Understanding Rifle Gas Systems

May 30, 2025

How do self-loading rifles function? There are different ways, but here I break down the major types of rifle gas systems.

It’s fair to assume that most shooters have at least a general understanding of how their guns work on a technical level. The ins and outs of specific designs can be a fairly specialized knowledge set, but I’d wager that most people using common semi-autos know they are, in large part, gas operated.

However, there is quite a bit of nuance that we’re going to dive into here talking about the various gas systems and how they work, especially with suppressors and how things like gas flow and bleed-offs work. This is a technical topic, but I’ll spare the jargon and try to relay as much of this as possible in layman’s terms so everyone ends on the same page.

Gas System Types

For what we’re talking about here, we’re going to be discounting such rifles as bolt actions and anything manually operated. There are, of course, ways that gas interacts with these guns and suppressors, but those are their own topic. Specifically, we’re going to look at direct gas and piston-operated rifles, each with its own problems and advantages.

ar-15 gas systems piston vs DI — A PWS gas system against a standard direct gas carrier. In this case, the DI carrier by SA has interior chrome lining and is far and above easier to keep clean … with all the gas being blowing directly into it.

The baseline situation with these guns is that the rifle operates using a port in the barrel that acts as an avenue for gas pressure to be directed. If you are new to this topic, yes, there is in fact a hole in the barrel that is drilled through into the bore itself. This hole is typically called the gas port. A gas block is mounted to this—a fixture that is the interaction point between the barrel and whatever gas system is in use. The shape and style of the gas block varies depending on what is being asked of it, but for our purposes we’re going to look at it as a very important piece of this equation.

ar-15 barrel gas port location — These two Ballistic Advantage barrels demonstrate different gas port locations. Depending on your cartridge and barrel length, you’ll want to pay attention to this.

Before we go too far into gas blocks, we need to look at operating systems. At a point, their function is well-established, and I’ll only go into a brief discussion on their designs to save space here. The two basic forms mentioned above are both in common use, with direct gas being the more common today in the AR platform.

Direct-gas guns take the gas pressure from the firing cycle and vent it through the gas block into a thin metal tube, of course called a gas tube. This little tube takes the gas pressure built up in it and blasts it directly into the gas key, a hollow structure atop the bolt carrier group. This gas pressure forces the bolt carrier group rearward, thus unlocking the bolt, ejecting the spent cartridge, and then, by spring power, travels forward to strip a fresh round off the magazine, thus starting the cycle again.

The downside of this otherwise reliable method of gas operation is that it is, comparatively, very dirty. When firing suppressed, the average AR becomes a mess very quickly. I have been firing all my AR rifles suppressed now for years, and fouling in the guns is about 10 times worse than firing unsuppressed. Your mileage may vary … but be prepared to do a lot of cleaning. I’m not above just blasting out an AR with a hose and Dawn soap in the backyard.

Piston rifles, by design, are much cleaner in operation. There are endless debates about the reliability of piston guns over direct-gas guns. But the jury is permanently out, as the entire world uses variations of both systems with many nations, including our own, using both in various capacities.

Piston rifles vary a lot in terms of design; some use a fixed piston, such as the AK series rifles, and others have a push rod system where the bolt group is separate from the piston. A rod in the gas tube will push the carrier back. Some argue this is better from the standpoint of maintenance and reduced bolt carrier mass for softer cycling, but again, the jury is out.

There are too many successful designs out there that use fixed pistons or push rods, and all of them are pretty good … just different. In either case, the vented gas is used to actuate the piston in what amounts to a closed system, thus keeping propellant gas out of the receiver. Wisdom says that this is more ideal for suppressor use in that it keeps the interior of the gun very clean. In my personal experience, I have found this to be largely true and have come to enjoy the lack of cleaning piston guns offer.

Staying In Tune

The commonality among these systems, aside from being gas operated, is how we can alter the flow of this gas to change the internal pressure in the gun. It works in largely the same way regardless of a rifle being direct gas or piston.

That said, piston guns are somewhat less flexible in how they interact with the gas cycle. While not the rule entirely, rare is a single piston system that’s as modular as the direct gas system on the AR platform. Most piston guns are designed to work only as their set specs allow and are often from a single manufacturer.

brownells brn180 — The Brownells BRN180 is in its third generation; it’s a very reliable design.

For instance, the BRN 180 is a piston gun, and so is the FN SCAR. They are in no way compatible, and there isn’t anything that can be done on a real level to affect the way these guns work in terms of reliable cycling. You pretty much get what you get; you can regulate the system by reducing the amount of gas … and therefore pressure in the system.

The AR series is quite the opposite. There are many distinct gas system lengths that are quite modular, and you can select the type of gas system you need for your individual build. The shorter the gas system, the higher the initial operating pressure. This is why many shorty builds feel snappy compared to a 20-inch barrel with a rifle-length gas system, a combination most regard as very smooth and easy to shoot.

The AR can also be adjusted by using a lightweight bolt carrier and various weights of buffer to achieve the desired balance in the gun. Depending on the cartridge you’re using, you will want to pick a gas system based on what kind of pressure it uses, such as .300 Blackout, which is best with a very short gas system due to its sometimes very minimal powder charges in subsonic form. It often won’t generate enough pressure to cycle the action without a suppressor to help.

A problem that can exist in some cases is over-gassing, especially with suppressor use. What we don’t want is to take a rifle that has a gas system regulated for unsuppressed use and then create a situation where the gun is beating the hell out of itself. Bleeding off gas is the way to solve this, and in some cases with more modular platforms like the AR, you can select different internal parts to help slow the bolt travel, making it less violent.

While most guns won’t be horribly damaged by over-gassing, it isn’t a great idea and can pretty easily result in parts wearing out quickly. Now, of note if you are using a suppressor, this means that in some cases your rifle will need the suppressor installed to cycle properly. Ideally, your adjusted gas system will kick all your brass out nicely in the same spot. A symptom of over-gassing is erratic brass ejection. When I tune my gas systems, I can expect the rifle to be very gentle in the firing cycle and drop brass consistently in the same area.

It’s surprising how little gas you need to cycle a suppressed semi-auto. Some of my rifles will still cycle unsuppressed, but ejections are weak, and the bolt may not lock back. Many rifles have a factory installed gas selector that lets you switch essentially between “suppressed” and “unsuppressed.” In reality, this is a basic gas bleed-off that keeps it simple for the causal shooter.

adjustable rifle gas systems — The PWS rifle and BRN180 both have factory-standard adjustable gas systems.

If you are a dedicated suppressor shooter, you’ll want a more finely adjustable gas block that allows you to really dial in your pressure curve inside the gun for best handling and therefore function. A suppressed semi-auto rifle with a properly adjusted gas system should feel smooth and run like a sewing machine with no “thumping” as the bolt moves. In calibers like 5.56 NATO, you can work this to make your rifle have virtually no felt recoil, sometimes to the point of it not moving at all. This is especially great when hunting smaller game at longer ranges and with thermal optics.

Tuning gas systems on unsuppressed rifles can offer a number of benefits—not so much on direct gas rifles, but on piston guns especially. Many piston rifles are almost over-gassed from the factory and could do for a calming down. Military-based piston rifles are known to cycle hard and for good reason, they are often asked to work with whatever 5.56 or 7.62 NATO is laying around, and it’s better to err on the side of function.

The M14 rifle is one that strongly benefits from an adjustable gas plug (note that the M14 has a separate screw-in plug that caps off its gas system), and it can be regulated to be very smooth, especially for match shooting. On these types of rifles, you can really extend the life of parts by smoothing out the system pressure. In the M14 especially, which can be an extremely accurate rifle in defiance of many known accuracy trends, a smoother cycling action just makes it that much more able to compete and shoot with.

m14 gas system — Detail of the M14 gas system. Note the “push rod” is extended rearward.

My own M14 is a Fulton Armory rifle. They recently sent me their brand-new muzzle thread adapter and an adjustable gas plug to allow suppressed use with the rifle, itself featured in many of my Gun Digest topics. When I started to use the rifle suppressed, I was immediately impressed with the difference the upgrades made. The M14 is already soft-recoiling for a .308/7.62 rifle, but with the suppressor and FA adjustable plug, it was easy to get it down to nearly unnoticeable levels of recoil. Having shot CMP sports for most of my life locally and at Camp Perry, I can’t imagine a better match-shooting machine than this.

Notable Aftermarket Gas System Parts

I have a lot of miles on the suppressed SCAR system. The SCAR has a reputation for being hard on optics, and a good amount of this lore comes from the early days it was in use. A cursory internet search shows hundreds of forum posts about SCAR owners breaking scopes. The SCAR 20S that has appeared on these pages boasts a small but necessary part—an adjustable gas plug called the SCARburator from Mototech Engineering. This little part absolutely changes the SCAR for the better and is arguably a must for shooting the SCAR suppressed.

The SCARburator adjustable plug is visible inside the window above the handguard. Rail system by KDG, night vision clip-on by Armasight.

The SCAR is a very modular platform but isn’t widely owned by comparison to the AR-15 and AR-10 class rifles. I really like it in general … if I can adapt the lower for SR25 mags in .308. This single part is a must for any SCAR owner in my opinion, on the merit of how these guns handle their gas pressure. While not exactly cheap at $149, these aren’t cheap guns anyway. Just get one.

Superlative Arms might be the biggest player on the block when it comes to blocks … of the gas variety. When I get guns from the factory, I typically don’t mess with them much, but most guns you see in my photography on these pages I put together myself. I not only build them for photos, but I really do also use them in the field. Range use only does so much, and I believe in only featuring parts and guns that I would personally trust if I was in adverse conditions.

Superlative gas blocks are very easy to use and install, and they come in a variety of finishes. All my direct-gas guns, aside from historical and military builds, have them installed. They operate simply and have a “click” adjustable plug that allows you to repeatably tune your gas system. When bottomed out, the gas is off, and basically you’d have a straight-pull bolt action.

I typically bottom them out as a starting point, and then I open it five clicks to start. You can go one at a time, but in my use of these blocks, five is the minimum to cycle with a rifle-length gas tube and suppressor.

Of note is that Superlative also makes some very smart parts. Their bolt carrier has an internal chrome lining, which is incredible for suppressed use. I hate cleaning my bolt carriers, but it’s a must for good operation, and the fact that they hard chromed the inside of it makes my work so much faster and easier. It’s honestly a great feature across the board that I don’t know why it isn’t standard.

Gassed Out

As we march forward in terms of technology and knowledge in our industry, the pioneers will always be somewhat alone on the frontier … waiting for the rest to catch up. We are in a good place now when it comes to our understanding of gas-operated rifles, but the future will undoubtedly hold a much higher degree of standardization for use to perfect and then continue to expand upon.

The products in this article are decidedly aftermarket and will need to be worked on by you, the home builder. The sheer number of products out there, combined with the endless variety of suppressors and ammunition types, makes it so that this discussion is somewhat personal and truly up to you for the time being. Your mileage will vary depending on your chosen end use, but if you are in the business of playing with suppressors and getting your rifles cycling smooth, you need the ability to alter your gas flow—that much is certain.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Get On Target With The AR:

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AR-10 vs. AR-15: How Stoner’s Rifles Stack Up
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Upgrades: Top AR-15 Parts

Ammo Brief: .450 Marlin

Gun Digest Editors

May 30, 2025

We take a quick look at .450 Marlin, a big and nasty capable performer for any task.

Hornady and Marlin announced the .450 Marlin at the 2000 SHOT Show. This was the first new chambering from Marlin since the introduction of the .444 Marlin, in mid-1964. The motivation for this cartridge is simple: Handloaders had been souping up .45-70 loads for use in Marlin’s modern 1895 since the day that gun was introduced. Owing to the many weaker .45-70 rifles still in use, Marlin could not condone this practice, nor could the company stop it.

cartridges of the world 17th ed book — This is an excerpt from Cartridge’s Of The World, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

Something had to give.

Some have asked why Marlin didn’t simply lengthen the .45-70 case and standardize a new higher-pressure cartridge. That alternative wasn’t tenable, because such a cartridge would have chambered in older (potentially weaker) rifles designed for the .45-90, .45-110, etc.

General Comments

When one considers a simple approach that could have been taken, this cartridge design is a poor, second-best choice for chambering in the M-1895 Marlin. The simple adoption of an Ackley Improved version of the .45-70 would have provided a superior case design with a cartridge that would function better through the Marlin rifle and would not chamber in any older factory firearm.

In any case, the .450 Marlin offers lever-action fans a factory chambering with significant ballistic potential. Shooters in this country have a long history of fascination with large-bore lever-action rifles. Except for caliber, Marlin’s cartridge recalls Winchester’s circa-1903 .50-110 Winchester High Velocity load, which originated for the same reason; muzzle energy is essentially identical. This cartridge and rifle make a fine and versatile combination for those who hunt dangerous game under the worst possible conditions.

Given correct bullet choice and shot placement, this is a capable performer for any task.

Interestingly, Lewis Potter, proprietor of Potter & Walker (Evasham, Worcestershire, UK), reports that, around the time the .450 Marlin was being introduced, he—quite coincidentally—successfully shortened and reformed .375 H&H Magnum cases to something quite similar to the new Marlin number, for use in a client’s modified Ruger No. 1. Potter’s wildcat, the performance of which fell somewhere between that of a high-end .45-70 and the .450 Marlin, was playfully christened the .45-70 Nitro Express.

.450 Marlin Load Data and Factory Ballistics

Bullet (grains/type)	Powder	Grains	Velocity	Energy	Source
250 Barnes TSX/FN	H4198	54.0	2,493	3,446	Barnes
300 Nosler PPP	H335	67.0	2,282	3,465	Nosler
350 Hornady FP	RL-7	51.5	2,000	3,105	Hornady
400 Speer JFP	H335	55.0	1,953	3,383	Hodgdon
325 FTX	FL	–	2,225	3,537	Hornady 82750
500 FMJ FN	FL	–	1,625	2,900	Buffalo Bore 22C/20

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt of Gun Digest’s Cartridge’s Of The World.

Raise Your Ammo IQ:

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First Look: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker

Adam Borisenko

May 29, 2025

Springfield Armory has just released the Model 2020 Heatseeker, a compact chassis rifle with AR modularity and bolt-action precision.

Springfield Armory’s latest addition to its Model 2020 line is the Heatseeker. Unlike previous Model 2020 rifles, the Heatseeker is chassis-based and more of a tactical or competition gun than a traditional hunting rifle.

At its core, the Heatseeker features the same Model 2020 action as its cousins. It comes sporting a Coyote Brown Cerakote finish and is available in 6.5 Creedmoor .308 Winchester. Where it differs is its Sharps Bros. chassis. Made of a single piece of high-strength 6061-T6 aluminum, it features plenty of M-LOK slots and QD cups on its forend for accessories and the action housing can accept AR-15 buffer tubes/stocks and AR-pattern pistol grips. The rifles ship with a B5 Systems CPS stock and a B5 Systems P-Grip 23 grip. The Heatseeker also uses AICS-pattern magazines (ships with one 5-round mag) and has a threaded barrel (thread protector included).

The Heatseeker also comes with a .75-MOA accuracy guarantee (for a three-shot group at 100 yards with quality match-grade factory ammunition, in the hands of a skilled shooter), no doubt partly due to its free-floated 16-inch BSF barrel jacketed in a roll-wrapped carbon fiber sleeve and its adjustable TriggerTech Field Trigger.

Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory, said this about the new rifle:

The Model 2020 line of bolt-action rifles has established a solid reputation for uncompromising performance and quality … This new Model 2020 Heatseeker adds a new dimension to the line, one that is as equally at home in the field as it is on the range.

The Model 2020 Heatseeker is available now, ships with a rifle case and has an MSRP of $2,355.

For more information, visit springfield-armory.com.

More Bolt-Action Rifles:

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Dying On The Vine: Failed Cartridges Of The Modern Era

Richard A. Mann

May 28, 2025

Not every design ends up being successful. Here we discuss dead or dying cartridges of the modern era.

A little more than a decade ago, I edited Gun Digest’s 13th Edition of Cartridges of the World. If you’re unfamiliar with that book, it’s essentially an encyclopedia of metallic cartridges. I’m not sure how many cartridges the latest volume covers, but the 13th Edition contained the history and specifics for more than 800. Some of those cartridges were, by at least some measure, failures.

5 failed cartridges handgun — In one way or another, these five handgun cartridges are failures, too. (Left to right: .32 H&R Magnum, .45 Super, .356 TSW, .45 GAP and .30 Super Carry.)

What makes a metallic cartridge a failure? It could be because shooters failed to grasp the cartridge’s intended application, or it could be that the manufacturer failed to effectively convey that message. Sometimes manufacturers fail to divine what the shooting public really wants, or they gambled on past successes with a similar cartridge. On occasion, a cartridge might be too much of a good thing or possibly competitive rules change and neutralize an edge a new cartridge might have had. There are a lot of reasons for a cartridge to be a commercial failure, but that alone does not mean they are a ballistic failure.

5 failed cartridges rifle — Many rifle cartridges have failed to gain mainstream acceptance, and here are five that failed to make the cut.

Here’s a look at 10 cartridges that, for various reasons, failed to become popular. It does not mean these are bad cartridges, so if your favorite is on the list, don’t waste your time sending hate mail. The truth is that all these cartridges are very good at their intended purpose; it’s just that most folks could care less.

.307 Winchester

The .307 Winchester is just a .308 Winchester with a rim to better work in Winchester’s 1894 lever-action rifle. Winchester created a special Angle Eject version of their 94 to house the .307, and with it you could mount a riflescope directly over the action. I bought the first one I saw, hunted with it and handloaded for it. The .307 will push a 150-grain bullet to 2,700 equaling the ballistics of the original 30-06 Springfield load. The problem was that as good as these ballistics are, they were still from a traditional lever-action rifle. Most of what everyone wants to do with a traditional lever-action rifle, you can do with the 30-30 Winchester.

Year of Introduction: 1982

Reason for Failure: Ballistically outperformed the practical application of the rifle Winchester created it for.

.45 Super

Gun World magazine editor Dean Grennell developed the .45 Super as a more powerful version of the .45 Auto. Because it’s loaded to a maximum pressure that’s 5,000 psi more than .45 Auto +P ammunition, it has about a 250-fps velocity advantage. You can convert most .45 Auto pistols to .45 Super with a new barrel that has a fully supported chamber and a stiffer recoil spring. But the additional velocity comes with about 40 percent more recoil. Buffalo Bore and Underwood Ammunition still load for the .45 Super. Interestingly, it is a shortened 451 Detonics case, which was based on the .45 Winchester Magnum case, which is almost identical to the .45 NAACO cartridge case. North American Arms Corporation’s created the .45 NAACO for the Brigadier pistol they designed to meet Canadian service handgun requirements. Talk about a family of failures.

Year of Introduction: 1988

Reason for Failure: Too much of a good thing.

.356 Winchester

As a companion to their .307, Winchester introduced the .356 Winchester, which offered ballistics almost identical to the .358 Winchester. I thought it would become fantastically popular. After all, it’s suitable for anything walking around in North America. But, apparently, hunters looking for a large-caliber traditional lever action with more power than a .35 Remington, wanted larger caliber bullets too. The .356 could never compete with the .444 Marlin, .45-70 Government or even the much older and ballistically similar .348 Winchester.

Year of Introduction: 1982

Reason for Failure: Hunters wanted a larger caliber to hunt big critters with a traditional lever gun.

.32 H&R Magnum

With some help from Federal, Harrington & Richards introduced the .32 H&R Magnum, which is a .32 Smith & Wesson Long with a slightly longer case that’s loaded to a slightly higher pressure. It was marketed as a lighter-recoiling replacement for the .38 Special. It recoiled less, but its terminal performance did not measure up. In truth, the .32 H&R is a great trail/hunting cartridge for revolvers, with more umph than a .22 Magnum but less recoil than the .38 Special. I’ve owned at least one .32 H&R revolver since 1984, and I’ve used them a lot. The cartridge has always had a cult following and is probably the most successful cartridge on this list. Fortunately, Federal has not forgotten it; they just introduced two new loads for it. If you love this failure as much as I do, understand it’s just hanging on by its cartridge rim.

Year of Introduction: 1984

Reason for Failure: Initial bad marketing and niche application.

.356 TSW

Smith & Wesson designed this cartridge for IPSC competition. It’s really nothing more than a 9mm Luger cartridge loaded in a stronger case that is 21.5mm long as opposed to 19mm. The .356 TSW is also loaded to 50,000 psi, but since the cartridge has an overall length similar to the 9mm Luger, it will still work in 9mm magazines. IPSC changed their rules, arguably because of the .356 TSW, and this threw a wrench in the works. Smith & Wesson then tried to rebrand it for personal protection, sort of changing the meaning of TSW from “Team Smith & Wesson” to “Tactical Smith & Wesson.” It didn’t work. Regardless, this cartridge is a screamer, and you can still get ammo from Underwood Ammunition.

Year of Introduction: 1994

Reason for Failure: Ruled out of contention.

.45 GAP

The Glock pistol changed everything. It took some time for shooters to trust a plastic pistol, but with almost coast to coast adoption by law enforcement, it rose to stardom. With law enforcement being a large portion of Glock sales and a tremendous part of their marketing, Glock thought it a great idea to offer their own cartridge—one that would provide .45 Auto performance from a pistol with a smaller grip, so more cops could properly interface with it. Initially, the 45 GAP—Glock Automatic Pistol—received tremendous fanfare. A year later, hardly anyone cared, and a decade later, no one did. Oddly, Glock still offers three pistols in .45 GAP, possibly only because they do not want to admit it was a mistake.

Year of Introduction: 2003

Reason for Failure: Apparently, shooters and cops with little hands did not want to shoot a .45.

.17 Mach 2

In 2002, Hornady introduced the .17 HMR cartridge, which was based on the .22 Magnum cartridge case. It was an instant success and so popular that two years later Hornady introduced the .17 Mach 2 rimfire cartridge based on of the .22 Long Rifle case. Ballistically, the 17 Mach 2 fell right between the .22 LR and the .17 HMR/22 Magnum, and while compromising ballistics can sometimes be a good thing, apparently this was a level of performance no one wanted. Currently, a major online retailer only lists two loads for the .17 Mach 2, and no one cares unless you were silly enough to buy one back in the day.

Year of Introduction: 2004

Reason for Failure: Too much and too little in the same package.

.25-45 Sharps

There have been many attempts to create an AR-15 compatible cartridge that offered a ballistic advantage over the .223 Remington for deer hunting. That’s why the .25-45 Sharps was created, and it uses a .223 Remington case necked up to accept a 0.257-caliber bullet. The goal was to duplicate the ballistics of the .250 Savage, and the .25-45 Sharps would do that with 87-grain bullets. However, the case was too long to work with the heavier-more-popular 0.257-caliber bullets most deer hunters preferred. I worked with the cartridge a good bit and even took it to Africa. But limited bullet options combined with the fact most modern shooters did not give a damn about the .250 Savage, doomed its success.

Year of Introduction: 2008

Reason for Failure: Had to compete with the .300 Blackout and was not supported by ammo and firearms manufacturers.

.30 Remington AR

At a time when the media was crucifying the AR-15 rifle for not being suitable for big-game hunting, Remington countered that argument with the .30 Remington AR. It would push a 125-grain bullet to 2,800 fps and a 150-grain bullet to almost 2,600 fps. However, Remington screwed up the introduction of this cartridge so bad it looked like it was intentional. It took two years to get guns to market, and during that time Remington introduced the .300 AAC Blackout with a much better marketing campaign. Additionally, Remington published a widely circulated advertisement showing .30 Remington AR ballistics. The problem was they listed the 300-yard velocities and energies as the performance from the muzzle.

Year of Introduction: 2008

Reason for Failure: Timing and marketing mistakes.

.30 Super Carry

This may be the most misunderstood pistol cartridge. It makes perfect sense because it offers 9mm performance with a 20 percent increase in capacity. Its ballistics are so good because Federal created great bullets for it, and they loaded it to 52,000 psi, which is 20 percent more than 9mm Luger +P ammo is loaded to. When tested in 10 percent ordnance gelatin, the .30 Super Carry performs almost identically to the 9mm. So, why is it not the most popular self-defense pistol cartridge in the world? One reason really: Glock. The .30 Super Carry has been around for three years, but Glock has yet to offer a pistol chambered for it. In fact, Sig Sauer, Springfield Armory and Ruger haven’t either. Why? Maybe 52,000 psi is just too much pressure for those guns.

30 super carry hollowpoint deformation — The .30 Super Carry is a far better cartridge than sales suggest, partly because shooters don’t understand it, but mostly because of lack of support from gun manufacturers.

Year of Introduction: 2022

Reason for Failure: No Glock, Ruger or Springfield Armory pistols and consumer misunderstanding.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Raise Your Ammo IQ:

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First Look: Rattlesnake Tactical 34-Round 9mm Glock-Pattern Magazine

Adam Borisenko

May 28, 2025

Ammunition Depot and Rattlesnake Tactical have partnered to design a 34-round extended magazine for double-stack 9mm Glock-pattern firearms.

What’s better than a 33-round Glock mag? A 34-round Glock mag, especially when it’s reliable. That’s why Ammunition Depot and Rattlesnake Tactical put their heads together and designed this 34-round mag for any firearm that accepts double-stack 9mm Glock-pattern magazines. Whether the gun in question is a tiny Glock 26, a pistol caliber carbine or a 9mm Glock clone like the PSA Dagger featured here, the Rattlesnake Tactical mag is ready to increase its capacity.

Rattlesnake Tactical 34-Round 9mm Glock mag dagger

Of course, a magazine’s capacity is irrelevant unless it’s reliable, but thankfully the Rattlesnake Tactical mag has that going for it too. Confirmed by third-party testing, the new 34-rounder proved to be more reliable than the two competitors it was pitted against. Drop testing also revealed that the impact-resistant polymer Rattlesnake mag “held up equally or better” than the competitors after corner and side drops.

Rattlesnake Tactical extended glock mags

To top it all off, the Rattlesnake Tactical mag is made in the U.S. and features a cool snake scale pattern on its body to provide some extra grip. This mag may be less than ideal for concealed carry, but as a spare mag in your backpack, glovebox or just for running your PCC, you won’t find a higher capacity, more reliable stick for your 9mm Glock-pattern firearms.

For more information visit ammunitiondepot.com.

More Glock Stuff:

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Glock 44 Review: Perfection In .22 LR?
G43X and G48 Review: Solidifying The Glock 9mm Slimline Series
The Baby Glock Buyer’s Guide
Best Glock Upgrades: Customizing For Performance

Silencer Central Banish 9K Review: One Compact Can

Richard A. Mann

May 27, 2025

I tested out Silencer Central’s new Banish 9K to see just how quiet this super compact, lightweight suppressor can really be.

Just a few months ago I discussed pistol suppressors in this column, and I said that short of employment as an assassin, suppressors for pistols are best suited to enhancing the enjoyment of recreational and competitive range sessions or for hunting. This is mostly because, given the compact nature of a pistol, adding a suppressor mostly removes the handgun from practical self-defense application.

For the most part, my opinion has not changed … but I’ll admit that, because of a new pistol suppressor from Silencer Central, I’ve had to rethink it.

Silencer Central Banish 9K Specs:

Length: 4.1 Inches
Diameter: 1.3 Inches
Baffles: 8
Weight: 2.7 Ounces
Material: Titanium
Caliber: 9mm
Caliber Cartridge Range: 9mm, .380 Auto, 5.7x28mm, .300 Blackout
Finish: Cerakote
Sound Reduction: 26 dB
Mount Style: Direct Thread (1/2×28 or 13.5x1LH)
Full-Auto Rated: 9mm subsonic and .300 Blackout subsonic
Warranty: Lifetime
Price: $699

Baby Banish

The new Banish 9K is, as far as I know, the smallest and lightest suppressor available for a 9mm pistol. Unlike most suppressors that manufacturers piece together with internal baffles fitted inside a welded tube, the Banish 9K is 3D printed in 100 percent high-grade titanium. Now, 3D printing is a rather new concept, and many firearms manufacturers use the process when creating prototypes. But the ability to 3D-print a complete titanium muzzle device—with a lifetime warranty—that can withstand the pressure of escaping gases—long term—is bordering on high-level sorcery. It’s like something you would see in a science fiction movie.

The truth is, of course, there’s no magic in play at all. In fact, 3D-printing in titanium utilizes a process called laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). With LPBF, layers of titanium powder are melted together using a high-intensity laser to create solid parts. What makes this applicable in suppressor manufacturing is that you can create extremely complex and very lightweight shapes that are not only strong but also corrosion resistant.

Silencer Central Banish 9k — The Silencer Central Banish 9K suppressor as it compares in size to a Bear Creek Arsenal G17 clone.

As for the Banish 9K, it’s only 4.1 inches long and has a diameter of 1.3 inches. Any way you measure it, that’s a very compact suppressor. But just as important as the compactness of this suppressor is its weight. The Banish 9K is unbelievably light—it weighs in at only 2.7 ounces.

How light is 2.7 ounces? Well, here’s one way to look at it: A single 9mm cartridge weighs about 183 grains, so the Banish 9K weighs less than seven rounds of 9mm ammunition. That means you could screw a Banish 9K on your pistol and download the magazine by seven rounds and the gun’s overall weight would not change.

Less is Way More

One of the things that allows the Banish 9K to be so compact and light is that, because it is so light, it does not need a Nielsen device for proper functioning. Pistols work by transferring energy from the fired cartridge to cycle the slide. With the short recoil systems of most handguns, the barrel moves, too, and the added weight of the suppressor is usually enough to prevent the gun from properly cycling.

A Nielsen Device, also known as a muzzle booster, helps suppressors work with pistols. Some refer to these devices as pistons, and most handgun suppressors are designed to work with a piston the suppressor mounts to.

Silencer Central Banish 9k Review — Unlike most pistol suppressors, the Silencer Central Banish 9K does not need a piston to work. This is the key to its compactness and lightweight.

Now, this is not a 100 percent guarantee that the Banish 9K will work with your pistol, especially if your pistol is a 1911 with a linked barrel. For example, the Banish 9K worked perfectly on a Bear Creek Arsenal Glock clone, but I had to reduce the recoil spring weight in a Wilson Combat EDC X9 2.0 for reliable functioning. With the heavier recoil spring, the slide would not cycle far enough to the rear for the empty case to engage the ejector.

But, How’s It Sound?

The next thing you’re probably wondering is if a suppressor this small can reduce the sound to a hearing safe level. With the 9mm Luger, the Banish 9K reduces the sound level to 132 decibels at the ear. But this suppressor is not just for 9mm pistols. It will also work with a .380 auto pistol, an FN 5.7x28mm, 9mm carbines … and in 300 Blackout with subsonic rounds it’s even rated for full auto.

Could you everyday carry a 9mm pistol with a Banish 9K attached? Um, maybe. It would depend on how you carried, and I highly doubt you will be able to find a holster that will accept a pistol with a Banish 9K attached. However, aside from everyday carry, a pistol with a Banish 9K would clearly be practical for home defense and even for vehicle carry.

I know some folks advise against vehicle carry, but whether it makes sense or not has a great deal to do with the areas you operate in and what you use your vehicle for. The Banish 9K would be great on a pistol you keep in your ranch truck or maybe in the side-by-side you use on the farm.

For the most part, my opinion on suppressed pistols has not changed: I believe they’re best suited to enhance the enjoyment of recreational and competitive range sessions, for hunting, and for training new shooters who are recoil and noise sensitive. But the new Banish 9K substantially increases the practical application of a suppressor on a personal protection pistol.

I still don’t think it’s optimum for concealed, everyday carry, unless maybe you wear a trench coat—you know, like a hit man.

Pros

Short and compact
Very lightweight
Some pistols can cycle with it sans Nielsen Device

Cons

Not as quiet as larger suppressors

Silencer Central Banish 9K Deals:

Sportsman’s Warehouse	$699
Silencer Central	$699

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Interacting With Law Enforcement While Armed

Alex Ooley

May 23, 2025

What’s the right way to interact with law enforcement while carrying a concealed firearm? Here we look at lessons from two experts.

At the 2025 NRA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, the intersection of armed citizenship and law enforcement took center stage in several thought-provoking conversations. Two voices stood out for their unique insights: Jacob Paulsen, president of ConcealedCarry.com, and Glen Hoyer, director of the NRA’s Law Enforcement Division. Together, they offered a compelling look at how armed citizens can better navigate encounters with law enforcement—rooted in data and training.

Paulsen’s perspective is grounded in hard numbers. His recent article, “What Over 1,600 Armed Traffic Stops Reveal About Law Enforcement Interactions,” dives into a dataset from 560 survey participants who collectively reported over 1,600 armed traffic stops. What the data revealed was as surprising as it was instructive.

First Key Finding: Disarmament Is Rare

Contrary to popular belief—and Paulsen’s own frequent experiences in Utah—most traffic stops involving legally armed citizens do not result in the officer disarming the individual. In fact, disarmament occurred in only about 10 percent of the stops reported. This suggests that most law enforcement officers are comfortable leaving an armed citizen’s firearm in its holster—so long as the interaction is calm, professional and safe.

Interestingly, in nearly 20 percent of those rare disarmament cases, officers asked the citizen to hand over the firearm—an approach both Paulsen and law enforcement experts strongly discourage. “The safest thing you can do,” Paulsen advises, “is refuse politely and say, ‘Officer, I’m not comfortable handling my gun in front of you. You’re welcome to retrieve it if needed.’” It’s advice echoed by tactical trainers and police alike, who understand how easily such a request could escalate into a deadly misunderstanding.

Second Key Finding: Know Your Duty to Inform—And When Not To

Another critical area of confusion involves whether an armed citizen is legally required to inform the officer that they are carrying. Paulsen’s survey revealed that about 21 percent of respondents were incorrect about their state’s laws on this matter—sometimes believing they had no duty to inform when, in fact, they did, which can carry legal consequences.

Paulsen’s takeaway: Know your state’s laws cold. But beyond legal requirements, there’s also a tactical consideration. Does the officer already know? In some states, running a driver’s license automatically reveals whether the person has a concealed carry permit. In such cases, failing to disclose may appear deceptive. “If the computer is going to tell them,” Paulsen said, “you want it to come from you, not the screen.”

Third Key Finding: Be Smart About How You Inform

If you do choose—or are required—to inform an officer that you’re armed, Paulsen and Hoyer both stress the importance of how you do it. Reaching into your glovebox or pockets as the officer approaches is a surefire way to raise alarm. Instead, roll down your window, keep your hands on the wheel and clearly state, “Officer, I have a concealed carry permit, and I am armed. How would you like me to proceed?”

This kind of approach, Paulsen argues, is especially important because traffic stops are high-stress situations—for both parties. “Practice what you’ll say before it happens,” he advised. “And be very specific if asked where your firearm is—say, ‘It’s in a holster at my 4 o’clock position on my belt,’ not ‘It’s back here somewhere.’”

Glen Hoyer’s Law Enforcement Perspective

From the other side of the badge, Glen Hoyer emphasized the same principles—but added context from decades of police experience. His message was clear: law enforcement officers don’t know who you are during a stop. Whether you’re a good guy or not, you’re a potential threat until proven otherwise.

In fact, Hoyer opens his discussion by pointing out how even uniformed officers sometimes mistakenly shoot undercover or off-duty cops. “If we can’t always identify our own,” he noted, “we certainly can’t assume that a civilian with a gun is a good guy.”

That’s why body language and demeanor matter. Hoyer recommends turning on your dome light during nighttime stops, keeping your hands palm-up on the steering wheel, and ensuring that passengers do the same. “It communicates cooperation. You’re showing us, before we even say a word, that you mean no harm.”

Training, Scripting and Recording

Both experts also addressed a topic often overlooked: what to do if things start going sideways. If you’re being asked to do something that raises red flags—like handing over your gun—Hoyer and Paulsen agree: Ask for a supervisor. “Every patrol shift has one,” Paulsen noted. “Don’t be afraid to make that request if you feel unsafe or uncertain.”

Recording the encounter is also fair game. In most states, single-party consent laws allow you to legally record interactions with law enforcement. “You don’t need to announce it,” Paulsen said, “but having a record could be invaluable if something goes wrong.”

Final Takeaway: It’s Not About Winning the Encounter

Perhaps the most important lesson is this: your goal during a traffic stop—or any interaction with police—is not to “win.” It’s to make sure everyone goes home safe. That means thinking ahead, knowing your rights and responsibilities, and approaching the moment with humility and clarity.

As both Paulsen and Hoyer made clear at the NRA Annual Meeting, being an armed citizen comes with weighty responsibility. But with the right mindset, training and preparation, these interactions don’t have to be tense or dangerous—they can be just another example of what respectful civic engagement looks like.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More Knowledge For The Armed Citizen:

Carry Law: What Is A Righteous Shooting?
Concealed Carry and the Right to Remain Silent
Tips For Communicating With Police After Shootings
Concealed Carry: After the Shooting
Q&A: Massad Ayoob On Self-Defense In 2020 America

First Look: Everyday Armor T-Shirt 360

Adam Borisenko

May 22, 2025

Premier Body Armor has just released an enhanced version of its armored shirt called the Everyday Armor T-Shirt 360.

We already did a hands-on review of Premier Body Armor’s Everyday Armor T-Shirt, but the company has just released an upgraded version of the defensive garment. Called the Everyday Armor T-Shirt 360, it’s essentially the same as the original but now features side armor panels as well.

The new version still offers comfortable, concealable IIIA protection, only now it provides it for your sides as well as your front and back. The combined weight of all four American-made soft armor panels and the T-shirt that carries them is only 2.5 pounds, and the carrier keeps everything snug to the body to provide maximum concealment and protection.

Alex Stewart, President of Premier Body Armor, said this about the new Everyday Armor T-Shirt 360:

Concealment shouldn’t come at the cost of complete protection … Our new 360 model wraps the cardiac box and critical side anatomy in the same slim profile trusted by off-duty officers, church security teams, and responsible citizens nationwide. It’s the closest thing to everyday peace of mind you can pull on like a base layer.

Available in either white or black and in sizes XS to 4XL, the 360 model is available now and has an MSRP of $380. Or, if you already own a standard (front and back only) Everyday Armor T-Shirt, you can order an upgrade kit for $140 that includes two side armor panels and the new shirt with side pockets to accommodate them.

For more information, visit premierbodyarmor.com.

More Tactical Apparel:

Arrowhead Tactical Apparel Carrier Sweatpants And Shorts Review
The Pros & Cons Of Fanny Pack Carry
The Peacemaker CCW Jacket
Arrowhead Tactical Apparel’s Rose Carrier Line

Savage 110 PPR Review: A Storied Tradition

Philip Massaro

May 21, 2025

I headed across the pond with a Savage 110 PPR to test its practical precision in the hunting fields.

I enjoy all sorts of big game hunting, both here in the U.S. and Canada—as well as more exotic locations such as Africa and Australia. But I must report that the United Kingdom has a different allure; it has deep-rooted traditions and a different approach to the sport than much of the rest of the world.

Having experienced a traditional stalking hunt for Scottish red stag, I jumped at the opportunity to hunt the Cotswolds, a beautiful, forested region in the southwest of England, for fallow deer and roe deer. In addition to a great hunting opportunity, my host would be world-renowned chef Mike Robinson, whose fallow deer culling operation provides a good percentage of the venison to England’s restaurants.

Upon arriving, Mike and his guides took us to the larder—the hunt headquarters, if you will—where the shooting range was also situated. Mike’s face was beaming as he and Savage’s Beth Shimanski unveiled the Model 110 PPR rifle. Designed for the rigors of stalking and culling in England’s wet, heavy vegetation, while delivering the precision needed for the head shots taken on those game animals destined for the public, the 110 PPR—the Professional Pursuit Rifle—had input from Robinson, drawing on his vast experience in the Cotswolds.

Savage 110 PPR — Savage’s 110 PPR is a sensible and serviceable design. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

Holding History

The famous Savage 110 action has been relied upon for being a part of the company’s accuracy equation, and on the Professional Pursuit Rifle, it houses a fluted bolt, and a bolt face with dual plunger ejectors and a larger extractor. Atop the 110’s receiver is mounted a 20-MOA Picatinny rail, to extend the long-range capabilities of the rifle. The safety remains on the tang, under the thumb, and the bolt release remains in its traditional location.

The bolt handle features an oversized ball, so that even with wet hands the action can be cycled. The Savage 110 PPR features a carbon-fiber-wrapped Proof Research barrel—20 inches long in all calibers—that’s threaded for the use of a suppressor, which was used on our hunt in England, or the use of a muzzle brake that’s shipped with the rifle.

Savage 110 PPR leupold — Coming from the factory with a 20-MOA Picatinny rail, the 110 PPR will give plenty of elevation adjustment for long-range shooting. The author mounted the new Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 3-18x44mm scope on board for testing. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

Savage has equipped the 110 PPR with the AccuTrigger; though fully user-adjustable, my test rifle broke consistently at 2 pounds, 4 ounces, allowing the shooter to accurately place shots. In my time in England, I had the opportunity to use three different examples of the 110 PPR—two in 6.5 Creedmoor and one in 6.5 PRC—and I was impressed by the uniformity of the rifle. Taking precision headshots in field positions, though we had the excellent ViperFlex quad sticks, is not the easiest of tasks, but the accuracy of the Savage rifle laid the blame of any mishaps on the shooter.

I took three spike fallow deer—known locally as a “pricket,” as their small, under-developed antlers aren’t desirable for a healthy gene pool—without issue, as well as a roe buck at the end of his days. A crisp trigger is integral to accurate shooting, and I don’t think it’s any surprise that Savage has a winner with their AccuTrigger design.

Different, But Good

The most interesting and unique features of the Savage Model 110 PPR is the stock they’ve chosen: the Grayboe Phoenix 2. This is a sophisticated, well-thought-out and well-engineered rifle stock, even if it is radically different from the classic figured walnut stocks I am so personally fond of.

While it may not have the appearance of a traditional hunting rifle, the Grayboe Phoenix 2 is all business, offering options that a hunter and precision shooter will appreciate. The stock is adjustable for both comb height and length-of-pull. The test rifle I was sent had a length of pull that measured 13¼ inches, with the addition or removal of spacers at the butt of the rifle, just ahead of the recoil pad. The comb height is adjustable via a large set screw on the right stock of the stock, allowing the cheek piece to raise or lower when loosened, being secured when the screw is tightened. The cheek piece is adjustable with just one hand.

The Phoenix 2’s grip is nearly vertical, with an ergonomic palm swell that allows the shooter to afford a solid grip on the rifle, while still being able to comfortably engage and disengage the tang-mounted safety, and without introducing additional heartbeat shake by having the trigger-hand thumb over the tang. At the front end of the trigger guard is the spring-loaded lever, which releases the polymer magazine; a gentle push sees the magazine drop from the well.

Savage 110 PPR safety — Savage equips the Model 110 PPR with the familiar three-position tang safety but features an oversize bolt knob for easy manipulation with bare hands or gloves. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

The forend of the Phoenix 2 is rather square—perfect for the use of a shooting cradle on a tripod—and the bottom of the forend is equipped with a 9-inch section of M-Lok rail for attaching a shooting aid. Both sides of the Grayboe stock are equipped with a flush cup sling attachment point at the front of the forend and at the rear of the buttstock. The barrel is completely free floated.

Despite the traditional English weather—if you don’t like it, please wait 10 minutes—where we experienced the transition from bright sunshine to pouring rain to a gentle mist, the design of the Grayboe stock allowed the rifle to stay on the shoulder while walking/stalking, comfortably in the hands while closing in on a croaking fallow buck, or safely across the back while helping to transport a roe buck or fallow buck.

Painted in a camo pattern based on green and earth tones interspersed with a thin black web, the Grayboe stock has a flat finish, so there’s no worry about glare scaring off the game. And unlike many polymer stocks, the Phoenix 2 isn’t “loud” stalking through the brush and limbs don’t make a loud noise when rubbing against the stock. Frankly, it isn’t hard to see why Mike Robinson & Co. took a shine to this design, as it checks all the boxes in the area they hunt.

Set Up to Shine

To prepare the 110 PPR for the range, I mounted the new Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 3-18×44 scope in Leupold rings. This scope is similar in size, shape and weight to the original version, but Leupold has made some interesting tweaks to improve performance. The lens coating seems to lend a bit more clarity, especially in low-light situations, and they’ve moved to a smaller and more ergonomic power level throw knob, but the feature I like best is the new turret design.

Instead of using a tiny Allen wrench (which I lose more often than not) to reset or slip the elevation and windage turrets, Leupold now uses a spring-loaded set screw. Depress the screw, pull up on the tab and you can quickly and easily reset the turrets to zero without the use of tools—I am absolutely a fan. The same left-side focal knob is still there, as is the illuminated reticle (my test scope featured the excellent FireDot).

leupold scope dial — The Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 scope has the new Speedset dials that are simple to reset yet stay put no matter the conditions. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

Add up all these features and you’ve got one of the best scopes on the market, giving an excellent balance of price, features, and sheer reliability, all in a lightweight package. The 110 PPR rifle and Leupold scope combination tipped the scales at 8 pounds, 4 ounces unloaded. The 30mm main tube gives plenty of elevation adjustment, especially when used in conjunction with the PPR’s 20-MOA rail, in addition to providing a bright image. And Leupold offers an additional CDS turret marked out in yardage, correlating to your chosen load and elevation, free of charge.

Additional Testing

Having proved itself across three different rifles in England, so far as functionality goes—I didn’t have a single feeding or extraction issue, nor any failures to fire—I grabbed a quartet of different types of 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition to test at my little backyard range. In the mix was the Hornady Precision Hunter ammo, using the 143-grain ELD-X bullet, the Hornady Outfitter ammo featuring the 120-grain monometal CX bullet (we used this with great effect in England), the Federal Fusion Tipped ammo at 140 grains and the Federal 130-grain Barnes TSX load. I also had the opportunity to measure velocities with the Garmin Xero C1 Pro and was impressed with this unit.

Savage 110 PPR ammo — All four of the 6.5 Creedmoor hunting loads the author tested gave sub-MOA three-shot groups, with the rifle showing a preference for the monometal bullets. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

Using three-shot groups for testing, the Savage 110 PPR I tested showed a preference for the monometal projectiles, with the best groups being delivered by the Federal Barnes TSX load and the Hornady CX load. Both averaged 0.6-inch groups at 100 yards, with the Federal load giving just a slightly more even velocity reading. The Hornady Precision Hunter load printed three-shot groups averaging 0.72 inch, with the Federal Tipped Fusion load coming in at an even 0.8 inch.

During the bench testing, there were no feeding issues at all, nor any problems with extraction. The bottom line is that the test rifle, much like the guns I had the opportunity to shoot in England, was wonderfully accurate for a rifle of this length and weight.

Savage Model 110 PPR 20-inch barrel

LOAD	CARTRIDGE	BULLET WEIGHT	ADVERTISED VEL.	OBSERVED AVG. VEL.	SMALLEST GROUP	AVERAGE GROUP	LARGEST GROUP
Hornady Outfitter	6.5 Creedmoor	120 grain CX	2,700 fps	2,586 fps	0.52”	0.60”	0.81”
Hornady Precision Hunter	6.5 Creedmoor	143 grain ELD-X	2,700 fps	2,586 fps	0.65”	0.72”	0.89”
140-grain Fusion Tipped	6.5 Creedmoor	140 grain Fusion Tipped	2,175 fps	2,604 fps	0.70”	0.80”	0.98”
Federal Premium	6.5 Creedmoor	130 grain Barnes TSX	2,825 fps	2,705 fps	0.48”	0.61”	0.78”

NOTES: Three shot groups at 100 yards. Velocities measured on Garmin Xero C1 Pro.

A Tradition Continued

Savage’s Model 110 Professional Pursuit Rifle might not look like Grandpa’s fetchin’ iron, but it surely makes an ergonomic and effective hunting tool. What you have is a well-balanced rifle, capable of fine accuracy, with a practical stock constructed of weatherproof material. All the metalwork is coated in a black Cerakote, and the Proof Research carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel both reduces weight and dissipates heat very well. The shorter barrel makes perfect sense for those who spend time in the confines of a deer or bear blind yet offers the capability of making shots on the longer side of the spectrum, without a huge loss in velocity.

yookay deer hunt savage 110 review — The author used the Savage Model 110 PPR in the Cotswolds area of southwestern England to take this young fallow buck, called a “pricket”; the rifle performed very well. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

The rifle balances well, and with the muzzle brake onboard, measures just 41½ inches from stem to stern. You get the famous Savage AccuTrigger, as well as the barrel nut and floating bolt head, which greatly help to enhance the rifle’s accuracy potential, as well as that impressive Grayboe composite stock. With an MSRP of $2,399 and a street price of right around $2,000 at the time of this writing, you could spend more and still not have all the features wrapped up in the 110 Pro Pursuit Rifle.

Available in right-hand configurations, it’s chambered for the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .270 Winchester, .28 Nosler, 7mm PRC, 7mm Backcountry, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Short Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More On Hunting Rifles:

Top Bolt-Action Rifles For Hunting
Mossberg Patriot: True Globetrotting Hunter
Best Affordable .308 Rifles For The Hunt
Best .22-250 Rifle Buyer’s Guide

First Look: Hornady 3-in-1 Power Case Trimmer

Adam Borisenko

May 20, 2025

Want to speed up your reloading process? Here we take a look at Hornady’s new 3-in-1 Power Case Trimmer.

Prepping brass to be reloaded can be a tedious task, and any method that can expedite the process without sacrificing accuracy is appreciated. Hornady’s new 3-in-1 Power Case Trimmer does just that. In a single step, it allows you to trim, chamfer and debur simultaneously, all while saving precious reloading bench space.

The Hornady 3-in-1 Power Case Trimmer is compatible with .22 caliber up to .30 caliber and lengths from 1.450 inches to 3.5 inches. Its motor is not only quiet, but it’s capable of rotating at over 2,000 RPMs. The trim length can be set easily, quickly and precisely thanks to the click‑adjustable micrometer. The 3-in-1 Power Case Trimmer has a macro adjustment dial as well, so not every click needs to be .001 inches.

Each trimmer comes with .22 caliber, 6mm, 6.5mm and .30 caliber pilots, as well as two collets that can accommodate .223, PPC, standard and magnum head sizes. The cutter housing is also transparent and features a removable shavings tray to keep your workbench tidy. An attachable cartridge bin is included as well for high-volume reloaders.

For more information, visit hornady.com.

More On Reloading:

Tips For Reloading the .30-06 Springfield
Loving Your Luger: Reloading the 9mm Luger
Handloading: Tips For Reloading The 7mm Rem Mag
How To: Tips For Reloading the .223 Remington
Reloading Bench: The Inside On Reloading For The .30-30 Winchester

Ammo Brief: 6mm GT

Gun Digest Editors

May 19, 2025

We take a quick look at the 6mm GT cartridge, the “Glorious Tiger” of 6mm chamberings.

The 6mm GT is a 2019 collaboration between George Gardner (GA Precision) and Tom Jacobs (Vapor Trail Bullets). Designed with competition shooting in mind, they wished to create a 6mm cartridge that could use forgiving propellants and feed reliably from AICS magazines. They also wanted the round to extend barrel life yet still provide high muzzle velocities with tight rifling twists to stabilize long, high-BC 6mm bullets.

Accordingly, the 6mm GT has a 35-degree shoulder angle for easy feeding, an optimized case nearing 100 percent capacity with about 35 grains of Varget and develops 3,020 to 3,080 fps with 103- to 105-grain bullets.

The 6mm GT works very well on deer, pronghorn and sheep as a hunting round. The 6mm GT can also be chambered in AR-type semi-autos, though it’s used primarily in bolt guns.

General Comments

Known jokingly as the “Glorious Tiger,” the 6mm GT took off in the PRS and NRL match scene from 2019 onward. From the base to the shoulder junction, the 6 GT case is 0.100-inch longer than the 6mm Dasher, and it has a 35-degree shoulder versus the Dasher’s 40-degree design. Gardner and Jacobs also increased the neck length by 0.050 inch compared to the Dasher, making the brass 0.150-inch longer overall. Both dimensional changes help the 6 GT feed well from unmodified .308-size magazines, unlike the 6mm Dasher. Because it uses less propellant, the 6mm GT marginally increases barrel life compared to the 6mm Creedmoor.

Hornady 6GT brass is available from GA Precision. According to Gardner, the 6mm GT cartridge was specifically developed to use Varget powder, but Hodgdon H4350 is also a good choice. The 6mm GT shoots 107-grain Sierra Match Kings at around 3,015 fps MV with 37.8 grains of H4350. Berger 105-grain Hybrid bullets generate 3,015 fps muzzle velocity with 34.2 grains of Varget. Brass is available from Hornady and Alpha Munitions. GA Precision and Clays Cartridge Co.
supply loaded ammunition.

6mm GT Loading Data and Factory Ballistics

Bullet (grains/type)	Powder	Grains	Velocity	Energy	Source
105 Berger Hybrid	FL	–	3,020	2,126	Clays Cartridge Co. 1538
105 Lapua	N140	34.8	3,000	2,098	MDTTac.com
108 Berger	N140	34.5	2,122	2,122	MDTTac.com
109 ELDM	FL	–	2,035	2,035	GA Precision

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt of Gun Digest’s Cartridge’s Of The World.

More On Rifle Ammo:

A Closer Look At Hornady’s .22 ARC
.45-70 Ammo Buyer’s Guide: The Good Kind Of Big Gov’t
Holland’s Super 30: .300 H&H Magnum
.22LR Ammo Top Hunting Loads Tested
.22 Nosler Overview: Ballistics & Beyond
Is .220 Swift Still The Reigning Speed King?
Four Great .223 Remington Loads

300 Blackout Vs 5.56 NATO: There’s Really No Comparison

Elwood Shelton

May 16, 2025

The 300 Blackout Vs 5.56 conversation is like debating apples and oranges.

The Bright Line Between 300 Blackout and 5.56 NATO:

Similarities between the cartridges end with them sharing the same case and being tailored for military use.
Thanks to its higher velocities, the 5.56 is much more adept at longer ranges.
The standard .22-caliber also performs better out a longer barrel.
300 Blackout is less finicky about barrel length and is excellent out of SBRs.
The .30-caliber is hands down the more suppressible of the two, with ample subsonic loads available.

By now, most everybody knows the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. Its fortunes are tied to America’s most popular rifle—the AR-15—the small-bore thunderbolt has become among the most shot centerfire cartridges in the world. As it goes, success breeds competition, and since its adoption by the U.S. military more than one contender has attempted to knock it off its throne. Most have proven mere pestering flies to the king, but not the 300 Blackout.

Admittedly, Blackout—formally known as the 300 AAC Blackout—is still a comparatively niche chambering compared to the 5.56 NATO. AR-smiths across the board offer the latter, not as often the former. Yet, the .30-caliber cartridge’s popularity and stability are impressive, especially for an AR option dubbed by many naysayers as a “flash in the pan” from the start. By far, the .300 Blackout is the second-most popular AR chambering of all time and arguably earned consumer shooters’ respect quicker than even the old standby AR cartridge.

For those who don’t already have both in their gun locker, the 300 Blackout vs 5.56 NATO question is pertinent. There are few dividing lines quite as bright as the one drawn between the two most popular AR cartridges on the market. I’m a big fan of both, but you need to understand how they vary if you want to employ them in the correct context.

History Of Service

Most times, the history of a cartridge’s development sheds light on its particular aptitudes, given they were tinkered to specific performance specifications. This is especially true when it comes to the 5.56 NATO and 300 Blackout. Both were tailored for military service, and used the Soviets’ 7.62×39mm cartridge as their measuring stick. But each was dialed in for much different operational settings, and thus excel in different areas.

5.56 NATO

Advantages:

Can reach out further than 300 BLK
Better against body armor
Lower recoil allows for faster follow-up shots
Lighter ammo, easier to carry
Standard military cartridge—better availability of ammo and parts

The 5.56 NATO origin story runs through the turbulent 1960s and the Vietnam War. The knives had been out for the service rifle America entered the war with—the M14, chambered in .308 Winchester/7.62×51 NATO. Lackluster performance against North Vietnamese’s AK-47s sealed the rifle’s and cartridge’s fate, as politicos and the Pentagon went searching for a lighter, intermediate option that mirrored its adversary’s weapon.

Outside of dry times like 2020, 5.56 is typically abundant and low cost.

Eventually, the AR-15 (M16 when adopted by the military) and 5.56 NATO became the choice. What made the 5.56 NATO so appealing for warfare were two main factors: weight and cost.

A single round of 5.56 NATO weighs substantially less than a single round of 7.62. Therefore, a soldier could carry more on his person, and the logistic corps could fit more rounds per truckload. Given numerous post-World War II studies showed proximity to the enemy and volume of fire were keys to winning a firefight, the .22-caliber was perfect for the job. Since it’s a smaller round, requiring less material to construct its bullets and a smaller powder charge to launch it, it was also less expensive—particularly compared to its .30-caliber predecessor.

While it might irk some old-timers—and not delving into the horrendous rifle failures of Vietnam—the 5.56 made for better marksmen as well. The 55-grain bullet moving at 3,250 fps (original specs from the military’s first load) from the AR-15’s muzzle showed improved hits over the M14 and 7.62. The round remained supersonic out to 500 yards and passed the Army’s penetration tests in spades, making it a deadly effective intermediate option—one that’s been serving the country well since 1964.

Of course, our military is now supposedly planning on replacing 5.56 NATO with .227 Fury/6.8x51mm, a full-power cartridge that is as roughly heavy as 7.62 NATO and even more expensive to produce. I’ll save my thoughts on why I think that’s a very dumb idea for a separate article.

Pros

High velocity, flat trajectory
Very low recoil
Excellent terminal ballistics at optimal velocity
Lightweight
Most common rifle cartridge in U.S., more affordable ammo

Cons

Ballistics are very dependent on barrel length
Subsonic loads unviable for most tasks, so shooting suppressed will still result in supersonic crack

300 BLK Vs 5.56 NATO Case Comparison

Cartridge	Case Type	Bullet Diameter	Neck Diameter	Shoulder Diameter	Base Diameter	Rim Diameter	Rim Thickness	Case Length	Cartridge Length	Primer
5.56x45mm NATO	Rimless, bottleneck	0.224	0.249	0.349	0.373	0.375	.041	1.76	2.26	Boxer
.300 AAC Blackout	Rimless, bottleneck	.308	0.334	0.361	0.375	0.375	0.045	1.368	1.78	Small rifle

Source: Gun Digest’s Cartridges of the World, 17th Edition.

300 Blackout

Advantages:

Better for shooting suppressed
Bigger bullet, can be more effective at closer ranges, good for hunting
Retains good ballistics out of very short barrels
Commonly offered in both supersonic and subsonic varieties

How do you get 7.62×39 ballistic performance out of an AR? Seems the answer is the 300 Blackout. Just don’t think the relatively new cartridge was the first crack at seating a .30-caliber bullet in a .223 Remington case. J.D. Jones did a spell before Advanced Armament Corporation got the Blackout standardized by the Sporting Arms And Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI) in a little wildcat known as the .300 Whisper. (Patrick Sweeney has an exceptional write-up on the 300 Blackout vs .300 Whisper and their minute differences.)

Close to medium range, the 300 Blackout is right on target, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. — Close to medium range, the 300 Blackout is right on target, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Whisper or Blackout, the cartridge is extremely innovative on several levels. Not only does it do a bang-up job of replicating the iconic Soviet cartridge’s ballistics, but it does so with minimum modification to the AR platform. Barrel switch and that’s it; you’ve gone from 5.56 to 300 Blackout. Bolt, magazine, gas system can all stay the same.

That’s handy, but what the cartridge is best known for is what its wildcat predecessor was created for—suppression. Go heavy with bullet weight, say 220 grains, and subsonic in velocity, and the 300 Blackout is as quiet as a church mouse fart (my favorite quality of 300 BLK). Suppression isn’t it’s only forte, however, as the Blackout doesn’t lose a beat when shot out of short-barreled rifles. If you want a super short AR as a truck or backpack gun, I think .300 BLK is the only sane choice. Don’t believe me? Go look at the ballistics for 5.56 NATO when it’s coming out of an 8-inch barrel.

Bone Up On AR-15 Cartridges:

AR-15 Calibers And Cartridges: What Should You Chamber Your Carbine?
AR-15 Basics: .223 vs. 5.56×45 NATO
Why Buy A 6.5 Grendel?
.350 Legend Vs .450 Bushmaster: Does One Win Out For Hunting?

The combination of all three traits is what piqued the military’s interest, but not for any mainstream duty. Instead, special operations—hamstrung by suppressed pistol-caliber sub-machine guns and carbines—found it an especially potent upgrade. The punch of a rifle round, quiet as a graveyard when suppressed and adaptable to most configurations made it a flexible tool, malleable to mission criteria.

Pros

Subsonic loads great for shooting suppressed
Still effective out of very short barrels
Heavier bullet can have ballistic advantage at closer ranges
Available in supersonic and subsonic loads

Cons

Not as effective at longer ranges, steeper trajectory
Heavier ammo
If loaded into a 5.56 rifle and fired it could blow it up
More expensive than 5.56

300 Blackout vs 5.56 NATO Ballistics

Given their much different ends, it’s no surprise the two cartridges contrast each other in performance. As a general rule, the 5.56 NATO shoots flatter and, true to its original parameters, doles plenty of damage out to 500 yards. Farther out, as the round stays supersonic for a spell, it takes a steady hand to keep the light, wind-sensitive bullets on targets.

Head to head, it's simple to see where each cartridge excels in terms of range. — Head to head, it’s simple to see where each cartridge excels in terms of range.

Theoretically, supersonic 300 Blackout has the ability to make it a threat at 500 yards, though I doubt I’d want to take that distance on a target I must land a shot on. Given the mild velocities—somewhat akin to the .30-30 Winchester—and pedestrian ballistic coefficients for the caliber, its bullets drop relatively quickly. This is especially true compared to the 5.56.

An example is in order. Take the U.S. Military’s 5.56 M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round (.371 BC, 2,970 fps MV) and a somewhat comparable load for the 300 Blackout, Hornady’s 125 gr FMJ Frontier (.250 BC, 2,160 fps MV). At a mere 200 yards with a 100 zero, the 300 Blackout drops nearly 5.5 inches more than the 5.56, at 300 yards it drops a whopping 19-inches more. From there it really degrades. By and large, the relatively rapid loss of velocity confines the 300 Blackout to near medium and close ranges.

Terminally, especially in the context of hunting anything larger than a coyote, the Blackout has the upper edge. True enough, the 5.56 and .223 Remington have taken deer and are popular (and legal) options in many corners of the county. However, numerous hunters consider a .22-caliber too light for big game, and quite a few state divisions of wildlife agree.

For instance, according to my home state of Colorado’s DOW, a big-game hunter must be armed with “Rifles using center-fire cartridges of .24 caliber or larger, having expanding bullets of at least seventy (70) grains in weight, except for elk and moose where the minimum bullet weight is eighty-five (85) grains, and with a rated impact energy one hundred (100) yards from the muzzle of at least one thousand (1000) foot-pounds as determined by the manufacturer’s rating … .”

There are plenty of 300 Blackout loads that meet the criterion laid out by the Centennial State to hunt every one of its big game species. Though, dust up on your stalking skills if the smallish .30-caliber is your choice.

Cartridge/Load	G1 BC	Muzzle Velocity
5.56x45mm NATO 62gr M855A1	0.371	2,970 fps
300 BLK Hornady 125gr FMJ Frontier	0.250	2,160 fps

Rifle Configuration

For most, this is where the rubber hits the road in the 300 Blackout vs 5.56 NATO discussion. Every shape and size of AR is chambered for both cartridges, but each excels in different configurations. I like to think small with the 300 Blackout and go long with the 5.56 NATO.

Since it was designed with short-barreled rifles in mind and is suitable for close-in work, the 300 Blackout makes a much more logical AR pistol option. For hunting, carbine length has served me well and I’ve found makes for a nimble companion in the woods. When suppressed, the ability to eschew one’s earpro while traipsing around is the cherry on top.

Be warned, if you have both calibers, the 300 Blackout will chamber in a 5.56 ... not good. — Be warned, if you have both calibers, the 300 Blackout will chamber in a 5.56 … not good.

The 5.56 is more than functions in a pistol configuration, but at the sacrifice of velocity. You’ll have more than enough for CQC if that’s your aim. But if you have a yen to let the reins out on your rifle or want to pick off called coyotes, you’ll likely be happier with a carbine-length barrel or longer. Hell, if you don’t foresee pieing corners, you might even consider a classic 20-inch barreled rifle–my favorite barrel length for the caliber–many of which are out and out tack drivers. Being the original configuration, I think it’s a shame how 20-inch ARs have fallen out of popularity these days, with many younger shooters having never even shot one. If that’s you, do yourself a favor and try one sometime, they’re buttery smooth shooters compared to any carbine.

One last note, suppressed shooting is a no brainer … 300 Blackout. It’s where the cartridge’s roots are laid and there’s ample subsonic ammunition available.

Parting Shot

It should go without saying, when talking 300 Blackout vs 5.56 in the AR platform, there’s little reason to settle for one or the other. You always have the cost-effective option of having different uppers for each cartridge, in case you can’t make up your mind. But if you run a domestic-beer budget, define mission parameters for your AR, and the clear choice of cartridge will shine through.

Gunwerks Nexus Rifle Review: Systemized Shooting Solution

Richard A. Mann

May 15, 2025

We hit the range with the Gunwerks Nexus rifle along with its accoutrements to see how much Gunwerks’ system simplifies making hits at distance.

If you’re interested in shooting at long range, particularly as it relates to hunting, there’s hardly any doubt you’ve heard of Gunwerks. Gunwerks gained their initial fame through their acclaimed Long Range Pursuit television show. Founded by Aaron Davidson in Otto, Wyoming, Gunwerks’ 45,000-square-foot headquarters that’s built around a 100-yard shooting range is now located in Cody, Wyoming. Though generally thought of as a rifle manufacturer, you could better describe Gunwerks as a full-service, long-range shooting syndicate. Gunwerks can provide you with all the gear you need to go the distance.

I’ve been writing about rifles, professionally, for more than a quarter century, but somewhat embarrassingly, during all those years I’ve never shot a Gunwerks rifle. Not too long ago, my friend Neal Emery, who previously worked at Hornady, went to Gunwerks, and we were finally able to change that.

To give me an idea of what Gunwerks rifles and the company is all about, Emery sent me one of their Nexus rifles to review. The Nexus is the flagship rifle from Gunwerks, and not only did Emery loan me a rifle, but he also provided some of the other gear Gunwerks is becoming known for and that some shooters might be overlooking.

The Nexus

Gunwerks Nexus Specs
Length: 41.5 Inches
Weight: 6 Pounds, 14 Ounces
Barrel: 20 (tested) or 24 Inches
Action: Gunwerks NXT
Trigger: Trigger Tech Primary trigger
Capacity: 3+1
Finish: Hard anodized black or FDE
Stock: Carbon fiber with leather accents and an ARCA and Picatinny rail
Chambering Options: 6.5 PRC (tested), 7mm PRC, 300 PRC, and 28 Nosler
MSRP: $6,475 (base price)
Website: gunwerks.com

This rifle is unique in several ways. For years and even to this day, many precision rifle manufacturers build their guns on a Remington 700 action or Remington 700 clone. Gunwerks builds the Nexus rifle on a proprietary aluminum action that allows you to switch the barrel to change between cartridges. Gunwerks makes this possible by using barrels with an extension similar to what’s used on an AR-15 or the Q Fix rifle. The forward section of the action is split and held together by three screws. You simply loosen those screws, slide out the old barrel and slide in the new one. Also, to accommodate different cartridges with different rim diameters, you can change the bolt head and even the bolt handle.

But there are many other unique features with the Nexus rifle.

nexus rifle action scope bases — Gunwerks smartly machines the Picatinny scope bases into the aluminum action of the Nexus rifle.

Instead of drilling the action for scope mounts, Gunwerks machines Picatinny rail sections into the action, and this eliminates a connection and potential failure point for optics mounting. Gunwerks has also engineered a bolt-shroud mounted, three-position safety that locks the bolt in the rear position and allows for safe unloading in the middle position.

Gunwerks Nexus grip — The grip on the stock of the Nexus rifle is near vertical and is wrapped in hand stitched leather for comfort and to help maintain a secure grip.

Then, there’s the stock, which is carbon-fiber that has very unusual hand-stitched leather accents at the grip and comb locations for handling comfort. The bottom metal is also unusual because it extends from the grip all the way down the forend. There’s a short section of Picatinny rail at the end and a full length ARCA rail behind that for bipod and tripod attachment.

full length arca rail — For those who appreciate maximum interface options with bipods and tripods, the Nexus rifle has a full-length ARCA rail and a short Picatinny rail on its stock.

But the ingenuity and uniqueness does not end there. Gunwerks designed an aluminum, flush-fitting, three-round, detachable magazine box that allows for easy top loading while it’s in the rifle. With the carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel, you have the option of 20 or 24 inches, and it comes with a threaded muzzle and a muzzle break with a timing nut. The stock is outfitted with numerous quick-detach sling swivel mounts at the front and rear. And a user-adjustable, Trigger Tech Primary trigger is standard.

gunwerks detachable magazine — The detachable magazine on the Nexus rifle is well made and you can easily top load it when it’s in the rifle.

When you order the rifle, you first select your cartridge, and the options include the 6.5, 7mm, and .300 PRC, and .28 Nosler. Next, you choose either a black or flat dark earth chassis color, select your barrel length of 20 or 24 inches and set your length of pull at either 13, 13.5 or 14 inches. You can also specify the riflescope you want included with your rifle, and that’s where things can get a bit technical.

Not only will Gunwerks mount and zero one of seven riflescopes from Revic, Leupold and Kahles, and they’ll also provide you with a long-range data package ($1,275). This includes a Gunwerks long-range ammo loaded with a Berger bullet and a ballistic turret for your riflescope that matches that load. But this is all tuned to the elevation and temperature you want. In fact, you can even order an additional data package ($595) for ammo loaded with a lead-free bullet that also includes another ballistic turret.

Shooting Results

Gunwerks had chambered the test rifle Neal loaned me in 6.5 PRC, and they outfitted it with the Revic Acura RS25i riflescope. It also came with a data package for a 140-grain Berger bullet Gunwerks load that had a muzzle velocity of 2,972 fps. Ordered, this rifle, optic and data package would have cost $9,945. That’s a hell of a lot of money for a rifle/scope/ammo combination, so I expected great things on the range.

And great things are what I got.

I installed a Silencer Central Banish Backcountry suppressor and set up at the bench with the Gunwerks factory ammo and two other loads. The first five-shot group I fired with the Gunwerks ammunition measured 0.89 inch, and I fired all five shots—as I normally do when I precision test a rifle—in less than 60 seconds. After two more five-shot groups, the average group size for that load was 0.88 inch. I then fired three, five-shot groups with the other two factory loads, and the average for all nine, five-shot groups fired was only 0.92 inch.

Shooting Results

LOAD	VEL	SD	ENG	PRECISION
Gunwerks 140-grain Berger VLD Hunting	2,972	12.2	2,746	0.88
Federal 140-grain Fusion Tipped	2,996	16.7	2,790	0.96
Hornady 143-grain Precision Hunter ELD-X	2,937	22.1	2,681	0.92

NOTES: Reported muzzle velocity (VEL), standard velocity deviation (SD) and muzzle energy (ENG) were established by firing 10 shots over a Caldwell G2 chronograph with the screens placed 10 feet from the muzzle. Reported precision for each load represents the average of three, five-shot groups fired at 100 yards from a sandbag rest. A Silencer Central Banish Backcountry suppressor and a Revic Acura RS25i 5-25x50mm riflescope set at maximum magnification were used for all precision testing. Temperature: 62 degrees F, humidity: 32 percent, pressure: 29.87 in-Hg and elevation: 2,200 feet.

To evaluate the data package, I shot the rifle out to 450 yards with 8-inch steel plates as targets. I corrected for trajectory by dialing to the correct distance with the Gunwerks supplied custom turret on the Revic riflescope. I never missed.

Gunwerks Nexus dialing scope — The Gunwerks’ system, which encompasses the rifle, scope, rangefinder, bipod and ammo, is all about simplifying hits at distance.

I cannot rate the Gunwerks rifle as anything but outstanding: It performed flawlessly in every way. However, it is not the rifle for everyone. Clearly, the cost alone is a bit staggering. But aside from price, this is not what I would consider a general-purpose hunting rifle. By itself, the rifle weighs 6.875 pounds. That’s not bad, but if you add in the Revic scope, which weighs 2.4 pounds, the weight jumps to more than 9 pounds. I did all the shooting from Gunwerks wonderfully engineered, quick-release 12.3-ounce Elevate Bipod 2.0 ($395), which upped rifle weight beyond 10 pounds.

Gunwerks Nexus bipod — The quick-attach feature of the Gunwerks Elevate Bipod 2.0 is great for field applications.

This is a long-range precision rifle configured for hunting, and, within the context of that description, it is phenomenal. But, most importantly, you must look at the Nexus, as well as the other rifles from Gunwerks, as not just a rifle but as a shooting system.

Not Just A Rifle

You could just purchase the Nexus rifle at its base price of $6,475 and add your own riflescope and any other accessories you might desire, and then shoot factory ammunition or your own handloads. But the base premise of the Gunwerks concept is to let them put the complete package together for you.

“The vast majority of our customers want a full system, which is what we are known for,” Emery said. “They want a rifle that’s scoped, sighted in and comes with a scope turret cut for the ammunition we offer. While some shooters love to geek out about what scope to buy, which mounts to use and enjoy working up a load, there’s a ton of folks who just don’t have or can’t take the time for all that. They just want a system ready to go with all the best parts.”

revic scope — Though at 38 ounces the Revic Acura RS25i 5-25×50 riflescope is heavy, it is ideally adapted for long-range work.

In that venue, Gunwerks is unique and singular, and it’s a very practical approach. And while at first blush it might seem extremely expensive, in the real world, it’s not altogether financially impractical. I’ve known several who embarked on the long-range hunting rifle journey and spent more on rifles, optics, range finders and ammunition that did not deliver the results they wanted than it would have cost them to let Gunwerks just do it all for them from the start. My results shooting the Nexus at distance is a perfect example of how the Gunwerks system comes together to make it easy.

If you use the Revic range-finding binoculars from Gunwerks ($2,695), you create a profile in the Revic Optics app and upload it to the binoculars. When you enter the custom turret data, the app knows your bullet, muzzle velocity, etc., and it also knows your custom turret has been cut for the environmental conditions you’re hunting in. The cool part is that the range-finding binoculars can compensate for changes for those conditions and tell you exactly where to dial to get your hit.

revic binoculars — You can optimize your Gunwerks system with the Revic Acura BLR10b Ballistic Rangefinding 10x42mm Binocular.

Collectively, a fully kitted Gunwerks rifle and system are perfectly tuned to eliminate all your excuses for missing. Well, except for plain old piss-poor shooting, and, surprisingly, Gunwerks can help with that too.

Gunwerks’ Long Range University offers training to help you make quick, ethical, one-shot kills in the field. Not only will their courses teach you to interface with all the Gunwerks’ products, but the training will also help you learn when you should not take the shot, and for ethical hunting that is just as important as having the right gear, knowing how to use it and knowing how to take the shot.

If I were to summarize the Nexus rifle in as few words as possible, I think I’d have to quote Warren Buffet, “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”

However, if left to my own hillbilly upbringing, vocabulary and logic, I say: If you want to live at long range, stop drinking stupidly expensive boutique coffee and spring for the Gunwerks’ system and training. Encourage your kids to study enough to fund their higher education with scholarships.

Pros

Very accurate
Perfectly pre-tuned package when bought with scope and ammo

Cons

Very expensive
Heavy

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More On Hunting Rifles:

Top Bolt-Action Rifles For Hunting
Mossberg Patriot: True Globetrotting Hunter
Best Affordable .308 Rifles For The Hunt
Best .22-250 Rifle Buyer’s Guide

Hardware Talk: Strike Industries Oppressor Lite V2

Patrick Sweeney

May 14, 2025

We take a quick look at Strike Industries’ Oppressor Lite V2 blast-forward muzzle device.

Owning and shooting an AR-15 pistol, or SBR, is fun. Well, it starts out fun, but the muzzle blast gets to be a bit much after a short while. Indoors, it’s even worse.

And, if you happen to be working in a team environment … well, others will grow to hate you.

Quickly.

I’ve even heard of SWAT team members being retired with medical disability due to the muzzle blast of an SBR too close to them. What do you do? The “easy” answer is to put a suppressor on it. But that isn’t always an option. Some departments still won’t allow it. Or they do, but not personal equipment, and they “just haven’t finished the paperwork yet.”

And you? You’re still waiting for your suppressor.

So, how do you mitigate the blast and not make your pistol or SBR longer? Strike it—as in Strike Industries’ Oppressor Lite V2.

This is a two-metal assembly. The mount and interior are steel, but the housing is aluminum. This brings the weight down to 5 ounces. It looks like a really short suppressor, but there’s no front cap or baffle on it, so it isn’t one. But it diverts the muzzle blast forward away from you. So, you get less, the target gets more, and those beside you don’t get the blast from a flash hider or (far, far worse) muzzle brake.

The mounting system is really slick as well. Instead of a simple direct-thread (which means it has to be there all the time), the Oppressor Lite V2 uses a quarter-turn ratchet lock system. Now, to do this, you need a Strike Industries mount—which is not a problem, as the Strike Cloak flash hider is both a mount for the Oppressor and a superb flash hider just by itself.

The assembly is simple. Remove whatever mount or flash hider you now have on your barrel. Clean the threads and degrease the thread of the barrel and the Cloak. Now, apply some strong thread-locker on the threads and tighten the Cloak on. Let it cure, and when you want to use the Oppressor Live V2, simply press it down onto the Cloak until you feel the spring compress. Then, turn and hear the ratchet until it stops. Done. To remove, let cool (oh, it will get hot). Then, press back and rotate the other direction. You’ll hear and feel the system release, and you can then pull the Oppressor forward and off.

The Oppressor Lite V2 is short enough and light enough that it won’t alter the handling of your AR-15 pistol or SBR. In fact, at just 5 ounces, it’s probably lighter than some of the QD mount systems that you need to put on the muzzle in order to mount a suppressor. If you spend any time in the winter shooting on an indoor range, you and those around you will appreciate the effect that the Oppressor Lite V2 brings to the table. And to mount it, you get to use a really good flash hider. (There are other muzzle devices in the strike pantheon and others that the Oppressor can mount on.)

All this goodness doesn’t come cheap, but quality never does. To mount up, you’ll need the Cloak at $45 and the Oppressor Lite V2 at $95. Still, that’s less than the tax stamp you need to pay to lay hands on your very own suppressor, and the Cloak and Oppressor can be shipped right to your door as soon as the charge clears your credit card.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More AR Upgrades:

Top AR-15 Accessories And Upgrades
Four Quick And Dirty AR Upgrades
Choosing The Best AR Accessories
Prioritizing Spending On Your AR-15 Build

First Look: SilencerCo SCO Optics-Ready Glock Slides

Adam Borisenko

May 13, 2025

SilencerCo has just announced the optics-ready SCO Slide for Glock 19 pistols, featuring three models with different red dot footprints.

Probably the easiest way to add a red dot sight to your factory non-MOS Glock is to just buy an aftermarket slide for it. Plenty of companies make these, but SilencerCo has just thrown its hat into the ring as well with the SCO Slide.

Designed for Gen 1-3 Glock 19s, the SCO Slide is being launched with three variants available each with a different optic footprint—RMR, ACRO and 509T. The best part is the SCO Slide allows for direct-mounting red dots, so there’s no need for an optics plate. The machined slides are made from corrosion-resistant 17-4 stainless steel and feature a black DLC coating.

As for the SCO Slide’s aesthetics, SilencerCo took inspiration from its integrally-suppressed Maxim 9 pistol for the slide serrations. The deep, aggressive cuts should make the slide easy to rack, and it features side-cutout windows too. It’s worth noting, however, that the SCO Slide does not ship with a cover plate or mounting screws except for the RMR variant which ships with two screws.

All three SilencerCo SCO Slides for the G19 share an MSRP of $299 and are available now.

For more information, visit silencerco.com.

More On Glock:

Glock 17 Review: How The Full-Sized Striker-Fired Set The Standard
Glock 48 MOS Review: The Goldilocks Glock?
Glock P80 Review: The One That Started It All
Glock 44 Review: Perfection In .22 LR?
G43X and G48 Review: Solidifying The Glock 9mm Slimline Series
The Baby Glock Buyer’s Guide
Best Glock Upgrades: Customizing For Performance

CBC/Magtech Announce New Ammo Plant In Oklahoma

Adam Borisenko

May 12, 2025

CBC, owner of Magtech, has just announced that a new ammunition production factory will be constructed in Oklahoma.

Magtech is owned by CBC in Brazil, and that’s where the ammo has always been made as well. Now, the company is launching CBC USA and building a new state-of-the-art ammunition manufacturing facility in Oklahoma. The new plant represents a $300 million investment and CBC says it will create 350 new jobs in the area.

The most important aspect of this announcement is that the new CBC facility will not just be assembling ammunition, but will be making powder and primers as well. That’s huge news given the global shortage and it will hopefully result in lower prices in the U.S., at least for the common calibers CBC USA will be making.

CBC said this about the new Oklahoma-based facility:

CBC USA will manufacture a full range of cartridges, including 9mm, 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .50 BMG, serving military, law enforcement, sport shooting, self-defense, and hunting markets. The facility will replicate CBC’s world-class manufacturing processes, ensuring full control over critical components cases, bullets, primers, powder, and nitrocellulose, a key energetic material in global short supply.

Fabio Mazzaro, President of CBC and board member of CBC Global Ammunition, said this about the new plant:

We are thrilled to bring our new manufacturing operations to Oklahoma … This facility will be a cornerstone for our future growth in the world’s most important market for small caliber ammunition. With in-house production of all components, propellant, and critical energetic raw materials, we envisage to build an industry-leading and fully vertically integrated company. We believe that the region’s supportive business environment makes Oklahoma an ideal location for CBC USA.

For more information, visit cbcusa.com.

Raise Your Ammo IQ:

Beyond The 6.5 Creedmoor: The Other 6.5 Cartridges
The Lonesome Story Of The Long-Lost 8mm
Why The .300 H&H Magnum Still Endures
.350 Legend Vs .450 Bushmaster: Does One Win Out For Hunting?

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GUN DIGESTWE KNOW GUNS SO YOU KNOW GUNS

How do self-loading rifles function? There are different ways, but here I break down the major types of rifle gas systems.

Gas System Types

Staying In Tune

Notable Aftermarket Gas System Parts

Gassed Out

We take a quick look at .450 Marlin, a big and nasty capable performer for any task.

General Comments

.450 Marlin Load Data and Factory Ballistics

Springfield Armory has just released the Model 2020 Heatseeker, a compact chassis rifle with AR modularity and bolt-action precision.

Not every design ends up being successful. Here we discuss dead or dying cartridges of the modern era.

.307 Winchester

.45 Super

.356 Winchester

.32 H&R Magnum

.356 TSW

.45 GAP

.17 Mach 2

.25-45 Sharps

.30 Remington AR

.30 Super Carry

Ammunition Depot and Rattlesnake Tactical have partnered to design a 34-round extended magazine for double-stack 9mm Glock-pattern firearms.

I tested out Silencer Central’s new Banish 9K to see just how quiet this super compact, lightweight suppressor can really be.

Silencer Central Banish 9K Specs:

Baby Banish

Less is Way More

But, How’s It Sound?

Pros

Cons

Silencer Central Banish 9K Deals:

More On Suppressors:

What’s the right way to interact with law enforcement while carrying a concealed firearm? Here we look at lessons from two experts.

First Key Finding: Disarmament Is Rare

Second Key Finding: Know Your Duty to Inform—And When Not To

Third Key Finding: Be Smart About How You Inform

Glen Hoyer’s Law Enforcement Perspective

Training, Scripting and Recording

Final Takeaway: It’s Not About Winning the Encounter

Premier Body Armor has just released an enhanced version of its armored shirt called the Everyday Armor T-Shirt 360.

I headed across the pond with a Savage 110 PPR to test its practical precision in the hunting fields.

Holding History

Different, But Good

Set Up to Shine

Additional Testing

Savage Model 110 PPR 20-inch barrel

A Tradition Continued

Want to speed up your reloading process? Here we take a look at Hornady’s new 3-in-1 Power Case Trimmer.

We take a quick look at the 6mm GT cartridge, the “Glorious Tiger” of 6mm chamberings.

General Comments

6mm GT Loading Data and Factory Ballistics

The 300 Blackout Vs 5.56 conversation is like debating apples and oranges.

The Bright Line Between 300 Blackout and 5.56 NATO:

History Of Service

5.56 NATO

Advantages:

Pros

Cons

300 BLK Vs 5.56 NATO Case Comparison

300 Blackout

Advantages:

Bone Up On AR-15 Cartridges:

Pros

Cons

300 Blackout vs 5.56 NATO Ballistics

Rifle Configuration

Parting Shot

We hit the range with the Gunwerks Nexus rifle along with its accoutrements to see how much Gunwerks’ system simplifies making hits at distance.

The Nexus

Shooting Results

Shooting Results

Not Just A Rifle

Pros

Cons

We take a quick look at Strike Industries’ Oppressor Lite V2 blast-forward muzzle device.

SilencerCo has just announced the optics-ready SCO Slide for Glock 19 pistols, featuring three models with different red dot footprints.

CBC, owner of Magtech, has just announced that a new ammunition production factory will be constructed in Oklahoma.

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