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Does The 6mm Creedmoor Super Sniper Hit The Mark?

By
Jay Pinsky
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Tired of hearing about the 6.5 Creedmoor? Then it’s time to meet its hard-punching little brother, the 6mm Creedmoor, in a platform designed to highlight its skillset.

How Wilson Combat Created A Superior 6mm Creedmoor:

  • 22-inch Wilson Combat Recon tactical match-grade barrel.
  • 1:8 twist rate bring out full ballistic potential of the 6mm.
  • Light recoiling rifle-length gas system with an SLR Rifleworks gas block.
  • Wilson Combat’s snappy 4-pound single-stage Tactical Trigger Unit (TTU).
  • Rock-solid S7 tool steel bolt stops.

It’s pretty easy to identify Superman in a crowd. The dude wears a cape.

Chances are, however, it won’t be quite as simple to pick out a “super sniper” among a field of accurate rifles, which is too bad because Wilson Combat’s latest semi-automatic rifle platform is far more useful than a comic book hero.

While the new Super Sniper has all the looks of a 2019 rifle, the foundation is built upon the long-standing principles of what an accurate rifle needs to be: balanced weight, mild recoiling and quick to point.
While the new Super Sniper has all the looks of a 2019 rifle, the foundation is built upon the long-standing principles of what an accurate rifle needs to be: balanced weight, mild recoiling and quick to point.

I’m no stranger to Wilson Combat rifle platforms, and I have the taxidermy bills to prove it.

So, when I found an opportunity to review Wilson Combat’s latest creation — the Super Sniper — I was optimistic to say the least. After all, Bill Wilson and his team of gun-slinging machinists, engineers and shooters have never failed to deliver a high-quality firearm each and every time I have used one. Still, when you name anything “super,” you’re setting up your customer base for some very high expectations. Add the word “sniper” and, well … it better be the gun that gets Carlos Hathcock to crawl out of his grave.

The day the WC-10 Super Sniper arrived at my FFL didn’t seem much different than any other day. There was no report of a meteorite crashing near the storefront with an alien-configured WC-10 style rifle wedged in a space rock. The rifle didn’t present itself with a clean-cut Clark Kent style, nor was there any hint of a cape.

The Super Sniper configuration is available in both the WC-15 and the WC-10 platforms. Cartridge choices include the .223 Wylde, .244 Valkyrie, .260 Remington, 6.5 Grendel and the 6mm Creedmoor.
The Super Sniper configuration is available in both the WC-15 and the WC-10 platforms. Cartridge choices include the .223 Wylde, .244 Valkyrie, .260 Remington, 6.5 Grendel and the 6mm Creedmoor.

However, the rifle did turn heads, raise eyebrows and initiate drool from more than a few Earthlings who happened to see the bronzed-finished gun slip out of its soft gun case and onto the countertop. For an AR-10 sized rifle, it was slim, light and quick to point. It looked accurate. It looked menacing. It looked expensive — and was with an MSRP of $3,145.

Learn More About the Creedmoor 6.5

Still, in a store full of high-quality MSRs, it was obvious to everyone that this rifle was not of our world — well, it wasn’t from Virginia at least. No. You see, Wilson Combat weapons are designed and built in Arkansas, which is a bit closer than Krypton and, just like the Wilson Combat Super Sniper, very real.

This Super Sniper was more than just a work of cosmic Arkansas firearms art, it was chambered in the super sexy 6mm Creedmoor.

The Super Sniper platform is designed to give long-range competition shooters and hunters a reliable, accurate and fast MSR platform chambered in today’s most popular cartridges, such as the 6mm Creedmoor.
The Super Sniper platform is designed to give long-range competition shooters and hunters a reliable, accurate and fast MSR platform chambered in today’s most popular cartridges, such as the 6mm Creedmoor.

No, not the 6.5 Creedmoor. The 6mm Creedmoor: a smaller, faster, flatter Creedmoor family member, for which Hornady tightened the ballistic belt on their superb 6.5mm Creedmoor case from 6.5mm (.264 inch) to 6mm (.243 inch) to help take PRS matches to a whole new level. It’s also a 6mm cartridge, which has escaped the lower bullet weight BC curse of the classic .243 Win. and 6mm’s 1:9 twist. That’s previously been the long-range death of the superbly designed .243 Winchester and 6mm Remington, but most 6mm Creedmoor rifles, including the Wilson Combat Super Sniper, are being built from scratch in the far better suited 1:8 twist rate.

Anyway, the idea worked. The peppy short-action cartridge pushes high ballistic coefficient bullets like Hornady’s ELD Match 108-grain, ELD-X 103-grain and Barnes LRX 95-grain bullets near, at or slightly over 3,000 feet per second for ultra-flat, low-recoiling and extremely accurate performance.

Does the lighter, slightly faster 6mm Creedmoor punch as hard as its beefier brother, the 6.5 Creedmoor? No. But it doesn’t have to because its pings are loud enough and the critters it hits can’t be deader than dead. It’s superbly accurate, soft to shoot, easy to load for and it loves the high BC bullets being made these days for the 6mm long-range shooting crowds at PRS matches — and for long-range hunters. It’s an ideal partner to the Wilson Combat Super Sniper rifle.

Behind The Cape

Before we talk about the Super Sniper rifle, let’s talk about the super elephant in the room. Wilson Combat firearms aren’t cheap. Some folks might even say they’re not reasonably priced. Wilson Combat firearms cost more to buy because they cost more to build — because they’re built better than most guns.

An exploded view of a Wilson Combat Super Sniper rifle shows the upper and lower receiver, the bolt carrier group, magazine and riflescope mounting system.
An exploded view of a Wilson Combat Super Sniper rifle shows the upper and lower receiver, the bolt carrier group, magazine and riflescope mounting system.

In my opinion, there truly is a difference in the fit, form and function of a Wilson Combat weapon — and the Super Sniper platform is no different. I’ve seen it, and I’ve felt it both on the range and in the field. If you spend any reasonable amount of time talking to Bill Wilson about his firearms, you’ll quickly understand just how much of a perfectionist he is, and perfection is expensive because things always have to be just right.

One example of this in his WC platform development is the fact that Wilson Combat uses S7 tool steel for their bolt stops, proudly proclaiming they’ve never had one break, despite AR-10 bolt stops industry wide being notorious for doing just that. “We have spared no expense in development, testing and production of these rifles,” said Bill Wilson. “If we could build a better one, we would!”

With that said, let’s get back to the Super Sniper. It was designed and built to enable the very thing the 6mm Creedmoor was designed to do — win competitions. Now, there are two kinds of competitions you’ll likely find a 6mm Creedmoor at: one involves shooting steel, and the other ones having nerves of steel as hunters. I can and do see the Wilson Combat Super Sniper doing well with both tasks.

The Super Sniper follows a long line of successful competition and hunting rifles designed and used daily by Bill Wilson himself. Never far from the product, the lifelong hunter and world-class competitive shooter is constantly tinkering with rifle configurations, cartridges and barrel twist rates to give his shooters the maximum advantage in the field.
The Super Sniper follows a long line of successful competition and hunting rifles designed and used daily by Bill Wilson himself. Never far from the product, the lifelong hunter and world-class competitive shooter is constantly tinkering with rifle configurations, cartridges and barrel twist rates to give his shooters the maximum advantage in the field.

A Wilson Combat WC-10 carries like many other manufacturer’s AR-15s in their size and weight, which is a big plus. I think I could carry a Super Sniper anywhere I’d carry any other hunting rifle, from the swamps of North Carolina after feral hogs, to the hills of central Virginia after Eastern white-tailed deer, to the steep and unforgiving mountains of the Frank Church Wilderness in Idaho after muleys.

Fit, Finish And Firepower

Once you get past the gorgeous bronze finish, you’ll find that Wilson Combat built the 6mm Creedmoor Super Sniper with a 22-inch Wilson Combat Recon tactical match-grade barrel, billet upper and lower receiver, a rifle-length gas system with an SLR Rifleworks gas block, a Wilson Combat M-Lok rail, and of course Wilson Combat’s own trigger — known as their Tactical Trigger Unit (TTU), which is a single-stage with a 4-pound pull.

The 22-inch 1:8 twist Wilson Combat Super Sniper rifle was fed a steady diet of three 6mm Creedmoor factory loads, which included Hornady’s 103-grain ELD-X, their slightly heavier match-grade 108-grain ELD Match, and a Barnes 95-grain VOR-TX LRX — from 100 to 300 yards. MidwayUSA lists at least nine factory loads as of December 2018, and I’m sure as the cartridge grows in popularity, more ammunition manufacturers will join the rat race to manufacture 6mm Creedmoor loads. Optically, I used a Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x40mm riflescope to test the rifle.

The Super Sniper can be configured to meet the demanding needs of today’s top competition shooters in long-range precision matches, which require the very best rifles, cartridges and effort from today’s shooters. Paint schemes, barrel lengths, stock designs and of course cartridge choices can all be customized at Wilson Combat.
The Super Sniper can be configured to meet the demanding needs of today’s top competition shooters in long-range precision matches, which require the very best rifles, cartridges and effort from today’s shooters. Paint schemes, barrel lengths, stock designs and of course cartridge choices can all be customized at Wilson Combat.

I got the following data from my five-shot groups for accuracy at 100, 200 and 300 yards. The 100-yard zero work was done indoors, and the 200- and 300-yard work was done at an outdoor range.

Super Sniper 6mm 12

Throughout the entire battery of tests, the gun never failed to function, fire or deliver equal performance behind the trigger. I have always been very happy with the TTU triggers Wilson Combat uses on their rifles, and this Super Sniper was no different. It broke at 4 pounds consistently using my mechanical RCBS trigger gauge.

There are a lot of little things about the Super Sniper that contribute to it being an easy gun to shoot well. The trigger is one big reason because it’s so consistent. Other key factors are the gun’s slim build, its light and evenly distributed weight, and its adjustability in the stock.

I’m a small guy so I need small guns, and the ability to adjust the length of pull helped me get comfortable behind the trigger. That’s a must these days. The rifle’s light but even weight helped me point and maneuver the rifle smoothly and quickly before, during and after the shot, so it certainly lives up to the “sniper” designation. The 22-inch barrel and overall gun mass helped dampen recoil, so I watched the impact of shots fired at 100, 200 and 300 yards. As a hunter, this is a big deal because ethical follow-up shots are much easier to make if you never lose sight of the prey in your riflescope.

Super Sniper 6mm Creedmoor 11

The Consensus

In the end, if I was a shooter looking for a semi-custom PRS rifle in 6mm Creedmoor, then the Wilson Combat Super Sniper would answer a lot of questions I’d likely spend some wasted dollars on answering in other ways. It’s built properly all the way through, and that’s evident from the moment you unbox it.

As a hunting platform, it’s an easy choice for the well-funded hunter. I can and will hunt with the rifle, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to hoping I see a nice buck or even a black bear out past a decent poke just so I can conjure up my inner “sniper” fantasies. Though, I am a self-admitted “get as close as I can” kind of hunter, so I’d see a long shot I could have gotten closer on as a cop-out.

Do I think this is the rifle that Carlos Hathcock would crawl out of his grave to shoot? No. No, I don’t. That’s not to say I don’t like the rifle, but just because it’s made to ring steel at out of this world distances doesn’t mean it deserves to wear the red cape of a superhero amongst a crowded field of pretty good rifles.

If you decide to spend the money a Wilson Combat rifle commands, I know you won’t regret investing in the Super Sniper — just note that the cape costs extra.

Increase Your Knowledge on Creedmoor Ammo


Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2019 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

The Large And Powerful .300 Magnum Family

By
Philip Massaro
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Large and powerful, .300 Magnum cartridge family is popular and growing. But how many do we need?

What are the .300 Magnum cartridges:

Americans have an infatuation with bullets of .308-inch diameter, and we love just about any cartridge that will launch them. And while the moderate .30-caliber cartridges — like the .30-30 Winchester, .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield — are certainly among the undeniable classics, the faster .30s, the magnum cartridges, have intrigued shooters for the better part of a century now.

Make no mistake about it: The .30-06 Springfield set the bar in the first decade of the 20th century, and that mark remains to this day; all other .30-caliber cartridges are compared to it, and it remains a very effective choice for the hunting field. But less than 2 decades after the release of the .30-06 Springfield, it was a British company that would put the first official “magnum” moniker on a .30-caliber cartridge.

Since that point in time, we’ve had magnums that are long and lean, short and fat and almost everything in between, and that story continues to this day. Let’s take a look at the wide selection of .300 magnums, a bit of their history — and predict what the future holds.

.300 Holland & Holland Magnum

The one magnum that started it all, the .300 Holland & Holland Magnum.
The one magnum that started it all, the .300 Holland & Holland Magnum.

Based on the success of the British firm’s universal .375 H&H Belted Magnum, Holland & Holland necked the case down to hold .308-inch caliber bullets, and in 1925 released Holland’s Super .30, or as it’s known in America, the .300 Holland & Holland Magnum.

Launching a 180-grain bullet to 2,925 fps, the .300 H&H betters the velocity of the .30-06 by more than 200 fps. It has the same 2.85-inch case as the .375 H&H, requiring a magnum-length action, but it also has plenty of case capacity. At the time of its release, the .300 H&H represented the highest velocity attainable by a factory loaded .30-caliber cartridge, and until the advent of the .300 Winchester Magnum, when you saw “.300 Magnum” on a barrel, it referred to the .300 Holland.

To this day, the .300 H&H makes a fantastic hunting cartridge, giving a great blend of flat trajectory, accuracy, striking energy and manageable recoil. Factory loads are still available, as are some affordable rifles, but the largest influence the Super .30 had would be the offspring it produced.

As a note of interest, the .300 Holland & Holland Magnum would be the only belted cartridge of this lot to rely on the belt for headspacing. The belt on all the other cartridges is simply a carryover from the H&H design, and it serves no real purpose.

.300 Weatherby Magnum

.300 Magnum 17
.300 Weatherby Magnum

Roy Weatherby began experimenting with the .300 H&H case during WWII, releasing his now-famous .270 Weatherby Magnum and .257 Weatherby Magnum. With a signature double-radius shoulder, his name became synonymous with speed, and his .300 Weatherby was no exception.

Using that same 180-grain bullet as an example, because I feel it makes one of the best all-around choices for hunting with the .300 magnums, you’ll see that the Weatherby drives that bullet to 3,150 fps, providing a definite increase over the .300 H&H. While it took some time for the Weatherby line to come to the forefront, the .300 Weatherby has fervent followers to this day, and with good reason: It’s accurate, it certainly hits hard, and it shoots very flat out to sane hunting ranges.

That velocity does come at a price, however; the recoil of the .300 Weatherby can be nasty, especially from the bench. With its 2.85-inch-long case, it requires a magnum-length action and remains a popular choice among those who hunt open ground.

.308 Norma Magnum

The .308 Norma Magnum was the first to match the .300 H&H ballistics in a long-action rifle.
The .308 Norma Magnum was the first to match the .300 H&H ballistics in a long-action rifle.

The 1950s saw a return to peace, and hunters began travelling the globe again. Winchester started experimenting with a shortened H&H case, releasing their .458, .338 and .264 Magnums in the middle of the decade. Everyone expected Winchester to release the .30-caliber variant, but it was the Swedish firm of Norma that beat them to the punch. Wildcatters had necked down the .338 Winchester Magnum to hold .308-inch-diameter bullets for a few years — the .30-338 remains a viable wildcat — but Norma made it legitimate in 1960 with their .308 Norma Magnum.

Using a 2.56-inch case, the .308 Norma Magnum was designed to mimic the performance of the .300 H&H, in a .30-06 length action, and it did that wonderfully. Pushing a 180-grain bullet to 2,950 fps, the .308 Norma Magnum is, perhaps, my favorite design of the lot, especially considering the modern bullet designs.

.300 Winchester Magnum

The .300 Winchester Magnum probably has the widest ammunition selection of .30-caliber magnums, and the author doesn’t see that changing anytime soon.
The .300 Winchester Magnum probably has the widest ammunition selection of .30-caliber magnums, and the author doesn’t see that changing anytime soon.

Having released three other shortened magnums, Winchester added the fourth in the series in 1963: the .300 Winchester Magnum. Though the three previous cartridges used a 2.50-inch case length, Winchester changed things up with their .300 — presumably because Norma had come so close with their .308 Magnum — and used a 2.62-inch case, with the shoulder moved forward to maximize case capacity. The resulting design left a neck-length of 0.264 inches, less than one caliber, and the cartridge has been criticized for that feature.

It gives identical performance to the .308 Norma Magnum — driving a 180-grain bullet to 2,960 fps — and can be housed in a standard long-action rifle. It’s extremely accurate, being one of the favorite choices among military snipers, and it makes a good choice for both the target range as well as the hunting fields. Due to the successful marketing on Winchester’s part, the .300 Winchester took the stage and won the hearts of shooters quickly. It’s readily available and sits comfortably at the head of class when it comes to the .30-caliber magnum cartridges.

.30-378 Weatherby Magnum

The behemoth .30-378 Weatherby is the largest of the .300 magnums.
The behemoth .30-378 Weatherby is the largest of the .300 magnums.

In response to an Army contract, Roy Weatherby necked down his behemoth .378 Weatherby Magnum to hold .30-caliber bullets, and the result was a seriously fast cartridge. The .30-378 Weatherby Magnum will drive a 180-grain bullet more than 3,300 fps. It was designed in the late 1950s, yet it wouldn’t be released commercially until 1996. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time with this cartridge, and it can be seriously accurate. Sub-MOA loads are a regularity, though burning 105-grains of powder — sometimes more — isn’t easy on the wallet or shoulder. This cartridge begs for a muzzle brake and some really good ear muffs.

House Jeffery, And Its Descendants

The beltless .404 Jeffery is one of the unsung heroes of the African safari world; it was the workhorse of the bush while the .416 Rigby got all the glory. However, at the end of the 20th century, there would begin a wave of cartridges based on the Jeffery case that would have a serious impact on the shooting world.

It began with the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum, a full-length blown-out .404 Jeffery case with a rebated rim, which is fully capable of equaling the velocities of the .30-378 Weatherby. My father, Ol’ Grumpy Pants, absolutely loves this cartridge, and he has taken it around the world for all sorts of game. It, too, can digest a healthy amount of powder, and like most .300s it’s capable of excellent accuracy, pushing a 180-grain bullet to 3,250 fps — and I’ve added 100 fps to that figure with handloads.

More Ammunition Information:

Winchester used the Jeffery case for its .300 Winchester Short Magnum, released in 2001, giving .300 Win. Mag. velocities in a short-action rifle. This caught on like a wildfire, and among the WSM family, the .300 is, was and will be the most popular of the lot. The .300 WSM has its drawbacks, namely magazine space and feeding issues in some of the rifles I’ve shot, but it is accurate and fully capable of taking all of our North American game. Some believe a short, squat powder column gives more consistent (and therefore accurate) results, and while there is some merit to the theory, I’ve not seen any dramatic improvement in group size when using the WSM case.

Remington countered shortly after the release of the .300 WSM with its own .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum (SAUM), giving identical performance to the WSM cartridge. But alas, Winchester got the drop on the SAUM as far as marketing goes, and the WSM far exceeded the success of the .300 SAUM. Nonetheless, no animal will ever tell the difference between the two cartridges.

Lastly, Nosler’s proprietary line of cartridges includes the .30 Nosler, a .404-based cartridge designed for a long-action, giving velocities between the .300 Winchester and .300 Weatherby, without a belt and the case-stretching associated with the belted design. The .30 Nosler is a fantastic cartridge, boasting an efficient design capable of serious accuracy. Of the lot of .404-based .300 Magnums, I like this the best because it offers external ballistics that are useable in the field without beating the snot out of the shooter.

.300 Norma Magnum

The .300 Norma Magnum is a fast and accurate cartridge, adopted by the US Army SOCOM.
The .300 Norma Magnum is a fast and accurate cartridge, adopted by the US Army SOCOM.

In an effort to best adapt a cartridge to the use of the high BC bullets that perform so well at extreme ranges, Norma took the .338 Lapua case — revered by snipers and long-range shooters — and shortened it. This was not to use a shorter receiver; it was done to effectively seat those really long, sleek bullets without having magazine issues.

The .300 Norma Magnum is a great choice for those wanting to ring long-range steel because it pushes a 230-grain bullet to 2,950 fps, but there aren’t many hunting loads available unless you were to handload the cartridge. I’ve spent a bit of time with the .300 Norma at Norma’s factory in Amotfors, Sweden, and I can tell you it’s a seriously accurate cartridge. The U.S. Special Operations Command must agree with me; they’ve chosen the cartridge for their new Advanced Sniper Rifle Cartridge.

.375 Ruger-Based .300s

The Hornady and Ruger collaboration on 2008’s .375 Ruger made some definite waves in the safari industry — as it’s the only real threat to the hugely successful .375 H&H — and those waves made it all the way down to the .300 magnums. Designed for a long-action receiver, the .375 Ruger uses a body diameter equal to the dimension of the belt on the .375 H&H case; this allows for greater case capacity without unnecessary length.

The first of the .30-caliber offspring was the rather unnoticed .300 Ruger Compact Magnum; the short-action cartridge can equal the ballistics of the .300 WSM and .300 Winchester Magnum. Unfortunately, the short/fat designs were on the wane, and what part of the market those cartridges held onto was gobbled up by the .300 WSM. But, the new Hornady .300 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) may have a chance to make a serious impact on the market.

Hornady .300 PRC

.300 Magnum 8
Hornaday’s .300 PRC

Using a 2.580-inch case, the .300 PRC uses the H&H standard 0.532-inch case head diameter, without a rebated rim. The maximum cartridge overall length (COL) is listed at 3.70 inches, which is considerably longer than the 3.34-inch COL of the .300 Winchester, or even the 3.600-inch length of the .300 Weatherby and .300 Remington Ultra Magnum.

I wonder what advantage this design will give over the .300 Norma Magnum, which will require the same action/magazine length; they are both designed on the “shorter case/longer bullet” theory. In testing, Hornady has claimed that the velocity spread for the .300 PRC has been considerably lower than that of the .300 Norma. The PRC beltless design uses a 30-degree shoulder for positive headspacing and it attains respectable velocity, driving a 225-grain ELD Match to 2,810 fps, and the 212-grain ELD X to 2,860, making a dual purpose cartridge suitable for both long-range shooting and hunting at longer ranges.

Will the .300 PRC catch on? Well, that remains to be seen, but the paper formula seems sound.

Characteristics Of The .300 Magnums

I’ve found that cartridges generating magnum velocities are best served by a heavy bullet. In the .300 magnum class, this usually means 180-grains and heavier, though I’ve had good results with some of the 150- and 165-grain monometal bullets. Perhaps bullet bearing surface has a significant role in getting the faster .30s to deliver the best accuracy.

The author with a good South African kudu bull, taken cleanly with a Legendary Arms Works .300 Winchester Magnum.
The author with a good South African kudu bull, taken cleanly with a Legendary Arms Works .300 Winchester Magnum.

I’ve also found that buying a .300 magnum is no cure for poor shot placement; a .308 Winchester is much better than any .300 magnum in the wrong place. That said, they are much easier to use in truly windy conditions, and their ability to send the heavier bullets — especially those of premium construction — take the bore diameter to the next level.

As bullets and ogives grow longer, the need for more room in the magazine increases, hence my reasoning that the .308 Norma Magnum is a better long-range cartridge than the .300 Winchester. The shorter .308 Norma case makes seating the longer bullets within the confines of a long-action magazine easier. But, the .300 Winchester has an undeniable marketing advantage, and that makes all the difference in the world sometimes.

Do We Need More .300 Magnums?

Including the Dakota, Lazzeroni and other boutique cartridges, my tally comes to more than 15 magnum-class .300s. Is that too many? I personally think it is. There’s a ton of overlap, though there are many sound designs.

I predict that the .308 Norma Magnum and .300 Remington SAUM will fade further than they already have, taking the .300 Ruger Compact Magnum with them.

I feel the .300 WSM has the greatest chance of survival of the WSM lineup, and that — rather unfortunately — the .300 Holland & Holland has seen its heyday come and go.

The .300 Weatherby will always have its following, but the larger .300 RUM and .30-378 Weatherby have already begun to fade, as the slower velocity/higher BC bullet combination gains ground.

I am also confident in saying that the .300 Winchester Magnum, in spite of its belted design and short neck, will remain at the top of the heap for years to come. Many of our modern designs have simply been a reinvention of the wheel, with one niggling change or another, yet in the grand scheme offering a performance level that already existed.
Still, we hunters and shooters remain intrigued by the .300 magnums, and I know that’s not going to stop anytime soon.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2019 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Mossberg Unveils The Head-Turning 500 Centennial 12-Gauge

By
Elwood Shelton
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500 Centennial 3

The Mossberg 500 Centennial is a dazzling addition to the gunmaker’s anniversary collection.

What are the specs on the 500 Centennial:

  • Gauge: 12 gauge
  • Chamber: 3 inches
  • Barrel Length: 28 inches
  • Barrel Finish: High-Polished Blue
  • Receiver Finish: Nickel-Plated
  • Sights: Twin Bead
  • Chokes: Accuset
  • Overall Length: 47.5 inches
  • Length of Pull: 13.87 inches
  • Stock: Walnut (High-Polish Finish)
  • Weight: 7.5 pounds
  • MSRP: $910

Even with a new iteration of the shotgun, you can’t say much about the Mossberg 500 that hasn’t already been said. Well, it’s possible to squeeze a little extra verbiage in about this one … it’s a looker!

Nickel-plated receiver, jeweled bolt, gold-plated trigger, high-polished blued metal finish on the barrel and high-gloss finished walnut – all stops were pulled for the Mossberg 500 Centennial 12 Gauge. On top of that there’s plenty of engraving, always a nice touch on a field shotgun. This includes Mossberg’s 100th Anniversary logo on the right side and a flushing ruff grouse on the left, each accented with 24-karat gold. Plenty of bling for a scattergun with an MSRP of $910.

More from Mossberg:

NORTH HAVEN, CT – O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., a leading American firearms manufacturer, continues the celebration of the company’s 100th anniversary with the introduction of a limited edition Mossberg 500 Centennial pump-action shotgun, chambered in 12 gauge. This commemorative model features a nickel-plated receiver engraved with the Mossberg 100th Anniversary logo on the right side and a pair of flushing ruffed grouse on the left, highlighted in 24 karat gold. This model will be limited to 750 units, each with a special serial number that incorporates a unique prefix, used only for this production run.

500 Centennial 2

The Mossberg 500 pump-action shotgun is designed for reliable, smooth operation with the combination of non-binding twin action bars; dual extractors; a positive steel-to-steel lock-up; anti-jam elevator; anodized aluminum receiver for added durability; and universally-recognized, ambidextrous top-mounted safety. And with over 12 million sold and over 50 years in production, the 500 platform has proven to be one of the most reliable shotgun designs available.

Mossberg 500 Centennial 12 Gauge (50100) – A Talo Group distributor exclusive, this attractive field pump-action features upgrades that distinguish it from our extensive line of 500 special purpose and hunting guns. The traditionally-styled, high-gloss walnut stock and forend has fine checkering on the pistol grip and wrapping around the underside of the forend and the stock is fit with a classic red rubber recoil pad. Distinctive jeweled bolt, gold-plated trigger and attractive high-polished blue metal finish on the barrel complement the high-gloss wood finish. The 28-inch vent rib barrel comes with Mossberg’s interchangeable ACCU-CHOKE™ choke tubes (Full, Modified and Improved Cylinder). The nickel-plated receiver is engraved with the Mossberg 100th Anniversary logo (right side) and flushing ruff grouse (left side), both highlighted with 24 karat gold accents, and each gun has a special serial number. MSRP: $910

For more information on the 500 Centennial, please visit www.mossberg.com.

On The Mark With More Shotgun Info:

What’s The Difference Between European- And Asian-Built Optics?

By
Tim Irwin
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Even with all the options available to the sporting optics shopper, one major question persists: Which is better, Euro optics or Asian-made optics?

What are some defining features between European and Asian optics:

  • Most European optics are engineered to be the best product possible, regardless of cost.
  • Asian manufacturers have the opposite approach, starting with price-point and building to meet that particular criterion.
  • Overall, you generally get what you pay for, regardless of what region the optics originate.

The conundrum expands when you know there are some very good “hybrid” binoculars and riflescopes — products designed in Europe and manufactured in mainland China.

Optics European vs Asian 8

Euro optics have set the standard for generations. World-class glass and meticulous engineering made for high performance and big price tags, and they continue to blaze the trail of optics innovation. But optics technologies in Asia have advanced by leaps and bounds as of recent, so asking which continent produces the best optics is a legitimate question.

It’s an apples vs. oranges comparison of sorts. While manufacturers on the two continents both make awesome sports optics, each comes at the market from an entirely different perspective. To accurately resolve an answer, you first have to understand how the various brands approach the manufacturing process.

Worth Every Penney

The famous European brands start with a list of specifications and performance benchmarks they want in a specific product, and they leave little room for compromise. The engineers do the math on what it will cost. The cost is the cost, and they cipher the retail price from there. Their goal is to build the best product possible — damn the cost.

In optics, you get what you pay for — but do you need everything that you’re paying for? Leica optics are in a quality class above many, but so are the accompanying price tags.
In optics, you get what you pay for — but do you need everything that you’re paying for? Leica optics are in a quality class above many, but so are the accompanying price tags.

Brands sourcing optics in Asia approach product development from the other direction: They start with a price-point and build from there, and their list of specifications and performance standards are subject to hacking once the engineers plug in the numbers. Ultimately, they come up with a binocular or scope that reaches the desired price-point, but it might be something slightly less from a performance perspective.

So, the answer is: You get what you pay for. If you demand the absolute best of everything in your optics, the Europeans have it locked. You will pay accordingly, however, but they will be worth every penny.

Scope Out More Optics Info:

  • 8 Revolutionary Reticles For Long-Range Accuracy
  • Buying the Perfect Precision Scope
  • The Best Tactical Red-Dot Performance-to-Price Option?
  • Shifting Winds: SIG BDX Changing Shooting For The Better

Consider, for example, Leica’s spectacular HD-B 10X42 Geovid 3000 range-finding binoculars. They feel good in your hands and their profile is downright sexy. The majority of big game guides in the West carry one permutation of the Geovid or the other. The fluoride glass is as sharp as a pin and delivers superb color fidelity. The integrated laser rangefinder provides dead-on distance measurement out to 3,000 yards with the stroke of a button.

Non-Euro glass and mediocre quality do not go hand-in-hand. The new Bushnell Forge line of binoculars and riflescopes utilize Asian-sourced glass, offer exceptional quality and wear an attractive price tag.
Non-Euro glass and mediocre quality do not go hand-in-hand. The new Bushnell Forge line of binoculars and riflescopes utilize Asian-sourced glass, offer exceptional quality and wear an attractive price tag.

Shooting long range? Another stroke of the button and you get ballistic measurements in three output formats: holdover, click adjustment and equivalent horizontal range. Barometric pressure, temperature and angle are also included in the measurements and calculate the correct point of aim with the highest precision. With a microSD memory card and the Leica ballistic calculator, users can import individual ballistic data to their Geovid HD-B 3000 to receive data perfectly adjusted to load and caliber.

The German-made binocular might be best you can buy, and with a suggested retail price of $2,949, they should be.

Digital Targeting

Swarovski Optik’s new ds riflescope takes state-of-the-art to a whole new level. The amazing design combines the optical features of a conventional riflescope with digital targeting technology, meaning the 5-25x52mm scope requires integration with a smartphone. Exchanging data is simple and straightforward via a Bluetooth, and the personal data supplied when sighting in the target are input directly into the app and transmitted to the scope.

Bushnell Forge Binoculars
Bushnell Forge Binoculars

What exactly does that mean? When you look through the dS, the correct aiming point is displayed automatically in the riflescope. With the press of a button, the dS measures the exact distance to the target, having factored in the magnification setting, air pressure, temperature and angle. This takes into account the personal ballistic data for your firearm/ammunition combination you’ve uploaded via your smart phone.

Important ballistic data — distance, bullet energy and other information — shows in the heads-up display. The windage mark intervals are calculated based on the distance measured, the wind speeds set, and the ballistic data. All that with the push of a button.

There’s virtually nothing that compares to the Austrian-made dS, but prepare yourself: This wonderful slice of optic and ballistic technology will set your trust fund back about $4,400.

Finding Middle Ground

If you’re searching for the best optical clarity money can buy, complete with cutting-edge technology, the Swarovski ds 5-25x52mm riflescope with digital targeting technology is it — but there might be some sticker shock.
If you’re searching for the best optical clarity money can buy, complete with cutting-edge technology, the Swarovski ds 5-25x52mm riflescope with digital targeting technology is it — but there might be some sticker shock.

Asian-made optics, however, are no slouches. In fact, with some of them you will be hard-pressed to detect a performance difference between them and comparable European products — and you will spend a fraction as much to acquire them. Lower labor rates and more favorable exchange rates allow manufacturers in the Far East to excel in producing volumes of high-quality products at modest prices.

Once upon a time, Bushnell was a mid- to low-level sports optics brand. Today, they are a major player in the industry’s upper tier with scopes and binoculars sourced in Asia.

The new Forge 10×42 binocular is as sharp, bright and color correct as almost anything comparable. The coatings on Forge glass repel water, oil, dust and debris. Sure, the Forge lacks some of the bells and whistles of the Euro binoculars, but you might not need all that technology — or, honestly, you might not be able to detect the difference in terms of optical performance. Street price on the Bushnell 10x40mm Forge binocular is just over $400. The difference between that and the price of the high-end glasses will pay for a lot a taxidermy.

What’s important to you in optics will dictate the price you’ll have to pay. You can have top-end glass in an optics featuring all the bells and whistles, but you can also get high-quality glass without paying for all the extra features.
What’s important to you in optics will dictate the price you’ll have to pay. You can have top-end glass in an optics featuring all the bells and whistles, but you can also get high-quality glass without paying for all the extra features.

The scopes in the Forge line trade on much of the same technology. Designed for a variety of precision shooting applications with 21 variations on the theme, the line ranges from a versatile 2.5-15x50mm to a 1,000-yard gong-ringing 4.5-27x50mm. And none of them break the $1,000 mark at the sales counter.

The European manufacturers can rightfully claim the high ground when it comes to innovation and performance, budgets be damned. Optics manufactured in China, Japan and Korea have mastered techniques and technologies to produce high-performance binoculars and scopes that most shooters will be happy with because, for most people, cost must be a consideration.

Price-To-Performance Ratios

As another example, ponder Weaver’s Class K Series scopes. No digital displays or smart phone interfaces here: Just fabulous glass and a crisp crosshair in a lasts-forever tube. Available in two fixed focal lengths (4x and 6x) for well over a half-century, Asian-sourced Class Ks are as efficient and effective as they’ve ever been. Mount one on just about any modern rifle and you will never feel under equipped — which is pretty amazing because they both come with street prices of well under $200.

And don’t overlook American-made glass. Leupold keeps 500 people busy in their Oregon factory kicking out some amazing scopes and binos, and they’ve been doing it for a very long time. Their performance-to-price ratios are very good, sometimes great, and their commitment to customer service has been as steadfast as their product quality. If you insist on buying American, you would not sacrifice performance even slightly and would probably save a few bucks.

Manufacturers east, west and here at home have been very responsive to trends in the optics marketplace. They’ve engineered all kinds of precision bells and whistles — which is good, if that’s your thing. But simplicity has a nice ring to it, too. Keep in mind that you don’t have to pay for features you will never use. There’s enough variety in the market that you can locate binoculars and scopes to match your needs precisely with little effort.

Federal Hydra-Shok Bullets Available As Reloading Component

By
Elwood Shelton
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2

Federal Hydra-Shok Bullets

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.

On-Target Reloading Info:

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

Part No. / Description / MSRP
PB38HS129 / 357 cal. 129-grain, 100-count / $30.95
PB9HS124 / 355 cal. 124-grain, 100-count / $30.95
PB9HS147 / 355 cal. 147-grain, 100-count / $30.95
PB357HS158 / 357 cal. 158-grain, 100-count / $31.95
PB40HS165 / 400 cal. 165-grain, 50-count / $16.95
PB40HS180 / 400 cal. 180-grain, 50-count / $16.95
PB45HS185 / 451 cal. 185-grain, 50-count / $18.95
PB45HS230 / 451 cal. 230-grain, 50-count / $18.95

For more information on HydraShok Bullets, please visit www.federalpremium.com.

Video: Picking The Perfect Revolver For Your Needs

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

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.

Take Another Spin With Our Revolver Content:

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.
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JP Enterprises SCR-11 Elevates The .224 Valkyrie To A New Level

By
Matthew Breuer
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0

A peek inside the custom AR world with the JP Enterprises SCR-11 — in .224 Valkyrie.

What the JP Enterprises SCR-11 Offers verses other Valkries:

  • Side charging handle
  • Exaggerated magazine well
  • Machined-from-billet 7075-T6 upper/lower receiver
  • Adjustable gas block
  • Air-gauged, button-rifled, cryogenically treated barrel
  • Low mass bolt
  • Silent Capture recoil spring
  • Armageddon Gear Revolution Trigger

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.
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 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.

Need More AR Knowledge:

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 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 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.
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.

Why The 6.5 Creedmoor Is So Lethal

By
Richard A. Mann
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1

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.

6.5 Creedmoor Lethal 12

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.

Read Also: Savage Arms’ Accuracy-Enhancing AccuFit System

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.
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.
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.

More About 6.5 Creedmoor Firearms

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.
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.
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.
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.

Top Articles on Creedmoor Ammo

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2019 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Classic Guns: A.H. Fox Double Shotgun

By
Jerry Lee
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2

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.
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.
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.

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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.
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.
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.
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.

AH Fox Price

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Hornady A-Tip: The Aluminum-Tip Bullet Advantage

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

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.

Hornady A-Tip 2

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.

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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.

Hornady A-Tip 3

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.

Long-Range Shooting: Old School Vs. New School

By
Dick Jones
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1

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.
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.
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.

More Long-Range Shooting Info:

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.
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.
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.

Video: Behind The Wheel Of Formula 1 Competitive Pistols

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

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.

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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.

Bergara Tackles Rimfire Rifles With BXR .22 LR

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

Bergara BXR 3

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.

Fire Away With More Rimfire Content:

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.”

Bergara BXR 2

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

BXR Carbon – BXR002 BXR 22LR Semi-Auto Rifle Carbon Fiber Barrel
MSRP – $659

For more information on the BXR, please visit www.bergara.online.

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Don’t Discount The Concealed Carry Revolver

By
Patrick Sweeney
-
0

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.
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.
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.

Take Another Spin With Our Revolver Content:

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”

Concealed Carry Revolvers 5

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.

Highby’s Shooting To Keep Sidney The Center Of The Outfitting Industry

By
Elwood Shelton
-
0

Online startup Highby Outdoors aims to continue building in Sidney where Cabela’s left off.

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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 2
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.

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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.”

Highby Outdoors 3
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.

Highby Outdoors 1

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 AR-10 With SAINT Victor .308

By
Elwood Shelton
-
0

Saint Victor 308 1

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.

AR-10 Essentials: Hit the Bullseye Every Time

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

For more information on the SAINT Victor .308, please visit www.springfield-armory.com.

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