Just because you can make a long-range shot on a game animal, doesn't mean you necessarily should. How far is too far when it comes to long-range shooting?
What I’m about to say at this point in the ranging story will not fly well with some, but it needs to be addressed.
I have a problem with big game hunters over-extending range in order to bag a trophy deer, elk, or whatever. I do believe the big game sport hunter needs to curb their range limits, so as not to wound game in the process.
While 600-, 800-, and 1,000-yard shots are very spectacular, I believe they need to be reserved for varmints and paper targets. Long-range shots on game are very workable, but long-range in this case should not exceed the dead-on killing limit of the cartridge and the shooter. In other words, give the animal you’re hunting a break by working toward a clean, humane kill.
At 400 to 1,000 yards, you know as well as I do that anything can happen to that bullet en route to the target, and the game animal will pay the price for a less than well-thought-out move on the hunter’s part.
Some time ago, I watched a television program in which hunters were shooting elk from one mountain across to another. That, my friends, is no longer hunting, but an exercise in the use of advanced ranging equipment, rifles, and big cartridges. At best, it is simply shooting and little more. Be responsible when using these new and, yes, very effective tools.
As we move steadily through the 21st century, we see new developments all the time in both guns and loads for long-range work. Word has it that some folks are in the process of building an ultra long-range sniper rifle off a Russian anti-tank gun system that will drive a bullet of about 37 millimeters to a target in the next county.
There is also word that a 40mm sniper rifle is under development by still another group of experimenters. The point is to never say never, but always remember that nothing, regardless its size or design, takes the place of woodsmanship, shooting skill, basic know-how and, most of all, ethics, by the hunter in the field.
Searching for one gun that can do it all? Olympic Arms might have just whipped it up with its new convertible MPR 308/5.56.
The Olympic Arms MPR 308/5.56 seamlessly jumps between AR-10 and AR-15, giving shooters a ton of caliber choices. Leap from tactical carbine to heavy deer gun in an instant.
It’s safe to say Olympic Arms has a knack for innovation.
The Washington-based gun maker cooked up some of the first pistol-caliber ARs. It introduced the flat-top upper receiver. And it has generally pulled the black-rifle market into the future. And the company isn’t done yet.
Olympic Arms is endeavoring into the realm of AR-10 rifles, but in typical fashion is offering much more than just a larger-caliber semi-automatic. In fact, the company’s new MPR 308/5.56 Rifle gives shooters a veritable cornucopia of calibers on one platform.
Olympic Arms has designed the rifle system to switch between its AR-10 upper receiver to any Mil-Spec AR-15 upper — regardless of caliber. Perhaps best of all, the system does not require any retrofitting to accomplish its conversion; out of the box it is ready to rock and roll in nearly any configuration a shooter can cook up.
The company has achieved this flexibility through some elegant engineering. This is particularly evident on the MPR 308/5.56's lower receiver.
The quick conversions are facilitated by two pivot pin locations milled on the lower. The longer local affixes Oly’s AR-10 upper, the shorter one pops on any Mil-Spec AR-15. The lower also has a slick mag well, milled to accept both AR-10 and -15 magazines. Of course, when it comes to the larger-caliber the magazines are proprietary; the smaller caliber, once again if it’s Mil-Spec it will work.
Finally, the company has redesigned the buffer system so it does not need to be switched for conversions. The bolt carrier in Olympic Arms’ AR-10 makes contact on the rim of the buffer, while the AR-15 makes contact on the center of it.
Olympic Arms MPR 308/5.56 mag well is designed to accept both the company’s proprietary AR-10 magazine and all Mil-Spec AR-15.
The convertibility of the MPR 308/5.56 gives it access to all of the standard AR-15 chamberings — 5.56 NATO, .300 Blackout, 6.5 Grendel, etc. But shooters will get to enjoy more than just .308 Winchester when shooting the rifle in an AR-10 configuration. Olympic Arms has a slew of calibers slated for the rifle in the future, including .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, 7mm-08, .300 WSM and .270 WSM.
The MPR 308/5.56 comes configured as a .308 AR-10 and is available with 16-, 18- and 24-inch stainless steal bull barrels. The MSRP for the rifle runs from $1,267 to $1,688 depending on barrel length.
Form and function: Black Rain’s .300 BLK features a nickel-boron bolt carrier and group and 12-inch mod rail. Jeff Jones
The new Black Rain Ordnance .300 Blackout in digital tan is a range-ready workhorse that’s as good looking as it is dependable.
B.R.O.’s new .300 BLK features billet receivers and a 12-inch modular rail. Accuracy testing with Steiner’s M5Xi 3-15x50mm Military optic.
Black Rain’s newest introduction is an AR chambered in .300 Blackout (BLK) and based on the BRO-PG2, an earlier model available in 5.56 NATO with a digital tan anodized finish. The new .300 BLK shares the same look as its predecessor but utilizes a pistol-length gas system to improve reliability with the alternate chambering. While it’s yet to receive an official name, the new .300 is every bit as sexy and tough as you’d expect from the folks at Black Rain, and it fulfills the company’s commitment to producing guns that’ll last multiple lifetimes.
Based out of Neosho, Missouri, Black Rain was co-founded in 2009 by CEO Justin Harvel, a 10-year veteran firefighter who grew up in the gun store business and returned to it after his days as a fireman and EMT. His grandfather and uncles were all gun dealers and still carry on the tradition today. Harvel grew up in his dad’s gun shop, learned the industry, saw how business was conducted and eventually started two of his own gun stores.
It was during those years as a shop owner that Harvel developed a vision for crafting AR-type rifles that would strike a balance between form and function, giving his clientele a custom gun at a reasonable price. He envisioned a rifle that was built like a tank but looked and performed like a Lamborghini.
“Quality was our mission from day one,” Harvel said. “We knew we’d never be about producing the kind of quantity as some manufacturers, but that was never our goal. Let other people do that. Our niche is to build the best rifle in your arsenal, the one you’ll be proud to pass on to your kids. They’re dependable, sexy, incredibly accurate—the total package.”
When it comes to the AR-type rifles and parts it makes, Black Rain’s philosophy is simple: Only produce what you would personally own or operate. The new .300 BLK is no exception to that rule.
Make it Rain
Black Rain’s .300 BLK comes with an MFS flash hider and is suppressor ready. Jeff Jones
While it features several unique design elements, the new .300 BLK is still built around the same core elements inherent in Black Rain’s DNA—an exclusive, single-stage trigger, nickel boron bolt carrier and billet aluminum receivers. The BRO-DIT (drop in trigger) is manufactured in house and allows the company to offer a high-end trigger at reduced cost in all production AR-type rifles. The trigger can also be purchased separately for $199 and is comparable to what you’d find in aftermarket triggers that can run anywhere from $250-300. Not only is the 3.5-pound trigger remarkably crisp, it has a positive, audible reset for fast and accurate follow up shots.
“Once we got our trigger into production, we decided it should go in every gun,” Black Rain general manager Jared Moser said. “We feel like it’s worth it to the customer. The obvious thing is we built it with a clean break, which is really about the surface condition of the materials we use, but even more important we felt was the reset, audible but not super long. It’s really more about a release of pressure rather than a ton of movement.”
The second foundational component on the .300 BLK is the nickel boron BCG (bolt and carrier group). The BCG is made in house from Carpenter 158 steel and nickel boron coated for longer life, ease of cleaning and added durability under heavy stress. The carrier group is rated for full-auto and can be buffed back to a shiny finish even after it gets darkened by gases and oils. It’s a bit overbuilt, as Moser pointed out, but it adds strength to the part and, perhaps equally as important, it just looks cool.
Finally, the .300 BLK features Black Rain’s milled billet aluminum receivers with a digital tan anodized finish (a black finish will also be available). Generally speaking, billet aluminum is CNC machined from bar stock, while forged aluminum receivers are hammered into forging dies, subjected to repeated force and then finished by CNC machining. Forged receivers are considered to be the strongest, while billet allows manufacturers like Black Rain to craft artistic lines into the receivers for the ultimate in aesthetic appeal. The lines on the .300 upper and lower are incredibly smooth and reveal the passion for craftsmanship envisioned by the company’s founders.
Seven Pounds of Sleek
The Trijicon RMR is an ideal close-range optic. Eric Conn & Jeff Jones
The rifle weighs just over 7 pounds and features a 16-inch, 416R stainless steel barrel for added heat and corrosion resistance. It comes with a 1:7-inch twist, eight-flute design and a pistol length gas system. The .300 BLK comes standard with a Syrac Ordnance adjustable gas block, which can be accessed by taking off the handguard. Also included is a sharp-toothed BRO-MFS flash suppressor that would do a fair bit of damage in lieu of a bayonet.
Different handguard options are available, but the model reviewed for the magazine included the 12-inch Modular Rail FDE, which features top-mounted Picatinny rail sections at the front and rear with a sloped, smooth section in the middle. Removable rail sections are also located at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions on the front of the handguard for whatever combination of lights and sights you might prefer. A crisply etched “Black Rain” with company logo ride along both sides of the rail and add to the sex appeal. An equally sleek and silver “300 BLK” is displayed on the dust cover when open.
Multiple Magpul furniture options are available, but the .300 reviewed had a MOE SL (Slim Line) carbine buttstock and pistol grip, both in tan. The buttstock features dual side release latches and angled rubber buttpad to help with shoulder transitions with body armor or modular gear. The rifle comes without sights but has an optic-ready top-rail upper. Also included is a BRO charging handle and forward assist.
Range Tested
The rifle was tested using five different loads. Accuracy testing was conducted at 100 yards from a bench and measured on five different three-shot groups for each load. Velocity was measured using a Competition Electronics ProChrono chronograph from Brownells. Short-range target work was performed with Trijicon’s small but mighty RMR, while the accuracy portion utilized Steiner’s M5Xi 3-15x50mm Military optic.
Of the five loads tested, the SIG Sauer 220-grain Elite Performance Subsonic posted the best accuracy results, with an average group of .92 inches and a best group of .74 inches. Average velocity was 1,108 fps with a standard deviation of 7 fps and an extreme spread of 15 fps. Nosler’s 110-grain Varmageddon had the fastest average velocity of the group at 2,284 fps.
Parting Shots
The B.R.O. .300 BLK isn’t the cheapest AR you’ll buy ($2,439), but it is extremely well built and offers a lot of value for your dollar. A nickel boron bolt carrier and group, match-grade drop-in trigger, Magpul furniture, adjustable gas block and billet receivers mean you don’t need to spend on upgrades if you don’t want to, and in return you get a high-performance, sleek-looking, turn-key AR that’s ready to make it rain brass. It’s also reasonably accurate for caliber and comes suppressor ready, which is a main draw for the .300 BLK.
The venerable Ruger Redhawk is no stranger to sixgun lovers, but the company's newest ‘hawk boasts a classy round butt grip, 4.2 inch barrel and is chambered in .45 Colt, with the option of shooting .45 ACP in moonclips to boot.
In the video above, Jeff Quinn of GunBlast.com demonstrates the wheelgun using both .45 ACP defensive rounds, and some heavy-hitting .45 Colt. Writes Quinn:
The newest Redhawk shown here combines the features of that round-butt sixgun with the longer barrel of the 4.2 inch version, and added the ability to fire 45 ACP ammunition using moon clips. As I stated at the beginning of this piece, the Redhawk just keeps getting better!
The newest Redhawk wears a round-butt grip frame that is fitted with good-looking wood grips which are partially checkered for a secure grip. The round butt frame fits my hand well, but for good control and comfort, I prefer the rubber Hogue grip as supplied with the 4.2 inch square-butt Redhawk when shooting the heaviest loads. The sights consist of the familiar fully-adjustable Ruger rear mated with an interchangeable front. The front sight supplied is black with a red insert. Click here for Jeff Quinn's full review and more photos
The 250/3000 Savage was the first American cartridge to go 3,000 feet per second. Now it's considered one of many discontinued cartridges.
There are plenty of excellent cartridges that didn’t catch on. Their lack of overall popularity doesn’t mean discontinued cartridges need to be relegated to the ash heap of history.
“What am I going to do now? Do I try to buy up any and all ammunition, and only rarely use the rifle I like so much? Do I buy something more common?” Handloading is the solution. A competent handloader can revive discontinued cartridges from the brink of extinction. As long as the bullets and brass can still be purchased or made, the rifle will continue to have a long, healthy and happy life. The following are three examples of cartridges that can be easily returned to duty.
The 250/3000 Savage
Developed by renowned ballistician Charles Newton for the Savage Arms Co. in 1915, it was a speed demon for its day, achieving a then unheard of 3,000 fps with the 87-grain bullet. This benchmark influenced the very name of the cartridge, though it is also commonly known as the .250 Savage. It was a readily available chambering for the handy Savage 99 lever action, and was (and is) fully capable of pulling double duty on both varmints and deer-size game.
The handloader can easily bring these discontinued cartridges back around. Great .257-inch-diameter bullets, weighing from 87 grains to 120 grains, are available from almost all manufacturers, and Remington still produces component brass. Loaded with a medium burn rate powder such as IMR4064, Hodgdon’s Varget or Alliant Reloder 15, very good ammunition can be made to feed your .250 and provide a lifetime of hunting and shooting memories. It’s a lot of fun to head into the deer woods with an old Savage 99 just as our forefathers did.
Even when ammo manufacturers quit mass producing a particular load, such as the .264 Winchester Magnum, components can still be found for reloading discontinued cartridges. Massaro Media Group and JD Fielding Photography
The .264 Winchester Magnum
The late 1950s saw Winchester release a trio of belted magnum cartridges, all based on the .375 Holland & Holland case, but shortened to fit in a .30-06 length receiver. The .458 Winchester Magnum filled the African niche created by the demise of Kynoch ammunition, and the .338 Winchester Magnum was destined to be America’s elk medicine, but the .264 was immediately a bit of a threat. It was irreverent enough to tread upon the hallowed ground ruled by the .270 Winchester.
The long, lean 6.5mm bullets, when pushed through Winchester’s Westerner rifle that sported a 26-inch barrel, produced impressive velocities that could make hitting distant targets easier. The 100-grain bullets could be pushed in excess of 3,500 fps, and the 140-grain slugs hit the 3,200 fps mark. The bullets bucked the wind very well, but these speeds gave the cartridge a reputation as a barrel burner. Not long after its introduction, Winchester made the decision to shorten the barrels of the .264 rifles, and a correlative velocity reduction was the result. Often, the .264 was at or less than the velocity of the venerable .270 Winchester. By 1962, Remington released the 7mm Remington Magnum and the .264 was doomed. The shooting public loved the 7mm Magnum and turned a blind eye to the .264 Winchester. Factory ammunition is still available, in limited quantities, but few production rifles were chambered for the big 6.5mm.
I like to see a 26-inch barrel on a .264 to maximize the powder capacity of this case, and I like to see it fueled by the slower burning powders available today, like Reloder 22 or 25, H4831SC and IMR4350 or IMR7828. Stick a magnum rifle primer in there and you should have a recipe for success. As far as the barrel burner moniker, if you don’t heat that barrel to the point where you can light your cigar off the muzzle, it should give you a lifetime of service.
Big Discontinued Cartridges: 8mm Remington Magnum
The recoil of the 8mm Rem. Mag. can be stout for some shooters, but is more than capable on large, dangerous game. Massaro Media Group and JD Fielding Photography
In 1979, Remington went out on a limb and revealed a metric designation as the new big game round in their lineup. We Americans have generally shied away from metric designations; perhaps we like the bastardized decimal portions of an inch measurement. The 8mm Magnum sounded strange, and though the name was perhaps a gamble on the popularity of the 7mm Remington Magnum, it was not very well received. Available in the Model 700 rifle, the 8mm Magnum was a powerhouse, pushing a 220-grain bullet to almost 3,000 fps. This is a big game rifle, but alas, the .338 Winchester had enough time to spread roots, and trying to upset that apple cart would not be easy.
However, those who used the 8mm Remington had great success, and its followers are fervent over this cartridge. I’ve spoken with some very big names in the shooting and hunting world that have come to love this metric oddball. Using a bullet of 180, 200 or 220 grains, this cartridge makes a great choice for elk, moose, bear or bison in North America and really shines on the African game fields. Top it with a premium bonded-core bullet and you’ll avoid premature bullet break up, and get the deep penetration and energy transfer we are all after. It is a bit on the heavy side for deer, but has put its fair share of venison in the freezer.
Like the previously mentioned .264, it comes into its own with slow burning powders and magnum primers. Barnes, Nosler, Swift, Hornady, Remington and Sierra make wonderful projectiles in 8mm, and cases are still produced by Remington and Nosler Custom. In our test rifle, a 220-grain Sierra Game King and a healthy dose of Reloder 25 in a Nosler Custom case gave very accurate results, with three-shot groups hanging around ¾ inch. For those who enjoy the full magnum length receiver, this cartridge, when paired with a .375 H&H or .416 Remington, would make a great set of rifles for the traveling adventurer. Give me an accurate 8mm with a 220-grain Sierra Game King or Swift AFrame, and I’d be comfortable hunting 90 percent of the world’s game.
Parting Shot
All three of these discontinued cartridges have a common denominator: rarity. Save your brass for reloading and find an accurate load that works well. With a decent stockpile of projectiles, you can keep that near-obsolete rifle in the field for a lifetime.
This article originally appeared in the August 28, 2014 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Red dot and laser sights for handguns are big sellers right now at Nexus Shooting, and most of these purchases are from concealed carry practitioners. Owner Bernard Hsiao credited his computerized shooting range for many of these sales.
“Our customers are finding that the ease and speed of target acquisition is unparalleled with red dots and lasers, especially when they are shooting on the Nexus Lanes, our live fire computerized targets,” Hsiao explained. “Being able to shoot moving targets like asteroids, simulated steel and zombies on the video screen of the Nexus Lanes really helps our guests understand how difficult it can be to line up sights in a fast-paced, stressful scenario—like the one they might find themselves in during a real-life confrontation.”
Nexus also sells scores of holsters weekly. The top-selling line here is from Pitbull Tactical, a smaller, Florida-based manufacturer that makes a modular all-Kydex holster system that converts from outside the waistband to inside the waistband in a matter of seconds. The store has also been selling a lot of very comfortable “no clip” holsters from Remora, as well as Crossbreed hybrid leather and Kydex holsters.
“Pistol cases and carry-style handbags are also strong sellers,” Hsiao said. “We carry Gun Tote'n Mama concealed carry purses and they have done well for us, especially because we cater very heavily towards female customers; we have multiple women's only shooting groups and classes that meet here.”
Editor's Note: This brief originally appeared in the June 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
If you’ve never carried a concealed weapon before, and are considering it as an option for self-defense, you probably have a myriad of questions on your mind. Get answers to your questions about concealed carry, and learn the basics of carrying a concealed handgun with the Gun Digest's Shooter's Guide to Concealed Carry by Jorge Amselle. Using easy-to-understand language, helpful images and illustrations, and other advice, this concealed carry guide covers various methods of concealed carry, new handguns, holsters, ammunition, and equipment, concealed carry laws, do-it-yourself at-home training, and tips and tactics for keeping your gun concealed and ready. Learn More
A sporterized Springfield M1903 and Mauser Model 98 were among some of the top items at Rock Island Auction Company’s June Regional Auction. Photo RIAC
Rock Island Auction Company’s latest event had no trouble getting collector to break out their cash. In all, the Illinois company had $4.5 million in sales at its June Regional Auction.
As would be expected, a Civil War era Henry rifle drew top dollar at the event. Photo RIAC.
The numbers the world’s largest firearms auction house generated were of little surprise. The firearms that tallied up the numbers, however, did raise some eyebrows.
Classic blue chip rifles, shotguns and handguns had bidders reaching for their wallets at the June 26-28 event. But there was a fair share of more contemporary guns that had collectors attempting to best each other.
For the most part, these newer firearms all had one thing in common — military service. Along these lines, one of the top draws were actually two of the 20th Century’s most heralded battle rifles that had been modified for sporting purposes.
A lot containing a customized Springfield Armory M1903 and a Mauser Model 98 was sold for a whopping $5,462. This far exceeded what RIAC expected the .30-06 and 7x57mm to draw with the company estimating they would move for a humble $1,100.
A multi-gun collection of AK- and SKS-style rifles also vastly outperformed expectations. The five guns had been anticipated to move for a mere $1,300, but went out the door for $4,312 instead. This particular lot was so sought after there was activity from 26 bidders before the auction even began.
Appearing in The Outlaw Jose Wales made this replica Colt 1851 revolver’s price skyrocket into five figures. Photo RIAC
While some younger upstarts muscled into the spotlight of the auction, old standbys still drew top dollar.
As would be expected, a Civil War era Henry rifle recorded one of the highest prices of the auction. The rifle drew a winning bid of $20,700; adding to its desirability were markings indicating it was government inspected, thus had potentially seen action in the conflict.
The auction not only moved guns of national historic significance, but also those that had made a mark in entertainment.
A Pietta reproduction of a Colt 1851 Navy drew a winning bid of $17,250, given it was used in the Clint Eastwood film The Outlaw Josie Wales. The unique item came with a framed certificate of authenticity.
The author, Gun Digest Publisher Jim Schlender, left, joined author Massad Ayoob for a firsthand look at the new Glock 43 at the Glock range in Smyrna, GA. Ayoob serves on the board of the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network.
Every day, sure as the sun rises, I receive a series of emails from Stephen Wenger with the latest news about guns. Much of what makes headlines is about the use of firearms for self-defense. Wenger’s site, Defensive Use of Firearms, is a treasure-trove of information on the topic, and I suggest you go there to sign up for his daily updates.
These incidents show that if, God forbid, you have to use a gun for self-defense, the trauma from that life-changing event is just the beginning. You’ll interact with witnesses, police and attorneys, and where the whole thing goes from there is only a guess. In a perfect world, the good guy is recognized as such.
But this isn’t a perfect world. Recognizing that fact, Marty Hayes, his wife (and Gun Digest book author) Gila Hayes, and J. Vincent Schuck, started the Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network (ACLDN).
The ACLDN is a for-profit membership organization that provides support following a self-defense incident. Its advisory board reads like a who’s-who of self-defense experts. The Network’s legal support means someone has your back when you need it most. A few of its services include up to $10,000 deposit against attorney fees to ensure you have legal counsel during questioning, to interact with the media, and to handle other initial defense needs. The ACLDN helps find you a competent attorney, provides case review and trial strategy assistance, and funds expert witnesses to explain your self-defense actions to a jury.
The member education package, which includes eight lectures on DVD plus a copy of Massad Ayoob’s excellent book, “Deadly Force,” alone is worth the $125 annual membership fee.
Gun Digest is proud to announce our partnership with ACLDN. You can now purchase a membership here at the Gun Digest store. When you sign up through Gun Digest, you’ll also get a free copy of a fantastic e-book, “Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry Holsters,” authored by our online editor, Corey Graff.
I hope you don’t ever have to be in the headlines for defending yourself, but if you do, joining the ACLDN could turn out to be the best decision you’ve ever made.
Savage’s new Model 112 Magnum Target Rifle offers shooters a thrifty option in .338 Lapua.
There are few that will dispute the long-range accuracy of the .338 Lapua. However, there is a challenge in harnessing the round’s precision.
The powerful and ballistically gifted cartridge is none too cheap, and neither are the rifles that shoot it. But Savage Arms is shooting to end the assault on the pocketbook of those who desire the utmost exactitude at distance.
The Massachusetts manufacturer has done this with the recent introduction of the Model 112 Magnum Target rifle. The platform offers the effectiveness of the .338 Lapua, but with a MSRP of $1,177 is much more affordable than most other options presently available.
Savage built the rifle around its single-shot Magnum Action and mated it with a number of other features to enhance accuracy. Some of these include a pillar-bedded heavy barrel and the company’s adjustable AccuTrigger, which can be dialed down to a pull weight of just 6 ounces.
The Model 112 Magnum Target rifle weighs in at 12 pounds and is 49.8 inches in overall length. It has a 26-inch barrel, which is button rifled — like all of Savages firearms. And the long-range instrument is outfitted with a grey wood laminate stock and comes with a muzzle break.
The Pro Sporting, one of two new Citori 725s Browning recently released.
Browning has added a slew of new models to its Citori 725 line of shotguns this year. And the latest additions appear tailor made for shooters searching for a customizable gun.
The Utah company’s Pro Sporting and Pro Trap models are designed to adjust to their owners through a number of modifiable features. The one that might catch the most eyes is the Pro Balance System.
The in-stock weight system allows shooters to fine-tune their guns balance point. This feature should make both the field and competition over/unders fast to shoulder and quick to swing.
The Pro Trap Citori 725 features a raised rib, making it a quick pointer.
Also adding to the Pro Sporting and Pro Trap’s adaptability are their Pro Fit Adjustable Combs. This should be a nice add-on, which will allow each shooter to make his gun a natural pointer with a few turns of a screw.
The new shotguns have a number of features common to all Citori 725s, including: Fire Lite Mechanical Trigger System; full-width hinge pin and tapered locking bolt; and Invector-DS choke tube system.
The Citori 725 Pro Sporting will be offered in 12 and 20 gauge with 30- or 32-inch barrels at a suggested retail of $3,999.99. The Citori 725 Pro Trap 12 gauge features a high rib and with 30- or 32-inch barrels and a suggested retail of $3,999.99.
Concealed carry training in gun safety, marksmanship and legal issues is the pathway to the “not guilty” verdict we want to hear at the end of a month-long court case. Here is how it works.
In every state in the land, the jury will judge your self-defense actions against the standard of the reasonable person. What would a reasonable person, knowing what you knew at the time, have done under the same or similar circumstances? The jury will receive jury instructions from the court, but when it is decision time, when an individual juror votes “guilty” or “not guilty,” they will be asking themselves, “Would I have done the same thing, in his or her shoes?”
Of course, the jurors weren’t in your shoes, and they likely don’t have a level of training and expertise equal to yours, so giving them that level of training, communicated through your defense attorney, will be your job.
You see, the issue is your mindset at the time you pointed your gun at the criminal suspects and, if necessary, pulled the trigger. The jury needs to see the incident through your eyes, but it is your responsibility to make sure what they envision is accurate.
You accomplish this through the admission of evidence of your training, and I do not mean just a list of classes you attended. You need to introduce actual training documents or videos into court. The judge will rule whether the jury can see those materials.
In fact, the judge has great latitude over what evidence is admissible, and admissibility of evidence is rarely overturned on appeal. The appellate courts routinely write that they believe the court (the judge) knows best as far as the admissibility of evidence. The rule of admission of evidence basically states that all “relevant” evidence is admissible, unless it is either unreliable or excessively prejudicial.
If the judge believes that you actually did not know the training material and it was not part of your mindset, or that the training material or video is “overly prejudicial,” then he or she will not let your attorney discuss it. A real life example is seen in Larry Hickey’s trial.
Before the incident, Hickey had studied a dash cam video of a Texas law enforcement officer being overpowered and killed with his own weapon. Hickey testified that he thought about that footage while he was being attacked, but the judge would not let the video be played in court because she said it was overly prejudicial. Of course, defense attorney Matthew Messmer objected to the disqualification of this video. If Hickey had been convicted, Judge Godoy’s ruling would have been a very valid point of appeal.
Admitted into Evidence
How do you get a DVD or set of class notes admitted into evidence? Let’s say that you become the victim of road rage. Perhaps the assailants followed you to a parking lot and surrounded you. This is a classic pre-attack maneuver. Your decision to draw your firearm and display it to short-circuit what you perceived as an impending attack, despite the fact that they never exhibited any overt intention to harm you, can likely be justified if you were trained to recognize pre-attack indicators.
In my work with the Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network, I am tasked with developing court-admissible educational materials for the protection of our members. For example, in one video, Recognizing and Responding to Pre-Attack Indicators, I focus on being able to articulate what you saw that put you in danger. In that program, Marc MacYoung stages scenarios to clearly demonstrate what people do when they are preparing to commit a crime of violence against another person. Of all the titles in our member-education set, this one is of critical importance when it comes to defending yourself in court.
For that DVD program to be introduced in court, you must be able to positively state that you knew the lesson’s content ahead of time and learned it from that DVD. The DVD would then be introduced to the jury, the judge having previously ruled on its admissibility. The jury can be shown the part of the DVD pertinent to your situation, and then the jury will be able to decide if they, knowing what you knew at the time, would have drawn a gun and told multiple assailants to back away.
Because other pre-attack indicators—including verbal threats, physical gestures and more—go along with the flanking maneuver in our example, perhaps the entire video would be played in court, and your attorney could direct further exploration of lessons that applied to the particular incident being judged.
This is a complex subject with a lot of facets both trainers and students must consider. In Part II, I’ll discuss how training can hurt you in court.
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Ruger is making caliber conversion a snap with a new addition to its piston-driven AR line, outfitting this new SR-556 with a removable and replaceable barrel.
Ruger has made a fair bit of hay in the realm of takedown rifles. But, generally, it has had a narrow focus on this style of firearm.
The New Hampshire/Arizona manufacturer has mainly concerned itself with space conservation when it comes to takedowns. Perhaps the best known example is the company’s takedown model of its iconic .22 rifle, the 10/22.
Ruger’s latest endeavor into this system, however, shoots to do more than offer shooters a compact package. The company’s new SR-556 Takedown also aims at giving them the utmost in flexibility when it comes to calibers.
Ruger’s latest addition to its piston-driven line of AR-style rifles allows shooters to jump between 5.56 NATO and .300 Blackout cartridges with little more than a push and twist of the barrel.
This appears to have some definite advantages.
While the ability to switch calibers is baked into the cake of ARs, given their modular design, it does take some doing. On most systems, the entire upper has to be remove, which calls for some tools — at least a bullet to push out the takedown pins.
Ruger’s new scheme, however, is completely tool free, with locking lugs on the outside of the barrel’s chamber anchoring it to the monolithic upper.
The company has striven to maintain continuity between calibers and nowhere is this seen more than on the front sights. The sights are completely adjustable for windage and elevation, so shooters can fine-tune a zero that stays with the barrel. The new SR-556 has been outfitted with Ruger’s Elite 452 AR Trigger, which should be a leg up on the Mil-Spec variety. The proprietary trigger is two-stage and has a snappy 4.5-pound trigger pull.
The rifle is outfitted with a two-stage piston system, Magpul MOE grip and buttstock and has a chrome-lined cold-hammer-forged chrome-moly-vanadium barrel. The SR-556 ships with three Magpul 30-round PMAGs.
The carbine has an MSRP of $2,049; the .300 Blackout conversion kit is currently priced $449.
SR-556 Takedown Specs Caliber: 5.56 NATO and .300 Blackout (with conversion kit) Barrel Length: 16.1 inches Twist Rate: 1:9-inch RH Overall Length: 32.75 to 36 inches Weight: 7.6 pounds
No sights come on the Grendel Hunter, but its flattop receiver makes the mounting of optics or backup iron sights a snap. The new Leupold VX-6 4-24×52 scope was perfect for wringing out the last drop of accuracy from the AR, and Talley’s Tactical 34mm Black Armor rings were rock solid.
Accuracy-minded shooters take notice—the Alexander Arms 6.5 Grendel Hunter means business.
The 6.5 Grendel is one of the more purposefully designed accuracy cartridges to ever come down the pike. So when an equally unique rifle for it comes along, accuracy-minded shooters sit up and take notice. The “Grendel Hunter” from Alexander Arms is an AR with attitude and the results to back it up.
The 6.5 Grendel cartridge itself is equally impressive. Its goals were simple yet heretofore elusive in all but a few contemporary rounds, i.e., the .22 and 6PPC and similar wildcats. In fact, the 6.5 Grendel can trace its lineage to some of these outstanding cartridges. It was designed from the ground up to provide the optimum combination of power, efficiency and accuracy in America’s “modern sporting rifle” – the AR-15. To this end, it has succeeded remarkably.
While the Grendel has been used successfully for hunting a large variety of medium-sized big game and varmints, there was no specific hunting model until now, with the release of the Grendel Hunter model from Alexander Arms. The company is headed up by the inimitable Bill Alexander, and is located at the U.S. Army Arsenal in Radford, Va. Bill Alexander is a multitalented engineer who had worked for the British Ministry of Defense.
I caught up with him at a recent industry gig, and talked with him at length about the trials and tribulations that led to the 6.5mm Grendel Hunter. I love talking to Bill because you can’t help but learn a bunch of neat, new information. Bill is one of those people who’s so smart it’s scary. As he expounds on firearm design, ballistics and especially the 6.5 Grendel, you can almost hear the wheels whirling in his head at 100 miles an hour, and his enthusiasm and passion are infectious. When the Cold War ended, Bill said he “turned his attention to ARs. They are great rifles.” But he added that he wanted to “make the AR a little more versatile.” He saw the need for a flat-shooting, hard-hitting cartridge that would broaden the horizon of the AR rifle, and the Grendel was the result. Bill told me, “I designed the 6.5 Grendel specifically as a hunting cartridge.”
Alexander Arms ARs have always been made with the care and precision that result in high-quality guns. There isn’t much really all that new in the Grendel Hunter except for the finish and, of course, the 6.5 Grendel chambering. Alexander Arms has offered various versions of its ARs chambered for the Grendel since its introduction at the 2004 SHOT Show, and this is the latest iteration.
The fluted 18-inch, stainless steel barrel is matte black, and has six grooves with a right-hand twist of one turn in 8 inches – steep enough for the heaviest bullets that can realistically be launched out of the modest-sized Grendel case. Although the rifle does not come equipped with a muzzle brake or flash hider, the muzzle has 9⁄16-24 threads so that accessories can be added, if desired, and a thread protector comes as standard.
The caliber is marked below the Alexander Arms crest on the left side of the receiver. Controls are in the familiar places.
The handle is a comfortable Ergo Grip, and the collapsible B5 stock allows length-of-pull adjustment from 12½ to 14½ inches, handy when shooting from awkward positions, in heavy winter clothing or at steep angles from a coyote set.
The single-stage trigger is Alexander Arm’s Tactical style with skeletonized hammer and disconnector. Pull weight on my test rifle was 5 pounds, 6 ounces. Alexander Arms says it’s “glass rod” crisp, and they aren’t kidding. The flattop receiver is festooned with plenty of M-1913 Picatinny rail slots for the attachment of optics or a rear sight. Provision for a front sight is a MK10 Plus rail section atop the 12½-inch cylindrical, free-floated handguard, and three additional attachment points are spaced around the front of the handguard at 90-degree intervals.
Without sights, the new model weighs in at a comfortable 6 pounds, 9 ounces; with the addition of a relatively lightweight scope, it would easily come in at under 8 pounds. The fat, 34mm Leupold VX-6 4-24x52mm scope I used for testing brought the weight to a little under 9 pounds. Admittedly, this superlative scope was a bit of overkill, but it is certainly high on the “wow” factor. Probably the coolest feature of this new AR is the finish. It is a camo pattern called Kryptek Highlander, and is very attractive and would look right at home in the field.
For my money, though, the pièce de résistance of this outfit is the 6.5 Grendel cartridge itself. This was no haphazard development, and its circuitous history illustrates the amount of thought and experimentation that went into its design. It took many years, but the result is well worth it. Here’s a brief chronology.
In 1943, the Russian 7.62×39 was developed for their military. Never content, in the late 1950s, the Russians necked down that round to hold a 5.67mm (.223 inch) bullet for deer hunting, and they called it the .220 Russian.
The Hunter’s trigger is what Alexander Arms calls the Tactical Blade Trigger. It broke at 5 pounds, 6 ounces, and was as crisp as could be.
In 1975, Dr. Louis Palmisano and gunsmith Ferris Pendell developed a .22 caliber target round based on the .220 Russian, and called it the .22 PPC (Pendell Palmisano Cartridge). It went on to achieve phenomenal success in the benchrest game.
In 1984, Dr. Palmisano and noted ballistician Bill Davis developed the 6.5 PPC cartridge, also based on the .220 Russian case. This was for use in bolt-action guns by the U.S. Shooting Team in the 1986 World Championships. While the performance of the new round was fine, the team stuck with the 6mm cartridge they were already using at the time.
The 6 PPC, a necked-up version of the .22 PPC, came along in 1988 and has rightfully earned the reputation of “the most accurate cartridge in the world.” Also in 1988, a noted competition shooter, Arne Brennan, started experimenting with the 6.5 PPC, and in 2000, discussed his results with Dr. Palmisano. Brennan has written extensively and authoritatively on the Grendel.
About this time, Bill Alexander became interested in the cartridge. This wasn’t his first rodeo, as he had designed several unique cartridges, and the 6.5 Grendel was merely his latest brainchild. When Bill turned his attention to ARs, he tweaked the case of a cartridge of known accuracy, the 6PPC or 6mm PPC. He necked it up 6.5mm, shortened the neck a bit and moved the shoulder forward. This increased the powder capacity just enough to increase hunting-weight bullet velocity and downrange punch. Bill also thickened the neck to increase case life in the rough and tumble world of the semiauto rifle. The contributions of Lapua engineer Janne Pohjoispää around 2003 were significant here, too. The end result was the introduction at the 2004 SHOT Show of the 6.5 Grendel cartridge and rifles to shoot it.
It is interesting to note that the name “Grendel” was initially a trademarked cartridge, which precluded it from being produced by any other company, and significantly, from being considered by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (S.A.A.M.I.) for approval as a factory round. In 2010, Hornady obtained a licensing agreement with Alexander Arms, and began making ammunition and reloading dies. Alexander Arms subsequently released its trademark and Hornady submitted the round to S.A.A.M.I., also in 2010. Final approval was granted June 12, 2012, and the Grendel was off and running. Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) was set at 52K psi; now any company could make Grendel products.
Magazines with followers for the 6.5 Grendel are of steel. One 10-round magazine comes standard, with four- and 26-round magazines also available from Alexander Arms.
The name Grendel is from the epic Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf (circa 700-1000 A.D.). As the story goes, the mythical monster Grendel had been ravaging the mead-hall of Herot, killing and eating anyone he finds there. The vicious Grendel is feared by all, except Beowulf, who is not about to take any grief from Grendel and sets out to destroy him. Finally, Beowulf succeeds in killing Grendel by ripping his arm off. After also killing Grendel’s mother, Beowulf finds Grendel’s corpse and removes his head as a trophy. (Whether or not the head was mounted is not known.) It is perhaps only logical that one of Bill’s other cartridges is the ponderous .50 Beowulf.
While metric calibers have never been very popular in the States, the 6.5mm caliber has had an enviable reputation as a game getter for years. The high sectional densities and modest velocities of the long-for-caliber bullets from most 6.5mm rounds result in deep penetration and reliable expansion, without bullet blow-up.
Hunting history is rife with the tales of derring-do with 6.5mm cartridges. W.D.M. Bell whacked many elephants and Werner von Alvensleben slew hundreds of buffalo with what they termed a “small-bore rifle,” namely, the 6.5×54 Mannlicher-Schönauer. African hunter John Taylor noted in his 1948 tome African Rifles and Cartridges that the 160-grain 6.5mm bullet had about the best diameter-to-weight ratio of any game bullet, although Taylor wasn’t a big fan of the 6.5 on larger African game. Today, the 6.5mm is well represented in the cartridge lineup, with the 6.5 Creedmoor, .260 Remington, 6.5-284 Norma, .264 Winchester Magnum and the brand new .26 Nosler, to name a few. Factory ammo for the Grendel is relatively plentiful these days. Hornady offers two loads with 123-grain bullets, the A-MAX and SST. I was unable to locate the A-MAX load, but I shot the SST version. It is cataloged at 2,620 fps, clocked 2,429 fps out of the AR’s 18-inch barrel and accuracy averaged a delightful .68 MOA. Hornady’s ballistic wizard, Dave Emary, told me that this SST is specifically designed for small- to mid-sized big game, such as antelope or whitetail deer.
Alexander Arms itself lists five excellent factory loads in its catalog. Bullets are the Hornady 129-grain SST, 123-grain Lapua Scenar, Barnes’ 120-grain TS-X, the Nosler 120-grain Ballistic Tip and Swift’s 130-grain Scirocco. Although not listed in their 2013 catalog, I shot some Alexander Arms ammo loaded with the Berger 100-grain HPBT bullet. It was the fastest load tested at 2,704 fps and grouped into .68 MOA. Specs on three additional Alexander Arms loads tested are: 120-grain TS-X (2,457 fps, 1.47 MOA), 129-grain Hornady SST (2,308 fps, 1.77 MOA) and 130-grain Scirocco (2,258 fps, 1.65 MOA).
Finally, for “blasting ammo,” Wolf’s 120-grain HPBT load from (where else?) Russia, is only $15.99 a box from Alexander Arms, MidwayUSA and other sources. This ammo is brass-cased and Boxer-primed, but the brass is pretty soft and really not suitable for reloading. In the Grendel AR, it registered 2,392 fps and shot a respectable 1.07 MOA average. All of the factory load data is shown in the accompanying table.
Handloading the Grendel is where the fun starts. Most manufacturers of reloading tools make reloading dies, and Alexander Arms offers them, too. With the number of powders and high-tech bullets available, it is easy to tailor ammo for benchrest competition, long-range targets, plinking, varmints and big game.
Frankly, load development in the Grendel is mundane. About the only requirements are a primer in one end of the case, a bullet in the other and a safe powder charge in between. That’s about it. It’s downright difficult to find a load that won’t shoot like gangbusters in the Grendel. The famous PPC case shape, a good barrel, the inherent accuracy of the AR platform and today’s quality components all add up to fine performance.
The 6.5 Grendel case takes small rifle primers, and standard caps are all that are required. New cases are available from Alexander Arms, Hornady and Nosler. Alexander Arms cases are made by Lapua, and have the PPC-sized small flash hole, thought to be a component in the PPC accuracy equation.
Load data are readily available in most contemporary loading manuals, and the comprehensive two-volume set of 6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks by Joseph Smith, Paul Scott and Gregory Luli (see references) is a must for all 6.5 Grendel reloaders.
I tested over 40 handloads in the AR, and the average accuracy of all of them was 1.19 MOA; the best 25 percent averaged .76 MOA and for the top 50 percent, it was .87 MOA. Those results are no fluke.
The table shows just the best loads for seven bullets that demonstrate the superb accuracy of the 6.5 Grendel that the reloader can use as a starting point for a big-game load. In fact, I am going to pick one of these loads for an upcoming exotic sheep hunt in Texas.
The best powders in my tests were IMR-8208XBR, CFE-223 and Norma N-201. Bullet standouts were the Nosler Partitions and the Hornady SST. Because of the limited capacity of the Grendel case, about the heaviest bullets that are practical weigh 100 to 123 grains. These test results pretty much demonstrate why the 6.5 Grendel is firmly established as a super-accurate cartridge. With the addition of the Alexander Arms Grendel Hunter rifle, more hunters can take to the field with what may well be the optimum combination of power, portability, ballistic efficiency and pinpoint accuracy.
Alexander Arms Grendel Hunter Type: Direct gas impingement semiautomatic AR-15 Caliber: 6.5 Grendel Capacity: One 10-round magazine supplied, four- and 26-round magazines available Barrel: 18-inch fluted stainless steel, six-grooves, 8-inch twist; muzzle threaded 9/16-24, thread protector provided Overall length: 36¾ inches Weight: 6 pounds, 9 ounces (with empty 10-round magazine); 8 pounds, 10½ ounces (with scope and mount, as tested) Trigger: Blade-type Tactical single-stage trigger, weight of pull 5 pounds, 6 ounces, skeletonized trigger, hammer and disconnector Sights: None. Flattop receiver standard scope/optic mounts. Leupold VX-6 4-24×52 CDS 34mm scope with T-MOA Reticle (as tested) Scope Mount: Talley Tactical 34mm Black Armor Rings (as tested) Finish: Matte black finish on barrel, Kryptek Highlander camo pattern on upper, lower and stock, black Ergo Grip Handguard: Free-floated 12.5-inch, one MK10 Plus Rail section, four attachment points for additional rails Stock: Adjustable for length of pull (12½ to 14½ inches) MSRP: TBD Website: alexanderarms.com
With new shooters getting into the game at an unprecedented rate, finding a gun range at which to shoot is probably one of the most common concerns in our ranks today.
Indeed, it’s a valid concern even for avid shooters looking for a place that’s a little more private, lets them stretch their long-distance skills or provides the right venue for competition training.
Tip: Don't go to any range without a pack or two of Gun Digest's EZ2C Targets! Click here to order.
I recently moved, putting my favorite shooting range too far away to be a practical option. With a recommendation from a neighbor, I headed down to the local range closest to my new home. I figured I could quickly run some new ammo through a test pistol and snap a few photos for a GunDigest.com report. I thought wrong. It was a rifleman’s range, and a nice one at that, but handgunners were relegated to two small lanes off to the side. There were no options to change target distances, and waiting times between target changes were unbearably long. I left in a funk after emptying only two magazines. Was this my shooting future?
Back home, I did what I should have done in the first place: I searched for “shooting ranges” online. National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to the rescue—up popped NSSF’s site, WhereToShoot.org. If you haven’t visited, consider this an endorsement. Simply enter your zip code and pick a search distance. The site lists every range close by, including details on each one. While the NSSF site isn’t alone in offering this information, it’s by far the most accurate and up-to-date. The information is available as an app for iOS and Android devices. That’s good to know for traveling hunters or shooters who need to locate a range at the last minute.
WhereToShoot.org helped me locate a mostly unadvertised range at a semi-private club about 20 minutes away. It was 10 miles farther than the first I’d gone to, but the drive was worth it. As I pulled into the parking lot, the first thing I saw was a covered handgun range with six lanes, unoccupied except for one other shooter and the range officer. I introduced myself, wrote out a membership check, and proceeded to shoot until my hands were sore. Life is good for the Modern Shooter.
Author sits and discusses Handloader’s Digest No. 19 with some Gun Digest executives.
By now I think you all realize that I have a definite passion for reloading; one that I’m sure you share as well.
I’ve been fortunate enough to be given a voice among the gun writers that write reloading stuff — a voice, but certainly not the voice. I’m a firm believer in the old adage “You’re never too old to learn.”
While I am a confident reloader, and I’ve been fortunate enough to share both my experiences and trials and tribulations with many readers, I continue to grow and learn as well. The writing aspect of my job has forced me to delve into some areas that I normally wouldn’t deal with, and getting out of my comfort zone has been good for me. It has helped me to better understand where other reloaders are coming from, and to look at things from the outside.
However, there are times where I am forced to resort to other people in the industry who either know more than I do, or have a more specialized understanding of particular aspects of the topic at hand. I am proud to call many of the greatest names in the industry my friends, and it’s unbelievable that I can actually pick up the telephone and call some of the gentlemen that were my heroes in my younger days. That’s the central point here; many people in the reloading world are approachable, as am I.
My father grilled several phrases into my head as a youth, but there’s one that sticks out pertains here, and doesn’t contain the colorful language that is usually associated with my dad. “Philip, if you don’t know, ask.” Now this usually came out at 45,000 decibels when I’d done something wrong and plead my ignorance, but it certainly pertains to the reloading world.
I frequently receive emails from readers looking for advice regarding their particular reloading situation, and I do my best to answer them all to the best of my ability; but there have been times where I’ve had to admit I don’t know the answer, and direct them to those people who I feel may be better qualified to help them. Hell, I’ve had to do it myself!
Author with none other than Mr. Steve Hornady. It's nice to able to speak with some giants in the industry, and continue to learn. Photo Massaro Media Group
People like Robin Sharpless at Redding, Carroll Pilant at Sierra, Kent Sakamoto at RCBS, the good folks at Barnes Bullets, Jude Lundy at Cutting Edge Bullets, Chris Hodgdon at Hodgdon Powders; these guys are willing to help us reloaders to get the optimum performance from not only their own products, but from the gear combination we have chosen.
I am proud to announce that I am serving as editor of the 19th Edition of Handloader’s Digest, and in addition to my own pieces written for this book, I have done my best to assemble a team of reloaders that bring with them a boat-load of knowledge and experience. Some names will be familiar, like Craig Boddington and Bryce Towsley, some names you haven’t heard of yet, but will become household names in the reloading industry, but all of them bring a level of expertise and camaraderie to the field.
Never stop learning, and never be afraid to ask. There are no stupid questions when it comes to reloading, and there are plenty of good people who are willing to help you along the way so you can enjoy this hobby for a lifetime.
Thank you all for the kind words and commentary on this series, and who knows, maybe there will be a third installment, or even a question-and-answer series. Until next time, be safe and stay loaded.
The Sako 85 Carbonlight is the company’s lightest rifle and is now available in the US.
The Sako 85 Carbonlight is the company’s lightest rifle and is now available in the US.
Sako has built a dedicated following on both sides of the Atlantic for some obvious reasons.
The Finish subsidiary of Beretta has become well known for producing a superior rifle that doesn’t break the bank. And recently, it has unleashed one of its newest creations on America.
Sako 85 Carbonlight is now available on this side of the pond, after being introduced on the other earlier this year. And the new addition to the company’s largest line definitely has potential to turn heads, particularly in the backcountry-hunting crowd.
What could make the bolt-action rifle such a hot commodity with these shooters is its incredible lightweight. The Carbonlight tips the scales just a hair over 5-pounds, 5.3 to be exact.
This is, by far, the lightest rifle Sako produces, a function of Sako turning to some futuristic material for the gun’s stock. As its name implies, the new 85 uses a lightweight carbon fiber (actual carbon fiber) for its stock.
Shaving precious pounds without touching the metal components is one befit of the stock material. The other is it should make the new 85 pretty dang rugged, a big plus for a rifle destine for deepest wilderness.
The 85 Carbonlight will come in five calibers (.22-250 Rem., .308 Win., .260 Rem., and 7mm-08 Rem.) that should cover most medium-sized North American game. And like the other rifles in the line, it will have a receiver length to match its cartridge. Sako utilizes six different receiver lengths to ensure consistent and predictable cartridge chambering.
The rifle is outfitted with a 20-inch cold-hammer-forged barrel that has been fully free floated in the stock. The barrel is fluted and features a hand-cut target crown, an attribute that will protect the accuracy of the rifle.
The 85 Carbonlight’s bolt is milled from one solid piece of steel and has three locking lugs. And like all rifles in this line, the new 85 has a claw extractor, which should win points with traditionalist.
The rifle has a five-round detachable magazine, an integral rail dovetail scope mount and two-position safety. No MSRP was available on the rifle, but it has been reported it will retail around $3,000.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
