A year after its release, the Steyr SSG Carbon is finally available in the U.S.
Gun makers have been pulling every shape, size and design of precision rifle out of the woodworks as of late. Steyr is one of the most recent.
Technically, the Austrian manufacturer’s SSG Carbon has been around for a while, released at the 2014 SHOT Show. But it only lately has become available on the U.S. market, due to the rifle’s demand among the globe’s law enforcement agencies.
According to Steyr, it took 16 months just to fulfill its initial volley of orders for its new .308 Winchester. Given the SSG Carbon’s features, it is understandable why the rifle caught the eye of so many professional marksmen.
Along these lines, maybe the most impressive aspect of the bolt-action is the ruggedness Steyr has engineered into it. This is especially true for one massive feature of the rifle — its stock.
The benefits of carbon-fiber as a stock material hasn’t been a secret for sometime now. The rigidness of the material and its ability to resist environmental fluctuations makes it ideal for use in a stock. At the same tick, conventional woven carbon fiber can be brittle, particularly if stuck from the side.
Steyr used a different technique to form the SSG’s stock, turning to chipped-carbon Sheet Molding Compound. The process takes carbon flakes and combines them thermally with a binder, creating a material that has a tension net superior to steel, but at a fraction of its weight. In addition to its strength and rigidity, Steyr also touts SMC stock’s ability to reduce the rifle’s recoil.
The stock also has a number of features built into it that are certain to win points with long-distance shooters, including: multiple sling mounting points, adjustable cheek piece and butt plate, rubber-wrapped pistol grip, heavy bipod and integrated rear elevation pod.
Steyr is offering the SSG Carbon with both a 20- and 22.4-inch barrels, each cut with a 1:10-inch right hand twist. And it has a 10-round double-stack detachable polymer magazine. The rifle weighs in at a hair over 11 pounds and has an overall length of 43.4 inches.
Presently, the MSRP on the Steyr SSG Carbon is $3,695
Steyr SSG Carbon Specs Caliber: .308 Winchester Capacity: Polymer double-stack detachable box/10 rounds Action material: 25CrMo4 steel Barrel: 20- and 22.4-inch cold-hammer-forged heavy barrel Rifling: 4 Grooves, 1:10 RH Twist Sights: 20-MOA Picatinny rail Safety: 3+1 Position Safety Pull weight: 3 pounds, 8 ounces (user adjustable) Stock material/type: SMC carbon fiber Length of pull: 14.25 inches min. (0.33-inch inserts available) Drop at comb: +0.85 to -0.9 inches vertical adjustment Comb adjustments: 0.5 inches longitudinal; 0.133 inch lateral (rotationally adjustable) Drop at heel: +1.07 to -3.8 inches vertical adjustment Recoil pad: Elastomer; 0.8-inch thick Pistol grip: Polymer with interchangeable rubber inserts Weight (empty): 11 pounds, 2 ounces Overall length: 43.4 inches Included accessories: Owner's manual, Versa-pod or HD bipod, continuously adjustable rear-elevation pod, one detachable box magazine, hard travel case, sling swivels
The Winchester Model 1873 lives on with the company adding a new sporter to its line.
Of all American guns few are as iconic as the Winchester Model 1873. The lever-action rifle, after all, was the “Gun that won the west.”
The carbine’s heyday as a military firearm and a tool for taming the American frontier might be over, but the demand for the historic rifle is as brisk as ever. So brisk, in fact, Winchester recently expanded its line of 73s.
The company is now offering a Model 1873 Sporter, color case hardened, with an octagon barrel. The Japanese-made rifle looks to have all the makings of a top-notch and functional addition to almost any enthusiast’s collection.
The octagon barrel is one of the more intriguing aspects of the new addition. While it is a throwback, it is not necessary one that makes the new 1873 more historic, given the original sporters came with the option of round or octagonal barrels. There was also a half-octagonal option on the original, as well.
Like the earliest examples of this style of 73, the barrel measures in at 24-inches. Practically speaking, this should make for a very maneuverable rifle and should help the rounds it’s chambered for — .357 Magnum/.38 Spc., and 44-40 Win. — live up to their ballistic potential.
The new Winchester Model 1873 Sporter is color case hardened, which gives the rifle a timeless look.
The rifle comes with the choice of a grade I or II walnut stock with a stain oil finish and cut to the original Model 1873’s pattern. This includes the rifle’s straight grip, which even today gives the firearm a pretty dynamic profile.
The rich grain of the wood sets off the color-case hardened receiver and crescent buttplate, along with the blued barrel.
The rifle is outfitted with a semi-buckhorn rear sight and a Marble Arms gold bead front sight. The rear tang is also drilled and tapped for the quick addition of a tang-mounted rear sight.
Presently, the Winchester Model 1873 Sporter has an MSRP of $1,739.
Haenel-Mannlicher, circa 1909, fitted with a Lyman Model 36 receiver sight and Lawrence sling. The sight appears to have been fitted at the factory, but it is impossible to say for certain.
In the years before 1914 one could find, tucked away in a corner of the Sears, Roebuck catalog, a listing for a bolt-action sporting rifle from Germany. Variously listed as a Mannlicher, or a Haenel-Mannlicher, or sometimes just a C.G. Haenel (pronounced HY-nul), these rifles were the first steps in a trend that became a deluge: Bolt-action sporting rifles based on military actions.
Generally now known as Haenel-Mannlichers, these German bolt-action rifles were not cheap. In the 1902 Sears catalog, the price was $24.50. By comparison, a Winchester Model 95 listed at only $17.50. What made the German import worth 50 percent more than this state-of-the-art lever rifle? And why, when Model 95s are prized by collectors, are Haenel-Mannlichers all but forgotten except for a few devotees of early custom rifles?
There are two answers to that question, and relative quality has nothing to do with it. They are both finely made rifles, and some of the Haenels especially so.
For most gun collectors, the era of sporting bolt rifles began with the Mauser 98.
Everything good and modern occurred after that, they believe, and nothing much before. But such was not the case. In the frenzy of rifle development in Europe between the arrival of smokeless powder in 1886 and the ultimate Mauser in 1898, several good military bolt rifles made their debut. For sporting purposes, the most significant by far was the German Commission rifle of 1888.
For military collectors, the Gewehr ’88 is almost a cult object, and while it has been widely written about, it is also widely misunderstood. It is sometimes described as a Mauser with Mannlicher features, and sometimes the reverse. In reality, however, the Commission rifle was neither Mauser nor Mannlicher, but that rarest of creatures: A mechanical device designed by committee that was highly successful.
Its stint as the official infantry rifle of the German Army was short-lived – only 10 years – but it went on to a successful career in every corner of the globe as both military rifle and, in its converted form, a hunting rifle. So good was the Commission action that Steyr, in Austria, which manufactured the ’88 under contract for Berlin, modified it into a hunting rifle. The result was the famous Mannlicher-Schönauer Model 1903, a design that set the standard for quality hunting rifles for the next 70 years.
Steyr was not the only company to appreciate the virtues of the Commission rifle. C.G. Haenel, a prominent German gunmaking company in Suhl, also made Commission rifles under contract. Founded by Carl Gottlieb Haenel in 1840, C.G. Haenel & Co. quickly became a force in German gunmaking and, like most German firms, produced sporting weapons when it was not filling military contracts.
Haenel’s civilian rifles on the Commission action followed the German hunting rifle style that existed since the advent of centerfire cartridges. Most had half-octagon barrels with full or partial matted ribs, matted receiver ring, folding leaf sights, schnabel fore-ends and elegant turned-down bolt handles. There was usually a stock-bolt in the fore-end, and sometimes they were fitted with receiver sights. Most had double-set triggers. While the majority were chambered for the standard military 8×57 cartridge (usually the original .318” bullet, rather than the later .323”) they were also offered in pure hunting cartridges like the 9×57.
The conversion to a Mauser-style box magazine with hinged floorplate is one of the most beautifully executed floorplate-release mechanisms ever made – far superior to almost any modern rifle, including some ultra-high-dollar custom rifles. It is crisp, positive and unfailing. This rifle also has an excellent double-set trigger.
The first importer of Haenel-Mannlichers was Oscar Hesse of New Jersey, who began bringing them into the U.S. in 1894. There was a strong connection between German shooting clubs in the U.S., German immigrant gunmakers and the German companies, so more and more importers got into the act, and each, it seemed, stipulated little changes to the overall design. As a result, the number of minor variations seems endless.
This brings us back to the two major reasons there is only minor collector interest in these rifles. The first, of course, is the lack of a famous name such as Winchester. The second is the impossibility of classifying rifles by model and year. Model classification and certifiable originality are the backbone of gun collecting, and with Haenel-Mannlichers and other civilian rifles based on the Commission action, this is almost impossible. There were too many importers at this end, too many small gunmakers at the other end, and far too many variations in between.
For the modern rifle lover though, Haenels in their many guises offer an opportunity to own a rifle of stellar quality for not much money. The materials, workmanship and finishing are comparable to fine, modern, custom rifles. On the negative side, they are chambered for cartridges like the 8×57 and 9×57 that by today’s standards are relatively low velocity and suitable only for short-range hunting.
Collecting Haenel-Mannlichers may never make you any money, but it can lead into exploration of a fascinating byway in the history of the sporting rifle. You will find early Mannlichers from Steyr as well as German and Austrian custom makers, and you will find custom-ordered takedown rifles and modified Gewehr ’88s.
There was life before the Mauser 98 and the evidence lies — as with so much of American life — in the pages of the old Sears, Roebuck wish book.
This article appeared in the 2016 Gun Digest annual.
There is plenty of lore surrounding the Mozambique Drill. That’s to be expected with anything that includes both Col. Jeff Cooper and African mercenaries. But, overall, the drill itself is much simpler than its colorful past suggests.
Simply put, the defensive pistol drill involves placing two shots to the chest and one to the head. The above video by Gun Digest author Richard Mann elucidates some of the finer points of the drill, including timing and precision aspects.
If this isn’t a drill that you don’t already do, it definitely should be worked into your routine. As explained in the video, there are some important skills sharpened in this simple bit of practice. And best of all, it can be executed nearly anywhere you go shooting, be it an indoor or outdoor range.
These electronic ear plugs for shooting don’t just provide protection against hearing loss, they make shooting much more enjoyable.
The SoundGear ear plugs for shooting come in a handy carrying case, with extra batteries and in-the-canal inserts.
The danger that even a one-time exposure to excessive noise could result in permanent hearing damage is undeniable. According to The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) any noise level at or above 85 decibels (dB)—such as the outside hum of traffic on a local road—could cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) if exposure times are great enough. The noise levels produced when a firearm is discharged, then, are certainly capable of causing damage to hearing and need to be protected against.
According to one source, a gun blast, the quietest of which (on an unsuppressed firearm) might clock in at 134 dB or so for a .22—or up to over 165 dB for a .44 magnum, or even greater depending upon environmental variables such as inside vs. outside or distance away from the shot—can pulverize the delicate machinery of the inner ear like a slug fired through water balloons.
Most shooters are keen to this danger and take precautions at the range by using foam ear plugs or shooting ear muffs of some kind. I had personally never given the topic much thought beyond that myself—that is, until an opportunity came along to try out some Platinum Recreational Instant Fit ITC noise-canceling electronic ear plugs from SoundGear.
First impression: Three-hundred bucks for a pair of ear plugs? Who in their right mind would spend that much on those? I wondered.
Actually, it turns out that many of the world’s top shooters already invest mighty sums of money in custom fit ear plugs—some costing as much as a couple thousand buckeroos. By comparison, the SoundGear plugs are a real steal. But would they work as advertised?
Range Test of the ITC Ear Plugs
We loaded up the guns and headed to the range, with the SoundGear units in hand. After installing the Size 10 batteries and slipping the little buggers snugly into my ears, I realized very quickly how superior they were to standard ear muffs. It was an eye-opening experience, to say the least.
That’s because the units—which permit normal noise level sounds to enter, while keeping dangerous-level noises at bay—make it feel like you’re not wearing any protection at all. In fact, they even amplify sounds somewhat, up to 8x enhancement according to SoundGear.
Most amazingly, they eliminate that muffled, congested, stuffy-head feeling you get with a big pair of ear muffs affixed to your head. I felt free of that weird sensation so typical when shooting with foam earplugs and muffs where it seems like your equilibrium is “off” and the walls are closing in.
I cannot overstate how impressed I was by this unexpected benefit. Being free of the odd sense of having your hearing cut off, everything was simply more natural feeling. It was actually more enjoyable to shoot!
As an added benefit, it sure was a lot cooler shooting in the afternoon summer sun using the ITC plugs as opposed to hot ear muffs, which don’t exactly breathe very well.
Noise Reduction Results
The ITC or “In The Canal” Recreational plugs engage at the 93 dB level, and cut noise by up to 25 dB—while the Industrial version slashes noise at about the 80 dB level. That means either unit kicks in to suppress noise well below the 140 dB level of the average gun shot.
Its digital sound reproduction enhances environmental sounds—making it possible for me to hear with what can only be described as super spy hearing clarity.
As far as reducing the noise when you shoot, lacking any acoustic measurement tools, we couldn’t scientifically verify the amount of noise reduction but I can say it was substantial and that they work quite well. When you let loose with a string of shots they just seem to “shut off” the sound. The Bang, Bang, Bang! becomes a Clurp, Clurp, Clurp! when you’re done shooting and then they turn back on.
The plugs come in a compact little carrying case that saves space in your range bag. It includes four orange and four black silicone sleeves, a cleaning brush, two packs of batteries and the two digital hearing devices that get inserted into the sleeves. One tip: remove the batteries after each use or they’ll keep drawing down and you’ll have to replace batteries on your next trip.
Conclusion
This tiny electronic hearing aid protects against noise-induced hearing damage from gun shots, yet doesn't cancel out the surrounding environment. The net effect: I actually shot better because my natural sense of balance wasn't thrown off by that “muffled” feeling you get with a bulky headset clamped onto your head. It makes me more effective in the hunting field, and I have more fun. I started off thinking this was all about hearing protection. But hearing is believing. What it’s really about is shooting enjoyment. That it protects my hearing while doing that is just icing on the cake.
The Bren Ten shot to be the U.S. Military’s side arm. The best it mustered was becoming pop-culture trivia.
To that end, the most notoriety the 10mm pistol achieved was becoming Sonny Crockett’s gun in the 1980’s T.V. show Miami Vice. But what exactly was the hitch in the handgun’s giddyap relegating it to the ashbin of history?
First and foremost, the company that built the gun — Dornaus & Dixon Enterprises Inc. — was hamstrung by fulfillment problems. But as the above video by Larry Vickers shows, the Bren Ten also has some design flaws that made the pistol less than desirable.
One of troubled points was the gun’s cross-bolt safety. The featured was engineered with safety in mind, as a way to ensure no negligent discharge when decocking the pistol. But it had a nasty habit of engaging — unbeknownst to the operator — when the slide was racked. This, for obvious reasons, is not a desirable trait on a self-defense gun.
These troubles led to less than 1,500 Bren Tens being produced. This scarcity, however, does increase the value of the pistol with the Standard Catalog of Firearms listing certain models at $2,800.
Be sure to watch the entire video. Not only is it chocked full of great history on the Bren Ten, it also has some spectacular slow-motion footage of the pistol lobbing 10mm rounds down range.
With a dwindling supply of M1 rifles of all models, the market for this iconic American battle rifle is heating up fast at GunRunner Online Auctions.
“Some of the hottest items this year for Gunrunner Auctions are U.S. M1 Carbine Paratroopers,” says GunRunner owner Scott Weber. “We obtained a splendid specimen –99 percent original finish–from an estate. It sat in a closet for 70 years! This beauty brought $4,000 with paperwork.”
Good M1’s with clean bores and matched wood go for over $1,000. An all-original World War II M1 Garand with a nice 1940's bore and excellent condition can bring over $2,000.
Generally, Weber notes, older collectors are buying up the M1’s. Though lately, he adds, a surprising number of younger buyers have entered the market, especially for lower-grade M1’s.
“I think they want what their grandfathers fought with in the Big One or they are seeing the M1's on the Big Screen and want one to hang over the mantel.”
But collectors, he warns, need to be careful as M1’s are also “one of the most faked of all World War II collectibles,” Weber says. “Reproduction stocks, false stamps, fake rivets and it's impossible to determine one by serial number alone.”
Do you research, lean on expert advice and use an experienced auction house, Weber advises.
This brief is from the July 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Starline Brass serves the cutting edge shooter, no doubt. But the manufacturer has also always had a yen for the traditional. Just take a gander at the cases the Missouri company produces for old black-powder guns, if you need further proof.
Starline, however, has walked the line between mainstream and obscure with the latest additions to its catalog. While a .30 Carbine and 9mm Steyr might not be in every gun safe, both are not way out in right field, either.
The .30 Carbine is perhaps best known as the ammunition for the M1 Carbine. The dandy light rifle saw plenty of action with American forces, adopted in World War II and serving up to the Vietnam War. More recently, the round has been born again as a handgun cartridge in Ruger’s Blackhawk revolvers.
Those who have the venerable M1912 can rejoice, Starline Brass is now offering 9mm Steyr cases.
The 9mm Steyr had some success in the early 20th Century, most notably as ammunition for the Steyr M1912. The pistol was the Austria-Hungarian Empire’s and then Austria’s military service side arm, serving from 1912 until 1945. The 9mm Steyr also pulled duty as a submachine gun round, feeding MP34.
Starline’s brass is 70-percent copper and 30-precent zinc, which is vertically drawn to keep wall thickness consistent. The company anneals its cases between each draw to ensure its malleability and inspects each case between each step of the manufacturing process.
Presently, the MSRP for the .30 Carbine brass is $122 for a box of 500 and $226 for a box of 1,000. For the 9mm Steyr a box of 500 runs $97 and a box of 100 $170.
No matter how steady your hunting rifle, hitting at any range presumes a proper zero.
Flat-shooting loads beg a 200-yard zero, for point-blank range to 250 yards—or more.
Zeroing, or sighting in, is simply aligning the sights (scope) on your rifle so the bullet hits where you aim at a certain distance. A rifle cannot be manipulated to change the bullet’s path. It is the sight alone that is to be adjusted. Windage and elevation adjustments move the rear sight or a scope’s reticle so it directs your eye to where the bullet hits at a given distance. You pick the range.
Because a bullet follows the bore axis out the muzzle, it will fly nearly parallel to the line of sight until gravity pulls it unacceptably off course. Bear in mind that a bullet’s path is never perfectly straight. Gravity grabs the projectile as soon as it exits the rifle. In zeroing, you adjust the sight so your straight line of vision intersects the bullet’s parabolic path not far from the muzzle, then travels below it until the two merge at the zero distance. Beyond that, the bullet drops ever more steeply away from the line of sight.
It’s a common misconception that a bullet rises above line of bore during its flight. It does not. It cannot. Sight-line is not parallel to bore line, but, rather, at a slightly converging angle. The line of sight dips below bore line and the bullet’s arc. Sightline never again meets bore line. Both are straight and, after crossing, diverge. A bullet hits above sightline at midrange, because sightline has been purposefully angled down through its trajectory. The bullet falls to intersect it at greater range. If the sightline were parallel with the bore, it would never touch the bullet’s arc.
The most useful zero depends on the bullet’s trajectory and on how far you intend to shoot. For most big-game rifles, a 200-yard zero makes sense. Sight in there with a .30-06 or a similar cartridge, and your bullet will stay within three vertical inches of point of aim out to 250 yards or so. A three-inch vertical error still gives you a killing strike in the ribs of big-game animals. The 200-yard zero permits “dead-on” aim as far as most marksmen can hit in the field. At 300 yards you’ll have to shade high.
Why not zero at 250 or even 300? Well, with flat-shooting rounds like Weatherby’s .270 Magnum, you can. A 200-yard zero puts its 140-grain bullet only 1½ inches over sightline at l00. Adjust the scope so the rifle shoots three inches high at l00, and you’ll reach 300 yards with a mere one inch of drop! By the same logic, a zero for the likes of the .30-30 is best kept short of 200 yards, otherwise the bullet’s steep arc will put it a whopping five inches high at its apex (some distance beyond 100).
This Hill Country Rifles .270 puts bullets almost two inches high at 100 yards, a useful zero.
The best zero for a .30-30 carbine may have less to do with the limited range of the cartridge than the more limited range at which you can shoot accurately with its iron sights—or the even more limited distance you can see in typical whitetail cover! While a 150-yard zero is reasonable, a 100-yard zero may be even more practical, especially if you hunt where most of your shots come very close.
You’re better off zeroing hunting rifles so you won’t ever have to hold low. Remember that shots too long for a point-blank hold with a 200-yard zero are uncommon. Most game, even in open country, is killed well inside 300 yards. I recall a fellow shooting over the back of a magnificent bull elk at 200 because he’d zeroed his .300 Weatherby at 400.
One reason many hunters like to zero long is that they overestimate yardage in the field. One fellow told me recently that his .30 magnum could outshoot any rifle between 800 and 900 yards and that he had toppled a buck at 700 steps by holding just over its withers. Now, even a congressman would have blushed spinning that yarn.
The flattest-shooting cartridges land their bullets nearly three feet low at 500 yards, when the rifle is zeroed at 200. To keep a .270 Weatherby bullet (muzzle velocity 3,375 fps) from sagging more than a foot at 700 yards, you’d have to zero at over 600! That would put the bullet roughly two feet high at 300 and 400. It would be plunging so rapidly at 700 that, if you misjudged range by just 10 percent, you’d miss the deer’s vitals!
When zeroing, you’ll save time and ammunition separating the task into two stages, bore sighting and shooting. Bore sighting isn’t necessary. It’s merely a short-cut to the end of the shooting stage. Shooting is necessary. A rifle that’s only bore-sighted is not zeroed!
Zeroing Your Rifle
Wayne fired this 300-yard group with a Ruger American .30-06, with an eight-inch hold-over.
First shots to zero should be at 35 yards, whether or not you’ve bore-sighted. After each shot at 35, move the rear sight or scope dial in the direction you want the bullet to go until you hit point of aim. (Mind the dial arrows! European scope knobs typically turn clockwise to move impact up and right, while clockwise rotation on scopes built for the American market moves impact down and left.) Now, switch to a 100-yard target. I prefer that bullets from flat-shooting big-game rounds hit two to 2½ inches high at this range. Depending on the load, the rifle will then put its bullets close to point of aim at 200 yards.
After satisfactory results at 100 yards, move the target to 200 or your zero range. During the last stages of zeroing, make sight changes only after three-shot groups. A single shot can be misleading. Windage and elevation dial “clicks” or graduations are engineered to shift bullet impact a precise measure at 100 yards. That’s most commonly ¼-minute of angle. A minute of angle is 1.047 inches at 100 yards (but shooters know it as an inch at that range), two inches at 200, and so on. A target scope may have graduations as fine as 1/8-minute; scopes intended for long shooting incorporate coarser elevation detents—½-minute or even 1-minute clicks—to lift point of impact with less dial movement. A greater range of adjustment results, as well. When you can’t turn the dial past zero, you also avoid the possibility of “full rotation” error, which can cause spectacular misses. European dials are typically marked in centimeters.
Another method as fast as counting clicks to move bullet impact, is to secure your rifle so the reticle centers the target as it did when you last fired. Then, without moving the rifle, turn the dials until your reticle kisses the previous bullet hole.
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Even with a benchrest, it’s easy to make a bad shot. In fact, a bench can give you a false sense of stability, prompting fast, sloppy shooting. No matter how steady you think you are, check your position before each shot and fire carefully. Call your shots. To learn where your bullets really hit at long range (and how great their dispersion), fire at 300, then 400 yards. For hunting, that’s as far as you’ll likely have occasion to shoot. If longer pokes are on the agenda, find a place to test your rifle and your zero farther downrange. It’s worth the trouble! There’s no reason to fire at game farther than you’ve tested your loads and your holds on paper!
Tactical rifles in .338 Lapua and .50 BMG, built to hurl match bullets at targets very far off, have been joined by sporting rifles with exceptional reach. Zeroing at long range introduces a couple special considerations most hunters needn’t consider. One is the range of dial movement on the scope’s elevation adjustment. Consider installing a slanted Picatinny rail, one whose front end is lower than the rear. Such a rail has “gain” and puts the scope at an angle to the bore, so that, when you center the dial in its range, the scope’s axis (line of sight) crosses the bullet’s path farther away. You get a longer zero without using all the adjustment. The more nearly centered the erector assembly (which holds your reticle), the better. A lens gives you the best picture through its middle. Barrett supplies rails with gain for its .50-caliber rifles.
Hunting rifles with 200-yard zeros won’t do well at a 1,000-yard match, because shooters would have to aim several feet over the target frame. There’s too little elevation adjustment in many scopes to get a 1,000-yard zero. If you could dial in enough lift to achieve a 600-yard zero with your .30-06, you’d still have to aim 17 feet high to hit a 1,000-yard bull’s-eye! Of course, a truly long-range zero comes with severe mid-range penalties. Even that 600-yard zero would put ’06 bullets 2½ feet high at 300 yards!
The Coonan Compact still throws magnum rounds down range, but in a smaller package.
Few handguns are as unique as the ones rolling out of Blaine, Minn. For decades now, Coonan has enthralled shooters by marrying the venerable .357 Magnum cartridge with the classic 1911 pistol.
Those who have handled or even taken a gander at theses beasts know they are a handful. But this year, the company has taken a crack at taming the size of their distinctive side arm.
The Coonan Compact Limited Edition is a trimmed down version of the company's original design, making it a bit friendlier to toting around. Perhaps in this arena the most notable modification is the shorter 4-inch barrel, which has a full inch cutoff from the company’s standard model.
The removal of this material, along with some on the slide, makes the model a bit lighter (39 ounces empty) than the original. But at the same time it leaves enough length for the .357 round to live up to its full ballistic potential.
The recoil wary are certain to start rubbing their wrists at the thought of a magnum with a shorter-barreled and lighter platform. But, in all likelihood, they need not be so head shy. Given it is a recoil-operated pistol, its kick is somewhat muted, compared to a revolver.
The Coonan Compact is also a bit shorter than the Classic, which does impact its capacity. The new pistol holds 6+1, one less than the original. But given the 1911 still shoots .357 cartridges, it does still have the thicker overall grip of all Coonan guns.
The pistol’s other features include linkless barrel and pivoting trigger. A slide catch and thumb safety situated on the left side of the gun. And the choice of stainless steel or with a black DuraCoat finish.
The pistol comes with a custom carry case and two magazines. Presently, the Coonan Compact has an MSRP ranging from $1,535-$1,975 depending on features.
Velocity Triggers is offering shooters an affordable and what appears to be a well-built drop-in option.
Velocity Triggers is a new company, but it has deep roots. That is primarily due to Tom Vehr.
When it comes to the little, but key part that's responsible for a firearm going boom, there are few with resumes as long and illustrious as Velocity’s owner/operator.
He spent the first 13 years of his career directing Kinght Rifle’s trigger manufacturing, helping produce nearly a half a million units over that timespan. After which, he spent the next 14 years running all aspects of Timney Trigger’s operations — from design to tooling to testing.
Vehr’s experience and knowhow is now being applied to turning out a line of drop-in triggers for AR-style rifles. And one need not go any further than his product’s price tags to see he definitely has put his knowledge of triggers to good use.
Velocity’s line of five drop-in triggers all have an MSRP of $150. And it doesn’t take an exhaustive Google search to find multiple examples of the units moving for less than $100. That’s a heck of deal, given comparable triggers run around $50 more than Velocity’s MSRP.
Perhaps the best part, the company does not appear to have skimped on its product. Vehr has used top materials to turn out hissingle-stage triggers, which look ready for the long haul.
The trigger, hammer and disconnect should prove to be rugged, made from EDM wire cut tool steel. The assembly is constructed from 6061T6 billet aluminum, which is strong yet lightweight. Finally, the hammer and disconnect are finished with Robar’s NP3, which provides a smooth trigger pull and minimal cleaning.
Velocity is offering three different pull weights in its triggers — 3-, 4- and 4.5-pounds. It also has two styles, a traditional curved trigger and a straight trigger.
While triggers manufacturing is Velocity’s main concern, the company does have a number of other products. These include, lower assembly kits, firing pins and take down pins.
The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Digital Collection is the ultimate AR-15 guide. With this collection, you will learn all about the AR-15 parts and accessories necessary to customize your gun. Also this guide gives advice about AR-15 maintenance and safe gun handling.You’ll love this AR-15 Guide if: you must own the most up-to-date AR-15 parts and accessories; you want to learn how to customize your AR-15; you are interested in safe gun handling. Learn More
From traditional key locks to futuristic biometric entry, Liberty's new handgun safes are designed to meet almost every need and desire.
Secure, yet accessible — talk about a paradox. Yet, nowadays, this is exactly what handgun safe makers offer shooters. Incredible advancements in engineering and materials have made gun vaults tougher than ever. At the same time, gun owners can retrieve their firearms in the wink of an eye through these safes’ cutting-edge entry systems. Truly, modern day gun safes are nearly all things to all people. And recently, Liberty Safes released a complete line of storage options for handguns that look to meet shooters’ every need and situation. So, without further delay here’s a look at the Utah company’s newest handgun safes, which range from traditional keyed entry to futuristic biometric locks.
HD-90 Key Vault Like its name suggests, this vault is a more traditional option, utilizing keyed entry. This feature helps shooters save a bit of money, while getting the peace of mind of the reliable method of entry. But Liberty has not scrimped on this affordable option. Constructed of rugged 16-gauge steel, the 5-pound vault can take a licking and still not give up its goods. And its compact size (2.5”x10.8”x8.3”) makes it an ideal fit to stow away in a drawer, nightstand, suitcase, or even underneath a vehicle seat. The unit comes with a security cable that adds an additional layer of security. MSRP $49.
HD-100 Quick Vault For those hunting for security, accessibility and portability, this might be the vault that they’ve been after. The HD-100 features a four-button combination entry system that allows for extremely fast access to a firearm. Aiding this process is a piston-assisted opener, which lifts the vault’s lid once it is unlocked, and a lighted interior. The unit is powered off a 9V battery and includes a backup keyed entry, incase the electric entry runs out of juice. The 6-pound vault is constructed from 16-gauge steel and comes with a security cable. The safe’s size (2.5”x10.8”x8.3”) makes it perfect as a home-based option or one destine for the road. MSRP $109.
HDX-150 Smart Vault With an entry system as unique as its users, Liberty’s Smart Vault offers unparalleled security and speed. A biometric finger swiper allows access to the safe in a moments notice — around 1 second when on AC power and 2 seconds when running off a 9V battery. The unit has been upgraded with Liberty’s fifth-generation biometric technology, giving shooters one of the most reliable systems on the market. The entry system is also versatile, allowing 15 different fingerprints to be programed. And there are no worries if the unit is out of juice since it has a key backup entry. The 9.5-pound safe is the right size (12.5″ x 8.75″ x 2.25) for a home, office or vehicle. It comes with a security cable. MSRP $199.
HD-200 Quick Vault Liberty has engineered its HD-200 Quick Vault for extremely fast access. Utilizing the company’s four-button touch pad, the safe’s combination can be quickly entered. But that is not the only feature that speeds up the retrieval process. The unit also has an auto-open door that drops once unlocked. The front door has also been angled, providing great visibility and access to the interior. The safe has a key backup, incase its 9V battery runs dry. The 10-pound unit is the ideal size (5.4″ x 12.4″ x 8.5″) for under a bed, in a close of on a nightstand. As an added layer of security, the unity has mounting holes on its bottom, allowing it to be bolted down. MSRP $129.
HDX-250 Smart Vault Speed counts when it comes to firearms retrieval. And with the HDX-250 Smart Vault, Liberty offers gun owners one of the quickest entry systems on the market today. The company’s fifth-generation biometric finger swipe technology takes mere seconds to access the safe — 1 second with AC power and 2 second on DC. The unit can be programed to recognize up to 15 fingerprints and comes with a key backup. The safe has an auto-open door and interior lighting, making firearm retrieval even easier. Made from 14-gauge steel, the 15-pound unit is just the right size for a closet, nightstand or bookshelf. MSRP $249.
HD-300 Quick Vault The HD-300 Quick Vault gives the option of stowing multiple guns and other valuables, while still allowing fast access. The safe is large enough (8.3″ x 13.9″ x 10.1″) to hold a number of firearms, important papers and other loot. But it is not so big as to be difficult to place in a home or office. The unit features a four-button keypad, which can be programed for more than 1,000 combinations. It also has a key entry, incase the 9V battery runs dry. The safe is outfitted with an automatic-opening door and has a lighted interior. The 13-pound vault has mounting holes on its bottom, allowing it to be bolted down. MSRP $159.
When it comes to holsters, style is just one part of the equation. Holster Material and how it functions also plays an important role in which one you select.
In addition to type and mode of carry, holster material plays an important role in scabbard comfort and function. Here’s an overview to help you make sense of it all.
Leather The oldest and arguably the gold standard in holster material is leather. Its inherent properties tend to retain the handgun very well. It’s durable and long lasting. And it looks good, too. Leather is quiet, and you can draw a handgun discreetly should the circumstances warrant it. It’s also comfortable, the longer you wear it the more broken in it becomes as it conforms to your body.
Cowhide and horsehide are the two most common, and each has its own inherent properties that make some difference in the final product.
“Cowhide is by far the most common,” writes Ayoob in the Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry, 2nd Edition (GunDigestStore.com). “Horsehide has its fans: It is thinner and proportionally more rigid, but seems to scratch more easily. Sharkskin is expensive, but extremely handsome and very long lasting and scuff resistant. It may last you longer than it did the shark. (I often wear sharkskin belts in court. Doesn’t ward the lawyers off or anything, but seems appropriate, especially during some cross-examinations.) Elephant hide? It’s hilariously expensive, but certainly tough, and predictably thicker than you probably need. Alligator and snakeskin holsters seem better suited to ‘show’ than ‘go.’ For the most part, cowhide and horsehide are where it’s at.”
In addition to common-sense things like avoiding extreme heat, humidity, and dry air leather requires maintenance to prevent dry rot and cracking. There are commercial leather treatments on the market but these can soften your holster up too much. Rigidity is one trait you don’t want to lose in a gun holster — it keeps your piece from shifting about or pulling outward on the belt. Instead, try Galco’s Leather Lotion if your holster starts to squeak or appears dried out. Give the inside a light touch of a silicone-type spray like Galco’s EZ Touch to ward off moisture and speed your draw.
Many of today’s retention holsters are made of synthetic material, allowing for a lightweight, yet secure carry option.
Synthetics The synthetic holster has a following as dedicated as Paul McCartney did during Beetlemania, and is finding its way into more and more holster designs all the time. Its benefits are many: tough, scratch-resistant, maintenance free, precision molded for good gun retention and slick — allowing for a very fast draw.
It also holds its shape, so you can reholster with one hand, a tactical necessity following any defensive gun use (when the cops show up you don’t want to have a gun in your hand). In addition, plastics open up design possibilities for unique retention mechanisms, which have been taken full advantage of by some rather imaginative holster makers. Sweat doesn’t affect plastics like leather, and you don’t have to break it in — it’s ready to roll right out of the box and never really changes. Most polymer holsters have retention screws that are used to tighten or loosen the holster’s grip on the gun.
Like leather, not all synthetics are created equal. Kydex is the hands-down popular choice for holster construction. It is a high-performance, high-impact, proprietary thermoplastic that seems indestructible and molds to just about any gun. Safariland makes SafariLaminate, and many of their holsters come with a soft liner to protect sights and finish. Bianchi has its own proprietary AccuMold, a basket-weave trilaminate that is moisture resistant, tough and looks damn cool. Even the description for one new holster material from Bianchi, called PatrolTek, reads like something out of Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles, “The PatrolTek line of law enforcement molded accessories features Bianchi’s special contour-molded technology and unique trilaminate construction — a 600-denier woven exterior, high-density foam core, and a smooth knit lining. Belts are web construction with hook or loop lining. This synthetic woven product line is both lightweight and durable enough for the rigors of street duty.”
Hybrids take advantage of the abundance of holster materials now available to manufacturers. One such example is the above StealthGearUSA IWB Holster available at GunDigestStore.com.
Hybrids Hybrid material holsters blend leather and/or synthetics for the best of both worlds for a new class of super holster. Crossbreed pioneered this field with its popular SuperTuck model that attaches a synthetic holster molded to your specific gun to a large leather pad that rides against your skin. Added comfort was the goal of the big leather pad, while the polymer holster portion was meant to bestow the benefits of a speedy draw. It achieved both perfectly and propelled the company to superstardom in the defensive gun world.
Other companies like N82 (Nate Squared), Stealth Gear and now Galco make synthetic variations on the hybrid theme. Options to check out are Crossbreed’s Combat Cut where, as a custom option, they remove a portion of the leather pad to allow you to get a better, faster grip on the handgun. The downside to this option, of course, is reduced comfort.
Bianchi is taking the hybrid material concept in another direction with their Allusion holster. This thing blends thermoformed plastic bonded with leather stitched to the outside. The result, the interior fast-draw benefits of synthetic with the good looks and comfort of leather on the outside.
Nylon And then there is nylon. Attend any gun show and you will find at least one table where some stinky old fart is hawking his “universal” concealed carry holsters, “For just five bucks!” Buyer beware! You get what you pay for, and the cheap nylon jobs are sure to disappoint. They don’t secure your gun at all, even the ones with a retention strap, and they have no structural integrity with which to support the weight of a loaded gun. Configuration options — OWB or IWB — are limited, non-existent or just unclear. Steer clear.
Now that I’ve cut to the quick of the matter, I will admit nylon does have a place. For example, Bianchi uses it not to make an entire holster, but as a liner in its Ranger. Combined with a trilaminate molded weave structure for rigidity this makes good sense and looks to be one hell of a tough holster used in this application.
Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt of The Comprehensive Guide to Concealed Carry Holsters.
While it might seem like an oxymoron, there is such a thing as a “big bore compact handgun”—just check out the Guncrafter Model 5.
Based in Huntsville, Arkansas, Guncrafter Industries (GI) was started by Alex Zimmerman in 2004 with a singular mission: to produce the most effective custom pistol for self-defense, which resulted in the .50 GI. Zimmerman and crew have since set their sights on making some of the finest custom 1911s on the market for hardcore aficionados. As a world champion pistol shooter, Zimmerman assembled a crew of skilled “guncrafters” who know how a defensive handgun should be made.
The newest work of art to hit the market is the Model 5 (M5), which is based on the Concealed Carry Option (CCO) pistol. The goal with the M5 was to create a great handgun for daily carry chambered in .50 caliber.
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It features a commander-length slide (4.25 inches) and compact frame, making it ideal for IWB carry. The build includes a forged slide, frame and barrel, as well as a heavy bushing-less barrel and a solid match trigger.
To be carry friendly, all the sharp edges have been removed on the M5 and it has a heavy round-butt treatment with ultra-slim lines. As a custom gun, the M5 comes with a range of options for sights, finishes and even a .45 ACP conversion. If you’re looking for a bore diameter that means business but in a package that’s built for concealment, the M5 might just fit the bill.
The Blaser R8 Long Range rifle comes in two stock styles. The GRS (left) is designed for competition, while the Professional Success stock (right) is geared more for hunting.
Blaser has matched up its speedy straight-pull action with the accuracy of the .338 Lapua to make what looks like one heck of a long-range rifle.
When it comes to manually cycled rifles, one company has more than made a name for itself.
Blaser has gained world renown for producing some of the fastest bolt-action guns available today. And the German gun maker is once again mating its speedy straight-pull action with one of the most popular long-range cartridges available today.
Blaser has expanded its R8 line of rifles to include .338 Lapua Magnum and has been titled as the R8 Long Range. And while this chambering is new for this particular series, it is not for the company.
The gun maker has had a long history with the precision round, perhaps best known example being its Tactical 2 model. But the company has gone quite a different direction with its most recent venture into .338 Lapua.
The new R8 is a break from the Tactical 2’s tactical design. This is most notable in the rifle’s stock options; the Professional Success is a thumb-hole stock designed for hunting and the GRS has a modified pistol grip and is tailored for competitive shooting.
Blaser has outfitted its new rifle with a 27-inch barrel, long enough that it should help the .338 round achieve its full ballistic potential. It has also been optimized in balance to ensure that the gun is responsive and easy to hold on target.
Like all R8s, the new long-range rifle is receiverless, a function of being a straight-pull. This makes some of the rifle’s layout a bit different that most are use to particularly the scope mounts, which are located on the barrel.
The new R8 Long Range rifle has all the features to get a shooter on target, no matter the distance.
The new rifle also features the line’s removable magazine/trigger and cocker/decocker. The latter is a fairly handy safety addition, which — when used properly — all but makes a negligent discharge impossible.
One of the neater aspects of the R8s are their versatility, given the rifles are switch barrels. This is a popular design in Europe, which allows shooters to quickly swap out the barrel and bolt head to configure the rifle into a new caliber.
The R8 Long Range, however, does have a bit of a price tag attached. Presently the MSRP of the base model is $5,100.
One of the most critical pieces of data to long-range shooting beyond 400 yards is knowing the precise distance to the target.
The Bushnell Fusion will range out well over 1,000 yards, yet is still quite affordable as such models go.
In some cases, long-range shooters work from static positions, meaning situations in which they don’t intend to move much. If they do move at all, they’ll set up elaborate ranging systems such as military artillery-range equipment or very advanced compact commercial units. These shooters are in a separate class of long-range riflemen in which the goal is to send their bullet as far away as possible and still be successful at hitting a target. For these shooters, of course, the use of the gap ranging method or any other shorter-distance ranging system is out of the question. The name of their game is technology.
Today, there are rangefinding units that can integrate with the rifle scope and allow on-the-spot adjustments for 1,000-plus-yard targets simply by dialing them in, setting the elevation adjustment for drop compensation, and touching off the round. The Burris ranging scope discussed in the last chapter is an excellent example of this kind of technological advancement. With that scope, you have a tool that retains its own ranging functionality out to 800 yards and allows the shooter to dial in a target without any additional support equipment whatsoever.
For the price conscious, Leupold is well worth a look. American-made, dependable, and accurate in the field just about says it all about Leupold. I use a lot of Leupold products, because they tend to get the job done without many of the common problems often encountered when hunting. Leupold’s compact RX line (Leupold currently offers six rangefinders in this line, including one for archers, with prices starting around $275), of digital rangefinders are a class act, though they do retain added features you may not need or want.
Remember, the primary purpose of a rangefinder is to find out how far away something is. You probably don’t need your rangefinder to be half-yard accurate to 125 yards, since you should be able to range that distance without a mechanical rangefinder, but the RX units will do that for you nevertheless. You also might not have need for a variety of reticles, but you’ll get that, too. Only you know whether a feature is fluff or necessity. For instance, I still find that I basically bring my up rangefinder, read the range, and go back to my scope and its Mil Dots for any required elevation.
On one of my many trips to Wyoming, to test optics and other equipment, I recently got to use a rangefinder with the ability to tell you how far the goods are out to 1,000 yards. The unique thing about this one is that it carries a price tag under $400; shop hard and you could find this unit selling around $275 and change, a price point more applicable to a unit with a 500 yard or less capability—well, maybe with most brands, but this is a Weaver rangefinder I’m talking about, and now that Weaver is under the control of ATK (Federal Ammunition), it’s stepped up its game and produced a very capable system.
I used this 8x rangefinder over a full week and on hundreds of targets, without a single failure to return positive data. At 600 yards, this unit will record big game clearly. I tested it on antelope and mule deer, as well as cattle, to a solid 800 yards. The 1,000-yard maximum was verified by ranging larger reflective objects, including stock tanks, small ranch buildings, and rock piles. When it came to confirmation through shooting, the unit resulted in a bunch of longer range prairie dogs, gophers, and badgers meeting their maker with direct hits from a T/C .22-250, a 7.62×51 (.308 Win.), and Hornady special high-performance long-range .223/5.56mm NATO rounds.
One rangefinder that was used a great deal for this book was the Swarovski LG. This unit is very small, about the size of a pair of opera glasses, but it ranges to 1,500 yards and, at times and depending on the target, beyond. I found it quick to lock onto very long-range targets, requiring only a small subject like a rock, tree, or brush to produce a bounce-back laser reading. This unit is not a budget item—the lowest online price I found was $700, with most being closer to $900 and $1,000—but it is very dependable and it will take all the guesswork out of establishing a target’s range.
Bushnell, another company well-known in this business, offers a complete line of ranging equipment. The most minimal device, the Sport 850, will run you just a bit under $300, but will get your range readings to 850 yards. On the other end of the spectrum is the newer Elite 1600, which will reach all the way out to a stunning 1,600 yards, though at a price of $850.
Simmons Optics offers its laser rangefinder, the LRF 600, for just a smidge over $200, and, to be sure, these units get the job done. Nikon currently lists eight different units in prices ranging from as much as $480 to as little as $150. In terms of pricing I’m staying as close to my information sources as possible, but don’t hold any company to an exact figure. Do your shopping, especially via the Internet, using the information here as a general guide in selecting ranging equipment.
In the ultra high-grade department, Leica sells the combination rangefinder and binocular Geovid HD-B for up to $3,000. I have used a similar model when hunting rockchucks in Idaho, during days when I couldn’t make out a thing with a cheap binocular. The ’chucks were exactly the color of the rock and, when sitting still, they were lost to the grainy formations surrounding them. The Geovid picked them out and also returned exact ranges well out to 800 and 1,000 yards. In my opinion, these are professional devices, tools designed for guides hosting high-end clients hunting sheep and other expensive trophy-class game, or military snipers requiring far more exact measurements to the target than you and I would normally use. Again, you need to think your application through before spending that kind of money on a ranging system.
One last unit to consider in the realm of high-end, specialized ranging units is one from Barrett, the builder of supreme, long-distance tactical weapons. Barrett created the BORS, which stands for Barrett Optical Ranging System. This unit is installed in the top turret of better-grade long-range sniper scopes and, in effect, becomes a ballistic computer for the shooter. As Barrett describes it, “After determining the range to target, simply turn the elevation knob until the BORS screen matches your target’s distance. Internal sensors automatically calculate the ballistic solution. BORS compensates for temperature and barometric pressure, calculates angle cosine, and displays rifle cant.”
If there is any question after this abbreviated look at ranging units, it is probably one of inquiring whether we are becoming dependent on mechanical devices, versus a learned physical response to a ranging problem? In other words, is it equipment or practiced skills that make a good long-range shooter? It is easy to fall back on the toys and then forget what granddad taught us.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
