Sporting clays shooters go to all ends to break more blue rock, but could greater consistency be as simple as loading your shotgun early at a station?
Ever watched a basketball player who can shoot the lights out of a gym and maybe the street lamp on the corner? You can bet a pair of Nikes before he puts a bend in his knees and cocks his arms, his eyes are glued to one spot — the hoop. You might say he acquires his target before pulling the trigger.
That’s sound advice that transfers nicely to the sporting clays arena. Obviously, it’s impossible to know the exact courses the pigeons will come flying at a particular station, but you’ll know their general direction. A few moments study to map the geography, build a game plan and dial in your concentration, in Dave Miller’s opinion, is enough to get you dusting more orange more often. The Team Aguila Ammunition shooter should know, holding the Guinness World Record for clays broken in an hour — 3,653.
Unfortunately, in Miller’s experience many sporting clays shooters get into some pretty nasty habits when it comes to getting their mind right. Either they rush, starting a station without pause or they take the time to study, but then fiddle around with their gun or shells before they shoot. That’s looking at the ball, not the hoop.
Miller’s cure is as simple as it is elusive — a routine. Loading your shotgun early, analyzing the station, and then focusing on the impending shots is a formula vaporizing more blue rock. And like free throw shooting, it takes discipline to execute each and every time you step to the line. But the results, and the looks on your buddies’ faces, are more than worth the effort.
The newly redesigned TPR line offers an improved trigger, better ergonomics and more features.
How Bersa has evolved this line of DA/SA pistols:
The company has smoothed and lightened the double-action pull, ensuring it doesn’t stack.
It has shorted the TPR’s reset so follow-up shots are lightning fast.
The pistols are available in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.
The MSRP on the TPR line starts at $508.
Typically, if there is ink spilled over Bersa it’s about one in particular model — the Thunder. The compact and generally affordable pistol has won its share of advocates over the years as a solid and unobtrusive concealed carry option. But there’s more to the Argentinian gunmaker than its diminutive .380s.
While perhaps not as well known as its little brother, the Bersa Thunder Pro line nonetheless has squared itself away as a performer in the DA/SA marketplace. And in 2018, Bersa has given shooters more reasons to give the full-sized and compact configurations a look with the next generation of the line — the TPR series.
“We’re excited to bring this next generation of Bersa TPRs to American consumers,” said Michael Sodini, president of Eagle Imports. “Once available only to military and law enforcement personnel, it’s always offered rugged durability and impressive accuracy. This new evolution makes the TPR officially one of my favorites for self-defense and sport.”
Where Bersa has concentrated its redesign efforts with the TPR series, primarily, is on one of the main sticky points of DA/SA pistols — the trigger. The company has smoothed out the double-action pull, ensuring it doesn’t stack, and lightened so it consistently breaks. Furthermore, the reset is minuscule, giving it a lightning-fast transition from initial to follow-up shot.
Bersa has trimmed the grip of the TPR as well, giving shooters more reach to the trigger and more ability to get a solid purchase on the pistol. Moreover, the company has improved the overall ergonomics with small tweaks, such an amply undercut trigger guard and improved grip texturing. A bonus, Bersa has also made TPR pistols more lefty friendly, with ambidextrous decocker and slide release. Though, the magazine release still remains exclusively right-hand oriented.
Additionally, the aluminum frame and slide have seen enhancements, with serration added to the fore of the slide and grip texturing at the front of the frame for thumb support and a memory position for indexing.
The full-sized TPR model comes chambered in 9 mm and has a 4.25 barrel, while the 3.25-inch barreled compact configuration is available in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. Other notable features include integrated Picatinny accessory rail, compatibility with SIG Sauer aftermarket sights and loaded-chamber indicator.
In line with most of the rest of the market, the handguns’ MSRP starts at $508 and are presently available at Bersa dealers.
Franklin Armory’s F17-L is a rimfire AR that offers performance above its weight class.
How this hot little number sizes up:
Released in 2014, the F17-L followed on Winchester’s introduction of the .17 WSM.
For a time, the F17-L was the only gas-operated semi-automatic .17 WSM in an AR-type platform.
It utilizes a custom-designed bolt-carrier group, and adapted buffer and proprietary magazine.
It is gas-piston operated, since a simple blowback system isn’t equipped to handle the .17 WSM’s pressure.
In testing at 100 yards, the best groups (1.65″ average) came with 20-grain Hornady V-Max.
The MSRP of the F17-L is $1,999.
For some time now, Franklin Armory has been producing quality AR-style rifles, SBRs, pistols and parts, with a special emphasis on crafting legal firearms for citizens of states with restrictive gun laws. These laws, enacted under the guise of improving safety, essentially strip away many of the modern sporting rifle’s most appealing features. While some debate whether gun makers should even build firearms to fit these laws, the California-based Franklin Armory has resolved to make lemonade with lemons.
Over the years, the company has become quite adept at working within the confines of restrictive laws while also skirting the edges on its designs. Although it also manufactures full feature firearms for free states, some of its most intriguing products are those that seek to liberate shooters stuck behind enemy lines. One of these is the F17-L rifle.
Bridging the Gap
First introduced at the 2014 SHOT Show, the F17-L followed on the heels of Winchester’s introduction the previous year of the .17 Winchester Super Magnum (WSM). Winchester developed this unique cartridge by taking what was then a .27-caliber nail gun blank and necking it down to accept a .17-caliber projectile. The results were impressive, with the .17 WSM spitting a 20-grain bullet at velocities around 3,000 feet per second (fps), roughly 625 fps faster than the popular .17 HMR and very near those of centerfire .223/5.56 NATO loads pushing a 62-grain projectile.
This innovative new design closed the distance between rimfire and centerfire cartridges—at least in terms of velocity inside 200 yards (the lighter bullets shed velocity quicker). And at the time, the F17-L was the first and only semi-auto chambered in .17 WSM. Volquartsen developed one, but the F17-L remained the only gas-operated semi-automatic .17 WSM in an AR-type platform.
What this meant was that shooters in non-free states could now buy a street legal rimfire AR with a lot more punch than those chambered in .22 LR. Because there were fewer restrictions on rimfire rifles, the F17-L escaped regulations like the much-maligned “Bullet Button,” a device that requires a tool in order to swap out an otherwise easily detachable magazine.
For these reasons, the F17-L remains an excellent option for those who can’t own a standard AR. However, it’s also a great gun for those in free states as well.
Making It Work
To accommodate the .17 WSM chambering, Franklin Armory had to make several changes from standard AR designs. For starters, the rifle utilizes a custom-designed .17 WSM bolt carrier group, a .17 WSM barrel, an adapted buffer and a proprietary magazine. Obviously, without these necessary alterations, the concept would be dead in the water.
However, another important design choice by Franklin Armory is its use of a gas-piston operating system. A simple blowback system isn’t equipped to handle the pressures of the .17 WSM (33,000 PSI) and, as most shooters are aware, rimfire ammo often runs incredibly dirty through a firearm, to the point of causing functional issues if the gun is not maintained regularly. With the cleaner gas-piston system, Franklin Armory is able to handle the higher pressures and keep the F17-L running smoother, longer.
The gas system found in the gun is of the pistol-length variety, which Franklin Armory determined works best with the .17 WSM. The system itself is the result of a partnership between Franklin Armory and Osprey Defense, which specializes in drop-in gas-piston conversion kits for ARs.
The aforementioned proprietary magazine, which features an aluminum design, holds 10 rounds and has a curved shape for compatibility with the rimmed .17 WSM. This curve, while not too dramatic, does slightly affect loading. The magazine’s interchange with the magwell isn’t butter-smooth, but neither does it require significant effort to slide it into place. The magazine is also somewhat difficult to load, especially after about the sixth round, but there’s a circular slot in the follower where you can use a cleaning rod, screwdriver or some other tool to compress the spring for easier loading.
The F17-L features 7075-T6 billet aluminum upper and lower receivers, which are also a proprietary design. They receive a stylish and durable hard coat anodized Olive Drab Green finish, instantly distinguishing this gun in the sea of black rifles. The upper receiver has a forward assist; however, its use with the rimfire chambering is problematic and the F17-L’s user manual details these risks in full. The lower is equipped with useful features such as a flared magwell for easy loading and an enlarged trigger guard for gloved shooting, something dedicated varmint hunters are sure to appreciate.
While the upper and lower of the rifle incorporate many of the controls and features AR users are accustomed to (charging handle, magazine release, safety selector, forward assist, bolt release), not all of these function the same way. The forward assist has been mentioned, but there are other changes, too.
For example, the carrier does not lock back on an empty magazine, nor is there a way to keep the bolt held open, which is slightly baffling when you first pick up the rifle and try to hold the action open in the usual fashion. This is partly because of the altered buffer mentioned earlier, which is about 1 inch longer than a standard buffer, and this is due to the decreased distance the bolt carrier has to travel for the shorter rimfire cartridge.
The rifle utilizes a 1:9 twist, 20-inch bull barrel that receives a salt bath nitride treatment and comes with a target crown. The barrel is set inside a free-floating aluminum handguard that is fluted and vented and offers M-Lok compatible slots as well as an integral bipod/tripod adaptor.
The F17-L stock is a Magpul MOE Rifle Stock, which is smooth to shoulder and sling mountable. Meanwhile, the grip is a comfortable and sturdy Ergo Ambi Sure Grip that, when paired with Franklin Armory’s Factory Custom Tuned Trigger, makes for an excellent package.
Range Performance
The F17-L is built to be a varmint slayer, and for testing, I equipped the rifle with a Nikon Prostaff Rimfire II 3-9×40 BDC 150 scope, which features Nikon’s BDC 150 reticle. While the reticle is set up for high-velocity .22 LR loads, using Nikon’s Spot On website and ballistics program, you can plug in the caliber and load you prefer, and it will tell you what each of the drop markers represent in terms of trajectory for a given zero.
I used four loads during testing: Winchester’s 25-grain Varmint HE and 20-grain Varmint HV, Hornady’s 20-grain V-MAX and American Eagle 20-grain tipped varmint loads. Velocities were measured through a ProChrono Chronograph from Brownells about 10 feet from the muzzle. Accuracy data for each load was acquired from three, five-shot groups taken at 100 yards using a Caldwell Matrix rest, also from Brownells.
During much of my time with it, the rifle ran without fault, but I did run into a few issues as testing progressed. I encountered some light primer strikes. Also notable, in several instances the rifle failed to extract spent cases; occasionally, cases would become stuck within the barrel, which would then naturally lead to misfeeds as the gun attempted to chamber another round.
Aside from these issues, however, I was very impressed with the F17-L. Groups were decent, despite the stout wind during testing. The 20-grain Hornady V-MAX posted the best group overall at a respectable 1.19 inches, while the Winchester 20-grain Varmint HV load rated the best average at 1.65 inches. The other loads had best groups hovering between 1.2 and 1.6 inches or so.
Parting Shots
Built partially to meet the needs of shooters in restrictive states, the F17-L excels in that capacity. It’s a unique design that remains a first for the firearms industry, taking the blistering little .17 WSM and working it into the semi-auto AR platform. Because of the looser restrictions on rimfires, residents of states like California can get an AR-type rifle with all the AR’s great features and with more bite than the .22 LR. Meanwhile, hunters in free states are also sure to love a semi-auto .17 WSM that can pot varmints at greater distances and with more authority than other rimfire calibers. All in all, the F17-L is an innovative design that stretches the boundaries of what is possible with rimfire ammunition and with the AR platform.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
With five variants covering a wide-spectrum of calibers, CMMG’s DefCan Suppressor line is ready to hush up a lot of rifles.
What’s the noise on the DefCan line?
The release of its suppressor line coincides with CMMG’s introduction of its Banshee SBR line.
The company has models tailored for .30 caliber, 5.56 NATO, 9mm, .45 ACP and .22 LR.
Depending on model, DefCan reduce noise from 30 to 40 dB.
The suppressors have a price range from $325 to $900.
Perhaps no single accessory has stormed the market in the modern era like suppressors. Once shrouded in mystery and seemingly accessible by a select few, the noise-reduction devices have become nearly as common as the guns they’re attached. Pretty striking, given hoop jumping and extra cash the NFA-regulated doodads require on top of their base price.
The suppressor world continues to grow and by a large bound recently with CMMG jumping into the game. It seems a natural move for an AR-maker known for its extensive catalog of accessories and upgrades, in addition to unique pistols, carbines and rifles. And the introduction of the DefCan Suppressor line walks hand-in-hand with another recent product expansion — the Banshee line short-barreled rifles and AR pistols.
“DefCan is an exciting new step for CMMG. Combined with our new line of BANSHEE SBRs, DefCan suppressors will give us a strong presence in the NFA market. Additionally, the DefCan suppressor line complements our current firearm product line-up very well and will be an integral part of our plans going forward,” CMMG CEO Chris Reinkemeyer said in a press release.
CMMG enters the fray with five variants in its suppressor line that cover a wide-spectrum of calibers: .30-caliber DefCan 3Ti, 5.56 NATO DefCan 2Ti, 9mm DefCan 9, .45 ACP DefCan 45 and .22 LR DefCan 22. All the suppressors, except the DefCan 22, are completely sealed and require no cleaning and are full-auto rated. As far as noise suppression, the rifle- and pistol-caliber models offer 32 dB of reduction, the .45 30 dB and the .22 40 dB.
CMMG also offers some wiggle room in how the DefCan line attaches to a rifle. The 3Ti and 2Ti come in a traditional direct thread variant and a quick attach bi-lock QD model. These cans are the only ones with this option, as the 9mm and .45 models are both exclusively bi-lock QD and the .22 is a direct thread. Finally, the 3Ti and 2 Ti suppressors are each finished with a high-temperature Cerakote, while the rest of the line is hard-coat anodized.
Price is always a sticky point in the gun world, but CMMG doesn’t appear to have lost its mind with the DefCan line. The QD 3Ti is at the top of the price range at $900 and the .22 LR at the bottom at $325.
For more information on the CMMG’s DefCan line of suppressors please check out: www.cmmginc.com
DefCan 3Ti (Bi-Lock QD) Caliber: 7.62mm NATO Sound Reduction: 32 dB Length: 9.2 inches Diameter: 1.5 inches Weight: 17.5 ounces Finish: High Temperature Cerakote MSRP: $899.95
DefCan 3Ti (Direct Thread) Caliber: 7.62mm NATO Sound Reduction: 32 dB Length: 7.8 inches Diameter: 1.5 inches Weight: 13.1 ounces Finish: High Temperature Cerakote Thread: 5/8-24 MSRP: $824.95
DefCan 2Ti (Bi-Lock QD) Caliber: 5.56mm NATO Sound Reduction: 32 dB Length: 7 inches Diameter: 1.5 inches Weight: 13.1 ounces Finish: High Temperature Cerakote MSRP: $824.95
DefCan 2Ti (Direct Thread) Caliber: 5.56mm NATO Sound Reduction: 32 dB Length: 6.18 inches Diameter: 1.5 inches Weight: 13.1 ounces Finish: High Temperature Cerakote Thread: 5/8-28 MSRP: $749.95
If you reload, your ultimate pursuit might be absolute control over your handloads … just don’t fall too far down the rabbit hole.
Why go to the trouble of reloading ammunition?
A common thread among serious reloader is the ability to control the parameter of ammunition.
Some people ask why? give the excellent bullet choices and the tight tolerances of today’s factory ammunition.
Reloading, however, allows us to tailor each round to its job.
Additionally, it leads to a better understanding of ammo and the experimentation can make you a better rifleman.
“The control — and possible obsession — over our ammunition gives us another small facet of the shooting equation, and it makes things fun.”
If there’s one common thread among serious reloaders, it’s the ability, or more accurately — the need — to control the parameters of our ammunition. Many people ask me why I reload my ammunition, whether for target use or for the largest game animals on earth, when modern factory ammunition is so good. And, while they might have a good point, my response is simple: I prefer the control I have in every aspect of the ammunition. We reloaders are control freaks. There’s no denying it.
Handloading gives the shooter complete control over his or her ammunition.
Factory ammunition is better than it has ever been, and I even own a couple of rifles that will shoot factory ammunition better than any of my handloads. We have excellent bullet choices, and the tolerances have become very tight.
However, in the same manner that I carefully choose a rifle/cartridge/scope combination, I like to tailor the ammunition to the job at hand. Yes, there are times where a factory load might get the job done in an equally effective manner, and there are times where I do opt to use factory ammunition, but I much prefer to handload whenever possible.
Indulging In The Obsession
Reloading ammunition has undoubtedly led to a better understanding of how ammunition works, and the resulting experimentation has made me a better rifleman. It has also led to an unquenchable thirst for knowledge in the field of terminal ballistics. I’m a bullet hound, and I will eagerly root through the entrails of an animal in pursuit of my bullet. However, sometimes all of this control can pull you down the rabbit hole.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though I do see some handloaders become argumentative regarding this technique or that, and that’s more than likely just our human traits rearing their ugly heads. Let us not lose sight of the prize — especially in the hunting world — and that is to effectively kill an animal with the first shot, and put the second and third in the same spot if needed.
While this 100-yard target doesn’t exactly represent hair-splitting accuracy, it will certainly suffice for big game hunting.
How you get there is up to you, and that’s one of the individual beauties of creating ammunition. A rifle/shooter combination that will put three shots into a group measuring 1.5 MOA will certainly get the job done in the hunting world — big game, anyhow — and perhaps he or she is content to stop right there.
Then there are those who absolutely will not stop until they get the rifle to print sub-MOA, preferably ½ MOA or less. I might or might not be guilty of holding a life membership to that organization, but that’s not the point. The control — and possible obsession — over our ammunition gives us another small facet of the shooting equation, and it makes things fun.
I recently saw an Internet video in which the narrator condemned neck-sizing ammunition. Now, I’ve used neck-sized ammunition as a last-ditch effort to get troublesome rifles to shoot for a couple decades now, but the orator had a valid point in that the difficulty in chambering a round precluded the process.
That got me to thinking about how to obtain accuracy without those issues, and I came back to the Redding Custom Competition shell holders. These little gems, along with the Redding Instant Comparator, allow us to match the overall datum line of our ammunition to the chamber of our rifle, all the while full-length resizing the cases. This gives us ammunition that will match the chamber length of a particular rifle, yet feed like factory ammo. Accuracy undoubtedly will improve, and the issue is resolved.
Bushing dies are also a recent development that will fit right in with reloading OCD; they definitely increase brass life, and in my experiences they help improve accuracy as well. Simply measuring the outside diameter of a loaded cartridge — using a singular brand of brass, and assuming that it’s all rather uniform — the correlative bushing will, when inserted into the resizing die, stretch and shrink the brass as little as possible, thus extending the overall life of the case.
Dies are important for any reloading pursuit. The author recommends getting the best reloading dies you can afford after purchasing a solid press.
These are just two examples of modern reloading gear dramatically affecting the capability of our ammunition, and it brings me to another thought: Reloading, like golf and fishing, can suffer from “gadget-itis.” You’ll read — even within the confines of this column — about a good many pieces of gear that can, and often will, make life a bit easier, but that’s in no way intended to infer the idea that all of it is absolutely necessary.
The Bare Minimum
I clearly remember, in the not too distant past, having to make do with what gear I could afford. I scooped powder into a balance beam scale with either a plastic scoop repurposed from some other application, or with a homemade design, saving spare change for the best dies I could buy. Some items are not that expensive at all, and some others cost more but offer a great value.
Were I to advise a new reloader about where to spend the most and what to avoid, I would say that a rock-solid press should come first, and then the best dies I could afford. There are many choices, but I really like the Redding UltraMag press — a simple but beastly one-hole single stage press — and even their basic die sets will give results that will turn heads. Add in a means of measuring powder and even bullets (a reliable balance beam scale will always be a part of your bench) and a means of trimming your cases, and you can make ammunition with the best of them. It doesn’t require a major financial investment — however, when I look at what I’ve spent over the years, I question that statement — but it does require a special level of dedication and attention to detail.
Going All In
To become one of the Control Freaks, you’ll have to delve deep into the wealth of knowledge that has been printed in between the covers of the numerous reloading manuals. There are many books written on the subject, including my own efforts, but they are merely stepping-stones on the path of knowledge.
A balance beam scale will be an integral part of your bench, no matter how many gadgets are developed. Gravity doesn’t wear out.
One thing is for certain: The basic technique of reloading metallic cases hasn’t changed in almost a century. Philip B. Sharpe’s Complete Guide to Handloading (the much more famous reloading Philip) has been in print since 1937, yet the processes described therein are still sound. Read, ask questions, make friends with other handloaders, compare notes, and follow the processes outlined by reliable sources.
As your knowledge base grows, you’ll be able to decipher which gadgets will actually make a difference in your life and which are the pet rocks of the reloading industry. And, as my dad always told me, “There are no shortcuts.” We’re all doing it the same way, if we’re doing it right.
Learn about headspace. Experiment with seating depth to see for yourself what effect it has on things. Consult the powder companies about their new developments. My favorite loads might not work in your rifle; reloading can be a highly rifle-specific science. I’ve seen some reloading recipes printed on internet forums that are downright dangerous, so please take everything you read with a grain of salt, and consult as many different sources as you can.
If you’re an old hand at reloading ammunition, you’ll be able to relate to these concepts. And if you’re new to the reloading game, spend some time with the veterans.
I’ll see you guys somewhere down the rabbit hole.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Boasting the high-performance RA-535 trigger, the new 1121XR is born to own the bullseye.
Dollar to donuts, if you have a whiz-bang shooter of an AR, you’ve decked that baby out with a best-of-the-best trigger. No single facet, no single upgrade does more to ensure a rifle cracks bullseye round after round than a top-shelf bang switch.
It’s the sad truth that most tactical rifles available today (and yesterday for that matter) don’t come outfitted with what you need to stay on target. At best Mil-Spec triggers are gritty at worst they’re like squeezing a rotten banana. And slow shot-to-shot — third-class mail could deliver a follow-up faster in some cases. But RISE Armament is out to change the way shooters buy an off-the-shelf AR.
Its 1121XR Precision Rifle has all the accouterments to make it a world-class shooter, but chief among them is its trigger. RISE literally built the rifle around its top-end RA-535 Advance-Performance Trigger, giving this vital aspect all the support it needs to drop each shot where it needs to be.
With a 3.5-pound pull, the single-stage unit has short pull and an incredibly crisp release with virtually no overtravel it as an absolute gem. And as RISE Armament’s Camille Torres points out in the above video, it has among the fastest reset available on the market today. The 1121XR isn’t just accurate, it’s bottled lightning to boot.
Luke Hartle some intimate range time with a 6.5 Creedmoor 1121XR (it also available in .308 Win.) at the 2018 SHOT Show and came back raving over the rifle’s potential. But more than any other aspect of the overachieving rifle, the 1121XR is what left him near speechless. Which for a talker like Luke, speaks volumes to what RISE Armament had brought to the table with the 1121XR.
Think pitching 220-grains of 10mm lead out of a Glock is bone jarring? Massad Ayoob proves otherwise.
Glock has won legions of fans and die-hard enthusiasts over the years for one big reason — their pistols are reliably boring. The polymer-framed pistols can be ridden hard, put away wet, and still be rearing for more action.
That’s exactly what you want to hear about a semi-automatic primarily designed as a self-defense arm. And is the reason why a great many duty and concealed carry holsters have a piece of “Perfection” hanging in them. But in recent years, another clan of shooters, one known for their exacting standards when it comes to handguns, has woken up to the advantages the company’s handguns offer.
Increasing numbers of hunters have given the company’s 10mm options the nod for deer, hogs and other medium to large game. And it’s not just the capacity and fast reloads that has them enraptured. It’s the pioneering ergonomics Glock brings to the table that makes their guns more manageable to shoot, thus potentially more accurate. Massad Ayoob gives a fairly good example of this in the above video in a side-by-side comparison with a Gen 4 Glock 20.
First the iconic self-defense expert runs defensive rounds through the gun — PMC Bronze 170-grain JHP. They’re snappy, to be sure, but nothing most shooters can’t handle. He then loads a magazine full of red-hot hunting rounds — Buffalo Bore 220-grain hard lead bullets, the heaviest a 10mm can pitch. The rounds leave the muzzle at around 1,200 fps and deliver more than 700 ft/lbs to a target, so they’re smok’n. Yet, coming out of the Glock 20, they don’t prove much more punishing than the PMC ammo.
It’s amazing how the little things, such as the pistol’s replaceable backstraps, RTF grip treatment and double-captive recoil spring guide rod add up to tame the gun. But also makes it understandable why more sportsmen are lining up to give Glock a crack on their next hunt.
For more information on Glock please check out: www.glock.com
While neither a true sidelock nor boxlock, the Syracuse Lefevers were among the most innovative and possibly the most well designed of the classic American doubles. This refurbished G-grade features moderate engraving and utilizes the ball and screw hinge instead of a hinge pin.
There are great deals on vintage shotguns for those willing to shop, but you better ask the right question before putting cold, hard cash on the table.
The best place to shop for a classic shotgun is online. Always search the most recent listings first. If searching auctions, look at the number of bids. There’s some risk since you can’t actually see the gun in most cases, but most sellers have reasonable return policies, and you can see more guns in one evening than you could by attending 20 gun shows. The main thing is to ask the right questions. I composed this list when I first became interested in doubles. I’ve added to it a couple of times. There is also an explanation of a few of the questions. Hope it helps.
Vintage Shotgun Questions:
Are there cracks or chips in the wood?
Is there evidence of repair to the wood?
Is the level of the wood lower than that of the metal (proud metal)?
Is the checkering clean and in good shape?
Has the checkering been finished over?
Does the gun’s metal appear refinished?
What’s the length of pull to the front trigger? (Length of pull should be about 14 inches to the front trigger)
Is the forearm loose?
What’s the percentage of case color?
Is the engraving sharp?
What’s the percentage of bluing?
Is the lettering on the blued surfaces sharp? (Poor refinishing often affects engraving and lettering.)
Are the screws damaged? (Screws on these guns were timed, and slots should all orient from front to rear.)
Is the lever right of center? (Lever right of center indicates excessive wear.)
Is there movement between the barrel and receiver with the gun closed and the forearm removed?
Is there sideways movement between the barrel and receiver with the gun open?
Does the gun operate properly?
Are the trigger pulls light and crisp?
Do numbers match?
What’s the length of the barrels?
What are the chokes?
Is there any pitting in the barrels?
Are there any dents or bulges?
Is there any metal pitting externally?
Has the gun been personalized with numbers, initials, etc.?
By asking these questions, you can eliminate 95 percent of the surprises that inhibit most folks from buying on the net or making a bad purchase. If you’re buying in person or on the web, use these questions as a checklist to make sure you check everything.
This article originally appeared in the April 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
They might not be as well-known as some European manufacturers, but there were a number of great American double-barrel shotgun makers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These guns remain highly collectible, and many are also fine shooters.
Beyond the fact that old double shotguns are the only handmade shotguns you can buy for less than $5,000, there are other rewards to owning old shotguns: Most vintage American double guns were so well made they’ve survived for close to a hundred years without requiring a repair. Knowing the gun you’re shooting has more history than you do also helps enrich the experience. While it’s rewarding to own such a gun, there are things to be considered before buying one.
The Golden Age
During the golden years of American double guns, there were several primary companies making guns. All originated in New York State except Parker, in Connecticut, and early Foxes originating in Philadelphia, but later made in New York. The Golden age of American shotguns lasted only about 40 years, from about 1890 until the Great Depression. Guns were made after that time, but most collectors agree that quality began to decline after the depression. The only quality American double introduced after the Great Depression was the Model 21 Winchester, showing up in the ’30s. While it was a fine gun and equal in quality to the others, the Model 21 really doesn’t fit with these older guns because of the time frame and because it was a lot more expensive.
Shown here are two original-condition lowest-grade 20 gauges. The upper is a Parker Trojan with its distinctive recessed and rounded hinge pin. The lower is a Fox Sterlingworth. The Fox action is simpler and much more compact. Parker came in multiple frame sizes, but Fox had only three.
All the companies during this period offered guns at different price levels with different levels of adornment and options. Generally, graded guns were a custom-order arrangement with the buyer specifying barrel length, choke and stock configuration, and almost any other option desired. The top grades represented the highest levels of the gun maker’s art and rivaled the finest English shotguns. The lowest grades were affordable to the average working man, though still a considerable investment for the time. All these makers had a field grade level of gun that came in a basic stock configuration with little adornment and different barrel lengths, as well as gauge and choke choices.
Double Gun Considerations
Early guns often had Damascus barrels, and most who plan to use their doubles extensively avoid them. Damascus barrels can be used with low-pressure loads but should be checked for pits, dents and bulges by a competent gunsmith before use. In fact, it’s a good idea to get any gun from this era checked out before shooting it. In quality guns, I don’t worry about Damascus. At the time most of these guns were made, high-quality Damascus barrels cost more than fluid steel barrels.
Guns built in this era had chambers shorter than 2¾ inches. In spite of this, most aficionados of old doubles agree they have no trouble digesting modern ammunition as long as you stay away from high-pressure loads. RST makes 2½-inch shells in case you worry about chamber length, as well as lower-pressure shells for those who worry about 100-year-old wood and metal. Shooting heavy loads in these older guns isn’t a good idea, even for the ones with fluid steel barrels or longer chambers. Metallurgy at the turn of the century wasn’t what it is today, and 100-year-old wood shouldn’t be subjected to the stresses of heavy recoil.
Totally functional while being remarkably beautiful, a fully restored G-grade Lefever and a 1910 Fox Sterlingworth pin gun. Called a pin gun because the earliest Sterlingworths used the same recessed and rounded hinge pins that made Parker guns so identifiable. Only a few thousand of the early Sterlingworths had this feature.
While these guns work well in the field, it should be remembered these older designs didn’t have inertial firing pins or intercepting sears. This makes them a bit less safe than modern guns, so special care should be taken to keep them pointed in a safe direction when they’re closed. On upland birds, I generally hunt with the gun open and only close it when the dog has pointed. Most of these guns had double triggers. Single triggers were available on most models, but the mechanisms were quite complicated, prone to trouble and expensive to repair. Ejectors are an option that adds value, and most systems were reliable, but problems with ejectors can be expensive to rectify.
The American classic shotguns were available both as boxlocks and sidelocks. Boxlocks tend to be stronger and simpler, and most agree sidelocks have a more graceful appearance. Though sidelocks are currently much more expensive to make, they were competitively priced during the classic double gun period because all guns were basically handmade anyway. Today, quality 12-gauge field grade guns from all the American makers during this era can be found and purchased for less than $1,000. Smaller gauges progressively cost more, with 20-gauge guns generally bringing at least twice the price of a 12 gauge. Sixteen-gauge guns generally fall somewhere in between. Guns chambered for .410 and 28 gauge bring a premium.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!
Parker Guns
Parkers bring the most money of the American classics and are often considered the best of the American classics. Internally, they were more complicated than some other brands, but they were so well made they rarely have mechanical problems. Parkers come in several different frame sizes for different purposes, allowing for light and handy 12-gauge bird guns and substantial 12 gauges for waterfowl hunting. Parker offered more choices of grade and frame size with twelve frame sizes and ten grades, A1 being the highest and “V” being the lowest grade, with a field-grade gun called a Trojan.
A.H. Fox Guns
Foxes are probably next in the lineup, and I believe they were a better design, though I’m sure this will raise the ire of Parker owners. The Fox design was simple with less moving parts and coil springs. The receiver was also much smaller, with a Fox 12-gauge frame smaller than the frame of a 20-gauge Parker. Fox guns were direct competitors, and a Parker sold for about the same price when new. Fox guns were available in only three frame sizes, but there were four different barrel weights. The 12-gauge guns came in two frame sizes, the larger intended specifically for waterfowling. The same frame was used for both 16- and 20-gauge guns. Fox grades begin with A -grade and end with F-grade. The field grade was designated as the Sterlingworth.
What makes these guns so interesting is the amazing level of detail, even on lower-grade models. This G-grade Lefever has intricate hand-cut engraving bordering the fences and top lever. The beautiful case coloring was part of the hardening process and wasn’t just cosmetic.
Lefever Guns
Neither a sidelock nor a boxlock, another truly fine American shotgun was the Syracuse Lefever. The Syracuse Lefever is not to be confused with the Lefever Nitro, a cheaper version of an Ithaca made after Ithaca bought out Lefever. The original Lefevers were both well made and innovative of design, and many consider them the pinnacle of American shotguns. They use a unique and innovative hinge system that’s never been replicated, and I believe it was a superior design to anything made since. Instead of a pin on a half circle, the Lefever hinged on a ball and socket and the ball could be adjusted for wear. Extremely well made and graceful in design, they’re currently appreciating in price faster than any other maker. The AA grade was highest, with the G-grade lowest and a field grade designated the DS for Durston Special.
L.C. Smith Guns
L. C. Smith shotguns were true sidelocks. L. C. Smiths are graceful, slender and pleasing to the eye, but the sidelock design compromised the strength of the stock, and many of them have cracked or repaired stocks. They were available in eight grades and in gauges from 10 to .410. While other makers designated their grades using letters, L. C. Smith guns used names from Field to Deluxe, with only 30 Deluxe guns being built. In higher grades, the side plates allowed more room for engraving, and they have a strong following.
Ithaca Gun Company Guns
Similar to the L. C. Smith in value and quality was the Ithaca. There were more different designs of Ithaca guns than any other American classic, including both hammer and hammerless models. The most recent design was the NID or New Ithaca Double. Earlier versions are not as strong as those of the other manufacturers, and, while they can still be used, they shouldn’t be used with modern high-pressure ammunition on a regular basis.
Baker Guns
Less known than the other brands, the Baker isn’t as well thought of as the other makers, but they were fine guns. Bakers were also sidelock guns, and they sold for a little less than the other brands, but they were very well finished both inside and out.
While neither a true sidelock nor boxlock, the Syracuse Lefevers were among the most innovative and possibly the most well designed of the classic American doubles. This refurbished G-grade features moderate engraving and utilizes the ball and screw hinge instead of a hinge pin.
Parting Shots
Owning old guns like these admittedly isn’t for everyone. They aren’t as versatile as modern guns, they don’t have the same safety features, and they’re limited in ammunition options. They are truly handmade guns, though, and if you do your homework before buying, they are almost certain to escalate in value over time. There’s also an element of pride in their ownership. Every time I take one of my old doubles afield, someone comments on how beautiful it is. The history of these guns captures the imagination.
My favorite gun is a 1917 Fox Sterlingworth in 16-gauge. It has a slim and delicate grip, balances like something alive, and weighs just 6 pounds. I’ve hunted with it all over the country and have taken everything from pheasants and ducks to bobwhite and Gambel’s quail. It’s been restocked with beautiful figured American walnut and functions just like it did 100 years ago when it left the factory in Philadelphia.
Even the field grades of these wonderful old guns were made with real hand craftsmanship, at the hands of men who truly cared about what they produced. They can be used as they are, with the patina of their long years of service, or restored to look like they just came from the factory. Either way, they’re firearms that are a joy to own and be proud of. I often wonder who will be the next owners of my favorite little Sterlingworth after I’m gone. I hope they enjoy this fine old gun as much as I have.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Zeroing in on the front sight and executing a clean trigger press keeps a handgun on target no matter its movement.
From Zen-like breathing drills to the perfect proportion of push and pull in a grip, much is made about mastering the the natural wobble when shooting a handgun. But in the scheme of things, is it ado about nothing?
Certainly, proper sight alignment is key to sending a round from a handgun to where it needs to go. And the natural oscillation from breathing, muscle tension and, in certain circumstances, adrenaline has to be overcome. But wouldn’t it be nice if this problem could be whipped without resorting some far-fetched timing up of respiration, bodily tremble and breaking a shot. Quite simply there is and it relies on two of the most down-to-earth, day-one fundamental aspects of handgun marksmanship — focusing on the front sight and clean trigger pull.
Sound hard to believe? It shouldn’t. But if you need proof, Gunsite instructor Mike Moore more than provides it in the above clip.
Moore has a student’s hands and handgun wobbling like it was happy hour, yet each shot lands center mass — actually in a group many steady shooters would like to consistently print. The secret is really no secret. Concentration on the front sight keeps you on target every time and a smooth trigger press, complete with follow-through ensures the proper alignment at the moment of truth.
Simple as it may sound, these are still handgun skills that require practice to master. But, this minutia is worth the effort. When faced with life-threatening circumstance, you better believe your gun is going to dance. The only way to make sure it doesn’t become a factor in surviving the incident is ensuring front-sight focus and a technically-sound trigger press are second nature.
Click here for more information about Gunsite and the extensive firearms instruction they offer.
The lightest and smallest short-barreled rifles and AR pistols CMMG offers, the Banshee line is fightingly nimble.
What the compact Banshee line brings to the game:
The Banshee line is composed of short-barreled rifles and AR pistols.
As expected, the SBRs require NFA registration and tax stamp.
The guns are among the smallest and lightest in CMMG’s catalog.
The pistol-caliber Banshees weighs in at just over 4.5 pounds, while the rifle caliber is just over 5 pounds.
The Banshee is available in four calibers: .22LR, 9mm, .45 ACP and .300 Blackout.
The SBR configurations come with CMMG’s innovative Fastback stock.
The 9mm and .45 ACP feature the company’s pioneering Radial Delayed Blowback operating system.
The Banshee runs from $1,449 to $1,499.
Ominously, CMMG’s Mk4 Banshee made its appearance on the national stage this past Friday the 13Th. But the only thing that could prove to be unlucky about the Missouri gunmaker’s wicked new guns are the hoops shooters have to go through to put most in their safe.
Yup, the Banshee line is nearly top to bottom NFA regulated — registration, tax, stamps, the whole nine yards. That’s the breaks (illogical as they might be) in the short-barreled rifle world. The company has taken some mercy on the hearts of those who refuse to jump when the ATF says frog, releasing complementary AR pistols in the line’s four calibers. Even so, CMMG gives ample reasons to contemplate doing the Fed’s paper dance; by all accounts, the backpack-portable carbines are sound as oak joists and light as a morning breeze.
That latter facet isn’t all re-written press release hyperbole either. The guns are plum featherweight. The pistol-caliber Banshees just trips over the 4.5-pound mark, while the rifle-caliber configurations are well within a rounding error of a flat 5 pounds. As those who shoot magnum revolvers know, this is tantalizingly tickling handgun heft — with the benefit of a stock (or brace).
CMMG offers the Banshees in .22LR, 9mm, .45 ACP and 300 Blackout, each boasting the shortest barrel the company bores for the calibers. In the case of pistol-calibers that snaps the tape at a nimble 5-inches, while the Blackout measures out at 8 inches. In both cases, the Banshee should prove not only portable, but also as fast handling as they come — particularly in a close-quarters application.
The Banshee come decked out, as those familiar with CMMG would suppose. Each version of the Banshee sports the company’s new ambidextrous charging handle, as well as sling plate and safety selector. They come standard with a Cerakote finish, an RML M-LOK Hand Guard and a Magpul MOE Pistol Grip. The AR Pistol versions each come with a Tailhook Mod 2 Brace.
The SBR versions come equipped with a Magpul MVG Foregrip and feature CMMG’s new RipStock — a new compact buttstock, fully machined out of 6061-T6 aluminum and Cerakoted at the factory. The stock features two of CMMG’s patent-pending technologies: Fastback and P3. The former does away with a lever release to deploy the stock and the latter presets the length the stock extends. Handy.
The 9mm and .45 ACP BANSHEEs feed from factory Glock magazines. Additionally, they utilize CMMG’s patent-pending Radial Delayed Blowback operating system, which uses a lighter buffer and carrier than the typical straight blowback design.
There is a little matter of cost and the Banshee line demands considerably more than the everyday sporter AR. But at a range of $1,449 to $1,499, the guns aren’t relegated to pipe-dream status — even with Uncle Sam expecting his cut on the SBR configurations.
For more information on the Mk4 Banshee please check out: www.cmmginc.com
Self-defense is a fight for your life. The only way to ensure you come out on top is preparation.
Have you ever heard of having a combat mindset? Let me give you the best advice I can to help you save your life. Read, consume and absorb Principles of Personal Defense. Jeff Cooper, the founder of Gunsite, wrote this book and it costs less than 20 rounds of good defensive handgun ammunition. For those who will not take my advice or whose wallets are as tight as a barrel bushing on a 1911 — with apologies to Col. Cooper — I’ll summarize.
Alertness: Be aware, be ready; bad things can happen at any time. Live by the Gunsite (Cooper) Color Code.
Decisiveness: Counterattack now! Do not tarry. To ponder is to perish.
Aggressiveness: Go at it like you mean it.
Speed: Be sudden, be quick. Be first.
Coolness: Keep your wits. Don’t lose control of your emotions.
Ruthlessness: Strike with all your strength for every blow. Shoot them to the ground.
Surprise: Do not wilt, do not cower, and don’t be predictable. Fight back.
This, in brief, is the mindset you must have for self-defense. An acquaintance believes in luck, and if it did exist it would be a wonderful thing to believe in. But luck seems to have a way of showing up at random. And, randomness, while it might be acceptable in sports, love and hunting, is not acceptable in a self-defense situation — when your life is on the line. As it’s been said, luck is when opportunity meets preparation. Prepare your mind — get the combat mindset — and when opportunity or bad timing puts your life on the line, you’ll be lucky.
When I think of how you should approach a self-defense scenario, I think of my grandfather, a farmer turned moonshiner, turned entrepreneur, and later a member of the local Board of Education. He never got past third grade, but when I was growing up, he was the smartest man I knew. When Grandpa wanted you to get after a job with unwavering commitment, he would say, “Get at it like you’re killing snakes.” I can think of no better way to describe the response a violent attack should elicit from you.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
As in any pastime, there are myths and half-truths that seem to have a life of their own, and the world of hunting and shooting probably has more than its share. Because internal and external ballistics can be so … well, intimidating to those who are simply hunters and not technically oriented, it’s understandable. Then there are terminal ballistics and cartridge/rifle performance, which can be quite subjective.
As a boy hanging around the little sporting goods store my buddy’s dad owned on 131st Street in Cleveland, we overheard all kinds of stories that, as impressionable pre-teens, we took as gospel. After all, some of the men who hung around the store had big game experience in Pennsylvania, West Virginia — even exotic places like Wyoming and Colorado, so they had to know what they were talking about!
Shooting Myth No. 1: Long barrels are more accurate than short barrels
Actually, the reverse is more often the case. Short barrels are stiffer, and, thus, the amplitude of vibrations — or barrel flex — is less. Benchrest rifles sport short, thick barrels. It’s true, however, that where iron sights are concerned, a long-barreled gun can be aimed more accurately because the sight radius (distance between the front and rear sight) is longer and the margin of aiming error is less.
Where iron sights are concerned, the longer the sight radius, the more accurate the gun can be aimed. The use of an aperture sight also maximizes the accuracy potential of iron sights.
That’s why accurately shooting a handgun with a sight radius of just a few inches is so much more difficult than shooting a long gun. Conversely, using an aperture or “peep” sight further increases the sight radius of a rifle, so it provides the most precise non-optic aiming system. Of course, the use of a riflescope negates barrel length and sight radius having anything to do with aiming accuracy.
Shooting Myth No. 2: A bullet rises as it leaves the muzzle
This is a myth to be sure, but there are a couple of caveats. For one, though a bullet begins to fall the moment it exits the muzzle, it does “rise” in relation to the line of sight (as opposed to the bore line, which is an imaginary line down the center of the bore out to infinity).
Whether utilizing iron sights or a riflescope, the line of sight — which is also a straight line out to infinity — starts out above the bore line, so if the two are to merge (zero) at any distance downrange, the sights (iron or optic) have to be angled downward to intersect the bullet’s trajectory. Normally, this first occurs out at 20-30 yards if one is zeroing in a typical centerfire rifle at normal distances. This is where “the bullet rises” comes from because beyond that first intersection the bullet is now traveling above the line of sight. As the bullet continues falling beyond that first intersection point, the two converge again at the desired sighting-in distance — your zero.
This illustration shows why a bullet supposedly rises when it leaves the muzzle. It “rises” only in relation to the line of sight.
As for the other caveat, a bullet can, in fact, rise very slightly after exiting the muzzle. This seeming contradiction of Newton’s Law can occur if, at the moment of departure, the barrel is flexed so that its attitude sends the bullet out on a line slightly higher than the bore line. The longer and/or thinner the barrel, the greater the divergence can be, but it’s so miniscule as to be purely academic. It all makes sense if you just imagine giving a violent up-and-down shake to a garden hose and watch how it undulates. That’s what a gun barrel does as a bullet accelerates down the bore. It’s also why, when zeroing in or testing loads on a 100-yard target, a load pushing a heavier bullet can impact higher than a lighter one.
Shooting Myth No. 3: ‘Enough gun’ means dropping animals immediately
More a belief than a myth, it’s held primarily by “low information” hunters — to use a recently coined term for describing voters. Far too many hunters believe that if an animal doesn’t virtually drop in its tracks, “more gun” is needed. Such determinations are often the result of ego, especially if the animal is wounded and not recovered. “I can’t understand it; it was a perfect shot.” Sure it was.
The truth of the matter is that the typical hunter today is over-gunned, and it’s especially true of whitetail deer hunters who comprise the vast majority of our ranks. If it were possible to shoot 10 identical animals under identical circumstances using the same cartridge and load, there would be 10 different reactions. With all being hit with a perfect heart/lung shot, some would drop where they stood, others would run anywhere from a few to a hundred yards or more.
Almost every magnum-class cartridge, whether commercial or proprietary, introduced in the past 20 years has been based on beltless cases. The entire Dakota family of cartridges shown here are all in the magnum class — but not identified as such.
The fact is, most hunters armed with 7mm and .300 magnums would be better served — and better shots — using a .260 Rem. or 7mm-08. Either is enough gun for all but the biggest bears and long-range elk hunting. And the .270 and .280 even more so.
Shooting Myth No. 4: Mystical ballistics really do exist
Back in the ’50s and early ’60s, the Weatherby Magnum rifle was more or less the Holy Grail for aspiring gun weenies like me, and apocryphal tales of Weatherby Magnum cartridges were quite common. Most often heard was that you could hit a critter in the foot with a Weatherby, particularly the .257, and it would drop on the spot as a result of “hydrostatic shock.” You don’t hear that one too much these days because we have so many cartridges that match or exceed Weatherby ballistics — and far too much empirical evidence to the contrary.
Shooting Myth No. 5: Handloads are more accurate than factory loads
Twenty-five years ago that was a fairly safe, though not certain, wager — assuming hunting rather than match bullets, and a modicum of handload development. Today, with premium loadings put together with superior components using more stringent quality control standards, it’s often difficult to match, let alone exceed, the performance of a premium factory load with a roll-your-own.
Assuming sufficient load development, a handload will almost always provide an accuracy edge over a factory load because it is tailored to a specific firearm. Today’s premium ammo, however, can make it a difficult and time-consuming effort.
Ultimately, the handload will always win because the customization possible in developing a load for a specific rifle can’t be duplicated in factory ammo, but the amount of load development and range time required might not be worth what might be only a minimal difference.
Shooting Myth No. 6: There are magnums … and there are magnums
There are too many examples that defy accepted lexicon to list all of them here, but here are a few magnums that aren’t, and some non-magnums that are:
The .256 Win. Magnum, now obsolete, was a pipsqueak of a rifle cartridge based on a necked-down .357 Magnum pistol round, and the .25-06 Rem. is a magnum-class cartridge without the belt and title. Both are .25-caliber cartridges, but the .256 can’t carry the .25-06’s water.
There are magnums, and there are magnums (left to right): .256 Winchester, .257 Weatherby, 6.5 Rem., .264 Win., .350 Rem. and .358 Norma.
The 6.5 Rem. Magnum, which was rolled out in 1965, had the moniker and the belt, but it couldn’t match the ballistics of the existing .264 Win. Mag. Both carried the magnum designation, but one was and the other wasn’t.
The .220 Swift was introduced in 1935 and — despite lacking the official magnum designation — has been king of the .22 centerfires ever since, tremendously outperforming the .222 Rem. Magnum introduced in 1958.
It wasn’t all that long ago that if a cartridge didn’t have a belt, a lot of folks figured that it couldn’t be a magnum. Today, virtually every magnum-class rifle cartridge that has been introduced these past 20 years or so are sans belt. Go figure.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
There’s more to Springfield Armory than just off-the-shelf XD pistols. Its custom shop is more than capable of turning out heirloom-quality firearms.
There are few things that measure up to putting your very own custom gun in your safe. Maybe bringing home that first kid from the hospital. But even there the gun arguably might have the advantage. After all, it will never soil a diaper.
With the image of a firearms manufacturer for the workingman, Springfield Armory isn’t typically the first gunmaker that pops to mind when the discussion turns to custom guns. But there’s much more to the Illinois company than its wide selection of off-the-shelf 1911 and XD pistols and M1A rifles.
Luke Hartle gets a first-hand look at one of them at the 2018 SHOT Show in Las Vegas and the gun in question is a real gem. Gun Digest’s Editor-in-Chief combs over a decked out 1911 Series Pro Model, tinkered to perfection and pretty enough to make the hardest-hearted gun cynic drool. With hand fitted everything, an in-house Black T finish, not a machining mark detectable and each of the front-strap checkering gone over with a loop, it’s nearly enough to make John Browning blush. Little wonder, as Springfield’s Jeremy Sides proudly points out, this is among the most popular guns customers request of the shop.
Striking as the spotlighted Pro Model is, the results are of little surprise given what Springfield boasts in the way of gunsmiths. In all, 12 craftsmen man the company’s custom shop and, by Sides’ estimations, put 200-years of firearms expertise at a customer’s beck and call. Given the money any tailor-made gun demands that’s peace of mind the job is going to get done right and down to the smallest detail.
Springfield’s custom shop has been quiet in its abilities overall, but it more than appears to have plenty to crow about.
If you’re having trouble finding factory ammunition or brass for rifles chambered in obscure or obsolete cartridges, don’t fret: You can make your own.
Thinking straight about obsolete cartridges:
With a good working knowledge of converting cartridges, a world of old guns in obscure calibers is opened.
An indispensable tool for the process is John J. Donnelly’s The Handloader’s Manual of Cartridge Conversions.
The process can be as complex as removing a belt from a magnum cartridge.
But it can be as simple as reducing a cartridge’s length and resizing its neck.
Reloaders shouldn’t be shy, contact reloading companies — they are invaluable resources.
On more complex, obscure projects you may need to invest in forming dies.
What do you do when you find that old rifle — sitting in the dusty corner of the gun shop, unloved, unwanted — that simply has your name written all over it, but it’s chambered for an obscure or obsolete cartridge? Why, you buy it of course! And if needs be, you make the ammunition yourself.
There have been several instances where this course of action has been warranted; there are some times when loaded ammunition — or even component ammunition — is simply not readily available.
The .30-.338 Magnum, created from new 7mm Remington Magnum brass, with one pass through a resizing die.
The transformation of one cartridge case to another can be as simple or complex as your selection of tools will allow, but quite often making one cartridge from another will only require your reloading tools. A case trimmer can and will cut a cartridge down considerably, and a full-length resizing die can change the diameter of a case mouth, to a certain degree. But the first stop on your tour should be a particular book that warrants a place in every reloader’s library: John J. Donnelly’s The Handloader’s Manual of Cartridge Conversions.
It’s thick and largely technical, but it can and will be invaluable to those needing to create ammunition for a centerfire rifle when component brass isn’t available. My copy is more than 30 years old, and some of the reloading tools mentioned might be considered antiques these days, but the principles are still completely relevant. It makes an excellent full-service reference guide for the handloader, even if just in a learning capacity.
I’ve used it to create that which I could not purchase, and it’s worked out just fine. Now, while the book contains instructions on some of the more radical transformations, such as removing the belt from the Holland & Holland family of cases or reducing the diameter of a cartridge’s rim, I have yet to need to perform those operations; my own transformations have been less complicated, yet they filled the need in the same manner.
An Easy Example
My colleague and good friend Craig Boddington called me one day to inform me that he was having a problem with a rifle he had just acquired. Craig said the barrel was marked .30-338 Magnum, and while that is — in essence — the definition of the .308 Norma Magnum, the chamber wouldn’t handle the Norma factory ammunition.
(Above) .318 Westley Richards ammunition, created from .30-06 brass, driving a 250-grain Woodleigh roundnose at 2,475 fps. The conversion was simple, and the rifle shoots exceptionally well.
So, I delved into the matter a bit more and found that after the .338 Winchester Magnum was released, yet before the .308 Norma Magnum was unveiled, wildcatters simply necked down the .338 case to hold .308-inch diameter bullets and maintain the same shoulder angle and datum line. There is a dimensional difference of a few thousandths between the two designs, explaining why Craig couldn’t close the bolt.
I made a call to Redding Reloading and found that — miraculously — they had a set of dies available for the wildcat. Because it maintained the same dimensions as both the .338 and 7mm Remington Magnum, either would be a suitable candidate for surgery. I decided it would be easier to neck up than to neck down and settled on new 7mm Rem. Mag. brass.
One run through the full-length resizing die — equipped with a tapered expander ball – and I was in business. Datum line was maintained, case length was just a few thousandths below maximum (a bit of length was lost in the stretching process) and the inside of the necks didn’t need to be turned. Loading for the rifle blindly, Craig reported that it gave him good velocities and 1 ¼ MOA accuracy (from a low-powered vintage scope), but most importantly, it was safe in the rifle with no pressure signs.
A More Involved Project
My own rifle was a bit of a different story, requiring some trimming and reworking to bring it to life. I have always wanted a .318 Westley Richards, yet finances dictated that the purchase of a genuine vintage rifle would see me sleeping on the couch.
A 7mm Remington Magnum case (L), and a converted .30-338 Magnum case (R), made with one pass through a Redding resizing die.
Instead, I embarked on a custom rifle build, giving new life to a WWI Gew. 98 Mauser — re-barreling it with a Kreiger .318 WR barrel. The rifle came out just fine, with the appointments I wanted. One little issue: The only available factory ammunition is very expensive, approaching and in some instances exceeding 10 dollars per round. Being a handloader, I thumbed through the aforementioned Manual of Cartridge Conversions and confirmed my assumptions: .318 Westley Richards cases can be easily made from plentiful .30-06 Springfield brass.
Step No. 1 was to trim the .30-06 brass from 2.494 inches down to 2.370 inches, and for that I used a good, piloted trimmer. Once cut to proper length, I cleaned up the case mouth — which was now square and rough from trimming — giving it a good chamfer and deburring.
Step No. 2 was applying a liberal dose of Imperial Sizing Wax along the base of the case, and Imperial Dry Neck Lube at the case mouth; one pass through the resizing die resulted in perfectly formed .318 Westley Richards brass.
The case mouth has been expanded from .308 inch to .330 inch, and once cleaned up, they can be used without the need to fire-form. Now, the true case head dimension of the .318 Westley Richards is 0.468 inch vs. the .30-06’s 0.473 inch, so to be completely transformed, a rim turning might be in order, but my rifle began life as an 8×57 Mauser, which shares the 06 case head.
Therefore, the bolt face and cartridge case head are completely compatible. When I choose to use actual .318 Westley Brass — a rarity sometimes available from Bertram — the 0.008 inch in case head diameter won’t make a bit of difference.
When Forming Dies Are Needed
These two examples are relatively simple solutions to the need for brass that is either unavailable or ridiculously expensive. The more radical transformations might require the use of forming dies — which will work the brass up or down in small increments — and brass annealing. Cases like the 6.5 Remington Magnum — capable of being made from .350 Remington Magnum brass or, in extreme cases, from .300 H&H brass — should see the use of a forming die in order to radically change the diameter of the case mouth. The same could be said for creating .35 Whelen brass from .30-06 cases; though, I’ve seen it done in a single step, albeit with varying degrees of success.
Trimming .30-06 brass to proper length to create the .318 Westley Richards cartridges.
The .475 Turnbull — that lever-action gem that Doug Turnbull designed for the 1886 Winchester — is based upon the .348 Winchester case, and it will definitely require forming dies. There are so many designs based upon the .30-06, .308 Winchester or the belted .375 H&H case that many different cartridges can be made from this trio alone. Some of the obscure rimmed cartridges will require a bit more creativity, but with the Cartridge Conversion book, a good handloader can get the job done.
If the change is extreme, annealing your cases will prevent premature cracking and splitting by keeping the brass soft and pliable; annealing will also help to keep any brass that must be fire-formed in working order for as long as possible. The annealing process is not extremely technical, but that’s best kept for another conversation …
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The biggest segment of the firearms market is that of concealed carry handguns. In recent years, the number of ordinary citizens who carry a handgun as everyday practice has expanded almost exponentially. Not only are more people carrying, but people who never previously considered firearms ownership are now committed concealed carry citizens.
The result of this paradigm swing is a booming market for effective concealable guns, and the industry has done an admirable job of filling that niche. At one time the choices for concealable handguns were small revolvers, pocket-sized .25s and somewhat antiquated .380s. Now we have reliable 9mm semi-autos that weigh only a few ounces more than those diminutive, awkward and underpowered .25s.
It’s a fact that in today’s market, it’s harder to find a bad handgun than a good one. Polymer frames, modern manufacturing techniques and an industry that pays attention to the market have allowed lots of good choices to those who’ve decided to take an active part in the defense of themselves and those they love. We now have so many excellent designs that the current effort is to improve and refine those excellent designs.
S&W M&P Shield M2.0
Clearly the most popular concealed carry handgun in America by sales is the Smith and Wesson Shield. It’s affordable, reliable, compact and chambered for the most popular self-defense calibers. It’s offered both with and without a manual safety to accommodate both schools of thought. As an overwhelming success, it’s no wonder Smith and Wesson has upgraded it with the same 2.0 features as the double-stacked M&P series.
I don’t subscribe to the mindset that defensive handguns should have light and crisp triggers, but it’s important that the trigger be both safe and manageable. The common complaint with the earlier Shield was a less-than-precise trigger with an indistinct reset. The 2.0 series has rectified the issue of trigger reset. It’s now much more positive and tactile with the added bonus of a crisper and more defined break. Add the much improved grip surfaces and already excellent sights and you have a defensive handgun that fits almost every need. With two magazines, MSRP is $479 and $649 with the Crimson Trace Laserguard Pro laser/light option.
Springfield Armory XDs Mod.2 .45
Since its inception, the Springfield Armory XD series of pistols built in Croatia has had a very strong following. The single-stack compact XDs series has found favor with concealed carry citizens because it’s easy to conceal and easy to shoot well. I particularly like the grip safety. There’s a massive difference of opinion on whether defensive guns should have manual or passive safeties, and the passive grip safety on the XD series is almost unique in polymer striker-fired pistols.
The new XDs Mod.2 extends the line, incorporating the refinements of the Mod.2 series with the power and penetration of the revered .45 ACP round. The undercut trigger guard and improved grip shape allow the shooter to grip higher, meaning better recoil control, and that’s augmented with the upgraded Grip Zone grip texturing.
The sights have been improved as well with the addition of a tritium front sight and a serrated U-notch rear sight that allows for using the front of the rear sight to rack the slide against a solid object. The trigger is also enhanced for a shorter reset. It comes with two magazines, one flush-fit five-round mag for concealability and a six-round backup magazine. The overall weight is 21.5 ounces with the flush magazine, and MSRP is $593.
Bond Arms Bullpup 9
Certainly, the most innovative new concealed carry handgun, and probably the most unconventional handgun in several years, is the Bond Arms Bullpup 9. It’s based on the Boberg XR9-S, an innovative but somewhat expensive and problematic pistol developed in 2003. In function, the Bullpup 9 is a remarkable departure from conventional semi-automatic pistols in that the magazine feeds from the rear instead of the front. The system uses a rotary barrel lockup with the barrel rotating on a cam similar to that of an AR-15 rifle bolt inside the bolt carrier.
The pistol feeds from a magazine located below the chamber in the barrel, with the round coming from the magazine much like a tubular fed firearm. Instead of the magazine spring pushing the round backward, there are a pair of tongs similar to a conventional extractor that strip the magazine rearward, and a lifter then positions it for the slide to carry the round into the chamber as the recoil spring brings it back into battery.
The obvious advantage of this is the short overall length in relation to barrel length. For example, a 3.3-inch barreled Springfield Armory XDs has an overall length of 6.3 inches and the Bullpup 9, with a barrel length of 3.35 inches has an overall length of just 5.1 inches. Another advantage of the Bullpup 9 is an extremely light operating spring. As the slide pulls the round rearward out of the magazine, it creates resistance to the slide’s travel. This additional resistance to the slide allows the use of a much lighter spring than would be normal for the weight of the slide in a 9mm pistol. The result is a slide that’s remarkably easy to cycle, which is an important issue for users with lower hand strength.
With a weight of less than 19 ounces and a thin profile, the Bullpup 9 is an attractive option for concealed carry. The trigger system is double-action-only, providing second-strike capability. Sights are dovetailed three-dot; grips are engraved laminated rosewood. It comes with two magazines and has an MSRP of $977.
Springfield Armory .380 911
One of the most respected and successful handgun designs has been the 1911. In recent years there have been miniaturized versions of the 1911 design, and they’ve found favor with concealed carry citizens. Springfield Armory now has its own version of a reduced 1911 in .380 ACP. The 911 uses a T6 aluminum frame with a Black Nitride or stainless 416 slide. Grips are G10 with texturing on the front strap and mainspring housing.
The ambidextrous safety differs from the 1911 design in that it allows racking the slide to charge the chamber while the safety is engaged. The single-action trigger combined with a G10 Hogue trigger shoe allows a light and crisp trigger break. Sights are a green tritium front sight inside a yellow luminescent circle and a tactical rack rear sight with green tritium inside of white luminescent circles. It comes with a six-round flush magazine and an extended seven-round magazine for backup. MSRP is $599 for the standard version and $789 with an integrated green Viridian grip laser.
Ruger EC9s
While all the above have been performance enhancements to existing models, Ruger’s EC9s is an economical enhancement. The Ruger LC9 went through an upgrade in 2011 with the introduction of the LC9s, an enhanced version that featured a striker-fired instead of a hammer-fired action and had a much better trigger. The LC9s has eclipsed the earlier version, and it’s been dropped from the catalog. While the standard LC9s has an MSRP of $449, the EC9s has an MSRP of $299.
Primarily, besides the price, the difference between the EC9s and the LC9s is the sights. In the original version, the sights were dovetailed into the slide and the EC9s has sights that are integral to the slide. Currently, the Ruger website no longer shows the standard LC9s but lists a collection of standard guns with different color schemes specific to different distributors.
S&W M&P9 M2.0
Smith and Wesson’s M&P line has been extremely successful and the 2.0 upgrade makes the series even better. Recently, the company introduced the M2.0 Compact, bringing functional, much-needed upgrades to an already excellent firearm. Depending on your carry method, the M&P9 might be a bit large for daily concealability, but it’s certainly a viable option if it fits your lifestyle.
The improvements in the M2.0 series corrected issues that kept a good pistol from being an exceptional pistol. The ability to properly grip a pistol increases both first-shot effectiveness and speed in delivering fast follow-up shots, and the new aggressive texturing on the grip is a vast improvement. Competitive shooters who use the M&P pistols universally modify their guns to make them easier to grip by stippling or adding aggressive panels. The new grip surface negates that need. The other complaint with the M&P line has been in the trigger reset, and that’s also been corrected with the bonus of a lighter pull weight and crisper break. Four interchangeable inserts make it possible to fit any hand. MSRP is $569.
Sig Sauer P365
There’s a hot market for concealable 9mm pistols, and recently there have been two schools of thought: One school of thought is that a slim and lightweight gun is a better choice because of comfort and concealability; the other places more importance on magazine capacity. Both camps have reasonable reasons for their preference, but both will agree the other’s position is realistic.
Just revealed at SHOT Show is the Sig P365, a gun that reasonably will accommodate both groups. With a slight trade-off in width, the P365 provides 10-shot capacity with a 1.06-inch width and a weight of just 17.8 ounces. Described by Sig as a Micro Compact, it’s a polymer-framed, striker-fired gun that easily fits into the standard for small 9mm pistols. It has a stainless-steel, Nitron-finished slide and barrel and three-dot Tritium sights. Grips are interchangeable for better purchase and upgradable for a laser.
The trick is in a magazine that’s tapered, wider at the bottom and tapering off to a single-stack magazine width. Magazines are available flush and with an extended floor plate to provide a full grip. It also comes with a 12-round magazine for backup. MSRP is in line with other compact nines at $599.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the Concealed Carry 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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.
