Springfield Armory has just released the Model 2020 Heatseeker, a compact chassis rifle with AR modularity and bolt-action precision.
Springfield Armory’s latest addition to its Model 2020 line is the Heatseeker. Unlike previous Model 2020 rifles, the Heatseeker is chassis-based and more of a tactical or competition gun than a traditional hunting rifle.
At its core, the Heatseeker features the same Model 2020 action as its cousins. It comes sporting a Coyote Brown Cerakote finish and is available in 6.5 Creedmoor .308 Winchester. Where it differs is its Sharps Bros. chassis. Made of a single piece of high-strength 6061-T6 aluminum, it features plenty of M-LOK slots and QD cups on its forend for accessories and the action housing can accept AR-15 buffer tubes/stocks and AR-pattern pistol grips. The rifles ship with a B5 Systems CPS stock and a B5 Systems P-Grip 23 grip. The Heatseeker also uses AICS-pattern magazines (ships with one 5-round mag) and has a threaded barrel (thread protector included).
The Heatseeker also comes with a .75-MOA accuracy guarantee (for a three-shot group at 100 yards with quality match-grade factory ammunition, in the hands of a skilled shooter), no doubt partly due to its free-floated 16-inch BSF barrel jacketed in a roll-wrapped carbon fiber sleeve and its adjustable TriggerTech Field Trigger.
Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory, said this about the new rifle:
The Model 2020 line of bolt-action rifles has established a solid reputation for uncompromising performance and quality … This new Model 2020 Heatseeker adds a new dimension to the line, one that is as equally at home in the field as it is on the range.
The Model 2020 Heatseeker is available now, ships with a rifle case and has an MSRP of $2,355.
Not every design ends up being successful. Here we discuss dead or dying cartridges of the modern era.
A little more than a decade ago, I edited Gun Digest’s 13th Edition of Cartridges of the World. If you’re unfamiliar with that book, it’s essentially an encyclopedia of metallic cartridges. I’m not sure how many cartridges the latest volume covers, but the 13th Edition contained the history and specifics for more than 800. Some of those cartridges were, by at least some measure, failures.
In one way or another, these five handgun cartridges are failures, too. (Left to right: .32 H&R Magnum, .45 Super, .356 TSW, .45 GAP and .30 Super Carry.)
What makes a metallic cartridge a failure? It could be because shooters failed to grasp the cartridge’s intended application, or it could be that the manufacturer failed to effectively convey that message. Sometimes manufacturers fail to divine what the shooting public really wants, or they gambled on past successes with a similar cartridge. On occasion, a cartridge might be too much of a good thing or possibly competitive rules change and neutralize an edge a new cartridge might have had. There are a lot of reasons for a cartridge to be a commercial failure, but that alone does not mean they are a ballistic failure.
Many rifle cartridges have failed to gain mainstream acceptance, and here are five that failed to make the cut.
Here’s a look at 10 cartridges that, for various reasons, failed to become popular. It does not mean these are bad cartridges, so if your favorite is on the list, don’t waste your time sending hate mail. The truth is that all these cartridges are very good at their intended purpose; it’s just that most folks could care less.
.307 Winchester
Even though the .307 Winchester essentially duplicates the original ballistics of the .30-06 from a traditional lever-action rifle, it failed to catch on.
The .307 Winchester is just a .308 Winchester with a rim to better work in Winchester’s 1894 lever-action rifle. Winchester created a special Angle Eject version of their 94 to house the .307, and with it you could mount a riflescope directly over the action. I bought the first one I saw, hunted with it and handloaded for it. The .307 will push a 150-grain bullet to 2,700 equaling the ballistics of the original 30-06 Springfield load. The problem was that as good as these ballistics are, they were still from a traditional lever-action rifle. Most of what everyone wants to do with a traditional lever-action rifle, you can do with the 30-30 Winchester.
Year of Introduction: 1982
Reason for Failure: Ballistically outperformed the practical application of the rifle Winchester created it for.
.45 Super
The .45 Super pistol cartridge might have just been too much of a good thing.
Gun World magazine editor Dean Grennell developed the .45 Super as a more powerful version of the .45 Auto. Because it’s loaded to a maximum pressure that’s 5,000 psi more than .45 Auto +P ammunition, it has about a 250-fps velocity advantage. You can convert most .45 Auto pistols to .45 Super with a new barrel that has a fully supported chamber and a stiffer recoil spring. But the additional velocity comes with about 40 percent more recoil. Buffalo Bore and Underwood Ammunition still load for the .45 Super. Interestingly, it is a shortened 451 Detonics case, which was based on the .45 Winchester Magnum case, which is almost identical to the .45 NAACO cartridge case. North American Arms Corporation’s created the .45 NAACO for the Brigadier pistol they designed to meet Canadian service handgun requirements. Talk about a family of failures.
Year of Introduction: 1988
Reason for Failure: Too much of a good thing.
.356 Winchester
As a companion to their .307, Winchester introduced the .356 Winchester, which offered ballistics almost identical to the .358 Winchester. I thought it would become fantastically popular. After all, it’s suitable for anything walking around in North America. But, apparently, hunters looking for a large-caliber traditional lever action with more power than a .35 Remington, wanted larger caliber bullets too. The .356 could never compete with the .444 Marlin, .45-70 Government or even the much older and ballistically similar .348 Winchester.
Year of Introduction: 1982
Reason for Failure: Hunters wanted a larger caliber to hunt big critters with a traditional lever gun.
.32 H&R Magnum
With some help from Federal, Harrington & Richards introduced the .32 H&R Magnum, which is a .32 Smith & Wesson Long with a slightly longer case that’s loaded to a slightly higher pressure. It was marketed as a lighter-recoiling replacement for the .38 Special. It recoiled less, but its terminal performance did not measure up. In truth, the .32 H&R is a great trail/hunting cartridge for revolvers, with more umph than a .22 Magnum but less recoil than the .38 Special. I’ve owned at least one .32 H&R revolver since 1984, and I’ve used them a lot. The cartridge has always had a cult following and is probably the most successful cartridge on this list. Fortunately, Federal has not forgotten it; they just introduced two new loads for it. If you love this failure as much as I do, understand it’s just hanging on by its cartridge rim.
Year of Introduction: 1984
Reason for Failure: Initial bad marketing and niche application.
.356 TSW
The .356 TSW was created for competition but was ruled into obscurity
Smith & Wesson designed this cartridge for IPSC competition. It’s really nothing more than a 9mm Luger cartridge loaded in a stronger case that is 21.5mm long as opposed to 19mm. The .356 TSW is also loaded to 50,000 psi, but since the cartridge has an overall length similar to the 9mm Luger, it will still work in 9mm magazines. IPSC changed their rules, arguably because of the .356 TSW, and this threw a wrench in the works. Smith & Wesson then tried to rebrand it for personal protection, sort of changing the meaning of TSW from “Team Smith & Wesson” to “Tactical Smith & Wesson.” It didn’t work. Regardless, this cartridge is a screamer, and you can still get ammo from Underwood Ammunition.
Year of Introduction: 1994
Reason for Failure: Ruled out of contention.
.45 GAP
The .45 GAP was a great idea that no one seemed to care about.
The Glock pistol changed everything. It took some time for shooters to trust a plastic pistol, but with almost coast to coast adoption by law enforcement, it rose to stardom. With law enforcement being a large portion of Glock sales and a tremendous part of their marketing, Glock thought it a great idea to offer their own cartridge—one that would provide .45 Auto performance from a pistol with a smaller grip, so more cops could properly interface with it. Initially, the 45 GAP—Glock Automatic Pistol—received tremendous fanfare. A year later, hardly anyone cared, and a decade later, no one did. Oddly, Glock still offers three pistols in .45 GAP, possibly only because they do not want to admit it was a mistake.
Year of Introduction: 2003
Reason for Failure: Apparently, shooters and cops with little hands did not want to shoot a .45.
.17 Mach 2
The .17 Mach 2 is a very cute and zippy little rimfire cartridge, but it was not fast enough to outrun its lack of appeal.
In 2002, Hornady introduced the .17 HMR cartridge, which was based on the .22 Magnum cartridge case. It was an instant success and so popular that two years later Hornady introduced the .17 Mach 2 rimfire cartridge based on of the .22 Long Rifle case. Ballistically, the 17 Mach 2 fell right between the .22 LR and the .17 HMR/22 Magnum, and while compromising ballistics can sometimes be a good thing, apparently this was a level of performance no one wanted. Currently, a major online retailer only lists two loads for the .17 Mach 2, and no one cares unless you were silly enough to buy one back in the day.
Year of Introduction: 2004
Reason for Failure: Too much and too little in the same package.
.25-45 Sharps
The .25-45 Sharps is an AR compatible cartridge that’s ideally adapted for deer hunting, but it never found really got off the ground.
There have been many attempts to create an AR-15 compatible cartridge that offered a ballistic advantage over the .223 Remington for deer hunting. That’s why the .25-45 Sharps was created, and it uses a .223 Remington case necked up to accept a 0.257-caliber bullet. The goal was to duplicate the ballistics of the .250 Savage, and the .25-45 Sharps would do that with 87-grain bullets. However, the case was too long to work with the heavier-more-popular 0.257-caliber bullets most deer hunters preferred. I worked with the cartridge a good bit and even took it to Africa. But limited bullet options combined with the fact most modern shooters did not give a damn about the .250 Savage, doomed its success.
Year of Introduction: 2008
Reason for Failure: Had to compete with the .300 Blackout and was not supported by ammo and firearms manufacturers.
.30 Remington AR
The .30 Remington AR is a fantastic cartridge for big-game hunting with an AR-15 or a micro bolt action rifle, but it is quickly passing into obsolescence.
At a time when the media was crucifying the AR-15 rifle for not being suitable for big-game hunting, Remington countered that argument with the .30 Remington AR. It would push a 125-grain bullet to 2,800 fps and a 150-grain bullet to almost 2,600 fps. However, Remington screwed up the introduction of this cartridge so bad it looked like it was intentional. It took two years to get guns to market, and during that time Remington introduced the .300 AAC Blackout with a much better marketing campaign. Additionally, Remington published a widely circulated advertisement showing .30 Remington AR ballistics. The problem was they listed the 300-yard velocities and energies as the performance from the muzzle.
Year of Introduction: 2008
Reason for Failure: Timing and marketing mistakes.
.30 Super Carry
The .30 Super Carry (left) is just as terminally effective as the 9mm Luger (right), but gun manufacturers have not supported it.
This may be the most misunderstood pistol cartridge. It makes perfect sense because it offers 9mm performance with a 20 percent increase in capacity. Its ballistics are so good because Federal created great bullets for it, and they loaded it to 52,000 psi, which is 20 percent more than 9mm Luger +P ammo is loaded to. When tested in 10 percent ordnance gelatin, the .30 Super Carry performs almost identically to the 9mm. So, why is it not the most popular self-defense pistol cartridge in the world? One reason really: Glock. The .30 Super Carry has been around for three years, but Glock has yet to offer a pistol chambered for it. In fact, Sig Sauer, Springfield Armory and Ruger haven’t either. Why? Maybe 52,000 psi is just too much pressure for those guns.
The .30 Super Carry is a far better cartridge than sales suggest, partly because shooters don’t understand it, but mostly because of lack of support from gun manufacturers.
Year of Introduction: 2022
Reason for Failure: No Glock, Ruger or Springfield Armory pistols and consumer misunderstanding.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Ammunition Depot and Rattlesnake Tactical have partnered to design a 34-round extended magazine for double-stack 9mm Glock-pattern firearms.
What’s better than a 33-round Glock mag? A 34-round Glock mag, especially when it’s reliable. That’s why Ammunition Depot and Rattlesnake Tactical put their heads together and designed this 34-round mag for any firearm that accepts double-stack 9mm Glock-pattern magazines. Whether the gun in question is a tiny Glock 26, a pistol caliber carbine or a 9mm Glock clone like the PSA Dagger featured here, the Rattlesnake Tactical mag is ready to increase its capacity.
Of course, a magazine’s capacity is irrelevant unless it’s reliable, but thankfully the Rattlesnake Tactical mag has that going for it too. Confirmed by third-party testing, the new 34-rounder proved to be more reliable than the two competitors it was pitted against. Drop testing also revealed that the impact-resistant polymer Rattlesnake mag “held up equally or better” than the competitors after corner and side drops.
To top it all off, the Rattlesnake Tactical mag is made in the U.S. and features a cool snake scale pattern on its body to provide some extra grip. This mag may be less than ideal for concealed carry, but as a spare mag in your backpack, glovebox or just for running your PCC, you won’t find a higher capacity, more reliable stick for your 9mm Glock-pattern firearms.
I tested out Silencer Central’s new Banish 9K to see just how quiet this super compact, lightweight suppressor can really be.
Just a few months ago I discussed pistol suppressors in this column, and I said that short of employment as an assassin, suppressors for pistols are best suited to enhancing the enjoyment of recreational and competitive range sessions or for hunting. This is mostly because, given the compact nature of a pistol, adding a suppressor mostly removes the handgun from practical self-defense application.
For the most part, my opinion has not changed … but I’ll admit that, because of a new pistol suppressor from Silencer Central, I’ve had to rethink it.
Silencer Central Banish 9K Specs:
Length: 4.1 Inches Diameter: 1.3 Inches Baffles: 8 Weight: 2.7 Ounces Material: Titanium Caliber: 9mm Caliber Cartridge Range: 9mm, .380 Auto, 5.7x28mm, .300 Blackout Finish: Cerakote Sound Reduction: 26 dB Mount Style: Direct Thread (1/2×28 or 13.5x1LH) Full-Auto Rated: 9mm subsonic and .300 Blackout subsonic Warranty: Lifetime Price: $699
Baby Banish
The new Banish 9K is, as far as I know, the smallest and lightest suppressor available for a 9mm pistol. Unlike most suppressors that manufacturers piece together with internal baffles fitted inside a welded tube, the Banish 9K is 3D printed in 100 percent high-grade titanium. Now, 3D printing is a rather new concept, and many firearms manufacturers use the process when creating prototypes. But the ability to 3D-print a complete titanium muzzle device—with a lifetime warranty—that can withstand the pressure of escaping gases—long term—is bordering on high-level sorcery. It’s like something you would see in a science fiction movie.
The truth is, of course, there’s no magic in play at all. In fact, 3D-printing in titanium utilizes a process called laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). With LPBF, layers of titanium powder are melted together using a high-intensity laser to create solid parts. What makes this applicable in suppressor manufacturing is that you can create extremely complex and very lightweight shapes that are not only strong but also corrosion resistant.
The Silencer Central Banish 9K suppressor as it compares in size to a Bear Creek Arsenal G17 clone.
As for the Banish 9K, it’s only 4.1 inches long and has a diameter of 1.3 inches. Any way you measure it, that’s a very compact suppressor. But just as important as the compactness of this suppressor is its weight. The Banish 9K is unbelievably light—it weighs in at only 2.7 ounces.
How light is 2.7 ounces? Well, here’s one way to look at it: A single 9mm cartridge weighs about 183 grains, so the Banish 9K weighs less than seven rounds of 9mm ammunition. That means you could screw a Banish 9K on your pistol and download the magazine by seven rounds and the gun’s overall weight would not change.
Less is Way More
One of the things that allows the Banish 9K to be so compact and light is that, because it is so light, it does not need a Nielsen device for proper functioning. Pistols work by transferring energy from the fired cartridge to cycle the slide. With the short recoil systems of most handguns, the barrel moves, too, and the added weight of the suppressor is usually enough to prevent the gun from properly cycling.
A Nielsen Device, also known as a muzzle booster, helps suppressors work with pistols. Some refer to these devices as pistons, and most handgun suppressors are designed to work with a piston the suppressor mounts to.
Unlike most pistol suppressors, the Silencer Central Banish 9K does not need a piston to work. This is the key to its compactness and lightweight.
Now, this is not a 100 percent guarantee that the Banish 9K will work with your pistol, especially if your pistol is a 1911 with a linked barrel. For example, the Banish 9K worked perfectly on a Bear Creek Arsenal Glock clone, but I had to reduce the recoil spring weight in a Wilson Combat EDC X9 2.0 for reliable functioning. With the heavier recoil spring, the slide would not cycle far enough to the rear for the empty case to engage the ejector.
But, How’s It Sound?
The next thing you’re probably wondering is if a suppressor this small can reduce the sound to a hearing safe level. With the 9mm Luger, the Banish 9K reduces the sound level to 132 decibels at the ear. But this suppressor is not just for 9mm pistols. It will also work with a .380 auto pistol, an FN 5.7x28mm, 9mm carbines … and in 300 Blackout with subsonic rounds it’s even rated for full auto.
Could you everyday carry a 9mm pistol with a Banish 9K attached? Um, maybe. It would depend on how you carried, and I highly doubt you will be able to find a holster that will accept a pistol with a Banish 9K attached. However, aside from everyday carry, a pistol with a Banish 9K would clearly be practical for home defense and even for vehicle carry.
I know some folks advise against vehicle carry, but whether it makes sense or not has a great deal to do with the areas you operate in and what you use your vehicle for. The Banish 9K would be great on a pistol you keep in your ranch truck or maybe in the side-by-side you use on the farm.
For the most part, my opinion on suppressed pistols has not changed: I believe they’re best suited to enhance the enjoyment of recreational and competitive range sessions, for hunting, and for training new shooters who are recoil and noise sensitive. But the new Banish 9K substantially increases the practical application of a suppressor on a personal protection pistol.
I still don’t think it’s optimum for concealed, everyday carry, unless maybe you wear a trench coat—you know, like a hit man.
Pros
Short and compact
Very lightweight
Some pistols can cycle with it sans Nielsen Device
Cons
Not as quiet as larger suppressors
Silencer Central Banish 9K Deals:
Sportsman's Warehouse
$699
Silencer Central
$699
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
What’s the right way to interact with law enforcement while carrying a concealed firearm? Here we look at lessons from two experts.
At the 2025 NRA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, the intersection of armed citizenship and law enforcement took center stage in several thought-provoking conversations. Two voices stood out for their unique insights: Jacob Paulsen, president of ConcealedCarry.com, and Glen Hoyer, director of the NRA’s Law Enforcement Division. Together, they offered a compelling look at how armed citizens can better navigate encounters with law enforcement—rooted in data and training.
Paulsen’s perspective is grounded in hard numbers. His recent article, “What Over 1,600 Armed Traffic Stops Reveal About Law Enforcement Interactions,” dives into a dataset from 560 survey participants who collectively reported over 1,600 armed traffic stops. What the data revealed was as surprising as it was instructive.
First Key Finding: Disarmament Is Rare
Contrary to popular belief—and Paulsen’s own frequent experiences in Utah—most traffic stops involving legally armed citizens do not result in the officer disarming the individual. In fact, disarmament occurred in only about 10 percent of the stops reported. This suggests that most law enforcement officers are comfortable leaving an armed citizen’s firearm in its holster—so long as the interaction is calm, professional and safe.
Interestingly, in nearly 20 percent of those rare disarmament cases, officers asked the citizen to hand over the firearm—an approach both Paulsen and law enforcement experts strongly discourage. “The safest thing you can do,” Paulsen advises, “is refuse politely and say, ‘Officer, I’m not comfortable handling my gun in front of you. You’re welcome to retrieve it if needed.’” It’s advice echoed by tactical trainers and police alike, who understand how easily such a request could escalate into a deadly misunderstanding.
Second Key Finding: Know Your Duty to Inform—And When Not To
Another critical area of confusion involves whether an armed citizen is legally required to inform the officer that they are carrying. Paulsen’s survey revealed that about 21 percent of respondents were incorrect about their state’s laws on this matter—sometimes believing they had no duty to inform when, in fact, they did, which can carry legal consequences.
Paulsen’s takeaway: Know your state’s laws cold. But beyond legal requirements, there’s also a tactical consideration. Does the officer already know? In some states, running a driver’s license automatically reveals whether the person has a concealed carry permit. In such cases, failing to disclose may appear deceptive. “If the computer is going to tell them,” Paulsen said, “you want it to come from you, not the screen.”
Third Key Finding: Be Smart About How You Inform
If you do choose—or are required—to inform an officer that you’re armed, Paulsen and Hoyer both stress the importance of how you do it. Reaching into your glovebox or pockets as the officer approaches is a surefire way to raise alarm. Instead, roll down your window, keep your hands on the wheel and clearly state, “Officer, I have a concealed carry permit, and I am armed. How would you like me to proceed?”
This kind of approach, Paulsen argues, is especially important because traffic stops are high-stress situations—for both parties. “Practice what you’ll say before it happens,” he advised. “And be very specific if asked where your firearm is—say, ‘It’s in a holster at my 4 o’clock position on my belt,’ not ‘It’s back here somewhere.’”
Glen Hoyer’s Law Enforcement Perspective
From the other side of the badge, Glen Hoyer emphasized the same principles—but added context from decades of police experience. His message was clear: law enforcement officers don’t know who you are during a stop. Whether you’re a good guy or not, you’re a potential threat until proven otherwise.
In fact, Hoyer opens his discussion by pointing out how even uniformed officers sometimes mistakenly shoot undercover or off-duty cops. “If we can’t always identify our own,” he noted, “we certainly can’t assume that a civilian with a gun is a good guy.”
That’s why body language and demeanor matter. Hoyer recommends turning on your dome light during nighttime stops, keeping your hands palm-up on the steering wheel, and ensuring that passengers do the same. “It communicates cooperation. You’re showing us, before we even say a word, that you mean no harm.”
Training, Scripting and Recording
Both experts also addressed a topic often overlooked: what to do if things start going sideways. If you’re being asked to do something that raises red flags—like handing over your gun—Hoyer and Paulsen agree: Ask for a supervisor. “Every patrol shift has one,” Paulsen noted. “Don’t be afraid to make that request if you feel unsafe or uncertain.”
Recording the encounter is also fair game. In most states, single-party consent laws allow you to legally record interactions with law enforcement. “You don’t need to announce it,” Paulsen said, “but having a record could be invaluable if something goes wrong.”
Final Takeaway: It’s Not About Winning the Encounter
Perhaps the most important lesson is this: your goal during a traffic stop—or any interaction with police—is not to “win.” It’s to make sure everyone goes home safe. That means thinking ahead, knowing your rights and responsibilities, and approaching the moment with humility and clarity.
As both Paulsen and Hoyer made clear at the NRA Annual Meeting, being an armed citizen comes with weighty responsibility. But with the right mindset, training and preparation, these interactions don’t have to be tense or dangerous—they can be just another example of what respectful civic engagement looks like.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Premier Body Armor has just released an enhanced version of its armored shirt called the Everyday Armor T-Shirt 360.
We already did a hands-on review of Premier Body Armor’s Everyday Armor T-Shirt, but the company has just released an upgraded version of the defensive garment. Called the Everyday Armor T-Shirt 360, it’s essentially the same as the original but now features side armor panels as well.
The new version still offers comfortable, concealable IIIA protection, only now it provides it for your sides as well as your front and back. The combined weight of all four American-made soft armor panels and the T-shirt that carries them is only 2.5 pounds, and the carrier keeps everything snug to the body to provide maximum concealment and protection.
Alex Stewart, President of Premier Body Armor, said this about the new Everyday Armor T-Shirt 360:
Concealment shouldn’t come at the cost of complete protection … Our new 360 model wraps the cardiac box and critical side anatomy in the same slim profile trusted by off-duty officers, church security teams, and responsible citizens nationwide. It’s the closest thing to everyday peace of mind you can pull on like a base layer.
Available in either white or black and in sizes XS to 4XL, the 360 model is available now and has an MSRP of $380. Or, if you already own a standard (front and back only) Everyday Armor T-Shirt, you can order an upgrade kit for $140 that includes two side armor panels and the new shirt with side pockets to accommodate them.
I headed across the pond with a Savage 110 PPR to test its practical precision in the hunting fields.
I enjoy all sorts of big game hunting, both here in the U.S. and Canada—as well as more exotic locations such as Africa and Australia. But I must report that the United Kingdom has a different allure; it has deep-rooted traditions and a different approach to the sport than much of the rest of the world.
Having experienced a traditional stalking hunt for Scottish red stag, I jumped at the opportunity to hunt the Cotswolds, a beautiful, forested region in the southwest of England, for fallow deer and roe deer. In addition to a great hunting opportunity, my host would be world-renowned chef Mike Robinson, whose fallow deer culling operation provides a good percentage of the venison to England’s restaurants.
Upon arriving, Mike and his guides took us to the larder—the hunt headquarters, if you will—where the shooting range was also situated. Mike’s face was beaming as he and Savage’s Beth Shimanski unveiled the Model 110 PPR rifle. Designed for the rigors of stalking and culling in England’s wet, heavy vegetation, while delivering the precision needed for the head shots taken on those game animals destined for the public, the 110 PPR—the Professional Pursuit Rifle—had input from Robinson, drawing on his vast experience in the Cotswolds.
Savage’s 110 PPR is a sensible and serviceable design. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Holding History
The famous Savage 110 action has been relied upon for being a part of the company’s accuracy equation, and on the Professional Pursuit Rifle, it houses a fluted bolt, and a bolt face with dual plunger ejectors and a larger extractor. Atop the 110’s receiver is mounted a 20-MOA Picatinny rail, to extend the long-range capabilities of the rifle. The safety remains on the tang, under the thumb, and the bolt release remains in its traditional location.
The PPR—Precision Pursuit Rifle—is a variant built on the proven and well-loved Savage 110 action. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
The bolt handle features an oversized ball, so that even with wet hands the action can be cycled. The Savage 110 PPR features a carbon-fiber-wrapped Proof Research barrel—20 inches long in all calibers—that’s threaded for the use of a suppressor, which was used on our hunt in England, or the use of a muzzle brake that’s shipped with the rifle.
Coming from the factory with a 20-MOA Picatinny rail, the 110 PPR will give plenty of elevation adjustment for long-range shooting. The author mounted the new Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 3-18x44mm scope on board for testing. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Savage has equipped the 110 PPR with the AccuTrigger; though fully user-adjustable, my test rifle broke consistently at 2 pounds, 4 ounces, allowing the shooter to accurately place shots. In my time in England, I had the opportunity to use three different examples of the 110 PPR—two in 6.5 Creedmoor and one in 6.5 PRC—and I was impressed by the uniformity of the rifle. Taking precision headshots in field positions, though we had the excellent ViperFlex quad sticks, is not the easiest of tasks, but the accuracy of the Savage rifle laid the blame of any mishaps on the shooter.
I took three spike fallow deer—known locally as a “pricket,” as their small, under-developed antlers aren’t desirable for a healthy gene pool—without issue, as well as a roe buck at the end of his days. A crisp trigger is integral to accurate shooting, and I don’t think it’s any surprise that Savage has a winner with their AccuTrigger design.
Different, But Good
The most interesting and unique features of the Savage Model 110 PPR is the stock they’ve chosen: the Grayboe Phoenix 2. This is a sophisticated, well-thought-out and well-engineered rifle stock, even if it is radically different from the classic figured walnut stocks I am so personally fond of.
While it may not have the appearance of a traditional hunting rifle, the Grayboe Phoenix 2 is all business, offering options that a hunter and precision shooter will appreciate. The stock is adjustable for both comb height and length-of-pull. The test rifle I was sent had a length of pull that measured 13¼ inches, with the addition or removal of spacers at the butt of the rifle, just ahead of the recoil pad. The comb height is adjustable via a large set screw on the right stock of the stock, allowing the cheek piece to raise or lower when loosened, being secured when the screw is tightened. The cheek piece is adjustable with just one hand.
The Phoenix 2’s grip is nearly vertical, with an ergonomic palm swell that allows the shooter to afford a solid grip on the rifle, while still being able to comfortably engage and disengage the tang-mounted safety, and without introducing additional heartbeat shake by having the trigger-hand thumb over the tang. At the front end of the trigger guard is the spring-loaded lever, which releases the polymer magazine; a gentle push sees the magazine drop from the well.
Savage equips the Model 110 PPR with the familiar three-position tang safety but features an oversize bolt knob for easy manipulation with bare hands or gloves. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
The forend of the Phoenix 2 is rather square—perfect for the use of a shooting cradle on a tripod—and the bottom of the forend is equipped with a 9-inch section of M-Lok rail for attaching a shooting aid. Both sides of the Grayboe stock are equipped with a flush cup sling attachment point at the front of the forend and at the rear of the buttstock. The barrel is completely free floated.
Despite the traditional English weather—if you don’t like it, please wait 10 minutes—where we experienced the transition from bright sunshine to pouring rain to a gentle mist, the design of the Grayboe stock allowed the rifle to stay on the shoulder while walking/stalking, comfortably in the hands while closing in on a croaking fallow buck, or safely across the back while helping to transport a roe buck or fallow buck.
Painted in a camo pattern based on green and earth tones interspersed with a thin black web, the Grayboe stock has a flat finish, so there’s no worry about glare scaring off the game. And unlike many polymer stocks, the Phoenix 2 isn’t “loud” stalking through the brush and limbs don’t make a loud noise when rubbing against the stock. Frankly, it isn’t hard to see why Mike Robinson & Co. took a shine to this design, as it checks all the boxes in the area they hunt.
Set Up to Shine
To prepare the 110 PPR for the range, I mounted the new Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 3-18×44 scope in Leupold rings. This scope is similar in size, shape and weight to the original version, but Leupold has made some interesting tweaks to improve performance. The lens coating seems to lend a bit more clarity, especially in low-light situations, and they’ve moved to a smaller and more ergonomic power level throw knob, but the feature I like best is the new turret design.
Instead of using a tiny Allen wrench (which I lose more often than not) to reset or slip the elevation and windage turrets, Leupold now uses a spring-loaded set screw. Depress the screw, pull up on the tab and you can quickly and easily reset the turrets to zero without the use of tools—I am absolutely a fan. The same left-side focal knob is still there, as is the illuminated reticle (my test scope featured the excellent FireDot).
The Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 scope has the new Speedset dials that are simple to reset yet stay put no matter the conditions. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Add up all these features and you’ve got one of the best scopes on the market, giving an excellent balance of price, features, and sheer reliability, all in a lightweight package. The 110 PPR rifle and Leupold scope combination tipped the scales at 8 pounds, 4 ounces unloaded. The 30mm main tube gives plenty of elevation adjustment, especially when used in conjunction with the PPR’s 20-MOA rail, in addition to providing a bright image. And Leupold offers an additional CDS turret marked out in yardage, correlating to your chosen load and elevation, free of charge.
Additional Testing
Having proved itself across three different rifles in England, so far as functionality goes—I didn’t have a single feeding or extraction issue, nor any failures to fire—I grabbed a quartet of different types of 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition to test at my little backyard range. In the mix was the Hornady Precision Hunter ammo, using the 143-grain ELD-X bullet, the Hornady Outfitter ammo featuring the 120-grain monometal CX bullet (we used this with great effect in England), the Federal Fusion Tipped ammo at 140 grains and the Federal 130-grain Barnes TSX load. I also had the opportunity to measure velocities with the Garmin Xero C1 Pro and was impressed with this unit.
All four of the 6.5 Creedmoor hunting loads the author tested gave sub-MOA three-shot groups, with the rifle showing a preference for the monometal bullets. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Using three-shot groups for testing, the Savage 110 PPR I tested showed a preference for the monometal projectiles, with the best groups being delivered by the Federal Barnes TSX load and the Hornady CX load. Both averaged 0.6-inch groups at 100 yards, with the Federal load giving just a slightly more even velocity reading. The Hornady Precision Hunter load printed three-shot groups averaging 0.72 inch, with the Federal Tipped Fusion load coming in at an even 0.8 inch.
During the bench testing, there were no feeding issues at all, nor any problems with extraction. The bottom line is that the test rifle, much like the guns I had the opportunity to shoot in England, was wonderfully accurate for a rifle of this length and weight.
Savage Model 110 PPR 20-inch barrel
LOAD
CARTRIDGE
BULLET WEIGHT
ADVERTISED VEL.
OBSERVED AVG. VEL.
SMALLEST GROUP
AVERAGE GROUP
LARGEST GROUP
Hornady Outfitter
6.5 Creedmoor
120 grain CX
2,700 fps
2,586 fps
0.52”
0.60”
0.81”
Hornady Precision Hunter
6.5 Creedmoor
143 grain ELD-X
2,700 fps
2,586 fps
0.65”
0.72”
0.89”
140-grain Fusion Tipped
6.5 Creedmoor
140 grain Fusion Tipped
2,175 fps
2,604 fps
0.70”
0.80”
0.98”
Federal Premium
6.5 Creedmoor
130 grain Barnes TSX
2,825 fps
2,705 fps
0.48”
0.61”
0.78”
NOTES: Three shot groups at 100 yards. Velocities measured on Garmin Xero C1 Pro.
A Tradition Continued
Savage’s Model 110 Professional Pursuit Rifle might not look like Grandpa’s fetchin’ iron, but it surely makes an ergonomic and effective hunting tool. What you have is a well-balanced rifle, capable of fine accuracy, with a practical stock constructed of weatherproof material. All the metalwork is coated in a black Cerakote, and the Proof Research carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel both reduces weight and dissipates heat very well. The shorter barrel makes perfect sense for those who spend time in the confines of a deer or bear blind yet offers the capability of making shots on the longer side of the spectrum, without a huge loss in velocity.
The author used the Savage Model 110 PPR in the Cotswolds area of southwestern England to take this young fallow buck, called a “pricket”; the rifle performed very well. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
The rifle balances well, and with the muzzle brake onboard, measures just 41½ inches from stem to stern. You get the famous Savage AccuTrigger, as well as the barrel nut and floating bolt head, which greatly help to enhance the rifle’s accuracy potential, as well as that impressive Grayboe composite stock. With an MSRP of $2,399 and a street price of right around $2,000 at the time of this writing, you could spend more and still not have all the features wrapped up in the 110 Pro Pursuit Rifle.
Available in right-hand configurations, it’s chambered for the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .270 Winchester, .28 Nosler, 7mm PRC, 7mm Backcountry, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Short Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Want to buy an AK-47? I brought in a few of the best AK rifles chambered for 7.62×39 and ran them through their paces to help you make your choice.
AK-47s are probably more popular in the U.S. now than they’ve ever been. Surprising, since the cost of the rifles and their ammunition is also at their zenith. Once viewed as the poor man’s alternative to the AR-15, that is no longer the case. Today, you can get an AR for $400, and the cheapest .223 Remington ammo is less expensive than the cheapest 7.62×39.
No, the AK is no longer the budget option it once was. The AK has become a rifle purchased by historical enthusiasts, collectors and shooters just interested in owning the exotic weapon of the enemy. Given their inflated prices, however, you want to spend your money wisely and choose the best AK that you can for your needs and desires. So, I brought some in for hands-on testing and evaluation to help you make that decision.
How I Made My Picks
The very first gun that I shot was an AK, and it’s the firearm that sparked a lifelong interest in this hobby and led to my eventual career. Consequently, I’ve spent more time researching Kalashnikovs than any other firearm platform and own more of them than I can shake a stick at. It’s fair to say that I had some preexisting notions before starting this project, but it didn’t stop me from testing and assessing the guns as objectively as possible. Many of my biases were confirmed, but there were a couple of surprises as well.
Ultimately, the goal of the testing was simply to identify any problems if they exist, ensure their reliability and juxtapose the shooting experiences of each AK side-by-side. Testing them like this allowed for some hair-splitting and revealed some nuanced differences between them. Based on criteria like their fit and finish, their cost, the feel of their recoil impulse and the included furniture, I determined what each model does best.
The AK-47 Review Process And Notes
First things first, I should clarify that this buyer’s guide is only discussing 7.62×39 AK rifles that are currently available new, colloquially referred to as AK-47s .
To test each AK, I headed to the range with a duffel bag full of loaded mags and a couple of additional cases of ammo to top them off. 2,000 rounds of Wolf Polyformance 123gr HP were provided by AmmoToGo and an additional 500 rounds of Grom 124gr FMJ were provided by Atlantic Firearms. That comes to a grand total of 2,500 rounds or 500 rounds per gun.
For an AK, or any rifle worth its salt for that matter, 500 rounds is not a lot. It is, however, enough that any possible issues should rear their head. The good, and unsurprising, news is that not a single malfunction occurred. That means for all intents and purposes, you should expect all of these rifles to be equally reliable out of the box.
A wide variety of magazines were used to see if any combinations of AK and mag didn’t like each other. Between my surplus steel mags, various polymer mags (Bulgarian, PMAG, Tapco, and US Palm) and the mags included with each rifle, I didn’t experience any issues, but that said AK mags sometimes require a bit of filing to properly fit. The AKs with tighter magwells needed some convincing to seat some polymer mags, but all worked fine.
As for accuracy, I tested out to 200 yards with a steel half-size silhouette. Every rifle hit the target with ease. At the very least, they’re all minute-of-man accurate.
The rest of the differences I gleaned from the testing process will be discussed in the buyer’s guide portion.
A WASR-10 sporting replacement wood furniture and a surplus sling.
Country of Origin: Romania Pattern: AKM Barrel: Cold Hammer Forged, Chrome-lined Weight: 7.5 Pounds Furniture: Wood or polymer Muzzle Device: Slant brake Muzzle Threads: 14×1 LH Side Scope Rail: Yes, AKM-pattern Bayonet Lug: Yes MSRP: $1,070
Pros
Rugged, reputation for excellent reliability
Chrome-lined hammer forged military barrel
AKM-pattern, good host for modifications
Enjoys being abused
Cons
Included furniture is garbage
Rough, grayish finish isn't attractive
No magwell dimples (purely aesthetic)
Comes With: One 30-round mag, no cleaning rod OtherAvailable Variants: WASR-10 UF (underfolder stock), WASR Paratrooper (side-folding stock, combo gas block/front sight)
The WASR-10 that was tested is my personal rifle, and I stand by my decision to put it at the top of my list. Why? It embodies the rough, rugged reliability that AKs are known for. In terms of provenance, it’s the closest to a “true military AKM” of anything on the list.
Long story short, these are made in Cugir, Romania, at the same factory that’s been pumping out AKs since the early 1960s. Millions of select-fire models have been exported and spread throughout the world since then, and starting in the late 90s, semi-auto variants became available on the U.S. civilian market. They quickly gained a reputation for being workhorses and offered some of the best value you could find at the time.
They’re not as cheap as they once were, but they’re not as expensive as many comparable models either. For someone looking for a basic, no-frills AK-47 at a middle-shelf price (it's frequently priced below MSRP), you couldn’t go wrong with a WASR.
As far as shooting one goes, it feels like an AK should. It’s such a standard, true-to-form AK in fact that it served as the baseline for which all the other test guns were compared.
The only real downsides in my mind are that WASRs sport a rough utilitarian finish on their metal parts and ship with low-quality polymer or wood furniture designed to be replaced (as has already been done on the example featured here).
The best parts of the WASR include its production at a legacy factory—initially set up by the Soviets—its use of quality military-grade parts like a cold hammer forged chrome-lined barrel and its widespread compatibility with all standard AKM components and accessories. It's roughness is also a quality in my eyes, because you'll never feel bad about throwing it around and scratching it up, and that's what AKs are meant for.
One final note is that the rifle featured in this review is an original WASR-10, but a few years ago Century Arms began importing a model called the WASR-10 V2. The only noteworthy difference is its gas block does not feature a bayonet lug. If having a bayo lug is important to you, just track down one of the plentiful original WASR-10s instead.
WASR-10 Deals
Midway USA
WASR-10
$930
Midway USA
WASR-10 Underfolder
$1,100
Best Budget AK: PSA GF3
The PSA GF3 and its included PSA magazine.
Country of Origin:U.S. Pattern:AKM Barrel: Gas Nitride 4150 steel treated Weight: 6.5 Pounds Furniture: Polymer Muzzle Device: Slant brake Muzzle Threads: 14X1 LH Side Scope Rail: Yes, AKM Bayonet Lug: Yes MSRP: $700
Pros
Very affordable
Impressively soft recoil
Nice finish
Enhanced safety lever
Cons
Barrel is not chrome-lined
Not overgassed, won't be as reliable in adverse conditions
Comes With: One 30-round PSA mag, cable lock, no cleaning rod OtherAvailable Variants: PSA offers the GF3 in dozens of configurations with polymer, wood and railed furniture in several colors
If you’re looking to get into AKs while spending little money, look at Palmetto State Armory.
The company’s first couple of generations of AK-47s had some kinks, but it’s widely accepted that the current-generation GF3 rifles are absolutely rock solid. Like every imported AK on the list, this domestically manufactured rifle features a hammer-forged bolt, carrier, and front trunnion. When it comes to those parts, you should accept no substitute.
Besides the attractive price tag, the GF3 has a lot going for it. In fact, it even does quite a few things better than some of the others. First off, it has a nice black finish and its polymer furniture is good enough quality to keep installed if you like the way it looks. It also ships with an enhanced safety lever installed that features a shelf for quicker actuation. Another note on the safety is that while most AKs feature rather tight levers that often need to be broken in a bit, the GF3’s was the smoothest, best AK safety I’ve ever felt right out of the box.
I was shocked by how soft-shooting PSA's AK is.
As for how it shot, the GF3 had the lowest recoil impulse of the standard AKM-pattern rifles tested (WASR, GF3 and WBP). PSA clearly dialed the gas on this gun very carefully to be just enough to keep it reliably cycling. While this made it a dream to shoot, it could also be considered a drawback depending on how you look at it. If you had to pick an AK to trust your life with on some muddy battlefield, the GF3 isn’t the one. Harsh conditions are why AKs were designed to be overgassed and it’s partly what made them so reliable—it keeps the gun running in the face of excessive fouling or debris in the action.
Another potential downside is the barrel is not chrome-lined, but unless you plan on shooting corrosive ammo through it that shouldn't be an issue.
That all said, thankfully, most of us aren’t planning on going to war and are simply buying an AK as a range toy. If that’s all you want it for, the PSA GF3 is an excellent option that shoots surprisingly softly and spits less gas in your face than anything else on this list.
PSA GF3 Deals
Palmetto State Armory
PSA GF3 Gray
$650
Palmetto State Armory
PSA GF3 FDE
$700
Best Looking AK: WBP 762SC Jack Classic
The WBP Jack wearing its included sling.
Country of Origin: Poland Pattern: AKM Barrel:FB Radom Hammer Forged, Chrome-lined Weight: 7.2 Pounds Furniture: Wood Muzzle Device: Slant brake Muzzle Threads: 14X1 LH Side Scope Rail: Yes, AKM Bayonet Lug: Yes MSRP: $1,100
Pros
Gorgeous finish
Handsome furniture
Barrel is chrome-lined and made by FB Radom
Reliable, faithful AKM clone
Cons
A bit pricey
Finish and wood look so nice, you'll be scared to properly abuse it
Comes With: One 30-round magazine, NcSTAR VISM 2-point sling, front sight adjustment tool, cable lock, cleaning rod OtherAvailable Variants: WBP offers its rifles with several colors of wood, polymer and tactical furniture, as well as a DIY configuration that includes no furniture
In many ways, the WBP 762SC Jack Classic is just a higher-end WASR. Like the WASR, it’s made in an ex-communist country with a history of producing excellent guns, it’s a very faithful copy of the AKM (including its hammer-forged chrome-lined barrel made by FB Radom) and its recoil impulse suggests its gas is tuned to military specifications, so it's plenty reliable. What it does better than a WASR are all aesthetic improvements—a gorgeous glossy black finish and handsome, original-looking laminate wood furniture. It may not come across through the photos, but the finish really looks better and of higher quality than any other rifle on this list.
That said, one angle to consider before you choose the best AK for you is how you plan on treating it. Yes, the WBP is a beautiful rifle, but that could easily result in you babying it and worrying about every ding and scratch like it's a new car. If you want to shoot your AK and treat it as roughly as it deserves, you won't feel nearly as bad about doing that to a WASR.
Unsurprisingly, shooting the WBP felt the same as the WASR since both are essentially AKM clones. There isn’t much more to say about it than that. Simply put, if you’re after classic AK aesthetics and are willing to pay a bit more for it to look beautiful right out of its box, the WBP Jack Classic is your ticket.
Milled receiver limits aftermarket parts compatibility
Subpar finish, prone to flaking
Comes With: One 10-round mag, Arsenal 2-point sling, buttstock cleaning kit, oiler bottle, cleaning rod OtherAvailable Variants: SAM7SF (side-folder stock), SAM7UF (underfolder stock) ; all offered in several colors of polymer furniture and with various muzzle device options
While most AK-producing countries completely abandoned milled receivers as soon as they had the technology to manufacture stamped receivers instead, Bulgaria is the exception. Once importation began, Arsenal became the gold standard for shooters in the U.S. who wanted a milled AK-47.
The question then is why does anyone want an AK with a milled receiver? The manufacturing process not only results in heavier guns, but more expensive ones too. Militaries don’t want to pay more for guns than they have to, and soldiers prefer lightweight rifles since they carry them far more than shoot them, but that doesn’t apply to those of us looking to have fun on the range.
The first thing you’ll notice when you pick up an Arsenal SAM7R-62 is its weight. While you wouldn’t want to hump it over a mountain, that weight also makes for one very nice shooter. Further aided by the included compensator and the wonderfully crisp flat trigger, the Arsenal was by far the best AK to shoot on this list. It really tames 7.62×39 and makes it feel more like a 5.56. Another benefit of the milled receiver is that the action feels much smoother than any of the stamped AKs.
So, why not go with an Arsenal if it shot and felt the best of them all? It mostly comes down to price and parts compatibility. Quality comes at a cost and Arsenal rifles have price tags significantly higher than any other AK on this list. Even if you have the money for it, a milled AK may not be the direction you want to go. The vast majority of aftermarket AK furniture is designed for stamped receiver AKs. This means that parts like buttstocks, handguards and some internal components won’t fit an Arsenal. If you plan on tricking your AK out, whether that be tactical or with classic wood, you’re going to have far fewer options to choose from.
It's also worth noting that for the price, Arsenals have a surprisingly rough-looking painted finish. This finish is also known to be prone to flaking, especially when cleaned with certain chemicals, although I didn't experience this on the test rifle.
That all said, if you just want the softest shooting AK out of the box that money can buy, Arsenal is undoubtedly the way to go.
Arsenal SAM7R-62 Deals
Atlantic Firearms
Arsenal SAM7R-62 Black
$1,840
Atlantic Firearms
Arsenal SAM7R-62 Green
$1,880
Wildcard Option: Zastava ZPAP M70
The ZPAP M70 with a TangoDown grip, aftermarket sling and “Serbian Red” wood furniture.
Country of Origin: Serbia Pattern: Yugo Barrel: Cold Hammer Forged, Chrome-lined Weight: 7.9 Pounds Furniture: Wood Muzzle Device: Slant brake Muzzle Threads: 14×1 LH Side Scope Rail: Yes, Yugo Bayonet Lug: Yes MSRP: $1,063
Pros
Soft shooter
Nice finish
Good hardwood furniture
Safety features bolt hold open notch
Cons
Heavy
Yugo-pattern design limits aftermarket parts compatibility
No cleaning kit trap door in buttstock
Comes With: One 30-round magazine, cleaning rod Available Variants: ZR7762UFSR (underfolder stock), ZR7762RTF (side-folder triangle stock), ZR7762RT (fixed triangle stock); other combinations of wood (various types), polymer and tactical furniture offered as well
Zastava’s ZPAP M70 has become one of the most popular AK options in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. The company is offering some very high-quality rifles at middle-of-the-road prices, and their fit, finish and hardwood furniture make them attractive to many.
What makes this the wildcard option is, like Arsenal's AKs, ZPAPs are not the standard AKM-pattern. They are Yugoslavian or “Yugo” pattern, and that means they use a thicker gauge of metal for their stamped steel receivers and have bulged front trunnions. These features were added by the Yugoslavians to ensure the guns were strong enough to handle firing rifle grenades, but that’s irrelevant in a civilian context. For us, the extra weight merely helps dampen the recoil and makes for a slightly more pleasant shooting experience than with the standard AKM-pattern rifles.
The downside of this difference is again similar to Arsenal’s—parts compatibility. Buttstocks, handguards and some internal parts will need to be specifically designed for Yugo-pattern AKs. The aftermarket for this has grown substantially, but it’s nowhere near as big as that for AKM parts. The optics rail is different as well, which further limits scope and mount options. The ZPAP also loses a point in my book for not having a trapdoor in its buttstock for a cleaning kit, but it earns the point back for coming with a safety lever that has a bolt hold-open notch.
If the parts' compatibility and higher weight don’t bother you, a ZPAP will make for a very nice shooter.
Zastava ZPAP M70 Deals
Battlehawk Armory
ZPAP M70 Dark Walnut
$1,063
Battlehawk Armory
ZPAP M70 Underfolder
$1,220
AK-47 FAQ:
What does the A and K stand for in AK-47?
The A and K stand for Автоматы and Калашникова, respectively, which translate to Automatic and Kalashnikov in English. Kalashnikov is the last name of the rifle's inventor.
What is an AK-47? What is an AKM?
Technically speaking, there has never been a rifle to ever be officially designated as AK-47. If anything can be called an AK-47 it's the first three patterns of Kalashnikov rifle developed in the Soviet Union between the late 1940s and mid-1950s. In the West, AK-47 is a catch-all colloquialism used to refer to any Kalashnikov rifle chambered for 7.62x39mm, even though the rifles in question are typically AKMs. The “M” in AKM stands for модернизированный meaning modernized. The primary difference is the AKM features a stamped steel receiver. This is the version that's been made in the tens of millions across the globe making it so prolific and well-known.
Why is the AK-47 so famous?
The exact production numbers are debated, but many believe that over 100 million Kalashnikov-type firearms have been manufactured since its invention. The rifles were (and in some cases still are) made in Russia, Romania, Yugoslavia/Serbia, Hungary, Poland, East Germany, Finland, Bulgaria, Albania, Iraq, North Korea and other nations. Many of these countries provided Kalashnikovs as military aid to politically friendly nations and non-state actors, resulting in massive global proliferation. The AK is almost certainly the most recognizable firearm in the world, and it's the only gun to be featured on a country's flag (Mozambique).
Should I get an AK-47 or AK-74?
This question is really asking whether one should get an AK chambered for 7.62×39 or for 5.45×39. Both are excellent cartridges, but which is best for you depends on what you want it for. If for some reason you really want your AK to have ballistics similar to 5.56x45mm NATO, then 5.45 offers comparable performance. However, 5.45×39 ammo and magazines are far less common in the United States than 7.62×39 ammo and mags. For most American shooters, the abundance and commonality of 7.62 AKs makes them the better option. A third path to consider is an AK chambered for .223/5.56. These have gained popularity in recent years and besides 5.56 AK mags not being as common as 7.62 ones, these are an excellent option as well.
Want to speed up your reloading process? Here we take a look at Hornady’s new 3-in-1 Power Case Trimmer.
Prepping brass to be reloaded can be a tedious task, and any method that can expedite the process without sacrificing accuracy is appreciated. Hornady’s new 3-in-1 Power Case Trimmer does just that. In a single step, it allows you to trim, chamfer and debur simultaneously, all while saving precious reloading bench space.
The Hornady 3-in-1 Power Case Trimmer is compatible with .22 caliber up to .30 caliber and lengths from 1.450 inches to 3.5 inches. Its motor is not only quiet, but it's capable of rotating at over 2,000 RPMs. The trim length can be set easily, quickly and precisely thanks to the click‑adjustable micrometer. The 3-in-1 Power Case Trimmer has a macro adjustment dial as well, so not every click needs to be .001 inches.
Each trimmer comes with .22 caliber, 6mm, 6.5mm and .30 caliber pilots, as well as two collets that can accommodate .223, PPC, standard and magnum head sizes. The cutter housing is also transparent and features a removable shavings tray to keep your workbench tidy. An attachable cartridge bin is included as well for high-volume reloaders.
We take a quick look at the 6mm GT cartridge, the “Glorious Tiger” of 6mm chamberings.
The 6mm GT is a 2019 collaboration between George Gardner (GA Precision) and Tom Jacobs (Vapor Trail Bullets). Designed with competition shooting in mind, they wished to create a 6mm cartridge that could use forgiving propellants and feed reliably from AICS magazines. They also wanted the round to extend barrel life yet still provide high muzzle velocities with tight rifling twists to stabilize long, high-BC 6mm bullets.
Accordingly, the 6mm GT has a 35-degree shoulder angle for easy feeding, an optimized case nearing 100 percent capacity with about 35 grains of Varget and develops 3,020 to 3,080 fps with 103- to 105-grain bullets.
The 6mm GT works very well on deer, pronghorn and sheep as a hunting round. The 6mm GT can also be chambered in AR-type semi-autos, though it’s used primarily in bolt guns.
General Comments
Known jokingly as the “Glorious Tiger,” the 6mm GT took off in the PRS and NRL match scene from 2019 onward. From the base to the shoulder junction, the 6 GT case is 0.100-inch longer than the 6mm Dasher, and it has a 35-degree shoulder versus the Dasher’s 40-degree design. Gardner and Jacobs also increased the neck length by 0.050 inch compared to the Dasher, making the brass 0.150-inch longer overall. Both dimensional changes help the 6 GT feed well from unmodified .308-size magazines, unlike the 6mm Dasher. Because it uses less propellant, the 6mm GT marginally increases barrel life compared to the 6mm Creedmoor.
Hornady 6GT brass is available from GA Precision. According to Gardner, the 6mm GT cartridge was specifically developed to use Varget powder, but Hodgdon H4350 is also a good choice. The 6mm GT shoots 107-grain Sierra Match Kings at around 3,015 fps MV with 37.8 grains of H4350. Berger 105-grain Hybrid bullets generate 3,015 fps muzzle velocity with 34.2 grains of Varget. Brass is available from Hornady and Alpha Munitions. GA Precision and Clays Cartridge Co. supply loaded ammunition.
The 300 Blackout Vs 5.56 conversation is like debating apples and oranges.
The Bright Line Between 300 Blackout and 5.56 NATO:
Similarities between the cartridges end with them sharing the same case and being tailored for military use.
Thanks to its higher velocities, the 5.56 is much more adept at longer ranges.
The standard .22-caliber also performs better out a longer barrel.
300 Blackout is less finicky about barrel length and is excellent out of SBRs.
The .30-caliber is hands down the more suppressible of the two, with ample subsonic loads available.
By now, most everybody knows the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. Its fortunes are tied to America’s most popular rifle—the AR-15—the small-bore thunderbolt has become among the most shot centerfire cartridges in the world. As it goes, success breeds competition, and since its adoption by the U.S. military more than one contender has attempted to knock it off its throne. Most have proven mere pestering flies to the king, but not the 300 Blackout.
Admittedly, Blackout—formally known as the 300 AAC Blackout—is still a comparatively niche chambering compared to the 5.56 NATO. AR-smiths across the board offer the latter, not as often the former. Yet, the .30-caliber cartridge’s popularity and stability are impressive, especially for an AR option dubbed by many naysayers as a “flash in the pan” from the start. By far, the .300 Blackout is the second-most popular AR chambering of all time and arguably earned consumer shooters’ respect quicker than even the old standby AR cartridge.
For those who don’t already have both in their gun locker, the 300 Blackout vs 5.56 NATO question is pertinent. There are few dividing lines quite as bright as the one drawn between the two most popular AR cartridges on the market. I'm a big fan of both, but you need to understand how they vary if you want to employ them in the correct context.
History Of Service
Most times, the history of a cartridge’s development sheds light on its particular aptitudes, given they were tinkered to specific performance specifications. This is especially true when it comes to the 5.56 NATO and 300 Blackout. Both were tailored for military service, and used the Soviets’ 7.62×39mm cartridge as their measuring stick. But each was dialed in for much different operational settings, and thus excel in different areas.
5.56 NATO
Advantages:
Can reach out further than 300 BLK
Better against body armor
Lower recoil allows for faster follow-up shots
Lighter ammo, easier to carry
Standard military cartridge—better availability of ammo and parts
The 5.56 NATO origin story runs through the turbulent 1960s and the Vietnam War. The knives had been out for the service rifle America entered the war with—the M14, chambered in .308 Winchester/7.62×51 NATO. Lackluster performance against North Vietnamese’s AK-47s sealed the rifle’s and cartridge’s fate, as politicos and the Pentagon went searching for a lighter, intermediate option that mirrored its adversary’s weapon.
Outside of dry times like 2020, 5.56 is typically abundant and low cost.
Eventually, the AR-15 (M16 when adopted by the military) and 5.56 NATO became the choice. What made the 5.56 NATO so appealing for warfare were two main factors: weight and cost.
A single round of 5.56 NATO weighs substantially less than a single round of 7.62. Therefore, a soldier could carry more on his person, and the logistic corps could fit more rounds per truckload. Given numerous post-World War II studies showed proximity to the enemy and volume of fire were keys to winning a firefight, the .22-caliber was perfect for the job. Since it’s a smaller round, requiring less material to construct its bullets and a smaller powder charge to launch it, it was also less expensive—particularly compared to its .30-caliber predecessor.
While it might irk some old-timers—and not delving into the horrendous rifle failures of Vietnam—the 5.56 made for better marksmen as well. The 55-grain bullet moving at 3,250 fps (original specs from the military’s first load) from the AR-15’s muzzle showed improved hits over the M14 and 7.62. The round remained supersonic out to 500 yards and passed the Army’s penetration tests in spades, making it a deadly effective intermediate option—one that's been serving the country well since 1964.
Of course, our military is now supposedly planning on replacing 5.56 NATO with .227 Fury/6.8x51mm, a full-power cartridge that is as roughly heavy as 7.62 NATO and even more expensive to produce. I'll save my thoughts on why I think that's a very dumb idea for a separate article.
Pros
High velocity, flat trajectory
Very low recoil
Excellent terminal ballistics at optimal velocity
Lightweight
Most common rifle cartridge in U.S., more affordable ammo
Cons
Ballistics are very dependent on barrel length
Subsonic loads unviable for most tasks, so shooting suppressed will still result in supersonic crack
Bigger bullet, can be more effective at closer ranges, good for hunting
Retains good ballistics out of very short barrels
Commonly offered in both supersonic and subsonic varieties
How do you get 7.62×39 ballistic performance out of an AR? Seems the answer is the 300 Blackout. Just don’t think the relatively new cartridge was the first crack at seating a .30-caliber bullet in a .223 Remington case. J.D. Jones did a spell before Advanced Armament Corporation got the Blackout standardized by the Sporting Arms And Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI) in a little wildcat known as the .300 Whisper. (Patrick Sweeney has an exceptional write-up on the 300 Blackout vs .300 Whisper and their minute differences.)
Close to medium range, the 300 Blackout is right on target, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Whisper or Blackout, the cartridge is extremely innovative on several levels. Not only does it do a bang-up job of replicating the iconic Soviet cartridge’s ballistics, but it does so with minimum modification to the AR platform. Barrel switch and that’s it; you've gone from 5.56 to 300 Blackout. Bolt, magazine, gas system can all stay the same.
That’s handy, but what the cartridge is best known for is what its wildcat predecessor was created for—suppression. Go heavy with bullet weight, say 220 grains, and subsonic in velocity, and the 300 Blackout is as quiet as a church mouse fart (my favorite quality of 300 BLK). Suppression isn't it's only forte, however, as the Blackout doesn’t lose a beat when shot out of short-barreled rifles. If you want a super short AR as a truck or backpack gun, I think .300 BLK is the only sane choice. Don't believe me? Go look at the ballistics for 5.56 NATO when it's coming out of an 8-inch barrel.
The combination of all three traits is what piqued the military’s interest, but not for any mainstream duty. Instead, special operations—hamstrung by suppressed pistol-caliber sub-machine guns and carbines—found it an especially potent upgrade. The punch of a rifle round, quiet as a graveyard when suppressed and adaptable to most configurations made it a flexible tool, malleable to mission criteria.
Pros
Subsonic loads great for shooting suppressed
Still effective out of very short barrels
Heavier bullet can have ballistic advantage at closer ranges
Available in supersonic and subsonic loads
Cons
Not as effective at longer ranges, steeper trajectory
Heavier ammo
If loaded into a 5.56 rifle and fired it could blow it up
More expensive than 5.56
300 Blackout vs 5.56 NATO Ballistics
Given their much different ends, it’s no surprise the two cartridges contrast each other in performance. As a general rule, the 5.56 NATO shoots flatter and, true to its original parameters, doles plenty of damage out to 500 yards. Farther out, as the round stays supersonic for a spell, it takes a steady hand to keep the light, wind-sensitive bullets on targets.
Head to head, it's simple to see where each cartridge excels in terms of range.
Theoretically, supersonic 300 Blackout has the ability to make it a threat at 500 yards, though I doubt I'd want to take that distance on a target I must land a shot on. Given the mild velocities—somewhat akin to the .30-30 Winchester—and pedestrian ballistic coefficients for the caliber, its bullets drop relatively quickly. This is especially true compared to the 5.56.
An example is in order. Take the U.S. Military’s 5.56 M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round (.371 BC, 2,970 fps MV) and a somewhat comparable load for the 300 Blackout, Hornady’s 125 gr FMJ Frontier (.250 BC, 2,160 fps MV). At a mere 200 yards with a 100 zero, the 300 Blackout drops nearly 5.5 inches more than the 5.56, at 300 yards it drops a whopping 19-inches more. From there it really degrades. By and large, the relatively rapid loss of velocity confines the 300 Blackout to near medium and close ranges.
Terminally, especially in the context of hunting anything larger than a coyote, the Blackout has the upper edge. True enough, the 5.56 and .223 Remington have taken deer and are popular (and legal) options in many corners of the county. However, numerous hunters consider a .22-caliber too light for big game, and quite a few state divisions of wildlife agree.
For instance, according to my home state of Colorado’s DOW, a big-game hunter must be armed with “Rifles using center-fire cartridges of .24 caliber or larger, having expanding bullets of at least seventy (70) grains in weight, except for elk and moose where the minimum bullet weight is eighty-five (85) grains, and with a rated impact energy one hundred (100) yards from the muzzle of at least one thousand (1000) foot-pounds as determined by the manufacturer's rating … .”
There are plenty of 300 Blackout loads that meet the criterion laid out by the Centennial State to hunt every one of its big game species. Though, dust up on your stalking skills if the smallish .30-caliber is your choice.
Cartridge/Load
G1 BC
Muzzle Velocity
5.56x45mm NATO 62gr M855A1
0.371
2,970 fps
300 BLK Hornady 125gr FMJ Frontier
0.250
2,160 fps
Rifle Configuration
For most, this is where the rubber hits the road in the 300 Blackout vs 5.56 NATO discussion. Every shape and size of AR is chambered for both cartridges, but each excels in different configurations. I like to think small with the 300 Blackout and go long with the 5.56 NATO.
Since it was designed with short-barreled rifles in mind and is suitable for close-in work, the 300 Blackout makes a much more logical AR pistol option. For hunting, carbine length has served me well and I've found makes for a nimble companion in the woods. When suppressed, the ability to eschew one's earpro while traipsing around is the cherry on top.
Be warned, if you have both calibers, the 300 Blackout will chamber in a 5.56 … not good.
The 5.56 is more than functions in a pistol configuration, but at the sacrifice of velocity. You’ll have more than enough for CQC if that’s your aim. But if you have a yen to let the reins out on your rifle or want to pick off called coyotes, you’ll likely be happier with a carbine-length barrel or longer. Hell, if you don’t foresee pieing corners, you might even consider a classic 20-inch barreled rifle–my favorite barrel length for the caliber–many of which are out and out tack drivers. Being the original configuration, I think it's a shame how 20-inch ARs have fallen out of popularity these days, with many younger shooters having never even shot one. If that's you, do yourself a favor and try one sometime, they're buttery smooth shooters compared to any carbine.
One last note, suppressed shooting is a no brainer … 300 Blackout. It’s where the cartridge’s roots are laid and there’s ample subsonic ammunition available.
Parting Shot
It should go without saying, when talking 300 Blackout vs 5.56 in the AR platform, there’s little reason to settle for one or the other. You always have the cost-effective option of having different uppers for each cartridge, in case you can’t make up your mind. But if you run a domestic-beer budget, define mission parameters for your AR, and the clear choice of cartridge will shine through.
We hit the range with the Gunwerks Nexus rifle along with its accoutrements to see how much Gunwerks’ system simplifies making hits at distance.
If you’re interested in shooting at long range, particularly as it relates to hunting, there’s hardly any doubt you’ve heard of Gunwerks. Gunwerks gained their initial fame through their acclaimed Long Range Pursuit television show. Founded by Aaron Davidson in Otto, Wyoming, Gunwerks’ 45,000-square-foot headquarters that’s built around a 100-yard shooting range is now located in Cody, Wyoming. Though generally thought of as a rifle manufacturer, you could better describe Gunwerks as a full-service, long-range shooting syndicate. Gunwerks can provide you with all the gear you need to go the distance.
I’ve been writing about rifles, professionally, for more than a quarter century, but somewhat embarrassingly, during all those years I’ve never shot a Gunwerks rifle. Not too long ago, my friend Neal Emery, who previously worked at Hornady, went to Gunwerks, and we were finally able to change that.
To give me an idea of what Gunwerks rifles and the company is all about, Emery sent me one of their Nexus rifles to review. The Nexus is the flagship rifle from Gunwerks, and not only did Emery loan me a rifle, but he also provided some of the other gear Gunwerks is becoming known for and that some shooters might be overlooking.
The Nexus
Gunwerks Nexus Specs Length: 41.5 Inches Weight: 6 Pounds, 14 Ounces Barrel: 20 (tested) or 24 Inches Action: Gunwerks NXT Trigger: Trigger Tech Primary trigger Capacity: 3+1 Finish: Hard anodized black or FDE Stock: Carbon fiber with leather accents and an ARCA and Picatinny rail Chambering Options: 6.5 PRC (tested), 7mm PRC, 300 PRC, and 28 Nosler MSRP: $6,475 (base price) Website:gunwerks.com
This rifle is unique in several ways. For years and even to this day, many precision rifle manufacturers build their guns on a Remington 700 action or Remington 700 clone. Gunwerks builds the Nexus rifle on a proprietary aluminum action that allows you to switch the barrel to change between cartridges. Gunwerks makes this possible by using barrels with an extension similar to what’s used on an AR-15 or the Q Fix rifle. The forward section of the action is split and held together by three screws. You simply loosen those screws, slide out the old barrel and slide in the new one. Also, to accommodate different cartridges with different rim diameters, you can change the bolt head and even the bolt handle.
But there are many other unique features with the Nexus rifle.
Gunwerks smartly machines the Picatinny scope bases into the aluminum action of the Nexus rifle.
Instead of drilling the action for scope mounts, Gunwerks machines Picatinny rail sections into the action, and this eliminates a connection and potential failure point for optics mounting. Gunwerks has also engineered a bolt-shroud mounted, three-position safety that locks the bolt in the rear position and allows for safe unloading in the middle position.
The grip on the stock of the Nexus rifle is near vertical and is wrapped in hand stitched leather for comfort and to help maintain a secure grip.
Then, there’s the stock, which is carbon-fiber that has very unusual hand-stitched leather accents at the grip and comb locations for handling comfort. The bottom metal is also unusual because it extends from the grip all the way down the forend. There’s a short section of Picatinny rail at the end and a full length ARCA rail behind that for bipod and tripod attachment.
For those who appreciate maximum interface options with bipods and tripods, the Nexus rifle has a full-length ARCA rail and a short Picatinny rail on its stock.
But the ingenuity and uniqueness does not end there. Gunwerks designed an aluminum, flush-fitting, three-round, detachable magazine box that allows for easy top loading while it’s in the rifle. With the carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel, you have the option of 20 or 24 inches, and it comes with a threaded muzzle and a muzzle break with a timing nut. The stock is outfitted with numerous quick-detach sling swivel mounts at the front and rear. And a user-adjustable, Trigger Tech Primary trigger is standard.
The detachable magazine on the Nexus rifle is well made and you can easily top load it when it’s in the rifle.
When you order the rifle, you first select your cartridge, and the options include the 6.5, 7mm, and .300 PRC, and .28 Nosler. Next, you choose either a black or flat dark earth chassis color, select your barrel length of 20 or 24 inches and set your length of pull at either 13, 13.5 or 14 inches. You can also specify the riflescope you want included with your rifle, and that’s where things can get a bit technical.
Not only will Gunwerks mount and zero one of seven riflescopes from Revic, Leupold and Kahles, and they’ll also provide you with a long-range data package ($1,275). This includes a Gunwerks long-range ammo loaded with a Berger bullet and a ballistic turret for your riflescope that matches that load. But this is all tuned to the elevation and temperature you want. In fact, you can even order an additional data package ($595) for ammo loaded with a lead-free bullet that also includes another ballistic turret.
Shooting Results
Gunwerks had chambered the test rifle Neal loaned me in 6.5 PRC, and they outfitted it with the Revic Acura RS25i riflescope. It also came with a data package for a 140-grain Berger bullet Gunwerks load that had a muzzle velocity of 2,972 fps. Ordered, this rifle, optic and data package would have cost $9,945. That’s a hell of a lot of money for a rifle/scope/ammo combination, so I expected great things on the range.
And great things are what I got.
At $140 for a box of 20, the Gunwerks 6.5 PRC 140-grain VLD ammunition is expensive, but it shoots with laser precision.
I installed a Silencer Central Banish Backcountry suppressor and set up at the bench with the Gunwerks factory ammo and two other loads. The first five-shot group I fired with the Gunwerks ammunition measured 0.89 inch, and I fired all five shots—as I normally do when I precision test a rifle—in less than 60 seconds. After two more five-shot groups, the average group size for that load was 0.88 inch. I then fired three, five-shot groups with the other two factory loads, and the average for all nine, five-shot groups fired was only 0.92 inch.
Shooting Results
LOAD
VEL
SD
ENG
PRECISION
Gunwerks 140-grain Berger VLD Hunting
2,972
12.2
2,746
0.88
Federal 140-grain Fusion Tipped
2,996
16.7
2,790
0.96
Hornady 143-grain Precision Hunter ELD-X
2,937
22.1
2,681
0.92
NOTES: Reported muzzle velocity (VEL), standard velocity deviation (SD) and muzzle energy (ENG) were established by firing 10 shots over a Caldwell G2 chronograph with the screens placed 10 feet from the muzzle. Reported precision for each load represents the average of three, five-shot groups fired at 100 yards from a sandbag rest. A Silencer Central Banish Backcountry suppressor and a Revic Acura RS25i 5-25x50mm riflescope set at maximum magnification were used for all precision testing. Temperature: 62 degrees F, humidity: 32 percent, pressure: 29.87 in-Hg and elevation: 2,200 feet.
To evaluate the data package, I shot the rifle out to 450 yards with 8-inch steel plates as targets. I corrected for trajectory by dialing to the correct distance with the Gunwerks supplied custom turret on the Revic riflescope. I never missed.
The Gunwerks’ system, which encompasses the rifle, scope, rangefinder, bipod and ammo, is all about simplifying hits at distance.
I cannot rate the Gunwerks rifle as anything but outstanding: It performed flawlessly in every way. However, it is not the rifle for everyone. Clearly, the cost alone is a bit staggering. But aside from price, this is not what I would consider a general-purpose hunting rifle. By itself, the rifle weighs 6.875 pounds. That’s not bad, but if you add in the Revic scope, which weighs 2.4 pounds, the weight jumps to more than 9 pounds. I did all the shooting from Gunwerks wonderfully engineered, quick-release 12.3-ounce Elevate Bipod 2.0 ($395), which upped rifle weight beyond 10 pounds.
The quick-attach feature of the Gunwerks Elevate Bipod 2.0 is great for field applications.
This is a long-range precision rifle configured for hunting, and, within the context of that description, it is phenomenal. But, most importantly, you must look at the Nexus, as well as the other rifles from Gunwerks, as not just a rifle but as a shooting system.
Not Just A Rifle
You could just purchase the Nexus rifle at its base price of $6,475 and add your own riflescope and any other accessories you might desire, and then shoot factory ammunition or your own handloads. But the base premise of the Gunwerks concept is to let them put the complete package together for you.
“The vast majority of our customers want a full system, which is what we are known for,” Emery said. “They want a rifle that’s scoped, sighted in and comes with a scope turret cut for the ammunition we offer. While some shooters love to geek out about what scope to buy, which mounts to use and enjoy working up a load, there’s a ton of folks who just don’t have or can’t take the time for all that. They just want a system ready to go with all the best parts.”
Though at 38 ounces the Revic Acura RS25i 5-25×50 riflescope is heavy, it is ideally adapted for long-range work.
In that venue, Gunwerks is unique and singular, and it’s a very practical approach. And while at first blush it might seem extremely expensive, in the real world, it’s not altogether financially impractical. I’ve known several who embarked on the long-range hunting rifle journey and spent more on rifles, optics, range finders and ammunition that did not deliver the results they wanted than it would have cost them to let Gunwerks just do it all for them from the start. My results shooting the Nexus at distance is a perfect example of how the Gunwerks system comes together to make it easy.
If you use the Revic range-finding binoculars from Gunwerks ($2,695), you create a profile in the Revic Optics app and upload it to the binoculars. When you enter the custom turret data, the app knows your bullet, muzzle velocity, etc., and it also knows your custom turret has been cut for the environmental conditions you’re hunting in. The cool part is that the range-finding binoculars can compensate for changes for those conditions and tell you exactly where to dial to get your hit.
You can optimize your Gunwerks system with the Revic Acura BLR10b Ballistic Rangefinding 10x42mm Binocular.
Collectively, a fully kitted Gunwerks rifle and system are perfectly tuned to eliminate all your excuses for missing. Well, except for plain old piss-poor shooting, and, surprisingly, Gunwerks can help with that too.
Gunwerks’ Long Range University offers training to help you make quick, ethical, one-shot kills in the field. Not only will their courses teach you to interface with all the Gunwerks’ products, but the training will also help you learn when you should not take the shot, and for ethical hunting that is just as important as having the right gear, knowing how to use it and knowing how to take the shot.
If I were to summarize the Nexus rifle in as few words as possible, I think I’d have to quote Warren Buffet, “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”
However, if left to my own hillbilly upbringing, vocabulary and logic, I say: If you want to live at long range, stop drinking stupidly expensive boutique coffee and spring for the Gunwerks’ system and training. Encourage your kids to study enough to fund their higher education with scholarships.
Pros
Very accurate
Perfectly pre-tuned package when bought with scope and ammo
Cons
Very expensive
Heavy
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
We take a quick look at Strike Industries’ Oppressor Lite V2 blast-forward muzzle device.
Owning and shooting an AR-15 pistol, or SBR, is fun. Well, it starts out fun, but the muzzle blast gets to be a bit much after a short while. Indoors, it’s even worse.
And, if you happen to be working in a team environment … well, others will grow to hate you.
Quickly.
I’ve even heard of SWAT team members being retired with medical disability due to the muzzle blast of an SBR too close to them. What do you do? The “easy” answer is to put a suppressor on it. But that isn’t always an option. Some departments still won’t allow it. Or they do, but not personal equipment, and they “just haven’t finished the paperwork yet.”
And you? You’re still waiting for your suppressor.
So, how do you mitigate the blast and not make your pistol or SBR longer? Strike it—as in Strike Industries’ Oppressor Lite V2.
When it’s cool enough to handle, the Oppressor is easy to install or remove. No tools needed.
This is a two-metal assembly. The mount and interior are steel, but the housing is aluminum. This brings the weight down to 5 ounces. It looks like a really short suppressor, but there’s no front cap or baffle on it, so it isn’t one. But it diverts the muzzle blast forward away from you. So, you get less, the target gets more, and those beside you don’t get the blast from a flash hider or (far, far worse) muzzle brake.
The mounting system is really slick as well. Instead of a simple direct-thread (which means it has to be there all the time), the Oppressor Lite V2 uses a quarter-turn ratchet lock system. Now, to do this, you need a Strike Industries mount—which is not a problem, as the Strike Cloak flash hider is both a mount for the Oppressor and a superb flash hider just by itself.
The assembly is simple. Remove whatever mount or flash hider you now have on your barrel. Clean the threads and degrease the thread of the barrel and the Cloak. Now, apply some strong thread-locker on the threads and tighten the Cloak on. Let it cure, and when you want to use the Oppressor Live V2, simply press it down onto the Cloak until you feel the spring compress. Then, turn and hear the ratchet until it stops. Done. To remove, let cool (oh, it will get hot). Then, press back and rotate the other direction. You’ll hear and feel the system release, and you can then pull the Oppressor forward and off.
The Oppressor Lite V2 is short enough and light enough that it won’t alter the handling of your AR-15 pistol or SBR. In fact, at just 5 ounces, it’s probably lighter than some of the QD mount systems that you need to put on the muzzle in order to mount a suppressor. If you spend any time in the winter shooting on an indoor range, you and those around you will appreciate the effect that the Oppressor Lite V2 brings to the table. And to mount it, you get to use a really good flash hider. (There are other muzzle devices in the strike pantheon and others that the Oppressor can mount on.)
All this goodness doesn’t come cheap, but quality never does. To mount up, you’ll need the Cloak at $45 and the Oppressor Lite V2 at $95. Still, that’s less than the tax stamp you need to pay to lay hands on your very own suppressor, and the Cloak and Oppressor can be shipped right to your door as soon as the charge clears your credit card.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
SilencerCo has just announced the optics-ready SCO Slide for Glock 19 pistols, featuring three models with different red dot footprints.
Probably the easiest way to add a red dot sight to your factory non-MOS Glock is to just buy an aftermarket slide for it. Plenty of companies make these, but SilencerCo has just thrown its hat into the ring as well with the SCO Slide.
Designed for Gen 1-3 Glock 19s, the SCO Slide is being launched with three variants available each with a different optic footprint—RMR, ACRO and 509T. The best part is the SCO Slide allows for direct-mounting red dots, so there’s no need for an optics plate. The machined slides are made from corrosion-resistant 17-4 stainless steel and feature a black DLC coating.
As for the SCO Slide’s aesthetics, SilencerCo took inspiration from its integrally-suppressed Maxim 9 pistol for the slide serrations. The deep, aggressive cuts should make the slide easy to rack, and it features side-cutout windows too. It’s worth noting, however, that the SCO Slide does not ship with a cover plate or mounting screws except for the RMR variant which ships with two screws.
All three SilencerCo SCO Slides for the G19 share an MSRP of $299 and are available now.
CBC, owner of Magtech, has just announced that a new ammunition production factory will be constructed in Oklahoma.
Magtech is owned by CBC in Brazil, and that’s where the ammo has always been made as well. Now, the company is launching CBC USA and building a new state-of-the-art ammunition manufacturing facility in Oklahoma. The new plant represents a $300 million investment and CBC says it will create 350 new jobs in the area.
The most important aspect of this announcement is that the new CBC facility will not just be assembling ammunition, but will be making powder and primers as well. That’s huge news given the global shortage and it will hopefully result in lower prices in the U.S., at least for the common calibers CBC USA will be making.
CBC said this about the new Oklahoma-based facility:
CBC USA will manufacture a full range of cartridges, including 9mm, 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .50 BMG, serving military, law enforcement, sport shooting, self-defense, and hunting markets. The facility will replicate CBC’s world-class manufacturing processes, ensuring full control over critical components cases, bullets, primers, powder, and nitrocellulose, a key energetic material in global short supply.
Fabio Mazzaro, President of CBC and board member of CBC Global Ammunition, said this about the new plant:
We are thrilled to bring our new manufacturing operations to Oklahoma … This facility will be a cornerstone for our future growth in the world’s most important market for small caliber ammunition. With in-house production of all components, propellant, and critical energetic raw materials, we envisage to build an industry-leading and fully vertically integrated company. We believe that the region’s supportive business environment makes Oklahoma an ideal location for CBC USA.
We hit the range to test out two freshly updated Springfield Armory 1911 TRP pistols, now available optics-ready and in 9mm.
What we love and what we hate about the 1911 is actually the same thing. An old design that has stood the test of time, the 1911 is not easy to manufacture. It is labor-intensive and requires expensive methods of production. If you want a top-tier 1911, you’ll also need it to be hand-fitted and that will cause the price to skyrocket.
What we love and what we hate about the 1911 is actually the same thing. An old design that has stood the test of time, the 1911 is not easy to manufacture. It is labor-intensive and requires expensive methods of production. If you want a top-tier 1911, you’ll also need it to be hand-fitted and that will cause the price to skyrocket.
This is the paradox of the 1911.
Springfield Armory’s 1911 TRP was released in the late 1990s after the FBI Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) adopted the Springfield Professional as their primary pistol. The Professional was a more expensive 1911 that was semi-custom and hand-fit. But if you take everything else about the Professional, and reduce the cost of manufacturing a bit, you end up with the TRP.
The TRP is built for the balance between quality and cost but refuses to compromise on quality where it matters. Match-grade barrel, aggressive grips, easy-to-shoot iron sights and just enough aesthetics to make it sexy.
That is the TRP people have known and loved for almost 30 years. But like most things, technology can still make it a little better. Enter the TRP AOS.
Springfield Armory 1911 TRP AOS .45 Specs
Caliber: .45 ACP Color: Black or Tan Barrel: 5-Inch Forged Stainless Steel, Match Grade, 1:16 Slide: Forged Carbon Steel, Black Cerakote®, Optics-Ready Frame: Forged Carbon Steel, Two-Piece Magwell, Coyote Brown or Black Cerakote Sights: Tritium Front, Black Serrated Rear Recoil System: 2 Piece N.M. Full-Length Guide Rod Grips: VZ Grips Hydra G-10 Magazines: (3) 8-Round Weight: 39.2 Ounces Length: 8.6 Inches Height: 5.5 Inches MSRP: $1,999
Springfield Armory 1911 TRP AOS CC 9MM Specs
Caliber: 9mm Color: Black or Tan Barrel: 4.25-Inch Forged Stainless Steel, Match Grade, Fully Supported Ramp, 1:16 Slide: Forged Carbon Steel, Black Cerakote, Optics-Ready Frame: Forged Aluminum Alloy, Carry Contour, Coyote Brown or Black Cerakote Sights: Tritium Front, Black Serrated Rear Recoil System: 2 Piece N.M. Full-Length Guide Rod Grips: VZ Grips Hydra G-10 Magazines: (3) 9-Round Weight: 27.3 Ounces Length: 7.9 Inches Height: 5.5 Inches MSRP: $1,999
The Same But Different
A lot of the time when you try to bring back the classics with a modern style, it just doesn’t work. Take any live-action-remake Disney movie for example. They might have something in common with the masterpiece, but they’ve lost all the magic.
Maybe that is why Springfield has taken what feels like forever to finally update and expand the TRP line. It might have taken a long time, but the results speak for themselves. This is the TRP you should know and should love, but now made better with the AOS system and offered in 9mm.
The TRP has been a long-time favorite for a workhorse 1911 that normal people can still mostly afford. While $2,000 MSRP isn’t inexpensive, it’s a good middle-ground if you want a great American-made 1911 but aren’t willing or able to pay custom prices that can be double or more.
Just about any checkbox you could ask the TRP to fill, it does. It’s pretty enough to be a BBQ gun or a safe queen, but reliable and durable enough that you can honestly count on it as a duty or defense weapon if you want to.
That magic of the TRP wasn’t lost with this update, it was made better.
These new TRP models have the same iron sights if you don’t want to take advantage of the AOS system, but also have an industry-leading optics system if you do. A rock-solid mounting option that has been proven durable and easy to configure is a pure enhancement upgrade for the TRP. But one you can ignore if you choose to.
And at the same MSRP, there is just nothing to complain about.
Now In 9mm
Maybe this is my hot take for the week but let the record reflect that if you ask me: the best AKs are ones in 5.56 NATO and the best 1911s are in 9mm. .45 ACP might be the classic American cartridge, but 9mm is better.
The TRP in 9mm with the AOS system is a treat of a pistol to shoot. Even in the 4.25-inch barrel model instead of the clearly superior 5-inch model, the 9mm TRP still feels great in your hands. Made with an Aluminum frame instead of steel for the CC model, this comes in almost 12 ounces lighter than the steel full-size .45 ACP TRP and that weight reduction helps a lot if you want to carry it.
One of the small differences between the CC (top) and standard (bottom) versions is the addition of a larger mag well in the full-size.
I can only imagine the steel-frame 5-inch version of the 9mm would be an even softer shooting 1911 that might be the crown jewel of the new TRP lineup.
The only major difference besides caliber between this new 9mm version and the older .45 ACP models is the fact that these carry 9 rounds of 9mm in the mag instead of only 8 .45 ACP.
Putting the new 9mm TRP through the paces was a lot of fun. I tested a wide range of ammo like Federal HST, Hornady Critical Defense, and SIG Sauer V-Crown. Most of the ammo used in this review was 124gr Sellier & Bellot provided by Ammunitiontogo.com!
Throw a great red dot on top like the Trijicon RMR-HD and you have the final evolution of John Browning’s masterpiece.
Agency Arms AOS System
We’ve covered the AOS system a lot in the past but it is worth a more complete explanation if this is your first time reading about it.
The Agency Optics System was designed by Agency Arms and is hands-down one of the best optic mounting platforms around. Springfield has made great use of the system incorporating it into pistols like the 1911 DS Prodigy.
Springfield Prodigy Comp and Compact both with AOS plates.
AOS uses a plate system that combines the rear iron sight and a mounting plate for the optic into one unit. The plates are interchangeable in AOS system cuts so any plate will fit any gun cut for it. There are a number of plates available that cover just about all of the optic footprints on the market.
The AOS plates also let you choose between irons forward of the dot or irons behind the dot depending on what plate you get.
The plates are easy to install, easy to use, and are designed to actually take a beating.
Adding them to the TRP is the perfect way to update the TRP line.
Loose Rounds
If you’re a fan of the old TRP but want something a little more modern that can mount optics, the new TRP AOS is a fantastic choice. If you want to get into the 1911 world and need a Goldilocks 1911 that will last a lifetime, the TRP AOS is a clear front-runner and you won’t be disappointed.
The TRP is a known value and easily one of the best factory 1911s on the market. Springfield has kept all of that while only adding to it by enhancing the capability of it with the AOS.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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