FN has upgraded and updated its FN 15 rifle line with three new models featuring an improved handguard with M-LOK attachment points.
The FN name has been closely associated with ARs for some time now. The world-renown manufacturer produces a host of AR-type rifles for the commercial market in the U.S., and it makes plenty of black rifles for military forces as well. This past year, FN celebrated that heritage of military production with the company’s Military Collector Series, which featured semi-auto replicas of the military M4, M16 and M249 SAW.
This year, FN has improved on its solid foothold with the AR platform by updating its FN 15 carbine line with three new and upgraded models. The three new FN 15 II rifles – which include the FN 15 Tactical Carbine II, the FN 15 Tactical 300 BLK Carbine II and the FN 15 DMR II – have been updated with a newer, more modern, proprietary FN handguard. The new handguard features M-LOK attachments points for mounting aftermarket accessories such as lights, lasers, fore-grips and hand stops. The new carbines also utilize an enhanced Mil-Spec lower receiver, and they no longer have Magpul MBUS sights as standard.
Apart from the new proprietary FN handguard with M-LOK technology, these new FN 15 II carbines are very much like their predecessors. They all feature hard anodized receivers and a free-floated, chrome-lined cold hammer-forged barrel.
Pricing on the three new FN 15 II models varies from $1,599 to $1,999, depending on the model. For more information on these three new rifles check out the specifications below or visit the FN America website.
Specifications:
FN 15 Tactical Carbine II Type: Semi-auto, direct gas impingement Caliber: 5.56 NATO Barrel: 16-in., match grade, cold hammer-forged, chrome-lined, free-floated Twist: 1:7 Overall Length: 33.7-37 in. Weight: 6.7 lbs. (empty) Gas System: Mid length Muzzle Device: Three-pronged flash hider Trigger: FN Combat trigger Stock: Magpul MOE SL Grip: Magpul MOE Handguard: FN proprietary, with M-LOK Capacity: 30 rounds Price: $1,599 Manufacturer: FN
FN 15 Tactical .300 BLK II Type: Semi-auto, direct gas impingement Caliber: .300 BLK Barrel: 16-in., match grade, cold hammer-forged, chrome-lined, free-floated Twist: 1:7 Overall Length: 33.7-37 in. Weight: 6.9 lbs. (empty) Gas System: Carbine length Muzzle Device: Surefire ProComp 762 muzzle brake Stock: Magpul MOE SL Grip: Magpul MOE Handguard: FN proprietary, with M-LOK Capacity: 30 rounds Price: $1,599 Manufacturer: FN
FN 15 DMR II Type: Semi-auto, direct gas impingement Caliber: 5.56 NATO Barrel: 18-in., chrome-lined, cold hammer-forged, free-floated Twist: 1:7 Overall Length: 35-38 in. Weight: 7 lbs. Muzzle Device: Surefire ProComp 556 muzzle brake Trigger: Timney competition trigger Stock: Magpul STR Grip: Magpul MOE Handguard: FN proprietary, with M-LOK Capacity: 30 rounds Price: $1,999 Manufacturer: FN
Savage Arms is a well-known maker of quality rimfire rifles, a reputation it has continued to grow in the past few years with the introduction of its various semi-automatic A-Series rifles such as the A17 and A22 Magnum.
Now, the company is expanding its rimfire lineup even more by bringing out a whole new bolt-action rimfire rifle line. The new Savage B-Series rifle line features 12 brand new models, with caliber options including .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR.
The new B17, B22 and B22 Magnum bolt-action rimfire rifles that make up the Savage B-Series are available in a wide array of configurations, including Sporter Barrel, Heavy Barrel, Heavy Threaded (suppressor-ready) Barrel and Heavy Stainless Barrel. All of these new rifles incorporate a new, ergonomically designed modern stock that features a higher comb and a tang-mounted safety, as well as a target-style, more vertical pistol grip that allows the shooter to hold the rifle in a more comfortable, natural position without straining the wrist.
The rifles in the new Savage B-Series also utilize the manufacturer’s excellent AccuTrigger and a 21-inch button-rifled barrel for outstanding accuracy. As with the popular A-Series rifles, the new B-Series guns use Savage’s 10-round rotary magazine, which has proven quite reliable. All B-Series rifles are also drilled and tapped for scopes.
The new Savage B-Series rifles are shipping to dealers now and MSRP will range from $281 to $413, depending on the model. For more information on the B-Series rifles, visit the Savage Arms website.
The first successful extended eye relief optical rifle sight was probably the German World War II-era 1.5 power ZF41. The long eye relief allowed it to be mounted to the rear sight base of K98 Mauser rifles, leaving easy access to the action for faster loading and circumventing an independent mounting system on the receiver. Few noticed this sight, but about 20 years later, Jeff Cooper mounted a Leupold M8 2x pistol scope to the ventilated rib of a Remington model 600 carbine. This became the foundation for Cooper’s Scout Rifle concept and as they say, the rest is history.
The forward mounted, low-magnification riflescope (Scout Scope) permits both-eyes-open shooting, obscures less of the landscape, prevents the scope from whacking you in the head during recoil, and it makes a rifle easier to carry at its balance point. Easier bolt manipulation and action access are other advantages. Over the years, hunters have besmirched the “scout scope,” but the military and law enforcement have fully embraced a similar idea with the modern red dot sight.
We’re seeing a resurgence of the Scout Rifle, partially due to the success of the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle and partially due to the rise of the prepper nation. Shooters are looking for that one-rifle answer. As Cooper intended, Scout Rifles offer general-purpose utility, and those looking to scope one today have a lot more options than were available to Cooper in ‘66. I’ve worked with most of the scout scopes available; here are a few things to consider before you buy.
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This article is an excerpt from the August 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Champion Traps and Targets has been producing a wide variety of reactive targets for some time now. These have included a range of molded DuraSeal, breakable VisiChalk, clay pigeons, VisiColor paper, and small metal spinners for rimfire guns.
However, what the manufacturer has not produced – until now – is larger steel targets rated for use with centerfire calibers. That has changed with Champion’s recent introduction of its new Center Mass AR500 Steel Targets.
Designed for years of reliable usage, the new Champion Target Center Mass AR500 Steel Targets feature a premium rolled and hardened AR500 steel construction. Targets are available in either 1/4-inch thickness or 3/8-inch thickness. The 1/4-inch thick steel targets are rated for centerfire handgun calibers, while the 3/8-inch thick targets are approved for centerfire rifle calibers. Of course, as with all steel targets, these still need to placed at the appropriate distances given the calibers used.
The Center Mass targets are precision laser-cut and feature square holes for mounting with 1/2-inch carriage bolts. All of the targets are 100-percent made in the U.S.
The new Champion Target Center Mass AR500 Steel Targets come in three different shapes and sizes. Two gong options are available: 4-inch and 8-inch. There are also 4- or 8-inch square options, as well as 66-percent and full-size IPSC silhouette-style targets. All of this is to say that shooters will have plenty of steel target options to choose from when they head out for an enjoyable trip to the range.
“Interactivity is the name of the game when it comes to the range today,” said Eliza Graves, Brand Manager for Champion. “Shooters want to have fun and improve their skills with immediate feedback. Hearing is believing with Champion Center Mass Steel Targets.”
The new Center Mass Targets range in price from $14.95 for the 3/8-inch thick 4-inch gong and square up to $189.95 for the full-size, 3/8-inch thick IPSC target. For more information, visit the Champion Traps and Targets website.
Get the most recent advances in guns and gear to extend your range for hunting, informal target shooting, and formal competition. Discover new tools for long-range shooters both in the field and on the firing range, with coverage of new developments from advances in military applied combat theory. Learn more
Most gun owners today are quite familiar with the Remington Arms Company and its diverse line of firearms. Designs such as the Model 700 bolt-action rifle and the Model 870 pump-action shotgun have deservedly afforded this great manufacturer a lasting and expansive legacy.
However, Remington has been around way longer than that. The U.S. manufacturer has a long and fascinating history dating back 200 years to its founding in Ilion, New York, by Eliphalet Remington. And while Remington has opened factories in other parts of the country, one of the most recent being in Hunstville, Alabama, the company still produces firearms at the original Ilion location.
This year marked the company’s bicentennial, and with that great milestone, the company is looking back over its history and its heritage. Although the manufacturer has certainly evolved over the years, much of the family-oriented culture at Remington Arms has remained.
Check out the video above to learn more about the history of this classic American firearms manufacturer.
Stevens has recently announced that it is expanding its popular new Stevens 555 over-under shotgun line with the addition of three compact models available as a 20-gauge, a 28-gauge and a .410 bore. Obviously, these three new compact models offer a shorter length of pull than the standard 555 to better fit smaller-stature shooters.
The new Stevens 555 Compact models are all priced less than $695, but come with a number of great features. Specifically, the new compact models differ from the standard gun in that they utilize a mid-length forearm and have a 13.25-inch length of pull.
Just as with the original 555, the new Stevens 555 Compact shotguns feature a lightweight aluminum receiver that has been scaled to gauge. For added durability on all the 555s, a steel insert is used to reinforce the breech. In doing this, engineers have minimized the overall weight while still maximizing strength.
Also like the standard model, the new compact guns wear a stylish Turkish walnut stock and forearm and come equipped with shell extractors for easily removing spent shells once the action is opened. Other standard features include a tang-mounted manual safety; a single, selective mechanical trigger; and a 24-inch chrome-lined barrel.
The new Stevens 555 Compact models are currently being shipped out to dealers and will be available at a price of $692. The guns ship with five interchangeable choke tubes to meet a wide variety of shooting needs.
There’s nothing more American than guns and horsepower, both of which were on display at a recent event at Gunsite Academy in Arizona. Yamaha brought its 2017 Wolverine R-Spec Special Edition (SE) and Grizzly SE, while Ruger showcased its brand-spanking new American pistol in 9mm and Predator rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor. We’d be testing both rides and Rugers over three days at Col. Jeff Cooper’s old stomping grounds, a perfect recipe for one hell of a good time.
The Guns Ruger has been in the semi-auto pistol game for a long time, but this year it entered the striker-fired, polymer handgun race with the introduction of the American pistol. The original introduction was a full-size 9mm, which is what we tested at the range, though more introductions are soon to follow, including other popular calibers and compact models in the coming year.
The 9mm version we test drove on the Gunsite ranges was designed for duty, appealing to the law enforcement and personal defense markets. Over the course of three days, I had no malfunctions, and paired with Prime ammunition, the pistol was impressively accurate. I went into the event asking myself if it would stack up to other famous polymer pistols, and it certainly does; I’d even say I like the ergonomics much better than many other well-known makes.
The modular grip system allows you to swap out different modules to accommodate hand size, though the standard grip worked great for me and was incredibly comfortable. I’m also a fan of the moderate beaver tail design, which allows you to get a firm purchase on the handgun from the holster without worrying about slicing yourself on the slide. I shot several hundred rounds with no soreness and sustained accuracy.
The Novak LoMount Carry 3-dot sights also help in that regard, striking the perfect balance between effectiveness in rapid, defensive shooting and longer-range marksmanship. I’m still hearing the instructor’s words in my sleep: “Front sight! Trigger press!”
We cleared buildings and faced off in a friendly competition against steel targets with the American pistol, exposing weaknesses in our shooting mechanics but not the Ruger. With Galco holsters and belts it makes for a quick draw, and the trigger is consistent—not great, but exactly on par with what you’d find in a duty-grade pistol like a Glock or similar striker-fired model.
At the long range we tested the new Predator American rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor, one of the hottest chamberings to come around in a long time. Paired with Leupold’s new VX-3i scope, we were smacking steel out to 1,000 yards with relative ease. Although the American rifle isn’t new, the green predator model and Creedmoor pairing are. On the rifle you’ll find the same great features as prior models, including Ruger’s adjustable Marksman trigger, which can be set between 3-5 pounds. In tandem with Prime ammunition, the rifle delivered consistent, dead-on results on steel.
The Horsepower The only thing that makes a few days of shooting better is a sweet ride with lots of power. Yamaha delivered on two fronts, bringing along the Wolverine R-Spec side-by-side and Grizzly ATV, both 2017 Special Edition models. The machines feature the same motor, four-wheel-drive systems and Ultramatic V-belt transmission system. Unlike some belt-driven machines, there’s no need to worry about going too fast in low or too slow in high—Yamaha’s belt and 4WD system are built to take whatever pounding you can throw at them.
Both machines feature Yamaha’s 708cc, liquid-cooled four-stroke engine, which puts out roughly 70 horsepower. Combined with outstanding 4WD and high/low ranges, either machine can tackle virtually any terrain. As a Western hunter and shooter living in the Rocky Mountains, that’s music to my ears. Whether you’re lugging your gear out to the 1,000-yard range, hauling hay at the ranch or tracking down a monster bull in timber country, the Wolverine R-Spec and Grizzly can get the job done. We saw as much driving through the high desert country of Arizona, where both machines conquered the 5,000-foot terrain with ease.
During one of our rides we took the machines down into a wash, at which point the Wolverine got to shine. I didn’t see any way ahead of us by which we could climb out of the wash, but I was proven wrong when one of the riders climbed a 15-yard side hill, floored it and crawled easily up and over the muddy rim. Not only was it a moderately aggressive incline, it wasn’t a straight shot, so the suspension and balance of the machine were put to the ultimate test. In the real world it’s kind of a pass/fail deal, and the Wolverine passed with flying colors.
Prime Time Fairly new to the shooting scene is Prime Ammunition, which has been around for a while, though by a different name and primarily in Europe. We relied on the company’s ammo for rifle and pistol work all week, and it performed exceptionally well. Prime is the American branch of a Swiss company that manufacturers ammunition to the world’s highest standards, at unbeatable prices.
I first heard about the brand through a couple of long-range competition buddies, who swear by the stuff and have even used it in place of handloads—that’s how amazingly accurate (and affordable) it really is. After three days firing the ammo, I’m a believer. It’s well made, consistently accurate, and I had no ammunition issues in either rifle or handgun applications even after hundreds of rounds. It was the perfect addition to an already fantastic event.
Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from the September 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Get the most recent advances in guns and gear to extend your range for hunting, informal target shooting, and formal competition. Discover new tools for long-range shooters both in the field and on the firing range, with coverage of new developments from advances in military applied combat theory. Learn more
The story of the development of the modern day suppressor is an interesting, and very political one. Bone up on your suppressor history here.
The late 1800s and early 1900s were a period of unprecedented financial growth in the United States, a boom that rode squarely on the shoulder of the nation’s growing manufacturing sector. In the days prior to World War I, the United States was blessed with a combination of two factors—a large and growing work force with a strong work ethic and abundant natural resources—that made this nation primed to lead the global industrial revolution. But the growing economy brought with it some unexpected side effects. For one thing, the world got louder. Vehicles now moved freight and people, and trains ran endlessly to keep up with the demand for goods in the farthest reaches of the country. Busses moved lots of people to new jobs, trucks carried consumer goods to new department stores, and heavy equipment cleared the land. The money was flowing, but it was hard to hear yourself think.
Enter Hiram Percy Maxim. After graduating from MIT with a degree in engineering, Hiram began working in the automotive and firearms industries. To a large degree, guns were the family business—his father Hiram Stevens Maxim invented the Maxim Machine gun, and his uncle had a hand in the development of modern propellants used for ammunition production.
If you were picturing young Hiram Percy Maxim as some type of a firearms aficionado and primitive motorhead who loved to shoot and race cars, you’d only be half right. Sure, Maxim could shoot and drive, but he preferred working with radios (his true passion) and actually enjoyed the “perfection of fine horse carriages.” He found the noise of his busy new world distracting, and he planned to do something about that.
In 1908, Maxim developed a suppressor for firearms, a metal tube that was larger than the bore that allowed the bullet to pass through yet captured the escaping gases in chambers using internal metal baffles that allowed those gases to expand (relieve pressure) and cool. And since the bulk of the noise created by firearms is the result of those gases escaping at high speed from the muzzle, the sound of a shot was muffled. Hiram called this new invention the “Maxim Silencer,” and the name stuck. The bulk of people in modern American society only know a suppressor as a silencer, and that basic (though not quite accurate) understanding comes via Hollywood cinema, not the best source for factual information on firearms.
Suppressor internals. This Liberty can features a monolithic baffle stack.
Maxim engineered a similar (at least in general concept) suppressor for vehicles, and that became what we commonly refer to today as a muffler. And although the modern automobile muffler has become commonplace—and in many areas you’ll be ticketed if you don’t have one—his firearm suppressor design did not meet with such widespread appeal. The suppressor came to be viewed, at least in this country, as a weapon reserved for covert law enforcement operations and well-heeled criminal types, mostly mobsters who wanted to off someone without alerting the authorities. Those were never the primary objectives for Maxim, who billed his Silencer as a great tool for shooting around the house where you didn’t want to annoy neighbors while simultaneously marching yourself one step closer to total deafness with each successive shot. Other countries caught on to that, and in some areas where it’s a complicated matter for a private citizen to even own a gun, suppressors are quite common. In Europe, it’s gauche to hunt or shoot without a suppressor, and in southern Africa, where firearms laws can be quite stringent, hunting with suppressors is viewed as a courtesy in much the same way that it would be considered rude in this country to drive down main street with a car that didn’t have a muffler.
In 1934, the National Firearms Act (NFA) placed a tax on certain firearms and required owners to register the item and purchase a stamp, which cost $200. Suppressors were under the NFA umbrella, and it was suddenly far more difficult to purchase one than it had been previously. That didn’t mean it was impossible, and suppressors weren’t (and aren’t) “illegal” as some people believed.
In many states suppressors can be used for hunting. In certain countries they are viewed as a common courtesy.
The notion that suppressors were illegal and were tied to crime has served Hollywood well, and over the last 100 years the general public’s views on suppressors have largely been shaped by cinematic representation or, rather, misrepresentation of these firearms accessories. For starters, films and television have made most Americans believe that the sound created by a silencer is the all-to-familiar digitized water drop that is a product of Hollywood. In truth, the average centerfire rifle produces between 140 and 170 decibels without suppression. When suppressed, that number drops to (depending on the model) somewhere in the 120s or 130s. That’s quieter, yes, and the sound differs from the typical crack of a firearm, but it’s hardly the whisper of death that we see on the big screen (120 dBs is roughly equivalent to a rock concert). A suppressor still makes noise, but OSHA standards for maximum safe impulse noise levels is 140 decibels, and most suppressors will take you below that. That doesn’t promise that the noise produced by a suppressed firearm will never reach damaging levels, but the damage is far less than what you’ll experience with an unsuppressed gun.
With Hollywood’s hijacking of the suppressor’s reputation, it’s no wonder that it has taken so long for suppressors to become popular with mainstream shooters, but thankfully over the past decade more and more shooters are realizing they can own a suppressor and there are many benefits to doing so. And while the basic suppressor design hasn’t changed a great deal since Maxim’s day, modern machining and the use of better alloys has allowed the growing number of suppressor companies to produce superior products for a wide variety of guns. As a result, more firearm models are being added with threaded barrels so that suppressors can be easily installed.
The current rise in the popularity of suppressors really began in the mid-twentieth century. There were a handful of brands making cans, primarily for military applications, but the cost of processing, coupled with the need for NFA paperwork, didn’t make suppressors as appealing to the general public as they are today. That changed, however, with better machining techniques in the mid-to-late twentieth and early twenty-first century, when improved metal alloys and better machining practices made precision machining more affordable.
If the Hearing Protection Act passes, we might start seeing more cans like this SilencerCo Salvo shotgun suppressor in the field.
There was also a growing interest in suppressors driven in no small part by hunters who had used them in other parts of the world and who couldn’t understand why they weren’t widely available here. Military-minded suppressor companies began looking at the civilian market (Idaho-based Gemtech, founded in 1993, is an example; Gemtech’s parent company had been producing silencers since the 1970s). During the past two decades, a number of other companies have developed new suppressors for the civilian market, companies like Liberty, SilencerCo, AAC, Yankee Hill, Dead Air and Wilson Combat.
The most significant advancement in suppressors in recent memory might be the widely supported push to see that the Hearing Protection Act, which is supported by the NRA, NSSF and companies like SilencerCo, become law. In 2008 the Brady Campaign stated that, “a silencer is useful to assassins but clearly has no purpose for sportsmen. Silencers are also illegal.” Turns out that neither of those statements is true, and the biggest news in silencers in recent memory is that the rest of the world is learning that you can’t believe everything you hear.
This article is an excerpt from the November 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The classic M16A1 was the iconic rifle of the Vietnam War. It was issued to the vast majority of U.S. soldiers during the conflict, and it’s general success in combat led to its continued service in the U.S. armed forces in varied forms over the years. And of course it wasn’t too long before the M16’s popularity translated to the civilian market as well.
While there are a ton of AR-15 style rifles available today, faithful recreations of the original military-issue M16A1 are a little harder to find. This can be especially disappointing for collectors looking for a semi-auto replica of this classic and historical rifle.
Luckily, earlier this summer at the 2016 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Louisville, Kentucky, Colt teased the release of a reproduction, semi-auto-only M16A1 that faithfully replicates the look and features of the original, Vietnam-era rifle. The new rifle, which Colt has dubbed the M16A1 Reissue, is a virtual match to the classic design, featuring the same unique triangular handguard, 20-inch pencil-profile chrome-lined barrel with a 1:12-inch twist, and recognizable carrying handle.
Although I wasn’t in attendance at the event in Louisville, I did get a chance to get some shooting time with the new Colt M16A1 Reissue at Colt’s recent Media Day event at the historic Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the M16A1 Reissue from the Colt team and to put some rounds through it at the range.
In addition to the traditional M16A1 features mentioned earlier, the new Colt M16A1 Reissue utilizes the same three-pronged flash hider built to the original specifications. It also comes equipped with the teardrop forward assist typically found on the M16A1. As with the original rifle, there is no brass deflector either.
Going even further to ensure a historically accurate reproduction, Colt has also decided to place U.S. Government property markings on the gun identical to those found on the original. These can be clearly seen on the side of the receiver and should be something that serious collectors are sure to appreciate.
If that wasn’t enough, Colt also included an “Auto” marking on the safety selector. Unfortunately, this is there purely for show and historical accuracy, as this rifle is semi-auto only.
Receivers are standard 7075-T6 aluminum and are hardcoat anodized, and the rifle features the same A1-style buttstock and grip as the original issue rifle. And sights are the standard fixed A1 style.
The trigger is a standard single stage affair, which seemed to break plenty well when I engaged the steel targets Colt had set up at about 50 yards. The M16A1 Reissue’s light, 6.37-pound weight made it easy to shoot and transition between the different targets. And it was generally just kind of fun to feel like you were shooting a piece of history, even if it was more or less a brand new rifle.
The new Colt M16A1 Reissue will be a limited release item that should be available in the early part of 2017. The reproduction rifle will have a listed MSRP of $2,499. This might seem a little high to some, but it is a faithful reproduction and a limited release, collector’s item. The gun will ship with a traditional 20-round USGI magazine, as well as a manual and cable lock.
For more information on the new Colt M16A1 Reissue, visit the Colt website and check out rifle’s full specifications below.
Specifications:
Colt M16A1 Reissue Type: Semi-auto, direct gas impingement Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO Barrel: 20-in., pencil-profile, 4150 CMV, chrome lined, 1:12-in. twist Barrel Finish: Manganese phosphate Overall Length: 38.8 in. Weight: 6.37 lbs. Receivers: 7075-T6 aluminum, hardcoat anodized Sights: Fixed A1-style front and rear Trigger: Single stage Grip: Government A1 style grip Stock: A1 style buttstock Capacity: 20+1 Price: $2,499 Manufacturer: Colt
In addition to offering an assortment of laser sighting systems for handguns and rifles, as well as bore-sighting tools, LaserLyte also produces a number of training tools to help shooters practice. One new training tool that the Arizona-based manufacturer has recently announced is the Quick Tyme Laser Trainer Kit.
The new kit includes the new Quick Tyme Laser Trainer Target and a Trigger Tyme Full-Size Pistol. The Trainer Target comes with a built-in stopwatch for measuring time, and the Trigger Tyme Pistol simulates the size and feel of the classic Glock 19.
The LaserLyte Quick Tyme Laser Trainer Kit is a perfect option for anyone looking to simply practice their accuracy, or to improve drawing and firing from a concealed carry holster. The Quick Tyme Laser Trainer Target’s integrated stopwatch counts up from zero until the target is shot with the Trigger Tyme Pistol. The shooter is then able to see both the elapsed time and where the hit occurred on the LED target.
For shooters who prefer to train without the stopwatch feature, the target also offers a Tracer Laser Fire Mode, which simply displays the placement of each shot in the order they hit the target. This provides shooters with instant feedback on shot placement so they can correct the issue. Shooters can also use the target in combination with other LaserLyte targets to create a competitive course of fire, with the Quick Tyme Laser Trainer Target acting as a stopwatch for the entire course.
The entire kit is available at an MSRP of $279. Separately, the Quick Tyme Laser Trainer Target and Trigger Tyme Pistol go for $199.95 and $149.95, respectively.
For more complete information on the two products in the kit, check out the detailed specs below or visit the LaserLyte website.
Specifications:
LaserLyte Quick Tyme Laser Trainer Target: – Activation: All LaserLyte Laser Trainers – LED Timer records draw time, LED bullseye displays accuracy – Batteries: 3 x AA – Battery Life: 6,000 Shots – Material: High Impact ABS Polymer – Weight: 16.80 ounces – Depth: 1.25 inches – Height: 9.50 inches – Width: 6.50 inches
Self defense can be a matter of life and death for your family. Keeping your shooting skills sharp is important to using the best home defense weapon possible when the unexpected occurs. Turn your handgun into the best handgun for home defense with the drills outlined in Handgun Training – Practice Drills for Defensive Shooting. Nothing will give you more peace and security in your own home than the confidence you will hit your target. Learn More
For the past several years, Ruger’s SR1911 pistol has offered fans of the 1911 an excellent option at an affordable price point. In fact, it’s been so successful that, since its introduction back in 2011, Ruger has continued to expand on the line, including Commander and Lightweight Commander models.
Now, Ruger has announced that it’s also bringing out a new Target Model of the SR1911. The new full size, stainless steel Ruger SR1911 Target Model is 100 percent American made and comes equipped with a host of great features.
The gun utilizes a Bomar style, fully adjustable rear sight as well as an extended, ambidextrous safety for comfortable use by both right- and left-handed shooters. Shooters also benefit from an oversized magazine release and a skeletonized hammer and skeletonized aluminum trigger for a smooth trigger press.
Like others in the line, the new SR1911 Target Model features Ruger’s same great series 70 slide, which incorporates a lowered and flared ejection port for easier ejection, a titanium firing pin and a precision barrel and bushing machined from the same piece of bar stock. The pistol wears a low-glare satin stainless finish paired nicely with blackened controls and a set of deluxe checkered G10 grips.
The SR1911 Target Model is equipped with a 5-inch stainless steel barrel with a 1:16-inch twist rate. Overall weight on the gun is listed at 39 ounces with an empty magazine. Some other features include a beavertail grip safety and an integral plunger tube.
The new SR1911 Target Model ships with one eight-round and one seven-round stainless steel magazine, a bushing wrench and a cable locking device. Its MSRP is currently listed at $1,019.
For more information, check out the specifications below, or visit the Ruger website.
Specifications:
Ruger SR1911 Target Type: Semi-auto, single action Caliber: .45 ACP Barrel: 5-in., stainless steel Overall Length: 8.67 in. Width: 1.34 in. Height: 5.45 in. Weight: 39 oz. (with empty magazine) Frame: Low-glare stainless steel Slide: Low-glare stainless steel Grips: Deluxe checkered G10 Capacity: 8+1 MSRP: $1,019 Manufacturer: Ruger
The new Compact Suppressor Ready (CSR) Rifle from Masterpiece Arms provides an ultra-compact rifle platform capable of sub 1/2 MOA accuracy.
Masterpiece Arms (MPA) has announced the introduction of a new, ultra-compact rifle system to its rifle line. The new MPA BA Compact Suppressor Ready (CSR) Rifle offers sub 1/2 MOA accuracy from a compact, suppressor-ready platform that can be reduced to an overall length of just 27 inches.
“Our new MPA BA CSR Rifle packs a lot of punch in a small, lightweight package. It’s extremely accurate and suppressor ready. Speaking of suppressor ready… we think our customers are really going to like the buttstock on this rifle. I don’t think there’s anything else quite like it,” said Phil Cashin, president of MasterPiece Arms.
The rifle’s unique folding buttstock is capable of storing a suppressor measuring up to 1.5 inches in diameter and 9.5 inches in length inside a compartment within the stock. When the suppressor is stored in the stock, the overall length can go from 48 inches with the suppressor attached down to the 27 inches previously mentioned. The video above illustrates how the folding stock operates.
The new MPA BA CSR is available in black, burnt bronze, Flat Dark Earth (FDE), gunmetal and tungsten. It’s also available in either right- or left-handed models, and when purchasing, customers will be able to choose their preferred caliber, barrel length, trigger type/pull weight and color. All chassis and barrels are Cerakoted in a multitude of colors and patterns, with solid colors included, and custom patterns available at a $150 up-charge.
Each rifle is hand built and takes around 6 to 10 weeks to be completed. MSRP on the new MPA BA Compact Suppressor Ready (CSR) rifle is currently listed as $2,999.00.
Increase accuracy by adjusting seating depth for precise loads.
If you reload your ammunition, you already appreciate how much control you have over the different parameters of the cartridge. Powder charge, case brand, primer brand, bullet type, etc.; having the ability to choose your poison is paramount. Seating depth is one of those parameters that can make or break accuracy results—a slight shift in seating depth can radically change the group size.
Every barrel has a particular set of harmonics, and when you find a load that agrees with those harmonics, you’ll see accuracy. As many of you know, a slight change in powder charge, say ½ grain or less, or the aforementioned seating depth difference will definitely change your accuracy. If you find a load that works well in your rifle, you can fine-tune it with different seating depths.
We did a little test to evaluate the effects of seating depth in a rifle that has demonstrated great accuracy at 100 yards. My pal Mark Nazi is the proud owner of a Remington 700 in .308 Winchester that loves a Sierra Tipped MatchKing over top of a particular load of Hodgdon’s Varget powder. Spark it with a Federal GM210M primer, and you’ve got a recipe for success. We used Kinetics Match Brass for uniformity. Using a good set of RCBS Competition Dies, and the 168-grain Sierra Tipped Match King set at the SAAMI length of 2.800 inches, we can count on sub-MOA accuracy, but what if we varied that seating depth?
Kinetics Match Brass.
I prepared a series of five-shot groups at seating depths that extended outward at 0.0005-inch increments to see the effects in this particular barrel while using the same powder charge for all the ammo. I first verified that our loads, which extended all the way out to a COL of 2.835 inches, didn’t come in contact with the lands and grooves, as that would create dangerous pressures. I also insisted we fired the groups from short to long, so we could stop at the first sign of dangerous pressure.
The RCBS Competition seating die will allow the loader to keep tight tolerances.
The results were eye opening. We set the target out to 300 yards to get a better feel for the group size and measured velocities on my Oehler 35P chronograph. I took notes and ran the spotting scope while my young friend Manny Vermilyea took trigger duty, and we proceeded to fire five-shot groups of each different seating depth, measuring the changes in velocity and group size. As I have found in the past, the cartridges with a longer COL gave increasingly higher velocities. However, the group size was what surprised us. At the SAAMI length of 2.800 inches, the 300-yard group size was just over 3 inches, or one MOA. At 2.805 inches, the group opened up to 5¼ inches, and at 2.810 inches things settled back down to just over 4 inches; not exactly what we knew this rifle was capable of. At 2.815 inches and 2.820 inches, things started to get better, giving group sizes of 3 inches and 2¾ inches, respectively, with velocities averaging just less than 2,660 feet per second (fps). It was when we launched the group that measured 2.825 inches we found what we were looking for. Group size was just under 2 inches, or 2/3 MOA, and velocities averaged 2,644 fps. Slight drop in velocity, but the accuracy was certainly there.
With the 2.830-inch length and the 2.835-inch ammunition, we had definitely found the sweet spot, giving our barrel the harmonics that work best for it.
I’ve seen the same kind of results in other rifles, where you make a minor adjustment in seating depth and find the accuracy changes. Each barrel can be different, having a different sweet spot.
Give it a try with your rifle, but please keep safety first.
This article is an excerpt from the October 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The second generation of the Remington R51 addresses the issues with the previous model and is an excellent choice for concealed carry.
In July of 2016 Remington reintroduced one of the most controversial firearms ever manufactured. The R51, originally released in 2014, was first met with a lot of anticipation because it was a lightweight, compact, +P capable, single action, 9mm handgun, built on a metal frame, with a very low bore axis, and a contoured profile optimized for concealed carry.
Due to production problems, it didn’t take long for public opinion to turn. What initially looked like one of the most innovative new defensive handguns became the root of a deep controversy—one that tarnished Remington’s reputation and cast a shadow of uncertainty on the integrity of gun magazines and those who contribute to them.
The History
In December of 2013, the R51 made its début at Gunsite Academy and journalists in attendance communicated high praise. I wasn’t there but conducted the first independent field test of the R51. I was impressed and in my July 2014 article called it the “best new compact 9mm handgun on the market.” What I didn’t know was the pistol I’d received was a pre-mass production model. When the R51 began hitting shelves, bad reports surfaced. This wasn’t too unusual. Often journalists receive pre-production firearms and, just as often, initial mass-produced firearms have issues. Pre-Internet, these problems were fixed, and most never knew they existed.
What happened next was unusual. A blogger, who’d been passed over for employment by the publisher of the magazine my article appeared in, called my integrity into question. He even insinuated gun magazines lie to make manufacturers happy and earn advertising dollars. This led to an Internet firestorm. You would’ve thought Remington unleashed 10,000 pieces of junk and the gun magazines lied while knowing they didn’t work.
The Facts
First, let’s address Remington’s mistakes. It wasn’t prepared to mass-produce the R51 with its novel architecture. Its mechanics were unique enough to prevent standing quality control procedures to detect or limit production issues. This resulted in just over 3,000 potentially problematic R51s being shipped. The second mistake was not taking swift ownership of its bungle.
By not announcing a reliability recall immediately, Remington left consumers to speculate that trusted firearms journalists had deceived them. Several loyal readers contacted me wondering how I could endorse a pistol with so many problems. My only defense was that I could only report on the pistol I’d received. Incidentally, my R51 review occurred only a few weeks after my clairvoyant powers had left me. When I tested the R51, I had no way of knowing what was to come.
As for lying gun writers and gun magazines, which are allegedly bought and paid for by advertisers, this is patently false. As in any profession, I know charlatans exist in mine. Might some writers lie on occasion, or even more often? Without question. Your loved ones lie to you too; dishonesty is an unpleasant fact of life. However, given the editorial checks and balances in print publications, I’m sure lying occurs on the Internet at a higher frequency. I know this because I’ve worked in both venues for more than a decade. Something that occurs even more often are gun writers refusing to report on products that just plain suck.
The Fix
Remington finally acknowledged the problem. In July 2014, they voluntarily recalled the R51. Remington offered unsatisfied R51 consumers three options: First, they could accept the aforementioned return in exchange for a new R51, with two extra magazines, and a Pelican case.
Second, they could exchange their R51 for a 1911 R1 at no additional cost.
Third, they could return their R51 for a refund at the full-suggested retail price.
This was an unprecedented step. Had I been one of the unsatisfied, I’d have opted for the more expensive R1 and purchased another R51 when the bugs were worked out. But my R51 worked just fine; I didn’t want to send it back. I carried it often.
All this occurred while Remington shifted manufacturing from North Carolina to Alabama. Complicated with the implementation of some of the most stringent quality control processes ever instituted in the industry, this took time. I’m sure some felt Remington had abandoned the R51 and the replacement offer. In truth, they were just making sure they got it right. I’m certain Remington has spent so much money fixing the R51 they’ll never recoup their investment. When I asked Remington’s new CEO, Jim Marcotuli, why the company went to such great lengths, he said, “We are America’s oldest gun maker; it’s a matter of pride.”
After touring the new Remington factory at Huntsville, Alabama, and watching the R51 being made, I spent some time on the range with one. It worked. While addressing quality control and mass production issues, Remington tweaked the design slightly. They engineered a new disconnect, installed set screws in the front and rear sights, hard chromed the action spring bushing and switched to a force-balanced recoil spring, designed a new extractor, and modified the magazines. It’s still the same pistol, operating on the same unique Pedersen design; it’s just better.
The Test Remington shipped me a promised production gun, a ton of magazines, and 1,000 rounds of ammo for an in-depth test. Results are found in Table 1, but I’ll summarize. The first 50 rounds were 124-grain Federal HSTs. The first shot stovepiped, and attempts 37 and 42 failed to feed (50 additional rounds of HST were fired between shots 484 and 630 with no issues). Attempt 69—Remington 124-grain Golden Saber—failed to feed. There were no stoppages in the next 1,015 rounds, which included nine different loads. Based on this, a 100-round break-in for the R51 seems advisable.
The new R51 exhibits all the features that made it so desirable initially. Its low bore axis keeps muzzle rise down. It also changes perceived recoil; the gun kicks just as hard, but recoil is directed straight back. The trigger was crisp and consistent at 4 pounds. Trigger reset was not audible but could be felt and was natural. I had no trouble firing seven shots into a 10-inch kill zone at 3 yards in just over a second.
I did not conduct bench rest accuracy testing for two reasons. One, it seems to be a ridiculous exercise for a defensive carry pistol. Secondly, after firing more than 1,000 rounds through almost every conceivable defensive handgun drill, I was confident the pistol was plenty capable of providing better than adequate precision.
I had one complaint: At 10 yards, the pistol shot about 1.5 inches low and to the right of my point of aim. The rear sight is adjustable for windage, but there’s no end-user solution for elevation. At 20 yards, this offset was double, but inside 10 yards, where most of the shooting was conducted, the offset was inconsequential. This didn’t negatively impact testing. A Crimson Trace Laser Guard can be purchased with the R51, and for most shooting this was the primary sight.
Parting Shots
Two years after the initial launch, the Remington R51 might not be the “best new compact 9mm handgun on the market,” but I think it’s certainly one of the top choices. This pistol has a suggested retail price of $448, but street prices are about $100 less. After a short break-in period, it proved perfectly reliable, and in the arena of affordable, concealed carry handguns, it has a lot to offer. I now have two R51s, and I trust them both.
Specifications:
Remington R51 Caliber: 9mm Luger +P Barrel: 3.4 in. Height: 4.63 in. Width: 1.08 in. Length: 6.68 in Weight: 21 oz. (without magazine) Finish: Satin Black Oxide Capacity: 7+1 Accessories: Two magazines, lock, and owner’s manual MSRP: $448 ($648 with Crimson Trace Laser Guard) Manufacturer: Remington
Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from the September 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
As the upcoming 2017 SHOT Show gets closer and closer, manufacturers are continuing to announce and tease more of their new guns and gear for next year. Savage Arms is one such manufacturer giving shooters a first glance at one of its upcoming new products: the 11/111 DOA Hunter.
This new package takes Savage’s excellent 11/111 rifle and pairs it with a factory-installed and bore-sighted Bushnell Trophy DOA 3-9×40 scope mounted with Weaver Grand Slam rings. Because of this, the rifle is ready to shoot right out of the box, making it a perfect choice for a newer hunter or anyone looking for a rifle that’s ready to go immediately.
The Savage 11/111 DOA Hunter utilizes the manufacturer’s famed adjustable AccuTrigger, which can be set anywhere from 2.5 to 6 pounds depending on the shooter’s preference. The AccuTrigger provides a crisp and clean pull and pairs nicely with the gun’s carbon-steel blued barrel.
The rifle features a rugged black synthetic stock with a matte finish, and both the barrel and receiver also wear a matte black finish. The 11/111 DOA Hunter also comes equipped with a detachable box magazine for simple and quick reloading.
Features on the Bushnell Trophy DOA 3-9×40 scope that comes factory mounted on the 11/111 DOA Hunter include a fast-focus eyepiece for quickly adjusting focus to ensure a clear sight picture and finger-touch adjustable windage and elevation controls. The scope also incorporates a shooter-visible power change ring.
The MSRP on the new Savage 11/111 DOA Hunter package is currently listed as ranging from $684 to $712. For more information, visit the Savage Arms website.
The Colt Defender pistol has been around for quite some time now, hitting the market back in 2000. This summer, Colt revamped the established Defender design to improve upon the areas that in the words of Paul Spitale, Senior VP at Colt, “kept it from being perfect for concealed carry.”
Colt introduced the new and improved Defender back in May during the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Louisville, Kentucky. Earlier this November while attending Colt’s annual Media Day event at the legendary Gunsite in Paulden, Arizona, I was able to finally get my hands on a new Defender for a little bit of trigger time.
A couple of the most noticeable changes to the original design include the addition of custom Colt G10 black cherry grips and a carry cut on the front of the slide for easier concealment. The custom G10 grips used on some of Colt’s other 1911s have always felt very comfortable to me, and the grips featured on the new Defender were no exception. The texturing ensured a steady purchase during firing but wasn’t so rugged that it caused discomfort on the hands, as I’ve noticed with some highly textured grips in the past. The gun also featured an upswept beavertail grip safety, which further helped with control and comfort. And of course, the carry cut is a nice touch for a carry gun like the Defender.
Colt produces two versions of the new Defender: a stainless steel model available only in .45 ACP and a black and blued model chambered in either .45 ACP or 9mm. The stainless model features the same brushed stainless steel slide, stainless Cerakote coated aluminum receiver and three dot sights as the original Defender, but also has the new grips and carry cut. The new black and blued models, on the other hand, incorporate the two upgrades already mentioned, as well as some other changes. Both feature the Defender’s classic 3-inch stainless steel barrel and a 4.5- to 6-pound three hole aluminum trigger.
The black and blued Colt Defender is what the company had available to the media at the event in Arizona. In addition to the features it shares with the stainless model, this Defender also comes equipped with a blued carbon steel slide and a black Cerakote coated aluminum receiver and features a different sight setup.
Notice the carry cut at the front of the slide.
Instead of the usual three dot sights, the black and blued Defender sports a wide notch Novak Low Mount Carry rear sight and a Tritium night sight up front. Although it was the middle of the afternoon when I had the opportunity to shoot this gun, I found that I really liked the night sight front paired with the wide notch rear, and I had no issue hitting the steel targets set up about 15 to 20 yards away in rapid fire strings.
As with most of Colt’s newly produced guns, the new Defender also utilizes the manufacturer’s Dual Spring Recoil System. This results in slightly reduced recoil, and is intended to increase the spring life substantially, putting off the inevitable replacement date. I first experienced Colt’s Dual Spring Recoil System at the company’s 2015 Media Day, and I’m just as impressed with the system today as I was then.
The gun features an aluminum three-hole trigger with a pull weight between 4.5 to 6 pounds. Capacity is the standard 7+1 in .45 ACP and 8+1 in 9mm.
Just as the original Defender was, the updated version is very well suited for concealed carry. It weighs 24 ounces unloaded, has an overall length of 6.75 inches, a height of 5.125 inches and a width of 1.25 inches. Magazine capacity is 7+1 in the .45 ACP models and 8+1 in the 9mm variant.
The new and improved Colt Defender is available now with an MSRP of $899 for the stainless model and $949 for the two black and blued versions. Each gun ships with two magazines, a cable lock and an instruction manual.
For more information on the new Colt Defender, check out the specifications below and visit the Colt website.
Specifications:
Colt Defender Type: Semi-auto, single action Caliber: .45 ACP or 9mm Barrel: 3-in., stainless steel Overall Length: 6.75 in. Overall Height: 5.125 in. Overall Width: 1.25 in. Weight: 24 oz. (unloaded) Slide: Stainless steel, brushed stainless finish (stainless model); carbon steel, blued finish (blued model) Frame: Aluminum alloy, Cerakote matte stainless finish (stainless); aluminum alloy, Cerakote matte black finish (blued) Trigger: three-hole aluminum, 4.5 to 6 lbs. Grips: Custom G10, partial checkered, black cherry Capacity: 7+1 (.45 ACP), 8+1 (9mm) Price: $899 or $949 Manufacturer: Colt
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 of the best concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
FN 15 Tactical Carbine II
