If you want to compete in the Heavy Metal Division of 3-Gun, you’ll need an AR-10. Here are the basics.
In addition to a survival gun, the AR-10 can be used in 3-Gun competition in the Heavy Metal division.
Mega Machine and Brownell’s are popular sources for AR-10 parts.
Armalite is among one of the better makers of AR-10s as battle rifles and for competition.
When Heavy Metal Division began, iron sights ruled and life was good. Then a lot of shooters got older and found optics were better. Thus, Heavy Metal Tactical was born.
The High-Performance AR-10
The Heavy Metal division is a step back in time, especially when it comes to caliber and sights. A rifle used in Heavy Metal division can only be chambered in .308 Winchester/7.62 NATO.
You can only shoot Major ammunition, there is no Minor in Heavy Metal. So, that means a 320 power factor, and for a 150-grain bullet, that means a velocity of at least 2,100 fps. Since the factory loadings of .308 will usually fire a 150-grain bullet at 2,400 to 2,500 fps, making Major is easy. It is dealing with the recoil that is hard.
The Mega Machine .308, at the start.
A Heavy Metal rifle is allowed a muzzle brake, but it cannot be lager in diameter than 1 inch, nor longer than 3 inches. On a .223/5.56 rifle, a brake or comp that size is all you really need. On a .308 rifle, that is asking a lot of a brake. While a muzzle brake that small can take the sting or thump out of shooting a .308, it won’t make it as soft to shoot as that same size would on a .223.
You are limited to magazines that hold 20 rounds. In the beginning of Heavy Metal, only iron sights were allowed, but once more shooters wanted to try it (and the shooters who were doing it got a bit older),
Heavy Metal Tactical was created, and one optical sight was permitted. That is one sight, red-dot or magnifying, period. Heavy Metal Limited still does not allow an optical sight. No bipod, no flashlight, but a suppressor is permitted.
Heavy Metal was a way for traditional rifle shooters, or rather, shooters of traditional rifles, to compete, and not be put at a disadvantage compared to a tuned AR-15. Back in “the day” this meant M1As, FALs, the occasional Garand, and various HK rifles.
Now, with the advent of the modern AR-10 variant, you see AR-10s. When we started this, the only .308 ARs to be had were rarities, original AR-10s, usually select-fire. But now the .30 AR is pretty common, and that’s what you see.
I built mine on a Mega Machine receiver set. The receivers, barrel, bolt and handguard came as a set, and that’s all you really need to get started, because the rest of it is all standard AR-15.
Armalite makes a 7.62 rifle. The older version uses modified M14 magazines.
Yep, triggers, pistol grips, stock, those are all regular items out of Brownells or from AR makers that you can use to finish the build of your Heavy Metal thumper.
One drawback to the AR-10 is that there is no mil-spec, so, each maker has had to re-invent and de-bug the design themselves. Once you go with a maker, you are stuck with them for parts. At least, the proprietary parts.
As a result, you’ll find that you can do the externals and the common parts, and thank goodness, the magazines, in common.
Most will work with Magpul 7.62 magazines. One exemplar is Armalite. They started this before Magpul was around, and as a result, Armalite modified M14 magazines to work in their AR-10. So, there are older Armalites that use those proprietary magazines. Otherwise, everyone uses Magpuls.
So, you have to use the proprietary parts of the manufacturer. You get to use all the other standard AR-15 items, you get to use the most-excellent Magpuls, and you get to shoot a “real” rifle in .30.
The K-3 Armenian Avtomat is an AK bullpup configuration. Here’s how this oddball and related AK variants came to be.
The advantage of the K-3 AK:
Designed sometime prior to 1996, the K-3 AK bullpup is based on the standard AK-74 rifle.
According to the bullpup’s designers, it’s cheaper, more accurate and has less recoil.
Bullpup AKs were issued to Russian special forces.
The Ukrainian version of the bullpup AK is the Vepr Avtomat.
The Russian Special Purpose Weapon Complex OC-14 Groza is based on the AK-74 and preceded Armenian or Ukrainian variants. However, it is produced in very small runs.
Reconfigured Variants – AK Bullpups
Apart from the licensed and unlicensed AK-74 copies, there were a couple of variants that were simply made out of existing rifles. These were reconfigured externally by the engineers to comply with requirements of their respective militaries and were re-issued as locally made rifles with local designations.
The K-3 is an Armenian Avtomat of the bullpup configuration. It was developed by the Defense Industry Department of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia in 1996. The K-3 bullpup is based on the standard AK-74 rifle and entered service with the Armenian Defense Force in 1999. Today the K-3 sees limited service with special operations troops in Armenia, and was never intended or supplied for export.
Weight: 2.7 kg
Length: 700mm
Barrel length: 415mm
Caliber: 5.45X39mm
Rate of fire: shots/min: 600-650 rounds/second
Muzzle velocity: 900 m/s (2,953 fps)
Aim range: 400 meters (437 yards)
Feed: standard AK-74 30- or 45-round magazines
The Armenian-made K-3 Avtomat is based on the Soviet AK-74, but very different in configuration and appearance. It is the first mass produced bullpup AK-74 variant.
Very little is known about this variant, only that for the first time the K-3 5.45mm Avtomat was introduced to a wide audience in 1996. Despite the fact that the principle of operation is practically identical to the standard AK-74, its bullpup configuration is drastically different. Part of the gun’s trigger group (hammer to be precise) and the magazine are located behind the pistol grip and the trigger.
Typically, the Kalashnikov safety/selector lever is left in the back of the receiver. The ejection of empty casings is to the right, making shooting from the left shoulder difficult. Sights are made on high blocks, diopter rear sight is adjustable in range. The muzzle brake has a modified design to facilitate the launching of 3K-3 fragmentation grenades also developed in Armenia. To fire a rifle grenade, a regular live cartridge is used.
The K-3 Avtomat is similar to the AK-74. However, according to the gun’s creators, it is cheaper and more accurate, and has less recoil. The Armenian bullpup is made mostly out of metal. Its design includes an accessory rail for mounting a standard 4X-power PSO-1 optical sight, which is also produced in Armenia.
Regardless, it’s commendable for any country to develop and produce a firearm of its own design, especially such a small country like Armenia. The fact remains that most of the former Soviet republics have stockpiles of awesome Soviet-built AKMs and AK-74s. Not using free, proven guns that you already have is like pissing against the wind. Why do it? That’s why the bulk of the Armenian armed forces are armed with the best variants of Soviet-built 7.62mm and 5.45mm AKs.
One more bullpup comes to us from the Ukraine. We all know about the Vepr rifles here in the U.S., but this one is of a different breed.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, each of its former republics tried to prove independence in all possible ways and, naturally, without creating firearms of their own design the independence would not be complete.
The Ukrainian bullpup Vepr Avtomat is based on the Soviet AK-74, or rather built from it.
Because providing its armed forces with domestically produced weapons is the best proof of the country’s independence, the Ukraine was actively proving its independence in this way. As it turned out, there were a lot of people in the Ukraine who had pretty good and original ideas about firearms, as well as a well-developed scientific and industrial base that could easily be employed in development of such firearms.
The Ukrainian version of the bullpup AK was the Vepr Avtomat. This gun was introduced in 2003, and was developed in association with a rather interesting organization, the Scientific and Technical Center for Precision Engineering of the National Space Agency of Ukraine.
At the time of its introduction, there were jokes floating around about the type of weapon the Vepr represented, considering the entity that made it. Most popular was that the Vepr was a gun for the space wars. However, all jokes aside, the new Avtomat turned out to be nothing to laugh at. When the Vepr was released, some specialists compared it to the infamous Russian special purpose weapon complex, the Groza. I would not go as far as agreeing with those specialists, but in many respects such a comparison is valid.
Just like the Groza, the Ukrainian Vepr was based on the AK-74, and also like the Groza, the Vepr was configured as a bullpup Avtomat. However, unlike the Groza, the new Ukrainian Avtomat was not chambered for 9x39mm or 7.62x39mm (calibers used by the Russian Groza), but for the 5.45x39mm cartridge. Even though the Vepr acquired some Groza features that are common in bullpup guns, it did not acquire the Groza’s characteristics.
Unlike the Armenian or Ukrainian bullpups, the OC-14 Avtomat/grenade launcher named Groza is a versatile weapon that can be configured for different missions. It fires a special 9x39mm sub-sonic round.
The main feature of the Vepr is that it was possible to maintain the maximum compatibility of parts and assemblies with the AK-74. This was very important for the Ukrainians, since they inherited a huge stockpile of AK-74 Avtomats after the fall of the Soviet Union. The considerable numbers of Soviet AKs provided the barreled actions for the new guns, and an almost infinite source of repair parts and assemblies.
The weight of the new Avtomat is 3.45 kgs (7.6 lbs.) empty; the length is only 702mm (27.64 inches), with a barrel length that is standard for a full-length Avtomat, at 415mm (16.34 inches). That is where the differences from the AK-74 end. The muzzle velocity is 900 m/s (2,953 fps), the automatic rate of fire is 600 rounds per minute, and the gun feeds out of standard 30- to 40-round AK-74/RPK-74 magazines. Basically, the new Vepr is the AK-74 in bullpup configuration.
However, the new Ukrainian gun had several advantages over its Soviet counterpart. Combined with the fact that the Vepr uses the 5.45×39 cartridge that already has a low impulse, the bullpup configuration produces better accuracy when fired in full-auto mode.
The gun became more manageable at that rate. The Vepr kept the performance characteristics of its full-length cousins but offered a far more compact package. One may ask, why isn’t everybody converting their AKs to bullpup configuration? There are several reasons.
The Groza-1 is chambered for the 7.62x39mm cartridge and was designed for use by Russian special operation troops.
In the bullpup configuration, the Avtomat lost its balance. This takes getting used to when firing. The ejection of spent casings to the right, with typical AK “gusto,” makes it impossible for a lefty to use this gun. Even when a right-handed shooter uses it, the face is way too close to the ejection port. Inhaling the powder gases caused irritation in the shooter’s throat and eyes. Not the most pleasant feeling.
The magazine change is cumbersome to say the least. Unlike AR-style magazine retention, where the mag is simply pushed into the mag-well, the AK mag has to be rocked into retention, not an easy thing to do under one’s armpit. The sight line (sight radius) had been shortened, negatively affecting long-range accuracy.
However, any modern optical or collimator sight takes care of that. When scrutinizing the Ukrainian Vepr, one must remember that shooters can get used to the new configuration and become proficient with magazine changes, leaving only the one serious shortcoming—the location of the ejection port in relation to the shooter’s face.
In addition to the gun’s layout, changes were made to the controls. Immediately noticeable is the placement of the charging handle. It has been moved ahead over the barrel and it is no longer reciprocal, i.e., it remains in place when the gun is fired. The charging handle could be placed on either side for right- or left-handed operation. The safety lever on the Vepr is a lateral button that is located above the trigger, which is an improvement compared to the standard AK.
However, a more important design element of the Vepr is the fact that handguards and other components are not affixed to the barrel, making it almost a floating barrel if not for the gas block. This design feature played a significant role in improving the accuracy of the gun.
The early models of Vepr were equipped with sights taken directly from the AK, but as the sighting line was reduced due to a change in the weapon’s layout, it was decided to replace standard AK “U”-slot rear sights with a diopter or “peephole” type. Both sights are mounted high and both fold out of the way of reflex, collimator or optical sights. The Vepr Avtomat is configured to accept a wide range of such aiming devices.
Initially, the Vepr was developed to accept the grenade launcher similar to the Russian Groza complex. This way one would designate the Vepr as a complex and not just an Avtomat. Unfortunately, the standard GP-25 grenade launcher was not compatible with the gun in bullpup configuration. A special modification had to be developed.
It turns out that, with the grenade launcher installed, the gun is more stable when firing. Its balance becomes more evenly distributed, although the weight of the gun is increased. An interesting detail is that when the grenade launcher is installed, the Avtomat’s safety also becomes the grenade launcher safety. This totally makes sense.
In the end, the Ukrainian-built Vepr Avtomat is just another version of the AK-74. I’m sure its creators would argue until red in the face that it is the next step in the AK development, citing how they were able to improve accuracy and reduce the dimensions.
The Russian OC-14 Groza shooting complex is produced in very limited numbers and destined for Russia’s special operations operatives, who can configure it to the mission at hand.
But, you don’t need to be Samuel Colt or John Browning to see that it’s just the same gun dressed in prettier rags. Also, with positives like accuracy and reduced dimensions, the Vepr also inherited all the bullpup configuration shortcomings, like cumbersome magazine changes and rear-heavy balance, among others.
I read somewhere that Vepr creators claimed the Vepr had fewer parts than its AK predecessor. Well, again, no special education required to see that their claim is erroneous. They removed the stock and the lower and upper handguards, and added a massive butt plate, cheek piece, trigger linkages, two-piece lower handguard, gas tube cover and folding sights. Basic mathematics is not in their favor.
Today, Vepr Avtomats see service along with standard-configuration Soviet-built AK-74s in the hands of the Ukrainian armed forces. However, they are not widely used or issued to the regular infantry troops. Use of the Vepr is reserved to where its compactness is a requirement.
The rest of the troops have to be content with Mr. Reliable AK-74 Kalashnikov Avtomat. It was always easier and cheaper to grab a ready and proven gun from the warehouse than to create and mass-produce something new. Today, the Vepr project is suspended.
During the past 30 years, the name “Glock” has come to symbolize quality and reliability. But that wasn’t the case when it was first introduced to the American market in the mid ‘80s. American gun owners were more than skeptical about the “plastic gun.” Some were dismissive, and others were just downright mean.
In return, Glock came up with a great idea to change the minds of American gun owners: put the pistols in their hands and allow the shooters to not only handle them, but to shoot them. This led to the creation of the Glock Range Program.
Until 1990, I’d only seen Glocks on the gun store shelves. But one day, our small local range had all these brand-new Glock pistols, in all models and calibers (9mm and .40 S&W at that time). There they were, ready to be rented at a reasonable price, and that was it for me — I was hooked. I had never seen rental pistols at any of the ranges I’d been to, and this quickly became a great concept that allowed members to test drive Glocks and pick the model and caliber that best fit their likes and needs.
After a couple of years, the American market embraced the plastic gun, and Glock has become an important part of the landscape for law enforcement and recreational shooters alike.
Building Momentum
The first Glock to hit our shores was the Model 17, in what has been named the first generation, which was a 17-round pistol with a pebble texture grip and very simple controls. In 1988, the Gen 2 pistols were introduced, with changes like a checkered front strap and serrated back strap. During the lifetime of the Gen 2 run, some simple changes were also introduced, such as a captured one-piece guide rod system and minor changes in the magazine floor plate.
In 1998, we saw the introduction of the Gen 3 models. These guns featured upgrades like an accessory rail (called the Universal Glock rail) to allow the mounting of laser sights, tactical lights and other accessories. Thumb rests on both sides of the frame and finger grooves on the front strap also appeared.
During the middle of the Gen 3 lifetime, several more changes were made to the Glock line, including a modified extractor that serves as a loaded chamber indicator, an enlarged locking block and an extra cross pin (to aid the distribution of bolt thrust forces exerted by the locking block) located above the trigger pin. The Gen 3 frames were offered in black, flat dark earth and olive drab. Other models, like a non-firing dummy pistol (“P” models), non-firing dummy pistols with resetting triggers (“R” models) with a bright red frame, and simunition practice pistols (“T” models) with a bright blue frame, were also released.
Then, at the end of the G3 lifespan, the RTF2 (Rough Textured Frame 2) was introduced. These variations featured a new checkering texture around the grip and new scalloped serrations at the rear of the slide.
In early 2010, Gen 4 Glocks were introduced. The Gen 4 modifications were mostly ergonomic, such as a modified rough-textured frame and grip checkering. A new recoil spring assembly was also introduced, along with an enlarged reversible ambidextrous magazine release. Magazines were modified to accept the ambidextrous magazine release, and accessory interchangeable backstraps of different sizes and shapes were released.
The basic grip size and shape of the Gen 4 Glock pistols is slightly smaller compared to previous generations, and some parts on the Gen 4 models can’t be interchanged with previous models. During the early introduction of those Gen 4 pistols, Glock announced a recoil system exchange program, where owners were sent a new modified recoil system in exchange for the recoil system originally shipped with the pistols.
In 2016, the FBI issued a solicitation to Glock for 9mm duty pistols, which deviated from the Gen 4 pistols and led Glock to develop the M Series pistols. In turn, the M Series pistols led to development of the Gen 5 pistols in 2017.
Modifications to the Gen 5 Glocks were centered on improving reliability and ergonomics, and changes included an ambidextrous slide stop, revised style of polygonal rifling that Glock named “Glock Marksman Barrel,” deeper recessed barrel crown, the removal of finger grooves from the frame, flared magazine well, the reintroduction of the half-moon cutout in the bottom of the front strap, beveled and rounded front of the slide, and removal of the extra locking block pin introduced on the Gen 3 pistols.
The magazines on the Gen 5 pistols feature slight differences from their predecessors, with a slightly redesigned baseplate for easy removal and an orange follower for easy identification.
Originally advertised as “practical and tactical,” the Glock 34 and 35 were designed specifically for the International Practical Pistol Confederation (ISPC) market and in accordance to IPSC rules. Released in 1998, the Glock 34 was an instant hit with Practical Pistol Shooters all over the world.
Ironically, when production division was started in 2000, the Glock 34 and 35 were excluded because of their 5.25-inch barrels; IPSC had set a limit of 5 inches for barrel length. But that didn’t stop the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) and the International Defensive Shooting Association (IDPA) to allow the Glock 34 to compete in their Production (USPSA), SSP (IDPA) and ESP (IDPA) Divisions.
Today, the Glock 34 is the most popular Glock pistol in those divisions. I’ve owned several versions of the Glock 34 and have used it for USPSA and IDPA alike, and I can’t wait for the release of the Glock 34 Gen 5. Glock, are you listening?
Glock 22
After the release of the .40 S&W cartridge, specifically designed for the law enforcement market, it didn’t take long for Glock to manufacture a pistol for this exciting new cartridge — and they hit a home run. The Glock 22 quickly became the most adopted handgun in the American law enforcement community, with countless departments switching to both the .40 S&W cartridge and the Glock 22 as their main service pistol.
For more than a decade, it seems like every department — federal, state, county and city departments — was carrying a Glock 22. Now, with the improvements in 9mm ballistics and bullet design during the past 2–3 years, many departments are switching back to the 9mm cartridge due to its higher capacity and lower recoil, and many officers are welcoming back the easier-to-shoot 9mm cartridge.
Glock 26
Released in 1994, the Glock 26 is often referred to as the “Baby Glock” and was nothing more than a chopped down version of the classic Glock 17. Using the same basic configuration as the Glock 17, its grip was reduced to hold only 10 rounds and its slide reduced to accept its 3.42-inch barrel.
With the growing number of states allowing civilians to carry handguns concealed, the Glock 26 became the first choice for many concealed carry participants, and it also served as backup for both the civilian market and law enforcement personnel alike. Today, with a plethora of smaller and slimmer handguns in the market, the Glock 26 has lost some of its market, but is still a great choice for backup and CCW.
Glock Glock 17
The one that started it all, the Glock 17, has become the flagship for the Glock family of handguns, now in its 5th generation. The Glock 17 has just about every market cornered. From law enforcement to recreational shooters, self-defense, military and competitive shooters, the medium-sized Glock 17 is the classic against which other striker-fired pistols are measured.
With a capacity of 17 rounds and a 4.48-inch barrel, the Glock 17 remains one of the most-used pistols in the world. I prefer the Glock 17 for competition over the more popular Glock 34; the grip is exactly the same as the longer-barreled Glock 34, but I find the shorter barrel and slide easier to transition from target to target, making it my No. 1 choice for both USPSA and IDPA matches.
Glock 19
Released in 1998, at the same time as the Gen 2 pistols, the Glock 19 has become a classic. With more compact dimensions compared to the larger Glock 17, the Glock 19 was designed around a 15-round magazine and a more compact 4.01-inch barrel, making it just about the perfect size for concealed carry while affording the shooter a good capacity of ammunition.
I’ve carried a Glock 19 on and off for the past 15 years, and to this day I find it one of the most comfortable pistols for everyday carry. And with the numbers of Glock 19s sold, I guess I’m not the only one who considers the Glock 19 to be the best Glock for self-defense.
The Final Round
As a longtime Glock user, I’ve owned and fired every one of the pistols on this list. I’ve liked them all, but I can’t pick one of these models over the others — they all have a purpose and they all work great. I will continue to use my Glock 17 for competition and recreational shooting, and my Glock 19 Gen 2 for everyday carry. I guess more than 30 years of experience has made Glock my choice for recreation, competition and self-defense.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
When friends and family find out that you carry concealed, you become their resident guru on the topic. In that role, part of your job will be busting myths they heard, often from trusted others. Their big brother or their Uncle George might have more credibility with them than you do yet, so you’ll need more than “take my word for it” to put them straight.
Hopefully, the following will be of some help when you, the resident Advanced Concealed Carrier, impart necessary reality lessons to those new to the discipline.
Five Myths Of Concealed Carry
Sometimes, what seems like good advice at the time is proven later to be not so great. The record shows that decades ago, when more adult Americans smoked than not, popular magazines carried ads in which physicians endorsed this or that brand of cigarette. Brand A was an excellent aid to digestion after meals, one doctor said. The menthol in Brand B was soothing to a sore throat, another physician opined.
Today, of course, we know better. Oncologists who’ve treated patients suffering from throat cancer will tell you that those old claims are bunk. They sure sounded authoritative back in the day, though. Some advice on gunfight survival goes back to the same era. And some of it is just as suspect. Let’s look at a few examples.
Myth #1: A Good Shoot Is A Good Shoot
In the old days, there was some truth to this. When it was reasonably clear that a good guy had shot a bad guy, the criminal justice system ruled it to be a justifiable action and things were pretty much done with. Oh, there might have been a lawsuit here or there, but it was not common to see a huge wrongful death lawsuit levied on the shooter after a fatal use of force in legitimate defense of oneself or others.
Slowly, things changed. The gun control movement gained traction in the 1960s after the assassinations of President Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Senator Robert Kennedy. This time, the mainstream media went in the same direction, gathering a huge momentum that remains today.
From the nation’s major TV networks and the influential big city newspapers and national news magazines, to the groves of academe, it became popular to treat guns and the people who owned them as an embarrassing, dangerous manifestation of low-class stupidity. This also applied for ordinary people who picked up a gun in legitimate self-defense. It was as if the journalists’ style guide automatically decreed that the term “vigilante” be applied to those who saved themselves and others from being victimized.
Today, a good shoot isn’t a “good shoot” until the authorities say so and the last false allegation of a “bad shoot” has been decisively stamped out. It’s a predictable aftermath that must be prepared for, just as the gunfight must be prepared for well beforehand.
Myth #2: Aim For Center Mass
This was a poor choice of words even in the old days, and that’s still true. If you think about it, the center of mass on a standing human is somewhere in his abdominal area. A bullet there may or may not prove fatal later, but it’s not very likely to instantly disable a violent man now, and the latter of course is what we need to ensure the survival of the good guys.
The way to stop a criminal from shooting at you is to deliver your bullet to a part of the body he needs in order to keep shooting at you, and to make that part of his body stop working. I’ve told my students for decades that they should have a copy of Gray’s Anatomy right next to their shooting manuals.
Read Dr. Jim Williams’ excellent book Tactical Anatomy. An ER physician with extensive experience treating gunshot wounds and intensive firearms training himself, Dr. Williams details the proper points of aim from various angles when the object of shooting is to render a homicidal criminal incapable of carrying out his murderous actions.
Myth #3: He Who Shoots First, Wins
This is untrue on multiple levels. Gunfights are not won by the guy who makes the first loud noise. They’re not even won by the first guy who gets a hit. In Springfield, Missouri, in the 19th century, Wild Bill Hickok met Dave Tutt in the town square, in what may have been the only time in the Old West that two men actually did have a “walk and draw” contest in the middle of the street. Tutt panicked and opened fire on Hickok when they were some 70 yards apart. His bullets missed. Hickok coolly stood his ground, aimed carefully and ended the fight by putting a .36-caliber round through his antagonist’s heart.
In the more famous gunfight at OK Corral, Wyatt Earp’s brother, Morgan, was shot down by a bullet that went across his shoulders and chipped one of his vertebrae, and Doc Holliday received a glancing wound to the hip from Frank McLaury’s Colt .44. A moment later, McLaury fell dead, killed instantly when Holliday shot him in the chest and the wounded Morgan Earp almost simultaneously shot him in the head.
Even severe wounds may not seriously disable a committed combatant. I’ve had the privilege of meeting many hero cops who’ve survived hellacious gunfight injuries and gone on to prevail. One is Stacy Lim of the LAPD. She was shot in the heart with a .357 Mag revolver at the opening of her encounter. She returned fire with her Beretta 9mm, killing her antagonist with four solid hits out of the four she fired. She recovered to return to full duty, and today is one of the nation’s most respected police firearms instructors.
Another is Officer Jared Reston of Jacksonville, Florida. He was shot in the face at point-blank range by a gunman armed with a .45 ACP who then fired six more bullets into Reston when he fell. Jared returned fire from the ground with his Glock .40. He killed the assailant and recovered to return to patrol and SWAT duty.
These were the good guys and gals. But the bad guys can be just as resilient, and we would all do well to remember that it took Stacy four dead-on hits to drop her opponent, and Jared had to shoot his would-be murderer seven times before the guy stopped trying to kill him.
Myth #4: If You Can’t Do It With …
“If you can’t do it with six (or five), you can’t do it at all.” There are a whole lot of people who wouldn’t have survived high-volume firefights if they only had five or six cartridges at the time. Let’s look at some of the shootouts we’ve already discussed.
Hickok did indeed kill Tutt with a single shot — but he had a second Colt in his waistband to back up the first if more shots had been required. When Holliday shot Tom McLaury at the end of the OK Corral shootout in Tombstone, Arizona, it was his third gun of the fight. Holliday had already emptied a double-barrel shotgun (killing Frank McLaury’s brother, Tom), and a Colt SAA before drawing his backup Colt Lightning revolver to shoot Frank. Fast-forward to modern times: Officer Jared Reston, severely wounded, had to unleash most of the rounds in his 16-shot Glock 22 to finish his deadly fight in Jacksonville.
It happens to armed citizens, too. I’ve lost count of the shootings I’ve reviewed over the years where the good guys ran out of ammunition. Rich Davis fired all of the six shots he had and hit all three of the armed robbers he faced while delivering pizzas, but one of them was still up and running and able to shoot and wound him twice. That night in the emergency room, it occurred to him that there had to be something better than one’s own body to stop bullets with, and he was inspired to invent the soft body armor that has since saved thousands of police lives.
I spoke at two trials, one criminal and one civil, for an attorney who had to shoot a man who pulled a gun on him in his law office. His nine-shot 9mm was at slide-lock, having delivered nine solid hits, before his opponent slumped and died. He survived both the gunfight and the trials, but it had been terribly close because he had no more ammunition at all when the gun duel ended.
There are other reasons to carry spare ammunition. With a semi-automatic pistol, as many firearms instructors will tell you, a cardinal cause of malfunctions is a magazine problem. Often, this can only be rectified by ripping the bad magazine out of the gun and replacing it with a fresh one. This naturally requires a fresh magazine to be right there on your person.
Myth #5: Choice Of Equipment Doesn’t Matter
There aren’t a whole lot of gunfight survivors who will agree on that premise. A lifetime of studying these incidents has taught me that the choice of equipment is about fourth down on the list of priorities for survival. It is preceded by mindset, tactics and skill at arms. We all agree that a hit with a .22 beats a miss with a .44 Mag, and so on.
That said, though, you will be better served with a weapon you can shoot well at high speed, and with ammunition that hits hard on the receiving end. I’m not sure who first said, “No gunfight survivor has ever said that he wished he had less powerful ammunition or fewer shots available,” but that sage pretty much nailed it.
You definitely want hollow-point loads designed to expand in diameter and penetrate to optimum depths. Some people like to kid themselves that they’re saving money by buying non-expanding “ball” ammunition at cheap, generic prices. You’re only saving money if you’re getting adequate performance for less cost. I’m not aware of a single major police department in the United States still using ball ammunition in their duty handguns, even though they would certainly be motivated to cut costs. We are seeing police departments laying off cops, and even small towns disbanding their police departments, because of budget crunches. Why are they still paying premium prices for hollow-point ammunition? Because a very long history of gunfights has shown that it works more effectively to stop armed criminals more quickly.
Hollow-points are also safer for innocent bystanders, whether cops, security professionals or armed citizens fire them. The hollow-nosed bullet’s expansion slows it down and usually leaves it lodged in the opposite side of the opponent’s body and clothing, or lying on the ground a few feet behind him, spent.
A 9mm or .45 FMJ round can go through two bystanders and into a third deep enough to leave three innocents lying dead on the ground. Before you ignore that, go to FindLaw.com and look up the definition of “deliberate indifference.” Even a soulless sociopath would realize that this could sustain a criminal charge of manslaughter, and a civil suit for wrongful death or injury, and any good person with a three-digit IQ would realize that their own loved ones are the most likely “bystanders” to be present in a home-defense shooting.
Challenging Caliber ‘Norms’
It’s become popular on the Internet to claim that there is no difference between chamberings. That the 9mm, for instance, is equal to the .40 S&W or .45 ACP, bullet type for bullet type, in terms of “stopping power.” That is an argument that simply defies logic. A 9mm-diameter bullet weighing 147 grains is the same as a 10mm-diameter .40 bullet weighing 180 grains, or an 11.25mm-diameter .45 ACP +P bullet weighing 230 grains, when they’re all going within 50 feet per second of each other? Really? History, common sense and logic say otherwise.
The 9mm-diameter bullets, well-designed and loaded to higher velocities, can certainly give the larger calibers a run for their money. The best 9mm and .357 Mag or .357 SIG loads may well outperform lower-tech .45 ACP and .45 Colt loads in terms of relevant wound volume. The issue is more complicated than it sounds, but the bottom line is that there are more effective and less effective cartridges for defense use, and they’re not all created equal.
If you have to fight for your life with a firearm, I absolutely agree with Mark Moritz that “the first rule of gunfighting is, have a gun.” I’d rather you have a .380 — or, for that matter, a .22 — than no gun at all. I realize that my dress code and my occupation may allow me to carry larger hardware than you. At the same time, convenience and economy must be balanced with the fact that you already decided you needed to be armed, and you need to have a firearm adequate to the task if you are in fact involved in a gunfight.
There are certainly good reasons to use a 9mm instead of a .45. If the shooter is distinctly better at hitting with speed with a 9mm — or feels a need for more, smaller bullets rather than fewer larger ones in the same sized gun — we’re looking at good reasons to choose the 9mm. When I travel to other countries, I usually carry a 9mm simply because the ammunition is much more readily available there than the .40, .45, .357 SIG, etc. But if you’re going to choose a smaller-caliber gun, choose it for real reasons, not delusional ones that do not pass the tests of history, logic and common sense.
Common Sense
Personal and home defense aren’t just about the gun. The gun is simply one component of a much larger whole. Home security encompasses locks, alarms and hardened perimeters. Your family needs to have a plan for emergencies, whether that emergency is a house fire or a home invasion. Communications and emergency illumination are part of the package. A Neighborhood Watch program can be priceless.
The world of the defensive firearm is rife with myths, and only some of them have been dealt with here. Anyone who keeps a firearm for home defense, or lawfully carries one in public, needs to apply his or her own common sense. We are, after all, literally talking about life and death when we assess these matters.
Many are wary of carrying their pistols in Condition One — cocked and locked — but is that fear based in reality or merely perception?
The conditions of readiness for a single-action, semi-auto pistol:
Condition One: Round in chamber, hammer cocked, safety on.
Condition Two: Round in chamber, hammer down.
Condition Three: Empty chamber, hammer down.
While at a media event in Arizona late last year, I was asked about the difference in perceptions about various handguns and their conditions of readiness. As we were close to Gunsite Academy, home of the Modern Technique of the Pistol, it was common to see various makes of 1911-pattern pistols cocked and holstered.
I remembered back when I first became a policeman in the late 1970s. Jeff Cooper had already determined that a part of the Modern Technique of the Pistol was the “heavy-duty self-loading pistol” — at that time, it was the Colt Government Model (or Commander) in .45 ACP, carried in “Condition One” — chamber loaded over a full magazine, hammer cocked and thumb safety on.
Visuals Anxiety
People would see my Colt National Match in the Safariland high ride duty holster and nervously tell me, “Your pistol is cocked.”
“I’d hope so,” was my response.
As time went on, we had one officer carrying a Colt Series 70 Government in his Don Hume Jordan River Holster, thumb-break strap, in Condition Two — hammer down on a loaded chamber with a full magazine. He had no ambidextrous safety lever and elected to carry that gun anyway.
The Remington Model 870 shotgun has been in common use by police and hunters for more than 40 years. The gun in the photo has the hammer, hidden inside the receiver — cocked. That’s commonly done as one pursues upland game or in responses to emergency calls … without the cocked hammer concerns. Think about that.
Our sergeant carried a Gold Cup; there was a smattering of other Government Models and a Browning P-35, all of which were carried in Condition One. To say it made the uninitiated, unready and incapable nervous is an understatement.
One of those worthies, a good guy who just didn’t get the deal, came into dispatch one night with his Smith & Wesson Model 13 .357 Magnum cocked in the Jordan River Holster, the over-the-hammer strap stretched between the hammer nose and the frame. Attempts to explain the problems inherent with such a relationship just led to the observation that semi-auto pistols were being carried that way.
Conditions Of Readiness
Of course, it was Jeff Cooper, founder of the Modern Technique of the Pistol, who devised the “conditions.” Condition One, designed around the “heavy duty self-loading pistol” — the single-action semi-auto of the day, is “cocked and locked.” The chamber is loaded from a magazine and a full magazine seated into the pistol. The safety is “on,” locking the sear and the slide. On the presentation, the gun is drawn and, as it levels toward the threat, the safety is pressed “off.”
The modern striker-fired pistol, while “semi-cocked,” draws no cocked pistol comments — even though it’s closer to a single-action-analog than double-action.
After shooting, the safety is only applied after you “look and assess” ensuring you don’t need to shoot anymore. The thumb rides the safety while firing, but placed under the safety as the gun is replaced into the holster.
Condition Two is a loaded pistol with the hammer down on a loaded chamber — a risky thing, lowering the hammer on a single-action pistol. There’s no upside to doing so. You have to cock the hammer on the draw, something that’s prone to be fumbled.
Condition Three is “half loaded.” There’s an empty chamber over a loaded magazine — so-called Israeli Carry. It’s simply ignorant to carry a self-defense pistol in this way. If you really need a gun, the time isn’t there to load the pistol. Worse, after firing, you’ll want to get the gun out of your hands before responding police arrive.
The draw — and re-holstering — can be safely accomplished with training.
Are you going to fumble around and unload the chamber every time you return the gun to the holster? At any old cold, rainy night in a windy parking lot — after someone tried to kill you and you had to shoot?
The most common service pistol of that time — and one of the most commonly made sidearms of the current era — is the 1911. If you have one to carry for defense purposes, you carry in Condition One.
And, if someone sees it, you’ll hear the same thing. “Hey, mister. Your pistol’s cocked.”
If It Can’t Be Seen, It’s Okay
The truth is that High Standard pump shotguns, Ithaca Model 37s, Remington 870s and old Winchester Model 12s, were routinely cocked and seldom was a word heard about those. Since the demise of the Winchester Model 1897 — with its exposed hammer — “out of sight, out of mind” was order of the day.
The Springfield Armory XD-E is a new hammer-fired compact pistol. For those afraid of carrying cocked and locked or striker-fired guns, the XD-E is a better choice than chamber-empty carry.
For all those terrified at Condition One semi-autos, a percentage carried hunting shotguns afield for upland game and waterfowl — every one with the hidden hammers cocked — and never considered the issue.
Now we have the modern striker-fired pistol, a gun I consider a real innovation. Made possible by modern techniques of manufacture, they tend to be reliable, easily maintained and have ease-of-use as a feature contributing to ease of training. To say that they’re not cocked and are double-action rivals the current mainstream silliness about gender identity.
If we call them “double-action,” they’re magically safer than the Condition One 1911-pattern pistol.
That is silly.
Many manufacturers now make striker-fired semi-autos for CCW carriers who don’t like the feel of a cocked hammer.
I realize that the initiator of this manufacturing trend has a pistol that won’t fire until the trigger bar pushes the striker back just that extra bit to make release and ignition possible. To say that’s the same as a trigger bar pushing a hammer from rest back past the full-cock notch, allowing it to slip, slam forward and light the primer — no, I’m not buying that.
It doesn’t take as much effort, nor distance, and the springs aren’t at rest in the modern striker-fired pistol. But people can’t see a cocked hammer, so it’s okay.
Testing What’s ‘Really Safe’
The problem is that some people fear the striker-fired wonders of the current era and decide on another alternative: just carry the gun half-loaded — Condition Three. These worthies, many with their recently acquired permits to carry concealed weapons and with the education of Hollywood and good ol’ Uncle Bob who “shotguns his whole life,” carry their gun with a fully loaded magazine under an empty chamber.
That’s not a good plan. If you’re relying on that pistol as a component of your defense plan, it’s going to predictably let you down through no fault of its own.
Again, consider the time: People with considerable experience in the fields of lethal violence calculate you might have up to 3 seconds before you start taking gunfire or become the recipient of a contact weapon’s assault — that’s on the long side. It doesn’t take a timer, though shot timer applications are available for smartphones. It’s long enough to have someone time you with a stopwatch.
Using an empty gun with no magazine, draw from concealment on the signal to start and rack the action, ending in a decent trigger press while sights are on a small target. Understanding that the real thing will never be as easy as doing it dry, you’ll find you’re pressed for time.
Now change it up: Have your timer start throwing things at you while you try to draw and make a dry snap in a safe direction. The key is that if the thrown item hits you, consider it the equivalent of a gunshot wound. You’ll quickly figure out that just drawing to a single accurate hit isn’t as easy as people on YouTube make it look — even if you don’t have to load the gun during the draw.
I understand. Some people are nervous with striker guns and will foolishly carry them chamber empty. This isn’t a solution but another kind of problem. If you can’t internalize the fact that you’re carrying a loaded gun, perhaps you shouldn’t carry a gun at all.
Mechanical Safety
How can a cocked 1911-format pistol be safely carried? What if that hammer just flies forward?
Well, if the gun is unmodified and in good repair, no.
When you apply the safety, a part of it rotates into a position blocking the base of the sear. This prevents the sear from releasing the hammer. On pre- or non-Series 80 guns, the sear would be captured by the half-cock notch if the sear hook on the hammer were to break. With the Series 80 firing pin plunger, the firing pin would be held in place, unless the trigger were pressed, likewise preventing an accidental discharge. The stud that locks the sear will also not allow the hammer to fall if the safety is engaged.
What keeps the Glock from spontaneously firing while in the holster? The striker still needs to attain some rearward travel against spring pressure before it can travel forward — which is likewise prevented unless the trigger is pressed.
As to long guns, they traditionally don’t have “drop safe” features, aren’t carried in holsters that cover triggers, often have only cross-bolt safeties that prevent movement of the trigger but not the hammer off the sear nor the firing pin block. See? That revered fowling piece you take in search of upland game can be very touchy.
The difference is that we carry (or should carry) handguns daily, all the time, in close proximity. Please, no “truck guns” or off-body carry — except in extreme and rare circumstances.
Editor’s Notes: This article originally appeared in the Concealed Carry issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
From 9mm: Guide to America’s Most Popular Caliber, author Robert Sadowski shakes down a fine micro 9mm handgun in this Kahr CM9 review.
What the Kahr CM9 offers:
The Kahr CM9 is a simplified PM9, making it functional and affordable.
Micro-compact 9mms can be a handful to shoot, but the CM9 is surprisingly controllable.
New and female shooters will like the CM9’s easy-to-rack slide.
The Kahr CM9 — ultra compact and easily concealable.
It has been said that necessity is the mother of invention and that is exactly how Kahr Arms started.
Justin Moon was an avid shooter but wanted a truly ultra-compact 9mm pistol that was totally reliable and easily concealable. In 1996, the Kahr K9 debuted and completely changed the way shooters and those who carry concealed define a compact handgun.
Small pistols can be difficult to operate due to their size, but the Kahr CM9 is easy. The trigger is smooth and consistent.
Moon designed his first compact semi-auto with a stainless-steel frame. Chambering it in 9mm gave it teeth. It was all good, but it was a bit heavy. The next evolution of the design was the PM9, which incorporated a lightweight polymer frame. What more could concealed carriers want? A less expensive pistol maybe? Enter the CM9, a 9mm subcompact pistol that won’t take a large bite out of your wallet but performs flawlessly.
The CM9 is everything the PM9 is except for a few modifications that make it much more affordable. Think of the CM9 as a PM9 stripped of all unnecessary adornment. The CM9 has less machining of the slide, and the roll marks on the slide aren’t as refined. The front sight is pinned in place instead of the PM9’s dovetailed blade.
The controls, namely the slide stop lever, are metal injection molded. Instead of polygonal rifling, the CM9 has conventional cut rifling. It is shipped with one magazine. The aesthetics are the shortcut to cost savings but there are no shortcuts when it comes to the internal mechanism. The CM9’s internal parts are the same as the PM9, as is the polymer frame.
On the outside, the CM9 is a bit of a plain-Jane but on the inside, it is a beauty that maintains Kahr’s reputation for sweet-shooting pistols. These cost-saving modifications may make the CM9 look slightly different from the PM9, but they lop off some $200 from the price tag. A great shooter at a really good price.
The CM9 uses a Browning-style locked-breech design with a striker-fire mechanism that operates with a passive firing pin safety. The Kahr design is notable for its smooth pull, which feels like a slicked-up DAO revolver. When the trigger is depressed a double-lobed cocking cam rotates and draws the striker to the rear, deactivating the firing pin block.
The system is very safe as well as smooth and consistent. Trigger pull averages about 6 pounds, 8 ounces. The smooth, wide trigger no doubt makes the pull feel less.
Performing a reload with a small pistol can be difficult and requires a slight change in technique.
Kahr pistols are known for their thin girth and lightweight heft and the CM9 is no different. Many times, as the size of the pistol shrinks, the ability to operate and shoot it accurately diminish, too.
Some compact 9mm pistols have hard-to-rack slides and some have small controls. The CM9’s slide is easy to work. The angled serrations at the rear give good purchase. The sights are made of polymer and are a dot and bar setup. The front sight has a white dot while the rear sports a white vertical bar so when the sights are aligned they form a lowercase “i.” It is a fast sighting system to use.
The rear sight is dovetailed in place and can be adjusted left or right using a brass punch and hammer or a sight pusher. The external extractor acts as a loaded chamber indicator, slightly protruding when a round or empty case is chambered. The pistol uses a solid recoil rod that no doubt aids accuracy.
The frame of the CM9 offers plenty of texture where it is needed, like the front and rear grip straps and the sides of the grip. The coarsely checkered pattern on the front and rear grip straps make the small gun easier to control when firing hot 9mm rounds in rapid fire.
The grip sides have a stippled texture that works even when firing with sweaty hands. The oval mag release button is serrated and easily manipulated with the thumb of a right-handed shooter. It protrudes just enough and works consistently, allowing empty magazines to fall free. The grip is short, so most shooters will need to curl their small finger under the magazine.
The CM9 has very good accuracy for a small value-priced handgun.
The slide stop is full size, unlike many subcompact pistols that have smaller controls. After the last round is fired the slide locks back giving you a visual clue that it’s time to reload. The slide stop — with its serrated surface — is easily manipulated to close the slide on a fresh magazine; or, the slide can be pulled rearward, so it flies forward into battery.
The 6-round magazine is all metal save for the polymer follower. It fits flush with the butt. Witness holes in the magazine body let you know how many cartridges are loaded. Speaking of loading, stuffing the magazine even to full capacity is easy on your thumb. The lips of the magazine are rounded. No cut thumbs.
According to the manual, Kahr recommends you fire at least 200 rounds to ensure it will perform reliably. Not many manufacturers state that in their literature but we all know that any mechanism needs to be broken in.
With that in mind, I had an assortment of reloads and factory ammo to run through the CM9. The reloads were — to be honest — not the best-looking cartridges. They were plenty tarnished and had been through the reloading press a few times. The Kahr chewed through them all. It just fired and ejected the brass with no questions asked. I have used these reloads on other 9mms and found other guns choked on them.
The concealed carry holster the author used with the Kahr CM9 is a Crossbreed MiniTuck IWB (inside-the-waistband) with a forward cant.
For factory ammunition, I had hot Hornady Critical Duty 9mm +P with a 135-grain FlexLock on hand. The FlexLock bullets fill the hollowpoint with a soft rubber that expands the bullet in a variety of media.
For standard pressure ammo, I tried Hornady Steel Match with a 115-grain HAP (Hornady Action Pistol) bullet, and some new manufacture Black Hills loaded with a 115-grain FMJ. The Black Hills stuff was the fastest out of the CM9 averaging about 1,030 fps; the Hornady loads ranged from 909 fps (Critical Duty) to 922 fps (Steel Match).
Shooting for accuracy at 15 yards, I used a rest and squeezed off each round slowly and deliberately. Five-shot groups averaged about 2.5 inches, which was great performance out of such a small-barreled handgun, especially one with a double-action trigger.
For rapid-fire testing, I placed a D-1 tombstone-style target at 15 yards. The drill involved me picking up the Kahr from the shooting bench and placing three rounds as fast as I could into the 8-inch ring of the target. By the time the ammo boxes were empty I was quickly tapping the targets consistently in the right spot.
The CM9 feels thin, none of that chunky grip you get with other double-stack polymer-framed models. Even with the +P loads, there is little muzzle flip. It is easy to control.
As a concealed carry handgun, the CM9 is easy to hide and a pleasure to carry. It is a quality compact 9mm at an affordable price that makes sense for armed citizens.
As a concealed carry handgun, the CM9 is easy to hide and a pleasure to carry. It is a quality compact 9mm at an affordable price that makes sense for armed citizens.
SPECIFICATIONS MODEL: Kahr CM9 CALIBER: 9mm ACTION: Short Recoil, Locked Breech TRIGGER: Double-Action Only BARREL LENGTH: 3.0 in. OVERALL LENGTH: 5.42 in. WEIGHT: 15.9 oz. (unloaded) GRIPS: Textured Polymer SIGHTS: White Bar-Dot Combat FINISH: Black Frame/Stainless Slide CAPACITY: 6+1, Single-Stack Magazine
The 1911 continues to soldier on more than 100 years after its design. That’s fairly impressive, given there are few other guns or, for that matter, machines in general that have shown such longevity. What made the John M. Browning design so resilient? After all, new and proficient twists to semi-automatic pistols have hit the market over the years, not to mention breakthroughs in the materials used to make them.
Like all successes, the 1911 has thrived for multiple reasons. From a top-notch design to excellent manufacturing and outstanding performance, the pistol just plain delivers — from an Armscor economy model all the way up to a Gold Cup Trophy model Colt 1911. Regardless of make or price point, however, every iteration of the iconic pistol holds certain aspects in common, and that’s what we’re looking at today. So, without further ado, here are the top four reasons why the 1911 endures.
Trigger
Among its greatest assets, the 1911 trigger is one of the best in the pistol world. Designed to travel straight backward, the trigger helps keeps the sights in line during this critical stage of breaking a shot. There is no play or pivot to it, just smooth, linear travel. Furthermore, as a single-action semi-automatic, it is light, short, crisp and predictable. Combine these elements and you’ve got the recipe for superior accuracy.
This isn’t to say there aren’t fine triggers found in other corners of the handgun world. Yes, there are double-actions and striker-fired out there smooth as glass that will get you on target. But the 1911 trigger’s assets are part and parcel of its design. From a bargain basement entry-level model all the way through a match-grade STI or Colt 1911, the trigger far outperforms nearly everything else.
Frame
In contemporary handguns, polymer frames are king. Concealed carry calls most of the tunes nowadays, so it’s of little surprise the lightweight material has gained preference. Yet, there are advantages to sticking with cold, hard steel. Chief among them is the material’s heft.
Yes, getting used to carrying a heavier pistol such as the 1911 requires adjustment, but doing so arms you with a more shootable pistol. A gun’s weight plays a large role in how much recoil it produces. In turn, shooters generally contend with less muzzle flip with a 1911, especially the heavier Commander and Government models. Even an aluminum-framed Lightweight Commander tips the scales considerably more than most comparable polymers.
There is also the durability issue. Put away your knives polymer-frame fans, we’re not talking in the short run. Polymer pistols aren’t pushovers when it comes to rough-and-tumble use; they’ll stand up to pretty much anything. Yet, the jury is still out if a century from now they’ll remain functional. Yes, they’ll still exist, there’s no debating that, but will they resist degrading or becoming dangerous? Time will tell.
John Browning’s pistol has already passed this test. There are original M1911s that still shoot today. Certainly, they too, can break down, especially the slide. However, there’s no arguing they’ve proven a legacy firearm.
Accuracy
There’s a reason why the 100-plus-year-old design continues to dominate competitive pistol shooting, and it’s not its striking good looks. Among the most accurate pistols available, a match-grade Kimber, Dan Wesson or Colt 1911 easily print 2.5-inch, five-shot groups at 25 yards from the box, if not better. Tuned by a competent gunsmith, the margin is further reduced.
Furthermore, it’s possible to make a run-of-the-mill 1911 run like a Gold-Cup type pistol. Obviously, it takes money and a craftsman who knows his trade to bring it up to this level, but the possibility is inherent in the design.
Tangential to this, the gun’s ergonomics are superb. Its grip design makes the pistol almost a part of your body, making target acquisition second nature and building a sight picture intuitive. Additionally, the controls are right where they need to be. A testament to how well the 1911 is laid out is how many modern guns have copied it.
History
By now, we’re all familiar with the 1911’s story. A John M. Browning design, nearly flawless in field trials, a history of honorable service in two World Wars and countless conflicts, and the pistol is still running hard today. Few guns in production are more intertwined with American history than this handgun. When you holster the 1911, you’re truly carrying a piece of your history around with you.
Many might write this off as a case of nostalgia and little more. But there is a practical argument as to why the pistol’s past means something today. Again and again, the 1911 has proved itself, and rarely, if ever, been found wanting – from Cantigny to the Mekong Delta. If that doesn’t provide peace of mind in the pistol you holster, little else will.
The venerable Model 1911A1 was manufactured by Colt (and others during World War II) until 1971. Shortly after the war, Colt introduced a new gun, the Commander, which was based on the Colt 1911 Government design. This gun was essentially a shortened version of the A1 and was manufactured with a 4.25-inch barrel. Formerly, a 5-inch barrel had been the standard for full size semi-autos. The new gun was the first to feature an aluminum frame. It was a startling innovation at the time because the handgun mindset was mostly limited to steel. Nevertheless, the shooting public readily accepted the Commander.
Subsequently, Colt produced the same pistol with a steel frame and named this more traditional model a “Combat Commander.” Ever since, the term “Commander” has been used to designate 1911s that have 4.25-inch barrels. (The aluminum-framed gun was eventually, but not immediately, dubbed the “Lightweight Commander.”)
Not long afterward, Colt introduced a pistol with a 3.5-inch barrel, looking to develop a firearm that would satisfy the concealed carry market. Colt called this gun the “Officer’s Model.” It had a shorter length overall frame and used lightweight six-round magazines. This model name is used today to denote the smallest versions of particular models, versions with shorter barrels and frames.
Combat Commander, blued finish
In the 1970s, the MK IV Series 70 Government Model superseded the standard Government Model. The main modifications in the new model were a slightly heavier slide and a slotted collet barrel bushing.
In 1983 Colt introduced its MK IV Series 80 models, which had an additional passive firing pin safety lock that did not allow the pistol to fire if the trigger was not pulled to the end of its travel. Although some people feel that the change had a negative effect on trigger pull, it is probably a necessary evil in a highly litigious world. Still, it has not been completely accepted by higher level competition shooters who want a “decent trigger pull” on their firearms. (An identical firing pin safety mechanism is also used by the way in high-capacity pistols from Para Ordnance.) At this time, the half-cock notch was also redesigned.
Mk IV Series 80 Officer’s ACP
In the 1990s, Colt developed an “Enhanced Series” of 1911s. These were of course modified Series 80 pistols, with several factory alterations that many serious shooters would previously have performed by a custom gunsmith. The alterations included a beavertail grip safety, beveled magazine well, flared ejection port and a notch underneath the rear of the trigger guard, which allowed the pistol to sit lower in the shooter’s hand.
At the beginning of 1992 another change was made and the resulting model was designated the 1991A1. Colt then recommended this pistol, with its flat mainspring housing, as an updated version of their classic 1911. Included in the series were the Government models, the Commander, the Officer’s model, the Gold Cup and the Combat Elite.
Colt Model O Series 90 Defender
All of these enhancements — along with caliber choices — were the result of Colt’s desire to meet shooters’ demand for a more customized pistol. Colt selected several of the most popular modifications to incorporate in their new and enhanced models. The changes included a beavertail safety grip, a slotted Commander style hammer, a relief cut under the trigger guard, a beveled magazine well, a slightly longer trigger, a flat top rib and angled slide serrations. Consequently, from its earliest incarnation – which the casual observer would with difficulty distinguish from the latest – the Model 1911A1 may be the most modified handgun in the world.
Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from the Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms, 2nd Edition.
Early FBI sniper rifles were surprisingly basic. Today’s FBI HRT (Hostage Rescue Team) models are the tip of the spear in long-range shooting accuracy and features.
Advancements in FBI sniper rifles:
Early FBI sniper rifles were crude tools, but still performed when called upon.
The Bureau modified many Model 700s and Model 70s at the USMC Armorer at Quantico.
Today’s FBI H-S Precision .308 rifle is state-of-the-art. And it’s available for civilian purchase.
The author behind one of the earlier sniper rifles at the FBI’s Ballistic Research Facility range. Photo: Boone
On Friday, July 23, 1971, Special Agent Ken Lovin of the FBI’s New York Field Office found himself at Kennedy Airport, carrying a Remington Model 760 rifle in .308 caliber. About 125 to 150 yards away was Richard Oberfall, who had hijacked an airliner out of La Guardia and then allowed it to return after the pilot advised he couldn’t fly that aircraft to Italy.
After landing at La Guardia, Oberfall forced an airline mechanic to drive him to Kennedy with a stewardess as a hostage. There he threatened her life, keeping a revolver pointed at her head as he stood next to a plane bound for Italy. With a reputation of being “one hell of a shot,” Agent Lovin was given the “green light” to take down the hijacker.
The sniper tower and target building facade was a very basic system but fun to shoot. The facade is gone and the tower is being used by the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team for other purposes.
When Oberfell, clearly agitated, shifted his gun away from his hostage, Agent Lovin took the shot, hitting the gunman center chest. Lovin shifted his position slightly and took a second shot, not knowing Oberfell was already dead or dying from the full metal jacketed round.
The striking thing about this sniper incident is that Special Agent Lovin was not a Bureau sniper (the FBI had no SWAT teams in 1971). Nor was he an FBI firearms instructor at that time. And the rifle he used was a basic pump-action hunting rifle, fitted with a Bausch and Lomb 4x scope that he had never fired before! There was no legitimate sniper rifle in the Bureau’s inventory. That was the status of the FBI’s sniper program in 1971. But things would soon change.
Colonel Walter R. Walsh, USMC Retired, was in the first FBI new agent class to be officially armed after Federal legislation, in 1934. “We had Winchester Model 07s in .351 caliber and a few, beautiful Springfield sporters with micrometer sights, he said. “None of these rifles had scopes.”
In 1965, Special Agent Terry Anderson was killed in a shootout with two “mountain men” near Shade Gap, Pennsylvania. In the manhunt that followed, Special Agent Jack Kirsch, then the Pittsburg Division’s Training Coordinator, issued four scoped Winchesters from inventory.
The Remington Model 760 rifle was equipped with a Baush & Lomb 4x scope with external mounts. Its accuracy was not adequate for sniper rifle use.
As Kirsch relates, “They were pre-war Model 70s, in .30-06 with wood stocks and standard barrels. All four had four-digit serial numbers. Two were scoped with 2 ½ power Lyman Alaskans and two with 4-power Weavers. I also borrowed four similar rifles from agencies in the area and a couple agents used their personal hunting rifles.”
After being transferred to the FBI Academy at Quantico, Kirsch found the Bureau had adopted Remington Model 760s in .308 caliber. The reason given was that they had a similar action as the 870 pump-action shotguns then in use.
The original order was for 800 carbines with “iron sights” but the order was changed to include 400 of the rifles with Baush and Lomb 4x scopes with external adjustments. Unfortunately, it was found the rifles’ accuracy was no better than the carbines.
These carbines and rifles were issued to the field but they were, by no means, adequate sniper rifles. Many were kept at Quantico for training purposes. Special Agent John Cox, assigned to the Firearms Training Unit at the academy, used the 760s in training and demonstrations but in 1971 at the standoff at Wounded Knee he and other agents there used M16s borrowed from the military.
These 760s saw very little use in the field. Instead, they were used at the Academy for new agent and initial sniper training when that started. A two story “sniper tower” was erected at the range complex, with a steel fronted target area about 50 yards out with reactive military bobber targets in the windows. Ammunition used was .308 plastic short range training rounds by Dynamit Nobel. This ammunition was also used by new agents on the standard 50-yard ranges for familiarization firing.
About this time, the FBI purchased its first precision rifle, the Remington Model 700 with heavy barrels in .223 caliber. The rifles were extremely accurate in spite of not being tuned or glass bedded. They had standard Redfield 3-9x hunting scopes. Ultimately it was learned that the scopes and light caliber would be limiting factors in a sniper application.
The Remington Model 700 in .223 caliber was an accurate rifle in spite of its lack of glass bedding and a very basic scope.
However, it is known that a number were used for sniper practice in the Western U.S. in populated prairie dog town areas. I personally know of one Special Agent in Charge who kept one in his Bucar [Special vehicle for FBI agents – Ed.] in case he was attacked by the rodents while traveling throughout his territory.
Although issued to the field, some were kept at Quantico for the initial SWAT training then being conducted for police officers. Agents Cal Ford, Ken Lovin, Tase Bailey and others ran these one-week classes even before the FBI had its own official snipers.
In the early 1970s, attempts were made to acquire adequate rifles from other sources. Lou Padula, Principal Firearms Instructor at the Washington Field Office acquired several pre-64 Winchester Model 70s in .30-06 from the Bureau of Prisons.
The Remington M1903A4 with an M84 scope was an early SWAT-issue sniper rifle.
In addition, he obtained a number of Springfield 03A3s from the military. These rifles were in almost new condition and were scoped with either the Lyman Alaskan 2½-power or the Weaver in 4x. Many were shipped to the field as stop gap weapons and some were used at Quantico for training. In addition, Special Agent Padula acquired some match-grade M14s with ART (Automatic Ranging and Trajectory) scopes that were distributed to the field offices.
I entered the FBI in 1973. My second assignment was at the Washington Field Office where I became a firearms instructor in addition to duties on the fugitive squad. In December, 1978, I attended a three-week police sniper school at Fort Meade, Maryland, taught by the Army’s Advanced Marksmanship Unit there. Shortly thereafter, I was assigned as a sniper on one of our field office’s SWAT teams.
My issue rifle was an old Winchester Model 70, pre-64, in .30-06 with a Redfield 3-9x hunting scope. The rifle had a wood stock, standard barrel and was not glass bedded. The only match-grade ammunition available for it was military M72 in full metal jacket.
The first FBI sniper rifles in .308 were built on existing pre-64 Model 70 actions.
Concerned with using FMJ rounds, I converted a batch of M72 to “Mexican Match” by replacing the original projectiles with Sierra 168-grain MatchKings. It was unofficial but effective.
In early 1979, I went to Larry Schmidle, then the FTU Unit Chief, and told him that I believed the FBI’s sniper rifle program was seriously lacking. I mentioned that the Bureau-issued Remington Model 700 heavy barrels in .223 and 760s in .308 were inadequate. “What’s your point?” he asked. I then asked his permission to buy a personal 700 heavy barrel in .308 for official use as a sniper. He thought a few moments and then said, “Do it.” No paperwork was required then, just Larry’s OK.
I bought the rifle and mounted one of those wonderful Weaver T10s on it, then used on the Secret Service’s rifles. FBI gunsmith Joe Kiesel glass bedded it for me and added a rubber butt pad. I scrounged Federal .308 Match ammunition from the Marines and was in business. That rifle shot to less than a half minute and I kept it for years, finally letting it go to a local police sniper who had to supply his own. I was transferred to the FTU late in 1979 and never had to use that rifle in a SWAT operation.
In the meantime, it was finally recognized that the FBI needed better rifles. Tase Bailey, Lon Lacey and others had to go no farther than next door to find out what they needed. The Marine’s Weapons Training Battalion and Scout Sniper School’s gunsmiths and instructors lent their expertise.
Remington Model 700s with Unertl scopes were used by the Hostage Rescue Team. John Unertl vis-ited the FBI Academy at one point.
One was a Gunnery Sergeant named Carlos Hathcock. They examined the FBI rifles then in use and advised “take them to Lunga (the reservoir near the academy) as anchors.” Their minimum requirements included a heavy, match-grade barrel, glass bedding and better scopes. The Marines also recommended fiberglass stocks but that would have to wait.
FBI gunsmiths Joe Kiesel and former Marine Corps armorer Ray Sweet built prototypes, using pre-64 Model 70 actions and stocks and Douglas heavy barrels. The first couple of rifles utilized Redfield scopes. The Marines used the Unertl fixed 10-power but the Bureau wanted a variable scope for the much shorter ranges anticipated in domestic law enforcement.
They settled on the Leupold 3.5-10x with a matte finish, the first with this finish the now infamous optics company ever built. These rifles were chambered in .308 caliber and the ammunition of choice was Federal .308 Match, using the Sierra 168-grain hollowpoint boat-tail bullet. It remained the primary sniper round for the Bureau until recently.
Early in 1980, I was part of a committee establishing the specifications for the new sniper rifles. Selected was the Winchester Model 70, pre-64 action (the FBI had a large inventory of these), heavy Douglas barrels in .308 caliber, and the 3.5-10x Leupold scope.
This Russian Dragunov sniper rifle tested at FBI FTU. The author fires it on the Rifle Deck.
The committee also wanted McMillan fiberglass stocks but were overruled, at least at that time, and the original wood stocks with glass bedding were used. Rifle building commenced and the guns were instant hits, quickly accepted in the field. As the pre-64 actions were used up, a switch was made to post-64 Model 70s but shortly thereafter the FBI started buying Remington Model 700 actions.
Actually, they purchased barreled actions as Remington would not sell the actions without barrels, even to the FBI, until recently. There were a lot of standard-weight Remington .308 barrels stacked around the Gun Vault. Douglas barrels were used for field SWAT use, but Hart stainless steel barrels were installed on the rifles used by the Hostage Rescue Team.
Later, all rifles were fitted with Hart barrels. The fiberglass McMillan stocks were finally adopted and used on all FBI-built rifles from then on. The field SWAT teams continued to use the 3.5-10x Leupold but HRT started using the same Unertl 10x as fielded by the Marines.
The rifles were found to be extremely accurate and very reliable. The “Quarter Inch Club” was founded and any Bureau sniper who shot a three round, quarter-inch group at 200 yards was eligible. With minor variations, this rifle was in use throughout the 1980s and 90s.
The H-S Precision sniper rifle has served the FBI, as well as other federal agencies and some foreign governments, for more than a decade. Photo: H-S Precision
Manufacture and maintenance was handled by a group of FBI gunsmiths and former USMC armorers then working at the FBI Gun Vault, including Ted Hollabaugh, who helped with some of the design work and set up the original Quarter Inch Club. Many of these rifles were still in use until recently.
Originally, the Firearms Training Unit was tasked with teaching rifle marksmanship and sniper tactics. (FBIHQ prefers to call us countersnipers, a less harsh nomenclature.) Course outlines were prepared and modified and sniper courses were taught at Quantico and around the United States. Classes were also taught overseas.
Supervisory Special Agent Urey Patrick, later to become Assistant Unit Chief at FTU, wrote a manual entitled, Advanced Rifle Training for the Observer/Sniper. In addition to sniper tactics, the excellent manual included ballistics tables based on the Federal Gold Medal .308 Match, using the Sierra 168-grain match hollowpoint, our sole sniper round at that time.
Improvements were constantly being made to the rifles assembled at Quantico. The original McMillan black stocks were replaced with the three color urban variation and these were then replaced with the A3 with adjustable length of pull and cheek piece.
A limited number of rifles were issued with Aquila (Litton) P/N MWS2500 night sights in 4-power but this required a separate rifle dedicated to this scope. In 2002, the FBI announced a procurement for a new sniper rifle.
Strick specifications were set for accuracy, reliability and use. Thousands of dollars and man hours were spent to wring out the offerings and when the smoke cleared, a dual award was made to H-S Precision and FN. Virtually all the rifles purchased have been H-S Precision and there are no FN rifles in the field. The rifles are a complete package, including case, cleaning gear and required tools.
Today’s H-S Precision FBI sniper rifle.
More important, all repairs were to be made by the manufacturer, releasing the Gun Vault from this requirement. Deliveries have been made and, to date, show outstanding performance. These rifles are scoped with the Leupold Mark 4, 3.5-10x Long Range with the 30mm tube and side focus. The scopes are mounted on McCann rails. Now a decade has passed and the H-S guns have proved to give excellent performance.
Also issued with these rifles is the Universal Night Sight by Optical Systems Technology of Freeport, Pennsylvania. These devices can be mounted in front of the existing scope, allowing the same rifle to be used day and night. The sale of these night vision devices is limited to law enforcement and military.
By the way, the H-S package as selected by the FBI can be purchased by other agencies and even civilians. You just can’t get the “FBI” serial number prefix.
This package has also been adopted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the Israel Defense Forces, among others. Indeed, when it comes to sniper rifles, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has come a long way from the days of old wood-stocked .351s and pump-action 760s.
Few names are as intertwined with the 1911 as Colt. Manufacturing the single-action semi-automatic pistol since John M. Browning came up with the design, the company has continued to innovate and evolve the handgun for more than 100 years. And they’ve struck a fairly elegant balance, remaining true to Browning’s original vision, while improving the pistol in small yet notable ways — caliber, size, etc.
A century under its belt, it’s fair to say Colt turns out a dandy 1911 – ready for action, whatever action is thrown at it – straight from the box. If you thought little improvement was necessary or needed on the user’s part, you’re pretty much correct.
That said, as a mass-produced firearm, not even Colt’s long-running familiarity with the pistol hits all the right notes with every shooter. Luckily, there are minuscule upgrades and accessories that go an exceedingly long way in making the pistol perfect for even the most finicky shooter.
Colt 1911 Holsters
There’s good news and there’s bad news about a holster for a Colt 1911. On the bright side, you can carry the legendary pistol nearly any way you see fit and that will enhance your particular application. Covering nearly every style of carry and type of holster, the market offers an incredible selection tailored to the handgun. Material, body position, concealment – there really isn’t a gap in Colt 1911 holster selection.
The difficult aspect, it’s still shopping for a holster. Anyone who’s gone through the process knows it’s arduous and frustrating, typically resulting in a closet shelf full of rejects. It’s the nature of the game. Even if you were looking to carry any pistol other than the 1911 you’d face the same ordeal. Patients and a willingness to hunt for what works for you are really the only keys to success.
Galco Combat Master
As mentioned, holster options abound, but that doesn’t mean that every model made for a 1911 – Colt or otherwise – makes sense. In turn, a few thoughts on the pistol itself might go a ways in winnowing what will most likely get the job done and what will end up on the also-ran pile.
Compared to a majority of other modern handguns, the 1911 generally has two defining aspects – heft and size. Of course, the weighty metal frame and long sight radius of a full-sized model is what attracts shooters to the pistol in the first place. Yet, these aspects also present certain challenges carrying the pistol comfortably.
With those facets in mind, inside- and outside-the-waistband holsters tend to win the most favor with shooters. With a solid gun belt, the possibility exists to carry a 2-plus pound full-sized 1911 without throwing your hip out of place. Though, concealability tends to present an issue when talking about choosing between the two styles, especially with a large-frame model.
Outside of a Colt Defender (3-inch barrel) or Commander (4.25-inch barrel), OWB can pose concealment problems with a 1911. Can it be done? Absolutely. However, unless you plan to wear a long coat all the time, it typically means carrying in the small of the back or a cross-draw setup.
Crossbreed Super Tuck
Good examples of holster that work well in these OWB positions are Galeco’s Combat Master and Craft Holsters’ Leather Pancake. Both systems cant the pistol, cutting it profile and keeping it well within reach. Additionally, each is well made and won’t go limp over the long haul.
Concealing the barrel no longer is a concern, IWB holsters tend to free you up your options. And given the inherent slimness of the 1911’s design, its less of a hassle than it initially appears. Cant, again, is again a priority with this style of carry. Thankfully, a majority of holster makers design their wares with this key adjustment.
The CrossBreed SuperTuck goes a long way in hitting all these points and does a fairly good job of protecting your prized Colt from body moisture. Though, in certain circumstances, something as simple as the Bianchi 100 Professional is the perfect deep-carry option.
Somewhat of a sermon preached on the belt line carry, don’t let it hold you back from trying other systems. Possibly a belly band will deliver for your particular circumstances or even the resurgent shoulder holster could be the best bet. The latter is a definitely great way to carry a 1911 on the hunt.
No matter what direction you go, always remember there are bound to be limitations with any system no matter the promises on the box.
In general, Colt 1911 sights are much better now than in the past, but that claim could apply to nearly any manufacturer of the pistol. With an eye toward a more accurate and user-friendly handgun, a better part of Colt’s current stock comes outfitted with some version of Novack sights.
Furthermore, Colt has tailored specific sight styles to models, enhancing their anticipated application – Low-Mount Carry rear sight on the Denfender, Adjustable Bomar Style on Gold-Cup Trophy competition model, and so on. They’ve come a long way since the Series 70 guns.
Inevitably, the Novack sights won’t work for every shooter, thus an upgrade is required. Though not exclusively confined to carry guns, these models tend to get the once-over in the sights department, particularly with shooters who insist on night sights. Whatever the case, on modern Colts, the process is fairly painless and there are plenty of models available.
Most modern Colt 1911 sights dovetail into the slide, therefore tools requirements are minimal. Generally, brass punches, a brass or nylon hammer and a vice will get the job done. Though, if you’re tool fanatic and foresee handgun sight replacement as part of your rigmarole, then you might want to invest in a sight pusher. You can spend top-dollar on something like an MGW Range Master, but a less-than-a-hundred bucks options will get the job done, even if they look a little rough around the edges. However, be forewarned, the new sights’ dovetails are intentionally made larger than the slide slots and require filing to fit properly. Don’t be ashamed if you turn to a gunsmith to do the job poperly.
Either way, sight options are nearly boundless. At the time of writing, Brownell’s listed 117 rear sight options – a selection wide enough to accommodate even the most persnickety shooter. Generally, trusted names in sight manufacturing win the highest marks with shooters – Trijicon, XS, Meprolight. Trijicon HD has long been a fan favorite for night sights and XS Big Dots for a true high-visibility option. But honestly, the sky is the limit.
Colt 1911 Grips
In choosing a new set of Colt 1911 grips, there is an urge to express yourself. However, dolling up a pistol should never come at the cost of performance. Grips that do not properly support the plunger tube, break under stress or do not provide a positive grip should be like bargain whiskey – avoided.
Generally, wood, G10 and aluminum all make superior grips. Each of the materials is durable, holds a texturing well and are attractive (for the most part).
Rubber isn’t out of bound. Hogue OverModled Rubber Grips offer an ergonomic option with finger grooves and are quite durable. Though, VZ Operator II or one of Chip McCormick’s wood options give a gun a more traditional look.
VZ Operator II
If you need to express yourself, better than simply picking someone else’s design, companies such as AlumaGrips give you the ability to place your own twist on your grips. Through an online process, you can upload your preferred designs and have the aluminum grips cut to your specific specifications for a truly custom look. To boot, they’re surprisingly affordable.
The new F8 sight from XS Sights puts you dead on target.
What the XS Sights F8 offers:
F8 stands for “figure eight” — a term used to describe a two-dot sight.
Each has a tritium vials, the rear under the notch.
Orange paint sourrounds the vial on the front sight.
The front post measures 0.160-inch wide.
The rear notch in the rear sight that measures 0.190-inch wide.
After more than a hundred years, we’re finally seeing real advancements in iron sights for the defensive handgun. While the rest of the world has been focused on long-range optical sights that estimate distances and correct for bullet drop, XS Sights has been quietly working on engineering affordable sights to help citizens fight bad things. The new F8 sight from XS Sights might be the best thing you can put between you and a threat.
The handgun sight has evolved a great deal from its origin. On what might be the most iconic fighting pistol of all time — the Colt Single Action Army or Peacemaker — the front sight is nothing more than a thin blade. On the original 1911, another classic fighting iron, the front sight is barely a bump. Somewhere along the line, folks began to realize, to hit what you’re shooting at, you need to be able to see your sights.
The evolution began with the notch and post sight. It became a staple on Smith & Wesson revolvers, and it was liked so well that gunsmiths began fitting it to 1911s. For a long time, practical pistol competitions were the driving force behind better handgun sights, but eventually those who carried handguns in harm’s way began to realize that, sometimes — in certain conditions — target sights could be hard to see. Not only that, but sometimes when faced with a villain, just about any sight was hard to see because focus shifted to the threat.
With the inclusion of Tritium vials in handgun sights, the night sight was born. Eventually, this morphed into the three-dot night sight, with three tritium vials, one in the front sight and one on each side of the rear sight notch.
When you shoot a handgun properly, you focus on the front sight (F8-2). With traditional sights — especially combined with bad eyes — this can make the rear sight a near-oblivious blur. With the F8 sight, the front and rear sight stand out, regardless which one you focus on.
Tritium made sights easy to see in low light but helped little or none at all in normal conditions. One problem was the front sight was still small, and the notch you had to fit it into was small, too. The popular wedge-type sight pioneered by Wayne Novak was possibly the ultimate expression of — and most copied — three-dot sight.
The Big Dot Sight
A smart sheriff’s deputy from Texas created a better mousetrap. He realized those who hunt dangerous game face threats similar to those who might have to fight off an attacker with a handgun. The sights commonly used by dangerous game hunters had a large front sight that stood out like a pimple on the butt of a porn star, and a V-type rear blade.
Ashley Emerson designed the Big Dot sight to emulate the same sight a man on safari might use on a charging buffalo or lion. Working with an enterprising entrepreneur by the name of Ed Pastusek, they formed the company that’s now known as XS Sights.
The Big Dot sight has been my go-to sight for a long, long time. When I was hired as a special agent with the Railroad Police, I secretly installed them on my duty gun. This was more than 20 years ago, and I’ve been using them on defensive handguns ever since. Why? It was all because of a force-on-force training course. During the course, I was shoved in a semi-dark room with a pistol wearing traditional sights. I struggled to see the sights, missed the bad guy, and suffered an imaginary death.
The original XS Sights Big Dot Sight system. Notice the wide front sight and the shallow V-shaped rear.
Next, I was given a handgun outfitted with Big Dot sights. That big dot seemed to magically appear on the bad guy. When it did, multiple rounds of Simunition delivered to the same location immediately followed. In other words, I survived and painted the bad guy up rather nicely.
The beauty of the Big Dot sight is that you do not have to look for it: You see the big dot instantly, put it over the target and shoot. Their disadvantage — though mostly imagined — is that they do not allow precision shooting. I’ve never had this problem with Big Dot sights. In fact, when I took my first 250 Pistol Class at Gunsite Academy, I won the man-on-man shoot-off with a Para 1911 wearing Big Dot sights.
Others seem to have issues with the system, probably — mostly — because they simply do not practice enough. Regardless, XS Sights, which is now under the stewardship of Jon Pastusek, the late Ed Pastusek’s son, has created a new iron sight that’s sort of a hybrid cross between the company’s Big Dot sight and a traditional notch and post sight. If you threw a Big Dot Sight and a notch and post sight in a box, with a couple bottles of wine and some Sinatra music, the new XS Sights F8 sight is probably what would crawl out.
The F8 Sight
F8 stands for “figure eight,” which is a term used to describe a two-dot sight. A two-dot sight has a tritium vial in the front sight and another tritium vial centered under the notch in the rear sight. With three dot sights, you line the front dot up between the two rear dots. With a two-dot or figure eight sight, you simply place the front dot on top of the rear dot. It’s supposed to be faster and easier to align. Logically, this makes sense, but I have no idea how to definitively prove it.
For fast sight alignment, a wide rear notch is necessary. This is why the V-type rear sight on the XS Big Dot sight system is so fast.
Another feature of the F8 sight is its wide front post. Most commonly, defensive handgun front sights measure about 0.135-inch wide. The F8 front post measures 0.160-inch wide. The wide F8 front sight is paired with a notch in the rear sight that measures 0.190-inch wide. The result is a sight picture that’s fast to obtain because you have light, or space, between each side of the rear notch and each side of the front sight.
But, just like with a late-night infomercial, there’s more. The dot on the front sight contains a Tritium vial, but around that vial is a proprietary orange paint. The F8 front sight — orange dot — is only 0.020-inch smaller than the big white circle of a front sight on the XS Big Dot sight. The Tritium works great in low light, but the proprietary paint used for the orange dot seems to draw light like a railroad track draws winos. In daylight and in shade, this orange dot is like a beacon.
Testing The Theory
The goal of the F8 sight was to provide a multi-purpose defensive handgun sight that was easy to see in any light. It might be the easiest sight to see in any light and it is, unquestionably, a sight you don’t have to look for.
I mounted a set to a Glock 19 to see how well they worked. I ran that pistol and another Glock 19 with factory sights through my favorite defensive handgun drill, which is fired at 5 yards. I did this in daylight, evening and at night, five times with each pistol. For me, the F8 sight was 4 percent faster and more accurate. That might not sound like much, but in this business every little bit matters.
Another reason the F8 sights are faster and easier to see is because they’re taller than other sights. They’re not so tall they interfere with holster compatibility, but they’re tall enough they stand out. Have you ever noticed how the low front sight on a Glock can blend into the frame if your presentation is not spot-on? With the taller F8 sights, this is a non-issue. Your weapon presentation would have to be Hollywood-movie bad for you to not be able to instantly see the F8 front sight.
I’ve been a user of the XS Big Dot sights for a long time, and I never thought I’d want for anything different. Admittedly, I’m also a fan of the Wilson Combat Battlesight when it’s combined with a fiber optic front sight. The new F8 sight is, as far as I’m concerned, better than both. It’s the sight I’d much rather have between me and a bad guy, terrorist or even a werewolf.
Right now XS Sights is offering F8 sights for the Glock 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 30, 30S, 37, 41, 42 and 43. They’re also available for the Sig P320, P225, P226, P229; Springfield XD, XDm, XDs; and the FN 509. I’m sure that F8s for other handguns are soon to make their way to market. I’ll be patiently waiting for F8s to fit my 1911s and Browning Hi-Power.
The gritting of teeth is about to get deafening. Not only is the topic calibers, but 1911 calibers.
Yes, for many the only acceptable chambering of John M. Browning’s wonder pistol is .45 ACP. Hard to argue against it, the gun-cartridge combo has more than earned its due — be it in a Government, Commander, Officer or Defender model. There’s no scoffing at two World Wars and countless other conflicts, not to mention its role as a self-defense arm. Those are airtight resume bullet points. Yet, there’s no reason why the proven and potent pistol design shouldn’t stretch its legs. It certainly has over the years, successfully so.
One of the most intertwined names with the 1911 — Colt — and other gunmakers have taken the pistol far afield caliber-wise — .30 Luger, .357 Magnum, .38 Special, 10mm, .40 S&W, 9mm, 9x23mm, .22LR just to name a few. Certainly, not everyone a success, but plenty of solid variations off the original 1911 concept. So why not spread your wings, even if you’re a purist?
Colt especially has a respectable collection of 1911s in chambering other than .45 ACP, perfect for work, play and any conceivable task in between. Here are five of the best the company has to offer, breaking from the tried and true and worthy of consideration even by the most staunch 1911 absolutist. A quick gander and you too might find man does not live by Colt 1911 .45 ACP alone.
Colt Defender (9mm)
With dashing good looks, this Colt 1911 9mm is among the company’s top picks for concealed carry. It also marks quite a feat in the development of the iconic pistol. Before 2000, when the Defender hit the market, 3-inch barreled 1911s were typically a custom-made affair, at least the ones that worked without flaw.
Dolled up a bit recently, the aluminum-framed pistol comes with a genuine Novak tritium night sight up front and low-mount in the rear. The latter ensuring your draw stroke remains smooth. Additionally, the black-and-blue Cerakote finished 1911 boasts rugged and striking G10 black cherry grips, moderately textured to ensure a firm grip without discomfort — important on a micro nine.
An extended thumb safety and a 4.5- to 6-pound three-hole aluminum trigger, the pistol is easily manipulated and a sweet shooter. To boot, it’s outfitted with Colt’s Dual Spring Recoil System, reducing the 1911’s recoil and increasing spring life.
Sized for comfortable carry, the Colt 1911 9mm is a whisker over 1-inch in width and tips the scale at 24-ounces unloaded. Holding one more round than the .45 ACP version, the 9mm Defender has an 9+1 capacity. No double-stack, but more than enough ammo to handle most self-defense jobs. The hitch for some is the MSRP, at $899 it’s not a give-me. Then again, you’re getting a Colt for your money.
Delta Elite (10mm)
The 10mm pick is a bit like cheating, given the Colt Delta Elite stands alone in this caliber. Released shortly after the advent of the powerful cartridge, the 1911 continues to hit the right notes with shooters who have a taste for manageable power.
Stainless steel frame, slide and barrel, the pistol feels its 35 ounces (unloaded). Not necessarily a bad thing, given the full-sized Government Model’s heft does its part in making the recoil as bearable as most .45 ACPs. And the Colt Delta Elite’s manageability opens up the pistol’s potential. Most certainly, it has the chops as a carry or home-defense gun, but it certainly wouldn’t be out of place on the hunt.
Immediately noticeable, the large aluminum beavertail grip safety provides abundant protection from slide cuts. Additionally, the black composite grips (with Delta Medallions) give a solid purchase, along with enhancing its spartan good looks. Outfitted with Novak three-dot sights, low-mount carry on the rear, and rounded edges, the Colt Delta Elite is smooth out of the holster. With an extended thumb safety and deep cocking serrations, the 8+1 capacity pistol is a dream to operate. And traditional barrel bushing and recoil-spring guide make it equally simple to field strip. The 10mm most definitely runs Colt prices, though the $1,199 MSRP is worth it for its power and performance.
Government 1911 .22LR
There are plenty of plinkers, but few with the gravitas of Colt’s classic rimfire. Manufactured by Walther and imported by Umarex USA, the Colt Government 1911 .22LR is touted as the only “only genuine Colt tactical rimfire replica available in the world today.” Modeled after the 1911A1, it has the feel of the legendary and battle-tested U.S. Military handgun, but with the appeal of inexpensive and downright fun shooting.
Keeping things relatively true to form, the Colt 1911 22 weighs in at 36-ounces empty, which has to put it near the top in heft for rimfire pistols. As expected, this weight makes shooting the pistol seem nearly like firing an airgun, with the added benefit of improving its accuracy.
Interestingly, the gun does not get its heft from extensive use of steel, instead from a cast zinc-alloy frame. The material is steel backed for added resiliency and is matched with an aluminum slide. The 1911 features a fully functional slide lock and release, left-side thumb safety and grip safety. A similar design to the centerfire original, the beavertail is slightly elongated, ensuring the slide doesn’t sink its teeth into your hand. The hammer of the blow-back pistol is a traditional spur and incorporates a half-cock notch. Plenty of firepower, the 5-inch barreled pistol has a 12+1 capacity and really doesn’t break the bank. Competitively priced with other class rimfire pistols, the Colt Government 1911 .22LR has an MSRP of $399.
Mustang Pocketlite (.380 ACP)
A Colt 1911 .380 ACP in the truest sense? Not exactly. The Mustang breaks from the herd on a number of design points — polymer guide rod, no barrel bushing nor grip safety. Yet, the pocket pistol’s heart is in the classic design, providing a dependable and familiar carry gun equally ideal as a primary or backup piece. The right holster, the pistol is nearly perfect in a pocket or positioned on the ankle, if you’re looking to veer away from traditional carry positions.
It’s a straight blowback operation, which would make you expect a sharp recoil. But the pistol is much tamer than similar .380s available today — most likely due to its short 2.75-inch barrel not giving a chance for all the powder to burn. Yes, this reduces the velocity (what did you expect with such a short barrel) but does wonders for the rate of fire. You can chew through 6+1 rounds as fast as you can pull the trigger, which may not be a quick as you think. The pistol has a near double-action pull weight, despite being a single-action semi-auto.
The aluminum-frame (electroless nickeled finished) is mated with a stainless steel slide and outfitted with a fixed front sight and dovetail rear. Definitely geared toward the affordable end of the carry market, the Mustang comes in a bit above what many would like to pay for a .380 with an MSRP of $599.
Competition SS (.38 Super)
At one time, it was among the world’s most powerful cartridge. Now, the .38 Super has nearly been forgotten. A shame, given it really is a spectacular round, especially in defensive use. The manageable and powerful cartridge was, after all, designed to defeat body armor and the sheet steel of car bodies.
Today, the cartridge continues to live on mainly with competitive shooters and Colt has a dynamite way of launching the souped-up .380 ACP — the Competition SS. Born to run, the Colt .38 Super has all the features you need to beat the clock out of the box. Chief among these, the gun’s 5-inch National Match barrel, Novak adjustable rear and fiber optic front sights and Colt’s Dual Recoil Spring System. The springs really do a number, noticeably tamping down the 36-ounce pistol’s recoil so you can reach your full accuracy potential in rapid fire. As does a crisp three-hole aluminum trigger, which breaks at 4.5 to 6 pounds.
Enough stainless steel to outfit an operating room and slick blue G10 grips, the Competition SS looks fast to boot. Checkered and scalloped, the grips also facilitate a rock-solid handle on the gun, giving you shot-to-shot confidence. Of course, it is priced like a Colt — a Competition Series Colt. But the sticker shock isn’t as great as you’d figure for what you get — $1,049.
A handloader’s recipes are usually the result of hours of toil, hard work and experimentation. Some are closely guarded, as if they were an alchemist’s formula, while others are freely shared — and some consider their recipes to be the final word on a particular cartridge/bullet combination. They are — more often than not — just a snapshot, being applicable to a particular rifle and/or barrel. Just as factory-loaded ammunition might give stellar performance in one rifle yet give the owner of another rifle fits of rage, a handload recipe is not universal to all rifles.
Brass cases and nickel-plated cases have shown to print to different points of impact. The author uses the different types for different loads within the same caliber.
I’ve stumbled upon a few loads that have worked very well in a number of different rifles, but there are always one or two guns that simply don’t like that load. There’s nothing wrong with the load … it’s just that the combination of components don’t agree with a particular barrel. Hey, some folks love seafood, but it simply doesn’t agree with my digestive track — that doesn’t make seafood bad, it just makes for a disagreeable combination.
Even our reloading manuals are simply a report on the findings for a particular barrel used in the testing, which is why the data needs to be interpreted with a grain of salt and taken in context. Barrel length, land/groove dimensions and all those subtle little variations can play a big part in speed, accuracy and consistency, all of which make or break a recipe. And, should you change any of the components of the recipe, you might quickly find yourself back at the drawing board.
Variances In Bullet Profiles
Consistency in all your components is paramount to accurate shooting.
You might look at the load data for the .30-06 Springfield within one of the major manufacturer’s manuals and see all of the 180-grain bullets lumped into one category, with — what seems to be — definitive load data for them all. But, included in the mix, might be a 180-grain round-nose flat-base bullet and a sleek spitzer boat-tail. It’s easy to see that the two bullets have different bearing surfaces and will most definitely generate different pressures. So, when changing bullet profiles — not bullet weights — it makes perfect sense to expect a change in performance. It might require starting from the beginning, redeveloping the load for the new bullet.
Primer Particulars
The same can be said for primers. I clearly remember the hunt for components just 5 years ago, when factory ammo was virtually nonexistent and even reloading supplies were a rarity. You bought any suitable primers you could find and worried about the rest later. I found, while having to substitute one brand for another, that there were radical differences in the load performance even within the same designation. I’m not talking about using a magnum primer where my recipe called for a standard, just switching primer brands. I’m talking about a huge shift in velocity, enough to change the point of impact as much a 5-6 inches, or to put the muzzle velocity figures all over the map.
Different brands of primers can have a radical effect on ammunition performance. Once you’ve developed a load with a certain primer, stick with it.
So, keep in mind that the brand of primer can and will drastically alter your handload, and once you obtain the results you want, you’ll need to keep a fair amount of that particular primer on hand. If you’re forced to change primer brands, once again you’ll have to start the load development over.
Case Consistencies
Sorting cases by weight has shown tighter groups in some rifl es, making the task well worth the effort.
The brand and type of case can also have a big impact on your loads. I once decided to switch to nickel-plated cases in my .300 Win. Mag., and I thought I’d bumped the riflescope because the point of impact changed 4 inches up and to the right when I changed from traditional brass cases. I left my previous load in the brass cases and used the nickel cases for a different bullet.
Wall thickness can also play a major part in the consistency of your loads, and mixing brands can easily bring the issue to bear. It doesn’t seem to be nearly as bad in the lower pressure cartridges, but it will rear its ugly head in the magnums rather quickly. Again, I do my best to keep things consistent by separating the cases into lots if using fired cases, and by choosing one particular brand. I love Norma brass for its consistency, and Lapua brass is also excellent if you’re after the best results. I’ve had some stellar results from good old Remington, Winchester and Federal brass, as well as Hornady and Nosler, but I’ve had some hellish experiences trying to mix and match case brands. I know guys who will actually weigh out cases to get the most consistent results from their loads.
Powder Parallels
Four different .30-caliber bullets, all weighing 180 grains. You can see they all have different conformations and different bearing surfaces. They each require an individual load for the best performance.
Obviously, we weigh our powder charges, but even the same brand of powder can show variations in performance. I know the guys from Norma Precision, who handload all the ammunition for their African PH line, will test the lots of powder they use to verify that the performance is uber-consistent, and they will make variations in the load to ensure their velocities maintain the level required for proper regulation in the double rifles.
Sometimes, when you reach for a new pound of your favorite powder, you might find a slight change in the group size. This seems to have been minimized in the modern powder developments, but it’s a phenomenon that I’ve seen before. The variations may be slight, but it certainly can happen.
Bullet Balance
Bullets can also bring some variations into the mix. If you want to get really geeky, weigh out your bullets on a good scale and you’ll see how much they vary. When we’re loading for long-range precision, we’ll separate the bullets into lots to the nearest half-grain, and it has improved group sizes. Some brands are more consistent than others, and you might end up with more piles than you expected, but it will help in the accuracy department. It really doesn’t matter if the bullet varies from the advertised weight — a 179.0-grain bullet will work just as well as a 180.0 grainer— just so long as it’s consistent.
We put forth all sorts of effort in preparing our cases and in our loading techniques, and we should exercise the same caution when gathering components. Start with the best, keep it as consistent as you can, and you’ll have the success you’re after.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
By equipping your custom AR-15 .300 Blackout with night vision, you can shop for all the pork you could possibly want.
What you need in a hog-hunting AR-15:
Hogs are tough characters. Use the largest caliber AR you can still shoot quickly.
Nighttime is hog time, and night vision optics are more accessible and affordable than ever.
If pork is on your grocery list, consider a weapons light and suppressor for your custom AR-15.
This is a FLIR thermal optic on a .300 Blackout carbine. It offers an affordable thermal sight, with a cost under three grand, and ruggedness enough to last through a lot of nighttime hog-whacking.
The world is being over-run. On the seas, the water is filling with jellyfish. On land, hogs. Or so it seems, at times. Hogs are productive (at least when it comes to making more hogs), adaptable and smart. They are also quite destructive, at least from the perspective of farmers and ranchers.
A squadron of hogs can pretty much reduce a plot of crops to a muddy mess in the course of a weekend. Shooting them is not considered hunting in most locales, especially the ones that suffer from their presence. No, it is pest eradication.
The process is not sniping or whacking a single hog, the big, trophy hog. No, the idea is to get as many of them as possible at each opportunity.
The ATN Night Arrow is an integrated night vision and optic with a built-in reticle. You only need it, not an optic and an NVG.
Complicating this is the cleverness of the hogs. They are smart enough to know what is going on, and ornery enough to not like it. If you hunt hogs, they will adapt. Quickly. Ambush a new fleet of them on a nice sunny day, and they will move to dawn and dusk. Go after them then, and they will hole up in the light hours and come out only at night. This doesn’t take long if the ones you are hunting having been briefed by others, and they are already starting at night.
So, you’ll be using specialty optics. Before we get to that, there is the matter of caliber.
I’ve been told that the .223/5.56 is marginal, that the .300 Blackout is enough or marginal, and that everything up to a tactical nuke is “marginal.”
Yes, they are tough, but they are not all the size of Buicks. You can use whatever you want, like, have or are recommended. My suggestion on caliber is this: consider the biggest one with the stoutest load that you can shoot quickly and accurately. A .300 blackout that you can hit with at the rate of 3-4 shots per second is probably better than a .458 Socom that you can hit with at the rate of 3-4 shots in ten seconds.
A removable night vision scope is great for nighttime pest control. You can move it from one rifle to another and not change zero, since the zero is in the optic that this sits in front of.
Use the biggest caliber that you can hit fast with.
Then scope it up.
Since the hogs will be out at night, you will want to use night vision gear. Also known by the acronym NVG, or NODs, these are photomultipliers that let you see in dim light. Starlight, in fact. Even a hint of moon helps, but it helps the hogs, too. Overcast makes NVG useless, as it hasn’t anything to magnify.
NVG
Night vision comes in two types, add-ons and weaponsights. The add-ons are just night vision multipliers. They take in the ambient light, crank it up thousands of times, and pump it out as a video picture in a small TV screen on the back of the unit.
This is the ubiquitous “green screen” image we see in movies and TV shows. The image is not nearly as hi-res as your smartphone, in part because the expense of making it such would be hideous, and in part because the volume of production can’t support that cost.
Each pixel you see in the image on your NVG is a “pipe” of the multiplier. If you wanted to double the resolution, you would have to double the number of microscopic pipes that are used by the photomultiplier to produce that image.
The ATN in front of the magnifying optic.
You mount the NVG on your rifle with your regular aiming optic already mounted behind it. You look through your scope, at the image of the NVG, and as long as your scope was properly zeroed, you get hits.
The big advantage here is that you can install the scope, zero it, and know it is on. Then put the NVG on when you need it, and take it off when you don’t, and not change your zero.
The disadvantage is that you have two scopes, with their combined weight, on the rifle at night. When night shooting was sniping and single shots, this wasn’t a problem. When trying to whack a whole herd of hogs before they can flee, extra weight is a problem.
The setup is exemplified by my ATN NVG. This is a day/night system, where you mount it for night and take it off for the day. This is not to be confused with a Day-Night scope, which can be used at both times of day. Behind it, use the scope of your choice. I generally don’t use anything with more magnification than 10X. The reason is simple: you are not magnifying 10X on the NVG as you would be in the day.
The daytime “resolution” of the world is beyond the parameters of the 2K, 4K, 8K digital methodology. When you zoom up in your scope, you see 10X closer of an object that can be viewed microscopically if you had the gear.
Yes, it is not uncommon for there to be a bit of misalignment between the magnifying optic and the NVG. This can be corrected with a set of rings to adjust the optic to the axis of the NVG. A small problem in the scheme of things, and a slight mismatch isn’t an impediment to good shooting.
When you zoom up to 10X on an NVG display, you are zooming up on a screen that is 640×480 in resolution. If you go X enough, you simply see pixels you can’t turn into an image.
So, use as much as you want, but realize that you run into the law of diminishing returns really quickly.
Weaponmount
Here, the NVG device has an aiming reticle built in. The advantage is simple: you only have the one device to deal with, and no extra weight. (Assuming your weapon mount NVG is no heavier than the plain NVG.) The disadvantages are many, even if each is minor.
You are stuck with the reticle it came with, or the reticle choices you could order it in. If you don’t like what they offer, too bad. It only works at night. Oh, makers offer a front cap with a pinhole in it, for “use in the daylight,” but this is a pretty marginal compromise. And if the cap comes off in the daytime when you have the NVG turned on, you risk burning it out in short order. If you are only ever going to use it for night-time hog shooting, no problem. But if it is your one-and-only AR, problem.
There will be little, if any, magnification. You have what amounts to a night vision equivalent of a red-dot scope.
When you use NVG, you are magnifying existing light. To get more light, you need an illumination device that projects a beam in the infrared. Surefire can do that for you, with the Vampire, a white light or IR selectable light.
Generations
The technology used to produce an intensified image is rated by what “generation” it hails from. Basically, the lower the gen, the older the tech and the lower the results. The generations are 1, 2 and 3. There are other descriptors used by manufacturers, and there are some who are using a “Gen 4” description, but that isn’t an official government generation.
Basically, the newer the technology the more a unit costs, even if the housing and all the details are the same. In one instance, going from a Gen 2+ (some enhancements over a Gen 2, but not an official designation) up to a Gen 4 (again, not official) brings the cost from $1,700 up to $6,000.
There is also the matter of quality. The multipliers are made by bundling the microfibers together, processing them to create the core of the system, and then measuring them for performance. A core with a “dead” or inoperative tube will have a black spot in the image.
The manufacturing process is still art as much as science. The government has a standing order for the top-quality cores. If there are any left over after the government nabs all the ones they want/need, then the top-quality ones come down to use. Otherwise, we get the ones with the occasional black dot in the image.
This EOTech LWTS is a thermal sight that will let you rapidly depopulate the hog cohorts. The only problem is the price, currently $14,000. That’s a lot of hog-shooting expense, but at night, it rules.
NVG Boosters
You can see more at night with NVG if there is light to see by. The way to do that is with infra-red. NVG is somewhat sensitive to IR, and if you use an IR floodlight or laser, you can boost what you see. Also, if you are in a hunting party for hogs using NVG, if anyone has an IR flood then everyone has one, at least where the flood is pointed.
Heat
Then there are “thermal” sights. These are sensitive to the infra-red spectrum. Now, the NVG gear is, also, but it isn’t sensitive enough to “see” anything but an IR laser. (That’s the green beam, in the green screen, you see in action movies.)
Hogs are not easy to stop. The more horsepower you can bring to the party, the better. The Wilson Combat in .338 Federal has plenty.
Thermal is the new NVG, and the prices are coming down while the resolution is going up. By seeing the infra-red spectrum, thermal sees where image intensifiers don’t. Even a little bit of a brush screen can hide something from a NVG. But if it is giving off heat, the thermal will see right through the thin screen of brush. It takes a lot to hide thermal.
Thermals, like NVG, come in viewers and aiming optics. Being new, you can take the price of a regular NVG, multiply it by five or six, and you have the price of a similar thermal.
Sound
Suppressors don’t hide the sound of the shot well enough to keep hogs from knowing they’ve been shot at. And they certainly don’t hide the “thump” of the bullet hitting a hog in the group, which alerts the rest, even if the reaction of the one being hit hadn’t so-warned them.
But it can hide the location of the shot well enough that they don’t know which direction to run for safety. A group will scatter, and some may even run towards you, as well as some away and to the side.
If you are going to hunt hogs at night, you’ll need some sort of image improvement and aiming system and a suppressor. Otherwise you’re just wasting your time.
There’s a reason why you need a fast-acquisition optic on your carbine.
There’s no relegating iron sights to the ash heap. Like a faithful guard dog, they’re ever vigilant, ready to serve and, in a pinch, save your life. It’s worth even going so far as to say that, outside your deer rifle or long-range wonder-gun, it’s plum foolish not to have a set of iron sights on your firearm – be it pistol, carbine or shotgun. At least, in a backup role.
Dependability and simplicity of iron sights duly noted, there’s nothing on the books that says they’re required to be your sole aiming solution. In fact, with the advancements in fast-acquisition optics, the failure to harness technology is as equally imprudent as jettisoning the tried and true. The advantage is there, might as well use it.
Running a barrier drill at Double Eagle Tactical Training, the potential of modern optics rings out as clear as a bullet striking a steel plate for Phil Massaro. The SIG ROMEO4H red dot makes marksmanship nearly a point-and-shoot affair, allowing the Gun Digest author to concentrate on precise tactical movements instead.
In the real world with a life in the balance, what shooter wouldn’t want to make aiming as intuitive as a trigger pull and focus instead on staying out of the line of fire? Imagine a jigger of adrenaline thrown in on top, then contemplate whether you want one illuminated red dot or a notch and blade to place a lifesaving shot.
Additionally, there’s a little matter of keeping both eyes open. Easier to accomplish – at least with a long gun – with an optic, the red dot enhances situational awareness.
In real life this is a decisive upper hand, allowing the identification and neutralization of multiple targets with greater ease. After all, it’s the one you don’t see that will most likely get you.
As another historic John M. Browning design, the first successful rimfire semi-auto pistol would later become the Colt Woodsman.
What makes the Colt Woodsman popular with gun collectors:
Designed by John M. Browning.
First successful rimfire semi-auto .22 pistol.
One of the most popular pistols of the early 20th century.
Was extensively hand fitted.
Now 40 years since they were in the Colt catalog.
Collectors categorize three groups, First (Pre-Woodsman), Second and Third series.
Some specimens can are valued at more than $4,000.
The classy Colt Woodsman .22 rimfire was one of the most popular pistols in America during the first half of the 20th century. In production from 1915 to 1977, the Colt factory in Hartford turned out more than 600,000 of the various Woodsman models. This total includes the Huntsman, Challenger and Targetsman — economy variations without features like adjustable sights, hold-open actions and thumb rests.
This is a Second Series Match Target manufactured in 1968.
Like most guns that were introduced in the early 1900s, the Colt Woodsman required a lot of hand fitting that would make it quite expensive today. Were it not for this, the guns of the Woodsman family probably would still be in production. It has now been more than 40 years since these models were in the Colt catalog, which adds to their popularity on the used gun and collector markets. “They aren’t making them anymore” is a frequent phrase heard when gun collectors get together.
The great gun designer John M. Browning came up with the original model of what later would become known as the Woodsman. His design was one of a significant historic nature; it was the first successful rimfire semi-auto pistol. Other gunmakers were plagued with functioning problems due to the rimmed cartridges hanging up in the magazine. Browning’s answer was a slanted magazine that positioned each cartridge slightly in front of the one below it, preventing the rims from catching on each other.
In 1911, Browning obtained a patent and then sold his design to Colt. Two of the company’s engineers, G.H. Tansley and F.C. Chadwick, made some minor changes and in 1915, the “Colt Caliber .22 Target Model” was introduced. That was the name of the pistol until 1927.
Made near the end of the Pre-War series, this Colt Woodsman Sport Model came out of the Colt Hartford factory in 1941.
Colt originally saw the Caliber .22 Target Model as a pistol for the target shooter, as the name implied. It was indeed popular for use on paper targets, but it also soon became a favorite of small-game hunters, trappers, hikers, fishermen, campers and other outdoorsmen. Hence, the new name “Woodsman” was chosen and that name appeared on the receiver starting at about serial number 54,000, in 1927.
The Pre-Woodsman and the first Woodsman Target models were designed to only be used with standard-velocity .22 Long Rifle ammunition. In 1932 changes were made in the mainspring housing to handle the higher pressures of high-velocity ammunition and all subsequent models were given this treatment. This change was phased in between serial numbers 81000 and 86000. The best way to tell which ammo should be used is to examine the mainspring housing. A checkered pattern in this location means it is one of the older guns and should only be used with standard-velocity ammunition. A pattern of grooved horizontal lines indicates it is a later model, designed for high-velocity ammo.
Recognized by its target logo and “elephant ear” walnut grips, this is a 1st Series Match Target Model, circa 1938.
Woodsman collectors categorize the different variations of the gun into three main groups:
Woodsman Match Target 1938-1942 (6 5/8-inch heavier barrel)
Military Woodsman Match Target 1942-1944 (6 5/8-inch barrel) U.S. Property or U.S. Military markings, extended plastic stocks
Second Series (1947-1955)
Woodsman Target (6-inch barrel)
Woodsman Sport (4½-inch barrel)
Woodsman Match Target (4½- or 6-inch barrel)
Challenger (6-inch barrel)
Third Series (1955-1977)
Woodsman Target (6-inch barrel)
Woodsman Sport (4½-inch barrel)
Woodsman Match Target (4½- or 6-inch barrel)
Huntsman (4½- or 6-inch barrel)
Targetsman (6-inch barrel)
Various changes in features and options were made from one series to the next. On the First Series, the magazine release was at the heel of the grip. On the Second Series, this feature was a round push-button located behind the left side of the trigger guard, the same location as on the Colt 1911/1911A1 pistols. With the Third Woodsman Series, the magazine release was moved back to the heel of the butt.
One of the most popular Colt Woodsman models is the Sport variation of the Third Series, manufactured from 1911 to 1977.
On the First Series, the rear sight was adjustable for windage and the front for elevation. Colt referred to these as “adjustable sights,” but a fully adjustable rear sight was only available on the Match Target model. With the Second Series, the fully adjustable rear became standard on all Colt Woodsman models. Other Second Series changes included an automatic slide stop to hold the action open after the last round was fired, a lanyard ring in the butt and a thumb rest on the left side of the wooden grip.
Economy models, such as the Challenger, Huntsman and Targetsman, lacked most of the features mentioned above. All had fixed sights except for a lower-priced adjustable rear on the Targetsman.
Estimated Colt Woodsman Values
Estimated values courtesy 2018 Standard Catalog of Firearms. FIRST SERIES Pre-Woodsman NIB Exc. V.G. Good Fair Poor $2,800 $2,200 $1,400 $850 $350 $200
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 of the best concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
