When it comes down to it, choosing a holster for concealed carry is almost completely about comfort and personal preference. A shooter will choose the holster that fits most comfortably for the chosen firearm, and that fits his or her carry position preference, whether that be inside-the-waistband (IWB) in the appendix area, tucked behind the hip, belt-mounted on the strong side, or any other position. Often, shooters must purchase a different holster depending on their method of carry, and that cost adds up.
Luckily, the folks at Blackhawk have just released a new concealed carry holster with incredible versatility that adapts to most popular carry configurations. The new Leather Tuckable Pancake Holster blends premium leather and injection-molded plastic for a comfortable, yet ruggedly durable product; and best of all, this new design allows civilian and law enforcement users to choose from IWB, tuckable or belt-mounted wear.
A truly adaptable option, the Blackhawk Leather Tuckable Pancake Holster utilizes a three-slot design, meaning shooters can carry in the strong-side, behind-the-hip, appendix and cross-draw positions on belts up to 1.75 inches in width. Belt clips are also included for traditional inside-the-pants wear or use as a tuckable holster.
This new Blackhawk holster is also adjustable for cant and ride and features a built-in shirt shield to keep moisture from the firearm. The level of retention is tension-adjustable, and the holster features a trigger guard for safety and security.
“We know that our customers rely on their equipment to keep them safe, and we are excited to offer such a multifaceted holster,” said Jarrett Beck, BLACKHAWK! Product Director. “This new holster offers personal adjustability, safety, convenience and value in an all-in-one package.”
The Blackhawk Leather Tuckable Pancake Holster currently fits the Smith & Wesson M&P and M&P Shield, the Ruger SP101 and Taurus 85 revolvers, and the Kahr 9/40, with other fits becoming available. The MSRP on this new 3-in-1 holster is listed at $86.95.
For more information on the new Leather Tuckable Pancake Holster or other Blackhawk products, visit Blackhawk.com.
Smith & Wesson has upgraded its M&P 15-22 lineup yet again, this time with Sport MOE-SL models.
Smith & Wesson’s M&P 15-22 has been one of the most popular and effective .22 LR AR platforms for several years. A rimfire AR affords shooters the ability to train and become familiar with the AR’s ergonomics and operation without the recoil and added expense of .223/5.56 NATO rounds, and the M&P 15-22 has consistently been one of the more reliable offerings in this category.
Earlier this year, Smith & Wesson revealed a new Sport version of the classic M&P 15-22 that offered the rifle with premium Magpul accessories straight from the factory. Now, the manufacturer has expanded the M&P 15-22 Sport line by introducing new MOE-SL (Magpul Original Equipment – Slim Line) models.
“As we continue to offer shooters enhanced features and control on a factory built platform, we are especially excited about this new addition to our extremely popular family of M&P15-22 Sport rifles,” said Jan Mladek, General Manager of Smith & Wesson’s M&P Brand. “We continue to look for new and innovative ways to evolve the M&P rifle series and offer consumers enhanced features. Outfitting the M&P15-22 Sport MOE SL with Magpul original equipment is just another step in creating the ultimate shooting experience.”
The new Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Sport MOE-SL is engineered on a high-strength polymer upper and lower receiver for weight reduction and comes with features standard on all M&P 15-22 Sport rifles such as Magpul’s MBUS front and rear folding sights and Slim M-LOK handguard. These features already make the M&P 15-22 Sport MOE-SL an excellent choice for tactical training or for simple plinking.
However, the new M&P 15-22 Sport MOE-SL models also come equipped with a Magpul MOE SL mil-spec carbine stock, SL Grip and Magpul Type-2 M-LOK rail covers. The MOE SL carbine stock provides improved cheek weld and has a shielded, ambidextrous release lever for adjustment, and the SL Grip offers a slimmer, more ergonomic feel with a greater vertical grip angle, a beavertail backstrap and an aggressive TSP (Trapezoidal Surface Projections) texture for added control. The rail covers similarly feature a heavily textured surface for positive control in any environment.
The new Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Sport MOE-SL models are available in black or FDE (flat dark earth) finishes and come with one, 25-round magazine. MSRP is currently listed at $499. For more information on this new product offering or other products, visit Smith-Wesson.com.
Aguila Ammo has been expanding its presence in the U.S. shooting industry as of late, adding high-profile competitive shooters to its pro staff and increasing its marketing efforts in the American market. Now, the company has announced it is also partnering with up-and-coming shooter Alexis Welch, an 8-year-old who has wowed the industry with her abilities and her competitive drive.
Welch learned to shoot at the age of 5 and is only in her second year of competing. However, she has garnered a lot of publicity and attention due to her young age, small size, her shooting skills and her excellent personality.
“We are excited for our pro-staff team to be expanding, and even more excited to have Alexis be part of it. She is everything we look for in a shooter; enthusiastic, engaging and passionate about the shooting sports,” says Kristi Drawe, Director of Marketing for Aguila Ammunition. “With Alexis’ personality, inspiring story, and her incredible shooting ability, she is exactly what other youth shooters should aspire to be. Right now she is a very new and young shooter at the brink of her shooting career, and we are honored to be part of her journey.”
Even at her young age, Welch has already had to face challenges. She overcame being born deaf, and recently lost her grandfather, who taught her to shoot and had coached her through every competition. Although it isn’t the same without having her grandfather there, Welch is already competing again. She routinely competes against shooters twice her age.
“I’m super excited to join the Aguila team this year! I have been using their .22 ammo for a long time now and I love that it fires great every time I shoot it,” says Alexis. “Having Aguila as a sponsor really helps my shooting career. I look forward to building a lasting relationship with some great people that produce a great product.”
Welch is currently competing in Rimfire: open division, limited, 8 stages rifle and 8 stages pistol events. Of course, she also is very interested in competing in 3-Gun and AR competitions in the future.
Seconds are precious in any shooting competition. And Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to Competitive Pistol Shootingarms shooters with the knowledge to get into the game. The comprehensive resource breaks down the most popular pistol events — IDPA, IPSC, Steel Challenge, GSSF, Bull’s Eye, Cowboy Action, Bianchi Cup and 3-Gun — to their bare essentials, giving shooters a solid grasp of what it takes to set their sights on gold. Get Your Copy
With the market for Kalashnikovs growing in recent years, Real Avid has introduced a cleaning kit purposefully crafted for the venerable rifle.
The Gun Boss AK47 Kit is tailor-made for the rugged AK and offers a bit more than just some brushes and a cleaning rod. The kit comes with a number of other tools that help ensure this Russian-born rifle keeps running like a Swiss watch.
Of these, the Gun Boss’ carbon-scraping tool is one of the more intriguing. Designed to clean fouling off the gas piston and bolt, the carbon-scraping tool could be a real savior during a long day at the range. The kit includes a nifty multi-tasking tool and a gas port scraper that also has a drift pin punch, as well.
The Gun Boss AK47 also includes:
Six Threaded Steel Rods Form a 28.5″ Rod
7.62mm Bore Brush
Gas Tube Nylon Brush
Gas Tube Mop
Nylon Slotted Tip
AK Drift Pin Punch with Gas Port Scraper Tip
Double-Threaded Chamber Brush
Compact AK47 Scraper
50 Cleaning Patches
Perhaps the most practical aspect of the cleaning kit is its size. All the gear fits into a shockproof case that measures 5”x3”x2”, which means almost any range bag can find space for it. Presently, Real Avid’s Gun Boss AK47 cleaning kit has an MSRP of $29.99
Keep your pistols and revolvers in prime condition with the Gun Boss Handgun Cleaning Kit from Real Avid. Organized inside a convenient, compact case, this complete cleaning system is easily transported between the field, range, and workbench. Not only does the case keep the included components snapped in tightly, but it’s also oil resistant, so if you happen to get any oil on your pristine cleaning kit case, it’ll wipe right off. Get Yours Now
Once somewhat a rarity, reflex sights are making their way onto more pistols and tactical rifles and shotguns. There’s a good reason why. The dandy little aiming solutions are proven to get even novice shooters on target more quickly and constantly.
Meopta has given marksmen of all stripes another choice in reflex sights with the recent introduction of the MeoRed. And given the refinements the Czech-American company has engineered into the optic, the new reflex could be a top-notch choice for those looking for a non-obtrusive option.
The MeoRed is the company’s most compact reflex sight to date, at just 1.02 inches in height and 1.05 ounces in weight. This is nearly a 20-percent reduction on both counts to the new sight’s predecessor the MeoSight III. And its low profile and weight could be a big selling point for the optic, especially among pistol shooters weary of too much bulk on their handguns.
The 1x optic should also have the chops for work on a long gun. The sight’s 3 MOA red dot is small enough to accurately put rounds on target at intermediate range. And with its aircraft-grade aluminum housing — fully water and shock proof — the MeoRed is made to take the abuse many sights undergo on a rifle or shotgun.
The sight runs off one CR 2032 battery, which has 300 hours of lifetime. It has an automatic off switch to help preserve battery life. It is fully adjustable, with 180 MOA of windage and 120 of elevation. And it is designed to be parallax free.
Walther is shooting for the top of the podium with its new Q5 Match.
Striker-fired pistols have dominated the self-defense market in recent decades. Now the popular style of handgun is making inroads in another facet of the shooting world — competitions.
Walther Arms has continued to expand its offering for this niche with the addition of a decked out competitive pistol. And at first blush, the German-American gun maker’s Q5 Match looks to have the chops to shoot for the top of the podium.
There are two elements in particular that have the potential to get sport shooters to give the new Walther the once over: it’s trigger and sights.
In regards to the former feature, the company has outfitted the extension of its PPQ line with its Quick Defense Trigger. The trademark blue trigger has a fairly standard pull weight for a striker-fired; Walther lists it at 5.6 pounds. But the travel and reset on the 9mm appears to be the selling point. With a short .4-inch trigger travel and .1-inch reset, the Q5 Match should have the ability to rapidly send rounds downrange, accurately.
The Walther Q5 Match’s trigger and optics-mounting platform might get competitors looking its way.
As far as the sights are concerned, the pistol comes outfitted with a fiber optics front sight and a fully adjustable rear target sight. But it’s what Walther has integrated into the rear sight that gives the Q5 Match an advantage over many other competitive pistols. The company has designed the polymer-framed handgun to include an optics-mounting platform that facilitates the quick addition of a reflex sight. The gun comes with plates that make it compatible with optics from Trijicon, Leupold and DOCTER red-dot sights.
The 5-inch barreled pistol is right- and left-hand friendly with an ambidextrous magazine release and slide stop. It features aggressive cocking serrations both fore and aft, making the pistol easier to manipulate and quicker to reload. It has a Picatinny rail under its muzzle for the quick addition of an accessory. And it has an undercut trigger guard and ergonomic grip, allowing for a higher purchase on the gun, thus also giving more control over it, while mitigating recoil.
Presently, the MSRP on the Walther Q5 Match is $849.
The history of IMR Legendary Powders is a long and vaunted one, stretching back hundreds of years to the changeover from black powder to smokeless powder. In these many years, it has built a sizeable following of dedicated customers.
Acquired by Hodgdon Powders in 2003, the company has continued to produce quality powders for the handloading community, whether in the form of old and respected standbys such as the 7828 or in its newer offerings. One of IMR’s most recent product lines is its Enduron powders, which feature copper fouling elimination, extreme temperature stability, ideal load density and are friendly to the environment.
Gun Digest’s Phil Massaro met up with Chris Hodgdon of Hodgdon Powders during the 2016 SHOT Show in Las Vegas to get the rundown on IMR’s new Enduron line. Watch the video above to learn more about this great new line of powders.
The publisher of the “World’s Greatest Gun Book” is proud to announce the return of the “World’s Greatest Reloading Book.” Handloader’s Digest is back and in its 19th edition is better than ever with more enlightening features, industry resources and eye-catching photos. Whether it’s information on this year’s new ammunition reloading equipment or an in-depth article on obscure wildcat cartridges, you’re certain to find what you’re looking for in this authoritative annual. Get Your Copy Now
Ever since Hornady introduced the 6.5 Creedmoor around 2007, the cartridge has steadily gained in popularity. As with many 6.5mm cartridges, the Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor is a relatively light-recoiling round that provides excellent ballistics and accuracy, particularly as distances stretch.
For this reason, the cartridge has always been well-respected among long-range target shooters. However, 6.5mm cartridges such as the 6.5 Creedmoor have also started becoming increasingly popular among hunters, who are beginning to recognize the benefits of the round’s high ballistic coefficient (BC) and forgiving trajectory.
Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor – Now Ready for Game
In a move to make this cartridge further available to hunters, Hornady has added the 6.5 Creedmoor to its popular American Whitetail line of ammunition. While the cartridge has been available to American hunters in previous Hornady ammo lines such as the Precision Hunter, Full Boar, and Superformance lines, with the expansion into American Whitetail, Hornady is making it available at a more economical price point.
This new load is available with Hornady’s 129-grain InterLock bullet, which has proven its effectiveness on North American game ranging from deer up to, and including, elk. The legendary InterLock bullet, as always, features its pioneering secant ogive design and its typical ring built to secure the core and jacket together during expansion to retain mass and energy.
“The 6.5 Creedmoor has fast become a customer favorite. The addition of this load to the American Whitetail® line truly rounds out our now comprehensive assortment of bullet options for 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition.” said Neil Davies, Hornady Director of Marketing.
The new Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor American Whitetail load carries an MSRP of $29.40 for a box of 20 and is available from stocking dealers, major retail sporting goods stores, and their websites.
The popularity of competitive shooting has grown tremendously in recent years, especially with exciting, dynamic disciplines such as 3-Gun. These competitions demand much from their participants, with events testing both a shooter’s mental and physical abilities.
One of the most important skills for these types of competitive shooting, and one that also translates to defensive scenarios, is shooting on the move effectively. The ability to engage targets accurately while on the move helps to cut precious seconds off your overall time, and time is crucial in any 3-Gun or similar competitive event.
In the video above, one of competitive shooting’s greats, world-renowned shooter and Aguila Ammunition Pro Staffer Jerry Miculek, offers some excellent advice for shooting on the move. Watch the video and learn from one of the shooting sports’ best.
Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to the AR-15 is a comprehensive look at today’s most popular modern sporting rifle. Among a wide variety of topics, the firearms expert and noted author provides helpful ammunition and accuracy tips, an explanation of the AR platform, a wide range of AR-15 applications, and much more, enhanced by 250 photos. Keep up with the increasing popularity of the versatile AR-15 with this indispensable shooter’s guide. Get your copy now.
The Colt Dual Spring Recoil System™ increases recoil spring service life to 15,000 rounds and results in a softer-shooting 1911.
When the original 1911 Colt .45 ACP pistol was adopted by the U.S. Military in 1911 the service life of the pistol was considered to be 6,000 rounds. This was considered an excessive amount of shooting for any handgun of that era. The average GI 1911 pistol was carried a lot, and only fired occasionally.
As time passed, it was learned that by replacing the recoil spring on the 1911 pistol at regular intervals, the pistols would last far longer if shot extensively. For more than a century, common practice has been to replace the recoil spring on any 1911 pistol every 5,000 rounds or sooner. In today’s world of military Special Operations and civilian competition shooting events, 5,000 rounds can be a couple of months of practice.
In 2011 the engineers at Colt Firearms set out to design and produce an improved 1911 .45 ACP pistol for the USMC. The result was the M45A1.
One of the most critical changes in the design of this pistol was a Colt Dual Spring Recoil System™ that makes recoil spring service life good to 15,000 rounds. This is huge if you really practice/train with your sidearm beyond the normal couple of trips to the range each year.
The Colt Dual Spring Recoil System™ utilizes four parts: an outer recoil spring, an inner recoil spring, a special recoil spring guide, and a special recoil spring plug. Note that the inner and outer springs are wound in opposite directions to prevent spring bind when functioning in the normal spring flex process. The end result is a pistol that has a greatly improved service life and a much improved unlocking of the barrel that provides softer recoil impulse.
The inner recoil spring not only softens the last part of slide travel to the rear, but helps ensure positive feeding of rounds from the magazine. This is a real plus in an environment where the handgun may be subjected to dirt, sand, or other foreign debris. Shooting the M45A1 quickly impresses users with the ease of shooting fast, accurate follow up shots with this Colt Dual Spring Recoil System™.
In 2015 Colt Firearms started shipping all Colt ‘Rail Gun’ 1911 pistols with the Colt Dual Spring Recoil System™. New Colt Lightweight Commander® pistols introduced in November of 2015 have a Colt Dual Spring Recoil System™ added as well. I can’t wait to get my hands on one of these new 9mm Colt Lightweight Commanders®.
As of January 2016, Colt will introduce the Colt Dual Spring Recoil System™ in the new Colt Competition Pistol™ 5” 1911 .45 ACP and 9mm, and the superb Colt Combat Unit™ 5” Rail Frame .45 ACP pistol. These new 1911 model pistols provide many enhanced features that will fire up any real 1911 pistol fan, but the Colt Dual Spring Recoil System™ promises to be a key feature in the way these pistols perform.
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2016 issue of Modern Shooter magazine.
The new Military Collector Series M4 from FN America is a civilian-legal replica of the company’s M4 produced for the military. Watch the video for more info.
Ahead of the 2016 SHOT Show, FN America revealed its Military Collector Series, a line of three semi-automatic, civilian-legal firearms designed to be as similar to their military counterparts as possible. One of these was the Collector Series M4, which was based off the M4 that FN was already manufacturing for the military.
The Collector Series M4 is designed to meet FN’s rigid specifications and incorporates most of the same features as the military M4. The gun comes with a 16-inch button broach, chrome-lined barrel with a 1:7 twist and an A2-style compensator. Some other features include a flat-top hard-anodized aluminum receiver with a MIL-STD 1913 rail, a Knight’s Armament M4RAS Adapter rail with rail adapter covers and an ambidextrous safety lever.
Pricing on the new Collector Series M4 is currently listed at $1,749. Full product specifications for the Collector Series M4 are available below.
Check out the video above for a behind-the-scenes look at the Collector Series M4 with FN 15 Product Manager JP Reconnu.
FN Military Collector Series M4 Type: Semi-automatic, direct-impingement gas Caliber: 5.56mm NATO Barrel Length: 16-in., button-broached, chrome-lined, alloy-steel w/ pinned and welded compensator Twist Rate: 1:7-in. RH Color/Finish: Matte black non-reflective Sights: A2-style front (F height), Back up iron sight Stock: Collapsible, six-position buttstock Weight: 6.64 lbs. Overall Length: 30.75-34 in. Magazine: Aluminum, 30-round Trigger: 4.0-7.75 lbs. MSRP: $1,749
To learn more about FN America, LLC and FNH USA-branded products visit www.fnhusa.com
Traditions Firearms is now shipping its Crackshot single-shot, break-action rifles. Chambered in .22 or .17 HMR, these are perfect for beginners.
For as long as they have been around, single-shot, break-action style rifles have been a popular and effective tool for harvesting game, introducing new shooters to the sport and honing marksmanship. Single-shot rifles are simple, safe, and they teach shooters to value the importance of shot placement. Without additional rounds to fall back on, that first (and only) shot must count.
Despite the prevalence of repeating rifles of these days, single-shot rifles remain useful and are still favored by many shooters, whether they are newbies learning the fundamentals or veterans who prefer the challenge of taking game with a single, well-placed shot. To cater to these shooters, Traditions Firearms, which is known predominantly for its muzzleloaders and historical black powder and cartridge revolvers, has begun shipping a new line of single-shot, break-action rifles.
Chambered in either .22 LR or .17 HMR, the Traditions Firearms Crackshot rifles come with either a 16.5-inch blued barrel or the new 20-inch blued barrel. With a weight of just 4 pounds, these lightweight rimfire rifles are the perfect field companion for small-game hunters and shooters of any build or stature.
The rifles are engineered with a takedown feature for easy cleaning and storage in a backpack or other compartment. The rifle’s sling stud can be removed and used as a tool for removing the forend and barrel, and no other tools are required.
The break-action single-shot rifle is already a relatively safe design, but Traditions has gone further by incorporating additional safety measures in the form of its Dual Safety System. This system includes a hammer block safety as well as a manual trigger block safety, which makes it one of the safest rifles available to shooters, especially those who are young and/or inexperienced. For children and small-framed shooters, the Crackshot line also includes a model specifically designed to fit the smaller dimensions of youth shooters.
The Traditions Firearms Crackshot also comes equipped with a one-piece base for mounting optics, and there are also models in the Crackshot line that come with a pre-mounted and boresighted 4×32 scope. The Crackshot is available in several different camo patterns and finishes, including the popular Muddy Girl pattern.
The new Crackshot rifles are available from $219 to $354, depending on the model.
Marco Vorobiev works the charging handle of his AK-74.
Nobody knows the AK like Marco Vorobiev. The former Soviet solider has spent nearly his entire life behind the sights of the Kalashnikov and literally knows the rifle from the inside out. Gun Digest was lucky enough to draw upon Vorobiev’s wealth of first-hand experience with the iconic rifle for our most recent book — Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to AKs. And we were equally as fortunate to recently chat with Vorobiev a bit about his intriguing background and his truly unique interaction with the historic rifle.
Gun Digest: Let’s start off with a bit of your background. You were a member of a Soviet Army Spetsnaz unit; some of our readers might not be familiar with the Spetsnaz, would you explain a bit about it and your role as a member?
Marco Vorobiev: What it is now is not what it was when I was a part of it. When I was part of the Spetsnaz it was a separate branch of the military, basically what would be called Special Forces. We conducted raids, sabotage and gathered intelligence, among other things. A role of a unit is different depending on its theater and its operational focus. For instance, in Syria now, there are units guiding airstrikes.
I served with the Soviet Spetsnaz in Afghanistan in the (19)80s. Our role was counteracting the insurgency. This mainly entailed disruptive activities against the insurgency by annihilating them or disrupting their supplies. We would interdict against convoes, hit Mujahedeen units on the march, assault strongholds and destroy weapons caches.
Originally, I served as a sniper for the first six months I was there. I was fire support, so I supported our main assaults, eliminated any kind of reinforcements and pockets of resistance. Some areas of an assault would have more manpower against them; I would outflank and pin them down until they could be annihilated. Once I was older, and my friends were up front with assault groups, I asked to be transferred to an assault group. The request was granted and the rest of the time I was in Afghanistan, 10 months, I was an assaulter.
Gun Digest: You were awarded the Order of the Red Star while serving in Afghanistan, would you care to share how you earned the honor?
Marco Vorobiev: I was doing the job. You definitely don’t go into combat thinking about winning medals. And I want to point out, I was not the only one who got awarded (in the battle). We were involved in heavy combat, pinned down and grossly outnumbered. We had to tie up the enemy until air support could annihilate them. I was injured in the fight and eventually had to be medevac’d out. My action got my award. I’m proud of the medal, but there were others who deserved the award.
Gun Digest: Turning to the topic of your latest book, the AK, when did you first encounter the rifle and what variant was it?
Marco Vorobiev: When (the Soviet military) drafts you, they want you to be ready and know what you’re going to fight with. So my first encounter with the AK was around age 12. In school, we did military and patriotic games — running, swimming, fire fighting, climbing walls. It was like a relay. One of the stations was assembling and disassembling the AK-47. That’s where they pulled my card. You have to remember, every school had an armory in the Soviet Union. It had examples of weapons that students would one day use. They were non-functional examples. But we also had .22 rifles to shoot for competition and physical education. And most schools, like mine, had a shooting range in the basement.
By age 14, I was familiar with the operation of the AK and its components. By high school, you begin preparatory military courses, to prepare you for your military service. For part of this, we took a field trip to the local military base, where we shot the AK. You were first given three rounds for single shots, then six for bursts. To get an A you had to let off three-round bursts. By the time you left school, you were a trained marksman.
Gun Digest: What was your initial impression of it?
Marco Vorobiev: By the time of my military service, normalcy. I knew half the world was armed with it, that it was good in war and reliable. You take it as a given. It’s sort of like, you go to the kitchen in the morning and have a bagel for breakfast — it’s just normal. And I couldn’t compare it to anything else, so it never occurred to me that there was another gun that could do this or that. Once I fired it and knew how to hit the targets, it was a normal state of being.
I did have a little gaff. When I was drafted I was given an AK-74, not an AKM (which I used in school). I saw the muzzle break on the (AK-74) and wondered, “Is that a silencer?” Once I fired it I couldn’t believe there was no recoil and it handled really well. I knew that was the gun for me.
The first or second time shooting it, I scored 27 out of 30 on the single shot section and also knocked down my targets at 200, 250 and 300 meters firing bursts. I didn’t know it, but the sergeant was behind me and saw my shooting. He ordered the warrant officer to get a SVD. He had me fire it — I can’t remember the distance — and I knocked down the targets he called out. I thought it was easy; with the scope, I thought I could spit and knock down the target. From there I went into sniper training; the SVD was my first issue rifle.
Gun Digest: Looking back at your early days behind the rifle, were there any particular aspects of the AK that were difficult to master?
Marco Vorobiev: When I first held the gun at age 12, and had my hands on the hunk of metal, I thought, “It’s heavy! How does someone run with this?” The marksman stuff, by the time I was in the military, I was already trained. You don’t have to be an engineer or a mechanic to understand the AK. It is a very simple weapon, very easy to understand. Here is the gas piston, here is the bolt carrier, the firing pin ignites the primer. The rifle was so simply presented to you growing up that a 12-year-old could understand it. Everything about the AK is second nature to me now.
Gun Digest: Having the intimate relationship with the Kalashnikov, what do you believe is its greatest advantage over other tactical rifles?
Marco Vorobiev: It’s a simple question, but there are many facets to the answer.
The greatest advantage, to me — and anyone can argue with me about it — is the layout of the AK’s components that there are only six possible malfunctions and one way to clear the rifle in all cases. It doesn’t matter the malfunction, you just disconnect the magazine, pull the charging handle a few times, put the magazine back in, chamber a round and it’s ready to operate.
Some say, “Yeah, but it’s not accurate.” I say, BS. The gun is not inaccurate, that comes down to the shooter. A M4, when you’re talking about 16-inch barrels — a carbine — an AK outshoots it. The gun is designed to strike at 0-1,300 meters a human-sized target. A M4, is out of range at 660 meters. If someone says it’s not accurate, I say, “No — you’re not accurate.”
In a trip to Russia a while back, we met a quick reaction team that just the previous day had been in Chechnya. One of the guys said, that while in Chechnya he’d entertain himself shooting wires off telephone polls. A rifle that can shoot wires is not inaccurate. The other thing is, both the M4 and AK were designed as fully automatic weapons, and that’s how they should be evaluated. When all things are equal, the AK, even in the accuracy department, holds its own.
The next facet to your questions, some say the AK is not modular enough, but a modular variation of any gun didn’t really come into play until 10-15 years ago. That’s when people started to put trinkets on their guns — scope, flashlight (what infantryman needs a flashlight on their gun?), IR designators. Guess what, the AK was modular before the M16 came around. In the ’50s, the USSR issued rails for the rifle to mount night optics.
Gun Digest: Country of origin is always a hot topic when it comes to AKs. Would you be willing to share which countries you believe turn out the best Kalashnikovs?
Marco Vorobiev: Russia, of course, because any modern improvements have come from there since the Warsaw Pact dissolved. The countries that use to produce them now have to design to NATO specs.
The countries that used to produce them — Poland, Romania, East Germany — were under license from the USSR to produce them, on Soviet equipment and under Soviet supervision. Yugoslavia and China, by the time the AKM came around, had a rocky relationship with the USSR and had to do improvements on their own without guidance. Now they have a fruit salad. There’s a lot of variation in furniture, metallurgy and specifications from those nations.
After Russian made, I would say East German AKs. They had high quality manufacturing and were overseen by the USSR. Next, the Polish PMKM and the early Egyptian variations, because they were done on Soviet machinery and supervision. The Chinese AK — AK-47 or type 56 or Type 56S, because they used thicker material on the stamped receiver.
The Yugoslavians milled their receivers, I’m not a fan — they weigh too much. Romanian, their recent production rifles have questionable quality control. And of course, Bulgarian rifles, also built on Russian equipment and are super.
I wouldn’t pay $2000 for an AK. But any of them, if they sell for $200, I say it’s the greatest gun in the world for that price.
Gun Digest: Do you find that there is any performance difference between AKs with milled receivers compared to those with stamped?
Marco Vorobiev: I’ll take a stamped receiver everyday and twice on the weekend, purely on weight considerations. The performance between the two are the same. If the USSR would have had the stamping technology when they first produced the AK, they would have done it in a heartbeat. Anybody who says different is not a military man. A kilo of weight, when you’re going up hills or over rough terrain matters. You can carry more ammo with a lighter rifle and not be tired or weighted down. There’s no dead weight with a stamped receiver. An interesting note, in 1959 the Soviets upgraded the rifle and went to stamped receivers and also a new rear sight, which went from 800 meters on the old, up to 1000 meters on the new.
Gun Digest: For those in the market for an AK, what do they need to look for when evaluating the rifle?
Marco Vorobiev: If new, who is manufacturing, US or is it imported? Take Romanian and Serbian variations (for imports). Quality-wise, take the Serbian; more original, the Romanian. Price comparison then? If you’re looking to take a step up, then definitely get a Bulgarian.
If you’re going to buy US, there are two manufacturers — Century and IO Inc. If you’re looking for good quality and good value, IO — also, more original. There are many things to consider. If you take US manufactured, their trunnions are casting, the military variations are forgings. To ordinary guys, this is not a big difference — the guy who only shoots 200 round, no big deal. If you shoot full auto, 600 round or more, than there is going to be a big difference.
The new AKs have barrel lives of 15,000 rounds. The old rifles were 40,000. But at about 10,000 to 12,000 rounds the hardened chrome bore lining starts to crack. Look in the bore and see if it’s worn out. Look to see if the action is smooth and there are no hang ups. Many will hang; US-made rifles can have this problem.
Origin, overall condition, barrel type, these are factors you want to evaluate. And, more money, more quality — like all things in life.
Gun Digest: Are there any particular modifications you find useful or even necessary on a stock AK?
Marco Vorobiev: There are accessories that are universal for every gun and special operation guys. Then there are mission specific accessories.
Mission specific, you should be a like a woman in the closet when she is going out on a date or with her friends. She’s not going to wear a pants suit to a party in New Orleans. It should be the same with the AK. If you are going to engage from 0 to 200 meters, why do you need a full-powered scope or magnifier? If you are manning a checkpoint or assault, why would you need a designator?
There are some universal accessories that are worthwhile. I use to be disgusted with a front pistol grip, now I love it. But you have to have mechanical thinking with something such as that. A rocker mag could be a problem. I don’t have a problem with the length of pull, but some like to upgrade the stock. They complain the rifle is too stubby. I say put on your armor and a winter jacket and tell me how stubby it is. The other thing to have, accessories that would allow the addition of accessories, such as a rail.
Gun Digest: Finally, as a man who has handled his fair share of AKs, do you have a particular variant that you prefer?
Marco Vorobiev: It has to be the original, if I could only get my hands on an original AK-74 M. The recently released AK-12, which is not mass-produced, is as close to the perfect AK that anyone could want.
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Self defense handgun ammunition is quite like a fire extinguisher: When you need it, you really need it, and you need it to work well. And furthermore, a discount fire extinguisher doesn’t quite cut the mustard. You need the bullet that will perform best in your handgun and possesses the qualities you can count on. We need a bullet that will neutralize a threat to life and limb; one that is accurate; one that will expand reliably and will penetrate enough to quell a very dangerous situation yet not over-penetrate and risk harming an unintended target. Not all handgun bullets can fit the bill, but I’ve found a few that will. Let’s take a look at them.
Federal Premium HST Among the premium bullets, I feel the Federal HST reigns supreme. It is a jacketed hollowpoint that opens up into a deadly looking flower of expanded copper and lead. I had the privilege of visiting the Federal plant in Anoka, Minnesota, and we put many different bullets to the test, literally. We used blocks of raw ballistic gel, some gel covered in clothing and gel behind two pieces of sheet-rock and some clothing. The HST gave reliable expansion, even through the gypsum, and penetrated deep enough to take care of an attacker without sailing though walls and risking the possibility of wounding or killing a loved one. I have come to trust the HST bullet for its accuracy and for its terminal ballistics. Federal now offers the Micro HST line of ammo, which is loaded to best serve the subcompact handguns that are so popular today. It is available in .380 Auto, 9mm Luger, .40 Smith & Wesson and .45 ACP.
Hornady XTP Hornady XTP is one of the toughest cup-and-core handgun bullets I’ve ever used. It shoots very well in my revolvers—an S&W Model 36 in .38 Special and a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt—and these bullets hit hard. The hollowpoint expands reliably upon impact, and the thick jacket and cannelure help to keep that bullet together. The XTP (eXtreme Terminal Performance) also makes a great hunting bullet, but for a good choice in some of the smaller calibers like .38 Special and .327 Federal it’s really hard to beat. That little snub-nose .38 of mine will print the 158-grain XTPs much better than I ever thought a gun with a 1 7/8-inch barrel would do. Even at low velocities, the XTP will give consistent expansion; on the opposite side of the coin, the XTP Mag. will withstand the highest impact velocities from the magnum handgun cartridges. Available in cartridges from .25 Auto through .500 Smith & Wesson.
Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection Not many people are talking about Speer bullets these days, what with all the new bullets available. However, new products don’t always mean that the older ones are bad. The Speer Gold Dot has an impeccable reputation, and with good reason. Law enforcement, hunters and the self-defense community have long understood that the Gold Dot Personal Protection is a fantastic bullet, and some of the modern updates have made an old classic even better. The jacket partially wraps around the meplat of the bullet, allowing for a bullet that is soft enough up front to expand at low impact velocities, yet tough enough to hold together at distances measured in feet. Like the HST, Speer has designed the Personal Protection Short Barrel version of the Gold Dot for use in subcompact automatics and short-barreled revolvers. That same Model 36 of mine likes these bullets as well, and I have and will carry them with all the confidence in the world. If law enforcement trusts this bullet, I take that as a very good endorsement, and my experiences with the Speer Gold Dot have shown that it lives up to the strong reputation it’s built. It is available in calibers from .25 up to .45, for both revolvers and automatics.
Federal Premium Guard Dog This is a very clever design, incorporating all the best features of a hollowpoint bullet but it feeds like a flat point bullet. Federal Guard Dog is, at its heart, a hollowpoint, but the hollowpoint is filled with a rubbery blue polymer and then the whole package is plated. This results in a bullet that gives consistent and reliable expansion but doesn’t over penetrate. It also adds up to a bullet that performs like a hollowpoint but is perfectly compliant for those states that won’t permit the use of hollowpoint ammunition, like New Jersey. In my testing of Guard Dog ammunition in the .45 ACP, it came very close to performing like the HST bullet from Federal with respect to the expanded diameter and its weight retention, as well as depth of penetration. We were using a Kimber 1911 clone, and the ammo was very accurate and fed like a dream. I think we put three boxes of ammo downrange and there were no malfunctions whatsoever. Throw the Guard Dog a bone; it’s a loyal and faithful companion.
Cutting Edge Bullets Personal Handgun Defense (PHD) The Cutting Edge Handgun Raptor is one of the most radical designs I’ve seen in some time. They are an all-copper hollowpoint, and like so many other monometal bullets, they are light for caliber, which equals a higher velocity and lower pressure, while still maintaining a projectile the same length as the heavier lead core counterpart. Then there’s the terminal performance: The Handgun Raptor is designed with a skived hollowpoint, which breaks into four small blades upon impact. The blades cause massive trauma at the front end, while the remainder of the bullet stays at caliber dimension, for an unprecedented sectional density among expanded bullets, to deliver the necessary penetration. I’ve used the Cutting Edge PHD in 9mm Luger, .40 S&W and .45 ACP, and with the sole exception of one particularly finicky 9mm pistol, it has all fed reliably and given more-than-acceptable accuracy. I really appreciate the fact that the lighter projectile, and corresponding lesser recoil, allows the shooter to get back on target quicker between shots. If you’re not familiar with Cutting Edge Bullets, you really need to be. Available in 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, .45 ACP.
Find the ammunition that works best for you and your handgun, and carry confidently!
Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from the March 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
There is only one way to describe the firearms market as of late — red hot. Shooters and enthusiasts of every stripe have been snapping up every conceivable make and model of shotgun, handgun and rifle in recent years.
But it has not just been the newest and shiniest guns that have buyers cracking open their wallets and purses. Vintage firearms boasting a fine patina and historical significance have also been corning the market. One need not look further than Morphy Auctions for proof.
The Pennsylvania auction house had an impressive haul at its April 9-10 fine firearms sale. Morphy reported moving 1,500 lots in the two-day event, which propelled more than $1.8 million in sales. And it wasn’t just the company’s volume that raked in the dough, but also the desirability of the guns that crossed the block.
When the smoked cleared, the auction house had 19 lots that moved for $5,000-9,999, 11 for $10,000-19,999 and one topping $20,000. The belle of the ball turned out to be a firearm familiar to many sportsmen — a Browning Superposed Over/Under Shotgun. The 20-gauge achieved a price of $23,180 at the auction, its appeal driven by its rarity and mint-in-box condition.
Here is a look at that superb smoothbore and few of the other firearms that highlighted Morphy Auction’s sale.
Designed with input from former operators, the new Colt Combat Unit Pistol is purpose-built for hard use.
John Browning’s renowned 1911 has a rich and extensive history as a service pistol. Following its initial introduction, the M1911, and later 1911A1, served as the U.S. armed forces’ main service pistol in most military conflicts until 1985. Even after being retired from service broadly, it has remained in use with various special branches of the military to this day.
With its forward picatinny rail, the Combat Unit Pistol is perfect for various tactical applications.
Although these days a 1911-style pistol is much more likely to be found in the hands of competitive and recreational shooters than in the hands of most soldiers, the 1911 has always been, and remains, a duty-oriented handgun. Just a few years back, the U.S. Marine Corps chose to adopt a version of Colt’s Rail Gun for combat use. It was designated the M45A1 and featured a Desert Tan cerakoted stainless steel receiver and slide— for this year, it will be replaced with a Decobond brown coating—and a 1913 Picatinny rail up front.
Now, in 2016, Colt is introducing another 1911 built duty-tough. Dubbed the Colt Combat Unit Pistol, this combat-inspired 1911 chambered in .45 ACP will be exclusively available from TALO Distributors. Developed with input from a range of world-renowned trainers, as well as Special Forces veterans Ken Hackathorn and Daryl Holland, the Colt Combat Unit Pistol comes packed with practical and useful features.
The most noticeable, initially, is the M1913 Mil Spec Picatinny rail found on Colt’s previous Rail Gun and M45A1. The rail offers ample space for lights, lasers and other accessories, which makes it perfect for a wide variety of tactical applications for law enforcement and/or military personnel. It also makes the pistol equally suitable for home defense scenarios.
Like the M45A1, the Combat Unit Pistol utilizes a stainless steel slide and frame, but instead of a cerakote or Decobond coating, it features a blackened stainless finish. The frame also includes 25 lines per inch (LPI) checkering on the frontstrap and backstrap for improved grip and control during firing.
The Combat Unit Pistol’s thumb safety is accessible and easy to activate or deactivate.
In another attempt to enhance control and accuracy, especially during rapid shooting, Colt has added its Dual Spring Recoil System™ to the Combat Unit Pistol. This system helps mitigate felt recoil and also increases the longevity of recoil spring life. It is well known that some shooters have difficulty managing the .45 ACP’s recoil; the reduced recoil impulse with the Dual Spring system has the potential to aid some of those shooters, especially with follow-up accuracy.
For increased accuracy regardless of time of day, the Colt Combat Unit comes equipped with a Novak Tritium Night Sight up front and a wider-than-average, plain Novak Low Mount Carry rear sight. The combination of the highly visible front sight with the wide rear notch ensures quick and easy sight acquisition in all scenarios, which could be the difference between life and death on the battlefield, or in any violent encounter.
The Combat Unit Pistol features a Novak Tritium front sight, and the rear is a Low Mount Carry notch sight.
The Colt Combat Unit Pistol comes with a 5-inch, polished stainless steel barrel and a 4.5- to 6-pound single-action trigger. The trigger offers a relatively smooth pull without creep and a crisp, clean break, resulting in very good accuracy.
There are also several ergonomic elements designed to make the Combat Unit feel quite comfortable in the hand. The pistol features an undercut trigger guard and an upswept beavertail grip safety that helps facilitate proper hand placement, and the firearm’s extended thumb safety is easy for right-handed shooters to engage and disengage. Additionally, black and gray scalloped G10 checkered grips provide a reliable grip surface without unnecessarily digging into the hands.
Overall, the Combat Unit Pistol is 8.5 inches in length, 5.5 inches in height and 1.25 inches in width. The Combat Unit has a magazine capacity of 8+1 rounds and weighs 40 ounces unloaded. It ships with two magazines.
The new Colt Combat Unit Pistol will be available for $1,499 from TALO Distributors.
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.
When it comes down to it, choosing a holster for concealed carry is almost completely about comfort and personal preference. A shooter will choose the holster that fits most comfortably for the chosen firearm, and that fits his or her carry position preference, whether that be inside-the-waistband (IWB) in the appendix area, tucked behind the hip, belt-mounted on the strong side, or any other position. Often, shooters must purchase a different holster depending on their method of carry, and that cost adds up.
