Reloading Ammo: Dangerous Game Loads — Part I

May 27, 2015

Many veer away from cooking up their own dangerous game loads for fear of producing a defective round. But handloaded ammo might be the right medicine for your next safari. Photo Massaro Media Group

Some shy away from producing dangerous game loads themselves, but this may be a mistake. Find out why you should load your own if heading on safari.

I’m just back from a fantastic African Safari, and thought we’d discuss some of the reloading points for Dangerous Game cartridges. I’ve had people tell me that I was crazy for using handloaded ammunition on a Dangerous Game hunt. I totally disagree with that statement; in fact, I believe the opposite to be true: dangerous game loads are among the most reliable.

Let’s be honest, factory ammunition is better than it ever has been. And, I think factory ammunition offers a wider variety of choices than ever. That said, there are times where cost or availability makes handloading the logical choice.

“I’d never use anything but the best factory ammo on safari; handloads just aren’t dependable.”

I say nonsense. When you’ve gained enough confidence as a handloader, the big bore ammo will make your reloading bench shine, first in cost reduction, then in performance.

The attention to detail that you can provide simply cannot be equaled by a machine, no matter how well it was designed. People ask the usual questions like “Well, what if you get a bad primer?” The primers come from the same factories that make the ammo, so I feel that’s a moot point. Load enough ammunition and you will get a bad primer (I’ve had very few), and I’ve experienced more failures-to-fire with factory stuff than I ever did with my own loads.

While the bullet choices are really good among today’s factory ammo, they can’t cover everything. An example: On this recent safari, I was using a Heym bolt-action .404 Jeffery, and I wanted to shoot the Woodleigh Hydrostatically Stabilized solids. Problem — no factory loads exist with this combination. Solution — I handloaded those funky Woodleigh bullets in to Norma .404 cases over 80.0 grains of Reloder-15, and, voila! 2,280 fps, MOA accuracy, and all performed well in Africa, even on elephant.

Depending on your choice of big bore caliber, factory ammunition can be very expensive. The popular .416 Rigby, which makes a very effective hunting round, comes at the average cost of $100-200 per box of 20. That can be a wallet breaker, especially if you need to try several different brands in order to find what your rifle likes.

Dangerous game loads will not only let you tailor the loads to the rifle, but do so at a third of the price. The cost savings can be put toward more practice with the big stick, so when the trophy of your dreams presents itself, there’s no worries. The more popular .375 H&H is a bit more affordable, but the larger and more obscure calibers are even more costly. The .470 NE can be as much as $17 per round!

The reloading technique for Dangerous Game cartridges is the same, with the exception of the crimp stage. If you’re shooting one of the ‘straight-walled’ cartridges, like the .458 Winchester Magnum, .458 Lott or .458 Express, you’ll definitely want a good roll crimp to keep those bullets in place under recoil.

The same can be said for any of the double rifle Nitro Express cartridges. Sometimes you’ll find that you shoot the right barrel much more than the left, and the cartridge in the left barrel can be exposed to multiple rounds of recoil, which may force the bullet out of the case were it not heavily crimped. This is especially true if you use the solid/soft bullet combination in your double.

Seating depth can be manipulated in handloads for safari, and sometimes a few thousandths can mean the difference between your bolt-action rifle feeding a particular bullet well or having feeding issues.

In addition to keeping rounds to tighter tolerances, constructing your own dangerous game loads can definitely save you some big bucks. Photo Massaro Media Group

You really don’t need to wring every last bit of velocity out of your big bore either. Handloaders are always chasing velocity, when compared to the advertised factory velocities, but often you’ll find the best accuracy a bit below those numbers.

My .404 shoots MOA with those 400-grain bullets at 2,280 fps, instead of the modern load of 2,350 fps, and I’m quite alright with that. The elephant wasn’t, though. Same can be said for the .375 H&H; it will still perform very well (some say better) if you drop the velocity by 100 – 150 fps. Don’t sweat the velocity loss from canister-grade powders.

Try dangerous game loads for your big bore, you’ll gain confidence as you see how well your ammunition performs. I’ve been on five safaris to Africa, and I’ve never pulled the trigger on factory ammunition while there. 14 species later, I’ve had no issues whatsoever.

Photo Gallery: Sneak Peek of RIAC’s Upcoming Regional Firearms Auction

Elwood Shelton

May 26, 2015

Rock Island Auction Company is gearing up for its June 26-28 Regional Firearms Auction. As usual, the top seller of collectable firearms has quite a roster ready to cross the block. Highlights include some 400 Colts, 600 shotguns and 200 Spanish arms. Here’s a look at some the rare and unique firearms for sale at the Illinois auction house.

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Market Trends: Rifles Drive Good Winter for One Indiana Gun Shop

Brian McCombie

May 26, 2015

David Cosner — Cosner’s Gun and Knife Shop, Bedford, Indiana.

December 2014 was very good to Cosner’s Gun and Knife shop, an independent retailer in Bedford, Indiana, a town of about 14,000 people located midway between Evansville and Indianapolis.

According to owner David Cosner, the store actually had sales above what had been a record-setting December 2013. He credits those surprising sales to two buying groups: Hoosier deer hunters; and, self-defense buyers, especially females.

“Our long gun market really wasn’t the best through most of 2014,” Cosner explains. “But then in December, we started selling all kinds of the lower-priced bolt actions, like the Savage AXIS, especially in .243 Win. and .30-06.”

Cosner thinks that a proposal in the state legislature to allow high-powered centerfire rifles for deer hunting spurred these bolt gun purchases. Currently, Indiana deer hunters are limited by law to shotguns or firearms using the equivalent of centerfire handgun rounds.

Last December also saw a flurry of customers buying revolvers for self-defense, usually .38 caliber models with short barrels like the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard that Cosner’s offers for $539.

“The Bodyguard comes with a laser sight, which is a pretty good deal all by itself. Plus, a lot of the women who are looking for a self-defense handgun prefer the revolver because they are often a little easier to use than semi-autos.”

Cosner’s tries to have several hundred used firearms on hand, too, but Cosner notes it is getting harder to get good used guns.

“Used to be, when someone bought a new rifle or shotgun they’d trade in their old one. Now, when they want a new long gun, they just buy it and keep the old one, too. That’s good for our new guns sales—but it’s making it harder for us to keep a good inventory of second-hand firearms.”

Editor's Note: This brief originally appeared in the Spring 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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Arsenal Releasing Limited Supply of SA RPK-5 Series

Elwood Shelton

May 21, 2015

Arsenal has reintroduced the SA RPK-5 Series, chambered in 5.56x45 NATO. — Arsenal has reintroduced the SA RPK-5 Series, chambered in 5.56×45 NATO.

Mikhail Kalashnikov will forever be synonymous with the AK-47, for obvious reasons.

The rifle is truly one of the triumphs of 20th-Century small arms design, marrying economical production with performance in the field. The ubiquitous AK, however, is not the only brainchild of the now deceased Russian Lieutenant General.

Kalashnikov had a number of firearm designs to his name and one is making its way back into one manufacturer’s roster. Arsenal recently announced the limited release of a RPK variants — the SA RPK-5 Series.

This variation of the RPK-74 has not been available for a number of years from the company. And is presently being produced in the Bulgarian/American gun maker’s Stateside operation.

The rifle has many of the original features found on the Soviet model, but there is one major historic break — its caliber. The rifle is chambered for 5.56×45 NATO, instead of its 5.45×39. As a side note, Arsenal has made 5.45 variants of the RPK, as well as 7.62×39 models. The larger caliber was what the rifle first fired when it was developed in the early 1960s.

Like the original, the SA RPK-5 series has a nearly identical operating system as an AK-47. The rifle cycles through the robust long-stroke piston operation, which has become renown for its ability to function in nearly any conditions.

Where the RPK differs from the AK, however, is its barrel length. The rifle was outfitted with a 23.2-inch barrel, meant to enhance its range, accuracy and rate of fire. Arsenal has kept the barrel dimensions the same as the Soviet iteration. However, at 40-inches in overall length, the SA RPK-5 is a hair smaller than the RPK-74.

The barrel has a 14mm muzzle thread, the most common found on AKs. This should open the options for those who shoot to customize their rifle with a preferred muzzle break or flash suppressor. Until then, the threads are protected with a factory installed muzzle nut.

The 10-pound SA RPK-5 has a number of other features, including: blond wood furniture, folding bi-pod, cleaning rod, scope rail and paddle-style butt stock. The rifle ships with one 30-round magazine, sling, oil bottle and cleaning kit.

Presently rifle is being sold at K-Var for $2,295.

Bergara Turns Eye to Penny-wise Hunters with B14 Rifle

Elwood Shelton

May 20, 2015

Bergara is offering hunters an economical choice with the release of its B14 rifle. Like much of the B-14 line, the rifle has exceptional quality.

Bergara is a Spanish barrel maker that recently gained a Georgia drawl.

Not so long ago, the company expanded its operations to one of America’s hotbeds of firearms manufacturing. In the process, the company expanded its horizons to manufacturing complete rifles.

While much of gun maker’s early offerings have had a tactical flare, it has turned its eye more closely to hunters as of late. And it looks to have given them a fairly slick looking rifle that — if it lives up to previous offerings — should be right on target.

Perhaps best of all, the Bergara B14 doesn’t look to break the bank in offering a top-line rifle. The walnut stocked Timber version has a price tag of $950, while a synthetically stocked Hunter model is $825. This is well below the previous rifles the company has released, which run into the thousands of dollars.

Being a Bergara, however, it’s the rifle’s barrel that should end up stealing the show. The company’s multi-stage process of boring and rifling its chrom-moly barrels has been reported as leaving nary a tool mark, thus making them superbly accurate.

In particular, it is Bergara’s honing process and the utilization of diamond-tipped bits that create the bore’s mirror-like finish. The company then button rifles the barrels, keeping the deviation of the groove less than .0002”.

The B14 is being offered in five chamberings — .300 Winchester Magnum, .30-06, .270, .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. This selection should cover nearly any game stalked in North America, not to mention an individual hunter’s preferences.

The rifle's dimensions can vary slightly, depending on if the caliber requires a short or long action. The short action models have a 22-inch barrel length and measure 41.25-inches overall. Tack two inches on for long actions.

There is also around .45-pounds difference in the B14 weight depending on the action. Obviously, the long action is a hair heavier. The stock material also plays a hand in overall weight, but not as much as might be expected. The long-action Timber model tips the scales at 7.9 pounds, while synthetic Hunter version (with the same action) is 7.5 pounds.

This weight deferential translates over to the short action. And, it appears to give hunters a fairly manageable rifle, no matter what material they prefer for their stock.

Both stocks are bedded with integral pillars, free-floating the barrel and adding stability to the platform. This is yet another area where Bergara has turned an eye to the overall accuracy of the B14.

If the B14 rifle follows in its predecessors' footsteps in its ability to deliver precise shots, it could turn out to provide a lot of bang for the buck.

Reloading Ammo: Keeping Your Powder Scale and Thrower on Solid Footing

Philip Massaro

May 20, 2015

Ensuring your powder scale and thrower are accurate means keeping them on solid footing.

Feeling a little shaky about your powder measurements? It could be you've got some bad vibrations getting in the way. Here are some thoughts on how to keep your loads accurate and rock solid with a look at the powder scale.

We all have different types of reloading setups, ranging from a well-designed, clearly thought-out bench in a dedicated space to a press that is C-clamped to a metal desk in a rather impromptu manner. I’ll be totally honest, I’ve used both, and many types in between.

My early days as a reloader were spent with a complete lack of funds, minimal equipment, and I soaked up information like a sponge. While this taught some invaluable lessons, all learned the hard way, some of the more sophisticated gear and a better place to reload would’ve been a blessing beyond measure.

When I did get my own space, which eventually evolved into Massaro Ballistic Laboratories, I saved my pennies for some new gear, and began to embrace the world of digital scales, powder throwers and new-fangled presses.

During the course of learning to use the new tools, I found that both the digital scales and powder measures were very sensitive to vibration. The digital scales are especially touchy, not only to vibration but to air currents. In some of my ‘shakier’ environments (portable tables, etc), the digital scales, especially the early models, were all over the map.

It was a ton of work to keep them zeroed, let alone to get them to read the same measurement twice. Even the RCBS Chargemaster, which is an awesome machine, can give false readings and dispense errant powders charges when subject to vibrations.

I’ve had friends with shaky benches tell me that the Chargemaster wasn’t a good choice, but the fault lied with their reloading space, not the RCBS design. Even a balance beam scale can be affected if the floor boards are bouncing around.

My own reloading bench is an overbuilt workbench, in my garage, with 6×6 posts for legs, well secured to the wall, and resting on a concrete floor. I could jump up and down on a pogo stick and it would be stable. Still, I don’t want the motion of the press to affect the powder charge being dispensed into the electronic scale, so I keep it on a separate table, just to be sure.

As hard as I’ve tried, I can’t get the Chargemaster to trip up; I check it with a good balance beam scale, but it remains wonderfully consistent, session after session.

A good bench, solidly built, can be just the ticket to deaden any vibrations that might throw a power scale or thrower off. Photo <a href= — Massaro Media Group” width=”300″ height=”215″> A good bench, solidly built, can be just the ticket to deaden any vibrations that might throw a power scale or thrower off. Photo Massaro Media Group

Powder throwers can be equally affected by vibrations. The mechanical powder measures of today are very precise, and there are models available that are designed to throw powder charges for the pistol calibers, up to and including the magnum rifle cases that burn 100 or more grains at a rip.

Most powder throwers work most accurately when operating in the middle third of their powder capacity, as the volumetric measurement will be most accurate. If the powder thrower is subject to vibration, the volume of powder being thrown will vary by some degree.

While I still weigh all of my powder charges on some sort of scale, I know benchrest shooters that do not weigh powder; they simply use a consistent volume of powder, and it works out very well.

Bottom line is, while trying to set up your reloading bench, do your best to avoid and major vibrations, whether it be by choosing a spot that is rock solid or building a bench that will help dampen vibrations and keep them to a minimum. I believe you’ll see an improvement in your final product.

Getting the Swing of a Proper Shotgun Swing

Nick Sisley

May 19, 2015

If your shotgun swing tends to occur with minimal, or no, body turn, it’s easy to practice the proper maneuver. Do it at home, practicing with an unloaded gun. In addition to learning to turn your entire body as you swing the shotgun, you’ll also be practicing a proper gun mount.

The tendency for so many is a dip maneuver. As the gun is mounted, the right hand gets too active in bringing the butt stock to the shoulder. When that happens the muzzle dips down away from the target’s flight path, whether the bird in question is flying straightaway, offers a quartering or a crossing shot. What you want is a smooth move to the bird, not just with your hands, but also with the ever-so-important muzzle.

How do you do that? The mistake so many make is that they start the butt stock to the shoulder first. This move almost guarantees that the muzzle will come down, probably away from the bird’s flight path. The additional negative here is this. As this shooter is getting the butt to the shoulder the muzzle isn’t moving yet. Thus the bird is getting further ahead of that muzzle.

What makes a lot more sense is to start the muzzle moving with the bird so that the pitch or feathered target doesn’t get that jump on you. Then bring the stock to the shoulder as you keep swinging and turning. You may still see some muzzle dip as the butt stock nears your shoulder. If this happens, try less gripping pressure with the right/pistol grip hand. Also, work on smoothness as you practice at home. If the muzzle dips down, slow down until you become more accustomed to this move and comfortable with it.

It’s a good idea to initially practice this move on an imaginary straightaway clay. Get the feel of having the muzzle move smoothly and unwaveringly to the top corner of your office or den wall. One company sells a special flashlight that you can insert in your practice gun’s muzzle. It has a tiny red beam. The slightest incorrect move to the imaginary bird can thus be seen easily via the light on the wall corner.

Once you’re comfortable with this smooth move to the straightaway target, it’s time to work on a crossing shot. Here you can use the seam where the wall meets the ceiling. Start the muzzle at the room’s corner, gun down. Start swinging along that wall/ceiling seam, blending in the gun mount while turning, hopefully from the ankles up. As the stock hits your shoulder and cheek, this is when you should be hitting the trigger in a real clay-shooting situation.

How often should you practice this gun mounting and body turning scenario? I don’t think any of us should ever stop. This practice should be done every day, at least several times a week, – and not only in the days or weeks leading up to an upcoming tournament.

Why? Because the proper gun mount and the proper turn in your swing hits at the very fundamentals of shotgun shooting. Watch any how-to video on shooting, golf or the stock market. What do the extremely successful pros go back to day in and day out? It’s the fundamentals. I recall watching a golf video years ago – done by Gary Player. He kept going back to his grip. To his caddy and other close golfing friends he would say something like, “Keep an eye on my grip. It has to be perfect. If you ever notice the slightest change in my grip, tell me right away.”

This article is an excerpt from Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to Shotgun Games.

Turnbull BBQ Series 1911s Look Delicious

Elwood Shelton

May 19, 2015

A unique and beautiful option in high-end 1911s, the Turnbull BBQ Series are truly striking handguns. — Turnbull BBQ Series presents shooters truly unique and beautiful options in high-end 1911s.

Whether it’s a gun restoration or an original firearm, there’s little arguing Turnbull Manufacturing’s artistic flare.

The New York company has a roster full of aesthetically pleasing work, from classic leaver-action Winchesters to color case-hardened AR-15s. And the custom gun maker continues to add to its lineup of unique and beautiful handguns and rifles.

The Turnbull BBQ Series is tasty, including their gold inlay fork and spatula insignia. — The Turnbull BBQ Series appears to offer some tasty extras, such as the line's gold inlay fork and spatula insignia.

Most recently, Turnbull has added a line of 1911 pistols that is almost certain to get shooters drooling. Perhaps this is what the company's higher ups had in mind when they named it the BBQ Series.

Turnbull's newest line of 1911s appear like they are built to be collectors items right out of their hard case.

The collection is set up to have a number of custom features added, depending on the buyer's preferences. But the four pistols (Government, Government Heritage, Commander and Commander Heritage) do have some common attributes.

The grips are one of the options that catch the eye almost from the get-go. Crafted from elk-horn, they give the pistols a raw and elegant look that breaks from many of other high-end 1911s on the market. And set against the nitrate-blue finish of the pistols' slide, the grips boldly pops, no matter their inherent staining.

There is, however, plenty of meat to go with this bone. The .45 ACPs all have solid one-piece triggers and 24 karat gold inlay of a crossed fork and spatula — the BBQ Series insignia. From there, a number of options are available to help make the gun unique to its owner.

The most notable is the selection of hand engraving that comes standard with the pistols. Turnbull offers the choice of four classic patterns to adorn the slide and frame of the 1911s, including:

One of the big selling points of the Turnbull BBQ Series is the opportunity to choose from four hand engraving patterns, such as the Flare style above.

Scroll — Derived from classic American scroll engraving from the mid-19th Century.
Flare — Composed of deep, heavy cuts that meet to form bright sparkling patterns.
Grape — Flowing across the pistol are leaves, vines and grapes, a very classic gun engraving design.
Colt — Inherited from fine engraved Colt pistols, features Colt-style scrollwork, punch dot background and fancy boarders.

The standard modes of the Government and Commander pistols have charcoal blue frames. The Heritage models of these pistols feature color case hardened frames.

The Government models are outfitted with 5-inch barrels, feature World War I style sights with semi-circle notch and come with the choice of wide or short spur hammers. The Commander models have 4.25-inch barrels and are outfitted with speed hammers.

If you plan to sink your teeth into the Turnbull BBQ Series better have your wallet ready. The pistols start at $5,000.

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AR-15 Review: YHM Specter Model 57 XL

Doug Howlett

May 19, 2015

Yankee Hill Machine’s Specter Model 57 XL is a testament to quality American gun design. Doug Howlett reviews the feature-packed AR-15.

Florence, Massachusetts, gunmaker YHM has been around almost as long as the AR itself, having been founded in the 1960s. The company primarily originally just made parts and accessories before migrating to include suppressors and eventually fully manufactured rifles.

Most recently, in a late 2014 product roll-out, YHM announced the addition of a billet upper, billet lower and handguard all Cerakoted in an industry standard burnt bronze color that appears anything but standard.

YHM machines the lower and upper itself using 7075-T6 aluminum billet, which allows it to build the gun to exacting tolerances that allow for better fit when assembled and a seamless look once Cerakoted. Billet also tends to offer more durability than a cast lower and upper, though it also tends to cost a little more. It’s definitely considered the most aesthetic of the three manufacturing processes, the third one being forged.

Additional features of this rifle include a 16-inch 4140 steel barrel, heat treated to increase its hardness and improve durability, and then ball cut fluted for reduced weight, improved rigidity and improved cooling.

The end is threaded to accommodate muzzle accessories such as a suppressor if you so desire, but comes with YHM’s uniquely cool looking Slant compensator/muzzle brake. The front angle of the brake matches that of the front end of the Rifle Length SLR-Slant handguard.

A top integrated Picatinny rail runs the full length of the handguard and upper with partial rails mounted at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions on the front of the handguard. The rails allow for the attachment of a myriad of lights, lasers and sling attachments and at no more than 4 inches on the sides and 4.5 on the bottom, leave ample space for a comfortable grip.

The exterior of the magwell boasts finger flared grooves that add both visual appeal and to a lesser extent, another grip point, and is yet another feature made possible by the CNC-machined billet.

The slightly oversized opening to the magwell flares outward to aid rapid magazine changes. Also oversized are the extended take down pins for quick, easy and tool-free takedown, as well as the Tactical Charging Handle Latch.

A rubberized Magpul MOE grip rounds out the functionality of this rifle along with the adjustable Magpul CTR buttstock, which provides for 4 inches of adjustment. The rifle comes out of the box with a YHM Q.D.S. Hooded front sight and YHM Q.D.S. rear sight, both made from aircraft-grade aluminum. Both flip-up easily with the single touch of a side button. The XL model is slightly longer, about 2 inches overall than YHM’s standard length Model 57.

Competitive Performance

I put the Specter XL through the paces on multiple occasions with two serious testing sessions carried out at C2 Shooting Center in Virginia Beach, Va.

My first session involved shorter 25- and 50-yard shooting, at first with the flip-up sights, more to get the gun dirty and see how it cycled after becoming hot.

We pumped a couple hundred rounds of 5.56 from HPR Ammunition, Winchester and Federal and every round fed and fired without a hiccup.

The flip-up sights were on target out of the box, but this rifle was destined for a new Aimpoint Carbine Optic or ACO, along with an 3xMag magnifier and TwistMount for rapid attachment and detachment. With some help from a good friend, Chris Castle, we had the optics mounted in minutes and the rifle sighted and dialed in with less than seven shots.

With a solid rest we were quickly knocking out quarter-sized groups. Recoil was negligible courtesy of the light-kicking caliber and the compensator/muzzle brake.

At my second session, I tested four loads in the Specter XL: Winchester white box 5.56mm 55-grain FMJ, HPR .223 Rem. 55-grain FMJ, Remington UMC .223 Rem. 55-grain MC (metal case) and Federal Premium .223 Rem. 55-grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. Shooting five-shot groups, the HPR performed ridiculously well, giving me one ragged group of touching shots except for one that strayed less than a quarter inch to the left.

The Remington and Federals both delivered average groups of 1¼ inches, while the Specter XL didn’t gel with the white box Winchesters, the company’s bargain offering, with group averaging 1¾ inches.

I think had I remembered to grab the Win3Gun or one of the 5.56 Winchester varmint loads, things would’ve been quite different on the paper. And again, as the HPR suggested, this gun is more than capable of going up against any other production—and many custom—models offered accuracy-wise. What’s better, for the aesthetics among us, this gun actually looks as good as it shoots.

Yankee Hill Machine Model-57 Burnt Bronze Specter XL
Caliber:   5.56 tested (also available in 300 BLK & 6.8 SPC II)
Action Type:   Semi-auto
Receiver:   YHM Billet 7075-T6 Aluminum Lower and Flat Top Upper
with Cerakoted Burnt Bronze finish
Barrel:   16-in. 4140 steel barrel with exclusive ball cut fluting, threaded and outfitted with a YHM Slant compensator/muzzle brake  v
Magazine:   2 30-round Magpul Gen 2 PMAGs
Trigger:   Drop-in 2-stage upgraded trigger
Sights:   YHM Q.D.S. hooded front sight and YHM Q.D.S. flip-up rear sight
Stock:   Adjustable Magpul CTR Buttstock, Magpul MOE Grip
and YHM rifle-length SLR-Slant forend in cerakoted burnt bronze
Weight:   7.76 lbs.
Overall Length:   33.5 in. (37.5 fully extended)
Accessories:   Hard plastic gun case, 2 30-round mags
SRP:   $2,395
Website:   yhm.net

This AR-15 review appeared in the May 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Eclectic Gun Auction Stirs Up Big Bucks

Elwood Shelton

May 18, 2015

Historic and Extremely Rare Serial Number "7" Springfield Armory Shop Model M1 Garand Semi-Automatic Rifle that drew top dollar at RIAC's latest gun auction. Photo Rock Island Auction Company. — Springfield Armory Shop Model M1 Garand Semi-Automatic Rifle that drew top dollar at RIAC's latest gun auction. Photo Rock Island Auction Company.

Firearms collectors can still pick up a pretty striking example of an M1 Garand for a fairly affordable price. So, it would take an extremely unique example of the American battle rifle to drive its prices into the stratosphere.

That is exactly what the Rock Island Auction Company had on hand for its latest Premiere Firearms Auction. With a serial number of 7, the M1 that crossed the block at the April 24-26 even was expected to fetch in the neighborhood of $30,000 to $50,000.

Instead, it set the auction on fire leaving the house with one of the heftiest prices of the event — $97,750. The sky-high winning bid was due to two determined collectors, who — to the delight of the audience — drove historic .30-06’s price through the roof.

RIAC staged a lucrative event, reporting the April auction had $11.6 million in overall sales. Part of its success was attributed the sale offering a little bit of everything to every stripe of collector.

“This is perhaps the most well-balanced sale of every major collecting genre I can recall to date,” said RIAC director of auction services Kevin Hogan. “There was a true collaboration of consignments that ranged from one gun family heirlooms to massive collections put together over decades.”

This Colt Pocket Model drew top dollar at the RIAC gun auction, in part due to the fact it is the earliest known engraved Colt. Photo Rock Island Auction Company.

The show stealer of the event was perhaps one of the most diminutive firearms to cross the block. A Colt Pocket Model Paterson Revolver No. 1 (Baby Patterson) was sold for a whooping $414,000. But the revolver — with case and accouterments — had more going for it than just being a unique model.

The Baby Patterson is also the earliest known factory engraved Colt. Frederick Hansen, who is known for adoring a number of important guns to leave the Colt Paterson factory, engraved the pearl-handled pistol.

The pocket Patterson wasn’t the only Colt to turn heads at the auctions. Par usual, the iconic manufacturer’s wares drew top dollar throughout the event.

A Bisley Flattop Target Model chambered in .32 Colt that was purchased for $51,750 — double its expected price. And a first-year production Colt Python initiated one of the fiercest bidding battles of the event. Two phone bidders faced off over the .357 Magnum, driving up the revolver’s final price to $17,250.

As would be expected, a U.S. Model 1902 DWM Luger met its high expectations at the gun auction. The “Cartridge Counter” Luger rang the bell at $74,750; the impressive price was driven in part to the pistol's rarity. Only 50 of the handguns were ever produced.

An incredible pommel plate on this saddle shows why it was one of the most sought after items at the auction. Photo Rock Island Auction Company.

Firearms were the draw of the auction, but there were some other impressive collectables that got bidders reaching for their wallets. Perhaps the most historic was a saddle presented to President Teddy Roosevelt.

The saddle exceeded its expected price by 250 percent, leaving the house off a $51,750 bid, in part due to a unique and significant feature. The tack had a pommel inscribed “Presented/to/LT. COL. T. ROOSEVELT/1st U.S. Vol. Cav./by/the Rough Riders/1898.”

The saddle included documentation it was originally given to Roosevelt by his fellow Rough Riders and then to Lucille Mulhall (know as “The First Cowgirl”) by the president.

Introducing the Aimpoint Micro H-2

Elwood Shelton

May 18, 2015

The Aimpoint Micro H-2 is shooting to give hunters the edge in the field.

The Aimpoint Micro H-2 red-dot sight is shooting to give hunters the edge in the field.

Red-dot sights are ubiquitous in the tactical world. But the quick and accurate aiming solutions are not purely relegated to sitting atop black rifles.

The optics have also won favor among a good cross-section of hunters. Whether it's stalking fast moving boar or thick-timber deer, the red-dots have proven themselves adept at putting meat on the table.

In this realm, Aimpoint has helped place more than one trophy on the wall. And the Swedish company appears to be still shooting to help hunters of every stripe with its most recent addition.

The manufacturer recently introduced the next generation of one of its lightest and least obtrusive sights. And while the new Micro H-2 has retained a number of snappy features from its predecessor (the H-1), the sight has some notable upgrades.

Perhaps the most heavily touted advancement the H-2 boasts is the its improved lenses. While the company does not get into specifics, it points out it has upgraded the optic's glass and its coating, allowing for greater light-gathering capabilities, thus better clarity no matter the circumstances.

The Aimpoint Micro H-2 also has a redesigned extruded aluminum housing that makes it more rugged, while maintaining its slight proportions. The company has also added a couple new features to add to the waterproof sight’s robustness, including reinforced turrets and front and rear flip-up lens covers.

Among the Aimpoint Micro H-2’s upgrades include improved lenses and a more rugged housing.

Even with these tweaks, the optic is only a hair heavier than the H-1, weighing in at 3.3 ounces. Its dimensions are also minimal at 2.7 inches in length and 1.6-inches high (including its mount).

Like all Aimpoint optics, the Micro H-2 is designed to be parallax-free. This feature should be a huge asset for hunters, helping them deliver speedy and accurate shots confidently.

With a 2 MOA red-dot, the new sight should allow hunters a good amount of accuracy, even at medium distances. The sight can also be adjusted to nearly any light conditions with 12 brightness settings.

The H-2 runs off one CR2032 3V lithium battery, which, if the sight lives up to Aimpoint’s specs, has an incredible lifespan in the optic. The company lists the battery’s life at 50,000 hours or over five years of continues use in the H-2.

The sight has a Weaver-/Picatinny-style base, which allows it to be attached to nearly any rail. It also can piggyback on a larger optic using an adapter and is compatible with rifles, shotguns and bows.

Aimpoint plans on releasing the optic in August. The company did not have an MSRP listed on the new Mico H-2.

Video: Man Takes Shot in Bullet-Proof Cup!?

Corey Graff

May 18, 2015

The CEO of a company that makes a bullet-proof groin protector tests his product by taking a shot from an AR-15 that is sure to make you cringe! Warning: Do Not Try This At Home

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Video: Modern Shooter Heads to Gunsite Academy

Gun Digest Editors

May 15, 2015

Modern Shooter heads to one of the nation’s most revered shooting schools in this clip — Arizona’s Gunsite Academy.

Founded by iconic firearms instructor Col. Jeff Cooper, the school has helped innumerable shooters refine their skills with a handgun. But in this clip, it is a couple of newbies who are learning the ropes at the respected shoot school.

A little time at the range under expert guidance and these two are on target. We’re sure you’ll not only find this clip entertaining, but you might pick up a pistol-shooting pointer.

Modern Shooter airs 8 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. Tuesday and 12 a.m. Sunday on the Sportsman Channel. The show is produced for shooters who look for the best in firearms programming and is sponsored by the top names in the firearms industry. Those sponsors include Glock, Colt, Ruger and Silencer Shop.

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Market Trends: Concealed Carry Makes the Cash Registers Sing In Penn

Brian McCombie

May 14, 2015

Phil Groff — Trop Gun Shop, Elizabethtown, Penn.

Phil Groff, Trop Gun Shop’s director of national sales, describes his customer base as people “interested in the shooting sports lifestyle,” especially handgun shooters, concealed carry practitioners and newer gun owners.

“Our highest volume firearms are always in the concealed carry handgun line,” Groff said. “Right now, number one in that category is the Smith & Wesson Shield, at $369.99 for the 9mm model, $374.99 for the .40 calibers.”

Top-selling handguns two through five, in order: Smith & Wesson Bodyguard; the Glock 19; the Glock 42 and the Smith & Wesson M&P Compact 9. 1911-style handguns are popular here, too, including the pricier models like those made by Ed Brown and Les Baer.

“STI International custom pistols are very big sellers for us, too,” says Groff. “We have what I believe is the largest selection of STI handguns in the region.”

For accessories, inside the waistband holsters show the biggest demand, with Kydex being the preferred material.

Night sights for handguns are popular, too, and Trop’s customers lean toward AmeriGlo and Trijicon varieties.

Editor's Note: This brief originally appeared in the March 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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Video: The Pure Fury of the GAU-8 Avenger Rotary Cannon

Elwood Shelton

May 14, 2015

While it might sound cool, the GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon might not ring a bell with firearms enthusiasts right off the bat — even those with a military bent. But it is fair to say it might be one of the most recognizable Gatling Gun-style weapon systems of modern times when it's mounted and ready for action.

That is because the cannon is the primary weapon system of one of the most iconic military aircraft of the 20th and 21st centuries — the A-10 Thunderbolt II.

Better and affectionately known as the “Warthog,” the close-support aircraft has struck terror into the hearts of its adversaries for going on 40 years. The above video from FUNKER530's You Tube channel shows exactly why.

The clip gives a quick look at the cannon being put through its paces in a test facility and on an A-10. One of the more striking scenes is the ground-eye's view of the aircraft's strafing runs — it's some real fireworks.

The Avenger has an insane rate of fire, with the ability to throw 30mm projectiles down range to the tune of 70 rounds per second. That is enough firepower to gain even the most pigheaded individuals’ attention. The Avenger’s adoption, however, did not come without challenges.

One of the greatest was the weapon system’s recoil:

Because the gun's recoil forces could push the entire plane off target during firing, the weapon itself is mounted laterally off-center, slightly to the portside of the fuselage centerline… with the actively “firing” barrel in the 3 o'clock position, so that the firing barrel lies directly on the aircraft's center line.

Weight was another issue with the General Electric built, seven-barreled, hydraulically driven beast. Tipping the scales at 619 pounds, the cannon composes a considerable amount of the A-10's overall weight. The tail of the plane actually has to have a support place under if the cannon is removed to stop it from tipping back.

It’s fair to say this heft rules the GAU-8 out as a candidate for concealed-carry. However, if you happen to have a column of Soviet T-72 battle tanks or the like staring you down, well the old Avenger might be your shooting iron of choice.

Reloading Ammo: The Precise Business of Reloading AR Cartridges

Philip Massaro

May 13, 2015

Given the characteristics of the firearm, reloading AR cartridges requires some special considerations.

Given the characteristics of the rifle, reloading AR cartridges requires some special considerations compared to other firearms to keep them safe and accurate.

Reloading for the AR cartridges requires a certain level of attention to details, to ensure that your handloads function properly through the AR action.

My own experiences with MSRs are rather limited (I live in Upstate New York, where fun is illegal), but it was my first handloading experience for a Colt AR in .223/5.56mm that really opened my eyes as to what could go wrong.

My buddy Josh Coon had a sweet Colt HBAR II, which (for reasons we couldn’t quite figure out) wasn’t shooting anywhere near where it should’ve been. It functioned fine, but the accuracy was mediocre at best.

So, I loaded him up some handloads; you know, carefully weighing the powder charges, using match bullets, hand seating the primers. You can imagine my surprise when the gun jammed on almost every shot. Um, what?!?

I had full-length resized the once-fired cases, and taken my time during the entire reloading process, so what the hell happened? Bottom line was that the full length resizing die didn’t resize enough of the rear portion of the case to feed properly in the Colt action.

What I needed came soon after: a set of small base resizing dies. These dies resize the case almost all the way down the case body, and ensure that the cartridge will chamber correctly. I also picked up a Southern Ballistic Research case gauge, which helped immensely.

The gauge will let you know which cases won’t chamber, which cases will chamber well, and those cases that have shoulder issues and may give headspacing issues. This little tool is a very worthwhile investment.

Once the resizing issue was corrected, we moved on to correcting the accuracy issue, and soon enough the rifle was shooting the way we expected it to.

Another issue that can rear its ugly head is the problem with bullet tension. Most military ammunition features a bullet with a cannelure, which is crimped into place. This crimp prevents the bullet from moving forward, within the case, upon being slammed into the chamber.

If you plan on reloading AR cartridges, a tool worth investing in is a case gauge. In seconds, the gauge tells you whether or not a case has been resized properly and will cycle through the semi-auto.

That is all well and good when you have a bullet with a cannelure, but should you choose to use a bullet without one, the crimp is out of the question. Therefore we have a situation where the AR action acts like an inertia hammer, and may pull that bullet out of the case as much as 0.007 of an inch.Not a big deal for plinking purposes, but in the accuracy department that could make things go awry.

A good set of Redding Competition dies can help keep those projectiles in place, whether we’re talking 5.56mm, 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 SPC. The Redding resizing die in this set requires that you measure the outside dimension of a loaded cartridge, and then they have a corresponding bushing that will work with your brass.

You see, these bushings work like this: some brass has thicker case dimensions than others, and a standard resizing die will ‘over-shrink’ the thicker brass before running it back down over the slightly-less-than-caliber-sized expander ball. The brass is ‘over-shrunk’ will have a spring effect that can affect concentricity.

Shrink that brass down, but no more than you need to, and you’ll have not only better neck concentricity, but you’ll get better neck tension, which in turn, will help prevent the bullets from changing their seating depth when slammed into the AR chamber.

Keeping these ideas in mind, you can keep your MSR well-fed, and accurate as it ever will be.

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