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Building The Perfect AR-15 From The Ground Up

By
Tiger McKee
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0

Here’s a piece-by-piece peek into how AR expert Tiger McKee builds all his guns.

What goes into a fighting AR-15?

The best thing about the AR platform is its modular design: You can configure it to fit any application, assembling an AR to meet your specific needs. I’m often asked about how my AR is set up, so I thought this would be a good time to share my setup with you.

Perfect-AR-15-4

Search For Simplicity

The primary purpose for my AR is self-defense, and therefore it’s lightweight — just a tad over 6 pounds. You never know how long you might have to carry your rifle or carbine. The last time we had bad tornadoes here, there was lootin’ ‘n shootin’ in areas nearby. We carried our ARs for 3 days until things settled down. Regardless of the application, unless you only shoot off a bench, weight is always an issue.

Simplicity is another goal, and it’s a concept I apply to all my long guns. The simpler the setup, the easier it is to use under stress. This is especially true for self-defense, when circumstances are likely to be less than ideal.

The Sling

My sling is a simple two-point design with a quick-release buckle. It’s normally used as a carry sling, looping over the support side shoulder. If I need both hands-free, it’s looped over my neck — what I call a “hasty” sling. Looping over the neck can get tiring, even with a lightweight carbine, so for use over extended periods of time I run my support arm through the sling and use it as a tactical sling. A quick-release buckle is mandatory to be able to get loose of the rifle if necessary. It’s a simple design, but it does everything I need. The simplicity concept carries over to other parts of my AR, too.

Stock Selection

I prefer fixed stocks to adjustable models, and use Magpul’s MOE rifle stock almost exclusively. It’s shorter than the A2-length stock, which is a little too long for many shooters. The comb of the stock is wider and sloping, providing a positive, consistent cheek weld. The butt is shaped just right to fit into the pocket of the shoulder, and it has a storage compartment for oil, batteries and other essentials, such as small parts that might need replacing in the field — or small survival items.

In addition, there are multiple locations to attach the sling. I like it on the left rear so, when slung, the carbine lays flat against my body. (Magpul has the same shaped stock in an adjustable version.) On the left side of the stock is a SOF tourniquet.

Grabbing A Grip

If the AR has a design flaw, it’s the sharp corner between the grip and trigger guard. When manipulating the AR, you normally control it with the strong hand on the grip. This places a lot of weight on that “corner,” so it bites into your middle finger.

Any sling that will be looped around the body should have a quick-disconnect buckle. Whether you need to swap shoulders due to an injury or you’re getting dragged down the road ‘cause the sling is hooked on a truck bumper — you need to get free immediately.
Any sling that will be looped around the body should have a quick-disconnect buckle. Whether you need to swap shoulders due to an injury or you’re getting dragged down the road ‘cause the sling is hooked on a truck bumper — you need to get free immediately.

The DuckBill Tactical grip has an extension that smoothes out the transition between grip and trigger guard, alleviating the potential for getting scars on your middle finger. This is important: If your rifle causes pain, you won’t practice, and repetition is mandatory to learn and apply your skills.

The Handguard

Eugene Stoner — considered the father of the AR — was a genius in the ergonomics department. The original ARs had triangular or delta-shaped handguards, which fit the hand really well. But, the design had two problems: The material they were made of cracked and broke easily, and each side required a separate mold to make — one for the left side and one for the right. Later versions of the AR/M16 used round handguards made of stronger material and a single mold.

These days, Precision Reflex Incorporated makes a delta-shaped handguard out of carbon fiber, the Gen III forearm. It fits your hands well, is ultra durable and has plenty of locations to attach a Pic rail as needed. Depending on the position I’m shooting from, I grab the front of the sling in my fist to add stability, so I attach the front sling to the bottom of the handguard.

Vertical Grips

Vertical grips were designed for full-auto fire because the handguard gets too hot to hold. I don’t use vertical grips because they have some disadvantages for general use. First, you’re holding the grip well below the barrel, so all the weight is up high. Think about holding a really heavy lollipop by the stick … it wants to tilt over to the left or right.

Vertical grips also limit where you can locate the support hand, and the location of the support hand varies according to what body position you’re firing from. On top of all that, vertical grips restrict where you can brace or rest the handguard against an object for stability. Simple works well, and it’s versatile.

Sights And Lights

The author is a big fan of Daniel Defense’s A1.5 rear sight because, if the primary red-dot fails, there’s a backup ready for use. It doesn’t have elevation adjustment, but “simple is easy” is key.
The author is a big fan of Daniel Defense’s A1.5 rear sight because, if the primary red-dot fails, there’s a backup ready for use. It doesn’t have elevation adjustment, but “simple is easy” is key.

The “keep it simple” concept also applies to my sights. I use Aimpoint’s “Micro” red-dots. They’re small, rugged and dependable, and they come in several different versions. The sight also stays activated, so if I have to grab it in a hurry I don’t have to worry about turning it on. The battery lasts a long time, but just to be safe I change the battery every other month.

Regardless of what type of optic you run on your AR, you need back-up sights. I prefer fixed sights, and on my favorite rig the front is a standard fixed post, and the rear is a Daniel Defense A1.5 clamp-on that attaches to the Pic rail of the receiver. The Aimpoint is mounted in a 1/3 co-witness position, so the iron sights appear in the bottom third of the red-dot’s window. If the red-dot stops working, all I have to do is lower my cheek weld slightly, acquire the iron sights and keep shooting. If you have flip-up sights, I recommend keeping them up and ready for use.

All long guns for self-defense must have a light. Yes, there are techniques for using a hand-held light, but a weapon-mounted light makes things simple. I use Streamlight’s Super Tac, which is lightweight and simple to use. It’s mounted at an 11 o’clock position, which works well for rolling to the right, left or over the top of cover, and for clearing corners.

The left thumb operates the light, which features a push of the button for momentary light and a click for on and off. The bezel is designed so it throws a wide beam, but it also has an intense cone in the center that allows for identification of objects well past 100 yards. A quick-release scope mount clamped on the light attaches it to the rail on the handguards.

You Gotta Have Good Guts

A sure way to spark a debate between AR shooters is to bring up triggers. As I mentioned previously, my ARs are for self-defense, so a match or competition trigger is not an option. Using a trigger that’s too light under stressful conditions is a sure way to cause negligent, unintentional discharges, and those are scary.

ALG’s ACT trigger is my idea of the “perfect” trigger. It’s an enhanced mil-spec assembly with smoothed surfaces, and it features a nickel-boron-coated trigger with a Teflon coating on the hammer, disconnector and pins. The group comes with two springs that provide a 4½- or 5½-pound trigger pull. I run the 5½-pound spring.

Even though this AR isn’t a precision rifle, it’s still capable of shooting tight groups. The key is using a 2-MOA dot and getting the proper zero so shots are striking in the center of the dot.
Even though this AR isn’t a precision rifle, it’s still capable of shooting tight groups. The key is using a 2-MOA dot and getting the proper zero so shots are striking in the center of the dot.

The bolt group is probably the most critical part of the AR. I run nickel-boron-coated bolt carriers and bolts. They’re slick and easy to clean. Inside the bolt I run the Colt Gold extractor spring. I use the original style solid firing pin retaining pin, as opposed to the split cotter pin found in most bolt groups. The solid pins don’t get bent out of shape and are easier to install.

For the small parts — ejector spring, gas rings and other springs, detents and pins — I use Colt parts. I know Colt doesn’t make all their parts, but I can rest assured that they will be true mil-spec. To cycle everything, I use a Mech Armor Defense ambidextrous charging handle, which is well designed and almost bulletproof.

A True Custom Fit

That’s my defensive AR. Most all my other ARs are set up similarly. They are frighteningly similar in fact, which means regardless of which one I’m working with, it’s the same manual of arms.

Is my setup the perfect configuration for you? Maybe not, but you can take the same principles and apply them to your application.

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

Self-Defense: The Mystery Of Stopping Power

By
Patrick Sweeney
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The subject of stopping power is often brought up when discussing defensive caliber and ammo options. But, what does it mean — and how important is it?

What is stopping power and does it matter?:

Before we go any further, let‘s make one thing clear: We are discussing lethal threat encounters. I’m not talking about a fist fight at a backyard BBQ, unless you live in a place where those things commonly turn into gunfights. We’re talking a lethal threat, situations that fulfill the legal requirements for “I feared for my life, your honor,” and nothing else.

Stopping power? Really? You want to argue stopping power, with your magnum and its 240 grains, against this 12-gauge slug, at 528 grains (1.2 ounces, by the way)?
Stopping power? Really? You want to argue stopping power, with your magnum and its 240 grains, against this 12-gauge slug, at 528 grains (1.2 ounces, by the way)?

The requirements differ, depending on the jurisdiction in which you live or find yourself at the moment, whether or not you are a sworn law enforcement officer.

Before we can even begin to try and wrap our heads and hands around a stopping power theory, we must have a grasp of what goes on in a situation where we might use a firearm.

An understanding of the word “anecdote” is important to our discussion. An anecdote is a story, lesson or event that stands alone. A bad guy gets shot with a given cartridge, and he does or does not stop doing bad things. That event is an anecdote. It’s important to keep in mind this important point: The plural of anecdote is not data.

In order for the event to be a piece of data, we’d have to know everything about it: the victim’s mindset, chemical state (if any), plans and determination; the caliber, velocity and construction of the bullet; and the exact path of the wound track. Lacking all of the above, we cannot do more than call it an anecdote. The more of those variables we have, the better we can assign confidence in the information we have, and place it with the thousands of others we’d need to plot a reasonably accurate graph.

A theoretical example: A given police department issues two types of 9mm ammunition. One is a lightweight, high-speed bullet, the other a full-weight moderate-velocity load. The department tracks the results in shootings and finds that the X load is more effective than the Y load. This is useful if the ammunition is evenly distributed in the department and if it is evenly distributed in lethal force encounters. However, if the X load is issued to the SWAT team and the Y load is for general use, then to misquote the Spaniard in The Princess Bride: “I don’t think that information means what you think it means.”

If the SWAT team has a more frequent range schedule and is composed of officers who have demonstrated greater firearms proficiency, then the difference in effectiveness might be a matter of marksmanship and not terminal ballistics. If you don’t know the differences between the two groups, then the information is anecdotal at best, and not data. This makes it difficult to measure the effectiveness of load X used in one department compared to load Y used in a different department.

Determining Lethality

Stopping power? Really? You want to argue stopping power, with your magnum and its 240 grains, against this 12-gauge slug, at 528 grains (1.2 ounces, by the way)?
Stopping power? Really? You want to argue stopping power, with your magnum and its 240 grains, against this 12-gauge slug, at 528 grains (1.2 ounces, by the way)?

Here’s a conundrum for you: Modern medical knowledge and physicians’ skills are so good in the 21st century that four out of five people shot with a handgun survive the encounter. In fact, it’s a much greater percentage if the victim arrives at the hospital with a pulse. Think about that.

But, it’s the potential for lethality that defines the tool you will use, not the actual. Your neighborhood kids, playing baseball, are doing so with objects that could, in different circumstances, be lethal weapons. However, that does not in and of itself mean anything. The bad guy who just demanded your wallet, and upon receiving it is still winding up to strike you, has a lethal weapon.

We are not, however, concerned with lethality. Lethality is not our goal. A .22 LR can be lethal. Indeed, people have died from lesser projectiles. We are not interested in lethality. However, in defense with lethal force, we use force that may well be lethal itself. Until phasers set on stun are available to us, the only option remains the use of tools that are potentially lethal by their very design. That, or surrender.

I thought not.

So, if stopping power is a myth, why do we search for it so enthusiastically? Because in a bad situation, we want every assurance that things will work out all right. And that leads us to the first step in understanding stopping power: Most of the time it’s mental.

The Two Sides Of Stopping Power

To speak of “stopping power” in handguns is to miss the point. If you really want to be stopping things — people, animals and vehicles — you need to drastically up your game. This 12-gauge slug is 1 ounce and travels at 1,600 fps. No handgun does that.
To speak of “stopping power” in handguns is
to miss the point. If you really want to be stopping things — people, animals and vehicles — you need to drastically up your game. This 12-gauge slug is 1 ounce and travels at 1,600 fps. No handgun does that.

There are two aspects to a fight: mental and physical. If someone is mentally prepared and psychologically attuned, they will be able to bring all their physical skills to the process. Those skills might not amount to much, but they can bring all of them to the table.

On the flip side, someone unprepared and/or psychologically untrained will react quite differently, regardless of physical capabilities. There’s also the matter of prior conditioning. Mental state and expectation play a big part in the results of conflict.

On the physical side, there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that your opponent has, through evolution, been created as a difficult opponent. Key parts of his anatomy are armored, he has redundancy in critical systems. His body will adapt to injury and, if given even a short time and minimal care, he can heal and rebuild. He’s equipped with fast reflexes, an adaptable central processing unit and the decision-making processing power to change plans in mid-stream. He has strength, stamina, adaptability and agility.

The good news? That also describes me. And you.

Physically, there are two ways to stop an opponent. You can deal a damaging blow to the central nervous system. You can cause sufficient blood loss that blood pressure drops below the operational level. Those are it, physically.

Stopping-Power-5

Let’s take a look at a statistically significant number of lethal threat encounters. We’ll start with a nice, round number — one thousand.

A thousand times, lawfully armed citizens find themselves in a situation where a firearm is needed. Of those thousand times, somewhere between 500 and 900 will be defused by simply showing the gun. This is a subject and a number that has been greatly debated. The pro-gun side posits that the number is large, and perhaps unknowable, simply because most people in that situation do not report it.

Nine hundred incidents never happen, simply because the gun was there. Of the remaining 100, another 50 actually required it be handled. Of those 50, shots were fired, and 40 times everyone involved missed. I kid you not, people miss. They miss a lot. And that’s usually not a bad thing.

The Dilemma Of Stopping Power

Quiz time. In the 950 incidents, how important was stopping power? Anyone who gave any answer other than “not at all” ought to go back and start over. The stopping power of the firearms used, or not used, was utterly immaterial.

Stopping power may be of importance in the remaining 50, but then again maybe not. Of those 50, with shots fired, 30 of the bad guys run away as soon as they’re hit. Hit anywhere — with anything. Twenty left. Ten of them take solid hits and flee. They will need serious medical attention, but they still have enough strength to get out of Dodge.

Ten are left of our original thousand, and they fight. Some not so well, others with ferocity and tenacity. Those are the 10 we will spend the most time discussing, but they’re also the highlights that define our dilemma.

In another situation, relayed to me by a friend with decades of experience in a big city with a whole lot of crime, a bad guy breaks into the home, the homeowner phones the police and calls out, “I have a gun.” Bad guy starts up the stairs, the homeowner the whole time shouting, “I have a gun,” which is pointed at the bad guy.

Homeowner decides enough is enough; he shoots. The bad guy takes a full-power factory .44 Magnum underneath the left eye. Bad guy tumbles down the stairs, gets up and walks out of the house. When the police arrive they begin a search and find the bad guy around the corner, next to his car, keys on the ground, dead.

A council of experts could argue the question, “Was there enough stopping power?” on this one until the cows come home. On the “yes” side, the bad guy stopped doing what he was doing. On the “no” side, he decided to do something else instead, and could have spent that last minute fighting instead of fumbling with his car keys. And by the time we’re done, you’ll agree with both of them.

(Top) Testing is one thing, showing off is another. There is no correlation between melons and people, and using produce to “demonstrate” a cartridge or load is silly. (Bottom) However, demonstrations can be fun. This is that watermelon, struck by a 12-gauge slug, and those who stood too close smelled of vaporized watermelon for the rest of the day.
(Top) Testing is one thing, showing off is another. There is no correlation between melons and people, and using produce to “demonstrate” a cartridge or load is silly. (Bottom) However, demonstrations can be fun. This is that watermelon, struck by a 12-gauge slug, and those who stood too close smelled of vaporized watermelon for the rest of the day.

The dilemma of our situation, our life’s work in firearms is this — statistically speaking, caliber doesn’t matter. In 990 times out of 1,000, caliber didn’t matter.

You can quibble with the actual numbers, but the point is this: The subset of potentially lethal encounters where stopping power becomes the determinate factor is very small. You are better served with proper situational awareness, having a plan, knowing the law and being proactive than in obsessing over a few percentage points on a theoretical scale of “stopping power.” Put your effort where it will deliver the greatest return.

Also, if we were going strictly by statistics we wouldn’t be carrying a gun. It’s the job of the police to deal with crime, with violent people, and to be in harm’s way. And there are departments full of officers who have not killed anyone with their sidearm. It’s not unusual to find many departments where there’s only one officer who has been in a shooting incident. The rest? They will wear a sidearm for their entire career and might, a dozen times, point it at someone, but never discharge it in their official capacity and retire having never been in a gunfight. If that’s the police, what are the statistics for those of us who do not seek out danger as a professional requirement?

But, the third side of this two-sided coin is this: If you’re one of those 10 in 1,000 — and you do not have a gun — there and then statistics mean nothing.

So, what is stopping power? When you find a final, true, convincing answer, let me know.

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

Ammo Brief: The Whopping ‘Little’.300 WSM

By
Gun Digest Editors
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1

The relatively new .300 WSM offers the best of both worlds — power and efficiency.

Short and fast on this smoking short magnum: 

  • The .300 Winchester Short Magnum was introduced in 2000.
  • Initially, it was chambered in short, light Browning and Winchester rifles.
  • The .300 WSM duplicates .300 Win. Mag. velocities, while consuming about 10 percent less powder.
  • At one point, it and other WSM cartridges were embroiled in a legal battle over intellectual property infringements.
  • This, in part, stifled some Winchester Super Short Magnum’s popularity.
  • Though, the .300 WSM developed a robust following.

300WSM-1
Introduced in 2000 and chambered in short, light Browning and Winchester rifles, the .300 Winchester Short Magnum demonstrated a remarkably accurate ability to duplicate .300 Win. Mag. velocities, while consuming about 10 percent less powder.

The .300 WSM, an original Winchester design, fits handily into bolt-actions sized for a cartridge length of 2.860 inches. For highly efficient and consistent powder burning, the .300 WSM has a short-fat powder column geometry, a concept revered by accuracy-obsessed benchrest shooters for nearly three decades.

This cartridge — and all its Winchester Short Magnum siblings — became embroiled in a legal battle, and the end result was a less than enthusiastic appeal on the part of other manufacturers to offer rifles and/or ammunition for sale. However, unlike the Winchester Super Short Magnums that are collecting dust on the shelves or in shooters’ gun racks, the WSM line still enjoys moderate appeal, especially the .270 and .300 offerings.

300-WSM-Specs

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

New AR-15: Savage Expands MSR 15 Line With Two New Guns

By
Elwood Shelton
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Savage bolsters both ends of its MSR 15 line with long-range and pistol additions.

What’s new in Savage ARs:

  • The MSR 15 Long Range is chambered for the new .224 Valkyrie.
  • It boasts a 22-inch barrel topped with a two-port adjustable muzzle brake.
  • It also has a custom-length gas system and adjustable gas block.
  • The rifle’s MSRP is $1,849.
  • The MSR 15 Blackout Pistol is Savage’s first AR pistol.
  • It is chambered for .300 Blackout and comes outfitted with a KAK Shockwave stabilizer.
  • The gun has a 10.5-inch barrel and measures around 29 inches in overall length.
  • The pistol’s MSRP is $1,099.

Steady as a slab foundation, Savage Arms has earned its living in the modern era of firearms off one particular style of rifle — the bolt-action. The company has been so consistent, in fact, that since the demise of its legendary lever-action, the Model 99, at the turn of the century it has produced little else. It seemed, to some extent, the seas would boil and the sun turn the color of sackcloth before old Savage ever expanded its horizons from its Model 10 and 110 rifles.

Savage-MSR-15-Blackout-Pistol

Luckily, it didn’t require end days for the company to turn it studied eye and manufacturing prowess to AR-style firearms. The company went big into the highly popular platform in 2017 and hasn’t looked back since. Along the way, it’s even ridden the crest of innovation, embracing one of the hottest new cartridges on the market. And, if recent additions to its catalog are any indication, the gunmaker shows no signs of slowing up in its newfound love for the black rifle.

Savage expanded its MSR line at the NRA 2018 Meetings and Exhibits in Dallas with the two new AR firearms — the MSR 15 Long Range and MSR 15 300 Blackout Pistol. In all, the company now has nine AR models with configurations to fit nearly every shooting application from chasing down hogs to long-range bullseyes.

MSR 15 Long Range

Savage-MSR-15-Long
The MSR 15 Long Range is among the most pioneering AR-style rifles Savage has put out, given it is among the first chambered for the smoking .224 Valkyrie (actually Savage’s second). It’s the long-range-optimized companion to the company’s initial offering for the cartridge, the MSR 15 Valkyrie.

While MSR 15 Long Range is similar to the earlier iteration, it boasts a 22-inch stainless steel barrel to milk the most out of the round. Furthermore, the rifle is topped with a two-port adjustable muzzle brake, allowing shooters to tune the recoil impulse to stabilize the muzzle. Finally, the rifle features a custom-length gas system paired with a low-profile adjustable gas block, aiding it in cycling any load is run through it. Presently the rifle’s MSRP is $1,849.

MSR 15 Blackout Pistol

Savage-MSR-15-Feat
The MSR 15 Blackout Pistol is the first AR pistol Savage has produced and comes outfitted with one of the more cutting-edge stabilizers on the market. The KAK Shockwave Brace, manufactured by Shockwave Technologies, is among the most Spartan stabilizer available and looks to make the pistol, chambered 300 BLK, as maneuverable as ever.

The MSR 15 pistol has a 10.5-inch barrel, measures in at around 29 inches in overall length and tips the scales a tick over 6 pounds. Other notables on the gun include Hogue pistol grip, free-floating M-LOK handguard, Savage helic flash hider and Magpul MBUS front and rear flip-up sights. Presently, the pistol’s MSRP is $1,099.

For more information on Savage Arms’ MSR 15 line extension, please visit: www.savagearms.com

MSR 15 Long Range Specs
Magazine: Detachable box
Stock Material: Synthetic
Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
Barrel Finish: Matte
Barrel Color: Natural
Features: Non-reciprocating side charging handle, low-profile adjustable gas block, Hogue pistol grip, cutom-forged upper and lower receivers, custom-length gas system, two-stage trigger, free-float handuard with MLock, two-port muzzle brake with taper-lock interfa

MSR 15 Blackout Pistol Specs
Magazine: Detachable box
Stock Material: Synthetic
Barrel Material: Carbon Steel
Barrel Finish: Matte
Barrel Color: Black
Sights: Magpul MBUS flip-up front and rear sights
Features: Aluminum receiver, Fixed pistol-length gas system, Custom-forged lower receiver, KAK Shockwave brace, Savage helical flash hider, Hogue pistol grip, Free-float handgaurd with M-LOK, 5/8×24 threaded barrel, Savage 10.5

Reloading: Bearing Surface, Pressure and Accuracy

By
Philip Massaro
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2

The bullet’s bearing surface — the portion of the bullet that contacts the rifling in the barrel — directly correlates to the amount of pressure generated within your barrel, and it can have a definite effect on accuracy.

Considering the minor details that affect accuracy:

  • Subtleties in bullet dimension and shape and how they perform in a particular barrel can vary widely.
  • This is why a reloader may not get the results similar to what they find in a manual.
  • The data set is published for as many as four or five different bullet shapes.
  • Additionally, the test barrel length, action, primer and case may also differ from a reloader’s.
  • The question also arises, can a bullet with the right amount of bearing surface improve accuracy?

Not all bullets are created equally. The subtleties of dimension, shape and how they correspond to the performance within a particular barrel can give a ballistician fits of rage. There are times where things don’t go according to the script, and it might leave you scratching your head. I experienced just such a situation recently, and it got me thinking about the relationships between a bullet’s bearing surface, and the correlative load data.

Three different 7mm 140-grain bullets, all of different conformation, and all require a different approach.
Three different 7mm 140-grain bullets, all of different conformation, and all require a different approach.

The Starting Point

Firstly, let’s take a renewed look at the reloading manuals, and the online data, that we all use on a day-to-day basis. I’ve heard the argument way too many times: “The load data in Reloading Manual (Insert Company Name Here) is the best data; it gave me exactly what I needed and they really know what they’re talking about. The (Insert Competitive Company Name Here) manual is a load of hogwash.”

This requires a bit of explaining.

A reloading manual is not a definitive piece of work; it’s more of a laboratory report. Obviously, every company that produces a reloading manual takes great pains to ensure that the data printed therein is sound and true, but you need to understand where it came from. There are listed parameters within each set of data that will indicate the test rifle, cartridge case and primer used to obtain that data. It would be not only insanely expensive, but unbelievably time consuming, to test every bullet, in every case, in a number of rifles, with each available primer, to give the reloader the exact data he or she would need — and even then certain parameters unique to your rifle would render the data imperfect.

I’m fortunate enough to call many of the people who have an integral part of producing these manuals my friends, and they will openly discuss the methodology of obtaining their data. Universally, the response is that the data provided in a particular manual is the result of one particular situation, and it’s not necessarily the final word on the topic.
Allow me to demonstrate what I mean: Using a .30-06 Springfield as an example, and the 180-grain bullet to further fine-tune the point, you might see quickly that the reloading manual lists a set of data — for numerous powders — for that particular weight.

The difference in bearing surface (the parallel sides which are of caliber dimension) is easily seen among these different .30-caliber bullets.
The difference in bearing surface (the parallel sides which are of caliber dimension) is easily seen among these different .30-caliber bullets.

However, that data set is published for as many as four or five different bullet shapes. In addition, the test barrel length might not be the same as yours, the action type might be completely different, and the primer and case brand might also differ. How can you then assume that the data is definitive?

“Well, it’s published by Brand X, and I’m using Brand X bullets, so it’s gotta be right.” Nope, that’s not necessarily the case. Those four or five different bullet profiles will all produce a different pressure curve, and while in some instances it might be minute, it can be rather drastic. But, we’ll talk more about that pressure-bearing surface relationship in a minute.

When a set of data is released, it needs to be safe in the majority of rifles on the market. Even if the data set is labeled for use in a particular firearm only, the slight variations within that firearm group can certainly change the outcome.

So, let’s try and look at the data as a report; the combination of rifle/case/primer gave results of X, giving you a guideline for establishing a load in your rifle. The top end of the load data — where pressures will be the greatest — might not be attainable in your particular situation and combination of components. Likewise, the top end of the data might not be the maximum that your rifle can safely withstand. And furthermore, that maximum charge can change for each and every bullet profile.

Some .338-inch diameter bullets, showing the length difference as weight increases, and the differences in each bullet's profile.
Some .338-inch diameter bullets, showing the length difference as weight increases, and the differences in each bullet’s profile.

Working Up The Grain Scale

Success really does require starting at the ground floor and experimenting to see where the line needs to be drawn. For example, while developing a load for my .404 Jeffery, the particular load data for the brand and weight of bullet I was using topped off at 74.0 grains of a particular powder, and it was supposed to produce 2,400 fps. Well, when I cobbled the components together, not only did I miss the velocity mark by 300 fps, but I also worked upward (safely, with no pressure signs whatsoever) to 80.0 grains, at a muzzle velocity of 2,280 fps, and found the accuracy I wanted.

I am in no way suggesting that you can blindly start to drastically exceed what is listed as maximum, but if you work up in small increments (less than ½ grain) you might find that your rifle’s limit will differ from published data, and sometimes by a considerable amount. Does this mean that Brand X’s manual is wrong, or at least flawed? No — it means their lab report (regarding their rifle) differs from my lab report (regarding my own rifle). Changing case brand, changing primers and even bore variations play a great part in the final equation.

Secondly — getting back to the relationship between pressure and bullet bearing surface — a recent case involving a friend’s 7×57 Mauser had (and to a certain degree still has) us scratching our heads. This particular rifle, a push-feed Winchester Model 70 XTR Featherweight, showed excellent accuracy with 175-grain bullets, with group size hanging around ¾ MOA, from both factory loads and handloads. We were doing some load development with 140-grain bullets to develop a deer load, and we couldn’t get the rifle to shoot to anywhere near that level of accuracy. Some of the flat-based 140s showed better accuracy than the boat-tail designs, and the monometals showed a slight advantage over the cup-and-core bullets, but nothing was delivering the goods.

Both these manuals — while providing excellent data — cover many different bullet shapes, and each might react differently to the same powder charge.
Both these manuals — while providing excellent data — cover many different bullet shapes, and each might react differently to the same powder charge.

Getting a bit desperate, we tried five different 140-grain factory loads — some of which were lights out in other 7x57s — and still nothing doing. Norma’s 156-grain Oryx load stayed at about 1 MOA (more than acceptable for a hunting rifle), but the lighter bullets just didn’t want to cooperate. Our thoughts are that it’s an issue with a minimum amount of bullet bearing surface being required to produce repeatable results.

That got me wondering about how many rifles might have the potential for stellar accuracy if we could just find a bullet with the right amount of bearing surface to obtain the repeatability that equals accuracy. Using our previous .30-06 example, a sleek, high ballistic coefficient (BC) 180-grain boat-tail bullet will obviously have less bearing surface on the rifling than a short-ogive, flat-base 180-grain bullet will, and while the latter is a detriment to the trajectory and wind values at long ranges, it might make for a perfectly acceptable hunting choice.

Is it the evidence of a worn barrel? Possibly, but I know this gun’s history and don’t feel it’s got anywhere near the mileage on it to blame barrel wear. Is it cut “loose,” or slightly oversize? Another possibility, but it would take some extensive science to accurately determine that fact. Let’s just say that this gun likes the pressures produced by the longer bearing surfaces and leave it there for now, as part of the voodoo that’s mixed with science when it comes to reloading.

Two 6.5mm bullets. While the heavier 160-grain (L) has all sorts of bearing surface, the sleek 140-grain bullet (R) has less contact with the rifling in spite of being longer.
Two 6.5mm bullets. While the heavier 160-grain (L) has all sorts of bearing surface, the sleek 140-grain bullet (R) has less contact with the rifling in spite of being longer.

I will, however, start to consider the correlation between the amount of bearing surface that the “accurate” bullets in a particular rifle possess, and how that relates to the powder charge used. It’s an interesting experiment in any rifle, and while each barrel seems to be as unique as a fingerprint, I’d be willing to wager that the correlation can be used to solve some accuracy problems in the future.

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

New Guns: Beretta’s APX Compact And APX Centurion

By
Elwood Shelton
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Beretta aims its modular pistol line at the concealed market with the introduction of the APX Compact and APX Centurion.

What the compact and mid-sized pistols bring to the table:

  • The new pistols are the compact and mid-sized variations of duty-sized APX.
  • Both pistols have 3.7-inch barrels and are available in 9mm and .40 S&W.
  • The difference between the APX Compact and Centurion is height and capacity.
  • The Centurion measures around .20 inches in height over the Compact.
  • It also has two more rounds of capacity in 9mm and three more in .40 S&W.
  • Both pistols have an MSRP of $575.

A few years back, Beretta broke with tradition to create its first full-sized striker-fired pistol. The Italian gunmaker had good reason to turn its attention to the dominant firing system of modern handguns with the creation of the APX — the U.S. Military. The polymer-framed semi-automatic was an entry in the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System trials and the company’s bid to continue producing the military’s service pistol, a role it’s filled since the early 1980s.

APX-Compact-Second
APX Compact

Fast-forward to today, Beretta is not in the Army’s holsters. That honor was filled by SIG Sauer’s P320, champion of the trials. Despite finishing in the field, the APX has still been a winner for Beretta. The well-thought-out pistol has curried favor in the civilian market and is likely to continue capturing hearts and minds with the introduction of two new models — the APX Compact and APX Centurion.

The compact and mid-sized variants both come in with an MSRP of $575 with the Compact presently available and the Centurion due for sale late in June. Plain as day, this is Beretta’s play at the striker-fired carry market with 3.7-inch barreled pistols better proportioned for concealment than the duty-sized APX. And while the APX Compact and Centurion appear to be dead ringers for each other, they have a notable and important difference in both height and capacity. With a flush-fit magazine, the 4.8-inch APX Compact holds 13+1 9mm or 10+1 .40 S&W. On the other hand, the 5.19-inch Centurion has a bit more capacity with a flush-fit, 15+1 9mm or 13+1 .40 S&W.

APX-Centurion-First
APX Centurion

These facets are certain to play a role in many shooter’s decision-making process, particularly those whose carry profile demands the utmost concealment considerations. But Beretta has made it fairly easy from there since the modular handguns are twins in function.

The new pistols both boast the features that made the APX popular in the first place, including aggressive cocking serrations across the length of the slide, 6-pound trigger with tactile and audible reset, removable serialize chassis (grip-frame housing is replaceable), ambidextrous slide catch and reversible mag release. Beretta offers a number of color options on the replaceable APX grip-frame housing, including Flat Dark Earth, Wolf Grey, Black, and Olive Drab.

For more information on the APX Compact and APX Centurion, please visit: www.beretta.com

APX Compact Specs
Barrel Length: 3.7 inches
Calibers: 9mm, .40 S&W
Capacity: 9mm 13+1, .40 S&W 10+1
Height: 4.8 inches
Lenght: 6.97 inches
Width: 1.3 inches
Sight Radius: 5.7 inches
Weight: 26.4 ounces

APX Centurion Specs
Barrel Length: 3.7 inches
Calibers: 9mm, .40 S&W
Capacity: 9mm 15+1, .40 S&W 13+1
Height: 5.19 inches
Lenght: 6.97 inches
Width: 1.3 inches
Sight Radius: 5.7 inches
Weight: 27.7 ounces

Video: Is A Full-Sized Pistol The Best Training Option?

By
Gun Digest Editors
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Full-sized pistols have a distinct advantage for training, particularly for beginning shooters.

The story is common. A new shooter goes to buy his first defensive handgun with a blurry idea of what he wants and needs. A few slick smiles by the salesman and a haul-truck worth of his personal opinions later and the shooter walks out with a firearm they’ll eventually find doesn’t work for them.

A stereotypical example: women getting steered toward lightweight, hammerless double-action revolvers for their first defensive gun. It’s a more than viable self-defense option, no auguring that; but with a long trigger pull and tendency to buck more in the hand, it’s perhaps not the ideal starter gun for an armed citizen.

Michelle Cerino goes out of her way to urge students to find the gun that fits and works for them, whatever that make and model might be. Of course, that means shopping and testing them out. But the shooting instructor at and president of the Chris Cerino Training Group urges her students — particularly beginners — to go big when they come to her class. In short, beg, borrow or buy a full-sized pistol. It might sound counterintuitive, particularly in the day and age when concealed carry reigns supreme, but Cerino is shooting straight.

For the most part, a full-sized pistol is easier to manipulate, given its ample slide real estate. It has a better sight radius, in turn, it’s easier to determine proper sight alignment. And its extra weight tamps down recoil, making a long day running defensive shooting drills a whole bunch more productive for those not use to range time measured in hundreds of rounds.

In the long run, a full-sized pistol might not be the right self-defense option for an individual shooter. But for acquiring the skills of a competent and effective armed citizen, there are few better fits.

For more information on Aguila Ammunition, please check out: www.aguilaammo.com

New Optics: Leupold Expands New VX-Freedom Series

By
Elwood Shelton
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With six new scopes, Leupold’s VX-Freedom series has something for nearly every shooter.

  • The VX-Freedom series are purpose-built scopes for specific rifle platforms, calibers and applications.
  • They are moderately priced, the entirety of the line’s MSRPs are below $400.
  • The line extension includes scopes tailored for rimfires, Scout rifles and ARs among other guns.
  • The scopes are designed, machined and assembled in Leupold’s Oregon factory.

Optics winds in recent years have blown decidedly in the direction of long-range glass. Credit the popularity of the ever-expanding family of 6.5 cartridges and other precision calibers for the explosion of scopes engineered to go the distance and then some. While the movement to further and finer shows little sign of abating, one scope manufacturer has turned its attention in 2018 to a more traditional take on optics in its newest line of glass.

Leupold VX-Freedom Extended Focus Range 3-9×33 with Fine Duplex Reticle.
Leupold VX-Freedom Extended Focus Range 3-9×33 with Fine Duplex Reticle.

Earlier this month, Leupold further expanded its new VX-Freedom series riflescopes, adding six new optics to the 10 introduced at the beginning of the year. Similar to the earlier VX-Freedom scopes, most of the recent additions are purpose-built for specific rifle platforms, calibers or applications, including ARs, rimfires and Scout rifles. And like the inaugural scopes, the real head-turning aspect of the new optics are their extremely moderate price. The entirety of the line has MSRPs below the $400 mark, many dipping into the $250 range. To boot, they’re completely designed, machined and assembled at the company’s Oregon factory. A bonus for shooters who make it a point to buy American.

“The VX-Freedom line was designed to deliver the versatility and performance that hunters and shooters expect from the Leupold brand, at a tremendous value,” said Tim Lesser, Vice President of Product Development for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. in a press release. “We knew that, after getting a look at the VX-Freedom series, consumers would demand the same relentless value and performance from AR and Scout specific models, and we are excited that we’re able to deliver what they’ve been asking for.”

The extended lineup features two models ideal for AR/MSR platforms, a 1.5-4×20 with AR-Ballistic reticle, and a 3-9×40 with TMR (Tactical Milling Reticle.) Both feature 0.1 Mil/Click adjustments to match the milliradian increments of the reticles. Also added to the lineup is an Extended Eye Relief 1.5-4×28 Scout scope, and a close focus EFR (Extended Focus Range) 3-9×33 with Fine Duplex reticle, which is perfect for rimfires and airguns. Rounding out the new additions are a 3-9×40 featuring Leupold’s Custom Dial System (CDS) and a 450 Bushmaster model, also in 3-9×40.

Leupold VX-Freedom Extended Eye Relief 1.5-4×28 Scout Scope.
Leupold VX-Freedom Extended Eye Relief 1.5-4×28 Scout Scope.

Following the early VX-Freedom scopes, the new offerings have a redesigned ergonomic power selector, aggressive knurling on the adjustment knobs, a 1-inch main tube and Leupold’s Twilight Light Management System. This last feature should pique shooters interest, given the lens coating and specific design points reduces glare and enhance the scopes’ low-light capabilities.

For more information on Leupold’s VX-Freedom Series of scopes, please check out: www.leupold.com

Ammo: Blindsiding Waterfowl With Hex Steel Shot

By
Joe Arterburn
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The impressive engineering in Winchester’s Hex Steel Shot in Blind Side Shotshells delivers superior results on the hunt.

How Winchester is gleaming the cube:

    • Winchester Blide Side shotshells are filled with coated Hex Steel Shot.
    • Hex refers to the shot’s shape — hexahedron.
    • The hexahedron delivers energy to a target quicker due to its flat surfaces.
    • They also pack tighter into a shell allowing more pellets per load.
    • A specially designed wad allows more powder and thus more velocity.
    • The extra velocity makes up for the less aerodynamic shape of the Hex shot.

On a Texas teal hunt, I used Winchester Blind Side No. 5s. Jimmy Wilson, product management specialist for Winchester Ammunition, also brought along some 3½-inchers. A couple other hunters talked about grabbing 3½s, but 3-inchers would be plenty for teal.

Blind-Side-Hex

Blind Side shotshells caught the attention of hunters because they are filled with coated Hex Steel Shot. The “Hex” is trademarked and refers to the shape of the shot, which is not a hexagon, but a hexahedron. It’s cube shaped with rounded corners — kind of like dice — but the edges are also rounded.

The hexahedron shape delivers energy quicker because the flat surface packs more punch, trauma and wound channel than round shot. It’s like the difference between getting hit with a ball or getting thumped with a brick.

The flat surface delivers the punch on impact, acting immediately like lead pellets do, which can cause the softer lead to deform and flatten. And what if a rounded corner or edge hits first? More penetration. Either way, the teal we shot came down like they’d been hit with a ton — well, 1 3⁄8 ounces — of bricks traveling 1,400 feet per second. (The 3½-inch 6-shot shells fire 1 1⁄8 ounces of shot at 1,675 fps, so I did give up velocity with my choice.)

The cube-shaped shot also packs tighter in the hull than round shot, allowing for more pellets in a shorter shot column. The space saved allows for the unique over-powder wad, which consists of two wads connected by a hinged section. Upon firing, the hinged section of the over-power wad collapses, cushioning acceleration of the shot and essentially reducing peak pressure of the load.

“When ignition occurs, the gases start to expand rapidly; they compress that wad, and it acts like a shock absorber,” Wilson said. “We truly get the reduced pressures, which allow us to bring the pressure back up through higher velocity with the addition of more powder.”

If you’re thinking, There’s no way a cube can fly as well as a ball — you’re right — and Winchester thought of that, too. The additional initial velocity makes up for the less aerodynamic shape of the square, compared to round shot, “making up for the aerodynamic flaw of the square,” he said.

Also helping deliver the payload on target is the Diamond-Cut Wad, from which three diamond-shaped petals flap out from the middle of the wad, causing it to drop back without affecting the flight of the shot column.

Blind Side also incorporates Winchester’s Drylok Super Steel System, comprised of a sealed primer and watertight seal between the wad and hull so moisture cannot get to the powder. and spoil the round. Not that I know anyone who’s ever had to fish a shotshell out of the freezing fall slough water.

Editor’s Notes: This article originally appeared in the January 2018 issue Gun Digest the Magazine.

Super X4: Building On Scattergun Success

By
Joe Arterburn
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Winchester’s new Super X4 takes the manufacturer’s already great SX3 and improves upon it, offering a do-all shotgun fit for a number of shooting endeavors.

How Winchester has advanced its Super X line:

  • The SX4 is the next generation of Winchester’s popular Super X shotgun line.
  • The line of semi-automatic shotguns was first introduced in 1974.
  • The reliable Active Valve Gas System remains the same on the SX4.
  • The stock was redesigned, making it lighter and thinner.
  • The balance point was moved forward.
  • The trigger guard was made bigger as was the bolt-release button.
  • The gun comes with Invector-Plus in-barrel choke tubes — full, modified and improved cylinder.
  • Depending on the model, the SX4 costs from $799 to $1,069.

I’ll say this up front: Although I’ve shot the Winchester Super X3 several times, I don’t own one — and have never owned one — so it’s difficult to do a side-by-side comparison with the new Super X4 or to even recall it well enough to note differences in handling and performance.

Building on the success of the earlier SX3, the new SX4 is a great shotgun for any pursuit.
Building on the success of the earlier SX3, the new SX4 is a great shotgun for any pursuit.

Of course, there are the notable improvements Winchester points out it has made between the SX3 and SX4, and I have not, with rare exceptions, found improved models of shotguns to not actually be improved to some degree in performance or design, if not both performance and design.

Let me say the same thing with different words: Usually the new-and-improved firearms brought out by manufacturers to keep up with improvements in technology (not to mention the competition) are, in fact, both new and improved. Attempts to foist little more than cosmetic changes on the more and more knowledgeable — and more and more vocal (via blogs, customer comments, social media) — shooters are usually quickly brought to light.

Field Ready Function

That said, let’s get on with it. My first experience with the Super X4 was on a duck hunt, a teal hunt near Matagorda, Texas, to be exact, and in the rush and excitement of incoming ducks and a line of hunters all rising in unison to pick out the fleeting targets it’s difficult to remain conscious of a shotgun’s performance.

However, with moderate concentration before, during and after a volley, you can develop an overall judgment of basic shotgun qualities. Namely, does it operate and handle easily and instinctively? Does it naturally and smoothly point, swing, track and follow through? Does it quickly cycle shot after shot? Does the recoil hammer you down into the mud? And, most importantly, does it cause the ducks at which it is pointed to splash into the water?

A strap of ducks hangs with decoys from a Yamaha Viking used to transport hunters and gear to a Ducks Unlimited wetlands project.
A strap of ducks hangs with decoys from a Yamaha Viking used to transport hunters and gear to a Ducks Unlimited wetlands project.

Yes on the first. The SX4 handled smoothly and was easy to operate, and it did well cycling shot after shot of Blind Side 3-inch No. 5s without fail (the real test would come later with lighter target loads, which it cycled with equal ease), and it did not pile drive me into the mud fringing the Ducks Unlimited projects we hunted.

As is often the case, recoil goes unnoticed in the heat of shooting, but I’ve had shotguns that made their presence known, particularly after firing that third shot after a rapidly climbing, retreating bird. And most importantly, on our second day’s hunt, we took a heavy toll on blue-winged teal, wrapping up our shoot in 45 minutes.

Sitting on a stick-in-the-mud seat behind a wispy cedar bush, meager cover on the edge of the wetlands, I examined the shotgun and did a few dry-run shoulder mounts to compare how it comes up when I’m not rushing to catch up with feathered rockets. It had a solid, comfortable feel, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what the improvements could be from the SX3, so I asked Rafe Nielsen, communications manager for Winchester and Browning firearms, who had been just down the shooting line from me on both days.

Turns out, I had been putting my finger on the improvements.

Making Good, Great

The major changes weren’t internal; the Active Valve Gas System remains the central component, as it was (with tweaks and improvements along the way) for the SX2 and SX3. (The Super X’s long history started with the first model of Super X shotguns introduced in 1974. SX2 followed in 1999; SX3 in 2006, and now, the SX4, in 2017.)

The system, Nielsen said, gives you the two things you want out of a gas system: extremely soft shooting and extremely fast cycling. Because gas pressure from the shot activates the action, it takes some of the punch out of the recoil and provides fast cycling from shot to new round. “We can’t say it’s the fastest,” he said, “but it’s the fastest auto-loading gun out there.”

The redesign doesn’t tinker with the mechanics of the Active Valve Gas System, other than minor tweak improvements, Nielsen said. The SX3 “is a great-functioning gun and we didn’t want to mess with what was making it great, but we wanted to do some things to upgrade it, give it a fresh look and feel and make it relevant again to the next group of guys coming up and coming through and wanting an update. Because the operating engine is still working great, we had to look at some other pieces of the pie,” he said.

And one of the things Winchester was able to do, he said, (totally upending my next question: “By ‘updated,’ do you mean more expensive?”) was bring the price down. Taking for example the highest end model, the camouflaged Waterfowl Hunter capable of handling 3½-inch shells, they were able to knock off a couple hundred bucks, getting it under a grand at retail stores. They pulled that off with improvements to manufacturing processes, cutting parts costs — but not cutting corners. The only noticeable change is the trigger guard in that the easy-to-drop-out trigger assembly is now made of polymer, not aluminum, which he called an improvement because it’s lighter, won’t ding like aluminum and better matches the finish, especially on the synthetic-stocked models.

Improved Ergonomics

The stock has been redesigned; it’s lighter, has a thinner and textured pistol grip and forend (which is grooved for comfortable, natural finger placement), and the balance point is more forward than the SX3. It’s more ergonomic, Nielsen said, and is “a little bit more fluid swinging gun.”

With Winchester SX4 shotguns ready, the author and, in the background, Rafe Nielsen, wait for teal on a Ducks Unlimited wetland project near Matagorda, Texas.
With Winchester SX4 shotguns ready, the author and, in the background, Rafe Nielsen, wait for teal on a Ducks Unlimited wetland project near Matagorda, Texas.

Nielsen has been able to do side-by-side shooting comparisons. “From a personal standpoint, the SX3 is a fine gun,” he said. “I shot it OK, but I shoot the SX4 noticeably better. It just fits me better. So, outside of what the specs are, I can tell the difference shooting the two different guns and will gravitate to the SX4 every day, all day long.”

Shooters are becoming more demanding, and manufacturers are becoming more scientific, Nielsen said. Gone are the days of simple buttstock, recoil pad, forend, action and barrel, he said. Now, they are diving into how the shotgun fits and feels. With the SX4, there was a theme to build improvement upon improvement “all the way through to improve the entire gun, from recoil pad to muzzle.”

Three of those improvements I had indeed put my fingers on.

First, the bolt handle has been enlarged to make it easier to grab with cold or gloved hands. The safety, which is reversible, is also larger and, likewise, the bolt-release button has been enlarged and is somewhat recessed into the receiver so it’s easy to press yet not as likely to hit accidentally. The trigger guard is also larger, again for easier use with gloved hands.

The Inflex Technology recoil pad directs recoil down and away from your face, Nielsen said. And it has a larger footprint, so recoil is “spread out across a larger area so it dissipates more and [can] be a softer feeling gun,” he said. Also, synthetic-stock models come with one ¼-inch spacer installed in the stock for a 14¼-inch length of pull and an additional spacer in the box. Wood-stock models come with two spacers in the box.

SX4-specs

The guns also come with a selection of Invector-Plus in-barrel choke tubes — full, modified and improved cylinder. When I asked Nielsen about extended-length tubes, he said they have found most shooters interested in switching choke tubes have aftermarket favorites, and there’s no point second-guessing them; therefore, they outfit the shotguns (other than sporting clays models, some of which come with specialty Briley tubes, and turkey models with a specialty turkey tube) with three perfectly functional options.

Currently, the SX4 is available in camo Waterfowl Hunter versions, black synthetic and wood-stocked Field and Field Compact models. In 2018, Winchester is slated to add Universal Hunter, Cantilever Deer and National Wild Turkey Federation Turkey models.

Though Winchester makes all these models, it knows “most people are going to buy one gun,” Nielsen said. “They’re going to use it for the specific purpose they buy it for, so if they’re pheasant hunters, they’re going to buy the wood or synthetic version; if they’re duck hunters, they’ll buy the camo version, and then they’re going to use it for everything from the trap field to everywhere they go. This is going to be their go-to gun.”

Editor’s Notes: This article originally appeared in the January 2018 issue Gun Digest the Magazine.

Self-Defense: Is Competitive Shooting Good Training?

By
Richard A. Mann
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Competitive Shooting definitely can help advance handgun skills for self-defense, within reason.

The pros and cons of competitive shooting:

  • Plain and simple, shooting is good for the shooter, competitive or not.
  • Many basic defensive shooting skills can be master with it, such as the draw.
  • An inability to separate a competitive from defensive mindset can set you up for failure.
  • For defensive training, it might be advisable to run a match in a more tactical manner.
  • You won’t win the match, but it will provide better training.

There’s a long-running debate about whether competitive shooting is good for the defensive handgunner. I think this is somewhat of a silly argument: Shooting is good for shooters. Anytime you can get time behind the trigger and have your performance measured it’s a good thing. Of course, the defensive handgun practitioners argue that during combat or IPSC-style pistol matches you’ll do things that would be stupid during a real gunfight. Well, no kidding. When I play laser tag with my kids, I do a lot of stuff that would be stupid to do during a real gunfight.

Competitive-Shooting-first

When I was a police officer, I shot a lot of competition. I did it for two reasons. First, I did it because it helped me become more proficient with a handgun. I got better at drawing it from a holster, better at hitting targets faster, and better at clearing stoppages and reloading it. Secondly, I did it because it was fun. The notion that you cannot have fun when you shoot the pistol you carry to protect yourself with is completely ludicrous.

Granted, if you become so ingrained in the competition mindset that you cannot separate the two, well then you might be setting yourself up for failure. For that very reason, when I shot competition I sometimes ran the course in a more tactical manner. You cannot win when you do this, but you can take advantage of the intricate and cool stage setups, and simply approach the match from a tactical standpoint. In some matches you can shoot stages twice, once for score and once for fun. Sometimes I would also do this by running the stage the first time with my competition setup and then running the stage again with my duty gun and duty gear.

Don’t knock competitive shooters or competitive shooting. Some of them are the best shooters in the world, and you’d be a fool to call one out in the street at high noon. Regardless, if you’re going to play that game to improve your defensive handgun kills, keep the right mindset, and when possible, play the game like you mean it — and like the targets could really shoot back. In the end, that’s the real difference: No matter what color a target is and no matter what you paint on it, it will never be a real threat.

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

Big Dogs: Bulldog XL In .45 Colt And Mag Pug in .41 Mag

By
Elwood Shelton
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Charter Arms goes big, introducing the Bulldog XL in .45 Long Colt and a Mag Pug in .41 Rem. Mag.

The word on these new revolvers:

  • The XL is a new configuration of the Bulldog with a large frame.
  • Both 5-round revolvers have 2.5-inch barrels.
  • The Bulldog XL weighs in at 22 ounces, the new Mag Pug 23.
  • Each is outfitted with full-sized rubber grips, fixed sights and a standard hammer.
  • The MSRP on the revolvers is $433.

Life in the 40s is difficult if you’re a revolver fan. There are some downright dynamite cartridges when it comes to these big-bore brutes, at the same tick, there are some nasty catches when it comes to gun selection. This is particularly apparent if you want to carry one for self-defense.

Charter Arms Bulldog XL in .45 Long Colt.
Charter Arms Bulldog XL in .45 Long Colt.

Generally, revolvers in this caliber decade are a hefty lot and typically configured for chasing game or banging steel. The ones designed for concealed carry, in recent years at least, are more and more hitched to the .45 ACP. A solid choice, but one with a lot of semi-auto competition.

Charter Arms is the noted exception in this large-caliber muddle. The Connecticut wheelgun maker cut from the herd long ago and made the .44 Special one of its premier chamberings. And after all these years, its very concealable Bulldog continues to catch eyes among those who want a bit more lead to get the job done. Though this year, the faithful old watchdog might get a run for its money, from its own kin nonetheless.

A break from the ordinary, Charter Arms has dusted off a pair classic .40-caliber rounds to expand two of its popular lines of 5-round revolvers. As its name implies, the Bulldog XL is a large-frame version of Charter Arms’ popular wheelgun and comes chambered in .45 Long Colt. And the Mag Pug gets what can only be classified as a red-hot addition with a new .41 Rem. Mag. model. Slinging that kind of lead, there little arguing Charter Arms’ latest big-bores have stopping power in spades, but not at the expense of concealability.  

With that said, the 22-ounce Bulldog XL and 23-ounce Pug will likely be handfuls, particularly the .41 Mag. with hotter loads. The cartridge is renowned for its snappiness, even out of heavier guns. Charter has taken mercy on shooters in both cases, designing the guns with full rubber combat grips, so there should be plenty to hang on to.

Charter Arms Mag Pug in .41 Rem. Mag.
Charter Arms Mag Pug in .41 Rem. Mag.

Self-defense ammunition is potentially also a tricky proposition when it comes to the .41 Mag. There are rounds out there and not hidden on the back shelf, but by no means is there a cornucopia like you’d find for the .357 Mag. or .38 Spc. Given its extensive fan base, he .45 Colt should prove easier to feed. Ammo for it runs the gambit, from mild cowboy loads to hard-hitting defensive rounds.

There aren’t many surprises in either revolver, outside a few minor tweaks to optimize them to their chamberings. Outside of its large frame, the Bulldog XL is configured like its more established predecessor including a 2.5-inch barrel, fixed sights, stainless steel frame and cylinder, and standard spurred hammer. On the .41 Mag Pug the only notable change is a slightly longer barrel, 2.5 inches compared to the 2.2-inch standard .357 Mag. But the lines have proven winners for Charter Arms for some time, so it’s logical the company would keep what works. That includes price. Charter remains one of the most affordable American gunmakers and doesn’t change course with its recent releases, each with a MSRP of $433.

For more information on the Bulldog XL and the new Mag Pug, please check out: www.charterfirearms.com

Bulldog XL Specs
Caliber: .45 Long Colt
Weight: 22 ounces
Frame & Cylinder: Stainless Steel
Finish: Stainless Steel
Grips: Combat Full Rubber
Hammer: Standard (spur)
Sights: Fixed
Barrel Length: 2.5 inches
Capacity: 5 rounds
MSRP: $433

Mag Pug .41 Rem. Mag. Specs
Caliber: .41 Rem. Mag.
Weight: 23 ounces
Frame & Cylinder: Stainless Steel
Finish: Stainless Steel
Grips: Combat Full Rubber
Hammer: Standard (spur)
Sights: Fixed
Barrel Length: 2.5 inches
Capacity: 5 rounds
MSRP: $433

9 Guns And Gear For Plinking Perfection

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

Summer is nearly here, no better time to stock up on all the plinking supplies you need to shoot away a hot afternoon.

Get set to make a wish list:

Tactical Solutions RIDGE-LITE Barrel 22-plinking-third

Looking to upgrade your Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory’s barrel? Look no further than TacSol’s RIDGE-LITE Barrel. The upgraded barrel kit comes equipped with a fluted barrel, a stainless steel shank, an aluminum picatinny rail and fiber optic sights, which are fully adjustable for windage and elevation at the rear. The new barrel weighs 8 ounces and has a length of 6 inches. The barrel itself is manufactured from 6061-T6 aluminum and features a chomoly steel liner. MSRP: $355

CCI .17 HMR VNT 22-plinking-sixth

This new load from CCI is tailor made for taking down varmints at longer ranges. At the center of the .17 HMR VNT is a 17-grain Speer bullet with an extremely thin jacket and precision-built polymer tip. The result is a projectile that offers a very flat trajectory for accuracy as distances stretch and explosive terminal  performance on soft tissue. MSRP: $18/ Box of 50

 

 

Savage B-Series Hardwood 22-plinking-ninth

In 2017 Savage debuted its new B-Series line of bolt-action rimfire rifles with a number of composite-stocked models chambered in .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR. This year, Savage has expanded the B-Series with three new models featuring a Walnut-stained hardwood stock with unique, modern checkering on the grip and forend. All models feature a 21-inch barrel, a top tang safety and Savage’s renowned adjustable AccuTrigger. MSRP: $439-$459

Ruger 10/22 Target Lite 22-plinking-eigth

This new Target Lite version of Ruger’s classic 10/22 features a black laminate thumbhole stock with a rollover comb, a flat forend and swivel studs for mounting a sling if needed. It utilizes a 16.13-inch cold hammer-forged barrel tensioned
in a black-anodized aluminum alloy barrel sleeve. The rifle also features Ruger’s BX-Trigger, which offers a crisp pull between 2.5 to 3 pounds, minimal overtravel and a positive reset. MSRP: $649

Tandemkross ‘Cornerstone’ Safety Ledge 22-plinking-fifth

Tandemkross makes a number of aftermarket upgrades for popular rimfire platforms, such as Ruger’s Mark IV 22/45. One of the latest is the “Cornerstone” Safety Ledge,
which provides shooters with an oversized 1911-style safety ledge that aids in faster shooting and operation of the pistol. This aftermarket safety can be added without making any modifications to the gun’s internal components and requires no tools for installation. MSRP: $60

Steyr Zephyr II 22-plinking-first

A renewed take on Steyr’s original Zephyr rifle produced from 1955 to 1971, the Zephyr II is classic in appearance and perfectly suited to hunting pursuits. The rifle utilizes an elegant European walnut stock with a Bavarian cheek piece and fish scale checkering. The cold hammer-forged barrel is 19.7 inches in length, and the gun weighs 5.8 pounds total, making it a handy hunting companion. The rifle feeds from a detachable five-round box and is available in .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR. MSRP: $995

Tactical Solutions PAC-LITE Holster 22-Plinking-fourth

The TacSol PAC-LITE Holster is engineered to fit the Ruger Mark series of pistols, ranging from the earliest models up to the new Mark IVs, with or without an optic. The holster’s design is ambidextrous, so it is friendly to both left- and right-handed shooters, and it has adjustable retention for improved flexibility. It’s also built to accommodate most suppressors and any length of barrel. The PAC-LITE is designed to fit belts up to 2 inches in width and is available low- or high-ride versions. MSRP: $40

SIG Sauer 1911 We The People BB Pistol 22-plinking-second

One of SIG’s newest semi-automatic, CO2-powered airguns is the 1911 We The People BB Pistol. Like SIG’s We The Pistol centerfire handguns, this BB Pistol features a distressed finish on the stainless steel slide and frame, along with patriotic engravings. The airgun has a realistic blowback action, with a slide that holds open after the last BB is fired. It also has a 17-round drop magazine that holds 4.5mm steel BBs and a functioning grip safety, and it conveniently fits current 1911 holster systems, which makes it a great training option. MSRP: $120

SIG Sauer ASP20 Break Barrel Air Rifle 22-plinking-seventh

The new ASP20 is SIG’s first entry into the break barrel air rifle category. The suppressed, single-shot break barrel rifle is available in .177 and .22 caliber and features the lightest cocking effort in its class (33 pounds) due to its GlideLite cocking mechanism. It also utilizes one of the airgun industry’s most advanced trigger systems with its ASP MatchLite adjustable trigger, which allows users to alter the weight from 2.5 to 4 pounds. The .177-caliber version delivers 20 foot pounds of energy and a muzzle velocity of 1,021 fps with an 8.64-grain pellet, while the .22-caliber version offers 23 foot-pounds of energy and a velocity of 841 fps with a 14.65-grain pellet. MSRP: $360-$490

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

Laying The Wood: The Story Of Laminate Stocks

By
Jon R. Sundra
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3

The unlikely tale of how laminate stocks went from curiosity to commonplace, changing the shooting world along the way — for the better.

How did laminate stock storm the firearms world?:

  • Prior to 1987, there wasn’t a single American manufacturer that offered a wood laminate stock.
  • Jack Barrett and his company, Rutland Plywood, changed this in the mid-1980s.
  • Utilizing special epoxies, the company layered extremely thin veneers of birch to create stock blanks.
  • In many cases, stock blanks consisted of 30 to 36 1/16” veneers.
  • The advantage offered by laments are blemish-free material, greater strength and better action fit.
  • Additionally, they do not swell or warp due to environmental conditions.

For those of you who might be either too young or too new to the world of firearms, the colorful wood laminated stocks you see in the catalogs of literally every rifle manufacturer are a fairly recent development. Prior to 1987, there was not a single wood laminated stock being offered by an American production rifle manufacturer. Today there’s not one that doesn’t offer several among its various sporter and varmint/target models. Seldom can a trend that has become so broad and pervasive be traced to a single company, but in this case it can: the Rutland Plywood Corp. of Rutland, Vermont, and its owner and CEO, Jack Barrett. Unfortunately, RPC burned to the ground in late August of 2014, but that doesn’t change the story.

Lament-Stocks-First

Humble Beginnings

It was at the 1987 SHOT Show that Winchester, Ruger and Savage all exhibited for the first time examples of their flagship bolt-action rifles wearing laminated stocks machined from blanks furnished by RPC. It created quite a stir! My appreciation for laminates, however, goes back to the early 1960s; by then, I was stocking my own rifles using the shaped and semi-inletted stocks as offered by Reinhart Fajen, E. C. Bishop & Sons, and Herters, which were the largest retail sources at the time.

It didn’t take me long to realize after dealing with a couple of traditional walnut stocks that warped enough between the dry winter and humid summer conditions of Pennsylvania, which had them constantly changing zero, that there had to be a better, more stable stock medium. At that time, what few synthetic stocks that existed were crude at best, in their infancy technology-wise, and pretty much used only by the benchrest crowd.

A few examples of the almost limitless color combinations possible. Some examples have as many as five colors.
A few examples of the almost limitless color combinations possible. Some examples have as many as five colors.

Back then the most appealing stock to my eyes was the Regent by Fajen. It was a racy-looking thing with a high, straight comb line that was actually slightly higher at the heel of the butt than it was at the point of the comb. What made this stock look so streamlined was that the upper left quadrant of the pistol grip was not rounded off. In other words, in silhouette, the top line across the grip area was almost a straight line from the receiver tang to the point of the comb (Here is where a picture is worth a thousand words).

Anyway, the Fajen people offered the Regent in an all-walnut laminate of 5⁄16-inch laminations, which they turned from blanks purchases from a furniture manufacturer. That meant there were only six layers of wood in a typical stock, so the multi-layer look we see in today’s laminates was very subdued.

The Birth Of The RPC Laminate

By the time I became a full-time gun writer in 1970, I owned three rifles stocked in Regent laminates and wrote about why I liked them on a regular basis — a fact that did not go unnoticed by Jack Barrett. Jack was a gun enthusiast and hunter who, in the mid-1980s, had begun developing a birch laminate specifically for rifle stock applications. At that time, RPC had been in business for more than 30 years and was one of the largest manufacturers of specialty wood laminates and plywood for industrial use, so the technology and wherewithal were already there.

The author built this rig using a Ruger 10/22 action, an E.R. Shaw spiral-fluted barrel and a Boyds stock. The receiver was colored using an oven-baked spray-on enamel, and the matching scope came out of Leupold’s Custom Shop.
The author built this rig using a Ruger 10/22 action, an E.R. Shaw spiral-fluted barrel and a Boyds stock. The receiver was colored using an oven-baked spray-on enamel, and the matching scope came out of Leupold’s Custom Shop.

To make a long story short, after seeing several of my articles, Jack got in touch with me and invited me to visit his plant; that was in 1986 when they had just finished more than two years developing the special epoxies and production processes to make an absolutely stable, warp-free gunstock that would never de-laminate. Moreover, it was comprised of the thinnest possible layers of white birch — veneers actually, each only 1/16” thick. The result was a blank consisting of 30 to 36 individual layers of wood, depending on the stock style to be turned from it. Couple that with the ability to dye the veneers any color and assemble them in any combination, and you’ve got what we’ve all come to take for granted as the wood laminated stock.

How The Magic Happens

The actual process to arrive at a blank ready for shipment to firearm and stock manufacturers is a fascinating one. Logs are first debarked and cut to length — about 40 inches. These log sections are then placed in a huge steam room for a couple of days where they soften and become easier to machine.

Next comes the turning process that actually produces the veneers. The logs are placed on a lathe where they are spun at high speed against a huge blade. The logs, of course, are never perfect cylinders at the start, so the first few revolutions against the inward-moving blade come off as irregular sheets.

Remington’s Model 673 Guide Rifle was unlike other laminates in that it consisted of five, 5⁄16-inch layers to emulate the original Model 600 Carbine of the mid-1960s.
Remington’s Model 673 Guide Rifle was unlike other laminates in that it consisted of five, 5⁄16-inch layers to emulate the original Model 600 Carbine of the mid-1960s.

Once the log is trued up, however, one continuous veneer comes peeling off at about 15 mph. The spinning log is reduced to the diameter of a broom handle in less than a minute. As the sheet comes peeling off on a large conveyor belt, it passes beneath an optical comparator that triggers a vertical blade, which cuts out any section having knots, voids or other imperfections.

Once the veneers, which at this point are virtually wet to the touch, are cut to size — about 12×35 inches — they go into a huge conveyor oven. Because the sheets are so thin, by the time the veneers come out the other side, their moisture content has been reduced to just 4 to 5 percent, which is lower than a homogeneous stock can be dried.

The processes described thus far afford two more advantages over a single piece of wood. Because the 30-plus veneers that go into each stock are blemish free, that ensures that as the blank is machined into a gunstock, no knots, voids or other flaws will be revealed. With one-piece walnut stocks, the rejection rate for such “surprises” can be as high as 8 to 10 percent.

Seen here is the pressurized autoclave where the veneers are dyed to the desired color, in this case, black.
Seen here is the pressurized autoclave where the veneers are dyed to the desired color, in this case, black.

The next step is the coloring process, which is done by putting stacks of veneers in a huge autoclave where color dye is introduced and the atmosphere is reduced to a vacuum that enables the dye to fully penetrate each sheet. After coloring, all that remains is for the veneers to be run through rollers, which deposit a proprietary epoxy to each side, then stacked by hand in the desired color combination. From there they are placed in a gigantic, multi-layer hydraulic press with heated platens that accommodate 20 blanks at a time. The stacks are compressed under 20 tons of pressure, while the heated platens speed the curing of the epoxy.

The Laminate Advantage

As touched upon earlier, laminated stocks are not only highly distinctive and colorful, but are far stronger and more stable than one-piece stocks. You can, for example, take a wood chisel, orient it parallel with the layering of the veneers, and whack it all you want with a hammer; the stock will not split along a seam. I’ve also seen a laminated stock that was turned and treated by Boyds with its standard stock finish, submerged in a swimming pool for 5 days, after which there was no measurable swelling or warping.

Once the log is trued and the blade is making total contact with the spinning log, the veneer peels off in an unbroken sheet at 15 mph.
Once the log is trued and the blade is making total contact with the spinning log, the veneer peels off in an unbroken sheet at 15 mph.

Bottom line: A laminate is just flat-out better at being a gunstock than the traditional one-piece chunk of wood. Not only is it much stronger and stable, it has a tactile warmth about it that no synthetic can match. It feels like wood because it is wood. Me, I like them as much as ever.

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

Video: Determining Hold Point In Sporting Clays

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

Determining your hold point at a sporting clays station gets you in position for success.

Lacking the symmetry of skeet and the orderliness of trap, the ambiguity of sporting clays is among its most daunting aspects. Even on a course where you’re an old hand, you can never quite feel like you have a complete handle on where that blue rock will fly. The real twist to this all, to consistently gun down doubles and regularly mark improvement, you need the ability to anticipate your shot.

Knowing where you’ll initially acquire a clay before smashing into a hundred glorious pieces would make things plenty easier on this front. Luckily, David Miller has a trick up his sleeve that eliminates much of the guesswork in determining where to position yourself for the greatest success. It’s simply a matter of finding the thrower and where you’ll shoot the clay, then dividing up the field to determine your hold point — where you’ll actually start tracking a clay with your gun.

It sounds like a mouthful in digital ink, but the Aguila Ammunition pro-shooter and World Record holder for most clays broken in an hour gives a quick and dirty method for fractionalizing a station in the above video. On the front end, this sort of analysis seems like using a cannon to kill a mosquito. But in action, it simplifies breaking blue rock to the level of near intuition. And that’s what you want.

Sure, it takes time to read a station, order it in your mind’s eye and determine your hold point. But if you do, you’ll be the one dealing chaos, not the station.

For more information on Aguila Ammunition, please check out: www.aguilaammo.com

Video: The Exquisite New Mark IV By Turnbull

By
Gun Digest Editors
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0

A thing of beauty, Turnbull’s custom ROCS Mark IV is set to turn heads on and off the range.

If rimfires are why you head to the range each week then in all likelihood you have some series of Mark pistol in your gun safe. Ruger’s wickedly simple and frighteningly effective handgun has wowed shooters for more than a half-century now. Rightfully so, what the semi-automatic is capable of is a thing of beauty. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a way to make any Mark pistol more attractive to a true-blue .22 fan. Well, almost.

Leave it to Doug Turnbull to take exceptional and make it exquisite, and he’s done nothing short of that with his latest creation — the Ruger Owners & Collectors Society Mark IV. Gun Digest Editor-in-Chief Luke Hartle caught up with the man behind the legendary Turnbull Restoration and Manufacturing at the NRA 2018 Annual Meeting and Exhibits in Dallas to get a first-hand look at this beauty. And, surprising no one, the limited-release pistol sparkle like the gem it is.

Produced to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the society’s founding, the Mark IV is available in a rich blued finish or Turnbull’s trademark color-case hardening. The pistol boasts a 5-inch flat-side barrel and is marked as factory finished since Ruger gave the small firearms concern its complete blessing to create these masterpieces. Seriously, the only thing potentially better than admiring Turnbull’s functional art is running it at full tilt.

There is, however, a catch. If these unique customized renditions of one of America’s all-time favorite rimfire pistols have captured your eye — there’s no dawdling in getting one. The run for each finish is only 125; so, even at a premium price — $695 for color-case hardened, $595 for blued — the Mark IVs are likely to move faster than they can shoot.

For more information on the ROCS Mark IV pistols, please visit: www.turnbullrestoration.com

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