Home Blog Page 209

Review: Uberti 1875 Top Break No. 3

June 1, 2017

The Uberti 1875 Top Break No. 3 is a working replica of the famous Schofield revolver. It’s a faithful rendition and great fun to shoot.

Shooters are fortunate to live now because they have not only modern, state-of-the-art guns to shoot for recreation – and self defense – but also because they have access to guns from the past. Some very old guns that were manufactured over 100 years ago are still working and being used today for hunting and to protect the homestead, but they are not common. Use and neglect over the years eventually wears them out.

Those who know and shoot the old guns have an enjoyment of the shooting sports that others sadly miss. Shooting them slows the pace and creates an appreciation of the workmanship and old technology inherent in the vintage pieces. And shooting them gives the shooter an insight into the challenges faced by those of the past who used those guns – guns that were modern in their day – for serious pursuits like putting meat on the table or protecting themselves and loved ones from evil-doers.

Not everyone has access to a real antique, but some companies like A. Uberti of Italy make working replicas of the old guns that are very nearly identical to the originals. Much of the demand for these guns comes from participants in Single Action Shooting Society matches, but a great number are sold to people who appreciate the old designs and want to experience shooting them.

Made with modern equipment, Uberti’s 1875 Top Break No. 3 2nd Model is very close to the original Schofield revolver from the mid-1870s. The most notable feature of the No. 3 is the top break design that permitted the simultaneous ejection of all fired cases from the cylinder. When the latch was manipulated and the barrel and cylinder pivoted away from the frame and grip, the ejector was activated.

All the cases being ejected at the same time with one motion made reloading under stress faster than with a Single Action Army. Hopeful for a government contract, Smith & Wesson submitted the No. 3 to the Army Ordnance Board for testing, and while the board liked it, a centerfire version was requested to replace the original .44 Henry rimfire chambering. So S&W offered the gun in .44/100, which eventually became known as the .44 American, as well as .44 Henry.

Eventually, Major George Schofield, serving with the 10th Cavalry in Kansas, learned of the No. 3 and became S&W’s sales agent for Colorado and Kansas. He then later made some design changes and was granted patents that included a different latch and an improved extraction system.

The original latch was pushed up to operate, which is very difficult to do with one hand while holding the gun and riding a horse. Schofield’s latch was pulled backwards and down, requiring only one hand, making it easier for a mounted trooper to operate. Even though the Army adopted the Colt Single Action Army (SAA) in .45 Colt instead, Schofield kept pushing the Army to try his Schofield design and finally persuaded it to buy 3,000. Other purchases followed that initial one, but the SAA was still the main service handgun.

Two versions of the Schofield were made, the 1st and 2nd models. There were some minor mechanical differences, but the main difference was that the latch on the 1st model had a smooth top surface and, on the 2nd, had a knurled one for better purchase.

The Schofield required a different cartridge than the SAA due to the length of the cylinder chambers and the extraction method. So the Army approved what was essentially a modified .45 Colt cartridge for the Schofield and called it the .45 S&W Schofield. Both rounds could be fired in the SAA, but the .45 Colt could not be fired in the Schofield. This is probably what caused the Schofield to eventually be set aside by the Army in favor of the SAA.

By 1880, the Schofields were declared surplus by the Army and were sold to the civilian market. Wells, Fargo & Company bought many of them and shortened the 7-inch barrels to 5 inches. Many individuals also carried Model No. 3s, making them very popular in the Old West, and several notables, including Jesse James and Buffalo Bill, carried them.

The sample 1875 Top Break No. 3 is closest in design to the 2nd model Schofield because of the serrated latch. The barrel, cylinder and frame are very nicely finished in a lustrous blue, and the hammer, trigger guard, ejector lever and latch are nicely color case hardened with good amber, brown and blue coloring in interesting patterns.

The front blade sight, which is pinned to the barrel, appears to be made of brass. The rear sight is a V notch cut into the top of the latch, and while not easily acquired by today’s standards, the sights did work and were regulated to the point of impact. Glare off the front and rear sight may cause some difficulty in aiming if the light source is in the right – or wrong – place. The gun has a 7-inch barrel, but various barrel lengths are available depending on the model selected.

The hammer has a broad spur that is checkered after a fashion but provides a slip-resistant surface for cocking. There are four hammer positions. After pulling the trigger, the hammer is all the way forward at rest with the integral firing pin protruding from the breech face. Pulling the hammer back to the first click withdraws the firing pin, but the cylinder remains locked. Another click back unlocks the cylinder so that it rotates freely. In either one of the first two partially cocked positions, the latch can be activated and the barrel and cylinder rotated down to eject the shells. The fully cocked hammer position is all the way back and is self-explanatory.

When the latch is pulled backwards and down, the barrel and cylinder pivot down, and at the same time, the ejector is raised away from the cylinder, ejecting the cartridges. Continuing to rotate the barrel down allows the ejector to snap back into the cylinder, allowing fresh cartridges to be inserted. Once loaded, the barrel can be pushed up and locked into place. When doing so, the shooter must pay attention that, for safety reasons, an empty chamber rests and is locked in place beneath the hammer. That may require cocking the hammer and while restraining it, allowing it to go forward on an empty chamber.

The walnut grip panels, or stocks, on the test gun were nicely executed with a dull, oil type finish, which afforded a solid grip while shooting. The trigger broke cleanly at a little more than 4 pounds after some slight creep. The fluted cylinder held six rounds of .38 Special, but the gun is also available in .45 Colt, .44 Russian and .44-40.

The S&W Model No. 3 was the first American made large-frame revolver built specifically to shoot self-contained metallic cartridge ammunition. It has a rich history despite the small production numbers, and shooting a replica brings to mind a time when things moved more slowly and self-reliance was more highly valued.

For more information, visit Uberti.com or contact Stoeger Industries at 800-264-4962.

Specifications:

Uberti 1875 Top Break No. 3
Caliber: .38 Special
Barrel Length: 7 in.
Overall Length: 12.5 in.
Weight: 3 lbs.
Stock/Grip: Walnut
Sights: Fixed rear notch and front blade
Action: Single action, break open
Finish: Blued
Capacity: 6
Price: $1,079

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from the January 2017 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

How To: Normal Suppressor Maintenance

Patrick Sweeney

June 1, 2017

Suppressor maintenance is a must, but overall the process of keeping a can polished and in working order is simple.

For a sealed suppressor, all you really have to do, and then only if it is a QC/QA design, is brush the mounting system clean between uses. That way it will always tighten onto the muzzle aligned with the bore, and to the same spot.

User-serviceable suppressors, on the other hand, are another situation. And the user-serviceable ones are made that way for a reason.

The typical user-serviceable suppressor is a rimfire or pistol-caliber can. Some rifle-caliber suppressors are made to be disassemble-able, but most of them are rimfire or pistol cans. And there’s a good reason for that.

Rimfire suppressors in particular can have a great deal of build-up. You really can’t shoot a rimfire handgun or rifle enough in one session to heat up the suppressor sufficiently to burn out the residue. If you could, the (typically) aluminum construction would complain. And .22 LR ammo is really, really grubby. As a result, a rimfire suppressor builds up an incredible amount of gunk inside.

The usual manufacturer’s recommendation is to disassemble and clean a rimfire suppressor after each 500 rounds fired. If you don’t, you can easily build up enough residue inside that you essentially carbon-weld the suppressor together. If you get too much build-up, the force needed to unscrew the end caps can exceed the strength of the aluminum, or the threads. Or your wrench makes a mess of the wrench flats so carefully machined into the end caps.

Suppressor Maintenance — This is what happens when you shoot a pistol-caliber suppressor and never clean it. The baffles get choked with residue.

Pistol-caliber suppressors can have the same problem, which is why you really don’t want to be using lead bullets, cast or swaged, through a suppressor. You can build up enough powder and lead residue that you seize the assembly. Oh, it will still work, but once you can’t take it apart, you can’t clean out the build-up and it will gradually get heavier and less effective as a suppressor.

The end result isn’t great, but it can be enough to notice. If you have, for example, a full-packed 9mm suppressor and a brand-new one of the same model, you can tell the packed one is heavier just by hefting the two, side by side. And it will be noticeably, albeit marginally, less quiet.

So you want to clean the ones you can clean.

Scrubbing a fired suppressor is straightforward, but messy. After all, you have both end caps, the tube, and if it is a baffle stack, 5, 6 or 7 baffles. If it’s a monocore, you have a framework tube that has a dozen grubby surfaces. The big problem here is the mess. If you are used to cleaning a much-fired pistol, you can scrub the bore, and scrape and wipe out the packed powder residue in the slide and on the frame. A pistol-caliber suppressor is like that, except there is something like 10 times as much surface that has collected residue.

Back when I was a gunsmith, I had a love-hate relationship with the parts cleaning tank. I suspect all gunsmiths do, or have had.

The cleaning tank is simple – a basin or sink, with a tank under it holding cleaning solvent, usually mineral spirits, and a pump. The drains drain down to the bottom of the tank, and the tank has water in the bottom, and the pump pumps cleaning solvent off the layer of mineral spirits that float on top. (Mineral spirits, being a hydrocarbon, are less dense than water, and float on top as a layer.) The water acts as a filter, and the grubby stuff gets separated.

It works, and you can scrub guns more-or-less-clean pretty quickly. But it is messy, and the compressed air you use to blow the parts dry sprays solvent (and the grub still in the solvent) all over the place. And, you end the workday smelling of mineral spirits. After a few months, you really don’t want to look inside the barrel, because the slime down there, cleaned off of guns, is enough to make you go pale.

As bad as it got, and as much as I came to loathe the parts cleaning tank, it sure would come in handy now that I’ve got a steady supply of suppressors I’m testing.

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from Gun Digest Book of Suppressors.

Video: The Short and Stout Remington 870 Tac-14

Gun Digest Editors

May 31, 2017

The Remington 870 Tac-14 arms shooters with a maneuverable and wicked smoothbore without any of the headache of complying with the NFA.

To say the Remington 870 is ubiquitous is an understatement. The shotgun has filled every role, from top-notch fowling piece to rough-and-ready combat arm. But the tried-and-true pump-action shotgun is undertaking a completely new role this year — a non-NFA firearm. The Remington 870 Tac-14 takes the shotgun’s 3-inch magnum receiver and mates it with a 14-inch barrel and a Shockwave birds head Raptor pistol grip to make a short, wicked and maneuverable smoothbore. When it comes to home defense or personal defense, it’s hard to argue against a tool like this.

The new gun’s technical classification with the ATF is a firearm — not a NFA-regulated short-barreled shotgun — given its overall length and the fact it never had a buttstock, instead boasting a factory-installed pistol grip. By ATF definition, a shotgun is “designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder…” These details allow Remington and other manufacturers to save shooters the headaches of paperwork, wait times and taxes.

Gun Digest Digital Editor Luke Hartle gets a rundown on the Tac-14’s features from Remington’s Daniel Cox at the 2017 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in the above video. And as Hartle discovers, there’s plenty to love about the scattergun, above and beyond its compact size.

Learn more about the Remington 870 Tac-14 in the above video and get more great gun reviews and shooting tips at Gun Digest’s YouTube channel.

Video: New Bushnell Engage Binoculars

Gun Digest Editors

May 31, 2017

If you’re in the market for top-notch ‘tactical’ optics, you might not need to look further than the new Bushnell Engage Binoculars. Long on features and durably constructed, these binos will help shooters find their target in any conditions or distance.

The more time you spend afield, the more you appreciate the need for high-performance optics … from binoculars to riflescopes. Cheap glass simply doesn’t cut it in low-light conditions, when the hunt is on the line, or you’re looking down the barrel at a steel plate that’s a long, long way off.

With the addition of the new Engage line, Binoculars for Hunting from Bushnell are set to arm shooters of every stripe with an optic they need to excel. The new binos come in four configurations from 8x42mm to 12x50mm and are loaded with features, as Bushnell’s Steve Smith explains in the above video.

Unveiled at the 2017 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Atlanta, the Bushnell Engage Binoculars are backed with the all-weather assurance of Bushnell’s exclusive EXO Barrier that repels dirt, debris, oil and moisture. And they feature fully multi-coated optics to offer maximum brightness and clarity and a lightweight and rugged chassis. To boot, ED Prime Glass ensures razor-sharp images, while the PC-3 Phase Coating enhances resolution and contrast.

Learn more about Bushnell Engage Binoculars in the above video and get more great gun reviews and shooting tips at Gun Digest’s YouTube channel.

New Grand Power Q100 Now Shipping

Elwood Shelton

May 31, 2017

The Grand Power Q100 isn’t just another striker-fired, polymer pistol. Utilizing an uncommon action, this Eastern European Gem is a real smooth shooter.

Grand Power, just the mere mention of the name conjures up thoughts of “Who exactly?” I guess flying under the radar is part and parcel of being a Slovakian firearms maker.

Despite its svelte profile, the manufacturer has steadily built a reputation of producing firearms that offer a lot in terms of performance, especially for the money. And with the help of Eagle Imports, the Eastern European gunmaker is shooting to tackle what could be considered one of the toughest nuts to crack in the U.S. gun market — striker-fired pistols.

Yes, the Grand Power Q100 is another one of those black-finished handguns long on polymer. But, with that said, the 15+1 capacity pistol definitely breaks the cookie cutter mold and offers shooters quite a different option than what they’ve grown accustom to from this segment. What sets the 9mm apart is the use of a rarely used locking system that imparts the pistol with some desirable qualities.

Unlike the modified Browning tilt-barrel design, the action utilizes a rotating barrel lock, which keeps the muzzle on the same axis throughout the entirety of the shot. A cutout on the barrel provides the rotating motion in conjunction with a roller bearing in the frame that disengages its two locking lugs through the energy of the recoil. Opting for this particular design has allowed Grand Power to lower the Q100’s bore axis, keeping it more in line with the shooter’s arm, thus reducing the felt recoil of the pistol. It also increases the accuracy potential by eliminating vertical play in the barrel.

The rotating barrel lock is an atypical, but not new, concept developed by Czech firearms engineer Karel Krnka. There are several other gunmakers who use the design besides Grand Power, though it’s fair to say this style of action is uncommon overall.

The 4.3-inch barreled Q100 is a full-sized pistol, tipping the scales at 26.1 ounces. But with 1.4-inch width, it should still be a manageable concealed carry option for those comfortable with holstering a larger pistol.

The Grand Power Q100 is outfitted with a CNC machined chassis embedded into its polymer frame. All of its controls — magazine release, slide release — are ambidextrous. It has drift-adjustable steel rear sights and a plastic blade front. It comes with four interchangeable handgrips, to help the fit conform to any shooter. And it is has an integral Picatinny rail for the easy addition of accessories.

Perhaps one of the most eye-catching features of the pistol is its price tag. With an MSRP of $574, it is competitive with the entire striker-fired market.

Specifications:

Grand Power Q100
Caliber: 9 mm
Action: DAO
Capacity: 15+1
Barrel Length: 4.3″
Front Sight: Plastic
Rear Sight: Drift-Adjustable Steel
Finishes: Black
Grips: Polymer Construction: Steel Slide, Steel Frame, Polymer Grip
Safety: Firing pin and trigger
Weight: 26.1 oz.
Length: 8″
Height: 5.3″
Width: 1.4″
MSRP: $574.00

IWI USA Galil ACE GAP556SB Now Shipping

Elwood Shelton

May 30, 2017

The Galil ACE GAP556SB takes IWI’s innovative design, chambers it in one of America’s favorite rounds and configures the firearm for fast, close-quarters action.

The updated civilian model of the classic Galil has captured shooters’ imaginations since it returned to the U.S. market in 2015. Addressing many of the original firearm’s issues, particularly weight, the Galil ACE has been a unique, potent and reliable addition to the stateside marketplace. And, if the expansion of the line is any indication of popularity, it’s been one that has struck a cord with consumers.

In a little over two years, Israel Weapon Industries has released numerous variations of the updated Israeli take on the Finnish take of the Polish variation of the Soviet’s iconic AK-47. As planned, the Pennsylvania-based subsidiary (IWI US) of the Israeli company recently turned its eye to chambering the rifle for an American favorite — the 5.56×45 NATO. The round should make a perfect match for the most recent iteration now being shipped, the Galil ACE GAP556SB.

The pistol is outfitted with a SB Tactical stabilizing brace, which combined with the 5.56 round’s mild recoil should make it a dandy close-quarters combat option. It’s important to note, due to recent developments, this stabilizing brace can be used as originally designed, wrapped around the forearm, or it can be shouldered. This comes after much volleying by the ATF over whether shouldering a stabilizing brace constitutes a redesign of the firearm into a short-barreled rifle (which would make it regulated by the NFA). The Federal department determined it does not, but only if manufactured by SB Tactical, as it was the company’s products the clarification was addressed.

This is the third such configuration of the Galil ACE, with the 7.62 NATO GAP51SB and 7.62x39mm GAP39SB coming on line over the past couple years. The new pistol is nearly identical to the GAP39SB, except at 7.6 pounds without a magazine, it comes in around a pound heavier that the previous iteration.

The Galil ACE GAP556SB is designed as a fast-maneuvering weapon, boasting an 8.3-inch barrel and measuring in at 27.5 inches in overall length with the brace extended. For easy storage, the stock folds to the right, cutting down the firearm’s length to 19.5 inches.

The pistol has a Tritium front post and two-dot Tritium rear aperture sights, giving it a leg up in low-light situations. And it has a side-mounted charging handled (a tweak from the original design) that allows manipulation with the off hand. However, the handle does reciprocate upon firing. The pistol is also compatible with any Mil-Spec AR magazine and comes with a 30-round Magpul AR/M4 GEN M3 Window mag.

IWI has priced the Galil ACE GAP556SB the same as the other folding stock pistols it has released, with an MSRP of $1,849.

Specifications:

IWI USA Galil ACE GAP556SB
Caliber: 5.56 NATO
Operating System: Closed rotating bolt, long stroke gas piston
Magazine Type: MAGPUL PMAG GEN M3 with Window
Magazine Capacity: 30 rounds
Barrel Material: Cold hammer forged, CrMoV, chrome lined
Barrel Length: 8.3″
Overall Length: 27.5″ w/brace extended; 19.5″ folded
Weight: 7.6 lbs w/out Magazine
Rifling: Right Hand, 1:7 inch twist
Stock Color: Black
Sights: Adjustable with Tritium front post and 2-dot Tritium rear aperture.
MSRP: $1,849

Colt Competition Pistol Line Now Uses Series 70 Firing System

Elwood Shelton

May 30, 2017

The Colt Competition Pistol line will now come outfitted with Series 70 firing systems, making the trigger pull that much snappier.

Gun ownership in recent years has surged, much to the benefit of shooting competitions. More and more shooters have gone about testing their skill and accuracy at everything from long-range rifle shoots to fast-paced practical pistol matches and everything in between.

While there have been great leaps forward in many competitive arms and accessories, one thing seems to have remained the same — the 1911. The time-tested and proven design is still one of the top choices available to competitive shooters, and it’s still turning hot lead into cool gold match after match. And when it comes to John M. Browning’s brainchild, Colt continues to be a competitor’s favorite.

The company recently announced it was upgrading one of its popular match pistols by actually taking a step back. All the models in the Colt Competition Pistol line will now be outfitted with Series 70 firing systems. Previously, they were outfitted with Series 80 firing systems. This is an intriguing change, one that should hit the mark with traditionalists and shooters who are after the snappiest trigger pull possible.

The Series 70 firing system does away with the trigger-activated firing pin block safety found in the 80s. This was, for some, a controversial addition in the evolution of Colt’s 1911s that added unnecessary weight to the trigger pull. Although others claimed the Series 80 was up to snuff, especially with some light gunsmithing to ease the operation of the safety.

The Series 70 firing systems made their way back into Colt’s catalog earlier this decade with a bit of elegant engineering to ensure they were drop safe. The key was the use of a lighter firing pin and stouter firing pin spring. This bit of ingenuity allows the pistol to stay true to the design’s roots of the heralded original Series 70 pistols and older iterations of the 1911.

Colt has not messed with anything else on the Competition Pistol line, offering shooters exactly what they’ve always billed — a race-ready gun straight from the box. Perhaps best of all, especially for budget-conscious competitors, revamping the Colt Competition Pistol line does nothing to the models’ prices. The blued Colt Competition Pistol in .45 ACP or 9mm still has an MSRP of $899, while the stainless steel model in .45 ACP or 9mm retains its MSRP of $999. The Colt Competition Pistol is also available in .38 Super in both finishes — $949 for the blued model and $1,049 for the stainless steel model.

Review: Mossberg’s MVP Scout Rifle

Eric Conn

May 25, 2017

The Mossberg MVP Scout shows it can hang with the best the firearms industry has to offer in terms of scout rifles.

To say it was a momentous and historic event would be a gross understatement. In July of 2016, Gunsite Academy, near Paulden, Arizona, hosted its second-ever Scout Rifle Conference, the first being in 1984 when Col. Jeff Cooper gathered the ranks to display the capabilities of his scout rifle concept. I attended the most recent event alongside several industry writers, manufacturers and Gunsite students in order to put the latest scout rifles currently in production to the kind of field test Cooper himself would be proud of.

The mastermind behind the conference was scout rifle aficionado and Gun Digest contributor Richard Mann, who has studied Cooper perhaps more than any other current gun writer. We spent three days going through field drills with scout rifles from Ruger, Steyr, Savage and Mossberg, while one student wielded a Winchester Model 70 customized in Cooper-fashion by gunsmith Jim Brockman. For the duration of the three days, as well as the fourth and final day of scored competition, I’d be using a Mossberg MVP Scout chambered in .308 and firing Hornady’s Custom Lite ammunition with 125-grain SST bullets.

Mossberg MVP Scout review - 3 — The author shooting Gunsite’s famous scrambler.

The Man, The Myth, The Legend
Many folks have argued over the definition of the “true” scout rifle ever since Cooper himself began developing the concept over three decades ago. And a development, after all, is the best way to describe Cooper’s thoughts, since even in published writings he seems to have bounced between different positions. Fundamentally, however, Cooper’s goal was to come up with one rifle that would be the answer to almost any shooting situation. It wouldn’t be the best at any single discipline, but it would be versatile across a spectrum of scenarios encountered in the field. Cooper was looking for that one rifle to rule them all.

What he more or less ended up with was a rifle shorter than 39.37 inches in length; chambered in either .308 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., or .243 Win.; built on a short action; having an 18- to 20-inch barrel, or 22 inches in .243; a good trigger; and weighing between 7.71 (good) and 6.61 pounds (best). In addition, the scout rifle would feature a low-mounted, 2- to 3-power, long eye relief scope with a ghost ring rear sight and post front sight. Because it was built to be carried afield, the scout rifle would feature a Ching sling (named for a former Gunsite instructor), or as we used in the course, a Rhodesian sling made by Andy’s Leather (AndysLeather.com).

The whole point of this design was to produce a rifle that was easy to carry over long distances and periods of time, could be quickly brought to the shoulder for snap firing, and would be deadly accurate from close range out to 300 yards. It would have both an optic and iron sights as a backup.

The Mossberg MVP Scout
For the four-day crash course, I’d be carrying the Mossberg MVP Scout, which is built around the MVP platform and features a detachable magazine of the Magpul type. With scope and sling the rifle weighed roughly 8.5 pounds — more than Cooper would have ideally liked, but much better for consistent, balanced shooting, in my opinion. Combined with the Hornady Custom Lite ammo, the extra weight saved my shoulder from taking the same kind of beating doled out by the 6- and 7-pound rifles in our group. After the final competition, I had the chance to shoot some of the lighter rifles, and I was immediately appreciative of the lavish recoil pad and extra pound and a half of the Mossberg rifle.

The Mossberg MVP Scout features a Picatinny rail for easy scope attachment, and the rail runs to the rear of the action to allow for either long or traditional short eye relief scopes. The rear ghost ring sight and fiber optic front post are easily visible in broad daylight, and this particular rifle came as a combo with Vortex’s 2-7x32mm optic. Barrel length is 16.25 inches with a 1:10-inch twist with matte finish. The rifle features a flash hider and Picatinny rail sections at the front of the synthetic black forend for light or accessory attachments.

Mossberg MVP Scout review - 2 — Instructor Il Ling New shows the class how to setup in the prone position.

The first three days of training, headed up by Il Ling New and Mario Marchman, were designed to put all these features to the test. We drilled on snap shooting, as well as short-, intermediate- and long-range work. We shot Gunsite’s famous Scrambler—a speed-based drill on steel targets fired from multiple obstacles and positions—as well as the timed big game walk, which forces you to locate and hit multiple steel targets from various field positions (sitting, kneeling, rested on an object, etc.).

The first thing that stood out to me was the trigger on the MVP Scout; it was remarkably crisp and carried a pull weight of roughly 3 pounds. The Lightning Bolt Action (LBA) trigger is adjustable from 3-7 pounds, built in the same style as the Savage AccuTrigger or Ruger Marksman. A crisp trigger is essential for snap shooting and steady long-range work, and this was proven true again on the course.

For those used to resting your trigger finger along the stock of the rifle underneath the bolt handle, this proved to be an adjustment (every gun has them). There is no three-position safety, and hence no way to lock the bolt down, so if you rest your finger under the bolt and nudge it ever so slightly, you’ll get a click instead of a bang. That’s also a serious consideration when carrying your gun afield. What I and the other Mossberg shooters had to learn was to keep the trigger finger on the top of the bolt, which was slightly awkward when trying to simultaneously manipulate the safety with your thumb, or constantly push down on the bolt handle in between shots to verify the closed position. The upside is that the bolt runs smoothly, allowing for fast follow up shots. More than anything, it’s just something you have to be aware of in the field.

The Grand Competition
The fourth day was a competition designed by Mann to test the rifles and each of the various features. There were five stages altogether, with scoring based on time and—most of all—hits on target. Cooper was adamant that misses counted for nothing, so a 20-second penalty was allotted for every miss.

On the first stage, we were timed and had to place three shots in the vital zone of a camo/man-shaped paper target at 25 yards; this drill was repeated three times. The second test was with iron sights at 50 yards, on paper and repeated thrice. Third, a shoot-and-load stage in which we fired one round from the seated position, then reloaded a single shell from the top of the action (again, rinse and repeat three times). Fourth, the standing shooter drops to prone and fires three times at the vitals from 100 yards. Fifth, shooters walk a timed field course, locating and hitting steel targets placed at various unknown distances.

At the end of the day, an engineer from Steyr flew in from Europe and won the deal (that’s what we Yanks call a “ringer”), but the top five positions (out of 20 participants) were all separated by only a few points. Jeremy Stafford of Guns & Ammo placed fourth, while I placed fifth; both of us were using the Mossberg MVP Scout. Two students, using Ruger and Steyr rifles, placed second and third. Monte Long of XS Sight Systems shot the entire tournament with irons and a Mossberg and placed a very respectable seventh place. All in all, a very strong showing for team Mossberg.

Parting Shots
There’s so much that goes into marksmanship afield, and the Gunsite instructors are as good as anyone at drilling those habits into you. Likewise, you need a rifle capable of performing when your life or hunt is on the line. For around $900, the Mossberg MVP Scout scoped combo is one tough deal to beat. It shot MOA or better all week, functioned perfectly (I had exactly zero issues with feeding or loads all week), and was lightweight enough to carry and shoot for four days straight. The Hornady Custom Lite loads were also flawless and saved my shoulder from undue recoil trauma.

This was my first intensive exposure to the scout rifle platform, but I have to say I’m a believer in the concept. While I’d opt for a bit heavier of a rifle than Cooper preferred—the Mossberg being in my sweet spot at almost 9 pounds, fully outfitted—the concept simply works. Mossberg’s MVP Scout, chambered in the ever-versatile .308, is a great platform for hunting, personal defense, or whatever the wild world throws at you. The rifle is affordable, versatile, and highly dependable—everything you’d expect from a company like Mossberg.

Specifications:

Mossberg MVP Scout
Type: Bolt-action
Caliber: .308 Winchester
Barrel: 16.25 in.
Twist Rate: 1:10
Weight: Approx. 9 lbs. (with scope)
Sights: Rear ghost ring, fiber optic front post
Optic: Vortex 2-7x32mm
Stock: Synthetic, black
Trigger: 3-7 lbs.; Lightning Bolt Action (LBA)
MSRP: $962
Manufacturer: O.F. Mossberg & Sons

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from the Fall 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Review: New Savage A22 Rimfire Rifle

Jon R. Sundra

May 25, 2017

Building off the success of the cutting-edge A17, the Savage A22 is the semi-auto rifle A-series’ .22 LR variant and proves to be one fun plinker, decked out with unique features.

It was in 2002 that the Hornady folks set the rimfire world on its ear with the introduction of the .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire), a cartridge based on the .22 WMR (Winchester Magnum Rimfire) case necked down to .17-caliber. Launching a diminutive 17-grain V-Max poly-tipped bullet at 2,550 fps, it opened a whole new world of possibilities for rimfire hunters and shooters. Actually, the development of a tipped jacketed bullet that wasn’t much bigger than a grain of rice was an achievement in and of itself, let alone launching it at centerfire-cartridge velocity.

To produce that kind of speed, the little bottlenecked cartridge operated at a MABP (Maximum Average Breech Pressure) of 26,000 psi, only 2,000 more than that generated by the .22 LR and the .22 WMR. With just an 8-percent increase in pressure, many existing bolt-action rimfire rifles proved stout enough to handle the cartridge. But semi-autos were a different story entirely. It wasn’t just the modest increase in operating pressure that posed the problem, but complicated dynamics with regard to bolt velocity and the low resistance of a super-light 17-grain bullet made the simple blowback action used in .22 rimfire semi-auto rifles unsuitable.

The Savage A22 has a straight comb stock and a 13.75-inch length of pull.

Savage was one of the first to solve the problem with its A17, a semi-auto designed expressly around the .17 HMR. However, it turned out to be more of a project than Savage envisioned. Though developing a totally new rifle was discussed as early as 2005, it would be seven more years before the company decided to go ahead with it, and another 2½ years to make it happen.

The key to solving the problem was to employ a delayed rather than a simple blowback action for the A17. Neither system has a bolt that “locks up,” per se, with the barrel or receiver; rather, the combined mass of the bolt and the spring(s) that power it provide enough resistance to delay the rearward movement of the bolt long enough for the bullet to exit the barrel and the pressure to drop before the bolt opens. Simply stated, with a delayed blowback, the system is designed so that the bolt has to overcome more resistance before it can begin its rearward movement.

In other words, the action stays closed a few milliseconds longer before the bolt can move rearward. This can be accomplished several ways, none of which are germane because the subject of this article is Savage’s newest addition to the A-series, the .22 LR Savage A22, which employs a simple blowback mechanism. About the only visible difference between the A17 and the Savage A22 in .22 LR is in the bolt handles, but internally the latter’s bolt and inner receiver are quite different.

Like many of the company's rifles, the Savage A22 comes with the AccuTrigger. — Like many Savage rifles, this one comes with the AccuTrigger.

The vital stats for the rifle sent to us for review had the gun weighing in at 5¼ pounds and measuring 41 inches in length with a 22-inch tapered barrel, which, interestingly enough, is threaded to the receiver and headspaced using a barrel lock nut, just like Savage’s centerfire rifles. That cannot but help the accuracy potential of this gun. Most inexpensive rimfire rifles sport non-tapered barrels that are press-fit to the receiver. A surprisingly stout and fully adjustable rear sight, and a towering front blade are standard. Also standard is the presence of pre-installed Weaver bases to greatly simplify the mounting of a scope.

The Savage A22 is fed courtesy of a 10-round rotary magazine that fits flush with the belly of the stock. The magazine is under mild spring pressure, so when the release latch is pulled, it pops out into your waiting hand regardless of the gun’s orientation — a nice feature. The straight comb on this classic-style stock is only ¾-inch below the bore line, and some shooters may find it difficult to cheek the stock low enough to use the iron sights. I was just barely able to use the irons, but then most shooters will opt for a scope. Length of pull is 13¾ inches, which makes it a full-size stock.

The barreled action is mated to its injection-molded polycarbonate stock by two Allen-head machine bolts; one is exposed forward of the magazine, but the rear bolt is accessed from above once the plastic cowling at the rear of the receiver is removed. That accomplished, the receiver can be reduced to its basic components for routine maintenance. The entire fire control system — the cross-bolt safety, hammer, hold-open button, AccuTrigger and sear — are contained within a poly module, which is integral with the trigger guard bow.

A 10-round, flush-fitting rotary magazine feeds the Savage A22. No malfunctions were experienced with the magazine during testing.

To ready the test gun for a little range work, we mounted a Bushnell 3-9×40 Rimfire scope using Weaver’s Grand Slam all-steel rings. The scope comes with three elevation turrets, one calibrated in standard ¼-inch graduations, while the other two are BDC-calibrated to the trajectory of the .22 LR and the .17 HMR. As it comes from the box, the standard turret is installed, and it’s the one we chose to use.

The .22 LR turret is calibrated to a 75-yard zero, which I feel is stretching the capabilities of that round. I prefer a 50-yard zero, which leaves me about a couple inches low at 75 and is easily compensated for with my hold.

In addition to the BDC turrets, this scope is built on a one-piece, 1-inch tube; has multi-coated lenses; is waterproof/fogproof; has tool-less finger adjustments, a Euro-style fast focus eyepiece and a side parallax adjustment from 10 yards to infinity. This scope is a far cry from the cheap ¾-inch rimfire scopes I had when I was a young man!

The diet I chose for the test gun consisted of three Federal loads — the 40-grain solid, 40-grain Match HP, 40-grain bulk Value Pack — and CCI’s Green Tag Competition 40-grain. Over the course of firing some 220 rounds, there was not a single malfunction, which is impressive for one of the first production examples of a new design.

Obviously, the rotary magazine had to work flawlessly; however, charging the damn thing is a royal pain in the rear. If there’s a secret to it, I failed to discover it. I actually wanted to shoot a bit more because it’s really a fun gun, but after 22 loadings, my fingers were so sore I couldn’t continue.

I tried everything, and the only method that worked for me was to orient the cartridge 90 degrees to the right, and with the base of the case push the top round down and to the left, then rotate the cartridge to align with the loaded top rounds and push very hard on the case rim while trying to slide it rearward under the feed lips. Sometimes it actually worked, but most of the time it didn’t, hence the sore fingers. They have to make charging that magazine easier!

Pre-installed Weaver bases for scopes are standard on the Savage A22. — Pre-installed Weaver bases for scopes are standard on the A22.

The AccuTrigger broke at 52 ounces as it came from the box, and checking it with the little wire-like adjustment tool showed it to be at its lower limit. There was noticeable creep to the pull, but it was smooth and not a problem. Actually, for a swinging hammer ignition, it was a pretty decent trigger. The hold-open lever at the front of the trigger guard bow is conveniently located, but the action does not lock open after the last shot.

Accuracy was OK, but not phenomenal. The best-performing load was the Federal Premium 40-grain HP, which averaged right at 1 inch at 50 yards. The others averaged from 1-1/4 to 1-7/8 inches. With the addition of this .22 LR version, Savage now has a complete rimfire family: a .17 HMR, a .22 WMR (Magnum) and the LR. The Savage A22’s MSRP is $281.

Editor’s Note: This article is from the Spring 2017 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Ammo: Choosing the Right Bullet Design

Philip Massaro

May 24, 2017

Choosing the appropriate bullet design is crucial for any task. Comparing and contrasting options will demonstrate the different applications for the various types. There is a tool for every job, and a job for every tool.

External Ballistics — Master the complex topic of ballistics with the down-to-earth guide Big Book of Ballistics

Each bullet design has its advantages and weaknesses, and depending on your shooting requirements, you might choose to employ several, if not all of the designs. Take for example a bullet that’s .308 caliber, 180 grains, with a flat base and a round-nose design. If you were to compare it to a flat-base, spitzer design, you could easily see how and why there would be a bit less bearing surface on the sharp bullet. After all, the bullet needs to interrupt the bearing surface to make room for the long, sharp nose.

Again, look at a spitzer bullet, but this time put a boattail on it, and you can see how the bearing surface (that portion of the bullet which engages the rifling) is further reduced based on the design itself, in turn affecting the pressure data.

Even closer scrutiny will reveal that when looking at the most aerodynamic bullet designs — bullets scientifically engineered to provide the least amount of air drag possible — you’ll find that the nose profile curve that gives the least resistance might not be the profile curve that behaves the best between chamber and muzzle. So, you need a balance of performance between interior and exterior ballistics. In other words, it’s no good having a bullet that defies the effects of gravity and wind drift if it doesn’t give repeatable results (accuracy) that allow the shooter to actually hit the target.

Bullet Design evaluation. — (Top) The G1 bullet model, the most popular model for ballistic coefficient comparisons. (Bottom) The G7 bullet model, a better representation of modern, boat tail spitzer bullets.

When you look at those models or benchmarks that verily define ballistic capability, and compare them with the projectiles available for the calibers and cartridges you own, it will help you make an educated decision regarding the range of projectiles for your hunting and shooting applications. These models are known commonly as the G1 and G7 models; G1 being a flat-base spitzer bullet, while the G7 is a more modern, sleek bullet design that correlates to the latest developments in bullet technology.

It’s like comparing a Ferrari coupe to a box truck. One would yield one set of data, which would seem radically impressive, yet if we put that Ferrari in its own class — say compare it to the Corvette design — the discrepancy won’t be so dramatic, but will be much more accurately represented.

You’ll find that most bullet companies tend to reference the G1 model; it’s universal and easily understood. That model, when used as a reference, yields impressive figures that work well in the marketing department. Any which way you want to slice it, when you compare these benchmark figures to the bullet you’re using, it will indeed give you a feel for both interior and exterior ballistics.

Longer bullets with better BC figures invariably take up more space in a cartridge case with a SAAMI-specified overall length dimension. That factor will “eat up” case capacity, and needs to be balanced out when it comes to manageable pressures. However, longer bullets give a desirable effect once they leave the barrel, but that’s for later.

In the interior ballistics world, the longer, sleeker bullets come with a particular set of issues that should be understood. The ogive of such bullets is typically of a secant curve profile, instead of the tangent ogive of the G1 model. Such are known as VLD, or Very Low Drag bullets.

While VLDs fly through air better than their tangent curve counterparts, they don’t engage the rifling as well. Berger’s Hybrid line of bullets, designed by ballistician Bryan Litz, uses a blend of secant curve from the nose through a good portion of the ogive, yet transitions into a tangent curve to best guide the bullet into the throat of the barrel.

Bullet Design — Note the unique shanks of North Fork premium bullets.

The same thing can be said for the boat tail angle of the bullet. Looking at the interior section of the bullet’s path, a boattail has a base that is a measurable dimension smaller than caliber, and the burning gas from the powder charge surrounds the base of the bullet up to the bearing surface. If, as I’ve had happen in some of my rifles, this gas doesn’t exit equally around the muzzle or crown of the barrel, accuracy can be affected.

Should the crown be imperfect, gas will escape faster on one edge of the circle than the others, and you’ll see inaccurate results in as little as 100 yards. It’s certainly not the boattail bullet’s fault, and these symptoms can actually be masked by a flat-based bullet. However, as in the case of my Ruger .22-250, a re-crown will solve the problem.

As the boat tail angle becomes steeper, the internal problem can get magnified; just as the benefits can be magnified on the opposite end of the muzzle. Again, while the long-range shooting crowd relies on a low-drag, steeply boat-tailed bullet to flatten trajectory and retain velocity, it does come with a set of issues that must be dealt with in order to make things work properly.

Even an older bullet design has its place. — A round-nose, flat-based bullet.

This is the very dilemma that many hunters will face: While the long-range style bullet certainly shines for shots out past 300 yards, sometimes a flat-base bullet would better serve your needs, especially in the hunting fields. Again, a tool for every job, and a job for every tool.

I like a flat-base bullet, which will seal the gas best and keep things as equal as possible, for shots within 300 yards; this comprises about 95 percent of my hunting shots. For my long-range work, I totally rely on the multitude of spitzer boattails to make things go easier.

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from the Big Book of Ballistics, available at GunDigestStore.com.

Ten Commandments for Concealed Carry

Massad Ayoob

May 24, 2017

I’m not Moses, let alone God, but the following 10 bits of advice are written in stone nonetheless. Not by God, but by the vastly powerful mechanisms of logic, law and reality.

concealed carry — Understand your right to self-defense with Deadly Force.

Commandment I: If You Choose to Carry, Always Carry As Much As Is Possible
Hollywood actors get to see the script beforehand, and nothing is fired at them but blanks. You don’t have either luxury. Criminals attack people in times and places where they don’t think the victims will be prepared for them. It’s what they do.

The only way to be prepared to ward off such predators is to always be prepared: i.e., to be routinely armed and constantly ready to respond to deadly threats against you and those who count on you for protection. It’s not about convenience. It’s literally about life and death.

Commandment II: Don’t Carry A Gun If You Aren’t Prepared To Use It
The gun is not a magic talisman that wards off evil. It is a special-purpose emergency rescue tool: no more, no less. History shows us that – for police, and for armed citizens alike – the mere drawing of the gun ends the great majority of criminal threats, with the offender either surrendering or running away.

However, you must always remember that criminals constitute an armed subculture themselves, living in an underworld awash with stolen, illegal weapons. They don’t fear the gun; they fear the resolutely armed man or woman pointing that gun at them. And, being predators, they are expert judges of what is prey, and what is a creature more dangerous to them than they are to what they thought a moment ago was their prey.

Thus, the great irony: The person who is prepared to kill if they must to stop a murderous transgression by a human predator is the person who is least likely to have to do so.

Commandment III: Don’t Let The Gun Make You Reckless
Lightweight pseudo-psychologists will tell you that “the trigger will pull the finger” and your possession of your gun will make you want to kill someone. Rubbish. The gun is no more of an evil talisman that turns kindly Dr. Jekyll into evil Mr. Hyde than it is a good talisman that drives off evil. Those of us who have spent decades immersed in the twin cultures of American law enforcement and the responsibly armed citizenry know that the truth is exactly the opposite.

A good person doesn’t see the gun as a supercharger for aggression, but as brakes that control that natural human emotion. The law itself holds the armed individual to a “higher standard of care,” requiring that they do all that is possible to avoid using deadly force until it becomes clearly necessary. Prepare and act accordingly.

Commandment IV: Carry Legally
If you live someplace where there is no provision to carry a gun to protect yourself and your loved ones, don’t let pusillanimous politicians turn you into a convicted felon. Move! It’s a quality of life issue. Rhetorical theory that sounds like “I interpret the law this way, because I believe the law should be this way” – which ignores laws that aren’t that way – can sacrifice your freedom, your status as a gun-owning free American and your ability to provide for your family.

If you live where a CCW permit is available, get the damn permit. If you don’t, move to someplace that does. Yes, it IS that simple. And if you are traveling, check sources such as www.handgunlaw.us to make sure that you are legal to carry in the given jurisdiction.

Don’t let the legal system make you a felon for living up to your responsibilities to protect yourself and those who count on you. If you carry, make sure you carry legally.

Commandment V: Know What You’re Doing
Gunfights are won by those who shoot fastest and straightest, and are usually measured in seconds. Legal aftermaths last for years, and emotional aftermaths, for lifetimes. Get educated in depth in the management of all three stages of the encounter beforehand.

Commandment VI: Concealed Means Concealed
If your local license requires concealed carry, keep the gun truly concealed. The revealing of a concealed handgun is seen in many quarters as a threat, which can result in charges of criminal threatening, brandishing and more. A malevolent person who wants to falsely accuse you of threatening them with a gun will have their wrongful accusation bolstered if the police find you with a gun where they said it was. Yes, that happens.

Some jurisdictions allow “open carry.” I support the right to open carry, in the proper time and place, but have found over the decades that there are relatively few ideal times or places where the practice won’t unnecessarily and predictably frighten someone the carrier had no reason to scare.

Commandment VII: Maximize Your Firearms Familiarity
If you ever need that gun, it will happen so quickly and terribly that you’ll have to be swift and sure. If you don’t, you’ll still be handling a deadly weapon in the presence of people you love. Making gun manipulation second nature – safety as well as draw-fire-hit – is thus doubly important.

Commandment VIII: Understand The Fine Points
Don’t just read the headlines or editorials, read the fine print. Actually study the laws of your jurisdiction. What’s legal in one place won’t be legal in another. Cities may have prohibitions that states don’t. Remember the principle, “ignorance of the law is no excuse.”

Commandment IX: Carry an Adequate Firearm
A Vespa motor scooter is a motor vehicle, but it’s a poor excuse for a family car. A .22 or .25 is a firearm, but it’s a poor excuse for defense.

Carry a gun loaded with ammunition that has a track record of quickly stopping lethal assaults. Hint: If your chosen caliber is not used by police or military, it’s probably not powerful enough for its intended purpose.

Commandment X: Use Common Sense
Common sense – encompassing ethics and logic and law alike – must be your constant guide and companion when you carry a gun. Not idealism, not rhetoric. When you carry a gun, you literally carry the power of life and death. It is a power that belongs only in the hands of responsible people who care about consequences, and who are respectful of life and limb and human safety, that of others as well as their own.

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from Deadly Force — Understanding Your Right to Self-Defense.

Expand Your Knowledge on Concealed Carry

Best Concealed Carry Handguns [Field Tested]
Best Women’s Concealed Carry Gun
Best CCW Upgrades – Must-Have Concealed Carry Accessories
Concealed Weapon Insurance – CCW Insurance Options
Optics for Concealed Carry – Red Dot, Green Dot, or Iron Sights?

Ammo: Evolution of the Red-Hot .17 HMR

James House

May 23, 2017

The .17 HMR is known for its blistering velocities, but it required fine tuning from ammo companies to make the rimfire round dependable when taken afield.

The .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (abbreviated as HMR and sometimes given the nickname “hummer”) is one the most written-about cartridges of all time. In fact, it may even hold the title! We are, it seems, caught up in the velocity craze again, this time in the area of rimfire cartridges.

The word “again” is used because such a craze existed many years ago when Roy Weatherby introduced the line of centerfire cartridges that constitute the Weatherby magnums. With large belted cases and free bored chambers, the velocities produced by the Weatherby magnums are high. As with any other area of human endeavor, there are newer series of cartridges that eclipse the Weatherby magnums in velocity.

Master .22s and other rimfires with Gun Digest Book of .22 Rimfires.

In the .17 HMR, a new standard for velocity produced by a rimfire cartridge was established. The case for the .17 HMR cartridge was formed by necking a .22 WMR case to hold a bullet of 0.172-inch diameter. A 17-grain polymer-tipped bullet was driven to a velocity of 2,550 ft/sec. The trajectory of that bullet is considerably less curved than that of any fired from a .22 WMR cartridge.

Small bullets at high velocity expand violently or disintegrate on impact, so reports of the effects of the .17 HMR began to detail dramatic kills on everything from sparrows to coyotes. However, some writers also began to report that, even on groundhogs, the bullets sometimes blew up without penetrating sufficiently to drop the animals on the spot, so they made it back to their holes.

An increasing number of such reports began to appear, and they somehow offset the reports of dramatic one-shot kills on coyotes at over 200 yards. The designers decided that a heavier bullet of different construction would be appropriate, so a load featuring a 20-grain hollowpoint bullet having a velocity of 2,375 ft/sec was produced. Such a load is offered as the CCI Game Point® and the Hornady XTP®. These loads join the 17-grain polymer-tipped loads from Hornady, Federal, CCI, and Remington as well as the 17-grain hollowpoint load from CCI.

With the sharp-pointed bullet at high velocity, the trajectory of the .17 HMR has relatively little curvature for a rimfire, so hits at long ranges are possible. Moreover, the bullets used in .17 HMR ammunition are of the premium “varmint bullet” type, so accuracy of most .17 HMR rifles is outstanding, which also contributes to scoring hits at long ranges.

The bullets are tiny and explosive, so they are suitable for smaller varmint species. Hornady also offers the NTX® load that utilizes a 15.5-grain bullet having a muzzle velocity listed as 2,525 ft/sec. The bullet does not have a lead core, and it is sharply pointed, so it has a remaining velocity of 1,828 ft/sec and energy of 119 ft.-lbs. at a range of 100 yards.

In terms of firearms, the .17 HMR was given a flying start because most firearms, except autoloaders, that could function with a .22 WMR could be altered to .17 caliber by means of a different barrel. Case and rim diameter and rim thickness are the same for both calibers.

The number of firearms chambered for the .17 HMR is very large. The problems with autoloaders chambered in .17 HMR have been solved by several manufacturers, and a new load designated as the A17 has been developed by CCI. It gives a 17-grain polymer-tipped bullet a muzzle velocity of 2,650 feet per second.

Expand Your Knowledge on .17 HMR

- Best .17 HMR Rifles for Precision and Versatility
- A Guide to the Best .17 Caliber Pistol Options
- Comparing .22 Mag vs .17 HMR – Which Cartridge Performs Better?
- Which Rimfire Cartridge Reigns Supreme? .17 WSM vs .17 HMR

Editor’s Notes: This article is an excerpt from Gun Digest Book of .22 Rimfire, 2nd Edition.

Review: Century Arms RAS47

Jim Grant

May 23, 2017

Totally American-made, Century’s RAS47 further hones Kalashnikov’s classic design.

If the modern equivalent of the Japanese katana is the AR-15, the AK-47 is a battle-axe. It’s not as precise or refined, but it’s inarguably effective. This metaphorical chopper originally rose to prominence among American shooters with a combination of its near-mythic reliability and its affordable nature. Most shooters who bought one in the last 30 years did so from a single company: Century Arms.

For decades, the Century Arms business model for Avtomats was to import parts kits from military AKMs, then rebuild them stateside with enough U.S. parts to make them 922r compliant. As these rifles became sparser for political and other reasons, their cost increased along with the end product’s price. The budget-priced WASR rifle of the early 21st century quickly rose to the price of an entry-level AR-15.

In response, Century future-proofed its AK carbine sales by moving all production stateside. Thus, the milled C39 was born. Now, Century has used this experience coupled with decades of AK-construction knowhow to develop and produce a 100-percent American-made AKM rifle — one incorporating desirable features, classic aesthetics and the same unequalled reliability that made the rifle famous more than half a century ago.

Enter the RAS47
The RAS47, or Red Army Standard, is a semi-automatic, long-stroke, piston-driven carbine chambered in the AKM standard 7.62x39mm. It feeds from detachable box-type, staggered column AK-47 magazines ranging in capacity from 5 to 100 rounds. The RAS47 ships with two 30-round polymer AK PMAGs made by Magpul. While the most common types are made from steel stampings, they’re also available in polymer, aluminum and even imitation Bakelite.

The RAS47 represents a clear departure from Century’s initial entry into the all-American avtomat market, the C39. Where the C39 is a modernized milled rifle designed to offer shooters not concerned with traditional aesthetics the next evolution of the AK, the RAS47 instead appeals to traditionalists and pragmatists concerned with weight and modularity.

This is why it’s available in two basic configurations: one with traditional blonde wooden furniture and another donned in Magpul polymer furniture. Aside from the furniture, Century’s newest carbine is a Mil-Spec AK carbine. As such, it accepts standard AKM furniture and accessories. By doing so, it opens itself to a tremendous array of aftermarket parts, allowing shooters to configure the Soviet-inspired rifle to suit their needs.

Like all Mil-Spec AKM carbines, the RAS47 uses post-and-notch iron sights. The front post is adjustable for both windage and elevation, while the rear notch features elevation settings ranging from point blank out to 1,000 meters. While somewhat rudimentary, these sights are all but bomb proof, and surprisingly effective at close to medium range.

Another military-grade feature is the Russian-type side rail. This rail allows shooters to mount optics to the carbine using any standard AKM mount or optic. While the number of mounting options available for the AK is somewhat limited by comparison to the ubiquitous AR-15, there are more than enough choices available to suit virtually every occasion. If you’re scratching your head wondering why anyone would mount optics on such an inaccurate rifle, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.

Tales of AKs producing “minute-of-bad-guy” groups are grossly overstated, though older mil-surp AK builds are often unimpressively accurate. In an attempt to remedy this, Century builds its RAS47 with a 4150 Green Mountain black nitrided barrel. The results are incredible.

In testing, the RAS47 proved more accurate than nearly every AK commercially available. In fact, I was capable of regularly engaging 8-inch steel gong targets out to 300 yards with iron sights. When coupled with a 4x Primary Arms optic with 7.62x39mm BDC reticle, 12-inch targets were successfully hit at nearly 500 yards.

The RAS47’s black nitride barrel is lacking one thing though: a bayonet mount. Functionally unimportant to most shooters, purists may find its absence upsetting. It’s one of only four areas where the RAS47 makes a serious departure from Mil-Spec, and arguably the only one that could be interpreted as a downside.

The other non-Mil-Spec areas include the magazine release latch, the safety lever and the pistol grip. The release latch is slightly longer than usual and about three times as wide. This is a definite step up from Mil-Spec, as it allows shooters to more easily remove magazines from the rifle.

In the same vein of improved ergonomics are the safety selector and the pistol grip. The lever features a small square cut that permits it to double as a bolt hold open when engaged, a must at some ranges that require firearms be placed in this condition. The grip is built from polymer and features molded finger grooves and aggressive checkering for better retention. Shooters not enamored with either of these can swap them with Mil-Spec parts or any AKM-compatible replacements.

The same can also be said of furniture. Whereas, in the past, AK owners were limited to either Mil-Spec options or limited offerings from U.S. makers, the current AK aftermarket furniture business is rapidly catching up to the prolific AR-15.

This is so much so that Magpul, the most prolific accessory maker for the AR-15 family of rifles, now also makes furniture and magazines for the AKM. Century clearly understands that this is a popular upgrade to AK carbines, offering the RAS not only with traditional wood but also black polymer Magpul furniture from the factory.

Accurate, modular and modern, the AKM has truly evolved since its introduction more than half a century ago. Thankfully, during this metamorphosis, the engineers at Century haven’t forgotten what made the AK great: reliability. The RAS47 was fed half a dozen varieties of ammo from as many different magazines and ran without issue. The self-regulating ventilated gas tube and robust long-stroke piston action hungrily devoured everything it was fed. This is a rifle a shooter can count on even in the worst of conditions.

The RAS47 is the result of taking a great design and further honing it to a fine point. It may not have the razor-sharp accuracy of the AR-15, but it more than holds its own. Shooters looking for a solid bug-out rifle, an inexpensive plinker or a dependable ranch rifle won’t be let down by Century’s RAS47. Whether adorned in wood or polymer, the RAS provides an affordable, reliable rifle to the masses, something its progenitor sought to accomplish nearly 70 years ago.

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from the May 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Review: YHM Model 57 Specter Burnt Bronze

Eric Conn

May 22, 2017

Yankee Hill Machine goes for gold with its new burnt bronze Model 57 Specter.

While it has been manufacturing dependable AR-type rifles and parts for the last couple of decades — often for other big name manufacturers and military contracts — Yankee Hill Machine (YHM) introduced the burnt bronze Model 57 Specter in 2015, showing that it’s ready to go for gold.

YHM has developed a reputation for making some of the best AR parts in the industry, and in the mid-90s decided it would produce complete rifle builds distinct to its name and unique style of machine work. In addition to AR-type rifles, YHM manufactures handguards, rail and optic mounts, muzzle devices and suppressors. The Model 57 Specter is a sort of crowning achievement in the company’s line of ARs, with a fitting burnt bronze Cerakote finish to give it that golden look of AR royalty.

The Model 57 was originally introduced in a black finish at the 2014 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, with additions like a new KeyMod-integrated, SLR Slant hanguard and YHM tactical charging handle latch added in 2015. The Model 57 is available in several chamberings, including 5.56 NATO, .300 Blackout and 6.8 SPC II. This review featured the 6.8 SPC, which comes with a 16-inch barrel and 1:10-inch twist. The most eye-catching addition is obviously the industry-standard burnt bronze finish, while the foundation of the rifle is the artfully machined receiver set.

Built for Gold
The Model 57 Specter features billet 7075-T6 aluminum receivers that are machined at the company’s Florence, Massachusetts, facility and have matching grooves on the receivers and handguard. Those stylistic grooves run along the sides of the 9.5-inch SLR Slant handguard, on the front of the magazine well and on the sides of the upper receiver.

While billet aluminum receivers are considered to possess slightly less strength than their forged counterparts, they are still tremendously tough. One of the biggest advantages with a billet receiver, however, is the customization that can be applied through machining into the design. And that’s exactly where the YHM Model 57 Specter shines — the lines and grooves crafted into the burnt bronze rifle are head turning, to say the least. Fresh out of the box at the local gun shop, a group of onlookers swarmed around the rifle with oohs and aahs. It was much the same at the range, as other shooters congregated to inquire about the gold-looking AR.

The upper and handguard feature a continuous top rail for plenteous optic mounting options, while Picatinny rail mounts are positioned at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions at the front of the handguard. The handguard also comes pre-equipped with YHM Q.D.S. flip up sights and has a slanted front section to match a Slant muzzle brake. The brake, which is really a brake/compensator hybrid that works to reduce recoil and limit muzzle rise, is an especially nice option for the 6.8 SPC chambering, which carries a bit more punch than the 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem. The forward rail sections are great for accessories, though they do not provide the most ergonomic or comfortable hold for those who prefer a forward grip.

The beauty of the Model 57, however, is that its stunning exterior is equaled by its well-made integral parts. The Specter features a 16-inch barrel in the 6.8 SPC chambering, as well as a 1:10-inch twist. The barrel is heat treated, 4140 steel with YHM’s exclusive ball-cut fluting to improve rigidity and aid in barrel cooling. The barrel is also threaded for various muzzle products, including the standard Slant compensator/muzzle brake.

The rifle also utilizes a two-stage, 5-pound, drop-in trigger that makes it enjoyable to shoot and highly accurate. The aforementioned flip-up sights come stock, as does the tactical charging handle latch and low-profile gas block. The Model 57 comes with a Magpul CTR buttstock and MOE pistol grip, as well as two PMAGS (the 6.8 version comes with two standard metal magazines). The overall weight of the rifles is 7.6 pounds, which makes it well balanced to shoot but light enough to provide added maneuverability.

Range Tested
The Model 57 Specter was tested for accuracy with two loads: the 115-grain American Eagle FMJ from Federal Premium and Nosler’s 90-grain Defense Bonded Performance. Accuracy testing was conducted from a bench at 100 yards with Steiner’s uber-impressive M5Xi 3-15x50mm Military optic. Accuracy data was based on five three-shot groups. Close-range target work was also conducted with Trijicon’s RMR and the stock YHM Q.D.S. flip-up sights.

With a rated velocity of 2,675 feet per second (fps), Federal’s American Eagle 115-grain FMJ produced an average group of 1.37 inches and a best group of 1.25 inches. For everyday range work, the American Eagle FMJ is accurate and cost effective, running you about $16 for a box of 20.

The second test load was Nosler’s 90-grain Defense Bonded Performance, which has a rated velocity of 2,840 fps. The best group produced by the 90-grain bullet was 1.10 inches, with an average group of 1.29 inches.

Parting Shots
Yankee Hill’s Model 57 Specter is visually appealing and made for long-term reliability. Its components are made in the U.S. and produced by one of the most skilled machine shops in the country. For an upgraded rifle straight out of the box that sets you apart from the crowd, the Model 57 is just the ticket. It comes in all the hot AR-15-platform calibers, including the rising stars like the 6.8 SPC and .300 BLK. And if burnt bronze isn’t your color, you can always go with a Henry Ford classic: black. For a price of $2,635, you do pay more than you would for a bargain basement build, but you also get a lot more, too.

Specifications:

YHM Model 57 Specter Burnt Bronze
Type: Semi-auto, direct gas impingement, carbine-length gas system
Caliber: 6.8 SPC
Barrel: 16 in., 1:10 twist
Weight: 7.6 lbs.
Handguard: SLR-Slant 9.5 in.
Stock: Magpul CTR
Grip: Magpul MOE
Trigger: Two-stage, drop-in, 5 lbs.
Capacity: 25 rounds
MSRP: $2,635
Manufacturer: Yankee Hill Machine, Co.

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from the July 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Video: Transporting Firearms with Nanuk Protective Cases

Gun Digest Editors

May 22, 2017

Nanuk Protective Cases are more than just gun cases. They’re the peace of mind that firearms will remain in tip-top shape and corrosion free, no matter where they’re transported.

It’s easy to strip off greenbacks for new guns, ammo and the latest must-have shooting accessory. What often gets overlooked is firearms storage and transportation gear. But as any serious shooter will tell you, these are as important to have in your arsenal as a tricked out AR-15 or the sharpest new red-dot optic. After all, you spent your hard-earned cash on your dream pistol, rifle or shotgun, you’d better protect it.

At the recent 2017 NRA Meetings and Exhibits in Atlanta, Gun Digest editor Luke Hartle was able to check out an incredible option for keeping firearms safe and sound for long-term storage or heading to the range or into the field. As the above video shows, Nanuk Protective Cases are engineered to keep guns — no matter their size and shape — in tip-top condition, on the road or in the home.

Drawing on years of experience crafting protective cases for sensitive technical equipment, Nanuk offers hard gun cases in 22 sizes, designed to stow and protect any conceivable firearm. In addition to being shock proof, the extreme-duty cases are fully water resistant (IP67 rated), ensuring your firearms are always functional and corrosion free.

As Nanuk’s David Vigor explains, there is an even more intriguing aspect to Nanuk Cases — their flexibility. Shooters can choose from a nearly endless array of preformed interior configurations, keeping pistols and long guns and their magazines in perfect order. There is even a pick-and-pluck foam option, which allows you to tailor the exact dimensions of the retention material to your firearms and needs.

Find out more about Nanuk Protective Cases and innovative ways to keep your guns in excellent order in the above video. And get more great gun reviews and shooting tips at Gun Digest’s YouTube channel.

Many Angles to Personal Defense
More than a single perspective, Straight Talk on Armed Defense offers an in-depth, full-spectrum study of the most important self-defense and concealed carry topics from today’s top experts. The timely reference gathers the sage advice of Massad Ayoob and 11 other respected armed-defense authorities to deliver decades of practical know-how in one convenient volume. Get Your Copy Now

Review: Springfield XD Mod. 2.4-Inch Service Model

Dusty Gibson

May 22, 2017

The Springfield XD Mod. 2.4-Inch Service Model offers improved ergonomics in a mid-size pistol perfect for any shooter.

When we find an exception to a rule, the first thing we tend to do as humans is to exploit that exception for a personal benefit or a competitive advantage. Examples are all around us, from diet and exercise to schoolwork, politics and, of course, firearms. With one of its latest pistols, Springfield Armory has created an exception to the old cliché, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Springfield’s venerable XD Compact polymer pistol received a major facelift in 2015 after more than a decade of faithful service. But why change a reliable pistol that has earned widespread trust among thousands of different shooters? It’s simple: The folks at Springfield Armory knew they could successfully innovate the pistol while maintaining the dependable performance we’re used to.

The result is the new Springfield XD Mod. 2 Service Model, with updated ergonomics and styling that’s already proving why it’s an exception to the rule.

Get in the Zone
With its 4-inch barrel and a grip length that can accommodate large hands, the dimensions of this 27.5-ounce pistol meet a modest middle ground that will fit nearly any shooter. However, its size is only one factor that gives this 9mm striker-fired polymer pistol a wide range of capabilities.

Anyone from casual weekend target shooters to the more experienced tactical shooters will enjoy handling its ergonomic grip, distinctly labeled with the “Grip Zone” billboard on each side of the grip, which will certainly be a turn off for some. On the bright side, you can’t see the grip while you’re shooting it.

Springfield Armory engineered this grip to provide three different textures (zones) in each area of the grip where friction occurs during firing. During testing, the grip was comfortable after 500 rounds. No callused hands or awkward pressure points to report. The grip felt like a brand new baseball glove that was already broken in and ready to play ball.

The Illinois-based manufacturer makes it easy to take the Springfield XD Mod. 2 4-inch right out of the box and put it to work. It comes equipped with features we’ve come to expect from more expensive pistols: a fiber optic front sight, an ambidextrous magazine release, an accessory rail and a loaded chamber indicator. Additionally, the sample used during testing came with a holster, double mag pouch, two 16-round magazines and a magazine loader, all of which were neatly nestled in custom-cut foam inside a hard-sided carrying case.

As tested, the 5.6-pound trigger pull had a reliable break and a crisp reset. The take-up was consistent but felt gritty at first. After 500 rounds through the gun, the gritty pull seemed to get smoother, and we expect it would continue to improve after additional range sessions and cleanings.

Springfield is offering two versions of this pistol, one in all-black finish and the other in bi-tone. The pistol tested here was the all-black version with Melonite finish. The finish seemed to hold up well to scratches and scuffs, even in the field during photography work and range usage.

When it’s time to bust out rubber ducky and give the pistol a bath, takedown is familiar to that of all previous XD variants: Remove the magazine, lock the slide rearward, rotate the disassembly lever 90 degrees clockwise, release the slide, pull the trigger (unloaded) and remove the slide.

Everyday Carry: The 5 “Cs” of CCW
Any time I evaluate a handgun for an everyday carry application I consider the following five factors — what I call the 5 “Cs” of Concealed Carry — to assess important areas of the handgun’s performance.

Concealability/Comfort: The Mod. 2 4-inch provides an ideal middle ground between full-size performance and subcompact concealment. During testing, this firearm was easily concealed inside the waistband with dress clothes.

Confidence: During a 500-round function test, the only problem I noticed was my hand sometimes would not fully engage the palm grip safety, which is common for me with these types of safety mechanisms. Aside from this issue, I would be confident trusting my life with this pistol.

Control: The Mod. 2 handles like a dream with its grip texturing. Combine ergonomics with a 6¼-inch sight radius, and you have the makings of an all-purpose duty gun.

Capacity: A generous magazine capacity of 16+1 provides plenty of firepower, specifically, one more round than a Glock 19. Also important to note: The Mod. 2 4-inch will accept all magazines from 4-inch or 5-inch first-generation XD9 pistols.

Caliber: 9x19mm ammunition is more than adequate for most purposes. Make sure to use quality 9mm self-defense ammunition for everyday carry purposes, and you’ll be set for virtually any two-legged threat.

Lyte ‘Em Up
The Springfield XD Mod. 2 4-inch in 9mm comes with an accessory rail for attaching lights, lasers, bayonets or whatever else you can think of adding. During testing, we tried LaserLyte’s new Lyte Ryder Universal Rail Mount laser sight. Installation was simple, as the laser sight came with all necessary mounting tools and hardware. We slid the sight on the rail and secured it in place with a single crossbar screw.

The laser features ambidextrous activation that’s easily engaged when the trigger finger is indexed down the frame of the pistol. With simple windage and elevation adjustments, we were able to get dialed in for precise POI/POA and found that the laser made target acquisition faster, especially in low light. The Lyte Ryder laser also closely matched the look and feel of the Springfield XD Mod. 2, giving it a custom appearance and an effective advantage.

Conclusion
Springfield Armory made its flagship XD9 more comfortable and easier to shoot for a wider range of shooters with the next generation Mod 2. Very slight variations from the original design result in enhanced performance, especially during high round counts. While the “Grip Zone” billboard will be a turn-off for some, the improved grip texturing and re-shaping was very well engineered.

The Springfield XD Mod. 2 4-inch in 9mm gets high marks all around, with the capability to perform a variety of functions right out of the box. It’s clear that Springfield improved its old XD9 workhorse with the Mod. 2, and we expect to see this lineup continue to expand into more sizes and caliber options. In terms of accuracy, the Mod. 2 performed well with a variety of different ammunition and posted average groups between 1.3 and 2.5 inches at 7 yards.

Whether you’re a casual weekend target shooter or carrying the pistol everyday, the XD9 Mod. 2 4-inch Service Model is a pistol that nearly anyone can pick up and shoot well. When you see one at your local gun store, give it a try and feel for yourself how Springfield Armory found an exception to that old rule, “if ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Specifications:

Springfield XD Mod. 2 4-inch Service Model
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 4 in., hammer forged, 1:10 twist, Melonite finish
Overall Length: 7.3 in.
Height: 5.5 in.
Grip Width: 1.20 in.
Weight: 27.5 oz. (with empty magazine)
Frame: Black polymer
Slide: Forged steel, black Melonite finish
Trigger: 5.6 lbs.
Sights:Fiber optic front, low profile combat rear
Capacity: 16+1
Price: $565
Manufacturer: Springfield Armory

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from the Concealed Carry 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

1...208209210...443 Page 209 of 443

GUN DIGESTWE KNOW GUNS SO YOU KNOW GUNS

The Uberti 1875 Top Break No. 3 is a working replica of the famous Schofield revolver. It’s a faithful rendition and great fun to shoot.

Suppressor maintenance is a must, but overall the process of keeping a can polished and in working order is simple.

The Remington 870 Tac-14 arms shooters with a maneuverable and wicked smoothbore without any of the headache of complying with the NFA.

If you’re in the market for top-notch ‘tactical’ optics, you might not need to look further than the new Bushnell Engage Binoculars. Long on features and durably constructed, these binos will help shooters find their target in any conditions or distance.

The Grand Power Q100 isn’t just another striker-fired, polymer pistol. Utilizing an uncommon action, this Eastern European Gem is a real smooth shooter.

The Galil ACE GAP556SB takes IWI’s innovative design, chambers it in one of America’s favorite rounds and configures the firearm for fast, close-quarters action.

The Colt Competition Pistol line will now come outfitted with Series 70 firing systems, making the trigger pull that much snappier.

Building off the success of the cutting-edge A17, the Savage A22 is the semi-auto rifle A-series’ .22 LR variant and proves to be one fun plinker, decked out with unique features.

Choosing the appropriate bullet design is crucial for any task. Comparing and contrasting options will demonstrate the different applications for the various types. There is a tool for every job, and a job for every tool.

I’m not Moses, let alone God, but the following 10 bits of advice are written in stone nonetheless. Not by God, but by the vastly powerful mechanisms of logic, law and reality.

Expand Your Knowledge on Concealed Carry

The .17 HMR is known for its blistering velocities, but it required fine tuning from ammo companies to make the rimfire round dependable when taken afield.

Expand Your Knowledge on .17 HMR

Nanuk Protective Cases are more than just gun cases. They’re the peace of mind that firearms will remain in tip-top shape and corrosion free, no matter where they’re transported.

MUST READ ARTICLES

Get The

Magazine

Get The

Newsletter

Get The

Book

Information

Subscriptions

Resources

Business