General Douglas McArthur made famous an U.S. Army balled when he quoted the refrain, “Old Soldiers never die, they just fade away.” That certainly seems to hold true in regards to the Lee-Enfield.
For some time now, it has been known the venerable British bolt-action rifle was going to take another step in disappearing from military service completely. Canada has been discussing switching its Rangers over from the No. 4 Mk1 since 2011, but things have picked up in recent months.
Colt Canada was selected to design the new rifle last fall for the force and will have a batch of 125 ready to be tested at the 2015 Operation Nanook training exercises. After which, the new platform will be phased in from over the next few years. Here are the specifics about the move from The Globe and Mail:
After testing and tweaks, Colt Canada will then make more than 6,500 rifles, along with spare parts and accessories, which the Canadian Rangers will gradually start to use between the middle of next year (2015) and the end of 2019.
The new rifle is expected to be similar to the Lee-Enfield, especially in one particular design feature – it is reported to be a bolt-action. This is important, given the Rangers usual area of operation.
The Rangers are a Canadian Forces reserve whose main duties are sovereignty patrols and surveillance in the country’s sparsely populated northern regions. These volunteers – many Inuit – operate in and around the Artic Circle.
Bolt-action rifles provide the Rangers with a robust platform that functions no matter what in the sub-zero conditions. That’s a piece of mind for the reservists, whether the they have to face down potential invaders or a rogue polar bear.
The switch is being made from the Lee-Enfield, mainly due to the lack of replace parts and rifles. The .303 British chambered rifles were purchased in 1947, according to the Metro News, a few years after the Rangers were formed.
Amazingly, Rangers, up to this day, were outfitted from this batch. For any gun enthusiasts, the thought of pristine, unfired Lee-Enfields, in their original boxes is enough to send the mind reeling.
There is no word if there will be any surplus Lee-Enfield rifles available, but here's to hoping.
Buy the best carry handgun you can afford and it’s still only as good as the ammo you load it with. When it comes to self defense, it’s important to trust that your ammunition will do the job. Here are five defensive ammo loads you can trust your life to.
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Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self Defense By Massad Ayoob This guide will help you understand legal and ethical issues concerning the use of lethal force by private citizens. You’ll also learn about the social and psychological issues surrounding the use of lethal force for self-defense or in defense of others. In addition, Ayoob discusses the steps a responsible armed citizen should take in order to properly prepare for or help mitigate a lethal force situation. Learn more
A 1911 review of a downsized semi-auto pistol that is made for carry.
The author produced extremely tight groups with the Range Officer Compact using Winchester Target and Win 1911 loads. Author Photo
My first experience with large caliber semi-auto pistols was with a 1911. For many years, a 1911 was the only centerfire semi-auto I owned, and I learned to love John Browning’s remarkable design. Try to imagine any other mechanical design that’s still at the zenith of its life after more than 100 years of use. 1911s have been the mainstay of competition pistols since a few years after their introduction, and they’re still at the top.
Last year, I reviewed Springfield Armory’s Range Officer in 9mm. One of my friends who’s competed in almost every imaginable kind of competition and shot dozens of 1911s during his shooting career remarked that the 9mm Range Officer was one of the nicest out-of-the-box pistols he’s ever shot. He even proclaimed it to perhaps be the best bargain in modern firearms.
Originally a candidate in a Defense Department trial to find a lighter service pistol for officers, the Colt Commander was the first lightweight 1911. Chambered in 9mm and with an aluminum alloy frame and a 4¼-inch barrel, Colt put the Commander into production in 1950.
When I found out Springfield Armory was making a compact version, I knew I had to try one out and emailed Springfield Armory that same day requesting a test gun. The Range Officer Compact is a smaller gun than the Colt Commander of my youth. It has a 4-inch barrel and an aluminum alloy frame, and an Officer-length grip.
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The front strap is smooth and the flat back strap is checkered in a high-grip, fine checkering pattern. There’s an extended beavertail grip safety with a generous bump at the bottom to allow shooters with thin hands to engage the grip safety.
My hands are slender enough that I can’t rest my thumb on the thumb safety of guns without the bump and still be sure I’ll keep the grip safety engaged. The thumb safety is oversized and on the right side only. I think this is a good idea on a carry 1911.
While I haven’t carried a 1911 as a daily CCH gun, I’ve had friends in law enforcement advise me that an ambidextrous safety might not be a good idea on a carry 1911 because it can be disengaged by seat belts and other objects the shooter comes in contact with. If you need a left-hand safety, it’s an easy and economical add on.
The trigger is a long, lightweight speed trigger. On my test gun the trigger broke with a slight amount of creep at just over 5 pounds, reasonable for a concealed carry defense gun. There are angled, generous cocking serrations on the rear area of the slide. The hammer is a skeletonized Commander style.
Sights are a combat style two-dot rear and a high-visibility front with both green and red replacement material provided. The slide sports a flat Parkerized finish, and the aluminum frame is black Hardcoat anodized and matches well. The grips are thin cocobolo with double diamonds at the attachment screws and the familiar crossed cannons Springfield Armory logo.
A Bull-Barreled Gun
The RO Compact breaks down simply like any 1911. The stainless steel barrel works with a full-length recoil spring guide rod and dual recoil springs. Author Photo
While the standard Range Officer is straight laced all the way, the design of the Range Officer is drastically different from the build of older 1911s. The Compact is a bull-barreled gun without a barrel bushing. The stainless steel match-grade barrel features a fully supported ramp, and there’s a full-length recoil spring guide rod and dual recoil springs.
Shooting the Range Officer Compact is similar to shooting an old style Commander except with better sights and more ergonomic controls. Recoil with 230-grain hardball and +P defense loads is snappy but manageable. It’s my theory that you carry a gun more than you shoot it, and if you use the gun to defend yourself, you’ll never feel the recoil. Obviously, second shot recovery is always an issue with hard kicking guns, but no one will argue the potential of the .45 ACP round, and heavy guns often get left at home.
Accuracy was more than adequate, though it seemed to take 50 or so rounds for it to settle down. Of course, this might have been me. After a couple hundred rounds, I managed a pretty respectable 10-shot group at 10 yards. Slow fire and rapid fire were both manageable and plenty accurate. It wasn’t a problem running the plate machine at 10 yards while staying on the standard six-second time limit.
Most of my shooting was done with Winchester 230-grain Target and Win 1911 230-grain Target. I also ran a couple of boxes of 185-grain Silvertips, and there wasn’t a single malfunction.
Like the standard Range Officer, the Range Officer Compact is a lot of gun for the money. If I were to voice a suggestion, it would be to include at least one slightly longer magazine for pocket carry or perhaps to extend the magazine just a bit to allow for seven rounds. Of course, longer magazines for 1911s are not difficult to find. Extra magazine capacity is always a good thing.
The RO Compact functions flawlessly and is more than accurate enough for the purpose intended. There’s a hard plastic case with a holster, magazine pouch, two six-round magazines, tools and extra sight insert material. As is the usual case for Springfield Armory, it’s a lot of gun and an excellent value.
This article also appeared in the Spring 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The Range Officer Compact boasts a combat-style two-dot rear and high-visibility front sight with replaceable red and green dots. Author Photo
Springfield Armory Range Officer Compact Caliber: .45 ACP Capacity: 6 + 1 Magazines: Blued steel with witness holes Barrel: 4-in. stainless steel, ramped match grade Sights: Two-dot combat style rear and high-visibility front Frame: Aluminum alloy with anodized matte finish Slide: Forged steel, Parkerized Length: 7.6 in. Height: 5 in. Weight: 28.5 oz. Options: Comes with a hard plastic case, holster, magazine pouch, two six-round magazines, tools and extra sight insert material SRP: $970 Website: springfield-armory.com
Whether boiling hot or icy cold, temperature has an effect on a cartridge's pressure. Though, less so today through advances in modern smokeless powder.
Pressure spikes and drops due to temperature have long been a bane of a reloader's existence. However, advancements in propellants have mitigated the variable of smokeless powder temperature sensitivity, in many respects.
To understand smokeless powder temperature sensitivity, a look back at cartridge history and development is in order.
In the early days of the 20th century, when cordite was the propellant du jour, the reputation of cartridges was made and/or broken based on their performance in the heat of the tropics.
You see, the firearms were regulated and pressure tested in the relatively cool climate of England and Europe, and were then carried off by brave sportsmen into the brutal heat of India and Africa. In that heat, the pressures spiked and extraction of cases became difficult, if not impossible. The cordite was the culprit, as the chemical compound was extremely sensitive to fluctuations on temperature.
The answer to the problem, at least temporarily, resulted in some of our most famous cartridge cases. The .416 Rigby, for example, was made with an oversized case to keep the pressures low when loaded with cordite. Those low pressures, and the ease and reliability of extraction, bestowed the solid reputation that the .416 Rigby had earned even before being launched into super stardom by Robert Ruark.
Modern smokeless powders solved much of that problem, giving not only a boost in attainable velocities, but a much more stable platform, however there is still a certain level of smokeless powder temperature sensitivity that rears its ugly head. The usual accepted value was a 1 fps gain or loss per degree Fahrenheit of deviation from 68-degrees. So, if you were to measure your velocity of say, 3,000 fps at 68-degrees, and were to retest, you could expect 3,012 fps at 80-degrees when chasing African plains game, and 2,950 fps at 18-degrees when hunting deer in Canada.
Now, to a hunter, if the accuracy was within reason, this could easily be overcome, but to a benchrest target shooter, this would be unacceptable, because it would open up the tiny groups they seek. Reloder-19, which I absolutely adore, has been among the chief culprits of this phenomenon. For this reason, I always developed my loads in the extreme heat of summer, so they would function anywhere in the world, from Africa to Alberta, with no pressure problems. Developing a load in the cold of winter could produce dangerous pressures in the heat of the Zambezi Valley.
Modern smokeless powders, such as IMR's Enduron line, are designed to have almost no pressure fluctuation from 0- to 125-degrees F. That pretty much covers every shooting situation.
The newer smokeless powder developments, like Hodgdon’s Extreme line, IMR’s Enduro powders and Alliant’s new Reloder 23 and 26 are all designed to have virtually no pressure fluctuation in a range of temperatures from 0-degrees to 125-degrees F, which pretty well sums up our hunting extremes, and certainly covers the benchrest crowd that are legally sane.
The Extreme line from Hodgdon has been with us for a while, and includes H-4831SC and Varget, both of which have shown to be fantastic powders, and perfect for magnum and standard cases, respectively. IMR 4166, 4451 and 7977 are a trio giving a burn rate that sort mimic (but are in no way interchangeable, don’t even think it!) with IMR 4064, 4350 and 7828, suitable for most, if not all, rifle cartridges. The Reloder 23 and 26 powders are along the lines (again, in no way interchangeable) of the proven Reloder 22 and 25.
The problem is that you’d have to work up new loads. Or, you can look at it like a new adventure, with more time at the bench, and that is never a bad thing!
Looking for some tacticool in your plinker? Walther's version of the HK G36 might be right down your alley.
Walther has always been able to capture a cool factor in its guns. Perhaps that’s why the PPK ended up as James Bond’s preferred sidearm for all those years.
In more recent times, the German gun maker has undertaken an intriguing project, producing rimfire models of historic tactical firearms. From Uzis to M4 Carbines, Walther has a load of iconic pistols and rifles all chambered in .22 long rifle.
The company’s most recent edition to the collection is its take on a firearm from another Teutonic gun maker – also known for producing some slick wares itself. A .22 long rifle version of Heckler & Koch’s G36 joined Walther's rimfire family at the 2015 SHOT Show and appears to be dead on.
The G36 is not as well known as some of HK’s other firearms, such as the one it replaced as the Bundeswehr’s (German Federal Defense) main service rifle in the 1990s – the G3. But the .223 Remington/5.56x45mm has seen its share of action in around two decades of use.
Walther’s .22 take on the original should get purists' hearts a thumping, given the attention to detail. But it’s more than the rimfire rifle’s aesthetics that makes it intriguing. The gun's action is also pretty nifty.
Like the HK iteration, the entire bolt-carrier group – including charging handle – moves on Walther’s version of the G36. It seems like a nice touch, for those shooting for authenticity in their plinkers.
The similarities between the original and .22 caliber don’t end there. Some of the other features the 5.56 and .22 G36s share include a folding stock (Walther can fire folded too), three-pin assembly using HK pins, brass deflector, bolt hold open and ambidextrous safety and charging handle.
Like the original H&K G36, Walther's rimfire model features a folding stock.
The charging handle is especially intriguing, no matter if you’re talking about HK’s or Walther’s version. The handle is on top of the receiver and flips to one side or the other, depending on the shooter's preference. When firing, it is conveniently tucked away on top of the rifle’s receiver, so its reciprocation doesn't get in the way of shooting.
Walther’s G36 comes with a muzzle break that can be removed and the barrel has a 1/2″x28 thread. This is standard for rimfires and allows for the addition of nearly any suppressor. The gun is a straight blowback semiautomatic and has 10-, 20-, and 30-round magazines available.
The Walther rifle has a fixed and hooded front sight and an aperture rear that is adjustable for windage and elevation. The rifle has an 18.1-inch barrel, weighs 5.1 pounds without a magazine and is 37.8 inches in overall length with the stock unfolded and 28.2 inch with it folded.
As a sidenote, the length of the Walther G36 are only about an inch shorter than the first iteration of the HK original.
Walther’s new .22, however, does run a bit more than most rimfires presently available on the market. But, for those who pine tacticool in their plinkers, the G36’s MSRP of $599 might not be too steep.
Walther's HK G36 Specifications Caliber: .22 Long Rifle Mag Capacity: 10/20/30 rnds Weight with Mag: 6.74 lbs Overall Length: 37.8 in Barrel Length: 18.1 in Operation: Blowback Front Sight: Fixed Front Sights Rear Sight: Adjustable For Windage & Elevation
Whether it’s for fast-flying ducks or wide-swinging geese, these heavy hitting waterfowl guns will help you bag a limit this—and every—winter.
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Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to Shotguns
From shotgun expert Terry Wieland, Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to Shotguns provides everything you need to know about shotguns in tight, lively text and sharp photos. Get the facts on singles, doubles, pumps and semi-autos, ammunition, handloading your own ammunition, shotgun games, hunting and sporting uses. Learn more
Katana AR-15 review of a new rifle that is like the sword it is named after: a well-balanced and maneuverable weapon that is deadly in the right hands.
In this era of multiple-rail AR-15s, all tricked out with optics, back-up sights, foregrips, lights, lasers and more, it was a surprise for me to lift the new Katana AR-15 out of its box and realize, “Man, this is one light AR!”
I have to admit, that lack of weight — less than 6 pounds — concerned me a bit. As a guy who regularly uses those fully geared-up AR-15s and AR-10s, I am used to the heft. I guess that I have also begun to assume that heft equals quality. The lightweight ARs are fine for plinking and popping ground squirrels, but a bigger job requires a stouter rifle.
At the range, though, I discovered two things. First, the Katana, manufactured by MHT Defense of Wedowee, Ala., is a quality-made rifle, capable of great accuracy and versatility. Second, an AR does not have to weigh 9 pounds to be effective.
Pet Project
The Katana is similar to the original AR design created by Eugene Stoner. Author Photo
The Katana is the brainchild of Tiger McKee, a shooting instructor, a Gun Digest contributor and the owner of Shootrite Firearms Academy in Guntersville, Ala. After years of watching shooting students struggle with their overly heavy, super-accessorized AR-15s, McKee went back to the basics. He began devising an AR very much along the lines of the rifles originally produced by AR inventor Eugene Stoner over 50 years ago, and modified by Colt Mfg. in the 1960s. That is: a lightweight fighting rifle, capable of doing the job in close and at distance; accurate, well balanced and maneuverable, and a shooter you can tote all day without fatigue. Which makes the Katana a very versatile rifle, a great choice for self- and home-defense, 3-Gun competition, training, hunting and just plinking.
The Katana has a 16-inch barrel with a 1:7 rate of twist. I prefer that rate of twist, as I like to use long, heavy .223 rounds for hunting deer and wild hogs. The more common 1:8 or 1:9 twist rates found on many AR-15’s are fine for 55-grain bullets, but when you start pushing bullets over 60 and 70 grains, you need the faster twist rate for better stabilization.
The Katana also has a rifle-length gas system, and a chromed chamber and bore. The barrel is finished with heavy phosphate mil-spec Parkerizing, and is tipped with a special MHT Defense three-prong flash hider. The bolt carrier is of 8620 steel, M16 spec, and with a Carpenter 158 steel bolt, a tool steel extractor, a Colt Gold extractor spring and a solid, one-piece firing pin retaining pin. Bolt, carrier and extractor are nickel-boron coated.
The upper receiver is a MHT 605 flattop and the lower is an MHT Shootrite machined from forged 7075 aluminum and finished with mil-spec hard-coat anodizing. The rifle comes equipped with a Daniel Defense A1.5 fixed sight and a heavy-duty charging handle with an extended latch.
Katana AR-15 Review
Matched with a Trijicon VCOG, the lightweight Katana is a near-perfect hog hunting rifle. Author Photo
I mounted the Katana with a new Trijicon VCOG optic (after removing the rear sight) and went to the range for two separate visits. The first visit was for general familiarity and to get the rifle zeroed. For all the testing I did with this rifle, I used Liberty Ammunition’s new Silverado rounds, a .223 with a 55-grain lead-free bullet. I found the ammunition to be quite accurate and a very clean-burning round, and it took less than a box of the Silverado, and I was hitting three- and four-shot groups at right around 1.25 inches.
On my second visit, I shot some hunting-based scenarios. With the Katana’s maneuverability, plus the VCOG’s tactical lineage, this rig screamed “Texas hog hunting” to me, especially those areas of south and west Texas I am fortunate to hunt with some regularity: thick vegetation, interspersed with pasture and clumps of mesquite. Here, you might get a poke at a hog grazing in the open at 200 yards or could get a fast 50-yard shot when a big boar trots out of the bush.
I set up a target at 100 yards. I placed another target on a cardboard box at 60 yards, the target about one foot above ground level. Both targets were black with orange diamond-shaped centers. I sat on a pad on the ground and rested the rifle in the crotch of a Primos Trigger Stick. I set the VCOG’s magnification at power level 4.
I took a couple of deep breaths and then twisted my body from right to left as if I’d just spotted a hog. Pivoting the Katana on the Trigger Stick, I lined up the Trijicon’s crosshairs on the 60-yard box target and squeezed off a quick four rounds. Then I swung the VCOG onto the 100-yard target and let loose with four more shots.
I did that sequence twice more, replacing targets, once with the VCOG set on the power level 4 illumination setting and once at power 6. The VCOG got on target quickly, especially when the crosshairs and segmented circles were lit up. Images were crisp and clearly outlined at all yardages and in lighting that ranged from overcast to sunny, to right before dark. At the 60-yard target, I strung out my four-round bursts under 3 inches, and under 2 inches at the 100-yard target, with a flier or two in there, also.
The Katana moved nicely, helped me get on target fast, and would have accounted for a dead hog had my “hunt” been for real. The Katana has an ALG Combat trigger, polished and nickel boron coated, with a trigger weight of approximately six pounds. It performs better than a mil-spec trigger but not by a lot. I found it stiff and a little balky.
I may be spoiled but my expectation is that a rifle costing nearly $2,000 should have a pretty smooth trigger when I squeeze it.
The handguard is a Precision Reflex triangular shaped full-length carbon fiber model, with rails in specified locations, plus an attached sling mount. Functional, but it will win no beauty contest. I found it somewhat bulky, too, though admittedly I have smaller hands than many people.
Originally, McKee debuted the Katana in 2010, and at the time it was being made by Red Jacket Firearms. Since then, McKee made several changes and modifications to the rifle, ended his relationship with Red Jacket and brought MHT Defense on board to make the upgraded Katana. So far it looks like a first-rate partnership that produces a first-rate rifle.
Katana Rifle by MHT Defense
Caliber: 5.56mm Barrel: 16-inch, lightweight profile, Parkerized, 1:7 twist Muzzle Device: Custom MHT three-prong flash hider Upper: MHT 605-style flat-top upper Lower: MHT Shootrite lower machined from forged 7075 aluminum Sights: Daniel Defense A1.5 fixed sight and front sight post Trigger: ALG Combat trigger, approx. 6 pounds Stock: Magpul MOE fixed stock or Magpul CTR adjustable stock Weight: 5 lbs., 14 ozs. Length: 35.25 inches with fixed stock Includes: Combat Labs Agile Sling, soft carry case, two 30-round magazines and a copy of The Book of Two Guns by Tiger McKee, signed and numbered to your rifle SRP: $1,850 contact: mhtdefense.com
This article also appeared in the December 11, 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
ArmaLite is going for the gold with its 3-Gun Series. The rifles are chambered in both .223/5.56 and .308/7.62.
Competitive shooters look for any edge to shave time or group tighter. And ArmaLite intends to give this spirited group of gun enthusiast a leg up.
The Illinois-based company is now shipping its line of competitive rifles, which it bills as “ready to dominate… straight out of the box!” And from what the company has released about its 3-Gun Series, they appear to be loaded with a number of extras that should take first place with many sporting shooters.
One of the more interesting aspects of the line is it is not purely made up of AR-15 style rifles. Along with models chambered in .223 Remington/5.56×45 NATO – dubbed the M-15 3-Gun – the company has also released AR-10 versions.
The .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO rifles – called the AR-10 3-Gun – could definitely find a place with match shooters looking for the superior long-range ballistics the larger caliber allots.
Both of the calibers have options that help them conform to the style of competition they will be applied. Among the more notable features along these lines are the available barrel lengths.
For those searching for a more maneuverable firearm, ready to tackle any 3-gun stage, there is a 13.5-inch barrel model. Those who require a more steady platform for high-powered rifle competition, there is a 18-inch barrel option.
All of the rifles come outfitted with ArmaLite’s tunable muzzle break, allowing shooters find the sweet spot to reduce muzzle flip and directional recoil. In the case of the shorter-barreled models, the unit is pinned and welded to avoid the definition of short-barreled rifle – which would require a tax stamp.
The rifles are outfitted with Luth-AR MBA-1 precision adjustable stocks that allow shooters to modify the firearms’ dimensions to theirs. The stock boasts both adjustable comb height and length of pull.
Keeping with the adjustable theme of the rifles, the 3-Gun Series also comes with an adjustable gas block. The guns should also win fans among the trigger conscious with a factory-installed Timney Triggers that have a crisp 3-pound pull weight.
The units are relatively light, the AR-10 models weighting in at 8.8 or 8.9 pounds depending on barrel, the AR-15s 6.6 to 7.8. Much of the weight savings comes from the from its KeyMod rail, which have 2-inch MIL-STD 1913 base at the front for sights.
The upper and lower receivers are both forged 7075-T6 aluminum. The AR-15 rifles ship with one 30-round PMAG, the AR-10 with one 25-round PMAG.
The MSRP on both AR-15 models is $1,599 and AR-10 is $2,099.
3-Gun Series Specs M-15 3-Gun Caliber: 5.56X45 mm / .223 Barrel: 13.5″ or 18″ stainless steel Rifling Twist: 1:8″ RH Muzzle Device: ArmaLite tunable brake, pinned / welded brake to make the external length 16″ Front Sight Base: 2″ MIL-STD 1913 rail section at forward 12 o'clock position of handguard Upper Receiver: Forged, flat-top with MIL-STD 1913 rail, 7075-T6 Aluminum Lower Receiver: 7075-T6 Aluminum (forged) Trigger: Timney 3 lb. single-stage Stock: MBA-1 light weight precision adjustable for length-of-pull and comb height Overall Length: 13.5″ barrel – 34.5″ / 35.5″; 18″ barrel – 39.5″ / 40.5″ Weight: 3.5″ barrel – 6.6 lbs.; 18″ barrel – 7.8 lbs. Finish: Anodized aluminum upper/lower receiver, manganese phosphated steel barrel Included with Rifle: One 30-round Magpul PMAG
AR-10 3-Gun Caliber: 7.62X51 mm /.308 Barrel: 13.5″ or 18″ stainless steel Rifling Twist: 1:10″ RH Muzzle Device: ArmaLite tunable brake pinned and welded to make the external length 16″ Front Sight Base: 2″ MIL-STD 1913 rail section at forward 12 o'clock position of handguard Upper Receiver: Forged, flat-top with MIL-STD 1913 rail, 7075-T6 Aluminum Lower Receiver: 7075-T6 Aluminum (forged) Trigger: Timney 3 lb. single-stage Stock: MBA-1 light weight precision, adjustable for length-of-pull and comb height Overall Length: 13.5″ barrel – 36.3″ / 37.3″; 18″ barrel – 40.3″ / 41.5″ Weight: 13.5″ barrel – 8.8 lbs.; 18″ barrel – 8.9″ Finish: Anodized aluminum upper/lower receiver, manganese phosphated steel barrel Included with Rifle: One 25-round Magpul PMAG
The Gun Digest Book of the Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Digital Collection is a four-volume series of the ultimate AR-15 guides – Gun Digest Book of the AR-15, Volume I-IV. With this collection, you will learn all about the AR-15 parts and accessories necessary to customize your gun.
Wonder how a suppressor works or just need a refresher? Well, SilencerCo and the American Suppressor Association have cooked up a heck of infographic demonstrating the finer points of the system. But there is more than just an animated glimpse at the inner workings of a silencer in the infographic. It also gives an interesting look at some of the other science involved in the operation of suppressors, along with some trend lines regarding the firearm accessory.
The lowdown on three rifle cases that convert into shooting mats.
BLACKHAWK! Long Gun Pack Mat
Removable pouches can be arranged where you want them on the velcro strip.
This can be converted into a rifle case, a rifle-holding backpack, a drag bag and a shooting mat. With the backpack feature, this one is a standout for shooters who intend to hike into rugged country and will need a mat for prone shooting once they get there.
Think varmint hunters and big-game hunters in the high country. It can also be used as a rifle scabbard for traveling on horseback. The concealable backpack harness straps and belt are tucked away when the pack is being used as a case or shooting mat.
It fits rifles up to 50 inches long and it is made with 1,000-denier nylon, closed-cell foam padding and HawkTex, a grippy material that creates friction. It comes in black desert tan or olive drab. ($250,
Slumberjack Rifle Hauler Mat
The top flap folds over the exterior of the case and is secured by a buckle that cinches the case tight.
This mat/case is the lightweight, fully padded contender of the bunch. The design is simple and lacking of frills other than a pocket for small items and dual carry handles.
The buckles can be loosened or cinched down so just about any rifle can be fitted inside. The rifle is secured on one end by slipping the butt into an interior pocket and secured on the other end by a fold-over flap.
This is an excellent choice for a shooter who only occassionally shoots from a prone position but also wants a simple and rugged rifle case. It comes in Kryptek’s Highlander camo. It measures 58 inches long and 27 inches wide when open. ($85, slumberjack.com)
Uncle Mike’s Long Range Tactical Bag
In the interior, the rifle is strapped in and tucked butt-down into a pocket for secure handling.
This tactical gun case folds out into a spacious 78-inch shooting mat—large enough to take a nap. And that is perfect for shooters who expect to spend a lot of time in the prone position—competitors, long-range shooters, snipers—because it provides plenty of room to stretch out.
Although this soft-side bag made of 1,000-denier fabric is tough, it was also designed to fit into a Pelican 1750 case for hard-case transport.
The mat/case will fit almost any long gun with scope and bipod included. It also has a front-load strap for bipod use that provides additional stability. It comes with four magazine pockets that should fit most magazines in the .223 and .308 range. ($195, unclemikes.com)
This article also appeared in the January 1, 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Burris aims to defray the cost of tactical optics by offering bundles of some of their popular aiming solutions.
Nowadays, it's pretty easy to spend more on a scope than a rifle. But Burris is trying to defray the cost of optics by offering some of its popular aiming solutions as affordable all-in-one kits.
Topping off a firearm with new glass is often times a painful proposition. For most shooters it causes a sharp cramp right in the pocketbook.
Whether a hunting scope for elk season or a reflex sight bound for a striker-fire pistol, it’s easy to spend more on an aiming solution than it is on the firearm itself. Burris, however, is attempting to defray some of those costs with the introduction tidy little tactical optics bundles.
The Colorado-based company’s Tactical Kits mate one of its prism sights with either a secondary red-dot site or a magnifier. In all, the Beretta subsidiary’s kits shoot to knock off more than $100 off the total price if each optic was purchased individually.
AR-332 Tactical Kit (MSRP $599)
The AR-332 optic aims to be a solid solution for close-quarters to intermediate shooting. The 3.5-inch long 3x optic has 60 MOA of adjustment for both windage and elevation with ½ MOA click values. The device’s Ballistic CQ reticle is designed for quick target acquisition at close range, outfitted with a circular center. But it can also reach out, with three smaller dots providing trajectory compensation out to 600 yards. The reticle is designed to handle nearly any lighting situation with three colors – red, green and black. The red and green illuminations each have five brightness settings. The AR-332 runs off one CR2032 battery and attaches via a Picatinny rail mounting system. The kit comes with a FastFire 2 red-dot sight – described in further detail below – anti-reflection device and carry case.
AR-536 Tactical Kit (MSRP $659)
While the AR-536 is comfortable up close and personal, the optic is meant to give shooters an edge at longer distances. At 5x magnification, the optic is ideal for more precise work at long distance and is enhanced with the drop-compensating Ballistic CQ reticle. The reticle has three color settings – red, green and black. The red and green each have five illumination settings, allowing it to adjust to any lighting situation. The optic has 60 MOA windage and elevation adjustment and can be precisely tuned with a 1/3 MOA click value. The optic itself weighs in at 18.8 ounces and measures in at 5.8 inches; it runs off one CR2032 battery and is compatible with Picatinny rails.The kit comes with a FastFire 2 red-dot sight – described in further detail below – and anti-reflection device.
AR-1X Tactical Kit (MSRP $539)
The Burris AR1X sight allows for fast, both-eyes-open shooting in tactical or competitive circumstance. And while it has both red and green illumination settings, the device need not even have power to function. With its Ballistic CQ 1X reticle etched onto its prism, the optic functions no matter what. But the AA battery-powered optic also can adapt to any lighting situation with five illumination setting for its red and green settings. The AR1X boast 120 MOA windage and elevation adjustment in ½ MOA increments. The unit is compatible with Picatinny rail mounting systems. The low-powered optic is also set to do long-distance work with the kit coming with an AR-Tripler, described in further detail below.
FastFire 2 Red Dot
With the ability to be top or sided mounted on both the AR-332 and AR-536, the FastFire 2 Red Dot gives each system a solid close-quarters or back-up option. The unit has a 4 MOA dot with 115 MOA elevation adjustment and 86 MOA windage adjustment. Making the FastFire even handier is its automatic brightness adjustment, which adapts to any lighting environment. The unit is low-profile at 1.8 inches and weighs in at .9 ounces. The unit uses one CR2032 battery and attaches via Picatinny Rail.
AR-Tripler
The AR-Tripler helps shooters reach out, while still facilitating both-eye-open shooting. The device works in conjunction with the AR-1X, giving the optic an additional 3x of magnification. And it’s designed to be mounted in tandem with the lower-power optic, via a pivot ring, which allows shooters to flip it to the side when not in use. The unit weighs in at 6.25 ounces and is 4 inches in length.
Many people are confused when purchasing a suppressor because they assume a suppressor’s caliber has to match the weapon’s caliber. In reality, you don’t necessarily care about caliber with suppressors.
What you care about is bore size and pressure, which is why they are categorized using bore size instead of caliber. The rule of thumb is if the suppressor’s bore is big enough for the bullet you want to shoot, and it can handle the pressure, then it should work with your weapon. (I say should because there are some combinations that won’t work. For example using a rifle suppressor on a pistol typically won’t cycle; and you definitely want a take-apart suppressor if you’re going to be using unjacketed rimfire ammo.)
After thinking through the implications, it becomes obvious that you can purchase a single suppressor to run on multiple weapon calibers and platforms, which brings a lot of versatility to the table. Unfortunately, nothing in life is free and there are some trade-offs with the one-suppressor-fits-all strategy. The main thing you’re giving up is efficiency.
Before going any further, let me explain what I mean when I talk about versatility and efficiency:
Versatility: The ability to use a suppressor on weapons with different calibers. For example, you could use a 7.62mm suppressor on a .308 bolt gun—as well as your 5.56mm AR15.
Efficiency: A higher efficiency suppressor will typically be quieter than a lower efficiency suppressor of the same size. In other words, a 7.62mm suppressor on a 5.56mm AR-15 would typically have to be quite a bit bigger than a 5.56mm suppressor to obtain the same level of suppression.
In most cases, 7.62mm suppressors are bigger than their 5.56 cousins; but, not by enough to provide the same level of suppression. Because of this, a 7.62 suppressor will typically be bigger, heavier and louder than a 5.56mm suppressor on the same weapon.
Another thing we’ve found is that first-round-pop tends to be significantly higher when using a suppressor with sub-calibers (i.e. 5.56mm caliber through a 7.62mm suppressor, or 9mm through a .45 suppressor).
We believe both approaches are right.
For some people, the allure of having one suppressor for multiple weapons is a definite advantage, and it’s hard to argue with that logic. On the other hand, it’s also hard to argue with wanting a suppressor that is smaller, lighter and quieter. In reality, both answers are right, so you just have to decide what works for you.
At the end of the day, if you do decide to start down the one-suppressor-for-multiple-firearms path, I would highly recommend picking something up that fits at least one firearm well. You can always pick up another suppressor in the future to cover the smaller caliber firearm(s) more effectively; but, you don’t want to be stuck with a suppressor that isn’t really what you would have preferred on the larger caliber firearm.
As is the case every year, there is a flood of new and modified firearms released in December and January. The world’s largest outdoors exposition – SHOT Show – and a number of other conventions have a tendency to get manufacturers to shift into overdrive.
Of course, the shear volume of the latest and greatest handguns, rifles and shotguns at this time of the year means quite a few fly under the radar. But we at GunDigest.com aren’t going to allow these strays to break from the herd.
So, without further ado here are a few new and tweaked firearms hitting the market in the coming year. It’s a whole hodgepodge, almost certain to get shooters expanding their wish list.
Designed for hot weather, the StealthGearUSA Onyx outperforms conventional concealed carry holsters year round.
The Onyx At a Glance – Kydex and VentCore Hybrid – Stainless steel hardware to resist rust – Tuckable – Comfortable yet slim – Breathable — ideal for hot weather, great the rest of the year, too – Adjustable cant angle, but factory settings were perfect – Mesh material is soft yet plenty rigid, guns don't move – No break-in period – Completely silent — no squeaking or need to apply stuff to quiet it down – Great handgun retention, very smooth draw – Handmade in the USA, lifetime guarantee
When I wrote the Comprehensive Guide to Concealed Carry Holsters, the StealthGearUSA Onyx was sitting in a box and really didn’t get a thorough review before the book went to press. That’s too bad, because in future editions it will most certainly play a much more prominent role—in fact, a starring role. It’s that good.
Actually, the first time I saw the Onyx was in Gun Digest publisher Jim Schlender’s office. He held up a strangely shaped black-and-red thing that looked like the space amoeba Captain Kirk battled in the Immunity Syndrome episode of Star Trek. He proclaimed it to be one of the coolest products he’d seen in a long time.
The Onyx keeps your handgun handy but won't reveal you're packing by squeaks and squawks, which leather is prone to do.
I didn’t get it. Frankly, it looked huge compared to the leather IWB holsters I’m accustomed to, and just seemed bulky. Boy, was I wrong. Schlender did his best to explain the thing, but it wasn’t sinking in. Old ideas die harder than space amoebas.
And then I tried it. The heavens opened up and Bruckner’s 9th Symphony reined down upon the earth. That big, breathable pad—StealthGear calls it the VentCore breathable platform, if jargon is your thing—just completely soaked up the gun, made it disappear. It felt like when you lie down on a really good mattress after a long day of hanging drywall. I had to check the gun was still there.
So I moved around, grabbed a snack from the fridge, changed the cat litter, shot some hoops—lived my life for six months—no digging or gouging. And no sound. I mean not even a peep, a swish or a squawk. Just silent. Total stealth mode. It was the holster that changed everything for me.
Onyx Features
The Onyx doesn’t just give you comfort, inherent to its design. It also sports features that show the company went the extra mile with well-thought-out features like stainless fasteners to resist rust.
The VentCore breathable platform on the Onyx is actually less bulky than many conventional leather holsters – yet it's very soft and comfortable.
The spring steel belt clips are tuckable, allowing you to push a shirt into them and over the gun for more formal occasions. That gives you another concealment mode that is usually a custom option. It comes standard with the Onyx.
The cant angle is adjustable but the factory settings kept my Glock 22 at the perfect angle, so I just left it. Retention was excellent—very positive yet not tight or sticky on the draw.
No small detail, the breathable VentCore pad isn’t just cool in warm weather, it’s lightweight, too. That helps with comfort and allows you to pack more rounds, always a good thing.
Being old school, where leather holsters rule, I wondered if the mesh material that makes up the body of the Onyx would lack rigidity. It did not. In fact, that material provides ideal rigidity when coupled with its inside-the-waistband design. The gun does not shift around. It’s rock solid.
I’m often asked what holster I recommend as a starting point for people new to concealed carry. In the past my default opinion has always been an outside-the-waistband leather scabbard, one that would be a good generalist option. There’ll always be a place for leather holsters—whether conventional or hybrid—but now my go-to suggestion is the Onyx.
Day in and day out when I want to grab a holster that I know will do everything a concealed carry holster must do and do well—cover the trigger guard, secure and conceal the gun—I grab the Onyx. Try this star performer out yourself, and you will too.
I still remember the tingly feeling that coursed through my body that day my concealed carry permit arrived in the mail. I held the small rectangle of paper in my hand with equal parts excitement and nervousness, much as I did with my first driver’s license when I was a teenager.
I was excited because now it meant I could travel wherever I wanted and feel that much safer. I could keep a gun tucked away in my vehicle legally when traveling and not worry about keeping it locked in a trunk or at home where it would do me no good should I ever need it. Quite simply, it gave me peace of mind.
It was those same reasons that made me nervous. Owning a gun and carrying it to the range or to hunt with is a huge responsibility. Strict safety protocols must be adhered to at all times.
Carrying a gun on your person in public brings with it an even higher threshold of responsibility—one that isn’t lost on those people who apply for their permits.
Perhaps that’s why there are so few instances of CCW permit holders ever getting in trouble because of their guns.
The people who are willing to accept responsibility for their safety and that of their families, are willing to perform the required training and practice to hone their skills, are, by their very nature, some of the more responsible people in our communities.
This country was founded by people with a strong sense of right and wrong along with a willingness to defend themselves and the good people around them, which is what today’s growing CCW movement is all about.
After spending some quality time with this new pistol, it’s clear that the folks at Browning really did their homework on this American-made handgun. It’s lightweight, accurate, reliable and just a whole bunch of fun to shoot.
Browning is sure to make some waves this year with a new team of time-tested designs that are each as popular today as they’ve ever been. The 1911 pistol and .380 ACP, both original designs of John M. Browning, will work together as shown in this Browning 1911-380 review.
The composite frame and machined steel slide keep the weight down to a lightweight 17½ ounces. Author Photo
Today’s popularity of concealed carry around the country and the growing interest in shooting by all kinds of people have created a great avenue for Browning’s newest sidearm.
The reduced size and quality features make this classic firearm design, more typically chambered in the much larger .45 caliber and sometimes in 9mm, ideal for a concealed carry sidearm. At the same time, the reduced size and recoil of the smaller design will appeal to new and small-stature shooters.
The Gun
When I first picked up the 1911-380, I was immediately impressed with how nicely it fit in my hand. This locked-breech, single-stack .380 is the same size as Browning’s 1911-22—about 85 percent of a full-size .45-caliber 1911. The composite frame and machined steel slide keep the weight down to a handy 17½ ounces, and at only 7½ inches long, it’s easy to picture comfortably carrying this gun all day long.
Browning designers incorporated several features on this little shooter more often found on high-end 1911s or as custom add-ons. The skeletonized hammer and trigger, extended beavertail grip safety with raised lower pad, extended slide release and extended ambidextrous thumb safety all add up to give it a cool look, as well as offer legitimate performance advantages.
Like it or not, the gun also has a magazine disconnect safety, which was actually on John Browning’s original patent for the 1911.
Another nice bonus feature is that all of the grips, holsters and accessories made for the Browning 1911-22 fit the .380 without any modifications since they’re both the same size.
On the Range
A couple of things really stood out once I got the pistol to the range and started putting some 95-grain Winchester Train & Defend rounds through it. First of all, it’s accurate. With a two-hand grip, tight, consistent center mass groups were the norm at 15 yards, and knocking down steel plates at the same distance was not a problem with the combat-style sights.
The minimal recoil helped me stay on target for rapid successive shots, much easier than a larger caliber firearm might allow.
The rust-resistant 4¼-inch target crowned barrel and crisp 5-pound single-action trigger pull definitely aid in the accuracy department, especially compared to other 2- to 2½-inch barrel subcompact .380 carry guns.
The 1911-380 is also reliable. During several hours at the range, the gun never malfunctioned a single time. It ate through each seven-round steel magazine I fed it without a hiccup. Feeding, ejecting, reloading—no worries. This mighty midget of a 1911 is a solid, dependable shooter.
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.
