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Reduced Loads: When Less Is More

By
Jim House
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2

Building reduced loads can greatly expand the versatility of your favorite rifle.

Reduced Loads Tested:

There was a time when one rifle had to do it all for many shooters. The rifle that had to serve all purposes might have been a .30-06 Springfield, .30-30 Winchester or some other classic cartridge, but with it someone hunted many types of game that ranged from groundhogs to grizzly bears. The resident of a remote area might have wanted to do sustenance hunting and still have some meat after the bullet did its job. Asking one caliber to do it all was a tall order.

Reduced Load 5

Along the way, many small cartridges, such as the .22 Hornet, .222, .223 Rem., .22-250 Remington and .243 Winchester, were introduced for use on varmints and predators. Cartridges such as the .300 Winchester, 7mm Remington and .338 Winchester magnums were developed for use on really big game. Options are good, but you don’t necessarily have to buy another rifle to have those options.

Factory loads for centerfire rifles have become much more numerous over the years, and today’s offerings are even more effective than a half-century ago. In those days, the Winchester SilverTip and Remington Core-Lokt were two of the standbys. Today, we have bonded bullets, partitions such as those from Nosler and Swift, and many other types. Various bullet types are one way to diversify the offerings of a single rifle.

But what about ammunition for use on smaller species and pests? What about using that big-game rifle to teach a youngster how to handle such ordnance to get ready for that first hunt? Full-power loads are overkill for such uses, but there’s an answer: reduced loads.

By careful loading, the .223 Remington (left) can duplicate the performance of the .22 Hornet, .22 WMR or .22 LR.
By careful loading, the .223 Remington can duplicate the performance of the .22 Hornet, .22 WMR or .22 LR.

Several manufacturers have introduced loads of lower power and recoil in such cartridges as .30-30 Win., .30-06, .270 Win., .308 Win., 7mm Magnum and others, but they are still of sufficient power that they are suitable for hunting species as large as deer. The focus here is on light loads as distinguished from those that still generate about half to two-thirds the power of full-power versions.

The Science Of ‘Smaller’

Making reduced loads is not as simple as just using a smaller quantity of the same powder used in making full-power loads. That situation is reported to sometimes result in a phenomenon known as “detonation,” which can lead to at least destruction of the firearm — or worse. Detonation is considered to be a possibility when smaller than normal charges of relatively slow-burning powders are used in cases that have large volumes for the bore diameter. So, one should never try to produce reduced loads by simply using a small quantity of a usual propellant employed for full-power loads — and that means a different strategy is called for.

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If you consult loading manuals from the first half of the 20th century, you will see that most of them list loading data for developing loads that give bullet velocities about half those of full-power loads. The general pattern was to pair a bullet that’s relatively light for the caliber and a rather small charge of a powder having a relatively fast burning rate.

The undisputed classic reference is that by Philip B. Sharpe, The Complete Guide To Handloading, 3rd Ed. (Funk & Wagnalls Company, New York, 1953). The subtitle to that classic is, “A Treatise on Handloading for Pleasure, Economy, and Utility” — and to that could be added “versatility.” In that book, Sharpe described his use of a .30-06 Springfield rifle with a bullet intended for use in a .32-20 loaded to a velocity of approximately 1,800-2,000 fps as an effective varmint load.

Two powders that are widely used for reduced loads are IMR 4759 and Alliant 2400.
Two powders that are widely used for reduced loads are IMR 4759 and Alliant 2400.

Assembling reduced loads can cause disaster for the careless reloader. The powder charges are small enough that it’s possible to get two or even three charges in the large case of a centerfire rifle cartridge. The powders used normally have burning rates that make them suitable for use in handgun ammunition — perhaps that’s the reason most modern loading manuals list few or no reduced loads.

Searching the internet will bring up a lot of correspondence that generate a lot of heat … but little light. There are those who claim that they have witnessed such loads blowing up rifles with regularity, but during the past century or more, an enormous number of such loads have been fired without incident. After all, in many cases such loads duplicate those that make use of cast bullets, and shooting such loads has been a noble passion for a very long time. I suspect that in instances where something unwanted happens, the loader became careless.

Proceed With Caution

Preparing reduced loads demands a high level of prudence and caution. I use the same procedure as that employed in preparing full-power loads. I start with the empty cases inverted in the loading block. After the powder charge is weighed, it’s placed in the case and immediately I place a bullet in the mouth of the case. Following that procedure for every cartridge makes getting two charges in a case impossible. I never engage in the folly of having a bunch of cases containing powder charges with the mouths open in a loading block.

Perhaps the most versatile propellant for preparing reduced loads is Accurate 5744, which was designed for that purpose.
Perhaps the most versatile propellant for preparing reduced loads is Accurate 5744, which was designed for that purpose.

Space here does not permit giving details of results obtained with reduced loads in numerous cartridges, so I will deal with only some experiments with .30-06 Springfield, .308 Winchester, .30-30 Winchester and .223 Remington.

Although Alliant (formerly Hercules) 2400 has long been a favorite powder for preparing reduced loads, probably the best choice today is Accurate 5744, which is a low-density propellant that occupies a larger volume in the case. IMR 4227 and 4759 are also favorites, and in recent years Hodgdon’s Trail Boss has also become popular. Although intended for normal loads in small cases, such as the .222 Remington, IMR 4198 is a versatile powder for producing reduced loads in larger cases.

.30-06 Springfield

One of my early experiments was to try to duplicate the .30-06 load described in Sharpe’s book on p. 262: “Years ago, when the author was a ‘one-gun’ handloader, his favorite chuck and crow load in the .30/06 was a Winchester .32/20 soft-point 115-grain bullet loaded to about 1700 f/s.” For that load, Sharpe used a powder that’s long been out of production. Searching the tables in Sharpe’s book showed that a charge of approximately 20-22 grains of Alliant 2400 should be appropriate when used with the 110-grain Speer flat hollow-point bullet. When fired across my chronograph placed 10 feet from the muzzle, the indicated velocity was 2,108 fps, and at 50 yards a five-shot group measuring 0.96-inch was obtained.

Excellent bullets for use in 30-caliber reduced loads are (left to right): 90-grain Hornady XTP, 100-grain Hornady short jacket, 110-grain Speer FPHP, 110-grain Hornady spritzer and 110-grain Speer round-nose.
Excellent bullets for use in 30-caliber reduced loads are (left to right): 90-grain Hornady XTP, 100-grain Hornady short jacket, 110-grain Speer FPHP, 110-grain Hornady spritzer and 110-grain Speer round-nose.

Using the same powder charge with the 110-grain Speer round-nose bullet gave a velocity of 2,154 fps, a value that differs only 6 fps from that listed in Sharpe’s book published about 65 years ago. Sharpe used a rifle having a 24-inch barrel, whereas my Remington 700 has a 22-inch barrel, and different components were used. Would such loads work well on called in coyotes? Absolutely.

My next load for the .30-06 consisted of the 110-grain Speer round-nose bullet propelled by a charge of 24.0 grains of IMR SR 4759 using the same cases and primers as before. This load gave an average velocity of 2,121 fps with a standard deviation of 21 fps. Five of those bullets resulted in a five-shot group at 50 yards measured 0.71-inch, which is sufficiently accurate for a varmint load to be used at ranges up to 100-125 yards or so.

.308 Winchester

In the .308 Winchester, I’ve had excellent results using a 110-grain Speer round-nose bullet and a charge of 17.5 grains of Alliant 2400. From my Winchester Model 70 Featherweight, the average velocity is 1,739 fps and groups average an inch or less at 50 yards. I can live with that.

Reduced loads using all of the lightweight bullets performed well in the .308 Winchester.
Reduced loads using all of the lightweight bullets performed well in the .308 Winchester.

.30-30 Winchester

The .30-30 Winchester has been popular for use with reduced loads for over a century. The case has moderate capacity, and the case being rimmed prevents it from being forced forward into the chamber, which can result in cases being shortened when firing loads that do not develop high pressure. My most extensive experience with reduced loads has been with the .30-30 for several reasons, one of which is that it’s usually used at short to moderate ranges — and reduced loads perform well in that setting.

Both Hornady and Speer produce 100-grain bullets in .308-inch diameter that feature short jackets and a lot of exposed lead. These bullets are appropriate for use in reduced loads, and I’ve shot a lot of them through my .30-30 rifles. In one test, I used such a bullet with 16.0 grains of Alliant 2400, which produced a measured velocity of 1,861 fps with a five-shot group measuring less than 1 inch at 50 yards.

Measuring under an inch, the group was produced by the author’s .308 Winchester Model 70 and indicates that the combination would be effective on varmints.
Measuring under an inch,
the group was produced by the author’s .308 Winchester Model 70 and indicates that the combination would be effective on varmints.

.223 Remington

Although I have used many reduced loads in the .223 Remington, my favorite consists of the 40-grain Hornady V-Max propelled by a charge of 16.0 grains of IMR 4198. That load gives a velocity of 2,363 fps in my Savage Axis and has produced groups as small as 0.58-inch at 100 yards.

If you have a favorite centerfire rifle but don’t have many opportunities to use it — or if you would simply like to experiment — reduced loads may be the answer. The subtitle, “A Treatise on Handloading for Pleasure, Economy, and Utility,” to Phil Sharpe’s book gives you all the reason you need to engage in this fascinating hobby.

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

Mossberg 500 Retrograde Models Have Throwback Appeal

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

Mossberg 500 Retrograde additions have plenty of old-school intimidation.

What The Mossberg 500 Retrograde Models offer:

  • Walnut stock
  • Cylinder bore
  • 12 gauge, 3-inch chamber
  • 590A1 has 20-inch barrel
  • 18.5 has 18.5-inch barrel
  • 14.5 length of pull

Introduced in 1960, the Mossberg 500 has become one of the most prolific firearms ever produced. At this point, more than 12 million have rolled off the assembly line and there’s little reason why another 12 million won’t follow suit in the impending decades. With that in mind, it’s no wonder Mossberg picked the line to spotlighted the company’s upcoming 100th Anniversary.

Mossberg Retro 1

Featuring the same battle-tough design as the rest of the series with a throwback look, the recently introduced the 500 Persuader Retrograde and 590A1 Retrograde are eye-catchers. Essentially the tactical models of the shotguns, the guns have traded up their synthetic stocks for sticks of walnut with some solid results. The guns definitely have an air of old-school intimidation about them that any smoothbore fan is sure to love.

More from the company:

NORTH HAVEN, CT – O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., a leading American firearms manufacturer, is announcing the introduction of the Retrograde Series of pump-action shotguns; the 500 Persuader Retrograde and 590A1 Retrograde. Designed to commemorate Mossberg’s 100th anniversary in 2019, the Retrograde Series features the two most iconic police and military pump-action shotguns, built to today’s standards, but with the retro look and feel of a walnut stock and matching corncob forend.

After over 50 years in production, over 12 million sold and the only pump-action shotgun to pass the U.S. military’s MIL-SPEC tests, the Mossberg 500 platform has proven to be one of the most versatile and reliable shotgun designs available. Both the 500 Persuader Retrograde and 590A1 Retrograde are designed for smooth, dependable operation with the combination of non-binding twin action bars; dual extractors; a positive steel-to-steel lock-up; anti-jam elevator; anodized aluminum receiver for added durability; and universally-recognized, ambidextrous top-mounted safety.

Mossberg 500 Persuader Retrograde (50429) – Available with an 18.5-inch (6-Shot) cylinder bore barrel; topped with single front brass bead sight; blued metal finish; and full-length walnut stock and corncob forend. MSRP: $504

Mossberg 590A1 Retrograde (51665) – Built to MIL-SPEC standards, this 9-Shot 590A1 has a 20-inch heavy-walled, cylinder bore barrel complete with a heat shield, bayonet lug and Ghost Ring sights. This retro model also has a Parkerized finish; metal trigger assembly; metal safety button; and wears a full-length walnut stock and corncob forend. MSRP: $902

Mossberg Retro

For more information on the 500 Retrograde models, please visit: www.mossberg.com.

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Video: Getting A Grip On Big-Bore Revolvers

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

Want to master the hand cannon? You’ve got to dial in your grip.

A fledgling skill, a proper and solid grip is among the most important fundamental skills in handgun shooting. Ignore it and you’re likely to find your overall accuracy subpar and follow-up shots next to impossible. Key as it is with the most common handgun calibers — 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP — its significance increases a couple magnitudes when you step up to big-bore revolvers. Makes sense, they’re beasts.

More Big-Bore Revolver Information:

  • The Exceedingly Powerful .454 Casull
  • .500 JRH — The Workhorse Half-Incher
  • The Elegant Power Of The Ruger Blackhawk Bisley .45 Colt
  • Redhawk vs. Super Redhawk: Which Is Ruger’s Best .44 Magnum?

Recoil is the most obvious aspect a proper grip helps negate when shooting these excessively powerful handguns, but it’s not the only thing it manages. Inherently heavy, due to the extra material in the frame and cylinder, there is also a matter of keeping the revolvers on target. Given this class of handgun is generally utilized for hunting, up to and including dangerous game, making sure those massive bullets impact where they’re supposed to is imperative. A good grip ensures you’ll keep it hitting the bullseye one trigger pull to the next.

From Max Prasac’s experience with nearly every hand cannon conceived, he’s found grip tension — plenty of it — does a pretty solid job at putting a round where it needs to go again and again. For the big-bore guru, it’s a matter of consistency, with a stout grip maintaining a dependable point of impact, no matter if he’s shooting off a bench or offhand. Though, as he freely admits, his is far from the only way to skin a cat with some shooters allowing their guns to ride and fly.

Prasac, however, does opt for a somewhat unorthodox overall grip, locking the thumb of his support hand behind his strong hand. Funny as it may appear, this is an insurance policy. Locking in his grip, he doesn’t have to worry about recoil putting the gun somewhere it shouldn’t be — such as his kisser.

Video: The Borchardt C93 Pistol

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

The first commercially successful semi-automatic pistol, the Borchardt C93 helped shape the modern handgun world.

Commonplace now, it’s easy to take for granted the performance we get out of semi-automatic pistols. High rate of fire, inherent accuracy and fast reloads, it doesn’t matter the make and model, we expect these advantages nowadays. But how did these assets come about? What was their origin? For the most part, semi-autos — no matter their caliber or operation — trace their root to a rather odd gun that today is somewhat forgotten outside collectors circles — the Borchardt C93.

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Designed by German Hugo Borchardt in 1893, the C93 is considered the first successful commercial semi-automatic pistol. Though the term ‘successful’ is somewhat relative. The Borchardt had a modest production run, with only around 3,000 built from 1893 to 1902. Not overly impressive. On the other hand, what it brought to the table, particularly for its time and compared to its predecessors was extraordinary. The short-recoil operated toggle-lock pistol actually worked shot in and out, more than could be said of the blowback and delayed blowback military prototypes that predated it.

The pistol fired 7.65x25mm Borchardt, which has the distinction of being among the first successful rimless cartridges. While the ammunition is a relic now, what it went into is commonplace among all modern pistols and perhaps is the greatest contribution of Borchardt’s design. The gun utilized an 8-round box magazine that fit into the grip. As anyone who’s pulled the trigger on a pistol knows, this is a nearly universal configuration now and a darn handy one to boot. 

It’s toggle-lock acton lived on for a while, long enough to spur one of the most historic guns of the 20th Century — the Luger P08. The famous gun was actually Georg Luger’s improvement on Borchardt’s design, removing the main flaw of the older gun — the bulbous extension on its rear. This rather unwieldy protrusion housed the mainspring and was generally frowned upon by the militaries that tested the C93. However, it did feature a lug, which a stock could be attached making it a carbine.

By today’s standards, the Borchardt C93 seems antiquated to the point of a flintlock. But the innovations the pistol ushered in are still with us in even the most modern cutting-edge pistols.

Ammo Brief: The .280 Ackley Improved

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

Ackley

Designed by the legendary P.O. Ackley, the wildcat .280 Ackley Improved has been a mainstay for handloaders for more than half a century.

Where the .280 Ackley Improved differs from the .280 Rem.:

  • Wildcat created by the legendary P.O. Ackley.
  • Shoulder is set at 40-degrees.
  • All things equal, improves on the .280 Rem. by 100 fps.
  • Originally cases were fire-formed by shooing a .280 Rem. out of an Ackley chamber.
  • Factory loaded, starting with Nosler, in 2007.

In addition to being a famous gunsmith, barrel maker and college professor, P.O. Ackley absolutely ruled the roost when it came to creating wildcat and improved cartridges. One of his earliest was the 7mm-06 Improved, which was formed by necking down the .30-06 case and fire-forming it to less body taper and a 40-degree shoulder angle. Years later, and not long after the .280 Remington was introduced, reloading equipment maker Fred Huntington reformed its case to the Improved configuration with minimum body taper and a 35-degree shoulder angle and called it the .280 RCBS.

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Since cases for Huntington’s cartridge could be formed by firing .280 Remington ammo in a rifle chambered for it, Ackley abandoned his 7mm-06 Improved and started chambering rifles for the .280 RCBS. But rather than staying with its 35-degree shoulder angle, he changed it to 40 degrees. And so was born a cartridge we know today as the .280 Ackley Improved.

After close to a half-century of being something only handloaders could love, the .280 Ackley Improved became a factory number, when Nosler registered it with SAAMI, started loading the ammunition and began chambering rifles for it in 2007. The Ackley version is a fine old cartridge and, when loaded with the right bullet, is big enough medicine for game up to elk and moose.

Even so, the .280 Ackley Improved is not as fast as the 7mm Remington Magnum, as a few of that cartridge’s avid supporters would have us believe. All things, including barrel length and the chamber pressure to which the two are loaded being equal, the .280 Ackley Improved is about 100 fps faster with all bullet weights than the standard .280 Remington. Cases are easily formed by firing .280 Remington factory ammo in a rifle properly chambered for the .280 Ackley Improved.

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

Modern Shooter: Dave Miller’s Trick Shots

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

Watch world record-holder Dave Miller launch paint cans and other trick shots on the next Modern Shooter.

When it comes to breaking clays, few know more than Dave Miller. The Guinness World Record holder for the most clays broken in an hour, the man is an absolute machine with a shotgun in his hand. That sort of skill, it’s obvious Miller can do more than simply break blue rock. Pheasant roosters have no more determined foe, and neither do paint cans. You heard that right … paint cans.

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Known to flaunt what he’s got upon occasion, Miller treated the Modern Shooter crew to a few of his more unorthodox shooting skills. This included not only sending paint cans sky high and suspending them for 10 rounds, but also breaking clays with his gun above his head and some downright steely shooting from the hip. Honed from hours behind the business end of a shotgun, Miller makes it all look as simple as pulling the trigger.

It goes without saying, this was a closed range and inadvisable to try on your own. First off, because your local trap range will kick you off, but more importantly, because it’s dangerous. Just let Miller take care of the trick shots and check out what else he has in store on the next Modern Shooter, 10 p.m. ET tonight on the Pursuit Channel.

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

Mauser’s Money-Wise M18 Bolt-Action

By
Philip Massaro
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0

The Mauser M18 gives every shooter the chance to own one of the iconic German gunmaker’s rifles.

How the M18 stack up against other bolt-actions:

  • Three-lug, push-feed bolt design.
  • Dual plunger ejectors.
  • 60-degree bolt throw.
  • Three-position safety.
  • Drilled and tapped for scope.
  • Five-round polymer magazine.
  • Black polymer stock.
  • Soft-grip inlay on grip.
  • 1-inch thick rubber recoil pad.
  • Trigger adjustable from 2 to 4 pounds.
  • 22- and 24-inch cold-hammer-forged steel barrels.

If you enjoy shooting a bolt-action rifle, you owe a debt of gratitude to Paul Mauser. Even if all his other designs were removed from the equation, the Gewehr 98 has had enough of an impact on the shooting world to cement the Mauser name in the history books. So many designs have been based on the still-viable Model 98 Mauser, and the rifle is still in production to this day.

Mauser 7

Mauser rifles are still in production — including the timeless 98 — and have continued to evolve; the Mauser M12 is a wonderful hunting rifle, and the company listens to the shooting market, offering rifles at many different price points. The latest is the Mauser M18, the most affordable of the Mauser line.

Introduced at the 2018 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, the M18 is Mauser’s affordable rifle and — in the traditions of the Mauser line — is utterly reliable. The M18 is a sensible, rugged design, which will serve well in a number of hunting and shooting conditions; it’s a handy, fast-cycling bolt-action rifle, made to follow you on adventures. It’s not the classic Model 98 Mauser, nor is it intended to be — the M18 is responsible for its own destiny, and will stand on its own merits.

The M18 is — very fortunately — a means of putting a Mauser rifle in the hands of the common hunter, without breaking the bank account or generating that vocal frequency attainable only by a spouse who does not approve of a new firearm purchase.

Simple, Elegant Features

Starting with the M18’s round, steel receiver, it uses a three-lug, push-feed bolt design. The lugs are of the same diameter as the bolt body, with a recess cut into the body just behind those lugs. Maintaining the same body/lug diameter eliminates much of the chatter and wobble associated with the M98 and its clones. In fact, operating the bolt of the M18 is refreshingly smooth in comparison to many other new designs on the market today.

The Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40 – in Talley rings and bases – complemented the M18 very well.
The Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10×40 – in Talley rings and bases – complemented the M18 very well.

The bolt face uses the space of one of the lugs for an extractor, and it’s equipped with dual plunger ejectors, which will certainly throw brass. An ample bolt knob compliments the entire affair, and it makes running the bolt very easy, especially when going for a quick follow-up shot — I found that a firm grip with the index finger and thumb felt the most natural.

The M18 bolt has a short, 60-degree throw, and — what I find to be one of the nicest features — the bolt handle only rises to level when fully upward. This allows the shooter to mount any optic, as low to the bore as is possible, without any hindrance from the angle of the bolt handle. The M18 is a cock-on-opening design, though you wouldn’t know it considering how little effort it takes to lift the bolt, with a handy little red cocking indicator at the rear of the bolt.

The ejection port is approximately 90 degrees, creating plenty of room for the cartridges or spent brass to cleanly exit the receiver. A three-position safety is located on the rear right side of the receiver, operated front-to-back in a similar manner to the Remington Model 700 safety. There is a red dot on the forward (fire) position, and two white dots on the rearward positions, indicating the middle, which blocks the sear and allows the bolt to operate for the safe unloading of the firearm, and the fully rearward position, blocking both the bolt and the sear.

A spring-loaded tab on the left rear side of the receiver can be depressed in order to remove the bolt. The M18 comes drilled and tapped for scope mounts, and any mounts that fit a Remington Model 700 receiver will fit perfectly on the M18.

The three-lug bolt of the Mauser M18, with dual plunger ejectors.
The three-lug bolt of the Mauser M18, with dual plunger ejectors.

The M18 has a detachable, five-shot polymer magazine, which is released via a button located just toward the muzzle, set in a recessed housing so that the button is flush with the stock. This button is rather sensitive, and I can see where, during the normal activities of a hunt, this button could be accidently depressed, releasing the magazine at a most inopportune time. This magazine-release button is the only gripe I have with the Mauser M18 and is probably indicative of my personal dislike of detachable magazines all-together on hunting rifles; all too often they will release at the worst time, and I’m way too familiar with Mr. Murphy and his Law.

Mauser Goes Poly

The M18’s stock is a simple design, yet effective. It is a smooth black polymer, with soft-grip inlay areas on the pistol grip and the underside of the forend. The comb is straight, and of the proper height for using a riflescope. There is a gentle palm swell on the pistol grip, affording a natural, comfortable grip with the trigger hand. There is no floorplate, as the magazine well is molded polymer integral with the stock, as is the trigger guard.

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At the butt, a 1-inch thick pliable rubber recoil pad takes any sting out of the shot; it’s comfortable on the shoulder and its traction definitely aids in keeping the rifle where you want it when the shot presents itself. Mauser has provided sling studs at the rear and on the forend.

They’ve also added a neat little feature at the rear of the stock: The recoil pad can be easily removed via two retention tabs (adorned with the Mauser logo) at the base of the stock. You may choose to store a few small items in the base of the stock, or customize the length of pull for your rifle. The M18 I tested was equipped with a length of pull of 14 inches even. Like many European rifles, a longer length of pull is employed (for reasons few can actually explain to me), but it fit me very well, both with a hunting coat on and with just a shirt.

The Mauser embossed grip cap and soft-touch pistol grip.
The Mauser embossed grip cap and soft-touch pistol grip.

A trigger can easily make or break a rifle, and I’m happy to report that the M18 has a good one. It’s user adjustable from 2 to 4 pounds, and my test rifle came from the factory with the trigger set at 2 pounds, 4 ounces — according to my favorite little Lyman digital trigger scale — with almost no creep and the slightest hint of overtravel. Personally, as a hunting rifle, I wouldn’t touch the trigger, as it feels just right as it came from the factory, but it’s nice to know you can adjust it if you feel the need.

My test rifle was chambered for the .308 Winchester — the M18 is currently chambered in .308 Win. and .30-06 Springfield, but additional cartridges, such as the .243 Win., .270 Win., 7mm Rem. Mag. and .300 Win. Mag are in the works.

A 22-inch cold-hammer-forged steel barrel is used for the .308 Winchester, a perfect length to utilize the powder column of the short cartridge, and maintain a proper balance for the rifle. The barrel is blued, and finished with a series of fine grooves, along the lines of the grooves once found in a music record (I may be dating myself here), that you can barely feel with your fingernail. Mauser uses a medium contour barrel — I measured 0.661 inch at the muzzle — with a crown that is slightly concave. The barrel is clean, with no iron sights, as the Mauser M18 is designed for use with a riflescope.

To The Range!

Mauser advertises their M18 with a five-shot, 1-MOA guarantee, and I was determined to test that claim. I set the M18 up with a set of Talley bases and fixed rings — what I consider to be among the highest quality available — and a Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm riflescope. That Leupold is as American as the Mauser is German, and this particular scope makes a great choice as the magnification range will truly cover all the bases (at sane hunting ranges), and the 1-inch tube keeps the scope’s weight down so as not to ruin the balance of the rifle.

The M18 in action at the range. Recoil was minimal, and the rifle was plenty accurate, living up to the 1-MOA guarantee.
The M18 in action at the range. Recoil was minimal, and the rifle was plenty accurate, living up to the 1-MOA guarantee.

As I’ve seen so many times while mounting a scope in Talley rings and bases, putting the scope on the bore-sighter required very little adjustment. It seems that Talley’s tolerances are so spot-on that the scope is naturally centered. No lapping or fooling about here — Talley rings just plain work.

I grabbed a selection of .308 Winchester ammunition — including both hunting and target ammo — and headed off to the backyard range to see if the Mauser M18 would stand up to the 1-MOA claim.

It did not disappoint.

Hornady’s A-Max load gave even MOA groups at 100 yards, making for a perfect choice for those who enjoy using their hunting rifle for the occasional target work. It fed perfectly from the magazine, with no issues at all. My test rifle really liked the new Federal Edge TLR hunting load. At 175 grains, it clocked in at 2,610 fps on the Oehler 35P, and I put five shots into a 0.95-inch group. Combine this level of accuracy with the terminal performance of the Edge TLR, and you’ve got a solid choice for nearly all North American and most African game. The mild recoil of the .308 Win. allows almost any shooter to place his or her shots accurately, and while the muzzle velocity may be tame in comparison to the .300 magnums, few game animals will ever live to declare the difference.

Mauser has included a removable butt pad, complete with storage compartment.
Mauser has included a removable butt pad, complete with storage compartment.

The Norma Eco-Strike ammunition broke the MOA deal, with a five-shot group measuring 1.25 inches, but trust me, I wouldn’t hesitate to take this combination hunting for any game that the 150-grian lead-free bullet would be suited for. I’ve used this ammunition in several calibers on hunts in Europe and here in the States, and I can confidently attest to the terminal performance of the bullet design. It works very well on deer as well as wild boar, and with a muzzle velocity of 2,820 fps, it would make a solid choice for antelope and mule deer in the more open country.

While this is just a sampling of the potential of this rifle — I remember shooting a very tight group with the Hornady ELD-X ammo at the SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range — I think you can get a feel for the possibilities of the well-proven .308 Win. cartridge in the Mauser design. All the ammunition fed perfectly from the M18’s magazine, and the ejection port design, coupled with the dual plunger ejectors, threw brass as far as any rifle I’ve shot.

In Conclusion

Mauser calls the M18 the “People’s Rifle,” and I feel that it holds up to that name very well. For the MSRP of $699, you get a lot of rifle; never before has it been possible to own a Mauser rifle at this price point. If you want a ton of custom features in your rifle, or beautiful walnut, perhaps the Mauser M18 is not for you. If you want a no-nonsense rifle that will match your skills as a shooter and hunter, you’ll find that the Mauser M18 is well worth the price.

M18 Specs:
Caliber: .308, .30-06, .243 Win., .270 Win., 7 mm Rem. Mag., .300 Win. Mag.
Barrel length: 22 inches for Standardcaliber/24 inces for Magnum caliber
Overall length: 4.7 inchesfor Standard caliber/44 inches for Magnum caliber
Weight: 6.4 pounds for Standard caliber / 6.6 pounds for Magnum caliber
Magazine Capacity: 5+1
Surface: Black burnished
Stock: Polymer 2-Componend with Soft grip in lays

Pistol-Caliber Rifles: Does The .357 Magnum Reign Supreme?

By
Elwood Shelton
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Powerful, shootable and, above all, versatile, in pistol-caliber long guns it’s tough to top the .357 Magnum.

Why the .357 Mag. outdoes other pistol calibers in a long gun:

Pistol-caliber carbines and rifles generally get a bad rap. “Sure,” sing the naysayers, “they’re fun for plinking, but what else are they good for?” Generally, this sentiment bubbles to the surface because these doubtful souls target intensify on one particular class of pistol-caliber long guns — semi-automatics. If they happened to step-up to a revolver magnum, say in a lever-action, many of their complaints might very well evaporate.

Henry-Rifle-Big-Boy

Far from putting a moped engine in a half-ton truck, revolver magnums more than hold their own coming out of a rifle or carbine. Gaining substantial velocity and reducing recoil, the powerful cartridges becomes almost a different creature with added inches of bore. Admittedly, you won’t curl up on a rocky ridge and drop a round in on a crow’s eye from 1,000-yards out with a Henry Big Boy or Winchester Model 1873. But most sober shooters don’t expect this sort of performance out of this class of rifle; just like they wouldn’t anticipate coming out on the winning end swatting coastal brown bears with a .22 LR.

The understanding is you get a rifle born to raise hell from around 100-yards in. One that shoots fast, hits hard and is dancer nimble. For most, with an honest appraisal of their practical shooting, such a gun would potentially handle 90-percent of the situations they routinely face.

Presently, there is a fair selection of revolver magnum long-guns, generally found in the most popular of the calibers — .327 Magnum, .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum and, while not a magnum, .45 Colt. But, if you were going to jump into this end of the firearms world, what would be the best chambering?

357-Mag-6

Depending on what you look to get out of the long gun any of them are potentially solid choices. But for an all-around performer, it’s difficult to beat a .357 rifle. Delivering everything you’d want from a pistol-caliber long gun, the granddaddy magnum covers nearly all the bases and even a bit more.

Shootability

All magnums are tamed considerably out of a rifle or carbine compared to a handgun, but the .357 Magnum is among the most pleasant to shoot. Out of 6-pound Marlin 1894 or 8-pound Henry Big Boy, recoil is a mere suggestion of what it is out of a 6-inch barreled revolver. This feature alone makes the caliber available to more shooters, some who perhaps shied away due to the wrist-snap inherent in any magnum cartridge.

More .357 Magnum:

Furthermore, the mild nature of a .357 rifle opens the doors to some truly wicked loads. Most wouldn’t get too fired up about pitching Buffalo Bore’s .357 Magnum Heavy Outdoorsman, a load that throws 180-grains of hard-cast lead at around 1,400 fps, from a revolver. Conversely, out of a long-gun such a round is barely a second thought, even for young shooters and the most recoil sensitive.

Performance

As even novice shooters are typically aware, more barrel means more velocity. But when it comes to extra bore, of all the revolver cartridges the .357 Magnum responds best. An example is in order.

Marlin-1873

Using data from BallisticsByTheInch.com, out of a 16-inch rifle the .357’s velocity jumps on average around 500 fps at the muzzle compared to out of a 4-inch revolver. Furthermore, with the right load the magnum can easily break the 2,000-fps mark. For a pistol cartridge that’s moving.

This isn’t to say the .44 Magnum and the .45 Colt don’t perform well out of a carbine or rifle. They do, just less dramatically. On average, the .44 and .45 enjoy a modest 300 to 350 fps increases moving up from 4- to 16-inch barrel. And in the case of the .44 Magnum, there’s a lot more recoil involved to get to those higher ends.

Economy

This is somewhat negligible when talking magnum to magnum. Certainly, the .357 generally comes in cheaper than the .44 Magnum, but not at an earthshaking margin. A quick, unscientific survey of Midway USA’s offerings puts the difference at around .20 cents a round — a little more or less depending on the brand. Yet, a .357 rifle has a price advantage over the other cartridges when you consider its parent — the .38 Special. You heard right, similar to almost all magnums you get a twofer with the .357 rifle, which is compatible with the .38.

The magnum’s parent cartridge isn’t 9mm cheap, but it tries its hardest to flirt in that direction. Shop well and each trigger pull with .38 Special will run you less than .40 cents. Furthermore, there’s a lot of ammo to choose from below this mark, not just one or two. This isn’t the case for the .44 Magnum’s parent, the .44 Special. It runs closer to .357 prices. You aren’t going to get magnum performance out of most .38 Special ammo. But plinking tin cans or punching paper, you probably won’t care.

Availability

357-cartridges
The .357 Magnum is simple a .38 Special cartridge that has been lengthened by 1/8 of an inch.

Even with the deluge of semi-automatic pistols in recent decades, the .357 Magnum (and .38 Special) remain among the most shot handgun calibers. A fact of which ammo makers are conscious. A testament to this, every major ammunition brand — along with most minor — load the cartridges.

Good news, given you can walk into almost any retailer that sells ammunition and find a box of .357 Magnum or .38 Special. Furthermore, the ammunition selection is excellent and diverse, particularly bullet styles. Given revolvers more utility stature nowadays, you can load a rifle up with everything from old-time semi-wadcutter target loads, wicked defensive ammunition and even tailor-made hunting options. Additionally, .357 and .38 are a bit more drought-proof compared to other cartridges, though not entirely. When there’s a true buying frenzy, they’ll get sucked up as well.

Finally, if you are a reloader both the .357 and .38 are among the most forgiving and simplest fodder for your press. Between two of the top bullet makers — Hornady and Speer — there are over 20 bullet options. More than enough to keep you busy.

Raise Your Lever-Action IQ:

Versatility

As just mentioned, one of the grand aspects of the .357 Magnum — tack on .38 Special for safe measure — is ammunition diversity. Between the two cartridges, there is a load and bullet for all occasions — from shoot-all-day target rounds to blister-hot hunting ammo. A spectrum that wide, a .357 rifle is suited for almost any duty you can cook up, short of long-range tasks.

Buffalo Bore 357

Hunting wise, in the right hands and with the right load, the .357 Magnum will hammer everything up to deer and black bear. With that same gun you can also sling mild .38 all afternoon without once dreading the next trigger pull. This versatility is a rare quality in a rifle.

Utility

Outside of fun gun or throwback shooter, .357 rifles are mainly called into hunting duty. Good reason too, they more than do the job.

As mentioned, it’s not appropriate on all game. An ethical hunter wouldn’t set their sights on anything larger than the aforesaid deer or black bear. And it’s not appropriate for long-range attempts, the magnum is a medium- to close-range specialist.

There are hunters that make kills flirting with 200 yards, doable with the appropriate round and a firm understanding of its ballistics, but overall inadvisable. It takes intimate knowledge of the .357 Magnum to make such a shot, given most rounds will drop more than a foot at 200 yards and get bullied by the wind. Close in it’s a much safer bet, where the rifle is pure dynamite.

Henry All Weather

At the same tick, a .357 rifle isn’t pigeonholed as purely a hunter. It’s nimbleness and speed — at least the level-actions — make it an ideal truck gun or defensive firearm in a pinch. And if you have an eye toward prepping for the worse, the rifle gives you the flexibility to feed it and a handgun from the same trough. Nothing to scoff at when flexibility is key.

Parting Shot

Admittedly, the .357 rifle isn’t a do-all long gun, but comes pretty close. The nearly 100-year old cartridge still has the stuff to dazzle even in an era of hand-cannon options.

At the same tick, even the greenest shooter can master the .357 Magnum — particularly out of a long-gun. For a young hunter, it makes an excellent choice for a first rifle and there are few other options as forgiving on the recoil shy. But don’t think it’s strictly for novices and the sensitive. Well-seasoned marksmen can and will find a load of uses for this time-tested cartridge enhance with extra bore.

Those who shoot it know, there’s a lot to love about the .357 Magnum and more of it to love when shot through a rifle.

More on the Legendary .357 Magnum

Video: The Exceedingly Powerful .454 Casull

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

Generating wicked recoil, the .454 Casull nonetheless remains popular with big-bore shooters given its red-line power.

A wise man once said, “There’s no free lunch.” In short, it doesn’t matter the situation, there’s always a price to pay. This not only holds true in the world of money but also firearms. In the case of the .454 Casull, the toll is recoil.

Despite its recent popularity, the cartridge generates so much recoil it’s generally considered unmanageable in all but the most dedicated big-bore shooter’s hands. By some estimates, it generates around 75-percent more recoil than the .44 Magnum, which is saying a lot. When the .44 was introduced in 1955 average shooters flocked to it and, equally as quick, they scuttled away after pulling the trigger and unleashing the angry mule. The .454 is a whole bunch more mule.

More Gun Digest Videos:

  • The Elegant Power Of The Ruger Blackhawk Bisley .45 Colt
  • Development Of The Lever-Action Rifle
  • The Ingenious Pedersen Device
  • Properly Using A Defensive AR-15 From Cover

Given this, why in the name of the sane would anyone want to drop the hammer on exceedingly powerful .45? Simple, you harness the power to take down any game that walks the earth — coastal brown bears, Cape buffalo, and even elephants have fallen to the Casull. That, for many, is more than worth the price of entry — which is learning to handle hot fury, then place a follow-up shot accurately with it.

Unveiled three short years after the .44 Magnum, the .454 Casull is the brainchild of Dick Casull and Jeff Fullmer. While it was a mid-century invention, it took until 1983 before the first commercial revolver was chambered for it — the Freedom Arms Model 83.

Essentially a .45 Colt lengthened around 1/10 of an inch, the .454 Casull is fully capable of kicking out a 300-grain bullet at 1,600 fps. Though the cartridge is not simply a lengthier Colt. Operating at pressures that would devastate the cartridge it’s based on (60,000 psi plus), the .454 Casull endures due to reinforced case head and walls.

Surpassed today in power, the Casull nevertheless is among the most brawny cartridges available. And despite the price it wrests — generally out a shooter’s wrists — it remains among the most popular big-bore cartridges.

Gun Review: Proof Research Switch-Barrel

By
Richard A. Mann
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0

Proof Research’s versatile new switch-barrel rifle is a lethal combination of adaptability and accuracy.

How Proof Research’s Switch tops other switch-barrel rifles:

  • Switches between cartridges with different case rim sizes.
  • Floating bolt head removable without tools.
  • Locking lugs make full contact when bolt is closed.
  • Barrels simply thread on.
  • Carbon-fiber stock.
  • Carbon-fiber wrapped barrel.
  • Weighs just over 7 pounds.

Rifles that can be taken apart or adapted to fire cartridges of a different caliber have always mesmerized shooters. They bring with them a level of versatility that is unmatched: You can have a big game rifle and a varmint rifle … that’s the same rifle. A switch-barrel rifle sort of makes the idea of a both-ways cartridge — a cartridge suitable for large and small game — obsolete. For many, a switch-barrel rifle pegs the cool meter. I’ve messed with a few over the years, but none better than Proof Research’s aptly named “Switch.”

Proof-Research-Switch-Barrel-7

The Switch is built around a unique bolt-action manufactured by Big Horn Arms. This action is what’s known as a controlled-round, push-feed, action. It has an extractor that’s mounted perpendicular to the bolt body: As the cartridge is pushed from the magazine, it’s captured by the extractor and controlled all the way to the chamber. However, unlike a true control-round feed action, with the Switch’s action, you have the option of dropping a cartridge into the ejection port and closing the bolt.

The action also has a fixed ejector. This means that ejection force and distance will be directly proportional to the effort used when pulling the bolt to the rear. On the left side of the action is the bolt release/stop. And, while small in nature, I experienced no issues with failure and I worked the bolt with substantial force most every time I cycled it.

The Proof Switch rifle is ideally suited for long-range application, but its light weight also makes it an excellent choice for varmint calling or big game hunting.
The Proof Switch rifle is ideally suited for long-range application, but its light weight also makes it an excellent choice for varmint calling or big game hunting.

But the neatest feature of the Switch’s action is the end user’s ability to field-strip the bolt to change-out the bolt head by hand, using no special tools. This floating bolt head — as some will call it — is part of the Switch’s distinctiveness. Lot’s of switch-barrel rifles allow you to change barrels and go between cartridges with the same cartridge case rim size. With the Switch, you can change the bolt head permitting you to swap between, for example, a .223 Remington with a 0.378 case rim and a .308 Winchester with a 0.473 case rim. Bolt adaptation takes all of about a minute.

This floating bolt head also permits both of the locking lugs to make full contact when the bolt is closed. This is similar to the bolt system Savage has used for years, and it has a positive influence on accuracy. It’s also an integral mechanical feature in the switch barrel capabilities of this rifle. Once bolt adaptation is complete — if required by the new cartridge — a barrel switch is all that remains before you’re shooting a different cartridge.

Engineering, Not Magic

After installing the barrel, snug the barrel nut against the action and finalize the headspace setting with the GO gauge.
After installing the barrel, snug the barrel nut against the action and finalize the headspace setting with the GO gauge.

The barrel switch system is nothing all that magical: You simply thread one barrel off and another on. What’s different is the way it’s done and how it looks when the switch has been completed. When the barrel is threaded to the action, it’s held in place by a locking nut, again very similar to those used by Savage. This nut is grooved to accept a wrench that’s supplied with the rifle. Lots of folks think this locking lug is ugly, but Proof engineered a cartridge identification sleeve that hides it. Another cool feature of this sleeve is that it’s engraved for the cartridge the barrel is chambered for.

All of this wondrous metal engineering is perfectly fitted to a proprietary carbon-fiber stock. It’s a stock that’s been very well configured to offer a good balance of performance when being used either from the bench or in the field. The stock’s high comb allows for a large objective scope to be mounted without sacrificing a good check weld, and a cut-out in the nose of the comb allows for bolt removal.

More Rifle Articles:

Combine all these features with a detachable AICS center-feed magazine, soft butt-pad, dual front sling swivels, a near vertical and swelled grip — along with a variety of color options — and you have one of the few rifles that can be easily configured by the end user, to perform just as well during a long-range shooting match as it will on a sheep hunt. You’d probably expect a rifle like this to be heavy, but that’s not the case. With its standard carbon-fiber-wrapped 24-inch barrel, the rifle — with an empty magazine — weighs only 7 pounds, 2 ounces.

Barrel On, Barrel Off

You’re probably wondering what the barrel switch procedure involves, how it’s done and how proper headspace is maintained. Though the process is a bit involved, in actuality it’s very simple.

Use the GO gauge to set headspace after installing a new barrel. The bolt should close with minimal resistance.
Use the GO gauge to set headspace after installing a new barrel. The bolt should close with minimal resistance.
  • First — and obviously with the rifle unloaded — secure it in a vice, by the barrel, with soft jaw protection. Then, remove the stock, remove the bolt and remove the barreled action from the vice. The rifle comes with an action wrench that might be better called a vice rack. Slide the barreled action on to the action wrench/vice rack and unscrew the cartridge identification ring.
  • The rifle also comes with a wrench to fit the slots in the barrel nut, which is hidden under the caliber identification ring. Loosen the barrel nut with that wrench and a ¾-inch ratchet. Then, you can unscrew the barrel. You’ll now want to apply some gun grease to the threads on the new barrel, and install the barrel — by hand — about halfway into the action. The next step is to remove the barreled action from the vice rack and install the bolt.
  • Now we get to the critical part, where we set the headspace. Insert the GO gauge behind the extractor on the bolt, and close the bolt. Hand-tighten the barrel until light resistance is felt, and then snug the barrel nut up, hand-tight. Install the action back on to the vice rack, and using the barrel nut wrench, tighten the barrel nut to 70 foot-pounds. You can now install the new cartridge identification ring and remove the action from the vice.
  • You’re almost done, but you need to verify the correct headspace. You do this by inserting the NO-GO gauge behind the extractor on the bolt, and by verifying that the bolt will not close. With this complete, install the stock, and torque the front and rear action screws to 65 inch-pounds.
    All together this only takes about 5 minutes to complete. The only non-usual tool required is a torque wrench, but I’ll admit, I only used the bicep-torque wrench and the rifle shot, as you can see, exceptionally well.

Adaptability With Accuracy

After you’ve set the headspace of the new barrel with the GO gauge, insert the NO-GO gauge and verify that the bolt will not close.
After you’ve set the headspace of the new barrel with the GO gauge, insert the NO-GO gauge and verify that the bolt will not close.

The two barrels provided by Proof were a .308 Winchester and 6mm Creedmoor barrel. I tested three loads in both barrels, firing five, five-shot groups, at 100 yards, from a sandbag rest, with each.

The average for all 30 groups was a pretty amazing 1.00-inch. But here’s what’s even more amazing: The first group with each load was fired slow and methodical like. The remaining four groups were fired in a hurry — five shots in less than 60-seconds, and all four groups within 10 minutes. Groups might have opened slightly due to the fast shooting, but no stringing or substantial group expansion was seen. Try that with just about any other rifle on the planet and see what kind of results you get.

Proof-Research-Switch-Barrel-Table

To say I’m impressed with the Proof Research Switch would be an understatement. It’s an exceptional rifle, even if you don’t consider its switch-barrel versatility. Base rifles with either a stainless-steel or carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel are offered in .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester, 6mm Creedmoor, .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor and 7mm-08 Remington. A fully adjustable TriggerTech trigger, 20 MOA Picatinny rail and threaded muzzle are standard, as is the ½-MOA guarantee.

If you are rifle-poor like me, a multi-caliber rifle, capable of filling about any need you might have does not make a lot of sense. After all, that’s what I/you have all those other rifles for. However, there’s always the option of selling those other rifles and simplifying life. Like you’ve probably heard, beware the man with one rifle. Trust me, there is some truth to that.

For those looking for a first rifle or maybe a first serious rifle, the Proof Switch might be the best option on the planet. It’s innovative, accurate, light, versatile and about the coolest thing I’ve seen since an acquaintance of mine tried to build a blackpowder rocket to launch his GoPro camera into the atmosphere. Unlike the Proof Switch, that was a monumental failure; considering the damages done, he blew up enough money to have paid for a Switch, and maybe an extra barrel or two.

Switch Specs:
Manufacturer: Proof Research ProofResearch.com
Model: Switch
Chambering/s: .22-250 Remington, .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, .308 Winchester (tested), 6mm Creedmoor (tested), 6.5mm Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington
Length: 44 inches
Weight: 7.2 pounds
Barrel: Stainless-steel or carbon-fiber-wrapped stainless-steel
Stock: Carbon-fiber
Action: Bolt
Capacity: AICS pattern magazine compatibility
Trigger: TriggerTech
Accessories: Threaded muzzle
MSRP: $3,999

Ammo Brief: The Blistering Hot 30 Nosler

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

30-Nosler-1

The 30 Nosler pushes the limits of the .30-caliber with efficiency and velocity to spare.

What you need to know about the 30 Nosler:

  • .30-caliber.
  • Velocity surpasses the .300 Weatherby.
  • Unbelted case, headspaces off the shoulder.
  • Chambers in standard-length actions.
  • Powder column burns more efficiently.

Introduced in 2016, the 30 Nosler meets the velocity of the .300 Weatherby, headspaces on the shoulder like a .300 RUM, has an efficient powder column like the .300 WSM and fits in the same standard-length action of a .300 Win. Mag. The 30 Nosler is a SAAMI-standardized cartridge, and Nosler will be supporting this new cartridge with Nosler brass, Trophy Grade ammunition and the full line of M48 rifles. Designed with a maximum COAL of 3.340 inches, the .308-caliber, rebated-rim centerfire rifle cartridge has a case capacity of 88 grains.

Initial offerings in Nosler’s Trophy Grade Ammunition line were 180-grain AccuBonds and 210-grain AccuBond LRs (Long Range). When fired out of a 26-inch barrel, the company claimed of muzzle velocity of 3,200 fps for the former and 3,000 fps for the latter. For 180-grain bullets in Nosler loadings, that’s better than the muzzle velocities of the .300 Weatherby Magnum (3,175 fps), the .300 Win. Mag. (2,950 fps) and the .300 H&H Mag. (2,950 fps), and just behind the .300 RUM (3,250 fps).

More Ammunition Info:

The 30 Nosler is well behaved with nearly all powders of proper burn rate for the bullet being loaded. Anything from Retumbo up to H4831 work well, with IMR 7828 and RL 22 being a couple of the best. As a tip, adjust your sizing die to just barely bump the shoulder back between firings, and case life can be extended significantly.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the 2008 Shooter’s Guide issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

How Handgun Training Makes You A Better Precision Rifle Shooter

By
Frank Galli
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0

Some of the best practice a precision rifle shooter can experience comes from the trigger of a handgun.

Why precision rifle shooters should train with a handgun:

  • Focus on fundamental form and technique.
  • Understand mechanics of draw, presentation and shot.
  • Effectively transition between hand and long gun.
  • Become more safety conscious.
  • Shoot more (more handgun ranges available).

As a precision rifle shooter, I see a lot of other shooters in my discipline neglect their handgun training. We are often so detail-oriented and wrapped up in tasks such as load development or software that we forget to return to the basics.

Keeping your basic marksmanship skills tuned up through handgun work is an excellent way a complement long gun training.
Keeping your basic marksmanship skills tuned up through handgun work is an excellent way a complement long gun training.

I used to say, “The handgun was only there to make noise until I reached for my rifle.” But that’s no longer my stance because I took the time to get training. I cannot overstate the value of a good, basic course of instruction. Even when I was teaching long-gun courses full time, during the breaks I would seek competent instructors to hone my handgun skills. In many cases, I would call in last-minute favors to get a slot in a pistol class. With all but one, I always took the basic handgun course. I find it the most beneficial to me to sharpen neglected skills.

Before the various rifle series competitions really took off, we used to include handgun stages in all our competitions. Even at a place called “Rifles Only,” we had a balanced focus on our handgun use. Each match had at least four stages that included handgun targets before, after or during our rifle engagements. Close in we fought back to our rifles, or after engaging our long-range targets we would fight away from contact. These stages in the match were always the most fun because it mixed up the pace.

Returning To The Basics

Precision Shooting 1

Today, Sniper’s Hide field competitions do include a few handgun stages: There aren’t as many as before, but we’re getting back to this tool because it’s an easy fix to sharpen our skills. But if long-gun shooters see no use for them, it’s easy to forget — and that’s not a good thing. Even as a devote student of the precision game, it’s important to balance your training and include a few handgun stages.

Return to the basics and focus on your form and your technique — you’d be surprised what a little pistol work will do to your long-gun skills. Stress accuracy regarding shot placement. Don’t worry about speed right off the bat — that will come after you fixed any fundamental flaws. Understand the mechanics of a draw and how to carry your handgun properly while also carrying a precision rifle properly. Can you access it with all your other gear? I see lots of images online of guys with leg holsters that drop close to their knees. While standing straight up, you want to be able to cup the bottom of the barrel while it’s in the holster. Letting it hang too far down restricts movement — and it just looks bad.

More Long-Range Shooting Resources:

Be sure to vet your instructors and stay away from the sensational types who want to make a name for themselves. If the highlight of their video reel is them standing next to a target, and the next scene has the student shooting at it with them there, please turn the page. I like guys such as Clint Smith and Larry Vickers — old-school instructors who have a serious take on fighting with a handgun. There are plenty others, especially in the field of speed shooting. Those guys would be my next step after establishing a solid foundation.

Mixing It Up Is A Must

If you work with a precision rifle, it’s essential to do transition training. Moving from the prone position behind your long gun, learn to engage targets to both the front and rear of your position. You want to be smooth and effective, moving in and out of the prone position during the draw phase, making sure your kit is not in the way to foul up the transition. Much of it is common sense in a lot of ways, but all too often I see it overlooked or completely forgotten.

Precision Shooting 4

My suggestion: For every 8 hours of precision rifle training, include a minimum of 1 hour of handgun work. That’s not too much, and it will increase your long-gun effectiveness by a wider margin than I can illustrate.

Don’t forget the safety: I see a lot of problems with precision rifle shooters when they have to shoot handgun stages. Safety became one of the reasons why handgun disciplines disappeared in specific events. With our long rifles, we apply more control. Put a pistol in those same hands, and it’s an instant safety violation. These things are not difficult to master, but they do take diligent practice and repetition.

The best part about practicing my handgun fundamentals is often a disadvantage to being a long-range shooter: There are handgun ranges everywhere. I can walk to the end of my block and there’s an indoor range. For my precision rifle work, I have to travel an hour. If you haven’t already, join a pistol range; many have weekly matches, and trigger time is trigger time, regardless of what you’re shooting.

Don’t get so tied up in your precision rifle work that you neglect your other options out there. Become a well-rounded marksman.

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

Ruger Takes Hawkeye Long-Range Target 6.5 Creedmoor And PRC

By
Elwood Shelton
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0

Building on the success of its magnum version, Ruger expands the Hawkeye Long-Range Target line to include popular 6.5mm chamberings.

How the Long-Range Target goes the distance:

  • 5R rifle limits bullet deformity.
  • Heavy barrel for added stiffness.
  • Heft stock for added platform rigidity.
  • Creep-free two-stage trigger.
  • Lower M-LOK rail for bipod addition.
  • Available in .300 Win. Mag., 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC.

Long-range shooting is a wave that continues to defy cresting. Each month, there’s a new shooting iron tricked out with the latest and greatest technology that makes punching the bull in the eye at a country mile all the more likely. Similar to many companies, Ruger has been front and center in this shooting revolution and continues to up the ante.

Hawkeye Long Range Target 1

While best known for its relatively affordable chassis Precision Rifle line, the company branched out early this year. Taking aim at competitive shooters, Ruger launched the Hawkeye Long-Range Target at the start of 2018, to great fanfare. And the company has been quick to capitalize off the interest generated from the .300 Win. Mag., with the introduction of two additional calibers recently. If you know a thing or two about recent trends in long-range shooting you already know where this is going — 6.5mm.

A fairly logical move, Ruger has introduced the Long-Range Target in 6.5 Creedmore and 6.5 PRC, which should bolster interest in the fairly decked out rifle. Not only are the calibers popular — especially the ubiquitous Creedmoor — they also take full advantage of the platform’s accuracy potential. Furthermore, while the .300 Win. Mag. is an excellent precision-shooting option, it delivers a bit more than a love tap each time the trigger is pulled. In turn, the early iteration of this Hawkeye simply wasn’t for everybody.

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Outside of chambering, the new Long-Range Target rifles boast the same features as their predecessor. Among the more eye-catching aspects is the Hawkeye’s 5R rifling in its heavy barrel. Tapered lands arranged to oppose a groove instead of another land, the configuration is meant to cause less bullet deformation, thus preserve a projectile’s ballistic integrity. Additionally, it has a dandy stock, made to milk the most shot-to-shot accuracy possible. Stiff laminate, the two-tone stock is a fully adjustable target pattern complete with a straight grip that facilitates complete control over the rifle. Usually an unheralded aspect, the stock is also hefty, kicking up the rifle’s overall weight to 11 pounds. In the magnum chamberings this does a number on recoil, and overall makes for a solid shooting platform. On the downside, this does make it a bit heavy for field use, unless you’re a glutton for punishment.

Other notables included on the long-range target include a creep-free two-stage trigger, Mauser-type claw extractor, 20 MOA Picatinny rail for optics, flush-fit lower M-LOK rail and QD attach points. The rifles are compatible with AI-style detachable box magazines, the 6.5 Creedmoor ships with a 10-round mag and the PRC a 3 round.

Like any long-range option, Ruger isn’t giving the Hawkeye away, but with an MSRP of $1,279 it is competitive with this end of the market. And with the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC in the Long-Range Target family, the line will likely get more shooters considering putting a Hawkeye in the safe — even if they aren’t match shooters.

Hawkeye Long Range Target 3

Hawkeye Long-Range Target Specs:
Calibers: 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC
Stock: Speckled Black/Brown Laminate
Sights: None
Barrel Length: 26″
Material: Alloy Steel
Thread Pattern: 5/8″-24
Twist: 1:8″ RH
Capacity: 10 rounds in 6.5 Creedmoor; 3 rounds in 6.5 PRC
Finish: Matte Black
Weight: 11 lbs.
Overall Length: 47″ – 48.50″
Length of Pull: 13″ – 14.50″
Grooves: 5
Suggested Retail: $1,279.00

For more information on the Hawkeye Long-Range Target, please visit: www.ruger.com.

Brush Up on Your Creedmoor 6.5 Knowledge

Video: Civil War’s Unique LeMat Revolver

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

Combining a pistol and shotgun into one compact package, the LeMat Revolver was meant to arm the South’s cavalry with overwhelming firepower.

As with any conflict, the American Civil War saw great leaps forward in firearms technology. In this crucible, the repeating rifle and pistol gained wide-spread renown, the self-contained cartridge came into its own and the proto-machinegun (the Gatling Gun) made its appearance. It was a busy time for those who had the next big idea in firearms, even it did little to jostle time-test concepts – such as Springfield Model 1861 rifled-musket – off the battlefield.

Like any time of innovation, the Civil War not only enjoyed the good but also the bad, mediocre and the downright odd. Of these classifications, the LeMat Revolver most certainly falls into the latter most.

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Mainly used by the Confederates, the pistol was designed to give cavalry soldiers overwhelming firepower. Though, that only started with the cap-and-ball’s 9-round cylinder. On top of pitching .42-caliber balls, the LeMat had a surprise up its sleeve in that its cylinder rotated around a 20-gauge shotgun barrel. Quite a shock for anyone caught at the wrong end of the payload if they were within range.

Simple enough to operate, the LeMat – also know as the Grapeshot Revolver – jumped between rifled and smooth bores through an adjustable hammer. Clever as it was, the handgun had a short lifespan, thanks in part to one of the dominant firearms technologies gaining traction at the time – self-contained cartridges. Reasonable in size as a cap-and-ball revolver, it evolved to absurd proportions as a cartridge gun – mainly its cylinder.
In the end, the backup scattergun wasn’t enough to keep it competitive with the sleek six shooters coming to dominate the market.

Even so, the LeMat continues to stir the imagination and is a Hollywood prop-room favorite. Most recently, Ed Harris’ character in HBO’s Westworld toted what appeared to be a Grapeshot Revolver – though not a true-to-life version. Eh, it’s Tinsel Town, what do you expect?

It’s a hard trudge if you want a LeMat of your very own, at least an original. Only around 3,000 were made. However, a number of black-powder replicas are available from companies such as Taylor & Company and Pietta of Italy.

For more information on the NRA Museum, please visit: www.nramuseum.org.

Choosing .38 Special Ammo For Self-Defense

By
Patrick Sweeney
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2

Which .38 Special ammo will save your life? Patrick Sweeney gives you the inside edge.

What you need to know about.38 Special ammo:

  • Developed in 1898.
  • Primary law enforcement service cartridge from 1920s to 1990s.
  • Regained popularity due to small concealable revolvers.
  • Snubbies knock off around 100 fps of muzzle velocity.
  • +P ammunition does not function well out of snubbies.
  • Hotter loads are generally easier to shoot out of larger revolvers.
  • Poly-case ammunition and copper solids offer excellent penetration.

The .38 was invented in the late 19th century, given up for dead in the latter half of the 20th, and resurrected by the time the 21st rolled around. It is now a viable choice for those who feel a compact carry gun is more important than shooting through cars.

If it wasn’t for the yaw, there’d be not much of a wound track at all. The old lead .38, the great perforator.
If it wasn’t for the yaw, there’d be not much of a wound track at all. The old lead .38, the great perforator.

The original load, a lead round-nose 158-grain bullet, was marginal as a stopper. It was earth-shattering in 1898, when invented, but even before WWII we knew better.

It just took a long time to develop something better and get it out where it could be tested.

Two inches, single action, 25 yards, with Critical Defense 110-grain FTX bullets. Any complaints? I thought not.
Two inches, single action, 25 yards, with Critical Defense 110-grain FTX bullets. Any complaints? I thought not.

One aspect of a .38 Special revolver that people might have forgotten is accuracy. Revolvers can be amazingly accurate, and a quality DA revolver delivers all of that.

You do, however have a few choices to make, choices that will determine your path in life.

First, snubbie or medium-sized revolver?

Snubbieland

Short-barreled revolvers are harder to shoot, kick more and deliver less performance than those that are bigger. The smallest have diminished capacity, five shots vs. six. So, you have to determine how much recoil, blast and difficulty in shooting you are willing to put up with to get the performance you desire. Snubbies are easier to carry, but they extract a cost in velocity. As a starting point, knock 100 fps off of the book value of a load if you are using a snubbie. More if it is lightweight bullet.

A snub-nosed revolver is a joy to carry. It can, however, be a beast to shoot well. The smaller and lighter it is, the harder it is to shoot well, and the less fun it will be to shoot. Keep that in mind when picking a defensive handgun.
A snub-nosed revolver is a joy to carry. It can, however, be a beast to shoot well. The smaller and lighter it is, the harder it is to shoot well, and the less fun it will be to shoot. Keep that in mind when picking a defensive handgun.

Medium-sized revolvers, the six-shot wheelguns and those with 3- or 4-inch barrels, are a lot easier to shoot and deliver the ballistics you want.

Ammo Choices

Choices for .38 Special ammo breaks down in a three-axis decision making tree. Light weight bullets or heavy? Jacketed bullets or lead? Standard pressure or +P?

The Hornady Critical Defense line is meant to offer good performance without beating up the shooter. Don’t fault it for that.
The Hornady Critical Defense line is meant to offer good performance without beating up the shooter. Don’t fault it for that.

In lightweight bullets, you have high speed and normal. A high speed would be something like the Super Vel Super Snubbie load, which features a 90-grain bullet at over 1,200 real fps out of a snubbie, and recoil to go with it.

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A lightweight .38 Special ammo choice that won’t punish you would be the Hornady Critical Defense, or Critical Defense Lite. These are 110-grain bullets and they do not get to 1,000 fps out of a 2-inch barrel. They are easy to shoot, but they will not deliver performance like the stouter loads. You get what you pay for, and you pay for what you get.

This is what extreme velocity does for you, expansion from a 90-grain bullet that practically turns it inside-out.
This is what extreme velocity does for you, expansion from a 90-grain bullet that practically turns it inside-out.

There are some loads that feature weights less than full but not all the way to light. Generally around 125 to 130 grains, they are compromise loads. They offer more mass for more penetration, but you have to either give up velocity or accept a bit more recoil.

The heavyweights top out at the normal for .38 Special weight, 158 grains. You can have jacketed hollow points, all-lead or lead hollow points.

The combination of a bit more weight and a bit more velocity nets you a lot more performance, but also a noticeable amount of extra recoil.
The combination of a bit more weight and a bit more velocity nets you a lot more performance, but also a noticeable amount of extra recoil.

Pressure is all. The standard pressure limits for the .38 Special are just fine for the snubbies and make for a soft life for the medium-sized revolvers. If you want more you can have it, but you will pay for it, in particular, a +P load in a five-shot snubbie becomes work, or even painful, to shoot. Unless you absolutely need that level of performance (and I can’t imagine how to require it, and not move up in gun size), then live with it.

But, if you want the benefits of extra pressure you need extra barrel length. This makes for EDC problems. A 6-inch .38 revolver might be entirely suitable for a home defense gun. But for Every Day Carry it would be bulky. You need the barrel length to get all the velocity the extra pressure promises.

Polycase ARX

Polycase thought outside the box and this is the result. A sintered, epoxied, fluted bullet that does not need expansion to deliver.
Polycase thought outside the box and this is the result. A sintered, epoxied, fluted bullet that does not need expansion to deliver.

This is a new approach, and we see it working in the .38 Special. It offers barrier perforation, but doesn’t have to expand to stop in the FBI distance. It is super-soft to shoot, but the extra velocity can cause it to hit low, below your usual point of aim, due to barrel lift timing differences.

Old-school

Wadcutters are an anomaly. They offer a full-diameter cutting shoulder, and yet they penetrate as well as anything else out there. A super-soft load to shoot, if you were arming someone who was really recoil sensitive, using wadcutters might be a viable approach. Just be sure they understand they must make use of the tack-driving accuracy that wadcutters offer.

FBI classic

The FBI load is full weight, +P and all-lead. But for expansion like this, you are good. Just don’t expect barrier-blind performance, because lead can’t do that.
The FBI load is full weight, +P and all-lead. But for expansion like this, you are good. Just don’t expect barrier-blind performance, because lead can’t do that.

The FBI load in .38 Special, 158-grain, lead semi-wadcutter, at +P pressures, worked then and works now. It just doesn’t perform well in barrier testing. If you do not anticipate barriers, then you will be happy.

Federal HST .38 Special

Federal took a different approach. They took the old reversed hollow-base wadcutter, put a jacket on it, tuned the jacket for consistent expansion, and then loaded it to normal .38 Special performance, not wadcutter performance. As a result, it delivers every bit of the power a .38 can muster and expands well while doing so.

Honey Badger

The performance of the Honey Badger, a solid copper, fluted bullet at less than robust recoil, seems to have been made for the .38 Special. Even if it does not work out in pistols, I suspect that the Honey Badger load for a backup or snubbie may just be the perfect load of the future.

How to pick?

The FBI load is full weight, +P and all-lead. But for expansion like this, you are good. Just don’t expect barrier-blind performance, because lead can’t do that. Bottom: Above: Even back in the old days, we knew how good the FBI load was. Image courtesy the late Dr. Martin Fackler.
The FBI load is full weight, +P and all-lead. But for expansion like this, you are good. Just don’t expect barrier-blind performance, because lead can’t do that. Bottom: Above: Even back in the old days, we knew how good the FBI load was. Image courtesy the late Dr. Martin Fackler.

What is your carry need? How compact/concealed must you be? Is this a main gun or a backup? How resistant to recoil are you? Be honest with yourself on this one, because no one else is going to take the recoil hit for you.

Then, pack the largest .38 revolver you can comfortably carry and conceal, and use the stoutest load in it that you can comfortably shoot. I know, it sounds like the most basic common-sense advice you’ve ever heard. It surprised even me.

Ammo performance chart:

.38 Special & .38 Special +P
Brand, bulletvelocitypenetration*expansion
Black Hills Honey Badger 100 gr98214.6”.355”
Black Hills Sierra +P 110 gr9459.75”.583”
Black Hills Sierra 125 gr +P87313.6”.529”
Remington golden Saber 125 +P767——
Black Hills 148 gr WC68915.5”.428”
Federal HST 130 gr83414”.486”
Hornady FTX Lite 90 gr11298.5”.467”
Hornady FTX 110 gr83313”.440”
Hornady FTX+P 110 gr103112”.501”
Hornady 125 gr XTP +P80716”.437”
Polycase ARX 77 gr105914.5”.358”
Speer GDHP 135 gr84013’.565”
Super Vel 90 gr127811.5”.574”
Winchester Defend 130 gr +P93911.5”.617”
Winchester FBI 158 gr L-SWC+P79913”.521”
Hornady XTP 158 gr75815”.472”
Corbon FMJ 147 gr77327”.357”
CCI Blaser LRN 158 gr81525”.358”
Black Hills CNL 158 gr725——
Winchester FMJ RN 130 gr76528”.358”
Remington HBWC 148 gr65530”.358”
Oregon Trails 148 DEWC 2.7 gr Bullseye65736”.358”

*Bare gelatin for expansion and penetration, unless otherwise indicated.

Editor’s Notes: This article is an excerpt from Choosing Handgun Ammo: The Facts That Matter Most for Self-Defense by Patrick Sweeney.

Video: The Colt Paterson Revolver And Other Early Repeaters

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

Despite some issues, the Colt Paterson Revolver was a watershed moment in handgun design.

He wasn’t the first, but arguably he might have been the best.

Despite the legend, Samuel Colt didn’t cook up the repeating revolver and it certainly wasn’t inspired by his seafaring. More than anyone, Elisha Collier and his flintlock revolver — among the first repeaters — had more to do with the iconic gunmaker’s work than any capstan. But what Colt did in advancing the concept of a rotating cylinder handgun more than made up for his tardiness into the field.

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Little heralded now outside collectors, the Colt Paterson was a watershed moment in firearms. The first successful revolver — in the modern sense of the design — whetted the gun-buying public’s appetite for repeating arms and redefined firepower for nearly a century to come. Patented in 1836, some 2,000 of the cap-and-ball revolvers were manufactured and while they suffered from some mechanical issues, they nonetheless got the attention of the right people. Among the most important, Samuel Hamilton Walker.

The Captain in the Texas Rangers understood a handgun capable of multiple shots before reloading would give his men a marked advantage in the open plains. Walker’s order proved a godsend at the time, not only spurring the creation of the fabled Colt Walker, but also helping Colt himself eventually salvage his struggling company. Good thing too, especially for lovers of fine historic revolvers, given the survival of Colt Firearms led to some real doozies down the line, such as the Single Action Army.

Certainly, being first in a field of endeavor has its advantage. But in the scheme of things, it comes in a distant second to being the best.

For more information on the NRA Museum, please visit: www.nramuseum.org.

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