There’s more to shotguns than pump actions and tube magazines. Check out these two unconventional shotguns perfect for defense, or fun at the range.
Different takes on the shotgun:
The Kalashnikov variant Saiga is a popular semi-auto, box magazine shotgun option.
The TriStar KRX is based off the AR and is as familiar as the beloved rifle.
While both are solid options, a good ol’ pump will still do the job with the right training.
While Remington and Mossberg have recently come out with detachable magazine versions of their revered 870 and 590 shotguns, there are plenty of other unconventional shotguns on the market that are magazine fed. Some have been available for a while, whereas others are more recent developments. Here, I’ll highlight two specific shotguns: the Saiga 12 and the TriStar KRX.
The Russian-made Saiga 12 is one of the most popular box magazine semi-auto shotguns currently on the market. Named for the Saiga antelope of the Russian Steppes, it’s a variant of the Kalashnikov rifle series, maybe one reason for its popularity. The Saiga is known for eating ammo whether the gun is clean or dirty (like the AK-47 rifle) and has a following in the 3-Gun world. My own two cents on the Saiga is that it’s ugly as hell but goes bang when you need it to. A buddy of mine who works with Alaska DNR carries a Saiga 12 for bear defense. He’s a Marine (there are no former Marines) and knows his firearms, so he must have confidence in this shotgun.
TriStar KRX
The TriStar KRX Tactical Shotgun is a semi-auto shotgun with a detachable magazine in an AR platform. The TriStar people knew what they were doing; those familiar with the AR rifle will automatically know where the safety selector and magazine release are, and it will “feel” like your AR rifle when you pick it up. For a defensive shotgun, this might be the pick for those who want to stay with the AR configuration.
In the end, the choice between a conventional tube-fed shotgun and a detachable-magazine variant lands on the individual shooter. Back in the day, motor heads loved to argue the Ford versus Chevy debate, and box magazines opposed to tubes is much the same. What’s important is finding the shotgun that fits you and that you shoot best. After that, you spend your hard-earned money on the best training you can find and then shoot as much as possible. Now you have done all you can to be prepared when the feces hits the fan. You might not believe in the Easter Bunny, but you have to believe in your shotgun.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Like a structurally sound foundation fortifies a house, a solid grip underpins pistol marksmanship. Without it the front sight breaks into a dance, recoil becomes a fistfight, and target transition devolves to Federal Government-level efficacy.
Steeping yourself in the basics of building a solid grip, learning the push and pull of dominant and off hand and where exactly to place all those digits is the key that unlocks much of this cornerstone skill. But lost in the minutia of body mechanics is an aspect as easy to overlook as the pavement under your feet — pistol fit.
As Luke Hartle deftly observes in in the above video, rare is the gun that fits large hands and small. But Springfield Armory might have hit the sweet spot for a great swath of the shooting public with the 911. The new 1911-style .380 ACP pistol is Momma Beared to provide superior handling, no matter if a burly man or a petite woman is behind the trigger.
The Gun Digest Editor-in-Chief gets a rundown of this purpose-built concealed carry gun from Springfield’s Stefany Reese. And in the process, he learns that, above and beyond superior handling capabilities, the Springfield 911 has a deck worth of aces up its sleeve. Muzzle to beavertail, not only is the pistol designed to shoot like a star, but operate like one as well.
A great deal of this is due to the manufacturer needling in on the fine points that make the Springfield 911 second nature to get into the fight. Where the company really puts its thinking cap on is the safety and keeping it large and easy to find, not always the case with diminutive pistols. And in a critical scenario, when fine motor-skills melt under the heat of adrenaline, shooters will be glad there’s ample safety for the thumb to catch.
The other aspect, difficult to perceive on a glimpse, is the pistol’s frame-to-slide-to-trigger guard relationship. Tinkered to an optimal layout, the pistol handles like a larger 1911, rather than the near mouse gun it is. This is always a welcome attribute in this generally snappy class of handguns.
With an MSRP of $600, it’s at the affordable end of the metal-framed pistol market. Which might give shooters plenty of reason to look to the new Springfield 911 to help handle emergencies.
Pulling the trigger, yeah, it’s part of the game. But if you’re gunning for the pinnacle of shooting, there’s a lot more blood, sweat and tears involved. Whether running and gunning in a practical pistol competition or executing tactical movements in a training class, mastering a firearm requires mental and physical preparedness.
The Modern Shooter team travels to MAST Solutions in Houston, Texas this week to get a firsthand look at exactly the kind of training required to become a tactical athlete. And we get a take on the process from a man who should know — Jason Castro. The Minnesota Twins catcher trades his mask and glove for an AR-15 and loads of ammo in the off-season, sharpening his skills behind the trigger.
While the equipment changes for Castro, the mindset he takes to the diamond remains. For the professional athlete, it’s dedication to the craft and willingness to put in the work that moves a shooter to exceptional. And he and the rest of the MAST students take dust in the face, race for cover and keep eyes peeled through it all to prove their commitment to raising their shooting game.
Find out what else it takes to become a tactical athlete in this episode of Modern Shooter 10:00 p.m. EST Friday on the Pursuit Channel. The episode rebroadcasts Monday at 12 p.m. EST and Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. EST.
The gun industry is guilty of peddling its share of snake oil. Clunky reticles that promise to get you on target from the next county over. New gun finishes constituting new gun models. And rail accessories that would have been better left in the imagination of a 12-year-old.
Thankfully, it’s not all tire deflator attachments and magazine butt plate knives. Every year there are products that cut through the white noise of the silly and useless and truly appear like they’ve got the chops to take the ball and run. Federal Premium’s newest cartridge — the .224 Valkyrie — most certainly looks to fall in this category.
The purpose-built long-range cartridge was dreamed up as a small-bore answer to the 6.5 Creedmoor, promising less recoil and a better fit in the AR platform. And from Phil Massaro’s first experience with the shortened and necked down .30 Rem/6.8 SPC cartridge, the hubbub about the .224 Valkyrie proved more than just carnival barking. After pitching a bit of copper-jacketed lead down range, the Gun Digest author and custom ammunition manufacturer walked away with eyebrows raised over the cartridge’s performance.
Obviously, as a fella who spends the better part of his day crushing handmade rounds at his press, the .224 Valkyrie’s ballistic minutia captivated Massaro — high BC bullets, exceptional velocity potentials, flat trajectory. But, as the above video shows, it’s after firing pin meets primer that he really learns what a sweet tune the Valkyrie sings. As he points out, the recoil is so mild you can track the bullet’s vapor trail as it races 1,000 yards and beyond. Slick.
The .224 Valkyrie certainly performs like it has staying power. Now it’s just up to the greater shooting public to prove whether or not Federal actually has a winner.
When choosing a firearm for home defense, there are a lot of different areas to consider. Stopping power is a primary concern, but you also have to be concerned about over penetration. And you need a weapon that’s easy to use for all members of the family. Most people immediately think about pistols and shotguns; however, the AR platform has a lot of advantages over both of these and might be your best choice for home defense.
The Power To Stop
The first category to examine is stopping power. If forced to shoot, you need to stop the attacker as efficiently as possible … and handguns come up short in this category. Handgun rounds almost always require multiple hits — in the right locations — to stop an attacker. The numbers and stats you see most often in defensive pistol shootings are three and four shots fired. The only advantage of pistols is that they’re small, easy to conceal and light to carry. Inside your home, concealment is not an issue.
On the other hand, shotguns have excellent stopping power. But, even with typical defensive loads — buckshot, slugs or even birdshot — over-penetration is a major concern. Plus, no matter how good you are, surgical shots with a shotgun — for example, dealing with a hostage situation — are extremely difficult.
Rifle cartridges also have excellent stopping power, but the problem with most rifle rounds is over-penetration — except for the .223 Rem./5.56 NATO, a lightweight bullet moving at high velocity. Once that round hits anything denser than air, it begins to tumble, fragment or expand, dissipating and dumping its energy quickly.
The .223 Rem./5.56 NATO — as long as you’re not using one of the penetrator rounds designed to punch through material — will penetrate less material than most handgun, rifle or shotgun rounds. There is plenty of research on this to study, but just keep in mind there are always exceptions.
You’ll also want to avoid rounds designed for long-range shooting, which are heavier in order to maintain accuracy at extended distances. Your best bet is a round specifically designed for self-defense, which have excellent stopping power and have a very minimal chance of over penetrating. Another advantage of the .223 Rem./5.56 NATO is that it’s light in recoil, which means almost anyone in the family can handle it.
Integrated Intuition
In addition to light recoil, the AR is user-friendly. Stoner was a genius when it came to ergonomics, and all the controls for the AR are in just the right place. It’s one of the easiest weapons to operate, and the AR works well for both right- and left-hand shooters — as long as you have the right techniques.
My favorite ARs are lightweight, at about 6 pounds. This makes them easy to handle, especially indoors, and anyone with normal upper body strength can use it properly. Plus, you can set the AR up with adjustable stocks and other goodies, allowing you to “custom” fit it for whoever is using it. In short, the AR is one platform that will fit everyone.
Length Lamentations
One concern voiced by a lot of shooters contemplating the AR for home defense is the overall length. Try this: Have one person mount up an AR carbine with a 16-inch barrel, and have another person stand next to them holding a pistol extended out at arm’s reach. The location of the muzzles will be about the same. And if the carbine is a little bit longer, it’s more than worth it for the additional stopping power.
Still, if length is a worry, you have a couple of options. There are SBRs, or short-barrel rifles, readily available with a barrel less than 16 inches in length, but an SBR requires approval from the ATF and a fee for a tax stamp.
Today we have AR pistols. An AR pistol uses the same parts as the rifle or carbine and shoots the same rounds, but it has a short barrel — all without filing Federal paperwork, waiting on approval and paying the tax fee. Plus, with an AR pistol, you don’t have to get approval to travel out of state with it like you do an SBR. (Keep in mind that it’s your job to adhere to all local, state and federal laws when it comes to any firearm.)
Lighting Them Up
All firearms for home defense should have a light on them, and the AR is no exception. The light is needed to locate, identify and, if necessary, accurately engage the threat. With the AR, this is easy: Regardless of the type handguards your AR has, there’s a mount to attach a light to it … plus anything else you want.
I’m right handed, so I prefer the light in an 11 o’clock position and as far forward as possible. This positions the light in the right place for working right- and left-hand corners, or over the top of an object. (Left-handed shooters will want a 1 o’clock mount.) I use a push-button tail cap, with momentary and constant on, and I easily operate the light with the thumb of my support hand while the rifle is shouldered.
Add a red-dot sight — and maybe a laser — and you’ve got a lightweight, ergonomic home defense weapon. Yes, you’ll lose a little velocity due to the length of the barrel, but it’s still a lot better than any handgun round, and, again, with limited penetration concerns.
Psychological Advantage
The final category to think about is the psychological advantages of the AR for home defense. In the “me” category, the AR provides a warm, fuzzy feeling. I know it will stop the threat efficiently; that’s definitely a plus in the confidence department.
We also can’t discount the psychological effects on the threat. I’ve seen numerous people that had pistols pointing at them and weren’t too worried about getting shot. I’ve never seen someone facing a rifle that said, “Go ahead and shoot me.” I’m sure it’s happened; I’ve just never seen it.
Equipping yourself with a firearm for self-defense is all about finding the right weapon to fit your needs. Maybe the AR isn’t for you, but don’t dismiss it without giving it serious study and consideration. When faced with a violent attacker, your job is to stop the threat as efficiently as possible. This is especially true inside your home, where avoidance or escape might not be an option. With the proper training and practice, the AR platform in .223 Rem./5.56 NATO will serve you exceptionally well.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The 828U is loaded with features that set it apart from all other double barrels.
What to know about the new Benelli 828U:
The new 828U is ultra-lightweight at just 6 1/2 pounds.
It utilizes Benelli’s innovative Progressive Comfort Stock.
This system has a set of interlocking polymer leaf springs in the stock to reduce recoil.
Instead of a hinge-and-pin system, the 828U has a free-floating steel locking plate.
This offers added durability and eliminates the need for a steel receiver, which is heavy.
Since 1967, Benelli, the company that revolutionized autoloading shotgun design with its Inertia Driven system, has sold more than 4 million guns.
Benelli has never let up when it comes to introducing eye-popping, uniquely designed shotguns — the Ethos and Vinci to name a couple of the more recent innovations — but it was the Super Black Eagle that established Benelli as the leader in the waterfowling world. Its ability to reliably cycle 2 ¾-, 3- and 3 ½-inch shells with no adjustment was a game-changer. Today, the SBE is in its third iteration and is as popular as ever.
With this track record of autoloader success, it came as a huge surprise to most shooters when the company introduced its first over-and-under model in 2015. The Benelli 828U is a sleek 12-gauge double barrel that tips the scales at a wispy 6 ½ pounds. One might wonder why Benelli would bother bringing yet another o/u to the upland hunting market, a space that’s pretty crowded with excellent makes and models at all price points. The short answer: Because they could, and because they could do it differently.
The 828U was 5 years in development, according to George Thompson, Benelli’s Director of Product Management. Thompson shared some background about the gun while we hunted at Brett Waibel’s Bad River Bucks & Birds ranch this past October. The central South Dakota setting provided the perfect opportunity to burn several pocketfuls of shells on the prairie’s abundant pheasants, sharptails and prairie chickens.
I’d been wondering about the reason for such a radical departure from Benelli’s autoloader lineup, but as time went on I realized the 828U has more in common with the rest of the Benelli line than one would think.
Lightweight And Simple
To get to that skinny 6 ½-pound weight, the 828U features an aluminum receiver, open mid-rib and carbon-fiber rib. “We like lightweight, and we like simple,” Thompson said. “The inertia system in our other guns allows us to trim weight because there’s no need to accommodate a gas system. Well, in this over-and-under, we found ways to incorporate features that go with that lightweight and simple theme, while still maintaining our core value: reliability.”
The trade-off for an easy-carrying gun is obviously felt when you pull the trigger. We all know lighter guns kick harder, and Benelli has waged a war on recoil since the beginning. The company has offered various ComforTech stock designs over the years, the latest being the ComforTech 3 found in the Super Black Eagle 3. Benelli mitigates recoil in the 828U (and the Ethos) with a Progressive Comfort stock.
“There is no such thing as eliminating recoil, and we don’t claim it (the 828U) is the lightest-kicking gun,” Thompson said. “Our goal was to create a gun that weighs less and kicks the same or less as a heavier gun. We’ve been able to reduce felt recoil by approximately 30 percent with the Progressive Comfort stock.”
As you would expect, the 828U sports a nicely sculpted, cushiony recoil pad, but there’s more to the recoil-reduction strategy. Inside the stock is a removable set of interlocking polymer leaf springs, which compress to absorb recoil. The heavier the shotshell load, the more the springs come into play to take some of the rearward punch out of the shot. To address the fact that perceived recoil has as much to do with the shotgun jumping up into your cheek, the 828U’s stock also has a replaceable air foam pad insert to soak up some more of the kick.
Locked Up
The 828U’s receiver is built in opposition to the way other over-and-unders are designed. Rather than a hinge-and-pin system, which starts to wear from the very first time you open and close the action, the 828U uses a free-floating steel locking plate that seals up tight at four contact points behind the chambers. This eliminates the need for a steel receiver, and it also means that the lock-up will have the same strength and reliability after 10,000 shots as it did on day No. 1.
In The Field
My first introduction to the 828U was a fast one. We went right to the field with no practice shooting beforehand. I opted to use a 28-inch barrel model, the length I tend to prefer on all of my over-and-unders. While the gun is incredibly pleasant to carry, as advertised, and it helped me jump on birds quickly, it did take me a few rooster flushes to get the hang of swinging properly. I was just coming off of a week of grouse and woodcock hunting in Wisconsin where snap-shooting can sometimes be the difference between a hit or no shot at all. It didn’t take me too long to diagnose my misses, and things began shaping up rather quickly after that.
I typically shoot a variety of 1 ¼-ounce loads of No. 4s or 5s on pheasants. On this trip I was using Federal’s Hi-Bird 1 ¼-ounce loads of No. 6s, which have an advertised muzzle velocity of 1,275 feet per second. Although shooting in the field doesn’t typically allow for the same type of analysis you can afford yourself out on the clays range, recoil was mitigated to the point where I didn’t really think about it much, which is how it should be. Because I just had to try it, I spent one day hunting with a Hi-Bird in the first barrel and a 3-inch, 1 5⁄8-ounce Federal Prairie Storm No. 5 in the second. All of the 828U’s recoil-reducing features are irrelevant when it comes to taming the wallop that a Prairie Storm shell delivers. I think that would be the case in any fixed-breech gun, so I’m not inclined to mark down the new Benelli because of it. (Hey Federal, any chance you could offer Hi-Bird in No. 5? Please?)
Benelli’s 828U is more expensive than a lot of over-and-unders, but it’s also a whole lot more affordable than many of the highly decorated imports that are available. It’s offered with 26-, 28- and 30-inch barrels at a full retail price of $3,000 for the engraved nickel-plated receiver model and $2,500 for the black anodized receiver model.
This article is an excerpt from the January 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
There’s no need to overthink deer bullets. While a number of intriguing new designs now exist, classic cup-and-cores still do the job.
Are cup-and-core designs the ultimate deer bullets?
Cup-and-core bullets have lead cores and copper jackets.
A bit of lead is exposed at the nose to aid expansion.
Given a deer’s thin hide, the bullets perform exceedingly well.
Cup-and-core bullets are economical, so they allow for ample experimentation.
And they don’t face the issues common to the newer, more radical projectile designs.
I don’t know if there’s anyone who loves heading on a hunt in foreign lands more than Yours Truly; it represents adventure to me on many different levels. However, there is a certain solace that comes with the local deer season, being a part of the traditions that started it all for me, and enjoying the areas where I cut my teeth as a hunter.
The author’s first truly accurate handload, and one responsible for quite a bit of deer meat in the freezer, utilized Sierra’s 165-grain Game King BTHP bullet.
In addition, I’m the guy who has and will continue to embrace advancing bullet technology; I find the premium bullets to be intriguing, and I enjoy testing them on large beasts. That said, there are times when a plain old traditional bullet suits the situation perfectly, and deer camp is a shining example of just that.
The cup-and-core bullets that hunters used for nearly every species of game throughout the first-half of the 20th century certainly needed an update, at least with regard to the larger game species. That said, they have been, are, and will continue to be absolutely perfect for hunting deer.
However, as we reloaders tend to learn early on, not all bullets are created equally, no matter what category we’re discussing. Let’s take a look at some good, great and not-so-great traditional deer bullets — and how they relate to your reloading bench.
Deer Bullet Basics
What is a cup-and-core bullet? Well, it’s a bullet with a lead core with an outer jacket of copper that forms a cup around the bottom and sides of the bullet, leaving a bit of lead exposed at the nose to allow the bullet to expand upon impact. That copper jacket is harder than lead — soft enough to be influenced by the rifling, yet hard enough not to leave the amount of residue in the barrel those pure lead bullets will. So, while these bullets have had questionable results against heavy hide and bone, they are, undoubtedly, perfect for deer hunting.
Deer are not hard to kill; they are soft skinned and their bones are not especially large. Hit them wrong, however, and they will show you a different side, taking what seems to be a pounding and still going much farther than anyone would believe. As it is with any game animal, shot placement trumps all, but for deer you want the consummate blend of expansion and penetration, and the cup-and-core bullets will give just that.
Humble Beginnings
For years, the only serious big game rifles I owned were a classic Winchester Model 94, in .30-30 Winchester — with all of its blessings and limitations — and a Ruger Model 77 Mark II in .308 Winchester. Both of them have moderate velocities, and both of them run well on standard cup-and-core bullets. And, both have their own special place in the deer woods, possibly among the top of the heap as far as deer cartridges are concerned. The .30-30 was, in living memory, one of the staples of deer season, though that is changing. But, the .308 Winchester is among the do-all cartridges, offering all sorts of flexibility.
For deer, bullets weighing from 150 to 180 grains have been the historical choices, with the tradeoff being the flatter trajectory of the 150-grain bullets versus the heavier bullet weight and energy figures of the 180-grain slugs.
Deer, with their soft skin and bones — and not being as thick and large as some big game species — are not especially difficult to kill. A decent cup-and-core bullet and good shot placement are usually enough to do the job efficiently.
I preferred to stay in the middle, especially for deer, with 165-grain bullets. My first handloads were built around the Hornady InterLock Spire Point bullets, and they served very well. The InterLock is a bullet I’ve used in many different situations, and while I usually don’t take advantage of the cannelure for crimping, as the .308 Win. offers enough neck tension that I don’t feel the need to crimp my loads, the terminal performance is excellent on deer.
In those early days of reloading — as the distances at which the Northeast deer woods allowed were short — if my loads were of 2 MOA accuracy or less, that was fine. Shots over 60 yards were a rarity, and they got the job done. But, if nothing else, they planted the seed for a reloading nut, and I was eager to load and test many different deer bullets for both accuracy and terminal performance.
Ample Options For Deer Season
I ended up feeding that .308 Winchester what I consider to be one of the best deer bullets on the market: the 165-grain Sierra GameKing hollowpoint. This bullet was part of the equation that resulted in what was my first truly accurate handload, as well as resulting in a considerable amount of meat in the freezer.
It has a hollowpoint crimped to look like the letter X — for reliable expansion — yet has a thick jacket to keep that expansion rate in check, and a boat tail for longer ranges. I’ve loaded this bullet not only in the .308 Win., but also in the .30-06 and .300 Winchester Magnum, and it stood up to all three. No crimping groove, just a plain old bullet built right, and one that continues to serve to this day.
The Nosler Ballistic Tip is another good choice when it comes to deer bullets that has served well in many different situations. It’s certainly accurate, though it has developed a reputation for being overly frangible on game larger than deer. However, on deer and deer-sized animals, if of sufficient weight, the Ballistic Tip is lights out. My little .308 Win. loves the 165-grain BTs, and there’s enough bullet there for good penetration in addition to the expansion and resulting wound channels that deer hunters love. It’s sleek with a good ballistic coefficient (BC), but not so sleek as to require a longer-than-normal seating depth.
Round-nose bullets are valid options when shots run fairly close. These Hornady 220-grain InterLock RNs are perfect for large game at reasonable distances.
The Speer softpoints, as well as the Remington Core-Lokt, have received mixed reviews over the years, but I’ve used both to take deer. They aren’t the strongest of deer bullets, and when I use them I do my best to keep two ideas in mind: I want a bullet in the middle to heavy end of the spectrum, and I want to keep the velocities mild. Quite obviously, they’ve worked for decades, but I have found some of the Speer line to be damned near explosive.
Reloading Considerations
What do these all have in common for the reloader? Well, a couple of things:
First, they are an affordable means of developing your handloads — and handloading skills — allowing for quite a bit of experimentation without breaking the bank. Second, they are usually of simple design and will avoid some of the more complex reloading ideas associated with the more radical developments. They take up considerably less room in the case than the monometals and really high BC bullets do, making life a bit easier for the reloader. The ogives of the spitzers tend to be more rounded, making bullet seating a bit easier as well.
And, one last point: If you hunt in the forests and woodlands where shots tend to be a bit closer, don’t overlook the old round nose designs; I use the Hornady InterLock quite regularly, and the Sierra round noses are equally dependable. They impart their energy wonderfully, and keeping their weight forward, they give all sorts of room in the case, making loading for the .308 Winchester, .250-3000 Savage and other shorter cases a breeze.
Here’s to a great deer season!
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2017 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Movie shootouts have been a cinema staple since, well, there were cinemas. And no other genre has produced more memorable gunfights than Westerns.
The reluctant gunslinger, the lone lawman, the brazen outlaw roaming the dusty West, surviving with wits and a six-shooter have captured generation after generation of American moviegoers’ imaginations. Think about it for a second. It’s almost certain that one of your favorite movie quotes, one you can recite from heart, comes from a Western. If you can’t, why “You’re no daisy at all.”
Like any flicks, Westerns are not free of the sins of Hollywood when it comes to guns and scenes that create cringe-worthy moments for firearms enthusiasts. From infinite ammunition to the non-stop racking of a shotgun’s action without firing a shot, movie shootouts can go from entertaining to arduous in the time it takes to eat a Milk Dud. Some tether to reality must remain.
Authenticity was a factor in the seven Western movie shootouts chosen for this list, but it certainly wasn’t the lone criteria. Some wriggle room is allotted for a movie’s notoriety, the overall quality of the story and “cool factor” to let some of the more entertaining, though less true-to-fact choices land on this page. After all, movie shootouts are exactly what they bill themselves as — entertainment.
What do you think? Is this Western movie shootouts list rodeo slick or a real bum steer? Let us know in the comments. Also, heads up, there is some adult language peppered in the clips.
Shane
Quote: “I’ve heard you’re a low-down Yankee Liar”
The tale of a gunfighter who, no matter how hard he tries, can’t escape trouble, Shane is the quintessential Western. A quiet movie overall, the final gunfight is sheer dynamite. Tense in buildup and lightning fast in action, the 3-against-1 shootout is heart racing and iconic. The speed of the fight (gunfights then and now are typically quick affairs) keeps the scene grounded, as does Shane’s mortal wounding, but admittedly it is a bit overwrought. The movie earns bonus points for one of the greatest Western villains of all time. Jack Wilson (Jack Palance) is among the wickedest men to ever holster a six-shooter on the silver screen. He’s sadistic, arrogant and more than deserving of his spot on boot hill.
Guns: Colt Single Action Army Cavalry Model, Colt Single Action Army, Winchester Model 1873.
Unforgiven
Quote: “Any man who don’t want to get killed better clear on out the back.”
In any Western worth its salt, the hero must overcome long odds. And William Munny (Clint Eastwood) certainly faces them in the final shootout of this dark Western. Vastly outnumbered, the grizzled gunslinger reaps revenge on Sheriff Little Bill Daggett (Gene Hackman) and his men for the killing of his friend. Needless to say, Big Whiskey, Wyoming was never the same. At first, the scene seems somewhat farfetched, given the long odds Munny faces squaring off against an entire posse fixing to hunt him down. But upon reflection, it does have an element of realism to it in the great majority of men are unwilling or unable to draw their guns. Even the orneriest desperados had to contend with fight, flight or freeze. Additionally, there’s a striking true-to-life scene earlier, where the once-deadly Munny struggles to shoot a can, his skills deteriorated from years of domesticity.
Guns: W. Richards 10-Gauge Side-by-Side, Spencer 1860 Saddle Ring Carbine, Smith & Wesson Schofield Model 3, Single Action Army, J. Stevens & Company 1878, Starr 1858 Army.
Tombstone
Quote: “Get to fight’n or get away!”
There is no more famous gunfight in the West or cinema than the O.K. Corral. The 30 shots in 30 seconds has been recreated in one form or another nearly two dozen times in films over the years. But the 1993 rendition starring Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp is perhaps the most iconic. Historically accurate, well, that’s another story. But that’s an aside, because it’s a great scene with memorable one-liners, non-stop action and incredible pistol work by Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday. There’s plenty of artistic license taken — it’s a full three times as long as the actual fight. But the performance isn’t through-the-roof improbable. Good and bad are wounded. It requires more than one round to stop a cowboy from fighting. And the fliers — there’s no shortage, as would be expected in tense, close-quarters conflict, steeped in adrenaline. The gunfight is what it is — which is great by movie standards.
Guns: Colt Single Action Army Quickdraw Model, Colt Single Action Army Cavalry Model, Colt Buntline Special, Colt Lightning, Meteor 10-Gauge Side-by-Side, Winchester Model 1873.
High Noon
Quote: None. Marshal Will Kane just glares at you in disgust.
Better known for its underlying themes of honor, duty, cowardice and hypocrisy, this 1952 classic nonetheless wraps-up with a solid shootout. Tame by today’s standards, Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) successfully facing down four outlaws is captivating. A decisive break from the over-dramatics of that age (and ours), Kane stands his ground in what can only be called a logical fashion. Maneuvering and intelligent use of concealment and cover are as much his weapons as his six-shooter. As satisfying as it is to watch Kane overcome the men who mean to do him harm, it’s what happens afterward that makes the scene. No town deserved a loathing scowl more than Hadleyville.
Guns: Colt Single Action Army Artillery Model, Colt Single Action Army Quickdraw Model.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Quote: “You see, in this world, there are two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.”
Yes, it’s perhaps as unlikely a Western gunfight (or any gunfight for that matter) as is committed to film. But ask yourself this: do you really care? Of all the times Clint Eastwood held a gun in his hand, the final shootout of this 1966 Spaghetti Western is perhaps the most memorable. What beats it? Maybe Dirty Harry, maybe. Blondie (Eastwood), Tuco (Eli Wallach) and Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef) square up in the perfect Mexican standoff. The moment is only heightened by one of the most iconic Western soundtracks of all time. Sometimes you can’t split hairs about the realism of a scene, you just have to sit back and enjoy it.
Guns: Colt 1851 Navy Cartridge Conversion, Remington 1858 New Army.
Wild Bunch
Quote: “No Pike … Pike!”
Director Sam Peckinpah brought in this movie what was sorely missing in most Westerns up to 1969 — a water-cooled Browning M1917. The machine gun becomes the centerpiece of what might be the most brutal shootout in all movie history. And there’s nothing stylized about the movie’s final scene, it’s as gritty as desert dust. As for the realism quotient, it’s fairly on target. It’s utter bedlam as Federales, rebels and outlaws sling hot lead under the baking Mexican sun. No one and nothing is spared. Though, one wonders how long a frontal assault into the .30-caliber teeth of the 1917 would go on. At some point, don’t you regroup and say, “Guys, this isn’t working.”
Underrated and compelling, Appaloosa is among the best recent Westerns to hit the box office. Essentially about friendship and corruption, it would be fair to say the the 2008 movie has some of the most realistic gunfights on the big screen. The fight at the jailhouse is one such example; by the time you hear the first revolver’s report the scrap is almost over. Given most shootouts (again, then and now) take a matter of seconds, this is true to form. Additionally, the heroes of the story don’t stride through the West impervious to lead. They, like the bad guys, wither when mortally hit. Even though brief, the jail scene is action packed and shows to some extent how quick and chaotic gunfights tend to be.
Guns: Colt Single Action Army Artillery Model, Colt Single Action Army Cavalry Model, Colt 1871-72 Open Top, Steve Karnes 1878 8-Gauge Side-by-Side
With a rifle built from premium parts and materials, Phoenix Weaponry quietly sneaks the .338-06 back into the spotlight.
What to know about the new integrally suppressed .338-06 rifle:
The integrally suppressed .338-06 is built as a medium- and large-game hunting rifle.
The rifle is outfitted with a custom-tapered 21-inch Douglas Barrel.
The suppressor core and sleeve are made of lightweight titanium.
The custom Bell and Carlson stock is inlet and glass bedded.
The .338-06 is built around a Remington 700 action and has a $4,600 price tag.
Despite the regulatory hurdles, the suppressor market has been running red hot for some time. Cans of every shape, size, caliber and color dot gun store shelves, virtual and brick-and-mortar alike. And, as is typical when a gun or accessory heats up passions, more and more twists come about catering to every possible shooter and shooting style — no matter how niche they might be.
Along these lines, integrally suppressed firearms have gained a foothold, particularly with more traditional segments of shooters. There is a distinct advantage totting, say a rifle, on a hunt that doesn’t have the extra inches at the end of the barrel and is inherently more tightly constructed. The latter facet is particularly important when a gunsmith is miles (maybe hundreds of them) away.
Phoenix Weaponry certainly had this style of shooter in mind with its latest creation — an integrally suppressed rifle meant to tackle some of the globe’s biggest game. And like most of the Colorado gunmaker’s handy-works, this one has quite a twist, even aside from its suppression system. Namely its chambering — .338-06 A-Square.
The almost-famous round has been around almost since the .338 Winchester Magnum made its debut in 1958. Simply a .30-06 Sprg. necked up to accept a .338 projectile, the one-time wildcat offers the best of both medium-caliber worlds. It’s a solid downrange performer, capable of tackling everything up to moose and similar large game. But it’s much more forgiving than its belted-magnum brethren, allowing the recoil sensitive a shot at more competently pitching heavier bullets downrange.
While rarer than .308 Win. to be sure, the chambering is not so uncommon as to make it a quest for the Holy Grail when ammo runs low. A number of notable manufacturers produce factory loads, though namely the premium brands — Nosler, Weatherby, Norma. And home brewing the .338-06 is a snap. Dies are available from nearly every reloading company, and .338 bullets are legion. And it almost seems like .30-06 brass actually grows on trees.
Without the worry of having to fiddle with custom ammunition — the case for some other Phoenix firearms — the company zeroed in on the .338-06’s overall engineering. And, as expected with the Centennial-State concern, it executed the rifle with a flare it has become known for.
The heart of the hunting rifle’s system is its custom tapered 21-inch Douglas barrel mated with a titanium suppressor core and sleeve. While certainly adding to the final price tag, the use of the lightweight metal keeps the rifle highly manageable and easy to maneuver — exactly what a hunter would want out of his gun. And it endows the gun with some highly desirable qualities, such as superior heat and corrosion resistance.
Overall, the .338-06 weighs in at a very practical 8 pounds — more than reasonable, even for those who push deep into the backwoods. Along with the titanium, Phoenix’s use of a custom Bell and Carlson stock helps keep the rifle svelte slung on a shoulder. Furthermore, the featherweight composite stock is inherently rigid and is inlet and glass bedded to free float the barrel, a process that ensures a nearly seamless mating between barrel and stock.
Built around the tried-and-true Remington 700 action, the rifle will prove very familiar to a majority of shooters, as well as strong. But even there Phoenix couldn’t leave well enough alone. The integrally suppressed .338-06 comes with a PTG fluted bolt with an oversized tactical knob and custom Remington 700 trigger standard.
Other notables on the rifle are a Warne 20 MOA rail and single and multi-colored paint and graphic options for the finish. Additionally, while the integrally suppressed rifle off the shelf (or as close as you can get at a custom shop) is .338-06, it is available in any chambering upon request. Have a yen for 8x60mm S or a .318 Westley Richards with a toned down report? Phoenix will build it for you, and that goes for any other tweak on the rifle — action, trigger, etc. The sky, your imagination and your wallet are the limit.
That last limit — wallet — might be the only point of contention for most shooters intrigued by the integrally suppressed .338-06 A-Square. With a hefty $4,600 starting point on a stock rifle, Phoenix Weaponry isn’t exactly giving them away. On top of this, there is the paperwork and a tax stamp to consider, since the rifle is NFA regulated. In turn, unless you’re a Silicon Valley oligarch, the rife is not exactly an impulse buy. But like most of Phoenix’s wares, all heavy on customized features, its .338-06 wasn’t built on a whim and most likely was not meant to be bought that way either.
Ruger’s newly updated Precision Rifle has the goods to go the distance.
Some basics on the Ruger Precision Rifle, available in the exciting new 6mm Creedmoor:
Ruger’s Precision Rifle was purpose-built for long-range shooting.
It’s offered in .308 Winchester, 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem., and 6 and 6.5 Creedmoor.
The rifle is outfitted with the Precision MSR Stock.
The stock folds to the left and features adjustable comb height and length of pull.
At 100 yards, the smallest group went .42 inches with Hornady ELD-X Match ammo.
The MSRP of Ruger’s Precision Rifle is $1,599.
I was not a great physics student in either high school or college, but I do remember one key fact from those classes (probably because the lesson was taught on the first day): precision and accuracy are different. Accuracy describes measurement to a standard or true value. Precision is a measure of the proximity of values to one another. In shooting terms, tight groups are a result of precise shooting. Accuracy has to do with how close those bullets are landing to your intended target.
The 6mm Creedmoor is a sweet shooter, offering plenty of long-range capability without beating up the person behind the trigger.
Serious long-range accuracy demands both accuracy and precision. When you’re asking a rifle to reach beyond the limits of average sporting firearms — let’s say 400 yards or more — you need a gun up to the task. And while there are many rifles that serve well for close to mid-range shots, once you move targets to a quarter mile or more, the pool of rifles capable of consistently printing tight groups — say MOA or better — starts to thin. Push that to a half-mile and you’re talking about a small class of weapons indeed.
Ruger’s Precision Rifle was purpose-built for long-range shooting, and it has the features to compete in the rarified world of half-mile-plus target guns. For years, precision rifles were primarily produced by custom riflemakers who specialized in this class of weapons, but with the growing popularity of long-range shooting (both recreational and competition), more and more shooters want to push their limits. Ruger decided to build a factory rifle with all of the features and capabilities normally found on more expensive competition guns without the high price tag, and the Precision Rifle does just that.
The Precision Rifle proved highly accurate, printing sub-MOA groups on average.
For starters, Ruger began with an “upper” and a bolt made from pre-hardened 4140 chrome-moly steel. That helps minimize distortion, and CNC machining keeps tolerances tight. The lower magazine well halves are machined from 7075-T6 aluminum and are type III hard-coat anodized for durability. The Precision Rifle’s one-piece bolt has three locking lugs, which allow for a fast and smooth 70-degree bolt lift. It also features a long billet aluminum bolt shroud, and there’s a bolt disassembly tool stored in the shroud for quick disassembly and cleaning as well as a wrench to adjust the Marksman bladed trigger. The Precision Rifle’s upper has a minimized ejection port that improves rigidity, which, in turn, aids in accuracy, and the 20 MOA Picatinny rail is held in place with four #8-40 screws, so there’s plenty of room for mounting large scopes.
The heart of any real long-range rifle is its barrel, and the Ruger’s cold hammer-forged 4140 chrome-moly steel pipe features 5R rifling. Traditional rifling uses four or six lands (smallest bore diameter) and grooves (widest bore diameter) that have 90-degree edges. The lands and grooves are positioned opposite one another, and the lands contact the projectile and force it to spin. 5R rifling, by contrast, uses five lands and grooves with sloping edges on the lands. This accomplishes several things. First, the opposite lands/grooves reduce bullet deformation, and that leads to improved accuracy (er, precision), especially at long ranges.
Second, the sloped land design doesn’t trap fouling like traditional rifling, so it’s easier to keep the bore clean and uniform. The barrel has minimal headspace measurements and a centralized bore. All Ruger Precision Rifles come with medium-contour barrels topped with the company’s Hybrid Muzzle Brake that reduces recoil without the excessive noise and muzzle blast that accompany the use of other brakes. The brake can be removed and replaced with an included thread protector. The barrel’s design, which is completely free floating and attaches directly to the receiver, eliminates bedding, and recoil force moves rearward in a straight line, further enhancing accuracy potential. The Precision Rifle is offered in .308 Winchester and 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem. with a 20-inch barrel and 6 and 6.5 Creedmoor with a 24-inch barrel.
Taking Stock
Ruger outfitted this rifle with the Precision MSR Stock, which folds to the left at the touch of a button, and comb height and length of pull are adjustable by flipping latches on the stock’s right side. One latch releases the comb so it can be raised or lowered; the other moves the stock fore and aft for perfect alignment. Many competition rifles have adjustable stocks, but Ruger’s setup is robust, simple and requires no tools. That’s an important consideration for long-range rifles; time-consuming stock adjustments don’t permit quick changes afield. This system is much simpler. The folding stock hinge is mated with an AR-style buffer, so you can swap stocks if you desire, and there are QD sling attachments and a short accessory rail on the bottom of the stock. The top of the comb is nicely rounded and comfortable, with light texturing for a comfortable cheek weld.
Ruger’s highly adjustable Precision MSR stock.
The texturing is about all that’s light on this rifle, though. The rifle that I tested weighed 10.8 pounds and measured 43.25 to 46.75 inches overall, making this a gun that you won’t want to carry when still-hunting whitetails. For a dedicated target rifle, though, the Precision Rifle’s weight and length aren’t a hindrance. The four cartridges this rifle is chambered in are all relatively light kickers, and this in a gun that will weigh over 12 pounds scoped with a loaded magazine. With a built-in brake, the 6mm Creedmoor hardly stirred the rifle when firing. This helps prevent flinching and allows shooters to keep the target within the field of view when firing. The Precision Rifle’s straight-line recoil lifts the muzzle slightly, but there’s very little movement on the bags, so you can deliver follow-ups in a hurry. That’s not usually necessary when target shooting, but it’s one advantage of the Ruger’s design that’s good for Precision Rifle Series shooters who are timed.
The Precision Rifle’s controls and grip design mimic an AR to some degree. There’s a safety selector that is reversible that looks much like what you’ll find on most ARs, but where this gun differs from black guns is that the selector moves just 45 degrees from safe to fire. The pistol grip design is similar to an AR, and the aluminum Short Action handguard has a low-profile design that allows you to mount long-range scopes with large objectives without worrying about clearance issues. Ruger designed this rifle to be compatible with AICS and M110/SR-25/DPMS/Magpul mags as well as some M14 magazines, so there are lots of options available. The gun that I tested came with a 10-round PMAG that fit securely in the magwell, and the release lever rides just behind the magazine. The front of the magwell is also contoured to allow it to act as a brace when firing or to comfortably accommodate your non-shooting hand.
Six Appeal
It was impossible to attend this year’s annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas without appreciating the impact the 6.5 Creedmoor has had on the shooting industry. Originally conceived Hornady as a low-recoiling, highly accurate target round, the 6.5 has permeated every facet of the rifle-shooting world. It is now chambered in ARs, serious long-range tactical bolt guns as well as light mountain rifles for big-game hunting. And it didn’t take long for the 6.5 to produce an attention-grabbing offspring, the 6mm Creedmoor.
Ruger was one of the first companies to start churning out production rifles in 6mm Creedmoor, and the Precision Rifle was the first gun I fired chambered for the necked-down cousin of the 6.5 Creedmoor. Traditionally, 6mm/.243 bullets have run from about 55 to 100 grains, but with longer, heavier bullets with higher ballistic coefficients, the 6mm Creedmoor is a dedicated long-range cartridge also quite capable of taking a variety of game. The ammo I tested — the very first 6mm load to come to market — was Hornady’s 108-grain ELD Match load. There’s little question that Precision Rifle Series competition helped bolster interest in the cartridge. That event requires shooting from 100 to 1,300 yards, so the rifle must be accurate to long range yet must not beat the shooter up too badly (and there are velocity limitations).
The Ruger Precision Rifle is a serious competition and long-range rifle, and the 6mm Creedmoor is a perfect match. The 108-grain ELD Match bullet from Hornady has a ballistic coefficient of .536 — a natural choice for long shots. For comparison to something more familiar, let’s look at Hornady’s 117-grain interlock .25-06 load. That .25-06 bullet has a muzzle velocity of 2,990 feet per second (fps), which is close to the 6mm Creedmoor’s 2,960 fps figure from the same length barrel. At the muzzle, the .25-06 load has about 200 foot-pounds (ft.-lbs.) more energy, but at 500 yards, the 6mm, with its higher BC, is traveling 250 fps faster than the .25-06 load and carrying more than 150 ft.-lbs. more energy. The telling figure, though, is bullet drop. At 500 yards, the .25-06 bullet has dropped 4.5 inches farther than the smaller 6mm bullet. The 6mm Creedmoor is plainly a long-range cartridge, and it’s one that won’t abuse the shooter.
On the Range
The Ruger Precision is a dedicated long-range rifle and has all the features serious competition shooters demand, but how does it perform? At 100 yards — a virtual chip shot for this rig — the smallest group went .42 inch with the Hornady factory ammo, so small in fact that I had to check the backing board to be sure I was indeed looking at a pattern printed from three bullets and not two. But it was legitimate. In fact, the largest three-shot group of the five groups I shot with this ammo went .925 inch, and the average was .65 inch — well below MOA. Average velocity was 2,970 fps, besting Hornady’s promised velocity figure by 10 fps.
All those features Ruger packed into this rifle make it a very user-friendly long-range gun. For starters, as mentioned earlier, it’s easy to adjust the stock’s fit. Second, the Ruger Marksman Adjustable trigger makes producing tight groups easy. It’s adjustable from 2.25 to 5 pounds, and the one I tested came set at 2.6 pounds according to my Wheeler gauge. It’s a bladed trigger, and you quickly learn that once the blade is depressed, you’re within a hair’s breadth of the trigger breaking. Other features also aid in bench shooting, including the contoured magazine well that offers a solid rest for the hand and the oversized bolt handle. There were no feeding, extraction or ejection issues.
With a bit of dialing on the Trijicon scope, I was producing groups that were precise and accurate — tight clusters in the center of the bullseye. Shooting this rifle well is easy, and Ruger has succeeded in doing what they claimed: building a factory rifle with the kind of features that make it a worthy competitor against many custom guns. With an MSRP of $1,599, this isn’t a budget rifle to be sure, but when you consider all of the Ruger Precision Rifle’s capabilities, this gun is actually something of a bargain. So, if you want a rifle that can go the distance and don’t have the money or time to invest in a custom build, this is a legitimate factory alternative. If you do your part, the Ruger will perform, and it performs splendidly.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2017 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Reloaded ammunition is just as reliable as factory ammo when facing dangerous game, assuming you have put in your time at the bench and shooting range to verify.
Handloading dangerous game cartridges allows you to select high-performance bullets for the toughest critters.
Many classic safari cartridges are inherently versatile, a trait handloaders can take full advantage of.
Is reloading your own dangerous game cartridges a good idea? Phil Massaro takes several .40-caliber rifle cartridges to the Dark Continent to find out.
The .416 Remington Magnum and 400-grain Swift A-Frames and Hornady Solids. Photo: J.D. Fielding
Deep into the Nyaminga block of Zambia’s Luangwa Valley, Professional Hunter Nicky Wightman gingerly spread the shooting sticks, eyeballing the Cape buffalo bull that was lying down 40 yards away. He and Lamec, his tracker and right-hand man, were silently communicating about the bull and whether or not he was old enough to take, while I stood by, with my Model 70 in .416 Remington, handloaded with 400-grain Swift A-Frames.
Although every nerve stood on edge, I knew exactly what the rifle would do, as I had spent countless hours at the bench, and in practice from field positions. While the gun gave acceptable accuracy with factory ammunition, it shot sub-MOA with my handloads, and I knew that was the proper ammunition to use.
We sorted that bull out with a well-placed first shot, and a second A-Frame to ‘pay the insurance,’ as the saying goes, and both bullets rested against the offside shoulder skin. They gave perfect performance, imparting all 5,000 ft.-lbs. within the bull, and killed quickly and humanely.
Buffalo bull taken with .416 Rem handloads.
Fast forward almost four years and I stood with PHs Tim Schultz and Danie Wingard in Matabeleland North in Zimbabwe, with a huge-bodied bull elephant on the other end of the line. This time I carried a Heym Express in .404 Jeffery, handloaded with 400-grain Woodleigh Hydrostatically Stabilized Solids, at a muzzle velocity of 2,280 fps. It was a short hunt, and the bull was essentially gift-wrapped, feeding at 16 yards.
The first shot nearly put the bull down on his haunches, and the second sealed the deal. My hunting buddy Dave deMoulpied had booked this hunt for me, and had come along as a camera man. After the bull was down, and the respects were paid, Dave showed me the footage. The Woodleigh solid had hit exactly where aimed, and the video showed the effect of that well-designed bullet, a heart/lung shot which penetrated the entire elephant.
“Buddy, I’m glad you went with the Woodleigh,” said Dave. “That hit was as impressive as the shots I’ve seen from .470s.” Now, I know for certain that the .404 Jeff is not the equal of the mighty .470 Nitro Express, but it is a perfectly viable big game cartridge, suitable for absolutely anything on earth. That’s what I want to discuss: the benefits of handloading rifles in the .410-.423 calibers, and why they make so much sense for the traveling hunter.
Everybody who has hunted Africa is aware of the versatility of the famous .375 H&H Belted Rimless Magnum; there’s simply no denying the fact that a good .375 H&H will get the job done, regardless of species. I’ve heard from more than one PH, “When in doubt, bring a .375 H&H.”
That said, when it comes to the heavyweights like buffalo and elephant, there’s no denying that the .40s hit harder, and the visible effect of the shot is plainly evident. However, the beauty of the .375 is its versatility; it can take the biggest elephant bull, but is also suitable for oribi, duiker and steenbok.
I own a .375, I shoot it and I love it, but I’m also a huge fan of the .40s for reasons we’ll outline shortly. What I like to do as a handloader, is to do my best to approximate the versatility of the .375s in the .40 calibers.
Accuracy of .404 Jeffery Heym rifle with Woodleigh Hydro solids.
In this class of rifles, I like the following cartridges (in order of caliber) for a versatile hunting rifle: the .450/400 3” Nitro Express, the .416 Rigby, the .416 Remington, the .416 Ruger, the wildcat .416 Taylor, and the venerable .404 Jeffery. All of them have made their reputations shooting a 400-grain bullet of good sectional density, at muzzle velocities of 2,050 fps (for the .450/400), up to 2,400 fps for the .416s, with the .404 coming in somewhere in the middle, depending on how you load it.
The classic recipe of the 400-grain bullets at 2,400 fps from the .416s will yield just about 5,000 ft.-lbs. of kinetic energy at the muzzle, yet is surprisingly easy on the shoulder, especially in comparison to the .458s pushing a 500-grain slug at 2,150 fps or so.
The .450/400 3-Inch Nitro Express
The .450/400 NE works well at the much lower velocity, being a perfect choice for the recoil-sensitive shooter to use against the heavyweights. The penetrative qualities of the .410-inch diameter bullet are legendary; flipping through John ‘Pondoro’ Taylor’s classic African Rifles and Cartridges will yield the following comments:
“It’s one of the grandest weapons imaginable for all big game hunting… …I have used it extensively on all kinds of African game from elephant down with the greatest possible satisfaction.”
That is what I would call a ringing endorsement from a man with decades of field experience. The bullets of today are much better than those of Pondoro’s era, and the recent revival of this case is due to Ruger chambering their No. 1 single-shot rifle in this cartridge, and Hornady’s factory ammo available with the potent combination of DGX and DGS bullets.
Dave deMoulpied’s .416 Rigby with 325-grain Cutting Edge Safari Raptors.
My buddy Doug Giles, international hunter and author of Rise, Kill and Eat, is a huge proponent of the .450/400, and has both the No.1 and a sweet double in this cartridge. He asked me to handload some ammo for his upcoming safaris, which will include buffalo and big cats. I immediately recommended the North Fork trio of bullets: the semi-spitzer bonded core, the Percussion Point (similar to the semi-spitzer, but skived at the nose for greater expansion on cats), and the fantastic monometal Flat Point solid, all in 400-grain configuration. His double regulates well with the existing Hornady ammo, but Doug was after a custom ammunition experience.
I got my hands on some Hornady cases and a set of RCBS dies, and taking a long look at several reloading manuals, I settled on a load of 83.0 grains of Alliant’s Reloder-19 and a Federal GM215M primer, which gave a muzzle velocity of 2,075 fps, in close proximity to the Hornady load, and (thankfully!) it shot just perfectly from Doug’s rifles. He is now well equipped for any game animal on earth, including the dangerous stuff of Africa and North America.
Author with Blue Wildebeest.
The .416s
Undoubtedly, we owe the popularity of the .416-inch diameter cartridges to the writings of Robert Ruark, as he made both PH Harry Selby and the .416 Rigby famous in his classic safari book Horn of the Hunter. I, for one, am very happy he did that, because prior to that 1950s literary gem, the .416 was a proprietary cartridge that was little used.
During the 1960s and 70s, as Kynoch faded away as an ammunition producer and supplies dwindled for the classic British rifles, an American PH named George Hoffman necked the .375 H&H case up to hold .416-inch bullets, resulting in the .416 Hoffman.
Bob Chatfield-Taylor did a similar thing, but based his case on the shorter (2.500-inch) .458 Winchester Magnum case, giving birth to the .416 Taylor. Remington saw the value of the Hoffman design, and modified their 8mm Remington Magnum case to create the .416 Remington Magnum, released in the year I graduated high school, 1988. The Hornady/Ruger team had great success with the .375 Ruger cartridge, and modified the beltless design to yield the .416 Ruger, fitting in a standard-length rifle action.
All these cartridges, generally speaking, deliver the wonderful 400-grain .416-caliber bullet at or near 2,400 fps, and this is a magic combination. For the handloader, there are many premium 400-grain bullets available that aren’t commercially loaded.
Remington did, at one time, load the 400-grain Swift A-Frame for the .416 Rem, but I don’t find that in their catalogs any longer. I’ve said this before, but it warrants repeating: I feel that the Swift A-Frame, in a heavy-for-caliber weight, is the best Cape buffalo bullet on the market. It gives good expansion at a wide range of velocities, fantastic (90%+) weight retention, but most importantly it is strong enough to penetrate the biggest buffalo at any angle. I’ve used it extensively in my .416 Remington, not just on buffalo, but on a wide variety of plains game, from bushbuck and puku, to warthog and hartebeest, all with good results.
Author’s .404 Jeffery ammo.
Dave deMoulpied’s AHR in .416 Rigby loves the 400-grain A-Frame, but at a reduced velocity of 2,250 fps, because that’s where we found the accuracy. Ninety grains of Reloder-19 prints three of them into sub-MOA groups at 100 yards.
Pair these A-Frames with a good solid and you’ve got the quintessential buffalo battery. While the Barnes Banded Solids, Trophy Bonded Sledgehammers and Hornady DGS are fantastic choices, for buffalo especially, I like a pair of ‘new-wave’ designs that have come along.
The idea is this (although it is changing quickly): The first shot on buffalo should most definitely be a premium soft point, many of the older Professional Hunters demand a solid (read non-expanding) bullet for the follow up shots, to ensure penetration from any angle. The solids give exactly that; but offer no expansion at all to destroy vital tissue. Here’s where the new-wave designs enter the mix.
The Woodleigh Hydrostatically Stabilized Solid, and the North Fork Cup solid, both have a small “dish” shaped meplat, enough to either create a shockwave of damage, or to give the slightest bit of expansion at the meplat for more tissue damage than traditional solids give. For buffalo, I like them both very much. Both shoot very accurately, and most importantly, to the same point of impact as most of the premium softpoints.
That idea of getting your solids to hit the same place as your softpoints, can be a bit of work for the handloader. The .375 is one of the most forgiving calibers in that respect, and I can say that my .416 Remington is as well.
The .450/400 makes a great low-recoil choice for Africa.
My Model 70 .416 Remington likes just about any 400-grain bullet over a charge of 78.0 grains of IMR-4064 with the Federal GM215M primer. I use Remington nickel cases for the solids, and Norma brass cases for the softpoints, so I can easily distinguish one load from the other. If your rifle won’t regulate softs and solids to the same point of impact, you’ll have to tinker with the loads until you can find the best combination of individual accuracy for each load, and a common point of impact.
Generally speaking, I’ve found that backing off the load a grain or two for the solids can help bring them into line; in my experiences they tend to hit high.
Now, more about that versatility thing I mentioned early on. The .416s certainly shine when using the 400-grain slugs, and that weight makes a great all-around load. It’s been my go-to choice for my .416 Rem. on two safaris, and it works well.
But maybe there are situations where you’d like to use a .416 with a lighter load, for a flatter trajectory. That very thing happened to me on my last safari. It was actually two safaris in one, as Dave deMoulpied and I were hunting for three days in the Waterberg District of South Africa for plains game, and then heading up to Zimbabwe for elephant near the Hwange National Park. I had the aforementioned Heym in .404 Jeffery, but I asked Dave to bring his .416 Rigby, in case some misfortune should befall the Heym.
For plains game, we discussed some lighter bullets that would give suitable performance and a flatter trajectory, should a longer shot present itself.
Enter Cutting Edge Bullets, with their 325-grain Safari Raptor. These bullets are constructed of brass, with a deep hollowpoint. The walls of the hollowpoint are skived, so that when the bullet strikes flesh, the walls of the hollowpoint break into small blades, creating all sorts of impact trauma. The rest of the bullet remains at caliber dimension, to penetrate very deep into the vital organs, often penetrating the entire animal. Really cool concept, and I was eager to put them through field tests.
We pretty much nailed it on the first try. A mix of Hornady .416 Rigby cases, an even 100.0 grains of Reloder-22, Federal 215 primer and the CEB 325-grain Raptor printed groups of just under an inch at 100 yards. Dave made a few clicks of adjustment on his scope, and he was set. The Oehler chrony showed 2,550 fps, so longer shots wouldn’t pose a problem.
The big cow wildebeest dropped to a frontal shot from 80 yards as if she were pole-axed; and Dave’s impala didn’t even have time to react. Both were one-shot kills, and while there may have been a bit of bloodshot meat, these bullets certainly did their job. It was Dave’s zebra that impressed me most.
The striped horses of Africa have a reputation for being very tough, especially if hit improperly. Dave put that 325-grain Raptor right in the boiler room, a perfectly placed shot, from just under 200 yards away. The beautiful mare simply fell out of the scope. These lighter bullets do quite a bit for the versatility of the .416s, especially when hunting plains game. Other that the blades, there was nothing for the skinners to recover.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are some heavyweights available for the .416 rifles as well. Woodleigh’s Weldcore and Solid bullets both come in 450 grains, and we can drive them to 2,150 fps. Those heavy 450s have a sectional density of 0.371, and should be fantastic for buffalo, elephant, hippo and other plus-size game animals. Another way to look at it is that you’re only 50 grains lighter than the .458s, and while you’ll be giving up a bit in frontal diameter, you gain in the SD figures.
The .416 Ruger case is, like the Rigby, a beltless case, but shortened to fit in a standard .30-’06 length action. My good buddy Tim Wegner absolutely loves this cartridge, and asked me to handload him some of the fantastic 400-grain Barnes TSX bullets.
Dave deMoulpied with an impala.
While the factory stuff claims to reach the mystical 2,400 fps, even in the shorter Ruger African barrels (I haven’t had an opportunity to test the factory stuff), according to the manuals the handloads should run somewhere between 2,250 and 2,300 fps.
I had the best blend of velocity and accuracy using 75.5 grains of Hodgdon’s VARGET, in Hornady cases, fueled by a Federal GM215M primer. This gave 2,270 fps at the muzzle, and just over MOA accuracy – plenty enough for big bears, buffalo, or any other nasty worthy of a premium softpoint.
Among the .416s, I’ve found that the Rigby case gives the most severe recoil, due to the fact that the voluminous case (designed around the temperature sensitive Cordite) requires 90-100 grains of powder, depending on burn rate, while the Remington and Ruger cases run at 75-80 grains for most loads, albeit at a higher pressure.
While I like the Rigby, and appreciate its place is African cartridge history, I feel that the Remington case especially has been one of the most useful modern updates of a proven classic, offering all the same ballistics in a cartridge case and rifle that is smaller and handier in the field. The Rigby case will work best with powders on the slower end of the spectrum, like IMR4350, Reloder-19 and 22 and H4831, while the Remington and Ruger cases like a medium burning powder, like Reloder-15, IMR4064 and Hodgdon’s VARGET.
The .404 Jeffery
I feel like I’ve found a new old toy in the attic; the .404 Jeffery was always a cartridge that interested me, but until recently I didn’t have an opportunity to experiment with it. My buddy Chris Sells, of Double Gun Imports, acts as the importer for Heym rifles of Germany. While Heym has a fantastic reputation in the double rifle community, their Express bolt-action rifle is a little-known gem.
Stocked to feel like a fine British rifle of classic vintage, and using Heym’s proprietary action, which they make differently for each individual caliber, this rifle is poetry in steel and walnut, balancing like a fine shotgun. When Chris offered the use of a .404 Jeffery for my plains game/elephant safari, I jumped at the opportunity.
The .404 Jeff has long been an African classic, being chosen as the standard issue rifle cartridge for most of Eastern and Southern Africa’s game rangers, and its moderate recoil and striking power offer a fantastic balance of shootability and performance.
Ruark’s writing propelled the .416s to the forefront, but the .404 was truly the workhorse of Africa. Designed in 1909, the Jeffery case was intended to be the rimless equivalent of the .450/400; however the bullet diameter changed from .410 to .423, for reasons I can’t explain.
Author with Impala ram.
At any rate, the muzzle velocity of 2,150 fps with a 400-grain bullet generated just over 4,000 ft.-lbs. of energy, more than enough for the largest game, but the sedate muzzle velocity is directly proportional to the moderate recoil. I will say that the felt recoil of a .404, with the classic loading, is less than that of the .375 H&H, especially in recoil speed. The older load’s velocity is easy to attain as a handloader, and still works as well as it did in 1909.
The modern load is the 400-grain bullet, driven to 2,350 fps, putting it in the same league as the .416s. My own load for my safari was somewhere in the middle, and it worked out just perfect. I was using the 400-grain Woodleigh Hydrostatically Stabilized solids, over 80.0 grains of Reloder 15, sparked by the Federal GM215M primer, in Norma cases.
This combination yields 2,280 fps at the muzzle, for around 4,650 ft.-lbs. of energy, and will print MOA three-shot groups if I do my part. As I told you early on, this Woodleigh bullet gives fantastic penetration, and they worked well on both wildebeest and impala in addition to the huge-bodied bull elephant.
For a good all-around load, the Woodleigh Hydro solid is a fine choice. The other bullets I tried, like the 400-grain Hornady DGS and the North Fork semi-spitzer, liked the same load. While other powders will certainly work, I like Reloder 15 as a good medium burn rate choice.
Being a curious creature, I wanted to see if that Cutting Edge Safari Raptor that worked so well in Dave’s .416 Rigby would perform in the Jeffery. At 325 grains, it gave up a bit of the sectional density that the 400 grainers will give, but can be loaded to a higher velocity. The Heym liked them very much, putting them into MOA accuracy, and actually printing them to the same point of impact as the 400-grain Woodleighs. 85.0 grains of Reloder 15 gave a velocity of 2,560 fps, bringing the .404 into the realm of the .375 H&H, as far as decent trajectory goes.
I brought that load over with me, with the intention of taking a bush pig with it. My PH, Cornus du Plooy made a great blind and set up, and while we put our time in, the bush pigs decided not to take part in our particular hunting adventure.
Norma has introduced a new load for the .404 Jeff, in their African PH line of ammunition. PH Kevin ‘Doctari’ Robertson has helped to shape the ballistics, and it is well thought out in addition to being very useful. Their factory ammo pushes a heavy-for-caliber 450-grain Woodleigh softpoint and solid at 2,150 fps, for 2,650 ft.-lbs.
This makes good sense, especially for buffalo and elephant. The lower muzzle velocity has worked with the 400-grain bullets for over a century, but with an additional 50 grains of bullet, the sectional density figures increase considerably, which will make a cartridge that has a reputation for incredible penetration even better.
Author’s combination of 325-grain Cutting Edge Bullets and 400-grain Woodleigh Hydro Solids.
We can reproduce this formula at the bench. These Woodleigh bullets are available in component form for us handloaders, and if the heavyweights are on your list, there is no reason not to take advantage of them.
I think that the 450-grain Woodleigh Weldcore would make a terrific bullet for big grizzly bears, interior or coastal. You’ll definitely want a large rifle magnum primer, and I’d stick to powders on the faster end of the spectrum, as the longer bullets will start to eat up some of your case capacity.
With an effective bullet range of 325 grain up to 450 grains, and good cases produced by Norma and Hornady, the old Jeffery case should be seeing a revival in the next decade. Get a good set of dies from RCBS or Redding, and find a rifle that fits you well. After my safari, I called Chris Sells of Heym and asked him to hold on to the return shipping label for that Heym Express, and send an invoice in its place. I’ll be hunting with this rifle for years to come.
Conclusion
I’ve had people tell me that my sanity is questionable because I hunt dangerous game with handloaded ammunition. While I totally agree with the fact that factory ammunition is better than it’s ever been, I feel that the diligence that I put into assembling the ammunition cannot be matched by the machines.
I weigh the bullets, resize all the brand new cases, weigh every powder charge, and make sure that each and every round I intend to hunt with has been run through the rifle’s chamber, to ensure that there will be no feeding issues. After five safaris, I can honestly say that with the exception of .22 LR ammunition, I’ve never pulled the trigger on factory ammunition in the game fields, and I’m totally OK with that!
DISCLAIMER: Any and all loading data found in this article or book, including past or future editions, is to be taken as reference material only. The publishers, editors, authors, contributors, and their entities bear no responsibility for the use by others of the data included herein.
The .357 Mag. and .44 Mag are considered classic hunting revolver cartridges the author has used effectively on all manner of game and predator.
Both cartridges are a dream come true for the handloader given the abundance of components in today’s reloading market.
Handloading for classic revolvers can not only rejuvenate your interest in them, but breathe new life and accuracy with modern bullets and powders.
Modern reloading of hunting revolver ammo can bring newfound interest to old iron.
.357 Magnum with Nosler bullets. All Photos: J.D. Fielding Photography
Modern reloading of hunting revolver ammo can bring newfound interest to old iron.
I own a pair of classic revolvers. One is a 1979 Model 13 K-frame with a 4-inch heavy barrel, chambered in .357 Magnum with Pachmayr grips. I inherited this gun, which was once my father’s favorite handgun, and is now very dear to me.
My other favorite is a 1957 pre-model 29 N-frame with a 6 ½-inch barrel chambered in — of course — the classic .44 Remington Magnum. In preparation for writing this article, I had the pleasant opportunity to breathe some new life into these old guns by using some new bullet and powder combinations.
.357 Magnum Reloads
Though not looked upon by many as a hunting pistol, my old standby sidearm is the Smith & Wesson Model 13 chambered in .357 Magnum, with a 4-inch barrel.
Considered by many to be underpowered — and some have even called it “wimpy” — I have used this gun enough to know differently. Throughout my life I have tried to redefine the basic laws of physics, but have always failed miserably, usually resulting in broken bones, stitches, or some type of hard-learned lesson. I quickly learned that I cannot change these laws and that basic physics will always win.
Applying these pesky laws, I have found a 158-grain Hornady XTP with a muzzle velocity of 1,170 fps, when put in the right place, deals with all the critters I generally contend with here in Upstate New York.
Most of my data for the .357 may not be impressive in comparison to many reloading manuals or most of the Internet experts, but these loads were all derived from field testing in my 4-inch-barreled Model 13, as opposed to being tested in a Universal Receiver with a 10-inch barrel, which will generate higher velocities and pressures that are not realistic from my handguns.
Here are the strengths and weaknesses of this revolver: First off, it’s a pleasure to carry. It fits right on your belt and is easily concealed so you’re not taking your gun off every time you go out. Here in Upstate New York our laws prohibit open carry; it’s concealed carry only.
One of my favorite things about this handgun is the fact that I can feed it .38 Special ammunition all day long and have a very accurate plinking gun. This is the gun’s usual diet; unless, of course, it’s deer season. Its recoil is very manageable even with full-house loads, especially when compared to other hunting calibers.
My wife shoots it regularly, and very accurately at that. When going out to do chores, this is the gun to wear. It doesn’t get in your way on your belt and doesn’t slow you down while working. That’s not something that can be said of carrying an X-frame revolver.
Secondly, when this little gun is off its diet of .38 Specials, it’s fed with premium bullets, usually Barnes XPBs or Hornady’s XTPs, and it’s never had a problem putting venison in the freezer or exterminating any of the predators that always seem to be in my chicken coop.
Smith & Wesson Model 13 in .357 Mag. with Barnes XPB bullets.
One of its downfalls is its effective range, as it is limited by its 4-inch barrel. It’s a tradeoff that is offset by the handiness of the gun. I limit myself to a 50-yard shot at deer, and only if I have a clear shot at its vitals.
At 50 yards I know I can shoot it accurately enough to make a solid hit and the bullet will still retain enough energy to get the job done cleanly. I don’t consider myself to be a good enough shot to shoot any farther than this at any animal, as both accuracy and energies diminish to the point that I am not comfortable.
The limited sight radius on this short-barreled gun not only makes it less accurate than, for example, an 8-inch barreled sixgun, but once again those damned laws of physics rear their ugly heads; you don’t have the velocity or energy generated by a longer barrel.
.44 Magnum Handloading
My other favorite hunting revolvers is my 1957 Smith & Wesson pre-29 .44 Remington Magnum with a 6 ½-inch barrel. I got lucky and found this gun at a local shop for a great price.
This gun can shoot better than I can, with just about any load. It has a great trigger and balances perfect for me. It does not fit on the hip as well as my .357, but it is still much easier to carry than a rifle. With its 6 ½-inch barrel, the sight radius is much longer than the .357’s 4-inch tube, thus making it much more accurate to shoot.
The author’s favorite .44 Magnum — a 1957 Smith & Wesson Pre-Model 29 with a 6 ½-inch barrel.
I find this to be the optimal length for me when hunting with iron sights, but I still limit myself to 100-yard shots with it. I know there are plenty of people who can shoot an identical gun a lot farther, but this is my limit for iron sights.
In my neck of the woods, most deer hunting is done within 100 yards or less. I find target acquisition to be very fast with this gun, when compared to a scoped pistol. Now, I am not going to lie; usually a scoped single-shot or a big X-frame in .460 or .500 will shoot a hell of a lot more accurately than my old .44, but this .44 Magnum is about as big a handgun as I can shoot accurately offhand. I stress “offhand” and mean shooting it without a rest or fence post or anything to support the weight of the gun.
I can shoot my .460 Smith & Wesson at twice the distance and with twice the accuracy. But here’s the kicker: I can’t shoot it offhand, I can only shoot it well from a rest or supported position. It weighs too much for me to group accurately offhand. It also wears a 2.5×8 scope and has 12 inches of barrel. Is it still a handgun if you can’t shoot it like a handgun? I will let you decide.
I will also include data for a couple of .44 Special loads because this is what I normally practice with. They are much easier on the gun and my wrist, not to mention cheaper to shoot.
Hornady brass proved to be very consistent.
Reloading Revolver Ammo
My reloading methods are by no means considered the latest and greatest, or even advanced. Most anyone can replicate my loads with similar results. In fact, some are considered outdated by most of the people in the reloading crowd. I was even called a dinosaur this week because of some of the Winchester powder I was using.
My gun/reloading room is a hodgepodge of reloading equipment, some of which are antiques, and some of my preferred powders have been around for over 50 years. I am generally of the mindset of, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but I have started to use some of the modern products recently. Trying some of the new bullets and powders has given me very impressive results that I did not think possible.
For this article I used all new dies, brass, primers, and bullets to take out some of the variables.
Don’t get me wrong; I will always be the guy that saves all brass until it splits or the primers won’t stay seated. But using some of today’s new products has shown me that there are more efficient ways to handload.
We will start off with the die sets. Most of my dies are yard sale specials, hand-me-downs, or bought off the clearance rack. I acquired new dies from Redding, to ensure there was no wear and tear. While using these new dies, in comparison to my old ones, all I can say is “Wow, these things are amazing!”
The Redding sets feature micrometer-adjustable seating and crimping dies. The dies are fast and easy to get set up and have given the best crimp I have ever achieved. Their ease of adjustment saves a lot of time when you’re changing between different bullets. To be honest, I don’t know how I am going to go back to using my old ones.
Suitable powders for classic revolvers include IMR4227, Alliant 2400, Accurate No. 7 and No. 9, H110, and Ramshot Enforcer.
For this experiment, I used brand-new Hornady brass cases. I spent the better half of a day measuring and weighing this brass, and did not find a single problem. I am a real stickler for trimming all pistol brass to get the perfect pistol crimp, but this brass is of such quality that trimming was not required. When the brass is of a uniform length, the crimping die will give an equally uniform crimp on the bullet’s cannelure.
If your brass isn’t trimmed to a uniform length, the resulting crimp will be all over the map, and can drastically affect the function of the revolver, as well as velocity and accuracy. All the cases weighed and measured were well within my strict standards. All were of uniform weight and length. Hornady really impressed me with their product. If you have never used new brass before, you should try it. You will be amazed.
For the primers, I used all Federal Gold Medal Match primers, small pistol primers for the .357, and large magnum pistol for the .44 Magnum. I have used them for years and found them to give the most consistent ignition, and I always keep a large supply on hand.
Now, on to the powders.
Ramshot Enforcer is a very fine ball powder that meters wonderfully.
I wanted to use some old standby powders to compare with some of the new propellants on the market. I started off with Hodgdon H110. I have used this stuff often in the past, so I know how predictable the results are. I have also been happy with the accuracy of this powder, often giving me fantastic accuracy and consistent velocities. It meters very smoothly and consistently.
I also used some Alliant 2400, a top performer that I have been using for years. I wanted to try some new powders with this batch of premium bullets, so I grabbed Accurate #9, and Ramshot Enforcer, as these both work very well with the all-copper bullets I used for testing.
Despite my old-school mentality and utter reliance on my old standby loads, both gave top velocities and fantastic accuracy. I think the Enforcer might end up my new pet load for the .44 Mag., replacing my old loads of Alliant 2400 in the old wheelgun.
Ramshot’s Enforcer not only proved most accurate, but also gave among the highest velocities, something that rarely happens.
This powder, made in Belgium, meters perfect and burns surprisingly clean. Enforcer seems to be made for the .44 Magnum. I like it so much that I will be stocking up on more of this powder. Enforcer worked great in the .357 Magnum, too, being tied with the Accurate #9 for top accuracy.
The bullets I chose were all premium hunting bullets, as developing hunting loads was my goal, starting with the Hornady XTP.
Barnes 140-grain XPB (left) and Hornady 158-grain XTB.
The XTPs have always performed well for me; I have never had one fail. They open up to at least 1 ½ times their original diameter for immediate energy transfer, but also penetrate very deeply.
Any broadside shot I have ever taken with my .44 Magnum has resulted in a complete pass through; I have never recovered any .44 bullet. Deer I have hit with the XTP’s have taken not more than a few steps before expiring. I prefer to use the heavier 300-grain bullets at a slower speed and I am amazed at their performance, whether the distance is 10 yards or 100.
The Nosler jacketed handgun bullet has long been a favorite in my .357, and the 158-grain slugs over a charge of Hodgdon’s H110 has been a magic recipe for years. This has, and will continue to be, a go-to bullet for me.
Another of the premium bullets chosen was the Speer Gold Dot in .44 caliber, weighting 240 grains. These things are accurate and open up a huge hole. Although I have never hit a deer with one, I am sure they would be very effective. Penetration tests suggest they would have no problem passing entirely through a deer.
Two coyotes were taken with these bullets and that’s how I know they open up so fast. They leave a Buick-sized exit wound — most impressive! As far as a defensive bullet, they might be overkill but I would not hesitate to use them.
The Barnes 225-grain bullet (left) has more bearing surface than the 300-grain Hornady XTP (middle) or the 240-grain Speer Gold Dot (right).
Whether you love them or hate them, the Barnes XPBs are the hot rods of handgun bullets. What I like about Barnes is that bullets are all that they make — just bullets. And they have been doing this for over 80 years. They seem to do a lot more research in the ballistic department than all the other companies.
These bullets are an all-copper design with a massive hollowpoint cavity, which upon impact forms the shape of a mushroom with razor-like pedals. These controlled expansion-type bullets give devastating amounts of terminal damage when they hit flesh and bone. This is why deer never seem to take another step when hit correctly with one.
Barnes bullets deliver more energy within the game animal than any other bullets, in my opinion. I have heard people voice concerns about the large hollowpoint cavities potentially becoming obstructed and not expanding. However, I have never had this problem. Now for the downside: they cost more than most other brands, but you get what you pay for with Barnes.
Loading data is drastically different for these bullets than a leadcore-type bullet, due to the all-copper construction. For example, a .44-caliber 225-grain Barnes is a lot longer than a bullet of the same weight that is jacketed lead. Therefore, they will leave less case capacity than lead bullets because they must be seated deeper into the case to maintain the same Cartridge Overall Length, or COL.
I ended up using some compressed loads with these, something I rarely do, but is common when using monometal bullets. I was only able to find a limited amount of load data for Barnes, so, on a whim I just called them up.
The people at this company were very helpful, and more than willing to spend time with me discussing this project. I told them what powders I had and they gave me all the load data I needed, right over the phone. It was a pleasant surprise to have customer service that knowledgeable and friendly.
Author at the reloading bench churning out some handloaded revolver ammo.
Barnes highly recommended using Ramshot’s Enforcer as well as Accurate No. 9, as their laboratory testing found these powders to give the best results with their bullets.
This company has come a long way since 1932 when Fred Barnes started making bullets. They are something all handloaders need to try.
I’m loading those Hornady XTPs for our local deer and bear seasons. The Gold Dot bullet will remain my favorite for the liberal coyote season we have here in New York, and the Barnes 225-grain XPB is getting the nod for an upcoming feral hog hunt.
With this trio of bullets, I’m very well covered for anything smaller than coastal brown bears! I have really enjoyed the testing of these new powders and bullets, and it has truly brought newfound interest to my pair of classic revolvers.
I am glad I knocked the dust off these two classics and tried modern loads through them. It has shown me how far reloading products have progressed and has given me new respect for my old iron.
DISCLAIMER: Any and all loading data found in this article or book, including past or future editions, is to be taken as reference material only. The publishers, editors, authors, contributors, and their entities bear no responsibility for the use by others of the data included herein.
You can get tack-driving accuracy from match-grade AR rifles, but attention to detail in reloading is still necessary.
Some bullet crimp may be necessary; test your first rounds by hand-cycling a few rounds through the action to see if bullets are getting pushed in.
With careful reloading, one-hole sub-MOA accuracy is achievable in the AR-15 and AR-10 platforms.
Can handloading for AR-15 — and AR-10 — rifles achieve accuracy that matches modern bolt-actions?
Author Mark Nazi at the bench testing .308 loads. All photos: J.D. Fielding Photography
The AR is a platform that I have had a love/hate relationship with ever since I picked up my first one, many moons ago. Most of my reloading experience with the AR platform has been trying to find a load that’s accurate, uses components that are generally easy to obtain, cycles without fail, and uses bullets that I can seat deep enough so there is no fighting between the tip of the round and the wall of the magazine.
So, when Phil Massaro tasked me with the project of using .308 and .223-powered ARs to disprove the popular notion that AR-platform rifles aren’t as accurate as conventional rifles, I was extremely excited for the chance to develop a new load beyond my normal 3-Gun/plinking load that I’ve used for many years.
When it came time to pick my hardware for this project I knew I had the .223 end covered. With one phone call and a three-minute drive, I had my hands on a beautiful Rock River Arms rifle that had been outfitted with a full Krieger match-grade pipe, countless hours of stone work, and a trigger that breaks like an icicle.
The author shooting the Rock River Arms EOP in .223.
Now all I needed was a .308. A quick call to a friend over at June Bug Customs and I had everything needed for the .308, including a beautiful, semi-heavy, 1:10 twist, 24-inch stainless steel barrel.
I decided to top these beautiful rifles with what I personally consider to be the top-of-the-line in rifle optics — Nightforce. The company provided a jaw-dropping NXS 5.5-22 X 50 for the .223 and a monstrous NXS 8-32 X 56 for the .308, both equipped with the MOART reticles.
When these scopes arrived, I bolted them up using the Nightforce 20 MOA one-piece ring and base. Having mounted countless scopes from every manufacture known to man, I must say that the Nightforce rings and bases are of the most unbelievable quality. Normally I acquire my scope and mounting solution and then the lapping begins, but with these Nightforce products lapping the rings would be an insult.
After getting the scopes mounted and adjusted to my eye it was time to take them outside and get a look at the MOART reticle. The clarity of this glass is not something I can describe accurately in words. It is stunning.
When I gathered my components, I kept reminding myself that I was going for accuracy while being able to retain reliability. In terms of the handloading process, I knew this was going to be a single-stage operation; that is, using a single-stage reloading press. When going for accuracy I personally prefer the single-stage method, as it allows me to walk my brass through each stage, keep a close eye on every process, and hand-check every step.
I chose a Forsters Co-Ax B3 single-stage press. After the press had been decided, it was time to choose my options for everything else. First off, was brass. I wanted something to hold everything together in a nice package, so I went with brand-new Norma .308 Winchester and .223 Winchester brass.
I figured that for what I was doing, 100 pieces of each would suffice. Next, I needed an ignition source. I’ve been a long-time fan of the Federal Gold Medal Match primers. Over the many years I’ve been using them, they have never given me anything but perfect performance.
Premium Nightforce optics ensured the author was able to obtain true accuracy measurements.
After that it was time to pick some powder. For the .308 I picked Accurate Arms LT-30, IMR XBR 8208, Hodgdon Varget, and the classic IMR 4064. For the .223 I grabbed cans of Reloder #7, Varget, IMR 4198, and X-terminator by RamShot. After settling on my choice of brass, powders, and primers it was time to pick the projectiles.
Since I had been tasked with delivering accuracy, I decided to grab a few boxes of my favorite target bullets, the Sierra MatchKing hollowpoint boat-tail. This has long been one of my favorites. I was also able to acquire a few boxes of the brand new Tipped Match Kings, as well as a box of Nosler Ballistic Tips that I have found to be flawless in performance.
Finally, it was time to choose my dies. I tossed around a few ideas before deciding on Redding National Match dies in .223 and .308, with the added small-base sizing die included separately. Now that I had everything in front of me it was time to get to it.
Reloading AR Cartridges for Accuracy
I decided to start with the .308. After referencing a number of different reloading manuals as well as measuring the length of the magazines I had on hand, I knew that my Cartridge Overall Length (C.O.L.) was going to be 2.800 across the board.
When I reload for accuracy I like to take all my components and lay them out, starting with the brass. I take my brass, and, one piece at a time, give it a good visual inspection before placing it into the loading block.
Once I’ve got my loading block filled up I begin my sizing process. First, I’ll take my tub of case wax and apply a little on my fingers. Next, as I grab each case to be sized, I rub the wax all over the case to ensure that it will enter and exit the die smoothly.
With the semi-automatic AR-style rifles I always use a small base sizing die as the first step. My reasoning for this is the rifles I am using — like most AR-style rifles — are a direct impingement system.
That means that as a round is fired gases from the explosion are recycled through the gas system to cycle the action, eject a spent casing, pick up a live round from the magazine, and chamber it.
After all my brass got the small base resizing it was time to run them through the full-length resizing die.
Redding National Match dies in .308.
Finally, I had a full loading block of sized brass. Normally I would say this is where I trim all my brass, but as I looked in my reloading manual to acquire the trim-to length, I grabbed my digital calipers and started measuring. My trim-to length was 2.005. What I like to do is find a case in my lot that measures exactly 2.005 and set it aside. I refer to this casing as my “god case.” I’ll use it to set my case trimmer, set my die depth and height, and many other tasks.
What I found truly surprising when I started measuring was that every single case I measured was exactly 2.005 exactly.
At first, I was in disbelief. I asked my loading buddy to find me brass in this lot that did not measure 2.005. He was only able to find perhaps two pieces that measured either 2.006 or 2.004. I must tip my hat to Norma; well done, boys.
I then fired up my Lyman case prep station and began looking and feeling for burrs left from the manufacturing process. Again, and to my delight, the Norma brass came out of the box ready to deliver.
With minimal chamfering and de-burring and now with all my brass to the proper size, length, and dimensions it was time to prime. I grabbed a fresh box of Federal GM 210 M large rifle primers, which is Federal’s match-grade large rifle primer, tossed them into my Lee Auto Prime XR, and began priming my cases.
I was blown away how consistent the primer pockets of this brass were; they were tight but not too tight, and the pocket depth paired with the GM 210M primers was right on the money.
National Match dies in .223 Rem. — also from Redding.
I like to seat my primers a few hairs under flush with the bottom of the case. After I had my cases fully prepped it was time to start charging them, so I grabbed a one-pound can of XBR and a load data sheet.
For load development I went with the simplest form of ladder testing. A number of published loads for XBR paired with a 168-grain MatchKing bullet showed a starting load of 33.2 grains and a max load of 43.2 grains. With this data in hand I fired up my RCBS Chargemaster 1500.
With my process of ladder testing what I do is draw a diagram in my bench notebook and start with the lowest charge weight. I’ll load five rounds at the start weight. In this case I started with 33.5 grains of XBR 8208. All five of these rounds will sit in row 1 of my ammo box.
From here I’ll step up my charge weights in .5-grain increments. In other words, row two consists of five rounds with a charge weight of 34.0 grains, and so on until I reach the maximum recommended weight.
If you do not use a reloading bench notebook I strongly recommend it. I refuse to reload without my notebooks. If asked any questions regarding my load data for any particular rifle or cartridge, I will not attempt to remember off the top of my head; only after referring to my notebook will I give such data.
With the single-stage nature of loading for these rifles, my RCBS Chargemaster 1500 was the obvious choice for me. For those who are not familiar with this extremely accurate, time-saving device, I highly recommend it. RCBS has taken a digital powder-dispensing system and paired it with a Chargemaster digital scale. You simply level the machine on a sturdy surface (I use a block of marble), calibrate it with the included weights, punch in your desired charge weight, press dispense, and away you go.
Redding small base dies.
The scale and dispenser unit talk to each other until your desired weight has been reached, then the machine beeps and displays the actual charge weight as another check to insure you’ve reached your desired weight. It is a must-have for any single stage loader.
After getting all my cases charged it was finally time to break out the one die I had been drooling over since the beginning of this project, the Redding National Match Competition seating die. The micrometer adjustments were flawless, smooth and precise. The die uses a bushing system to seat the bullets, causing no deformity in the copper jackets.
I grabbed a box of .30-caliber 168-grain Tipped MatchKings, referenced as much published data as I could, and came up with a C.O.L. of 2.800. Setting my C.O.L. at 2.800 gave me enough room to be able to load in magazines and have them function properly. But what did worry me was not having much room to play with in the way of how far off the lands and grooves I was able to seat the bullet. Only time would tell if that adjustment was one that needed tinkering.
Seating the tipped 168-grain Sierra MatchKings was a dream, given the extremely high quality of the Redding dies coupled with the free-floating base plate of the Forster Co-Ax B3 press.
To Bullet Crimp Or Not To Bullet Crimp?
After getting all my bullets seated it was now time to consider bullet crimp. I’ve heard many schools of thought regarding crimping AR-style rifles, or even any semi-automatic rifle. What I do is make up a few extra rounds with no powder or primer in them, jot down my C.O.L., place two or three rounds into the magazine, then cycle the action as roughly as I can. I’ll then take those rounds and take measurements again to see if the violence of the action is pushing my bullets deeper into the case.
Components for the .308 buildup.
If I do notice my C.O.L. getting shorter I know there is not enough neck tension holding the projectile to keep it in place. If a crimp is needed, I’ll reset the test and apply the slightest crimp I possibly can, then re-test the rounds until my C.O.L. is the same going in as it is coming out.
Each rifle is different; some have military feed ramps and some do not. Some chambers are tighter than others. Always take some extra time to determine if a crimp is needed in your case.
One thing to keep in mind is how the feeding system in AR-style rifles works: the bolt pushes a round from the magazine into the feed ramps, the feed ramps then guide the round into the chamber. This is a very violent action and could potentially push your bullet too deep into the case, causing a catastrophic failure resulting in possible serious injury, death, and destruction of a very expensive set-up. After applying a wee bit of crimp to my rounds it was finally time to get behind this beautiful system.
Sierra 168-grain MatchKing.
Testing the Ammo
I first loaded a few mags of factory-loaded ammo to get the rifle on paper. Again, the Nightforce scope was an absolute dream to work with. All the adjustments on the turrets were flawless and of the utmost precision. If you dialed up an inch adjustment at 100 yards, an inch is exactly what you ended up with. When you take the .308 out past 100 yards and really let it stretch its legs the zero stop feature of the Nightforce allows you to transition between what you are zeroed at and whatever distance you care to dope to quickly, efficiently, and with precision.
The way I run my ladder test is, I will shoot from a bench with a rest on the front and rear of the rifle to take as much human error out of the equation as possible. I fire one round, then lock the bolt open to let it cool back down to ambient temperature. I find the ejected brass and inspect it for any signs of high pressure; then I take the round that the rifle chambered and measure it to ensure that my crimp and neck tension is holding the projectile in place properly.
Once the chamber and barrel have reached ambient temperature I’ll fire my second round, repeating the process until my string of five rounds has been fired. After that I’ll take a walk down to the target with calipers for my group measurements. After all my rounds have been fired I’ll sit and compile my data.
Using the same chart for my ladder test, I’ll write the group size in the corresponding row that already has the charge weight in it.
I was easily able to get five-shot groups under an inch at 100 yards at right around the 43.0-grain mark with the XBR powder.
Measuring group size at the target. Indeed, ARs are capable of fine accuracy if you spend some time finding the right combination.
Throughout my XBR testing I found the closer I got to the max load, the tighter my groups were getting. I finally settled on using 43.0 grains of XBR. This load was consistently between .5 and 1.00 inch, cycled perfectly, and generally performed flawlessly. I also was able to find great accuracy with the other powders I tested but stuck with the XBR because I was happy with the results and it metered like a dream.
Now it was time to grab the .223 and basically duplicate the testing. For powder I grabbed cans of X-terminator, IMR 4198, and Reloder #7. After looking at bullets for a while and keeping in mind that I had to keep the C.O.L. less than the size of my magazine, and the fact that I was dealing with a tight Kreiger match chamber, I ended up grabbing a box of 40-grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and a box of 40-grain Sierra BlitzKings.
I found that both bullets delivered five-shot, one-hole groups at 100 yards.
At the end of my load development 23.5 grains of Reloder #7 was the magic number when it came to the Nosler Ballistic Tips, delivering group sizes of under a half-inch at 100 yards. When I switched to the 40-grain BlitzKings it was 22.5 grains of IMR 4198 that delivered very similar results.
What I recommend, if tighter grouping is what you’re after, is a second round of ladder testing. Let’s take our .308 load of 43.0 grains of XBR and go back to the loading bench. Using the same diagram as we did before, let’s load row 1 with 43.0 grains of XBR, row 2 with 43.1 grains, and row 3 at our max recommended charge of 43.2 grains.
What I also like to do in the second installment of ladder testing is go on both sides of the accuracy, so my 4th row will be 42.9 grains and 5th row of 42.8 grains. After that it’s back to the shooting bench and let the fun data collection process begin. This second round of ladder testing will help you fine tune your load to the rifle and conditions you shoot in.
IMR 8208 XBR and 168-grain Sierra MatchKings were a very good match.
Tips For Accurizing Military Brass For Reloading
One last thing I’d like to touch on when it comes to reloading for AR-style rifles is the endless ways to make cheap, accurate ammo for them. Military brass is some of the most available brass out there but does require a little extra attention to bring it up to spec.
Military brass comes with a crimp applied to the primer pocket, as well as primer glue applied; this is to ensure that water cannot enter the cartridge and that primers do not back out under fully automatic fire.
I’ve found that my loading buddies will normally just give away the brass they have acquired with the military crimp simply because they don’t know how to — or don’t want to — deal with it.
You can either cut the crimp from the primer pocket or you can swage the entire pocket back into spec. I’ve heard good and bad results about cutting the pocket, but after reviewing the data I decided to go with the swaging option. I called up Dillon and had them send me a primer pocket Super Swage 600. Let me tell you: this little device is a must have if you deal with large quantities of military-primed brass. It chews through casing after casing without so much as a flinch, and with a little extra work you now have reloadable brass.
One other thing to keep in mind with military brass is that case capacity is slightly different from that of non-military brass. Keep this in mind if you’ve got a load worked up for your rifle using store-purchased brass, but discover a nice cheap lot of military stuff.
IMR4198 and Norma brass proved a winning combination.
Let’s use our load from the .223 testing of 23.5 grains of Reloder #7 as an example. Say we want to transfer that load to the pile of military brass we have. Keep in mind your max load, then load a string of five rounds at 23.5 grains, then in the following rows back your charge off .1 grains until you achieve the original accuracy.
As always practice safety with every step of reloading and never go above your skill level.
DISCLAIMER: Any and all loading data found in this article or book, including past or future editions, is to be taken as reference material only. The publishers, editors, authors, contributors, and their entities bear no responsibility for the use by others of the data included herein.
Many common factory ammo offerings began as wildcat cartridges.
Reloading wildcat cartridges allows you to learn more about ballistics and load development.
There is a satisfaction that wildcatters get from taking game with their own cartridge designs.
The word “wildcat” denotes something untamed, rebellious and maybe just a little bit dangerous. But that shouldn’t stop you from considering wildcat cartridges for hunting and shooting.
The 416 UMT rifle on shooting sticks, cape buffalo in background. Selous Reserve in Tanzania. Scope is a Swarovski 1.25-4X24 Habicht model in Warne mounts. A dangerous game rifle will be used at close range and a low-power, wide field of view scope is the best choice.
Just like the wildcat oil drillers who became legends, those gun guys who pioneered the wildcat cartridges were never afraid to ignore the naysayers. Wildcatters are the rebels, the guys who refuse to accept the status quo. They are the pioneers who stretch the boundaries to prove that there can be something more, something better.
Like most pioneers they rarely get the credit. Take for example the .22-250 Remington. Popular cartridge, right? But have you ever heard of Harvey Donaldson, Grosvenor Wotkyns, J.E. Gebby, John Sweany, or J.B. Smith?
Remington didn’t develop the .22-250; those guys did. They pioneered the early high speed .22 cartridges.
The Wotkyns version was called the .220 Wotkyns Original Swift (WOS) and was the forerunner to the .220 Swift, later introduced by Winchester. Gebby and Smith are most often credited with the version we call the .22-250 Remington today. They named it the .22 Varminter. Gebby even obtained a copyright on that name, but Remington took the design, added their name and got all the glory.
It’s the same with the .204 Ruger, 7mm Remington Magnum, .257 Roberts, .35 Whelen, the Winchester Short Magnums and a very long list of other popular cartridges. They were all developed by independent wildcatters and then “claimed” by a gun company as its own, often with the blessing of the wildcatter, but sometimes not. For the most part, the guys who developed the cartridges expected — and got — nothing. The exception might be the WSM cartridges, which are historical as the wildcats that ended up in court. It’s also what is slowly killing these cartridges.
The .416 UMT is a wildcat made from .375 RUM cases. It demands the hottest primers and the best bullets.
But that’s OK. Wildcat cartridge designers are not in it for the glory or to get rich. They do it for a love of guns and cartridges and for the challenge of doing something that’s never been done. Just like mountain climbers, they do it because “it’s there.”
For as long as I can remember I have been handloading and shooting many popular wildcats, like the .357 Herrett, 7mm TCU, .243 AI, .280 AI, .300 Whisper, .375 JDJ, and several others. I learned about case forming and load development by working with these cartridges, often in the very early years when there was little available data.
But like a lot of hard-core gun guys with a technical mind and a love of pushing the edges, I felt the need to create wildcat catridges of my own.
Nobody ever called me a conformist in anything I do, and I found the inspiration for my wildcats hiding that part of my rebel brain. I love .35-caliber rifle cartridges, even while the public does not. There has never been a hugely successful .35-caliber cartridge. The .35 Remington probably comes the closest, but it’s been dying a slow death for decades. So of course, that’s where I went for my first wildcat cartridge.
The author with a cape buffalo taken in the Selous Reserve in Tanzania. The beast was taken with the .416 UMT, which threw a 400-grain Swift A-Frame. Dangerous game is hunted close and bullet placement must be precise. A 100-yard zero works well.
.358 UMT
Remington showed a select group of gun writers their new .300 Remington Ultra Mag in the fall of 1998, and the first thing I thought was that that big case would be awesome with a .358 bullet.
After considering a lot of case design possibilities I decided to keep it simple and necked the .300 Remington Ultra Mag case up to .358 with no other changes. It maintains the same body taper, the same 30-degree shoulder and the same datum line for headspacing. The only difference is a larger neck and the resulting shorter shoulder. I called the new cartridge the .358 Ultra Mag Towsley (UMT).
One pass of a well-lubed Remington case through the RCBS sizing die’s tapered expander button takes the neck from .30 to .35. Case loss during forming is all but non-existent. The expanding process shortens the case by about .018-inch, so I square the new case mouths and trim to 2.820-inch.
The rifle started as a stainless-steel Remington Model 700 chambered for .300 RUM, but only the action remains. I ordered a Krieger barrel with a 1:14 twist rate to stabilize 250-grain bullets. The barrel proved accurate and the bore is remarkably smooth and is easy to clean.
Gunsmith Mark Bansner turned the 24-inch barrel to a taper that measures .675˝ at the muzzle and then added six longitudinal flutes.
RCBS .416 UMT dies with cases and lube. One pass over the tapered expander in the RCBS resizing die will neck the .375 RUM up to .416. To increase neck tension, polish a small amount of material off the neck sizing button. Lubrication is important for sizing cartridge cases. But, it requires just the right amount.
The limiting factor in overall cartridge length with any of the Ultra Mag cartridges is the rifle’s magazine. I knew the maximum workable cartridge length in this gun would be 3.675 inches. I made up some dummy cartridges with Nosler 250-grain Partition bullets and shipped them to Dave Manson Precision Reamers.
I asked Manson to configure the chamber reamer so it would provide a .010-inch jump to the rifling with the Nosler bullet seated to 3.675 inches. My other bullet choice at the time was a Barnes 225-grain X-bullet and, because of the difference in bullet profile, it would have a jump of about .030-inch when seated to the same overall length. This is fine because the Barnes X-Bullet requires a larger gap for peak performance.
Bansner chambered the barrel and installed it on the action, which had been polished and tuned. The entire barreled action was then bead-blasted for a matte finish.
I had him install a trigger from Timney Manufacturing Inc. and adjust it for a crisp 3-pound pull. I also asked him to change the safety so it would lock the bolt down when it is on (eliminating my pet peeve with current Model 700 rifles.)
Bansner then added one of his High Tech synthetic stocks, which proved to be one of the keys to making this rifle so user-friendly. The stock is designed so the butt is 90 degrees to the bore, which directs recoil straight back and helps to eliminate muzzle rise. As a result, your face is not beaten up by the rifle’s comb, as often happens with hard-recoiling rifles. The stock has a wide butt and a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad to further reduce felt recoil.
I conceived this to be a gun that would be lugged for miles up steep elk mountains or through the muskeg of Alaska. The weight needed to be balanced between heavy enough to shoot well under field conditions and light enough to not be hateful at the end of a long day.
When fitted with a Leupold Vari-X III 3.5-10 scope in Leupold two-piece mounts, the rifle weighs 8 pounds. This is on the light side for a rifle chambered in so powerful a cartridge, but the recoil is very manageable for an experienced shooter. Most people who shoot the rifle for the first time remark that the kick was a lot less than they anticipated.
I wanted a rifle suitable for hunting elk, big bears, moose and the larger African plains game in all the differing terrain in which they live. I wanted it to shoot flat so it could handle long shots, but also to hit hard and penetrate deep for big, tough game. This calls for heavy bullets with high sectional density and ballistic coefficient numbers. Bullets weighing 225 to 250 grains were the obvious choice.
The author’s .358 UMT, or Ultra Mag Towsley.
With a large case capacity, heavy bullets usually call for slow-burning powder to push them and that proved true with the .358 UMT. It is not a particularly fussy cartridge to load, except that it does favor specific powders.
I initially thought it would work best with powders like IMR 4350 or IMR 4831, but they proved to be a bit too fast. IMR 7828 was by far the best powder tested, but H-1000 also works very well in some loads. With big charges of any powder, a hot primer is important. I used only Federal 215 primers.
The SAAMI spec for the .300 Ultra Mag cartridge is a mean average pressure of 65,000 psi, which I used as a guideline.
Some interesting things happened when I started shooting this cartridge. Most .358 bullets are designed for a much lower velocity and some of the best big game bullets that work so well in my .350 Rem. Mag. and .35 Whelen turned into varmint bullets with this cartridge, often fragmenting on impact.
The Barnes bullets were the exception. I started with a 225-grain XLC Coated X-bullet. Barnes didn’t make that one but coated some for me as a favor. After I wrote about it they got so many requests that they added it to their line. The XLC bullets are gone now, replaced by the Triple Shock. Today, my preferred bullet in this cartridge is the Barnes TSX 225-grain loaded with IMR 7828. This produces 3,165 fps and sub-inch groups.
RCBS dies, cases and Swift bullets for the .416 UMT.
Another bullet that proved to work well is the Swift 250-grain A-Frame. When teamed with IMR 7828 it spits out the muzzle at 3,114 fps. Accuracy is nearly one hole for the best three-shot groups and always averages under minute-of-angle.
The steep o-give profile of this bullet allows it to be seated out close to the rifling lands, while the cartridge length remains short enough to fit into the magazine. The bullet expands rapidly and very big, so penetration is not as good as expected. But for elk-sized or smaller game this bullet does a great job.
I have used the .358 UMT while hunting a diversity of big game from springbuck to brown bears. It’s been to Africa with me twice and has accounted for a lot of African game, including a waterbuck and a diminutive red duiker that both made the record book.
I have used it a lot in North America as well while hunting game as diverse as mule deer to brown bears. The odd thing is that while I developed the gun for elk, I have not shot an elk with it! It’s been elk hunting, but never when the elk got the memo and remembered to show up.
The .358 UMT shoots flatter than a .300 Winchester with a 180-grain bullet and has more energy than a .416 Remington at any range.
L to R: .416 Remington, .416 UMT and .416 Rigby.
With a 250-yard zero the 225-grain Barnes TSX is 2.24 inches high at 100 yards and 3.26 inches low at 300 yards.
With the 250-grain bullet the .358 UMT produces 5,384 ft.-lbs. of muzzle energy. At 100 yards it still has more energy than the .375 H&H has at the muzzle and at 200 yards it retains 3,676 ft.-lbs., almost as much as the .338 Win. Mag. has at the muzzle.
.416 UMT
A few years later, I decided that if big is good, bigger is even better and I designed another cartridge in the UMT family — the .416.
The .416 UMT is not a complicated wildcat. It is simply a .375 Remington Ultra Mag necked up to take a .416 bullet. The shoulder angle, base to shoulder length, and datum line are all maintained the same as the .375 RUM. One pass of a well-lubricated .375 RUM case over a RCBS resizing die equipped with a tapered neck expander forms the case.
The only other thing I do is square up the case mouth with a case trimmer. This results in a case that is 2.825 inches, or about .025-inch shorter than the .375 RUM.
.416 UMT rifle built on a Remington Model 700 by Mark Bansner.
The case holds 120.2 grains of water to the top of the neck. The most popular .416 cartridges and the closest competitors are the .416 Remington, which holds 103.4 grains of water, and the .416 Rigby, which holds 129.6 grains.
The Ultra Mag class of cartridges were all designed to operate at a maximum average pressure of 65,000 psi, which is the same as the .416 Remington. The larger case capacity with equal pressure results in higher velocity with a given bullet weight. The .416 Rigby runs at about 52,000 psi, which keeps the performance lower when compared to case capacity.
Alliant RL 15 and Hodgdon H4350 were two of the best powders tested, and accuracy was excellent with groups averaging just over one inch with the best loads. With 400-grain bullets and RL15, velocity ran a bit over 2,500 fps.
Ingredients for the .358 WSM wildcat include 225-grain Trophy Bonded bullet, 75 grains of RL17, and a Federal 215M primer.
There are a couple of boxes of this unique ammo someplace in the Dar es Salaam airport, as I was greeted on my way home by a Nazi masquerading as a KLM airline ticket agent. She would not let my bags on the plane because they were a few pounds overweight, even if I paid. I was headed home, the ammo was disposable, and the last time I saw it some guy was carrying it at arm’s length like it was a nuclear bomb.
A muzzle velocity of 2,500 fps is a considerable increase over the .416 Remington and .416 Rigby, which are cataloged at 2,400 fps but rarely have shown it on my chronograph. The realistic “real world” gain in velocity for the .416 UMT is about 150-200 fps over those two rivals when compared with guns of equal barrel length.
The performance on game is outstanding. The first shot of the safari dropped a warthog like he was hit with Thor’s hammer. My buffalo was hit with three Swift A-Frames and two Barnes Banded Solid bullets. All but the first shot exited and they all went through the vitals, including the first shot, which traveled end for end. It hit him in the ass and stopped under the skin on his neck. (Yes, I was aiming there. Don’t ask, it’s a long story.)
The author shot this Colorado elk at 248 yards with a .358 WSM wildcat, which was comprised of a 225-grain Trophy Bonded bullet and 75 grains of RL17. It was stoked with a Federal 215M primer.
Mark Bansner built the gun on a Remington Model 700 action and fitted it with a 24-inch Lilja barrel. The extractor was changed to a larger design for a more positive grip on the case during extraction. I had Mark replace the safety with one that would lock the bolt shut. Mark coated the metal with his proprietary Ti-K-Cote polymer-based finish and fitted the barreled action to one of his High Tech Specialties Stocks. We added a staggered-feed magazine with a single-stack, center feed system from H. S. Precision so the gun would feed Barnes Solids reliably.
When I received the rifle from Mark it only weighed 8-1/2 pounds with a scope. With a brake it was a beast, but it was manageable. I took the brake off and this gun became a detached retina in waiting. I could shoot it, but it wasn’t fun.
It also ate high-quality scopes like they were snacks. So, I had Mark install three mercury recoil suppressors, two for the butt and one in the forend. The result was a gun that came in at a comfortable 10-1/4 pounds when equipped with a Swarovski 1.25-4X24 Habicht scope in Warne detachable mounts. Unlike some others, this scope has stayed together through several hundred shots.
The rifle weight is just about right for this type of gun. It’s still light enough to carry well on those long tracking jobs but is heavy enough to keep the recoil manageable. The biggest advantage of that in a dangerous game rifle is to be able to control the rifle for fast follow-up shots. With this gun I was now able to fire repeated shots very quickly.
A Bansner-built rifle on an M70 action and topped with a Nitrix scope. It’s chambered in .358 WSM wildcat, which shoots a 225-grain Trophy Bonded bullet. The propellant: 75 grains of RL17 and a Federal 215M primer.
.358 WSM
I was there when Winchester launched the .300 WSM and my first thought was to neck it to 35-caliber. In fact, I ordered a “donor” rifle that day. But due to some uncontrollable issues the project stalled for a couple of years and by the time I got my rifle somebody else had already done the cartridge and called it the .358 Sambar.
My rifle is based on a Winchester Model 70 short action rifle. Mark Bansner built the gun as he has several other custom rifles in the past, including both of my UMT wildcats.
The brass is easy to make by simply running .300 Winchester Short Magnum cases into a RCBS die with a tapered expander. I have tested several powders, but of those I tried, Aliant RL 17 is by far the best. It was developed for the short magnums and has certainly lived up to that in this cartridge. It gives me over 100 fps more velocity with a 225-grain bullet than any of the other powders I have tried to date.
The .358 WSM.
With a 225-grain bullet this cartridge easily produces 2,950 fps on my chronograph. That’s the same “advertised” velocity of a 180-grain bullet from a .300 Winchester Magnum. The 225-grain loads produce 4,400 ft.-lbs. of muzzle energy, which is almost 1,000 more than the .300 Winchester.
I have used Trophy Bonded 225-grain bullets to shoot elk, whitetail, and even antelope. The first was a bull elk at 250 yards. The bullet broke both shoulders and exited. You can’t ask for more than that.
The Barnes 225 TSX shoots close to one-half MOA in my gun and is deadly on any game I have shot. The last one was a big whitetail buck that was facing away from me at 15 yards. I caught the last rib and the bullet exited out his neck. To say the results were spectacular would be an understatement.
The 200-grain Barnes Tipped Triple Shock X bullets have a muzzle velocity of 3,100 fps and average .73-inch groups from my rifle at 100 yards. With a 250-yard zero this load is 2.55 inches high at 100 yards and 3.67 inches low at 300 yards.
The author took this whitetail with a Bansner Custom Model 70 in .358 WSM.
This cartridge is not fussy and is very easy to handload. Recoil is very manageable. It’s an extremely versatile cartridge that is good for hunting any big game in North America. It’s not out of place for deer, and I would not hesitate to use it to hunt brown bear. It’s also a good choice for African plains game, including the huge, tough-to-kill eland.
I don’t kid myself that my wildcats will ever achieve commercial success like the .22-250 or 7mm Remington Mangum and that’s OK. I like that they are a bit oddball. While their level of performance is outstanding, the huddled masses will never recognize that. But a gun guy will see the truth and that’s what matters most to a wildcatter.
DISCLAIMER: Any and all loading data found in this article or book, including past or future editions, is to be taken as reference material only. The publishers, editors, authors, contributors, and their entities bear no responsibility for the use by others of the data included herein.
From pistols to rifles, it’s all about positioning and working to get a grip on this week’s episode of Modern Shooter.
Get a grip! It’s not just good advice for those who have a tendency to lose their cool, but it also provides the perfect foundation of effective defensive pistol craft. When the chips are down, a solid and proper grip initiates an entire sequence of movements that, in the end, can ultimately wind up saving your life or those of your loved ones.
Phil Massaro delves into the minutia of grip, presentation, efficient kinetics, body position and much more on a recent trip to Double Eagle Tactical Training in this week’s Modern Shooter. The defensive shooting school, located in New York’s Catskill Mountains, specializes in rigorous, true-to-life situational training. Essentially, the concern hones armed citizens’ decision-making skills to a razor’s edge. But as the above clip shows, they also ground students in the fundamentals of combat handgunnery, ensuring that when the decision to use righteous deadly force is made, it is fully executed without flaw.
Finding time to maintain shooting fundamentals can be a challenge, but the Blowback Laser Trainer provides a realistic solution.
Basics about the Blowback Laser Trainer:
Laser trainers have evolved a lot recently and can help with basic marksmanship.
The Blowback Trainer has a similar weight and feel to a Glock 19.
The trigger functions much like a two-stage trigger, with a long take up and clean break.
The mag drops out and houses a CO2 cartridge, which is used to simulate recoil.
The Blowback Trainer comes with a laser-sensitive target.
While no replacement for range time, it serves as a good way to fill training gaps.
I was at my desk on a random Tuesday afternoon in mid-January when it hit me: I hadn’t been to the range for nearly 3 weeks. Granted, that’s not long for some and a very long time for others — and I’ve certainly had longer stints between pulling some triggers at the range — but it bothered me more than usual this time.
I was in the middle of editing an article about being fully prepared (it’s actually printed in this issue beginning on page 36) as a gun enthusiast who carries concealed. Although it’s near impossible to discuss the concept of “being prepared” or having a defensive strategy without talking about trigger time, the article focuses just as heavily on the other equally important facets of preparation — physical, mental and legal.
On that particular afternoon, that article got me thinking just how difficult it can be to train properly. Really think about that for a moment. If you’re training for a marathon (not that I’d ever recommend that), putting a treadmill in the basement or simply lacing up and hitting the road out front of the house is easily attained. Getting into woodworking? Put a lathe and a table saw in the garage and you can make dust to your heart’s content.
See where I’m going with this? Having chosen a lifestyle dedicated to firearms proficiency, it’s not always easy to practice — in any facet. Unless your backyard is measured in acres instead of feet, the neighbors can get a little jumpy at the sound of gunfire. And for most of us, the ol’ ball and chain would frown at the installation of an indoor range in the basement where the treadmill used to be.
Another editor on the Gun Digest staff and I were participating in some water-cooler-style whining about these and other range withdrawals, and he asked me if I’d spent any time with the Blowback Laser Trainer.
Negative.
The Blowback Solution
Laser-training pistols have evolved dramatically as of recent, and although every product in that category is far from the real thing, you can train and maintain your basic marksmanship principles such as sight alignment and trigger pull quite effectively. And because there’s minimal (if any) muzzle report and no projectiles being launched down range, no down range is needed.
Here’s the problem: You don’t need to be the head cashier at Bass Pro Shops to know that recoil plays a dramatic effect on, well … everything we train around. Yes, you can argue that lack of recoil is exactly why many train with a .22 LR, but that doesn’t solve the range problem. And most laser trainers have no recoil. That’s right — most.
To aid in alleviating range withdrawals, I got my hands on the Blowback Laser Trainer system as recommended. I figured it couldn’t hurt, and it surely had to be less than trying to convince the Mrs. that a basement range was mandatory.
Here’s the skinny:
The Blowback pistol (known formally as the Blowback Laser Trainer) has a similar weight and overall feel to that of a Glock 19, though it’s pretty non-denominational with a metal actuating slide and polymer grip. The muzzle brandishes the bright orange designation of a training gun. The trigger is interesting, in that it functions much like a two-stage trigger with a very long-take-up and then a clean break. It pulls a bit hard, but it is one of the better trigger’s I’ve tickled on a training pistol.
Here’s where things get interesting: The mag drops out and is actually the housing unit for a standard, tubular CO2 cartridge. It’s also home to the battery that powers the laser — but I’ll get to that in a minute.
Upon firing, the Blowback Laser Trainer pistol releases a CO2-powered blowback, cycling the slide like any live-fire semi-auto pistol and simulating felt recoil. Simultaneously, a laser mounted just under the bore is activated, to visually indicate the hit location. It’s pretty damn cool.
The Doorknob Test
For the next few weeks, I snuck around the house (having a home office does have its benefits), assaulting every doorknob and receptacle plate from the basement mechanical room to the upper-level master bedroom closet. I even had time to work in a Labrador hunt or two, though he no-doubt thought I had lost my mind. And, an early delivery by the mailman one morning led to a very random conversation that culminated with me learning that he’s a Sig connoisseur. Who knew?
Confession: I was quite skeptical about the Blowback Laser Trainer system, but then again, I’m skeptical about absolutely everything. But the Blowback surprised me.
Although the recoil isn’t overly significant — I’d put it on parallel with a light 9mm target round — it makes a marked difference in how I trained with that laser pistol versus other stagnant laser pistols without any sort of recoil or report. Upon firing, you receive the audible burst of the CO2 dispersion in addition to the metal racking of the slide functioning during blowback, which brings the entire system that much closer to realism.
The sights are wide and prominent for quick target acquisition, though a little nail polish — my wife’s nail polish; I don’t own any — would go a long way on both the front post and the rear U-notch. It’s a simple home fix, but I would like to see that from the manufacturer.
On average, I was getting 47 trigger pulls from a single CO2 cartridge, which is very reasonable given the amount of inertia it takes to drive the slide. Remember: It’s for the weight and feel of a “real” gun overall, including the slide. CO2 canisters are not hard to come by, and Blowback sells a 20-count box of them on their website for $20.
The CO2 canisters seat easily into the magazine through the bottom, and they’re installed/removed via a large Allen bolt. The process is a bit slow and I would love to see a Gen2 with a “fast change” option for swapping the CO2 canisters, but this certainly doesn’t detract a bit from the overall effectiveness of the Blowback Laser Trainer system.
Blowback also makes a Laser Trainer Target, which features two target faces that light up and report a “ping” sound when hit, and it features a timed and a standard score mode. It’s a great addition to the Blowback pistol, and it sees daily action on the shelf across the room from my desk … namely whenever I have writer’s block. Still, I prefer slinking around the house and preying on unsuspecting inanimate objects, but that’s just the hunter in me.
Can the Blowback Laser Trainer replace range or simulation time with live ammo? Hell no. And it’s not designed for that. However, it does fill in the gaps between trips to the range rather nicely.
Blowback Laser Trainer Pistol Specs Height: 5.5 inches Width: 1.18 inches Length: 8 inches Weight: 28.5 ounces Cost: $450 Laser Trainer / $665 Laser Training System with Target
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the 2018 Concealed Carry issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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