Given the noise the big dogs of the gun industry make during the SHOT Show, it difficult to catch the rising stars. But we headed to the SHOT Show underground and found the up-and-coming guns, gear and optics that should make your wish list.
The first day of SHOT Show 2019 is in the bag, and there are some pretty cool new guns and gear heading your way. From long-range targets that definitively let you know you've made a hit to one of the hottest new carry guns to hit the market, here are the highlights from the show.
Big-name gun, ammo and gear makers are what comes to mind when you think Shot Show. But there's another side to the firearms Meca. Down below in the underground, the up-and-comer and small companies are all vying to be your next go-to gem.
Positioned on the shooting bench, I took a breath and slowly tightened up on the trigger. A small burst of air puffed my cheek and blew my hair up. I was shooting the new Umarex .50-caliber Hammer Air Rifle, and instead of recoil in my shoulder, I felt the subtle escape of air — all part of the engineering of the rifle.
With 3,000 psi launching each bullet, the Hammer shoots consistently and accurately. Call it what you may — high-powered, high-velocity, high-performance, most powerful production, or thse fastest production air rifle to hit the market — the Hammer fits the bill.
High-powered air rifles are not new and have a long history going back to the settlement and colonization of North America. The Lewis and Clark expedition that mapped a route across the Western United States in the early 1800s used a Girandoni air rifle to hunt and show off their firepower. The cast-iron buttstock held 800 psi, which took 1,300 strokes on an air pump to fill and could shoot a hole through a board at 100 yards with accuracy.
The old-technology air rifle is credited with the success of the expedition traveling from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean without significant loss of life. The Girandoni intimidated Native Americans who did not realize the expedition only had one of the rifles that were regularly used to display its unique firepower — but the accuracy, range and repeatability made it look formidable.
Modern air rifles are also extremely effective firearms, and when I lined up my target and placed the first two bullets out of the Hammer in the same place, it became obvious this wasn’t the type of air rifle I used as a child.
The Hammer has a built-in compressed air tank with a regulated valve that can be charged to 4,500 psi. The carbon-fiber tank has a capacity of 24 cubic inches and is nestled out of the way under the barrel, and a pressure gauge allows the shooter to know the exact charge in the main tank. The Hammer can be charged from a larger air tank with a regulated valve on the side. It only takes seconds to charge the Hammer on the range or in the field to have three more shots at full charge.
The pressure in the main tank is used to charge each shot to 3,000 psi, meaning there are three shots in a full tank. The secret to the effectiveness of the Hammer is the Lightspeed valve, which keeps every shot consistent with a massive dump of air to generate the velocity for the projectile you choose. The air dumps so fast that you feel a burst of air release off side ports when you pull the trigger.
The cocking handle is located on the side of the gun and only takes 2 pounds of pressure to operate, with a 2-inch straight-pull bolt. You can cock the gun with one finger while continuing to look down the barrel or through the scope. When cocking the rifle, the magazine automatically advances, placing a bullet at the base of the barrel.
The Hammer’s Lightspeed valve, coupled with a precision regulator, instantly pulses a measure of air compressed to 3,000 psi, behind the projectile when the cocking mechanism is pulled back. This ground-breaking patent-pending system proficiently propels a .50 caliber, 550-grain lead slug at a muzzle velocity of 760 fps, and a 250-grain slug at more than 1,000 fps.
With an extreme amount of pressure being held back, you might assume the trigger pull to be heavy or sluggish, but it breaks clean with minimal effort, allowing for greater accuracy and consistent shooting. There is slight recoil felt, but nothing that pushes the barrel off target. The rifle does make an audible “pop” instead of a loud bang and is in no way silent, but the sound is less intrusive than burning gunpowder.
Umarex is claiming to have the most powerful big bore air rifle to hit the market. It’s a bold statement, but when you look at the numbers, you’ll quickly understand. The sidebar features a table showing several different bullets and weights, complete with velocity and energy. A soft-lead, 400-grain bullet traveling at 860 fps and hitting with 657 ft-lbs. of energy is impressive. Very impressive.
The Hammer has been developed, designed and engineered in America — and it’s being made in the United States as well. The rifles are assembled in Fort Smith, Arkansas, within the Umarex USA facility. Adam Blalock, CEO of Umarex USA, Inc. said, “We continually look for products that we can make right here in the USA and, more specifically, within the walls of our building in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Hammer represents powerful innovation in air rifles, and I couldn’t be more excited that we’re equipped to build it right here.”
The Hammer wasn’t engineered overnight, and several designs and prototypes were crafted before perfecting it. The valves, regulated air and unique magazine all needed to be faultless and align to work flawlessly … and easily.
The Umarex Hammer offers several features that shooters and hunters will embrace. In addition to being the most powerful airgun delivering three regulated, full-power shots, it’s the only production big-bore air rifle that offers multiple shots from its unique chamber magazine. There’s no fumbling to insert a bullet into the barrel: The removable magazine is pre-loaded with two bullets and inserted into the gun. When you cock the rifle, the bullet is automatically loaded into place. Shoot, cock the rifle a second time, and the next bullet is ready to fly down the barrel.
The Hammer utilizes two safeties: A conventional trigger block, and a magazine lockout that prevents it from discharging without a magazine inserted.
“You won’t find safety mechanisms to this extent on any other big bores,” said Steve Lamboy, Senior Director of Strategic Development at Umarex USA. “The Umarex Hammer is the most powerful production air rifle in the world, so we charged our engineers, from the beginning, to incorporate safety mechanisms.”
The stock, forearm and other synthetic components are produced from Nymax, an advanced polymer that withstands the rugged treatment required in the outdoor hunting and shooting world. Umarex collaborated with designers from the IQ Design group at PolyOne to add three locations into the rifle’s forearm that accept M-LOK accessories and incorporate a sling stud into the lower half of the rear stock.
The stock on the Hammer is smooth with tight-fighting components. The first time you pick up a Hammer, the stock design will stand out with fit and feel. More importantly, the unique stock helps reduce the overall weight of the rifle, making it functional for a wide variety of hunting and shooting applications.
Shooting enthusiasts will quickly note additional features that include a standard AR Magpul grip, quick disconnect Foster fitting to fill the onboard air cylinder, externally visible air pressure gauge, a button-rifled .50-caliber barrel and 8.5 inches of Picatinny rail.
A true test for the Umarex Hammer was a spring bear hunt in Alberta, Canada. With some of the first production rifles, a crew of hunters set out to see what the Hammer could do in a hunting situation. And, why not pick game that can bite back?
On the fourth day of the hunt, I noticed a brown-phased bear carefully sauntering my way. The beautiful brown walked a gauntlet of logs in silent motion, stopping about 30 yards from my stand where it stared in my direction, lifted its nose and captured the smells of anything close. It took several minutes for the bear to work its way in, and when it walked behind the barrel, and I could still see part of its back over the top — I knew it was a great color-phased bear with good maturity.
I hoped to shoot the bear but was going to wait for the perfect broadside shot. Of course, the bear plopped down on the ground facing me and fed for 15 minutes while I checked it through my scope. It teased me but never offered a clear view of its side profile.
The bear finally stood up and wandered behind the bait, and when it returned, it offered a full view of its right side. Steady on my shooting sticks, I wasted little time clicking off the safety and tightening up on the trigger. At the sound of the shot, the bear cart-wheeled twice, found its footing and charged about 12 yards into the trees. I had already cocked my rifle again and was following it with my scope for a follow-up shot when it fell to the ground. I had taken my first bear with an air rifle and was shaking with excitement.
Not only was the Hammer effective, but it was quiet and easy to shoot. The large bullet made short work of tracking, which is always an important consideration when hunting bears. Being able to watch the animal tip over is always a relief, knowing no tracking is required.
The bear was a unique shade of brown and grew as I got closer to it on the ground. Stretching close to 6.5 feet from nose to tail, I knew it was a great bear. My bear had fresh wounds from fighting and showed all the signs of being a mature boar. My first air rifle black bear hunt was an enormous success, and I can’t wait for a repeat performance.
There were eight bears shot with a Hammer air rifle, using several different bullets, and none required any tracking. Airguns — and the Hammer specifically — have indeed evolved.
For more information on the Umarex Hammer .50-caliber, please visit: www.umarexusa.com.
The article originally appeared in the September 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
There aren’t many ways to improve upon the legendary 6.5×55 Swede, but wrapping it in the fine Finnish craftsmanship of a Sako rifle probably doesn’t hurt. I recently had the privilege to find out when Sako sent me a “Swede” in their Model 85 Bavarian to review.
The first thing you need to know about Sako is that they didn’t start building firearms for fun. They built them to save their homeland, Finland, from overwhelming Russian aggression. Such motivation produces the kind of firearms manufacturing quality control that only a country’s sovereign survival inspires. Luckily for me, I didn’t have to brave a Russian winter to test the Sako chambered in the aptly-selected Scandinavian military cartridge. No, I chose to head south for my winter weapons review to Kimberly, South Africa, much to the dismay of the local zebra, kudu, steenbok and warthog populations.
Reviewing a European rifle chambered in 6.5×55 Swede isn’t rare.
“The Swedish Mauser caliber is a very popular hunting cartridge in our neighbor country, Sweden,” said Philip Jones, Product Manager of rifles and ammunition, Beretta USA Corp. “Sako has been selling these rifles there for a long time and, today, Sako and Tikka are the No. 1 hunting rifles in Sweden, so I think Sako has very good knowledge how to build the best 6.5×55 rifles offered today.”
Speaking of Tikka, and this might settle or even start a few spirited discussions around elk camp: According to Jones, a Sako-built rifle is not simply a dressed-up Tikka. They’re two completely different rifles. Jones was direct:
“In regard to manufacturing process, the largest difference [from Tikka] is that the Sako 85 bolt starts as a hammered preform with the bolt handle,” Jones added. “When we machine the bolt of the Model 85, the whole bolt body is one single piece of metal, including bolt handle. With Tikka, we manufacture the bolt body separately from the bolt handle, which is attached later. Feature-wise, there are more differences, such as the Sako 85 has three locking lugs, is control-round feed, has mechanical ejection and uses a three-position safety. Also, we do not use synthetic parts in the barreled action or in magazines as we do on Tikka rifles.”
Within the stable of Sako’s fine rifles, the Bavarian stands out.
“We offer many rifles in 6.5×55 caliber,” said Jones. “But the uniqueness of Bavarian rifle is in the stock.”
Why? Because of its German influence, which is an interesting twist, because Finland ended up fighting more than the Russians late in WWII — they chased off the Nazi’s as well.
“The stock has very traditional German features, like the ‘hog back’ rear stock comb and, as they call it in Germany, (a) Schnabel-style forend,” he said. This design favors the use of traditional iron sights, which the rifle had, and a thin, long wood signature. On the range and in the field, I preferred the ergonomics of a thinner stock, finding the rifle easier to carry, point and position in a variety of hunting situations.”
Jones expanded on the difference in the Sako 85 Bavarian from other Model 85s, and the subtle changes played well in the field for me.
“The pistol grip is more vertical compared to our other traditional wooden stock models, and it has a very pronounced palm swell,” said Jones. “All Bavarian rifles have hand-detailing on the edges of the checkering patterns, adding one nice unique detail. Also, the length of pull 14.6 inches is slightly longer compared to our other traditional wood stocks, which range from 13.5 to 14 inches in length of pull.”
The rifle was easily too long for me. I’m barely 5 feet, 5 inches tall, and my length of pull stretches at 12.5 inches. Still, on numerous occasions, I was able to pull the long-stocked, long barreled (22.5 inches) Sako from my tucked and seated position, load it, shoulder it and fire accurately on moving targets.
To my point, the wood stock’s shape and enhancements weren’t simply aesthetically pleasing, they influenced my ability to engage dynamic game with the rifle, and that’s a big deal on a safari, elk hunt, or any other hunting application.
The palm swell and pistol grip angle helped me place the rifle properly to shoot quickly on animals in motion. The ergonomics of the stock begged me to actively hunt with the sharp checkering, giving me a firm grip, and the as-advertised larger palm swell giving my hand plenty of real estate to anchor into a strong grip in uncontrolled shooting situations, lending credibility to the idea Sako intended this rifle for hunting and not bench rest work. It’s as if the rifle wanted to go on a safari, with or without me.
Indeed, the Bavarian was, according to Sako, a perfect choice for my safari.
“(The) Bavarian is very good option for plains game in Africa,” said Jones. “A couple of main reasons for choosing it are: It offers mechanical ejection, which is a must when traveling with a rifle in remote places so that the ejection can never fail like can happen with the plunger type ejection; and, it offers quick target acquisition via open sights. If optics are damaged during the hunt or in traveling, the rifle is still a perfectly capable tool for hunting.”
These two keys points focus on what you need your rifle to do above all else — work. Sako’s reputation for high quality is built upon manufacturing a rifle meant to work in the most arduous environments, whether it’s on a hunt or the front lines of combat. Let’s take a closer look at what makes a Sako different from other bolt-action rifles, including the Mauser-style action.
According to Jones, Sako 85 rifles have a controlled-round feed action, but it’s designed differently compared to the Mauser 98 system while still achieving the same reliability.
“The Sako 85 bolt face has an opening on the bottom, where the cartridge can go from the magazine and the Sako-style extractor will keep the cartridge in the bolt face no matter what position the rifle is,” he said. “The ejector placement in the bottom middle of the bolt is also quite unique to the Sako 85. The Sako 85 control-round feed is, in every essence, a control-round feed as is the Mauser version — they both do the same thing. Then, when compared to a normal push-feed action, this control-round feed has clear benefits in difficult shooting situations: If the bolt is cycled when moving with the rifle, it offers a much more reliable cartridge feed into the chamber.”
My experience with the Sako action has proven it to be reliable, but in my opinion — mechanically speaking — it doesn’t equate to same performance of a Mauser-based traditional controlled-round feed action. It is, however, very different, and in my limited experience better than a standard push-feed action. Regardless, both push- and controlled-round feed actions work in the hands of a rifleman who use them properly.
Both push- and controlled-round feed actions have disadvantages and advantages, and I was more impressed with the ergonomics of the Sako stock — it’s the most accurate 6.5×55 Swede I’ve ever shot. On numerous occasions, in low and high stress situations while on my safari in Africa, the Sako rifle never failed to cycle, extract, load or place the bullet precisely where I aimed it.
The Sako 85 Bavarian I carried had the longer 22.5-inch barrel, and wisely, it sported a 1:8-inch twist rate to stabilize the kinds of bullets I’d need to maximize the 6.5×55 Swede’s world-class long-range accuracy.
On top of this Sako I used a Zeiss V4 4-16x50mm riflescope and Talley rings. One note to the quality of the scope and rings: My rifle, which bounced around on a 16-hour flight from Virginia to Kimberly, South Africa, only needed one shot on the range to verify zero before we hunted in South Africa. The high-quality glass inside that Zeiss optic paid off on my zebra hunt when I had to shoot in low-light conditions with sunset coming, the animals under the shade of several Acacia trees, and the zebra’s striped camouflage working quite well on my depth perfection.
How does the Sako shoot? In short, like its $1,998 price tag suggests it ought to, the 85 Bavarian is a knock-out. After shooting a variety of ammunition from Hornady, Nosler and Norma, I settled on the 156-grain Norma Oryx for Africa because of its heavier bullet weight, construction and superb accuracy.
Earlier in the year I used the same ammunition to take an Idaho black bear at 90 yards with a CZ 557 chambered in 6.5×55 Swede, so when the Norma ammo grouped well again in this rifle, I felt confident it would work on whatever Africa had in store for me. I was right.
From the bench to the South African high desert mountains — to low-light stalks in heavy brush, instant jump shots on 200-pound warthogs in a full sprint, bipod-assisted 200-meter shots on Zebra, Steenbok, and Kudu — it worked.
For hunters, a test where the final grades are based on tags filled, taxidermy bills created and memories made are the best grades any rifle can ask for.
The article originally appeared in the September 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Shooting a shotgun is easy, right? Everybody knows you just point the muzzle in the general direction of the target and pull the trigger. With all those hundreds of shot pellets it’s hard to miss. But — somehow — we do miss … and some of us miss a lot.
Dave Miller doesn’t miss with a shotgun very often. In fact, he probably misses less than anyone you know. Miller is the Shotgun Product Manager and Pro Shooter for CZ-USA, maker of many fine shotguns, rifles and handguns. Forget about Dave Miller as a Master Class Sporting Clay shooter and National Sporting Clays Association Level 2 Instructor. Forget about 2015, when Dave Miller landed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most clay targets shot in 1 hour — 3,653.
Do that math: That’s one clay busted, on average, every 0.99 seconds.
All this sums up to the fact that Dave Miller basically shoots shotguns for a living, and precious few of us can say that. Who better than Miller to provide some tips on improving our scattergun skills?
So, here are five common mistakes us shotgunners make, and advice from Dave Miller on how to deal with them. Remember, some tips are specific for bird hunting, some for clay shooting — and some will help with both.
“You can’t shoot what you can’t see,” Miller said. “Train yourself to look at the target, and then move the gun.” Miller noted that it’s not really necessary to “see” the gun — that is, the rib and the end of the barrel — if your eyes are on the target and you mount the gun properly. “Remember, its eyes first and then the gun,” Miller added.
In hunting situations, Miller noted that it’s especially important to concentrate on a flushing or incoming bird and not the gun. Is it a hen or a rooster pheasant? What species and gender of waterfowl is it? You can’t tell if you’re looking at the gun. Also, clearly seeing the target and what is beyond it addresses obvious safety concerns as well.
Ever had a grouse or pheasant erupt from cover as you face an angle away from the bird? Then, in haste, we often take the shot from an awkward, twisted position — and often we then miss. Miller stressed that moving to the target in a motion he calls, “step to the shot,” is very important.
“You have to take the time to move your feet and step in front of the target,” Miller said. “In this way, you’re in the proper body position to move the gun in front of the bird. Think about starting with the gun ahead of the bird, even at the low ready position when possible.”
Remember, there’s plenty of time to do this. When that grouse or pheasant or quail explodes out of cover, shooters tend to think they must shoot immediately or lose out. How fast is that pheasant flying anyway? Check the velocity on the shotshell on the box you’re using. Thirteen-hundred fps is almost 900 miles an hour, and the bird certainly isn’t moving away that quickly. You have time to step into the shot and get into the right position.
“There’s nothing good on the backside of the target,” Miller said. “Never get behind, and always mount the gun ahead of the target.
“In wingshooting, most birds are taken with a ‘cut-off’ move, which is where the muzzle is inserted in front of the bird from a line different than that of the target — to cut it off,” he added.
In clay target situations, the cut-off move is usually applied when the shooter is moving from the first target to the second in doubles. The shooter kills the first clay and then moves the muzzle directly in front of the second to cut it off. The key is to keep the barrel moving to avoid falling behind the pace of the target. Once behind, it’s extremely difficult to catch up.
Many sporting clay shooters get spooked by the “rabbit” station. The way the target is presented, bouncing along the ground at a speed likened to an aspirin shot out of a .257 Roberts, can give any shooter nervous twitches at the line.
“Remember that the rabbit is a ‘type’ of target, not just the presentation,” Miller said. “This clay is thicker and harder to break than other clays. This means that the rabbit is heavy and loses its spin faster than other targets.
“Targets break easier when they’re spinning,” added Miller. “In clay shooting, centrifugal force is your friend for an easier break.”
For this reason, Miller instructs that the shooter should almost always plan to break the target while it’s under power to take advantage of the spin. In other words, attacking a rabbit quickly gives the shooter the added advantage of centrifugal force to break that clay with a less-perfect shot.
“A shooting scenario can’t end the same way every time — successfully — unless you start the start the same way every time,” Miller said. The CZ-USA Pro Shooter stresses establishing a routine, and do it the exact same way regardless of the situation — every time.
“There’s always a series of steps I go through — a ritual, if you will — each and every time I enter the box,” said Miller.
I’m looking at point A, and I’m going to break the clay when it gets to point B. I will start the gun about in the middle of these two places, at about what I call a 50 percent hold point.
For wingshooting applications, Miller suggested keeping with a routine as much as possible, carrying the gun the same way all the time — having both hands in the correct place with the barrel angled up into a safe position to maintain readiness.
And when it comes time to react when stepping into the shot — the “stutter step” that you do to position yourself and place the gun in front of the bird — do it the same way every time. Following these simple steps will put more X’s on your score sheet and more birds in the bag.
Just to be honest, I don’t except to become a shooter on the level of Dave Miller any time soon, but I do know that if I follow these tips to correct mistakes, I will hit more feathers and clays. I might even hit that dang rabbit a little more often, too.
Editor's Notes: This article originally appeared in the October 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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Modular Driven Technologies makes an offer few shooters can refuse with its Oryx chassis, “A complete bolt-action rifle chassis system for under 400 bucks.” Pretty sweet, especially for those who have a yen for long-range precision on a budget.
Unsurprisingly, the Canadian company’s affordable accuracy caught the attention of Legacy Sports, who in recent years has become an epicenter of economy chassis systems. In 2019, the Nevada importer will sell both the Oryx chassis as a standalone and matched up with Howa’s 1500 barreled action, and both come in as quite a deal.
Complete rifle packages start at $1,059 and are available in 6.5 Grendel, 7.62x39mm, .223 Rem./5.56 NATO, .300 BLK, .308 Win., 6.5 CM, 6mm CM and .300 Win. Mag. This is a healthy sample of Howa’s 1500 long, short and mini actions. Staying true to its promise, the Oryx itself has an MSRP of $399 and is available for Remington, Tikka, Savage and Ruger rifles, in addition to Howa.
A one-piece integrated aluminum chassis and buttstock, the Oryx has everything you’d expect out of a chassis. This includes fully adjustable length of pull (13.25 to 15 inches) and comb height, sling swivels, rubber grips and recoil pad. When installed, it also free floats the barrel, imperative to ensure you milk all the accuracy out of your rifle.
More from Legacy Sports:
RENO, NV – (January 9, 2019) –Legacy Sports International announced the release of the ORYX by MDT now available for now available for Howa 1500 STD short actions, mini actions and long actions. The ORYX Chassis is created for the most demanding shooter by providing complete ergonomic adjustments without compromising on design or functionality.
ORYX by MDT Chassis Rifle Availability
ORYX by MDT Chassis Rifle is available for purchase through Legacy Sports International starting 1st quarter 2019. Please place your orders now through LegacySports.com.
Legacy Sports International is the North American leader for firearm imports. The company offers a wide variety of rifles, shotguns, pistols and scopes designed to meet and exceed the expectations of the most demanding shooters.
ORYX by MDT Chassis for Howa Precision Rifles
MDT worked side by side with Legacy Sports International to create a custom chassis for the Howa 1500 actions. The result was the ORYX by MDT Chassis Rifle. The ORYX by MDT Chassis is created from a full monolithic aluminum chassis with an adjustable length of pull and adjustable comb height. In addition, the large palm swell consists of an over molded grip. The ORYX by MDT Chassis has an M-LOK compatible forend and accepts AICS pattern magazines. The ergonomic fine-tuning on the ORYX by MDT Chassis Rifle enables the perfect fit to the shooter.
Additional Features:
- Mini Action available in: .223 Rem, 7.62×39, & 6.5 Grendel – 20” Heavy Barrel
- .300 Blackout – 16.25” Heavy Barrel
- Short Action available in: 6mm CM, 6.5 CM & .308 Win – 20”, 24” & 26” Heavy Barrel
- Long Action available in: .300 Win Mag
- 10+1 Magazine Capacity
- AICS Compatible Magazine
- Adjustable LOP
- Adjustable Comb
- Chassis available in OD Green or Gray
- H.A.C.T. 2-Stage Trigger
- Lifetime Warranty
- SUB-Moa Guarantee
- MSRP Starting at $1059
Weight: 4.2 lbs
LOP: 13 – 13.5″ (Additional LOP can be achieved with a spacer kit)
Material: 6061
Finish: MIL Spec Type III hard anodize
Notables: Accepts AR-15 Grips (included),M-LOK pattern slots along underside of forend, Uses AICS pattern magazines,Free floating barrel
For more information on the Oryx chassis and the Howa Oryx Chassis Rifle, please visit: www.legacysports.com/.
When the Model 700 was introduced by Remington in 1962, hardly anyone expected that it would dominate the rifle market for a half-century. The Winchester Model 70, in its pre-64 version, was the one that all other bolt actions were compared to at the time. The introduction of the 700 turned out to be good timing for Remington because, 2 years later, Winchester made many changes to the Model 70 that to this day make 1964 a turning point in rifle history. As is the case with most Winchester firearms, “pre-64” adds to the value.
The 700 was the creation of the late Remington engineer Mike Walker, who died in 2013 at the age of 101. It was an update of the Models 721, 722 and 725, which were also designed by Walker. The 700 had a stronger action, promoted as having three rings of steel supporting the cartridge head — the bolt shroud, the chamber and the receiver ring. It was advertised as “the world’s strongest bolt action,” a claim that Remington still makes today.
Accuracy of the Remington 700 is excellent; in fact, it has been called the most accurate factory rifle made in the United States. Walker had given the rifle a very fast lock time (3.2 milliseconds) that contributes to its reputation for accuracy, along with the tighter bore and chamber tolerances.
The Model 700 is the most successful factory-made bolt-action rifle, with more than 5 million made to date. Remington states on its website, “For over 50 years, more Model 700s have been sold than any other bolt-action rifle before or since.” The Model 700 has been chambered for more than 50 different calibers and, over the years, has been in Remington catalogs under a staggering 900-plus SKUs (stock keeping units.)
The 700 was introduced in two action lengths and two grades, ADL and BDL. Barrels were 20 inches for standard calibers (.222 Rem., .222 Mag., .243 Win., 6mm Rem., .270 Win., .280 Rem., .308 Win., .30-06) and 23½ inches for magnums (7mm Rem., .264 Win.). A couple of years later, barrel lengths were changed to 22 and 24 inches, respectively. The ADL had a blind magazine and limited amount of pressed “checkering.” The BDL had a hinged floorplate and a stock with a fleur-de-lis pressed checkering pattern, and white line spacers at the butt plate, grip cap and the black forend tip. Initial prices were $114.95 for the ADL, $139.95 for the BDL and $15 more for magnums.
When the Model 700 came out in 1962, Remington used the occasion to introduce the 7mm Remington Magnum, which became one of the most popular chamberings. Some calibers are rare and will bring a premium on the used and collector markets. These include the .222 Rem., 6.5 and .350 Remington Magnums, 7mm Weatherby Magnum, .257 Roberts and 7×57 Mauser. Also, certain calibers are hard to find in certain models.
Most Model 700s have been, and still are, hunting rifles. The calibers offered have ranged from the .17 Fireball to the .458 Winchester, suitable for any game on earth. There have been numerous variations of hunting models, including varminters, long-range rifles, designs for younger hunters, Alaska and Africa models, extreme conditions specials and others. When you add the different types of stocks, barrel lengths and styles, sights, finishes and other options, that’s where you get the 900 SKUs.
The Model 700 tactical models are also highly respected in military and law enforcement circles. Features that set them apart from the hunting models are special stocks designs, barrels types and lengths, and finishes. Some come as special packages that are sold with scopes, bipods, cases and other accessories.
One of the rarest 700s is the EtronX VS SF, which was on the market from 1999 to 2003. While an interesting in concept, it was not a commercial success. Ammunition for the EtronX had an electronic primer, and its firing system used an electronic discharge from a 9-volt battery that provided instantaneous ignition. No moving parts meant basically zero lock time. The rifle was introduced in .22-250 Rem., .220 Swift and .243 Winchester but never became popular — just a bit radical for the mainstream shooter. However, enough were sold that Remington still makes ammunition and the electronic primers, which are needed for reloading.
The Remington Custom Shop has created many special-order versions of the Model 700 over the rifle’s 57-year run. These models have different levels of engraving and wood, and from 1962 to 1983 they were known by grade designations C, D, F, Peerless and Premier. These became Grades I, II and III from 1983 to 1991. In 1992, grades were eliminated, and ever since the custom shop models have been simply called the Model 700 Custom Rifle.
| NIB | EXC. | V.G. | GOOD |
| $1,250 | $1,000 | $850 | $700 |
| NIB | EXC. | V.G. | GOOD |
| $2,700 | $2,200 | $1,700 | $1,200 |
| NIB | EXC. | V.G. | GOOD |
| $2,400 | $2,000 | $1,500 | $1,000 |
| NIB | EXC. | V.G. | GOOD |
| $2,750 | $2,350 | $1,800 | $1,250 |
| NIB | EXC. | V.G. | GOOD |
| $1,400 | $1,100 | $850 | $700 |
| NIB | EXC. | V.G. | GOOD |
| $1,750 | $1,350 | $1,050 | $775 |
| NIB | EXC. | V.G. | GOOD |
| $900 | $700 | $600 | $500 |
| NIB | EXC. | V.G. | GOOD |
| $2,500 | $2,100 | $1,700 | $1,200 |
| NIB | EXC. | V.G. | GOOD |
| $1,450 | $1,300 | $1,150 | $700 |
| NIB | EXC. | V.G. | GOOD |
| $1,200 | $950 | $675 | $500 |
The article originally appeared in the October 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Tight-lipped until the turn of the year, Glock has cause some rumbling with its renewed focus on its Slimline Series in 2019. Recently unveiled, the G43X Sub-Compact and G48 Compact are the newest additions to the Glock arsenal and offer some interesting twists to the gunmaker’s single-stack catalog. Essentially updated versions of the G43, the pistols are more than aesthetic upgrades to the 9mm. With more firepower and potentially easier to manipulate, the slender polymer-framed pistols are a step forward in what has already proven a popular line of guns.
So what’s new?
Given they both call the G43 their parent, what exactly is the difference between the G43X and G48? If you didn’t catch it from the pictures, it’s barrel length. The G48 is essentially the same gun as the 3.41-inch barreled G43X, except with a 4.17-inch barrel. The additional length should potentially make the gun easier to handle, given it is a few ticks heavier than its compatriot. Furthermore, it should have more accuracy potential, given its longer sight radius. Glock isn’t the only one that has gone this route the past decade, with other popular polymer-framed pistol makers also turning out 4-inch compact versions of their sub-compact models.
When the G43 hit the scene in 2015, shooters loved its concealability, but were left somewhat up in the air with its slightly-better-than-revolver 6+1 capacity. The G43X and G48 solve this, bringing the Slimline Series close to standard compact pistols’ capacity. Granted, you get the 10+1 loadout in a much leaner frame size, an advantage over the sometimes bulky double-stack configuration.
That said, there is a piper to pay to squeeze in those additional rounds, and that is grip length. In both the G43X and G48 cases, the pistols have a 5.04-inch height with the magazine inserted, .79-inch greater than the original G43. While this modification increases firepower and grip real estate, it also increases the overall profile of the pistols. It’s not a deal-breaker for most armed citizens, but will most likely still prove a consideration among those who concealed beneath lighter attire on a regular basis.
Perhaps the most noticeable aspect of the new pistols, they’re not pure black. Making them stand out among their peers, Glock has gone two-tone with the G43X and G48 outfitting them with nPVD coated silver slides. Though, that’s really secondary to the other notable on the slide – front cocking serrations. A nice addition, it should enhance manipulating the pistols, whether it's racking the slide or press-checking the chamber.
At 1.06-inch in width, the original G43 still comes in as Glock’s slimiest 9mm. However, that doesn’t mean the G43X and G48 are beefed up beyond recognition. The pistols are thicker by the narrowest of margins, .04-inch. For the most part, the difference is notable on paper, but not the hip.
The G43X and G48 are set for release on January 21 and both have an MSRP of $580.
Caliber: 9mm
Overall Length: 6.5″
Slide Length: 6.06″
Barrel Length: 3.41″
Overall Width: 1.1″
Slide Width: 0.87″
Height (including mag): 5.04″
Trigger Distance: 2.64″
Magazine: Slim 01 mag
Capacity: 10+1
Weight (loaded): 23.07 oz.
Caliber: 9mm
Overall Length: 7.28″
Slide Length: 6.85″
Barrel Length: 4.17″
Overall Width: 1.1″
Slide Width: 0.87″
Height (including mag): 5.04″
Trigger Distance: 2.64″
Magazine: Slim 01 mag
Capacity: 10+1
Weight (loaded): 25.12 oz.
For more information on the G43X and G48, please visit: us.glock.com.
You have no idea of the changes we old shooters have had to go through lately. New shooters, perusing the racks of gear, haven’t a clue of the past. Oh, old timers will moan about the loss of “quality craftsmanship,” but for most applications, a CNC machine is better than a silver-haired craftsman.
And the choices? If you had told me, back when I was learning gunsmithing, that someday Ruger would be making 1911 pistols, AR-15 rifles — and holy cow, suppressors — I would’ve laughed so hard I would have squirted coffee out of my nose. Back in those days, that possibility didn’t even appear on the horizon.
And yet, here we are.
At the moment, Ruger (they are not free and easy with rumors, hints or leaks about what’s coming, so always pay attention) offer two suppressors, both for rimfires. One is a super-cool, super-trick integrally-suppressed Ruger 10/22 Takedown rifle. But it only works on the 10/22 Takedown.
The other is a “regular” threaded suppressor for use on any properly threaded .22 or other rimfire firearm. The Silent-SR (you all saw what they did there, right?) is, at first glance, just another rimfire “can.” From the outside, it looks like any other.
Well … appearances can be deceiving.
The Silent-SR is a basic design: a tube with baffles and end caps. However, it’s rated for an impressive list of the small stuff. It can take .22 LR and is full-auto rated for that. (Those lucky enough to take advantage of such an option, please keep it to yourselves. The rest of us are jealous enough as it is.) It can handle .22 WMR, .17 HMR and the big one here, the 5.7×28 FN cartridge. That means you 5.7 fans can now get a suppressor on your favorite tiny centerfire blaster, one that will stand up to the extra work over normal rimfires that the cartridge puts on a suppressor.
Lightweight and compact, the Silent-SR is 5.37 inches long, the slightest whisker over 1 inch in diameter (1.06 inches) and weighs 6.3 ounces. Finished in flat black Cerakote, it will fit in with pretty much any rimfire firearm you care to park it on. It comes in the Ruger box, with a nylon carry pouch, with owner’s manual and a disassembly tool.
The mount is a vanilla-plain ½-28, that is, a half-inch thread twenty-eight of them to the inch, which is the common thread pitch on all threaded rimfires — and that includes a bunch of centerfires as well.
Which brings me to a minor point: Rifles chambered in .22 LR and .223 Rem./5.56 NATO will both have threaded muzzles with a pitch of ½-28. If you’re taking a bunch of friends to the range and they’re new at this, do not let them assemble suppressors and firearms unsupervised. They won’t know not to do it, and you will be quite unhappy with the results of a .223 Rem. /5.56 NATO rifle combined with your .22LR rated suppressor.
However, in a rimfire, you’ll all have a blast. (Or not, so to speak.)
The Silent-SR is constructed the old-fashioned way, with an outer tube, internal baffles in a “stack” and front and rear end caps. But, the old-fashioned approach has been given some new twists by Ruger, and the end result is greater than the sum of the parts.
First, the tube is made of titanium. The traditional material for the external tube of a rimfire suppressor has been aluminum. Aluminum is light, easy to machine, durable enough and inexpensive. However, Titanium is much stronger, while giving up a small but acceptable amount of weight. It’s also a lot more forgiving of heavy-handed cleaning and use, which is the one downside of an aluminum tube. Why do we worry about cleaning? Simple: Short of blackpowder cartridges, rimfire ammo — especially the lowly .22 LR — is the dirtiest ammunition you will ever shoot.
A rimfire suppressor, left uncleaned, will collect an impressive amount of powder residue, wax lubricant and flakes of metallic lead in short order. Building up range session after range session, it will soon “carbon weld” your suppressor into a single lump. That is, the buildup of gunk will make it impossible to take the suppressor apart, and the buildup will also add weight and cut down on your suppressor’s efficiency. That’s why all rimfire suppressors are made to be disassembled and cleaned.
Taking the Ruger Silent-SR apart is easy. Remove the Silent-SR from whatever firearm you’ve been using it on. Use the included disassembly tool to unscrew both the front and rear caps. Push the baffle stack out of the tube to the rear. One extra detail of the Silent-SR is that the rear cap — the mount end — has been designed so that when you wrestle the Silent-SR off of your firearm, you can’t inadvertently disassemble it.
And the extras continue: The baffle stack has been designed so each of the components snaps into the one behind it. The stack comes out as one piece, and you have to snap each baffle off of the stack to get it apart. And when you go to reassemble, you snap them back in. If you don’t snap one in, it remains misaligned with the stack, a clear indication that you are doing it wrong.
Along with the snap-apart and snap-together design, the Ruger engineers also gave you another boon. The skirt of each baffle, which is the cylindrical part that rides in the outer tube, is as close to the ID of the tube as possible. Combined with the snap-together design, it prevents the vast majority of the powder residue and other gunk from getting to the outer tube. Older designs that did not do this as well (or some, at all) meant that the powder residue was acting to lock the baffle stack inside the tube. The Silent-SR design removes almost all of that. You only get what few gases and residues that can squirt through the tiny gap between the baffle snap joints.
So, as a result, pushing the stack out of the Silent-SR for cleaning is a lot easier.
The baffles, just like the thread mount part of the rear cap and the entire front cap, are made of 17-4 stainless-steel so you can really scrub them clean. In fact, if you want to dump them into an ultrasonic cleaner, they won’t care. (Use the correct, recommended solution, of course.)
Reassembly is also easy: just snap the baffles together. You have three types: the rear cap, the blast chamber and all the rest. The rear baffle, obviously, has to go into the rear cap, because the baffle is the thread mount. Next, you have to place the blast chamber into the mount baffle. You can tell which is the blast-chamber baffle because it’s the one that has a simple central hole through it. The rest all have what are call a “pig-nose” shape, which is meant to induce turbulence in the powder gas flow, and as a result, increase noise-dampening. All the rest can be assembled in any order.
Ruger made this easy: If you get it wrong, the assembly won’t fit. If you have to force something, stop. Needing force is a big clue that something is wrong. Find out what, correct it, and get back to proper assembly. You might notice in reassembling the stack that the rear baffle — again the mount baffle — also has a rubber O-ring on it. This is more cleverness, and it’s there to keep the gases from leaking back out of the stack, getting into the threads of the cap and seizing it to the external tube.
Installing the Silent-SR in a firearm is also easy. Make sure you have the suppressor aligned with the barrel, and rotate it until you feel the threads catch. Then spin it on until it stops, give it a snug by hand to tighten it, and get to shooting. After the first couple of magazines, check tightness again. The heat and vibration of shooting might have loosened it a bit. Snug it up again and spend your day shooting.
Unless you’ve been living in a cave someplace, you know that Ruger also makes firearms. In fact, they were making firearms with threaded muzzles before they were making suppressors, so it should come as no surprise that they can also provide you with a firearm on which to mount your Silent-SR, should you so choose. They list eight firearms families that can readily accept the Silent-SR.
I have both a 10/22 threaded for suppressors and an array of Ruger pistols, so I took the 10/22 and a new Mk IV pistol off to the range to test with the Silent-SR.
What resulted was yet another uneventful and fun day of plinking … just expending ammo. I took a bit of time to shoot some targets, but the results were pretty boring: the same size groups, and in the same location, as groups fired without the Silent-SR in place. And the best part: Even if you don’t have a threaded-muzzle Ruger rimfire, if your current rimfire is threaded and properly aligned, you can put your Silent-SR on any other rimfire.
How much is the Silent-SR? The list price is $449. Now, buying a suppressor is a bit more involved than buying a firearm (unless you happen to live in some horrible place like New York City or Southern California. New Jersey we will not even speak of.) You have to find a dealer in suppressors, and not every gun shop is licensed to do so. You’ll need to fill out an application called a Form 4 with the assistance of the dealer and mail it to the ATF, along with a check for $200. This is the transfer tax. Then you wait.
Once the transfer is approved, you then fill out the 4473 (the Silent-SR is considered a Firearm by the Feds, and thus requires a 4473 for the purchase) and then you can take it home.
Now, you may have heard of the “HPR” or Hearing Protection Act. This is proposed legislation that changes the status of suppressors at the Federal level and makes them just firearms. No $200 tax and no long wait — just the NICS check and take your suppressor home. This is proposed legislation, and until it has actually been passed, it’s no reason to delay your application and purchase.
When the Hearing Protection Act was first proposed, a lot of people just put their suppressor purchase plans on hold, waiting for the law to pass. Well, it hasn’t yet, and only a fool defers fun waiting for Congress to do the right thing.
So, we see that progress can be good, and that change might not need to be avoided. Ruger is hard at work making your plinking and other shooting less work. Such efforts should be rewarded. Get out there now and buy what you want. The fun you are otherwise putting off is your own.
Overall length: 5.37 inches
Net length added to firearm: 5 inches
Diameter: 1.06 inches
Material: Titanium tube, aluminum rear cap, stainless mount, baffles and front cap
Weight: 6.3 ounces
Finish: Cerakote
Calibers: .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR, 5.7×28
Full-auto rated: Yes
Mount system available: Direct thread, ½-28
MSRP: $449
Smith & Wesson has expanded its dog faithful J-Frame revolver line, introducing the Performance Center Model 442 with Crimson Trace LG-105 Lasergrips. The five-round .38 Special’s laser sight is as intuitive as can be, activating with normal grip pressure and providing fast target acquisition in low-light situations. This is the second 442 to make its appearance in the Performance Center and comes with everything you’d expect out of a pro-level revolver, including lightweight aluminum alloy frame, 1.875-inch stainless steel barrel, carbon steel cylinder, enclosed hammer and +P rating. It’s also a bit of a looker, given its two-tone finish. The MSRP of the Performance Center Model 442 with Crimson Trace LG-105 Lasergrips is $742.
More from the company:
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., (January 10, 2019) – Performance Center announced today that it has added a new, lightweight J-frame revolver to its growing line of unique concealed carry revolvers. The new Performance Center Model 442 revolver features the popular internal hammer design that is ideal for every day carry, providing a snag-free draw and quick holstering. This new revolver includes a number of hallmark Performance Center enhancements, including a sleek two-tone finish, high-polished features, Crimson Trace LG-105 Lasergrips, and a Performance Center Tuned Action.
Tony Miele, General Manager of the Performance Center, said, “For over 50 years, the J-frame revolver has provided firearm owners with an excellent personal protection firearm, designed to be lightweight and well suited for concealed carry. The new Performance Center Model 442 builds upon that heritage while delivering Performance Center enhancements designed to enrich the shooting experience. Shipping from the factory with Crimson Trace Lasergrips, the Performance Center Model 442 is a fantastic choice for concealed carry.”
Designed for concealed carry, the Performance Center Model 442 includes a Crimson Trace LG-105 laser grip with red laser for quick target acquisition in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. Chambered in .38 S&W Special +P, this new revolver is double action only with a five round capacity. Additional features include a stainless steel cylinder with high-polished cylinder flutes; a high-polished thumbpiece, plate screws, and trigger; and a Performance Center tuned action for a smoother, lighter trigger pull.
The Performance Center Model 442 revolver has an MSRP of $742.
Model 442 Specs:
Caliber: 38 S&W SPECIAL +P
Capacity: 5
Barrel Length: 1.875″ / 4.8 cm
Overall Length: 6.3″
Action: Double Action Only
Grip: Crimson Trace LG-105 Lasergrips
Weight: 15.0 oz / 425.2g
Cylinder Material: Stainless Steel
Frame Material: Aluminum Alloy
For more information on the Performance Center Model 442, please visit: www.smith-wesson.com/.
Choosing a holster, for a gun owner, there are typically no more chilling words. Those who have done it likely have plenty of reminders of the process, characteristically a shelf or drawer full of also-rans that just didn’t fit the bill. For the most part, this is due to the nature of the holster’s main job nowadays – keeping a gun concealed, relatively comfortable, yet at the ready when trouble rolls around. But what about a holster for other applications?
Most likely, if big-bore revolvers have caught your fancy, you plan to take them out into the field. And like all handguns, you’ll need a way to transport yours from point A to point B safely, while keeping it at the ready. Given the nature of its application, a big-bore revolver holster doesn’t have as many duties to hold down as one meant for concealed carry, but this doesn’t mean there aren’t considerations.
Above all, you have to determine your needs. A deer hunter in a stand with a scoped revolver will require a much different rig than someone chasing down a black bear behind a pack of hounds. A shoulder holster might work better for one and a belt holster for the other, depending on the hunter. But there are some common needs that any holster should address:
Alas, it’s not the rebirth of the iconic Python. Nevertheless, Colt will once again have a .357 Magnum double-action revolver in its catalog.
With a planned unveiling at the upcoming 2019 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, the Colt King Cobra marks the fifth gun in the company’s rebooted revolver line and the first DA .357 Magnum it’s produced in a spell. Up to this point, the Cobra line, introduced in 2017, has focused on snubbie .38 Special revolvers. Though, since its inception, the guns have sparked hope a magnum chambering would someday be in the works.
Released in 1986, the original King Cobra had a fitful production run that came to an end in 1998. While it looked and was named like it was spawn of the mighty Python, in actuality, it was based off an older revolver design – the Trooper Mark V. In essence, the medium-sized “V” frame King Cobra was the same gun as its parent, except made from stainless steel and boasting an upgraded barrel; this included a thicker solid rib on top and a full-length ejector rod housing below. Despite a relatively short run, the 6-round revolver made a name for itself as extremely strong, with a fast and short hammer drop. Recently, like most Colt revolvers, the original King Cobra has enjoyed a price spike as collector’s interest in anything snake gun has peaked.
Staying fairly true to its namesake, the new Colt King Cobra has many of the appealing points of its predecessor, yet is updated to appeal to modern revolver enthusiasts. Where this is especially evident is it's exclusively a 3-inch barrel gun and has what appears to be an integral rear sight (the original had an adjustable white outline rear). Most definitely, its terse size is meant to increase the 28-ounce .357’s appeal with the concealed carry crowd, which the rest of the Cobra line is also geared. Other notables of the King Cobra include Hogue Overmolded grips, brass bead front sight (user replaceable), 6-round capacity and the Cobra line's Linear Leaf spring trigger.
The Colt King Cobra leans to the more expensive side of the market, though not drastically so, with an MSRP of $899. However, it's hard to believe price will prove much of hurdle for shooter’s looking to drop the hammer on a Colt .357 Magnum. Except, maybe, souls hopefully holding out for the re-release of the Python.
WEST HARTFORD, CONN – Following Colt’s successful re-entry into the Double-Action
Revolver market in 2017, Colt introduces the all-new King Cobra in .357 Magnum. The King Cobra will be available in January 2019 through Colt stocking dealers.
The all-new King Cobra features American Stainless Steel construction, a heavy duty frame with a full lug 3 in. barrel, and the 6-round capacity that differentiates Colt small frame revolvers from the competition. The King Cobra also features the same user-replaceable front sight and Linear Leaf spring trigger (LL2™) as the rest of the Cobra family. MSRP for the all-new King Cobra is $899.
“Our customers started asking for a .357 version of our Cobra immediately after the release, and at that moment we knew we had to prioritize this great addition to the Cobra family” said Justin Baldini, Product Director at Colt. “We couldn’t be more excited to add the power of .357 Magnum back into Colt’s Double Action Revolver lineup.”
The human animal is bilateral. There are two sides, with a bit of redundancy — and the design is to have one side support the actions that the other side does. Which side is which … and of what relevance is “dominance?”
According to trainer/physiologist/cop Vince O’Neill, the problem is a “physical intelligence” issue — not a cognitive issue. Part of the body has ascendency across perceptual and motor activities. Hence, dominance.
But does that reach across physical skills as well?
That depends on a range of inputs. In my case, my visual dominance was left, but fine motor skills were trained on the right. I’m not sure how or why that happened. At this late stage in life, it’s hardly relevant. It just is.
And I’m not alone. A large portion of the population can be determined to be “cross-dominant,” where the dominant physical skills side meets with a different perceptual side. I’m primarily right-handed, but my left eye is dominant.
If you’re not a shooter, it may be of limited interest. I’ve noticed when shooting photos through a single lens reflex camera, I tend to gaze through the viewfinder with my left eye. That’s not my intent. When I raise the camera to eye, I’ve noticed I favor left.
Eye dominance is a thing when you seek to accurately shoot a gun. The more precision required, the more one tends to emphasize the visual. It’s a natural tendency. Humans, overall, are visual creatures.
When you raise a pistol into view while keeping both eyes open — and if you see two guns — you lack significant visual dominance. The good news is that you can sight with either eye. The bad news is that you have to shut off some visual information by “dimming” one eye.
This simply means to partly close the eye opposite the hand that’s controlling the trigger.
If you raise the gun to eye level and are looking through the sights at the target with both eyes open, you’re on the master eye — but which one is it?
Using a remote camera at the range, I got photos of me shooting from the target’s view. I took an image I wasn’t using commercially and posted it on social media. The aforementioned Vince O’Neill saw the photo and said, “Oh, you’re cross-dominant.”
Looking again at the image, I could see that the gun, held in the right hand, was squarely in front of the left eye.
Busted.
According to Vince, perception plays a huge part in the joint psycho-physical enterprise. Humans have a body that’s perfectly symmetrical, but sometimes motor activity can become “jumbled,” making it seem asymmetrical. If one is truly ambidextrous, the brain and body don’t determine dominance in carrying out bilateral assignments.
The human design is that one side of the body/mind has to dominate the action, as one side “supports” the dominant side, in both fine and gross motor movements. One side needs to dominate while the other assumes a supporting role.
In a normal right-hander, for instance, normal laterality is found in the right side, contra-laterality is found in the left, like plus and negative poles of a magnet. Very few right-handers can carry out “executive” functions with their left hand, unless, of course, they consciously train it to do specific movements until those movements become pre-programmed — like writing your signature on a check. That assumes that your support hand holds the check down so that the master (or dominant hand) can write — a division of labor. You don’t think about it; you just do it.
Because of all the practice, you overcome the uncertainties of spatial and linear applications.
“This division of labor can be affected by brain damage, or some structural/organic problems not realized in everyday activities — not even for the person afflicted,” said O’Neill. “Humans adapt rather well, even to the point of camouflaging the problem, without even knowing it. Just ask anyone who has suffered some kind of trauma to the head, like those afflicted with dyslexia.
“Anyway, it’s a fact: There is overriding tendency for the left hemisphere of the brain to dominate motor activity,” O’Neill added. “Yes, genetics play a role in the overall scheme of things, and, yes, it has much to do with our ability to understand language and symbols. Just as normal people will have their language capacities housed in the left hemisphere, so, too, will their left hemisphere dominate motor activities. And, left-handedness (or right-handedness for motor activities) seems to run in families.”
For people teaching shooting, some understanding of the physio-psychological aspects of motor skills learning can be helpful.
Determining eye dominance is easy to check, though some tend to make it complicated. Simply lining one thumbnail up with a light switch on the wall across the room and closing one eye, then the other, will tell you all you need to know.
We’ve also used forming the hands into an aperture made by holding the hands up, finger tips touching and thumbs forming the base of the triangle. Peer through the aperture at a target, then move the hands back to your face.
Which eye is peering through the aperture? That’s the master eye. What about cross-dominance? Well, what about it?
Simply stated, if you’re shooting a handgun with iron sights, it doesn’t matter. There are some things you’ll never be able to do, but you can still achieve a remarkable level of skill. Simply put the sights in front of your master eye. You can still use your dominant hand.
For any gun with a reflex sight, red-dot optic or holographic sight, simply put the optic in front of your face and gaze through the reticle at the target.
As to wing-shooting with a fowling piece or shooting a rifle with iron sights — well, there are personal decisions to be made. Sheriff Jim Wilson tends to shoot long guns from the left side and handguns from the right. I often will do the same as well, again depending on sighting arrangements. Some people can’t seem to reconcile use of the non-dominant hand in dominance-requiring motor skills.
I prefer to “let those who ride, decide.” It usually works out for the best.
As to shooting that handgun with iron sights, I follow Jeff Cooper’s advice: As the pistol is presented, I turn my master eye to the front. It takes over and life goes on. Some people will tilt the pistol inboard, as I do when I shoot quickly up close with a single hand (either one). Turning the gun in brings the sights in front of the master eye. Up close, that’s fine. As distance increases and/or the target gets smaller, I prefer to keep the gun upright.
The remaining option is to simply change hands. For a few, like me, that’s a possibility that exists. My right arm was broken when I was young. This gave me the opportunity to learn some routine dexterity based skills with the “wrong” hand. When it came time to learn to shoot guns, it was about as easy for me with the left hand as is was with the right.
I was one of the few who took to “best use of cover” in police training when they had us move the gun from right hand to left. That does make it better when keeping in out of incoming gunfire and shooting around a left-side cover item.
In any event, you can adapt as needed if you’re cross-dominant. It just takes a little coaching and a bit of dedicated practice.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Weight is always a consideration when it comes to handguns, but, contrary to popular belief there occasions where more is better. Competition is definitely one of them. A bit more heft means a tad less recoil, thus shoot'n and scoot'n get a little more accurate and faster.
Walther applied this elementary physics and performance lesson to its popular race gun, and the results should turn competitive shooters' heads. The Q5 Match Steel frame has all the bells and whistles of its polymer compatriot, but tips the scales at a beefy 41.5 ounces. That's nearly twice the weight of the original Q5 Match.
Built for performance, the German-made 9mm has all the enhancement you'd expect from a pistol starting at $1,500. A few of its notables include ample porting, optic-ready milled slide with interchangeable mounting plates, 5-inch match barrel and crisp 5- to 6-pound trigger.
Walther's press release:
(Fort Smith, Ark.) – Walther Arms, Inc. is proud to offer the highest level of Quality and Precision on the market with the Q5 Match Steel frame.
Combining the industry leading PPQ Quick-Defense Trigger, superior accuracy, and unmatched ergonomics found in the popular Q5 Match model, while adding in a high-quality precision-machined frame, the Q5 Match Steel Frame has raised the bar in pistol performance. The pistol comes standard with LPA Fiber Optic front sight, LPA Adjustable rear sight, and optic mounting plates to accommodate most micro red-dot optics available. The Q5 Match Steel frame will initially be available in two models: the standard model with three fifteen-round magazines, and the PRO model with new Walther Performance accessories including a low-profile magwell and aluminum magazine extensions that increase the capacity to 17 rounds.
“Walther’s goal was to take our existing high-performance PPQ, the Q5 Match, and push the boundaries of performance further than anything offered on the market,” said Bret Vorhees, Director of Product Development for Walther Arms. “The Q5 Match Steel Frame exceeds all expectations in terms of performance, quality, and attention to detail. This new product line shows what Walther is really capable of, and it’s just the beginning.”
MSRP for the Q5 Match Steel Frame starts at $1,499.00 and are available for purchase immediately.
Q5 Match Steel Frame
Caliber: 9MM
Barrel Length: 5 inch 1/10 TWIST
Trigger Pull: 5.6 LBS
Trigger Travel: 0.4 inch
Capacity: 15 Rounds
Overall Length: 8.7 inch
Height: 5.4 inch
Safety: 3 AUTO
Width: 1.3 inch
Weight Empty: 41.6 ounces
For more information on the Q5 Match Steel match, please visit: www.waltherarms.com.
As the old saying goes, “Time is of the essence.” Nowhere is this truer than tramping grassland for birds.
Even when you have a dog working, you have precious few seconds to make the shot happen once that chukar or pheasant hits the blue. Such a narrow window, the first instinct is to get your shotgun to your shoulder and your finger on the trigger. Understandable as this urge is, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Preposterous as it might sound, taking a few extra moments before you take your shot can make your success rate skyrocket beyond expectations.
There are a couple things at play here. Initially, by taking your time you’re giving yourself a better opportunity to evaluate the direction of the bird’s flight. Often times, a bird might start off in one direction, then veer another, leaving your muzzle trailing him and you scrambling for the shot. Furthermore, putting some distance between you and the bird gives your shotgun the opportunity to do the work. Think of it this way, something pheasant sized, do you have a better chance hitting it with a golf ball or beach ball? Let your pattern optimize. Finally, taking your time you’ll inevitably relax. This can’t be stressed enough, the more comfortable you are when you shoulder your gun, the more naturally you’ll track the bird and, come the end of the day, the more you’ll find in your bag.
Slowing down your shot and milking time for all it’s worth is tough, especially with the fast action of wing shooting. But disciple yourself to do so and you’ll put a load more meat on the table.
For more information on the CZ-USA Supreme Field Over-Under, please visit: www.cz-usa.com/.
For more information Aguila Ammunition, please visit www.aguilaammo.com.
