SIG Sauer’s P229 has planted some impressive milestones in its time. In addition to being widely utilized by federal, state and municipal law enforcement agencies, it is also the handgun that has significance in the history of the company itself.
In particular, the P229 was the first pistol SIG manufactured in America, when the company opened its plant in New Hampshire. Until then, the German/Swiss gun maker imported all its firearm to the American market.
Now, for a limited time, Lew Horton Distributing is offering a version of the double/single-action pistol as unique as its background. The Massachusetts wholesaler is selling its final order of Special Edition SIG P229 Blue Piranha.
The Horton exclusive features a striking slide, finished in a bright blue PVD finish. And while this process gives the P229 a glossy and classic look, the finish does more than just add glitz. PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) is able to deliver a harder and more corrosion-resistant coating than most other processes used today.
In addition to the eye-catching finish, the Blue Piranha version of the SIG P229 also features G-10 Piranha Grips. From there, the pistol shares features common to this model of SIG. These include: front and rear cocking serrations, 3.9-inch barrel, SIGLITE night sights and an accessory rail.
The Horton exclusive is available only in 9mm, though SIG does offer the P229 in two other calibers — .40S&W and .357SIG. Production of the Blue Piranha was limited to 500 units. The pistols ship with two 15-round magazines and have an MSRP of $1,299.
Federal Premium has expanded its muzzleloader ammunition selection with a lead bullet, outfitted with its B.O.R. Lock System.
It may sound counterintuitive, but one of the oldest styles of firearms has enjoyed some impressive technological leaps in modern times.
Yup, today’s muzzleloaders are nothing like what our fringe-jacketed forefathers used to put meat on the table. No siree. From precision cut rifling to high-performance propellants, modern day variants of these firearms are light years away from their original iterations.
The great leap forward in muzzleloader technology has even extended to bullets. And one ammunition company has been busy in recent years turning out innovative projectiles meant to get the most out of these firearms.
A year ago, Federal Premium introduced its B.O.R. Lock MZ System with its Trophy Copper Muzzleloader Bullets. Now the subsidiary of Utah-based Vista Outdoors is offering a more traditional projectile outfitted with its proprietary system. Federal has released a lead muzzleloader bullet, which has the potential to really help in-line muzzleloaders reach out. In particular, the .50-caliber bullet has the weight — 350 grains — and ballistic coefficient — .209 — to more than go the distance. The projectile also looks to provide devastating terminal ballistics with impressive expansion aided by its polymer tip.
The bullet is equipped with Federal’s B.O.R. Lock MZ System, an innovation that helps the projectile reach its full potential. The system is a polymer cup with a fiberglass base that sits about halfway down the base of the bullet upon loading. After firing, the cup moves forward on the bullet on to obturating ramps, which expands it, creating the gas seal and bearing surface of the projectile.
Federal boasts the system creates a true 200-yard muzzleloader due to its superior internal ballistics. As an added bonus, the company points out the fiberglass base cleans the bore upon loading.
While Federal did not place a MSRP on the new lead muzzleloader bullets, a number of online retailers are presently selling 15 packs in the $20 range.
The author tackles 5th Amendment Rights wallet cards and several other factors to consider when giving a brief statement after a defensive shooting.
In my previous blog post, I wrote about why I recommend giving responding police officers a very brief statement after a self-defense shooting. This runs counter to common advice from attorneys, and in this series, we are discussing why the affirmative defense of self-defense makes it advisable to communicate a limited number of details to law enforcement after a self-defense incident.
In addition to telling responding police officers that you were attacked, it makes sense to point out any witnesses who saw the incident, or know of any evidence that is likely to be missed by the officers during their investigation. Witness statements are a double-edged sword, so we'll look at the pros and cons of witness statements in Part 3 [Coming soon – Editors]. First, though, there is one more thing you need to mention briefly to responding police.
Ask for Medical Help
Were you injured during the assault against you? If it was a physical altercation, as is true of most disparity of force situations, there will likely be evidence of that attack on your body. If you are aware of any pain as a result of the attack, ask for medical aid. It is likely that when attacked, you experienced an Adrenalin dump. One of the effects of Adrenalin is that it masks pain. You may have been injured, but don’t really feel it. Those injuries, even if you don’t feel any pain, are evidence of an attack. A bruise on the noggin may in fact be a concussion. You need to get checked out at the hospital, so ask the responding officers to call an ambulance.
Why tell police if you are hurt during the assault? Were you struck first? Is there a bruise on your neck where the assailant tried to strangle you? If you clam up, how do the police know about this exculpatory evidence? Having your lawyer tell the police three days after the event, “By the way, my client was assaulted,” isn’t going to do much good. It is best to turn the police detectives into your detectives, by letting them know of any injuries or other attacks to your person.
It is pretty tough for a prosecutor bent on putting you in prison to cross-examine medical records. You see, in the hierarchy of professionals, doctors trump lawyers, and so a doctor’s word is going to be believed before the ranting of a prosecutor who wants to see you convicted. If you just tell the cops you want your lawyer and fail to ask for medical aid, that evidence is lost.
You may be a rough, tough guy, “awe shucks, it’s just a flesh wound,” and it very well may be, but your injuries are also evidence of the attack. Are your clothes dirty, wet or muddy? It’s evidence that you were on the ground. Make sure the cops see, understand and document that fact. You see, no one knows what little piece of evidence will be the one that tips the scales of justice in your favor, so you cannot leave anything out. Guilty people don’t help the cops. Innocent people do.
“I Will Not Answer” Cards
A lot of organizations and many criminal defense attorneys give their clients a wallet card that is supposed to alleviate the problem of confessing to the elements of a crime, while preserving your rights against self-incrimination. These cards usually are printed with words to the effect of: “Officer, if I am handing you this card, I was just attacked and had to use justifiable force to defend myself. I am invoking my rights against self-incrimination, and wish to make no statements until my lawyer is present.”
Ahem…you have just handed the officer a damning piece of evidence that can be used against you in court. This card can be used to transform an intentional albeit self-defense shooting into a premeditated shooting. It can be used to turn a life sentence into the death penalty. Do you honestly think a jury would view this printed statement the same way they do the car insurance card in your wallet?
Even a rookie prosecutor trying his first case would likely be able to turn this against you, to say nothing of the picture an experienced prosecutor could paint around that detail. If you insist on presenting such a card to the responding officers, let’s profoundly hope the assailant lives, because the element of pre-meditation is not usually a factor in assault cases.
The argument for having this card in your wallet goes something like this: “Well, I am likely to be so upset and confused that I won’t be able to speak clearly, and might make a statement that could be used against me.” While that might be true, at least a misstatement due to stress could be explained in court by a competent expert. I don’t know of any competent legal expert who can explain why having this card in your wallet is a good idea.
To further address that concern, however, we should ponder what details you fear you may misstate. The fact that you were attacked? The fact that you felt your life was in danger? The fact that witnesses saw what happened? The fact that, having stated these few points, you now want your attorney, before giving a formal statement?
So what should you say? Some have recommended a one-size-fits all statement of, “Officer I was in fear for my life, so I shot. I want my lawyer present before I answer any further questions.” But as you know, one size does not fit all, and neither does one uniform statement to the police—or no statement at all—work effectively in all cases. Let me explain.
First, after an incident occurs, you have no idea when your attorney will arrive. Unless you happen to have an attorney who is a family member living nearby, or you somehow know the whereabouts of your attorney at all times and you know that he or she can show up at a moment’s notice, you may wait many hours, or even a day before your attorney is at your side. So, off you go to the jail in the back of the police car, to await the arrival of your attorney.
This time gap creates a huge problem when you have invoked your Miranda rights and told police you would not talk to them without an attorney present. Why? Because, as we discussed in my previous blog post, absent justification, shooting someone fulfills the elements of the crime of assault or murder, depending on what happened. With the elements of the crime satisfied, you will be arrested, and once arrested, you will be booked into jail. The eventual charges depend on whether the person lives or dies. Of course, the titles of the crimes vary from state to state, so for the purposes of this discussion, let’s limit the possibilities to aggravated assault or murder. For this example, let’s imagine you were out in public when you were forced to use deadly force in self-defense.
Now, put yourself in the role of the responding officers who received the “shots fired-man down” call. Arriving on the scene, the police know a crime has just been committed, because it is illegal to shoot someone without justification. They know it is their duty to arrest people committing crimes, and in fact, they get lots of “atta-boys” when they make good arrests, so they are likely going to arrest someone if they can. They have two potential candidates for arrest in this scenario: either the shooter (you), or the guy on the ground, who might have been committing a crime against you.
Once police make that arrest, they shift all their attention to proving that their arrest was a valid arrest. This means investigating the assault or murder of which you now stand accused, and not the underlying crime about which they have little or no knowledge. If this occurs, you are in for a long trip through the legal system.
“But wait!” you cry. “I’m innocent!” Yeah, I know you are innocent, you know you are innocent, and even God knows you are innocent, but at that critical juncture, no one has told the cops that you are innocent, and they had no information to make them believe you’re not just another guilty suspect. Why? Because, you—perhaps the only truly credible witness who is still alive—handed them a card indicating that you would not talk to them.
The one person who knew that a crime was being committed against you refused to talk to the cops! By immediately invoking your Miranda rights, you have just earned a trip to jail, and prosecution for assault or murder.
In Part 3, the author tackles the matter of witnesses—both pro and con. Click here for Part 1.
Because of its classic styling, the No. 1 is a favorite platform for customizing. The gun work on this model was done by gunmaker James Anderson with engraving by Roger Kehr.
The Ruger No. 1 is a versatile and handy rifle chambered in just about anything you need to take game on this—or any other—continent.
Features shown here include the thumb safety, and the quarter rib with integral scope bases and a folding rear sight.
At the 1966 NRA convention in Chicago, a select group of gun writers were shown four prototypes of a new Ruger rifle. It was a classic-style single-shot based on John Farquharson’s falling-block design that was patented in Scotland in 1872. In an article that appeared in the 1967 edition of Gun Digest, the late Roger Barlow eloquently described the appeal of the single shot rifle.
“The man with a single shot rifle, stalking his game skillfully, thoughtfully calculating his range, not just shooting at his quarry but selecting the most effective shot to place that bullet, then carefully aiming and making that one shot count — that man surely is more of a hunter than is the fellow having half a dozen shots available in his repeater.”
The new Ruger rifle was indeed designed to appeal to the traditional sportsman who appreciated and understood the challenge as well as the advantages and disadvantages of one shot. This was another design created by two of Ruger’s top engineers, Harry Sefried and Larry Larson.
The standard medium-weight sporter Ruger No. 1.
Originally the rifle was going to be named the Victorian, due to its 19th century styling, but not long after it went into production, the name was changed. From the beginning, the actions were stamped “No. 1” and that became the official name. (Editor’s note: This Ruger model should always be referred to in print as “No. 1” and not “Number One,” or “Number 1.”)
The design is not a copy of the Farquharson but is a modern take on the action. The falling-block is operated with a lever located just behind the trigger guard. This action is much shorter in length—about 4.5 inches—than those of the various repeating rifle designs, which provides one of the No. 1’s major advantages. It can have a longer barrel than a repeating rifle with the same overall length, and therefore achieve a higher velocity.
The earliest production rifles were referred to as the S22L, S26M and S24H. These were basically barrel-length and weight designations. The variations were later named Light Sporter, Medium Sporter, Tropical Rifle, 1B Standard and others.
Ruger No. 1 International.
The No. 1 has been chambered for a long list of calibers over its almost 50-year history and in several different variations. When the rifle was introduced, the original calibers were the .222 Remington, .22-250, .243 Winchester, 6mm Remington, .308 Winchester, .30-06 and .458 Winchester Magnum. All were offered with either a 22- or 26-inch barrel, except the .458 Win. Mag., which had a 24-inch heavy barrel. The very first No. 1, by the way, was chambered in .308 Winchester and is in the private collection of the Ruger family.
Other variations like the International were later added along with many more calibers. The No. 1 has been offered in virtually every popular American caliber, ranging from the .204 Ruger to the .480 Ruger, and also including several European rounds. Some of the rarest chamberings will require a premium over the values of the standard calibers.
The earliest No. 1 models were marked with serial numbers with no prefix and these models will also bring a premium. This serial number range goes from 1 to approximately 8437 for rifles produced through the end of 1969. Beginning in 1970, a prefix was added starting with 130-00000.
A major change has taken place in the available calibers for the No. 1. Beginning in 2013, Ruger is chambering the No. 1 in a limited range of calibers. The company announced in its 2014 catalog and on its website that each variation will now be chambered in only one caliber each year, and that caliber will be changed every year.
The Light Sporter for 2014 is being offered only in .280 Remington, the Varminter in .220 Swift, the International in .257 Roberts, the Medium Sporter in 9.3×62, and the Tropical in .450/400 Nitro Express 3-inch. No one knows what this limiting of caliber choices will do to the values of Ruger No. 1s in the future. If you have your heart set on a new No. 1 in one of these particular calibers, don’t wait too long.
President John F. Kennedy’s National Match M1 Garand realized a final price of $149,500.
Historic pieces, including Kennedy’s M1 Garand and a Heinrich Himmler presentation Walther PP highlighted Rock Island Auction Company’s September 2015 gun auction.
An exceptionally rare and historic Heinrich Himmler presentation Walther PP handgun, with deep factory engraving and gold wash was auctioned.
The September Premiere Auction at Rock Island Auction Company featured a dizzying array of over 2,800 collector firearms. Gun enthusiasts flew in from across the country and drove for hours to attend the event. High condition guns were abundant in nearly every conceivable collectable genre, as were historic pieces, significant prototypes, early variations and high art masterpieces. Five world-class collections paved the way to over $13.6 million dollars in sales for the three day event.
President John F. Kennedy’s National Match M1 Garand trounced its high estimate by riding a wave of international publicity to a final price of $149,500. This is a world record price for an M1 Garand that broke the previous record that RIAC had set less than 5 months earlier for the shop model M1 Garand bearing serial number “7.”
An exceptionally rare and historic Heinrich Himmler presentation Walther PP handgun, with deep factory engraving and gold wash was auctioned. The gun had been captured in Germany by a U.S. serviceman, whose family had owned it ever since. Since they had held on to it since its discovery in Germany, this gun had never been seen before by collectors and was as “fresh” as it gets, though a near identical, consecutively serial numbered version does reside in the West Point Academy Museum. The final price on that Walther: $287,500.
Bids for firearms left their highest estimates in the dust. For example, an antique Winchester Deluxe 1873 with a high estimate of $3,500 launched into a final bid of $10,350.
A historic Cole Agee engraved and gold plated Colt Single Action Army documented as being Roy Rogers’—“King of the Cowboys”—holster gun more than doubled its high estimate by selling for $57,500.
High end shotguns also saw a lot of activity. Browning Citori shotguns were consistently selling high, but a true overachiever was the engraved A.H. Fox XE Grade double barrel 20-gauge shotgun. With its mutton case, this classic fowling piece shot down its high estimate of $4,500, bringing in $17,250.
A Revolutionary War era Brown Bess flintlock musket turned heads. With its virtual library of accompanying research as well as an authentic period diary, this piece had every right to be behind museum glass, but instead it found a new owner who paid $126,500 for the privilege of its company, well exceeding the $85,000 high estimate.
A unique harmonica rifle made by J. M. Browning, father of the prolific John Moses Browning, was offered to the public and inspired a spirited bidding battle. The bids marched upwards past its $100,000 high estimate, before finally selling for $138,000.
Krieghoff-manufactured German FG-42 paratrooper rifle that went for $322,000.
The highest achieved price of the auction took place when a Krieghoff-manufactured German FG-42 paratrooper rifle proved that last year’s high sale price of an FG-42 for $299,000 was no random spike. This fully automatic beauty surpassed that number and settled in at a comfortable $322,000.
A rare and documented Mauser Prototype Luger pistol easily passed its estimate of $5,000 – $10,000 and achieved $23,000 by a savvy collector. Another prototype, a scarce Japanese Hamada Type 2 pistol prototype, serial number 33, which featured an impressive host of blueprints and design documents from the collection of the inventor, Bunji Hamada was auctioned. A Japanese military enthusiast who recognized the significance of the lot willingly surpassed the $16,000 high estimate and won this incredible assortment for $31,625. German military pieces, such as a cased Model 1893 Borchardt, was won for $37,375, despite having a high estimate of $25,000. And a DWM Model 1934 Turkish Contract Luger nearly doubled its $25,000 high estimate by earning a final price of $48,875.
Old favorites showcased their staying power and some renewed interest showed up in some unexpected places.
Stevens is offering youth and adult models of its 20-gauge 320 pump shotgun.
Stevens is giving a little something to everyone with the new additions to its 320 line — from wingshooters to those looking for a home defense pump shotgun.
Stevens' 320 line has carved a niche in the firearms world as a versatile and economical choice in pump shotguns.
With a number of configurations and options, the polymer-stocked smooth bores can tackle nearly any job. The Chinese-made guns are as adept in the field as they are in a home-defense situation. And the line could soon earn a few new devotees with its recent expansion.
Recently, Stevens opened the 12-gauge exclusive 320 line to include 20-gauge models. And like the earlier iterations, the Massachusetts-based subsidiary of Savage Arms is shooting to fill nearly every conceivable need with its smaller bore scatter guns.
In all, Stevens is releasing four new 320s — two field models and two aimed at defensive duty.
The Security Models follow a recent trend of more defensive options being offered in 20-gauge. This makes sense, as the smaller bore opens up this style of firearm to those who may be too recoil-sensitive to get behind a 12-gauge.
Stevens 320 20-gauge Security Model pump shotgun.
Stevens is offering the pistol-grip Security Model with two different aiming solutions — traditional front bead and ghost ring. There is, on the other hand, a bit more distinction between the two Field Grade Models with a 26-inch version and a 22-inch youth model.
While the additions aren’t carbon copies of each other, they do have some common features, including:
Dual slide bars
Rotary bolt
Winchester Choke Threads
Synthetic stock
Five-plus-one capacity
Presently, the MSRP on the 20-gauge pump shotguns is $235 for the Field Grade Models and $260 on the Security Models.
At Turner’s 18 stores throughout Southern California, big sales in the firearms department are coming from polymer-framed pistols, especially the Smith & Wesson Shield and Springfield XD. The XD Essential model sells right at $449, while the Shield is approximately $20 less.
Only handguns listed on California’s “roster” of approved models can be sold in the state, and that does hinder sales; in general, the roster requirement means Cali shooters can’t get most new handguns hitting the market.
“Thankfully, companies like Beretta are reviving some of the old handguns they kept on the list and making limited production runs on variants of Beretta 92s,” said Mike Etienne, Turner’s vice president of purchasing and marketing. “These re-intros create some excitement for our regular customers, giving them some ‘new’ options of guns to buy.”
West Coast Hot on AKs For long guns, the hot sellers are the AK variants being manufactured by Century Arms, including the RAS47 and the C39V2 models. “We have people coming through the doors daily for those particular rifles,” said Etienne.
“The prices—just under $1,000 for the C39V2 and just over $800 for the RAS47—and the quality of these rifles are big for recreational shooters. Plus, Century rifles now being made in the USA certainly helps sales, too.”
Powder Dry Reloading supplies sales have been flat, mostly because of a lack of gunpowder on the shelves.
“But powder has become more available in the last month, so we’ll see if things pick up in this category,” Etienne said. “Ammo, with the exception of rimfire, is becoming more and more available, and I expect to see prices start to drop soon.”
Editor's Note: This brief originally appeared in the Fall 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
While becoming less predominant in firearms designs, there are many great examples of pistols that include a thumb safety. Take, for instance, the venerable 1911. Of course, for those who choose to carry a handgun outfitted with this feature, there is an extra consideration. In particular, when in the draw sequence is it appropriate to disengage the safety? Rob Pincus does a pretty solid job of going over the basics of this topic in the above video. Perhaps as important, the firearms instructor and Gun Digest author also talks about when to reengage the safety. Obviously this is a key concern, given adrenaline of a situation that would demand a draw and the light trigger pull of a single-action pistol could easily add up to a negligent discharge.
James D. Julia, Inc., the world’s leading firearms auction house, will conduct their Fall Firearms Auction on October 5th-7th with a preview on October 1st and 2nd. While the auction will feature a number of affordable firearms, James D. Julia will also offer some rare and unique guns. Here’s a look at some of the more distinctive offerings.
With a bite that matches its bark, Da Boom from BoomStix is one mean home defender.
If you ask some, the perfect shotgun for home defense is a simple, old school double barrel with two rounds of 00 buck ready to rock. It’s classic, pretty immune to user error and intimidating. But it’s a clunker to reload—if you remembered to grab a couple extra shells while patrolling the house in your underwear, after being awoken in the dark night by sounds of an intruder.
Some obviously choose a pump for home defense, again, because of its reliability. This leads them to the myriad options of tactical shotguns on the market, and to the possibility of being overwhelmed by breacher barrels and ghost rings. A lot of people end up with a tactical shotgun that won’t ever see the inside of a SWAT team’s armory and has more than they need, or worse, the wrong components.
Mark Dunn at BoomStix HD (home defense) has endeavored to fill that gap between hunting and tactical shotguns by creating a catalogue of mostly Mossberg 500s and Remington 870s with different configurations of barrel length, magazine tube length, stocks and accessories, all optimized for home defense.
Da Boom is built on a Mossberg 500 platform, but it also comes with the option to utilize the Remington 870. Either way, reliability and versatility are key.
Dunn said he chose 500s and 870s because they’re rock solid.
“When a bad guy is kicking in your front door, you want to make sure that when you pull the trigger, it goes boom, and those two models—you can use them and abuse them, and they’ll still fire,” he said.
The company has a jocular lilt to it. Mark isn’t known as the CEO but as The Big Ka-Boom-a, or TBK. His shotguns sport names like Sweet Baby Jane and Base No Disgrace. But when you get down to it, BoomStix is about no-nonsense, reliable, rugged shotguns that are easy to operate and tailored for defending your home and loved ones.
There are six configurations to choose from, sold exclusively from the BoomStix HD website. The site also features a “Bild Ur Stix” function that lets you customize a Mossberg 500, Remington 870, Hatsan Escort MP Tactical, Hatsan Escort AimGuard or SRM Arms Model 1216 12-gauge autoloader from the base model up.
Mark sent me their first and flagship creation, Da Boom, built on a Mossberg 500. When I first looked at it, the gun seemed a little unwieldy, with a 20-inch barrel and matching seven-round magazine tube (both from Mossberg) and an ATI Talon pistol grip with no stock.
The first time I hefted it, my worries were dispelled. The gun feels handy. The length is right. It doesn’t feel too short, as stockless shotguns sometimes do, but it feels, and is, extremely maneuverable inside the tight spaces of an apartment doorway or hall.
Mounted on the tri-rail slide forend was a vertical foregrip with a pressure switch attached to a tac-light/laser sight combo.
It appears extremely tactical if you don’t know what you’re looking at, which is the problem new or novice gun buyers face when choosing a home defense shotgun. What’s more important than what’s there, perhaps, is what’s not.
There is a rail running under the forend, to which the grip and tac-light/laser are attached, taking up all the space. There are two small rail sections at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions on the forend’s left. That’s it—no top rail, no rail bits near the muzzle. There’s no muzzle brake with a fierce-looking jagged edge. The idea behind this gun is that laser sights work; that’s what this gun has on board, so use it.
“In the dark, you’re never going to find your bead, so the laser puts you on target in seconds in a life or death emergency,” Dunn said. “I think you do need a laser for a shotgun. If that gun’s next to your bed or wherever you decide to keep it, you don’t have to shoulder it and try to find a sight in the dark. You just pop that light on, see that it’s a bad guy and the red dot’s on his chest, and threat down.”
A simple, low-profile brass bead sight on the barrel serves as a backup to the laser. There’s no ghost sights to get snagged on fabric, no red dot that has to be activated. Simply grab the gun where you always do—by both grips—push the pressure switch and the target is illuminated and the laser flips on.
Despite heated Internet forum arguments, laser sights are a viable and useful sighting system for a shotgun, especially one set up for defense. If it’s zeroed to the center of the shotgun’s pattern, a laser sight provides quick target acquisition, a guarantee of a clean line of sight (if the laser is getting to the target without interruption, it’s a sure bet the projectile will too) that will work in any low-light situation, and it is more than effective at the ranges one would encounter in a home.
The Boomdock is a simple idea that, like BoomStix’s other products, aims to fill a hole in the market. It’s a quick-access, wall-or-door-mounted gunlock for a home defense long gun.
The biggest criticism of laser sights is they are hard to see in daylight and some well-lit environments. Those shouldn’t be primary concerns in a home or apartment, and if the opportunity does arise in an emergency to turn the lights on, that’s just fine. Today’s modern lasers are bright enough to contend with lamps and ceiling lights, and there’s always the brass bead.
The heat shield could be considered a bit unnecessary on any modern shotgun, as it was designed to allow soldiers to grab a hot barrel and use the weapon with a bayonet affixed—not a typical tactical or defensive situation one encounters. But in this case it does help with gripping the short gun and maneuvering it without grabbing the slide. The shell carrier from TK carries six 12-gauge rounds securely and in optimum position for loading on the left side of the receiver.
The weight of the barrel and mag tube do quite a bit to offset the felt recoil of even 12-gauge 00 buckshot shells, which patterned as expected with an open choke at 10 yards and closer. Winchester 12-gauge PDX Defender ammo also performed well, with the slug and pellets going exactly where they were supposed to go. The vertical foregrip and Scorpion Recoil Pad on the pistol grip help manage the kick that the weight of the shotgun doesn’t absorb, which is certainly manageable.
“This was kind of our original shotgun,” Dunn said. He also added that maneuverability was a big consideration in designing Da Boom.
“If you have a shotgun with a stock, I understand there’s more stability when you shoulder a gun, but it’s harder to maneuver. With Da Boom you can get around tight corners, pile into rooms and it’s a lot easier with that configuration.”
“To help offset the lack of a stock we put a nice, chunky vertical foregrip on there. That FAB Defense grip adds a lot of stability, and you’re sharing the recoil with two arms instead of one,” he said.
Da Boom certainly isn’t locked into its configuration. The receiver is tapped for a top rail if you prefer a red dot of some kind. The light and laser can be easily removed or moved, and the same is true of the vertical foregrip. The mount for the ATI pistol grip includes an attachment point for a single-point sling that can also be used in conjunction with the sling swivel mount on the magazine tube cap for a two- or three-point sling, if one so chooses.
Da Boom is a solid home defense shotgun for those who can manage a stockless 12-gauge with quality components, no unnecessary accessories and definitely a mean look.
BoomStix Da Boom Specs Base Shotgun: Mossberg 500 (Remington 870 also available) Gauge: 12 Chamber: 3-inch Magnum Capacity: Mossberg – 7+1; Remington – 6+1 Barrel: 20-inch smooth Accessories: Tac Light/Laser combo, tri-rail forend, vertical fore grip, ATI Talon Pistol Grip, six-shell side saddle, heat shield MSRP: $640 for Mossberg 500; add $85 for Remington 870 https://www.boomstixhd.com
This review appeared in the August 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The Savage Model 11 Scout Rifle looks to be a versatile and accurate do-it-all rifle loaded with features.
Savage Arms isn't shying away from the scout rifle market with the introduction of its new Model 11 Scout. A study in versatility, the lightweight, fast-handling rifle is flush with features that deliver flawless performance in real-world situations including hunting, self-defense and law enforcement.
Chambered for 308 Win., the Model 11 Scout Rifle blends the best attributes of scout-class weaponry with legendary Savage performance to create a hard-hitting package that would undoubtedly make genre founder Col. Jeff Cooper proud.
For starters, it fits the format Cooper envisioned of a compact, bolt-action rifle that is equally adept at yielding fast target acquisition and unflinching accuracy in both hunting and tactical applications. And, like any good scout, it sports reliable iron sights yet can also accommodate a forward-mounted long eye relief optic.
Early accuracy reports are excellent, thanks in part to a hand-straightened, button-rifled barrel. Zero-tolerance headspace, achieved by carefully matching barrel, action and bolt, is also said to boost accuracy, as does a floating bolt head that self-adjusts for a fit typically reserved for hand-lapped, locking lugs.
The Model 11 Scout Rifle also offers the company's proven AccuTrigger system, which lets shooters tailor trigger pull to their personal tastes. Its AccuStock rail system cradles the action three-dimensionally along its entire length, while an aluminum spine molded into the polymer stock adds rigidity.
Sighting options include factory-issued irons, which are highlighted by an adjustable Williams receiver sight that doubles as .09-inch peep and .20-inch ghost ring, plus a .37-inch front post flanked by protective steel wings.
The 11 Scout Rifle also accommodates standard center-mount hunting scopes for situations where mid- to long-range shots are expected. But the rifle is really designed with a nod to scout-rifle tradition because the one-piece, cantilevered, 17-slot Picatinny rail accepts a variety of forward-mounted, long eye-relief scopes that engender fast target acquisition—which can be both godsend and lifesaver whether you're hunting hogs in thick brush or tasked with defensive duties.
Fit is likewise easy to personalize. A spacer system in the butt pad lets you tweak length of pull to accommodate different shooting styles ranging from standard cross-body positions to squared off, tactical stances. Plus, the adjustable comb makes it easy to tailor cheek height to the shooter’s stature and various sighting options. Also, when you move that cheek piece up and down, the front and back can move independently of one another, allowing you to change the angle as well.
In a similar vein, a trio of well-placed swivel studs accepts a variety of sling options, from standard hunting straps to ching slings and 3-point configurations.
Amenities don’t end there. The 18-inch, carbon steel barrel is threaded and capped with a proprietary muzzle brake for reduced recoil. As a bonus, the brake can easily be removed and replaced by a suppressor with just a few turns of a Crescent wrench.
The 11 Scout Rifle features a rugged synthetic stock, the flat, dark-earth tones of which are perfectly accented by the gun’s black barrel and hardware. Other notable features include a detachable 10-round magazine; reliable, easily engaged, tang-mounted safety; and an oversize bolt knob that’s simple to operate, even with gloved hands.
All in, the 11 Scout Rifle weighs just 7.8 pounds, making it a lightweight knockout that serious shooters everywhere are quickly finding is as valuable on patrol or in home defense scenarios as it is afield in hunting situations.
Savage Model 11 Scout Rifle Specs Caliber: .308 WIN Handed: Right Rate of Twist: 1 in 10″ Weight: 7.8 lbs Overall Length: 40.5″ Barrel Length: 18″ Ammo Capacity: 10 MSRP: $794.00 Action: Bolt Drop at Comb: Adjustable Drop at Heel: Adjustable Length of Pull: Adjustable Series: Law Enforcement Trigger: Savage Arms proprietary AccuTrigger™ Stock: Savage Arms proprietary AccuStock ™ Magazine: Detachable box Stock material: Synthetic Barrel material: Carbon Steel Stock finish: Matte Barrel finish: Matte Stock color: Natural Barrel color: Black Sights: Adjustable iron sights Special feature: Includes a one-piece rail for forward-mounted scope
The Maxim is built on a Smith & Wesson M&P C.O.R.E. chassis.
The company known for quieting down guns is making big noises in the industry with the Maxim pistol, the first integrally suppressed 9mm handgun, and other product innovations for 2016.
SilencerCo., known for its advancements in noise-suppression technology, is turning up the heat with product introductions for this fall and into 2016. The company unveiled four new innovations this week at a private product launch party in Key West, Florida. It also announced the formation of SilencerCo Weapons Research.
The event, dubbed Maxim Vice, was named for what most attendees agreed was the biggest news: the introduction of the industry’s first integrally suppressed 9mm pistol, the Maxim. The product is still in the prototype stage, but is slated for availability sometime in 2016.
The Maxim is built on a Smith & Wesson M&P C.O.R.E. chassis, and it uses M&P magazines. At a glance, the new handgun looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie. Well, the suppression portion has to go somewhere, so now it sits mainly beneath the barrel instead of hanging off the end.
I had the chance to shoot the prototype in a unique setting. SilencerCo personnel, media and other guests rode out to sea on a catamaran, and we fired everything from .22s to the new Maxim to an AR in .458 at terrorist, shark and alligator targets trailing behind our boat. Because of rough conditions, it was difficult to really get a fix on the particulars of the way the gun balanced in my hand. But as far as noise suppression, the Maxim, like most suppressed guns, was a lot of fun to shoot and absolutely hearing-safe. Holsters to fit the unique Maxim profile will be available from Raven Concealment Systems by the time the gun is ready for the market.
SilencerCo also used the event to introduce its new Hybrid suppressor, which will be interchangeable between firearms. Slated for release in early 2016, the Hybrid means you can silence your .223 AR-15 or your .308 bolt gun, for example, with just one suppressor unit.
Available this fall are two more new products. First is the Osprey Micro, which comes in at only 3.2 inches, a substantial reduction from the original Osprey’s 4.6 inches. The Micro is designed for use with .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR and will carry a suggested retail of $599.
The final product, being marketed via SilencerCo Weapons Research, is the Radius, dubbed by the company as a “human augmentation device.” The Radius is a rangefinder that can be mounted atop a rifle’s scope or on a side rail and is capable of ranging targets as small as 16 inches. I got to play around with this one as well, on an AR with the Radius side-mounted. I was able to keep a firm cheek weld on the stock while taking in the distancing information as I scanned from target to target.
The Radius could be useful in hunting situations where quickly changing conditions, multiple targets or the need for rapid ranging is a must. At only 14 ounces, the bit of extra weight may be a fair trade-off for having exact distance information always at the ready. It’s ready to roll out this fall with a $999 suggested retail.
Gun Digest will bring you more details on all of these exciting new products as they become available for further review and testing.
The firearms collection of famed gun writer Elmer Keith recently sold at auction, and the results show Keith's prominence even today.
Arguably the most important gun writer of the last century, Elmer Keith, sometimes referred to as “the Father of the Magnum,” is still influencing the gun world. This time, the occasion was a firearms auction held by James D. Julia, Inc., where Keith’s collection of firearms recently went up for auction. And the prices paid bear strong testament to Keith’s continued importance.
According to Francis Lombardi, Department Head of Julia’s Firearms Division, one of the first guns up was the most famous of all of Elmer Keith’s handguns, a customized Colt SA Army revolver referred to as “The Last Word” in handguns. Bearing Serial No. 5, beautifully engraved and custom designed by Keith and Harold Croft, the Colt came to the auction block with a presale estimate of $30,000 to $50,000. Yet, after a furious bidding battle, it went out at $80,500!
A pair of Smith & Wesson hand ejector First Model (triple-lock target revolvers with holster rig) owned by Keith was conservatively estimated at $6,000 to $10,000, but they blew through the high estimate to bring nearly $40,000.
Keith was a renowned big-game hunter, and his collection included many double rifles that accompanied him on various hunting safaris. The most significant or historic gun was unquestionably the W.J. Jeffrey Grade 2 best box lock double rifle that at one time had been owned and used by hunting legend Jim Corbett. During his lifetime, Corbett killed 44 man-eaters, two of which accounted for killing and devouring over 800 people. His trusty double rifle was estimated at this sale at $75,000 to $150,000. But the rifle flew well beyond the high mark to approximately $265,000.
Firearms owned by the late Norm Flayderman, an expert in antique and collectible firearms and their values, were also offered. Items included a scarce Civil War brass frame revolver with holster presented to 1st Sgt. Wm. Ahrberg/Co. E 16th K.V.C. The gun carried a modest estimate of $2,000 to $4,000, but it went out at over four times the high estimate for $17,825.
This brief appeared in the August 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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As more and more Americans have chosen to arm themselves for personal protection, the number of concealed carry holsters available have greatly multiplied. Here are seven of the latest examples.
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Walther’s new PPQ has all of the features that have made the line popular.
Given their profusion, it can be difficult to standout in an arena as crowded as striker-fired pistols. Walther, however, has more than shined in this congested market.
The German company’s PPQ line of handguns has won its share of accolades over the years. The sleek and innovative handguns have built a solid reputation as being precision made and highly functional. And, most likely, the line will soon gain a whole bunch more fans.
What Walther has done to build a larger following is to expand the PPQ line with a .45 ACP model. The PPQ M2 45 is set to hit gun stores in October and in the process will make a bit of history for the company.
This is the first production pistol Walther has made in this caliber throughout its 129 years of manufacturing. It also gives shooters a vast array of PPQs to chose from with .22, 9mm and .40 S&W models also available.
Overall, the PPQ 45 shares all the features of earlier iterations of the pistol. Yet it’s not an exact carbon copy, with Walther slightly enlarging the handgun to manage the .45 ACP round.
Where this is particularly notable is in a slightly longer and thicker slide, which helps the gun top out at 1.75 pounds. One measurement that has remained the same on the newest PPQ is its width, which like the rest of the line is 1.3 inches. This obviously keeps the 12-round .45 in the running as a concealed carry piece, for both inside and outside the waistband.
Common to the line, the new PPQ 45 has a snappy trigger that breaks with a more than manageable 5.6-pound pull. Walther lists .4 inches of trigger travel and .1 inches to reset, which should be a big aid in breaking off fast and accurate shots.
Walther breaks new ground with the PPQ M2 45, the company’s first .45 ACP production pistol.
Like the rest of the PPQs, the new .45 is designed for easy manipulation with cocking serrations milled on the fore and aft of the slide. It also boasts ambidextrous slide and magazine releases, making it friendly for both lefties and righties.
Walther has outfitted the 4.25-inch barreled pistol with three safeties — trigger bar, striker and drop. It also has three-dot polymer sights — rounded as to facilitate a smooth draw.
As is becoming more and more common on semi-auto pistols, the PPQ 45 has a Picatinny rail for the easy addition of accessories. And its metal parts are finished with a rugged Tenifer coating that prevents both corrosion and impact damage.
Thanks to an increase in local shooting programs, Center Target Sports is seeing definite growth in the youth shooting sports market.
The influx of youngsters is also being aided by another trend: more females using the Center Target range facilities.
Local sportsmen’s groups and Boy Scout troops hold more and more shooting opportunities for youth. Center Target also offers a youth handgun familiarity class every month that fills fast, plus a youth hunter orientation just before the Idaho hunting season kicks off.
Meanwhile: “More moms are using our shooting range, and they are bringing along their children,” said Center Target owner Ed Santos. “The kids discover they like shooting, and we have new customers!”
The moms—and dads—are buying .22 LR firearms for their children. Rugers top the list—the 10/22 for those in need of a rifle, the Ruger SR22 for young handgunners. But the top sellers for the kids? Ear muffs and eye protection, Santos said.
Editor's Note: This brief originally appeared in the Fall 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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.
