In recent years, some ammunition manufacturers have started offering alternatives to lead bullets in many of their loads. With some states changing their laws regarding the use of lead-based projectiles on ranges and in the field, offering loads with non-lead projectiles is a prudent move on the part of these manufacturers.
Understanding this movement toward non-lead bullets, Federal Premium has introduced the new Power-Shok Copper, a lead-free version of the company's classic and affordable Power-Shok rifle ammunition, which hunters have been using for years. Instead of the traditional lead bullet, the Power-Shok Copper uses an environmentally friendly hollow-point copper projectile that offers the same dependability on big game as the original Power-Shok.
The new copper projectile delivers deadly downrange terminal performance and accuracy with a design that ensures consistent expansion and efficient energy transfer into the target. The new Power-Shok Copper loads utilize all-new Catalyst lead-free primers for reliable ignition and quality Federal Premium brass.
The new Power-Shok Copper loads are available in the following common hunting calibers: .243 Winchester, .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield. Projectile weights range from 85 to 150 grains, and prices range from $32.95 to $33.95.
The AK platform poses unique challenges when it comes to optics. Here are some AK optics options for shooters who want to stretch out their rifle's range and capabilities.
“Kalashnikov rifles are inaccurate, crudely-made guns all but worthless past 100 yards.” If you’ve heard this, or something very similar, from either shooting buddies or cantankerous gun shop staff, you’re not alone. While the best-known myth of the AK-47 is its unstoppable reliability, its alleged inaccuracy is a close second.
Wait, myths and allegations?
You read that right. The AK may be inherently less accurate than rifles with less reciprocating mass or free-floating barrels, but the little Avtomat is still capable of successfully engaging targets well past 300 yards. There’s a catch though: The AK has more than just its violent, long-stroke piston-driven action working against it; it also suffers from lousy iron sights and rounds with a drastic ballistic curve.
The solution to these performance impediments is a simple one; something distant shooters and marksmen have known for decades. A shooter can’t hit what they can’t see. So take the obvious step and purchase an optic for your AK. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. Utilizing optics on Kalashnikovs is a somewhat tricky proposition. Thankfully, we’ve assembled this concise guide for your journey to reaching zen-like precision with your AK (or something like that).
Mounting Options
The biggest hurdle to overcome when installing optics on your Russian lead-slinger is finding the best way to attach them to the rifle. While most modern rifles have rails of some built in to the receiver or barrel itself, the AK comes from an era when only spotters and snipers utilized optics on combat.
Well, there is one other type of soldier equipped with optics: night sentries.
Japanese night raids in the pacific theater of operations taught the USMC the value of illuminating the inky-black perimeter around forward operating bases with a modified version of the M1 Carbine equipped with an infrared scope, the T3. Along these same lines, the Soviet military developed the AKMn in 1954. This rifle featured an effective flash suppressor and a side rail mount for enormous Soviet night vision scopes.
For nearly six decades, the Soviets utilized this mount for specialized units and rifles but waited to equip their standard infantry rifles with these rails until the early 1990s. The design is largely unchanged, with all standard-pattern AKM side rails capable of using the same mounts. Non-standard mounts like those found on Yugoslavian/Serbian rifles exist, but for the sake of brevity, I’ll stick to Soviet-pattern.
What this means for shooters is that in order to mount optics to their AK without modifying it or buying new parts, they must utilize a side rail mount. Shooters willing to replace parts or install new ones have more options, but side mounts are the most common and easiest to utilize.
Side rail mounts, such as RS Regulate's AK-300 series, are the easiest way to get optics on your AK.
Which brings me to my first recommendation. I have run a ton of different mounts on dozens of AK carbines, and after running plenty of “good” mounts I finally found a perfect one. This may not seem groundbreaking to most readers, but rarely in the gun industry is something objectively superior in all regards to its competitors: The RS Regulate AK-300 is one such product.
At least for shooters looking to mount Trijicon ACOG magnified scopes or Aimpoint 30mm reflex sights. The reason is due to the modularity and flexibility of the system. I say system because, unlike most mounts consisting on a singular component, the RS Regulate is a two-part system. Just like AR-15 receivers, the mount has an upper and a lower.
RS Regulate does this so shooters can buy special uppers designed for specific optics, like their ACOG-friendly AKOG. Another benefit of this modular design is that it allows you to keep a desired upper, while purchasing a different lower that either affects the fore/aft position of the optic or which side rail it mounts to—including the atypical mounts found on Yugoslavian and Serbian rifles like the NPAP.
What’s more, the mount allows for lateral alignment with the rifle’s barrel. Because of the “L-shaped” design of side-mounts, if the rail or mount doesn’t align the optic directly over the barrel, you will have to deal with point of aim/point of impact horizontal alignment issues. Not totally unlike fighter planes of WWII with wing-mounted guns that had to be adjusted for point of convergence, or where the path of both barrels meet.
That said, unmagnified optics like reflex sights aren’t as affected by these alignment issues as magnified ones. Simply due to the size of the sight’s aiming dot—a four MOA dot represents a one-foot circle at 300 yards. Because of this, these types of optics aren’t typically used at longer ranges where any misalignment concerns are drastically multiplied.
While the AK-300 series of mounts are great for magnified optics and reflex sights alike, for RMR-style mini red dots, I prefer a scout-type setup. This raises some unique issues with the AK, since the vast majority of available models on the market lack a monolithic rail.
Which leaves two options: Replace the rear sight assembly with a picatinny rail segment, or utilize a railed handguard. Each has its own pros and cons. The replacement segment is very minimalistic and lightweight, but it tends to mount too high with most optics and is situated slightly too far back for my personal taste. Ideally, a red dot could be installed on the muzzle itself, but that isn’t realistic.
The next best thing on the AK is to install one on a railed handguard. There are a few options available, but every polymer one I’ve tested failed to correctly hold zero. So shooters will have to use either a steel or aluminum railed handguard.
Mounting mini red dots on a railed aftermarket handguard is another good optics option for AK users.
The problem with these is that they’re usually bulkier and heavier than either wooden or polymer handguards, and they consequently make the rifle feel sluggish and nose-heavy. One of the few exceptions comes from one of my favorite AK aftermarket parts makers: Manticore Arms.
This small machine shop has been churning out specialty parts for Tavors, Steyr AUGs, AR-15s and AKs for years. One of its best-selling products is the ALFA Rail. Available in standard and extended lengths, the ALFA rail is a KeyMod aluminum handguard that closely matches the shape and size of wooden handguards.
The ALFA Rail from Manticore Arms is the author's favorite choice for mounting mini red dots in a forward position.
It features KeyMod slots on both sides as well as 45-degree offshoots, permitting shooters to mount lights, lasers, foregrips and other accessories however they want. Not only that, but it also includes a Picatinny railed upper handguard. This is one of my favorite aspects of the ALFA.
Like other railed handguards, it lets shooters mount reflex optics in a forward location, ideal for sights of this type. Unlike most railed handguards, the ALFA is lightweight and lacks all the jagged edges of competing designs covered in picatinny rails.
Optics
Choosing optics isn’t always an objective process. While light reception is important, some people just prefer certain brands, reticles and even tube diameters. Thankfully, the list of compatible AK optics is much shorter than those that function correctly with the AR-15.
First off, most optics designed to co-witness with an AR-15 are a poor choice for the AK. This is because they mount far too high to be comfortably used by the shooter. One exception is the Primary Arms PAC5X scope.
Normally, the PAC5X prismatic scope would sit far too high to be considered an ideal optic for an AK, or AKM carbine. However, the PAC5X utilizes the same mount as the Trijicon ACOG. This is important, since RS Regulate makes an upper for their scope rails that fits ACOGs perfectly.
The Primary Arms PAC5X pairs well with RS Regulate's mounting system, greatly expanding the capabilities of a typical AK-style rifle.
Thus, shooters can utilize a fixed magnification, ultra-bright prismatic scope like the PAC5X on a platform that rarely sees such high-end optics. What’s better is that the PAC5X is available with a 7.62x39mm BDC reticle, making it a great fit for the traditional AKM carbines chambered in the Soviet cartridge. Shooters looking to run one on a 5.56mm or 5.45mm AK can utilize the 5.56mm BDC version, which affords them the benefits of a high-end, ultra-bright optic with many of the same features, at a much more affordable price.
Shooters looking for a different magnified scope option should take a look at offerings from Hi-Lux. Shooters can mount the new Hi-Lux CMR-AK762 optic with ease on their AK’s side rail, with either a 30mm RS Regulate upper, or a Midwest Industries mount.
In either case, the optic’s adjustable magnification and built-in 7.62x39mm BDC help stretch the relatively slow-moving .30-caliber round’s legs. This makes the CMR optic a great tool for shattering myths about the round’s allegedly limited range.
As far as reflex sights, any will do so long as they can be used on a pistol slide as well. Though this isn’t so much a requirement as a helpful suggestion. The last thing a shooter wants after sinking money into upgrades and accessories is to find that their new optic sits too high to be comfortably used with standard AK buttstocks.
Obviously, this is just a small sample of the sight options available for the AK platform today. As the rifle gains more and more followers and owners, the aftermarket parts trade will swell alongside it. So if you don’t see an option on this list that fits your definition of the perfect aiming solution, sit tight—the next best optic might be just around the corner.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2016 Issue of Gun Digest the Magazine
Do-It-Yourself 80 percent firearm builds represent a great chance to increase your gun knowledge, and they have been becoming more and more popular in recent years.
For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with the Kalashnikov family of firearms. As a teenager on the cusp of legally transitioning to manhood, I decided to practice my American rights by purchasing my first rifle. Naturally, I gravitated toward the AK style of firearms. Being a few weeks from high school graduation and perpetually broke, I aspired to get the best deal I could while getting a quality firearm. During the weeks between deciding to buy a rifle and actually turning 18, I had time to scour every gun publication I could get my hands on in an attempt to make an informed decision. During my search, I came across these AK kits that, for between $59.99 and $99.99, promised a truly custom, one-of-a-kind rifle on a budget. My interest was piqued, to say the least.
In the end, though, I settled on an unconverted, plain Saiga AK and plunged headfirst into kitchen-table gunsmithing. But in the back of my mind, I never forgot those alluring jumbles of Cosmoline-soaked parts, nor would I forget the promise of a cheap, built-at-home rifle. Back then, the Internet wasn’t anything close to what it is today, and finding information on how to make a kit actually work was nearly impossible, so I shelved the idea for the time.
Years later, I was still a single young man, but I now had a job for Uncle Sam and a check burning a hole in my pocket. In my mind, the only reasonable thing to do with that money was to buy guns. Once again, I saw those kits. They cost a little more by this time, but it was still a negligible price at most. I did some more research on the subject and decided that while I was living in a military barrack, there was no way I could turn these kits into guns without losing my job or facing felony charges.
Then, two years ago, I finally had the money, a house, and the information I needed to make this dream of building my own AKM a reality. Anyone who knows me understands I’m not a man who jumps into something without careful consideration; this project was no different. I spent years learning everything I could, carefully building a tool list, making sure every angle was covered and every part accounted for. And finally, after years of dreaming about it, the big day came. I was hiding behind my truck, a length of paracord held tightly in my hand, the other end tied off to an ugly hunk of metal—vaguely resembling an AKM—securely attached to a wooden pallet. When that first shot rang out in the hot desert air, I knew instantly that I was hooked. I had just built my own firearm from chunks of metal in a box, and it hadn’t killed me.
To this day, I refuse to tally up how much I spent on building that rifle, partially because I don’t want my wife to have another reason to kill me, but also because I don’t care. Conservatively speaking, I would estimate that in tools, refinishing products, gauges, and everything else, I spent approximately three times the cost of a nice factory rifle. Holding in your hands a fully functional rifle that you built yourself is an indescribable feeling that, in my mind, was worth every penny I’d spent—and then some.
During the course of this project, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many firearms enthusiasts who have freely offered more advice than I could have ever wanted on the subject, and who continue to be a source of guidance and inspiration. This growing community of 80 percent builders has caused no shortage of controversy. In 2014, a California senator famously humiliated himself while making a speech regarding the danger of what he called “ghost guns.” While his speech was filled with ignorant comments and blatant lies, he succeeded in garnering negative attention from a number of gun control groups toward the gun-building community.
The AR-15 80-percent lower and the 80-percent 7.62×39 AKM pattern flat, and rails that are welded to the flat. Two of the most popular 80-percent receivers, both require completely different equipment to finish.
For the sake of argument, I would like to clearly define what exactly an 80 percent firearm really is. Legally, the only part considered a regulated firearm is the receiver. A receiver is defined differently depending on the firearm, but it’s generally the one part that holds the trigger, chamber and magazine all together so the firearm can actually function. Think of the receiver as the heart and soul of the firearm. Because of its essential role, the federal government defines it as the one essential part that is legally regulated the same as a finished firearm. This means that everything else is just a part and completely unregulated. A receiver generally looks like a hunk of oddly shaped metal with holes drilled in specific places and a serial number prominently located in a visible area. This is considered a finished 100-percent receiver, and it requires a background check and Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder to transfer it to the new owner.
An 80 percent receiver is, as the name would suggest, an unfinished receiver. In the eyes of the law, it is a hunk of metal that in its current form is unable to be used as a firearm. Normally, an 80 percent receiver design is submitted to the BATFE for approval before being sold to the public to ensure it cannot easily be converted into a functional firearm. As a general rule, 80 percent receivers require specialized tools, a solid foundation in the fundamentals of firearm mechanics, and careful construction. They’re not for the faint of heart. Because the components that make up the majority of a firearm are unregulated parts, and the 80 percent receiver is also unregulated, all of these items can be ordered online and sent directly to your front door with the swipe of a credit card. You can see why there is controversy surrounding this type of firearm build.
This political turmoil surrounding home-built guns has, like most gun control rhetoric, only served to make the guns even more popular. We live in an age where information on almost any topic can be found with the click of a button. It’s all too easy for someone to hop on the Internet and find step-by-step instructions for every part of the gunmaking process. With modern machinery and materials, someone with the correct tools, a lot of patience, and a mechanical knack can, with some difficulty, make a fully functional firearm. Gone are the days of thumbing through a poorly illustrated gun magazine trying to figure out what the author is talking about. Now you can watch a clear video of someone walking you through the whole process.
A 20-ton press, along with this specialized jig, is used to stamp the AKM receiver into shape. This is one of the first steps to the build. It’s important to lube the receiver so that the sides are bent correctly and don’t shear off under the immense pressure. I’ve found that wheel bearing grease works best for this step.
However, it’s not as simple as some would have you believe. My first AK was an abomination. For some of the parts, I tried an advanced welding method I was unfamiliar with. Out of impatience, I also used the incorrect tool for another process. These two mistakes resulted in an unstable receiver; and while the rifle still fired, it was unsafe. Ultimately, it took $25.00 and around 20 extra hours to fix, but that mistake taught me a great deal. I mention this because even with experience, with easy methods of learning the process and with a garage full of tools, making a firearm still isn’t an easy process. It’s expensive, time consuming and will greatly test the patience of even an experienced gun owner.
With that being said, you might ask, “What’s the allure?”
People get into 80 percent builds for a number of reasons. Some living in states with restrictive gun laws enjoy building a gun without the hassle and additional fees required by their state. For some, it’s a hobby, like building model airplanes, just a tad more complicated. Others feel it’s an expression of their constitutional freedom, and enjoy the idea of having a firearm built in the privacy of their own home. Some think it’s the ultimate way to really learn about a particular firearm, and feel it enhances their firearm knowledge. Finally, as firearms become harder to find and gun prices rise, so does the allure of building one yourself.
Over a decade ago, I would have never thought it possible to build a firearm from precision-machined parts, using gauges and jigs that would have the same or better quality than can be purchased commercially. Now, all this time later, I’ve built six so far, with seven, eight, and nine already in the works. I personally wanted to expand my skill set and gain a better appreciation for the work that goes into the firearms I’ve grown to love. And I feel I did exactly that during the process. I got to learn a variety of things I would never have otherwise, met amazing people, and became part of a passionate community.
I am by no means an expert on the topic. If anything, I consider myself an experienced beginner with enough knowledge to be dangerous. All of that aside, I am often asked about 80 percent builds by firearms enthusiasts thinking about getting into the hobby. Normally, I advise them against it. Make no mistake: It’s not some form of elitism that causes me to offer this advice, but rather the nature of this type of work. To build a firearm, one must start with a very serious mentality and 100-percent commitment. There is a myriad of safety and legal considerations that must be taken into account. Nothing about this process should be viewed with a complacent attitude nor taken lightly.
This jig is used with a mini-mill to cut the fire control pocket from this AR-15 lower. The first time I did this process I used a polymer 80-percent lower, seen in the bottom of this photo, to test the process. Polymer isn’t difficult to work with or expensive compared to aluminum; this helped me economically work up to the real thing. I highly recommend testing everything like this before jumping right in.
In completing an 80 percent build, you are attempting to take heavy-duty, dangerous machines and use them to shape and tame a piece of metal so that it will contain the massive pressures, fire, and explosions used to send a projectile racing at a high speed toward a target. This process can be done safely, but extreme care must be taken. And because you are manufacturing a firearm, there are laws that you must adhere to. All of this is the responsibility of the individual undertaking the project, and it’s not all intuitive. The correct mindset is essential, and any doubt about the process is an excellent reason to consider not undertaking the project in the first place, especially when a firearm of equal or greater quality can be found in your local gun shop for less than what the home builder would pay.
However, if you, like me, are set on this path, modern technology is here to aid you in overcoming these obstacles. Most companies that sell products specific to the 80 percent builder also employ experienced builders, and they will often offer legal and safety guides with their products. A quick Google search will help you find many websites full of advice from average Americans all over the country who have completed similar projects and are more than happy to share their passion and hard-learned lessons. Finally, because this is becoming such a popular hobby in the firearms community, there are a wide variety of resources for tools, guides, and parts. A few big names in the firearms world only exist to sell products and parts for these 80 percent firearms, demonstrating just how popular this hobby really is.
I predict that these builds will only become more popular as technology advances: Tools will become even more affordable and available for the hobbyist, information even easier to share, and precision parts even easier to manufacture. While it most certainly will never be for everyone, there will always be a segment of gun owners that loves to tinker, and this is the next logical step of that tinkering. By nature, Americans have always been a hearty people, self-reliant and independent. And firearms have always been intrinsically tied to those all-American values. I honestly can’t think of anything that honors and promotes those values more than having the tools, knowledge and ability to assemble your own firearm from a bin of parts and metal.
Editor's Note: This article is the winning submission of a student writing contest that Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI) conducted in partnership with Gun Digest. This writing contest was created to provide opportunities for SDI students to gain visibility on their writing skills in the form of a published article in Gun Digest's online blog.
Ithaca Gun Company has long been known for its classic Model 37, an innovative bottom-loading, bottom-ejecting pump-action shotgun produced since the late 1930s. Recently, however, the American manufacturer based in Sandusky, Ohio, has branched out by developing and releasing its very first rifle design.
Dubbed the Ithaca Precision Rifle, the gun is built off of the classic Remington Model 700 design and has been tailor-made for long-range work. Each rifle features a 4340 chromoly steel billet receiver, a 4140 single piece billet non-welded bolt, and a competition-grade barrel and trigger.
Ithaca produces the new Precision Rifle's action entirely in-house using high-quality CNC-machining equipment, and the bolt raceway is wire electrical discharge machined (EDM) for added precision. Each barrel is also paired to the action by experienced craftsmen and comes with 1/2 MOA guarantee.
Our friends at Deer & Deer Hunting got an exclusive first-hand look at the new Ithaca Precision Rifle with Zach Amert of Ithaca Gun Company to get the details about the new gun. Watch the video above to learn more about Ithaca's first-ever rifle.
The actual year that the .404 Jeffery was released is a source of debate and even argument among those who study cartridge history, and particularly African hunting cartridges. Most research will indicate that 1909 was the official release date, yet Phil Shoemaker — the famous brown bear guide from Alaska — has a rifle that dates back to 1907, clearly original and clearly chambered for the .404 Jeffery.
It doesn’t really matter; let’s agree that the latter portion of the first decade of the 20th century saw the .404 burst onto the scene. Its purpose was to replicate the ballistics of the steadfast .450/400 3-inch Nitro Express in a bolt-action rifle, and it worked. The bullet diameter was changed from .410” to .411” for the .450/400 to .423” for the .404 Jeffery — for reasons I can’t quite figure out — and the new case drove a 400-grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of 2,125 fps for 4,020 ft-lbs of energy, as well as a 300-grain copper pointed bullet at 2,625 fps, designed for long-range work. The .404 has an 8-degree shoulder; usually a cartridge that doesn’t feature a rim or a belt features a much more prominent shoulder in order to facilitate good headspacing. That said, I’ve never had a single problem with headspacing in the .404 Jeffery, and that slight shoulder allows the cartridge to feed like a dream — and that’s an important feature on any dangerous-game cartridge. While it became very popular among British rifle makers, it was also embraced by German rifle makers, designated as the 10.75x73mm.
That early muzzle velocity of 2,125 fps may seem sedate when compared to the .375 H&H Magnum or the .416 Rigby, which run at 2,550 fps with a 300-grain bullet and 2,410 fps with a 400-grain bullet, respectively. But it is enough to ensure reliable expansion and penetration with the standard cup-and-core softpoints and steel jacketed solids. All this in a cartridge that has, possibly, the mildest perceived recoil of any of the dangerous-game cartridges I’ve used. The combination of mild recoil and the ability to place those bullets where they need to be is tantamount to quickly dispatching game animals. It was so effective, in fact, that the game departments of both North and South Rhodesia (now Zambia and Zimbabwe), Tanzania and Kenya chose the Vickers bolt-action rifle chambered in .404 Jeffery as the standard-issue rifle. In my opinion, if it was good enough for those guys required to handle the problem animals, it is good enough for me. The .404 Jeffery has the distinction of taking what many consider to be the greatest North American trophy ever taken — the Chadwick ram — the world record stone sheep taken in British Columbia in 1936 by Dr. Chadwick.
The original .404 load quietly made a fantastic reputation among those who had the opportunity to use it on a daily basis — folks like John “Pondoro” Taylor, who in his classic book, African Rifles and Cartridges, would testify to the effectiveness of the Jeffery cartridge. But, that original load didn’t stick around for long. Kynoch bumped the muzzle velocity from 2,125 fps to 2,225 fps, also increasing the muzzle energy by almost 400 ft-lbs, recognizing the fact that the .404 Jeffery case was capable of more than what was being loaded. More about that in a minute…
The early part of the 20th century saw many great safari cartridges introduced; some would fade into obscurity and some would go on to become undeniable classics that few hunters would not insist on having in their collection. The .375 Holland & Holland Magnum certainly heads that list; it is perhaps the single most useful cartridge ever invented, and while it may not be perfect for everything, it will certainly get the job done on any game animal, anywhere. The writings of Robert Ruark brought the proprietary .416 Rigby into the spotlight, and I’d confidently say that without that book, the Rigby cartridge and the .416-inch bore diameter would’ve walked off into the sunset. The prestigious firm of Westley Richards answered the .404 Jeffery by releasing the .425 Westley Richards, using a .435” diameter bullet at 2,350 fps for just over 5,000 ft-lbs of energy. However, the severely rebated rim of the .425 didn’t give reliable extraction, so it didn’t gain a huge following, and is a rarity today.
The .450-400 3” NE was, and still is, a wonderful choice for a hunter, but the rimmed cartridge is usually reserved for the double rifles and single-shots; the former became very expensive to produce and the latter fell out of vogue until the advent of the Ruger No. 1 in the 1960s. By the middle of the 20th century, much of Africa had begun the plunge into political turmoil, and ammunition for many of the big double rifle calibers like the .450 NE and .470 NE became increasingly harder to find.
To fill the void, the .458 Winchester Magnum came on the scene in the 1950s in the affordable and reliable Winchester Model 70 bolt-action rifle, reproducing (at least in theory) the ballistics of the venerable .450 Nitro Express. For many years, a sportsman didn’t have much choice for a safari; you either grabbed a .375 or a .458. Still, there were those few who quietly hoarded .404 rifles and ammunition, using the vintage rifles with great effect on all shapes and sizes of game.
This article is an excerpt from Gun Digest 2017, 71st Edition.
Do you have your barrel and receiver set up to run flawlessly in your AR-style rifle? Most likely yes, but there are certain configurations that just won’t do.
This takes a bit of explanation. The original design of feed ramps were cut in the barrel extension from the magazine to the barrel. The front face of the receiver is simply a flat wall. Each round, as it strips forward out of the magazine, cams up so the tip strikes the feed ramp, and not the receiver wall. In the semi-auto rifle, and in the early M16A1s, there was no problem. Everything worked as designed.
By the late 1980s, however, there was a problem. The government had switched from the M193 to the M885 round. Colt was developing the M4. What Colt found was, when using the M855 round in the M4 on full-auto fire, the feeding became less consistent, and sometimes the tip of a round would strike the receiver wall. That would bring things to a halt, and also stub the bullet back into its case.
So, Colt made the M4 receiver, so marked on the front, above the gas tube hole. The M4 receiver feed ramps are cut at a steeper angle and, as a result, extend down into the receiver wall. The barrels also had to be modified. This can lead to a rare but odd situation; barrel and receiver mismatch. For the purposes of this chapter, we’ll call the new one the M4, and the old one the AR. We have four combinations here:
AR barrel and AR receiver
M4 barrel and AR receiver
M4 barrel and M4 receiver
AR barrel and M4 receiver
The only one that is problematic is the last one, AR barrel with a M4 receiver. AR/AR is the original, and it works. M4/AR has the feed ramps steeper, but they do not overhang the receiver ramps (there aren’t any) and no problem. M4/M4 is clearly correct.
An AR barrel in a M4 receiver, however, has steeper feed ramps cut into the receiver wall, with less-steep ramps cut into the barrel extension. (We’ll overlook for the moment that the front sight is probably also a problem, but that’s a different chapter.) The result is that the ramps in the M4 receiver have an overhang from the barrel extension of the AR barrel. A bullet can catch in there and stop the cycle. No, this is not theoretical. I saw it in a recent class, and we had to correct it.
Before we proceed, you must be familiar with the front sight height considerations between AR carbine and M4 barrels. If your rifle is correctly zeroed, and the sight is not in the wrong place, then you can correct this problem back at the feed ramps.
If, however, you find you have a non-“F” marked front sight housing, and you can’t easily zero your rifle, the correct solution is to change barrels. Or re-cut the ramps and also replace the front sight assembly.
The process is, use a Dremel or similar tool with a narrow grinding tip or a carbide cutting tool. You can set it up in a mill if you are really, positively OCD and just have to. Or, you can do what every other gunsmith and armorer across the country does — hand-hold the Dremel, grinding the barrel extension to match the receiver ramps. That’s it; you cut the steel to match the aluminum.
You can pull the barrel out of the receiver to do this. But the rest of us simply do the cutting or grinding with the barrel in the receiver. Once done, thoroughly hose out the grit with an aerosol cleaner, scrub the chamber, punch the bore with a solvent patch and then a dry patch, just to make sure you got all the grit.
That said, Colt wasn’t entirely correct that it was just a problem with M4s and M855 ammo. The problem did happen in semi-auto rifles and carbines, and not just with M855. I had it happen to one of my Frankenguns, back when Colt was still working on the M4 details. That rifle would occasionally stub in feeding. I looked at it, figuring I’d just buy a new upper receiver if it came to that, and went to work. I had to cut complete ramps of the M4 type, in both the steel and aluminum (which is why I used a carbide cutter) and it worked just fine. It still does.
But, when you order parts for your rifle to replace, rebuild or build from scratch, you want to pay attention to M4 ramps.
The country's hottest practical shooting competition continues to grow. If you are looking to get in on the fun, TRUGLO offers one-stop shopping for all your pistol, shotgun, and AR sighting needs.
If you do it, you already know. If you don't, you'll find out as soon as try it…3-gun competitions are a blast. Not only do 3-gun matches scratch that itch we all have to get out on the range, but participation in this popular and ever-growing sport has real-world benefits the likes of which you just can't get from static range shooting. The practice of engaging multiple courses of fire with your three primary defensive weapons—pistol, shotgun, and semi-automatic rifle—allows you to hone your self-defense skills. What's more, the trio of weapons you may use on a 3-gun course can be the same ones you employ for your daily personal and home defense.
Getting into 3-gun shooting is simple. All you need is a pistol in 9mm or larger chamber, a pump or semi-auto shotgun in .20- or 12-gauge, and, for most divisions, a .223 chamber semi-auto rifle, the most popular of which is the AR-15 platform. From there, it's a matter of refining your weapons to suit your needs while staying within the rules for the division in which you want to participate. If you have questions, there are many resources to help you get started, including your local participating gun range or shooting club. The 3-gun fraternity is a friendly lot, and experienced shooters enjoy every opportunity to help new shooters get involved in the sport.
Although 3-gun equipment rules are in place, they are fairly simple—especially when compared to some competitive shooting associations. One area where the rules are fairly straightforward involves sights and optics; depending on the division in which you chose to participate, no magnified optics are allowed or one magnified optic is allowed in your 3-gun set.
For those of you who are ready to give 3-gun competition a try, these three products will get your gear ready for the buzzer.
TFX™ Pro Pistol Sights If you've done any serious pistol shooting, you know that your original equipment front and rear sights do not provide an ideal sight picture in all lighting conditions. The TRUGLO TFX™ Pro tritium/fiber optic day/night sights, however, work in all lighting conditions, such as you will often find on a 3-gun course. The advantage the TFX™ Pro sights have over conventional open sights, fiber optic-only sights, or tritium-only sights is that they combine Swiss tritium and fiber optics with a contrasting color front sight ring. This combination provides optimal sight picture acquisition whether you're shooting with a high-noon sun overhead or you are on a woodland course darkened by storm clouds. What's more, the tritium/fiber optic elements are encased in almost indestructible, hermetically sealed capsules that won't be compromised by oils and cleaning solvents. Another advantage these sights have for the 3-gun shooter is their radiused, snag-proof design, which allows you to draw and holster your pistol smoothly and quickly.
TRU•BEAD Turkey Universal Sights You're probably thinking, “A turkey sight for a tactical shotgun?” Well, listen up. Three-gun courses are increasingly diversifying their courses of fire, and this includes the shotgun courses. In a shotgun course, you may encounter everything from close-quarter target “hosing” with #6s or 75-yard slug targets. As a result, you need an equally diverse sighting system. An ideal middle-ground sight is the TRUGLO TRU•BEAD™ Turkey Universal. You can use the orange fiber optic front sight to focus on your close-range targets. When it's time to send a chunk of lead far downrange, the contrasting color rear sights will give you precise targeting. Of course, the rear sights are adjustable for elevation and windage, so you'll know the steel is in trouble as soon as you hit the stage.
To Magnify or Not to Magnify That is the question you must answer before deciding in which division you want to shoot. The Limited division, which is popular for those just entering the 3-gun world, does not allow any magnified optics. If this is your chosen path, you'll want to consider using a fast-acquisition red dot, such as the TRUGLO TRU•TEC™ 30mm Red Dot. This sight provides a wide field of view and unlimited eye relief for the fast-paced 3-gun environment while the 2 MOA reticle ensures precise targeting for those way-out-there shots.
If you want to jump right into the highly competitive Tactical division, you will be allowed one magnifying optic in your arsenal. This, naturally, would be best served on your rifle. While some competitors combine canted open sights with a higher power scope to cover both short and long distance targets, fixed power or variable power scopes (1-4X and 1-6X) are commonly used for both. The scope is set at its low setting for engaging close targets, then the shooter cranks up the magnification to engage the 200- and 300-yard plus targets. For this, the TRUGLO TRU•BRITE™ 30 Series is your huckleberry. The TRU•BRITE™ 30 Series can be purchased with either 1-4X or 1-6X magnification and includes two pre-calibrated BDC turrets (one for .223 caliber/55-grain and one for .308 caliber/168-grain) so you can be confident of your shot placement. Another feature that makes this scope optimal for 3-gun shooting is the ergonomic magnification adjustment ring, which minimizes fumbling and grip slip when you need to quickly transition between magnification settings.
Try It Out! Three-gun competition is great fun, and it is a terrific opportunity for developing real-world defensive shooting skills. There are firearms clubs and associations around the country which host three-gun matches throughout the year. The National Shooting Sports Foundation maintains a listing of shooting ranges in the U.S., many of which host 3-gun competitions. Contact your local ranges for more info. You can also check out 3-Gun Nation for additional shooting opportunities in your area. In the meantime, check out the NSSF introductory video to 3-gun competition above.
Given its operation in an AR-15, you might think the carrier sees a lot of wear and tear. But its longevity is quite impressive in the overall scheme of things.
Being the guy in the know, and with spies in all locations on the planet (or so some readers suppose), I get sent all sorts of interesting information. One of them concerns a recent incident with the U.S. Border Patrol. Apparently, someone from the higher echelons of management, sent armorers around to all the Border Patrol stations with orders to fully inspect all M4A1 carbines in use. In the course of inspecting, they apparently “deadlined” (that is, required removal from service) 65-70 percent of all rifles. This of course came as a surprise, and the powers-that-be had not planned to replace or repair that many rifles. So, the BP agents were reduced to one rifle per agent or less.
Now, in a city department, having one rifle for every other officer is not a problem. Backup is mere minutes away, and taking cover behind something substantial is an accepted practice when outgunned until the cavalry arrives.
However, Border Patrol agents are often miles and miles from anyone who might help. And they are in rifle country, with nothing solid to stay behind until help arrives. Not having rifles is a big problem. And there was a lot of consternation until the shortfall was corrected.
One of the tools the armorers used was a gauge I had never heard of called a Gauge, Gas Seal Hole, and is meant to be utilized at Depot-level maintenance. It measures the wear in the carrier bore hole, where the bolt tail seals. If the gauge goes all the way into the carrier, the carrier is worn out.
That such a tool exists does not surprise me. After all, the government has to have standards, measurements and inspection tools for everything.
What would surprise me is that any carrier, well, any properly-made carrier, would fail this gauge. Look, we have a hardened-steel part with wear surfaces that are hard-chrome plated. Rubbing against it is the tail of the bolt, but it isn’t really rubbing against it. The gas rings and the bolt body keep the bolt pretty well centered in the bore hole. The amount of actual rubbing has to be pretty minimal, and most of what is going on is carbon being created, ground off and pumped out of the gap. If there is gas leakage in that gap, I can see where the problem might be wear on the bolt from over-enthusiastic cleaning. But the carrier? I guess anything is possible.
Considering how grossly over-gassed even a properly gassed AR is, I’d bet that even if you had a carrier that failed this gauge, you could assemble it into a rifle and never notice the failure on the part of the carrier. Now, if you want to track down one of these gauges and use it, go ahead. But don’t think it is gaining you any advantage over your fellow shooters. And don’t think the gauge will be cheap, either.
If this was your original carrier, you’ve certainly gotten your money’s worth out of it if you have worn it out. Let’s just assume, for a ballpark figure, that the carrier in question has survived a decade of constant use. You’ve plugged four replacement barrels into the rifle, each with its own bolt. So, the original barrel and bolt, plus four more, at $75 each for the bolts and $150 each for the barrels. That’s $900 just in parts. Each of those bolt/barrel combos lasted you, what, 10,000 rounds? So that’s 50,000 rounds (don’t forget the original parts) and that, at the current price of ammo of roughly $300 per thousand, ran you $15,000. So, all told you have gotten the price of a new compact car of use out of that carrier. A new carrier to replace it costs you somewhere between $150 and $200.
Go ahead and splurge. Buy the replacement one with the super-high-tech plating on it to make it easier to clean. The extra $25-$50 is nothing in the scheme of things.
Yankee Hill Machine's new Nitro 30 Suppressor is a versatile, multi-purpose suppressor perfect for any shooter.
Suppressors currently represent one of the fastest growing segments in the gun industry, and with the American Suppressor Association's (ASA) efforts to expand legal suppressor ownership to additional states, more and more people are choosing to place suppressors, or cans, on their firearms. And while there are tons of caliber-specific cans on the market, some of the best selling suppressors are those that are compatible with multiple calibers and can be switched quickly and easily to different platforms. The benefit of these types of cans is that a shooter can purchase and complete the NFA paperwork on one can and use it on many of his or her firearms instead of buying and filling out paperwork on multiple suppressors specific to each caliber.
The two different rear caps for the Nitro 30 Suppressor: a QD cap and a direct-thread cap.
Recognizing the consumer demand for this level of versatility, Yankee Hill Machine (YHM) has recently brought out its new Nitro 30 Suppressor, a modular device that can be adapted to the shooter's given purpose or task. The new Nitro 30 Suppressor system comes in a kit that includes two different muzzle caps and two different rear caps, which affords the user greater adaptability in terms of mounting options. The new can also is built to handle calibers ranging from .17 HMR on the small end to .300 Remington Ultra Magnum on the large end, making it incredibly versatile, especially for shooters looking to implement the suppressor on a variety of platforms.
The two muzzle caps include a flat cap, which is tailored to more tactical pursuits, and a muzzle brake cap, which is geared more toward target and recreational shooters. The two rear cap options are a Quick Disconnect (QD) rear cap and a direct-thread rear cap with 5/8-24 threads. The QD option provides a more flexible mounting system for use on multiple firearms, whereas the direct-thread cap offers a secure mounting choice for a more dedicated setup.
The Suppressor System Kit for the Nitro 30 Suppressor comes with the welded suppressor body, the two muzzle caps and two rear caps, two assembly wrenches, one muzzle brake with the user's choice of thread pitches (5/8-24, 1/2-28, or 1/2-36), one Basofil heat resistant pouch, and a carrying case for all the parts. MSRP is currently listed at $890.
In addition, a flat muzzle cap and a direct-thread-on rear cap (1/2-28) are available separately for purchase, as is the YHM Adaptable Brake, which utilizes the same rear and muzzle caps as the Nitro 30 Suppressor. For more information on the Nitro 30 Suppressor or any of YHM's excellent accessories, visit the YHM website.
Specifications: YHM Nitro 30 Suppressor Weight: 18.72 oz./19.84 oz. Diameter: 1.562 in. Length: 6.88 in./7.75 in. Construction: 17-4 Ph stainless steel Direct Thread: 5/8-24, 1/2-28 Decibel Rating: 135 dB
One of the bigger trends lately in shooting has been the growth of long-range shooting and hunting. As experienced long-range shooters are well aware, taking shots at longer than normal distances requires a lot from a shooter's gear. Along with the rifle and optic, ammunition is one of the most important considerations for those who shoot an extended ranges.
Understanding this, Hornady researched and developed a new bullet for use in its new Precision Hunter ammo line designed to be both accurate and hard hitting well beyond traditional ranges. Dubbed the ELD-X (Extremely Low Drag-eXpanding), this projectile offers best-in-class ballistic coefficients (BC) courtesy of Hornady's innovative Heat Shield tip, which resists the effects of aerodynamic heating as distances stretch to retain its shape longer over its trajectory.
The bullet also features an AMP jacket and uses Hornady's Interlock ring to keep the core and jacket together for increased weight retention. The result of all of this is a bullet that offers devastating performance on game within more traditional ranges of 400 yards or less while also providing some of the best extended-range terminal performance available at ranges past 400 yards.
Our friends at Deer & Deer Hunting caught up with Hornady's Neal Emery to get the scoop on this great new option for hunters or shooters looking to be more effective at longer ranges. Watch the video above for more on the new Precision Hunter ammo line and the ELD-X bullet from Hornady.
The Precision Hunter ammo is available in the following calibers: 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm Rem. Mag., .308 Win., .30-06 Springfield, .300 RCM, .300 Win. Mag., .300 RUM, .30-378 Weatherby Magnum. Currently, MSRPs on the new Precision Hunter ammunition range from $42.88 to $126.85, depending on caliber.
Over the years, the rifle has undergone significant changes as technology and our understanding of the physical processes at work within firearms have improved. We have come a long way, and today's assortment of highly reliable, and highly accurate rifles prove this fact.
Certainly, every rifle produced advances the craft in some way, revealing what works and what doesn't and introducing new designs to build off of in the future. But what are some of the most influential rifle designs ever devised, creations that helped to revolutionize the rifle platform — and whose influence we can still see in guns produced today?
When asked what I thought were the 10 most influential rifle designs, I figured I could come up with the answers fairly easily. However, after a good deal of rumination, it seemed an especially difficult undertaking, given all the phenomenal rifles out there that have influenced current development. But, following a fair amount of research and thought, here's the list I've put together.
In 1983, Research Armament Co. in the U.S. began development of a new, long-range sniper cartridge capable of firing a 250-grain, .338-inch diameter bullet at 3,000 fps. After preliminary experiments, a .416 Rigby case necked down to .338-inch was selected. Brass Extrusion Labs Ltd. (then of Bensenville, Illinois), made the cases, Hornady produced bullets, and Research Armament built the gun under contract for the U.S. Navy. Subsequently, Lapua and Norma have put this cartridge into production. It is now a CIP standard chambering; since CIP and SAAMI have reciprocal agreements in place (at least in theory), that makes this a standard SAAMI chambering, as well. You have to burn a lot of powder to launch a 250-grain bullet at 3,000 fps. The .338 Lapua Magnum, as it is known commercially, or the 8.58x71mm, does just that. The full metal jacket, boat-tail military bullet is reportedly very effective at 1,500 meters. The commercial soft-point bullet is intended for hunting very heavy game. Cartridge cases are brass with Boxer primers. Guns for this cartridge are bolt-actions, but at least one gas-operated M-16-style rifle has been developed (RND Manufacturing, 14399 Mead Street, Longmont, CO 80504; (970) 535-4458).
Whether you are a serious firearms enthusiast, cartridge collector, or handloader, you’re sure to find something of interest in Cartridges of the World, 14th Edition by W. Todd Woodard. As the most widely-read cartridge reference book available, this comprehensive guide is ideal for firearms owners, especially those with an interest in the hardware currently available from the firearms industry. Get Your Copy Now
Ruger's new Super Blackhawk revolvers in .480 Ruger and .454 Casull are excellent options for handgun hunters and fans of big-bore revolvers.
Early this year, Ruger asked me to perform some testing on both of its new Super Blackhawk models, all under the veil of secrecy of a strict embargo. I put nearly 1,000 rounds through the .454 Casull model and almost 5,000 rounds through the .480 Ruger model.
Fans of the single-action Super Blackhawk have long been waiting for one chambered in .480 Ruger.
Appropriately dubbed an “endurance test,” I wasn’t sure whose endurance we were testing, the gun’s or mine. I had no support crew or relief shooters. It was just the revolvers, the bench, piles of ammunition and me. I am happy to report that I survived, and my hands are still somewhat intact. I can’t figure out what’s wrong with me. I have an inability to say “no” when asked to test firearms I find irresistible—irrespective of the parameters of the test. When Ruger engineers first approached me, I was told I was on a short list to test the .454 Casull and .480 Ruger Super Blackhawk single-action revolvers. They said something about being recoil-proof and a glutton for punishment in explaining why I had been chosen for this honor. My wife neatly sums up these “qualities” with one word: numb.
“No problem,” I said, and “Thanks, I think. I love a challenge.”
In February, a call from my FFL indicated that the first installment had arrived along with a couple hundred rounds of .454 Casull of various brands and bullet weights. I tested that revolver to the tune of nearly 1,000 rounds in a short period of time.
Shortly thereafter, a .480 Ruger Super Blackhawk arrived, and this time, my FFL told me I should bring my truck to haul all of the ammo out of his entryway.
Ever since Sturm, Ruger & Company released the .480 Ruger in the love-it-or-hate-it Super Redhawk back in 2001, revolver aficionados have been browbeating Ruger to release this cartridge in their popular single-action revolver lineup. The combination of Super Blackhawk and .480 Ruger is debated incessantly on gun websites, yet Ruger’s reticence to actually make this happen has frustrated many handgun hunters who have long wanted to see this marriage come to fruition.
Basically a shortened .475 Linebaugh, the .480 Ruger is a serious big-game hunting round that, even when loaded to spec, isn’t too abusive to the one pulling the trigger. Ruger has finally relented by offering not only its .480 Ruger in the Super Blackhawk line, but also the raucous .454 Casull. Ruger has offered the Super Redhawk in .454 Casull since the late ’90s.
Handgun hunters everywhere now have reason to rejoice as two of their favorite calibers can be had in the revolver they love in an affordable package. Available as a Lipsey’s distributor exclusive, I cannot imagine supplies will last long.
The gun’s cylinder is carved from 465 Carpenter steel for durability.
Here’s what you need to know. The new revolvers are based on the old revolvers. Ruger used the standard Super Blackhawk frame in stainless steel (415 stainless steel). The barrel is 6½ inches in both models (at least initially) and made from 15-5 stainless steel, with a 1:24 and 1:18 twist for the .454 Casull and .480 Ruger, respectively. The barrel is straight, without a taper and features a front sight base that is silver soldered on with a pinned in sight blade, and a standard Ruger adjustable sight is utilized in the rear.
The cylinder is carved from 465 Carpenter steel, the super-strong, hard-to-machine material that first made an appearance in the late 90s in the .454 Casull Super Redhawk (and later in the .480 Ruger version). The cylinder is a five-shot configuration, with counter-boring to encapsulate the case heads. Dimensionally, the cylinder is like that of the .44 Magnum Super Blackhawk, save for a tiny bit more length to the rear to compensate for the recessed case heads.
The new Super Blackhawks feature a slightly longer, five-shot cylinder with counter-boring.
The new revolvers are fitted with an extra-long ejector rod housing that made its first appearance on the limited run of stretch frame .357 Maximum revolvers of the early 1980s. A Bisley grip frame is the only one offered and the only one Ruger deemed acceptable for these applications. A locking base pin guards against the base pin walking out under recoil, a nice touch.
I tested both models thoroughly with factory fodder. Both pre-production models suffered from teething pains that we have been assured have been sorted out, but are to be expected from test guns. Chronic screw loosening (grip frame in particular) plagued the .454, but a drop or two of thread lock fixed that issue. The ejector rod housings on both loosened regularly, and both launched their front sights, ironically on the 480th round out of the .480 model. The .480 also had its barrel unscrew itself, but Ruger promptly fixed it and had it back in my sore hands to resume testing.
These new revolvers are equipped with an extra-long ejector rod housing.
Recoil means something different to every shooter. While I am no stranger to recoil, these relatively lightweight powerhouses pack a wallop on both ends. Not the worst you may encounter, but a considerable step up from the venerable .44 Magnum. The .454 Casull Super Blackhawk kicks noticeably harder than its .480 Ruger counterpart. This is no doubt due to the higher pressure levels .454 Casull ammunition is loaded to, and while the .480 delivers a heavy push, the .454 has a snappy and much sharper recoil impulse.
Both revolvers delivered outstanding accuracy, the only limits being my eyesight with open iron sights. To remedy this, I equipped both models with red dot-type sights of radically different designs. I own a number of more expensive revolvers that cannot compete with the accuracy these two new Rugers displayed.
We got the opportunity to test the new .454 Bisley on porcine flesh at Hog Heaven Outfitters of Johnston County, North Carolina. I got lucky on the first morning when a 214-pound boar made the mistake of showing up. The shot was broadside at about 20 yards and required only one Garrett 365-grain .45 Colt +P Hammerhead to seal the deal. My testing was now complete.
In summary, Ruger and Lipsey’s have finally given us what we want. What was once a custom-only and cost-prohibitive proposition is now only a phone call—and also less than $1,000—away from being yours. We all have reason to rejoice. Evidently, Ruger is listening.
This article originally appeared in the April 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Reloading the 9mm Luger is an easy process, but there are a few useful techniques for getting the most out of your 9mm loads.
In the gun world, debates rage on for decades, and some are pushing a century. Undoubtedly, these debates aren’t going anywhere soon, but some get especially heated.
One of the most fervent is the debate over the .45 ACP vs. the 9mm Luger. Both sides have their staunch defenders, and both have valid points of view. I’ve personally leaned toward the .45 ACP camp, but that certainly doesn’t make the 9mm Luger a bad choice for a carry gun; in fact, I see some merit to the smaller frame and greater magazine capacity.
Resized 9mm case and flared case ready for loading.
Adding to the credibility of the 9mm Luger, please consider that the venerable .38 Special (my own choice for a daily carry gun) is looked upon as a worthy carry gun, yet the 9mm Luger is a more powerful cartridge across the board. The .38 has a bit of a heavier bullet at the top end (158 grains), but the 9mm can spit out 147-grain slugs, which is not too shabby.
Bred for military service in 1902, Georg Luger of Germany presented his 9x19mm cartridge to several countries, but it was his home country that adopted it as its sidearm. This is not the place to debate the comparisons to the fatter cartridges; let’s just take it for granted that the 9mm Luger works, because it does.
Reloading the 9mm is not a difficult proposition; it’s a relatively straightforward design. It is a straight-walled, slightly tapered case, which headspaces off of the case mouth. Therefore, you’ll want to be very careful about trimming the brass to proper length and leaving a good, square case mouth. The 9mm Luger has a case length of 0.754 inches, and it’s best to adhere to that length.
I use the RCBS Case Prep station to set the trim depth to the proper length, using the micrometer dial to get things just right. When I flare the case mouths, I don’t flare very deep; just enough to get the bullet seated properly, so as not to over-stress the case.
Once your bullet is seated, the only type of crimp you should use is a taper crimp. You see, the traditional roll crimp, which will roll the very edge of the case mouth into the cannelure of the bullet, will destroy the only means of proper headspacing and therefore must not be used. A taper crimp, which squeezes the case wall concentrically, will keep the bullet firmly in place, while maintaining the square case mouth for headspacing.
The 9mm Luger is sparked by a small pistol primer; my own loads have been based around the Federal Gold Medal Match primer, part number GM100M. The consistency of the Federal Gold Medal Match line has caused me to be a bit biased, but they’ve worked very well for me in many different applications. I’d like to share the three loads I use most in three common bullet weights.
Alliant Blue Dot flake powder is good for heavier 9mm loads.
At the lightest is a 90-grain Sierra jacketed hollowpoint (JHP) with a skived jacket. This bullet is on the light side of the spectrum, and as a result it will attain the highest velocities. I was experimenting with Ramshot’s ZIP powder and stumbled upon a load that gave very satisfactory results.
Out of a Tangfolio 4½-inch barreled-pistol, this bullet, when seated over a charge of 5.2 grains of ZIP, gave just over 1,300 fps, with very little velocity deviation and excellent accuracy. At 1.010 inches, the truncated cone profile fed very well, giving no issues whatsoever. Some 9mm pistols won’t feed the shorter bullets as well, so you’ll have to do some experimenting with your own gun.
If you do experience feeding issues, I’d make sure your feed ramp is well polished and if it still persists, I’d recommend switching to a slightly longer bullet. Now, the penetrative qualities of such a short bullet may not be as impressive as the heavier-for-caliber slugs, but that is often a quality that is appreciated in a home-defense load. Over-penetration is a rather undesirable quality when there are loved ones in adjoining rooms.
Resizing 9mm brass is an easy process.
For a good, affordable plinking load, I like the Speer TMJ 115-grain bullet. It has a classic, military-style nose profile, and because the lead core is completely encased in the copper plating it makes a great choice for use in the indoor pistol ranges, as they will leave no lead vapors in the air.
I load this bullet over 4.2 grains of Hodgdon’s Tite-Group for a muzzle velocity of just under 1,100 fps. This is a middle-of-the-road powder charge, which doesn’t recoil too harshly and is easy on the ears, yet cycles just fine in our test gun. I set the bullet for a cartridge overall length (COL) of 1.130 inches to ensure proper bullet tension in the case.
I have long been a fan of heavier bullet choices when loading for the medium-caliber handguns, like the 9mm Luger or .38 Special.
Although the velocities drop off considerably in comparison to the light-for-caliber bullets, the heavier slugs offer fantastic penetration, especially when that bullet is properly constructed. The Speer Gold Dot has a fantastic reputation as a self-defense bullet, even to the point where it is carried by law enforcement.
The 147-grain Gold Dot is a serious projectile in the 9mm Luger, leaving the muzzle at 950 fps, when set atop a charge of 5.6 grains of Alliant’s Blue Dot powder, at a COL of 1.130 inches. This combination will cause any would-be attacker to seriously reconsider their chosen course of action.
Even with the heavy bullet, and a stout load (though our pistol showed no signs of excessive pressure), one of the great features of the 9mm Luger is that just about any shooter can learn to handle the pistol effectively, and that includes this particular load. Recoil was very manageable and muzzle jump was moderate, so it was easy to get back on target.
Due to the small case capacity of the 9mm Luger, I sort my brass into lots, separated by headstamp. This way I get as close as possible to a uniform case capacity for each load I develop. As always, you should start at the lowest listed load for each particular bullet, and work your way up slowly.
However, in the 9mm Luger, there is not a wide differential between the starting load and the maximum, so I would suggest that you work up in 0.1-grain increments, watching for high-pressure signs.
The example loads given above are an illustration of the versatility of the 9mm Luger, but there are many more avenues to be pursued. The Luger will run very well on many other powders, like Alliant Unique and Herco, Accurate No. 7, and Hodgdon HS-6. Have fun experimenting with the variety of loads, and enjoy shooting Mr. Luger’s creation.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Summer 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Bushnell adds to its long-range offerings with the new LRHSi 4.5-18×44 riflescope, which features an illuminated reticle for rapid targeting.
Bushnell has always been a big name in the hunting scene, and in the past few years, the company has really dedicated itself to offering more in the way of quality, long-range optics for hunters and shooters. One of the American manufacturer's biggest releases in recent years was its Elite Long Range Hunting Scope (LRHS), a purpose-built riflescope with features designed to aid the long-range hunter.
Now, Bushnell is expanding its long-range offerings by adding another long-range riflescope with an illuminated reticle to help hunters more quickly place their aiming point on target in any light condition. Like the previous LRHS, the new Bushnell LRHSi 4.5-18x44mm riflescope provides excellent accuracy, especially as distances stretch, making it a powerful tool for long-range shooters and hunters.
The new LRHSi riflescope features a first focal plane G2H-i mil-based reticle with .1 mil clicks. This allows shooters to range targets at any magnification and make quick, easy and precise holdover adjustments in the field. The scope also incorporates a low-profile, target-style elevation turret equipped with a RevLimiter zero stop function that allows shooters to quickly return to zero without dialing past the zero.
Like many of Bushnell's riflescopes, the new LRHSi 4.5-18x44mm comes equipped with Bushnell's Rainguard HD that creates a permanent barrier that beads water to maintain a clear view regardless of the conditions, an excellent benefit to serious hunters who might not always experience ideal shooting conditions. Along these same lines, the LRHSi is Argon-purged for waterproofing.
This new long-range scope utilizes a fast-focus eyepiece and side-parallax adjustment to ensure a clear sight picture regardless of range, and it features fully multi-coated optics with Ultra Wide Band anti-reflection lens treatments.
The LRHSi has a durable 30mm tube construction, yet weighs in at just 26.5 ounces, providing a lightweight option perfect for the field. Overall length is 14.2 inches, and eye relief on the new optic is 3.94 inches.
The new Bushnell LRHSi 4.5-18×44 currently carries a minimum advertised price (MAP) of $2,039.95. For more information on the new LRHSi, visit Bushnell's website.
The new Vortex Optics Razor HD AMG is purpose-built with the serious long-range shooter in mind and is full of great features.
Vortex Optics has increasingly become a major player in the optics industry, and one of the manufacturer's newest offerings is dedicated to serious long-range shooters and hunters. Dubbed the Razor HD AMG, this new 28.8-ounce variable-power riflescope offers 6-24 magnification with a 50mm objective lens.
The new scope is perfect for an array of long-range tactical applications or for hunting in wide-open western landscapes. The Razor HD AMG is 100-percent manufactured in the U.S. from quality, durable materials and is waterproof, fog proof and shockproof. It is a first focal plane design with an illuminated glass-etched reticle, and the scope features premium HD low-dispersion glass that is fully multi-coated.
Our friends at Deer & Deer Hunting caught up with Mike Boardman of Vortex Optics to get an exclusive rundown on the new Razor HD AMG. Check out the video above to learn more about this great new long-range riflescope.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
In recent years, some ammunition manufacturers have started offering alternatives to lead bullets in many of their loads. With some states changing their laws regarding the use of lead-based projectiles on ranges and in the field, offering loads with non-lead projectiles is a prudent move on the part of these manufacturers.
The AK platform poses unique challenges when it comes to optics. Here are some AK optics options for shooters who want to stretch out their rifle's range and capabilities. 
