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6 Defensive Handgun Drills to Master

By
Richard A. Mann
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Here are six handgun drills that are certain to get you closer to mastering the art of the pistol.

What are the essential handgun drills:

Those who consider themselves practitioners of the defensive handgun are always looking for handgun drills that will improve their skill level, and for drills that are fun. The fun part is important; it’s something that pushes us to the range. The getting better part is important, too, because ultimately you are the one responsible for the protection and defense of your life. Here are six of my most often used defensive handgun drills.

Single Head Shots Drill

Handgun Drills 2
I once asked this of Gunsite Instructor Il Ling New: “If you could only practice one defensive handgun drill, what would it be?” Her answer might surprise many, but this is it: single shots to the head — from the holster.

Pragmatically, it makes sense: It focuses on what, in reality, is the most important aspect of employing a defensive handgun. You have to get your handgun out of the holster and on target, and then deliver a single accurate shot — in a hurry. Conduct this drill from 5 yards and work until you can complete it, on demand, in less than 2 seconds.

The Double-Tap Drill

Handgun Drills 3
When it comes to stopping a threat with a defensive handgun, the more holes you make in the right places the better your chances will be. This is why most consider the standard response to be two quick shots, center mass. Some call this a “double tap,” some call the two shots “hammers,” and some refer to them as “controlled pairs.”

Practically speaking, they’re all different, but the underlying premise it two accurate shots delivered center mass, from the holster, very fast. Work this drill from 5 yards, and put two shots center mass in less than 2 seconds. You should be able to cover both holes with the palm of your hand.

Failure Drill

Handgun Drills 6
Defensive handgunners and competition shooters take a different approach to this drill. It’s essentially a double-tap center mass followed by a head shot. Competition shooters fire all three shots without a pause, when the head shot is supposed to serve as the finisher, if the body shots fail.

For training, run this drill like a competition shooter, because the goal is for you to master the transition from the hammered pair center mass, to the single — very controlled — head shot, quickly. From 5 yards and from the holster, double-tap the target center mass, and then make a head shot. Your par time should be less than 3 seconds.

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Reload Drill

Handgun Drills 5
Keeping your handgun in the fight is critical. If you get a stoppage, you must clear it quickly. If you run out of ammo, you best solve that problem in a hurry. This drill requires you to conduct a speed reload — which is very similar, and an alternative to immediate action.

Space two targets 10 feet apart at 5 yards distance. From the holster, double-tap the first center mass, conduct a reload and repeat on the second target. You should work at it until you can complete the drill in less than 6 seconds.

The Forty-Five Drill Adrenalin Dump

Handgun Drills 1
I devised this drill primarily for testing the shootability of the wide variety of defensive handguns I review. However, it’s also a great tool to use to prepare you for a lethal encounter: Sometimes, one, two — or even three shots — are not enough. It gets its name because it’s made up of four elements of five.

Place a target at 5 yards and, from the holster, fire five shots, into a 5-inch circle in less than 5 seconds. It’s harder than it sounds, and I’ll bet you’ll fail the first time you try it.

The Shadowland Drill

Handgun Drills 4
An interesting and very fun drill I use frequently here at my home range is nothing more than combining all five of these drills into one. If you can conduct it to the standard, you’ve proved you’re a reasonably capable pistolero.

Set up three targets, at 5 yards, spaced 5 feet apart. Conduct the single head-shot drill on the right target, and then the double-tap drill the left target. Now, conduct the failure drill on the center target. So far you’ve fired six shots.

Next, transition back to the right target and hammer two shots center mass, conduct a reload, and hammer two shots center mass on the left target. Finally, you conduct the forty-five drill on the center target. Starting from the holster, your goal should be to complete the drill, with no misses, in less than 10 seconds.

Handgun Training, Practice And Fun

Shooting these drills is not training. Training is learning new skills. Practice is developing those skills. These drills are for you to practice weapon presentation, sight alignment, trigger and recoil control, weapon manipulation, shot cadence and target transition.

They are also fun — especially the last one — and there’s nothing wrong with having a little fun when you’re at the range.

This article originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Gun Review: Ruger SR1911 Officer-Style .45 ACP

By
Scott Wagner
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Don’t let its compact size fool you. The SR1911 Officer-Style 1911 is a full-powered defender.

How the SR1911 Officer-Style provides a powerful, yet compact defensive option:

  • Ruger’s take on the U.S. Military’s M15 .45 ACP
  • Designed as a full-powered compact pistol
  • All-stainless steel frame and barrel, lightweight aluminum frame model available
  • Chambered both .45 ACP and 9mm
  • Fast lock time, in part thanks to a titanium firing pin

The Ruger SR1911 Officer-Style .45 ACP Compact pistol is a 21st-century take on the M15 .45 that was produced for general officers in the U.S. military from 1972 to 1981. Produced by the Rock Island Military Arsenal (not to be confused with the modern commercial manufacturer Rock Island Armory) the M15 General Officers Model was created by cutting down and modifying existing 1911A1 pistols to make the new gun. The M15 was created because certain generals at the time wanted a full-power combat pistol that was more easily carried than the 1911A1. The new M15 would replace the .32 and .380 M1903 pistols that were carried at times even by the likes of George S. Patton.

Retired Ohio probation officer and Colt 1911 aficionado Michael Skeen tests the Ruger .45 ACP Officer-Style 1911 pistol. The solid stainless steel frame and slide keep recoil controllable even when firing SIG’s 230-grain Elite V-Crown .45 ACP ammo. Empties were ejected smartly forward and to the right of the shooter.
Retired Ohio probation officer and Colt 1911 aficionado Michael Skeen tests the Ruger .45 ACP Officer-Style 1911 pistol. The solid stainless steel frame and slide keep recoil controllable even when firing SIG’s 230-grain Elite V-Crown .45 ACP ammo. Empties were ejected smartly forward and to the right of the shooter.

In the not too distant past, I would have said that manufacturing a compact.45-caliber combat pistol was a somewhat questionable project for personnel who were generally located outside of active combat zones. After all, even Gen. Patton never fired his silver Colt .45 Peacemaker or Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum in combat during World War II — although Patton did shoot at a German plane with a .380.

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Around October 18, 2018, Brigadier General Jeffrey Smiley was shot and wounded during a meeting in Kandahar, Afghanistan in a Taliban attack at the governor’s compound. Two Afghan leaders were killed. The top military commander in Afghanistan, General Scott Miller, was also present but not injured. It was not known if the generals were armed with handguns or if they returned fire. Because of that I can see the need for the M15 General Officer’s pistol considering the type of warfare we have engaged in since 2001.

The M15 was sized the same as a Colt Commander. The Colt company would eventually introduce what we now know as the “Officer’s Model” .45 in 1985. Equipped with a 6- or 7-round magazine in .45 ACP, the Officer’s Model, and the later aluminum-framed Lightweight Officer’s Model, featured a shorter grip frame than the Colt Commander and a shorter 3.5-inch barrel.

The Colt Officer’s series always seemed to me to be a cool pistol. One of the detectives I worked with years ago carried a nickel-plated Officer’s Model as his duty sidearm. The original Colt Officer’s handguns had developed a reputation for being unreliable. However, I owned a M1991A1 Compact .45, which was a budget-priced version of the Officer’s Model and never had a problem with it. The Officer’s concept still lives on today with Colt in its Defender Series and the longer-barreled Wiley Clap CCO (Concealed Carry Officer’s) Series, neither of which seem to have reliability issues.

Now, Ruger has added an “Officer-Style” pistol to its fine SR1911 lineup that picks up where the original Colt Officer’s Model left off — and it has no reliability issues.

Built To Impress

The Ruger SR1911 Officer-Style pistol is an all-stainless steel compact 1911 that brings the original concept into the 21st century. Equipped with a 3.6-inch barrel, this impressive pistol comes equipped with two 7-round magazines, giving up nothing in defensive capability over its full-size brethren — yet it is sized for all day carry.

When I took the SR1911 Officer-Style pistol out of the box, I was pleasantly surprised by the appearance of the matte stainless steel finish of the slide and frame. It appears to have a slight gold hue to it, reminiscent of the brushed-nickel finishes applied to various handguns in the 1980s, including the Colt Officer’s Model. It gives the Ruger a richer tone than standard matte-finished stainless steel.

With a weight of 27.2 ounces, the 9mm Luger chambering of the lightweight Officer-Style pistol may prove to be a better caliber choice for the average concealed carry permit holder than the heavier-recoiling .45 ACP.
With a weight of 27.2 ounces, the 9mm Luger chambering of the lightweight Officer-Style pistol may prove to be a better caliber choice for the average concealed carry permit holder than the heavier-recoiling .45 ACP.

The weight of the Officer-Style is 31 ounces, which is important in terms of soaking up recoil from the powerful .45 ACP cartridge. The overall length is 7.25 inches and the height is 5 inches. The Ruger has many features favored by today’s 1911 shooter. Starting at the top, it features a set of black, drift-adjustable Novak 3-dot sights. Novak sights are the gold-standard in combat handgun sights and are designed not to snag on clothing during a rapid draw. There are many manufacturers that make copies of the original design, but the Officers-Style Ruger uses the real deal.

The slide features wide, slanted grasping grooves at the rear only — the barrel is too short to perform a press check from the front. If you need to make sure of the Ruger’s loaded status, there is a large circular viewing port at the rear of the chamber.

The Officer-Style has a black-accented, oval-shaped skeletonized hammer mated with a titanium firing pin in the slide for faster lock times. There is also a black-accented oversize beavertail grip safety to protect your hand from hammer bite. The mainspring housing, also black, is rounded and is a nice compromise between a flat and traditionally arched type.

The black manual thumb safety is extended and easily reached. While Ruger’s website states that the black slide lock lever (which I refer to as the slide release) is also extended, it didn’t appear that way on my test sample. More so than the thumb safety, the slide release needs to have a rear extension so that it can be released during a rapid reload without having to twist the pistol in the shooting hand to reach it. My thumb just can’t quite reach it without twisting. The black-checkered magazine release is prominent enough to be operated easily by the shooting hand thumb, but not so prominent as to be accidentally activated.

The Ruger SR1911 Officer-Style .45 features modern enhancements preferred by law enforcement in a 1911-type pistol. These enhancements include a beavertail grip safety, genuine Novak 3-dot drift-adjustable combat sights, rounded mainspring housing and skeletonized hammer and trigger. It is a lot of .45 for the money (and size).
The Ruger SR1911 Officer-Style .45 features modern enhancements preferred by law enforcement in a 1911-type pistol. These enhancements include a beavertail grip safety, genuine Novak 3-dot drift-adjustable combat sights, rounded mainspring housing and skeletonized hammer and trigger. It is a lot of .45 for the money (and size).

The replaceable G10 grip panels feature the Ruger logo on both sides, which is textured to enhance the gripping service. Their gray-black color blends in well. If you haven’t yet figured this out, the Ruger Officer-Style .45 is one sharp-looking pistol. The handgun has a skeletonized aluminum trigger adjustable for overtravel, which, when combined with the “Series 70” operating system, makes for a crisp trigger pull. There was no need for any adjustment.

On The Firing Line With The SR1911 Officer-Style

I took the Ruger to a friend’s private range for testing along with an assortment of ball ammunition and SIG’s Elite 230-grain FMJ practice .45s and 230-grain Elite V-Crown defensive ammo. I enlisted the help of a fellow police firearms instructor Probation Officer Mike Skeen (ret.) to help evaluate the Ruger. Skeen is a long-time aficionado of 1911 .45 autos.

Skeen was just as enamored with the look and feel of the Ruger as I was. We tested it right out of the box with no pre-cleaning or additional lubrication. I started out with the assorted brands of 230-grain FMJ ball. The reason I do my tests that way is that I believe many purchasers of new guns will do the same thing. I was not disappointed by the Ruger’s reliability.

I had forgotten how pleasant it is to shoot a properly fitted and balanced .45 ACP — especially an all-steel one. I often test .40- and 9mm-caliber pistols, and I’d forgotten about the .45’s pleasant muzzle blast — at least with standard pressure loads. It’s not the push of a recoiling gun in the hand that bothers new shooters most, it’s the muzzle blast. This is especially true if the handgun is being fired in an indoor range.

Five shots fired from 30 feet using SIG Sauer Elite practice ammo.
Five shots fired from 30 feet using SIG Sauer Elite practice ammo.

Skeen and I both averaged 3- to 4-inch groups at 30 feet shooting two-handed standing. The sights were regulated dead on to the point of aim. Switching to the SIG Elite .45 ball ammo produced the same results, as did SIG’s Elite 230-grain V-Crown load — which felt the same as the practice loads in terms of recoil and blast. With a muzzle velocity of 830 FPS from a full-size pistol (which is actually 20 FPS slower than SIG’s practice load), the V-Crown should still be traveling around 750 FPS or more from the short barrel of the Ruger (weather was not conducive to chronograph testing that day). There were no malfunctions of any kind.

In our opinion, the Ruger SR1911 Officer-Style .45 ACP is a great defensive and carry pistol. If you desire a lighter-weight version, there is an aluminum-frame 9mm variant that weighs in at only 27.2 ounces. Both have an MSRP of $979.

SR1911 Officer-Style Spec</strong

Model: Ruger Officer-Style
CHAMBERINGS: 9mm and .45 ACP
CAPACITY: 7+1
SLIDE: Stainless steel
BARREL LENGTH: 3.60 in.
GRIP FRAME: Low-glare stainless
GRIP PANELS: Deluxe checkered G10
WIDTH: 1.34 in.
SIGHTS: Drift-adjustable Novak 3-Dot
WEIGHT: 31 oz.
OVERALL LENGTH: 7.25 in.
HEIGHT: 5 in.
GROOVES: 6
TWIST: 1:16 RH

For more information on the SR1911 Officer-Style, please visit www.ruger.com.

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from the Tactical Gun Digest book, available at GunDigestStore.com.

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Ruger Resurrects M77 Hawkeye Alaskan

By
Elwood Shelton
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Available in .375 Ruger, .338 Winchester Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum, the Hawkeye Alaskan can handle any North American game.

How the Hawkeye Alaskan is ready for the roughest conditions:

  • Chambered .375 Ruger, .338 Winchester Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum
  • Stainless-steel action and barrel
  • Hogue Overmolded stock

Coastal browns at the bird feeder again? Ruger has the solution, with the reintroduction of the M77 Hawkeye Alaskan. Chambered for three sledgehammer cartridges – .375 Ruger, .338 Winchester Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum – the bolt-action is more than enough to handle any North American game. Quite honestly, in the beltless .375, it’s got the yarbels to stand up against anything on God’s green earth.

Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan

The rifle has been out of Ruger’s catalog for around six years, though it never really left. The Alaskan morphed into the M77 Hawkeye Guide Gun in 2013, with the company expanding its caliber options. Originally, the Alaskan came in two flavors – .375 Ruger and .416 Ruger. Obviously, the gun was a heavy hitter. But with the Winchester magnums now part of the mix, it seems to better fit its Alaskan moniker.

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Very similar to the Guide Gun, the Hawkeye Alaskan features a stainless-steel action and 20-inch barrel, and a Hogue Overmolded stock. From there, it has the features you should be familiar with if you’re acquainted with the M77 Hawkeye, including LC6 Trigger, non-rotating Mauser-type controlled round feed extractor, hinged floorplate, express-style windage-adjustable V-notch rear sight and large white bead front sight and integral scope mounts. In all three chamberings, the M77 Hawkeye Alaskan holds 3+1 round and each caliber has an MSRP of $1,279.

From Ruger:

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is proud to reintroduce the Hawkeye® Alaskan rifle chambered in three calibers: .375 Ruger, .338 Winchester Magnum, and .300 Winchester Magnum.

Based on the popular Ruger Guide Gun platform, this stainless steel rifle, paired with a Hogue® OverMolded® stock, provides the avid shooter or hunter with the ultimate rugged and hard-hitting rifle.

The rifle’s black Hogue OverMolded synthetic stock is a unique feature to the Alaskan configuration of Hawkeye rifles.
Hogue’s patented OverMolding process provides the ultimate comfortable, non-slip, cobblestone texture that is soft, yet durable. The state-of-the-art elastomer material used on Hogue stocks will not harden with age and is virtually impervious to all oils and solvents used with firearms, providing years of dependable service. The stock also comes equipped with standard sling swivel studs and a highly effective recoil pad.

Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan 1

The Hawkeye Alaskan weighs eight pounds and has an overall length of 42 inches, a matte stainless finish and a windage-adjustable shallow V-notch rear sight and large white bead front sight. The rifle also features the iconic Ruger Muzzle Brake System that includes a removable, radial-port muzzle brake to significantly reduce felt recoil.

The Hawkeye Alaskan rifle features the smooth and crisp LC6 trigger, three-position safety, and integral scope mounts for included scope rings. The hinged solid-steel floorplate bears the distinctive Ruger logo and provides easy unloading while eliminating accidental dumping of cartridges. Like all Hawkeye rifles, these Alaskan models also feature a non-rotating, Mauser-type controlled round feed extractor.

Hawkeye Alaskan Specs
Calibers:.375 Ruger, .338 Winchester Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum
Stock: Black Hogue® OverMolded®
Front Sight: Bead
Rear Sight: Adjustable
Capacity: 3
Thread Pattern: 5/8″-18
Barrel Length: 20″
Overall Length: 42″
Material: Stainless Steel
Finish: Hawkeye Matte
Length Of Pull: 13.50″
Twist: 1:12″ RH
Weight: 8.1 lb.
Grooves: 5

For more information on the Hawkeye Alaskan, please visit www.ruger.com

The Tenacity Of The Montana Rifle Company X3 Extreme

By
Jay Pinsky
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A custom-level production gun, the Montana Rifle Company X3 Extreme isn’t just another lightweight hunter. It’s tailor-made to excel in the most rugged backcountry conditions.

What Sets The X3 Extreme Apart From Other Hunting Rifles:

  • Build with light kevlar-reinforced synthetic stock.
  • Pencil-thin No. 2 contoured barrel.
  • Button-rifled bore.
  • Stock directs recoil directly back, reducing muzzle jump.
  • Action pillar and glass bedded.
  • Full-length claw extractor.
  • Action made of 415 stainless steel.
  • Everything on the rifle is made in house.

I’ve done my fair share of hunting in Montana, and it’s not a state known for mediocrity. The weather, terrain and sometimes even its residents are all too tough for anything that’s average, good enough … or otherwise “meh.”

Montana Rifle Company X3 Extreme 1

So, when I learned about a rifle company that was not only based in the Big Sky State but also bore its name, I figured it had to be either one hell of a rifle or an equally impressive snowstorm. Montana is known for having both.

The Montana Rifle Company is headquartered in Kalispell, Montana, which is about 100 miles north of Missoula. Wildlife in and around Kalispell includes song birds, beautiful deer and the majestic elk. It also includes plenty of wolves, mountain lions, and bears — both black and grizzly. My point is this: Nothing survives near Kalispell, Montana, from feeding off rainbows and butterflies. Life — and good business — is earned every day there.

I think it’s important to know what western Montana is because if you name your rifle company “The Montana Rifle Company,” it better be capable of building firearms that can handle anything and everything its namesake state offers in the wilderness. Otherwise, the locals will label your rifles as touristy. After more than a month with the Montana Rifle Company’s newest X3 rifle, I think the locals ought to be proud.

Adding Tabasco Sauce

The X3 Extreme is a lighter, faster, better, smoother and prettier version of the company’s X2 rifle. Or, as Ron Petty of Montana Rifle Company said, “The X3 is a line extension from our X2 — we utilized a lighter stock that’s reinforced with Kevlar to reduce gun weight under the 7-pound threshold.”

The Montana Rifle Company X3 Extreme has a fully adjustable trigger to enable shooters to customize the break at the poundage they like the most.
The Montana Rifle Company X3 Extreme has a fully adjustable trigger to enable shooters to customize the break at the poundage they like the most.

Built to carry light, shoot straight and survive any hunt you can, my loaner X3 Extreme was chambered in the potent 6.5-284 Norma. Why the 6.5-284 Norma? I wanted to use a .264 caliber a lot like a 6.5 Creedmoor — with just a splash of Tabasco sauce. The peppy 6.5-284 Norma can push a 140-grain bullet downrange more than a 100 fps faster than a 6.5 Creedmoor with the same bullet mass. Is it a big difference? No, not really. But, Tabasco sauce should only enhance your food, never overpower it.

The gun is light, and more important to me, small. It’s a thin gun that carries well despite its 24-inch, hand-lapped barrel. The pencil-thin No. 2 contoured bullet tube, which guides its .264 bullets with a button-rifled 1:8 twist, doesn’t hurt the gun’s body mass index numbers. Every inch of the gun is there because it has to be, and it’s balanced so well that half the time I carried it I thought I was carrying one of those Nerf pool noodles and forgot I had an elk-thumping boomstick.

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However, I was reminded of its potency every time I pulled the trigger. Any rifle that weighs a mere 6 pounds, 10 ounces is going to have some personality. When you chamber it in the underappreciated 6.5-284 Norma — a 6.5 cartridge with attitude — that thumping personality is something Montana ought to be proud of.

The good news is that the recoil of the rifle is very manageable. I’m not a big fan of ultralight guns at the bench: I’ve shot too many “ultralight” Tikkas T3s and Sako A7s that kicked my dental work loose and had muzzle jump so bad that a second shot would’ve taken down Skylab. The X3 Extreme didn’t handle recoil like those featherweights at all. The recoil came straight back. The muzzle stayed mostly down, and I could cycle my bolt, find my target and shoot again without wondering where my headache medicine was. That, my gun-shooting friends, is a testament to great stock design and a well-balanced rifle.

A three-position safety gives shooters and hunters choices to manage their weapon’s firing position under any conditions.
A three-position safety gives shooters and hunters choices to manage their weapon’s firing position under any conditions.

And yes — it’s both pillar and glass bedded. Let me stand on a soapbox here. A lot of great rifle manufactures build rifles that are accurate, good-looking and sometimes even affordable, but by far the biggest place I see costs controlled in manufacturing is with the stock. That makes me wonder if the stock is the most important element of a rifle that often has the most manufacturer neglect. It is, after all, the part that connects the shooter to the gun. My point? The Montana Rifle Company has the best factory synthetic stock I have ever reviewed.

A Homemade Recipe

The Montana rifle company builds the whole gun: It makes the stock, the barrel, the action and even paints the guns in-house. And it shows. At the heart of the X3 Extreme is the legendary Montana Rifle Company Model 1999 controlled-round-feed action … though it’s a bit of a hybrid.

“The action is unique,” said Petty. “It combines the features of two legendary actions — the pre-64 Winchester and the Mauser. From these we see an adjustable trigger, full-length claw extractor and a 3-position safety, the strength of the locking lug system from the Mauser, and the excellent bolt release and removable firing pin system. We also added venting reliefs locations to prevent blowback in the event of an over-pressured load or blockage event.”

Petty further explains why Montana rifle Company went the controlled-round feed route. “Controlled-round feed just simply assures a positive feed, less opportunity for jamming under a pressure situation (charging rhino, for example). Obviously, it’s more expensive to produce, but a controlled feed is the choice of every serious Professional Hunter of dangerous game.”

The X3 Extreme is a rifle built to hunt anywhere, at any time, under any conditions. Not only are the materials designed to withstand the elements, the quality of the gun build matches the materials potential.
The X3 Extreme is a rifle built to hunt anywhere, at any time, under any conditions. Not only are the materials designed to withstand the elements, the quality of the gun build matches the materials potential.

Is the extra cost of a controlled-round feed rifle worth it? I use this logic: Controlled-round-feed actions are like trucks with four-wheel drive. Until you need what they do, you think you wasted your money — and then when you need them, they’re priceless.

Case in point: My go-anywhere, do-anything backup rifle is a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight Compact in .308 Winchester because their actions always work. The X3 Extreme action I reviewed was made from 415 stainless-steel, was right-handed and, to no one’s surprise, always worked. The trigger broke cleanly at 3.25 pounds, and it shot Norma 156 grain Oryx and Nosler 140-grain factory-loaded ammunition as if they were ammunition-rifle soul mates. The X3 shot sub-MOA with both loads. It did so from a bench wearing a Zeiss V4 4-16x44mm optic attached with Talley rings and bases. Accessorize your rifle as you see fit, but this was a rifle/scope combo that worked.

Enjoying The Flavor

The fact that the X3 is an accurate gun didn’t impress me. I expected it. The 6.5-284 Norma got its reputation as a long-range accuracy cartridge, so if you make a rifle chambered in it and it doesn’t shoot MOA — stop making guns. Now, would I go to a long-range match with the Extreme X3 and shoot 100 rounds, expecting the ultralight rifle to keep pace with the “rifles-on-a-sled” long-range builds I see at a lot of matches? No. Then, again, I’d never take those guns on a vertical elk hunt, or any hunt, either.

It’s obvious the gun builders at Montana Rifle Company hunt and shoot with their guns because the functionality of the rifles stands out in the woods. The entire time I tested the rifle, I never had to stop and think about where the safety was, or wonder if the bolt was going to work, or worry that the stock was going to chip, break or swell. And I didn’t wonder if the gun would shoot well.

The controlled-round-feed action is a key reliability aspect to the X3 Extreme rifle.
The controlled-round-feed action is a key reliability aspect to the X3 Extreme rifle.

Still, these things aren’t what made the X3 Extreme stand out as a hunting rifle. What stood out to me was what I call its “intangibles,” and the X3 has a lot of them. The rifle just felt like my loyal and feisty there-when-I-needed-it best friend, and it’s one of the few rifles I’ve tested where the price (MSRP is $1,495) seemed like mistake. The controlled-round feed action always works. The fit and finish of the gun isn’t just good — it’s the best-looking synthetic gun in my safe, and it groups bullets into tiny ragged holes. Durability-wise, if I ever took it to Montana hunting, chances are the rifle would make it back to camp in better shape than me.

These days, there are a lot of ultralight options out there for hunters. If you want to save your money, spend it once, and enjoy one of the finest hunting rifles made for the rest of your life, then I’d go buy a Montana Rifle Company X3. It’s that simple, and that’s ultimately how things in western Montana survive — by being simple, reliable and tenacious.

X3 Extreme Specs

Action: MRC Model 1999
Weight: 6 lbs. 10 oz. short-action; 6 lbs 15 oz. long-action
Barrel Length: 24 or 26 inches, depending on caliber
Trigger: Pre-64 Winchester 70 style trigger, adjustable 3-3.25 lbs.
Stock: Keval reinforced synthetic
LOP: 13 5/8 inch
Overall Length: 42.5 to 47 inches, debending on caliber
Calibers: .243 Win., .25-06 Rem., 6.5-284 Norma, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .257 Roberts, 26 Nosler, .270 Win., .270 WSM, 7mm Rem. Mag., .280 Rem., .280 AI, 30 Nosler, .300 Win. Mag., .300 WSM, .300 RUM, .308 Win., .30-06 Sprg., 33 Nosler, .338 Win. Mag., .338 RUM
MSRP: $1,495
Website: www.montanarifleco.com

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

SIG SAUER .30-06 Springfield Elite Match Ammunition

By
Elwood Shelton
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Sig Elite Mach 1

Topped with a 175-grain Sierra Match King bullet, SIG’s .30-06 Elite Match Ammo looks to take the old warhorse the distance.

.30-06 Elite Match Specs:

  • Weight: 175 grains
  • Bullet: Serria Match King JHP
  • Muzzle Velocity: 2,700 fps
  • Muzzle Energy: 2,833 ft-lb
  • MSRP: $45.95
  • Ballistic Coefficient 175-grain Sierra Match King:
    .505 @ 2800 fps and above
    .496 between 2800 and 1800 fps
    .485 @ 1800 fps and below

This is nice to see.

Though it’s still among the most shot centerfire rifle cartridges in America, ammunition choices for the .30-06 Springfield are somewhat relegated to hunting and general range fodder. You can find match ammo, but it’s not exactly overflowing your local gun store’s shelves. Yeah, I get the reason – .308 Win. That said, there are still some pretty slick shooters that would benefit munching on SIG’s .30-06 Springfield Elite Match. No reason why you shouldn’t stretch the legs of your M1 Garand, 1903 Springfield or top-end hunting rifle chambered for the old warhorse.

SIG’s choice in bullet weight is also intriguing. With 150-, 165- and 180-grain factory loads dominating the market, a 175-grain Serria Match King is well out of the norm. It will be interesting to see if SIG is on to something. I certainly plan on finding out first hand.

From SIG Sauer:

NEWINGTON, N.H. – SIG SAUER, Inc. adds to its Elite Match ammunition line with the addition of a 30-06 Springfield round. Featuring a 175gr Sierra MatchKing® bullet, the SIG SAUER 30-06 Win Open Tip Match (OTM) round has a muzzle velocity of 2,700 fps with a muzzle energy of 2,833 ft-lbs.

Sig Elite Match

“Our 30-06 Springfield Elite Match load is designed to excel in today’s modern firearms as well as older rifles such as the M1 Garand and delivers the accuracy and reliability shooters have come to expect from SIG SAUER Elite Ammunition,” said Brad Criner, Senior Director, Brand Management and Business Development, SIG SAUER Ammunition. “Given the resurgence in popularity of the M1 Garand and numerous vintage rifle matches being held across the country, there is significant demand for this cartridge.”

SIG SAUER Elite Match ammunition features a temperature-stable propellant that delivers consistent muzzle velocity in all weather conditions. Premium-quality primers ensure minimum velocity variations, and the shell case metallurgy is optimized in the SIG Elite Match OTM cartridge to yield consistent bullet retention round to round. All SIG SAUER rifle ammunition is precision loaded on state-of-the-art equipment that is 100% electromechanically monitored to ensure geometric conformity and charge weight consistency.

For more information on SIG Elite Match Ammo, please visit www.sigsauer.com.

More Ammunition Information:

Gunsmithing Tools: Real Avid Smart Drive 90

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

Smart Drive 90

With more than 80 bits, the Smart Drive 90 covers any D.I.Y gun project that comes across your bench, making it one of the best gunsmithing tools.

What You Get With The Smart Drive 90:

    • 87 standard and metric bits coated with black oxide
    • Magnetic Parts Tray
    • Spin top main driver with integral LED light
    • Scope turret tool
    • Small driver for tight work
    • Hard case with polycarbonate lid

Dedicated gun tools … if you don’t have them, why not? Even if you don’t have the urge to undertake a massive master-gunsmith level project, sooner or later you’re going to need to tinker with something on one of your guns. Say, the target sight on your favorite revolver. Real Avid, purveyors of some truly unique gun gear, gets you up and running with its new Smart Dive 90 bit set. With 87 standard and metric bits, there isn’t a project big or small you can’t tackle.

From the company:

Smart Drive 90 isn’t just another bit set. Real Avid set out to create a unique perspective on an often commoditized product. The result of these endeavors is the Smart Drive 90.

“The Smart Drive 90 is the ultimate solution to a master grade gunsmithing bit set. We put tool grade steel bits in this kit with some additional functionality to make this bit set perfect for the gun bench or everyday use,” said Howard Tripp, Chief Innovation Officer at Real Avid. “We know the smallest details make the biggest difference and we feel we captured those details with this set.”

The Smart Drive 90 features a unique driver that comes with a jeweler’s top handle for one hand adjustments but the biggest innovation is a click of a button away. A super bright, 360° COBB LED light illuminates your work area with zero shadows to make working in small areas or dark recesses an easy task. “This innovation will change the way people approach gunsmithing and ultimately make any job easier. But we didn’t stop there,” said Howard Tripp. “We included a smaller driver that can be used alone or when paired with the main driver, it offers Torque Assist to give the user the ability to apply more torque without straining or stripping screws. This is perfect for rusted on fasteners.”

The Smart Drive 90 comes in a well-organized case with a magnetic compartment to store and hold lose fasteners and springs during disassembly.

The Smart Drive 90 retails at $99.99 and is available now.

More Gunsmithing Articles:

For more information on the Smart Drive 90, please visit www.realavid.com.

Is The Veto Pro Pac RB-MC As Good As Range Bags Get?

By
Gun Digest Editors
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1

A professional-grade range bag, the Veto Pro Pac RB-MC keeps guns and gear in shipshape order.

How the Veto Pro Pac RB-MC outdoes other range bags:

  • 2 vertial pistol holsters.
  • 18 interior and exterior vertical tool pockets.
  • 4 magazine pockets.
  • Double stitched, plastic coil zippers with oversized tabs.
  • Overmolded rubber grip handle.
  • Mollie field on the exterior.
  • Sturdy polypropolene base.

We’ve all been there before. We start out with the best intentions, planning tokeep a bag or ruck shipshape, everything where it needs to be and ready at a moment’s notice. Then real life hits us and the thing is in more disarray than a trailer park after a twister.

Veto Pro Pac RB-MC Range Bag

Certainly, we deserve some blame. But more times than not the satchel also merits finger pointing. Try as they might, many luggage manufacturers just don’t get it, even less so when it comes to that essential piece of range gear – the range bag. Veto Pro Pac is a decided exception.

Well known among skilled tradesmen for professional grade tool bags, the manufacturer has turned its studied eye to the gun world. We’re lucky they have. Not only iron tough, the organizational system of Veto Pro Pac’s RB-MC is drum tight and about as handy as penetrating oil.

The RB-MC (MSRP $200) uses the company’s patented center panel design, durable construction, injection molded base, vertical storage design, and YKK locking zippers to offer superb visual inventory capability for the shooting range.

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The RB-MC range bag measures 14 inches high, 10 inches wide and 8 inches deep, and offers expanded capacity and customizable storage options that allow customers to organize their range gear effectively and efficiently. The outside design features Molle webbing. There are internally built holsters for two full-sized handguns with foam blocks to support smaller guns, allowing equipment and firearms to be stored vertically with the barrels of pistols pointing downward.

The open space below the holsters offers ample storage for ammunition, and the neoprene and polyester pockets on the backside allows shooters to store magazines, safety glasses, ear protection, cleaning tools and more. The durable 3mm thick polypropylene base protects the bag from the elements and provides a stable platform to keep the bag vertical for good visibility and quick and easy access to all firearms equipment.

True to form, Veto Pro Pac RB-MC provides professional-grade storage and transportation solutions to gun owners. Because there’s no reason to only settle for precision down range.

For more information on the Veto Pro Pac RB-MC, please visit www.vetopropac.com.

Bolt-Action Rifles: Push Feed Vs. Controlled Feed

By
Jay Pinsky
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5

Push feed vs. controlled feed … when it comes to bolt-action rifles the debate is as eternal as the caliber wars. But does it really matter where you plant your flag?

Controlled Feed Pros and Cons

  • Cartridge is secured from magazine to chamber.
  • Rifle will load no matter what angle it’s held.
  • More secure hold to extract cartridge from chamber.
  • Most can’t be fed a single round.
  • Extractor means a longer bolt throw.
  • They can double-feed on a short stroke.

Push Feed Pros and Cons

  • Less expensive compared to controlled feed.
  • Shorter bolt throw and handle.
  • Generally boast multiple locking lugs.
  • Extractor can slip off a stuck cartridge.
  • Cartridges can fall out if rifle held in an unconventional manner.
  • Potential for a double-feed jam.

Rifle actions got their name because of what’s required to make them work – the action. Sounds quite simple, right? Maybe. Let’s tuck this simple fact away and come back to it a bit later.

Push Feed Vs Controlled Feed 4

For decades, if not longer, the debate has raged among novice and veteran hunters alike as to what style of bolt-action rifle was more reliable, a controlled-round feed action or a push-feed action. The debate was founded on the ultimate need for a bolt-action rifle to work when everything else around you might not — and your life depended on being able to make one last shot.

After all, logic dictates that to make that next shot, your rifle’s action has to remove the last round fired from the chamber, eject it out of the receiver and completely cycle it out of the gun so it can load the next round into the chamber. In battle, the next sound you need hear is bang! … and not the harps of angels singing your failed-rifle story in Heaven.

So, which type of mechanical design works the best at making sure you’re around to draw a resident moose tag in Idaho? To find out, let’s look at how each one is designed.

Controlled-Round Actions

I’ll be specific and start with the father of controlled-round feed actions, the M98 design from Germany. I’m a huge fan of the M98 platform. Here, the bolt captures the cartridge in the magazine with what’s known as a non-rotating claw extractor and carries the cartridge tightly from the magazine up and into the rifle chamber. And …

The author uses a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight Compact rifle chambered in .308 Winchester as an all-around backup gun for hunts around the world. He specifically chose the Model 70’s controlled-round feed action design for its reliability. Next to the Model 70’s bolt is the author’s Mauser K98 bolt, which is the textbook example of a controlled-round feed bolt.
The author uses a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight Compact rifle chambered in .308 Winchester as an all-around backup gun for hunts around the world. He specifically chose the Model 70’s controlled-round feed action design for its reliability. Next to the Model 70’s bolt is the author’s Mauser K98 bolt, which is the textbook example of a controlled-round feed bolt.

Bang!

You just made a textbook 90-yard shot on an unsuspecting black bear, a potentially dangerous beast we can hunt without the need of a passport. Now let’s say, just for fun, the bear didn’t drop dead like you rehearsed with your hunting buddies and rightfully blames you for his suddenly arthritic right shoulder pain. This isn’t Yogi. You’re going to need to shoot again — accurately and quickly — while your blood pressure is significantly more elevated. Mental note: Your M98 action is not emotionally involved here. No, its bond with you is simply plutonic — more on why this matters later.

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As soon as you pulled the trigger on your first shot, let’s assume you kept your rifle sighted in on your now vigorously annoyed black bear, and you fully cycled the bolt-action. As you worked the bolt, the round your fired is pulled from the chamber positively and under full control, meaning that the bolt and its claw extractor firmly held the cartridge case until it was ejected by the ejector. Then on the way back forward, the bolt captured a fresh cartridge from the magazine, loaded it into the chamber, and you shot again … persuading the black bear to give up just a few yards away from you.

Action Specifics

Here are some key points of a controlled-round feed action: The M98 bolt-action will work regardless of how you might hold, swing, jerk or spin the rifle during the shooting situation. It will load if you cock the rifle sideways, find yourself and the rifle upside down, or any other gun-yoga inspired position. A controlled-round feed action also gets a better, bigger grip on the rims of a case that might be stuck in a rifle’s chamber, so it can be extracted.

The author’s sporterized K98 Mauser’s controlled-round feed designed bolt securely captures the cartridge with its massive extractor.
The author’s sporterized K98 Mauser’s controlled-round feed designed bolt securely captures the cartridge with its massive extractor.

Controlled-round feed actions are not without their drawbacks, though. For example, they’re more expensive to manufacture. You can’t single-round feed them, meaning you can’t just throw a new cartridge in the receiver from the top and get it to feed. That said, controlled-round feed actions can be tuned to allow for this these days. That nice big extractor also means that the bolt throw will be longer.

One last thing: They can jam. It’s true. If you short-stroke a controlled-round feed action, it can absolutely double-feed — and your day just got a lot worse.

I’ll wait for the screaming to calm down before I get into push-feed actions.

Push-Feed Actions

Push-feed actions are pretty darn great, too. What’s a push-feed action? A push-feed action works when a bolt moves a cartridge from magazine to chamber without any sort of mechanical connection between the cartridge and the bolt. Example? The wildly popular Remington Model 700 action.

A great example of a modern push-feed action is the author’s Savage Model 14 chambered in .300 Savage. The rifle successfully completed a plains game safari trip to South Africa with no problems feeding, firing, cycling or reloading the cartridges in a variety of shooting situations.
A great example of a modern push-feed action is the author’s Savage Model 14 chambered in .300 Savage. The rifle successfully completed a plains game safari trip to South Africa with no problems feeding, firing, cycling or reloading the cartridges in a variety of shooting situations.

So, what are some of the advantages of a push-feed action over a controlled-round feed action? For one thing, it’s less expensive to manufacture. Secondly, you can — and I have — single load cartridges from the top of a push-feed action rifle in hunting situations. Another great point, especially with today’s massive 30mm, 34mm and even 35mm rifle scopes, is that a push-feed features a shorter bolt handle throw because the push-feed bolts have multiple locking lugs that help strengthen the action and lower the amount of “throw” a bolt handle needs to operate. The bottom line is that push-feed actions work, and that’s no surprise.

How reliable are push-feed actions? I took not one — but two — to Africa on my first safari, and I never had a problem mechanically under any condition. It was buttery-smooth, and incredibly fast in the Savage Model 14 300 Savage I used in South Africa. In fact, the fastest shooting I did while I was in Africa was on warthogs both with the Savage and a Sako Model 85 6.5×55 Swede, and not once in what was more than ten engagements with multiple shots did either rifle fail to fire, feed, eject or hit exactly where I aimed. Now, where I aimed sometimes was definitely flawed, but that’s not the point right now. The push-feeds worked, and they worked well, under quite a bit of stress on hartebeests, zebras, duikers, steenboks, kudu and warthogs.

Like those fast African swine, push-feed actions do have their warts. Extractors on push-feed actions are typically smaller and can sometimes slip off a stuck cartridge’s rim, and like a dog without a leash, a cartridge in an push-feed action can fall out, get flung out or otherwise not report for go-bang duty on time if a rifle is held in an unconventional manner — like upside down, sideways dropped, etc.

The Savage Model 14 rifle bolt is fluted to lighten the bolt weight and add cosmetic flair to the gun, which was a special order from the Savage Arms manufacturer. The bolt is also vented to mitigate gases if a case or primer ruptures, and it features twin locking lugs to give the bolt added strength.
The Savage Model 14 rifle bolt is fluted to lighten the bolt weight and add cosmetic flair to the gun, which was a special order from the Savage Arms manufacturer. The bolt is also vented to mitigate gases if a case or primer ruptures, and it features twin locking lugs to give the bolt added strength.

Lastly, a push-feed rifle can have a double-feed style jam. In fact, I happen to know a guy, quite well in fact, who got so excited on a black bear hunt in Idaho that he double-fed his push-fed rifle. Don’t worry though, I have it on good authority that I, uh … this guy, learned from his mistake and practiced working his bolt actions so much that he now has carpel tunnel syndrome.

I later asked the guide who witnessed my push-feed meltdown on the mountain, Brooks Murphy of Salmon River Lodge Resort, what action was better.

Vying For Position

“The great debate!” said, Murphy. “In today’s world, with improved push-feed extraction systems and much more precise and reliable factory ammunition, I don’t believe there’s a huge difference for the vast majority of hunters. The only time I could see a true need for a controlled-round feed rifle could possibly be dangerous game. This is primarily due to the possibility of a reload with weapon in all manners of angle. There will always be the shooter who wants to maintain control of the cartridge from magazine to chamber. That’s why there are options.

Here, the author shows the physical differences between a modern push-feed bolt, a Savage Model 14 short-action chambered for .300 Savage, and a Mauser K98 bolt, which is a controlled-round feed design.
Here, the author shows the physical differences between a modern push-feed bolt, a Savage Model 14 short-action chambered for .300 Savage, and a Mauser K98 bolt, which is a controlled-round feed design.

“But more importantly — as we all should know — regardless of the type of action, the user has to work the bolt all the way back before going forward … or bad things happen,” added Murphy. “Both styles can be short-stroked under certain conditions. Practice hard with whatever you choose.”

A few months after I proved you can double-feed a push-feed action, I was in Africa and asked Geoffrey Wayland, owner of Fort Richmond Safaris, which action was better. His answer fell right in step with Murphy’s as he rattled off all of the advantages and disadvantages of both the controlled-round feed actions and the push-feed actions. Wayland said that, when push came to shove — if he’s hunting dangerous game, he chooses the controlled-round feed every time.

Where Will You Plant Your Flag?

If you’re keeping score back home, that’s two professional guides voting for the controlled-round feed actions over push-feed actions if dangerous game is being hunted. And, the same two professional guides flipping a coin between the two when non-dangerous game is on the menu.

Push Feed Vs Controlled Feed 3

Still, hundreds of dangerous game hunters successfully harvest their animals with push-feed actions annually, and plenty of controlled-round feed action hunters choke during the moment of truth because they don’t know their equipment. Yes, both actions can jam. The key, as Murphy said, lies the operator’s skills when it really counts.

Remember, a rifle’s action is never emotionally invested in your shooting situation. Rifles don’t get nervous. They don’t get excited, scared, cocky or hesitant. Actions simply work, or they don’t — and how well a bolt-action rifle runs depends more on us than anything else.

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

Nikon Turns Eye To Hunting Scopes With ProStaff P5

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

Offering a wider field of view up close and more detail on high magnifications, ProStaff P5 line aims to get hunters on target no matter the situation.

How The ProStaff P5 Improves The Series:

  • Wider field of view at lower magnification, more detail at higher magnification.
  • 42mm and 50mm objective lens options.
  • ¼-MOA per click windage and elevation adjustments.
  • Choice of Nikoplex, MK1-MOA or BDC reticles.
  • Side-parallax adjustment on long-range models.

Shooters who have a tight rein on their pocketbooks, yet seek performance, have long appreciated what Nikon brings to the table. Since jumping into the sporting optics game, the Japanese manufacturer’s riflescopes have more than built a reputation for precision at a price nearly any rifleman can afford.

PROSTAFF P5 2.5-10x42mm
PROSTAFF P5 2.5-10x42mm

The company aims to keep this tradition rolling with an expansion of its well-regarded series of hunting scopes. While not reinventing the wheel, the recently unveiled ProStaff P5 line has a few improvements that should pique hunters’ interests. In particular, the company is heralding its first 1-inch main tube scopes with a greater field of vision on lower magnifications and more detail when dialed up. If true, the P5 scopes should excel in the most common hunting situations, whether a running shot up close or a precision attempt on a distant ridge.

A few of the more notable features of the ProStaff P5 line include 4:1 zoom ratio, 42mm and 50mm objective lenses, fully-coated lens surfaces and the choice of Nikoplex, MK1-MOA or BDC reticles. A nice touch, all reticles are supported by Nikon’s Spot On Ballistic App. Furthermore, the scopes have ¼-MOA per click windage and elevation adjustments and the long-range models, such as the P5 6-24x50SF, boast side-parallax adjustment.

More Optics Information:

  • 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

In all, the ProStaff P5 line includes eight scopes, with adjustable magnification ranging from 2.5-10x to 6-25x. The MSRP range for the series is $230 to $450 and most are already available for sale.

More from Nikon:

Melville, NY (April 2019) – Nikon continues to raise the bar for riflescope performance as it surpasses the century-mark of optical innovation. The all-new PROSTAFF P5 is a continuation of that legacy wrapped up in a one-inch main body tube and a versatile 4x zoom ratio that offers a wide field of view and increased image detail throughout the magnification range.

PROSTAFF P5 3-12x42mm
PROSTAFF P5 3-12x42mm

Nikon’s legendary optical performance is maximized through its dedication to engineering optical systems specific to each and every riflescope it builds, and the PROSTAFF P5 is no exception. The optical system of the PROSTAFF P5 was created around Nikon’s renowned lead-and-arsenic-free glass that is fully multicoated with anti-reflective compounds, providing consistently bright images in all lighting conditions.

Durability is always a priority for Nikon and the PROSTAFF P5 will surely live up to this reputation. Engineered for minimum weight and maximum strength, the PROSTAFF P5 features an all-aluminum zoom ring, focusing eyepiece and turret caps with matched knurling for increased grip and visual appeal.

The PROSTAFF P5 is the first one-inch tube riflescope in Nikon’s hunting lineup to offer its new MK1-MOA long-range reticle. Together with precise, 1/4-MOA turrets, the MK1-MOA reticle provides precise visual reference points for ranging, holdovers and windage corrections. The renowned BDC reticle and Nikoplex reticles are also offered for those that either want a ballistic compensating reticle or a single aiming point respectively. All reticle options are supported by Nikon’s Spot On Ballistic App for quick referencing in any field situation.

PROSTAFF P5 6-24x50mm
PROSTAFF P5 6-24x50mm

Included in the PROSTAFF P5 lineup are long-range models that offer turret-mounted side focus parallax adjustment to enable finely tuned sight picture without the need to break cheek weld. The generous eye relief on all PROSTAFF P5 models allows quick target acquisition and helps keep brows safe––even during heavy recoil.

As with all Nikon riflescopes, the PROSTAFF P5 models are nitrogen purged and O-ring sealed for waterproof, fogproof and shockproof performance and are backed by Nikon’s NO FAULT Lifetime Repair/Replacement Policy.

For more information on the ProStaff P5, please visit www.nikonsportoptics.com.

Kent Elite Target: Less Recoil, More Fun

By
Corey Graff
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1

Loaded with a custom blend of powder, Kent Elite Target Shells perform without punishing.

How Kent Elite Target Shells Keep You Shooting Longer And Better:

  • Diamond Shot provides uniformly tight patterns.
  • Nickel-plated heads provide smooth and reliable ejection.
  • Custom powder blends keep barrel cleaner while minimizing felt recoil.
  • Avialable in 2 3/4″ 12- and 20-gauge shells.

I’m no All-American shooter, but even I can tell when a shotshell delivers goods that match the hype. Such was the case recently when I tested Kent Cartridge’s new Elite Target line of low-recoil target loads on the local sporting clays range. Short of conducting an exhaustive test on patterning boards, it’s difficult to evaluate shotshell performance in quantifiable ways. But when you break more clays than you ever have before, and your shoulder hurts less doing so, you must admit: Kent is onto something.

Kent’s Elite Target line of shotshells is just about the most consistent ammo you can get, plus it’s low recoil, which makes it pleasant to shoot.
Kent’s Elite Target line of shotshells is just about the most consistent ammo you can get, plus it’s low recoil, which makes it pleasant to shoot.

According to Kent, its new Elite Target line — available in 12 and 20 gauge, from 7/8-ounce to 1 1/8-ounce loads — is packed with a “custom blended” powder that ensures consistency and cuts recoil. I don’t know how to prove those claims, other than my personal best score on sporting clays, and reports from young and female shooters who really liked the 20-gauge stuff and found it easy to shoot — with no harsh punch to the shoulder. These new shooters broke clays like seasoned pros, so it’s a safe assumption the Kent Elite they shot was helping more than hurting.

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New shooters tested the yellow-cased No. 7 1/2 shot in 20 gauge (7/8-ounce load at 1,200 fps) in a CZ Model 720 Reduced Length youth semi-auto, and it ran with perfect reliability. I put the purple-hull 12-gauge loads — also 7 1/2 shot, 1-ounce load at 1,200 fps — through a Pointer Phenoma autoloader. Both loads blasted orange clays to smithereens with consistency.

Tested in a Pointer Phenoma autoloader, Kent’s Elite Target 12-gauge load of 1-ounce of No. 7 ½ shot at 1,200 fps was all business on the sporting clays range, and it helped the author beat his previous personal best score.
Tested in a Pointer Phenoma autoloader, Kent’s Elite Target 12-gauge load of 1-ounce of No. 7 ½ shot at 1,200 fps was all business on the sporting clays range, and it helped the author beat his previous personal best score.

If you’re new to the Kent line of shotshells, the firm uses a proprietary Diamond Shot technology, and a newfangled shot polishing process that’s said to improve pellet formation for consistent and reliable patterns for superior target-breaking performance on trap, skeet and sporting clay ranges. The shells also feature 10mm nickel-plated heads.

All I know for sure is that these shotshells inspire confidence. They’re great for kids and new shooters who are recoil sensitive … and they can make even the most questionable of wingshooters (like me) better shots on the range.

PRODUCT CODEGAUGESHELL LENGTHVELOCITY F.P.SLOADSHOT SIZE
E12T28-7.5, 8, 912G2 3/4″12001 OZ.7.5, 8, 9
E12T32-7.5, 812G2 3/4″11501 1/8 OZ.7.5, 8
E12TH32-7.5, 812G2 3/4″12001 1/8 OZ.7.5, 8
E20T24-7.5, 8, 920G2 3/4″12007/8 OZ.7.5, 8, 9

For more information on Kent Elite Target Shells, please visit www.kentcartridge.com/us.

Editor’s Notes: This article originally appeared in the 2018 Shooting Is Fun issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Video: H&K’s VP9 And VP9 SK Stand Out In The Crowd

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

As intuitive to manipulate as they are to shoot, the VP9 and VP9 SK are designed so the masses can master them.

Its name suggests a handgun for the masses. Put another way, just a face in the crowd. Yet, get on the business end of Heckler & Koch’s “Volkspistole” and you’ll soon discover the striker-fired is most definitely in a class of its own.

As expected from the German concern, the VP9 has built a reputation for accuracy and comfortable ergonomics. But the area where the 9mm, polymer-framed heater excels, perhaps more so than anything else in this saturated end of the market, is ease of use. Fully ambidextrous, the VP9’s controls are suited for righties and lefties, or those who shoot from their support hand on a regular basis. Beyond that, the paddle magazine release and slide lock are sized so you can’t miss them, while not so ostentatious to cause issues on the draw. Once familiar, the H&K system can cut precious seconds off a reload, making it one of the fastest pistols to get back into the fight. For an added measure of manipulation, the VP9 also boasts accentuated charging handles at the rear of the slide, giving a bit more to work with when racking the slide or on a press-check.

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Turning a fine eye to hand feel, H&K has put plenty of thought into the grip of the VP9 and, for that matter, the VP9 SK (the sub-compact variant). Fine pebbling, on the sides and finger grooves, gives a firm positive grip, ensuring the pistol stays put. Furthermore, a replaceable backstrap system (small, medium and large panels) tailors the pistols to your hand size.

While running at the high end of the striker-fired market, the VP9’s MSRP is a little north of $700, shooters get every penny out of the pistol’s performance.

For more information on the VP9 and VP9 SK, please visit www.hk-usa.com/.

Range Testing the SIG M17 Civilian Variant

By
Robert Campbell
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0

Outside a few nuances, the SIG M17 Civilian Variant is identical to newly minted military service pistol and performs battle tough.

How good is the SIG M17 Civilian Variant:

  • Through a 2,000-round test the pistol never encounted a failure.
  • When firing high-recoil defense loads, the P320 M17 remained controllable.
  • Five-shot groups at 25 yards ranged from 2.5 to 3.5 inches.

The U.S. military recently completed a rigorous test of 9mm high-capacity handguns. The winner likely will serve for a decade or more. SIG’s P320 won the contest and was adopted as the U.S. M17. Several upgrades and modifications were undertaken to meet military standards.

The SIG M17 is a great shooter with many good features, including a 17-round capacity and short, fast trigger.
The SIG M17 is a great shooter with many good features, including a 17-round capacity and short, fast trigger.

Raise Your Sig Sauer IQ

Its modular design was among its most notable strong suits. The firing module is contained in the frame. The steel chassis can be removed and placed into a smaller frame. The slide and barrel can be changed as well. This makes for versatility. In an institutional environment, the modular design makes for easy accommodation of shooters with small and large hands. The pistol is competitively priced. Recently, SIG introduced a civilian version of the U.S. Army’s new pistol: The P320 M17. As range testing proved, it’s an interesting and effective handgun.

SIG M17 Details

The SIG M17 pistol is a service-size handgun at 8 inches long, 5.5 inches high, 1.3 inches wide and 29 ounces unloaded. It ships with two 17-round magazines. The M17 features an ambidextrous slide lock and a well-designed ambidextrous safety. The teardrop-shaped magazine release isn’t ambidextrous but works well for those who practice. The pistol is finished in PVD coyote brown.

The M17 is comfortable to fire from all firing positions.
The M17 is comfortable to fire from all firing positions.

The frame is polymer and the slide is stainless steel beneath the coating. An advantage of the M17 is that the rear sight cover is a night sight unit (it is removable for red-dot use). The front sight is a SIGLITE tritium dot. Disassembly is simple and doesn’t require the trigger to be pressed. The technology is cutting edge. How it shoots is the question I wanted to answer.
Firing Line

SIG Talk: Explore Reviews, Tips, and Insights

The pistol feels good in the hand with a slightly sharper grip angle than some polymer pistols. The grip feels solid and fits my average-size hands well. The sights provide an excellent sight picture. Many polymer pistols are slide heavy. The M17 is less so than most. The pistol operates like most striker-fired handguns, but the striker isn’t initially prepped as much as the Glock when the slide is racked. This results in a heavier trigger action. The SIG M17 trigger broke at 6.5 pounds on the Lyman electronic trigger-pull gauge. The trigger press is very short, however, and this makes for excellent speed. Reset is rapid. The pistol points well compared to most polymer-frame handguns. A 29 ounces, this 9mm handgun doesn’t kick much and the grip spreads recoil across the hand. Grip pebbling makes for good adhesion.

The M17 is a clean and uncluttered design. It features ambidextrous safety lever, an ambidextrous slide lock and a light rail.
The M17 is a clean and uncluttered design. It features ambidextrous safety lever, an ambidextrous slide lock and a light rail.

My range test put more than 2,000 rounds through the SIG P320 M17. It never failed to feed, chamber, fire or eject. It is lively in the hand and tracks well — responding perfectly to a trained shooter. When you are firing at multiple targets, the rule is always the same: fire, allow trigger reset during recoil and fire again as soon as you regain the sight picture. The SIG allows fast hits. Among the training loads I have used is the Federal Syntech in both 115- and 124-grain weights. This load is useful in indoor ranges as it is lead-free and requires less cleaning when used in large quantities.

Accuracy is more than adequate for training well past 25 yards. There are two types of accuracy — practical and intrinsic. Very few people are capable of shooting to the mechanical or intrinsic accuracy level of a pistol. The practical accuracy of the M17 is high.

The M17 responds well to a trained shooter. Reliability was excellent with all of the ammo tested in it.
The M17 responds well to a trained shooter. Reliability was excellent with all of the ammo tested in it.

I proofed the pistol with modern defense loads including Federal’s 124-grain HST, Federal 135-grain Deep Penetrator and Federal HST 147-grain +P. I particularly like the 147-grain +P load. This is an overlooked combination that adds enough velocity to the 147-grain bullet to ensure expansion, yet it isn’t a hard kicker. Like all quality firearms, the M17 prefers one load to others but has demonstrated useful accuracy with all ammo tested.

LoadVelocity (fps)5-Shot 25-Yard Group (in.)
Federal 124-gr. HST1,1902.5
Federal 147-gr. HST9803.0
Federal 135-gr. Deep Penetrator1,0992.8
Federal 124-gr. Syntech1,1003.5
Velocity recorded with a RCBS Ammomaster chronograph.

When firing high-recoil defense loads, the P320 M17 remained controllable. The cadence of fire isn’t set by how fast you are able to press the trigger but by how quickly you are able to regain the sights after recoil. As for absolute accuracy, the pistol was fired from a solid bench using the Bullshooters pistol rest from Brownells. Five-shot groups at 25 yards ranged from 2.5 to 3.5 inches. The pistol is clearly accurate enough for personal defense or service use.

Federal offers first-class personal defense and training ammunition. In the author’s test, the M17 never failed to feed, chamber, fire or eject.
Federal offers first-class personal defense and training ammunition. In the author’s test, the M17 never failed to feed, chamber, fire or eject.

The SIG P320 M17 9mm offers a considerable advantage over the standard P320 in the sights and finish. The pistol responds well to a trained shooter, but you must remain well-practiced. The M17 trigger, once learned, produces excellent results. The M17 is a credible defense and duty handgun with much to recommend.

SIG P320 M17 SPECS

MODEL: SIG P320 M17
CALIBER: 9mm Luger
ACTION: Semi-auto
GRIP TYPE: Modular polymer
FRAME: Full-size
FRAME MATERIAL: Stainless steel
FRAME FINISH: Stainless steel
SLIDE FINISH: Coyote PVD
SLIDE MATERIAL: Stainless steel
BARREL MATERIAL: Carbon steel
ACCESSORY RAIL: M1913
TRIGGER: Striker
TRIGGER TYPE: Standard
BARREL LENGTH: 4.7 in. (119mm)
OVERALL LENGTH: 8 in. (203mm)
OVERALL WIDTH: 1.3 in. (33mm)
HEIGHT: 5.5 in. (140mm)
WEIGHT: 29.6 oz. (840g)

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from the Tactical Gun Digest book, available at GunDigestStore.com.

Raise Your Sig Sauer IQ:

The Training Advantage Of 1911 Conversion Kits

By
Dick Jones
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You can get a conversion kit for your 1911 for less money than many new .22 LR pistols cost, giving you a familiar, cheap and invaluable training tool.

Why you should consider a .22 LR conversion kit for your 1911:

  • Less expensive than an identical pistol in the caliber.
  • Ammunition is more affordable, so you’ll shoot more.
  • Identical in operation to the larger caliber.
  • Lighter recoil allows you to focus on fundamentals.
  • On most models, easily switches between calibers.

I’ve been teaching people to shoot since 1980. My first experiences were through our local community college, teaching women to shoot. My students were mostly single women who primarily were interested in personal defense and most had zero shooting experience prior to signing up for the class. I suspect I learned as much in that first series of classes as my students.

1911 Coverson Kit 11

My students brought a varied collection of guns to those original classes, mostly .38 caliber revolvers and full-sized semi-autos. Remember that in those days we didn’t have the excellent choices we have today, and gun size was less important because North Carolina didn’t have a concealed carry permit system.

I quickly found that most of my new shooters experienced difficulties learning to shoot with a full-power handgun because of recoil and noise generated. I began bringing .22 LRs to the class and was immediately impressed by how much quicker they learned.

The Teaching Power Of A .22 LR

In retrospect, I should’ve realized the benefits of learning with a .22 since that’s exactly how I learned to shoot because, as a young man, I simply couldn’t afford to shoot the number of rounds required to truly become proficient. Now I know some of the best shooters in the world on a first-name basis, and all of them use .22s for training — both for the people they train and for themselves.

The Nelson Conversion benefits from a fixed match barrel, sights that are stationary during cycling and a full-length guide rod. As a result, accuracy is on par with a fine match pistol.
The Nelson Conversion benefits from a fixed match barrel, sights that are stationary during cycling and a full-length guide rod. As a result, accuracy is on par with a fine match pistol.

When I began shooting in the late 1960s, there were few choices of suitable rimfire trainers for semi-autos. If you were a revolver shooter and wanted to do some rimfire training, there were a lot of options. Smith & Wesson had rimfire versions of their excellent Combat Masterpiece in Models 17 and 18 — and even a 2-inch J-Frame in the Model 34. Colt offered their Diamondback in .22 Long Rifle and the Frontier Scout operated exactly like the full-sized six shooters, but was a bit scaled down.

Check out these other great articles on:

Semi-auto shooters had zero choices in guns identical in operation to their full-sized counterparts. Though there were Colt, High Standard, Ruger and Smith & Wesson semi-autos that were excellent pistols, they bore little resemblance or operational characteristics to the big guns.

The Colt Conversion is much more complicated, requiring a floating chamber to develop enough energy to cycle the heavy steel slide.
The Colt Conversion is much more complicated, requiring a floating chamber to develop enough energy to cycle the heavy steel slide.

Colt did offer a .22 rimfire conversion unit for their 1911s, but we’ll discuss this a bit later. Today, we have a lot of replica trainers in .22, and many are operationally identical to the real thing. GSG, Walther and others offer rimfire pistols that are dimensionally and operationally identical to the 1911, but while the look and feel is like the real thing, accuracy is only suitable for close range training and plinking.

The problem was physics. The .22 Long Rifle round doesn’t generate enough energy to carry the slide of a 1911 to the rear to eject a spent case while compressing a spring capable of stripping a round out of the magazine and carrying the slide forward into battery. Colt solved the problem by designing a floating chamber that allowed the chamber to gain enough momentum to cycle the slide.

Instead of the entire slide cycling, the Nelson has a partial slide that moves independently of the sights.
Instead of the entire slide cycling, the Nelson has a partial slide that moves independently of the sights.

Like so many solutions in life, the solution to one problem created another. With the floating chamber, accuracy suffered and the additional surfaces required by having a chamber floating in a barrel required lots of maintenance because of fouling. It worked, but not really well. Accuracy suffered further because the barrel rattled around in the slide loosely secured only by the slide release pin.

Converting For Training And Fun

There’s an option that’s quietly winning the favor of more and more of the best shooters who wish to train with a rimfire, and it’s not only been around a long time — it’s also accurate enough to win matches at a national level. The Nelson Custom Guns 1911 conversion has a long history with competitive shooters. Bob Marvel was well-known for building competition 1911s for both the .45 and centerfire stages of conventional pistol competition. He decided it made sense to use the same identical grip frame for the .22 rimfire stage of a 2700 pistol match and designed his .22 rimfire conversion for the 1911.

1911 Coverson Kit 6
The sighting rib is attached to the slide by two hollow head screws and can be replaced with a scope mount provided by Nelson. Most competitors opt for an extra barrel for optics, precluding the need to re-zero after changing.

In order to get the level of accuracy required, it only made sense to use a fixed barrel, so the Nelson conversion fixes the barrel to the frame via a recoil spring guide rod that tightens the barrel into the frame on the modified slide-lock pin. The slide lock furnished is in two parts to allow the slide lock to function normally, even though the pin portion of the slide lock is used to fix the barrel in place. The aluminum slide has a steel insert that serves as the breech face.

The top of the barrel is milled to accept a recessed rib that is removed with two screws. The ribs are interchangeable so the user can have a rib with the excellent front post and Elliason rear sights, and switch out iron sights for a scope mount. Currently, Nelson is working on a top rib that incorporates both iron sights and a scope mount to allow shooters to use the scope in open classes and remove it for limited class events or practice.

(right) Colt’s original conversion was marketed from 1937 to 1982. Pristine versions commonly bring as much as a new 1911.
(right) Colt’s original conversion was marketed from 1937 to 1982. Pristine versions commonly bring as much as a new 1911.

I installed the Nelson conversion on a Springfield Armory Range Officer in .45 ACP, but the system will work on any 1911 in .45, and with a minor fix, a 9mm or .38 Super. The conversion takes about a minute and will work on both single-stack and double-stack 1911s by using different magazines. Since I’ve had the unit, I’ve run more than a thousand rounds of different brands through it with zero malfunctions. Accuracy is on par with the very best semi-auto rimfires on the market, and I’m not talking about standard across-the-counter pistols — I’m talking about the best guns made by Hammeril and Pardini.

Shooting the Nelson Conversion is like shooting your favorite 1911, except for the low cost and minimal recoil. Unless you have a full race pistol and the very best ammunition, it’s more accurate. The iron sights on my unit are identical to the sights on my 1968 Colt Gold Cup National Match. The magazines are easy to load whether you use the supplied magazine spring compressor or not. Magazines are polymer and drop freely when the release is pressed. Sight adjustments are easy and precise.

Magazines are polymer and available in both single and double stack. Both versions have a 12-shot capacity. The follower has a hole accessible through a slot in the magazine for a loading button.
Magazines are polymer and available in both single and double stack. Both versions have a 12-shot capacity. The follower has a hole accessible through a slot in the magazine for a loading button.

The upshot of all this is the ability of a competitor to shoot the exact trigger and operational system as their centerfire competition pistol. In fact, that shooter is using his competition pistol, just converted over to shoot ammunition at a fraction of the cost, and this benefit comes with accuracy that’s likely to exceed the level of accuracy of the shooter’s competition gun.

While the original Colt conversion was a wonderful tool, it left a lot to be desired in accuracy and reliability. For a design from 1937, it was a remarkable tool for training, but today we have a much better option.

The heavy match barrel features a recessed target crown.
The heavy match barrel features a recessed target crown.

Providing match-pistol accuracy, adaptability to both single- and double-stack pistols and at a price of $480 (which is below that of the average recreational level .22 pistol), Nelson’s .22 conversion satisfies the need of any shooter wishing to utilize the most enduring pistol design in history as a low-cost trainer.

.300 Norma Magnum: Made To Go The Distance … Then Some

By
Gun Digest Editors
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300 Norma

Still predominantly a wildcat in America, the .300 Norma Magnum has already captured the imagination of long-range shooters.

How the .300 Norma Magnum performs:

  • It’s a .338 Norma Magnum necked down to .308 caliber.
  • Generates .30-378 Weatherby ballistics from a non-belted case.
  • Capable of pushing a 208-grain bullet more than 3,000 fps at the muzzle.

In early 2007, a ballistician named Jimmie Sloan began looking into long-range shooting and what it took to achieve success at 1,000 and 1,500 yards with a portable individual weapon system. Sloan was unsatisfied with the cartridges available at the time. He wanted a rifle cartridge capable of shooting a bullet with a very high ballistic coefficient, one that weighed 300 grains and traveled at velocities of about 2,800 fps. A wildcat cartridge known as the .338R was the result. In 2009, Norma AB Precision legitimized the cartridge as the .338 Norma Magnum. The .300 Norma Magnum is nothing more than the .338 Norma Magnum necked down to .308-caliber. Aside from that, the case dimensions are almost identical.

More Ammunition Information:

The .300 Norma Magnum generates .30-378 Weatherby ballistics from a non-belted case with a standard, radius-free shoulder. Few American ammunition manufacturers offer factory loads, wildcatters have already gone to work by Ackley Improving the case so that it has a 40-degree shoulder. Brass for the .300 Norma Magnum is available from Midway USA. Though similar in name and caliber to the .308 Norma Magnum, these cartridges are not the same; the .300 Norma Magnum will push a 200-grain bullet to the same velocities the .308 Norma Magnum will push a 180-grain bullet.

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

The Top 5 Long-Range Shooting Gear Choices Of The Past Year

By
Frank Galli
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The best new gear from the past year for mastering the long-range shooting game.

What are the Top 5 long-range shooting gear choices:

  1. Vudoo Gun Works V-22
  2. Really Right Stuff Anvil 30 Tripod
  3. .224 Valkyrie
  4. Competition Bags Game Changer
  5. Bighorn Origin Action

Time flies when you’re having fun, and the gear precision rifle shooters are turning to is coming at us even faster. Before writing this article, I put the question to the Sniper’s Hide Forum, asking what gear they would include in a “year in review” column, and they did not disappoint. I could make this a 10-page article, but I just don’t have that kind of space, so I’m going to boil it down to my Top 5.

Jumping right in, I want to caveat and say one thing: There’s currently a lot of movement in the precision rifle side of the sport. I selected these pieces of kit based on the feedback from the Sniper’s Hide Members and from my own personal experiences with each product. It’s by no means complete or definitive; however, I think it hit the mark in a lot of ways. Don’t read into the order of my selections, instead place them all on equal footing to each, just nestled in their various applications.

Breaking down the Top 5 list, let’s look at each one individually and dissect why they were chosen.

Vudoo Gun Works V-22 Action And Rifles

Vudoo 2

Vudoo Gun Works, along with the NRL 22 League, has changed the way we approached training and practice with a precision rifle. The V-22 Action has a very similar footprint to the Remington 40x. In other words, it fits in a standard Remington short-action stock. It has been adapted to work with AICS type magazines, so the controls are very similar to our standard, full-sized rifles.

Translated, it also has a short action detachable bottom metal. Vudoo Gun Works .22 rifles look just like their full-sized brothers out there, just scaled down. The best part: You can shoot a .22 LR all day, and it doesn’t destroy your shoulder or your wallet.

More Long-Range Shooting Info:

The competitions using these rifles has spread across the United States like wildfire. The NRL 22 League has really exploded. Why? Because any 100-yard range will do, and they’re replicating tactical matches scaled down to work for the .22 rimfire.

You’ve heard it a thousand times, but the .22 LR is the best way to train and get kids involved. Across the board, the Vudoo Gun Works rifles are absolute hammers, and when shooting Prime factory ammo, we have seen great results. www.vudoogunworks.com

Really Right Stuff Anvil 30 Tripod

RRS 4

A good tripod is universally considered the best single tool for the precision rifle shooter to employ when conditions don’t allow you to go prone. It’s only been a few years since Really Right Stuff (RRS), an excellent camera support company, created their SOAR Division to address the shooting community.

The Anvil 30 Tripod can be considered their dedicated, mission-specific tripod head that — so far — is unrivaled. The Anvil 30 connects to the Really Right Stuff Dovetail as well as to your Pic rail. In other words, one head fits both specs.

Consider the Marine, the hunter and the competition shooter: Prone shooting is the exception, not the rule, so being able to maintain stability and get hits on target under a variety of circumstances is essential. Lightweight and sturdy, this tripod makes taking 1,000-yard shots from the standing just as easy as shooting from your belly. It’s really that good — simply because it was designed from the ground up … specifically for shooting.

Go to any tactical rifle match in the country, and it will be dominated by RRS Tripods.

An honorable mention goes to the change from Picatinny rails to the Really Right Stuff Dovetail. Similar to the Arca Swiss pattern of camera mounts, the Really Right Stuff Dovetail is being manufactured and machined into a variety of stocks and other products. It’s super simple and fast to deploy, and the rail systems being used has been adapted to work with bipods, too, so the user can easily slide them up and down the rail system quickly. Aftermarket products using the dovetail are too numerous to list. www.soar.reallyrightstuff.com

The .224 Valkyrie

Valk 2

I am a fan of the Valkyrie. There, I said it. I’ve shot the Valkyrie in competition, I’ve shot the Valkyrie to 2,020 yards — in fact, I recently went 7 out of 10 hits at 1,785 yards with a Mile High Shooting bolt gun chambered in .224 Valkyrie. The round works as advertised, and is not being overhyped.

Put simply, it’s a .223 Rem. on steroids, using high BC bullets. I’m currently using both the 88-grain Hornadys, as well as the 90-grain Federal factory ammunition, and the results really do speak for themselves. Inexpensive with great ballistics and a long barrel life, the Valkyrie is a smart choice to bridge the gap between the .223 Rem. and 6.5 Creedmoor. Big-picture wise, it’s also an excellent way to get kids involved in shooting because of the low recoil and superior ballistics. The ammunition is widely available in a variety of bullet weights, so finding it on a shelf should not be a problem.

I started out shooting a small frame JP Rifles AR in .224 Valkyrie and took it to a Guardian Long Range competition. The low recoiling rounds let you stay on target, and it has just enough velocity to make it competitive without burning out the barrel in 2,000 rounds. While more people see it as a semi-auto cartridge, we do see outstanding results with it in a bolt gun as well. www.federalpremium.com

Reasor Game Changer Bags

Game Changer 3

If you’re shooting any tactical competitions and you’ve not used a Game Changer bag, you’re missing out. These bags have changed the way shooters approach stages like barricades, balancing the rifles on them and getting repeatable hits out to distance. The bags mold to the obstacles — they can be tossed on a tree limb, a rock or the bed of your truck — and it will stabilize the shot. The only limitation is your imagination with these bags.

There are a bunch of similar bags, but I chose the Game Changer because it was one of the first, and its name has become universally accepted to describe all bags of this type. Others include the Fortune Cookie, the Saracen and the Tactical Udder. They may sound funny, but they work. Slap ‘em down and balance the rifle — you’ll be surprised how well you stay on target. It’s somewhat heavy for most hunters; however, they do make smaller versions to limit the weight. www.reasorprecisionsolutions.com

Bighorn Origin Action

Bighorn 1

There are a ton of custom actions out there right now, so many in fact that it’s hard to keep pace. Bighorn started out in Colorado and then moved to Nebraska, but it has continued to make great, inexpensive custom actions. A desirable feature of these actions is the floating, replaceable bolt head, which lets you change calibers quite easily.

Coming in at $825, it’s one of the cheapest of the custom actions on the market. Available in both left- and right-hand configurations, the Bighorn Origin is a bang-for-your-buck rockstar. Bighorn is a custom action maker, so you can adjust the features upon order to fit your needs — think of it as a customizable custom action, in other words.

Other actions that received honorable mention include the ARC Nucleus and Defiance Tenacity. www.bighornarms.com/actions

So, there’s my look back at the gear the Sniper’s Hide members and I considered the best in their class for 2018.

Honorable Mention

Here are a few of my honorable mentions. I really wanted to include them, but there is just too much great stuff out there right now — but these certainly deserve a mention.

  1. Sig Electro-Optics BDX System
  2. Terrapin X Laser Range Finder
  3. The Atlas CAL and Ckye Pod Bipods
  4. The Everyday Sniper Podcast
  5. TRASOL Ballistic Software Revamp

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

Glock 40 MOS: 10mm Ammo Review

By
Corey Graff
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The Glock 40 MOS has proven itself a top option in 10mm. But when it comes to feeding it, what is the top ammo choice?

What are specs for the Glock 40 MOS:

  • CALIBER: 10mm Auto
  • CAPACITY: 15
  • WEIGHT WITH LOADED MAGAZINE: 1,265g | 44.62 oz.
  • BARREL LENGTH: 153mm | 6.02 in.
  • OVERALL LENGTH: 241mm | 9.49 in.
  • SLIDE LENGTH: 229mm | 9.02 in.
  • OVERALL WIDTH: 34mm | 1.34 in.
  • SLIDE WIDTH: 28,5mm | 1.12 in.
  • HEIGHT INCL. MAG.: 139mm | 5.47 in.

The resurgence of interest in the 10mm Auto cartridge is attended by a fanciful and ever-growing myth of legendary stopping power. Along with these fantasies flows a mountain of steamy bunk, served like dung on shiny china.

Recoil from the Glock 40 MOS is no walk in the park but is easily controllable thanks to the ergonomics of the Gen 4 Glock’s slimmer pistol grip and long, 6-inch slide.
Recoil from the Glock 40 MOS is no walk in the park but is easily controllable thanks to the ergonomics of the Gen 4 Glock’s slimmer pistol grip and long, 6-inch slide.

Regardless of what the bespectacled gun counter guy may claim, the 10mm Auto is not “the .44 Magnum of semi-autos.” Not even close. Nor is it the .41 Magnum of semi-autos. The way many people talk about the 10mm Auto cartridge, you’d think they’re describing the lesser-known but related 10mm Magnum, which was first chambered by Harry Sanders in some of his early Automag pistols and later by Smith & Wesson in the Model 610. That load is a hammer that is not produced commercially today. The 10mm Magnum, of course, bested the standard 10mm Automatic by at least 300 fps and did indeed make .41 Magnum territory.

However, as we discovered in this ammo test, the standard 10mm Automatic, the .40-caliber brainchild of the late Col. Jeff Cooper, is no pussycat. And true to its reputation, it hits like a Mike Tyson uppercut. Testing a Glock 40 MOS (Modular Optics System) — a 6-inch long-slide 10mm and reigning king of hand cannons in the company’s lineup — with a Burris FastFire 3 reflex-style sight, I lit off a bunch of the best 10mm ammunition made today to see what takes the cake for range practice, hunting and personal protection loads. Here are the results.

Trigger Notes

Glock’s striker-fired mechanism feels like a rough double-action trigger, but you must keep the pistol design in context. Glocks are typically used for everyday carry and personal defense, so I can understand a tough trigger. After all, when it comes to self-defense, it makes sense to have a heavy trigger that only trips when it’s intended to be pulled.

The overall winner of our 10mm Auto ammo test was the Underwood 150-grain Xtreme Hunter load. It yielded 1.24-inch average and .53-inch best groups at 25 yards. Best of all, it’s doing 1,415 fps for 667 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. That level of accuracy and horsepower can dominate for hunting, survival, home defense and everyday carry.
The overall winner of our 10mm Auto ammo test was the Underwood 150-grain Xtreme Hunter load. It yielded 1.24-inch average and .53-inch best groups at 25 yards. Best of all, it’s doing 1,415 fps for 667 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. That level of accuracy and horsepower can dominate for hunting, survival, home defense and everyday carry.

But since I wanted a handgun that could also be used for a wider range of tactical and survival scenarios, a lighter, smoother trigger pull to facilitate long-range accuracy was desired. On a hunting handgun, the trigger can’t hinder accuracy on shots that could range from 25 to 50, or even 100 yards. There’s a case to be made for long-range handgun accuracy in a tactical handgun. You never know what you might encounter.

Glock Talk: Discover Glock Reviews

Thankfully, I was able to improve the trigger dramatically by installing a 3.5-lb. connector and spring kit, doing some judicious hand polishing of key mating parts and finishing up with a deburring job that would have made the old machine shop teachers proud. A little elbow grease transformed the Glock trigger into a 3.4-lb. beauty. Considering the Glock’s stellar out-of-the-box accuracy and reliability, it is now fully capable of unleashing hellfire on targets from point blank to 50 yards with alarming precision.

Burris FastFire 3

The little Burris Fastfire 3 reflex-style red-dot sight looks tiny sitting on top of the G40’s massive slide, but don’t judge a book by its cover. How Burris engineered it to not only keep from flying into the wild blue yonder under the heavy recoil of powerful 10mm loads is beyond me, but what really impresses is how well it holds zero shot after shot after shot. I tried to break it by shooting hundreds of rounds of the hottest loads I could get my hands on. It kept working, didn’t budge. That inspired confidence.

Underwood’s 140-grain Xtreme Penetrator load ranked very high as tested in the Glock 40 MOS. The load uses the Lehigh Defense bullet and penetrates like an anti-aircraft shell. It’s carried by many Alaskans for bear encounters.
Underwood’s 140-grain Xtreme Penetrator load ranked very high as tested in the Glock 40 MOS. The load uses the Lehigh Defense bullet and penetrates like an anti-aircraft shell. It’s carried by many Alaskans for bear encounters.

The optic uses a 3 MOA red-dot, which has three manual brightness settings and one automatic brightness sensor, which is what I used. Elevation and windage adjustments are accomplished using a small, standard screwdriver in the slots on the top and back. Adjustments are responsive and precise. The FastFire 3 is a simple 1x magnification and was completely parallax free.

The sight was left in the off position while carried, and I practiced activating the left-side On button with my left-hand thumb during the draw cycle. There were no hiccups using this technique, but still uncertainty exists among some shooters. So they install tall suppressor sights on reflex-equipped handguns. The idea is to provide a “co-witness” through the red-dot’s screen and serve as a backup in case of optics failure. I chose not to do that. Instead, I found that for shots at normal defensive ranges of 7 yards and under, you can simply use the screen itself with the optic turned off to bracket an IDPA target. The result is an ultra-fast sight picture — even quicker than obtaining the red-dot — and remarkably accurate. It seems to act as a sort of extra-large rear peep sight. For longer shots, Burris has provided a vertical white line on the back edge of the FastFire 3, which functions as a makeshift rear sight should a backup be needed.

The real surprise in the test was the performance of the 180-grain Trophy Bonded JSP load from Federal. This load scoots a flat-meplat bullet along at 1,355 fps, putting 734 ft-lbs. on target. On top of that, its accuracy was second best of all lots tested — 1.50-in. average and .44-inch best groups at 25 yards.
The real surprise in the test was the performance of the 180-grain Trophy Bonded JSP load from Federal. This load scoots a flat-meplat bullet along at 1,355 fps, putting 734 ft-lbs. on target. On top of that, its accuracy was second best of all lots tested — 1.50-in. average and .44-inch best groups at 25 yards.

With all these features, such a rig places a tremendous amount of firepower in your hands. You can dump 15 rounds of heavy 10mm, jack a reload home, unleash another volley and whistle Dixie … all without skipping a beat. That might be a bit overkill on whitetails, but two-legged attackers deserve every bit of it. In case you’re wondering, the era of reflex sights on handguns is here to stay. The technology is ready for prime time. However, when carried all day under a shirt concealed, the little screen on the reflex sight attracts dust like Yogi Bear to a pic-a-nic basket. It’s not worth crying about, though — simply blast it clear every few days with a can of compressed air and use the fleece scratch-free cloth provided by Burris to safely wipe the screen clean.

10mm Range Review

For the range test, I shot a selection of 10mm ammo through the Glock 40 MOS. That included practice, personal protection and hunting loads. Representing the range/target loads were Federal 180-grain American Eagle FMJ, Blaser 200-grain FMJ and DoubleTap Colt National Match 180-grain FMJ. Among this group, DoubleTap’s Colt NM loading produced the most consistent accuracy from the Glock 40, with a 1.32-inch average, and a .60-inch best group at 25 yards from a rest. Personal defense choices tested included Hornady’s 180- and 155-grain XTP, and Hornady Critical Duty with a 175-grain FlexLock bullet. Federal’s 180-grain Hydra-Shok, DoubleTap’s 135-grain Controlled Expansion JHP and the Underwood 115-grain Xtreme Defender rounded out the best choices for concealed carry. When it comes to EDC — considering accuracy and sheer foot pounds of energy — it was a dead heat between DoubleTap’s 135-grain JHP and Underwood’s 115-grain Extreme Defender, both of which kept average groups just over an inch at 25 yards and crushed the 700 fps barrier (725 fps and 788 fps, respectively).

DoubleTap’s Colt National Match 180-grain FMJ load proved exceptionally accurate, printing an average 1.32-inch group, and a best .60-inch group at 25 yards from a solid rest.
DoubleTap’s Colt National Match 180-grain FMJ load proved exceptionally accurate, printing an average 1.32-inch group, and a best .60-inch group at 25 yards from a solid rest.

For the hunting/survival category, there was naturally some overlap with some of the personal defense loads already mentioned, especially the DoubleTap 135-grain JHP load. Federal’s 180-grain Trophy Bonded JSP was a real humdinger. It proved accurate and hard-hitting, with a best 25-yard group of .44 inch and 734 ft-lbs, making it a must-try for whitetails and everyday carry. Underwood’s two screamers — a 140-grain Xtreme Penetrator (a favorite for grizzly bear protection) and 150-grain Xtreme Hunter — were the cat’s meow. The 140-grain load printed very consistent groups that averaged 1.34 inches at 25 yards, with 738 ft-lbs of energy. Even more impressive was Underwood’s 150-grain Xtreme Hunter, the second-most accurate ammunition of the entire test (1.24 average, .53-inch best groups at 25 yards) and still hitting with 667 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. Note that the Underwood loads use the CNC-machined all-copper Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense bullet, which employs radial flutes that force hydraulic energy outward to build pressure and carve a nasty wound channel without sacrificing penetration.

LOADVELOCITY (fps)ENERGY (ft-lbs)25-YARD GROUP AVG.(in.)BEST 25-YARD GROUP (in.)50-YARD GROUP AVG. (in.)
Federal American Eagle 180-gr. FMJ1,0114844.93.66—
Blaser 200-gr. FMJ1,0234651.72.49—
DoubleTap Colt National Match 180-gr. FMJ1,1795561.32.60—
Hornady Custom 180-gr. XTP1,2105852.121.84—
Hornady 155-gr. XTP Custom1,3216012.201.79—
Hornady Critical Duty 175-gr. FlexLock1,1375023.861.15—
Federal 180-gr. Hydra-Shok JHP1,0714592.221.525—
DoubleTap 135-gr. Controlled Expansion JHP1,5557251.821.16—
Federal 180-gr. Trophy Bonded JSP1,3557341.50.44—
Underwood 115-gr. Xtreme Defender1,7577881.411.25—
Underwood 140-gr. Xtreme Penetrator1,5417381.801.344.73
Underwood 150-gr. Xtreme Hunter1,4156671.24.533.95

Conclusion

Between today’s hot, full-power 10mm Auto factory loads, and easy-shooting platforms such as the Glock 40 MOS, the effectiveness of truly powerful, high-pressure cartridges can fully be harnessed. For survival against man or beast, hand cannons like these should have a prominent place in your tactical handgun toolbox.

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from the Tactical Gun Digest book, available at GunDigestStore.com.

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