Video: The Elegant Power Of The Ruger Blackhawk Bisley .45 Colt

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November 7, 2018

Decked out for precision work, the new SCAR 20S nearly mirrors its military counterpart the MK20 SSR.

How the SCAR 20S is configured for precision shooting:

Chambered 7.62x51mm
20-inch heavy profile barrel
1:12 twist rate
Monolithic extended receiver
Fully adjustable buttstock
Geissele Super SCAR trigger

Long-range marksmen and precision shooters rejoice! You now have another option in your quest to accurately deliver a round to the next county. Once only available to the military, FN America announced this week the introduction of the SCAR 20S, the civilian version of the MK20 SSR utilized by US SOCOM units for the past decade.

FN appears to deliver a true-to-form package in the precision rifle, boasting similar specs to the MK20 SSR. Like the Sniper Support Rifle, the 7.62x51mm SCAR 20S boasts a 20-inch heavy profile barrel with a 1:12 twist, an adjustable stock and MIL-STD-1913 rails at the 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12 o’clock positions. Additionally, the new rifle also comes outfitted with a double-stage Geissele Super SCAR trigger, which breaks at 3.5 to 4.5 pounds.

This release follows up from a month ago when FN announced a run of 200 limited editions SCAR 20S kits. Decked out, the sets came with a load of extras, including Harris SBRM Bipod, FN Branded SKB iSeries hard case with custom foam insert, FirstSpear R37 Rifle Wrap and Soft Case/Shooting Mat, among other things. The kit ran a bank-account exhausting $5,499. Shooters’ pocketbook won’t get much of a reprieve with the store-shelf version SCAR 20S, which rings up at a stout $4,499. That’s the cost of going long.

From the company:

(McLean, VA) FN America, LLC is pleased to announce the release of the highly-anticipated FN SCAR® 20S precision rifle, based on the FN MK20 SSR or Sniper Support Rifle currently fielded within USSOCOM. The 7.62x51mm-chambered rifle has been purpose-built to achieve superior long-range accuracy.
“The FN SCAR 20S is the latest addition to our battle-proven line-up of FN SCAR products and the first commercial SCAR release since we launched the 17S in 2010,” said Mark Cherpes, President and CEO for FN America, LLC. “Customers will notice that the FN SCAR 20S shares more commonalities than differences with the MK20 SSR and reaffirms our commitment to producing commercial versions of our iconic military firearms.”
The rifle achieves 1-MOA (minute of angle) accuracy to 100 yards with match-grade ammunition out of the box. The 20-inch, 1:12 twist, heavy profile barrel and barrel extension, and extended, monolithic receiver add the additional rigidity that reduces fluctuation or movement between shots while the extended receiver provides the much-needed rail space for high-powered optics. The custom-designed MK20 SSR buttstock adjusts to length of pull and comb height to customize the fit to each shooter while in the prone firing position, and the factory-installed, double-stage Geissele Super SCAR trigger achieves a 3.5-4.5-pound trigger pull.
Technical Specifications:
– Caliber: 7.62x51mm
– Barrel Length: 20 inches
– Barrel Twist Rate: 1:12
– Weight: 11.2 pounds
– O/A Length: 40.6 – 42.5 inches
– Operation: Short-stroke gas piston
– Finish: Flat Dark Earth (FDE)
– Capacity: (1) ten-round magazine *Compatible with FN SCAR 17S 10- and 20-round magazines

For more information about the FN SCAR 20S, please visit: www.fnamerica.com.

More Precision Shooting Information:

Best Ballistic Calculators For Improved Long-Range Shooting
5 Articles On The 6.5 Creedmoor You Must Read
Best Precision Rimfire Rifles Guaranteed To Own The Bullseye
Buying the Perfect Precision Scope

A Different .22: Savage B Series Hardwood

By

Wayne van Zwoll

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November 6, 2018

Savage’s B Series Hardwood has elements of fine rimfires now gone — and modern day improvements.

Why the B Series Hardwood is a top rimfire:

Stocked in walnut-stained hardwood.
21-inch sporter barrel.
Adjustable iron sights.
Drilled and tapped for scope mounts.
Adjustable AccuTrigger.
Chambered in .22LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR.

I sat on a fence rail, the rifle heavy, its walnut smooth in my hands. It smelled faintly of Hoppes. The barn squatted as if tired of supporting its roof. Boards rotted at the bottom splayed out, pressed by a manure pack so deep the sheep almost bumped their heads entering the doorway. A dirt-poor farmer tended this 80 acres. He showed me where to sit and promised he’d find some more ammo … but did I have enough for today?

“Yes,” I said, though at 50 cents a box, it hadn’t come cheap. I slid a handful into the borrowed .22.

Tiny tunnels threaded the sheep pack, laced through the rotted boards and snaked through the apron of grass outside the pen. I watched them as carefully as later I would scan deer trails, and slots in the bush for Cape buffalo. A rat’s head in the tight, milky field of the Weaver J4 hiked my pulse as would bigger game through better glass in a life yet to spool out.

Rimfire rifles still bring shooting and hunting to youngsters. Quiet, accurate cartridges and recoil that barely nudges the clavicle gives marksmanship a chance. “You can’t shoot well if you pay attention to the bang,” observed the man who owned the .22. One day he handed me a long-barreled Navy Krag. I fumbled a .30-40 cartridge into the box and snapped it shut. I stroked the silk-smooth bolt, struggled to align the iron sights on the oil can in the furrow and staggered to the blast and the hammer-blow of the metal butt. The oil can didn’t move.

“Missing big and noisy is still missing,” he said. “Hitting with a .22 is better.”

The 10-shot rotary magazine fits flush between the action screws, and the forward latch is properly recessed.

Alas, rifles like his lovely rimfire would soon be too costly to build. Someone bought the single-shot bolt-action in the rack beneath the moose in the local hardware — the one new .22 that, at $16.50, I thought I might someday afford. A simple, honest rifle of steel and walnut, it was replaced by tinny .22s with pot-metal and polymer parts, in crudely fitted, shoddily finished stocks. Gone was figured walnut. Iron sights became more expensive and, as scopes gained traction at market, went away.

While not sudden, changes in rimfire rifles were marked and irreversible. Used-gun racks that had once bristled with fine target rifles lost them. Classic models that had defined the market left it.

Craftsmanship Not Forgotten

Alas, these rifles are unlikely to return. If you recall 22-cent gasoline, you know these rifles I’m talking about — and perhaps mourn them. If you’re young, you’ve read of them. They’re now seldom loaned to boys picking off rats. But once in awhile, something comes along to remind us of them.

More On Rimfires:

The .22 LR: Mini, Mighty And Many
Best .22 Suppressor Choices To Mute Your Plinker
The Quintessential 22 Pistol: The Colt Woodsman
Collector’s Corner: The Browning SA-22
The .22 LR For Self Defense: Good, Bad Or Crazy?

The Savage B Series Hardwood, new for 2018, is such a rifle — though its description didn’t spur me to jubilation. The catalog noted that B Series rifles have “… an ergonomically designed stock, higher comb, top tang safety and target-style vertical pistol grip.” The rotary magazine and AccuTrigger are also standard.

Savage’s AccuTrigger, introduced in 2003, appears on all seven B Series rifles.

The B Series is not the B-Mag sextet bored for the bottleneck .17 WMR. It’s a more traditional family of rimfires, all seven members with identical bolt mechanisms and 10-shot spools. Six come in .22 Long Rifle, .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire and .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire, and one in .22 LR only.

B Series rifles won’t shame early post-war .22s — those that, if produced today, would cost many shekels indeed. These new Savages emphasize value and affordability, place performance over esthetics at prices that won’t give you the vapors. Six of the seven Bs wear black synthetic stocks. The outlier that caught my eye has real wood and open sights: true “yesterday” appeal. I requested a sample in .22 WMR.

At 5.5 pounds with a 21-inch barrel and 13.5-inch length of pull, the B Series Hardwood hardly pops from a spec sheet. In hand, this rifle gets better. The sample’s stock has a red-orange hue, not unlike aged French walnut. It’s very well finished, the pores filled, surface scratch- and ripple-free, details crisp. The grip lacks traditional curve but is long enough for big paws. Its slight swell (both sides) naturally and comfortably positions my palm. Generous comb fluting accepts the heel of my hand.

Stippling on the grip and high on the forend is well placed for secure but relaxed hold. Below a ridge midway along the forend, seven near-vertical grooves add purchase for your left palm — or for your mitt as you kick about the bush for cottontails on crisp December mornings.

Here is one of the author’s 100-yard groups from the B Series: fi ve 30-grain CCI hollow-points in 1.1 inches.

The relatively tall, straight comb instantly aligns my eye with the low-mounted Bushnell scope I attached to the rifle, but it’s not too high for iron-sight use. “Iron” is a misnomer here, because the open sights are not of steel. The front is a simple blade integral with a base secured to the barrel by two screws. The height-adjustable rear sight is also fastened by twin screws. Its top section can be removed to let a scope’s objective bell crouch low.

By the way, the tubular steel receiver is drilled and tapped for Weaver bases; it’s not grooved for clamp-on rings. Held to the stock by machine screws fore and aft of the rotary magazine, the bolt has dual extractors in its recessed face. The polymer 10-shot box with polymer spool fits flush and is secured by a recessed front latch that operates easily but with authority — and there’s no rattle. Feeding the spool isn’t like sliding cartridges into a tube; each must be pressed against a stubborn catch. Shucking cartridges into and out of the chamber, there’s also a hitch. And loading single cartridges through the port is only for small, nimble fingers. That said, in short order I got used to these minor balks.

The cast alloy guard, attached by the rear guard screw and, behind, by a wood screw, straddles the AccuTrigger, which Savage introduced in 2003 and now uses in most of its rifles. In the B Series, it also serves as bolt release. The two-position tang safety is handy and it’s quiet and crisp in operation, but it doesn’t lock the bolt. I like the bolt handle: Long and straight and positioned at a comfortable angle, it has a substantial cylindrical head finely machine-checkered on its circumference.

You can get a B Series Hardwood in .17 HMR, too — a superbly accurate round built on the .22 WMR hull.

The B Series Hardwood balances well, its weight settling naturally between my hands. There’s a gunny, real-rifle feel to this .22. It leaps to cheek, steadies quickly and carries intuitively in the crook of my arm. Neither bulky nor too slender, the stock nestles naturally in my big hands. “Ergonomically” is one of many overused words that profligately waste syllables without clearly describing anything. But if there’s an “ergonomically fine” rimfire stock, Savage has approached it here. The B Series Hardwood is graced with QD swivel studs, so I can cinch up a Brownells Latigo sling for accurate fire from hunting positions.

Proof Through Plinking

At the range, I wound up giving the Savage more attention than went to the $4,000 big game rifle on the bench for accuracy trials. The .22 Magnum was just more fun! After zeroing at 35 steps and poking a .4-inch group, I trotted a target to 100. Bullets in a wide range of weights and styles drilled groups that would have sent prairie dogs dashing for their holes!

CCI 30-grain poly-tipped loads delivered the tightest knot: 1.1 inch. But other light-bullet options, like the Speer TNT load marketed by Federal, punched four of five holes inside an inch. Competitive loads from Hornady, Remington and Winchester yielded similar results. Federal’s 50-grain hollow-points at 1,530 fps could hardly match the 2,250-fps launch of 30-grain poly-tips, and struck lower. But groups hovered near 1.6 inches.

At ordinary rimfire ranges, those 50s may kill game like groundhogs and foxes more reliably than faster bullets that trump them in the charts. At 75 yards, it’s toting 175 ft.-lbs. of energy — about twice as much as a high-speed 38-grain .22 LR hollow-point!

The tubular B Series receiver is drilled and tapped for scope mounts (here Weaver). It’s not grooved.

Long besmirched by reports of mediocre accuracy, the .22 WMR has benefited hugely from new bullets that not only snug groups on paper but upset with lethal effect in game. That said, the .17 HMR, on the WMR’s case, clearly nips tighter knots. And in competition, .22 LR match ammo has often blessed me with 0.25-inch five-shot groups in the 50-meter X-ring. Perhaps I chose the .22 WMR chambering here because it has struggled so long for the acceptance it will never have.

All told, Savage’s B Series Hardwood looks comfortable in my rack. Its feel and features earn it a place beside earlier rimfires now too costly to build. And in some ways, it’s superior. At a retail price of $439 for the .22 LR version and $459 for the .17 HMR and .22 WMR, it’s the most expensive of the clan. But then, without its hardwood stock and open sights, it would be just another .22.

For more information on the B Series Hardwood, please visit: www.savagearms.com

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

Springfield Armory Releases 10mm XD(M)

By

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November 6, 2018

Boasting trim ergonomics, the 10mm XD(M) proves a manageable pistol for the powerful cartridge.

What the 10mm XD(M) models offer:

Full length grip, short front to back.
Manageable weight.
Slim overall profile.
Full-sized frame.
Three magazines standard through the end of the year.

Somewhere, Jeff Cooper is smiling. The father of the modern technique of the pistol didn’t survive to see his snappy .40-caliber cartridge achieve the appreciation it was due. Yet today, the 10mm continues its meteoric rise as the hottest old cartridge of the 21st Century.

One only need survey the dramatic surge of 10mm pistols in the past decade or so to grasp how hungry the market is for a semi-automatic pistol cartridge that flirts with magnum revolver ballistics. In most cases, the new breed of 10mms have turned to an age-old design to meet the demand — the 1911. Arguments are few in applying the rivet tough brainchild of John M. Browning to a cartridge, when loaded hot, can shake a pistol down to its front straps. Yet, the dominance of the 1911 when it comes to the 10mm tends to hit a shooter’s wallet in the soft spot and, for all its assets, can toy with boat-anchor heft when on the hip — particularly if it’s a Government Model.

Springfield Armory has shot to address both these issues, and a couple more, taking its popular striker fired pistol line the way of the 10mm. The company launched two variations of the XD(M) pistol in the popular caliber in October — a 4.5-inch barreled service model and 5.2-inch long-slide, much to the satisfaction of its fans. A long demanded addition, Springfield appears to hit the right notes with the pistols and certainly has positioned itself as a top option in the niche of polymer-framed 10mms.

Get An Edge On The 10MM:

The 10mm Auto: Cooper’s Big Bore
A Perfect 10: Best 10mm Pistols
Best 10mm AmmoFor Self-Defense And Hunting (2018)
Choosing the Best Best 10mm Ammo for Home-Defense Needs
Which Cartridge Performs Better? 10mm Ballistics vs .45 ACP

To what many are interested in, price, the pistols are a bit more expensive than the other popular line of striker-fired 10mm pistols — Glock — but not extravagantly so. The service model has an MSRP of $652 and the long-slide $779. Yet, Springfield gives shooter good reason to consider pony up a bit more for the 10mm XD(M) pistols.

Where the company appears to have succeeded is in the ergonomics department, particularly where you get a handle on the pistols. The grips are full-sized, yet short. Not by miles, mind you, but enough that those who have difficulty getting a solid purchase on a double stack – particularly a 10mm double stack — will find it much more achievable with the XD(M). Even if not a task in your case, the more svelte design should increase the control of the pistol, which isn’t a bad thing, especially if you aim to shoot the hot end of 10mm ammo market. Additionally, like the rest of the XD(M) family, it has a replaceable backstrap system to get the perfect fit.

Springfield does a great job of keeping the dimensions and the weight manageable on the pistols, without compromising some of the heft that helps to mitigate recoil. In both cases, the service and long-slide are each 1.2-inches in width at its widest point (grip). And both 15+1 capacity pistols weigh in at the low end of the 30-ounce range, 31.5 in service and 32.8 in the long-slide. Springfield saved weight on the larger model with a cutout on the top of the slide, which doesn’t seem to serve any other purpose.

The differences between the pistols, aside from barrel length, sights. The smaller model comes with a low profile SIG model (plenty of upgrades) combat 3-dot rear sights, and the long-slide, Springfield full-adjustable target rear sights. At the front, the each has a highly visible fiber-optic that’s generally easy to focus on.

Those who know the XD(M) line, there are few surprises with the 10mm addition. The options come with match-grade barrels, melonite finish, one-piece guide rod, single recoil spring, ambidextrous mag release and an attractive hard case to carry everything in. One break with the 10mm XD(M) modes, they come with three magazines through the end of the year, whereas the rest of the calibers of the family come with two.

In the realm of semi-automatic pistols, there might not be any more versatile cartridge than the 10mm. Capable of a multitude of loadings, down to the .40 S&W and up to near .41 Magnum, it can fill nearly any roll — target shooting, self-defense, hunting, competition, etc. At first blush, Springfield has cooked up a couple of pistols that will get everything you want out of the 10mm, whatever that might be.

4.5-inch Barrel 10mm XD(M) Specs
Caliber: 10mm
Recoil System: One Piece Full Length Guide Rod
Sights: Fiber Optic Front & Low Profile Combat Rear
Weight: 31.2 oz
Height: 5.75″
Slide: Forged Steel, Melonite
Barrel: 4.5″ Steel, Melonite, Hammer Forged, 1:16 RH Twist
Length: 7.7″
Grip Width: 1.2″
Frame: Black Polymer w/ Interchangeable Backstraps
Magazines: (2) 15-Round
MSRP: $652.00

5.25-inch Barreled 10mm XD(M) Specs
Caliber: 10mm
Recoil System: One Piece Full Length Guide Rod
Sights: Fiber Optic Front, Fully Adjustable Target Rear
Weight: 32.8 oz
Height: 5.75″
Slide: Forged Steel, Melonite
Barrel: 5.25″ Steel, Melonite®, Hammer Forged, 1:16 RH Twist
Length: 8.3″
Grip Width: 1.2″
Frame: Black Polymer w/ Interchangeable Backstraps
Magazines: (3) 15-Round
MSRP: $779.00

Loading the .308 Winchester

By

Philip Massaro

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November 5, 2018

2

Whether for long-range shooting or hunting, the .308 Winchester comes into its own when handloaded.

Why the .308 Winchester is among the best cartridge to reload:

Versatility for hunting, long-range shooting and target shooting.
Incredible selection of bullets.
Simple reloading process.
Works with a vast majority of rifle powders.
Overall fun cartridge to reload and shoot.

It’s taken quite a beating since the 6.5 Creedmoor has popped onto scene, but the fact remains that the .308 Winchester is a very cool cartridge, whether you punch paper and steel or use it as a hunting cartridge. It’s also one of the cartridges truly worthy of the “inherently accurate” moniker — it can certainly shine with today’s factory ammunition, but it will come into its own with handloaded ammunition.

The .308 Winchester can run on a multitude of powders. Here are four of the author’s favorites.

Loading for the .308 Win. is not a difficult affair, and I feel it’s one of the perfect cartridges to both teach a new handloader the basic processes and how to hone his or her reloading skills, seeing good results quickly. Let’s take a look at some of the suitable powder/bullet/primer combinations that have worked for me and my loading buddies over the years, for both target shooting and for the hunting fields.

Timeless Versatility

In spite of all the arguments for and against, and in spite of all the comparisons to the larger-cased .30-06 Springfield, the .308 Win. makes an excellent hunting cartridge. I feel it performs best with bullets between 150 and 180 grains, giving a good trajectory out to sane hunting ranges with plenty of energy for most common game animals.

If you want to do some predator or varmint hunting, the lighter 125- and 130-grain bullets work just fine, though it’s a bit large for extended sessions over a prairie dog town. Some of the lead-free bullets will pose an issue, as they are longer for their weight than are the lead-core bullets, and I’ve also had issues with magazine length when using the high ballistic coefficient (BC) hunting bullets, but I can get around it by changing the bullet design for the hunting fields.

More Reloading Info:

The Flexible And Forgiving .30-06 Springfield
The .45 Colt: A Wheelgun Classic
.300 Win. Mag.: The Answer To Most Hunting Questions
Tips For Reloading the .223 Remington

One of the attributes of the .308 Winchester is its balanced velocity: It isn’t so fast that the cup-and-core bullets will breakup prematurely, yet isn’t so slow that the premium bullets will fail to expand. For deer hunting, I’ve had great results with handloads built around common bullets such as the good ol’ Remington Core-Lokt and Hornady InterLock, to the premiums like the Nosler Partition, Speer Grand Slam and Nosler Ballistic Tip. I generally prefer the 150- and 165-grain bullets because they offer a good balance of accuracy and trajectory, especially if I’m hunting one the few stands that offers shots out to 300 yards.

For game on the bigger side, both the 180-grain Nosler Partition and Swift Scirocco II will work perfectly in the .308 Winchester.

My favorite deer hunting load for my .308 Win. uses the Sierra GameKing 165-grain hollow-point boat-tail bullet (No. 2140), over a heavy charge of IMR4064 powder. The bullet is tough, accurate and, with a crimped “x” meplat, will not deform in the magazine.

Despite the fact that much of my deer hunting is done in the thick hardwoods of Upstate New York, we’re often forced to thread the needle, picking those small holes in the timber and brush where a bullet won’t be deflected, and I appreciate the wonderful accuracy of the Sierra for this application. The bullet is short enough to allow for a COL (cartridge overall length) that doesn’t compromise case capacity, and using a powder like IMR4064 — with its longer grain structure — is no issue.

For larger or tougher game, I like the 165 and 180-grain Nosler Partition and Swift Scirocco II. I’ve also used the 180-grain Scirocco and IMR4064 for baited black bears, with good effect.

The Long-Range .308 Win.

For the target shooter, BC is everything, especially when the distances get out toward the 1,000-yard mark. The Sierra 168-grain MatchKing (No. 2200) has long been a staple in the .308 Winchester, and with good reason: It offers an excellent blend of overall length, BC and downrange trajectory. I also like the 168-grain Tipped MatchKing (No. 7768) because it has most definitely proven itself as a perfectly viable candidate for .308 target work. The 175-grain Tipped MatchKing (No. 7775) will give a bit better curve at longer ranges, yet it can still be loaded to good effect.

A good set of dies, such as the Redding Type S Match dies, will help attain the accuracy that the .308 Winchester is famous for, as well as extend brass life.

There are numerous choices from Berger, such as the 175-grain Long Range BT, that can and will be as accurate as the Sierra offerings — you’ll have to do some experimentation (a.k.a. fun at the range) to see which gives the best accuracy in your rifle. ABM loads the 175-grain OTM Berger bullet in their ammunition line, and that makes a good choice for the handloader as well.

Critical Components

I like to use the Federal Gold Medal Match GM210M large rifle primer for all my .308 Winchester loads, whether for hunting or target work. It’s a dependable and consistent primer, which has shown in my experiences to give the most consistent results. I’ve never had a single misfire using these and hope I never will.

Powder selection for the .308 Winchester is nearly as varied and wide as is the bullet selection; you could easily spend a year investigating the various powder/bullet combinations that would offer proper accuracy. Years ago, IMR4320 was the choice for the factory loads that helped garner the .308 Winchester the reputation is has, though I understand that powder is being phased out. That’s a shame, because I’ve used 4320 in a number of cartridges with great results. I’ve personally used IMR4320, IMR4064 (my go-to for this cartridge), Reloder 15, IMR4166, Ramshot TAC, IMR8208XBR, Hodgdon BL-C2, H380 and Varget for my .308 Win. loads, giving an inkling as to the versatility of the cartridge when it comes to powder selections.

The author handloaded the 180-grain Swift Scirocco II in his Ruger 77 MkII .308 Winchester for this Quebec black bear.

When I’m loading the shorter bullets — the flat-based partition, or those with shorter ogives — I generally look to IMR 4064 and the new IMR4166, part of IMR’s Enduron line. I will also reach for Alliant’s RL-15, as this powder has worked so well in my .375 H&H, .404 Jeffery and the .450/400 NE, and there’s always a good amount on hand in my shop. If I’m loading a bullet that will take up considerably more room in the case, I have relied on Hodgdon’s BL-C2 or H380 as they are a spherical powder, or IMR8208XBR, as the grain length of this extruded powder is small enough to minimize the air space between grains.

Reloading Details

Loading for the .308 Win. is a straight-forward process. I like to full-length resize my brass for the hunting loads because I want them to feed and extract with the least amount of effort. If I’m not getting the accuracy I want, I will look to the Redding Instant Comparator to measure the amount of stretching (at the shoulder) I’m getting in the particular rifle’s chamber. If I’m seeing a significant amount, I’ll use the correlative Competition shell holder to avoid moving the shoulder back during the resizing process, leaving me with a case that is of SAAMI spec in diameter but better matches my chamber. This has greatly increased accuracy while allowing my ammunition to feed and extract easily should I need a quick follow-up shot.

I love the Redding Bushing die for the .308 Win. because I can measure the outside diameter of my cartridge and avoid over-working the brass during the resizing process. Finally, a micrometer-adjustable seating die will help maintain the consistency I’m after to get the most out of the already accurate design. I don’t roll crimp any of my .308 Winchester ammunition, as I find there’s plenty of neck tension already. If loading for an autoloading rifle, I have used a taper crimp to keep the bullets from moving outward during the violent cycling of the action.

The author’s favorite deer load for the .308 Winchester, built around IMR 4064 and the 165-grain Sierra GameKing hollow-point boat-tail bullet.

Lastly, I’ve found that loads that fill the .308 Win. case the most — with your particular bullet choice — have given the best accuracy. I do avoid compressing the powder charge to the point where the grain structure breaks, especially with extruded powders, but a bit of compression is no problem. I do not try to turn the .308 Winchester into a .300 Magnum with regards to velocities — it does just fine at the velocities it was designed to produce. Hold the crosshairs where they belong and squeeze that trigger, and you’ll find yourself falling in the love with the little cartridge, whether ringing steel or taking it to the game fields.

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

M4-22 PRO: Has Tippman Created The Ultimate Training Carbine?

By

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November 5, 2018

Upgraded with some solid new features, the M4-22 Pro appears an excellent choice in .22LR training rifles.

What do you get with a Tippmann M4-22 Pro:

Caliber: .22LR
Barrel Length: 16 inches
Capacity: 25
Finish: Matte Black
Stock: Adjustable
Twist Rate: 1:16
Length: 31.25″-34.5″
Weight: 5.22 lbs

A surprise to the AR world in recent years is Tippman Arms jumping into the game. The name Tippman might sound familiar to the average shooter, but one that’s difficult to place exactly, unless you have some pretty niche gun interests. That’s because the Indiana company has resided one off from those that burn gunpowder most of its history, with most of its contributions falling in the realm of paintball guns and air rifles.

Early success with the M4-22 Classic, Tippman has continued to expand on its catalog of .22LR ARs with the introduction of the M4-22 Pro. Like the earlier iteration, the rifle is designed as a trainer, offering the heft, operation and ability to upgrade (it’s compatible with most Mil-Spec AR parts) of a standard M4-style rifle. Yet, the new addition offers a few extras — for no extra charge — to the original. Chief among these, the Pro comes with a truly free-floated barrel. Given the Classic was dependable in the accuracy category, the new carbine should shoot the lights out. Other notable upgrades on the older model of the M4-22 are a nickel-plated bolt and a 25-round magazine.

It’s a fairly clever system – both in the Classic and Pro variants — yet it comes at a premium. Boasting an MSRP of $549, the tactical plinker is at the spendier end of the class of firearms. However, if you need a training rifle that’s economical to … well … train with, there are few that offer what Tippman has put on the table.

From the company:

Fort Wayne, IN – Tippmann Arms Co, LLC has launched a new M4-22 model: M4-22 PRO
Here at Tippmann Arms, we are excited to announce the latest addition to our extremely popular .22LR semi-automatic rifle offering, the M4-22 PRO.
The M4-22 PRO is a premium .22 caliber semi-automatic tactical rifle with aluminum upper and lower receivers and has the look, feel and controls of a true M4. The M4-22 PRO is largely mil-spec compatible and will accept most AR15 stocks, handguards, buffer tubes, and sights. The M4-22 PRO is a perfect platform for competition and training applications or backyard plinking.
The PRO has all the standard features of our M4-22 Classic like all Aluminum Receivers, Solid Steel Barrel, Bolt Catch, Ejection Port Cover, Charging Handle, Forward Assist, and Flip-Up Sights plus we added a new 25 round magazine, Nickel Plated Bolt, Gen2 Grip, and a 9″ M-LOK Free Float Handguard.

M4-22 Pro Features:

Composite Free Float Handguard
16” 4150 Solid Steel Barrel with Parkerized Finish
Nickel Plated Bolt
Gen2 Grip
Semi-Automatic
Aluminum Upper and Lower Receiver
New 25 RND Magazine
Functional Forward Assist
Bolt Catch
Charging Handle
Adjustable Flip Up Sights
Shell Deflector
4 ½ Pound Trigger Pull
Ejection Port Cover
Adjustable Stock
1/2 x 28 Threaded A2 Birdcage
Popular AR Platform
Easy Push Pin Disassembly
Full Length Top Picatinny Rail
2-Position, Receiver Mounted Safety Lever
Ambidextrous Sling Adapter Plate
Mil-Spec FCG (With the exception of the Safety lever. It is proprietary.)
Allows For Drop in Trigger Assemblies
Standard “bicycle lock” Storage Safety
Compatible With Most Standard AR15 Components and Accessories
Owner’s Manual

For more information on the M4-22 Pro, please visit: www.tippmannarms.com.

For More AR Info:

10 Great New .22 Rimfire Guns To Satisfy Any Shooter
Mastering Carbine Basics With A .22 LR AR
The Fall And Rise Of The AR-10
Should You Own A Pistol Caliber Carbine?

Glock: The Stalwart 10mm Option

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November 3, 2018

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While other makes and models have come and gone, Glock 10mm pistols have been stalwarts for the caliber from nearly the start.

What Are The Glock 10mm Options:

G20
G20SF
G29
G29SF
G40

Wickedly powerful and more versatile than a Swiss Army Knife, the 10mm has mesmerized the shooting public early this century. Yet had a few things played out differently, the “Big Ten” might have gone the way of the .44 Auto Mag, a gun safe curio and dust gatherer.

A riches-to-rags story, the powerful .40-caliber burned dog-days hot to start in the 1980s, and all but petered out a decade later. By 1994, the FBI jettisoned its experiment with the cartridge, after a mild 10mm service load prompted the advent of the .40 S&W. Smith & Wesson called it quits on the 1000 Series (in part due to reliability issues of some models) by 1993. Colt followed suit three years later, jettisoning its Government Model 10mm, the Delta Elite, which the company has reissued. By all accounts, Col. Jeff Cooper’s brainchild was on the verge of a Puritan-level shunting and didn’t have many friends in the world … well, almost.

Glock Reviews You Need To Read

One stalwart emerged, perhaps when the 10mm needed it most — Glock. The Austrian gunmaker doubled down on the near-magnum, semi-automatic pistol cartridge when others were running away. The first Glock 10mm hit the scene in 1991, the standard-bearer G20, the company’s effort to capitalize on U.S. law enforcement’s interest in the hard-hitting cartridge. Along with the .40 S&W G22 and .45 ACP G21 (released that in '90 and '91), it was among Glock’s first forays away from the comforts of the 9mm — which all its guns have been previously chambered. More daringly, it expanded its 10mm catalog seven years later, when the cartridge seemed on the outs, with the sub-compact G29.

Get An Edge On The 10MM:

The 10mm Auto: Cooper’s Big Bore
A Perfect 10: The Best 10mm Handguns
Best 10mm Ammo For Self-Defense And Hunting (2018)
10mm Vs .45 ACP: Making the Right Choice

Thrown lifelines at absolutely the right time, the Glock 10mm options kept the cartridge’s heads above water. One might even argue the pistols helped save it and laid the groundwork for today’s renaissance. While the calibers availability was hit an miss with other companies, Glock stood true and always offered an affordable option for those curious about the 10mm. There was a lot of muscle behind the company embracing the cartridge, one it continues to flex today.

Glock Talk: Discover More Tips & Reviews

Why is the Glock 19
Best Glock Upgrades – Customizing for Performance
Glock 19 Double Stack – The Perfect Compromise 9mm Double-Stack
G43 Review – Test Driving the Single-Stack 9mm
Is the G26 for Concealed Carry The Best Double-Stack 9mm?
Glock 34 9mm Review – What Makes The Glock 34 A Top Competitor?
What is the Best Glock for Self-Defense?
Review: Glock 30S – Is the G30S Good for Concealed Carry
Glock 43X Double Stack Magazine

Glock 10mm Selection

A prairie fire, the 10mm has swept across the gun world recently. At companies where the cartridge was a second- or never-thought, there now resides at least one model that feeds on it. The past decade has been particularly fruitful, with a good swath of major manufacturers, all coincidently, finding it high time to put a 10mm in their catalog. However, each of them is playing a game of catch-up with Glock.

GLOCK-40-MOS-Review-2015-Lead — PHOTOS BY ALEX LANDEEN

Going on 30 years of producing 10mm pistols, the manufacturer cultivated among the most extensive catalogs on the market today. In a caliber where one model is standard for most gunmakers, Glock boasts five, each tailored to cover nearly any conceivable application. These include:

G20 – The standard-sized pistol with a 4.2-inch barrel that started it all, now enhanced with Gen4 accouterments.
G20SF – Same as above, but with a short frame that offers a better grip for those with smaller hands (a little lighter too).
G29 – 3.78-inch barreled sub-compact model with full 10+1 capacity.
G29SF – Again, same as above, except with a short frame.
G40 – Long-slide model aimed at hunters, with MOS system that makes mounting an optic a snap.

Yet selection isn’t the only asset Glock 10mm pistols have in their corner, nor the only reason why they should at least be a consideration if the supercharged .40-caliber bug has bitten you.

Glock 10mm Price

In most cases, the 10mm isn’t exactly betting at the $2 window. Given the majority of the guns chambered for the cartridge are 1911, they tend to draw a premium.

There are, particularly in the semi-custom end of the spectrum, specimens that demand up to $3,000 or more — not necessarily within every shooter’s budget. Even the more “affordable options” from companies typically not known to scour your wallet, you’re still looking at around $1,000 investment, give or take $100.

Glock-20-Review-Hunting-2 — Photo Max Prasac

Mercifully, with a Glock 10mm you’ll spend almost half the coin. Most fall in the $550 to $700 range, putting them within reach of nearly every shooter. The high end is a bit spendy for a plastic pistol, admittedly, but that’s the G40, which comes with some high-end extras rare in this price range.

Glock 10mm Versatility

Glocks aren’t modular pistols, even the 10mm iterations. Yet, their ease of upgrade shares a similar level of versatility.

Take the G20 for instance. With its standard 4.2-inch barrel, you have a capable plinker with mild loads and a pistol that’s still manageable for concealed carry (though a tad on the heavy side). Make a modest investment in a 6-inch Lone Wolf or even a factory barrel, and you’ll upgrade the G20 into a first-rate hunting pistol more than happy to digest the hottest rounds available.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to aftermarket Glock parts. There are upgrades for nearly every inch of the guns. In many cases, even if you go the whole hog, you’ll spend less than other 10mm base models.

Glock 10mm Tradition

Yes, there is gritting of teeth out in the gun world in uttering “Glock” and “tradition” in the same sentence. It’s expected, given the Colt Single Action Army and 1911 remain among the most coveted guns out there, despite their 100-plus year vintages. Yet few companies can boast a longer or more dedicated affiliation with the 10mm than Glock. Additionally, Glock has become renowned for its reliability — no matter the model — for a reason. They are boringly dependable.

Parting Shot

Glock is indelibly entwined with the 10mm and most likely will be as long as the cartridge continues currying favor. And that’s good news for anyone who loves the hard-hitting cartridge — even if they never pull the trigger on a Glock 10mm.

Learn More About Glock Options

Should You Own A Pistol Caliber Carbine?

By

Tiger McKee

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November 2, 2018

If you're in the market for a pistol-caliber carbine, do the pros outweigh the cons?

Should You Buy A Pistol Caliber Carbine:

Cons:

Marginal velocity improvement
Added weight to shoot a pistol cartridge
Over penetration issues
Pistol caliber ammunition heavier than rifle
Bolt and buffers heavier in AR versions

Pros:

Common ammunition for pistol and rifle
Compatibility between pistol and rifle magazines
Economical ammunition
Highly suppressible
Honestly, they're fun

ARs truly are a platform of customizable wonder. Today, you can have an AR in a variety of calibers, from .17 rimfire up to several centerfire rounds in .50 caliber. Particularly popular, and gaining more fame all the time, are the pistol-caliber ARs, available in 9mm, .40 S&W, 10mm and .45 ACP. Should you have a pistol-caliber AR? That depends on several factors, such as use or application. And, we can’t discount the fun factor, the unique design and its historical significance.

It might be necessary to transition to the handgun, but you can still use the light mounted on your AR. The key to this technique is knowing how to shoot and manipulate your handgun using only one hand.

Colt’s 9mm AR — SMG R0635 — was introduced in 1982.

The original goal was to use as many standard AR parts as possible. After extensive testing and changes, Colt settled on a blowback system, as opposed to the gas-impingement system in the M16/AR15 — and a closed-bolt design, instead of the open-bolt design first envisioned. It did, however, use a standard M16/AR15 lower receiver with an adapter that accepted modified 9mm UZI magazines; a groove was added to the mag body so the bolt locked open when empty.

At the time, the sub-gun market was dominated by H&K’s MP5, and the handgun-caliber AR never really took off. In the last few years, however, the handgun-caliber carbine has gained new traction, and today there are a lot of options available for this platform.

The question — as always — is a simple one: Do you need one? I usually start by comparing the disadvantages and advantages of a platform. Sometimes a weapon fits a specific application, or sometimes it’s something that would just be fun to own and shoot.

Disadvantages Of A Pistol-Caliber AR

The benefits of using a carbine in a rifle caliber are many. At the top of the list are the ballistic advantages. A rifle round is much more accurate, especially at extended distances. In the terminal ballistics category, the rifle rounds do a much better job of stopping the threat.

Velocity is the key: A 55-grain 5.56 NATO round moving at 2,800 fps dumps a lot more energy on the target than a 230-grain .45 ACP bullet traveling at 900 fps.

A pistol round simply doesn’t have the energy to do the job, and this is true regardless of barrel length.

With a pistol-caliber AR, you have a rifle platform—basically the same shape, size and weight of an AR carbine—but without the benefits of accuracy, distance and stopping power.

More Info On ARs And Pistol Caliber Carbines:

6 Cool Pistol-Caliber Carbines That Are On Target
Video: Pistol-Caliber CarbineOptions
Are You Shooting The Best AR-15 Ammo Possible?
Building The Perfect AR-15 From The Ground Up
AR Essentials: Vintage And Retro ARs

Although the pistol round is moving slower, you have to worry about it over-penetrating more than the .223/5.56 round. Pistol rounds will penetrate more tissue, sheetrock and wood than the .223/5.56. This has been well documented. A pistol-caliber AR has less stopping power, and the chances of over-penetration are higher.

Compared side-by-side, round-to-round, pistol-caliber ammunition is heavier than the .223/5.56. I weighed a few to illustrate the point: The 115-grain 9mm FMJ weighs 0.444 ounce. The .45 ACP 230-grain FMJ is 0.737 ounce. On the flip side, a 55-grain FMJ 5.56 comes in at 0.407 ounce.

That doesn’t sound like much? Multiple these by 30 to fill a 30-round magazine, and you’re looking at 13.2 ounces for 9mm, 22.11 ounces for .45 ACP and 12.21 ounces for the 5.56. Additionally, most magazines for pistol-caliber ARs hold more than 30 rounds, and the bolt group and buffers are usually heavier as well.

AR-15-For-Home-Defense-Feat — Compared to its pistol-caliber cousins, an AR chambered for 5.56 NATO has a host of advantages.

Is weight really all that important factor? In my opinion, weight is always something to consider. A lighter AR is easier to get on target, easier hold on target for long periods of time and it’s faster when transitioning from one target to another. For competition, self-defense or patrol use, all of these characteristics are important. If circumstances require you to carry the AR for extended periods of time, plus additional magazines — weight becomes important quickly. Remember, the whole purpose behind the development of the intermediate rifle cartridge was weight; the lighter the ammunition, the more you can carry.

Advantages Of A Pistol-Caliber AR

What are the advantages of the AR firing a handgun round? Well, one obvious argument is commonality. You can have an AR that fires the same ammo as your pistol. Some variations go a step further and use pistol magazines. This could be an advantage, but I think it’s small compared to the disadvantages listed above.

Additionally, handgun ammunition is definitely cheaper than rifle ammo. Let’s say you’re a competitive shooter who practices constantly. Your ammo budget will go farther when spent on handgun rounds, whether you’re buying or reloading. Some public and club ranges don’t allow you to shoot rifle-caliber weapons. A handgun caliber AR is the only option you might have, and it’s still good training and practice because the platform is exactly the same as your rifle-caliber weapon. There are also a lot of competitions that are limited to pistol-caliber carbines, so you might be required to use one.

One area where the pistol caliber AR really shines is in the suppressor department. An AR firing sub-sonic handgun rounds with a suppressor is extremely quiet. For me — just keep in mind I’m a little deaf — the sound of the bolt group cycling, ejecting and feeding is louder than the report exiting the suppressor.

Depending on the application, this factor alone might make the handgun-caliber AR the best choice for the job.

Don’t Ever Overlook The Fun Factor

One very important consideration — and I think this is true for all firearm owners — is the fun factor.

Here are two .45 ACP AR-type models built by Flint River Armory. These are fun to shoot, and like all ARs, they’re easy to operate. Handgun-caliber ARs are also an affordable way to send a lot of rounds downrange.

Shooting, regardless of your ultimate reason, is enjoyable. It’s some of the most fun anyone can have. The AR is easy to operate. Pistol calibers are fun to shoot. With a “handgun-powered” AR, you’ve got both categories covered.

There’s also the “cloning” trend. Several government agencies have used pistol-caliber carbines and sub-guns, and its been employed by different countries around the world. “Cloning,” as referencing the recreation of weapons used by law enforcement and the military, is big and appears to be growing. A 9mm AR might be exactly what you need to complete your collection. Again, that’s not a tactical application, but it definitely falls into the fun category.

Selecting a firearm is a very personal matter. You choose one based on your application, say self-defense.

Maybe you have a specific application that weapon fits exactly — a suppressed weapon or it’s what’s necessary to shoot at your club range. And sometimes, we buy something just because it will be fun to own, shoot and study its history, development and the mechanical aspects of that weapon.

Ultimately, it’s all about what you need … or what you want. Whenever you can satisfy both with one weapon, you’re doing well.

Shoot Straight With Our 10mm Wisdom

Top Choices for the Best 10mm Pistols on the Market
Top Picks for the Best 10mm PCC Rifles
Top Choices for the Best Budget 10mm Handguns

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

Modern Shooter: The Magic Of Turnbull Restoration Company

By

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November 1, 2018

Watch the magic happen as Modern Shooter gets an inside look at the renowned Turnbull Restoration Company.

Plenty of guns can turn your head, but few have the stuff to stir your soul. You know the kind, the guns so finely crafted, details so meticulously attended to they literally bate your breath while you take them all in. Walnut rich as chocolate cake, scroll work so intricate you get lost in it. If you have a notion about these types of guns, then you have a notion about Turnbull Restoration Company.

Master of its craft, the company has built an impeccable reputation for its ability to breath new life into classic guns. Be it a tough-as-nails Colt 1911 or a venerable Winchester Model 1886, Turnbull has the chops to recondition the arm so it appears as if it just rolled off the assembly line — down to a dead-ringer finish, be it bluing, Parkerization or color-case hardening. However, you needn’t stop at the historical. If you have the perfect gun in mind, with custom inlays and specific engraving, the company will pour its years of know-how into making it a reality — down to the final flourishes on the scrollwork.

Modern Shooter got a rare inside look at this extraordinary firearm wonderland, traveling to where the magic happens. Along the way, we got a look at what can only be described as modern masterpieces that roll out of Turnbull on a regular basis. If you love guns that do more than simply hit the mark, but inspire, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Catch the rest of Turnbull’s incredible creations in this episode of Modern Shooter 10:00 p.m. EST Friday on the Pursuit Channel. The episode rebroadcasts Monday at 12 p.m. EST and Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. EST.

For more information on Turnbull Restoration Company, please visit: www.turnbullrestoration.com.

More Modern Shooter:

Training Like A Navy SEAL
Scoring Big In Competitive Pistol Shooting
Custom Advantage With H&H Precision Rifles
Surviving At Extremely Close Quarters
500-Yard Pokes At A Moving Target

7 Considerations To Find The Best Concealed Carry Pistol for You

By

Dick Jones

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October 31, 2018

Picking the right defensive handgun is important. Learn how to choose the best concealed carry pistol for your needs and lifestyle by going through this simple checklist.

What do you need to consider to find the best concealed carry pistol:

Size
Weight
Triggers
Safeties
Ease of Operation
Capacity
Caliber

No matter which category of pistol you’re thinking of, there are dozens of options that might qualify as the best concealed carry pistol for you. The recent growth of the firearms industry and the number of people who’ve decided firearms ownership is a good idea have driven the industry to continue to refine their offerings. There’s never been a better time to purchase a gun over the counter that features everything you want.

You might think you've found the best concealed carry pistol out there, but until you've gone over every square inch and test-fired it you won't know for certain.

That said, never buy a gun without operating every control to make sure it’s comfortable for you. Check the location of the magazine release, location and direction the safety operates, and trigger and slide operation to make certain they work well for you. If the shop won’t let you do this, you’re in the wrong shop.

While it’s nice to own different kinds of guns, consider the potential problems if one gun you shoot a lot has an entirely different operating system from the one you’re considering. Some safeties are pushed down to disengage, others are pushed up. Some magazine releases are a button and some are a paddle. Issues like this can make a perfectly fine pistol problematic for someone used to a different system.

My name is Dick Jones, and in addition to running the Lewis Creek Shooting School I've spent most of my life involved in the world of shooting. As a competition pistol shooter and a professional shooting instructor, I often find that even experienced shooters are uncertain about the right way to choose a new concealed carry pistol. This is especially so for first-time buyers. Here’s a quick checklist to work through to find the best concealed carry pistol for your needs and lifestyle.

Size

The size of a defensive pistol depends on the lifestyle, clothing habits and determination of the user. Single-stack guns have a thinner profile and are easier to hide, but the added magazine capacity of double stacks certainly has merit. Consider how you dress, both summer and winter. Look into holster options. Low production guns might be cool, but they have limited carry options. Finally, consider that a larger pistol with a longer sight radius is easier to shoot, but it’s also harder to hide.

Weight

It’s been my observation as an instructor that most people feel burdened by a gun heavier than about 20 ounces, and some by anything over 16 ounces. This limits choices to single-stack guns, but if you’re determined and don’t mind the weight, larger guns certainly are easier to shoot well and have more magazine capacity. Figure out what you like.

Get More Concealed Carry Info:

The Best Concealed Carry Guns
On-Target Concealed Carry Insurance Options
Best Concealed Carry Handguns for Women
Best 1911 Pistol For Concealed Carry
What Is The Best Concealed Carry Holster?
Best Concealed Carry Revolvers For Personal Defense
Unconventional Calibers For Concealed Carry

Triggers

The most important issue in shooting a pistol well is manipulation of the trigger. While it’s possible to shoot a gun accurately with a poor trigger, it’s certainly irritating. Double-action triggers are safer than any other trigger system because the hammer spring is not compressed during the normal carry method, but many will struggle with accuracy in double action. Single- or two-stage triggers, like the triggers on 1911-style guns, are easiest to manipulate, but they require a high degree of safety awareness. Modern striker-fired triggers strike a medium with easier control, as well as enough travel and resistance to allow the gun to forego a manually operated safety.

Safeties

While double-actions have safeties, their function is more useful for competition use and de-cocking than ordinary carry. Some striker-fired guns have the option of a manually operated safety. Single-action semi-autos almost universally have a manual safety because the only reasonable carry method is with the hammer cocked and the safety engaged. The location of that safety and its direction of operation can be an issue if the user has extensive experience with a gun that operates in a different fashion. If you’re used to a gun without a manual safety, you should spend a lot of range time disengaging and reengaging it. Safety operation, both off and on, should be a conditioned response that happens without conscious thought.

Ease Of Operation

The best concealed carry pistol is one you can operate competently, no matter the circumstances.

As an instructor, there have been dozens of times when a student came for training or certification with a gun they simply didn’t have the hand strength to operate the slide. Even if you have strong hands, some guns are simply easier to operate than others and, under certain circumstances, this can be a factor in success. Hand strength also applies to trigger management, especially with double actions. Test the trigger before purchase while watching the sights to assure you can manage it without excessive movement.

Capacity

Magazine capacity is a big issue. Obviously, you can never have too many rounds should bad things happen, but big magazine capacity means size and weight — and both are a detriment to daily, comfortable carry. I carry a smaller gun with lower capacity because I can’t remember a single web report or armed citizen story that involved the defender needing to reload. It happens, but mostly it happens in Hollywood.

Caliber

There’s no doubt that a big hole in the front of your gun looks impressive. There’s also no doubt that a lot of people carry a gun they can’t shoot accurately because of recoil anticipation. Size and weight play a lot into defensive carry choices, and a light and small gun in a heavy caliber is more than most can handle. While you can’t try a gun at the gun shop, you may be able to test fire the gun you’re thinking of at a commercial range.

If you can’t shoot it accurately, it’s not the right choice for defensive carry because you’re responsible for every bullet that leaves your gun. A well-placed shot with a smaller caliber is more effective than a miss with a big magnum, and the stray bullet that misses can ruin your life.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Shooter's Guide 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Video: Did An Air Rifle Win The West?

By

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October 30, 2018

The little known Girandoni Air Rifle played a small, but important role in forging our nation.

Quick, what was the gun that won the West? Most, even those with fleeting firearms knowledge, would answer the Winchester Model 1876. It’s a solid guess, given the iconic lever-action rifle more than played its role in America’s westward expansion. So much so, in fact, it became known as THE gun that won the West.

Study the matter at any length, it’s clear there are many firearms that can vie for the title. The 1860 Colt Single Action Army Revolver, 1874 Sharps Rifle and the ubiquitous side-by-side shotgun just to name the few all have a claim. In actuality, there was no single gun that won the West, but many, each inching the nation coast to coast in their own way.

Jim Supica highlights one unlikely candidate for the ultimate title, one that predates famous and familiar examples and is nearly a world away from the expected. Crazy as it might sound, the director of the NRA Museum makes a fairly solid case for the Girandoni Air Rifle as the gun that truly opened America. Yes, you heard right, an air rifle. Don’t scoff, the .46-caliber rifle could outgun about any contemporary gun of the time.

Check Out More Great Posts:

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Airguns: How Pre-Charged Pneumatics Became A Knockout
Mastering Follow Through For Faster Pistol Shooting
Shooting From Non-Traditional Prone Positions
Properly Shooting From Behind Cover Or Concealment

Not only was the rifle capable of shooting through 1-inch of wood at 100 yards, its magazine held 22 lead balls. Unheard of in the era, the Girandoni could lay down accurate shot after accurate shot – nearly two magazine’s worth. That was an incredible advantage during the era of muzzleloaders and might have been a deciding factor in America’s westward expansion.

Not that there was a wealth of Girandoni Air Rifles in America in the early 1800s, but a mass of the gun wasn’t needed. One proved sufficient. Armed with the then technological wonder, Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark wowed the Native Americans they met on their 1804-1806 expedition. And due to the rifle might have completed their journey unmolested.

Girandoni doesn’t roll off the tongue like 1873, there is little doubt air power played a small but major role in forging our nation.

5 Articles On The 6.5 Creedmoor You Must Read

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October 30, 2018

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Given its relatively short lifespan, the 6.5 Creedmoor continues to impress shooters around the world. Learn everything you ever wanted to know about this ballistically talented cartridge below with the most popular 6.5 Creedmoor articles on Gun Digest.

1. The Rise of the 6.5 Creedmoor

We know where it's going, but where did it come from? The answer might surprise you. Find out what led to the development of one of our favorite cartridges in the last 50 years.

2. Top 10 Sharp-Shooting 6.5 Creedmoor Rifles

Want to take your long-range game to the next level? You'll need one of these precision 6.5 Creedmoor rifles. We lay them out so you can pick one up.

3. 6.5 Creedmoor Balistics – A Practical Overview

When we love a round as much as we love the 6.5 Creedmoor we have to know everything about what makes it fly, and how hard it hits. If you're a shooter who loves details like we do this is an article you don't want to miss.

4. 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo – Whose Rounds Reign Supreme?

Find out what rounds are up to snuff. We line up 11 of our Top Picks for 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition options. Know what you want before you hit the shop.

5. 6.5 Creedmoor vs .308 Winchester – Who can Go the Distance?

The .308 has been a long time accuracy champion. Does the 6.5 Creedmoor have what it takes to win the top spot for preferred precision cartridge? Read on and find out!

Video: SIG BDX Taking Optics To The Next Level

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October 26, 2018

SIG Sauer reinvents the riflescope with the BDX.

Every so often, a product comes down the line so innovative you can actually feel the ground shift under your feet. That’s exactly the place SIG Sauer’s SIERRA3BDX holds in the world of optics. Boasting arguably the most advanced features of any modern scope, the cutting-edge glass not only looks to change how shooters aim, but how they shoot.

Engineered to the hilt, the BDX comes with features once only dreamed of in a scope its size. From bullet-drop to windage holdover, the optic adjusts for environmental conditions in real time, giving you a rock-solid shooting solution the instant you need it. The magic in the system, an intuitive and powerful ballistic app. Linking to the scope via BlueTooth, the mobile device app does the heavy lifting for the shot you’re about to take, giving you the confidence you’ll place the bullet where you need it to go. Take a reading with your rangefinder, measure the wind with your meter, and the scope projects an illuminated dot on the reticle where you need to aim to place your shot dead on. It doesn’t get much simpler or cutting edge.

Check Out More Great Videos:

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Most heartening, the BDX prevents you from taking risky shots. Your specific load data programmed directly into the app, it gives instant feedback if your potential target is out of range. In turn, you never have to worry about guessing about an unethical shot, then potentially regretting it later.

Certainly, SIG’s BDX might not be every shooter’s cup of tea. But for those who strive for the utmost accuracy with every trigger pull, it’s right on target.

4.5-14x44mm Specs
ADJUSTMENT INCREMENTS: 0.25 MOA
MAGNIFICATION: 3.5-10x
OBJECTIVE CLEAR APERTURE: 30 mm
BATTERY: (2) CR2032
FOCAL PLANE: Second
ILLUMINATION: Yes
RETICLE: BDX-R1 Digital
TUBE DIAMETER: 30mm

4.5-14x50mm Specs
ADJUSTMENT INCREMENTS: 0.25 MOA
MAGNIFICATION: 4.5-14x
OBJECTIVE CLEAR APERTURE: 44 mm
BATTERY: (2) CR2032
FOCAL PLANE: Second
ILLUMINATION: Yes
RETICLE: BDX-R1 Digital
TUBE DIAMETER: 30mm

6.520x52mm Specs
ADJUSTMENT INCREMENTS: 0.25 MOA
MAGNIFICATION: 6.5-20x
OBJECTIVE CLEAR APERTURE: 30 mm
BATTERY: (2) CR2032
FOCAL PLANE: Second
ILLUMINATION: Yes
RETICLE: BDX-R1 Digital
TUBE DIAMETER: 30mm

For more information on SIG optics, please visit: www.sigsauer.com.

Seven Pieces of New Retro Guns And Gear

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October 26, 2018

Everything old is new again, including guns and firearms accessories. We delve into the new retro with seven must-have pieces of gear and guns that use throw-back designs, materials or systems.

What's new in retro guns and gear:

Hornady Custom .30-40 Krag 180-grain SP
Williams Gun Sight FireSights
Brownells Retro Rifles
Boyds At-One Adjustable Stock For Long Guns
Nighthawk Custom Agent 2
Cimarron Firearms 1847 Texas Ranger Walker
Hoppe’s BoreSnake Snake Den

Hornady Custom .30-40 Krag 180-grain SP

Hornady added two new loads to its Custom line for 2018, but one of particular interest is the 180-grain SP .30-40 Krag loading. The .30-40 Krag was, of course, the smokeless powder cartridge that the U.S. armed forces switched to after the .45-70 Government. Although it wasn’t long before the .30-03 and later .30-06 replaced it for military use, the .30-40 Krag remained a fairly popular and effective hunting cartridge. As with all Hornady Custom ammo, every round is hand inspected before packaging. $26 box of 20. www.hornady.com

Williams Gun Sight FireSights

Williams Gun Sight Company offers a wide variety of U.S.-made sights, including its target and self-defense fiber-optic pistol sights. The target sights provide windage and elevation click adjustment, while the self-defense sights feature an anti-snag design for easy draw from and return to the holster. Both offer high visibility in low light via the fiber optics. $26.95-$62.95. www.williamsgunsight.com

Brownells Retro Rifles

At this year’s SHOT Show, Brownells made a big splash with its new Retro Rifles line, which consists of six vintage-style ARs in both 5.56 NATO and .308 Win./7.62 NATO. The 5.56 NATO AR-15 models incorporate the correct styling as appeared on rifles issued to GIs in the 1960s. In 5.56, there is a model similar to the original M16A1, a model that closely mimics the original Colt 601 USAF contract rifle, an authentic copy of the early XM177E2 carbine used by Special Forces and a copy of the transitional rifle between the M16A1 and the 601. In .308/7.62, Brownells offers two models in its Retro Rifles line — one closely mimicking early AR-10 rifles, such as those issue by the Netherlands, and one that’s a close copy of later model rifles. $1,299-$1,699. www.brownells.com

Boyds At-One Adjustable Stock For Long Guns

Want a custom fit without the custom rifle price tag? Boyds Hardwood Gunstocks recently came out with the At-One gunstock, which is user-adjustable for both length and comb at the push of a button. The “Bring-It” push button technology featured in the At-One stock is simple to use and allows for quick and easy custom fitting for the shooter and anyone else who might use the rifle — no hardware or tools required. Length is adjustable at the butt pad from 12½ to 14 inches, and the comb has an adjustment range of 9/16 inch. Available for most popular rifle models and in 11 different color options. $189 and up. www.boydsgunstocks.com

Nighthawk Custom Agent 2

Nighthawk is one of the most well-known custom 1911 outfits in the country, and in 2018 it collaborated once again with Agency Arms, Railscales and Hillbilly 223 to produce the new Agent 2 pistol. The successor to the earlier Agent 1, introduced in 2017, the Agent 2 features a faceted slide, which also incorporates side windows, to reduce weight and Agency Arms’ “DNA Collector” front and rear cocking serrations. It also wears Railscales G10 grips, an ultra hi-cut front strap, a semi-crowned flush-cut barrel, a Nighthawk/Agency custom trigger and an extended, faceted and angled magazine catch. The Agent 2 also sports a Heinie Ledge rear sight and a fiber-optic front sight. $4,495. www.nighthawkcustom.com

Cimarron Firearms 1847 Texas Ranger Walker

This year, Cimarron has brought out an exact replica of the classic six-round 1847 Texas Ranger Walker .44 black powder, repeating pistol. This authentic replica version incorporates company markings and wears Cimarron’s original finish. It also features a 9-inch barrel and a steel frame. And as an added bonus, Cimarron will donate 5 percent of each Texas Ranger Walker sale to the Former Texas Ranger Foundation. $669. www.cimarron-firearms.com

Hoppe’s BoreSnake Snake Den

New for 2018, Hoppe’s has made some improvements to its BoreSnake lineup in the form of the Snake Den. Now, the original, quick bore cleaning tool comes in a handier reusable carrying case, which includes a T-handle for more easily pulling the BoreSnake through your firearm. It retains the integrated bronze brush for scrubbing carbon fouling, as well as the tail, which clears the barrel of loose debris and has a surface area 160 times larger than a standard cleaning patch. $16.99. www.hoppes.com

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2018 of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Video: Top Options In AR Pistols From Daniel Defense

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October 25, 2018