Here are 12 things to focus on perfecting while training handgun drills at the range.
A shooting response to a lethal threat is a complex series of observations and reactions. There are a number of skills involved in a successful response, and luckily for us, our innate abilities developed over millennia help us tremendously. Learning to use a specific tool like a firearm, however, is not an innate or “instinctive” skill — it’s something we learn to do in concert with what we already know and do.
So, what are the kinds of things you need to train and practice? In no particular order, here are just a few of the things you might need to be able to do quickly and efficiently:
Get a proper grasp on the gun
Bring the gun from the holster to the target
Decide if and when you need to shoot, and when you need to stop shooting
Retrieve the pistol from a storage device
Use the gun in concert with illumination of some type
Reload the gun when it runs out of ammunition
Clear a malfunction
Recognize the level of precision to which you need to shoot
Deliver that level of precision on target
Deal with more than one attacker
Shoot rapid, multiple rounds to an appropriate level of precision
Shoot one-handed
Of course there’s a lot more, but this should give you an idea of what this concept of “task-oriented” training means: practicing those things that are actually needed in a defensive shooting.
The Breda 930i Sporting offers clay shooters a slew of features that should help them break more blue rock.
The Breda 930i Sporting offers clay shooters a slew of features that should help them break more blue rock.
Breda is one of those brands that has lived on the periphery of the American shotgun world.
The Italian manufacturer has made a couple runs at this side of the pond, but for one reason or another has just missed taking hold. In turn, if the zippy and generally well-balanced smoothbores caught your attention, you were relegated to beating the bushes in used guns listings, for the most part.
Breda, however, has not given up on becoming a favorite of Yankee clay and wing shooters. Breda USA was freshly launched earlier this year with a full line of shotguns that have the potential to turn some heads.
Along these lines, and among the models the company itself is highly touting, is its new Breda 930i Sporting. The semi-automatic is engineered to pulverize blue-rock en mass, while catching as many eyes as possible in the meantime.
To the former attribute, perhaps among the shotgun’s greatest assets is its adjustable comb. Once more common on custom guns, this feature is becoming a usual addition on many smoothbores destined for the trap and skeet ranges. There is good reason for this, given tailoring where a cheek welds to the stock means a quicker point.
The shotgun should also be quick to the shoulder, boasting an in-stock weighting system that allows fine-tuning the 930i’s balance. And once on target, the new Breda should prove quick on the break with its featherweight trigger pull — 3.9 pounds.
A bit unique to a shotgun designed specifically for clays is the 930i’s operating system. The shotgun utilizes an inertia operation to cycle rounds, somewhat of an oddity when it comes to competitive guns.
This is in part due to the typically more pronounced felt recoil the lighter system produces, which has the potential to wear on a shooter. But there are benefits to an inertia gun, such as it being a lighter and faster handling firearm, not to mention generally requiring less lubrication.
The Breda 930i Sporting is outfitted with an inertia operating system and has an option for a two-tone receiver.
The new Breda 930i Sporting also has form to go along with its function. To this end, perhaps the most distinctive is the two-tone finish option for the receiver. The stainless steel and matte black finishes are truly unique and tend to give the gun’s classic lines a modern look.
A few other of the 930i’s features include:
Choice between 28- and 30-inch barrels
Three extended competition chokes
Back-bored to .739 inches for improved patterns
High-visibility, low-profile, fiber-optic front sight
10 to 8mm tapered sporting rib
The Breda 930i Sporting looks to have about everything a clay shooter could desire, but it will run them a bit of coin. Presently, the company lists the shotgun’s MSRP at $2,599.
Watch the violent and amazing process Ruger’s barrels go through in the cold hammer forge.
What makes a rifle a rifle? Simple, its rifling. Not to be flippant, but quite literally the spiral grooves running the length of the bore are the defining features of the firearm. And dang important ones at that. Perhaps few things so drastically affected (positively) firearm performance than the 16th-Century innovation.
Nowadays, given modern manufacturing processes, there are many ways to outfit a barrel with rifling. The above video showcases perhaps the most dramatic method — the cold hammer forge. Produced by Ruger, the clips shows the company’s massive hammer forge in action and glory, not to mention some other steps in the process of producing a rifle barrel. In this method, the rifling is pounded into the bore through the use of the hammers and a carbide mandrill, which has a negative of the rifling pattern.
Interestingly, the barrel stock is actually over bored before hitting the forge in anticipation of its diameter shrinking with each blow of a hammer. What happens to the inside of the barrel, however, isn’t the only enthralling aspect of the process. Equally intriguing, the barrel comes close to its final dimensions — length and diameter — with its trip through the powerful and violent machine.
Firearms play a big role in daily life in Atwood, Kansas, located in the very rural northwest corner of the state. And when it comes to rifles, the wide open spaces of the Sunflower State are just made for the newest batch of long-range centerfires.
“In rifles, we are seeing a turn toward the latest, greatest, turbo-charged .264 round,” says Jim Engel, store manager for the Great Outdoors Gun Shop. “We’ve been selling some rifles in .26 Nosler and several in 6.5×284 and 6.5 Creedmoor. There are more folks getting into shooting long range right now, for hunting and targets.”
He continues, “If we could get the new Ruger Precision Rifle, we would sell the heck out of them. But we still have not received one through our normal distributor channels, and they have been out over a month.”
Lever-actions from Henry Rifles are always strong sellers here, too, while, for shotguns, Benelli is number one, followed by the various Remington models.
A recent change in Kansas law allowed “Constitutional Carry”, and with that change came many sales of smaller handguns, especially the Ruger LC9s, the Sig 938, the Sig 238 and the Smith and Wesson 642 series of handguns.
“For the bigger handguns, 1911s are the best sellers,” Engel notes. “We sell quite a few Springfield Armory, Kimber, Smith and Wesson guns. The higher priced 1911s like the Smith Performance Center guns are doing good, for just over $1,500.”
The Internet is affecting business here, but not necessarily in a good way.
“We are seeing a jump in gun transfers from the major online retailers that are undercutting our prices significantly,” says Engel. “It's hard to compete with online when the price my customer is getting it for is well below what I can buy from a distributor. We are trying to be very competitive, but we can't just give it away and make nothing.”
Editor's Note: This brief originally appeared in the October 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Philip Massaro breaks down the three main types of smokeless powder for reloading, with a discussion on the practical uses of each. In addition, he unveils some new powder technologies that are less sensitive to temperature and burn cleaner in your firearm.
What is the difference between a large rifle primer and a magnum large rifle primer? Can you use magnum primers in standard cartridges and vice versa? These are among the topics discussed in Episode 4 of Gun Digest's Reloading Series with Philip Massaro.
SIG Sauer has expanded the P250 line with the P250-22, a rimfire variant of the popular modular pistol system.
When it comes to personal-defense handguns, those chambered for rimfire cartridges have found a place.
No, no, these light recoiling firearms aren’t meant to be primary arms. Heck, they aren’t even backup guns, by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, models chambered for the venerable and ubiquitous .22 LR are training tools — dang good ones at that.
In short, handgun fundamentals can be drilled on the cheap with the generally economical round. And this is a feature many gun companies have caught onto, offering .22 variations of their most popular centerfire pistols.
Count SIG Sauer among them, with the international gun company expanding its pistol selection with a rimfire option. But it being SIG, there is a definite twist to what they are offering in this new handgun.
Modularity has been the catchword as of late for the American-German-Swiss manufacture. And the P250-22 continues in this vein.
Like the rest of the P250 line, the new .22 model has a serialized fire control group, that is easily removed and placed in a different frame. This ingenious piece of engineering — unveiled by SIG in 2014 — creates a staggering amount of versatility in the line of hammer-fired pistols. The P250 can go from a full-sized pistol to a compact or sub-compact in a matter of seconds. And it can jump between calibers — 9mm, .40 S&W, .357SIG and now .22 — in the blink of an eye.
Like the other pistols in the line, the new P250-22 is extremely versatile with the ability to jump between frame sizes and calibers.
The latest addition to the P250 lineup is intriguing on a number of levels.
First off, there is the training aspect. A shooter gets all the benefits of learning the ins and outs of their defensive pistol, while saving money by running .22 ammo through it. But, as the company itself points out, the new rimfire variant of its flexible pistol design is also ideal for new shooters.
“This allows newer shooters to work up to the more powerful cartridges, (and it) is a great tool for introducing youth to the shooting sports,” John Brasseur, SIG’s director of product development said.
One more point, one not to be discounted, is the P250-22 looks to make a heck of a plinker to boot. At 21.2 ounces in its compact configuration, the pistol has heft to drill bull’s eyes all day when chewing through .22 cartridges.
Raye Gunter—Emerald Valley Armory, Cresswell, Ore.
When it comes to customer demand, one Beaver State retailer continues to enjoy robust sales of defensive handguns.
“We are selling lots of concealed carry-oriented handguns like the new Glock 43 in 9mm, the Springfield XDS in both 9mm and .45 ACP, and the S&W Shield in 9mm,” said Raye Gunter, owner of Emerald Valley Armory. “The pocket .380s have cooled a bit as of late.”
Supplies of ammunition are good, though Gunter says .22 rimfire is still a hard find. Best sellers in rifle ammo include PMC and Federal in 5.56mm, and Tula for its 7.62x39mm offerings.
“The 300 Blackout round continues to gain in popularity,” Gunter notes. Top sellers in this caliber are from Remington, Hornady and Armscor.
“In optics,” he adds, “we are moving a lot of optics in the $200 to $350 price range. These include the Redfield CounterStrike, the Burris AR-332, as well as offerings from Lucid, Konus and Bushnell.”
A Class III dealer, Emerald Valley has experienced a tremendous increase in the number of suppressors sold. Top suppressors here: the SilencerCo Warlock II, the Pilot and Element II by Advanced Armament Corporation and the GemTechG5.
Editor's Note: This brief originally appeared in the October 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The revolver offers many advantages, but also many challenges. A while back we posted a video of Massad Ayoob addressing one of the tricky aspects of the wheelgun — the reload. This time around, a couple other Gun Digest authors tackle another key facet to getting the most out of this style of handgun — the trigger pull. Yup, the handgun’s heavy double-action can throw some for a loop. But as Grant Cunningham and Rob Pincus demonstrate in the above video, it’s really just a matter of understanding and getting a feel of the mechanism.
One of the more interesting aspects touched upon in the clip is the use of dryfire. Both firearms instructors hint they don’t believe in overdoing this type of practice. Instead, they find it a useful exercise to jog muscle memory just before live fire practice. Mr. Revolver (Cunningham) also touches on another important point of the trigger pull on a double-action, well worth paying attention to. That is, the movement of the finger. As those who have spent most of their days on the business end of something such as a striker-fired pistol soon find out, its is much more pronounced on a revolver.
The CMMG Mk47 Mutant Pistol effectively splices the DNA of the AR-15 and the AK-47 into one compact, lead-slinging hybrid.
It may look like an AR, but it feeds from AK mags. Photo by Dusty Gibson
Age-old debates surrounding firearms, such as the one between AR-15 and AK-47, will probably never go away, but a new gun aims to present a peaceful resolution to those timeless disputes. Bridging the gap between caliber wars and platform loyalties, the CMMG Mk47 Mutant offers a unique hybrid design that links the genius of Eugene Stoner and Mikhail Kalashnikov into a single firearm.
Originally offered in a full-length rifle variation with a 16-inch barrel, the 7.62x39mm Mutant landed in late 2014 equipped with the gas operation and ergonomics of an AR-15, combined with the ammo compatibility of an AK-47. With the naked eye, everything about the gun screams AR-15 until the caliber and magazine come into focus.
Riding on the success of its full-size, extra terrestrial Mutant mother ship, CMMG is now offering a pistol variant of the Mk47 with a 10-inch barrel.
Why a pistol, you might ask? Pistols need not be registered with the BATFE as short-barreled rifles, therefore eliminating a $200 tax stamp and a multi-month waiting period. They are also legal to own and hunt with in a large number of states. In many states, having a concealed carry license allows the carrying of loaded Mk47 pistols in a vehicle, making this an ideal truck gun. Given those reasons, there’s no question why the 10-inch Mutant pistol might actually be more appealing to own than the full-size model. But the Mutant pistol’s curb appeal isn’t limited to how it slashes through red tape, but rather how it offers the best of both worlds in a single package.
The Mk47’s bolt carrier group looks similar to the AR’s but uses a larger bolt face with oversized locking lugs. Photo by Dusty Gibson
AK-47 fans may wonder, “Why not just buy an AK-47 pistol?” First, the Mutant’s familiar ergonomic controls derived from the AR-15 are a huge appeal for many shooters. Second, it features a number of standardized AR parts, such as the fire control group, that are often easier to find at local stores than AK parts. Third, thanks to its direct-impingement gas system, suppressing the Mutant is also far easier than trying to stick a can on an AK. Fourth, the Mk47 has ample rail space to accommodate your choice of sights, scopes, lasers or other attachments. It’s also made in the USA.
AR-15 fans may wonder, “Why not just buy an AR-15 pistol?” Mainly, bulk ammo availability of the 7.62x39mm cartridge often far exceeds that of .223 Rem/5.56 NATO. The .30-caliber cartridge is known to hit harder and make a larger hole than a .223, which is why many states approve the Russian cartridge for hunting. The Mutant can also throw some impressive fireballs, giving it points for the pure “cool factor.”
Performance
Of course, combining pieces of two iconic firearms into a single, effective system means nothing if the gun doesn’t perform reliably.
During testing, the Mutant pistol ate up hundreds of rounds without a mechanical hiccup. CMMG designed the Mutant’s guts to stand up against heavy usage. Its bolt carrier group is derived from the AR-15 platform, incorporating a bolt face with oversized locking lugs that look like they came off a battle tank. The result is a sturdy reciprocating mass more than capable of reliably cycling the 7.62x39mm cartridge.
With extra reciprocating mass typically comes greater recoil, but CMMG tamed the Mutant pistol with a carbine-length gas system to bleed the gas through a longer tube and reduce recoil. Combine this with an aggressive muzzle brake that throws flames like an angry dragon, and the Mutant’s recoil can be described as a gentle thump. Those who have ever fired a supersonic .300 Blackout through an AR-15 platform will know what to expect from the 7.62x39mm Mutant.
The Mk47 pistol works well with a pistol brace or a sling for support. Notice the lack of a forward assist. Photo by Dusty Gibson
One area where the Mutant comes up short for AR-15 aficionados is surely in the absence of a bolt release lever or forward assist. The Mutant also does not lock the bolt to the rear on an empty magazine. Each of those characteristics are part of the Mutant’s AK-47 influence, hence the hybrid design. Additionally, the included Magpul 25-round AK PMAGs feed very reliably, but their polymer feed lips quickly show signs of wear and tear that you wouldn’t experience with metallic magazines.
Some people may question the accuracy of a 10-inch barrel, but testing showed that the Mutant delivers very acceptable group sizes. Using a non-magnified EOTech XPS 2-1, the author was able to achieve a 1.72-inch group at 100 yards. Extending the range out to 600 yards was also not an issue, though greater magnification with a 3x magnifier would significantly improve its maximum effective range. For a gun that’s geared toward defensive situations and shooting range pleasure, the Mutant leaves little to be desired in terms of accuracy.
Shooting the Mutant at nighttime revealed that aliens really do come out after dark. Fireballs from the Mk47 reached several feet on each side of the muzzle, momentarily illuminating the desert in all directions like an alien aircraft. Flame throwing was to be expected with a rifle cartridge firing through a 10-inch barrel, as un-burnt powder ignited outside the barrel.
Parting Shots
CMMG one-upped itself with the pistol variation of the Mk47 Mutant. In fact, the pistol version is likely a more practical choice than the rifle. Its shorter barrel makes it very maneuverable in tight places, such as a vehicle, without sacrificing enough ballistic performance to make a difference for most users.
The Mutant lacks a bolt release lever and uses the AK’s paddle-style mag release. Photo by Dusty Gibson
Those intending to use the Mutant pistol as a home defense gun in low-light situations should consider trading the muzzle brake for a flash hider or suppressor to avoid excessive muzzle flash, which temporarily reduces your night vision.
For a gun that accepts some of the most readily available and affordable rifle ammunition, the CMMG Mk47 Mutant offers an appealing hybrid design that’s inviting to both the AR and the AK crowd. There’s no doubt it’ll turn heads on the range and become a favorite piece in any collection that offers equal parts functionality and pure cool factor.
CMMG Mk47 Manufacturer CMMG Model Mk47 “Mutant” Pistol Caliber 7.62x39mm Operation Direct Gas-Impingement Semi-Auto Weight 6lbs. (unloaded) Overall Length 26.5 in. Barrel 10 in., 1:10 twist Muzzle 5/8”-24 SV muzzle brake Receivers Billet 7075 T6 Aluminum Trigger 7.5-pound single stage (measured with Lyman Digital Trigger Gauge) Handguard 9” free float, KeyMod MSRP $1,499 Website CMMGInc.com
Built for competition, the long-slide Glock 34 takes striker-fired accuracy to a new level.
Why the Glock 34 is a top long-slide pistol:
Introduced as a replacement for the Glock 17L.
Exceedingly long to maximize sight radius, yet fit into the IPSC box.
Top of the slide machined to ensure proper weight to function flawlessly.
Trigger pull is right around 5 pounds.
Aside from competition, the G34 is also utilized by law enforcement and some military.
The G34 was introduced in 1998, as a long-slide variant to the G17, and a replacement for the G17L. It was designed specifically to fit in the IPSC box that made the G17L obsolete.
The Glock 34: It was designed for competition, but has practical/tactical use.
Glock made sure to make the G34 as long as possible so as to maximize sight radius, yet still fit in the box. It was introduced as a third generation Glock, but is now also offered in Gen4 and Gen5. The barrel length is listed as 5.31 inches, which is .83 inches longer than the G17. The slide length comes out to just over eight inches, which gives it a sight radius of 7.55 inches.
Not to point out the obvious, but the G17 was designed to fire a 9mm projectile, which it does quite well. If Glock were to change the weight of the G17 slide, it would change the dynamics of slide operation and wouldn’t function properly. The Glock 34 is a long slide sitting atop a G17 frame, and thus the question becomes; how does one make a long slide weigh the same as the standard length slide? Glock went with the simple solution of machining out an opening on top of the slide (it resembles the sun roof of an automobile). I like how it looks, some people don’t, but either way it’s a simple solution that works.
I purchased my Glock 34 as part of the GSSF purchase program, so mine is a blue box model (if you don’t know what that means, please refer to the GSSF Chapter). Mine came with the extended slide catch lever and a 5.5-pound trigger (standard trigger comes with the 3.5-pound connector, designated with a minus symbol) that averaged about 4.9 pounds on my Lyman digital trigger scale.
Glock machined out the slide to keep the weight the same as the G17. A change of more or less weight will affect the cycle speed, which decreases reliability.
The 3.5 connector-equipped Glock is actually a very nice trigger, one preferred by a lot of competitive shooters. My Glock 34 did not come with the adjustable sights, like other G34s, but instead came with the non-adjustable polymer sights.
The Glock 34 is a competition animal, but as you would guess, it’s not a very good concealed carry gun. I’ve carried mine in open carry situations and it’s fine, but for concealed carry it doesn’t work as well. Carried inside the waistband, the long slide is going to pry against the upper part of your leg, dig into the bone, and generally not be very comfortable, especially when sitting. I found it to be the opposite of comfortable. Carried outside the waistband, it’s going to be too long and will stick out from under the bottom of the shirt.
There is a place for it in the tactical world, whether in military special operating forces, or special police units. Some of these units have no issues with carrying a pistol the size of a 1911, and if you factor in the 1911 grip safety, the Glock 34 is just a bit shorter than the 1911, except it has a longer sight radius. Of course, if a unit wants a .45, the best choice is the G41, but for something in a 9mm, the Glock 34 would make an outstanding choice.
The extended slide stop lever.
When it comes to 9mm, compared to other popular duty 9mm handguns, the Glock G34 is shorter than most, despite the long slide, especially when you start to factor in the added length of the beavertails that most hammer-fired guns have. Factoring that, the Beretta M9 is about a half-inch longer, however, the sight radius of the G34 is over one inch longer. Another favorite 9mm, the CZ-75b, is also longer.
The Glock 34 uses standard G17 magazines and extended 9mm magazines, but just like the G17 it cannot use G19 compact or G26 sub-compact magazines
Effective handgun shooting drills are task-oriented; they’re designed to provide practice opportunities for the tasks most likely required in an actual defensive shooting. What, then, are the things we need to practice?
This is a common question in the defensive shooting world. Many people have tried to answer it but, unfortunately, a dispassionate, fact-based answer is difficult to come by. This is because most people answer the question not from the kind of research done by leaders in the field like Claude Werner and Tom Givens, but from biases based on their own shooting activities or careers.
Some people come with an equipment bias: they do certain things because they like the equipment, then search for ways in which to use that equipment and do drills which validate their equipment selections. Certain types of gear will dictate that you do things a certain way, or that you use them instead of something more suitable. An equipment bias limits what you’ll do (or can do or can train) to things that fit what you have, rather than making what you have fit the task at hand.
A competition bias too often leads to taking shortcuts in technique (or equipment) selection just to get a better score.
Take, for instance, a flashlight mounted on a handgun. There are certainly uses for such devices, but they’re pretty specific and are never a substitute for other forms of illumination. Too many folks, however, will practice their “low light” drills with these exclusively, to the detriment of actually being able to use better-suited and more common illumination tools — things like handheld flashlights (or even room light switches!). This particular gear bias results in low-light drills being designed that don’t accurately reflect the conditions under which supplementary lighting might really be needed.
The “bump in the night” that results in your muzzle sweeping your teenage child coming home past his bedtime might be the unfortunate result of such an equipment bias.
Equipment isn’t the only bias people have, of course. Some come to the discussion with a source bias: because a drill or technique comes from an authoritative or charismatic figure, people often feel compelled to practice and promote it even though it may not fit the context under which it will be used. The implicit correctness which we perceive because of the source’s pedigree is a form of the logical fallacy “appeal to authority,” where the merits of the proposal aren’t discussed because of the unimpeachable nature of the source. Many of the military-inspired training routines that have nothing to do with private sector defensive shooting come from source bias.
There is also a scoring bias: we practice to improve ourselves by some objective measure, even if that measure has no real bearing on our ability to defend ourselves. This is heavily prevalent in the shooting world, owing to the number of competition shooters who have moved into the training realm over the years. (This is not to discount the value of competition as a test bed for new techniques and equipment, you understand, only to put their interest in objective scoring into perspective.)
In Part II, the author outlines the specific things needed during practice for a successful execution of a defensive gun use.
Nothing is as bitter as lost opportunities when it comes to buying that special firearm.
Regrets, unfortunately, are part of life, and just like grey hair, the longer we live the more we have. We linger too long over an opportunity or situation until it slips away, never to return. No matter the level of our success in life, we all have a few regrets about something. As a firearms enthusiast and gun collector, many of my most painful regrets are about those guns I didn’t, for one reason or another, purchase. Perhaps it’s nostalgia, but those guns are the ones I dream about more than the ones I have, and for many, I still wish I owned them today.
The Auto-5 Like so many hunters I’ve spent much of my life searching for the perfect waterfowl gun that would transform my mediocre wingshooting into something worthy of Bogardus or Kimble. The Browning Auto 5 was once dubbed the Aristocrat of Shotguns and is arguably the finest duck gun ever manufactured. I almost owned one once—almost.
I called the fellow who advertised it in the local paper one spring evening. We dickered and dodged on the phone for over an hour until I agreed to come see the gun. It turned out to be a 1950s full-choke Standard Model. What can I say about the Auto-5 that hasn't been said a million times?
I wanted the gun badly except for one nagging point: The 2¾-inch chamber seemed old fashioned, and at the time, the mantra of more pellets equaled more ducks ruled. A silly point I realize in hindsight, but it made me drive off that night without the Auto-5 in hand. The old fellow called me a week later to let me know the gun was gone, and I told him thanks for letting me know. I have regretted not buying that Auto-5 many, many times since that call.
The Deer Rifle One frosty December morning, a neighbor flagged me down as I was driving a snowy county road. As we talked, he mentioned he was thinking of selling his deer rifle. Since I was “keen on guns,” as he put it, he asked if I knew of anyone looking for a Winchester? He’d bought the Model 94 carbine new, right after returning from Korea, and had carried it ever since. He hauled the rifle out from behind the truck seat and the plain Jane .30 WCF had plenty of honest wear on it silvery frame. We talked about the rifle and he told me about cold November hunts with long dead companions. As we talked he handled the Winchester, and I remember thinking I sure wouldn’t want to be a buck in his sights. But in those days all my heroes carried scoped bolt actions in .270, and I just couldn’t see myself with some old relic. I told him I’d ask around. It was decades later that I realized he wanted me to buy it. That well used .30 WCF is long gone now and so is the hunter, but I should have been wiser. I should have bought the gift he offered of gun and memories.
A “Modern” Sporting Rifle Today, every firearms company builds a version of the “black rifle,” but once there was only one choice for the average shooting enthusiast: the Colt AR-15. Period. When an AR-15 appeared in the local gun shop in the early '70s it certainly sparked some attention, for about 10 minutes. The Colt was handled plenty but always returned to the rack. No one seemed interested, and the gun dealer marked it down in desperation to get it off the rack. I asked to handle it several times and marveled at the natural pointing qualities, light weight and quick sighting.
It came with a five-round magazine, and the dealer told me a scope was available. I began to seriously consider it after talking to a fellow who’d carried one in Southeast Asia a few years earlier. But after I showed my Dad, I decided to listen to my elder and the AR-15 slipped away to a far-sighted hunter in the next county. Nowadays choices abound since sportsman finally learned the platform is excellent for hunting or shooting. It sure would have been nice to have that original Colt rifle, but like so many other guns, it is only a memory and a regrettable one at that.
The Model 1907 One of my greatest regrets is a Winchester Model 1907 Self Loading in .351 I didn’t buy. The gentleman who owned it used it to fill his deer tag and had the whitetail racks to prove it. He’d installed a set of peep sights, and when shouldered, the gun pointed naturally where I looked. He was desperate to sell it and let me put a couple rounds down the pipe as incentive.
Over the years some nasty things have been written about the .351 Winchester by folks who never fired one. But in the hands of that hunter, the .351 was no slouch in the deer woods. The owner told me his price and even offered a couple boxes of shells, which by the 1970s were increasingly difficult to find. I wish I could remember the reason why that very unique deer gun is not in my possession now, but I don’t. Things never worked out, and all I have are old catalog pages to linger over.
The author doesn’t recall regretting ever buying a certain gun, but the ones he passed up leave him wishing he could go back.
The Smooth Double For most hunters who follow a pointer through the uplands, the classic gun to carry is a side-by-side double. Autumn walks among the fiery leaves just seem better with a smooth double as a companion. Much of my early upland shooting was with heavy pump-action duck guns pressed into well, double duty. But they were no double gun! So when an Ithaca Model 100 in 12 bore appeared in a rack of used guns, I was sure I had found the perfect grouse gun. The gun dealer was asking a not unreasonable price, and I planned and schemed to own that gun. I could just see myself swinging the Ithaca into action as a partridge broke cover. I’d fold the big grouse, and my faithful dog would gently deposit it at my feet. The trouble was I had mortgage, a new bride and very little discretionary cash. I like to close my eyes sometimes and imagine that gun belongs to me, and I don’t have to regret not buying it.
The Model 100 I came close to owning a real swamp gun once. Winchester built the Model 100 for only a few years, mostly in.308 caliber. The one I found for sale in a crossroads general store was the less common carbine version. It was a short-barreled, slick-handling rifle perfect for the shadowy swamps where the big mossy horns lurked. But the Model 100 was stamped .284 Winchester.
None of my mentors had ever heard of the .284, and they all advised me to steer clear of it. In fact, I couldn’t even find shells for it except by special order. Well, I pondered a long time over that swamp gun. Months passed and every time I drove by I’d stop to check on the rifle. The ammo catalogs spoke well of the .284 cartridge, and the Model 100 was well liked. It came with a three-round magazine, and the store owner even said he’d order in plenty of ammo. After many long hours of considering it, I finally passed up on one fine deer rifle. And to this day I regret it mightily.
This article originally appeared in the March 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Conveniently sized and with ample storage, the UTG Competition Shooter’s Double Pistol Case seems like a solid option for a range bag.
Leapers appears to have hit a happy medium for a pistol shooter searching for a range bag that has ample storage, yet convenient size.
Guns, ammo, safety equipment — you’re ready for a day at the range. Well, you’re almost ready. There is one important piece of equipment missing from this equation — something to get all that gear from point A to point B.
Yup, a good old range bag is an essential for every shooter. But finding the right fit on one can be a challenge.
Small ones can quickly become overstuffed sausages, even with a moderate amount of gear. Large ones are unwieldy and, in many cases, are overkill for most shooters' needs.
Leapers, however, recently introduced a handgun storage/transportation solution that appears to strike a happy medium between size and capacity.
The Michigan manufacturer’s UTG Competition Shooter’s Double Pistol Case has room enough for all your range essentials. At the same tick, it appears to be just the right size to conveniently move your guns around hassle free.
To the latter point, the case measures in at 12×9.5×3.5 inches, making less of an imposition than even a computer bag. But don’t let the exterior dimensions fool you because the case has ample room for everything you need to plink away.
The range bag’s dominating feature is its pistol storage area, which encompasses one full panel. It can safely secure two handguns of nearly any size and shape thanks to an ingenious system. The case utilizes universal holsters that attach to the panel with hook-and-loop (similar to Velcro) surfaces.
The opposing panel of the case is outfitted with five elastic magazine loops. The flexible retention devices are designed to hold any caliber’s magazine — whether it’s a single-stack .22 or double-stack 10mm.
In between the two panels is a zipper leaf that is meant to hold ammunition. But it also includes pockets to hold other range essentials, such as earplugs or tools. The leaf is padded, as are the panels, to ensure a pistol or magazine doesn't get any nicks during travel.
Leapers has also included an external pocket for extra storage on the nylon case. And it has included both handles and a detachable shoulder strap, allowing for easy transport.
Presently, the American-made UTG Competition Shooter’s Double Pistol Case’s MSRP is $24.97.
Engraved 1911s typically run a pretty penny. But now Smith & Wesson is making procuring the iconic pistol a bit easier on the pocketbook.
An engraved 1911 typically runs a pretty penny. But now Smith & Wesson is making procuring the iconic pistol a bit easier on the pocketbook.
The 1911 pistol offers a vast canvas to engravers, and over the years, the legendary handgun has been etched with every conceivable design and flourish.
For many, the gun’s aesthetics are as big a selling point as its pedigree and performance. Historically, there has been just one big problem with procuring a 1911 decked out with a head-turning design — price.
For the most part, even plain-Jane models of the handgun tend to reside on the more expensive end of handguns. The ornate 1911s, well they can get downright perverse when it comes to the price tag. However, one renowned firearms manufacturer seems to be making style and performance a bit more affordable.
Smith & Wesson recently introduced an engraved SW1911 to its semi-automatic pistol lineup. And while the scrollwork on either side of the pistol is a real attention-grabber, it’s the handgun’s damage (or relative lack thereof) to shooters’ pocketbooks that is the real eye-catcher. At $1,060, the new pistol is just a bit more than Smith & Wesson’s base-model 1911, not to mention much less expensive than almost any other engraved pistol of this type.
Smith & Wesson turned to technology to turn out an affordable engraved version of John M. Browning’s brainchild. While the original design came from the Massachusetts company’s master engravers, it is applied to the pistols via an engraving machine.
The new SW1911 has its dominant engraving on its slide, but attractive flourishes can be found all over the pistol.
Much of the artistry is on the stainless-steel 1911’s slide, but there are some embellishments on the frame too, mainly around the trigger. The scrollwork is set off by the attractive glass bead finish, as well as the engraved rose-wood colored grips. The grips also add continuity between the metal and non-metal parts of the .45 ACP, featuring a similar scallop pattern that composes the fore and aft cocking serrations.
Completing the package, the engraved SW1911 comes in a wooden presentation case, allowing shooters a way to safely stow and showoff their pistol.
As would be expected with a steel-framed pistol, the SW1911 is hefty, weighing in at 39.8 ounces. It measures in at 8.7-inches in length, has an 8+1 capacity and is outfitted with white-dot front and rear sights.
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.
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