A popular choice for decades in defensive ammunition, Federal Hydra-Shok bullets are now available as a reloading component.
What Hydra-Shok bullets offer reloaders:
Established performance for around three decades.
Known for excellent accuracy and terminal performance.
Available in the four most popular defensive handgun calibers.
If you’ve studied defensive ammunition for any time you're certain to have heard of Hydra-Shok. Federal Premium cooked up the stuff around 30 years ago, a response to the FBI’s call for something better than old cup-and-core. Since, the hollow-point with the unique center post has achieved near iconic status, becoming a favorite of law enforcement and armed citizens alike. The next segment to conquer – reloaders.
Yup, Hydra-Shok bullets are now a reloading component. So, cook away reloaders … within reason. Given its primary purpose is defensive, Federal has focused on the most popular defensive calibers – .355 (.380 ACP, 9mm), .357 (.357 Mag, .38 Spl), .400 (.40 S&W, 10mm) and .451 (.45 ACP). But it’s offering each in two weights, so you’ll have a little wiggle room for your personal preferences. Depending on caliber, the MSRP on batches of 50 to 100 range from $18.95 to $30.95.
More from Federal Premium:
Federal Premium Hydra-Shok, the bullet design that’s defined self-defense for a generation, is now available as a component for handloaders. Shipments have been delivered to dealers.
Introduced in 1989, Hydra-Shok remains one of the most popular choices for protecting home and family, thanks to a proven hollow point and iconic center post that provide extremely consistent and effective expansion. Now available in a complete range of bullet weights and diameters.
Features & Benefits • Proven self-defense bullet design now available as a component for reloading • Superb accuracy and overall ballistic performance • Notched copper jacket • Center-post hollow-point design provides reliable expansion
It might be an age-old design, but the revolver is better and more versatile than ever now.
Though it’s been a standby handgun design for going on two centuries, the revolver is better than ever now. Today’s wheelguns offer more options, are tailor made for specific uses and spit out among the most powerful cartridges ever devised. That last point – red-hot cartridges – is among the top reasons why a lot of people are attracted to revolvers. Who doesn’t want to hold thunder?
John Tupy of The Modern Sportsman, showcases one of the all-time favorite brutes in the above video with Smith & Wesson’s Magnum Hunter chambered in .44 Magnum. Along with this, he also gives the single-action Ruger Vaquero and concealed-carry specialist Kimber K6 the once over. Of course, there are more reasons why you should fall in love with the tried-and-true handgun besides the potential to shoot big lead.
Reliability is among the most reassuring assets of the revolver. Certainly, these guns can and do malfunction – a pulled case is catastrophic and all but renders a revolver a hunk of metal until taken to a gunsmith. But overall, this and other cases are rare.
Hand in hand with this is ease of use. Most of the time, many issues with the gun – say a cartridge that does not fire – is addressed by simply pulling the trigger again until it goes bang. Not the case with semi-automatics. While the newer style of handgun has the revolver beat in capacity and reloading, it is more sensitive to malfunctions and more involved in addressing them.
Overall, there is still a load of reasons to give the revolver a look.And with the options available today, you’re sure not to be disappointed. Follow The Modern Sportsman on Facebook
Minnesota may be the land of 10,000 lakes, lefse, lutefisk and goofy accents, but it’s also home to some great manufacturing. We’ve got 3M, Target, General Mills and Best Buy. And, as a shooting enthusiast, we’ve got Federal Premium Ammunition, Birchwood Casey, WildEar, a host of others — and JP Enterprises (aka, JP Rifles).
The SCR-11 from JP Rifles in .224 Valkyrie proved to be a prairie-dog-plinking machine.
JP Enterprises is a high-end gun manufacturer specializing in custom AR parts and builds. They have loads of options and configurations to choose from, and there’s literally something for everyone, regardless of discipline — from hunting rifles built to customer specifications, to tack-driving long-range AR-platform guns.
The 224 Valkyrie
When Federal announced the introduction of the .224 Valkyrie, only a few companies were able to put together barrels and bolts in short order. JP Enterprises is one of those companies who got on the ball … and kept it rolling.
JP has been around for more than 25 years, and their shop has a great following from shooters “in-the-know.” Very popular amongst precision and competitive shooters, and gaining traction with the weekend shooters, JP offers everything from full custom rifles to simple add-ons to existing builds, such as triggers, buffer springs and everything in between.
The Full Rifle: SCR-11
I’ve been lucky enough to tinker with a few JP Rifles in .224 Valkyrie. They offer the JP-15, the PSC-11 and the new SCR-11. SCR stands for Side Charging Rifle, highlighting the fact that the charging handle is located on the side of the receiver.
The first five shots through the SCR-11 provided the author with close to 1-MOA accuracy in windy conditions.
The SCR-11 is a small-frame equivalent to their already popular LRP-07, designed for both competition and hunting enthusiasts. The SCR-11 can be purchased as a full package with pre-suggested configurations, or you can select parts from JP’s online rifle builder, customizing it to fit your needs. The rifle comes in .223 Wylde, .300 BLK, 6.5 Grendel and —of course — .224 Valkyrie. The gun features top-of-the-line JP components, sustained sub-MOA accuracy guaranteed, improved ergonomics for easier operation and a constant cheek weld while manipulating the side-charge system.
Outside The Box: The SCR Concept
The SCR, or Side Charging Rifle concept, is an incredible feature because it keeps any gas from escaping or venting out the top of the receiver. It also keeps the internals protected due to less exposure. In short: Say goodbye to blowback and powder residue in your eyes.
The SCR’s side-charge system is ideal for competition use where leverage and a constant cheek weld can save critical seconds. The bigger handle allows for easy access and lighting fast charging, while still folding away cleanly.
The Receiver
The machined-from-billet 7075-T6 upper/lower receiver set features the left-side-charging system on the upper, and an exaggerated magazine well for easier, faster reloads. This is a great addition for competition shooters: There’s nothing worse than fumbling with a mag, losing precious seconds. Standard finish on the receiver is anodized matte-black hard coat, but Cerakote is optional … and highly recommended.
The Barrel And Bolt
While the options are nearly endless, ranging from 10.5 inches to 22 inches, the SCR-11 I got my hands on featured a 20-inch JP SuperMatch 416R air-gauged, button-rifled, cryogenically treated barrel that’s thermo-fit to the receiver. It also had a JP large-profile muzzle brake and an adjustable gas block.
The Low Mass bolt from JP reduces reciprocating force, allowing the shooter to get back on target quickly.
The adjustable gas block is a very cool feature, allowing me to fine-tune the amount of gas that was being pushed toward the bolt carrier group to optimize the operations of the action. The rifle has a Low Mass bolt, which was significantly lighter than a mil-spec bolt, making the reciprocating mass much lower.
The Guts And Trigger
The SCR-11 also had one of my favorite AR accessories from JP — the Silent Capture recoil spring. The Silent Capture spring eliminates the “twang” you hear when firing many of the ARs on the market, and it allows you to get back on target with ease and retained focus.
Another important tool on the SCR-11 is the Armageddon Gear Revolution Trigger. One of the most common inconsistencies for precision shooters is the lateral force they apply on the trigger when they squeeze, causing pulled shots. The “roller trigger,” which was developed by Tom Fuller from Armageddon Gear, features a free-rolling trigger that makes it nearly impossible to squeeze the trigger with any lateral force because your finger will roll off to the side.
Whether you are in the market for an SCR-11 or want to upgrade your existing ARs, I suggest checking out the trigger options from JP Enterprises.
The Furniture
Again, the buttstock and grip are fully selectable based on customer needs, but, the rifle drove featured the MagPul UBR Gen 2 stock and a MagPul MOE grip.
The adjustable gas block allows the shooter to configure the amount of gas released to fine-tune an already precise gun.
The UBR was an adjustment for me: I like to run smaller-profile stocks and I’m used to standard adjustment protocol. The UBR is a bit less friendly when it comes to speedy adjustments. However, if you’re going to shoot long-range and aren’t going to be moving the stock, it’s a great option.
The handguard is the JP MK III modular, rapid-configuration system. With a Cerakote finish and options from 7.125 to 17.25 inches in length, it’s not only sexy and comfortable — it’s not tied down.
Getting Glass
Sitting atop the rifle was a Bushnell XRS II 4.5-30x50mm G3 scope. The XRS II features the deadly Horus reticle, 10 MILs per revolution on elevation, windage turrets for exact adjustments and the Throwhammer throw lever for speedy magnification adjustments. The scope was more than enough for predators and varmints — and perfect for precision shooting.
The Test
The SCR-11 performed flawlessly in comfortable temps, as well as scorching heat. Like any test gun, there’s no babying or gentle charging. From humid air to dust-blown, sun-bleaching prairie heat, there were no failures to feed or eject, or with any other issues with gun operation. And that’s saying a lot with you add sand into any shooting equation.
The accuracy was nothing short of fantastic — on paper, steel and prairie dogs.
The Armageddon Gear roller-style Revolution Trigger helps eliminate any shooter’s errors with pulling shots.
On paper, with a 200-yard zero in a non-controlled setting, MOA accuracy was common, with an initial five-shot group coming in at just a hair over that benchmark. After putting 140 rounds of the 90-grain Sierra MatchKing .224 Valkyrie from Federal Premium through it, then switching to the 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip for another case of testing, I can comfortably say that the gun is sub-minute-of-prairie-dog at 550 yards. Whilst pushing the gun and the cartridge to the limit, I was able to take down a prairie dog at 686 yards, confirmed. On a calmer day with a good rest and bags, I would think that 1,000 yards would be easily attained.
With the options on the SCR-11 I had in-hand, target and prairie dog shooting was an absolute blast. With little-to-no recoil and long-range capabilities, the gun exceeded expectations.
The only drawback, however, is the weight. If the gun would’ve been setup for a spot-and-stalk antelope or deer hunt (for which the .224 Valkyrie is more than capable), an 18-inch lighter barrel would’ve been ideal, with a smaller and lighter-weight optic as well. The nice thing about JP is that those are options you have.
With the introduction of the .224 Valkyrie in 2018 and the customizable options of the JP SCR-11, the small-frame AR platform guns have been elevated to a new level.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
How much gun do you really need to hunt North America? The 6.5 Creedmoor might very well be the answer.
What are the facets that make the 6.5 Creedmoor lethal:
Exceptional sectional density, the 6.5 has superior penetrating ability.
With a high ballistic coefficient, the bullets it fires have better characteristics against air resistance and wind drift.
Its standard 1:8 twist rate means 6.5 CM rifle can fire heavier bullets.
It works in a short action.
Its squat case means it can seat longer bullets.
Newfoundland is one of the few places in the Western world where a hunter can take multiple big game species during a single adventure. Those who put a woodland caribou, moose and black bear on the skinning pole within one season are considered to have completed the Newfoundland Grand Slam. When I told an acquaintance that was my intention, he remarked, “I guess you’re taking a .300.” When I told him I’d be using a 6.5 Creedmoor, his face almost fell off.
Hornady introduced the 6.5 Creedmoor a decade ago. Hunters who feel it offers no advantage over the 6.5×55 Swede or .260 Remington have mostly shunned it. Many considered it a specialty cartridge for long-range competition. Today, it’s the most popular rifle cartridge in North America. The rise of the “Creed” is as much a story about bullets as it is a cartridge case. And, while some consider it nothing more than a flat-shooting solution for deer hunting, it’s much more.
I’m sure readers of the gun press are sick of hearing about the 6.5 Creedmoor; after all, it seems every magazine has an article about it. There are several reasons for this. For starters, the cartridge offers the best balance of external and terminal ballistics, and recoil, that you can currently comfortably achieve from a shoulder-fired weapon. Another reason is that many gun and outdoor writers are using the cartridge to hunt a wide array of animals, all over the globe.
All the new rifles chambered for the 6.5 Creedmoor, and all the new ammo for the cartridge, means there are a lot of media hunts occurring. These hunts — sponsored by manufacturers — occur to entice gun and outdoor writers to tell their readers about the effectiveness of their products. This translates to the 6.5 Creedmoor being used for game animals usually reserved for larger caliber cartridges. Funny thing, the most important message being conveyed by these outdoor communicators is that you really don’t need all that gun you thought you did.
A 140-grain Nosler AccuBond from a 6.5 Creedmoor took this nice woodland caribou stag in Newfoundland. Where shots can be long over unforgiving bogs, the Creedmoor was the perfect choice.
When Mossberg invited me to attempt the Newfoundland Grand Slam in the fall of 2018, they offered to let me take any of their rifles I wanted. I’d been anxious to wring out their new Patriot Revere and I thought this would be a great opportunity to put the 6.5 Creedmoor to a test on medium and large game. I topped the rifle off with one of the new Bushnell Nitro riflescopes — I knew I could trust it because I’d recently spent a month in Africa with several of them. I also selected Federal’s new AccuBond ammo, because I’ve probably killed more big game animals with AccuBonds than any other bullet.
The great professional hunter and gun writer Finn Aagaard developed the most reliable killing power formula many years ago. He said, “Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = a quick, clean kill.” Nowhere in that formula did he mention “.30 caliber” or “magnum.” This is mostly because they’re just not necessary. A good bullet, placed in the right spot, works.
The Math On The 6.5 Creedmoor
There are several things helping the 6.5 Creedmoor fit well within this formula. The first is sectional density. Sectional density (SD) is the ratio of an object’s mass to its cross sectional area, with respect to a given axis. For bullets, this is computed by dividing its weight (w) by the square of its diameter (d) times 7000: SD=(w/d2)7000. The SD of a 165-grain 0.30-caliber bullet, like might be fired from a .300 Winchester Magnum, is 0.248. By comparison, the sectional density of a 140-grain, 6.5 mm (0.264 caliber) bullet is 0.287. Sectional density is important because it has a direct correlation to penetration. All else being equal, the higher the SD, the higher the potential for penetration.
Bushnell’s new Nitro line of riflescopes and binoculars have been proven field-reliable by the author in Africa and Newfoundland.
Another advantage is ballistic coefficient (BC). Ballistic coefficient deals with a bullet’s ability to overcome air resistance during flight. In short, BC is similar to drag, and it’s calculated in a variety of ways. I wish I had the literary skill to give a comprehensive explanation of the mathematics behind BC in a single paragraph. I do not, and doubt anyone else does. The best, hillbilly-simple way I can explain BC is to say that it’s a numerical description of a bullet’s aerodynamic properties.
I mention SD and BC because, to understand the 6.5 Creedmoor, you must understand both. Here’s why: When working with bullets of weights and lengths compatible with common big-game cartridges and rifles, 6.5mm (0.264 caliber) bullets offer the best balance. As an example, for a .30-caliber bullet to have the same SD as a 140-grain 6.5-caliber bullet, it would have to weigh more than 190 grains. To achieve the same theoretical penetration potential, both bullets would have to be pushed to the same velocity. That means the rifle firing the .30-caliber bullet would kick about twice as hard.
The BC of these same two bullets is almost identical as well. This means that if they’re launched at the same velocity, they’ll both strike the target at the same time, with the same wind drift and drop. However, it will take a lot more powder to push the heavier bullet to the same velocity. That means a larger case, a larger rifle — and again, more recoil.
Mossberg’s Patriot Revere has a very nice walnut stock with an accented forend and grip cap. Chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, it’s elegantly suitable for just about any big-game hunting.
Given the constraints of shoulder-fired sporting weapons, 6.5mm bullets simply represent a sweet spot in bullet diameter. But, 6.5mm cartridges are nothing new. The 6.5×55 Swede has been around since 1894 and the .260 Remington since 1997. Both duplicate or slightly exceed Creedmoor velocities in factory ammunition. So, why all the fuss over the Creed? That’s where the cartridge case comes in.
The 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser requires a long action because the overall cartridge length is 3.15 inches. With an overall length of 2.8 inches, the .260 Remington will work in a short action; however, the case is 2.035 inches long. This means you cannot seat ultra-high SD and BC 6.5mm bullets deep enough to work in short action rifles. The Creed’s case length is 1.92 inches and will work with any 6.5mm bullet.
And finally, factory rifles are built to specifications set forth by the Small Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI). The 6.5 Creedmoor has a specified rifling twist of 1:8. The .260 Remington, 1:9. This means the Creedmoor is capable of firing more aerodynamic bullets. Swede rifles are built with a 1:8 twist, but they’re just not popular in America and ammunition options are limited. When it comes to 6.5mm rifle cartridges, the Creedmoor offers the best of everything, particularly at moderate velocities that generate comfortable recoil.
North Country Safari
It was noon and the lodge was full of hunters. After a visit to the restroom, I’d stepped out onto the veranda above the lake. Excitement was in the air, and one of the guides yelled, “Where’s your rifle?” I pointed to it, leaning next to the door to my room, but before I could speak he said, “There’s a moose! Shoot the moose!” Low and behold, along the edge of the lake about 300 yards from the lodge stood a bull moose. I grabbed my rifle.
The Nosler AccuBond, which is loaded by Federal, is a premier big-game bullet that shoots flat and straight, and it delivers optimum terminal performance.
As the group of hunters and guides began offering advice with regards to how much high I should hold, and what type rest I should take, I dropped into the seated position and slung up. Knowing my bullet would drop about a foot at that distance, I placed the intersection of the reticle about 12 inches above the killing spot, settled in and pressed the trigger. A third of a second later, we all heard the bullet smack.
The bull bucked and ran. I hit him two more times before he stopped, wobbled and collapsed into the bog, about 75 yards from where he was standing when the first bullet hit him. It had impacted just forward of center body, clipping a lung, piercing the diaphragm, poking through the intestine and exiting the other side. The other two shots — taken at the ass end of the moose — were unneeded. My shooting was less than stellar but the Creed was plenty.
The woodland caribou was more of a hunt; my shooting was not much better. We stalked to within 280 yards, and I put the first bullet low into his chest, just forward of the stag’s right leg. He broke into a run and when he stopped at about 300 yards, a spine shot put him down. Come to find out, that second shot was not needed either; the internal bleeding was extensive and the caribou’s short 40-yard run was all he had left.
Linda Powell of Mossberg took this fantastic woodland caribou with a Mossberg Patriot in .308 Winchester using Federal’s 150-grain Power Shock copper rifle ammunition.
My final day hunting was in a stand over a bait pile. At 5 pm, a mass of blackness emerged from the thickness and began staring at me like I’d been flirting with his wife. After giving me the evil eye, the big — 355 pounds as it turned out — bear turned almost broadside and I poked an AccuBond behind his shoulder. We later found I’d misjudged the mark; with the bear slightly quartering away, the bullet passed just in front of the heart. We found him 80 yards deep into the forest.
The 6.5 Creedmoor worked fine for me as a big-game cartridge. It would’ve worked even better had my shooting been more precise. Of course, I should have known that. In his 1927 book, “Wilderness Hunting and Wildcraft,” the late Townsend Whelen wrote that one of the best big-game cartridges was the 6.5×54 Mannlicher, saying its, “long bullet drives well through heavy bones and muscular tissues. It is the lightest cartridge that I would consider suitable for all American big game.” Interestingly, that 110-year-old cartridge is ballistically inferior to the 6.5 Creedmoor.
Sometimes, “enough gun” is a lot less than you think. And that is the lesson hunters are learning from the 6.5 Creedmoor, and why it’s becoming so popular. We could have been doing something like this all along with the 6.5X55 Swede. Problem was, too many gun writers were addicted to .30 calibers and magnums.
How the A.H. Fox became “The finest gun in the world.”
Why A.H. Fox doubles are considered among America's classic shotguns:
Considered desirable as other classic American double guns, such as Parker, Ithaca and L.C. Smith.
Sold to Savage Arms in 1930, who continued production.
Grades were defined by the grade of the stock's wood.
XE grade featured engraved game scenes.
Theodore Roosevelt's Fox sold for a record $862,500 in 2010.
Ansley Herman Fox was a bright, charismatic young man and a fine shotgunner. Trap was his game and he was the winner of many events in and around Baltimore and Philadelphia. Fox wanted to get into the gun making business and his ventures into the field had several starts and stops. He received his first patent for a double-barrel gun in 1894, when was 24 years old.
Most Fox models were offered with a single selective trigger, but double triggers remained the choice of many shooters.
In 1896, Fox convinced a few friends and family members to partner with him in what became known as the National Arms Company of Baltimore. Before any guns were manufactured, that company was reorganized as the Fox Gun Company of Baltimore. Only a few hundred guns were made by this first incarnation of the Fox Company — and those models are very rare.
In 1900, the Fox Company was sold to the Baltimore Gun Company and Ansley Fox became an employee of that firm. During this period he was also a professional shooter for Winchester.
Vintage catalog with Fox shotgun on the cover.
The next step on Fox’s rather rocky road to success was his formation of the Philadelphia Gun Company in 1905, which quickly evolved to the A.H. Fox Company of Philadelphia. For the next 25 years, the Fox was a respected member of the Classic American Double club, taking its place in shotgun history alongside Parker, Ithaca and L.C. Smith.
Winchester’s fine Model 21 came along in 1930, the same year Fox was sold to Savage, which continued making the A.H. Fox guns until 1942. These guns should not be confused with the Fox Model B double, which was introduced by Savage circa 1939. This lower priced utility model was basically an upgrade of a series of Stevens double-barreled guns, which Savage also produced.
The Fox Family
This XE model circa 1916 shows off the intricate engraving and checkering patterns of the skilled Fox workers.
The line-up of A.H. Fox models introduced in 1906 included three grades: A, B, C, followed by D and F in 1907. All were initially offered only in 12 gauge until 1912, when 16 and 20 gauges were added. Another model was added in 1911, one that became quite popular, the Sterlingworth. It was a utility model with many of the same design features as the higher grade guns and had a base price of $25, exactly half the $50 for the A Grade. Prices for the other grades were $75 for the B Grade, $100 for C, $250 for D, and $500 for the F Grade.
Each grade featured increasing levels of higher grade wood, more elaborate engraving and fancier checkering patterns. Another model was the XE Grade, which was decorated with elaborate game scene vignettes.
This Sterlingworth model illustrates the operating lever and barrel extension of the box-lock design.
Automatic ejectors were offered beginning in 1907 and the model grades were listed as AE, BE, etc., to indicate the added feature. Other available options were cast-off stocks, Monte Carlo combs and beavertail forends. Single trigger models became available in 1914. Most shotgunners in those days learned to shoot with double triggers and liked the quick choice of choke or load, as many still do today.
Teddy’s Pet Fox
The most famous Fox shotgun of all time undoubtedly is the one that belonged to President Theodore Roosevelt. As referenced in the quote at the beginning of this column, Roosevelt took the gun on his famous 10-month African safari in 1909. It’s a FE Grade 12 gauge with 30-inch barrels choked full and modified with double triggers and was presented to the former president by Ansley Fox as a gift. In a letter to Mr. Fox, Roosevelt stated that his plan was to take the gun on his safari “loaded with ball” (slugs) primarily to be used as a backup for lion and other dangerous game. Roosevelt subsequently used the gun for geese and ducks.
Theodore Roosevelt’s FE Grade, called the most expensive shotgun in the world.
When he died in 1919 the shotgun was left to his son, Kermit, who passed it down to his son, Kermit Roosevelt Jr. It remained in the Roosevelt family until 1974 when it was sold to Fox historian Thomas Kidd, and then to an undisclosed buyer who, in October of 2010, put the gun up for auction with James Julia. History was made when it sold for $862,500, the highest price ever paid at auction for a shotgun.
Another major event at the Fox Company in 1911 was the departure of Ansley Fox. While the company founder knew a lot about shotguns, he had differences with his investors on how to run the business and they bought him out. Fox left the gun industry and several years later formed the Fox Motor Company. He invented a car with an air-cooled engine and it was priced in the $4,000 to $5,000 range, competing with the highest priced Dusenburgs and Stutz models. Only a few Fox automobiles were built between 1921 and 1923, and by the end of 1923 the company went out of business.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Aluminum tipped, the Hornady A-Tip line goes way beyond the average match bullet.
How Hornady A-Tip Bullets Enhance Long-Range Shooting:
Longer aluminum tips enhancing stability.
Reduces drag variability.
Forgiving of twist rate, seating depth and muzzle velocity.
Sequentially packaged to provide the most uniform batch.
The ‘A’ is for aluminum.
Since we’ve got that cleared up, the new Hornady A-Tip line of bullets gets pretty self-explanatory. At least, as to why the high ballistic coefficient projectiles sport unique tips. But it raises the question, why go to all the effort? As with anything shooting the answer is simple – accuracy.
Generally speaking, shooters had two styles of production match bullets at their disposal to date – open tip match and polymer tip. Little arguing the bullets have more than fit the bill, given the distances and consistency they’ve achieved over the years. Yet, each has their drawbacks, from manufacturing irregularities to melting (in the case of polymers) down range, and even being susceptible to dings when chambered. What that leads to are inconsistencies. At 1,000 yards and beyond that spells trouble.
Not so with aluminum, which is more resilient, easier to hold to tighter tolerances and offers more bullet-to-bullet uniformity. There’s also the added benefit that metal can be machined metal longer than polymer, thus increasing the bullet’s BC. Hence, the Hornady A-Tip.
Though, there’s a bit more going on with the bullets than improved material and ability to overcome wind resistance. Hornady has striven for the utmost consistency with the line and has gone to what some might call absurd lengths to achieve it. Aside from machining the tip specifically for the three calibers presently manufactured (6mm, 6.5mm and .308), the company said it minimizes human contact with the projectiles. That is until they reach you. Even then, the company includes a polishing rag to remove any blemishes you might leave.
Furthermore, the bullets are sequentially boxed, every bullet comes from the same run. In turn, any variation in the machinery over time is minimized in the bullets you buy. In short, your batch should be nearly identical in geometry and weight. No more breaking out the scales to put each bullet in the balance, by Hornady’s telling. I’m betting reloaders still do – you can’t leave anything to chance.
Hornady dropped the hammer on the A-Tip, because it said it had found a way to cost-effectively machine the tips. But they’re not exactly cheap. A quick look at online reloading retailers, a box of 100 runs just shy of $80. Yet, if they find the same hole over and over as Hornady claims, A-Tips will prove priceless.
More from Hornady:
(Grand Island, Nebr.) — The Hornady® Ballistic Development Group (BDG), a specialty research and design group at Hornady Manufacturing, has developed a new line of match bullets for the ultimate in precision and long-range shooting.
By drawing on years of research and experience with existing products like the ELD-X® and ELD® Match bullet lines, state-of-the-art equipment including Doppler radar, high-speed camera systems, plus investment in advanced manufacturing machinery, processes and quality control measures, the BDG has developed the A-Tip™ line of match projectiles.
By drawing on years of research and experience with existing products like the ELD-X® and ELD® Match bullet lines, state-of-the-art equipment including Doppler radar, high-speed camera systems, plus investment in advanced manufacturing machinery, processes and quality control measures, the BDG has developed the A-Tip™ line of match projectiles.
The most striking visual feature of the A-Tip™ bullet is its long, uniform, precision-machined aluminum tip.
“We wanted to incorporate aluminum tips in a full line of match bullets for years because we can make longer tips than we can with polymer materials,” said Joe Thielen, Assistant Director of Engineering. “This longer tip is a key component that helps move the center of gravity of the bullet rearward, thus enhancing in-flight stability and reducing dispersion. The problem has always been the cost to produce a tip like this, but we’ve developed a cost-effective process for manufacturing these aluminum tips while staying affordable for serious match shooters.”
The longer aluminum tips are machined to be caliber-specific, and when coupled with highly refined AMP® bullet jackets, aggressive profiles and optimized boattails, the result is enhanced drag efficiency (high BC) across the board. Each bullet design is carefully crafted for minimal drag variability for the utmost in shot-to-shot consistent downrange accuracy.
The materials, design and manufacturing techniques combine for the most consistent and accurate match bullets available.
“We designed the A-Tip™ projectiles with accuracy and precision first and foremost,” Thielen added. “Many low-drag bullets on the market today have very aggressive secant ogives, which look great on paper and yield high BCs, but usually these types of projectiles are very finicky when it comes to accuracy or performance in different chambers, standard twist rates, seating depths and barrels.”
In addition to developing projectiles that will shoot well in a variety of chambers, the BDG also designed the A-Tip™ bullets with the right balance between the center of gravity of the projectile versus center of pressure to minimize in-flight drag variability.
The A-Tip™ bullets are also packaged sequentially right off the bullet press without being batch handled or tumbled, ensuring that each bullet in the box is a clone of the bullet before it — and after it.
A-Tip™ bullets will be available in 100-count boxes, and retailers will also sell sleeves of five sequential 100-count boxes packaged together, as well as a case pack of two 500-count sleeves for a total of 1,000 sequentially packed bullets. Since the bullets will not be touched or tumbled, there will be some slight oil residue, so a bullet polishing bag will be included with each 100-count box for the hand loader to use in preparing bullets for loading.
This change in manufacturing and packaging is a welcome and unique challenge for a company built on large-scale manufacturing.
“We are frequently viewed as a very large bullet manufacturer, which in many ways we are, but the Ballistic Development Group runs like its own small ‘skunkworks’ division that allows us to offer the small-batch craftsmanship normally only offered by a boutique bullet maker,” said Jason Hornady, Vice President. “We’re shooters ourselves, and we also listen to what shooters want, and we are excited to be able to offer competitive and hard-core shooting enthusiasts projectiles that are undoubtedly the new standard bearer of precision and performance.”
Initial offerings of the A-Tip™ bullet include the following listings with Doppler radar measured G1 and G7 BCs: ·6mm 110 grain G1: .604 G7: .304 ·6.5mm 135 grain G1: .637 G7: .321 ·6.5mm 153 grain G1: .704 G7: .355 ·30 caliber 230 grain G1: .823 G7: .414 ·30 caliber 250 grain G1: .878 G7: .442
For more information on Hornady A-Tip bullets, please visit www.hornady.com.
Products and theories evolve quickly in the shooting world, but you still get to decide what works for you. A mix of old and new is a lethal combination when it comes to long-range shooting.
How do old and new school long-range shooting methods measure up:
Milrads are easier to convert, but it's easier for many Americans to think in MOA.
Short, stiff barrels are stiff, but long barrels mean more velocity and resistance to wind deflection.
Metering only measure wind where you're at, while mirage tells you what's happening down range.
Wind-resistant calibers mean less compensation, but might equate to less barrel life.
You get to use the has marks and range find with a FFP scope, but the reticle but is tiny up close and large at long range.
We were on the 400-yard line at Camp Perry, on Rodriguez Range, and nearing the end of the first and only National Defense Match. The match had started at 10 yards with the emphasis on speed, but it ended up at the 500-yard line where accuracy and the ability to judge conditions closed the deal.
On a cross-valley 800-yard shot, the projectile will pass through three different wind zones. The area close to the shooter is where a wind meter will give a reading. The wooded area down the hill will offer almost no wind, and the valley floor can be anything.
The entire match was fired without the benefit of a spotting scope or flags to read the wind. There was a steady right to left wind and a lot of conversation and speculation about how much windage to use. There were mathematic calculations of wind speed versus directional wind value. Smartphones were being consulted and I suspect there was a wind meter involved.
Chris and Colton Cerino (yes, the “Top Shot” guy) were shooting with my grandson, Phoenix, and me. Knowing I’d shot a lot at Camp Perry, Chris asked me how much windage we should use. I plucked a handful of grass and dropped it from shoulder height.
“Put on 3 minutes,” I answered, “Old school wind meter.”
As I was saying it, one of the smartphone guys spoke up, “Looks like 3 minutes.”
I smiled. Phoenix, Chris, Colton and I all cleaned-up on the long range stages.
I’m a bit wary about writing an old school article like this for fear of being accused of imitating Elmer Keith, but sometimes the old stuff works just fine. In fact, I suspect some of the new ideas might be counterproductive.
MOA Vs. Milrads
When I was in 5th grade, I distinctly remember Mr. York telling my class how the metric system was going to simplify the world. He explained how it was a simpler system than our fractional “inch” system, and how easy it was to simply measure in millimeters.
Once we adapted the metric system, he said, there’d be a universal measurement system all over the world and mechanics could work on foreign cars and USA cars using the same set of tools. He was right. We adapted the metric system — sort of — and now a mechanic has only one set of tools, consisting of both metric and inches, sockets and wrenches.
Constantly monitoring mirage and keeping a databook will yield information that can be consulted later. This is only possible at a known-distance range, with pits or with a target camera.
There’s nothing wrong with milrads, provided you’re a person who only thinks in Milrads. Both systems are methods of angular measurement and nothing more. No matter how many scopes I use that are measured in milrads, I’ll always instantly convert the movement in my mind to MOA.
Since most Americans think in terms of degrees, inches and yards, it’s easier to explain and understand MOA. Maybe you can think milrads without mentally converting them to inches, but I can’t.
One MOA equals about 1 inch at 100 yards. One milrad equals 3.6 MOA. One-tenth milrad equals about 1 centimeter at 100 yards. Most of us think in yards, most of us think in inches. Most MOA scopes have turrets graduated in ¼-MOA increments, which equal ¼-inch at 100 yards. Most milrad scopes divide clicks into 1/10 milrads, which, again, equal about 1 centimeter at 100 yards.
Mils vs. MOA: Which Is The Best Long-Range Language?
If you mentally think centimeters, milrads are the system for you. You’ve certainly heard countless arguments dictating which you should use. None are right and none are wrong.
Personally, however, I don’t remember anyone I know describing a fish or deer antlers, or anything else, in centimeters. My advice: Don’t feel pressured to switch to milrads if you’re perfectly happy working with MOA. The shooting industry has been using one measurement system for the last 100 years or so, and now we have a new one. Mr. York would be proud.
Barrel Length Conundrums
For the life of me, I can’t understand the recent trend of short barrels on rifles designed for long range. Rifles currently designed for long range now come with barrels as short as 16 inches on semi-autos and 20 inches on bolt-action rifles.
When I was shooting 600 and 1,000 yards in my High Power career, my M14 had a 22-inch barrel and I’d have loved to have 4 more inches of tube out front so I could better compete with my bolt-gun-shooting friends with their 26-inch barreled Model 70s.
Kent Reeve, one of the best long-range shooters in the world. Notice the proximity of this spotting scope. In wind that constantly changes, the shooter must transition from the spotting scope to the rifle in a minimum amount of time. Wind conditions change rapidly.
In centerfire rifles, barrel length means velocity — and velocity means less wind deflection. This is why Palma, F Class and long-range sling shooters use 30-inch and longer tubes. Yes, short and stiff barrels can be more accurate than longer and whippier ones, but at long ranges, resistance to wind deflection is important. Won’t somebody out there market a precision .308 Win. with a barrel longer than 20 inches?
Wind Metering Vs. Mirage
Don’t get me wrong: I’d have loved a wind meter when I was coaching at Camp Perry, but I suspect some of the newer generation put a bit more faith in their wind meters than reality merits. Wind meters measure wind where you are, and the wind where you are isn’t the wind you shoot through. At 1,000 yards, I’ve seen the flag at the firing line blowing left, the 500-yard flag blowing right and the 200-yard flag blowing straight downrange. A wind meter is useless in these conditions.
In the introduction to this article, I described dropping grass as a method of doping wind. At Camp Perry, on Rodriquez Range, dropping grass at 400 yards works perfectly well because the range is as flat as a football field in every direction with no obstructions that affect wind speed and direction. A wind meter and falling grass both give you an indication of wind direction and intensity where you are — but only where you are.
Reading mirage, the distortion of light by heat waves, is almost always a better overall indicator because it better represents wind downrange, but sometimes there’s no mirage. In colder conditions and on overcast days, mirage is almost nonexistent. In those circumstances, a wind meter can help, but the wind call that works is going to be a SWAG (scientific wild-ass guess). In fact, every wind call is a SWAG, regardless of wind meters and mirage.
Wind-Resistant Calibers
A bit more than a dozen years ago, Kent Reeve, one of the best long-range shooters in the country and arguably the world, called me and asked if I still had an old .308 Win. bolt gun I’d built and used briefly. “Yes, I still have it,” I reported, “but aren’t you going to continue shooting a .243 Win.?” At the time, the .243 Winchester was the hot ticket across the course because it bucked wind better than the .308 Win. round.
In Palma shooting, the 7.62 NATO round is used with a 155-grain bullet. The normal barrel length is 30 inches, providing enough barrel length to generate higher velocities and better wind resistance.
“The .243 Win. has less recoil and is better in the wind,” he said, “but barrel life is so short that I have to change barrels in the middle of the season.” It seems Kent was getting about 2,500 rounds out of a .243 Win. and about 5,000 rounds out of the .308s he’d used in the past. Changing barrels means getting new zeros, the need to break-in again and the worries that occur when any top-level competitor changes anything. He bought my old .308 Win. Model 70; I don’t know to this day if he won anything with it or not.
So, yes, I know a 6.5 Creedmoor needs less windage compensation than a .308 Win., but I suspect few production precision rifles are shot at ranges past 500 yards — and up to that distance, there’s almost no difference between the two. At longer ranges, the more efficient calibers shine, but as Wayne Church, an old-school National Guard coach used to say, “A good, hard hold is worth a couple of clicks any day.”
First Focal Plane Pandering
Of all the dirty tricks played on modern-day shooters, the first-focal-plane (FFP) scope is arguably the most nefarious. In the words of some obscure person in my life, “It’s a wonderful solution to a nonexistent problem.” True, FFP scopes allow the shooter to use hash marks for holdover and wind, and it allows full use of rangefinding reticles at any given magnification — but they do so at a high price.
For precise shooting, you need a fine reticle, and for close and fast shooting, you need an easily defined and visible reticle. A FFP scope gives you the opposite. The first variable-power riflescopes were of the FFP design, and when second focal plane scopes appeared, we trashed those FFP scopes and didn’t look back. Why would anyone want a tiny thread of reticle at low magnification for rapid target acquisition and one the width of a 2X4 for precise, long-range shooting? After all, if you need hash marks for holdover and wind, it’s likely a long shot — and why wouldn’t you be using the highest magnification for that?
OK, so I know modern advancements in reading wind, low-drag bullets in efficient calibers, high-magnification scopes and modern ways of dealing with distance and wind deflection are effective and work. I’m an old man and, like other old men, I sometimes just like to argue with new ideas. I can give you a dozen reasons why computers were a bad idea.
This article originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Built for speed and accuracy, the STI Omni and CZ-USA Parrot are true hot-rod competitive pistols.
There’s no reason to get freaked about competitive pistol shooting. You’re more than welcome to run what you brung – within reason – making it simple to get into the game. Besides, the original intent of IDPA and USPSA was to improve how you handle your defensive handgun with truer-to-life shooting. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with gunning for gold either.
If you fall into this class, and have the skills for the hardware, there are some mind-boggling race guns at your disposal. Tuned to perfection and running like the wind, they live in center mass and razor off seconds. Think of them as the Formula 1 of competitive pistols. And if you’re not familiar with them, they’re about a world away from the off-the-shelf shoot’n irons you know.
Tune Into More Gun Digest TV:
The Elegant Power Of The Ruger Blackhawk Bisley .45 Colt
Two such examples are the STI International Omni and CZ-USA Parrot. Enhanced capacity. Check. Optics ready. Check. Tuned to the hilt. Check. They’re truly marvels, to say the least, but not just for any old shooter. You’d better be serious about the game if you plan to get into an Omni or Parrot.
They take a little more than spare change under the couch cushions to get into. The STI International gun runs a smooth $3,999 and CZ-USA’s hot-rod comes in north of the $4,000 mark. Though, if you’re gunning for the winner’s circle, the pistols might prove a great value.
CZ Parrot Specs
Caliber: 9mm Luger Capacity: 20 Rounds Magazine Type: Double Stack Grips: Thin Aluminum Trigger Mech: SA Only Sights: Fixed/C-more Barrel: Cold Hammer Forged, Threaded Barrel: Length 5.4 in Weight: 3 lbs Overall: Length 10.47 in Height: 5.51 in Width: 2.44 in
STI International Omni Specs
Caliber: 9mm & .45 ACP Barrel: Patented Recoil Compensation Barrel – 5.00 Finish: Diamond Like Carbon, Black Magazines: 1ea/ 126mm and 140mm Trigger: 3.0 lbs w/ Ambi Safety Levers Sights: HOST 2 Dot Tritium Rear with Tritium Front Grip: 2011® DVC Texture, Black Other: HOST Optic Cut, Dawson Precision Tool-Less Guide Rod, Tactical Slim Magwell, Railed Frame
For more information on the CZ-USA Parrot, please visit www.cz-usa.com. For more information on the STI Omni, please visit www.stiguns.com.
A top-end stock and the option of a carbon-fiber wrapped barrel, Bergara's BXR rifle goes beyond the expected for rimfire rifles.
What Sets The BXR Apart From Other .22 Rimfire Rifles:
Option for a carbon-fiber wrapped barrel
Adjustable length of pull
Percision stock modled after Bergara's HMR Pro
Compatibility with 10/22 aftermarket parts
Well, this is unexpected.
It seems in recent years, Bergara has poured most of its resources and know-how into the hottest long-range rounds – 6.5 Creedmoor, 6mm Creedmoor, etc. In between churning out precision chassis rifles and gnat's ass hunting irons, the company apparently found time to cook up a rimfire – the Bergara BRX .22 LR.
Where things get interesting is the high-end model, given its 16.5-inch carbon-fiber wrapped barrel. Yes, these space-aged .22 firetubes exist, mainly in the realm of aftermarket upgrades. On a production rifle, they’re as rare as wooly mammoth tags. And for the price Bergara slapped on the BXR Carbon – MSRP $659 – not a bad deal. Aftermarket examples can cost the better part of what the Spanish-American gunmaker is asking for its whole kit and caboodle. And it does a number on the BXR, shaving its weight to 4.75 pounds.
Even if you opt for the fluted steel barrel model – MSRP $565 – the rifle is a looker and most likely a doer. Part and parcel to this is the top-end stock on both models. If you know Bergara, it’s familiar, a scaled-down version of the one found on the company’s popular HMR Pro. No adjustable cheek riser here, but it does have 1-inch of play in length of pull, which makes it more than a youth or adult specialty rifle.
Finally, the BXR is built on the 10/22’s footprint, excellent news if you’re the type that absolutely must upgrade their rifle. This includes a compatible trigger, rotary magazine and the rest. You might not need to mess around with the trigger much, though. It’s a snappy 3.5 pounds. Still, sky’s the limit for tinkering … well, that and your wallet.
More from Bergara:
Lawrenceville, Georgia – BPI Outdoors / Bergara Rifles is pleased to announce the release of the Bergara BXR .22 LR Rifle at the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Indianapolis, IN April 26-28, 2019.
Bergara BXR .22 LR Rifle
Bergara Rifles is proud to introduce a feature rich semi-automatic .22 LR, the Bergara BXR. This new rifle has custom quality, Bergara performance without the custom price tag.
This BXR .22LR has everything a serious rimfire shooter would want, yet has features attractive to younger shooters and smaller frame shooters with its removable/replaceable spacers to adjust stock length. Nate Treadaway, CEO of BPI Outdoors, which is the parent company of Bergara says, “We have had our eye on the rimfire space for several years now. Not only is it a very close alignment to our core customer base but we are already familiar with how to make an extremely accurate barrel. The BXR just happens to be the first of several models to come from Bergara and will fill a void between the featureless mass-produced models and overly priced boutique offerings.”
The BXR 22 LR series comes in two configurations. The base model (part number BXR001) sports a 4140 CrMo fluted steel barrel with a Cerakote finish, with a stock that is green with black fleck and weighs 5.25lbs. The upgraded BXR is a carbon fiber model (part number BXR002) that is topped with a carbon fiber barrel, a black stock with grey fleck that weighs a mere 4.75lbs.
Each version of the BXR has the following features: overall length of 34.5″, total length of pull adjustment just over 1″, with a barrel length of 16.5″, pre-threaded muzzle with thread protector, a 10 round rotary style magazine (10/22 compatible), and a 30 MOA picatinny rail integral with the receiver.
BXR Specs:
•Overall Length 34.5” (includes 3 of the 3/8” removable/replaceable spacers to adjust LOP) •Barrel 16.5”, muzzle threaded 1/2×28, (thread protector included) •Weight 4 ¾ lbs. for carbon fiber barrel, 5 ¼ lbs. for fluted steel barrel •Capacity 10 shot rotary magazine •Scope mount 30 MOA Picatinny rail integral with the receiver •Trigger pull Approx. 3.5 lbs. •Trigger Pack 10/22 compatible •Sling mounts include 3 QD studs and 4 flush cups
BXR Base Model – Part Number BXR001 BXR 22LR Semi-Auto Rifle Crome Molly Cerakoted Barrel MSRP – $565
Made to exacting standards and accurate enough to spit a hair, classic snubbies and other concealed carry revolvers still hold their own.
There was a time when dinosaurs walked the earth. And a time when revolvers were the most common carry gun. I’m not saying there was any overlap between the two, but some want to push revolvers back in time enough to do that.
Revolvers do have the disadvantage of not holding as many rounds as pistols do, but by the time you make a pistol as small as a revolver, the advantage is not so great. What revolvers do have as advantages are the uniformity of the trigger pull, and the ease of getting past a dud round. If you need your revolver to fire, simply stroke through the trigger and repeat as necessary.
Back when we mostly carried revolvers, the baseline gun was an S&W K-Frame in one caliber, barrel length, finish or another. The K-Frame is the .38 Special /.357 Magnum six-shot revolver, whose basic design and dimensions were laid out by S&W before the Rough Riders charged up San Juan Hill. No kidding.
I have used a bunch of different K-Frames through the decades. The shop kept a 2-inch blued, round-butt M-10 (.38 Special) in a holster on the wall, as a shop gun “just in case.” I took that one to an indoor winter action league, and shooting it against a bunch of heavy-barrel .38s, I cleaned up. The trick there was the faster reloading by handling a compact revolver, compared to the 6-inch-barreled ones the others were using.
If you want something a bit more utilitarian, then my Bearcoat-coated M-65, with a 3-inch barrel will deliver more of the .357 Magnum velocity you might desire. It’s a definite working tool, and one I’ve packed many times in the last 20-plus years.
At the other end, I picked up a police trade-in M-19 (.357 Magnum) and rebuilt it as a bull-barreled PPC gun, complete with rib and adjustable sight. That one I shot in the local Sheriff’s Department indoor league, for a 596 average. I know PPC may not seem all that big a deal as far as shooting goes, but you will learn good double-action trigger habits shooting it.
For IDPA competition, I have a 4-inch nickeled M-19 that I carry underneath a Harris Tweed jacket. Hey, I figure that if I must carry concealed for a competition, I’m going to look like I would on the street. I don’t walk around with a safari vest on when I’m walking the dog around here, why would I do it in a match that is supposed to be real-life training?
But my favorite carry revolver is a 2-inch nickeled M-15, with a square-butt frame. It’s a blast from the past, a classic iron, and a solid and dependable tool.
Falling For An M-15
The M-15 is the K-Frame with adjustable sights. Originally after WWII it was known as the K-38 Masterpiece. The 4-inch guns were the Combat Masterpiece, and the 6-inch guns were the Target Masterpiece models. When S&W overhauled the model designations in 1957, the 6-inch guns became the M-14 and the 4-inch guns became the M-15. After that, all bets were off, as S&W varied the barrel lengths in all their models, so you could find M-14s and M-15s with 2-inch, 4-inch and 6-inch barrels.
The M-15 loaded with six rounds of +P and a pair of speedloaders for concealed carry. It’s a comforting package to leave the house with.
Mine was sitting in the safe of a gun shop that I would drop in on from time to time, while driving from one range or shooting event to another. I saw it and I liked it, but I had no real need for it, so I left it. A couple of months later when I dropped in, it was still there, so I figured I was being given a sign and snapped it up. A quick serial number check uncovered that it had left Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1971. That was still in the post-war years when they had a factory full of old-timers who knew how to hand-build revolvers.
The K-Frame, for those who have only ever fired a handgun composed of polymers, is a six-shot double action revolver. The cylinder opens to the left, and the cylinder rotation is counter-clockwise. The ejector rod, the rod out in front of the cylinder, is long enough on the 4-inch and longer models, that the empties will be fully extracted. On the shorter-barrel models, the case won’t be fully extracted, and you must be sure and push the rod briskly enough to ensure their departure.
The ejector rod is also the assembly that holds the cylinder in place. The rear stub of the rod, visible in the center of the ratchet and extractor star, is spring-loaded and rides in a hole drilled in the frame. The front end of the rod engages a spring-loaded plunger pinned to the barrel, and thus the cylinder is held, fore and aft, on-axis.
The one drawback of the M-15 is the ejector rod. It is so short (to match the barrel) that it doesn’t fully eject empty brass with a simple push. But it’s no big deal, once you know.
This is important to know because it accounts for one of the other attributes of the revolver: accuracy. Smith & Wesson and other revolver makers expended (and still do) a great deal of effort to ensure that each charge hole is drilled straight and on-center with where the barrel is going to be. Then, on the S&W revolvers, with the cylinder rotating around a pin that is held at both ends, each cartridge is centered-up to the barrel as precisely as man can make it.
And how precise? Some years ago, in a TV shooting session, I was using the M-15 as a prop and demo gun. I commented to the crew about how a snub-nosed revolver was just as accurate as a revolver with a longer barrel — it was just the sight radius that made it more difficult to shoot. But, with practice, you could get hits at distance. “How far can you hit?” came the question from behind one of the cameras. “Oh, 50 yards, maybe even 100 yards.” There was a brief pause, followed by, “Prove it.”
So, we set the cameras up, and by dint of shooting at an angle across the range, I could get a steel silhouette 100 yards from where I was standing. We also had to arrange things so the light was good, the background was clean — you know, camera stuff.
If all you do is press the rod, this is all the results you’ll get. You have to be brisk about it, and even call on a gravity assist, if you want the proper results.
Ready to go, I loaded up, and six shots and six steel-ringing hits later on the steel 100 yards away, everyone was happy. Yes, first take.
That indoor league I mentioned earlier, the one I won: The times for the shooting strings were tight. That 2-inch barreled M-10 was slick, but no more slick than the heavier guns I was up against. What made the difference were the reloads. With fast reloads, I could get off all of the planned 48 shots of the course of fire, and all of them aimed. The heavier, bulkier guns handicapped their owners, and some of them were left with shots unfired. I figured every shot they didn’t get was a potential five points (of the 240 total) that counted for me. If I had a potential 240 points, but they could only count on a potential 220, for example, I was ahead right from the start.
The Achilles Heel Of The Wheel
Now, if you are expecting to be reloading and need a lot of ammo in a gun fight, then you really ought not to be using a revolver. But, if you are going to be reloading, the one that reloads the quickest is an advantage.
They may be old school, but they’re still made and available. This Tyler T-Grip is gloss nickel to match the finish of the M-15, and it makes shooting comfortable.
My M-15 left the factory with a square butt. That wasn’t uncommon back in 1971, or for years afterward. For some applications a round-butt revolver was the preferred choice, but even for EDC, a square butt revolver works just fine. With the correct and comfortable holster, the square butt is not going to be any more difficult to conceal than the round-butt model. And for some hands, the square is going to be easier to shoot.
One detail that revolvers makers back then — and most grip makers, for that matter — didn’t deal with, was the gap behind the trigger guard. The gap, which looks good as a machined product, allows your second finger to ride up as high as the index finger, and getting your fingers out of alignment is not good. It also puts your finger in the path of the rear of the trigger guard when the revolver recoils. So, a hard-kicking load not only is hard to aim (finger mis-alignment), it makes you pay for it with a bruised finger.
The solution for many back then was a custom set of grips. But there was another option, called the Tyler T-Grip. This was a cast metal part that fit behind the trigger guard. It had a set of clips that went alongside the frame at the grip area, and when you tightened your grips back on, the adapter was held in place.
The big advantage of the .38 Special, even in the +P loadings, is that it doesn’t punish you for the work you are doing. This is all the higher the sights rise in recoil, even with a 125-grain JHP at +P velocity.
It filled the gap behind the trigger guard, and since it was metal, it could be made blued or nickeled. Since my M-15 sports a high-gloss nickel finish, I opted for a Tyler T-Grip that was the same.
Oh, and the gap behind the trigger? It takes on even more importance when you consider how nice classic revolver triggers can be. Not all were great, but many were. I was just as the range recently, and a fellow gun writer was there. “You’re packing a snubby?” I just drew, unloaded, and handed it to him. He closed it, and stroked through the trigger. With a smile he asked, “How much polishing did you do?” “None.” And I haven’t seen any signs of polishing on the inside, so it came from the factory like that. As I said, back in 1971, the S&W assemblers were good at making smooth, light and clean double-action triggers.
“But, real men don’t carry a lowly .38 Special; they carry a .357 Magnum.”
Hmm, perhaps some do. What I do know is that the performance difference between a .38 Special+P load, and a .357 Magnum load, out of a snub-nosed revolver, is not worth the blast and recoil. In some loads, shooting a .357 out of a snubby is like holding a flash-bang on the end of a short stick. I’ve shot some where the flash was so pronounced I could feel it as heat on my face for a split second. No thanks.
So, six .38 Special+P rounds in the cylinder, and two speedloaders with a dozen more, is a comforting carry load to leave the house packing. My only regret is that in the possible future event that I have to defend myself, it will languish on an evidence room shelf until the case is wrapped up. It may get a regular stream of visitors who all dry-fire it to feel what a real trigger is supposed to be like. It might end up with an officers initials or badge number scratched into the sideplate. (I never understood that; there’s a serial number right there on it.)
But sideplates can be polished and re-nickeled. What matters is surviving to the future time when you can start calling refinishers to get the work done. And this is just the tool to do that. And as a curious aside, I’ve named a bunch of the old-hands, the reliable firearms that I’ve acquired through the decades. This one still lacks a name.
Editor's Notes: This article originally appeared in the Concealed Carry 2019 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Online startup Highby Outdoors aims to continue building in Sidney where Cabela's left off.
Sponsored Content
Cabela's – before it was tucked along every major metro corridor – was a unique pilgrimage. A pioneer-style quest across the Great Plains, sans a Conestoga wagon, to Sidney, Neb., made the pages of the iconic catalog company come alive. If you had the slightest interest in the outdoors, boy was the trip worth it.
Highby Outdoors team.
The miles of hunting and fishing gear, world-class trophies and, of course, the Bargain Basement are somewhat distant memories now. Put simply, Sidney and the original Cabela’s are casualties of big business. As most know, the “World’s Foremost Outfitter” – acquired by Bass Pro Shops in 2017 – is closing down much of its operation in the panhandle of Nebraska.
The store and some corporate offices remain, but in many respects, it is no longer the axis mundi of the outfitting industry. Still, it’s not exactly time to write off the windy bend in Interstate 80 as a premier hub of hunting and fishing – not if the intrepidness of Matt Highby has anything to say about it.
Shooting to beat the odds, Highby Outdoors looks to maintain Sidney as America’s leading outfitting town. While it’s a steep task any way you cut it, company founder Matt Highby believes he has an edge. When it comes to hunting, fishing, shooting, camping and anything else centered on the wilds of America, Sidney is at ground zero.
“It’s in our DNA,” Matt said. “I can’t think of a better place to start something new.”
Highby Difference
There aren’t any bronze elk or bears mulling about outside Highby Outdoors. At least not yet. Like all new ventures, the e-commerce company is wading through modest beginnings with 11 employees, a warehouse and a website. Well, that and know-how and dedication.
Those last two points are areas Matt and his wife, Molly Highby, believe they can beat the ample competition and make their mark in the cutthroat world of online sales. As former Cabela’s employees, the couple understands the business advantage of these oftentimes forgotten virtues.
Creative Arms: Taking The AK-47 To 500 Yards And Beyond
As far as know-how, Matt cites the common, frustrating trip to a big-box hardware store as an example. Technical expertise is needed, yet gaped mouths and furrowed brows are delivered. Unfortunately, the same experience has become common in outdoors stores, to the detriment of outdoorsmen.
It doesn’t do a turkey hunter a lick of good if his retailer doesn’t know the difference between steel and tungsten shot, and that may cost him when it matters most. Not in dollars and cents, but in missed opportunities in the field and exasperation in the experience.
To this end, Highby Outdoors has taken the novel approach of hiring outdoorsmen and women. Stocking a company with those who know of what they speak sounds like a simple concept. But as most have experienced, it’s a fundamental that’s fallen to the wayside in recent decades.
“How can a company say they are outdoor experts if they work in the office all the time?” he said. “I tell our team, if you have a new rifle or pistol that needs testing, you need to just go do it no matter what day it is. … If the wind is right for your tree stand on a Tuesday, and you have that big buck on camera, you better leave work early and go get him. What I get in return are hardworking experts who really know their stuff and have fun doing it.”
Matt and Molly Highby.
The other issue Matt made paramount, dedication, is a strange one, but has hit a fever pitch in recent years. Sporting goods companies and outfitters have shown litheness of spirit standing up for the markets they serve. Retailers pulling modern sporting rifles from the shelves is perhaps the highest profile example, but there are less known instances involving both hunting and fishing.
Highby Outdoors will show backbone against this whirlwind, Matt promises. And he doesn’t vacillate in his appraisal of companies that have bowed to the mob.
“If a company is in the firearms business one year when sales are hot and then is ashamed of the firearms business after political pressures or a few customer complaints, then why were they in that business anyway?” he chides. “For the retailers who stand up and publicly support the NRA and Second Amendment, I applaud them. These companies are competitors, but I also consider them our friends.”
Matt Highby’s commitment to the outdoors shouldn’t come as a surprise. It’s in his pedigree. As the son of a former president and CEO of Cabela’s – Dennis Highby – the entrepreneur cut his teeth early on the outdoors world. Both in the field and behind the desk. In a way, he sees his present venture a continuation of what his father started.
Though Dennis Highby has no connection to Highby Outdoors, Matt doesn’t deny his fingerprints are all over the company. After all, his father is the one who taught him the fundamentals of business. In particular, to remain humble, help others and provide unparalleled customer service.
Off Ground Challenges
No matter what phase a business is in, it faces challenges. Few are as stiff as what Highby Outdoors has encountered since opening its doors in February. The startup has fought for its very existence since going online.
Bass Pro, operating under the Cabela’s name, sued Highby Outdoors and a second newly minted Sidney outdoor retailer, NexGen Outfitters, which was started, in part, by a former Cabela’s merchandising manager. The retailing behemoth’s lawyers allege a number of breaches of the former employees’ severance agreements, including the non-compete clause, use of proprietary information and vendor relationships built while at Cabela's, court documents show. Presently, the lawsuits are at a standstill, according to the Scottsbluff Star-Herald, given some intricacies in Delaware's corporate law and Nebraska law pertaining to what activities such contracts can restrict. Given the civil cases are ongoing, Matt couldn’t comment on them.
Troubling as the legal issue has been, Highby Outdoors faced a litany of challenges long before the lawsuit was filed. Starting a firearms business nowadays isn’t exactly shooting squirrels off your back porch. Aside from the obvious trial of building a functional and appealing website, Matt initially struggled finding third-parties – software, processors, etc. – willing to do business with a company retailing guns.
Despite these hurdles, Matt and Highby Outdoors have high aspirations. With only a few months of business under his belt, the founder foresees big things for the company. Someday it might even branch out into brick-and-mortar operations. However, he’s not calling his shot before it lands. First and foremost, Highby Outdoors aims to hit the bullseye in the online world.
A Lot Riding On Highby
Outdoor retailing means everything to Sidney.
A 2017 Omaha World Herald article pegged the town’s population at 6,800, and points out at one time more than 2,000 of these residents worked for Cabela’s. That’s 30-percent of Sidney – the absolute definition of a company town. One that’s always been proud to be one.
With that in mind, it’s of little surprise Sidney is rallying behind its favorite sons. According to the Star-Herald, the community set aside $500,000 in economic development funds over 5 years for Highby Outdoors. It also helped NexGen Outfitters secure 8 acres of land in a local industrial park. Growing up, working and starting a family in the town, Matt couldn’t be more electrified by the support than if he took a trophy elk on public land (what he’d be doing if not running his company).
As time goes on, he’s certain he can pay Sidney back, not simply monetarily and with economic growth. His ultimate goal is to keep the town what it’s been for nearly 60 years – the center of the outdoors world.
Springfield Armory goes big in its AR line with the introduction of the SAINT Victor .308.
Halleluiah and pass the ammo! It’s an AR-10.
The SAINT Victor .308 comes only months after Springfield Armory kicked off the line of high-end AR-style rifles. And, given the scant choices compared to AR-15s, should prove a welcome option for those who require a little more punch per trigger pull. Perhaps the rifle’s biggest selling point is its price isn’t through the roof with an MSRP of $1,399. Yes, there’s certainly cheaper available, but perhaps not with the SAINT Victor .308’s litany of features.
For those who have studied the AR-15 end of the line, the larger-caliber option shouldn’t throw any curveballs. Same as its smaller cousin, the SAINT Victor .308 includes:
Nickel-boron coated single-stage flat trigger
16-inch chrome-moly-vanadium barrel
15-inch free-float handguard with ample M-Lok slots
Bravo Company furniture
Flush QD mounts
Flip-up sights
Melonite finished everything
Proprietary muzzle break
Mid-length gas system with a low profiled gas block
Also, the rifle comes outfitted with Springfield’s Accu-Tight system, a tension screw that reduces movement between upper and lower receivers.
While not detailed in Springfield’s literature, the SAINT Victor .308 appears a DPMS pattern AR-10, judging from receiver geometry. Makes sense, given it opens the rifle’s compatibility to a greater swath of aftermarket parts.
More scuttlebutt from Springfield:
GENESEO, ILL. – Springfield Armory® proudly introduces a heavy-hitting addition to the new SAINT® Victor family, the SAINT® Victor .308.
The SAINT Victor series of rifles and pistols from Springfield Armory are designed as purpose-built defensive firearms, and manufactured to professional standards for unrivaled performance.
Never before has Springfield Armory offered the popular SAINT® family of rifles in an AR-10 platform, until now. For those who prefer the .308 Winchester/7.62 NATO cartridge, the SAINT Victor .308 is the ultimate lightweight personal defense rifle. Weighing in at only 7.8 lbs., this rifle is purpose built to offer serious power in a quick handling configuration.
The SAINT Victor .308 features a 16” lightweight profile CMV barrel that is Melonite® coated inside and out to provide maximum corrosion resistance, and is partnered with an M-Lok free-float 15” handguard that protects the mid-length gas system, chosen for its smooth recoil impulse and reliability. The SAINT Victor .308 features a full-length “interrupted” rail to reduce weight and accommodate modern shooting styles, and the Accu-Tite tension system eliminates movement between the flat-top upper receiver and the lower receiver, ensuring a rock solid feel.
The SAINT Victor .308 also features a pinned low-profile gas block, a must-have on a serious use defensive AR rifle. High-quality spring-loaded flip-up sights are included, and a Springfield Armory designed muzzle brake eliminates barrel rise and softens recoil. An enhanced nickel-boron coated single-stage flat trigger provides more surface area for improved trigger contact. The end plate on the rifle features a QD mount for sling attachment. The SAINT Victor .308 features an enhanced bolt carrier group that is also Melonite® finished, with a 9310 steel bolt that is MPI-tested and shot peened for the utmost reliability. A 20-round Magpul Gen M3 PMAG is included.
SAINT Victor .308
Caliber: .308 WIN Magazine: (1) 20-Round Magpul Gen M3 Barrel: 16″ Lightweight Profile, CMV Melonite® Finish Internal & External, 1:10 Front Sight: Spring Loaded Flip-Up Rear Sight: Spring Loaded Flip-Up Muzzle Device: SA Muzzle Brake Trigger: Enhanced Nickel Boron Coated Single Stage Flat Upper Receiver: Forged Type III Hard Coat Anodized, 7075 T6 Aluminum Lower Receiver: Forged Type III Hard Coat Anodized, 7075 T6 Aluminum w/ Accu-Tite™ Tension System Handguard: 15″ M-Lok Aluminum Free Float w/ SA Locking Tabs Gas System: Direct Impingement Mid-Length, Pinned Gas Block Receiver Extension: Mil-Spec Dimension Carbine, 7075 T6 Type III Hard Anodized Aluminum Bolt Carrier: Group MPT, Melonite® Finish w/ 9310 Steel Bolt Buffer Assembly: Carbine “H” Heavy Tungsten Buffer Charging Handle GI Style Butt Stock: Bravo Company 6-Position Safety: 90 Degree Single Sided Trigger Guard Integral to Receiver Pistol Grip: Bravo Company Mod.3 Length: 37.75″ Fully Extended, 34.5″ Collapsed Weight 7 lbs 11 oz MSRP: $1,399
Ah the shotgun … as ubiquitous as cravenness in politics, but a whole load more useful, and enjoyable. Arguably the most versatile of all firearms, outside of going center mass on a nickel at 1,000 paces it will get most jobs done. Hunting, home defense, plain ol’ busting clays – it’s got you covered. And the scattergun continues to get better.
We’re not just talking guns here, though there are some real gems that shine through as of late. But also what you feed these ravenous beasts. Never before have shotgun shells been better designed and higher performing than today, with cutting-edge shot and materials milking the most out of your favorite smoothbore. Turkeys and intruders beware.
A new year well upon us, there’s already been some solid additions to the shotgun end of the market and plenty to add to your guns safe. So, without further ado, here are eight new shotguns and shotgun ammo options you need on your radar.
Winchester Ammunition Xpert Snow Goose
Xpert Snow Goose shotshells were designed with the hardcore snow geese hunter in mind and combines two of Winchester’s waterfowl technologies: Xpert steel shot and the Diamond Cut Wad. Xpert Snow Goose is available in 12 gauge 3-inch and 3.5-inch BB, and also with a duplex payload of No. 1 and No. 2 shot. These shotshells also use a gray hulls, so leery snow geese are less likely to spot the pile of hulls around your blind when the shooting is good. MSRP: $16.50 for 3-inch Xpert box of 25; $21 for 3½-inchers // www.winchester.com
CZ-USA CZ 1012
Brand new for CZ-USA is an auto-loading shotgun that’s not gas operated. The new CZ 1012 makes use of a spring-bolt system, which stores the energy of the fired shell and uses it to rotate and unlock the twin lugs of the barrel extension and eject the spent casing. The functioning advantages are huge: The amount of fouling and powder residue is greatly decreased, and cleaning the gun is much less a concern. The CZ 1012 has a 28-inch barrel and five extended chokes tubes, weighs 6½ pounds and two of the models have a cool grey or bronze finish. MSRP: $659 // www.cz-usa.com
CZ-USA Bobwhite G2
CZ-USA also brought back a popular double-barrel shotgun: the Bobwhite G2. This trim little gun has a straight English-style stock with double triggers and a new durable finish, 28-inch barrels and ships with five chokes. The Bobwhite has been improved with a CNC-machined receiver and a new internal spring system using coil instead of leaf springs, which last longer and retain their tension and elasticity better. The 28 gauge model is a petite little thing that’s very seductive and weighs 5½ pounds. MSRP: $655 // www.cz-usa.com
Several new shotguns are to be released by Charles Daly for 2019, and one is the AR-12S shotgun, featuring a 19.75-inch barrel with a modified Beretta/Benelli Mobil Choke, chambered in 3-inch 12-gauge. It has an adjustable comb, a carry handle, adjustable rear sight and standard front sight, and it comes with a single-stack five-round magazine. MSRP: $517 // www.charlesdaly.com
Charles Daly Honcho Tactical Triple
Also new in the lineup is the Honcho Tactical Triple, featuring three 18.5-inch barrels with a bottom-barrel-mounted Pic rail. The gun is available in 12-gauge or .410 bore, both with 3-inch chambers. Fire sequence: right, left, top. Intimidation factor as a home defense weapon: off the charts. MSRP: $1,299 // www.charlesdaly.com
Mossberg 590 Nightstick
The Mossberg 590 Nightstick is the latest edition in the series built on the Model 590 action. The Nightstick features a 14-inch heavy-walled barrel, a 5+1 round capacity and a matte blue finish. The main event here is the wood furniture on this gun, which gives a retro look that has to be noticed. MSRP: $539 // www.mossberg.com
Benelli 828U Sport
There is no doubt that Benelli makes some fine shotguns with its proven inertia system. So, for the company to bring out its first O/U shotgun is big news, even though it was officially new early in 2018. The Benelli 828U Sport features excellent ergonomics, and some of the goodies include an adjustable weighting system to adjust the balance of the shotgun, matte blue finish and AA-Grade satin walnut. The 828U is built around a steel receiver for additional weight, and the improved grip angle and comb height work in conjunction with the tall rib and sight channel to point fast and swing smooth. MSRP: $4,399 // https://www.benelliusa.com/
Browning TSS Tungsten Turkey
Browning is announcing its new TSS Tungsten Turkey loads with new duplex payloads of No. 7 and 9 shot, as well as No. 7 shot. The TSS shot used in these loads has a high density of 18gm/cc, which means greater pellet energy and longer range performance. The duplex payloads of No. 7 and 9 shot deliver three times more pellets on target and 30 percent deeper penetration in a 20-inch circle at 60 yards when compared to standard No. 5 lead loads. A .410 bore of No. 9 TSS shot offering is also available and boasts 70 percent more pellets in a 20-inch circle at 60 yards vs. standard 12 gauge No. 5 lead loads … and it provides similar penetration. MSRP: $44, 12 gauge 3-inch box of five; $39 for 20 gauge // www.browningammo.com
Editor's Notes: This article originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Priced to move, the Wrangler Single-Six gives any shooter a shot to get into the classic single-action rimfire revolver.
How the Wrangler Single-Six offers an affordable option in the line:
With $249 MSRP, nearly every shooter can afford the revolver
Cast-aluminum frame and synthetic grips cut down on price and weight
Revolver’s other major parts – barrel, cylinder, trigger, hammer, sear – steel constructed
Cerakote finish gives the gun a uniform and attractive look
Handy free-cylinder modification makes loading and unloading fast and easy
Successful beyond comprehension, Ruger’s Mark Series pistols suck the air out of the room when talking .22 LR handguns. Unfortunate, given the gunmaker has about a shooting-range full of other top-notch rimfire heaters that are on equal footing with the iconic semi-automatic. Not the least of them, the Single-Six.
Born on the wave of Western movie popularity in the early 1950s, the single-action .22 revolver is among the classiest and most enjoyable rimfire handguns ever conceived. I confess I’m biased in my appraisal. I have a Single-Nine – the six’s larger-capacity compatriot – and find few guns more pleasurable, whether varmint hunting or keeping soda cans in line.
Those who are familiar with the Ruger six-shooter know, as pleasant as they are, they’re also difficult to get into. A starting MSRP of $629, the revolver only get spendier from that point. No matter how you cut it, that’s a pricy plinker.
Ruger appears to have solved this issue with the introduction of its economy Wrangler Single-Six line of revolvers. With an MSRP of $249, the revolvers don’t take as much hand wringing to get you to crack open your wallet. Though, as expected, Ruger has tweaked a few aspects of the gun to eke out the savings. In particular, how the .22 six-shooter is made.
The most notable cost-controlling measures are the Wrangler Single-Six’s cast aluminum frame and the use of plastic grips. While it might not achieve the same level as the all-steel and hard rubber or wood grips of the original, the new construction method has some benefits away from dollars and cents. Specifically, the Wrangler Single-Six is a bit lighter, which gives it the potential to be a bit quicker in the hand. At the very least, the revolver should turn out easier on your hip if you're humping the backcountry for squirrels and woodchucks.
The rest of the Wrangler’s major parts — barrel, cylinder, sear, hammer, trigger — are all steel. Despite the material differences, the revolver is beautifully uniform in appearance, thanks to a Cerakote finish. This aspect also allows Ruger to offer the Wrangler Single-Six in a number of different finishes, including silver, black and a very attractive burnt bronze.
Outside of color, there isn’t much diversity in the Wrangler line at present. There’s only a 4.62-inch barrel model and it’s exclusively a .22 LR. But it comes with everything you’ve come to expect from a Single-Six, such as Vaquero style front blade sight, notched rear and transfer bar safety. The Wrangler also features a free-spinning cylinder modification, which makes loading and unloading the revolver much easier. Essentially, the cylinder is free to spin either way unimpeded when the loading gate is open.
Overall the Wrangler Single-Six will do what I’m certain Ruger intended, give shooters little reason to look anywhere else when it comes to a single-action .22 LR revolver.
Wrangler Single-Six Specs
Caliber: .22 LR Grips: Checkered Synthetic Capacity: 6 Front Sight: Blade Barrel Length: 4.62″ Finish: Black, Silver and Burnt Bronze Cerakote Frame Material: Aluminum Alloy Rear Sight: Integral Overall Length: 10.25″ Weight: 30 oz. Twist: 1:14″ RH Grooves: 6 MSRP: $249
For more information on the Wrangler Single-Six, please visit www.ruger.com.
Featuring an integrally-suppressed barrel, Daniel Defense's DDM4ISR proves a nimble and quite carbine.
As human nature goes, it’s easy to get caught thinking there’s only one way to skin a cat. When it comes to firearms, perhaps nowhere is this more demonstrable than suppressors. Most get it into their heads the muzzle device must be a separate accessory, something screwed on and off whenever you need to hush up a gun. Logical, given this style of suppressor dominates the market, but blinds us to an entirely different class of noise reduction devices that may prove wholly more useful for some applications.
What we’re aiming at here are integrally suppressed firearms. Certainly, the system might not be for you if you’re after for one can to cover a swath of guns. But if you’re looking for a little something to enhance the capabilities of a tactical carbine, it’s tough to beat an outfit such as Daniel Defense’s DDM4ISR. One gander at the integrally suppressed gun and it’s easy to see why.
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In addition to excellent sound suppression, the DDM4ISR maintains highly nimble dimensions. With the suppression system, the 300 BLK’s barrel measures in at 16-inches, which keeps it familiar to any AR user and cat-quick in CQB. You couldn’t ask for better if you were considering a long gun tuned for home defense. Or simply a system that tailored to a ‘T’ for suppression and performance.
Developed for optimal terminal performance from the AR-15, the Wilson Combat .300 HAM'R shoots to be the modern day .30-30.
The .300 HAM’R has 18 percent more retained velocity, 40 percent more energy and a 56 percent flatter trajectory than the .300 BLK at 200 yards.
Any AR-15 platform rifle can be converted to .300 HAM’R with a barrel change and the use of .300 BLK mags.
The .300 HAM’R, with its 1:15 twist match-grade barrel, is optimized for accuracy with 110-grain to 135-grain bullets.
Factory Starline-produced .300 HAM’R cases are available, but cases can be made from common and available 5.56 Rem./.223 NATO brass.
The .300 HAM’R has a 300 fps velocity and 400 ft-lbs. of energy advantage over the .300 BLK at the muzzle.
The .300 HAM’R rifles and barrels are available in 16.25-inch, 18-inch and 20-inch lengths with different profiles.
If you ever wanted to own Bill Wilson’s — the Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat, that is — favorite hunting cartridge, now’s your chance. After a 13-year courtship, the new .300 HAM’R is his ballistic one and only.
The author fires the .300 HAM’R during an industry event at Bill Wilson’s private ranch in Texas, where he had excellent results engaging steel targets out to 500 yards with the rifle.
“It’s absolutely my favorite cartridge,” said Wilson. “On my ranch, I probably won’t use anything else from here on out.”
Since Wilson is one of those men who can and does have just about every kind of gun and cartridge combination there is, knowing he’s committed to just one cartridge should have your attention. So, let’s dissect the .300 HAM’R.
Another AR Cartridge?
The .300 HAM’R is an AR-15-capable cartridge created from the .223 Remington case by necking it up to .30 caliber. It’s designed to handle bullet bulletweights from 110 to 150 grains, with the overall cartridge length being 2.260 inches, the case length being 1.603 inches and sporting a 30-degree neck. Officially, Wilson Combat tells us “the .300 HAM’R was developed for optimal terminal performance and offers near .308 Winchester effectiveness, amazing accuracy and low recoil in the lightweight and compact WC15 platform.”
The 300 HAM’R is available in the WC15 Ultralight Hunter confi guration, which gives AR-platform hunters a lightweight, hard-hitting medium-gamecapable rifl e with better-than-MOA accuracy. The Ultralight Hunter WC15 trims weight everywhere it can — and nowhere it shouldn’t.
But why?
“I wanted something that would be effective at hunting most animals in North America — in a small, light package,” Wilson said.
Of course, Wilson already knew about and used the 6.8 SPC, the .300 BLK, the 5.56 NATO, his own 7.62x40mm and a host of other cartridges in his preferred WC semi-automatic platforms … yet he wanted more. Why? Maybe it was the perfectionist in him. Maybe it was his constant tinkering mind. Maybe it was because he simply could demand more, or maybe it was a combination of all three.
The Ranch Rifle Package version of the .300 HAM’R weighs 6.2 pounds and comes topped with a Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40mm scope.
Regardless, for more than a decade, Bill Wilson whittled away at his idea of the perfect “practical range” gun. Note: Bill considers ranges out to 250 yards as practical hunting distances. “I can count on two hands — probably one hand — the number of times I’ve had to shoot farther than 250 yards,” he added. “I’ve always just gotten closer to my targets.”
Some early users of the .300 HAM’R have dubbed the AR-15 cartridge as the “modern day .30-30 Winchester,” which is quite the endorsement, referencing one of the most popular and successful hunting cartridges of all time. The team at Wilson Combat — and longtime friend of Wilson and fellow gun writer, Terrill Hoffman — thought so, too.
“During the early testing, we were calling it the .30-30 AR,” said Wilson. “That was the name on the original chamber reamer print and what we engraved on early test barrels. My buddy, Terrill, said something to the effect of, ‘Only us old guys know and care much about the old thuty-thuty.’ So, we came up with a bunch of potential names, and my son, Ryan, said, ‘We just came out with the .458 HAM’R and we have a trademark on HAM’R … so let’s call it the .300 HAM’R!’
The Bill Wilson Ranch Rifl e features a threaded, matchgrade barrel with Circle WC Ranch logo.
“Now, 13 years later, after thousands of rounds downrange, several scrap barrels and hundreds of dead Texas feral hogs, we have the .300 HAM’R that not only meets all of my original goals, but it exceeds them.”
Not surprisingly, Wilson’s research and results back up his claims.
Why The .300 HAM’R Is Worth A Look
Wilson Combat’s website serves host to Bill’s own testimony that terminal performance testing, on more than 200 Texas feral hogs, has proven the .300 HAM’R to kill much more effectively than the 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, 7.62×39 or 300 BLK. Again, that’s on the Wilson Combat website, but it’s a bold statement.
The Ranch Rifl e is Bill Wilson’s personal choice from years of hunting his private ranch in Texas — the .300 HAM’R spent 13 years in development. Wilson wanted a short, accurate, reliable and hard-hitting gun capable of hunting the majority of North American game animals.
One of the reasons the .300 HAM’R is Wilson’s favorite is because of its designed accuracy.
“I really like accurate guns, and it’s laser accurate,” said Wilson. He credits the cartridge’s accuracy to its marriage of bullet weights to twist rates.
“Accuracy has proven to be outstanding,” he added. “Sub MOA groups are the norm with multiple bullet choices for varying applications, such as hunting, target shooting and tactical use.” Wilson didn’t try one or even two different recipes to get bullets to stabilize: He was thorough.
“I did a lot of work finding the right twist rate for the .300 HAM’R,” said Wilson. “We ran everything from 1:10, 1:11, 1:12, 1:13 and 1:14, and ultimately what we learned was the 1:15 twist rate gave us the best accuracy with consistent ½-inch groups — and my best three-shot group measuring .160 at 100 yards. The 1:15 twist rate is right at the cutting edge for stability in the 125- to 130-grain bullets. The 130-grain bullet running at about 2,520 fps is the sweet spot for the .300 HAM’R. I’ve found that the 130-grain Speer Hot Core and the 150-grain Hornady SST bullets work the best.”
Built Around the WC15
One big advantage of the .300 HAM’R is that it comes in a Wilson Combat semi-auto rifle. I’ve been fortunate enough to hunt with Wilson for pigs and Nilgai, using all three WC platforms: the WC10, the WC12 and the WC15 — and every experience has been mechanically superb with flawless terminal performance from any cartridge he recommended during the hunts. Regardless of the cartridge a gun owner chooses, Wilson Combat rifles are some of the best available because of that same attention to detail and perfection, which helped create the .300 HAM’R.
“We’ve spared no expense in development, testing and production of our rifles,” said Wilson. “If we could build a better one — we would. A big advantage Wilson Combat has is the fact that I’ve been a serious hunter since the early ‘70s, and I obviously have a very keen personal interest in Wilson Combat making the very best ARs on the market, whether for hunting or tactical use.
This exploded view of a disassembled WC Ranch Rifle shows the WC15 in its basic sections
“I’m shooting and testing AR product virtually on a daily basis” he added. “Here at the ranch, we’re fortunate to have shooting ranges out to 800 yards for extensive accuracy testing. Also, I hog hunt at least 325 days out of the year, and I’m also deer hunting more than 120 days a year, with annual harvests of 200-plus hogs and 50-plus deer, all with ARs. Who else proves their product like that?”
The .300 HAM’R is available in five different WC15 configurations: The Ultralight Ranger, the Ranger, the Ultralight Hunter, the Tactical Hunter and the Bill Wilson Ranch Rifle package.
Lastly, during a recent phone interview with Wilson about this cartridge, he informed me he was headed to an elk hunt with his new .300 HAM’R. Yes, Wilson sees his .300 HAM’R as an elk gun — he sees it as a hog, deer, black bear, coyote and pronghorn gun, too.
Bill Wilson gets some trigger time with his creation, the .300 HAM’R, at his private ranch in Texas.
In typical Bill Wilson style, a few days later he backed up his words with results. While I was copyediting this story, I got an email from Bill Wilson telling me he just shot a 4×5 management bull elk at 175 yards with his .300 HAM’R, loaded with a Hornady 150-grain SST.
“The bullet entrance was 6 inches behind the front shoulder, and the perfectly expanded bullet was recovered under the skin on the off-side shoulder,” Wilson said. “I’m guessing 75 percent weight retention. The elk ran 20 yards and was down. I don’t know how you could ask for more.”
No, Bill Wilson: I don’t know how I could ask for anything more — but chances are good that, if there’s more to be had, you’ll find it.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
