there? Sure, but the ProTac proved more than capable of illuminating pitch black hallways and lighting up tree lines at night out to respectable distances.
As for battery life, it depends on whether you’re running it on the high or low setting. Using Streamlight’s TEN-TAP system, the light can be programmed to feature a high setting only, a low/high toggle setting or a high/strobe toggle setting. The low position is great for anyone trying to maximize battery life, as the ProTac is capable of running for up to 21 hours on this setting. On high, it’s up to 1.25 hours.
That said, the double-tap strobe feature on the high/strobe setting would probably be the best choice for a home defense setup.
Parting Shot
Frankly, for anyone in the market for a great long gun light that won’t break the bank, the Streamlight ProTac HL-X Pro is a no-brainer choice. It’s dependable, bright, versatile and feature-rich, all for a very reasonable price. GunMag Warehouse carries other flavors of the Streamlight as well, such as versions with rechargeable batteries and integrated lasers. They even have less powerful versions like the standard Streamlight ProTac for about $40 less than the HL-X Pro model if you don’t need your setup to be as bright as possible.
Regardless of whichever one you think will suit your needs best, you should have a light on your rifle if you don’t already.
EAA recently announced the Girsan Influencer X, a new series of full-size, optics-ready 1911s in four caliber options.
European American Armory Corp, the American importer for Girsan, has just announced a new line of 1911s called the Influencer X. Available in four chambering options, these full-size 1911s are optics-ready and loaded with features.
The Girsan Influencer X is available in 9mm, .45 ACP, 10mm and .38 Super, but regardless of caliber choice, all versions feature a 5-inch barrel. All versions also feature a 9-round magazine capacity except for the .45 ACP model which has an 8-round mag. Besides caliber, capacity and price, all other features are identical between them.
Some of those features include optics-ready slides (RMS/RMSc footprint), full-length accessory rails, extended beavertails and ambidextrous safeties. They also feature flared magazine wells for faster reloads, lightening cuts on the slides, adjustable sights, aggressively textured grips and reverse-crowned barrels for improved accuracy. All Influencer X pistols are also given a two-tone Cerakote finish.
The MSRP for the 9mm and .45 ACP models is $689, while the MSRP for the 10mm and .38 Super versions is $729. All four variants come with a hard pistol case and a limited lifetime warranty.
Bushmaster has gone full retro with its XM15A2 fixed carry handle A2-style AR-15. Here we take one out to the range to see how it does.
ARs are a passion for some, and there are a lot of things you can do with a stripped lower receiver. The platform has truly evolved from its debut in the 1960s … and modern configurations can get pretty out there compared to Eugene Stoner’s original design.
Yet—sometimes—you want to go back to the way things were, whether it’s a simpler time, a better time in your life or just to be different. We see this with cars, motorcycles, cameras and stereo equipment. Heck, we even see it with video games.
So why not with ARs?
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Bushmaster Firearms and their new home in Carson City, Nevada, Bushmaster recently unveiled the XM15A2 to take you back to when the standard focused on iron sights and carry handles. A black phosphate-finished rifle sporting a chrome-lined barrel and bolt carrier will remind you of the original Bushmaster rifles made in Windham, Maine.
Bushmaster got this one right from the rear sight to the barrel and all the correct furniture.
Bushmaster Firearms Incorporated was founded by Mark Gwinn in 1974 in Bangor, Maine. The company changed hands two years later and relocated to Windham, Maine. In 1990, it was acquired by Quality Products Company.
In its heyday during the 1980s and 1990s, it was one of less than a handful of companies producing AR-15 pattern rifles. In 2006, Bushmaster was bought by Cerberus Capital and became a part of Freedom Group, which became Remington Outdoor Company in 2015. As Remington Outdoor Company entered a bankruptcy auction in 2020, Franklin Armory purchased the Bushmaster name and trademarks.
In 2021, Bushmaster Firearms Industries was off and running again. This time, however, it was on the other side of the country in Carson City, Nevada, offering basic flat-top AR-15 pattern rifles and carbines chambered in 5.56 NATO and .450 Bushmaster.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary, the company released the XM15A2 20-inch Fixed Carry Handle, chambered in 5.56 NATO—just like the original rifle in all dimensions that launched my career as a 17-year-old Marine rifleman in 1987.
It may be a little weighty for a standard AR with a 20-inch barrel, but the A2 profile served from the 1980s through the 2020s.
Simpler Sights
If you’ve inhabited internet forums or social media groups during the past 10 years, you might have seen meme wars debating the use of iron sights versus optics. The XM15A2 is obviously geared toward the former with its high carry handle that houses a fully adjustable rear sight system that can be dialed in with an elevation wheel, allowing for range settings from 200 to 800 yards, and a side-mounted knob, allowing for windage adjustments.
This represented one of the most significant upgrades to the AR-15/M16 family when transitioning from the older A1 rear sight, which was adjustable for windage only by inserting a cartridge into the windage wheel dial and depressing a detent to make changes.
The end result turned the M16 into a target rifle. There’s some debate as to whether this was needed for field use by troops, but it definitely helps out on the target range.
If you’re unfamiliar with the A2 rifle, you get a fully adjustable windage knob without the need of a cartridge or tool to change your windage. The aperture sight has two settings, allowing you to flip either one into position.
The rear sight is fully adjustable as a true target rifle.
One position has an unmarked hood, and the aperture measures approximately 0.070 inch in diameter. This is the default position for most firing situations. The rifle is zeroed with this aperture and the elevation wheel, which sits under the sight for distances out to 800 yards. In the Marine Corps, the default setting was 300 yards. The downside of using a relatively small rear sight aperture is that you get less light transmission through the aperture … and thus a reduced field of view.
If you find the target sight too small or need a larger aperture for low light shooting, rapid fire shooting and the like, flip it to the larger aperture.
The larger aperture, at approximately 0.2-inch in diameter, is marked “0-2” and features a windage setting index mark. This is often referred to as the Combat Sight by troops, as this aperture offers a larger field of view during battle conditions or low-light situations, and it can be used as a ghost ring for quick target engagement when visibility is limited. When flipped down, the engraved windage mark on top of the “0-2” aperture ring shows the dialed-in windage setting on a windage scale at the rear of the rear sight assembly. This aperture shouldn’t be used at a target range when shooting for the smallest possible groups.
The rear sight at the A2 carry handle is one of the best parts of iron sights ever requested by the military.
There’s an elevation knob present as well, allowing you to dial in known distances in 100-yard increments up to 800 yards. The front sight post was widened slightly from the A1 and is adjustable with a tool in 1 MOA increments.
Not-So-Fancy Furniture
The more noticeable upgrades from the A1 to the A2 are the 1-inch longer butt stock, pistol grip with finger groove, and round handguards that install on top and bottom as opposed to left and right, making their removal and installation easier (as well as only having to inventory one part type as opposed to left and right sections).
Perhaps the most controversial change to some shooters was the heavy barrel in front of the handguards, which upped the weight of the rifle by about a pound. This was said to prevent troops from damaging the barrel when using it as a pry bar. This might just be lore, but having fired a Colt SP1 (A1 variant) and slinging in as I was taught in the Corps, I found myself pulling the skinny barrel to the left. There was no damage, but it screwed up the barrel harmonics enough that the heavier barrel was always a preferred standard in a working rifle build.
On the M16A2, the full-auto setting was replaced by a three-round burst setting. However, this doesn’t apply to this semi-auto counterpart.
While not as popular with many civilian shooters, the A2 pistol grip is often cherished by the men who used them in combat.
A Better Build
Overall, the fit and finish on the Bushmaster XM15A2 20-inch Fixed Carry Handle is outstanding, from the coating on the exterior metal to bolt carrier group components. The company really outdid themselves with this build.
The sights move into position with positive affirming “clicks,” whether adjusting for windage or elevation. The factory military-grade trigger is good—much better than those found on any M16A2 we’ve fired. It could be improved with an aftermarket match grade from a number of manufacturers, especially if you’re going after longer range targets. But if you’re keeping it under 200 yards, this will serve you well.
I had a mini ammo can containing 120 rounds of American Eagle 62-grain 5.56 NATO FMJ on-hand. This was a similar load to most range ammo used in the USMC back in the 1980s when we became acquainted with the A2, so I took it out to give it a whirl.
I kept the range to 200 yards from the prone position and not off-handed or standing, to keep it as accurate as possible without allowing potential failings of the shooter.
The first string of shots landed about 4 inches to the right in a decent-sized group. It was easy to dial in; although the sub-20-degree temperature wanted you to start using Kentucky windage instead of doing it correctly, but we toughed it out. Thankfully, there was no Washoe Wind at the range to make life a little easier, this was just centering the sights.
Once we were dialed in, the groups were averaging 1 to 1.65 inches. This is definitely a rifle where you want to hit on all cylinders: trigger control, breath control and proper shooting position. In the Marine Corps, it was the basis of building a rifleman.
Of course, shooting the KD (Known Distance) Course in the Marine Corps was a longer affair drawn out for 1-2 weeks, snapping in, holding positions, using a sling to brace the rifle to the shooter, etc.
Perhaps we’ll attempt that at a future date, reaching out to 500 yards with iron sights because the rifle is fully capable of doing it.
The Bushmaster XM15A2 20-inch Fixed Carry Handle is a fully capable combat target rifle if there ever was one. You might never fire a shot in anger through one, but it would serve you well even as something to bring out to a long-range match … or just to have fun with at longer distances than you would with a typical AR.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Winchester recently released the 21 Sharp rimfire cartridge, but does it have what it takes to kill .22 LR?
Winchester has created a new rimfire cartridge called the 21 Sharp, and it’s based on the .22 Long Rifle cartridge. Winchester estimates that nearly 2.5 billion rounds of .22 Long Rifle ammunition are manufactured each year. It’s clearly the most popular cartridge, largely due to its low noise level, low recoil level, low cost, and the wide range of applications the cartridge is suited for—in rifles and handguns.
So, as popular as the .22 Long Rifle cartridge is, you’re probably wondering why Winchester would screw around with it. Why would they just not make more—or better—.22 Long Rifle ammunition?
.22 Long Rifle Issues
There are several reasons. The first is that .22 Long Rifle—as well as .22 Long and .22 Short—ammunition is a pain in the ass to manufacture. One issue is the technology required to overcome the difficulty of inserting a primer compound in the rim of the cartridge case. Of course, this applies to all rimfire ammunition, including .22 Magnum and .17 HMR. But, .22 Long Rifle ammo is more difficult to manufacture than the .22 Magnum or the .17 HMR because of the heeled bullet it uses.
A heeled bullet has two diameters: There’s the diameter that fits inside the cartridge case neck, and there’s the diameter that fits inside the barrel. If you’ve ever looked closely at a .22 Long Rifle cartridge you’ve probably noticed how the diameter of the bullet, just forward of the case mouth, was the same diameter as the case. Heeled bullets were common back in the days of blackpowder cartridges, but the .22 Long Rifle is the only widely used cartridge that still uses a heeled bullet.
Here you can see the difference in the bullets used by the 21 Sharp (left) and the .22 LR. The .22 Long Rifle uses a heeled lead bullet while the 21 Sharp uses a modern jacketed bullet.
You see, the .22 Long Rifle cartridge was introduced in 1887, but it was nothing more than a modified .22 Short/.22 Long cartridge, which was introduced in 1871. Originally, all three were loaded with black powder and were designed similar to the cartridges that were created for converted cap and ball revolvers. These revolvers—and there were thousands of them—had a bore the same diameter as the cylinder chambers to match the round balls they fired.
So, the conversion cartridges were made to fire a heeled bullet the same diameter as the outside of the cartridge case as well as the inside of the bore. But, the bullet had a second diameter that fit inside the cartridge case. Otherwise, the conversions would’ve required a new barrel or a new cylinder.
And it gets even more complicated.
You might have also noticed that, when you’re shooting .22 Long Rifle ammunition, there’s a film on the bullet that leaves a greasy residue in your hand. This is lubrication, which is a micro-crystalline synthetic-based wax, and it’s used to keep the soft, pure lead bullet from fouling the bore of the gun. With a conventional bullet made with a copper or gilding metal jacket, lubrication isn’t necessary.
There’s also another issue with the heeled bullet: In some areas, lead bullets are prohibited, and some shooters and hunters also prefer not to use lead bullets. To circumvent these lead restrictions and shooter preferences, some manufacturers offer lead-free .22 Long Rifle ammo.
The two 21 Sharp rounds on the left are loaded with a conventional diameter bullet. The .22 Long Rifle on the far right uses a heeled bullet that’s the same diameter as the outside of the cartridge case.
For example, Winchester makes a 26-grain lead-free varmint load for the .22 Long Rifle. The problem is that these lead-free loads must also use a heeled bullet, and it’s very difficult to make a good-shooting lead-free, heeled bullet. If you’ve ever tried any lead-free .22 Long Rifle ammo, you’ve probably seen it generally doesn’t shoot as well as .22 Long Rifle ammo loaded with lead bullets.
Enter the 21 Sharp
Most commonly, new cartridges are created by altering existing cartridge cases.
For example, the .243 Winchester uses a necked-down .308 Winchester case, and the .17 HMR was created by necking down a .22 Magnum case. With the 21 Sharp, Winchester did not do anything that complicated. They used the .22 Long Rifle case but did nothing to alter it. All Winchester did was create a new bullet of the proper diameter to fit inside the case, just like how the bullets used for the .17 HMR and .22 Magnum fit inside their cases.
One advantage the 21 Sharp offers is an accurate, lead-free .22 LR-class option for rimfire shooters.
The bullet diameter needed was 0.2105 or 0.21 caliber. Very importantly, this eliminated the need for a heeled bullet. Everything else about the case and new cartridge—including the length—remained the same as the .22 Long Rifle. In fact, the 21 Sharp is loaded to the same maximum average pressure of 24,000 psi, just like the .22 Long Rifle.
The 21 Sharp SAAMI cartridge and chamber specifications.
In one way, creating a new cartridge doesn’t get any easier than this because you don’t need a new brass case. On the other hand, you do need bullets, and since there were no 0.21-caliber bullets, Winchester had to create them.
The 34-grain JHP load for the 21 Sharp delivered better terminal performance than any .22 Long Rifle load the author has tested.
To start with, Winchester will be offering four different loads for the 21 Sharp, and they include a 42-grain FMJ bullet, a 37-grain black copper-plated bullet, a 34-grain jacketed hollow-point bullet and a 25-grain copper matrix bullet. An advantage of not having to use a heeled bullet also means that Winchester can create 0.21-caliber bullets that deliver terminal performance similar to the .22 Magnum and the .17 HMR.
Finally, since a chamber for the .22 LR and the 21 Sharp is dimensionally identical, it makes things much easier for manufacturers to make barrels. All that’s needed is a 0.21-caliber barrel with a 1:12 rifling twist rate. That means if you have a .22 Long Rifle, rifle or handgun, you should be able to convert it to 21 Sharp with just a barrel change. And, since the cartridge cases are the same, and the dimensions for the loaded cartridges are, too … detachable magazines should be interchangeable.
21 Sharp ammunition fed flawlessly through the Winchester Xpert rifles’ 10-round .22 LR magazine.
Testing the 21 Sharp
I wanted to get my hands on a rifle that would shoot this cartridge as soon as possible, and Winchester sent me one of the rifles they’d been using to test the 21 Sharp. It was a Winchester Xpert bolt action with a 16.5-inch barrel that feeds from a 10-shot detachable magazine. Winchester also sent me several boxes of 21 Sharp ammo that included the 25-grain copper matrix load and the 34-grain JHP load. I mounted a Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14×40 riflescope and my Silencer Central Banish 45 suppressor and went to the shooting bench.
Though most 100-yard groups fired with the 21 Sharp were in the 1.5-inch range, several came in under an inch.
My first surprise was that the ammunition delivered muzzle velocities that exceeded Winchester’s advertised velocities. The 25-grain load has an advertised velocity of 1,750 fps, and it averaged 1,800 fps for a 10-shot string, with a standard velocity deviation of 21.0 fps. The 34-grain load has an advertised velocity of 1,500 fps, but 10 shots out of the little Xpert rifle averaged 1,590 fps, with a standard velocity deviation of 19.1 fps.
The 34-grain JHP 21 Sharp load averaged less than an inch at 50 yards when fired out of a $300 rifle.
The Winchester Xpert rifle has a suggested retail price of only $320, so I didn’t expect extreme precision. However, it shot well; the overall average for five, five-shot groups with each load—that’s 10 five-shot groups—at 50 yards was only 0.86 of an inch. I also did some shooting with both loads at 100 yards. Generally, the 100-yard groups were in the 1.5-inch range, but a couple were less than an inch. That’s pretty good performance from a $300 rimfire rifle.
All the cartridges fed from the Xpert’s detachable 10-round magazine without a hitch, and, in total, I fired 300 rounds. Out of those 300 rounds I had one cartridge that did not fire. My testing with rimfire ammo over the years has shown this is generally a one in a 1,000 occurrence. I didn’t have enough ammo to verify that, but there’s no reason to suspect the 21 Sharp would be any less reliable than any other rimfire cartridge.
Elevation and atmospheric conditions dictate trajectory, and the Winchester’s website lists the 100-yard drop for the 25-grain load at 3.4 inches. In my testing, the drop was closer to 2 inches. The website also showed 4.4 inches of drop at 100 yards for the 34-grain JHP load, but on my range, it was closer to 3.5 inches.
Shooting Results For 21 Sharp
LOAD
MV
SVD
ME
PRECISION
25-grain Copper Matrix
1,800
21.0
180
0.78
34-grain JHP
1,590
19.1
191
0.94
NOTES: Reported muzzle velocity (MV), standard velocity deviation (SVD) and muzzle energy (ME) are the result of 10 shots fired over a Caldwell G2 Chronograph with the screens set 10 feet from the muzzle. Precision is the average of five, five-shot groups fired from a sandbag rest at 50 yards with a Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14×40 riflescope set at maximum magnification. Elevation: 2,200 feet, temperature: 74 degrees F, humidity: 49 percent, and pressure: 30.27 in-Hg.
What’s the 21 Sharp For?
Clearly, if you want to shoot a rimfire with .22 Long Rifle like ballistics, but you also want to use lead-free ammo, the 21 Sharp is the way to go. The best 50-yard group fired during all my testing was with the lead-free copper matrix load, and it measured a scant 0.507 inch. I also tested the JHP load in a block of Clear Ballistics, and it penetrated between 8 and 10 inches, and the bullet upset with an average frontal diameter of 0.37 inch, with 98 percent weight retention. You’ll not find a .22 Long Rifle load that’ll deliver similar terminal performance. In fact, I’ve never tested a .22 LR load where the upset bullet’s frontal diameter measured larger than 0.32 inch. So, for small game hunters, it appears the 21 Sharp will offer external and terminal ballistic advantages.
The best five-shot group fired with the 21 Sharp at 50 yards was fired with the lead-free load, which kind of validates the concept of the cartridge.
You’re probably wondering what all this wonderfulness costs, and where you can get a 21 Sharp rifle. It looks like 100 rounds will retail for between $18 and $27, which will put the cost per shot at between $0.18 and $0.27. That’s about the same amount you’d pay for lead-free or high-performance .22 Long Rifle ammo. If all you want to do is plink and have fun on a budget—with lead bullets—stick with your .22 Long Rifle.
As for rifles, Savage is currently cataloging four 21 Sharp rifles priced between $269 and $389, and I’m sure other rifles from other manufacturers will soon follow. Don’t be surprised if aftermarket replacement barrels soon become available in 21 Sharp as well. The 21 Sharp will never be as popular as the .22 Long Rifle, but it does offer some advantages you might appreciate.
Rimfire Cartridge Velocity/Energy Comparison*
CARTRIDGE
LOAD
AMV
AME
21 Sharp
25-grain Copper Matrix
1,750
170
21 Sharp
34-grain JHP
1,500
170
22 LR
26-grain LF Varmint
1,650
157
22 LR
37-grain Super Speed CPHP
1,330
145
22 Magnum
25-grain LF Varmint
2,100
245
22 Magnum
34-grain JHP
2,120
339
17 HMR
15.5-grain LF Varmint
2,550
231
17 HMR
20-grain JHP
2,375
250
*Reported velocity and energy data were obtained from advertised ballistics.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
We discuss the history and present state of .22 LR before hitting the range with three great rimfire rifle models.
Some 40-plus years ago, my first rifle (a Winchester Model 67) was a single-shot .22. I’d bet the same goes for many folks reading this. You loaded a single round, closed the bolt, then cocked it by pulling back a spring-loaded knob at the rear of the receiver. That Model 67 was older, even back then. The cartridge had to be placed just right, and the bolt closed gently to get it to load without jamming. It rarely extracted, meaning my trusty pocket knife had to come into play to pull the empty case after a shot. The iron sights were barely adequate, but over time, I learned where to hold to make an accurate shot.
Looking back, I’m sure my dad entrusted me with that particular rifle for my first solo trips afield for several reasons, even though more modern .22 rifles were at his disposal. He knew it would teach me to make my first shot count since a follow-up would only occur several minutes later. It would teach me to use iron sights, a skill every hunter should have. And it was relatively safe for a young shooter. He knew I wouldn’t spray bullets around the treetops as quickly as I could pull the trigger. It also saved him some ammo, as the small handful of rounds he would dole out would last me several trips.
Faults aside, that old gun eventually made life hard for the rabbits and squirrels along our family farm’s hardwood ridges and bottomland fields. It also instilled a love of the .22 Long Rifle that remains today—one that I have passed down to my kids. There aren’t many more fun and cost-effective ways to spend a family day afield than with a rimfire rifle, a box of bulk ammo, and a few targets or a stand of hardwoods full of squirrels.
With the 10/22 Takedown, you can quickly go from carry case to the woods with the confidence that your bullets will still hit the same spot.
History of the .22 LR
Lots of shooters share the .22 Long Rifle passion. Year after year, the round is the most sold caliber in new guns and ammunition. So, how did this popular and versatile round come about? It started in 1857 as a cartridge designed for the Smith & Wesson Model 1, S&W’s first firearm. The .22 Rimfire cartridge had a 4-grain blackpowder charge and a 29-grain bullet. That round became the .22 short, the oldest cartridge still in production today. Interestingly, the Model 1 was marketed as a close-range personal protection gun. Next came the .22 Long in 1871 with a slightly longer case and an extra grain of blackpowder for 5 grains. Then, the .22 Extra Long came about in 1880 with a 6-grain charge.
In 1887, the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company introduced the quintessential .22 rimfire cartridge, the .22 Long Rifle (LR). It duplicated the performance of the .22 Extra Long in a shorter cartridge. Almost immediately, it became one of the most popular rounds sold. The change to smokeless powder further improved the performance, and today, numerous variations of different bullet styles and weights are manufactured worldwide.
The author tested each rifle with various ammunition, including the CCI Green Tag, Subsonic and Quiet-22, for accuracy and noise level.
.22 LR Today
Why does the .22 LR remain so popular with today’s shooters? For one, it’s versatile. You can use it to hunt small game and predators, as a sidearm when working on the farm or running a trapline, and for fun and inexpensive range time. Like all ammo, recent years have seen a drastic jump in cost per round, even for the .22 LR, but it remains one of the least expensive ways to spend a day at the shooting bench. Ammo cost for the .22 LR ranges from around 9 cents per trigger pull to 15 cents for some specialty and target loads, a fraction of what even inexpensive centerfire rounds run these days.
Every hunter and shooter should own at least one .22 rimfire rifle. Modern manufacturers have embraced our love of the .22 and offer the round in almost every rifle style imaginable. Many of these guns are capable of single-hole accuracy and come in at a bargain price compared to similar centerfire versions. Gone are the days of hand-fed single-shot rifles that needed to be babied to get the round to feed. Today’s guns will digest ammo of different styles and bullet weights and do it without a hiccup. Whether you prefer honing your skills at the shooting range or strolling through the hardwoods in search of small game for the dinner pot, a .22 rimfire will fit the bill.
I tested three action styles from leading manufacturers. All were a joy to shoot. And while the .22 LR isn’t loud by any caliber standard, a lifetime of shooting, not always with hearing protection, has made me appreciate shooting quietly. All three guns in this test came with a factory-threaded barrel so that I could add a Banish 22 suppressor from Silencer Central. No matter what style of gun you prefer, I guarantee there is a .22 LR version out there.
Henry Frontier Model
The classic lever-action introduced in 1848 as the “Volition Repeating Rifle” earned the moniker “The Gun That Won the West.” The ability to load and fire several rounds with just a short throw of the action made for fast follow-up shots, a novel concept then. For years, the lever-action .30-30 was synonymous with deer rifle. It could be found in deer camps from the southern swamps to the northern mountains. While other rifle actions are popular across the globe, the lever-action remains a distinctly American style.
The Henry Frontier’s classic lines and feel make it natural for a trip to the woods to chase squirrels or other small game.
Add in hit TV shows like The Rifleman and Winchester 73, and you have an entire generation of shooters who grew up dreaming of owning a lever-action. I was no different. My first real deer rifle was a Marlin 336 in .30-30.
I never really outgrew that love of the lever gun. Luckily, the action has experienced a resurgence in recent years, with several new guns being released in various calibers, including .22 LR. Rimfire shooters have long enjoyed the .22s produced by the Henry Rifle Company; I included Henry’s Frontier Model Threaded Barrel in this comparison. The tubular magazine on many lever-actions prevents easy reloading when using a silencer. The suppressor would stop the magazine follower from sliding out, meaning you would have to remove the silencer each time you want to reload. Henry solved this with the Frontier Model by adding a 24-inch barrel and shortening the magazine tube so that you can reload without removing the can. Even with the shortened tube, the rifle still holds eight rounds.
While the Frontier’s long barrel provides clearance for the magazine tube to clear a suppressor, the rifle is ungainly in the field with a can attached.
When you unbox this rifle, you first think, “Man, this is a pretty gun.” The 24-inch octagonal barrel mated to the smooth, dark hardwood stock gives it a classic look that screams to be taken to the woods.
As expected from a Henry, the build quality is excellent, with careful metal-to-wood fit and an action as smooth as motor oil on ice. The muzzle end of the barrel uses industry-standard 1/2×28 threads that are 0.400-inch in length, making for an easy addition of most rimfire silencers. The trigger breaks at a crisp 3.8 pounds and feels smooth on the bench and in the woods. The length of pull runs 14 inches, a good compromise that lets shooters of all sizes handle and enjoy the rifle and shoot it comfortably.
The Frontier comes factory with an adjustable semi-buckhorn rear and a tall, brass-bead front sight on the octagon barrel in a dovetail fixture. The rear sight features a white diamond at the bottom of a traditional “U.” While the open sights are serviceable, they are a little large for distant aiming. Luckily, the rifle comes from the factory with an integrated ⅜-inch dovetail, allowing the easy addition of a scope. I topped the Henry with a Leupold VX-Freedom 3×9 scope. As with most lever-actions, a taller scope mount is necessary for hammer clearance under the scope.
A medium or high mount allows enough room to thumb the Henry Frontier’s hammer with optics mounted.
The safety is the traditional quarter-cock lever style, allowing the shooter to bring the hammer back about 1/8-inch until you hear a click, or, with the hammer fully cocked, hold the hammer with your thumb while releasing it by pressing on the trigger. Then, lower the hammer down to the “safe” position. As with all hammer guns, take extreme care when lowering the hammer.
The Frontier is a joy to shoot. The action is smooth enough to cycle without removing the rifle from your shoulder or taking your eye off the target while plinking away. The longer 24-inch barrel, while a bit ungainly with the suppressor installed, was accurate, and it more than held its own on the bench against the other actions.
Accuracy with the Frontier was exceptional, with 50-yard groups hovering near a half-inch with most ammunition. The addition of the silencer opened up the group, but just slightly, with multiple ammo brands and bullet styles still printing under an inch. If classic styling and tradition are your cup of tea, the Frontier is the rifle for you. Its MSRP is $609.
Henry Frontier Threaded Barrel Deals
Sportsman's Warehouse
$519.99
Guns.com
$608.99
Ruger 10/22 Takedown
Ruger first introduced its semi-auto 10/22 in 1964. To say the rifle design was a hit would be an understatement. Since then, Ruger has sold over 7 million of the popular little rifle. Third-party aftermarket parts like triggers, stocks and barrels abound, making it one of the most easily customizable rifles today. I’d venture just about every avid shooter or hunter either owns one or has shot one at least once.
The 10/22 Takedown topped with the Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9 scope proved extremely accurate for its overall length and design.
The original carbine came with a 10-round rotary magazine, but extended magazines are available.
Ruger now offers over a dozen varieties of the 10/22. In 2012, it introduced a takedown model that breaks down with an easy twist of the barrel to fit into a handy carry bag. The model (21133) I tested came with a precision-rifled, 16.12-inch barrel with a .920-inch-diameter barrel fluted for weight reduction. The shorter barrel is handy and easy to point and shoot, both as-is and with a suppressor. Before heading to the range, I topped the rifle with a Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9 scope.
Takedown is as simple as locking the bolt back and verifying that the rifle is unloaded, pushing a recessed lever, twisting the subassemblies and pulling them apart. No tools are required.
While some takedown rifles struggle to hold the point of impact (POI), Ruger came up with an ingenious way to lock the barrel into the exact position time after time by adding an “adjustment knob” locking system. Loosen the adjustment knob by turning it to the right as far as possible. Insert the barrel assembly by turning it to the right 45 degrees with moderate inward pressure after insertion. Now, rotate it to the left (clockwise) until it locks in place. Finally, tighten the adjustment knob by turning it counterclockwise as far as possible with finger pressure. It works. I took the rifle down and put it back together several times, and the POI remained consistent.
The 10/22 Takedown’s knurled adjustment ring allows the shooter to return to the same point of impact each time the rifle is taken down and reassembled.
Other than the takedown feature, the new 10/22 remains the same in other respects. The cross-bolt safety is located forward of the trigger guard and is set up for right-handed shooters. The factory-supplied magazine is the familiar 10-round rotary style. The bolt lock is found under the gun forward of the safety. While the trigger broke at a relatively stiff 5.5 pounds, it was crisp with minimal creep, which made it easy to shoot accurately (several aftermarket triggers are available, if you prefer a lighter pull). The 10/22 Takedown Model features the Ruger Modular Stock System with interchangeable standard and high cheekpieces that snap on and off for a custom fit based on your shooting style and optics choice.
The 10/22 was near Hollywood quiet with CCI Clean-22 40-grain target loads at 1,070 fps but would not cycle the CCI Quiet-22 segmented hollow-point at 710 fps. Perhaps after a long break-in, it might cycle the slower loads, but the new rifle would not. All other ammo tested fed reliably with each trigger pull.
Sub-1-inch groups at 50 yards were common on the bench with a wide range of ammo brands. With the suppressor installed, groups ran at 1 inch, and POI shifted slightly from the bare barrel. If a fast follow-up shot and ease of storage appeal to you, you will be happy with the 10/22 Takedown. The Ruger 10/22 Takedown’s MSRP is $799.99, but I have seen them for considerably less in real-world pricing.
Ruger 10/22 Takedown Deals
Sportsman's Warehouse
$479.99
Guns.com
$425.99
Christensen Arms Ranger .22
While bolt-action rimfire rifles have been around for a while, the Ranger .22 from Christensen Arms is not your grandfather’s squirrel gun. From the company that pioneered carbon-fiber barrels and stocks, the Ranger is an affordable, super-accurate .22 equally at home on the bench or in the woods.
The Ranger’s carbon-fiber barrel mates well with the Banish 22 from Silencer Central without making the rifle overly long.
Its anodized black receiver is machined from aluminum. A two-lug steel bolt uses dual-locking lugs for reliable feeding. Dual extractors and a fixed ejector ensure reliable removal of spent rounds, and an anti-bind rail on the left side of the bolt aids smooth operation.
Mated to that action is a Christensen Arm’s 18-inch barrel that begins with a hand-lapped 416R stainless-steel blank turned down to a narrow profile. A carbon-fiber sleeve is fitted over the steel with air space in between. Finally, a steel muzzle device is threaded on to form a stiff, lightweight, accurate barrel. The Ranger’s muzzle is threaded 1/2×28, making direct installation of most rimfire suppressors easy. The action and barrel are mated with a Christensen Arms lightweight and strong carbon stock with a semi-tactical shape and a 13.75-inch length of pull, making the rifle easy to shoulder and shoot for just about anyone. The fully-rigged rifle weighs 5 pounds, so it’s easy to tote around the woods.
Range time with the Christensen Arms Ranger .22 proved fun and near custom-rifle accurate.
The Ranger .22 comes from the factory with the excellent TriggerTech field trigger designed for the Remington 700, which is adjustable from 2.5 to 5 pounds. My test gun tripped the scale at just under 4 pounds before adjustments, with a crisp, clean break and no noticeable creep. The Ranger is a joy to shoot. As a bonus, it’s compatible with most Remington 700 aftermarket triggers, so if you prefer another brand to match your big-game rifle more closely, it’s a simple swap.
Unlike the first two rifles in this test, the Ranger does not come with iron sights but instead has an integral (0 MOA) Picatinny-style rail for simple and rigid optics mounting. My test gun was topped with a Riton 3 Conquer in 3-15×44, making even long-range plinking a breeze.
The Ranger uses the proven Ruger 10/22 rotary-style magazine to feed reliably with each bolt turn, no matter how rushed. It also accepts any extended magazine designed for the 10/22 if you prefer more than 10 rounds. The magazine release is a paddle style actuated from the rear. The bolt release is mounted at 9 o’clock on the receiver, so bolt removal for cleaning is a simple task. Finally, the simple forward/back safety lever is located on the right side of the tang, just like many centerfire designs. You can work the bolt with the safety in the On position.
The combination of carbon-fiber stock and barrel paired with a machined aluminum receiver make the Ranger both lightweight, at just a hair over 5 pounds, and blazingly accurate.
Just how accurate is the Ranger .22? Regardless of ammo brand and bullet style, it stacked group after 50-yard group under an inch, with several under 0.5 inch. Many groups should have been even tighter, but I could almost call the slight flyer when I felt the trigger break while the crosshairs hovered just off the aiming point. The CCI Target 40-grain Mini-Mag consistently turned in the tightest groups. With the Banish 22 suppressor attached, subsonic loads were whisper quiet, with the thud of the bullet striking the dirt backstop sounding much louder than the round firing.
With all these premium rifle features, you might expect the Ranger to come with a premium price tag. Instead, the suggested retail is just $849.99, a bargain for what you get. If you’re looking for a benchrest-accurate .22 LR that is also light enough to carry on a hunt, the Ranger is the perfect choice.
Christensen Arms Ranger .22 Deals
Sportsman's Warehouse
$829.99
Guns.com
$719.99
Whether you prefer lever, bolt or semi-auto, a quality .22 rimfire is out there to fit your needs. Choose the model that closely matches your big-game rifle for quality range time to improve your shooting without the extra cost and noise of a centerfire. Or pick more than one and switch back and forth; you won’t find more bang for the buck than with any of these modern .22 LR choices.
Just like the girl next door, 5.56 NATO had it all along and you just couldn’t see it.
One of the interesting parts about being a gun writer, in particular for these esteemed pages, is that I get to see some of the interesting behind-the-scenes stuff that goes into creating new guns and ammunition. However, one of the main things that a good gun writer does isn’t just hyping up the latest gear. Instead, it’s looking at what we already have … and what we may have taken for granted in the fray of a heavily commercialized industry.
As a result of my station and the barrage of new cartridges, I often get drawn into the conversation: “Do you think 5.56 NATO is going to get replaced by this or that?”
Well, if you look at what has happened and what likely will happen, the 5.56 has objectively wiped the floor with virtually all rifle cartridges in overall popularity, and it’s substantially better than its reputation would suggest.
Let’s look as to why this little cartridge is, and shall remain, the most popular in America.
The Girl Next Door
Conversations surrounding the 5.56 NATO (and .223 Remington, I will spare you the technicalities here and just refer to them as the same thing because, in all reality, they nearly are to end users) have come to be centered around just how bad it is and what needs to replace it. I recall reading articles in gun magazines when I was in high school about how the 5.56 wasn’t performing in Iraq and Afghanistan; people wanted something better, and there needed to be mass replacements for anything else.
Yet, for all this, the failure points identified were completely arbitrary—and even completely irrelevant. The big one was, “Well, it can’t stop a car easily,” or “It won’t bust an engine block.” As if any small arms cartridge was going to be objectively good at this that fits in an AR-15 frame. Then, we had the “enemy fighters are being hit XX times and keep fighting” trope that lasted a while.
The AR lower, a set of particular dimensions that determines if a cartridge will be commercially viable … or not.
But, right at the same time, the 77-grain 5.56 loads in the MK12 were apparently laying waste to thousands of enemies per hour. Hell, we couldn’t dig graves fast enough. While this is an exaggeration, at the time this level of cognitive dissonance was absolutely present, and it has stuck with us into the modern day. The 5.56 was always pretty good, bullet choice being the most important part of the equation. Bear in mind, we had 7.62 NATO this whole time, yet it was only 5.56 that faced common ire.
The 7.62 NATO/.308 Win. and 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem. are the two base rifle cartridges of our modern era.
I feel the criticism of the 5.56 cartridge is based solely on having too much of a good thing, to the point that we get bored with it or lose respect for it. It’s sort of like the girl next door in a way: You keep thinking you can somehow do better, but she’s always there waiting for you when you come home.
Maybe she really had it all along and you just couldn’t see it.
The hyperbole here goes pretty hard. I can’t find a single person who wants to be on the receiving end of 5.56 despite it being often disparaged as underpowered, poor at incapacitation, too small for deer, etc. Yet, at the same time, it’s undoubtedly the most common chambering for defensive rifles, and we see it used lethally in all sides of the many horrifying conflicts we have going today—from Ukraine to the Gaza Strip and all other war zones around the world, not to mention in terrorist attacks and police interventions. The 5.56 is fielded by the majority of the world to the point that it’s even, by misadventure, a standard cartridge for the Taliban government in Afghanistan.
It’s not going anywhere, but what is it about the chambering that keeps the “replacement” rhetoric going in American gun circles? There is a simple and somewhat disappointing answer: blatant, short-term consumerism in our industry, along with the military’s material response to the last war it fought.
Hindsight is always 20/20.
The 5.56 in most all forms is absolutely lethal when it comes to killing people, and I don’t want to tone it down for political sensitivity. You’re not putting together a home-defense rifle for zombies or some fictional monster; it’s for human attackers. I dislike it when the sanitized versions of this talk have desensitized and even infantized the 5.56 into some kind of toy cartridge; it’s a fighting cartridge, and it has somehow been reduced to a high-volume plinking round that guys blow through role-playing in tactical gear.
We have, at this point, become so familiar with the 5.56 that we’ve lost perspective and respect for what it can do in the roles it was designed for … and in those it’s almost impossible to beat. It’s low recoil and great for beginners, but in reality, you don’t need to go much above it.
The beauty of the AR-15 and 5.56 NATO pairing is that it’s tremendously easy to use, and its inherent strength is that it’s lightweight, accurate and has a short learning curve. More power doesn’t always mean more performance, and that’s something that tends to go over lots of heads.
Yet, here we are, throwing more new cartridges at the wall to see what sticks.
The Limits of Invention
I mentioned above that the truth of the “replacement” matter is that of consumer interest. Designing new cartridges creates demand for new barrels and bolts, but every new rifle cartridge, no matter how great, will struggle to succeed if it doesn’t fit into the AR-15 or AR-10 magazine well, excluding things like long-action cartridges of course (but then again, those have to compete with .30-06 and .300 Win. Mag. … good luck).
These magazines, the AR-10 7.62 (SR25) and AR-15 5.56 set the stage for what’s considered reliable and common. If it feeds from these magazines directly, or fits in their corresponding magwells, it has a chance at commercial success.
The 5.56 will always be the baseline for all similar cartridge development. The rifles are designed around it. Mil-spec exists around it. Barrel dimensions, muzzle threads and just about everything out there is based on the groundwork of the AR-15 and 5.56 cartridge. As a result, we’re inventing things that fit in that box. The reason the 5.56 will never go anywhere is that it is fundamentally ingrained in the DNA of all rifles today and has, for the most part, been influential in the idea of mass standardization.
This type of thinking isn’t inherently wrong, but in practice it makes it so that we have a baseline and we change a few parts out to make the base gun work “better” in certain roles that demand specialization or standardization. Yet, the baseline is still acceptable and, in many cases, preferable. There’s little that the 5.56 can’t do in practical terms, but there are things we want the base rifle to do a bit differently.
The 5.56 next to the brand-new .338 ARC and .300 BLK. The 5.56 is the most successful supersonic AR cartridge, and the new generation of subsonic offerings is sure to separate from the herd in terms of utility.
A good example of this is the .300 Blackout, and even the new .338 ARC. The 5.56 can’t really do subsonic well, so AR-based subsonic cartridges take this role. I like to see this innovation happening: a non-competitive, specialized round that doesn’t pretend to play in the 5.56’s backyard. Doing so is a sure way to struggle, because the 5.56 has most bases covered in the supersonic arena.
The Struggle is Real
Let’s look into why other rounds have a hard time competing in the supersonic range.
We’ve come very far with development in terms of what the 5.56 can do. Indeed, the 77-grain Black Hills MK262 is extremely hard to beat unless there are special-use circumstances. We have in the ARC cartridge family some real, interesting design, and Hornady has been doing a tremendous job in this respect.
Bullet choice in 5.56 is of paramount importance. This issue alone has led to numerous reputations, both positive and negative.
I was skeptical about the success of this cartridge family given that, in the early war years, there were significant and loud voices crying out for the adoption of “better” rounds like 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel. These rounds existed for a while and managed to be at least somewhat popular, but ultimately their success was short-lived, as better bullets were introduced in 5.56. The bloodline of the 6.5 Grendel was ultimately continued with the ARC family. There are now several cartridges that work in the AR using 6.5 Grendel mags and bolts, making it a viable alternative to the 5.56 family that shares the same mags and case heads.
Three common case head diameters that most common rifles use—the common 5.56 diameter also used by .300 BLK and .350 Legend, the Grendel diameter shared by the ARC family, and the .308 case head, common to everything from 30-06 to .243, 6.5 CM, .450 Bushmaster and so many more.
The 6.8 SPC never really caught on like it should have, but it was something of a bastard child because it didn’t have the weight savings and low recoil of 5.56, or the low cost of 7.62x39mm, making it a good idea with little room for further development. For medium game, it was at least somewhat better than 5.56, but the jury remains out considering there wasn’t much development in the lightweight .270-class bullets that it needed by the time it began to fall from manufacturer sheets. While it could be argued that it was objectively an improvement over 5.56, there was no room for it considering that it didn’t do much better overall than 5.56—and at the same time falling well short of 7.62 NATO performance.
The ideas behind other well-designed cartridges, like the .224 Valkyrie, were also somewhat similar in that its mistake was being .22 bore. The ARC family addressed this by introducing a .22 bore addition after they had success with their 6 ARC, all of which made use of the 6.5 Grendel magazine and bolt. The .224 Valkyrie uses the 6.8 SPC mag, making it harder to find and more expensive given the lack of the parent case’s popularity.
This image displays a disaster of common sense, the notable .224 Valkyrie is by all means a more technologically advanced cartridge, but the regressive design of the .350 Legend has enjoyed enormous popularity. The .224 struggled against the 5.56, both being .22 caliber.
An interesting outlier is the .300 AAC Blackout, a round that’s not all that great, but it met a specific need at a specific time … and it helped usher in the modern suppressor era. While it was originally intended for shorter barrels in subsonic form, the majority of rifles made for it today are 16 inches. As a result, it has a wide range of supersonic options available that do perform quite well, very much in 7.62x39mm territory for energy and velocity, if not a little on the lighter end.
The .300 Blackout is available in numerous forms and enjoys a wide range of .30-caliber projectiles. It doesn’t pretend to be 5.56, and as a result it has survived where others couldn’t.
It would be uncouth to give credit to AAC for this round; JD Jones had the .300 Whisper well before it and the AAC variant was just a better marketed version of what already existed. The .300 BLK met great success because it didn’t try to best the 5.56 in the supersonic arena, instead offering a base-gun alternative for short barrels and subsonic speeds using the same bolt and magazines. It’s only a barrel change on the base 5.56 AR-15.
Straight-wall case cartridges are common in restricted areas. These work in the AR-15, but overall are less efficient and higher recoiling than bottleneck cases. Their survival depends entirely on the legal framework of hunting zones.
We see other commercial success is in the rounds made to adhere to legal regulations in certain hunting areas that require straight-wall cases. These rounds are an intentional handicap to the hunter: There’s no objective benefit in terms of ballistics, and it could be argued that they are unethical in practice due to a deliberate rejection of efficiency in trajectory. Taking a mature, modular and advanced platform like the AR-15 and making it work with 19th century case designs in order to make some know-nothing bureaucratic stooges feel “safer” about Elmer Fudd shooting Bambi is why we have these rounds at all.
History Repeats Itself
The 5.56 isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, especially given the foothold it has with military use. In many ways, we’re bearing witness to the same situation we always have in terms of fighting rifles: The new bi-metal case 6.8 cartridges and corresponding large-frame rifles are large and heavy. While extremely advanced, the weight factor and subsequent lower number of rounds that can be carried echoes the same concerns the American military faced in the jungles of Vietnam. People love to disparage the M14 because it was a rifle built from lessons learned in the previous war, yet here we are … doing essentially the same thing.
The thing is, the benefits of the 5.56 haven’t changed at all, and the demands it fills are still relevant. System weight, manufacturing support, spare parts and many more concerns will always exist. And while the new rifles are quite interesting and boast impressive features, I doubt it’s even possible to dump the 5.56 considering that our small arms technology is nearing a century old. The M2 machine gun is going to stay, same with old tech like the 9×19 cartridge, .50 BMG, 7.62 NATO and more.
Some things will of course change, but from a standpoint of practicality, we will not so much replace as much as we will keep adding to what already exists. In the next decade, there will be more military cartridges in more guns, not less.
To close, it’s always speculation that a certain cartridge will ‘kill’ another one. The 9mm versus .45 ACP debate will still be raging in 100 years. Likewise, the .308 Win. never went anywhere … despite it being “unseated” by 6.5 Creedmoor. In fact, .308 Win. is again rising in overall popularity, as 6.5 CM has slowly fell from favor in long-range competition.
What was once a rivalry is now a brotherhood. 6.5 Creedmoor failed to unseat .308 Win. in popularity long term, but the two now occupy many a gun safe together, each valued for their respective strengths.
Deeply ingrained, established rounds like the .308 Win/7.62NATO, 9mm, .45 ACP—and 5.56 NATO—will never fade out in America in any of our lifetimes.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.
As a successor of Kimber’s KDS9c family of pistols, the CDS9 looks to continue to give armed citizens the best of both worlds. Not only does the all-metal, micro-compact 9mm offer up the time-tested design of the iconic 1911, but it does so in a modern package with all the bells and whistles you’ll find on a polymer striker-fired gun. Of all its assets, the hammer-fired single-action weight is among its most attractive, tipping the scales at only 21.8 ounces—perfect for EDC. Additionally, the CDS9 features an accessory rail, ambidextrous safety and mag release and, to top it all off, it’s optics-ready. Plus, 10-, 13- and 15-round magazines are standard. MSRP: Starting at $1,075
Gemtech Direct Thread Abyss and Neutron Series Suppressors
Funny as it might sound, direct-thread suppressors are making a comeback. No, QD systems aren’t dead. As a cheaper overall package, one that’s lighter and offers the flexibility of choosing your mounting system, makes the DT option more attractive to shooters. Gemtech has been sensitive to this trend, releasing its Abyss 5.56 and 7.62 and Neutron 7.62 series cans in direct-thread models. Known for their durability and performance, the cans should turn heads—particularly for those looking to get into suppressors economically but haven’t settled on a mounting system. Moving the lines this way also gives shooters plenty of options, with the Abyss offer-ing a heavy-use suppressor that does a number on back pressure and the more balanced Neutron, which offers superior performance in a lighter can. MSRP: Starting at $710
Marlin 1894 Trapper in .357 Magnum
There are few rifles as legendary as the Marlin 1894. Now, the Trapper model has been reintroduced in an all-time classic chambering: .357 Magnum. The side ejector was renowned for its strength and treasured by shooters for its solid steel top for mounting a scope. The now Ruger-made rifle offers up several other assets, including stainless-steel construction, nickel plating on small parts and classic skinner sights. In the Trapper model, the rifle has a 16.1-inch barrel with a threaded muzzle, remaining a nimble field option even with suppressor mounted. To boot, few other pistol-caliber cartridges perform better out of a long-gun than .357, making this ideal for plinking, hunting … and even self-defense. MSRP: $1,500
Hornady HIT Target Impact Indicator
As any long-range shooter knows, start reaching out past 500 yards and it becomes difficult to confirm a hit on a steel target—especially shooting by yourself. With this in mind, Hornady has cooked up an affordable and handy way to make sure you’re on target with its HIT Impact Indicator. Simply activated when a steel target is struck, the indicator emits a flashing red light visible to the naked eye from 1,000 yards plus. Interestingly, the flash is programmed to spell “H-I-T” in Morse code—kind of a neat way to let you know you’re dialed in. The device is compact, compatible with most stands and features a rechargeable battery that lets you always hit the range with enough juice. MSRP: $18, pack of two
Primary Arms GLx 1x MicroPrism
Based on Primary Arms’ popular SLx MicroPrism, the GLx 1x offers a close-quarter shooter a definite leg up from its predecessor. First and foremost, PA has outfitted the optic with a larger objective lens, giving it greater light-gathering capabilities. To this, the company has also widened the eye box, making eye alignment faster and reducing eye strain on longer shooting sessions. Furthermore, with unlimited eye relief—and multiple mounting systems—the GLx offers nearly unlimited configurations and facilitates nearly every shooting position. Available in both red and green illumination options for its etched ACSS Cyclops reticle, it also gives an incredibly clear and accurate sight picture. MSRP: $300
Springfield Armory XD Mod.3 OSP 9mm
The XD soldiers on. One of the most popular striker-fired pistols of the past few decades has continued to adapt to shooter preferences with the release of the Mod.3 OSP. The 9mm builds off the success of preceding models but offers some much-appreciated features modern handgunners look for. A-No. 1 is a factory-milled slide, making the pistol optics-ready, and compatible with RMR, DeltaPoint Pro and Docter footprints. To this, Springfield added greater control to the slide, with a unique dual serration pattern both fore and aft. It also has improved texturing on the grip, giving supreme control over the 4-inch barreled pistol. Shipping with both 16- and 10-round magazines, it also has enough on board to handle most situations. MSRP: $325
Weatherby Mark V Backcountry Guide Rifle
Tramping the hills for a once-in-a-lifetime trophy requires more than your average hunting rifle. These adventures call for an iron that’s light, intuitive and, above all, accurate. The Weatherby Mark V Backcountry Guide checks off all these boxes. Tipping the scales at an incredible 5.1 pounds, the rifle is engineered to create little burden on your way to that prime ridgeline. This is thanks to its ultralight carbon-fiber Blacktooth Stock, which features the advanced Spartan Precision carbon-fiber bedding block. Weatherby then adds a BSF carbon-fiber barrel, offering both weight savings and accuracy-enhancing rigidity to the rifle. Then, the company tops it off with a TriggerTech adjustable trigger, to guarantee a crisp and on-target break when it matters most. There are a ton more, but, suffice to say, these alone more than make the rifle on-target. MSRP: $3,300
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Heavy target rifles with high-powered scopes have become extremely popular, but are they too much gun for backcountry hunting?
Hunting in the Santa Fe National Forest North of the Valles Caldera National Preserve, I was in hot pursuit of elk. My scouting efforts had proved fruitful, locating elk herds feeding in the meadows and on the ridges. Weeks later, when it came time to hunt, the drought had scattered the animals into small herds, which held tight to the trees, even at dusk and dawn. I’d planned to hike several miles and glass the canyons and meadows from multiple vantage points, and I was prepped for a long-range shot.
Attached to my pack was a custom Tikka T3 chambered in 6.5 PRC with a heavy barrel, MDT XRS Chassis, Tract Toric UHD 4-20x riflescope, and suppressor, the ideal setup for longer shots. On day one, after 14 miles of hiking and glassing numerous valleys and canyons, I didn’t see a single herd of elk save for the occasional one I jumped in the oak scrub or aspens. While quietly creeping through the bush, I would hear a commotion as a lone elk would run through, giving me mere seconds to acquire a target and try for an ethical shot. The animals were usually within 50 yards. However, I could not swing the bulky rifle and acquire a target quickly enough, even with the scope dialed down to 4 power. This trend would repeat itself.
The author’s custom 6.5 PRC Tikka T3 with a SilencerCo Harvester EVO suppressor, Tract Toric UHD scope and MDT XRS Chassis System is excellent for long-range shooting but a tad heavy for over 20 miles of hiking.
After walking nearly 30 miles, I wondered if I was taking too much rifle and scope into the wilderness. Walking back to my SUV in the dark, I spent hours contemplating something like an AR-15 6.5 Grendel build with a 1-8x low-power variable optic (LPVO) or even a lightweight bolt gun with a simple red-dot for hunting the bush.
Fast-forward a few weeks, and I was chasing mule deer in the Lincoln National Forest, carrying the same rifle. The terrain was rugged and rocky and had a mixture of cedar, piñon, and juniper trees. After a 6-mile hike, my hunting partner, Mark, and I came across a herd of bucks grazing on the side of a mountain. Using a small pine tree as an improvised monopod, Mark harvested an excellent buck at 270 yards. While walking along a ridge line the following day, we found a small group of deer, and I shot the lone buck at 140 yards.
From the shadows, I took a seated position, deployed my MDT Triple-Pull CKYE-Pod bipod, settled in, found my target, exhaled and sent a 147-grain Hornady round into the cranial vault of the cervid. After securing the rifle, saying prayers and doing a quick photo shoot, we harvested the meat using the gutless method and hiked back to the truck. Before we hiked out, I took out my rangefinder and ranged the surrounding hills and peaks. Conceivably, my farthest shot would have been 400 yards. Once again, I wondered if I was taking too much rifle into the woods.
The Journey
My journey into long-range shooting started around 2010 when I picked up a Remington 700 SPS Tactical to get a handle on the coyote population at the family ranch in Central New Mexico. Since then, I’ve devoted significant time to mastering precision rifle shooting, and I will readily admit that I see all aspects of shooting, even pistol, through the lens of ultra-precision. I regularly train to 1,000 yards and occasionally shoot steel to 2,500 yards if testing a new cartridge or long-range shooting technology.
Though I don’t see myself as a long-range hunter or advocate for long shots on large game, the mastery of a precision rifle and the ability to hit targets at long distances increases confidence. It familiarizes you with all aspects of your rifle system and ancillary gear. The ability to hit targets at medium and long range is a valuable tool in your hunting toolbox. Is a trophy buck standing broadside at 500 yards? Get prone, acquire the range and atmospheric data, and send it. Hit an animal at 300 yards, then have it reappear at 600 yards on the adjacent canyon? Consult your ballistic calculator and send a round with confidence.
I spent years shooting varmints and steel targets at long range before getting serious about hunting big game. Initially, I was obsessed with having a match-grade rifle capable of shooting at least a ½-MOA group. These rifles were usually mated to a Modular Driven Technologies or Kinetic Research Group chassis system and typically weighed around 12 to 14 lbs. The rifles would have a heavy barrel and a large, high-magnification riflescope. I typically used rounds with a high ballistic coefficient, like the 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5 PRC, and the rifles were capable of sub-MOA groups. How did I manage to lug the weight on long hikes? Fitness, a stable pack and a good sling helped immensely, though admittedly, after three days into an elk hunt, a heavy rifle was only fun if you had an ATV or horses.
After my elk and deer hunt, I thought about every large game hunt I had been on or guided. All of the deer I have harvested have been within 200 yards. Most of the engagements were quick: I spotted the animal, steadied myself, and took a well-aimed shot from a tripod, trekking poles, or the kneeling position. I assume animals have insanely good vision and sense of smell, but I am astounded by how close I have gotten to deer and elk while hunting.
Early morning pronghorn antelope hunt. Heavy rifles are excellent for precise shots prone or off tripods.
Varmint hunting is a different story. I’ve shot prairie dogs and coyotes between 600 and 800 yards. The most incredible shot I attempted was on a coyote at 1,820 yards, though I missed it by mere feet. The antelope hunting clients at our ranch, whom I formally trained in precision rifle and had Kestrel ballistic calculators with data confirmed to 1,200 yards, have made some great shots. However, the farthest to date was 450 yards, a perfect broadside shot with a 6.5 Creedmoor that instantly dropped that animal. Depending on the time and terrain, I will always try to get closer; I have just never had to.
Long-range shooting and precision rifle competition have created many new hunters who often carry something analogous to their competition or long-range rig, which is how I came into the sport. This leads me to ask: Are some sportsmen taking too much rifle into the woods? Do we need the high magnification scopes, 24-inch barrels, and the new-fangled high-BC bullets? On a more personal note, do I need the heavy barrel, suppressor, chassis system, and insane accuracy? Let’s explore these questions.
Barrel Length and Weight
For this section, we’ll consider anything below a 20-inch barrel to be a short barrel. There are zero questions about it: A long barrel on a rifle is awesome. It maximizes velocity and kinetic energy and flattens trajectories at typical hunting ranges.
Rifles with sporter or thin-contour barrels don’t weigh much. Still, they can have high accuracy when paired with the correct factory load or handload. When shooting groups with an accurate sporter barrel, I can get two rounds to touch, and then the third shot is usually .50 to 1 inch from the first two holes. I’ll let the rifle cool for 10 minutes, then shoot another group. This will play out multiple times before I consider the rifle zeroed. (If you put a muzzle brake on a rifle, hearing protection is mandatory since the sound directed toward the shooter will cause permanent hearing loss, even after one shot.)
Are sporter-weight barrels accurate? This Howa 1500 mated to a KRG Chassis System is one of the most accurate rifles the author has ever seen. It’s capable of stacking 143-grain Hornady ELD-X rounds through the same hole. His goddaughter is getting ready to harvest a pronghorn antelope at 556 yards
Heavy varmint or match barrels have excellent harmonics and, when paired with the proper ammunition, can usually shoot very tight 3- or 5-round groups. They’re purpose-built for accuracy but heavy. A rifle with such a barrel is fine for backcountry hunting if you have mobility platforms like e-bikes, horses or ATVs. The weight can mitigate recoil, though I still like a brake for spotting hits and fast follow-up shots. Heavy barrels are super easy to zero. I’ve hunted with heavy 16- and 20-inch barrels, which are awesome to pair with a suppressor.
In theory, a carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel offers the best of both worlds. It features a thin barrel wrapped in carbon fiber, and manufacturers claim it can produce results typical of a heavy contour with reduced weight. My experience with carbon-wrapped barrels has been hit-and-miss. Some shoot excellently with factory ammunition, but when you add a muzzle device, groups open up like crazy. Tuners and handloading are a good idea if you’re considering one.
Whether you have a thin sporter or heavy barrel, how much length do you need? To answer this, ask yourself a few questions. What kind of zero do you use? For example, do you zero at 100 yards and dial or use a reticle for longer shots? Do you zero 1 or 2 inches high at 100 and point and shoot out no farther than a determined range, such as 300 yards? A long barrel is advantageous if you use the latter because the high velocity will give you a flatter trajectory.
If you zero at 100 yards, dial or hold your shots in your reticle, understand how to use a ballistic calculator, and confirm your data at the distances you intend to harvest animals, barrel length doesn’t matter as much. What matters is that you have enough energy and velocity to dispatch your quarry ethically.
Short Barrels
Modern hunting bullets need a certain velocity to expand reliably, causing crush injuries that damage an animal’s organs, circulatory and nervous systems. Your bullet’s kinetic energy when making contact with the animal is also vital. How much velocity do modern bullets need to expand reliably? That will vary by manufacturer, but modern hunting projectiles usually need a minimum of 1,700 fps to expand reliably. Though up for debate, a minimum of 1,000 ft-lb is a decent amount of energy for deer-sized animals and at least 1,500 ft-lb for elk.
Energy and velocity aside, an important variable is shot placement. This became apparent when I saw a video of my buddy dropping a bull elk at 600 yards while using a 6mm Creedmoor match round fired from his PRS competition rifle. It was a perfect shot through the heart. Do most hunters have the skill, training, and gear to make perfect shots at 600 yards? Probably not. Another variable to contend with is wind, which can be hard to ascertain in certain locations. Also, large game animals are tough and adapted to harsh climates and predators. They are an amalgamation of sinew, bone, water, muscle and hide.
Sometimes, bullets don’t perform like they should, especially when they contact bone. Shot placement is critical, but it’s nice to back it up with a fast bullet and kinetic energy. With that said, when I run the numbers on my ballistic calculator to determine the performance of a cartridge, I like 1,800 fps at a minimum and 1,000 ft-lb for deer-sized animals. Now that we have established a baseline for velocity and energy, let’s look at barrel length, specifically short ones.
I appreciate short barrels for my ranch and hunting rifles. They are handy, compact and easy to carry. Since I often hunt with suppressors, starting with a shorter barrel doesn’t substantially increase the overall length of my rifle system. Suppressors mitigate recoil and allow me to hunt without hearing protection.
I’ve always liked short barrels due to their compact nature and accuracy. Still, several years ago, I cut one of my Howa 1500 barreled actions chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor down to 16 inches and was curious about its external ballistics. After running some Hornady 143-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter rounds through my Labradar chronograph, I recorded an anemic average of 2,498 fps. Plugging the data into my Kestrel anemometer, I was surprised by the numbers. Even with the low muzzle velocity, I had 1,800 fps and 1,082 ft-lb of energy out to 800 yards. I would never shoot at an animal at that range, but even at a realistic distance, like 500 yards, I had 2,078 fps and 1,372 ft-lb of energy.
Regarding long-range shooting, some bullets can lose gyroscopic stability at the transonic range, which starts at around 1,350 fps. My Kestrel told me I could expect decent performance from my weapon system out to 1,500 yards at my density altitude. To test it, I proned out and easily got a second-round hit at 1,000 yards. After hitting steel at 1,000 yards, I aimed at the 12-inch steel target (on which I trued my ballistic coefficient) and had a first-round hit at 1,250 yards.
For comparison, I grabbed another Kestrel with the data for one of my .308 rifles with a 24-inch barrel. The rifle was zeroed and trued for Hornady 178-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter loads. Consulting the ballistic chart, I was looking for the 1,800 fps and 1,000 ft-lb band and found it around 800 yards. My .308 had 1,852 fps and 1,356 ft-lb of energy at that distance. Granted, it had more energy due to the weight of the bullet, but I was impressed by what a slower, higher-BC bullet could do. From this experiment, I found that a 16-inch barrel has plenty of velocity and energy for hunting shots to 600 yards. (For more information about ballistics, I recommend reading The Ballistics Handbook by Philip P. Massaro.) Now, it was time to take a deep dive into optics.
Optics
Back to my conundrum: Was I taking too much rifle and scope into the woods? To answer this question, I built the perfect rifle for hunting thick forests and aspen groves. It could also reach across a canyon and hit something at 500 yards if necessary. For the build, I grabbed an old Tikka T3 barreled action chambered in .308 Winchester, with a barrel cut down to 16.1 inches. I dropped the barreled action into an HNT26 Chassis System from MDT and attached a Tract Toric UHD 30mm 1-8×24 LPVO scope. At the end of the muzzle, I attached a SilencerCo Harvester EVO suppressor and, for added stability, the MDT GRND-POD bipod. The System as a whole weighed just under 7 pounds.
Since the Tikka had a 1:11-inch twist rate, I opted for Hornady 168-grain ELD-M bullets with a G1 BC of .523. Settling behind the rifle, I shot three rounds, made some adjustments, let the rifle cool, and then fired three more rounds. Even though I only had an 8x scope, I could shoot groups of just under 1 MOA, and the Labradar chronograph gave me an average velocity of 2,502 fps.
Satisfied with my zero, I drove to the 2,000-yard range at our ranch, which had a steady left-to-right wind averaging between 12-15 mph that day. I hung a 10-inch steel gong and worked back in 100-yard increments. From 100 to 400 yards, I held in the reticle and had first-round hits on steel. My first miss came at the 500-yard line. After that miss, I dialed the elevation and made a solid hit. I dialed the 600-yard shot, had a first-round hit, and connected on my second shot at 700 yards. At 800 yards, I had difficulty seeing the target, so I ended the exercise. Consulting the range card in my Kestrel, I noted that at 600 yards, the 168-grain ELD-M traveled at 1,809 fps and had 1,221 ft-lb of energy. That’s plenty for deer, though the rifle was not intended to shoot that far.
The Hunting Test
After drawing a mule deer tag in Unit 37—where I’ve taken several nice mule deer—I was anxious to carry something other than a 12-pound rifle into the woods. I again pondered an AR-15 6.5 Grendel build with two upper receivers. One upper receiver would have a hunting scope, and the other a simple red-dot optic. However, that was quickly dismissed because of my excellent results with the Tikka T3 and the 1-8x scope. Moreover, the 6.5 Grendel is a tad light for mule deer and runs out of energy past 200 yards. Next, I pondered a Tikka T3x chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor with a red-dot sight, but the precision side of my brain insisted I take at least some magnification. Ultimately, I chose the Tikka T3 with the MDT HNT26 chassis I had built to see how far I could effectively shoot the 1-8x LPVO.
Due to my hectic schedule, I could only hunt for two days. On day one, I started at first light, creeping up a canyon with the riflescope on 1x. After several hours of careful hiking, I crested a ridge and saw a dozen deer resting in the shadows 50 yards away. I froze and slowly took out my binocular. All of the deer were doe, save for one barely legal buck. After watching for 30 minutes, I kept hunting and moved downhill to avoid disturbing them. I worked my way to the top of the canyon, where I settled on a vantage point that allowed me to glass multiple canyons. I saw dozens of deer moving to and from a spring at the bottom of the canyon, but nothing that I could shoot.
Taking out my rangefinder, I noted that the farthest deer was 400 yards away. I looked at the group through the 1-8x scope and was confident that, had a good-sized buck appeared, I could have easily harvested it with that setup. I spent the rest of the day glassing from that point and, with the sun setting, started the hike back to my vehicle.
A client (face is blurred as he is active duty military and a member of the Special Operations community) with an impressive pronghorn antelope. This antelope was harvested at 450 yards with one perfect shot.
As I was hiking down, I bumped into a group of deer at 10 yards. I quickly scanned the group but didn’t see a single legal buck. I watched as the animals bounded toward the ridgeline and then paused to look back at me. I continued my journey back to my vehicle and noted how lightweight the rifle was. Had a buck presented itself, I could have harvested it with ease. Day two was nearly identical, though a blizzard drove me off the mountain. I saw many deer and one small buck that was legal, though I passed on harvesting it. I hiked 15 miles and felt great because I carried a lightweight, nimble rifle.
Several weeks later, I accompanied some friends in the Chama to pursue mule deer. Due to the terrain and foliage, we found ourselves hunting a mix of sub-alpine forests, meadows, and mixed cedar, piñon, and juniper. One group member had a Howa 1500 chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor with an Arken EPL 4-16x riflescope, and the other member carried my lightweight Tikka. The logic was that we had rifles ideal for close and long shots. Though a deer wasn’t harvested, we learned a lot and had a great time.
Looking Forward
Since I rarely hunt alone, moving forward, I think one member of the team will have a 4-16x or a 6-24x riflescope for precise shots out to 600 yards, and one will carry a lightweight, compact rifle, suppressed, with a 1-8x or 1-10x scope. Why the suppressor? When sneaking through the bush, you want to use all of your senses, and if you have an animal trotting past, you often don’t have time to put on hearing protection. Suppressors also mask your sound signature and don’t bugger up the general area after you have taken a shot.
I will use my lightweight Tikka T3 with the MDT HNT26 Chassis System, or my heavier custom Tikka T3x chambered in 6.5 PRC for all future hunting. The custom Tikka features a 20-inch carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel from Oregon Mountain Rifle Company. I adore chassis systems and will continue to use them for the foreseeable future. I will usually grab the lightweight Tikka T3 unless I’m hunting plains animals. I like the challenge of the stalk and enjoy creeping through the trees and harvesting animals up close. The lightweight rifle allows me to carry extra food and sleep systems for backcountry hunts farther from the trailhead.
It’s been challenging not taking a heavy precision rifle capable of insane accuracy into the woods. Even so, my recent hunts showed that a shorter barrel and lower magnification scope can do the job and make close-up shots. If I draw a tag this year, I will once again take a lightweight, short-barreled rifle with a low-powered variable optic. Who knows? You may soon find me hiking around the woods with a red-dot optic or open sights!
For the average shooter, when and where is a suppressed pistol practical?
Movies directly influence the firearms market. In 1971, the movie Dirty Harry made the .44 Magnum revolver famous. The mention of the Glock pistol in Die Hard 2 in 1990 helped popularize those pistols. In 2014, American Sniper made everyone want a long-range rifle. And, the 1895 Marlin became famous in the 2017 Wind River film. I could go on, but I think you get the point.
Another gun-related movie influence is the suppressed pistol. Countless scenes depict assassins, special agents or tactical operatives screwing a suppressor on a pistol, giving the impression that all the cool kids use suppressed pistols.
I’m a fan of suppressed shooting, especially when it comes to hunting … and when the firearm used is properly configured for suppressed fire. With rifles, the current trend is shorter barrels to make them more suppressor friendly. The problem with pistols is that we can hardly shorten the barrels any more than they already are. This means that, for some applications, a suppressed pistol doesn’t make a lot of sense. This is especially true when it comes to concealed carry; turning a 7-inch handgun into a 13-inch handgun makes it nearly impossible to conceal or carry comfortably.
Through not practical for concealed carry, a suppressed pistol can be a lot of fun on the range.
I know that it seems like all high speed, low drag, special operations units run suppressed pistols as do a lot of SWAT teams. For these operators, suppressors provide the advantage of reduced noise in confined spaces, reduced recoil permitting faster follow-up shots and a reduced muzzle signature to help limit detection and flash blindness. These are all good things, but keep in mind these soldiers and cops aren’t trying to conceal their suppressed handguns while ordering up a happy meal at a fast food restaurant.
So, for the average shooter, when and where is a suppressed pistol practical?
Facts First
Pistols—even rimfire pistols—are loud. It’s not a good idea to shoot any pistol without hearing protection. A 9mm pistol will generate about 160 decibels, and a .22 rimfire pistol will generate about 150. Anything beyond 140 decibels is dangerous to your hearing, and ideally you do not want to expose your unprotected ears to decibel levels above 120.
A good handgun suppressor can reduce decibel exposure by as much as 36 decibels, which is in the marginally safe range with both rimfire and centerfire supersonic ammunition. However, when you use subsonic centerfire and rimfire ammunition with a good suppressor, both become hearing safe and what I’d call “comfortable” to the unprotected ear.
However, there’s something other than sound that needs to be considered when it comes to suppressing a pistol, and that deals with your pistol’s sights. When you screw a suppressor on the barrel of your handgun, it’ll most likely prevent you from seeing your sights on the target. You can overcome this problem with the installation of what are known as suppressor-height sights, or a reflex sight.
Suppressed Pistol Practical Applications
We’ve already established that a suppressed pistol isn’t suited for concealed carry, but that doesn’t mean it has no place in the personal protection arena. If you keep a specific pistol just for home defense, outfitting it with a suppressor might be a good idea. It’s not a pistol you’ll need to conceal, and it’s not a pistol you’ll need to holster. Most likely, it’s a pistol you’ll keep in your bedside drawer or gun safe. In a home-defense situation, a suppressor can benefit you in the same ways it benefits military operators and SWAT teams.
For the obvious reason, a suppressed pistol can also be a lot of fun for recreational and some competitive shooting. And in most cases, it’s a great idea for a pistol used for hunting. A suppressor reduces noise and cuts down on recoil, which are two things that can make shooting a pistol—especially for new shooters—uncomfortable.
I don’t shoot suppressed pistols that often, but my wife and daughters prefer it. I do, however, keep a suppressed pistol in my side-by-side that I run the ranch with. It’s a Sig Sauer P322 that rides in a homemade holster just in front of the seat. I routinely run across vermin that need to be dealt with, and often these encounters don’t allow the time required to put on hearing protection. Having a suppressed .22 pistol handy is nice for those instances, and sometimes—just because I get the urge—I’ll stop at my range and plink off a full magazine just for fun.
Silencer Central’s Banish 45
I currently own nine suppressors, but only one is designed for pistols. It’s the Silencer Central Banish 45, and it will work with any pistol from rimfire up to .45 Auto. This is a titanium modular suppressor that’s user serviceable, and it can be shortened from 8.6 inches (11 ounces) to 6.7 inches (9.6 ounces). Shortening the suppressor reduces the decibel reduction it offers, but it allows you to tune the suppressor to the size and to the amount of sound reduction you need.
The Banish 45 is also compatible with pistol-caliber carbines, and because it uses a unique swappable piston, you can pair it with any thread pattern. Silencer Central also offers a fixed-barrel spacer for the Banish 45 that lets you use it with fixed—nonmoving—barrel firearms.
The Banish 45 suppressor utilizes different pistons so it can pair with most any thread pattern and they’re easy to swap out. If you use a Banish 45 on several pistols with different thread patterns, you’ll need several pistons.
Because of the compact nature of pistols, they’re not as suitable for suppression as rifles—but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a viable reason to suppress a pistol. Clearly, if you’re working as an assassin or for some clandestine spy organization as a hitman, they make perfect sense. And, they can add enjoyment to recreational and competitive range sessions and hunting. Suppressors are also beneficial in comforting new shooters.
However, from a personal protection standpoint, a suppressed pistol is pretty much limited to home defense duty, or for use as a truck or ATV gun for the outdoorsman. Regardless of how you might like to use a suppressor for a pistol, I suggest you start your search with the Banish 45. I got no complaints with mine.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
More On Suppressors:
The Suppressor: How They're Made, How They Work, And How To Buy One
Looking to easily swap your suppressor between multiple firearms? Here we take a look at Gemtech’s direct-thread rear caps.
A lot of suppressor users are not going to swap their silencer across a whole rack of rifles. Not the first suppressor, anyway. It will spend its range time on one or two—maybe three rifles—ever.
If that’s the case, there’s no reason to invest in a QD mount system. Oh, they are cool, but they cost and add weight. A typical rear cap for a quick-attach system, and the muzzle brake it fits on to, can run up to 7 ounces.
Especially on a rifle meant for hunting, 7 ounces can matter. The old hiking adage, “Look after the ounces, and the pounds will look after themselves,” comes to mind. So, Gemtech has now made available direct-thread rear caps for their new Abyss and Neutron suppressors.
They screw into the rear HUB threads on those suppressors. The HUB thread pattern is the new universal rear design, and if you have some other brand of suppressor that uses HUB, the Gemtech caps will also work.
The best part? If you have a 5.56 rifle, and the Gemtech Abyss 7.62, the 1/2-28 rear cap puts your .30 silencer onto your 5.56 rifle. Two rifles, two calibers, for one extra $52 part.
Will a .30 suppressor on a 5.56 rifle be as quiet as a dedicated 5.56 suppressor? You’d be surprised. Plus, the Abyss is going to shrug off pretty much anything your 5.56 rifle can give it.
At the price, you would be crazy not to be able to swap your silencer around. Oh, your barrels have to be threaded, but that’s common now, and they’d have to be threaded anyway.
The big deal is cost: Compared to the $52 of one cap to fit them all, each quick-attach sept requires a muzzle device. Depending on the brand, that can be $70 to $150 for each rifle. And we’ve been over the weight, which each rifle in turn is stuck with.
Now, you have to be careful. You must check alignment each time you install, because it’s prudent. And this mistake can be expensive.
Plus, there’s one more detail you have to keep in mind. Since the rear of the suppressor is the HUB thread, if you owned them you could inadvertently install the 5/8-28 rear cap on your HUB 5.56 suppressor. That would be bad. So don’t do that.
One way to avoid that is to use a paint pen, and discreetly mark your .30 and 5.56 suppressors and caps, front and rear. Say, blue for 5.56 and red for .30. The ease and versatility of the HUB design makes things simpler … but you have to be thinking.
And this isn’t just Gemtech: All suppressors using the HUB have this. So, pay attention.
But get the caps, they’re too good to pass up.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
More On Suppressors:
The Suppressor: How They're Made, How They Work, And How To Buy One
Our current list of the best concealed carry revolvers that are more than ready to cover your six.
Semi-automatic pistols have ruled the roost when it comes to self-defense guns in recent years, but I'm a firm believer that concealed carry revolvers still hold their own when push comes to shove. The time-tested design is offered in some excellent self-defense calibers, is straightforward in operation and is as dependable as the next day’s dawn. And there are some top-notch and well-thought-out options in the revolver market tailor-made to hang ever-ready on your gun belt and deliver when called upon.
How We Chose The Best Concealed Carry Revolvers
We're fans of wheelguns at Gun Digest, and we still believe that they have a place in the concealed carry world despite the current domination of semi-autos. Between the other Gun Digest editors, our most trusted freelancers and myself, we have quite a bit of trigger time behind a variety of different carry revolvers, sending thousands of rounds down range and testing a wide swath of what the market has to offer in self-defense wheelguns. On each make/model we looked for the quality of the build, features, dependability, accuracy, concealability and price. When the dust settled these were our picks for the best concealed carry revolvers.
Caliber: .327 Federal Magnum, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .22LR, 9mm
Capacity: 5 to 8 depending on caliber
Action: DAO
Barrel Length: 1.87 Inches
Overall Length: 6.5 Inches
Overall Height: 4.5 Inches
Overall Width: 1.28 Inches
Weight: 13.8 to 17.1 Ounces depending on caliber
MSRP: $739 to $859 depending on caliber
Outside of the cylinder, revolutionary hasn’t been applied much to the revolver since the 1830s. But there’s a whole bunch of it in the Ruger LCR (Lightweight Compact Revolver).
The diminutive five-round handgun is absolutely cutting edge when it comes to material use. Not only has Ruger turned to aircraft-grade aluminum for the gun’s frame, but also polymers for its fire-control housing. Combined with a highly fluted stainless-steel cylinder, the LCR is among the lightest guns available today—a whopping 13.5 ounces. On top of that, I find that Ruger’s friction-reducing cam system makes the LCR among the easiest double-actions to shoot well.
Per Ruger’s MO, the revolver is highly modifiable, boasting an easily replaceable pinned ramp front sight and grips. But outfitted at the factory with a Hogue Tamer Monogrip, there might not be much reason to go shopping in the latter department.
The revolver is available in five calibers, but for carry the .327 Federal Magnum would be my pick. While the ammo is a bit pricey and probably isn't stocked in most brick-and-mortar gun shops, the round punches above its weight all while fitting a sixth round in the cylinder (the .38 SPL +P, .357 Mag. and 9mm versions only hold 5). As a bonus, you can even shoot .32 S&W Long out of it for some inexpensive training or plinking fun.
Read our complete Ruger LCR review and see why it tops our list… particularly in .327 Federal Magnum.
Ruger LCR .327 Fed. Mag. Deals
Guns.com
$655.99
Cabela's
$679.99
Buds Gun Shop
$662.28
Best High-End Concealed Carry Revolver: Smith & Wesson Performance Center 442
Pros
Incredibly Lightweight
Easy To Carry
Shrouded Hammer For Snag-Free Draw
Comes With A Crimson Trace Lasergrip
Cons
Plenty Of Recoil
Expensive
S&W PC 442 Specs
Caliber: .38 Special
Capacity: 5
Action: DAO
Barrel Length: 1.88 Inches
Overall Length: 6.31 Inches
Overall Height: 4.3 Inches
Overall Width: 1.3 Inches
Weight: 15 Ounces
MSRP: $849
There are those, foolish as it may be, who think a J-frame is just a J-frame. To them, It doesn’t matter what model number Smith & Wesson slaps on one, they’re all the same. Boy howdy, what a mistaken frame of mind.
The S&W Performance Center 442 is more than proof.
Hand-assembled and tuned to perfection, the .38 Special is the epitome of a serious concealed carry revolver, a cut above most everything on the market today. Smith & Wesson has trimmed down the weight of the 442 to a scant 15 ounces unloaded, mainly thanks to an aluminum alloy frame. Yet, boasting a polished five-chamber stainless-steel cylinder, the +P-rated .38 is more than up for rough EDC treatment.
But is it on target? At 15-yards in—where it would most likely be employed—I found it absolutely accurate! Though, I'd venture this is it's limits in the hands of most shooters.
Expediting the 1.875-inch barreled gun’s target acquisition is a factory-installed Crimson Trace Lasergrip, which activates when you grip the revolver’s rounded butt. Of course, there’s a ramp front and integral rear sights for backup.
By the way, the DAO (double-action only) PC 442 comes sans an internal locking mechanism, always a plus when talking S&W.
Best .357 Magnum Concealed Carry Revolver: Ruger LCRx 3”
Pros
Better Ballistics
Bigger Grip
SA/DA
Cons
Harder To Conceal
Exposed Hammer Can Snag
Expensive
Ruger LCRx Specs(.357 Mag. 3″ Model)
Caliber: .357 Magnum
Capacity: 5
Action: DA/SA
Barrel Length: 3 Inches
Overall Length: 7.5 Inches
Overall Height: 5.8 Inches
Overall Width: 1.28 Inches
Weight: 21.3 Ounces
MSRP: $859
I hate to break it to you, but size matters.
Too short in the barrel department and the better part of that powder you're burning deflagrates in thin air. All you’re left with is a heap of muzzle flash and limp ballistic performance—particularly from a big dog, such as a .357 Magnum. Hence, why Ruger’s addition of a 3-inch barreled .357 Magnum LCRx is so welcome.
Certainly, the lightweight magnum falls short of producing the velocities found out of a 6-inch revolver—but by my chronograph, not by much. Which is to say, with this LCRx you’re well-armed.
As to its extra size, especially compared to many of the other options on this list, yes, it’s larger. However, not prohibitively so. I found the stainless-steel Ruger is still extremely concealable and at 21.3 ounces unloaded is no burden at all.
True enough, it’s not as streamlined as other concealed carry revolver options. It boasts adjustable rear target sights and an exposed spur. Yet, Ruger manages to keep this all fairly unobtrusive, keeping the LCRx snag-free once you’re used to the system.
Find out why this concealed carry revolver exerts magnum force in our Ruger LCRx review.
Ruger LCRx 3-in. .357 Mag. Deals
Sportsman's Warehouse
$649.97
Buds Gun Shop
$662.28
Cabela's
$689.99
Best Value Concealed Carry Revolver: Rock Island Armory M206 Spurless
Pros
6-Round Capacity
Snag Free
Affordable
Cons
Not +P rated
Large For Its Class
Heavy For Its Class
RIA M206 Spurless Specs
Caliber: .38 Special
Capacity: 6
Action: DAO
Barrel Length: 2 Inches
Overall Length: 6.75 Inches
Overall Height: 4.67 Inches
Overall Width: 1.5 Inches
Weight: 24 Ounces
MSRP: $279 (black) ; $369 (nickel)
Not a new concealed carry revolver by any stretch of the imagination, but well worth adding to the list. The M206 Spurless is a real workingman’s .38 Special, short on glitz and glamor and long on performance. And, above all, affordable!
That’s a rarity nowadays, but highly welcome.
How Rock Island pulls this off is jettisoning aesthetics on the steel-framed revolver and purely focusing on performance. And the plucky 6-round, 2-inch barreled double-action performs.
I found the trigger surprisingly smooth for an entry-level revolver, its timing is impeccable and ramp front and fixed back sights plenty accurate at 15-yards in.
Plus it comes with some desirable features, such as checkered wood grips, ejector-rod shroud and a Colt-like cylinder release. Furthermore, there’s the choice of Parkerized and matte nickel finishes.
The issue the M206 presents, at least for me, is Rock Island does not list it as +P rated. While generations of law enforcement more than accomplished their mission with run-of-the-mill .38 Special, the velocity at which it operates doesn’t always play nice with modern expanding bullets.
To some extent, +P mitigates this issue – not always, but more so. Good defensive ammo is available for standard .38 Spc., but–especially out of a snubbie–requires savvy shopping.
Best .44 Concealed Carry Revolver: Charter Arms Bulldog DAO
Pros
Easy To Shoot
Concealable
Snag-Free
Comfortable Grips
Cons
Defensive Ammo Expensive
Large
Charter Arms Bulldog DAO Specs
Caliber: .44 Special
Capacity: 5
Action: DAO
Barrel Length: 2.5 Inches
Overall Length: 7.38 Inches
Overall Height: 5.13 Inches
Overall Width: N/A
Weight: 21 Ounces
MSRP: $453.60
A surefire way of stopping a threat is to poke big holes into it. Charter Arms gives you the ability to do exactly this with its legendary .44 Special Bulldog.
The 2.5-inch barreled revolver has been around for a spell, first introduced in the early 1970s, and has only gotten better with time. This includes what I believe are some much-needed tweaks to the original design, such as making the front sight integral to the barrel and expanding the selection of models to keep up with prevailing concealed-carry trends.
The DAO is one such example.
A clipped spur isn’t absolutely essential for concealed carry revolvers, but it does up the odds of a clean draw each time the gun is unholstered. Not to mention, it makes the revolver more comfortable to carry.
The five-round revolver is very controllable, especially for weighing 21 ounces and pitching bullets up to 300 grains in weight. Much of this is due to the low pressure at which the .44 Special operates, and it is further helped down this road with generous grips, complete with finger grooves.
Being chambered for .44 Special, however, does pose a bit of a challenge.
Ammo is not as abundant as it is for the .38 Special or .357 Magnum. I was willing to shop around and found defensive loads, solid and hard-hitting options, but it does take some digging.
The reward for doing so, plenty peace of mind in holstering a dog that definitely has bite.
Charter Arms Bulldog DAO Deals
Sportsman's Warehouse
$469.99
Sportsman's Guide
$397.99
Best .38 Concealed Carry Revolver: Smith & Wesson Model 642
Pros
Lightweight
Very Comfortable To Carry
Snag Free
Cons
Plenty Of Recoil
S&W Model 642 Specs
Caliber: .38 Special
Capacity: 5
Action: DAO
Barrel Length: 1.88 Inches
Overall Length: 6.31 Inches
Overall Height: 4.3 Inches
Overall Width: 1.3 Inches
Weight: 14.6 Ounces
MSRP: $539
For many, this Smith & Wesson J-Frame is what comes to mind when they think about concealed carry revolvers. The double-action only .38 Special (+P rated) is one of the easiest revolvers to carry, given it is among the lightest options available today.
The Model 642 weighs in at less than a pound unloaded—a scant 14.6 ounces—thanks largely to its aluminum-alloy frame. And with a shrouded hammer, well, there’s no worry about the revolver digging into your side when driving or snagging on your shirt when you need it most.
Granted, the 1.8-inch barreled snubby takes some practice to become fully proficient with it (what gun doesn’t?). But the .38 Special is a notoriously forgiving round to shoot—I'd even say pleasant. Chuck five rounds of +P ammo in its stainless-steel cylinder when it's time to head out the door, and you’ll know you're covered for anything short of World War III.
S&W Model 642 Deals
Cabela's
$559.99
Guns.com
$534.99
Choosing A Concealed Carry Revolver
If you're seriously considering getting a concealed carry revolver, we should take a minute to talk about the option for self-defense. It’s not the ideal choice for everyone, particularly entry-level shooters. Yes, the guy behind the gun counter might have sworn up and down otherwise, but guess what—he was selling you something, he might not have had your best intentions at heart.
As it goes, three areas make the concealed carry revolver tricky for beginners:
Barrel Length: Concealed carry revolvers are among the most compact handguns around, mainly due to an abbreviated barrel. We’re talking 3 inches or less. That’s short. While highly concealable, these ‘snubbies’ have exceedingly short sight radii—the distance between the front and rear sights. This is a concern, given the shorter the radius the less noticeable issues with your sight picture become, thus are more difficult to correct. Not the formula for success when you’re just starting.
Trigger: By and large, the concealed carry revolver has a double-action (DA) trigger, meaning each pull cocks the gun and releases the hammer. Indeed, many models can be shot in single-action, an impractical side-benefit for self-defense—unless you happen to be John Wesley Hardin. You’re not, by the way.
DA triggers are bears given most have a rather hefty pull weight, the amount of weight your finger must apply to depress the trigger and break a shot. Whereas most striker-fired pistols have a break somewhere around the 4- to 7-pound range, most DA revolvers' triggers trip in the 10-pound neighborhood. This makes trigger control much more difficult—i.e. the ability to break a shot while holding the gun on target.
Reloads: Reloading a revolver isn’t only a challenge for new shooters, but masters as well. Speed and tactical reloads especially. The issue at hand, quickly reloading a revolver is not a push-button affair like a pistol—a magazine doesn’t drop free and 15 rounds don’t load in with the slap of a palm. The process isn’t intuitive and requires many more steps than a pistol. Can it be done quickly? You bet your life, but expect a steeper learning curve and much more practice to reach proficiency.
Now, we're not mentioning these points to scare anyone off from a concealed carry revolver. Simply to enlighten you about some of the challenges inherent in the system, particularly those new to the gun game.
As a new shooter, perhaps you have the time and patients to learn a revolver’s manual of arms and perfect them to the point you can save your life with one. But if the process sounds daunting and more to tackle while taking the first steps as a gun owner, then perhaps a concealed carry revolver is something to consider down the road when you’ve built your skill base.
We take a quick look at the new Kimber 2K11, a high-capacity 1911 modernized for the 21st century.
The 2011 craze continues to boom, and the latest company to take a shot at the growing market is Kimber with the new 2K11. A high-capacity, modernized 1911, the Kimber 2K11 is available in both 9mm and .45 ACP in standard and target configurations.
Sporting 5-inch barrels, both versions of the Kimber 2K11 ship with three magazines. The 9mm variants come with one 17-round and two 20-round mags, and the .45 ACP versions come with three 13-round mags. All models are also optics-ready and ship with a C&H optic plate for the RMR mounting footprint (three other footprint plates are available separately). The 2K11 Target in 9mm is also available to purchase as a package with a Trijicon SRO. Features that separate the Target model from the standard 2K11 include its ported slide, adjustable rear target sight and Stan Chen Customs magwell. It also sports a coyote finish instead of black.
Other noteworthy features found on all Kimber 2K11s include external extractors for better reliability, aluminum grip modules, excellent GT Triggers and improved internal geometry for feeding from high-capacity mags. The guide rod design even allows for easy, tool-less disassembly.
Everett Deger, Director of Marketing and Communications at Kimber, said this about the new pistols:
We were determined to produce the very best high capacity 1911 and deliver a superior value. The 2K11 has several unique features that come standard that you have to have customized in the aftermarket to achieve what you get out of the box with Kimber.
The standard Kimber 2K11 has an MSRP of $1,995 in 9mm and $2,125 in .45 ACP. The 2K11 Target has an MSRP of $2,495 in 9mm and $2,595 in .45 ACP.
We take a closer look at the Winchester 94 lever-action, the most iconic American hunting rifle ever made.
In some hunting circles, it was once considered a rite of passage to be able to silently cock back the hammer of a lever-action rifle. More often than not, it was the hammer of a Winchester Model 1894, more commonly known as the Winchester 94.
With over 7.5 million made since the model’s introduction in 1894 the Winchester 94 is easily the most popular deer rifle ever produced, and there was a time when almost every American hunter had one in his gun rack, safe or hanging from the window of his truck. Compared to shotguns and bolt-actions, lever-action rifles aren’t as popular with hunters as they once were, but the Winchester Model 94 remains in production to this day and still holds the title of the single most iconic American hunting rifle of all time.
Cartridge: .30-30 Winchester Action: Lever-action Capacity: 7+1 Barrel Length: 20 inches Weight: 6.8 pounds Overall Length: 37.8 inches Sights: Rear notch and front post
John Browning Perfects The Lever Action
Like so many other historically significant firearms from the period, the story of the Winchester Model 94 starts with John Browning.
The original Winchester 94, chambered for .32-40 Winchester and .38-55 Winchester, was designed to handle the pressures generated by these black powder cartridges. Following the recent introduction of smokeless powder, Winchester wanted to offer the rifle in a smokeless cartridge. In turn, .30-30 Winchester (aka .30 Winchester Center Fire. or 30 WCF) cartridge was developed alongside a new beefed-up Winchester 94 to shoot it in 1895.
The advantages of smokeless powder cartridges range from improved ballistics to less fouling, but it also means higher pressures, so a stronger type of steel was required for the rifle to handle the .30-30 cartridge.
Before Browning’s 1886 and 1892 designs, lever-action rifles had not evolved that much from the Henry Model 1860, the first commercially successful lever-action rifle. The Henry, as well as the Winchester Model 1866 and Model 1873, used a double toggle system that was smooth to operate but not strong enough to handle large, powerful black powder cartridges.
Browning fixed that with the Winchester Model 1886, chambered for some of the most powerful black powder cartridges of its time. In the early 1890s, Browning developed the Winchester Model 1892, a smaller-scale rifle that fired pistol cartridges. Cowboys and other shooters of the day liked the idea that their rifles and pistols could share ammunition.
A cutaway Winchester Model 94.
Besides stronger steel, it was one of Browning’s innovations that set the new Model 1894 apart from these previous lever-action designs. The Winchester 94 used a single locking bar rather than two locking lugs like the Model 1886 and Model 1892.
The single lug of the 94 locks the bolt in place on both sides of the receiver, so it was not only strong enough for large black powder cartridges but for new smokeless powder cartridges as well. The locking bar also housed the transfer bar for the firing pin which simplified the safety system in the bolt compared to previous models.
The Model ’94 also incorporated a new safety in the form of a pin that protruded from the bottom receiver tang. This pin blocks the trigger as the lever is cycled, meaning that the lever needs to be fully closed against the pin for the rifle to be fired.
Winchester Model 94 In .30-30
What truly cinched the Winchester 94’s place in history was the version chambered for .30-30 Winchester. As the first successful smokeless powder cartridge on the U.S. hunting market, .30-30 offered an excellent balance of power and mild recoil in a lightweight, easily maneuverable rifle.
It proved the perfect companion for hunters—ideally suited for deer and medium-sized game but versatile enough to take smaller and larger animals. I suspect nearly every North American game species has been hunted with a Model 94 in .30-30 at some point, including elk, caribou, and bear. This is why the .30-30 Winchester 94 became the most iconic variant of the rifle and why the vast majority sold over the years were chambered for this cartridge. It was an unbeatable combination.
Evolution Of The Winchester 94
There were some major design changes made to the Model 94 over the years, and Winchester collectors today generally divide the rifle’s production into three main eras.
The first spans from the introduction of the 94 through 1963, and rifles built during this period are the most valuable to collectors. The second era goes from 1964 through 2006. Rifles manufactured during this period use sintered steel for the receiver and stamped steel rather than machined parts for certain components. This reduced manufacturing costs, but many Winchester fans felt that these updates eroded the quality of the rifles. Understandable, but the reality is that none of these changes negatively impacted performance, although the new receiver material did result in some very ugly bluing.
A Winchester 94 AE Big Bore in .307 Winchester with a scope mounted.
Another change that Winchester made during this time frame was to the ejection system, altering it to toss empty brass out at an angle instead of straight out of the top of the receiver. This change in 1982 was an effort to make the Winchester 94 more functional for hunters who were now regularly using scopes.
As optics came into wider use for hunting after WWII, the Model 94 was hamstrung. Since cartridge cases ejected out of the top of the receiver, the only options for mounting a scope were on the side of the receiver or further forward scout rifle style. Neither method was ideal, but the angle-eject (AE) Model 94s resolved the issue.
This period also saw the introduction of the Model 94 Big Bore series, variants that upped the power with chambering options like .307 Win., .356 Win., .375 Win., .444 Marlin and .450 Marlin. However, these large-bore calibers did not have the long-range capabilities that hunters desired and most weren’t available for very long.
This Big Bore Model 94 in .307 Winchester also features the dreaded cross-bolt safety.
The final era of the Winchester 94 began around 1992 following the bankruptcy of the U.S. Repeating Arms Company (the then-current iteration of Winchester) and its acquisition by FN Herstal. One positive of this was that FN modernized production of the rifle through the use of CNC machines, but one change that was widely viewed as negative was the addition of a cross-bolt safety which was deemed ugly and unnecessary by shooters.
Thankfully, the new safety was eventually moved to the tang to not disrupt the lines of the gun. New-production Winchester 94 rifles all still feature the tang safety, but the guns haven’t been produced in the United States since 2006. Following their reintroduction in 2010, all Model 94s have been made by Miroku in Japan.
Legacy Of The Winchester 94
While the Winchester Model 1894 may have arrived too late to play as major of a role in the Old West as other Winchester lever-action rifles did, it made up for it by establishing a reputation in hunting camps as a deer-getter. The Winchester allowed generations of hunters to hang meat on the game pole and fill freezers from Alaska to New England and everywhere in between.
Outside of hunting, the Winchester 94 also saw some limited military use in both WWI and WWII. The Americans, British, Canadians and French all issued the rifle in some capacity during these conflicts, but mostly to rear-echelon troops such as ship guards, couriers and coastal defense militias. If one was ever fired in anger during these wars is hard to say, but they surely didn’t see enough action to be remembered as military rifles.
Robert Duvall in True Grit (1969) holding a Winchester 94. The film is set in 1880, so its inclusion is an anachronism. Photo: IMFDB.
It's also worth mentioning that while the Model 1894 didn’t see much actual use by Old West gunslingers in the real world, it did see its fair share of action on the silver screen. Its inclusion is often an anachronism, but plenty of old cowboy movies and shows feature the Winchester 94 even if the plot is set before the gun’s advent in 1894.
Owning A Winchester 94 Today
Even if they’re no longer made in the U.S., it’s nice that you can still buy new-production, Winchester-marked Model 1894 rifles today. Currently available models include the Model 94 Carbine and Model 94 Short Rifle (both with 20-inch barrels but different styles of buttstock), the Model 94 Sporter and Model 94 Deluxe Sporting (both with 24-inch barrels) and the Model 94 Trails End Takedown model (also with a 20-inch barrel). All five variants are available in either the classic .30-30 Winchester chambering or in .38-55 Winchester, but the Short Rifle and Takedown models are offered in .450 Marlin as well.
A new-production Japanese-made Winchester Model 94 Short Rifle.
MSRPs for the new production Winchesters start at just over $1,300 for the most basic configuration but go up to over $2,200 for the Deluxe Sporting model that has features like a case-hardened receiver.
With so many millions of Model 94s made over the years, if you want an original American-made gun, you shouldn’t have too much trouble tracking a used one down either. Examples made before 1964 are the most highly sought after by collectors and will demand the highest price, but you can still find shooters in decent shape for around the same price (or even less) as a new-production Winchester 94 Carbine.
If you’re able to inspect a used rifle before putting money down (and you know what you’re doing), you might get a good deal this way, but if not you’re probably better off getting a new production gun. If you’re willing to settle for one made after 1964, prices also become even more reasonable.
An Uberti 1894 Carbine Model 94 clone.
You’re even more in luck if you don’t care about who made the gun, as companies like Uberti in Italy produce some great Winchester 94 clones as well. While the clones are nice, they unfortunately cost about the same as a new Winchester, so the choice really comes down to details and your preference. Historical purists will likely lean toward the Italian-made ones (or first-generation used Winchesters) since they lack the updated features like the manual safety or angle-eject.
Parting Shot
Any way you slice it, the Winchester Model 1894 is one of the most iconic American firearms ever produced. It has an earned reputation of being an extremely effective hunting rifle, the same timeless good looks as the Old West lever-actions that came before it and they’re still making them today. Not even including clones from other companies, over 7.5 million ‘94s have been made and that number only keeps rising.
Like the 1911 or the AK, the Model ‘94 seems to be a gun that’s just not going to go away any time soon, and one that will likely continue to see some degree of use as long as humans are around and have things to shoot at. Whether you’re looking for a functional, versatile lever gun for hunting or just appreciate the history, few other guns deserve a spot in your gun safe more than a Winchester 94.
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