The introduction of the ATACR 7-35×56 F2 marks the third, second focal plane scope of the line.
What are the 2019 releases by Nightforce:
ATACR 7-35×56 F2
MIL-XT Reticle
Considered by many among the acme of optics, Nightforce always tends to turn heads when it releases new products. The impending year is no different, except the company might gain attention for more than simply their top-shelf scopes in 2019. Following a trend in the line, the optics manufacturer is taking another of its ATACR scopes from first-plane to second. Despite where the reticle is etched, the new ATACR 7-35x56mm F2 still offers all the goodies of the original F1, including ED glass, ample elevation and windage adjustment, ZeroStop technology and the choice of two reticles.
Speaking of reticles, Nightforce also unveiled its new MIL-XT Reticle, an illuminated design available in 16x, 25x and 35x ATACR F1 scopes. Configured for fast and accurate holds, the reticle has .2 Mil-Rad holds on the mainline and .2 Mil-Rad-spaced floating dots beneath for compensation.
Nightforce Optics has introduced a second focal plane version of their acclaimed ATACR 7-35×56 F1, the most powerful ATACR riflescope currently offered. “Since we introduced the first focal plane 7-35x two years ago, it has become one of our most popular models,” said Alan Stilwell, North American sales manager for Nightforce. “With its brilliant ED glass, extraordinary resolving power and the virtually indestructible construction that characterizes all of our ATACR™ riflescopes, we believe it is the most precise, powerful instrument for extended-range shooting on the market today.”
The ATACR 7-35×56 F2, built on a 34mm tube, provides 100 MOA/29 MRAD of elevation adjustment and 60 MOA/17 MRAD of windage adjustment. Unlike many high-magnification riflescopes, it delivers superb clarity at every power setting, allowing detailed rendering and identification of small targets at extreme ranges. It is offered with either the MOAR-T or MIL-C proprietary Nightforce reticles. DigIllum reticle illumination and ZeroStop elevation technology are standard.
“The F1-first focal plane-version has been so successful,” Stilwell added, “that we wanted to make the same unparalleled performance available to those who prefer a second focal plane reticle.” MSRP is $3,100.
MIL-XT Reticle
Nightforce has also announced its new illuminated MIL-XT reticle, available in 16x, 25x and 35x ATACR F1 (first focal plane) riflescopes. It is designed for precision rifle competition, being extremely fast, intuitive and providing precise hold-over and hold-off points. Main lines feature .2 Mil-Radian holds, while each whole Mil-Radian is numbered for fast reference.
Below center, there are .2 Mil-Radian-spaced floating dots at every vertical Mil-Radian. Whole Mil-Radians dots are larger in size for fast counting. Additional marks are also placed at half Mil-Radian increments. Numbers below center vary in size and are placed on each side for easy counting and verification of appropriate hold points.
The MIL-XT provides excellent range estimation, rapid target engagements and precise first-shot placement. Combined with the extreme capability of Nightforce ATACR riflescopes, it gives the serious competitive shooter every conceivable advantage.
Able to account for wind and effective out past 1,600 yards, the Leupold RX-2800 TBR/W more than goes the distance.
How The Leupold RX-2800 TBR/W Gets You On Target:
OLED display delivers more light and extremely bright display.
Continuous range updates in Scan Mode.
Takes into account the angle of shot and rifle’s ballistics.
Capable of account for wind out to distances of 800 yards.
Alpha IQ ranging engine makes ranging smaller targets quicker than ever.
Leupold & Stevens has upped their game … thereโs no denying that fact. A simple look at the VX-5HD and VX-6HD riflescopes will confirm that. But they arenโt just concentrating on their scopes; the new Leupold RX-2800 TBR/W rangefinder is a wonderful little tool, and their recent efforts are equally apparent here as well. Itโs a rangefinder worthy of anyoneโs range bag or hunting pack.
The RX-2800 TBR/W is compact, concise and packed with usable features
Many rangefinders, like our riflescopes, seem to be growing in size as the features become more complex. Not so with the RX-2800 โ in fact, itโs not much bigger than a pack of cigarettes, and I appreciate good, concise, lightweight gear. It has a 7x magnification range, and thatโs extremely helpful. Iโve been frustrated with low magnification rangefinders giving a reading on unintended objects because I couldnโt accurately see what I was aiming at. Not so with the RX-2800. Additionally, the unit features the OLED display, which is bright red, crisp and customizable. You can easily switch between three choices of reticle, and the Scan Mode will allow you to get updated distance readings as an animal moves, or as you move the unit along a treeline or the like.
More Long-Range Gear:
Shifting Winds: SIG BDX Changing Shooting For The Better
The RX-2800 is 100 percent waterproof, which I love. I use many different electronic items in the wet Northeast fields and woods, and not all stand up to the conditions. Iโve taken the RX-2800 out for a while, and even in a pouring rain, there were no issues. The aluminum housing is coated in a rubber armor, which both protects the unit and affords a solid grip, even with wet hands. Leupold has also provided a threaded insert at the base of the unit, which allows me to instantly and easily attach it to my Primos Trigger Sticks. This radically steadies the unit, and it allows for precise ranging at truly long ranges. Were I guiding hunters, Iโd have an extra base attached to the RX-2800, giving me the option for a quick change from shooting sticks to rangefinder in a matter of seconds.
The RX-2800 has a threaded insert, allowing it to mate to a tripod for steady and fast ranging.
The RX-2800 comes with Leupoldโs True Ballistic Range, with Wind (hence the TBR/W moniker) which takes into account the shot angle, wind deflection and comes with a multitude of presets so you can choose your trajectory โ and allow the unit to display holdover and wind deflection for distant shots. All this in a package that measures 4ยฝx3x1ยฝ inches, which is perfect for backcountry hunts and the deerstand as well. It runs on a single CR123A battery, supplied with the unit.
Iโm a land surveyor by day, so I have the ability to measure distances down to 1/16th-inch, for over a mile. I took the RX-2800 to work, as we ran some long survey baseline. At each station, Iโd check the precise survey distance with the readings from the RX-2800; at distances out to 675 yards, it checked within 1 yard of the survey reading. I can live with that level of precision.
I also wanted to check the way the unit worked in varying weather conditions. I live on the west shore of the Hudson River, with a good view of the distant east shore. I could range the houses on the opposite shore โ out past 1,600 yards โ with no issue, no matter if it was bright sunshine, overcast or raining. In the thick woods of the Northeast, it handled the vegetation with no problem, with the precise electronics and aiming system allowing me to accurately range trees and passing deer instead of limbs and leaves. Leupold has this nailed down tight.
The RX-2800 easily handled targets out past 1,600 yards, making it perfect for nearly any shooting situation.
With an MSRP of $649.99, the Leupold RX-2800 TBR/W offers more features than any hunter will probably need, and more is better. Itโs simple to use, wonderful to carry and rugged as youโd want. Our hunting/shooting technology continues to improve, and if you feel itโs time for a rangefinder upgrade, look no further than the RX-2800 TBR/W.
For more information on the Leupold RX-2800 TBR/W, please visit: www.leupold.com/.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Satisfying as handloading itself, passing on your passion for reloading keeps the next generation shooting straight.
How To Introduce Youths To Reloading:
Introduce them to the tools and terminology.
Explain each individual step.
Have them watch each stage of the process.
Be certain they understand the “little details.”
Give them tasks to do in the process and increase responsibilities as time wears on.
Provide guidance when they reload on their own.
Enjoy the fruits of their labor — go shooting or hunting with them.
The shooting sports are a unique situation in that we are lucky enough to participate irrespective of age; however, the number of youths participating has declined, at least in comparison to when I was young. Just as itโs highly important to mentor the youth by taking them shooting, teaching them the basics of firearm safety and introducing them to the wonderful world of hunting, I do my best to pass on the benefits of handloading.
ManDrake Vermilyea (left) and the author working on a handload for the .270 Winchester. Itโs great to teach a new shooter how to handload ammo.
In an age where thereโs a never-ending supply of immediate electronic gratification, teaching a young person how to handload their own ammunition might not seem all that attractive. Obviously, there needs to be a certain level of maturity, but with that comes a driverโs license โ and the allure of the opposite sex. Still, I have done my best to bring people into the fold, including seminars at local gun clubs and fielding hundreds of phone calls from would-be handloaders.
Yet, I found one young man who had a definite passion for the shooting sports, whether it was target shooting, hunting and, ultimately, handloading. I met ManDrake Vermilyea when he was still in high school; he had come over to my handloading pal Marty Groppiโs backyard range while we were doing some load development. He showed a level of maturity beyond his years, as well as being one of the most natural shooters Iโve ever seen. He had his uncleโs Winchester Model 70 in .270 Winchester, and he was unsatisfied with the performance. I suggested handloading for it, and he was immediately receptive.
In his words: โI was raised to believe that one ammunition companyโs brand was โthe best,โ as my uncleโs goal was to simply kill a deer in the woods, where the shots rarely exceed 75 yards. Shooting with Phil and Marty quickly taught me two things: A higher level of precision was needed for the best hunting experience, and that their handloads surpassed most of the factory ammunition we were shooting.โ
Marty and I explained the process of handloading ammunition, and Manny was all ears. He watched at first, soaking it all in, and weโd let him help us during the load development process, as the young man could definitely shoot. As Manny explains, โMy first time shooting handloaded ammunition, I printed a 1ยพ-inch group at 300 yards. I was astonished that a rifle could perform so well, and I was immediately hooked.โ Thereโs no better way to kindle the desire in a young man.
Slow And Steady
I had him come up to my shop, at first just helping me organize things, so he could become familiar with the tools and terminologies, and then I eased him into the simpler tasks. Iโd have him sit next to me during each stage of creating ammunition, from both new components as well as using fired brass, and I could see that the light had come on. โOnce I saw how handloading worked, I desperately wanted to learn.โ I was more than happy to teach.
Doing something is one thing. Explaining each individual step and being conscious of a diligent, repetitive pattern, is another. It was as beneficial for me as it was for him; it got me rethinking all the subtle nuances of the art, why we do what we do, and the purpose and function of all the different tools we use. The bottom line: Young โMoncrief,โ as I call him, got it. Seeing him understand the process, including the little details โ such as variations in seating depth, adjusting the amount of shoulder bump or setting up both brass and dies for the perfect roll crimp โ just plain tickled me.
As time wore on, I allowed Manny more and more responsibility. Did he make mistakes? Of course โ but so did I, and so did you. I was happy to be a source of information, and quite possibly guidance, as he would look at the performance of different cartridges, powder and bullets. A midday text regarding some aspect of handloading would assure me it is definitely on his mind; in other words, heโs got the same bug we all have.
โI wanted to produce what the factory couldnโt; I inherited a rifle which my uncle swore wouldnโt shoot well. I wanted to show him that it could. Getting my uncleโs rifle to print less than MOA was a huge source of pride. We took our time, and we found the answer,โ Moncrief relates.
That statement alone made me smile, more for him than anything else. A simple blend of Reloder-19, Federal large rifle primers and Speer 150-grain Deep Curl bullets printed groups averaging 0.9-inch at 100 yards, solving an issue with a rifle that was 1ยพ-MOA at best.
Passing it on, and sharing the process of handloading ammunition, has been very rewarding for me. Sometimes, itโs just an extra set of eyes at the bench to pick up some little detail I may have missed, or a different perspective when actually setting up the bench and all the gear. Other times, itโs a fresh look at a problem rifle/bullet combination, or simply an idea I never may have had.
Thereโs an undeniable camaraderie among handloaders; we love to talk shop and support one another as much as we love to argue in defense of our favorite cartridge or pet load. We handloaders enjoy spending time together, and Iโve found it to be much more fun when thereโs a buddy present than as a solitary duty. I feel the same way about hunting; the memories made doing the most mundane things can become favorites, and the score of a deer becomes irrelevant when weighed against the good time had with a friend.
Iโve seen Young Moncrief mature from high school junior to his second year of college, and yet he finds time to still join me at the both the reloading bench, as well as the shooting bench and hunting fields. We have a tight-knit group of friends who truly enjoy handloaded ammunition, and Iโm glad to have had the opportunity to pass some of the hard-learned lessons onto a responsible kid โ who will hopefully have the chance to do the same later in life.
Just as we all enjoy shooting and the opportunity to teach someone else how to shoot, I think those of us who are passionate about handloading need to hand the knowledge down to the next generation. The tools donโt need to be expensive, nor the accommodations perfect; what will become the true treasure is the time spent.
There will be frustrations along the way, as there will with any student/teacher relationship, but that comes with the territory. Things will be broken, and mistakes made, but the look on a new handloaderโs face when those bullets are nearly touching is, to me, priceless.
By the way, Moncrief: You owe me a couple new de-capping dies.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Developed to handle everything from varmints to medium game, the .243 Winchester remains a flexible and accurate 6mm option.
What You Need To Know About The .243 Winchester:
The .308 Winchester provides the parent case.
Next to .30-06, probably chambered in more rifles than any other cartridge.
With mono-metal bullets, appropriate for big game.
The .243 Winchester was introduced by Winchester in 1955 for its Model 70 bolt-action and Model 88 lever-action ri๏ฌes. The .243 Win. was quickly adopted by Savage for its Model 99 lever- and Model 110 bolt-action ri๏ฌes. All the British and European manufacturers soon began chambering bolt-action ri๏ฌes for this round. In fact, even Remington, which developed its own 6mm, had to recognize the popularity of the .243 and start chambering its ri๏ฌes for it.
The .243 (6mm) Winchester is nothing more than the .308 Win. case necked down. Original development and publicity was due largely to the efforts of one gun writer, the late Warren Page, who, along with other wildcatters, worked out a similar version before Winchester. The .243 Win. is probably chambered in more different ri๏ฌes than any other cartridge, except possibly the .30-06 Spring๏ฌeld, which is no surprise. The .243 Winchester represents a successful effort to develop a light deer ri๏ฌe cartridge that could hold its own with the high-velocity .22s for long-range use on small targets โ and still be adequate for larger animals. The .243 Win. does this job well. It eliminates the need to own two different ri๏ฌes for anything from small game and pests up to and including deer and antelope.
The 80-grain bullet is intended primarily for varmint and small game, and the 100-grain bullet is ideal for deer-size animals. The .257 Roberts and the .250-3000 Savage are supposed to cover the same range and certainly do. All major domestic and overseas manufacturers of commercial ammunition offer this caliber. Its popularity as a deer caliber has prevailed over its varmint capabilities. (Editorโs note: The .243 Win. has garnered a reputation among ballisticians for erratic performance. Handloaders should keep this firmly in mind.) In a 2000 press release, Remington announced the availability of electronic ignition .243 Winchester ammunition for use in its new (and now defunct) EtronX ri๏ฌe. The initial loading uses a 90-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet. Owing to the unique primer, this ammunition will not work in a conventional ri๏ฌe (just as conventional ammunition will not work in the EtronX ri๏ฌe). Except for the primer, this ammunition uses conventional components.
Update: The recent introduction of all-copper, mono-metal bullets, such as the Barnes Triple-Shock and Tipped Triple-Shock, the Hornady GMX and the Lapua Naturalis, allow the .243 Winchester, as well as other 6mm cartridges that produce the same or higher velocities, to be very effective on big game while using a faster and lighter bullet. Additionally, Frank Barnes mentioned the erratic performance handloaders could expect when working with the .243 Winchester; while this has become an ever-persistent warning with this cartridge, many handloaders have been building the .243 Winchester for 20-plus years and ๏ฌnd it as easy to work with as any other cartridge.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Ignoring for the moment that AR acronym stands for โArmalite Rifleโ rather than โassault rifle,โ the AR platform continues to evolve in functionality and efficiency, all the while fending off potential bans and misinformation. But letโs get down to the basics that have made Eugene Stonerโs design so long-lived.
First, the ergonomics are universally appreciated. When viewed broadly over its 55-year lifespan, little has changed in terms of the pistol grip locations and angle, the trigger and safety location, the upper/lower concept, and the mechanism for loading and re-loading. The bolt carriage group (BCG) design remains largely the same, as does the direct impingement system that utilizes gas and a buffer spring to cycle the rifleโs action. Have there been improvements in handguards, stocks, charging handles, optics and triggers? Certainly. Still, the fundamental platform remains the same.
So whatโs next? The military side of the house has bolted on and integrated optics, electronics and ergonomic improvements designed to improve reliability, range and accuracy in their issued calibers. With the ongoing war on terror pushing 20 years, we sadly have buckets of trial and error cycles to refine what works on the outside of the weapon system.
But what about the inside of the rifle and the civilian market? For hunters, target shooters and general enthusiasts, finding applications for the AR platform has taken a slightly different path. At times, such as the .300 Blackout/Whisper, the cross-over had its genesis in the military world โ but in many cases, American civilian shooters began doing what they do best: tinkering with an existing idea and adapting it to new applications.
Bring On The Big Bores?
Ironically, the concept of a โbig boreโ in the modern sporting rifle vernacular has come to mean anything larger than the 5.56x45mm NATO round issued for the M-16/M4 platform since its introduction into military service in the 1960s. However, Stonerโs original design, the AR-10, was chambered for the 7.62x54mm (.308 Win.) cartridge. The issued rifle of the day was the M-14, and the prevailing military thinking was that a .30-caliber bullet was the optimal balance between weight, range, and knockdown power.
In a Cold War departure from the experiences of World War II and Korea, the decision was made to reduce the cartridge to the current 5.56x45mm. Nonetheless, Stonerโs internal design did provide several scalable advantages for larger calibers.
First, the buffer spring and gas direct impingement system considerably reduces felt recoil by utilizing a buffer tube and spring to absorb the kinetic energy displaced backward when a cartridge fires. Second, it also eliminates the need for an operating rod, which increased the weight and mass moving toward the shooter when a round cycled. AK fans will note this system diminishes reliability and makes for a dirtier action, and theyโd be right. But until weโre shooting โfreaking laser beams,โ the laws of physics still apply, and you have to give to get.
So with the pluses and minuses acknowledged, letโs dig into the new stuff. Like rocket ships and dragsters, Americans arenโt historically burdened by practicality when it comes to pushing the engineering envelope of speed and power. ARs are no exception, and the direction within the civilian market has been to adapt the platform to larger calibers typically reserved for bolt or lever-action hunting rifles. We love our speed, but the sheer kinetic punch of a .40 caliber or larger rifle bullet seems to be in our DNA.
The Wilson Combat .458 Hamโr
Since 1977, Wilson Combat (WC) has been finding ways to make the old better or come up new twists on time-tested themes. Few, if any, 1911 aficionados donโt count their collection incomplete if there is not a WC square gun in it.
The chamber of a Wilson Combat .458 Hamโr launches a bullet up to 400 grains at more than 2,000 fps, delivering a devastating 3,000 ft-lbs. of energy.
In 2016, both Bill Wilson and his grandson took a Cape buffalo on a trip to Africa with a .458 SOCOM. In both cases, and on smaller, โless-dangerousโ game, it was also effective. Also, in some circumstances at longer ranges, the bullets didnโt fully expand, but the energy and size of the projectile closed the terminal ballistic game. Despite the relative success in the field, it sparked an idea in Billโs mind that the .458 cartridge could use some help.
At a muzzle velocity of about 1,900 fps for a 300-grain round, the .458 SOCOMโs ballistics are similar to the classic .45-70 Govโt. But like the .45-70, the trajectory graphs like a rainbow, making holdover a challenge at longer ranges. In other words, every little bit of speed helps.
The .458 Hamโr, with the same Barnes round, rips out at 2,100 fps and nearly 3,000 ft-lbs. of energy from the muzzle. This not only improves terminal performance, but it also mitigates the margin of error if the shooter is using open or red-dot sights and must visually estimate both distance and holdover.
Building the .458 Hamโr was not all about the cartridge, however. Wilson wanted to eliminate some of the reliability symptoms he had occasionally seen with the .458 SOCOM. Built on an AR-10 upper, the system can handle the increased chamber pressures of up to 46,000 psi, and Wilson shortened the bolt carriage group by ยพ-inch to better handle the shorter cartridge. Other small tweaks, such as a larger ejection port to accommodate the wider case and a switch to a rifle primer for their WCโs proprietary ammo, further tightened the reliability and accuracy sweet spot.
The lower for the .458 Hamโr is specific to the rifleโs unique design, so they only sell complete rifle packages, but WC does offer a .458 SOCOM upper for AR lowers.
The .450 Bushmaster
Many would rightly argue the .450 Bushmaster began the big-bore AR movement. Originally conceived by Tim LeGendre as an answer to Colonel Jeff Cooperโs disappointment in the 5.56x45mm (AR-15โs) terminal effectiveness on game, Cooper wanted a โthumperโ that could be counted on to consistently put game on the ground inside 200 yards. After some experimentation and a joint experiment with Hornady Ammunition, Bushmaster launched the 250-grain SST Flex-Tipped .45-caliber cartridge in a straight-walled .284 Winchester case and dubbed it the .450 Bushmaster.
The .450 Bushmaster entered the big-bore AR trend early, and offers a relatively flat trajectory inside 200 yards.
The advantage to this cartridge within the AR platform had several benefits. First, it lent itself to a single-stack, magazine-fed operation, exceeding that of most internally fed bolt-action rifles. Further, the muzzle velocity of 2,214 fps (in the 250-grain bullet) provided a relatively flat trajectory inside of 200 yards. Finally, the 2,700 ft-lbs. of energy delivered a significant terminal punch, along with the wide frontal profile (vs. a .30 caliber).
The round grew in popularity with the increase in the number of feral hogs nationwide and made for an excellent deer rifle. Most notably, the .450 Bushmaster uppers are compatible with most AR-15 lowers, which allows budget-minded shooters to simply purchase the upper, ammo and new magazines to create a dramatically different hunting platform vs. their 5.56x45mm/.223 Rem.
Bushmaster Arms produces the .450 Bushmaster AR in a 16- and 20-inch barrel models. For 2017, they rolled out a SOPMOD stock, ALG Defense nickel Teflon, mil-spec trigger, a square key drop modular hand guard and a slightly enlarged ejection port.
The Bushmaster .450 has also enjoyed increasing popularity due to regulation changes in some states where straight-wall-cased cartridges are allowed where hunters were previously limited to shotgun slugs-only (non-rifles). Be sure to confirm in both your state and region whether regulations allow for straight-walled rifle cartridges and, if so, the capacity limits. Game wardens tend to be universally intolerant of hunterโs pleading ignorance on this point.
The Alexander Arms .50 Beowulf
Taking the big-bore concept and making it slightly bigger, Bill Alexander of Alexander Arms introduced the .50 caliber Beowulf in 2001. Alexander has been out in front of several trends that continue to grow in popularity, such as the 6.5mm bullet which he chambered for the AR-15 platform in the 6.5 Grendel in 2001. In a nod to his British heritage, Beowulf and Grendel are characters (both heroic and evil) from one of the oldest surviving pieces of English literature.
The Alexander Arms .50 Beowulf, as compared to the .223 Rem. of an AR-15, has up to seven times the bullet mass, three times the energy and an average of twice the frontal area.
Beowulf, a monster and dragon-slayer even into his old age and the subject of the ancient epic poem, is a fitting name for the cartridge that ranges in mass from 200 up to 400 grains. The muzzle velocity varies between 1,771 and 1,870 fps depending upon the load. Like the .450 Bushmaster, the .50 Beowulf upper can be purchased instead of a complete rifle and bolted to a mil-spec AR-15 lower.
The .50 Beowulfโs advantages, like the other big bores running in an AR platform, are best illustrated by a comparison with the standard issue 55-grain .223 Rem. bullet. The .50 Beowulf has four to seven times the bullet mass (depending on the load), three times the energy, and on average twice the frontal area.
Granted, it moves slower and has less range, but to broad-brush this comparison in football terms, imagine youโre a quarterback. Would you rather be sacked by a single safety โฆ or a linebacker, defensive end and a nose guard all at once? The relative effect is similar on game with a 200-yard range: The .50 Beowulf delivers a blow that neutralizes most earthly mammalโs desire to do anything but go down and stay down. Alexander Arms has also recently released a 200-grain cartridge with an advertised muzzle velocity of 2,500 fps.
Innovation Or Hype?
Ultimately, a big bore AR is a personal choice. There are definitely longer range bolt-action rifles on the market and very solid AR offerings in the .260-.30 caliber range that cost more than your truck โ and whose ballistics may, in some respects (particularly distance), outperform these big bores. But if your big game quarry is typically taken within 200 yards, these ARโs will save you the trouble of tracking if your shot is well placed โ their terminal impact is simply devastating. Or, if youโre a range guy and like to make things explode when you shoot them, big bore ARs are definitely for you and a helluva lot of fun.
Finally, if youโre an average Joe with kids to feed who wants to have an interchangeable mil-spec AR and a heavier hunting option without breaking the bank, a big bore AR upper is often a solid, more-affordable option than a second gun.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Knowing when to transition focus from target to sights will allow you to fire an accurate shot faster.
When should you start seeing your sights:
More of a question of when you transition from target to sights.
When it reaches your peripheral vision move focus to front sight.
Look sight onto the spot you want to hit.
When you hit full extension, you should complete the press and fire.
The sooner you get on sight, the sooner you can fire.
In the last โDefensive Handgunningโ column, we shared some advice from Gunsite Academy instructor Cory Trapp, with regard to when you should put your finger on the trigger. Another common question he gets: When you should first see your sights?
During the draw stroke, as your handgun enters your peripheral vision, you should pick up the front sight, and then look it on to the target.
โIf you have enough room between you and your adversary to fully extend your arms, you should be looking at your sights,โ says Trapp. โThe question then is, when do you transition from looking at the target to the sights? As the hands come together and the pistol begins to extend, the top of the pistol will appear in your peripheral vision. As soon as it does, move your focus to the front sight. You want to look the sight onto the spot you want to hit. The moment you hit full extension and the pistol stops, you should complete the press and it should fire. The sooner you get on the sight, the sooner youโll be able to fire.โ
This is exceptional advice and itโs never wrong. But as we discussed last column, a sharp focus on the front sight is not always necessary. As you become more proficient with your handgun, youโll find you can get good hits, quickly, without a front-sight focus. Keep in mind: Youโre still picking up the front sight in your peripheral vision at the same point, and youโre still looking the sight onto the target โ you just donโt shift the focus from the target to the sight. This is called โtarget focus shooting,โ and most experienced shooters will find it can work for them out to 3, 5 and maybe even 7 yards. But, like everything else involved when it comes to pulling a trigger, it takes practice.
A vibrant addition to Dickinson’s side-by-side line, the color-case harden Plantation SXR is a head turner.
What the new Plantation SXR offers:
Available in 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410 bore, combo 20/28 and 28/.410.
New Hi-Rib model available.
24โ, 26โ 28โ, 30โ barrel lengths.
Automatic ejectors.
English, Prince of Wales or pistol grip stock.
24-lines-per-inch hand checkering on stock and fore-end.
Beavertail or standard fore-end.
Length, Length of Pull, Drop at Heel and Pull optional.
If you happen to have a yen for a shotgun with a classical bent, Dickinson Arms has news for you. The importer of Turkish smoothbores has expanded its side-by-side Plantation line to include a rather colorful option โ a color-case hardened SXR model.
AKUS, who manufactured the gun, didnโt skimp with the new gun, using the old-school bone charcoal method to achieve the unique finish. Furthermore, the English scrollwork on the receiver and 24-line-per-inch checkering on the stock is done completely by hand. A nice touch. Another feature, at least among those who like a bit of a throwback in their side-by-sides, it comes with an option of a double trigger.
Now comes the clutch your wallet part. As expected of SBS shotgun, the color-case hardened Plantation SXR doesnโt come in cheap, Dickinson Armโs MSRP on the gun is $3,195. But given the look and the hand craftsmanship, itโs not an overwhelming price tag.
Dickinson Arms has introduced a new model to its distinctive and refined Plantation Series of shotguns. The new side-by-side Plantation SXR gives serious shooting enthusiasts, collectors and hunters what they have come to expect from Dickinson โ a rare combination of beauty, engineering and performance. And with
12 GA., 16 GA., 20 GA. 28 GA. and .410 bore models to choose from, there is a quality Plantation SXR to suit the needs of every shooter.
At the heart of the Plantation SXR is a precision trigger plate mechanism with cosmetic side plates and receiver hand engraved with beautiful English scroll. This gun is hand built in Turkey by expert craftsmen who use only the finest materials and components and take great pride in their work. The receiver is finished with true bone-charcoal case hardening that makes each gun an individual and highly functional work of art. The luxurious look and feel of the Plantation SXR is further complimented by Dickinsonโs use of premier grade Turkish walnut, featuring fine 24-lines-per-inch hand checkering and a hand-rubbed oil or gloss finish. The ability to select an English, Price of Wales or Pistol Grip stock further enhances the individuality of this gun. Special order upgrades to Grade 3/4/5 walnut stock are also available.
The Plantation SXR offers a Single/Double trigger, automatic ejectors and can accommodate 2-3/4โ or 3โ shells. Availability of 24โ, 26โ, 28โ and 30โ barrel lengths ensures that shooters of all types and sizes can find the ideal Plantation SXR. This shotgun can accommodate fixed or thin wall chokes for different shooting applications.
In addition to this and other Plantation Series models, Dickinsonโs line of premium side-by-side shotguns also includes Standard and Custom Made Prestige and Estate Series, for the most discriminating shooters, collectors and hunters.
For more information on the color-case hardened Plantation SXR, please visit: www.dickinsonarms.com.
Creating brass for rare and obsolete cartridges is easier than you think. Here’s what you need to know to create your own at home.
What You Need To Know About Making Brass:
Opens door to obscure and rare calibers.
The Handloaderโs Manual of Cartridge Conversions is an indispensable tool.
Can be as complex as removing a belt from a magnum.
Can be as simple as resizing a cartridge’s neck.
There are times when certain cartridge cases are just unavailable, if not simply unaffordable. I ran into just this situation while I was looking for ammunition for a new rifle Iโm having built. Iโve had a desire to own and hunt with a .318 Westley Richards since I first began to read the classic African stories of W.D.M. โKaramojaโ Bell and John โPondoroโ Taylor (thereโs something cool about earning an African nickname, eh?) as they recounted their tales and experiences with the classic cartridges.
In all honesty, thereโs really nothing revolutionary about the classic .318 Westley Richards; it shoots a .330-inch diameter bullet, with the choices being between 180-, 200- and 250-grains, depending on the manufacturer, the classic load being a 250-grain round nose at 2,400 fps muzzle velocity. The .318 WR is the older cousin to the .338-06, with the latter having a much wider selection of bullets, but the former making you want to lift your pinky in the air when you sit down to afternoon tea. At any rate, I think itโs a cool cartridge, and I am an aficionado of the classics. My rifle is still in the construction phase, going through its metamorphosis at Hillbilly Custom Rifles, and I needed some dummy ammunition to test the magazine length and the new chamber. This posed a bit of a problem: There are very few sources for .318 Westley Richards brass. The dies were no problemโRCBS makes a great set of full-length diesโand there are some good bullets on the market. Iโve chosen the Woodleigh 250-grain round nose Weldcore as an all-purpose bullet, as well as a nice 200-grain round nose from Hawk Bullets in New Jersey, which would work perfectly for deer and lighter game. But the brassโฆ
There are a couple boutique brass producers that will make a run of properly headstamped .318 WR brass, but those runs are few and far between, not to mention expensive. There is a British company still making loaded ammunition, but at almost $10 per cartridge, that wasnโt exactly the route I wanted to take either. So, I dug out my well-thumbed-through copy of John J. Donnellyโs The Handloaderโs Manual Of Cartridge Conversions a fantastic reference book that every handloader should own, and read about the process of making .318 Westley Richards brass out of good ole plentiful .30-06 Springfield brass. It wasnโt difficult at all.
First, let me explain the differences between the two. The .30-06 shares a case head diameter with the 7×57 and 8×57 Mauser (0.473 inches), while the .318 WR uses a slightly smaller rim dimension of 0.464 inches, though in the past the Mauser-sized rim has worked fine in a .318 rifleโs bolt face. Since my new rifle is using the action from a 1916 Hamburg Arsenal 98 Mauser originally chambered in 8×57 Mauser, using the larger rim diameter will not pose an issue at all. The โ06 is definitely a longer case at 2.494 inches, so it would eventually need to be trimmed down to the WRโs length of 2.400 inches. I grabbed a bunch of RP .30-06 cases, used the RCBS Universal Case Prep Station to trim the brass down 0.094 inchesโthe micrometer adjustment worked perfectly for thisโand gave the case mouths a good chamfer and deburring. Other than that, the dies would do the bulk of the work.
My RCBS resizing die has a tapered expander ball, which will work the smaller diameter neck of the โ06 brass slowly, for a smooth and consistent expansion. I used Imperial powdered neck lubricant and ran them through the RCBS .318 WR resizing die to open the necks to proper diameter, and to move the shoulder to the proper positioning. Viola! Though the headstamp read RP .30-06 Sprg., I had in my hands the first of the .318 Westley Richards cartridges that I plan to take on many adventures.
A must-have for any making your own brass, John J. Donnellyโs The Handloaderโs Manual Of Cartridge Conversions.
I compared them to the two example .318 WR cases I had from Quality Cartridge, and they showed to be dimensionally identical. I loaded some bullets into unprimed and uncharged cases, and sent them off to Hillbilly Rifles to make sure everything was going well with the new barreled action, and they worked just perfect.
Making brass for rare or obsolete calibers certainly isnโt something new; handloaders have been doing this for decades, and it can turn a wall-hanger rifle into a field champion once again. Sometimes the conversion is easy and only requires a single pass through a resizing die. The .318 WR above is an example, but just as easy would be making .257 Roberts brass from a 7×57 Mauser or a 6mm Remington case, or .338-06 and .35 Whelen from .30-06 brass. Iโve made ammunition for an older .30/.338 Magnum by obtaining a good set of dies with a tapered expander ball and using 7mm Remington Magnum brass. Other times a set of forming dies, which will reduce or expand the brass in smaller steps, will be required to best achieve the goal. Cases for the old .33 Winchester can be made from .45-70 Government brass, but in several steps, as the reduction from .458-inch diameter to .338-inch diameter is too radical to be accomplished in a single pass.
Some of the more advanced and radical transformations may require some advanced tools, as there are instances where a rim may need to be turned down to a different diameter, or a belt taken off in order to make something that will work. A good dial or digital caliper is a must, and like any handloading setup, the better your trimmer is, the more uniform your product will turn out. One last note: When you make brass for one cartridge from another, with a different headstamp, please be sure and keep that new ammo in a clearly marked box, with detailed notes. While I donโt think my .318 WR ammo would chamber in a .30-06 rifle, if it did and were fired, the results would be tragic, if not fatal.
I strongly suggest you grab a copy of Mr. Donnellyโs book, as it contains the formulae for making all sorts of wildcats in addition to the SAAMI accepted cartridges, as well as many of the older black powder cartridges. You never know when you may find a treasure in the form of a rare rifle in the dusty corner of your favorite gun shop, and youโll be happy to have the ability to make your own brass.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Want to bag more birds? Take the time to square up before you take your shot.
Simultaneously, wingshooting is among the most heart-pounding and frustrating type of hunting you can undertake. The cardiac palpitating aspect is fairly self-explanatory, given there’s no other game that flushes as quick and close as chukars, pheasants, quail and what have you. Frustration, thatโs equally as obvious, since you have precious few seconds to make certain everything is perfect so you come home with something in the bag. At times, the task is humbling.
Generally speaking, dads and uncles through the years passed down the same sage, yet vague wisdom of โlead โem more.” Typically as a rooster was still hightailing to the horizon. Certainly, a lead is key, but it plays second fiddle to a more imperative fundamental โ body position. Without it, leading a bird isnโt even an option (sorry dad).
Despite the urgency of making the shot, the key to proper body position is taking your time. Sounds counterintuitive, but it works. Taking a breathโs worth of time to pick your bird, square up to the direction it’s flying and get ahead of it does wonders. Plus, youโre not cheating yourself, because that’s what you’re doing without getting in the right position.
Say youโre a right-hander, and a bird flushes and breaks left. Without taking a step to open your body in that direction, youโve cut your swing around 50-percent, at least. Furthermore, youโre more likely to rush the shot as you feel your range run out. Neither is optimal.
Part of the rush of bird hunting is its fast action, but thatโs not worth squat when you come home empty-handed. You’ll still get the rush of flushing birds, but by taking your time to get into position you’ll also have something to show for it.
For more information on CZ USA’s Sharp-Tail, please visit: www.cz-usa.com/.
For more information Aguila Ammunition, please visit www.aguilaammo.com.
Minimal and sturdy, Strike Industries’ AR Pistol Stabilizer gives a solid support for the petite guns.
How the AR Pistol Stabilizer enhances a gun:
Fits buffer tubes up to 1.25 inches in diameter.
Tapered set screw ensures it says in position.
All snag points blunted and leveled.
Fiberglass reinforced.
5.3-ounce weight.
6.5-inch length.
Minimal as they may at first seem, thereโs plenty to AR pistol braces and stabilizers. Find the right one, youโll enhance your shot-to-shot accuracy and the overall shootability of the compact rifle-caliber firearms. Install the wrong one, your gun will probably hop like a toad on a hot plate.
Strike Industries appears to have hit the right notes with its sleek new tailfin. The AR Pistol Stabilizer not only steadies the short and wicked guns, but also eases the process of getting one into action. Fitting buffer tubes up to 1.25-inches in diameter, the unit uses a large tapered set screw to ensure it stays in place, no matter where itโs positioned. Furthermore, Strike Industries has blunted and leveled any potential snag points, all but guaranteeing a pistol is fast into the action. Not to mention, it wonโt cheese grate your cheek.
Other notables of the AR-Pistol Stabilizer include built-in ambidextrous QD cups, fiberglass reinforcement, light 5.3-ounce weight and 6.5-inch length. The stabilizer’s price is also reasonable, as far as AR upgrades go, with an MSRP of $39.95.
When it comes to pest control, particularly the venomous kind, few handgun loads beat CCI Shotshells.
How CCI Shotshells eliminate pests:
Shot held in rigid plastic capsules.
Flexible base wad prevents gas blow-by.
Uses CCI primers.
Available in 10 calibers, from .22 Short up to .45 Colt.
Depending on caliber, loaded with No. 12, No. 9 and No. 4 shot.
Personal protection with a handgun is not just about fending off muggers, homicidal maniacs and vampires. There are other bad things is this world. I grew up in the Allegheny Mountains where copperheads and timber rattlers were the price we paid for the serenity the hills provided, and I developed an intense dislike for both. The only thing that can ruin a fishing trip or a picnic faster than a politician is a poisonous snake.
CCI shotshells are great handgun ammunition for snakes. Typically, the larger the caliber the better they work, simply because they contain more shot.
When Grandpa wanted us kids to enthusiastically tackle some chore, he often told us to get at it like we were โkilling snakes.โ I never really understood what that meant until I fought a 4-foot-long copperhead while armed with a shovel. You can kill serpents with hand tools, but if I ever do it again itโll be because Iโm out of ammunition.
The only thing to brag about after my first gun battle with a snake was that the timber rattler I eventually killed was almost as long as me. After a magazine full of hardball from a 1911, the snake coiled up under a laurel bush. I then fetched a .22 rifle and finished the job. Lesson learned: Itโs hard to hit a moving target the size of a water hose when youโre afraid itโs going to give you a fanged surprise.
If you sometimes encounter venomous snakes in your wanderings and donโt exercise the live and let live philosophy, a shotgun would seem the obvious choice. But shotguns are hard to carry in your pocket. Continually out and about in the underbrush, Iโve found CCI Shotshells are an ideal solution. A snake can strike about one-half to two-thirds its body length. In North America, a 6-foot-long venomous snake is on the large side, so a safe engagement distance should be on the other side of 4 feet. Sure, you can get closer, but like my 10-year-old says 350 times a day, โWhy?โ
CCI now offers two versions of their handgun shotshells. The standard version is loaded with No. 12 shot (9mm Luger) or No. 9 shot (.38 Special/.357 Magnum, .40 S&W, .44 Special/Magnum, .45 Auto and .45 Colt.) The newer Big 4 loads are loaded with No. 4 shot. For snakes, the smaller shot is the way to go; the patterns are denser and the shell delivers a more pulverizing effect.
You should test these loads in your own handgun for pattern size at distance. Just be advised that few semi-automatic handguns will reliably cycle shotshells, so you might have to manually rack the slide after the shot.
Designed for resiliency and performance, MFT’s Extreme Duty AR-15 Magazine helps keep your rifle running.
How the Extreme Duty AR-15 Magazine is built tough:
Made from long glass-fiber polymer for shock resistance.
Larger lower half to retain internal geometry’s integrity.
Flared floorplate to protect from drops.
Oversized bolt catch.
Tool-free disassembly.
Compatibility with traditional mag pouches.
Weak points, no matter how robust a systemโs design it will have them. In the case of the AR-15 and similar semi-automatic rifles, generally, the common tender spot is also one that needs to function flawlessly if the gun is going to do what itโs supposed to โ go bang with every trigger pull. No matter how you cut it, magazines are a temperamental linchpin. But is it any wonder why?
Of all the parts of a rifle, it is generally the most abused. Simple as its components are, they are the most exposed to the grit, grim and slop of the environment at large. Not to mention, dropping them like empty beer cans is standard operating procedure. Honestly, itโs a testament accessory manufacturers that magazine donโt go haywire more often.
Mission First Tactical gets this and was motivated to come up with a little something designed to all but eliminate magazine malfunctions hastened by rough use. The Extreme Duty AR-15 Magazine might appear little more than your run-of-the-mill polymer rig on the outside, but itโs designed with the extra backbone to weather rented-mule level abuse.
The magazineโs secret sauce, a reinforcement that kicks up its toughness by nearly a magnitude compared to its competition. A specially engineered long glass-fiber polymer provides up to three times the impact resistance and increases its overall strength by 50-percent compared to standard glass-filled nylon mags. In short, you can inadvertently bang these babies off cinder blocks, pavement, rocky surfaces, whathaveyou and not worry about them cracking or the spring getting damaged.
Furthermore, the lower half of the magazine is thicker, enhancing its rigidity and stabilizing its internal shape. Given this, the four-way, anti-tilt follower and stainless-steel mag spring always function flawlessly, with an unhindered path. Topping it all off, a flared floorplate adds more resiliency to the system protecting the magazine from drops at excessive heights.
Other notables on the Extreme Duty AR-15 Magazine include oversized bolt catch, tool-free disassembly and compatibility with traditional mag pouches. Optimized for use in Colt-spec AR lower receivers, it is also compatible with a number of other makes and models, including Heckler & Koch, FN America, FN SCAR16 and SA-180 bullpup. And it comes in with a very affordable price tag, with an MSRP of $12.99.
The right combination of a gun light and a handheld flashlight could save your life.
What to look for in a gun light:
Reliable: Rugged enough to not only handle combat conditions, but also gun’s recoil.
Beam: Provides necessary output and shape to locate and identify threats.
Compact: Should be small enough not to interfere with operation of gun.
Switch: Intuitively places for simple operation.
For defensive use, a light on your AR is mandatory. Yes, there are techniques for using a hand-held light โ and you should know them โ but thereโs no reason not to have a flashlight on your AR. A proper light setup has no disadvantages, and it greatly simplifies working in the dark.
Using The Light
The majority of confrontations occur in low-light conditions, and if itโs too dark to identify the possible danger, youโll have to use a light.
There are techniques for using a handheld light with the AR or any other long gun, but having a weapon-mounted light is going to make things a lot easier. The key is having good equipment and learning how to use it.
Letโs say youโve identified a threat โ youโre legally and morally justified in shooting โ youโre going to need light to shoot accurately, especially when the threat is moving. And when the immediate threat is down or gone, you use the light to scan other areas of concern, ensuring thereโs no other danger.
The light is also used to communicate. You see a possible threat or area of concern and need to point out the area to your partner โ use the light to mark the area (you can do the same thing with a laser). The light is used to navigate unfamiliar terrain, and when engaging the threat, youโre putting blinding light in their eyes, which is a definite plus. That light comes in handy for a lot of different reasons.
Use the light as little as possible โ or as much as necessary. There might be enough ambient light for you to move or search without artificial light. Then, you locate a possible problem and light it up to determine what your response should be. Or, it might be so dark you canโt see, which means using the light during movement to ensure you donโt expose yourself to unseen danger. Regardless of what youโre doing or how much light youโre using, if someone starts shooting at your light you must turn it off and move.
Low-Light Equipment
In the โoldโ days, attaching a light to your long gun required a lot of creativity. It usually involved some combination of wooden blocks, elastic inner tubes, duct tape and hose clamps. Today, there are a variety of options for mounting a light, regardless of what handguard type your AR has.
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.
I prefer to mount the light at an 11 oโclock position as a right-handed shooter, and I operate the light with the thumb of my support hand. This positions the light in the right location for working to the left or right of cover, or clearing right- or left-turn corners, or working over the top of an object โ and it doesnโt block my sights.
To attach the light, you can use a removable mount, which allows you to swap the light from one weapon to another or take it off to use as a hand-held light. Or, it can be a permanent type mount, which clamps on, requiring tools to install or remove.
As for a gun light itself, Iโm a big fan of simplicity. Fighting in the dark is complicated enough without complicated equipment. I use lights with a tail-cap-activated button. You press it for momentary activation, or click it for constant light. Lights with high/low/strobe modes that are determined by the button sequence are too complicated.
Training And Practice
So, your light setup is good to go โ but you still need a good handheld light standing by, and the skills to use it with the long gun or pistol. If the light the AR light fails, you pull out the handheld and keep working. If you lose the AR or have to transition to the handgun due to a stoppage, itโs again time to use the handheld. The unexpected constantly occurs in fight, so be ready.
For a right-handed shooter, mounting the light in an 11 oโclock position works well. The support hand thumb is used to operate the light.
Once you get everything set up, itโs time to hit the range. Training is necessary to get an introduction to the proper techniques. Thereโs a lot more to working in the dark than most people think: There are specific principles and techniques you need to become familiar with. After receiving training you need to practice. Practice โ repetition โ is when the real learning occurs. You become comfortable with working in the dark, learning how to โpaintโ with the light or move and shift shadows around to see what they might contain.
Even though you have a light on the AR, itโs still necessary to know how to work with a hand-held light โ again with training and then through practice. In the past, all the bulbs used were incandescent, and the two times I need the light on the AR were the two times the bulb blew out. Thatโs less a problem today with LEDs, but luckily I had a handheld light to flow to and was able to stay plugged in.
The weapon-mounted light makes things simple, and a handheld light offers more versatility. You can have the AR pointing in once direction while using the light to scan in another area.
Another concern is transitions: say you have a light on the AR, but it experiences a stoppage, so you must transition to the pistol. There are techniques to keep using the light on the AR while working with the pistol. When working with two weapons, things become exponentially more complex โ but itโs nothing that practice canโt solve.
Final Thoughts
A lot of people have a fear of having to fight in the dark. If you have the proper equipment and skills, thereโs nothing to be afraid of. For those who โown the night,โ working in the dark can be an advantage โ just make sure your gear and skills are up to the challenge.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Powerful, versatile and easy to shoot, the .327 Federal Magnum offers big performance in a little package.
Why the .327 Federal Magnum Excels:
A 115-grain bullet can move up to 1,335 fps from the muzzle of a 3-inch barrel.
Mild recoil compared to other magnums.
.327 Fed Mag guns can also shoot .32 H&r Mag, .32 Long, .32 Short and .32 ACP.
Useful for plinking, self-defense and hunting.
In 1983 โ the year I graduated high school โ Federal shocked the shooting world with the .32 H&R Magnum. It was nothing more than a .32 Long with a longer case, loaded to a higher pressure โ 21,000 psi as compared to 12,000 psi. This resulted in velocity increase of about 300 fps. Just as appealing was that this new cartridge could be housed in Rugerโs Single Six, single-action revolver. But, most importantly, that revolver could also fire .32 ACP, .32 Short and .32 Long cartridges. I bought the first Single Six in .32 H&R I ever laid eyes on.
The Single Six in .32 H&R developed a cult-like following, but due to limited factory ammunition options, for the next quarter-century it mostly languished in near obsolescence. A few cowboy action shooters toyed with it, and it was thought to be suitable for self-defense โ if you couldnโt handle a 38 Special. Still, I remained a faithful devotee: Thereโs always been a .32 H&R โ if not on my hip โ in my safe.
That all changed in 2008 โฆ well, kinda.
.327 Federal Magnum: A New Magnum
In that year, Federal again shocked shooters with the .327 Federal Magnum. They lengthened the .32 H&R Magnum case and upped the pressure just like theyโd done with the .32 Long in 1983. But this time, instead of increasing it by 6,000 psi, they more than doubled it to a staggering 45,000. Just to establish some perspective, the .44 Magnum is only loaded to a maximum average pressure of 36,000 psi. You could say the .327 Federal Magnum is one of the most powerful handgun cartridges of all time.
One revolver that can fire all five of these cartridges, covering a wide power range, is extremely versatile. (Left to right: .32 Short, .32 ACP, .32 Long, .32 H&R Magnum and .327 Federal Magnum.)
High pressure means high velocity, and thatโs where the .327 Federal Magnum stands out. From a 3-inch barreled revolver, you can expect muzzle velocities as high as 1,335 fps for a 115-grain bullet and 1,450 fps for 100-grain bullets. Longer barrels mean even higher velocities. With a 5.5-inch barrel, youโre looking at about 1,550 and 1,725 fps, respectively. These blistering velocities required Federal and their sister company, Speer, to develop special bullets to handle all that speed.
From a 3-inch barrel, Speerโs 100-grain Gold Dot bullet will penetrate 17.5 inches in 10 percent ordnance gelatin, and expand to 0.45-inch, while retaining 85 percent of its weight. Federalโs 100-grain JSP bullet will penetrate 16 inches, expand to 0.51-inch and retain 97 percent of its weight.
Maybe more impressive are the hardcast loads available from Doubletap and Buffalo Bore for the .327 and .32 H&R. Even at modest velocities, they will penetrate more than 3 feet, and even though theyโll not expand, theyโre deadly. Iโve taken several deer with both.
Pistol-Caliber Rifles: Does The .357 Magnum Reign Supreme?
Because .327 Federal Magnum revolvers retain the ability to fire .32 H&R Magnum, .32 Long, .32 Short and .32 ACP ammunition, you have a very versatile handgun that can fire five cartridges. (See Table 1 for a comparison of these cartridges in various barrel lengths.) Not only is this cartridge compatibility unmatched, whatโs often overlooked is the versatility it provides. If you want to go plinking with a low-recoil load, fill the cylinder with .32 Shorts. If you want to hunt small game, use .32 H&R Magnums. If you want to hunt deer or defend your person, go with the .327 Federal Magnum.
.327 Federal Magnum’s Slow Start?
So, youโre probably wondering why 327 Federal Magnum revolvers โ if so versatile and practical โ are not more popular. This is partly the fault of Federal. Initially, the cartridge was offered as a lower-recoiling defensive revolver alternative to the .357 Magnum. The .327 Federal does recoil less, and for all practical purposes itโs just as effective, but it simply could not compete with the well-established .357/.38 Special revolver options on the market. Early on, only compact double-action revolvers were offered for the .327 Federal, and shooters mostly yawned.
It really wasnโt until 2015 when Lipseyโs โ a firearms distributor out of Louisiana โ partnered with Ruger to offer the .327 in their Single Six, single-action revolver. (Remember, the .32 H&R was originally offered in this same revolver.) Lipseyโs rolled out 4.6-, 5.5- and 7.5-inch barreled versions, with an un-fluted cylinder that held seven โ as opposed to six โ cartridges. The Single Seven was born, and it breathed new life into the .327 Federal Magnum, not necessarily for defensive, but for general-purpose use.
Many are shocked to learn about the effectiveness and versatility of the .327 Federal Magnum.
The cartridge was a great idea all along โ the problem was gun makers were putting it in the wrong handguns. Now the word is getting out, and Lipseyโs has trouble keeping Single Sevens in stock. Whether youโre looking for a revolver to wear around the farm, take on a camping trip or hike, to supplement your rifle or shotgun while hunting, or to just take to the range for fun, one chambered for the .327 Federal Magnum is a wonderful option. And, itโs even a better option since you can now have a lever-action rifle chambered for it too.
Iโve had a .32 H&R Magnum of some sort for 35 years โ I always will. Now itโs just called a .327 Federal Magnum, and I got no plans of getting rid of it. Hell, I might even buy another one.
Henry Big Boy Steel .327 Federal Magnum Carbine
The allure of the lever action is rooted in the American West, and so is the concept of a revolver and lever gun sharing the same ammunition. Henryโs Big Boy Steel has traditional lever-action lines but retains the signature Henry tube-loading. Though the mechanics of this system precludes the load-as-you-go concept, it makes the rifle infinitely easier and safer to unload.
Currently, Henry is the only company offering a rifle chambered for the .327 Federal Magnum. It will also cycle and fire .32 H&R Magnum and .32 Long ammunition.
The magazine holds 10, 9 and 8 rounds of .32 Long, .32 H&R Magnum and .327 Federal Magnum respectively, and the rifle will reliably cycle, chamber and fire all three. The factory sights are the traditional brass bead front and semi-buckhorn, ladder rear, but my eyes need a little help. Fortunately, the XS Sightsโ aperture and white post front sights for a Marlin 336 fit the Big Boy, which is also drilled and tapped for scope mounting.
Metal surfaces are finished in matte blue, and the big loop lever allows for comfortable one-hand carry at the wrist. The stock is American walnut with wrap-around checkering, and at 3.5 pounds, the trigger was very nice. Thereโs no manual safety, but thereโs a transfer bar safety, which means the trigger must be pulled for the rifle to fire. It also means you can carry the rifle loaded, with the hammer down โ safely.
The rifle shoots exceptionally well. At 50 yards it averaged 1.76 inches, and thatโs with seven different .32 Long, .32 H&R Magnum and .327 Federal Magnum loads, all fired with open sights. And with an MSRP of $893, the Henry Big Boy 327 Federal Magnum Carbine makes an ideal companion to any of Rugerโs Single Sevens.
Single Seven Bisley .327 Fed Mag
Originally known as S&S Wholesale Sporting Goods, Louisiana based Lipseyโs has been distributing hunting and fishing products for 65 years. Theyโve distinguished themselves by working with manufacturers to offer exclusive firearms, such as the Ruger Single Seven. Their latest Single Seven is a Bisley version and itโs exceptional.
Lipseyโs Ruger Single Seven Bisley is an ideal general-purpose revolver, chambered for what might be the best general-purpose revolver cartridge.
This blued steel revolver has a 5.5-inch barrel, an un-fluted cylinder and walnut grips that fit the astoundingly comfortable Bisley frame, which was inspired by the Colt Bisley revolver. Many find it and the target style hammer much more comfortable than the traditional gunfighter grip common to most single-actions. The Bisley grip positions the hand to perfectly manipulate the trigger, without disturbing the sights. I managed seven out of seven hits on an 8-inch steel plate, while shooting off-hand โ from 50 yards! Iโve never done that with any other handgun.
As far as packing pistols go, a 5.5-inch barrel stretches carry comfort, but, that extra bit of barrel and longer sight radius not only offers tremendous assistance when it comes to hitting what youโre aiming at. On average, you can expect a velocity gain of 150 fps or more over a 4.6-inch barreled Single Seven. MSRP is $709.
.327 Federal Magnum Compatible Cartridge Velocity by Barrel Length Comparison
Streamlined to keep extra ammunition at hand, the WalkAbout 2.0 Revolver Holster offers a more manageable system to carry a wheelgun.
How the WalkAbout streamlines revolver carry:
Premium Center Cut Steerhide
Metal-reinforced mouth for easy holstering
Attached speedloader carrier
Ambidextrous
Two different belt clips
Adjustable for cant
The good olโ revolver still has a place in modern-day defensive arms. It just takes a bit more forethought to make it practical and comfortable for everyday carry.
The holster geniuses at Galco have made great strides in this direction with the introduction of the WalkAbout 2.0 tailored to wheelguns. Those unfamiliar with these members of the Concealed Carry Lite line, they are marvels at keeping a gun under wraps, while consolidating equipment. How it achieves the latter, an ingenious inline speedloader carrier at the front of the holster. Keeping the extra rounds at hand, it virtually eliminates the unwieldiness of the device.
Furthermore, the holster includes interchangeable clips, the ambidextrous IBW holster also offers two levels of concealment. Cant adjustable, the steerhide WalkAbout 2.0 is adaptable to strongside, crossdraw and appendix carry positions, and is comfortable in each. Streamlining the revolver system, the holster might give more than a few reasons to consider carry a wheelgun. Not badly priced, either.
From the company:
Part of Galco’s Concealed Carry Lite line of holsters, the WalkAbout 2.0offers all the benefits of the Tuck-n-Go 2.0 โ with the addition of an attached speedloader carrier! Itโs an exceptional combination of high performance, comfort and affordability.
The WalkAbout 2.0โs open top allows a very fast draw, while the reinforced mouth allows a smooth and easy return of the gun to the holster. The WalkAbout 2.0โs belt clips are adjustable for cant, making it suitable for the strongside, crossdraw, or appendix carry positions.
The ambidextrous WalkAbout 2.0 is supplied with two types of interchangeable tuckable clips. The first is the UniClipโข, designed to go over the belt, but which also works well without a belt. The second is the Ultimate Stealthโข clip with hook, which fits on the trouser waistband, under or behind a belt with just the clip showing, for the ultimate in stealthy concealment!
Made for compact revolvers, the WalkAbout 2.0 is available in black and priced at a very affordable $53!
No wonder all the shotguns are blazing. You can see thousands of doves in the air. Your shotgunโs muzzles are doing a mini dance back and forth as you decide which winged target to zero in on. You know your gunning partners are experiencing the same excitement. This is only your first afternoon of shooting, but you are already realizing that the billing and extreme shotgunning about this trip have not been exaggerated. In fact, the shooting is already even better than expected.
In the few seconds youโve been thinking this, you realize your gun is empty. As you break that over/under open, the spent shells go flying, but before they hit the ground your shooting assistant (they used to call them bird boys) is already inserting new shells. Time to pick out another dove target!
I was first introduced to this type of shooting in 1972. Thatโs when I realized I was โbornโ for such shooting, so Iโve made it a point to return and return, and my next trip will be number 56 โ and this does not include many trips to shoot in Mexico. Consequently, Iโve learned a lot about where to go, and, because I almost always take my own guns, I have found out a lot about the ones that โwork.โ Further, these days most outfitters rent shotguns for this shooting โ so what can you expect from those shotguns?
I donโt bang away as frequently on these trips as I once did, but I do know itโs common for most shooters to fire 500 to 1,000 shells each half-day of shooting. If you round that off to 750 shells times eight hunts (afternoon hunt on day of arrival, two hunts a day for the next three days and a final hunt the day of departure), thatโs 6,000 rounds. Any gun you take must be up to that degree of punishment. Further, on some of these hunts, daytime temps are in the 80s, sometimes higher โ such hot weather will also take a toll on the gun(s) you take.
In 1972, outfitters had no rental guns. Traveling shooters took their own. These days, probably more than 80 percent of the thousands and thousands who flock to the likes of Nicaragua, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia rent guns from the outfitter. Since youโre reading this, Iโm betting youโre a shotgun guy, so youโd like to take your own shotgun(s) on such a trip. I will return to the rental-gun aspects after some suggestions for taking your own.
Guns That Make The Cut
The bottom line on this: Take the best, most reliable shotguns you have โ not the least expensive. Feeling edgy about traveling with your best guns internationally? In all my previous 55 trips, Iโve never lost a gun in transit or while away. I did have a fine over/under experience a trigger problem once, but the outfitter jury-rigged it so it worked, and I had it properly repaired when I got back home. Iโve never heard of anyone losing a gun on these trips. One or two shooters, due to negligence of attention, had their guns kept in foreign customs. All were eventually returned.
Why such an excellent record of not losing guns? First off, working through your outfitter or their agent, proper gun paperwork must take place well in advance of your trip. When you arrive at your departure airport, you will have copies of that paperwork for the ticketing agent. When you arrive at your country of destination, authorities will be waiting with those paperwork originals.
Upon departure from your hunt, you must check those guns out of the country โ this is to assure no guns are left behind. Upon arrival in the U.S., you need a signed U.S. Customs form #4457 to get your guns back into our country. The form will have your gunโs make, model and serial number. This form is good for life โ so have that form plasticized.
Suggestions For Taking Your Own
Remington 3200
Photo: Guns International
One of the first shotguns I took to Colombia was a Remington 3200 over/under with 26-inch barrels. This 12 gauge was relatively heavy โ which dampened recoil a bit due to its 9-pound weight. That O/U made many trips to Colombia, and it held up perfectly. The 3200 has not been made for many years, but itโs a good one โ and readily available on the used market. The lockup is solid and, despite the weight, the 3200 swings well and is in balance.
Beretta 682 O/U
Photo: Guns International
A second gun that made many a trip was a Beretta 682 O/U. These guns are still made โ though maybe with a slightly different cosmetic look compared to my original. The 680 series Berettas have an exceptional record of holding up well to thousands of competition rounds, so itโs no wonder that they work so well to, say, 6,000 rounds on a typical hunt to Argentina.
The 680 series is made with no under-locking lugs โ thus, a receiver with less depth results. Theoretically, such guns are easier to shoot because the hands are in closer relationship with the barrels. Barrels pivot on trunnions. Two conically shaped bolts move forward from near midway in the receiver โ to engage matching milled cutouts adjacent to the top barrel. The 680 seriesโ final lockup is the โshoulders.โ Several different Beretta semi-autos are popular as rental guns in these countries, and Iโll talk more about those in the rental-gun section.
Krieghoff Model 32 Or K-80
Krieghoff K-80
During my years of competition skeet shooting, my two-man team partner often remarked โ if I had a gun problem โ โSomeday, youโll get a Krieghoff.โ Eventually, I bought five of them, and I still have two.
One of the latter has made many, many trips to South America. This one is not a K-80 โ the Krieghoff in production today โ but the K80โs predecessor: the model 32. Though not currently made, they are offered regularly on the used market โ and at prices that are very low compared to the K-80.
Essentially, the two are the same gun โ at least in design and lockup. K-80s have great triggers, but if one ever wants a K-80 trigger, they are made to fit the model 32 as well. Further, the K-80 has a casehardened receiver; the model 32 does not. There are other differences between the two models, but not that many. Both models lock up with the sliding top lock โ a system that was originated with the Remington Model 32. There are no under-locking lugs, so this is another receiver with no additional depth, and the barrels pivot on trunnions.
Krieghoffs are well-known for their total reliability no matter how many thousands of rounds are put through them โ thus, another perfect choice for high-volume South American shooting. The one I take with me wears 28-inch barrels and a recoil-absorbing JS Air Cushion stock.
Caesar Guerini Summit Sporting
Caesar Guerini hasnโt been in business for decades, but since their introduction in 2003, this company has gobbled up a huge share of the over/under shotgun market. In that first year, I bought the manufacturerโs Summit Sporting model in a 28 gauge with 32-inch barrels. That gun made more than one trip to both Argentina and Uruguay, but I eventually had that gun fit with a set of 20-gauge 32-inch barrels. This 20 bore has made many trips to Bolivia, Uruguay and Argentina.
The Summit Sporting is one of Gueriniโs least expensive over/unders, but theyโre all built with the same locking system; barrels pivot on trunnions, a receiver-wide bolt in the bottom of the receiver moves forward upon closing โ where that bolt engages lugs milled into the bottom of the monobloc โ plus, there are dual recoil lugs milled into the bottom of the monobloc that nestle into matching recesses in the bottom of the receiver.
Also, the checkering is very well done and at an unprecedented 26-lines to the inch. The 32-inch barrels are not for everybody, but this Guerini weighs 7 pounds, 5 ounces. If it were an 8.5-pound 12 gauge, I donโt think Iโd like those long barrels, but I shoot this one well. Itโs an elegant-looking gun, too. Further, this Summit Sporting has been shot thousands and thousands of times โ with never a hiccup.
Perazzi MX8
This brings me to Perazzi, a favorite of many smoothbore aficionados, and a particular favorite of mine. Perazzi makes several models. Mine is the MX8. Lockup is similar to the Boss from England made decades and decades ago. Barrels pivot on trunnions, and two locking bolts move forward upon closing โ to engage two milled-out matching recesses in the monobloc. The MX8 and other Perazzi models have an unparalleled reputation for reliability, especially in trap circles. This one carries 28.5-inch barrels.
Beretta A400
Photo: Guns America
Bill Straub and Debbie Meade have accompanied me on my last three trips to both Jorge Molinaโs lodges in Bolivia. They bought and take along the Beretta A400 semi-auto in 28 gauge. Both these guns also have the Kick-Off recoil reduction system in the stock โ for virtually no recoil โ especially in their 28 gauges. Most all Beretta semi-auto shotguns are well-known for their reliability, as various Beretta semis are depended upon by some of todayโs top sporting clays shooters. These guys and gals shoot 12-gauge Beretta semis in competition โ but most all of them opt for the Kick-Off. Reliable Rental Guns
Beretta 390 and 391
Photo: Guns America
What about rental guns in these countries? As you might guess, Berettas are very popular. I donโt see many A400s yet, as that model is relatively new, but I do see plenty of Beretta semi-auto models โ 390s and 391s. If youโre accustomed to shooting one of these in the U.S., check with your outfitter before departure to see if you can reserve one for yourself. Gas-operated, these Berettas suck up recoil; plus, they handle extremely well.
Benelli M2 Field
Two years ago, Bolivian outfitter Jorge Molina purchased 50 Benelli M2 semi-autos. He knew from previous experience that Benellis certainly held up. The idea in buying 50 of all the same model was that it would be easier for his gun staff to work on; plus, theyโd be able to buy the same typical spare parts that break and have them on hand. This philosophy has worked well for both his lodges, and most of his clients rent โ and they like the M2 despite these guns not being gas-operated.
Ammo-wise, he carries both Rio and RC (made in Italy) shells โ the 12 gauges at 7/8 ounce (24 gram) and 1,350 fps, and he also has 20- and 28-gauge shells at the same 24 grams and same high velocity. Maybe the added velocity ensures reliable working of the semi-autos.
Molina still has his Beretta semis from previous years, though not a lot of them. They have been functional for maybe a decade. Do the math. Say these guns are fired 10,000 rounds a week from April through October. Thatโs seven months at say 28 weeks times 10,000 rounds. That means roughly 280,000 rounds every season. For 10 years! Which would you rather be shooting โ one of the rentals or your own?
This article originally appeared in the November 2017 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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