Snub-Nose .38: Legends Never Die

August 19, 2024

We discuss snub-nose .38 revolvers and why they still make sense for concealed carry today.

“I gotta go to the bathroom.”

“You gotta go, you gotta go.”

So began one of the most iconic scenes in mobster movie history, as Michael Corleone heads to the men’s room, to retrieve a hidden handgun to murder his father’s would-be assassin. The gun? A Smith & Wesson snub-nose revolver, chambered in .38 Special. When you think of the great detective movies, mafia movies and all of the books and documentaries of that era, the snub-nose .38 Special makes a constant appearance.

What is it about that particular handgun and cartridge combination that’s so iconic?

One would think that in a world of lightweight, striker-fired autoloading handguns—with their double-stacked magazines and tritium night sights—the short-barreled revolvers would have long ago gone the way of the dodo. But that’s not the case, for a number of good reasons. In fact, for many shooters, the snub-nose .38 Special makes a whole ton of sense.

Dating back to the late 1920s—where the Colt Detective Special made its debut—the snub-nose revolver is easily concealed, making it a perfect choice for the off-duty police officer or plain-clothes police detective. Likewise, it makes a sound choice for those with a concealed carry permit who want the ability to defend themselves in a close-quarters situation.

Colt-detective-special-38 — The Colt Detective Special dates back to the 1920s and represents one of the earliest true snub-nosed revolvers. This model sports a six-shot cylinder. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

Oddly, the snub-nose revolver I carry is the same make and model that my father carries (though I didn’t know it at the time I bought it), and the same gun my grandfather carried: a Smith & Wesson Model 36, five-shot .38 Special. You might recognize it as the gun Al Pacino (as Michael Corleone) used in the scene I mentioned earlier. Though many will view it as simply a “belly gun,” the snub-nosed .38 Special is so much more than that.

Snub-Nose .38 Revolvers

Most of the snub-nose .38s have five-shot cylinders, though you’ll come across some six-shot models. Either way, I’ve heard folks insist that the lack of cartridge capacity makes these types of firearms nearly obsolete, yet I completely disagree. As we’re talking about a defensive gun, five shots should get you to a safe situation, or at least give you time to reload the gun. Statistics have proven this.

snub-nose-38-special-marking — Photo: Massaro Media Group.

I get the wisdom of a double-stack magazine, but I’ll also say that a five-shot revolver certainly has the ability to stop a threat. In a law enforcement role it might not have the capacity to sustain a prolonged firefight, but as a civilian who just wants to get out of a terrible situation—stop the threat—I don’t have a problem with my five-shot gun.

A double-action revolver is a unique design, which I view as two handguns in one. When the hammer is cocked, and the gun is fired in single-action mode, precision shots aren’t out of the question, even with a short barrel. Sitting at the bench with my S&W Model 36, I’ve been amazed at the group sizes printed by a 1⅞-inch barrel; switching to double-action mode and the heavier trigger pull will certainly affect the group size, but it’s more than acceptable.

I grabbed my trigger pull gauge to measure the difference in my S&W: In single-action mode, the trigger breaks consistently at 1 pound, 15 ounces, yet in double-action mode it ranged from 7 pounds, 12 ounces to 8 pounds, 8 ounces. Assuredly that increase in trigger pull requires a unique skill set, especially when firing a double-action handgun under pressure … but that’s part of the territory.

What I like about a revolver is the simplicity of the design. Yes, it requires some maintenance and you can get into trouble if the projectiles aren’t crimped heavily into the cartridge case, but generally speaking, a revolver tends to be much less finicky and much more reliable than the autoloaders. They have no problem feeding any kind of ammunition, simply because they don’t feed ammunition—you do. They don’t have an issue ejecting spent cases, because you do that. And they don’t leave spent cases all over the place, as they stay in the cylinder until you decide it’s time to remove them.

lead-roundnose-38-special — The classic 158-grain lead round-nose bullet is alive and well, and it works as good as it did in 1898. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

My Model 36 measures 1.32 inches at the widest point—the cylinder—and is rather easy to conceal, though the frame measures 0.53 inch and the grips widening to 1.15 inches at the swell. Though other popular autoloaders might measure right around an inch at the widest point, their outline is a bit squarer and blockier and can “print” a bit more than will one of the Colt Detective models or a Smith & Wesson J-Frame.

Depending on the grip, these snub-nosed .38 Specials can be easily carried in a shoulder holster, IWB holster or in one of the many OWB holsters; I carry mine in a Simply Rugged OWB leather holster, which is strong, comfortable and reliable.

Speaking of grips, my dad’s Model 36 sports the original square-butt J-Frame grips, yet mine have a set of (seemingly) oversized Pachmayr rubber grips, which came on the gun when I bought it used. Having spent a considerable amount of time with both guns, experimenting with both factory-loaded ammo and handloaded ammunition, I find the large Pachmayr grips well worth both the investment of about $35 as well as the additional footprint when carrying concealed.

Those J-Frame grips feel much too small in my hands—I’ve got long, thin fingers—and the grip angle feels all wrong in comparison to the Pachmayr’s. The pinky of my right (strong) hand tends to ride underneath the base of the traditional J-Frame grips, whereas I can get a solid grip on those Pachmayr rubber grips—and the targets show the difference.

Whichever model you choose, the smaller frame and shorter barrel need to be aimed properly, and if you feel a change in grips will help you get on target better, I see no reason not to pursue that avenue.

.38 Special Ammunition

The .38 Smith & Wesson Special came to light as an improvement over the .38 Long Colt. Released in 1898, the rimmed, straight-walled cartridge gave unprecedented velocities for the end of the 19th century. Using a bullet diameter of 0.357 inch—the “.38” name was a carryover from the heeled-bullet designs in the Short Colt cases that were fashioned to operate in the .36-caliber cap-and-ball conversion guns—the .38 Smith & Wesson Special has a case length of 1.155 inches, and a maximum cartridge overall length of 1.550 inches. Bullet weights generally range from 90 to 158 grains, with plenty of choices in between; I prefer bullets on the heavier end of the spectrum.

snub-nose-38-accuracy-target — Who says a snub nose can’t be accurate? This S&W Model 36 printed this five-shot group at 10 paces using Federal Punch ammunition. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

Looking at the advertised velocities for .38 Special ammunition, I’ve found that my 1⅞-inch barrel will measure anywhere from 65- to 110-fps slower than the test barrels, which are usually a 4-inch barrel. That velocity drop is to be expected in a shorter barrel, but I don’t find it to be an issue. With the wide range of factory ammunition available for the .38 Special, the cartridge becomes a chameleon.

With a good number of lower-velocity loads, which are fantastic for training, practice and even for carry for those who are recoil sensitive, the good old .38 remains a reliable choice; when you look at the +P—read: higher pressure and velocity—loads, it’s a different animal altogether. Couple that with the impressive advancements in handgun bullet technology, and the cartridge that was released during the McKinley administration takes on a whole new guise.

In the defensive handgun world, we often get hung up on numbers and statistics, using those little facts to attack and/or defend a particular cartridge. Let’s get this out of the way: The .38 Special isn’t the .357 Magnum, the .44 Magnum or the .45 ACP, no matter how many +s and Ps there are in the designation. But, it’s still a respectable blend of bullet weight, penetration and tolerable recoil.

With the majority of modern loads offering at least 10 inches of penetration in ballistic gel tests, even the reduced velocities generated by the short-barreled revolvers can stop a threat … if properly placed. Bullet construction will definitely play a role in the penetration, as a fast-expanding lead hollow-point will generally not penetrate as deep as a bonded core bullet, or as a non-expanding FMJ. But, I feel the .38 Special is “enough gun” to get the job done.

hornady-critical-defense-38-special — Hornady’s Critical Defense Lite uses a 90-grain FTX bullet, which clocked 1,040 fps through the author’s S&W Model 36. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

The standard .38 Special loads will feature bullets between 130 and 158 grains, at a muzzle velocity of somewhere between 770 fps and 850 fps, but expect a drop off if you’re using a 2-inch barrel. I like the American Eagle 158 FMJ at 770 fps for practice and plinking, Hornady’s Custom ammo line has their 158-grain XTP bullet at 800 fps, Buffalo Bore’s 158-grain gas-checked SWC at 850 fps, and HSM’s Cowboy Action 158-grain FN bullet at 840 fps.

For the recoil sensitive, or for those who want the minimal amount of muzzle jump and/or the ability to get back on target as quickly as possible for a follow-up shot, Federal’s Low Recoil ammo uses a 110-grain Hydra-Shok bullet at 980 fps, and Hornady’s Critical Defense Lite 90-grain FTX at 1,200 fps—though my gun clocked 1,040 fps with that load.

Federal-low-recoil-38-spl-ammo — Federal’s Low Recoil ammo uses a 110-grain Hydra-Shok at 980 fps (lower in shorter barrels), while the Federal Punch +P uses a 120-grain bonded core hollow-point at 1,000 fps. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

Punching With The +P

The +P loads increase both pressures and velocities and take the .38 Special into a new realm. Speer makes a load specially engineered for the snubbies, and their Gold Dot Short Barrel ammo uses the 135-grain bonded-core Gold Dot bullet at a muzzle velocity of 860 fps; I really like the way this bullet performs.

Federal’s Personal Defense Micro ammo line uses a flush-mounted HST bullet at 890 fps (expect lower in a snubby), and that might be my favorite handgun bullet for defensive purposes. Federal’s +P Punch line uses a 120-grain jacketed hollow-point at 1,000 fps, and their Personal Defense line offers a 130-grain Hydra-Shok Deep at 900 fps. Winchester’s PDX Defender +P load is built around a 130-grain bonded-core hollow-point moving at an advertised 950 fps, giving a sound blend of expansion and penetration.

winchester-pdx-38-spl — Winchester’s PDX1 Defender line pushes the .38 Special Into the +P territory, with their 130-grain bonded core JHP. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

The concerns over firing +P loads in a vintage handgun—say from the early 20th century where the metallurgy and construction wasn’t what we have today—are a real thing, but I’ve fired a whole bunch in my S&W from the early 1980s without issue. Take care with yours and seek advice from a gunsmith if you’re unsure.

Because of the age of the cartridge and the firearms produced for it early on, the .38 Special is much like the 7×57 Mauser and the .45-70 Government in that there seems to be two separate iterations of the same cartridge. If you have a modern handgun, you can take full advantage of both the traditional loads and the +P loads, though I’ll advise you to avoid firing too many of those +P loads from the short-barreled guns without hearing protection; they can flatten your eardrums.

handload-semiwadcutter-swc-38-spl — Handloaded 158-grain SWC cast bullets, over a load of Unique, can offer a great experience for pennies on the dollar. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

Handloading for the .38 Special is a simple affair, as a pound of TiteGroup or Unique will give over 1,000 shots, and you can easily pour some wadcutters for practice, or gas-checked bullets for daily carry (my dad still likes cast lead bullets in his S&W revolver). The case uses a small pistol primer, and make sure you put a good crimp on your bullet to prevent them from pulling out of the case under recoil and jamming up your cylinder.

The Choice

I chose the .38 Special because it has that wide selection of ammunition choices, is easily concealed and is a pleasure to shoot. Its recoil is much less than that of the .357 Magnum or the .44s, yet it surpasses the .32s in bullet weight, if not in speed. While the results of the 1986 Miami shootout did show the cartridge’s shortcomings at longer ranges, I rely on my .38 Special for personal defensive purposes, the vast majority of which are conducted at ranges inside of 10 yards.

It is affordable—in both factory ammunition and handloaded stuff—to practice with, and in spite of my snubby having a sighting radius of just 3½ inches, it shoots surprisingly well. It’s been relied upon since the 1920s, and I wouldn’t be surprised if folks were still carrying a snub-nose .38 a century from now.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2022 Everyday Carry special issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More On Revolvers:

.357 Magnum Revolver: Controllable Concealed Carry Options
Best Concealed Carry Revolvers For Personal Defense
Fighting Revolver Project: Smith & Wesson Model 586
Rolling With A .45 ACP Revolver

10 Best Long-Range Cartridges of All Time

David Hart

August 16, 2024

The best long-range cartridges are those that are flat shooting, feature aerodynamic projectiles and have enough power to go the distance. Find out which ones made the cut.

You know what they say about opinions. Yep, when it comes to long-range shooting and the best cartridges for the job, everyone’s got one.

Really though, some cartridges simply outperform others at long ranges. That’s why so many competitive shooters and others who shoot at targets visible only through a spotting scope choose just a handful of calibers.

Precision Shooting: Savage's Accuracy Enhancing AccuFit System

Some, like the .308, are as popular as the most common hunting cartridges, while others are a bit more obscure, making headlines only in the tight-knit long-distance competitive shooting community. No matter who uses them, they have one thing in common: They hit their mark at quadruple-digit ranges.

.22-250 Remington

Specs (Black Hills Gold)

Bullet: 50-grain Hornady V-Max
Muzzle Velocity: 3,700 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1,520 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .242
Website: black-hills.com

The .220 Swift has somewhat better ballistics than other .22 centerfires, but with the growth in popularity of .223/5.56 firearms, the super-fast Swift has fallen out of favor with shooters. As such, factory-loaded ammo choices that are made specifically for long-range shooting are virtually non-existent. That’s why the .22-250 is a superb stand-in. It’s fast, flat and accurate, and although it has a relatively low ballistic coefficient, it’s a good choice for long-range varmints and even steel.

Black Hills’ Gold .22-250 is a good all-purpose load and is loaded with a 50-grain Hornady V-Max bullet. It has a 3,700 fps velocity and 1,520 ft.-lbs. of energy. The G1 ballistic coefficient is .242.

.308 Winchester

Specs (Federal Premium Gold Medal Berger)

Bullet: 185-grain Berger Juggernaut OTM
Muzzle Velocity: 2,600 fps
Muzzle Energy: 2,777 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .552
Website: federalpremium.com

Is it any wonder the .308 Winchester has long been a favorite long-range cartridge for snipers and other shooters for years? It’s not only widely available; the venerable .308 is also factory loaded with a range of bullet sizes and styles. Many of them use the highest-quality components and offer outstanding performance at mind-blowing distances.

Federal Premium’s Gold Medal Berger .308 rounds use a 185-grain Berger Juggernaut OTM bullet, Gold Medal match primers and a specially formulated powder for total consistency and accuracy. It has a BC of .552 and a muzzle velocity of 2,600 fps.

.300 Winchester Magnum

Hornady-Match-300-Win-Mag-178-gr-AMAX-pkg

Specs (Hornady)

Bullet: 178-grain ELD Match
Muzzle Velocity: 2,960 fps
Muzzle Energy: 3,463 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .547
Website: hornady.com

Winchester introduced this powerful belted cartridge in 1963, and it quickly gained a loyal following with hunters and target shooters alike. It’s a popular round at long-range matches, and it’s well suited for a variety of long-range hunting situations, particularly for large-sized game.

Hornady’s Match .300 Win. Mag. ammo is loaded with the highest-quality components, including 178-grain ELD match bullets. They have a BC of .547, a muzzle velocity of 2,960 fps and 3,463 ft.-lbs. of energy.

.338 Lapua Magnum

Specs (Hornady)

Bullet: 250-grain BTHP Match
Muzzle Velocity: 2,860 fps
Muzzle Energy: 4,540 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .670
Website: hornady.com

Just how good is the .338 Lapua? In the hands of a skilled shooter, it’s unbeatable. It was used to make one of the longest confirmed sniper kills in combat, an astonishing 2,707-yarder. The shooter was not using factory ammo, but it’s certainly a testament to the effectiveness of this cartridge, which was originally designed for the US military in the 1980s. It’s become quite popular among long-range civilian shooters, too, and a number of rifle makers are offering high-quality guns at relatively affordable prices.

Hornady makes a match bullet that is tough to beat on the range. The 250-grain BTHP has a BC of .670 and a muzzle velocity of 2,860 fps.

.300 Weatherby Magnum

Specs (HSM Trophy Gold)

Bullet: 185-grain Berger Match Hunting VLD
Muzzle Velocity: 3,108 fps
Muzzle Energy: 3,969 ft.lbs.
G1 BC: .558
Website: hsmammunition.com

At one time, the .300 Weatherby was the most powerful .30-caliber magnum available to consumers. Introduced by Roy Weatherby in 1944, it held that title until Remington developed the .300 RUM. Despite losing that superlative, the .300 Weatherby Magnum is still a highly effective round for long-distance shooting on the range or in the field, and it remains Weatherby’s most popular brand-named cartridge.

HSM’s Trophy Gold .300 Weatherby Magnum has a 185-grain Berger Match Hunting VLD bullet with a BC of .558.

6.5 Creedmoor

Specs (Barnes VOR-TX LR)

Bullet: 127-grain Barnes LRX
Muzzle Velocity: 2,850 fps
Muzzle Energy: 2,291 ft.lbs.
G1 BC: .468
Website: barnesbullets.com

Few recently introduced cartridges have garnered so much attention in the shooting world as the 6.5 Creedmoor. It has done so for good reason. Hornady’s 2007 modification of the oft-forgotten .30 TC was designed specifically for precision target shooting. It quickly became a common sight at matches. It has since become a popular hunting caliber, too, and is available in a wide range of rifle makes and models.

A number of ammo manufacturers offer high-quality long-range 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, including Barnes. The company’s new VOR-TX LR ammo is ideal for hunting and is loaded with Barnes’ all-copper LRX bullets. The 6.5 Creedmoor uses a 127-grain boat-tail bullet with a BC of .468.

6.5-284 Norma

Specs (Nosler Match Grade)

Bullet: 140-grain Custom Competition Match HPBT
Muzzle Velocity: 2,750 fps
Muzzle Energy: 2,350 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .529
Website: nosler.com

If there’s a common theme with long-range shooters and at long-range shooting competitions, it’s the 6.5mm. Whether it’s the Creedmoor, the 26 Nosler or a host of other 6.5s, there are lots of choices. There’s obviously a good reason for that. It’s a great, mid-sized bullet that offers some great characteristics: light recoil, super-fast bullets, flat trajectories and high ballistic coefficients. The 6.5-284 Norma is all of those and more. Originally a wildcat cartridge based on the .284 Winchester, the 6.5-284 is not as popular as a few other 6.5s, so factory ammo choices are not as abundant. Just a few brands are available.

Nosler’s Match Grade ammo is loaded with a 140-grain Custom Competition HPBT bullet. It has a muzzle velocity of 2,750 fps and 2,350 ft.-lbs. of energy. The BC is .529.

26 Nosler

Specs (Nosler Match Grade)

Bullet: 140-grain Custom Competition Match HPBT
Muzzle Velocity: 3,200 fps
Muzzle Energy: 3,183 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .529
Website: nosler.com

Did the world need another 6.5 option? One look at the numbers of the 26 Nosler, and the answer is obvious. Introduced just a few years ago, it is a blazing-fast, super-flat, sweet-shooting cartridge that may be one of the best long-range cartridges ever. Since it is Nosler’s own cartridge, the Bend, Ore., company is one of just a handful of manufacturers offering factory-loaded ammo.

The good news is that Nosler has fine-tuned the bullet, powder, primer and case to make a near-perfect round. The Match ammo is loaded with a 140-grain Custom Competition HPBT bullet, which has a BC of .529. Rifles are also limited to a handful of manufacturers, including Nosler, but as the cartridge grows in popularity, so will the gun options.

7mm Remington Magnum

Specs (Black Hills Gold)

Bullet: 154-grain Hornady SST
Muzzle Velocity: 3,000 fps
Muzzle Energy: 3,077 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .530
Website: black-hills.com

It’s not necessarily a go-to round for match shooters, but the 7mm Rem. Mag. does have excellent ballistics, along with a number of great options for reaching targets at ranges exceeding 500 yards. It also has a great selection of bullet weights and styles. That’s why it ranks high for long-range target shooting and hunting. Introduced in 1962, this belted cartridge also has less recoil than a .300 Win. Mag. — while offering nearly similar ballistics.

Black Hills offers a good long-range load in its Gold ammo with a 154-grain Hornady SST bullet. The BC is .530, and the muzzle velocity is 3,000 fps.

6mm Norma BR

Specs (Norma Diamond Line)

Bullet: 105-grain Moly-coated Berger Hollow Point
Muzzle Velocity: 2,789 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1,814 ft.-lbs.
G1 BC: .517
Website: norma-ammunition.com

As its name implies, the 6mm Bench Rest is a top choice among match shooters, scoring high in long- and medium-range competitions worldwide. It’s incredibly accurate, it has minimum recoil, and it’s available in a wide variety of bullets for handloaders.

Factory ammo? Not so much. Just a few options are available, but most all of them are made with precision shooters in mind. Norma uses 105-grain moly-coated Berger hollow points, which have a BC of .517.

LOAD	BULLET	MUZZLE VELOCITY	MUZZLE ENERGY	G1 BC
.22-250 Rem. \| Black Hills Gold	50-gr Hornady V-Max	3,700 fps	1,520 ft.-lbs.	.242
.308 Win. \| Federal Premium Gold Medal Berger	185-gr Berger Juggernaut OTM	2,600 fps	2,777 ft.-lbs.	.552
.300 Win. Mag. \| Hornady	178-gr ELD Match	2,960 fps	3,463 ft.-lbs.	.547
.338 Lapua Mag. \| Hornady	250-gr BTHP Match	2,860 fps	4,540 ft.-lbs.	.670
.300 Wby. Mag. \| HSM Trophy Gold	185-gr Berger Match Hunting VLD	3,108 fps	3,969 ft.-lbs.	.558
6.5 Creedmoor \| Barnes VOR-TX LR	127-gr Barnes LRX	2,850 fps	2,291 ft.-lbs.	.468
6.5-284 Norma \| Nosler Match Grade	140-gr Custom Competition Match HPBT	2,750 fps	2,350 ft.-lbs.	.529
26 Nosler \| Nosler Match Grade	140-gr Custom Competition Match HPBT	3,200 fps	3,183 ft.-lbs.	.529
7mm Rem. Mag. \| Black Hills Gold	154-gr Hornady SST	3,000 fps	3,077 ft.-lbs.	.530
6mm Norma BR \| Norma Diamond Line	105-grain Moly-coated Berger Hollow Point	2,789 fps	1,814 ft.-lbs.	.517

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt from the June 2017 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Best .410 Shotguns: A Buyer’s Guide

Sam Hoober

August 16, 2024

Looking for a scattergun on the smaller side? Here we discuss .410 bore’s usefulness and look at the best .410 shotguns on the market.

The humble .410 shotgun is maligned as being too puny for the purposes other, larger gauges excel at, but it's closer to the truth to say that it's been misused and misunderstood. Approached properly, it fills some roles and does so very well.

So, let's talk about the best uses of .410 shotguns and look at the top models currently on the market.

Is A .410 Shotgun Worth Owning?

The .410 shotgun has a place, but where people go wrong is when they use a little shotgun for big shotgun things. Where the .410 shines is taking small game or pests at modest distances or as a youth/smaller shooter's hunting shotgun.

Pest control is exactly what it was invented for.

The .410 bore was developed in the 1850s by the Eley Brothers company in the U.K., and yes that company is the same Eley that produces match-grade rimfire ammo today.

The original load was a 2-inch shell with a light birdshot load, with the original gun being a lightweight single-shot break action “garden gun” intended for dealing with garden pests and maybe a bit of small game hunting at close range.

What the .410 Shotgun Does Well

The .410's recoil is mild (often 10 foot-pounds or less) and the slimmer, lighter nature of the shotguns makes them much handier than a 12-gauge. It's an easier gun to run, especially for smaller people, but the issue has always been that it typically patterns erratically after 20 to 25 yards with poor shot density.

Approached thusly, it has a role, though a more limited one compared to other bore diameters. As stated, the .410 works well as a pest-control option and with the improvement in loads has seen a resurgence among turkey hunters.

The .410/.45 Colt revolvers are a good choice for pests like snakes, rats, squirrels, raccoons, coyotes and so on, but frankly leave much to be desired as a fighting revolver. The ability to fire shot shells is often marketed as some sort of tactical advantage, but frankly, it isn’t. For defense against humans, a good .45 Colt bullet will always be a better choice than even a defensive .410 load.

So, .410 does well within its niche. The question is if that niche applies to you.

.410 Ammunition And Ballistics

The typical light target load of .410 is a 2 ½-inch shell with a ½-ounce payload (typically 175 pellets) of #7-½ shot at somewhere around 1,300 fps.

By contrast, the target load of the other classic youth/women's shotgun—the 20-gauge—puts a ⅞-ounce load of #7-½ shot in a 2 ¾-inch shell at roughly the same velocity, which is typically 306 pellets.

410 shotgun for home defense — From left to right: .45 ACP, .410, 20-gauge, 12-gauge. Photo: Wikipedia.

The 3-inch .410 shells can go up to 11/16 ounces of #7-½ birdshot (241 pellets is standard) which is more useful as sue to a greater pattern density. the .410 has classically suffered from inconsistent patterns and low pattern density beyond about 20 yards, and this is also why many .410 shotguns come with a full choke barrel to maximize effective range.

Few commercial loads exist in shot sizes between #6 birdshot and 000 buckshot, though some #4 and BB loads are out there. There just isn't enough space in the shell for very many pellets.

A typical .410 buckshot load is three to four pellets of 000 at 1,300 fps out of a full-length (usually an 18- to 20-inch) barrel. The classic 2 ¾-inch 12-gauge load is 9 pellets of 00 buck at 1,325 fps.

That said, .410 slugs redeem it little.

A typical .410 slug is a ¼-ounce (~110-grain) projectile in a 3-inch shell, loaded to around 1,750 fps and 780 foot-pounds of energy. And that's when using a gun with a long barrel. Once you get to the revolvers, it becomes even less impressive.

.410 revolver barrel lengths vary, but from a 3-inch barrel, birdshot tends to exit with a muzzle velocity of 750 to 900 fps depending on the load. .45 Colt tends to leave the muzzle at somewhere between 700 fps and 900 fps, again load-dependent.

As for personal defense,.410 is viable but not optimal. It's something that can serve in that role if it’s the only gun you have, but it’s not something you should go out and buy for that specific purpose.

410 PDX1 — Winchester PDX1 410 Defender.

Defense loads for .410—optimized for both short and long barrels—are available, such as those by Hornady and Winchester. Hornady puts a .41-caliber FTX bullet over two 000 pellets, and Winchester stacks 3 plated “defense disks” over 12 plated BBs. Those, and of course good quality .45 Colt loads, are certainly capable of stopping a threat.

In short, .410 is deficient compared to larger shotgun gauges if you're trying to press it into a role that it was never designed for. It’s a snake-stopper, not a man-stopper or even a deer-stopper (the latter has been done with good shot placement, but it’s not recommended). Pest control and certain types of small game hunting are about the only areas where a .410 shotgun may be the best choice. If you’re in the market for one for any reason besides those two roles, it’s time to consider something else.

What Kinds Of .410 Shotguns Are Out There?

Break-Actions

The break-action single-shot is what .410 was originally made for, and they are still common, very affordable and perfect for shorter-range small game hunting and pest control. Over/under and side-by-side .410s are plentiful as well and available at every imaginable price point.

Something like this is probably what makes the most sense for someone in the market for a .410 shotgun. They’re not fancy or tactical, but for “garden gun” purposes it’s all you need.

Pump-Action

.410 pump-actions are also relatively common and are made by several companies that make pump-action shotguns in the more common gauge sizes.

For most “garden gun” utility purposes, a pump-action is overkill, but it could make sense for pest control if there’s more than one critter in need of dispatching. One could also make a great dedicated hunting gun for a youth or for going after certain types of small game or turkey hunters concerned about fast follow-up shots.

Lever-Action

At least a few different companies have made .410 lever-action shotguns over the years as well, and new production options are still available on the market today.

A lever-action .410 generally has the same advantages as a pump, namely a larger magazine capacity and a faster potential fire rate, but with a little more cowboy flair. These could also be used for pest control or hunting, but quality ammo options are more limited since these generally only accept 2 ½-inch shells.

Semi-Autos

Semi-auto shotguns chambered in .410 also exist, but there are fewer options. Some reputable American manufacturers have offered a .410 chambering for their semi-auto guns, but most of what’s on the market today are cheap imports. Of those, some are more traditional, but most are tactically styled magazine-fed models. Those are typically either bullpup designs or patterned after AR-15s. One higher quality semi-auto .410 shotgun is the AK-based Saiga, but those are no longer imported and would need to be bought on the second-hand market.

410 Saiga — A .410 bore Saiga AK shotgun. Photo: Rock Island Auction Company.

A reliable semi-auto could also be used for pest control or small game hunting of course, but the higher potential fire rate will usually not prove useful enough to justify the higher cost. Speaking of cost, despite its size, .410 ammo isn’t cheap. The current market has the cheapest loads sitting around 50 cents per shot, so it’s not a great choice for mag-dumping into trash either.

Combination Guns

It’s also worth mentioning that some combination survival guns, such as the USAF-adopted M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon, have been made as well. These usually feature one single-shot barrel for .410 and another for something like .22LR or .22 Hornet.

M6-Survival-Rifle-combination-gun-410 — The M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon, featuring one .410 barrel and one .22 Hornet barrel. Photo: Wikipedia.

This probably isn’t the most useful concept for most people, but if you’re some sort of bush pilot or even a serious backpacker, it may make sense. A few different models are still in production.

Handguns

And, of course, there are .410/.45 Colt revolvers such as the Taurus Judge line and the S&W Governor as well as some .410/.45 Colt derringers.

If you want a derringer for defense, there are better chambering options to get one in, and the same goes for revolvers. However, it’s hard to argue with the conveniently small size of a handgun. If you live somewhere with a lot of rattlesnakes, for instance, one of these would make a great choice for toting around your property.

How We Made Our Choices

When it comes to .410 shotguns, the easiest way to separate the wheat from the chaff is by simply looking at the manufacturer. While Turkey does produce some fine shotguns today, most imported .410 options appear to be lower quality than what’s available from companies like Mossberg or Browning. Further, many of the options on the market are tacticool semi-auto guns that we believe serve no useful purpose. When it comes to practical applications, our time spent behind shotguns of different gauges, makes and models led us to these five picks. There are other great options out there, but for simple pest control or hunting, you can’t go wrong with one of these.

The 5 Best .410 Shotguns

Best Single-Shot: Stevens 301

Specs (Standard model)

Type/Action: Break-action
Chamber: 3-inch
Capacity: 1
Barrel Length: 26 inches
Weight: 4.6 Pounds
MSRP: $219
Website: savagearms.com

Pros

Simple and practical
Optics-ready models available
Inexpensive

Cons

A bit too long for pest control

The Stevens 301 is an inexpensive single-shot with a 3-inch chamber and a 26-inch barrel that's threaded for Winchester chokes. They make a basic model as well as several Turkey models (pictured) that have a camo synthetic stock and a Picatinny rail for mounting optics for a bit more money.

Ruthlessly simple, very inexpensive and perfect for doing basic .410 tasks like pest control around the house.

Best For Youths: Mossberg 510 Mini Super Bantam

mossberg-510-mini-super-bantam-410-shotgun-all-purpose

Specs (Standard model)

Type/Action: Pump-action
Chamber: 3-inch
Capacity: 2+1
Barrel Length: 18.5 inches
Weight: 5 Pounds
MSRP: $518
Website: mossberg.com

Pros

Adjustable length of pull is great for growing youths
Capacity

Cons

Expensive as .410 youth guns go

Mossberg's Bantam series of youth shotguns downsize the gun just enough for younger/smaller shooters to get started on this workhorse pump-action. The 500 Bantam in .410 comes with an 18.5-inch vent rib barrel with a fixed modified choke, dual-bead sights, a 2+1 capacity and an adjustable length of pull. It's offered in black with synthetic furniture or with a camo finish for some extra cash.

Best Revolver: Taurus Judge Magnum

Specs

Type/Action: DA/SA Revolver
Chamber: 3-inch
Capacity: 5
Barrel Length: 3 Inches
Weight: 2.3 Pounds
MSRP: $563.99
Website: taurususa.com

Pros

Can chamber .45 Long Colt as well
Very handy and compact, can be carried in a holster
Optics-ready models available

Cons

Short barrel means worse ballistic performance

The Taurus Judge Magnum models have a 3-inch cylinder with a 5-shot capacity and a 3-inch barrel, opening up your ammunition choices and making this beast of a handgun a tad more versatile. All models have a fiber optic front sight, making them much more usable. You have your choice of black oxide or a stainless steel finish and T.O.R.O. models are now available if you want to mount a red dot.

Best Semi-Automatic: Mossberg SA-410

Specs (Field model)

Type/Action: Semi-auto
Chamber: 3-inch
Capacity: 4+1
Barrel Length: 26 Inches
Weight: 6.5 Pounds
MSRP: $757
Website: mossberg.com

Pros

Semi-auto
Good capacity

Cons

Expensive
On the heavy side

For the Mossberg SA-410, probably the nicest semi-auto .410 currently in production, you have a choice between the black synthetic Field model or the camo-dipped Turkey model. Both come with 26-inch vent rib barrels with 3-inch chambers and threading for chokes. The Turkey model adds a rib-mounted fiber optic sight set and a Picatinny rail for adding an optic. Capacity is 4+1.

Best Over/Under: Browning Citori 725 Sporting

Browning-Citori-725-Sporting-410-shotgun

Specs (30-inch model)

Type/Action: Over/Under
Chamber: 3-inch
Capacity: 2
Barrel Length: 30 Inches
Weight: 7.3 Pounds
MSRP: $3,599.99
Website: browning.com

Pros

Beautiful, excellently crafted shotgun
Perfect for the discerning sport shooter or bird hunter

Cons

VERY expensive

The Browning Citori is one of the standards by which all O/Us are judged. Offered with 3-inch chambers with either 30- or 32-inch barrels, the Citori 725 Sporting has ported barrels to tame recoil, choke threads (S, IC, M, IM, F included), a fiber optic front sight, Browning's time-tested Citori action and Browning's tuned FireLite trigger.

It’s optimized for skeet and trap, but equally at home in the field. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more capable O/U with the same versatility and build quality. The MSRP is very high, but you get what you pay for.

MODEL	TYPE/ACTION	CHAMBER	CAPACITY	BBL LENGTH	WEIGHT	MSRP
Stevens 301	Break-action	3-inch	1	26 Inches	4.6 lbs.	$219
Mossberg 510 Mini Super Bantam	Pump-action	3-inch	2+1	18.5 Inches	5 lbs.	$518
Taurus Judge Magnum	DA/SA Revolver	3-inch	5	3 Inches	2.3 lbs.	$563.99
Mossberg SA-410	Semi-auto	3-inch	4+1	26 Inches	6.5 lbs.	$757
Browning Citori 725 Sporting	Over/Under	3-inch	2	30 Inches	7.3 Pounds	$3,599.99

More On Shotguns:

The Best Tactical Shotgun Options: Buyer's Guide
The Original Beretta 1301 Tactical
The Beretta A300 Ultima
Top Four Remington 870 Options
All About AK Shotguns

Snap Caps: Save The Pins!

Patrick Sweeney

August 16, 2024

Want realistic practice without damaging your gun’s firing pin? Here we take a look at Otis Snap Caps.

A lot of firearm designs have robust firing pins—but not all. Finding out the hard way is … well … hard. Still, even when I gunsmithed for a living, it felt wrong to dry-fire on an empty chamber using the firearms I knew to be robust. I ended up making my own snap caps with silicone goo in the primer pocket of fired and deprimed cases, with no powder but bullets in them. (I epoxied the bullets in place after I used them a bunch.)

Most snap caps have a short service life. The all-plastic ones usually break at the rim after even a modicum of use. The firing pin impact doesn’t help there, either. Ideal ones would be all-brass or copper, lathe-turned to shape and fitted with spring-loaded primers. Can you say $20 a shell at least? Ouch. Otis, to no great surprise, comes to our rescue here. Their PRO+ Snap Caps are mostly aluminum, because that’s an inexpensive and reasonably durable (when used properly) material. But what about the rims? Oh, the rims are made of brass. The body is lathe-turned out of aluminum and then anodized red, so it shows up among all the other rounds you might have. The rims are lathe-turned brass, so they won’t break like plastic nor wear your extractor excessively like steel. The two are then assembled into the appearance of a cartridge for your use.

Being made of aluminum also helps in feeding dynamics. Sometimes you need to dry-fire to check a trigger pull. I did that a lot back in the old days, and snap caps take a beating during that process. The other method is the “ball and dummy” drill. That’s a range drill where a friend loads your magazines and randomly includes a dummy round, or snap cap, in the magazine. You have to deal with the “click instead of a bang” situation when engaging the targets.

In this use, the Otis aluminum PRO+ Snap Caps will feed much more like a live round than plastic ones. And, as a bonus, the primer-like part is spring-loaded to soften the impact for the firing pin even more.

Otis offers them in .380, 9mm and .45 ACP, which are sized for most carry guns in use these days. A package of five snap caps has a list price of $25, which is $5 per unit. That might seem like a lot, but considering they’ll continue to work and not break (until you lose them), the per-unit cost is a lot less than the cheap plastic ones I remember from the not-so-good ol’ days.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More On Hardware & Tools:

The Otis M4 Sight Adjustment Tool
The Real Avid Smart Torq Wrench
Midwest Industries' AR Lower Recevier Block
The Dillon Wrench Rack Set

First Look: Century Arms Centurion 14

Adam Borisenko

August 15, 2024

Century Arms has just announced the Centurion 14, a Browning Hi-Power clone with the lowest price tag on the market.

The past few years have seen a resurgence in popularity of the Browning Hi-Power. Girsan has released a slew of classic clones and modernized models, Springfield Armory launched its SA-35 and even FN itself came out with a completely modernized, BHP-inspired High Power. All of these 9mm pistols have their pros and cons, but even the most affordable among them has an MSRP approaching $600. What the market was missing was a basic clone at a low price, and that’s where Century Arms’ new Centurion 14 comes in.

As a true clone, there aren’t many features to speak of if you’re already familiar with the original Browning Hi-Power. As such, the Centurion 14 is a 9mm single-action-only pistol with a double-stack 15-round magazine and a 4.66-inch barrel. It features a ring hammer, Novak-style 3-dot sights, a black polymer grip and the newer style of external extractor. Compared to a lot of the clones to hit the market recently, that’s a pretty plain Jane Hi-Power, but that’s all that a lot of people want. According to the slide markings, the pistols are made by Alpharms in Turkey.

As mentioned, the main draw of the Centurion 14 is its price, as it has a stunningly low MSRP of just $409.99. Each pistol will ship with a magazine, a hard case and some cleaning supplies.

For more information, visit centuryarms.com.

More On Hi-Powers:

Eulogy To The Browning Hi Power
Upgrading A Surplus BHP
Belgium, Nazis And The FN High Power
Hi Power Or High Power: What's In A Name?
Carrying A Browning Hi Power

.22LR Ammo: Top Hunting Loads Tested

Richard A. Mann

August 14, 2024

We test today’s top .22LR hunting ammo for precision, velocity, cost and terminal performance.

Not too long ago, I tested 20 different loads of .22LR ammo to see which one would deliver the most precision on target out of my favorite .22 rifle. I was astonished to discover that the best shooting load was designed for small game hunting. In fact, five of the seven most precise shooting loads from my rifle were suitable for small game hunting. This got me to wondering how these same loads might shoot in other rifles, so another test was conducted.

I took those five good-shooting hunting loads and tested them in two other rifles. Like with my favorite rifle, I fired five, five-shot groups at 50 yards with each load out of each rifle. And I also—just like the test with my rifle—chronographed the first 10 shots fired with each load. My rifle (Rifle 1) is a New Ultra Light Arms single-shot with a Douglas Barrel and a Timney trigger. Rifle 2 was a custom 10-22 with a Green Mountain barrel and a Timney trigger. And the third rifle (Rifle 3) was a box-stock Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22. Each rifle was outfitted with a riflescope set at a magnification of 6X.

22lr-ammo-spread — Out of 20 loads tested in the author’s favorite .22, these were five of the top seven best-shooting loads.

The most precise-shooting load overall was the best-shooting load out of only one of the rifles. In fact, it was the worst shooting load out of my rifle. This was a bit surprising since my rifle—on average—produced groups that were about 40 percent smaller than the other two rifles. This clearly illustrates that rimfire rifles are finicky creatures. Just because one rifle prefers a certain load doesn’t mean another rifle will. As you can see, each rifle had its favorite.

Velocity

Conventional wisdom suggests that rimfire ammunition producing consistent velocities will also produce good precision. Out of my rifle (Rifle 1), the most consistent velocity was registered by CCI’s 40-grain LFB (lead flat-nose) SGB (small game bullet). However, from a precision standpoint, it came in fourth. The load with the least consistent velocity out of my rifle was the 40-grain, CCI Mini-Mag Segmented HP (hollow-point) load. It was the most accurate. This would suggest that conventional wisdom doesn’t apply.

cci-sgb-22-ammo — CCI’s Small Game Bullet (SGB) is a non-deforming bullet with a flat nose. It penetrates deeply, but tissue damage is limited.

On the other hand, when all the rifles were considered, the most precise shooting load was the 38-grain Federal American Eagle load. If the average velocity consistency from all three rifles is compared, this load also performed the best. The load that delivered the least consistent velocities across all three rifles was the Winchester Hyper Velocity 40-grain CPHP (copper-plated hollow-point) load. It ranked fourth in terms of average precision. This would seem to suggest that, at least when multiple rifles are considered, velocity consistency does influence precision.

winchester-super-x-22 — Though this Winchester load didn’t shoot the best out of the three test rifles, terminal performance was exceptional.

Another comment regarding velocity is worth making. Rarely, if ever, do actual velocities meet or exceed advertised velocities, and that was proven in this test. However, the differences were very consistent. When all five loads and all three rifles were considered, the average difference in advertised and actual velocities was only 33 fps. Just as interesting was that the range of variance was only 12 fps. This means you can expect your actual velocities to be less than advertised, but reasonably close.

VELOCITY

LOAD	ADV (fps)	AMV (fps)	AVD (fps)	ASD (fps)	AES (fps)
Federal American Eagle 38-grain CPHP	1,260	1,224	36	16	53
CCI Mini-Mag 40-grain Segmented HP	1,235	1,206	29	17	59
Federal Champion 36-grain CPHP	1,260	1,233	27	18	54
CCI 40-grain LFN SGB	1,235	1,203	32	19	63
Winchester 40-grain Hyper Velocity CPHP	1,435	1,396	39	24	71
AVERAGES			33	19	60

NOTES: Reported velocity information was obtained by firing 10 shots with each load, out of three rifles, through a Caldwell G2 chronograph with the screens positioned 10 feet from the muzzle. ADV=advertised velocity, AMV=average actual muzzle velocity, AVD=average difference in advertised velocity and actual average muzzle velocity, ASD=average standard velocity deviation, AES=average velocity extreme spread.

Cost

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been told that the best shooting .22 Long Rifle loads cost the most. If you’re shopping for .22LR ammo and your primary concern is precision, most likely you’ll purchase the most expensive load, hoping to find that precision. Out of the 20 loads I originally tested in my rifle, this wasn’t the case. The two most expensive loads ranked 13th and 14th in terms of precision.

american-eagle-22 — One of the least expensive .22 Long Rifle loads you can buy performed very well from a precision and terminal performance standpoint. Price isn’t always an indicator of performance.

Just looking at the five hunting loads fired out of the three different rifles for this test, one of the least expensive loads, which was the 38-grain Federal American Eagle load, delivered the best precision. Between all three rifles, the most expensive load ranked third in terms of precision. Cost, it’d appear, has little to do with the precision you can expect from .22LR ammo.

COST

LOAD	CPS (cents)	AP (inches)	ASD (fps)
Federal American Eagle 38-grain CPHP	12	1.12	16
CCI Mini-Mag 40-grain Segmented HP	13	1.16	17
Federal Champion 36-grain CPHP	10	1.41	18
CCI 40-grain LFN SGB	22	1.31	19
Winchester 40-grain Hyper Velocity CPHP	15	1.36	24
AVERAGES	14	1.27	19

NOTES: Reported CPS (cost per shot) is based on current advertised pricing and rounded to the nearest cent. AP (Average Precision) represents the average precision for five, five-shot groups fired with each rifle with each load from a sandbag rest at 50 yards. ASD (average standard velocity deviation) was obtained by firing 10 shots—with each load and from each rifle—over a Caldwell G2 chronograph with the screens placed 10 feet from the muzzle.

Terminal Performance

All of this is interesting, and while it might suggest that a certain load has the most potential to shoot well from your rifle, there’s no guarantee. As stated, for each rifle there was a different load that delivered the best precision. However, I don’t think it’s a stretch to suggest that at least one of the five loads that were tested should shoot very well out of your rifle. And precision is important. If you want to head shoot a squirrel at 50 yards, you’ll struggle to do it with a load not capable of shooting groups less than, or at least very close to, 1 inch at that distance.

22lr-ammo-coyote — When it comes to large, small game, terminal performance—how the bullet performs after impact—becomes very critical.

A shot to a squirrel’s head with any bullet fired from a .22 rifle will do the trick, but your small game hunting might include larger critters, such as raccoons, fox, bobcats—and even badgers and coyotes. If that’s the case, head shots will still work, but you’ll likely want a load that’d deliver good terminal performance if a body shot must be taken. With that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to compare the terminal performance of these five loads.

22lr-ammo-squirrel — Meat hunters like head shots on squirrels. To do that, you need a very precise-shooting load.

For that test, I fired one shot from each load out of each of the rifles into blocks of Clear Ballistics Gel placed at 20 yards. The chart reflects the average of these results. For those who believe kinetic energy matters, the muzzle energy, based on the average velocity of each load from all three rifles, is included as well.

The terminal performance of these five loads was varied. This is a good thing because it gives you some variety based on what you plan to shoot. The CCI Mini-Mag 40-grain Segmented HP is unique in that the bullet breaks into three pieces after penetrating about an inch. Then, the three pieces radiate out from the primary bullet path by about an inch and a half, and then only penetrate to about 6 inches. This load should deliver massive wounding, but of course, penetration will be limited. The other unusual load was the CCI 40-grain LFN SGB. This is a non-deforming bullet designed for maximum penetration, and that’s what you get; it penetrated 14 percent deeper than the next deepest penetrating load.

The three remaining loads penetrated to about a foot, and two of them showed moderate deformation. But surprisingly, the standout load once again was the Federal American Eagle 38-grain CPHP. The bullet from this load deformed with a frontal diameter noticeably larger than the other two. Though this load was one of the least expensive, on average it was the most precise shooting, delivered the most consistent velocities, and arguably the best terminal performance.

cci-minimag-22 — The CCI Mini-Mag Varmint was the best-shooting load out of the author’s rifle. It also offers unique terminal performance.

CCI’s Mini-Mag 40-grain Segmented HP proved to be the best shooting load in my rifle. Considering the small game I hunt and this load’s terminal performance, it should do nicely. If I find it on the shelf, I’ll buy in bulk. Given ammo availability right now, you might not be able to assemble a collection of loads to test. That’d for sure be the best course of action. However, whether you can obtain several loads to test or not, I’d strongly suggest you give the very inexpensive American Eagle load a try.

TERMINAL PERFORMANCE

LOAD	ENG (ft-lb)	PEN (in.)	RBD (in.)	RBW (gr.)
CCI Mini-Mag 40-grain Segmented HP	129	6.0	f	37f
Winchester 40-grain Hyper Velocity CPHP	173	11.0	0.297	32
Federal Champion 36-grain CPHP	121	14.0	0.274	37
CCI 40-grain LFN SGB	128	16.0	0.221	40
Federal American Eagle 38-grain CPHP	126	12.5	0.348	38
AVERAGES	135	11.9	0.285	37

NOTES: Reported data was obtained by firing each load into blocks of clear ballistics at 20 yards, one shot from each of the three test rifles. Muzzle energy (ENG) represents an average based on actual muzzle velocities obtained from all three rifles. PEN=average penetration in clear ballistics, RBD=average recovered bullet diameter, RBW=average recovered bullet weight, and f=fragmented.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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?

CANCON Carolinas: Tickets Available Now! Nov 8-9

David Lane

August 14, 2024

NEW LOCATION, MORE CANCON!

Welcome to CANCON A Fully Suppressed Range Day! The World’s Favorite Suppressed Shooting Festival moves to the Carolinas!

We can’t wait to welcome you to the new home of CANCON on the East Coast: Clinton, South Carolina. Join us on November 8th & 9th, 2024 for an action-packed weekend of fully suppressed shooting!

BUY TICKETS IN ADVANCE HERE

With a new BIGGER venue to host CANCON there will be MORE sponsors, more bays, more guns, more suppressors, and more fun!

The Clinton House Plantation Shooting Complex is a massive venue and gives CANCON the room we need to expand! Located just 45 minutes south of Greenville, South Carolina, 1 hour north of Columbia, and 2 hours south-west of Charlotte, NC.

More space means more shooting lanes and more sponsors! Find more guns to shoot, more suppressors to test, all for the same low price of $50 per day.

New this year will be a 1,000-yard AND 1-mile shooting range! Get to test high-performance rifles AND high-performance suppressors and see how far you can reach out.

Friday only stop by the Blade Magazine Tactical area and shop custom tactical knives!

Clinton House has tons of FREE onsite parking! Shooting all that free ammo will make you hungry so stop by the concessions to refuel!

General admission is available Friday and Saturday, Nov 8 & 9th, $50 per day, or save money and get the entire weekend at a discount!

More information and ticket pre-sales are now available at the CANCON WEBSITE!

Visit CANCONEVENT.COM

PROS Vs. JOES, SHIRTS, AND MORE

Returning to CANCON is PROS Vs. JOES! We select a random participant from the crowd to go head-to-head against a seasoned pro shooter. Can an everyday Joe outshoot a Recoil Pro in a high-stakes shooting competition? If they do, they win BIG!

CANCON T-shirts will be available for pre-order and at CANCON! These are high-quality shirts that feel great and look awesome.

Filmed on location is a RECOILtv original, Run N Gun! Watch your favorite Sponsor as they run through our Run N Gun course of fire.

Give us your email below and click the button to be the first to learn about updates and developments!

CANCON 2024 SPONSORS

Long-Range Reloading Tips

Philip Massaro

August 13, 2024

Looking to go long with your handloaded ammo? Here we discuss how to get the best results when reloading for long-range shooting.

The art of long-range shooting has changed over the past quarter century, to the point where hitting a 1,000-yard steel plate has become rather uneventful. Our barrels, actions, triggers, optics and mounting systems are better than they’ve ever been, and we’re seeing more consistent results than we ever have. We have ballistic calculators that can solve trajectory and wind drift problems precisely, and our projectiles have the best, and most honest, ballistic coefficient values ever seen.

Although my passion is reloading my own ammunition, I must admit the fact that today’s factory ammunition is the best I’ve ever seen … but there remains that “control factor” associated with handloading. The last ammunition crunch has only reinforced that fact, as I watched a lot of shooters scrambling to find a suitable substitute when their favored choice was unavailable.

That aside, reloading your ammo gives the most consistent and repeatable results, so let’s take a look at some long-range reloading tips for getting the best results possible.

Get a Good Chronograph

Half of the problems associated with inaccurate handloads, at least with those properly assembled, can be identified with a good chronograph. Not only do we need to know the actual muzzle velocity of our ammunition, but observing and recording the extreme spread of our ammunition is a very valuable bit of information. I’ve found the most accurate loads are also those that have the most consistent velocities.

It’s also good to know the variations in your chosen load in changing weather conditions, in order to minimize the correction needed at the temperature extremes. Some long-range shooters prefer to “true” their rifle—actually shooting at varying distances to observe the drop—rather than relying on observed muzzle velocity and the stated B.C. value. But even then, you’ll want a reliable chronograph for load development. I use an Oehler Model 35P, and I really like it.

Keep Your Primer Depth Consistent

An inconsistent primer seating depth can have an effect on your velocity—and ruin what may otherwise be an accurate load. Generally speaking, you’re looking to seat your primers a minimum of 0.002 inch below the level of the case head, and you shouldn’t exceed 0.006 inch below. You never—ever—want a primer to stick up above the level of the case head, and seating your primers too deep can assuredly have an effect on velocity.

I prefer to seat my primers by hand using the Lyman E-Zee Prime hand-priming tool, as I can feel the primer seat much easier than when using any of my presses. If you feel an excessive amount of resistance when seating primers, the primer pocket might need some attention. Tools like the Little Crow Gunworks Precision Prep Tool have large and small pocket reamers that’ll keep things uniform.

Pay Attention to the Neck

Long-range shooting is almost always associated with a projectile that’s been engineered to deliver the optimum ballistic coefficient, with jacket thicknesses held to very tight tolerances, and with their meplats either trimmed to uniformity or constructed with the best polymer or aluminum tip available. Trimming your brass is a necessary chore, but should you leave any sort of a rough surface at the case mouth, you can damage the bullet jacket and compromise your B.C., so a chamfer tool is going to be your friend.

long-range-reloading-redding-deburring-tool — Redding’s piloted deburring tool can put the proper dressing on the inside of your case mouth, to avoid damaging the bullet jacket.

I like the Redding Piloted Deburring Tool, with the VLD cutter, for neatly and consistently putting a proper bevel on the inside of the case mouth. It maintains concentricity by centering the unit via a pilot that goes through the case’s flash hole, so if your flash hole is centered, you’ll get a nice, even chamfer on your case mouth. And speaking of flash holes, if you’re really serious about tuning up your cases, tune those flash holes as well.

Tension Headaches

Uniform neck tension is another factor that’ll not only increase accuracy and consistency, but it will potentially minimize damage to your bullet jackets during seating. I recommend a good set of bushing dies, which will only resize your case neck as much as is needed. But to check that things are being sized the way you want, Forster has come out with their Neck Tension Gauges, which consist of a rod with areas of varying thicknesses that’ll indicate the inside diameter of your cases. Available in .224 inch, 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm and .308 inch, these handy little gauges are just one more step to the most uniform ammo possible.

long-range-reloading-Forsters-Neck-Gauge-Tool — With Forster’s Neck Gauge Tool, you can observe the inside diameter of your resized cases to deliver a uniform neck tension.

Runout and Play

If a bullet isn’t concentric to the centerline of the bore, there’ll be issues upon ignition as the bullet enters the throat. Those incredible forces will distort the bullet—at least to some degree—and definitely affect your accuracy. The ability to measure the cartridge’s runout, or that variance between perfectly concentric and some amount of runout, can help the long-range shooter weed out any ammunition that won’t fit the bill.

Redding’s Slant Bed Concentricity Gauge is a handy tool for measuring both factory ammunition and handloaded ammunition, as well as unloaded cases. An indicator gauge with a boldly marked dial quickly shows the amount of out-of-round and is observed at a 30-degree angle—sitting perfectly on your reloading bench. Stainless-steel bearings will last a lifetime and are easily adjustable for the case or cartridge length. The whole unit is ergonomically designed, with a downward slant away from the front, and it doesn’t take up much room on your bench.

long-range-reloading-Redding-Slant-Bed-Concentricity-Gauge — The Redding Slant Bed Concentricity Gauge is a good means to measure the runout of cases or loaded ammunition, allowing you to cull cartridges too far out of round.

Long-range reloading definitely requires a bit more attention to the small details, as any variances are going to be magnified by the distance and the time of flight. Like any other reloading project, consistency is the key, but it becomes a bit more important when trying to really stretch out your rifle. The best components deserve the finest attention, and if you put the effort forth, you’ll see the results at the target.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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

First Look: Springfield 2020 Boundary Rifles

Adam Borisenko

August 12, 2024

Springfield is expanding the Model 2020 rifle line with the Boundary, featuring carbon fiber stocks and a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee.

The Springfield Model 2020 series of rifles has so far included the Waypoint, the Redline and the Rimfire, but the company has just announced the latest addition to the lineup in the form of the Boundary. Compared to the Redline or the Waypoint models, the 2020 Boundary trends towards the look and layout of more traditional hunting rifles while still retaining some excellent modern features.

The Model 2020 Boundary features an AG Sportsman carbon fiber stock with a sleek, classic hunting rifle profile and a hand-painted Rogue camouflage pattern. The stock also sports QD sling cups and a Pachmayr decelerator pad. The one-piece hinged floorplate bottom metal is compatible with Remington 700-pattern receivers, and its design allows for a single setup to be used for all short-action-caliber Boundary rifles. For the long-action 2020 Boundary rifles, the use of different follower lengths and spacers allows the same bottom metal to be used for both PRC and non-PRC calibers. Available chambering options at launch include .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .300 PRC, .300 Win. Mag., 7mm Rem. Mag. and 7mm PRC. The capacity of the internal magazine varies by chambering.

Springfield-2020-Boundary-carbon-fiber-barrel

Besides the choice of caliber, each 2020 Boundary is also available with two barrel options—traditional fluted stainless steel or BSF carbon fiber. Other features worth mentioning include the rifles’ threaded muzzles with SA Radial brakes, their TriggerTech adjustable triggers and Springfield’s 0.75-MOA accuracy guarantee (measured by a three-shot group at 100 yards using quality match-grade factory ammunition in the hands of a skilled shooter).

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

The Model 2020 family of rifles has established itself as a pre-eminent option for the serious hunter who demands the best … With the addition of the Boundary to the Model 2020 line, hunters have a new option that combines the appeal of a traditionally configured hunting rifle with the benefits of cutting-edge performance.

Springfield Model 2020 Boundary rifles are available now and the MSRP ranges from $2,173 to $2,599.

For more information, visit springfield-armory.com.

Shoulder Holster: Up-Top Carry Options

Elwood Shelton

August 9, 2024

The shoulder holster isn't just for cinematic good and bad guys. It has a role in real life as these seven upper-body rigs prove.

A suppressor will make a .308 no louder than mouse flatulence, a hit from a .45 ACP will sweep a perpetrator off his feet, and you never have to reload a six-gun. If your gun education came from the warped lens of Hollywood, you’ll swear up and down these are 24-karat, chiseled-in-stone truths. Handled anything above and beyond a cap gun, you understand their veracity is the same caliber as pitch lines for X-ray specs and political promises.

One of the most enduring cinematic fantasies is that of the shoulder holster. Mobsters, undercover cops and PIs, by the big screen accounts the way every good and bad guy carries their heater. Except it isn’t. The belt holster has and does reign supreme, given its simplicity, versatility and comfort. But that doesn’t mean the usefulness of the shoulder holster is mere La-La Land fiction.

For particular individuals who face certain circumstances, the upper-body rig proves eminently advantageous. Drivers and those seated most of their day find shoulder holsters extremely convenient and fast on the draw. And there might not be a more efficient way to amble around with a hand cannon during hunting season. It sure make it simpler to scramble up a steep grade.

Whatever your case may be, there are plenty of solid shoulder holster options out there and we’re going to look at some of the best. So without further ado, here are some of the top shoulder holster choices that give the silver screen star a role in real life.

How We Made Our Picks:

There are a lot of holster companies these days, but comparatively few of them make shoulder holsters. Of those that do, there are even fewer worth considering. Given what's available, we weighed their features, construction qualities, fitment options and manufacturer reputations to see how they stacked up. The result is these seven picks, and we feel each one checks enough boxes to be worth considering. Whether you're looking for a classy leather rig for daily use or something basic for the occasional hunting expedition, one of these options should serve you well.

The Best Shoulder Holsters:

What Are Some Top Shoulder Holster Options:

Galco Classic Lite 2.0 Shoulder Holster
Gould & Goodrich Gold Line Shoulder Holster
Bianchi Model X15 Vertical Shoulder Holster
Uncle Mike's Sidekick Vertical Shoulder Holster
Galco Miami Classic II Shoulder System
DeSantis New York Undercover
Versacarry Shoulder Holster

Galco Classic Lite 2.0 Shoulder Holster

Specs

Material: Premium Center Cut Steerhide
Carry Angle: Horizontal
Spare Ammo Carrier: Double Mag Pouch
Hand: Left or Right
MSRP: $158
Website: galcogunleather.com

Pros

Pliable, comfortable leather
Affordable for Galco
Good number of model fits to choose from

Cons

Thin leather can make reholstering difficult

Galco knows how to get the most out of gun leather, which is obvious when you catch a glimpse of effective and budget-friendly shoulder system. Modeled after the company’s professional rigs, the Classic Lite 2.0 Shoulder Holster is streamlined to make it more conducive to armed citizens, without compromising performance. In particular, this is seen in Galco’s use of the same connectors and Flexalon swivel backplate that make the pro models move naturally with the body and adjust to any frame. To boot, the Classic Lite is about as comfortable as all-leather shoulders come. Thank center cut steerhide for this.

The shoulder holster system comes complete with holster, harness, and a magazine ammo carrier. The original model previously only had one magazine pouch, but since the introduction of the improved 2.0 model it now has two. It’s also available in right- and left-hand draw configurations. The holster proper features a level-2 retention system—a metal button thumb snap—which keeps your pistol secure until you need it. Carry angle is strictly horizontal, which conceals well and draws fast.

Gould & Goodrich Gold Line Shoulder Holster

Specs

Material: Genuine Leather
Carry Angle: Horizontal
Spare Ammo Carrier: Double Mag Pouch
Hand: Left or Right
MSRP: $187.99
Website: gould-goodrich.com

Pros

Quality, durable leather
Wide shoulder straps distribute weight well

Cons

Limited number of gun model fit options

Gould & Goodrich is known for its duty-grade holsters and accessories. But if you’re aiming to go top-shelf with a shoulder holster and price isn’t a barrier, then it’s difficult to do better than the company’s Gold Line. The rig is the whole nine yards. Especially impressive is the quality of the leather. It's thick enough to stand up to any punishment you can dish out. But it doesn’t wear heavy, with ample shoulder straps distributing the system’s weight.

Designed to move with you, a four-point back swivel keeps the rig in place even if you happen to be moving at a full sprint. A thumb break retention system secures your handgun and dual magazine carrier keeps plenty of ammo on tap. About the only knock on the shoulder holster, it’s only available for a relatively small selection of handguns—Beretta, Glock, Sig Sauer and Smith & Wesson semi-automatics.

Bianchi Model X15 Vertical Shoulder Holster

Specs

Material: Full Grain Vegetable Tanned Cowhide
Carry Angle: Vertical
Spare Ammo Carrier: No
Hand: Left or Right
MSRP: $174
Website: bianchileather.com

Pros

Perfect for larger hunting handguns
Vertical angle helps conceal larger handguns under a jacket

Cons

Can't accommodate scoped handguns
Vertical angle means a slower draw than a horizontal model

Carry big iron? Bianchi has a shoulder holster to keep it in check. While there are configurations to handle more moderately sized handguns, the X15 is fully capable of tending up to an 8-inch barrel behemoth and competently so. In turn, the Bianchi shoulder rig makes an excellent choice for your next handgun hunting adventure.

Made from full-grain, vegetable-tanned cowhide, the rugged holster has a touch of elegance—nice since it’s the type you don’t need to keep undercover. A wide X-style harness does a solid job of distributing the weight of a heavy gun, making it overall easier to carry. And the shoulder holster keeps your gun where it needs to be, with a dual spring design. It also offers more security when needed with secondary retention strap. An amazingly consistent presentation, the X15 always puts your gun where you need it. However, it is strictly a vertical draw affair and doesn’t feature a configuration to handle scoped guns.

Uncle Mike's Sidekick Vertical Shoulder Holster

Specs

Material: Cordura Nylon
Carry Angle: Vertical
Spare Ammo Carrier: No
Hand: Right
MSRP: $45.95
Website: unclemikes.com

Pros

Fits large hunting handguns
Lighter than leather
Very affordable

Cons

Bulky, not great for concealment
Right-hand draw model is only option

Rummage around the holster market for any amount of time, you soon learn nylon holsters are often suspect. The Sidekick is a decided exception. The rig is well built, gives you excellent access to your handgun and lightens your load. That last point, weight, is among its greatest benefits, given the shoulder holster is comparatively featherlight. Since it can handle some of the largest firearms on the market, the Sidekick is a top candidate to take on the hunt. It’s also extremely budget-friendly, so you won’t weep if you beat it up. The standard model cannot accommodate a scope, but Uncle Mike's has a variant for scoped handguns available as well.

The rig is completely adjustable to body-frame size and features belt anchorages, keeping the system tight as a drum. But it’s purely a vertical draw system and bulky. If you picked it for concealed carry, you might have difficulty keeping it from printing. Despite this, for a rough-and-tumble entry-level hunting rig, it’s among the tops.

Galco Miami Classic II Shoulder System

Specs

Material: Premium Steerhide
Carry Angle: Horizontal
Spare Ammo Carrier: Double Mag Pouch
Hand: Left or Right
MSRP: $329
Website: galcogunleather.com

Pros

Excellent quality leather
Spare mags are held by retention instead of straps allowing faster retrieval

Cons

Expensive

It’s difficult to pick the Miami Classic II over the original—after all the earlier iteration is an absolute classic. But for the modern armed citizen, the new twist on the iconic system has a refinement that provides a major advantage—its magazine carrier. An open-front design, the carrier puts your spare magazines right at hand, picking up the pace of reloads. A good thing, indeed.

Practically everything else remains the same on the shoulder holster, including Galco’s top-end leather, dynamic spider harness and fully adjustable strap system. Like the Miami Classic, the II is a straight-up horizontal carry rig, which does an exceptional job concealing a firearm. But if you carry a full-sized firearm, and are smaller framed, it can prove ungainly.

DeSantis New York Undercover

Specs

Material: Top-grain Cowhide
Carry Angle: Horizontal
Spare Ammo Carrier: Double Mag Pouch
Hand: Left or Right
MSRP: $220.99
Website: desantisholsters.com

Pros

Very adjustable system enables comfortable carry
Holster placement allows for fast and intuitive draw

Cons

Expensive

A true classic in every sense of the word, the New York Undercover shoulder holster has defined the style of carry since the 1970s. It looks the role and has only gotten better over the past four decades. Particularly in the comfort department. Wide shoulder straps on the DeSantis rig do an incredible job of distributing weight evenly, making it an ideal option for heavier handguns. At the same tick, the system offers full range of motion, making it an ideal holster for those on the move.

Equally as convenient is the NY Undercover’s adjustment system. All four straps are independently adjustable, allowing the shooter to tailor the fit exactly to their frame and the position of both gun and support-side equipment (mag or cuff holders available). Drawing is fast and intuitive as well. Horizontally situated, the premium saddle leather rig presents the butt for a perfect high grip and natural break of the retention strap. The only nit to pick on the DeSantis shoulder holster is its price tag. But it’s a time-tested system, quality made and worth every penny.

Versacarry Shoulder Holster Deluxe

Specs

Material: Vegetable-Tanned Water Buffalo Leather
Carry Angle: Horizontal
Spare Ammo Carrier: Double Mag Pouch
Hand: Right
MSRP: $357.99
Website: versacarry.com

Pros

Only model on list that can accept pistols with red dot sights
Water Buffalo hide resists moisture better than other leathers

Cons

Only available for right-hand draw
Expensive

Versacarry crashed the holster scene with some true head-turning hybrids some years back. Since it's turned its attention to building a better mousetrap when it comes to the good old shoulder holster. By all measures, the company has wildly succeeded with a rock-solid system that not only wears comfortably but also might be among the most attractive rig on the list.

Water buffalo hide is what Versacarry is known for, supple leather that nonetheless is tough as cut nails. It fairs well in a shoulder rig. Wide-cut straps disperse the weight of the system evenly over the shoulders and resist stretching over time while the Level 2 hanger doesn’t chafe under the arm. To boot, water buffalo hide does a good job resisting moisture, thus offers a level of protection to your firearm. The shoulder holster anchors firmly to the belt and comes with two magazine holders, compatible with both single- and double-stack magazines. The only knock, the holster is only available for right-hand draw.

HOLSTER	MATERIAL	CARRY ANGLE	SPARE AMMO	HAND	MSRP
Galco Classic Lite 2.0	Premium Center Cut Steerhide	Horizontal	Double Mag Pouch	Left or Right	$158
Gould & Goodrich Gold Line	Genuine Leather	Horizontal	Double Mag Pouch	Left or Right	$187.99
Bianchi Model X15	Full Grain Vegetable Tanned Cowhide	Vertical	No	Left or Right	$174
Uncle Mike's Sidekick	Cordura Nylon	Vertical	No	Right	$45.95
Galco Miami Classic II	Premium Steerhide	Horizontal	Double Mag Pouch	Left or Right	$329
DeSantis New York Undercover	Top-grain Cowhide	Horizontal	Double Mag Pouch	Left or Right	$220.99
Versacarry Shoulder Holster Deluxe	Vegetable-Tanned Water Buffalo Leather	Horizontal	Double Mag Pouch	Right	$357.99

For more information on concealed carry holsters check out:

Essential Gear: Best Concealed Carry Holsters
Buckling Up The Basics Of Gun Belts
Pocket Holster Options For Easy Everyday Carry
The Shoulder Holster And Its Carry Angle
Pros And Cons Of The Appendix Carry Holster

Editor's Note: Adam Borisenko contributed to this article.

First Look: CMMG DISSENT Br4 Rifles

Adam Borisenko

August 9, 2024

CMMG has just announced the DISSENT Br4, a line of 47-state-compliant AR rifles that feature Remington 870-pattern stocks.

The AR-15 is America’s rifle, but some states unfortunately have restrictions that prevent or limit their ownership. In response, CMMG decided to create a rifle that they describe as “more ban-proof,” and the result is the DISSENT Br4 line. The Br4 is essentially a new lower receiver design that uses Remington 870-pattern stocks and is compatible with CMMG’s Mk4 DISSENT upper groups. These use the company’s Compact Action which eliminates the need for a buffer tube system and enables the use of 870 stocks, resulting in AR-style firearms that have ergonomics like traditional rifles and that can be sold in 47 states.

Dissent Br4 rifles feature reversible non-reciprocating side charging handles, reversible cross-bolt safeties, adjustable gas blocks, free-floated M-LOK handguards and ZEROED single-stage triggers. The mag release is also extended and ambidextrous, and the rifles are available in several Cerakote colors. The line is initially being launched with seven chambering options, including 5.56 NATO, .300 BLK, 9mm, .350 Legend, 6.5 Grendel, 6mm ARC and 22 ARC, but more calibers are expected to be released in the future. All caliber options are available with a 16.1-inch barrel, but some have a 14.5-inch pin-and-weld option as well. The standard 16.1-inch models also have threaded barrels and muzzle brakes, but the 9mm, .350 Legend, .300 BLK and 5.56 models are also available non-threaded for states where that isn’t allowed.

CMMG CEO Chris Reinkemeyer said this about the new rifles:

With the AR platform under constant attack, we knew there would be a time that we’d need a to do something for people to have a capable rifle behind the enemy lines of more restrictive states and municipalities. With this in mind, we started looking into designs for this many years ago. The introduction of our compact action in our DISSENT lineup made this possible since we no longer must stay within the confines of a buffer tube operated system. We hope the Br4 allows many doors to be opened for people that have had that door closed on them.

Each DISSENT Br4 rifle ships with a Magpul SGA stock and two 10-round magazines. All models share an MSRP of $1,899.99 and they’re available now.

For more information, visit cmmg.com.

More AR-15 Stuff:

The Best Budget AR-15 Rifle Options
Eight Economical AR Pistol Options
The Best AR-15 Accessories And Upgrades
Top AR-15 Suppressor Options
Are You Shooting The Best AR-15 Ammo Possible?

Ballistic Advantage Pistol Barrel Review [Hands On]

Alexander Castiglione

August 8, 2024

We run a Ballistic Advantage Pistol Barrel in a Glock and Glock clone to see if it perfects perfection.

Gun culture is rife with extra doodads and whatsihoozits; some of them useful and others useless. Allow me to explain why an aftermarket barrel falls into the former category.

First and foremost, the component potentially offers greater accuracy than your stock barrel—the case with the new Ballistic Advantage Glock 19 barrels I tested.

Secondly, barrel upgrades may offer some more desirable features compared to what came in your gun. This is especially true if you live in a state that allows suppressors or as I like to call them, “whisper pickles.”

Finally, there’s there is plain old vanity—you want a cooler-looking pipe for your pistol.

Suppressor-Ready Pistol Barrels

Many if not most consumer-grade pistols come with an unthreaded barrel for one of two reasons. First off, it’s illegal in some states, but mostly it’s due to the machining required for fluted/spiral fluted/dimpled/etc. barrels and the machining required for threading. In short, it’s more expensive and would drive the cost of the pistol up. It’s basic economics.

Ballistic Advantage Pistol Barrel Specs

Ballistic Advantage barrels come in a variety of finishes, from oil slick to copper to QPQ and DLC, and are made of 416R hardened stainless steel. The twist rate is 1/10”, meaning for this gun, you will get almost a ½ rotation before the bullet exits the barre

The finishe on the barrels are fantastic and available in whole bunch of different styles.

The barrels are fluted, standard, or “bomber” style, with complex machining all over. Barrels tip the scales at just around 3 ounces, and sports either a standard or aggressive “skull crusher” thread protector, in addition to an O-ring. Below is a picture of the two pistols and factory ammo used for data collection.

The barrels are tumbled at Ballistic Advantage and then sent out for PVD treatment (for the colored options) and QPQ for the black nitride option.

Ballistic Advantage Pistol Barrel Fit And Finish

The fit and finish on these aftermarket barrels are remarkable, as is their packaging. They come in a nice foam-lined box, with a piece of clear plastic encasing the barrel. It reminds me a bit of Apple packaging, in that even the box tolerances are tight and it takes some jiggling to get the barrels free. The barrels also fit snugly into both a stock Glock and MR920. The stock Glock barrel undoubtedly has more “slop” than the Ballistic Advantage barrel.

The finishing on these barrels is fantastic, with the colors being true-to-name. The copper is legitimately copper, gray is gray, and the black DLC is a deep black. These barrels also come with very nice thread protectors in both a standard thread protector with an O-ring, or what they call a “Skull Crusher” which is a thread protector with some aggressive machining on the end. The copper barrel pictured below has a “skull crusher” thread protector.

Direct mount suppressors thread on cleanly and smoothly, as they should, and stay affixed. There isn’t any grit like with some threading that is as cleanly machined.

Why BA Started Making Pistol Barrels

Adam Wainio, President of Ballistic Advantage, gave the writer some insight as to the “why” behind jumping into the pistol barrel market.

The BA barrels interface with Glocks and Glock clones seamlessly.

“We didn’t just want to simply offer another barrel to market. It was imperative there had to be a functional improvement. As we were doing market research, and 3D scanned a large variety of barrels, we were very surprised to see a drastic difference in tolerance between each brand, especially when compared to factory [barrels].

“We decided to stay true to Glock’s design while optimizing certain angles. The most obvious expression is the chamfered corners and increased angle of the breech hood. This design prevents the normal wear you see on a factory barrel, resulting in a more consistent breech unlocking and locking,” Wainio explained.

His explanation is in line with the basic accuracy testing conducted.

“We kept hearing about the necessity to follow a break-in process with a new aftermarket barrel before the gun would cycle reliably,” Wainio said. “This was shocking to me, for a customer to obtain some of the other desired features, such as threading and or fluting one would have to remove a perfectly reliable factory Glock barrel, and then introduce a less reliable optional. It was crucial to us that our barrel was drop-in ready, and reliable from day one, all while offering other features such as flutes and threading.”

Ballistic Advantage Pistol Barrel Accuracy

I tested these Ballistic Advantage barrels on two different platforms to collect data for this article.

For testing, I have data against a Glock 19 Gen 4 with a stock barrel and a Shadow Systems MR920 unthreaded barrel and RMR mounted. Admittedly, the Ballistic Advantage barrels are roughly a half-inch longer than the stock pipes. All shots were taken from a Caldwell pistol rest at 10 yards.

Pre-threaded, the BA barrels are suppressor ready.

I used 4 types of ammo: 2 factory loads,147 Grain PMC and 147 Grain Winchester Target (admittedly it was slim pickings at my local gun shop). I also tested against my 147-grain flat point reloads using Boudreau’s bullets loaded with 3.1 grains of Winchester 244, and 125 grain round nose polymer coated bullets with 3.5 grains of Winchester 244.

A series of 5-shot groups were fired at the targets, and the types of ammo were noted. The Shadow Systems MR920 boasts a match-grade barrel, and this particular barrel has between 5,000 and 10,000 rounds through it. The Glock 19 barrel has likely less than 2,500 rounds. The Ballistic Advantage barrels were tested brand new.

The results are pictured below.

Ammo	Pistol	Stock Group (Edge to Edge in inches)	BA Barrel Tightest Group in Inches	Delta Gain (Stock vs BA) in Inches
147 Grain PMC Bronze	Glock 19 Gen 4	2.4	1.66	.74
147 Grain Winchester White Box	Glock 19 Gen 4	1.54	1.29	.25
147 Grain FB Handload	Glock 19 Gen 4	2.7	1.7	1
125 Grain RN Handload	Glock 19 Gen 4	3.39	1.25	2.14
147 Grain PMC Bronze	Shadow Systems MR920	2.17	1.52	.65
147 Grain Winchester White Box	Shadow Systems MR920	1.48	2.03	.53
147 Grain FB Handload	Shadow Systems MR920	1.54	2.09	-.55
125 Grain RN Handload	Shadow Systems MR920	1.75	1.57	.18

Ballistic Advantage Results

As you can see from the results, by and large, the threaded Ballistic Advantage Barrels have much better accuracy for all types of ammo involved—from factory 147 PMC and Winchester to reloads for plinking. The Winchester had the best overall accuracy, with the 125-grain reloads being the worst performer. That said, if you remove a flier here and there from most of the accuracy results, some groups were as small as .5 MOA, with plenty of shots linking on target. In only two instances was the Ballistic Advantage barrel outperformed by a stock barrel (highlighted in bold).

Ballistic Advantage Barrel Price

You can snag a Ballistic Advantage pistol barrel for between $150-$225, but Ballistic Advantage/Aero/Stag Arms (all the same ownership) do have sales very often.

The company makes barrels for four different Glocks (and their clones): The subcompact Glock 26, Compact Glock 19 (tested), Full Size Glock 17 and Practical/Tactical Glock 34. In addition, it has a line of Sig Sauer barrels for the P365 and P320, if you shoot a plastic fantastic other than a Glock. Additionally, they have a blemish sale at the time of this writing, so you can score one for likely cheaper than outlined above.

Parting Shot

For the price point, Ballistic Advantage Glock pistol barrels are good to go. They are finished well, machined cleanly, and wildly accurate due to the tight tolerances. Also, the customer service is second to none: I got a barrel that was not performing, and they replaced it immediately. Since then, all these barrels have performed wonderfully. They come in a variety of colors and configurations, both threaded and non-threaded, and are ready to take a stock gun to the next level or add a bit of flair for your “freedom seeds” to your most recent build.

More Glock Upgrads & Accessories:

Best Glock Upgrades: Customizing For Performance
Upgrading Glock Iron Sights With XS Sights’ Installation Tool
The 10 Best Glock 19 Holsters For Any Purpose
Timney Drop-in Glock Trigger Review [Hands On]

Level 4 Plates: Body Armor Buyer’s Guide

Sam Hoober

August 8, 2024

We discuss different kinds of body armor, NIJ rating levels and the best Level 4 plates on the market.

Whether you’re a tactical gear enthusiast or an armed guard or police officer who must supply their equipment, you've probably heard that Level 4 plates are what you should get.

We're going to tell you why, what different levels and features mean and then look at the best types of Level 4 plates (or Level 4 body armor) to buy.

We’re also going to explain why you need to pay close attention to what the various companies selling body armor say about their products. A lot of people have been sold a tactical pig in a poke, so you might as well get the real deal.

What Is Hard Armor?

Hard armor employs plates made of rigid materials, such as ceramic or (less desirable) steel. These plates are usually worn in a plate carrier over clothing, protecting the vital organs on the front, back, and sometimes the sides. In contrast, soft armor is made from woven materials like Kevlar slow and stop bullets from penetrating.

Early Ranger Body Armor (RBA) and their ceramic SAPI plates. Photos: Wikipedia.

Generally speaking, hard armor is effective against high velocity threats, such as rifles, while soft armor can only stop low-velocity projectiles, such as handgun fire. This makes sense, given hard armor was developed for and initially used by the military. Though, through the years plate armor has tricked its way into law enforcement and civilian use, each seeking greater protection.

Body Armor Legalities

Federally, body armor is legal to own and use for anyone over the age of 18 who has not been convicted of a felony. Be aware, however, that some states have passed or attempted to pass laws restricting body armor. If you're in the market, it pays to keep up to date with your local laws.

For instance, in Connecticut, body armor can only be sold or bought in person, and New York has outlawed the purchase of body armor except for certain approved professions. Further, most states also have laws prohibiting the use of body armor while committing a crime.

Hard Armor Material

There are three general types of materials that hard armor is made from:

Metal
Ceramic
Polyethylene

Metal Body Armor

Metal body armor plates are usually made from steel, but titanium armor exists. Steel plates are generally the cheapest of all types of hard armor but are so for a reason. Armor made of AR500 steel, for instance, can be defeated by certain loads of high velocity 5.56. When struck by a bullet, it also creates spall, tiny fragments of metal that fly away from the impact.

To minimize this, steel plates are usually coated in a truck bed liner-like material designed to catch spall. It doesn’t always do so which can prove dangerous.

Steel is, of course, also very heavy. You won’t have fun if you have to wear it for any length of time, especially if you’re moving.

Range Time Steel Target 4 — Ever shot a steel target from too close and caught a bit of spall flying back at you? Now imagine wearing it on your chest and having those fragments shooting up into your neck instead. That's just one reason why professionals don't use steel armor.

Ceramic Body Armor

Ceramic armor plates are typically made of boron carbide. Quality ceramic plates offer better protection against high-velocity projectiles and don't have the same problem with spalling.

They're lighter than steel but also more expensive, although they have been getting consistently more affordable as body armor has become more popular. SAPI/ESAPI plates, the ones issued by the U.S. military, are ceramic. That is a big, big clue about what kind of plates you should buy if you want the best protection.

Polyethylene Body Armor

Poly armor plates are made of polyethylene, specifically Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). They are lighter than steel, but generally also bulkier and tend to fare worse than ceramic armor against high-velocity rifle bullets and anything with an armor-piercing projectile.

Some companies also make hybrid armor using a composite of these three materials.

Keep in mind that some hard armors are intended for use in conjunction with soft armor or a plate backer to get the best protection possible. Make sure you look closely at the fine print of whatever plate you're looking at.

NIJ Certification And How “Level 4 Armor” Might Not Be Level 4

The NIJ, or National Institute of Justice, tests body armor and certifies it for absorbing a particular threshold of abuse by bullets. NIJ testing and certification in and of itself is a very complex topic with plenty of nuances, but we'll try to give you the basics.

The NIJ standards determine whether a particular piece of armor will defeat a specific threat. For instance, to be rated Level 4, armor plate must stop a .30-06 armor-piercing (M2 black tip) round. You can read more about the levels here, but the short answer is Level 4 is the highest tier and will offer the greatest protection. The NIJ has the testing done by certified third-party laboratories, with tests repeated six times over five years.

NIJ-body-armor-rating-levels — Photo: National Institute of Justice's (NIJ) Justice Technology Information Network (JUSTNET).

The levels are officially called IIA, II, III, IIIA, and IV, but they’re commonly written using standard rather than Roman numerals when discussing them. There is no NIJ+ rating. That’s just a marketing term like Corinthian leather.

After five years, any make and model of plate must be recertified.

Here's something else you need to know.

Not every armor manufacturer actually submits products to the NIJ, they just replicate the test…or perform their version of it. So, just because somebody says their body armor is Level 4, it doesn't mean it is.

To save yourself the trouble of worrying, here's the NIJ's list of compliant body armor manufacturers and their products that are (or have been) rated by the NIJ.

The best practice is that if body armor is not certified by the NIJ, don't buy it. Do not take the manufacturer's word for it. Look it up for yourself and verify.

That said, just because a certification is inactive doesn't mean it isn't quality armor. The manufacturer has just elected not to re-certify, usually because the product is being updated into a new version.

Body Armor Plate Cuts & Other Considerations

If you’ve picked up what the last section was laying down, you should understand that to get the best protection possible you’re going to need NIJ-certified ceramic Level 4 plates. There are other factors to consider like the plates’ size and shape.

Body armor plates come in different sizes, and you’ll need to pick a size that is large enough to cover your vital organs without being so big that it inhibits your movement. A widely accepted guideline for that is your plate should span horizontally from nipple to nipple and vertically from your suprasternal notch to just above your belly button.

Best Body Armor Sizing Hesco — *Diagram showing properly-sized body armor and the organs it should cover. Photo:* Hesco.

Body armor plates have different cuts, and each style offers a balance between coverage and shoulder mobility. The four most popular shapes are the Full Cut, Swimmer’s Cut, Shooter's Cut, and the SAPI (Small Arms Protective Insert, the one specified by the U.S. military) Cut. The exact dimensions of each cut may vary between manufacturers.

Full Cut: A rectangle or square with rounded or chopped corners. This gives you the most coverage but is most likely to impede upper body movement, though it can be dealt with.

Shooter's Cut: A chamfered Full Cut plate, cutting the top few inches of the corners at a 45-degree angle to free up a little more room for arm movement or shouldering a rifle.

Swimmer’s Cut: Similar to the Shooter’s Cut but it increases that taper, freeing up even more room to move the arms while sacrificing a little more coverage. It may be enough of a reduction that the tops of your vitals could be exposed.

SAPI Cut: Specified by the military, is very similar to the Shooter's Cut but has less generously cut corners and provides a little more coverage.

level-4-plate-body-armor-cut-guide — Images of example plate cuts courtesy of Dynamic Defense Solutions.

Most people find a SAPI or Shooter's Cut strikes the right balance, but some prefer the easier movement of a Swimmer's cut. It's also not uncommon at all for somebody to use a SAPI or Shooter’s Cut plate in the front and a Full Cut plate in the back.

Additionally, Level 4 plates from different manufacturers can have different thicknesses and weights, something else to pay attention to when considering what will best fit your needs. When all things are equal protection-wise, thinner and lighter is always better, but those plates are going to cost more.

The final hard armor plate feature to remain aware of is single-curve versus multi-curve plates. In a nutshell, multi-curve plates are more comfortable, but are also harder to manufacture and therefore more expensive. If you want maximum comfort, it’s probably worth shelling out the extra money. But single-curve plates work perfectly fine for most people too.

How We Made Our Picks

There’s a lot of good body armor out there, including models not listed here, but it wasn’t too hard for us to narrow our favorite picks down to these five options. All of these are currently NIJ-certified ceramic Level 4 plates from a variety of trusted, reputable manufacturers. They vary mostly in features such as their cut and size options and details like weight and thickness. Once you pick the plates you want, just ensure that whatever plate carrier you buy is sized correctly to accommodate them.

The 5 Best Level 4 Plates:

Most of these Level 4 plates are available in different sizes and cuts, so we’ll be using specs for the medium-size SAPI Cut option whenever possible for the sake of consistency. Further, some of these plates appear to only be sold in sets of two, so we will be calculating the cost of a single plate when listing each price.

ARMOR	Size/Cut	NIJ Certified?	Thickness	Weight	Price
Hesco 4601	9.5×12.5″ SAPI Cut	Yes	1.18″	6.6 lbs.	~$553
Velocity Systems PSA Stand-Alone Level IV	10×12″ Shooter's Cut	Yes	0.75″	6.8 lbs.	~$305
LTC 26605 Level IV Multi-Curve Plate Set	9.5×12.5″ SAPI Cut	Yes	1″	7.5 lbs.	~$360
TenCate Cratus 5200 Level IV Multi Curve Plate	10×12: SAPI Cut	Yes	1.3″	7.2 lbs.	~$700
Highcom Guardian 4s17m	9.5×12.5″ SAPI Cut	Yes	0.95″	8.2 lbs.	~$240

Hesco 4601

Specs (9.5×12.5″ SAPI Cut)

NIJ Certified Level 4: Yes, active
Thickness: 1.18 Inches
Weight: 6.6 Pounds
Price Per Plate: ~$553
Website: hesco.com

Pros

Decent number of sizes and cut options
Good balance between weight and price for the quality

Cons

Expensive
Fairly thick

Hesco is as close to a no-brainer as it gets. They are a U.S. government supplier, and the 4601 is currently NIJ-certified Level 4.

It's plates are available in a SAPI Cut with four size options or a Shooter’s Cut with two size options. The armor may be pricey, but it should offer excellent protection while being comfortable to wear thanks to the multi-curve contour. They are sold as either sets or as standalone plates depending on the retailer.

Velocity Systems PSA Stand-Alone Level IV

Specs (10×12″ Shooter's Cut)

NIJ Certified Level 4: Yes, active
Thickness: 0.75 Inches
Weight: 6.8 Pounds
Price Per Plate: ~$305
Website: velsyst.com

Pros

Thin and light
Relatively affordable

Cons

Only available in 10×12″ Shooter's Cut

Velocity Systems produces quality tactical gear for LE and military personnel, including its line of hard armor plates. The PSA Stand-Alone Level 4 plate is a ceramic Level 4 plate with current NIJ certification.

The plate is only available in a 10×12-inch size with a Shooter's Cut that's a little steeper than most other options for better mobility. Velocity Systems doesn’t sell to civilians directly and instead sells them through retailers such as Brownells.

LTC 26605 Level IV Multi-Curve Plate Set

Specs (9.5×12.5″ SAPI Cut)

NIJ Certified Level 4: Yes, active
Thickness: 1 Inch
Weight: 7.5 Pounds
Price Per Plate: ~$360
Website: ltc-ltc.com

Pros

Balance of protection, thickness and price
Decent amount of size and cut options

Cons

Heavy

Leading Technology Composites is one of the largest ceramic armor plate manufacturers in the world, and their 26605 plates are currently NIJ certified Level 4. Level 4 plates in a Swimmer's Cut from a reputable manufacturer are not the easiest thing to find, so those looking for one will find few better options. They’re available with a SAPI Cut as well and come in several sizes.

The 26605 plates feature a triple-curve with a ceramic core, aramid fiber backing, Cordura cover and a foam-covered strike face.

TenCate Cratus 5200 Level IV Multi Curve Plate

Specs (10×12: SAPI Cut)

NIJ Certified Level 4: Yes, active
Thickness: 1.3 Inches
Weight: 7.2 Pounds
Price Per Plate: ~$700
Website: integriscomposites.com

Pros

Size options, including side plates available

Cons

Heavy and thick
Expensive

The TenCate Cratus series is frequently white-labeled by other brands due to its incredible performance, and the 5200 series (model D1581) is currently NIJ-certified for Level 4 protection.

The Tencate Cratus 5200 Level IV Multi Curve Plate is a multi-curve SAPI Cut plate with a polyurethane cover. They’re available in seven different front/back plate sizes and have side plate options as well.

Highcom Guardian 4s17m

Specs (9.5×12.5″ SAPI Cut)

NIJ Certified Level 4: Yes, active
Thickness: 0.95 Inches
Weight: 8.2 Pounds
Price Per Plate: ~$240
Website: highcomarmor.com

Pros

Great performance and thickness for the price
Affordable

Cons

Heavy
Only two size options

The Highcom Guardian 4s17m plate is a solid working man’s option in sets of two plates that are often under $500 and are frequently bundled with a plate carrier for less than $700.

Highcom plates are currently NIJ certified and are offered in five sizes of SAPI Cuts as well as one 10×12-inch Shooter’s Cut option, but all are multi-curve. If you're looking for a turn-key option they're hard to beat.

More On Body Armor & Related Gear:

Premier Body Armor Everyday Armor T-Shirt
Pick The Best Plate Carrier: Complete Buyer's Guide
Plate Carrier Setup: Weighing The Options
Plate Carrier Accessories: What, Where And Why?
Choosing A Plate Carrier Backpack

Easy-to-Handle Defensive Handguns Buyer’s Guide

Patrick Sweeney

August 7, 2024

We pick top defensive handgun options for the less physically capable.

We aren’t all airborne-qualified. A lot of us can’t bench press our own weight. The bad guys know this, and preferentially target-select from those who aren’t likely to put up much of a fight. So, insisting that “the only proper self-defense cartridge starts with a four” is doing those among us who are less capable to handle that horsepower a disservice.

If you need an example, consider your grandmother. Even if you can convince her to choose a firearm, do you really think she’s going to appreciate the 9mm+P load you just handed her to try? And if you had her fire it out of the sub-compact pistol that’s “easy to carry” which you prefer, how many rounds will she put up with it?

Those of us younger, more fit, better trained, or some combination of those, can count on using something bigger. And if something bigger isn’t available, then the vigorous application of boot soles, fists and nearby objects can see you, me, the young and fit to something better. Again, that perhaps isn’t going to include your elderly relatives, who may likely be selected as an “involuntary donor” to the bad guy’s lifestyle support fund.

There’s also the matter of there not being an easy entry point. Your student or relative, elderly or not, might not have an experience with firearms at all. You may well find yourself at a range that offers rental guns and spend time just handling at the counter, before going in to try one. Don’t be surprised if a few rounds, or one magazine, later is all it takes to move on to the next choice. You’ll have to cultivate patience.

You also have to consider who is going to be using what you suggest, as far as how much enthusiasm they might put into what you might chose for yourself.

So, let’s consider some less-than-SEALs options.

Lose the Ego

One modern choice is the Smith & Wesson EZ series. S&W made the EZ series for a particular purpose and exactly ours: an easy-to handle pistol. The slide is easier to rack than regular 9mm pistols. The magazines have an added tab that makes it easier to load the magazines. And, as long as you make sure to feed it soft-shooting 9mm loads, even grams be willing to give it a go.

You may have to put in some work yourself, carefully assessing what 9mm load seems softer or less loud than others to make it easier for her. The grip safety on the Shield adds a measure of ease of use and safety as well. The new .30 Super Carry in the EZ? Felt recoil of that new defensive cartridge is on par with that of the 9mm.

smith-wesson-shield-ez — The S&W EZ series offers easier-racking slides and easier-to-load magazines.

Or, you can go with something smaller in caliber. The .380 is probably the smallest that you can tell your friends you gave your grandma and still not have them look at you with pity. A Ruger LC380 would be about as small as I’d go. Yes, smaller is less weight to handle, and less hassle, but if it’s so sharp to shoot that she isn’t going to shoot it … we’re back to not solving this problem.

So, the LC380 holds enough to be useful, is big enough that it won’t be too much to handle and yet still small enough that it isn’t seen as a cannon.

If pistols aren’t the thing, then revolvers. Again, don’t go with the smallest and lightest. A five-shot airweight revolver is one your student is likely to fire a few times, hand back to you and ask, “What else do you have?”

The trick with revolvers isn’t so much the caliber, but the grip size. Here, a round-butt design is much more likely to be comfortable. But not the Chief’s Special; it’s likely to be seen as both too small and light to shoot comfortably, with too heavy a trigger. A round-butt K-frame S&W would be the ticket here, or one of the Ruger LCRs for the easier trigger pull.

defensive-handgun-low-strength-airweight-revolver — The snubbie airweight, with JHP+P ammunition, is a pro’s gun. So why press it upon grandma? Because it’s “the perfect gun” for you? That’s not a good reason.

If you’re really struggling, or rather your grams (or Uncle Mort or whoever) can’t deal with a centerfire, then we can reluctantly consider a rimfire. You’ve got a few choices here, the Ruger Mark IV, in whatever size, material or grip color that makes the student say “I like that one,” or a KelTec, either the P17 or the PMR30.

defensive-handgun-low-strength-ruger-22 — The Ruger Mk IV, here in the 22/45 version, offers low-cost shooting, mild recoil and lifetime durability.

The Mark IV and the P17 are .22LR, and they have the advantages of being soft in recoil, not terribly noisy and inexpensive to shoot (a not-inconsiderable detail these days). The Ruger holds 10 rounds and the P17 holds 16. And as an added bonus for the P17, the MSRP is a mere $200, less than half the cost of the least-expensive Mark IV. The best part about the .22LR as a choice is that shooting a rimfire can actually be fun, even for the non-gun-oriented. If it’s fun, they’ll practice. (Or at least go to the range for plinking, which you’d be wise to not call practice.)

The PMR30 costs as much as the Mark IV, but it’s chambered in .22 Magnum, which adds a bit more velocity to the equation. It might add more noise than the speed is worth—that’s one reason to get to the range and do some experimenting. (Oh, excuse me, “fun range time” and see what your student likes.) The big advantage of the PMR30 is the magazine capacity: 30 rounds. The PMR30, in order to hold those 30 rounds, tends to be a bit larger than the Mark IV or the P17 in grip size, which might make enough of a difference that the P17 or the Mark IV would be the better choice here. But it’s hard to discount the sense of “oh, I have things under control” than holding a pistol that has 30 rounds in the magazine. Both the .22 LR and the .22 Magnum offer a much greater chance of the get-togethers being fun, and nothing makes learning easier than it being fun.

defensive-handgun-low-strength-KelTec-PMR30 — The KelTec PMR30, with an extra magazine, gobbles up an entire box of ammunition. That can be comforting in a stressful situation.

Ammo Really, Really Matters

We can’t consider defensive firearms for those less dedicated without considering the ammunition we’ll be putting in them. As stated, opting for a 9mm+P to make up for the “lack of stopping power” because it isn’t a .45 ACP isn’t going to work here. Grams isn’t going to use it or, if she does, she’ll use it reluctantly, poorly and ineffectively. So, we have to consider what you can get her to actually try and use.

In 9mm, that may be the softest-shooting ammo to be found, which might be 115-grain FMJ. “That’s no good, its stopping power score is miserable.” This is my story, and I’m sticking with it—remember our choices here. It would be far better for your student to learn to shoot with Winchester White Box (the default low-recoil, low-cost 9mm ammo to be found) and use it as the house-gun ammo than always have “something else to do” whenever practice time (excuse me, “plinking day”) comes up.

We’re gun people; we like to shoot. A lot of people see it as an onerous burden or, at the very least, a cost in time and effort that they simply have to do but won’t enjoy it much. I can’t stress this enough: The more enjoyable you make it, the less likely it is to be skipped.

Ruger-LC-380 — If the 9mm is too much, then the .380 might do. The LC380 is about as small as you’d want to go, and if you can find an easy-to-rack .380 that’s bigger, start there.

In the smaller calibers, you have less of a problem over recoil, as the majority of .380 Auto ammunition isn’t exactly robust. You have to seek out the “hot” .380 loads. To that point, .22 LR is even more so, but here you can actually step up in power (admittedly by a small amount) and not have a problem.

For instance, if you start your learning time with some standard velocity target .22 LR and get your student to liking it, then they might not even notice when you add in some high velocity ammo. I’m thinking here of starting with CCI Clean standard and then adding in some Federal Punch. Send them home with a box of .22 LR Punch. Or the .22 Magnum, should you be using a KelTec, offers a similar path of progression.

Now, in the .38 Special revolver (you shouldn’t be thinking of any other caliber but this one—period, end of story), I have what might seem like a radical choice: wadcutters. No, they won’t expand. But they will retain full diameter and cut as clean a channel as possible. I’ve tested wadcutters, and the best are hard-cast ones, as the swaged are just a bit too soft for our needs. And they penetrate.

defensive-revolvers-wadcutters — An all-steel .38 revolver isn’t going to kick much with wadcutters. Use what grip shape feels best and resist the temptation to “step up” to the JHP+P loads that experts prefer.

I have had hard-cast wadcutters, out of snubbies, doing a modest 600 fps, penetrate deeply enough in ballistic gelatin to satisfy the FBI requirements of more than 12 inches. I even tried a test shot through 3/8-inch plywood, and that round, after cutting a clean hole in the plywood, still did 12 inches of ballistic gelatin.

No, it isn’t a bonded-bullet LE-approved “wunderpellet.” It’s also easy to shoot, has low recoil and muzzle blast, and is going to be accurate. A bad guy, receiving one or more through or around the sternum isn’t likely to react by saying “that’s not funny.”

Be Smart, Not Tough

The world isn’t necessarily full of bad people, but they’re out there—and there are enough of them to be a hazard. They often preferentially prey on those less likely able to mount an effective defense, like your great aunt or grandmother. The question is: Do you make sure Nana has something—not nothing—or do you let your ego-invested attachment to “it has to be the best” (which she’s unlikely to agree with) get in the way of things?

There’s an adage that sums this up: Perfect is the enemy of good. Do good by your Nana, and don’t try to saddle her with perfection.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More Defensive Handguns:

The Springfield Hellcat
The SIG P365
The Ruger MAX-9
The Taurus GX4
The Savage Stance Pistol

Kimber Announces R7 Mako Carbon Compact

Adam Borisenko

August 6, 2024

We take a look at the Kimber R7 Mako Carbon Compact, an updated and enhanced version of the company’s micro 9mm carry pistol.

The original R7 Mako was Kimber’s take on the micro 9mm carry gun craze, and it’s remained a very solid option since it first launched, but the company has just announced an enhanced version called the Carbon Compact. At its core, it’s the same old Mako, but the new features and design updates make it a very interesting option.

Firstly, the Kimber Carbon Compact gets its name from the new Carbon Fiber Matrix-filled grip housing, a material that is much stronger than typical firearms polymers. While extra durability is always nice, the more noticeable advantages of the new frame are the ergonomic changes. Namely, a forward thumb rest, a high undercut trigger guard and four interchangeable backstraps. The magwell is now flared as well.

Compared to the original Mako, the Carbon Compact pistols also feature slightly longer barrels for a little extra oomph. Of the four available variants, two have 3.9-inch barrels and two have threaded 4.4-inch barrels. The only other distinction between the four models is whether or not the pistol will come with a Holosun 407K pre-installed, as all four are optics-ready. All models are also fully ambidextrous, feature the Kimber performance carry trigger and have a rail for mounting a light or laser.

Mountie Mizer, Vice President of Sales for Kimber, said this about the updated Mako:

This new Carbon Compact delivers on all the attributes that our consumers have been asking for and will make more people familiar with where Kimber is headed with our deeper offering of polymer striker variants which feature the best triggers on the market.

Each Kimber Carbon Compact ships with two 15-round magazines and MSRP starts at $735 for the unthreaded model with no optic.

For more information, visit kimberamerica.com.

More Micro-Compact 9mm Pistols

The Springfield Hellcat
The SIG P365
The Ruger MAX-9
The Taurus GX4
The Savage Stance Pistol

First Look: B&T USA Print-X Advanced Rifle Suppressor Line

Adam Borisenko

August 5, 2024

We check out B&T USA’s Rotex and the SRBS suppressors, part of the company’s new 3D-printed Print-X line of advanced rifle suppressors.

3D printing is the probable future of many kinds of manufacturing, but it almost certainly is when it comes to suppressors. B&T seems to agree, evidenced by the company’s new Print-X line of advanced rifle suppressors.

Featuring the Rotex and the SRBS (Slim Reduced Backpressure System), the 3D printed Print-X family of suppressors are made using laser bed fusion techniques, are fully weldless and are made of either pure titanium or 718 Inconel. The weldless design reduces the weight and the number of potential failure points, and each suppressor also features a low-flash endcap and a high-performance Star Baffle system. Print-X cans ship with B&T’s Rotex-SF HUB assembly which is compatible with appropriate B&T muzzle devices, but this can be replaced with any industry-standard HUB assembly.

Chris Mudgett, Vice President of Marketing for B&T USA, said this about the new suppressors:

The improvements made to our 3D printed SRBS and Rotex suppressors within the Print-X family are examples of how our customers and end-users continue to reap the benefits of our R&D team continually pushing what is possible in both material and design … As a suppressor manufacturer with nearly 700 different suppressors, it’s safe to say our engineering team refuses to leave well enough alone and our products are in a perpetual state of advancement to ensure our customers receive the most cutting-edge technology possible, providing them with a substantial advantage in the field.

Whether you’re interested in a Rotex or SRBS suppressor, both have quite a few variants available. Besides the choice of material (titanium or Inconel), both models are offered in 7.62 and 5.56 with an impressive range of sizes to choose from.

For more information, please visit bt-usa.com.

More On Suppressors:

The Suppressor: How They're Made, How They Work, And How To Buy One
Best AR-15 Suppressor Options For A Quiet Advantage
Handgun Gear: Best 9mm Suppressor Choices
The Sig MODX-45 Modular Suppressor
Best .22 Suppressor Choices To Mute Your Plinker

1...232425...432 Page 24 of 432

GUN DIGESTWE KNOW GUNS SO YOU KNOW GUNS

We discuss snub-nose .38 revolvers and why they still make sense for concealed carry today.

Snub-Nose .38 Revolvers

.38 Special Ammunition

Punching With The +P

The Choice

The best long-range cartridges are those that are flat shooting, feature aerodynamic projectiles and have enough power to go the distance. Find out which ones made the cut.

What are the best long-range cartridges:

Precision Shooting: Savage's Accuracy Enhancing AccuFit System

.22-250 Remington

Specs (Black Hills Gold)

Read More: Greatest Cartridges: The .22-250

.308 Winchester

Specs (Federal Premium Gold Medal Berger)

Read More: .308 Winchester: Top Survival Ammunition

.300 Winchester Magnum

Specs (Hornady)

Read More: The .300 Win Mag is the Answer to Your Hunting Questions

.338 Lapua Magnum

Specs (Hornady)

Read More: Is the .338 Lapua Magnum the Ultimate Long-Range Round?

.300 Weatherby Magnum

Specs (HSM Trophy Gold)

See Also: Greatest Cartridges: The .300 Weatherby Magnum

6.5 Creedmoor

Specs (Barnes VOR-TX LR)

See Also: Which 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo is the Best? Here are Our Top Picks

6.5-284 Norma

Specs (Nosler Match Grade)

Read More: Greatest Cartridges: The Long Shot 6.5-284 Norma

26 Nosler

Specs (Nosler Match Grade)

Read More: 26 Nosler – The Flattest Shooting 6.5 Ever?

7mm Remington Magnum

Specs (Black Hills Gold)

6mm Norma BR

Specs (Norma Diamond Line)

More On Long-Range Shooting:

Looking for a scattergun on the smaller side? Here we discuss .410 bore’s usefulness and look at the best .410 shotguns on the market.

Is A .410 Shotgun Worth Owning?

What the .410 Shotgun Does Well

.410 Ammunition And Ballistics

What Kinds Of .410 Shotguns Are Out There?

Break-Actions

Pump-Action

Lever-Action

Semi-Autos

Combination Guns

Handguns

How We Made Our Choices

The 5 Best .410 Shotguns

Best Single-Shot: Stevens 301

Specs (Standard model)

Pros

Cons

Best For Youths: Mossberg 510 Mini Super Bantam

Specs (Standard model)

Pros

Cons

Best Revolver: Taurus Judge Magnum

Specs

Pros

Cons

Best Semi-Automatic: Mossberg SA-410

Specs (Field model)

Pros

Cons

Best Over/Under: Browning Citori 725 Sporting

Specs (30-inch model)

Pros

Cons

Want realistic practice without damaging your gun’s firing pin? Here we take a look at Otis Snap Caps.

Century Arms has just announced the Centurion 14, a Browning Hi-Power clone with the lowest price tag on the market.

We test today’s top .22LR hunting ammo for precision, velocity, cost and terminal performance.

Velocity

VELOCITY

Cost

COST

Terminal Performance

TERMINAL PERFORMANCE