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MC1sc Proves A Big Surprise In A Little Package

By
Richard A. Mann
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0

Mossberg takes the sub-compact 9mm to the next level in functionality and affordability with the MC1sc.

How the MC1sc is built for concealed carry:

  • Concealable 3.4-inch barrel and 4.25-inch height.
  • Comfortable 19.1 ounces.
  • Around a 1/8-inch trigger pull that breaks consistently.
  • Generous trigger guard allows for shooting with gloves on.
  • Durable stainless steel slide with DLC finish.
  • Safe Takedown System eliminates negligent discharge when disassembling the pistol.
  • Strong glass reinforced polymer frame.
  • 6+1 capacity, 7+1 with extended mag.
  • Reasonable starting MSRP of $425.

Mossberg started out as an innovator in the gun world. Their first gun — introduced in 1919 — was a somewhat radical in concept. Called the Brownie, it was a compact, four-barreled pistol, chambered for the 22 LR. Designed for trappers to use to dispatch their catch, it’s probably best described as a pepperbox or derringer. Mossberg manufactured more than 30,000 of these cool little guns, which initially sold for a whopping $5.00! (Used Brownies now sell for between $300 and $1,000.)

MC1sc 7

Mossberg continued to innovative through rimfire rifles, shotguns and centerfire rifles; most recently with their groundbreaking and great selling MVP line of rifles that accept AR-15 and AR-10 detachable magazines. Mossberg’s latest innovation takes them back to their roots. It’s the second handgun Mossberg has ever manufactured and it’s called the MC1sc, which stands for Mossberg Carry 1 Sub-Compact. It was specifically designed and engineered as an optimized solution to concealed carry.

To optimize concealed carry, those practicing the discipline must find a balance between several things. Sure you can carry and try to conceal a .44 Magnum revolver, and you can also practice with that revolver until your wrist gives out and your wallet is broken. Serious practitioners find equilibrium between handgun size, ease of carry, and shootability. If you cannot carry your handgun comfortably you simply won’t carry it. If you cannot shoot and operate it with efficiency, then, well, it probably does not matter if you carry it at all.

A Long Time Coming

Over 3 years in the making, Mossberg began by researching the market to discover what consumers were looking for in a concealed carry handgun. They knew pistols made up 44 percent of the firearms market, and that most had polymer frames. They also identified sub-compact .380 ACP or 9mm Luger pistols as having the largest opportunity for sales. With handguns is this venue carrying an average price of $533, Mossberg built their design parameters around a poly-framed, 9mm +P capable handgun, with a 2.75 to 3-inch barrel, single-stack magazine with a 6-round capacity, and a suggested retail of less than $450.

The grip on the Mossberg MC1 SC has wrap around pebbling and serrations on the backstrap.
The grip on the Mossberg MC1sc has wrap around pebbling and serrations on the backstrap.

Consistent with current trends, the Mossberg MC1sc does have a polymer frame. The grip — though short offers what might best be described as a two-finger hold — is very ergonomic. With a combination of a palm swell and wrap around stippling and serrations, it sort of sticks to the hand. An extra, extended capacity magazine, with a longer floor plate, lengthens the grip to an even more comfortable three-finger hold.

The frame has a generous trigger guard that will work with fat fingers or gloved hands, and somewhat surprisingly, a version is offered with a cross-bolt style safety. The trigger has the customary passive safety lever and a nicely audible and very short reset that you can feel. More importantly, the trigger is very crisp.

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Once the initial slack — common with striker fired pistols — is taken up, there’s some minimal stacking through about an eighth-inch of pull, and then the trigger has a very consistent break, which, according to my Timney Triggers pull gauge, measured at 4.5 pounds. Trigger over-travel, something that makes handguns difficult to shoot accurately, is minimal.

Each MC1 SC ships with two clear magazines. One holds six rounds and the other seven.
Each MC1sc ships with two clear magazines. One holds six rounds and the other seven.

The slide, which measures only 0.9-inch wide, is machined from stainless-steel and comes with a DLC finish. It has angled grasping grooves at the rear and front, and was remarkably easy to cycle; every member of my household — including my 11-year-old daughter — could manipulate it. The most interesting feature of the slide is the patent-pending Safe Takedown System (STS.)

A New Take On The Takedown

The STS is a major departure from anything you might have seen with regard to sub-compact concealed carry handguns. It works like this: With the handgun fully unloaded and the slide locked to the rear, you depress a recessed button on the striker cover on the rear of the slide. This allows the cover to slip out exposing the striker. The striker can then be pulled from the slide, rendering the pistol inert. Once this is done, simply grasp the slide, depress the slide lock, and slip the slide from the frame. Its takes only seconds, and the pistol can be completely fieldstripped without pulling the trigger.

The slide also features dovetails, front and rear, for sights. The base model is shipped with low profile, three-dot sights, but a version with TruGlo night sights is available. Just as importantly, Mossberg chose to use dovetails compatible with Sig Sauer No. 8 sights. This means any aftermarket sight that will work with the SIG No. 8 dovetail, will work on the Mossberg MC1sc.

The striker plate at the back of the slide is easily removed and allows access to the striker for ease of disassembly.
The striker plate at the back of the slide is easily removed and allows access to the striker for ease of
disassembly.

The MC1sc is shipped with two magazines, and they are a bit different, too, because you can see through them. The Clear Count Magazine bodies are manufactured from a transparent, lubricous, polymer compound that offers low friction and high wear resistance, while providing easy — at a glance — ammunition assessment. The standard magazine holds six rounds and the extended holds seven. The magazine release, found in the common location at the base of the trigger guard, can be moved by the end user for left- or right-hand operation.

The Inaugural Field Test

For 2019, Mossberg will be offering four versions of the MC1sc. As mentioned, the standard model will come with three-dot sights and an optional cross-bolt safety, another will have TruGlo night sights, and a third comes with a green, E-series, Viridian laser that attaches to the trigger guard. The fourth version is the Centennial Limited Edition, which features an engraved slide with 24 karat gold inlays. Suggested retail for the base model is $425, which means you should see it across the counter for less than $380!

At that price point, the MC1sc is sure to get attention. The real question is, does it work? In early November I was one of 16 shooters who traveled to Gunsite Academy to put Mossberg’s second pistol to the test. The group included a host of folks who make a living telling the world about guns in magazines and/or on video. But most importantly, these shooters were former military, police and competition shooters, who know a good or bad gun when they see it.

The Mossberg 2019 MC1 SC (top) and Mossberg 1919 Brownie (bottom.)
The Mossberg 2019 MC1sc (top) and Mossberg 1919 Brownie (bottom.)

When we were first handed the MC1sc, we all were taken by how well it fit our hands. But at the same time, we were skeptical of the see-through magazines, which were so unconventional looking. Over the next 3 days, our group fired more than 10,000 rounds. And, we each used the same pistol all 3 days. This gave us an opportunity to make an honest evaluation of its shootability and reliability.

First, let me address reliability. I’ll not say there were no stoppages, but what I will say is that every stoppage I’m aware of occurred due to operator error. Errors such as not fully inserting the magazine during a speed load, or pressing the thumb of the shooting hand down on the slide stop preventing lock-back after the last round fired. The ammo we used for testing was a combination of Hornady Critical Duty and FMJ. But, I got a little adventurous and borrowed a magazine full of CCI shotshells from an instructor and the little pistol cycled them flawlessly. For what it’s worth, this is only the second 9mm pistol I’ve fired that was totally reliable with shotshells.

As for shootability, I did not expect a lot. After all, this is 19-ounce (unloaded) striker-fired handgun with a 3.4-inch barrel. I was surprised. I managed to shoot a clean score on the El Presidente drill in 10 seconds, and ran the Dozier drill in less than four. Headshots at 15 yards were not a problem, and hitting head-sized steel targets at even further distances became commonplace. In fact, as a group we were so enamored with how well the pistol shot, we went back to 50 yards and took turns ringing 12-inch steel gongs.

MC1sc Specs

The Mossberg MC1sc points well, feels good in the hand, and the trigger is ridiculously fine. All those things made getting hits during slow fire shooting at distance easy. And, combined with the superb trigger reset, shooting at a fast pace was very controllable and precise. From an operation and manipulation standpoint, I consider the Mossberg MC1sc as good as any pistol of this size that I’ve fired. Based on price alone, it’s in a class by itself.

Mossberg took their time bringing the MC1sc to market and it paid off. The pistol finds a great balance between concealability, shootability, and just as importantly, affordability. But that should come as no surprise; Mossberg has been doing this with firearms since their inception. They’re a company founded to provide dependable and reliable firearms to everyday folks — working man guns, at working man prices.

If I was going to find a flaw with the pistol, it would only be in its name; MC1sc sounds a bit technical and, well, dry, for a gun so useful and representative of 100 years of fantastic firearms manufacturing. I think they should have named it the Centennial to represent a century of continuous firearms production, from a family owned business that has clearly stepped into the new millennium, with what will likely be the best new gun of 2019.

For more information on the MC1sc, please visit https://www.mossberg.com/.

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

Federal Premium Teams Up With Berger Bullets For Hybrid Hunter Line

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

Loaded with low-drag bullets, Federal Premium Berger Hybrid Hunter line arms hunters with precision ammo.

How Hybrid Hunter will get you on target next season:

  • High BC tangent-secant ogive bullets.
  • Federal Gold Medal Primers.
  • Specially formulated propellants tuned to each load.
  • Durable nickel-plated brass cases.

When it comes to performance ammunition, you can’t get much better than Federal Premium and Berger Bullets. This year, the well-respected ammo maker and bulletsmith are teaming up to provide hunters what is sure to be a precise and potent line of hunting ammunition.

Hybrid Hunter 1

As the name suggests, the Federal Premium Berger Hybrid Hunter series features Berger’s highly accurate tangent-secant ogive bullets. The projectiles are renowned for their high ballistic coefficients, thus giving them the ability to overcome air resistance and buck the wind. For instance, the .308 Win. load boasts a bullet with a .489 BC, which losses less than 25-percent of its advertised muzzle velocity (2,800 fps) at 500 yards. In addition to top-notch bullets, the ammo also features nickel-plated brass cases, Gold Medal primers and specially formulated propellants.

In all, the Federal Premium line consists of 10 loads in some of the most popular and common hunting calibers. The company reports it has made its first shipment of the Hybrid Hunter series to distributors, so if it’s not at your local ammo outlet now, it should be soon. The ammunition’s MSRP ranges from $39.95 to $50.95 for a box of 20 rounds.

Hybrid Hunter 2

CaliberBullet WeightBallistic Coefficient (G1)Muzzle Velocity FPS
.280 Ackley Improved168 grains.5562,800
.270 Win Short Magnum140 grains.5283,200
6.5 Creedmoor135 grains.5842,775
.270 Win.140 grains.5282,950
.308 Win.168 grains.4892,800
.300 Win. Mag.185 grain.5332,950
.300 Win. Short Mag.185 grain.5332,950
7mm Rem. Mag.168 grain.5662,870
.30-06 Sprng168 grain.4892,800
.243 Win.95 grain.4343,050

For more information on Federal Premium Ammunition, please visit www.federalpremium.com.

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Video: Boyds Introduces At-One Thumbhole Stock

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

Boyds expands its customizable stock line with the introduction of the At-One Thumbhole stock.

There’s a misconception among some shooters that it takes big-bucks and a highly skilled gunsmith to obtain custom gun performance. Certainly, this formula can reap you the accuracy you’re after. But there’s a much simpler and economical way to get the most out of your cherished long-gun. This is where Boyds Hardwood Gunstocks comes in.

For more than 30 years, the stock maker has produced precision platforms that milk the most out of rifles and shotguns. Better yet, their wares are configured that – in all but the most extreme circumstances – you can install them yourself with minimal effort and few specialized tools. If you know how to torque a screw, you know how to benefit from Boyds.

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One of Boyds’ highest performers is the At-One stock. A highly configurable and fully adjustable system, it’s just the thing to bring out the most in a long gun. And the company has continued to evolve the system. Following up on the traditional rifle stock and shotgun models, the company introduced a new high-control configuration to its lineup – the At-One Thumbhole stock.

As its name suggests, the stock features a prominent thumbhole grip, allowing you to get a full purchase on your rifle.At the same tick, the new addition features everything that made the At-One system popular in the first place:

  • Push-button cheek rest and length of pull adjustment
  • Interchangeable forend grip
  • Choice of hundreds of finishes
  • Low price

Given the At-One Thumbhole stock’s design, it does not have an interchangeable hand grip. However, that should be moot, given the real estate available. And like the other Boyds At-One gunstocks, the thumbhole version’s price can’t be beat, starting around $200.

For more information, please visit www.boydsgunstocks.com.

CMMG Guard: The Smooth Operator

By
Dick Jones
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1

The CMMG Guard series of pistol-caliber carbines offers a unique operating system that’s right on target.

How the CMMG Guard shoots smooth:

  • Features CMMG’s Radial Delayed Blowback system.
  • System requires a carrier with less mass.
  • This reduces bounce on rapid fire.

CMMG Guard 9

One of the fastest growing competitive shooting segments is the pistol-caliber carbine crowd, which includes events sanctioned by the United States Pistol Shooting Association (USPSA). Known for fast-moving, multi-stage events for race pistols, pistol-caliber carbine matches allow carbines in pistol calibers with a power factor of 125 and a maximum velocity of 1,600 fps. Slings, optical and electronic sights are allowed, as are laser sights — and there’s no restriction on magazine capacity. Because of cost and recoil management, clearly the most popular caliber is 9mm. Besides USPSA sanctioned matches, there are a growing number of carbine-bay matches that include separate classes for pistol-caliber carbines. The growth of competitive shooting opportunities for 9mm carbines, combined with the fact that they’re both fun and cheap to shoot, has spawned the development of a number of new 9mm carbines.

The Struggle With 9mm Carbines

As a result, 9mm might be the second most popular chambering for AR-system rifles. Not long ago in these pages, I reviewed four different PCC guns with varied results. The guns ranged in price from just over $500 for the Just Right JR9C, to more than $2,000 for the Sig MPX carbine. The winner of that test was the SIG MPX because it was the most stable during rapid fire, even though the JR9C was the most accurate.

Stability is important in time/score matches. Most of these events require two shots to neutralize a target. The A zone of the target is 11 inches x 5.875 inches. That’s not a small target, but the matches are scored on speed with penalties for shots outside the A zone. Most distances are under 50 yards, meaning razor-sharp accuracy isn’t as important as speed. The Sig MPX gained an advantage because it was the only gas-operated gun in the test, and gas operation allows for less reciprocating mass … which provides smoother recoil and faster follow-up shots.

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To someone who’s never shot a 9mm carbine in a match where speed is the most important factor, it might be puzzling that we’re talking about recoil from a 9mm carbine. Recoil from the 9mm round isn’t the problem: The problem comes from the reciprocating mass of the semi-automatic operating system.

The Odin Zulu 2.0 adjustable stock adds a few ounces over the original, but the additional weight is next to the center of movement, thus having little effect on speed of transitions. It’s solid and remarkably well made.
The Odin Zulu 2.0 adjustable stock adds a few ounces over the original, but the additional weight is next to the center of movement, thus having little effect on speed of transitions. It’s solid and remarkably well made.

Other than the MPX, all the other guns in that four gun test were blowback operated. In a blowback operating system, the mass of the moving slide or bolt carrier provides enough resistance to keep the gun in battery during peak pressure. The movement of that mass, both rearward and forward, disturbs the gun and carries it off the target. The gas operated MPX has a much lighter reciprocating mass and was the smoothest shooting, and therefore it was the fastest in the test.

A properly tuned AR-15 chambered for 5.56 NATO can be tuned to be as stable as a .22 LR carbine. Because a 5.56 AR-15 is gas operated, the bolt carrier can be lightened to reduce the reciprocating mass, reducing bounce. By using the high-velocity gas generated by the 5.56 round, a muzzle brake can be tuned to control the direction of that movement and stabilize the gun.

Unfortunately, in a 9mm carbine, there isn’t enough gas for a muzzle brake to influence the bouncing mass of the system. Because of this greater reciprocating mass and the lack of gas velocity to compensate for movement, accurate double-taps with a blowback-operated 9mm carbine are much harder to accomplish than with a properly tuned 5.56 NATO.

A New Option

This is where the CMMG Guard comes on the stage. CMMG recognized the problem and addressed it by creating a different operating system for their Guard series of 9mm carbines. They accomplished this by redesigning the bolt and bolt recesses in the barrel, and by creating what they call a “rotationally actuated, dual-pin supported linkage, radial delayed blowback operating system” that’s covered by two United States patents.

The rotary bolt on the CMMG Guard series is angled with matching lugs in the barrel. Recoil pressure rotates the bolt and unlocks the carrier, delaying the system and allowing a much lower reciprocating mass of bolt and carrier.
The rotary bolt on the CMMG Guard series is angled with matching lugs in the barrel. Recoil pressure rotates the bolt and unlocks the carrier, delaying the system and allowing a much lower reciprocating mass of bolt and carrier.

That’s a mouthful, but here’s how it works: When the gun fires, recoil pressure pushes the bolt to the rear and, instead of flats on the bolt lugs, they’re angled. The angled surfaces in the barrel cause matching angles on the bolt lugs to rotate and unlock the system.

The upshot to this complicated technical talk is that the CMMG Guard has a considerably lighter bolt carrier. With less carrier weight, there’s less reciprocating mass, meaning less bounce on firing. Tested beside a tuned gas operated MPX, the Guard wasn’t quite smooth, but it was noticeably more stable than other carbines, such as the JR, JP and Palmetto.

Ultimately, the MPX probably makes the most effective competitive carbine, but with an MSRP of more than $2,000, it still needs modifications to work even reasonably well for competition. The CMMG Guard’s base price is about a third lower, at $1,299. To be competitive with either gun, you’ll have to replace the handguard to reduce muzzle weight for faster transitions, install a better trigger and upgrade the stock.

Changing Of The Guard

As received out of the box, the CMMG Guard was a perfectly workable carbine for normal use. I chose the base model, since the plan was to extensively modify the gun to make it more suitable for competition. If you follow some of my work, you’ll notice that I have developed a recent “family” of parts from specific brands that have come together really well for me … especially when it comes to tweaking for speed. All of these after-market components are great on their own, but when added together on a custom built — things get impressive in a hurry.

The Blackhawk ambidextrous charging handle uses a detent system to maintain closed position, allowing for fast movement without the need to mechanically unlatch.
The Blackhawk ambidextrous charging handle uses a detent system to maintain closed position, allowing for fast movement without the need to mechanically unlatch.

As delivered, the MkGs T has a 16-inch medium taper barrel, threaded ½-28 for a compensator or suppressor. The trigger of the MkGs T 9MM is standard mil-spec — it was workable, but it was hardly appropriate for competition. The handguard is the short CMMG RKM11, and there’s a standard A2 Pistol Grip with an M4 six-position mil-spec receiver extension buttstock. The billet receivers are 7075-T6 AL upper and lower. The Guard came with a Glock 33 round magazine and weighed 6 pounds.

As modified, the weight remained the same at 6 pounds, but with the improvement of an Isler full-length carbon-fiber handguard slotted for M-Lock accessories. This handguard allows pushing the support hand almost to the end of the barrel, steading the gun during the shot and allowing more leverage to get the gun moving for a transition. The full-length Isler tube actually weighs less than the original short tube.

The standard M4 stock rattles around a bit and doesn’t provide much traction from the plastic buttplate. The much more substantial Odin Zulu 2.0 adjustable stock I chose adds a few ounces over the original, but the additional weight is next to the center of movement, having little effect on speed of transitions. The lighter handguard weight in the front countered the gain at the rear. Ergo’s Tactical Deluxe grip was a huge improvement over the standard A2 hard plastic grip. The larger diameter and “sticky” surface make holding the gun in one hand during reloads easy. Speaking of reloads, I also added a Blackhawk ambidextrous charging handle and a Taran Tactical magazine extension that bumps the magazine capacity up to 41 rounds.

Arguably the biggest change was the trigger. Standard, mil-spec triggers don’t facilitate fast and accurate shooting. A really good trigger allows the shooter to keep the gun stable and allows double taps with low split times. For a trigger, I chose the Elftman AR9 trigger specifically designed for 9mm carbines.

The light weight of a reflex sight allows faster target acquisition than is possible with a much heavier riflescope. The Burris Fastfire 3 has a mount designed for proper head alignment with AR carbines and weighs only a few ounces.
The light weight of a reflex sight allows faster target acquisition than is possible with a much heavier riflescope. The Burris Fastfire 3 has a mount designed for proper head alignment with AR carbines and weighs only a few ounces.

Triggers for 9mm carbines can be an issue. Because of the faster bolt speed and shape of 9mm carbine bolt carriers, most standard AR triggers won’t work in 9mm carbines. The Elftman AR 9 is designed to function with those different shapes, and it works perfectly with no doubles or reset problems. It breaks cleanly at about 3 pounds and makes shooting the Guard a pleasure.

The Guard On The Range

The modifications had little effect on benchrest performance of the unmodified gun. Using Aguila 115-grain 9mm rounds at 50 yards with a Burris Fastfire 3-dot sight, my 10-shot groups measured around 3 inches with a tight cluster in the center, indicating my difficulty with dot sights and astigmatism. Group size would probably shrink with a scope, but scopes add weight and weight is an enemy in fast-transition shooting. I was pleased with that level of performance for the task.

The Burris Fastfire 3 has a 3-MOA dot that automatically compensated for changes in light intensity and turns itself off when not in use. It allows both-eyes-open shooting and fast target acquisition. I chose the 3-MOA dot over the 8-MOA dot because some of the stages I shoot involve 8-inch steel at 50 yards, and I felt the smaller dot would allow more accuracy.

So, the upshot is that the CMMG Guard is a better mousetrap in AR-15 9mm carbines. Maybe it isn’t as good as the best-in-class MPX, but it’s far less expensive and is an AR with familiar AR controls and the ability to easily find and attach almost any accessory you can imagine.

The Elftman AR 9 trigger is designed to work with all AR 9mm carbines, and it provides a precision trigger with no fear of reset and chain-fire issues. I chose the flat-front model.
The Elftman AR 9 trigger is designed to work with all AR 9mm carbines, and it provides a precision trigger with no fear of reset and chain-fire issues. I chose the flat-front model.

As delivered, it’s an improvement on every other AR-15 9mm — and when upgraded, it’s a better gun than a basic SIG MPX.

Everything done to the Guard could be accomplished by anyone with a reasonable knowledge of mechanics, and the result is a highly competitive carbine for PCC competition.

CMMG Guard Specs

For more information on CMMG, please visit www.cmmginc.com.

For more information on Aguila Ammo, please visit www.aguilaammo.com.

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

Ruger Releases 10/22 Competition Rifle In Laminate Stock

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

Ruger continues to build its Custom Shop lineup with a new 10/22 Competition Rifle dressed in a brown laminate stock.

How the 10/22 Competition Rifle is built to own the bullseye:

  • Adjustable cheek rest
  • Enhanced semi-auto chamber
  • BX-Trigger with 2.5-3-pound pull
  • Dual bedding system
  • 16-1/8″ cold hammer-forged fluted bull barrel
  • Optics-ready 30 MOA Picatinny rail
  • Glass-filled, polymer trigger housing

Ruger recently opened the doors on its custom shop and has been hopping ever since. The company introduced the SR1911 Competition and 10/22 Competition Rifle to kick things off, each decked out and tuned up as you’d expect out of a custom affair. The gunmaker has now followed up with a third addition to the lineup, unveiling the newly minted 10/22 Competition Rifle in a brown laminate stock.

Ruger 1022 Competition

The .22 LR boasts all the bells and whistles of the earlier released composite version, which includes a fully adjustable cheek rest, 16-inch fluted bull barrel, BX-Trigger and a dual bedding system, among other things. However, as its name suggests, it sports a rather eye-catching wood laminate stock. The 10/22 Competition Rifle in a brown laminate stock runs the same as the original, both with an MSRP of $899.

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Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is proud to introduce its third addition to the newly launched Ruger® Custom Shop. This variation of the Ruger Custom Shop 10/22® Competition Rifle features a natural brown laminate stock and stainless steel barrel.

The 10/22 Competition Rifle features a hard-coat anodized, CNC-machined, heat treated and stress relieved 6061-T6511 aluminum receiver with an integral, optics-ready, 30 MOA Picatinny rail. The custom receiver is paired with a heat treated and nitrided CNC-machined match bolt that creates a tight-fitting, smooth action enabling the highest level of performance. The dual bedding system incorporates a second bedding lug, ensuring the receiver is securely bedded to the stock. This rifle also features an innovative second barrel locator to provide a free-floating barrel for superior accuracy. The receiver incorporates a rear cleaning port, providing access to the barrel from the rear of the receiver for ease of cleaning.

The 16-1/8″ stainless steel bull barrel features black cerakote accents and is fluted to reduce weight and dissipate heat. The 1/2″-28 thread pattern accommodates the included muzzle brake or other popular muzzle accessories. The barrel also features a proprietary, enhanced semi-auto chamber which has proven to increase accuracy and precision while not compromising reliable feeding and extraction.

The natural brown laminate stock features a fully adjustable cheek rest, which can be repositioned horizontally and vertically to create a custom-adjusted feel that is stable, comfortable and repeatable.

This feature-packed 10/22 comes equipped with: the popular Ruger BX-Trigger® which provides a smooth take-up and crisp break; an oversized bolt handle for ease of charging; a match bolt release that allows the bolt to be released forward with a quick pull to the rear and release; and an extended, ambidextrous magazine release.

This rifle ships in a hard case and includes a detachable 10-round rotary magazine, Ruger Custom Shop Certificate of Authenticity, challenge coin, cleaning cloth and decal.

10/22 Competition Laminate Specs:
Stock: Natural Brown Laminate
Capacity: 10
Receiver Material: Aluminum
Receiver Finish: Hard-Coat Anodized Black
Weight: 6 lb.
Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
Barrel Finish: Satin Stainless, Black Cerakote Accents
Sights: None – Optics-Ready, 30 MOA Picatinny Rail
Twist: 1:16″ RH
Length of Pull: 13.50″
Overall Length: 36″
Barrel Length: 16.12″
Suggested Retail: $899.00

For more information on Ruger rifles, please visit www.ruger.com

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.375 Ruger: Modern Day Heavyweight

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

375 Ruger

Enough cartridge for use on nearly any game, anywhere, the .375 Ruger is a modern heavyweight.

How the .375 Ruger is capable of taking the largest game:

  • Slightly greater capacity than the .375 H&H Magnum.
  • Capable of pushing a 300-grain bullet 2,600 fps.
  • Hornady and Ruger partnered to create the cartridge.
  • Made to work in Ruger actions, which couldn’t fit full-length magnum cartridges.

The actions of popular rifles, such as the Remington Model 700, Weatherby Mark V and Winchester Model 70, are long enough to handle full-length belted magnums such as the .300 Wthby. Magnum and .375 H&H Magnum — but, with the exception of the expensive “Magnum” variation of the Ruger Model 77, the actions of Ruger bolt rifles are too short to handle them. So, rather than creating a more affordable version of the Magnum action, Ruger officials made the decision to team up with Hornady and introduce a magnum-performance chambering short enough for the company’s standard action. Maximum overall length of the .375 Ruger is 3.340 inches, which is the same as for medium-length belted cartridges, such as the 7mm Rem. Mag. and .300 Win. Mag. Rim diameter of the case is also the same as for those cartridges, but its powder capacity is greater, due to a body diameter close to that of the .375 Rem. Ultra Mag.

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With a case capacity slightly greater than that of the .375 H&H Magnum, the .375 Ruger is about 100 fps faster than that cartridge, pretty much duplicating the performance of the .375 Dakota and treading closely on the heels of the .375 Wthby. Magnum. As readily available factory cartridges of the same caliber go, only the .378 Weatherby Magnum and the .375 Remington Ultra Mag. are faster. Capable of pushing a 300-grain bullet along at 2,600 fps, the .375 Ruger is plenty of cartridge for use on any game animal anywhere in the world, with the possible exception of the really big stuff, such as African elephant. Also in its favor is the fact that many excellent bullets of .375 caliber in both solid and expanding styles are available.

375 Ruger Data

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

The History Of Remington Pump-Action Rifles

By
Steve Gash
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2

Remington, America’s oldest gunmaker, has an enviable history with rifles. Some of the most unique models are the Remington pump-action rifles that span several decades of American firearms lore.

How the Remington pump-action rifle evolved:

  • Model 14 designed in 1912 by John Pederson.
  • Chambered in .25, .30, .32 and .35 Remington.
  • Gun evolved into the 141 in the 1930s.
  • Both models used a unique spiral magazine.
  • The M141 was a takedown rifle.
  • The Model 760 ushered in a new era, shooting the popular .30-06, .270 Win. and .300 Savage cartridges.

The production period from 1912 through 1935 saw the introduction of several variations of Remington pump rifles, including the Models 14/14A (22-inch barrel, pistol grip stock), 14R (18½-inch barrel, straight stock) and the Model 14½, which sported a 22½-inch tube. They were chambered for the .25, .30, .32 and .35 Remington cartridges, which were moderately popular at the time. High-grade guns were available — C, D and E grades — at premium prices.

The forends of the three Remington pumps differ, too. The grooved M-141 (top) and M-760 (middle) gave way to the impressed checkering of the M-7600 (bottom).
The forends of the three Remington pumps differ, too. The grooved M-141 (top) and M-760 (middle) gave way to the impressed checkering of the M-7600 (bottom).

The Models 25/25A and 25R came along in 1923, and they also lasted until 1935. These slick little gems were chambered for the smaller .25-20 and .32-20 Winchester rounds for small game, although a friend in Idaho reports that an old timer of his acquaintance kept his family fed on mule deer and elk with an M-25 in .32-20.

The more modern Model 141/1421A came along in 1935 and was made until 1950, when it was replaced by the iconic Model 760 “GameMaster” in 1952. The M-141 was also chambered for the quartet of Remington rimless rounds noted above. However, very few were made in .25 Remington only in 1935, and they’re quite rare — and expensive.

A few years ago, I found a trim little Remington pump at a gun show. It turned out to be a Remington Model 141, “The GameMaster.” The M-141’s caliber marking on the barrel was most intriguing. Just ahead of the receiver was stamped “.30 REM,” and a cartridge case head was imbedded in the receiver. The little gun was in excellent condition, and I bought it on the spot. In the early 1900s, Winchester pretty much had the deer gun market sewed up. The then-new Model 1894 lever-action was available in several calibers, but the .30-30 Winchester was by far the most popular. Compact, light and handy, the M-94 in .30-30 Win. was the go-to gun for multitudes of hunters.

The Model 141 bolt release is a small button on the rear of the bolt itself. It’s an unusual position, but it works.
The Model 141 bolt release is a small button on the rear of the bolt itself. It’s an unusual position, but it works.

This popularity was not lost on Remington, as the brisk sales of M-94s — and Marlin and Savage lever guns of the period — took a large part of the market share. Rather than try to compete with Winchester with another lever-action, Remington took a different tact by introducing two different action types, a semi-automatic and a pump-action.

From The Model 14 To The 141

The pump-action Remington Model 14 came along in 1913. It was designed by John Pederson and was chambered in the .25, .30, .32 and .35 Remington cartridges. A Model 14½ came along a year later, and in 1935, the gun evolved into the Model 141, also offered in the above mentioned cartridges. (Why Remington just added a “1” to the 14, instead of naming it the “Model 15,” remains a mystery.) In 1935, the retail price of a standard grade M-141A was $46.

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The Model 94 Winchester’s cartridges all had .506-inch rims, but these rimmed cartridges were not suitable for the pump-action M-141, so the Remington lineup was rimless, and all had a rim diameter of .421 inch — except for the .35 Remington, which had an odd .460-inch rim. Today, only the .35 Remington hangs on in production; the other three rounds are lost to history.

The M-141’s tubular magazine has spiral grooves to facilitate the use of spitzer bullets. It does not rotate, and it moves back with the slide when the action is worked.
The M-141’s tubular magazine has spiral grooves to facilitate the use of spitzer bullets. It does not rotate, and it moves back with the slide when the action is worked.

The Model 14, 14½ and 141 had a host of innovative features, including a spiral magazine tube that (presumably) prevented the tip of a spitzer bullet from setting off the primer of the cartridge ahead of it when the gun was fired. Magazine capacity is five rounds.

To load a M-141, cartridges are inserted into the magazine in front of the bottom of the receiver. The first round then zips backward, ready to be lifted into position as the action is cycled. Interestingly, the unique magazine tube moves back and forth when the action is cycled. The action release is a small button on the action block itself.

But one of the neatest features of the M-141 is the takedown. By unscrewing a large knurl-headed screw on the left side of the action, the receiver and barrel-magazine assembly can be easily and quickly separated from the buttstock and trigger guard, which is handy for packing on a train or stagecoach.

The M-141 has a 24-inch barrel with a seven-groove, 12-inch right-hand twist. While the listed bullet diameter of the .30 Remington is .307 inch, modern day .308-inch bullets intended for the .30-30 work just fine. Period literature on the M-141 notes that pointed bullets can be used in the gun because the design of the spiral magazine keeps the point of a bullet from resting on the primer ahead of it. However, more than one contemporary manual cautions against the use of spitzers in any tubular magazine.

The Model 141 caliber identifi cation was not only marked on the barrel, but a cartridge case head was also imbedded in the front left side of the receiver. If the gun has been reblued, this case head is usually polished into oblivion.
The Model 141 caliber identifi cation was not only marked on the barrel, but a cartridge case head was also imbedded in the front left side of the receiver. If the gun has been reblued, this case head is usually polished into oblivion.

It’s important to note that you can’t use .30-30 dies to reload the .30 Remington because of different case dimensions. You’ll need a set of .30 Remington dies, available from RCBS. Remember, for reliable functioning, the overall length of loaded rounds needs to be about 2.535 inches.

Factory loads can be easily duplicated with handloads, and Hornady’s LeveRevolution (LVR) powder from Hodgdon is a real boon for the lever-action reloader. LVR was designed to boost velocities about 100 fps in lever-action cartridges, and that it does. For suitable bullets for deer, the hunter can hardly go wrong with the traditional 150- and 170-grain flat point bullets designed for the .30-30.

As for the “best” powder, it’s a no-brainer: LVR wins by a mile. Not only does it deliver the highest velocities, it also produces good accuracy.

The M-141 is easily broken down into two conveniently short pieces. Just remove the take-down screw, and the receiver/barrel unit separates from the buttstock and lower receiver.
The M-141 is easily broken down into two conveniently short pieces. Just remove the take-down screw, and the receiver/barrel unit separates from the buttstock and lower receiver.

Working with the little M-141 was a refreshing step back in time. The engineers who designed the gun, the draftsmen who labored over the drawing boards, and the machinists who then skillfully crafted the guns did so with great pride in their work. Then there are the legions of hunters who bought these rifles and put them to their intended purpose. All M-141/141A rifles surviving today are a testament to their skill.

A total of 76,881 Model 141s were made before it was discontinued in 1949. My M-141 is one of 8,311 made in 1949, the last year of production. A new pump gun was on the horizon that was simpler and more economical to make, and in 1952, the Model 760 was introduced.

Remington’s Model 760

The introduction of the Model 760 in 1952 ushered in a new era of pump-actions for Big Green. The new M-760 was modern in every respect — for its day, of course. The .30-06 Springfield, .270 Winchester and the then popular .300 Savage were all chambered in the M-760. And it endures today in many disparate variations.

The old M-141 is still a pleasant companion in the fi eld, and the .30 Remington mimics the ballistics of the famous .30-30 Winchester.
The old M-141 is still a pleasant companion in the fi eld, and the .30 Remington mimics the ballistics of the famous .30-30 Winchester.

I was on the lookout for a good M-760 when I spied one at a local pawnshop. I like the .30-06 and .270, but geeze … aren’t there enough of them already? The hangtag read “.300 Savage,” a caliber for which I’d been searching a long time. The price was right, and I promptly bought it. I found that it was in excellent mechanical shape: Everything worked, the slide shuttled back and forth like it was on greased glass and the trigger pull wasn’t too bad. The bore was bright and the rifling looked as good as new. The bluing was good, and the only rust was on the right side of the front-sight ramp.

While the M-760 in various guises would be produced until 1980, the .300 Savage was discontinued in 1958, with a total of 41,751 of this chambering produced, while a total of 971,712 M-760 rifles (and 67,726 carbines) were made. This M-760 was made in September of 1952 — the year of its introduction. Of the 63,735 M-760s sold that year, only 14,431 were in .300 Savage.

The spiffy new M-760 was designed by L. R. Crittendon and William Gail, Jr., and was ultimately offered in a total of 12 calibers. The M-760 was quite modern for its day: A rotating bolt had several small lugs that mated into corresponding cuts in the barrel extension, which made the M-760 much stronger than its predecessor, the M-141. The availability of the powerful .30-06, heretofore chambered only in bolt-action rifles, helped make the M-760 a hit, and this caliber was the most popular.

Note the similarities in form, but the change from a smooth buttstock in the M-141 (top) made in 1949, to the impressed fl eur-de-lis “checkering” in the M-7600 of 1991.
Note the similarities in form, but the change from a smooth buttstock in the M-141 (top) made in 1949, to the impressed fl eur-de-lis “checkering” in the M-7600 of 1991.

The M-760 forearm has twin action bars similar to the M-870 shotgun that was introduced just 2 years earlier. These bars actuate a carrier that holds the bolt, so that pumping the forend back rotates and unlocks the bolt and cocks the hammer. A horseshoe-shaped extractor riveted onto the bolt face pulls a cartridge from the chamber, and a plunger ejector flips the round to the side. A forward shove on the forend strips a cartridge off the box magazine, and as the bolt goes into the barrel extension, it rotates into battery. All in all, it was pretty slick — then and now. The factory instruction sheet is still available from Remington, as is the parts diagram.

The solid receiver allowed the mounting of a scope directly over the bore, and all but the very earliest M-760s came factory drilled and tapped. Those that weren’t could be sent back to Remington, which would perform this alteration for the meager sum of $6.50. The rifle came with a one-piece Weaver base installed, so I checked the screws and mounted a period correct Weaver K6 scope.

A modest selection of .300 Savage factory ammo is available today. I tested these loads, and all exhibited minute-of-deer accuracy, averaging around 2 inches at 100 yards, which I thought it was pretty good for a rifle almost as old as I am. Reloaders should be aware that the M-760 has a 12-inch twist, which might not stabilize some of the long and/or heavy bonded and lead-free bullets available today. All the loading manuals have data.

Three generations of popular cartridges for the Remington pumps (from left): .30 Remington, .300 Savage and .280 Remington — all of which are viable hunting rounds.
Three generations of popular cartridges for the Remington pumps (from left): .30 Remington, .300 Savage and .280 Remington — all of which are viable hunting rounds.

To some, the M-760 might appear as just another old clunker, but I see only history — not only in its clever and efficient design, and its classic old cartridge, but also its time in the woods, as evidenced by the scratches and dings here and there. Surely it has taken deer; has it tangled with a bear?

The Remington M-7600

Fate is a fickle thing, and in 2017, another Remington pump came into my life. I was in a Colorado gun shop that had a nice-looking Remington Model 7600 on the rack. I was sure it would be yet another .243, .30-06, .270, etc., but instead it was in .280 Remington; a chambering you don’t see every day. Since I (a) like Remington pumps and (2) had a bolt-action .280, it was a match made in, well, if not heaven, close.

The M-7600 was introduced in January, 1981, and it continues in production today. It supplanted the older M-760; however, the new gun differed from the older one only in cosmetic details. The Model 6 was a replacement for the M-760 BDL Custom Deluxe, but it was more expensive than the new M-7600, and it was discontinued in 1988. Interestingly, the name iconic “GameMaster” name was not continued with the M-7600.

The Remington Model 25 was made for the smaller .25-20 Win. and .32-30 Win. cartridges. This gun show specimen is in excellent condition, chambered in .25-20 Win.
The Remington Model 25 was made for the smaller .25-20 Win. and .32-30 Win. cartridges. This gun show specimen is in excellent condition, chambered in .25-20 Win.

Numerous variations of the M-7600 were offered, and additional cartridges were added, including the terrific .35 Whelen (1988-1996), which was made a factory cartridge by Remington in 1957 after decades as a successful wildcat. Unique variations of the M-7600 include the Models 7615 (chambered to .223 Remington and which accepts AR-15 magazines), the 7615P Patrol Rifle, and the 7615SPS, a dealer-only special). There were fancy engraved guns, and a 200th Year Anniversary Limited Edition rifle made only in 2016 — Remington’s bicentennial. The bolt of my M-760 has two rows of five lugs that lock into the barrel extension. The newer M-7600s that I have examined have two large lugs, as does my .280.

I have had much enjoyment learning facts that many folks have already found out, of course. All are a look back in time. Each rifle has its own idiosyncrasies, but they all continue to do just what they were designed to do: shoot straight and work every time.

I have collected a nice Missouri 8-point buck with my .280 Rem., but I have not (as yet) harvested any game with the .30 Remington or .300 Savage, but their time afield is coming. Perhaps in a few decades, some other shooters who appreciate the accomplishments of the past will continue to enjoy these fine rifles. I certainly hope so.

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

Charter Arms PROFESSIONAL To Debut Soon

By
Elwood Shelton
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2

Chambered in .32 H&R Magnum, the Charter Arms PROFESSIONAL puts a new twist on the carry revolver.

How the Charter Arm PROFESSIONAL is made for carry:

  • Chambered in powerful, yet manageable .32 H&R Magnum.
  • Seven-round capacity.
  • Light 22-ounce weight.
  • Three-inch barrel maintains cartridge’s ballistics, while keeping revolver wieldy.

Generally speaking, many defensive firearms experts draw the line at the .380 ACP. Any lesser caliber and you’re playing with fire. Though, in this conversation, often lost in the mix is the newer generation of .32-caliber cartridges that have come about in the past 30 or so years. These magnum 32s might have the same diameter of their predecessors, but more than makes up for this with the energy they deliver on target.

Chater Arms PROFESSIONAL

One of the originals, the .32 H&R Magnum, is finding new life in the self-defense world with the introduction of the Charter Arms PROFESSIONAL. The ominous looking seven-round revolver is set for release at the May 17-19 Concealed Carry Expo in Pittsburg, Pa. And for armed citizens who tend toward wheelguns for everyday carry, the revolver looks to have what it takes to send their eyebrows north.

Next to capacity, excellent for a revolver, the Charter Arms PROFESSIONAL’s dimensions appear right on target for an easily concealable revolver. The stainless-steel framed revolver tips the scales at a very manageable 22 ounces (unloaded) and boasts a 3-inch barrel, which should help the .32 H&R Magnum live up to its ballistic potential, without making the gun unwieldy. The PROFESSIONAL is finished off with a satin Blacknitride+™ finish, contoured walnut grip and a green light-pipe front sight and integral rear.

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The PROFESSIONAL, designed with input from Concealed Carry Magazine’s editorial staff, isn’t Charter Arm’s first foray into the .32 H&R Magnum. The company’s 2-inch barreled, 5-round Undercoverette has also been available in the chambering for some time. In either case, the revolvers feed on a powerful cartridge, which, according to Cartridges of the World, 14th Edition can push a 90-grain bullet 1,150 fps at the muzzle and deliver 13-percent more energy than a .38 Speical.

Charter Arms PROFESSIONAL Specs
Capacity: 7 rounds
Caliber: .32 H&R Magnum
Finish: Blacknitride+™
Weight: 22 ounces, unloaded
Barrel: 3 inches
Length: 7 13/16 inches
Front Sight: Green LitePipe
Grips: Contoured Walnut
MSRP: $438

For more information on the Charter Arms PROFESSIONAL, please visit www.charterfirearms.com.

AR-15 Maintenance: Upgrading Your Bolt And Bolt Carrier Group

By
Len Waldron
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0

AR-15 maintenance doesn’t have to be expensive. A quick update to the bolt can breathe new life into your go-to gun.

Why you should pay attention to the bolt and BCG with your AR-15 maintenance:

  • Relatively inexpensive upgrade
  • Only takes minutes to replace parts
  • Eliminates most common failure — failure to extract
  • Bolt and BCG ware quickly giving exposure to heat, friction and contamination

When it comes to guns, it seems there’s always something on the horizon newer, lighter, faster, made from an exotic metal — or even just a different color. Sometimes the changes are innovative, and sometimes it’s just marketing hype. Either way, new features and their new price tags often mean more money that might be better spent on practice ammo or killing a credit card bill.

AR 15 Maintenance 6
But for those of us who take our personal safety seriously and are mindful of the importance of a well-maintained firearm, a few simple checks and a change-out of inexpensive replacement parts in your bolt can keep your AR running reliably — and prevent one of the most common stoppage issues experienced by AR shooters: a failure to extract.

Just so we’re on the same page, the plain meaning of the term “failure to extract” is when the spent cartridge casing will not properly exit the rifle upon firing. Simple enough to identify. A combination of factors can create this problem, but the causes — other than a dirty action and an out-of-spec magazine — are most commonly an issue with the extractor, extraction process or gas system.

Read Also: Addressing Common AR Malfunctions

Either the extractor — a hook-shaped, spring-tensioned part located on the front of the bolt at approximately the 10 o’clock position as viewed from the bolt face — is failing to grab the rim of the casing and pull it from the chamber, or the gas system isn’t supplying the force necessary to enable the bolt to cycle.

The extractor is actually part of the AR’s bolt head, and when installed it has a locking lug on the outside and a round, claw interior that completes the circle of the bolt face. The extractor sits opposite the ejector pin, and the two parts work in tandem, with the extractor anchoring the base of the cartridge case and the and ejector pin pushing the opposite side to send the spent case out of the action when the weapon cycles.

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The bolt carriage group in general, and the bolt, specifically, are exposed to a great deal of heat, friction and contamination. Each time a round fires, this system of parts experiences forceful movement, friction and spring compression, as well as linear and rotational forces. Like any machine, the parts wear with use. In particular, the springs are repeatedly compressed and the metal parts heat and cool. The inevitable results are the springs get weaker and eventually provide resistance beneath their manufacturer’s specifications, and metal parts can chip, shear or shatter.

Read Also: A Word on AR-15 Carrier Life

Like brakes on our vehicle, heading downhill into a traffic pile-up is not the time to consider the last time you replaced worn parts. The good news for you and your AR is that a simple and inexpensive upgrade exists that takes only minutes and a few dollars to complete.

The Extractor And Extractor Spring

My preference for bolt maintenance is the Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM) SOPMOD Bolt Upgrade/Rebuilt Kit. The kit may be purchased in two ways: The basic package is an Extractor Spring Upgrade Kit that includes the extractor spring, extractor insert and Crane Industrial mil-spec O-ring — with a miniscule MSRP of $4.95. The full Bolt Upgrade/Rebuild Kit also includes the Extractor Spring Kit along with a BCM extractor, an extractor pin and three USGI gas rings for only $29.95.

Read Also: How To Care For And Upgrade AR Springs

I prefer the BCM kit; I have first-hand experience with the obsessive quality control Paul Buffoni and the BCM team puts into their parts. BCM’s high standards for specifications and tolerances have the reputation of the highest OEM part reject rate in the industry. My first and favorite AR is a BCM, and after more than 12,000 rounds with minimal issues, I finally conceded to follow my own advice and give the bolt a rebuild. After thousands of rounds, ammo types, external conditions and heavy use, it was still as reliable as the day it came out of the box.

The extractor is a critical element to the proper functioning of the AR’s gas impingement system. Its function is to grab the base of the cartridge casing and mechanically escort it into and out of the AR’s action during the firing sequence.
The extractor is a critical element to the proper functioning of the AR’s gas impingement system. Its function is to grab the base of the cartridge casing and mechanically escort it into and out of the AR’s action during the firing sequence.

But nothing lasts forever.

Having started with a BCM, I was replacing an old part with a new one of the same quality. But for those who are not sure of the provenance of their ARs parts, installing a shot-peened USGI spec extractor is likely a step-up in quality and reliability, given the standards some manufacturers tolerate. Additionally, the extractor spring is chrome silicon, heat treated, stress-relieved and shot-peened, which means it’s made of the best components available and manufactured such that it will continue to perform long after lesser components fail.

The change-out requires only a punch to push out the extractor pin, a quick clean of the bolt’s surface beneath the extractor and replacement of the new spring and extractor insert in the same manner they came out. Note the orientation and thickness of the spring relative to the bolt, and be certain to replace the two parts in the same order. Press and hold the extractor in place and replace the pin.

When working with a new spring, it might take more pressure to line up the extractor with the holes in the bolt, but just take your time. Upon inspection, my extractor claw showed minimal wear for the number of rounds cycled through the AR. It by no means looked new, but it was far better than other sad examples I’ve seen where the claw is worn to a humble nub, or where the claw actually snapped off — which is a catastrophic failure.

I have omitted mentioning the mil-spec O-ring because many consider it superfluous and an early fix to a design flaw in the extraction timing. The historical arguments are many, but the ultimate answer is that it’s optional with modern extractor springs, so decide for yourself — or try it both ways and see which works better for your AR. It’s unlikely that you’ll notice a difference.

The Gas Rings

The second element of the bolt rebuild is a replacement of the three gas rings on the tail-end of the bolt. The rings modulate the amount of gas that passes through the bolt carriage group and form a seal that pushes the bolt forward as part of the firing sequence.

Do you need the newest flashy add-on, or would your time and money be better spent on ensuring your AR functions reliably? The author’s go-to AR had functioned well through 12,000 rounds of hard use, but it got a bolt upgrade that include a new extractor to reduce the likelihood of stoppages and keep the rifle healthy — all for less than $30 bucks.
Do you need the newest flashy add-on, or would your time and money be better spent on ensuring your AR functions reliably? The author’s go-to AR had functioned well through 12,000 rounds of hard use, but it got a bolt upgrade that include a new extractor to reduce the likelihood of stoppages and keep the rifle healthy — all for less than $30 bucks.

Some shooters argue that an AR will function without these rings, and they may be correct. But purposely or negligently creating gas imbalances in your ARs system where reliability is your primary concern is a silly idea, so treat the gas rings as maintenance items and replace them regularly. A BCM ring three-pack will cost you $2.95 — so, other than a good cleaning, it’s the least expensive way to improve the reliability of your AR.

Read Also: Under Gassed? Check Your Gas Rings

A practical but unscientific test is to press the bolt into the carrier, hold the bolt carrier group (BCG) in the air by the bolt and observe whether it slides down. The opposite approach works by pulling the bolt out and setting the BCG on the bolt head: If the bolt can hold the carrier in either direction, your rings are still in good shape. The rule of thumb is to change them out every 5,000 rounds. Again, my rifle was at 12,000 rounds and the rings passed the test, but I changed them out anyway.

Removing the O-ring is most easily accomplished with the help of a dental pick to spread the ring at its respective split and slide it off the body of the bolt. The first ring is tricky; the second and third are easy. Install the new rings by sliding them down over the tail of the bolt making sure they don’t overlap.

Back In Action

I put the AR to work the next day in a two-day carbine course with Kyle Defoor’s Proformance Shooting. Through 600 rounds of Black Hills Ammunition 77-grain OTM between two shooters, we experienced zero fails, just like before, along with the added confidence that a potential extraction problem was further away.

All in, the most expensive approach to this maintenance exercise was less than $30, but you can still improve your system by choosing the gas rings or extractor springs, both of which are less than $5. The entire rebuild process took about 15 minutes.

The extractor sits at the 10 o’clock position on the bolt (shown here removed). It has a lug on the outside, and a round claw on the inside that completes the circular bolt face.
The extractor sits at the 10 o’clock position on the bolt (shown here removed). It has a lug on the outside, and a round claw on the inside that completes the circular bolt face.

If this process sounds complicated but you’re still concerned about your bolt’s maintenance, a brand new bolt from BCM is $79.95. Additionally, if your existing bolt functions normally and you choose to replace it as a matter of maintenance, keep it as a backup.

In many of today’s aftermarket pistol grips, there’s a locking cover that turns the hollow grip into a small storage compartment, and most will accommodate a bolt. Give it a light lube and wrap it in a small Ziploc bag to waterproof it and keep it quiet, and a back-up will never be far away.

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

American Made Giveaway: Aero Precision

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

This Aero Precision pistol build features an M4E1 Lower Receiver and an M4E1 Non-Forward Assist Upper Receiver.

This build is chambered in 5.56 Nato and features a 7.5″ barrel with a 7″ ATLAS S-One handguard. A VG6 Epsilon 556 muzzle device finishes the upper receiver giving the build a compensator as well as a flash hider right out of the gate. The internal components of the upper feature an Aero Precision Black Nitride Bolt Carrier Group and the all-new Aero Precision BREACH Ambidextrous Charging Handle.

The lower receiver features a Rise Armament Rave-140 single-stage 3.5 lb flat trigger, a Magpul MOE® grip, and an SB Tactical SBA3 pistol brace. A 2 MOA Crimson Trace CTS-1000 Red Dot Sight finishes off this pistol build perfectly, giving you everything you need to hit the range. All Aero Precision parts and components are engineered from the ground up and built on the foundation of superior American quality and precision manufacturing you have come to expect from all Aero parts and components. The parts and components used in this pistol are offered in a variety of different configurations giving complete power and control to the builder. To learn more visit aeroprecisionusa.com.

Aero Precision PCC

Aero Precision introduces their new line of pistol-caliber carbine (PCC) products. Available calibers include 9mm, 10mm, .40, and .45. Those familiar with Aero Precision AR-15 and AR-10/LR308 products will be excited to explore the options of building a pistol-caliber AR with Aero quality and affordable pricing.

The Aero Precision PCC product line includes two different lower receiver options: one for 9mm/.40 builds and the other for 10mm/.45. The upper receiver features a tried and true last round bolt-hold-open device that works with Glock compatible AR9 lower receivers. Pair this with our custom designed bolt for a dependable build that won’t break the bank.

Like other Aero Precision platforms, the upper and lower receiver are the heart of the build. The MSRP for the Aero PCC Receiver Set comes in at a reasonable $249.99. We machine our receivers from custom designed forgings and include smart features for the at-home builder. The PCC receiver designs are based on the popular M4E1 (AR-15) lower receiver, providing a sleek billet-like design with a forged price. When you buy the receiver set, it will be delivered with the proprietary components installed to make the at-home build process as easy as possible.

Those looking for some assistance with the build process can choose from a selection of complete upper receivers and complete lower receivers — let our certified armorers do the work for you! Our complete uppers span across four calibers with length options ranging from 5.5 to 16 inches. Our complete lowers cater to individuals looking to build pistol, rifle, or SBR configurations. As with all Aero Precision offerings, you can buy the components stripped and build it from scratch as well, integrating other AR-15-compatible components to give you a one-of-a-kind firearm that you can rely on.

RISE Armament Adds RA-140 Flat Super Sporting

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

Giving a new feel to an old favorite, RISE introduces the RA-140 Flat Super Sporting.

How RA-140 Flat compares to other triggers:

  • Single-stage, drop-in trigger
  • 3.5-pound pull weight
  • Made of CNC machined tool steel and aircraft-grade aluminum
  • 2.6-ounce weight
  • Comes with anti-walk pins standard

Study the cut of a company’s jib for any spell and you’ll see where it puts the emphasis of its engineering and manufacturing expertise. It’s pretty simple to deduce with RISE Armament, it always comes back to the bang switch. You can’t hold the gunmaker’s target intensification on the trigger against them. Few other facets of an AR play as big a role in overall accuracy and performance than that little thing dangling at the bottom of the lower.

RA-140 RA-140 Flat Super Sporting

RISE continued to cater to shooters’ tastes recently, expanding its RA-140 Super Sporting line of single-stage triggers with a flat trigger option. Becoming more common in recent years, flat triggers are generally heralded as providing more real-estate for the trigger finger, thus facilitating more control and a cleaner pull. Furthermore, they create a longer reach, in turn, shooters – especially those with big mitts – don’t have to scrunch their hands into an arthritic claw to get on the trigger.

“We’ve had a lot of customer requests for a low-cost, high-performance straight trigger, so we’re excited to provide that with the RA-140 Flat,” said Matt Torres, president of RISE Armament. “Everyone has a style and feel they prefer when it comes to triggers, so we want to make sure we’re giving customers what they want.”

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Like the rest of the series of drop-in triggers, the RA-140 Flat Super Sporting comes in at a relatively affordable price – MSRP $139. By factory specs, the 2.6-ounce unit has a 3.5-pound pull weight and comes with anti-walk pins, to keep the unit tight as a drum. The drop-in trigger works with any AR-15 or AR-10 platform and is made of CNC machined tool steel and aircraft-grade aluminum.

For more information on RA-140 Flat Super Sporting trigger, please visit www.risearmament.com.

How To Read Mirage To Control For Wind

By
Dick Jones
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0

While it takes time, coaching and practice, learning to read mirage will help you own long-range shooting.

Why it’s important to read mirage:

  • Gives you not only wind speed, but also value.
  • You can better estimate the wind’s effects down range.
  • Requires less reliance on technology to make an accurate shot.

Reading wind is truly as much art as it is science. While a wind meter can’t always give you the correct windage for a long-range shot, if you read mirage in conjunction with a wind meter it can do as much to teach you how to read wind as years of shooting experience. Learning to read mirage normally requires spending time with someone who can read mirage and is willing to share it, or you can spend a lot of experimental shooting time.

Mirage 3

Reading mirage involves observing light waves as they’re disturbed by heat, and using the amplitude and frequency of those light waves to determine the required amount of windage to hit center. The great thing about using mirage is that it shows wind value as it shows speed. An 8 mph wind blowing straight up or downrange appears as a no-value wind, and it looks almost the same as a zero-wind situation. A half-value 8 mph wind looks almost exactly like a full-value 4 mph wind. The reason for this is that wind speed is only observable as to its relative speed perpendicular to the line of sight.

Mirage How-To

To read mirage, focus your spotting scope about halfway between you and the target. The amplitude shows up better on a horizontal line, so if there is one, look for the mirage as it distorts that line. In high power, I focused on the top of the target frame at 600 and 1,000 yards, and the bottom of the frame at 300 yards. The faster the wind speed, the faster the mirage will appear to move. At zero wind value, it appears to not move from left or right, but rather it appears more as a boil. The slower the wind, the greater the amplitude of the waves, and at wind speeds above about 10 mph it almost fl attens out. Above that speed I think in terms of frequency: Imagine a sine wave that flattens as it speeds up.

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Your ability to learn from experience is limited to your ability to shoot. If you can only hold within 2 MOA, your ability to judge your wind calls will be limited to that level. Learning from experience is best accomplished by coaching, or by listening to a good coach while he or she coaches an excellent shooter on the line. Under those circumstances, you can instantly see if the wind call is good or not. When shooting with a coach, the shooter needs to advise the coach if he calls a shot left or right because a shot that comes up right of the coach’s estimate will make the coach believe the wind has more value than is being seen.

Learning Mirage From A Wind Meter

To use a wind meter to learn to read mirage, find a large, flat area unobstructed by fences, buildings or trees. Read the wind speed with the meter, factor in the value that’s based on wind direction, and observe the mirage. Rotate the scope directly into and away from the wind and notice how a boil appears. Observe the difference between a half- and full-value wind. I suspect you’ll learn to read mirage much faster that way than from experience.

Mirage 2

It’s also important to receive instant feedback on your results. This can be done where a dust signature can be observed, though spotting hits in dust can be deceiving. Obviously, it works very well on known distances, in ranges with pits or when shooting electronic targets, but there’s another affordable option in the form of remote target cameras. With a remote target camera, you can instantly see the results of each shot and most will indicate the location of the most recent shot. They’re a great aid to learning to read wind without the assistance of another person.

The ability to reliably read wind for long-range shooting requires time, and a lot of range time, but there’s nothing more satisfying than making the wind call on a long shot in a crossing wind — and nailing it.

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

Savage Arms Model 212 and Model 220 Turkey Revamped

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

Upgraded and on sale through general retail outlets, the revamped Model 212 and 220 Turkey are just in time for the season.

How the Model 212 and Model 220 are set up for turkey season:

  • Built on 110 rifle action
  • AccuFit adjustabl comb height and LOP
  • Internal AccuStock rail system
  • 22-inch, free-floating blued barrel
  • Interchangeable extra-full turkey choke (Win. choke thread)
  • Detachable box magazine
  • User-adjustable AccuTrigger
  • One-piece synthetic stock with Mossy Oak Obsession camouflage
  • One-piece rail for easy optic mounting

Best known as slug guns, Savage Arms has turned out Model 212 and Model 220 shotguns tailor-made for gobblers for a few years now. Yet, it took some doing to get one in the hunt, given the turn-bolt smoothbores were only available through special order directly from the gunmaker.

Model 220 Profile

Not anymore. Moving the Model 212 and Model 220 to general distribution, the turkey guns are now available from Savage dealers and just in time for most regions’ impending spring season. The shotguns should catch turkey hunters’ eyes, not simply for their familiar and reliable Model 110 rifle action, but also their upgraded stocks. The shotguns boast Savage’s proprietary AccuFit fully adjustable buttstock and AccuStock internal aluminum rail system. The company also outfitted them with AccuTrigger adjustable triggers.

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Both shotguns are available in 12- and 20-gauge and with Mossy Oak Obsession camouflage stocks. The Savage Model 212 and Model 220 has an MSRP of $695 in 20-gauge and $779 in 12-gauge.

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WESTFIELD, Massachusetts – March 13, 2019 – Savage unveils the Model 212 and 220 turkey guns, designed to give serious gobbler hunters maximum performance and adjustability. Shipments have been delivered to dealers.

Originally only offered through the Savage Special Order Office, the Model 212 and 220 bolt-action turkey shotguns are now available everywhere. Both are built around the Model 110 rifle action, which is machined from steel bar stock and secured three-dimensionally along its entire length by the AccuStock internal chassis. Their blued, 22-inch carbon steel barrels are free-floating and secured to the receiver using a Model 110-style locking nut that ensures shot-to-shot consistency.

The user-adjustable AccuTrigger provides a light, crisp pull, and the AccuFit system allows hunters to customize length-of-pull and comb height for precision that shooters won’t find in any other turkey gun. The detachable, two-round magazine enables quick loading, and the oversize bolt knob helps operation with gloved hands.

Features

  • Smoothbore bolt-action shotgun platform built like a rifle
  • AccuFit system lets hunters adjust comb height and length-of-pull
  • AccuStock rail system secures the action three-dimensionally along its entire length
  • 22-inch, free-floating blued barrel
  • Interchangeable extra-full turkey choke (Win. choke thread)
  • Detachable box magazine
  • User-adjustable AccuTrigger
  • One-piece synthetic stock with Mossy Oak Obsession camouflage
  • One-piece rail for easy optic mounting

Part No. / Description / MSRP

57383 / 220 Turkey 20 gauge, 22-inch barrel / $695

57412 / 212 Turkey 12 gauge, 22-inch barrel / $779

To learn more about Savage’s turkey guns, please visit www.savagearms.com.

Model 212/Model 220 Specs
Action: Bolt-Action
Finish: Matte Black
Sights: One-piece rail
Trigger Pull Weight: 2.5-6 pounds adjustable
Stock: Synthetic
Overall Length: 43.75 inches adjustable
Weight: 7 pounds

Beyond 1,000 Yards: The Ruger Hawkeye FTW Hunter

By
Jay Pinsky
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0

Ruger’s Hawkeye FTW Hunter has proven itself at jaw-dropping distances. Your skills determine where the line is drawn.

What sets the Hawkeye FTW Hunter apart:

  • Non-rotating, Mauser-type controlled-round-feed extractor.
  • Fixed blade-type ejector.
  • Hinged solid-steel floorplate,flush latch, engraved FTW logo.
  • Three-position safety to lock the bolt, an load and unload with the safety engaged.
  • Cold hammer-forged barrel.
  • Patented integral scope mounts machined directly on the solid-steel receiver.
  • Soft rubber buttpad with spacers — three ½-inch spacers included.
  • One-piece, stainless-steel bolt and studs for mounting sling swivels.
  • The Ruger Muzzle Brake System.
  • MSRP: $1,269

Why whisper? I whispered because that’s about as loud as the ping was from the steel I hit at 1,500 yards with the 6.5 Creedmoor during a 2-day Sportsman’s All-Weather All-Terrain Marksmanship course (SAAM) taught at FTW Ranch in Texas.

OK — I’ll admit, the cocky silver-haired Ruger Hawkeye FTW Hunter rifle did have a few upgrades. The stock is adjustable, the barrel is 24 inches and at the end sits a brake. Still, this rifle can be ordered as a catalog item from Ruger, and minus the German optic and a few cases of Hornady ELD-X ammunition, you’d get the same gun if you ordered it from Ruger today. Sounds off-the-shelf to me.

Hawkeye FTW Hunter 4

[Whisper] … ping.

Now, some of you may think putting a muzzle brake on a polite cartridge like the 6.5 Creedmoor might be overkill. I disagree. Why? I’ll let an engineer “brake” it to you: “Nobody likes to get punished by heavy recoil, and hunters normally shoot better when not in pain,” said Amund Skoglund, Commercial Director North America, RUAG Ammotec USA, Inc.

Find Out More About Ruger Firearms

While most hunters might recoil from such an admission, the truth is recoil impacts a hunter’s ability to shoot confidently, whether we admit it or not. On top of recoil, brakes help keep muzzles down, so follow-up shots can be made just as accurately as the first. A tiny flaw in our technique, often masked at 100 yards or even 200 yards, becomes a miss — or worse, a wounding shot — at the kinds of distances the 6.5 Creedmoor or its beefier big brothers were designed for in the first place.

Logic, Applied

I learned this over and over again at SAAM, a course that’s not shy about teaching hunter shooting ethics in addition to skills. I also learned that marksmanship is as much about common sense as it is ballistics.

What do I mean? Well, it makes sense that the most accurate shot is always the steadiest shot, yes? One of the big ideas SAAM instructors try to get across to hunters is to not just try to find a steady rest, but to insist upon it — or not to take the shot.

Since its introduction, the 6.5 Creedmoor was scooped up by long-range target shooters and has thus garnered the reputation as a go-to target cartridge. But all the major ammo companies — as well as some smaller ones — have embraced the 6.5 Creedmoor, and the birth of some very good hunting bullets has been the result, making it a very capable long-range hunter.
Since its introduction, the 6.5 Creedmoor was scooped up by long-range target shooters and has thus garnered the reputation as a go-to target cartridge. But all the major ammo companies — as well as some smaller ones — have embraced the 6.5 Creedmoor, and the birth of some very good hunting bullets has been the result, making it a very capable long-range hunter.

This idea is delivered in three simple rules:

1. The more skin on the ground, the better. Always get as low to the ground as possible.
2. Stability is the key to good shooting. Always get at least two points of contact to rest your weapon if possible.
3. Be an uncompromising shooter. If you cannot hold the crosshairs in the inside 50 percent of the vital zone, get the where you can or get positioned to where you can.

These truths helped me to learn, and then accept, my personal shooting limit was and is about 400 yards on live game. If the critter I’m after is farther, I get closer — or all it gets to see is me tip my ball cap toward it for getting the best of me that day.

The 2-day course explains this common sense in a lot more detail. In fact, it covers it in a 24-chapter, 110-page book that takes students down to this philosophy: “It’s the hunter’s job to kill an animal instantly with the first shot. Hunters owe it to the animal to accomplish that. If not 100 percent certain, get closer or don’t shoot.”

The Long-Distance Hunter

Back to that Ruger Hawkeye FTW Hunter: The one I shot at SAAM, and the identical one I have in my gun safe here in Virginia, is chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. For those of you new to the Grand Island, Nebraska, inspired .264 block party, it’s because the cartridge is very accurate, doesn’t recoil much, shoots slicker-than-whale-snot 6.5mm bullets — and did I mention it doesn’t kick much?

When building out a rifle that has serious long-range capability, you limit yourself — and that rifle — if your scope isn’t designed for the same tasks.
When building out a rifle that has serious long-range capability, you limit yourself — and that rifle — if your scope isn’t designed for the same tasks.

Hornady’s Neal Emery goes into even more detail about the 6.5 Creedmoor’s success over some other 6.5mm bullet pushers.

“The Creedmoor has quite a few things going for it,” he said. “It’s a true short-action cartridge that allows long, heavy bullets to be seated out. The .260 Remington requires the same long, heavy bullet to be seated further into the case or the use of a long action. The 6.5×55 is even longer. The Creedmoor also benefits from close adherence to both the chamber design spec and the ammunition spec — everyone essentially makes it the same.”

During the SAAM course, which by the way featured a lot of different manufacturers’ 6.5mm Creedmoors, we all shot the same ammo: Hornady. There are a lot of choices for bullets these days, and that’s especially true for the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge.

The introduction by Hornady of the ELD platform gives target shooters and hunters a choice they think they need to make. But, according to Emery, the genius of the ELD design is that its aerodynamic qualities benefit both paper and paleo gatherers.

Hawkeye FTW Hunter 5

“In both bullets, it creates the perfect meplat (point)” said Emery. “They are the same, time after time. Manufacturing BTHP bullets with the exact same tip geometry doesn’t happen. For the ELD Match bullets, it’s all about consistency and maximizing the ballistic potential.

“On the hunting side (ELD-X), the tip is quite important for the terminal effect,” he continued. “Upon impact, the tip gets pushed into the hollow cavity in the nose, forcing expansion. BTHP designs are dependent on what they hit to dictate how or if the bullet expands. Tipped bullets are far more consistent in their expansion.”

The Ruger Hawkeye FTW Hunter is a rifle accurate enough to take advantage of a long-range capable cartridge like the 6.5 Creedmoor, and it’s a rifle you can haul up a mountain, scratch, get muddy, cuss at (I don’t want to talk about it) and, like your trusty dog, it still loves you enough to be there when you need it.

Hawkeye Performance

Sure, there are more accurate rifles, which might shoot tighter groups for longer engagements, with less recoil, less muzzle rise and more pop from the muzzle, but if you’ve ever hunted where every direction to and from camp is up, up higher and then keep climbing — then the true beauty of a hunting rifle you can and should carry, which can and does hit steel at 1,500 yards all day long isn’t just your buddy … it’s your very best friend.

[Whisper] … good shot! Let’s go pack it out.

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Video: Mastering A Fast And Effective Pistol Reload

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

Among the most import fundamentals of pistolcraft is executing a timely and efficient reload. Here’s how.

Mastering your pistol isn’t simply a matter of how consistently you hit the mark. Equally as vital is how competently you manipulate your handgun. Operate the slide, clear malfunctions and, of course, reloading – all must be executed in a timely and efficient manner. These might sound easy as pie, but accomplishing them with any semblance of aptitude takes know-how and practice. Especially if you inject any sort of adrenaline into a situation.

Perhaps one of the most import skills and one of the earliest to focus on is the reload. Champion shooter Mark Redl focuses on reloading in a competitive situation in the above video, however, the points he hits upon are applicable to most circumstances. Particularly, his emphasis on working within the headbox.

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For more information Aguila Ammunition, please visit www.aguilaammo.com.

This is a challenge for many new shooters since holding a pistol in front of the face feels unnatural. Early on, most have a tendency to drop their arms and execute a reload at or below chest level. This is a detriment for a couple of reasons. Foremost, you can’t see what you’re doing as well down low as you can up high. In turn, you run a chance of slowing down or fudging the reload. Either way, not good. A little more nuanced disadvantage, working outside the headbox takes your eyes away from the target. Whether you’re talking competition or self-defense, this is a bad habit to fall into, one that can cost you dearly.

While it might not be as thrilling as drilling center mass over and over, pistol reloads and other fundamental pistol manipulations are key to becoming a better shooter. It’s well worth your time to make sure sharpening these skills are part of your practice routine.

AR-15: The Ultimate Survival Gun?

By
Jorge Amselle
-
2

Power, speed, accuracy, capacity, ease of use, versatility and reliability all go into making an ideal survival gun, and the AR-15 has these assets in spades.

Why the AR-15 is an ideal survival gun:

  • Mid- to long-range accuracy
  • High-velocity cartridge
  • Lightweight
  • Common and inexpensive ammunition
  • Large magazine capacity
  • Easily configured
  • Abundant parts
  • Light Recoil
  • Relatively simple maintenance

When it comes to survival, the best choice is a rifle that combines power, speed, accuracy, capacity and reliability, ease of use, versatility, accessories, and lightweight. To me, there is only one choice: the AR rifle. Its popularity ensures the availability of plenty of spare parts for repairs. Its modularity makes it easy to repair and work on. This modularity allows the versatility to change barrels and cartridges within a certain range.

AR-15 Survival Guns

The AR is the single most versatile rifle available. It can be adapted to fire over a dozen different rifle and pistol calibers. The design makes it easy to install optics and scopes; the collapsible stock allows the length to be adjusted so different-stature shooters can comfortably use the same rifle. All of these features help explain why it is so popular.

The AR serves primarily for self-defense, used to quickly and accurately engage multiple assailants should the need arise. You could certainly use other rifles for such tasks, and I will recommend many, but the AR stands above them all. It is true that the AR may not be the best firearm to use in all defensive situations. Sometimes a shotgun or a pistol will be better suited for specific jobs.

The AR is traditionally chambered in the 5.56x45mm NATO (interchangeable with the .223 Remington caliber) cartridge. Some have questioned the effectiveness of this cartridge, but the U.S. Military has been using this round as their primary rifle caliber for 60 years, through many wars and other interventions. If it were not effective, we would not still have it. As with any firearm, the weight and type of bullet can be easily changed to deliver better performance, and while not all loadings may be ideal for hunting, many are used effectively on deer, feral hogs, coyote, and other game animals.

Some have argued that a 5.56mm AR is bad for home defense because the round will over penetrate and pass through walls, endangering other occupants or neighbors. Yet Police SWAT teams are increasingly switching from 9mm submachine guns to 5.56mm ARs exactly because they penetrate less than the 9mm, especially with proper ammunition selection.

The AR is extremely weather resistant and was designed that way from the start for military use. The receiver is aluminum, the stock polymer, the barrel and bolt carrier chrome lined and phosphate finished. The rifle is not completely rust or corrosion resistant, but it is almost as close as it gets. It was designed to be lightweight at about 6.5 lbs. The carbine version is very compact and can be easily broken down into two parts for ease of transport.

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When it comes to parts and accessories, manufacturers are busy producing almost anything you can imagine. It is very easy to take a 6.5-lb. AR carbine and turn it into a futuristic 11-lb. powerhouse. There are many AR manufacturers, and most of their guns are built to Mil-Spec, meaning that they have complete parts interchangeability. I will include a few full reviews below, but first I’ll give a round-up of some of the popular AR manufacturers.

Note: When it comes to survival, don’t try to get fancy. Many ARs are sold specifically for competition, varmint hunting, in odd calibers, or with non-standard features to appeal to select shooters. That is not what you want. You want the standard Mil-Spec AR carbine. Keep it simple. When it comes to accessories, add only what you think you really need and will actually use. Special coatings or treatments are fine and even the use of custom drop-in trigger kits is OK, as these can be easily replaced with Mil-Spec trigger kits.

Editor’s Note: This excerpt is from Modern Survival Guns: The Complete Preppers’ Guide to Dealing with Everyday Threats, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

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