A shell's shoulders can bear the brunt of the reloading and shooting process. But, through some simple finagling of the cartridge shoulder bump when reloading, some weight can be taken off a shell's shoulders.
Cartridge shoulder bump is sometimes overlooked in the reloading process. But if special care is taken when resizing that element of the brass you can be rewarded with much more accurate ammunition and longer shell life.
Cartridge shoulder bump, eh? Nah, I’m not talking about some hipster dance, I’m talking about how much we move the cartridge shoulder during the resizing process.
Most folks (myself included) will resize a bottleneck rifle case so that it adheres to the specified SAAMI specifications, but that requires working the brass considerably. As we’ve all seen, overworking the brass will make it brittle, and cut the life of our brass much shorter than necessary.
In a lever action, autoloader or pump action rifle, the SAAMI specification is a necessity, but us bolt action nuts (again, I include myself in this group) can get away with a larger dimension, so long as it chambers properly in our rifles. What we’re after here is a smooth chambering case, minimally reduced from the post-firing dimensions.
The resizing dies are designed to give SAAMI dimensions, but by varying the shellholder, we can adjust, incrementally, exactly how much the shoulder is moved. For example, Redding offers a set of Competition Shellholders that vary by .002”, from .010” down to .002” of depth. They come five to a set, and are precisely machined, as are all of the Redding products. You can simply move the cartridge shoulder at .002” increments, until you find the dimension that fits easily into your rifles chamber.
Now, it may seem silly that a change in dimension of that minute measurement will make a difference, but it does.
There is an awful lot of stress on the shoulder of a bottleneck cartridge, during both the firing and resizing processes, and that constant working of your brass is what is reducing your case life. Keep that shoulder to a dimension that will move very little, and you’ll also experience increased accuracy, without the difficulty associated with neck sized ammunition.
Along with their competition dies, pictured above, Redding Reloading makes a nifty set of Competition Shellholders. The devices allow shooters to modify how much their shells' shoulders are being reformed ever so slightly.
You know, neck sized stuff is great to shoot, but closing the bolt can be a chore, especially when the ammunition is used for hunting. But, if we have minimally resized ammunition, so that the bolt closes easily, it can fill many needs.
In addition to increased case life, the ammunition produced with the Competition shellholders give the better accuracy I’ve mentioned by giving better cartridge concentricity. You see, the more precisely the bullet is aligned with the bore, the less the bullet has to move to align itself in the throat of the chamber.
These shellholders are also a fantastic tool for curing the problems associated with mildly excessive headspacing. Once you’ve fireformed the brass to the problem chamber, these little gems will help you do your best to keep them at that dimension, yet feed easy.
The Redding shellholders have a nice black oxide finish, come in a quality plastic case and are clearly marked with the dimension that they change the specification. Give ‘em a try; you might keep your brass around quite a bit longer.
For enthusiasts of AR-style firearms, this past Friday the 13th truly turned out to be unlucky.
The ominous date marked a push by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to ban a popular military surplus round. In a white paper, the federal agency spelled out its plans to rescind an exemption of 5.56x45mm SS109/M855 ammunition, deeming the round to be “armor piercing.”
Better known as “green tips,” the ammunition was previously exempted from 1986 federal legislation. The bullet has components that are listed within the legislation's definition of armor piercing, in particular the steel penetrator in the tip that sits atop a lead core; there is also a lead-free variation that has a tungsten core.
The ammunition received an exemption, since for most of its existence it was exclusively used in rifles and the 1986 legislation was primarily concerned with armor-piercing handgun ammunition. But the BATFE is set to reverse itself after nearly 30 years, citing the growth of AR pistols as a need to withhold the military surplus round from the civilian market.
The agency points to an urgent need to protect law enforcement from what it considers an armor-piercing round for the ban. This, despite the fact crimes committed with firearms chambered 5.56 NATO are rare.
As a sidenote, U.S. Military and NATO do not classify the 62-grain green tip round as armor piercing, designating it instead as standard ball ammunition. The tungsten carbide cored M995 — or black tips — is classified by both entities as armor piercing.
The new regulations also propose a new test as to what constitutes sporting ammunition, if the bullet is composed of material the BATFE considers armor piercing and functions in both rifles and handguns:
Category I: .22Caliber Projectiles A .22 caliber projectile that otherwise would be classified as armor piercing ammunition under 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(17)(B) will be considered to be “primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes” under section 921(a)(17)(C) if the projectile weighs 40 grains or less AND is loaded into a rimfire cartridge.
Category II: All Other Caliber Projectiles Except as provided in Category I (.22 caliber rimfire), projectiles that otherwise would be classified as armor piercing ammunition will be presumed to be “primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes” under section 921(a)(17)(C) if the projectile is loaded into a cartridge for which the only handgun that is readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade is a single shot handgun. ATF nevertheless retains the discretion to deny any application for a “sporting purposes” exemption if substantial evidence exists that the ammunition is not primarily intended for such purposes.
There is plenty of minutia on the issue that could have far reaching impact on shooters. The above video, from Military Arms Channel, does a pretty solid job jumping into fine print of the proposal — it is definitely worth an entire watch.
Rock Island Auction Company is shooting for the stars to start 2015. The Illinois auction house is set to stage it biggest sale to date with its first four-day event. And, as usual, the block will be crowded with an incredible volume of rare, unique and historic firearms.
According to RIA’s press release, the Feb. 19-22 firearms auction will include more than of 7,000 items in 3,600-plus lots, including more than 700 Colts, 600 Winchesters, 400 Remingtons, and 300 Smith & Wessons.
With Civil War weapons to Colt snake guns ready for sale, there appears to be a little something for everyone. That includes high-end bidders, with the lots from The William Baird Colt Collection and The Estate Collection of Donald Kotecki.
It will take a lot for RIA to outdo its $47.5 million in sales in 2014. But as the photo gallery below shows, the top-notch auction company appears set to make a run at it.
Hit targets at 500, 800 and 1,000-plus yards like they’re a chip shot with these must-know long-range accuracy tips.
Understanding the focal plane, reticle, parallax and eyepiece is essential to maximizing the accuracy of your rifle. Make all needed adjustments until the sight picture is clear and crisp. Author Photo
Perhaps no feat better epitomizes the marriage of precision firearms technology and marksmanship ability than long-range shooting. But it takes more than just a suitable caliber, a quality rifle, a top-shelf optic and a steady trigger finger. Every one of those components must work together like a finely tuned instrument in the hands of a skilled musician. Most importantly, for the long-distance shooter, consistently successful shots out to 500-plus yards can only be achieved through extensive practice in a variety of conditions and lots of homework.
“Long-range shooting is not just pulling the trigger, long-range shooting is about thinking,” says Tom Maciak, technology development engineering supervisor for Trijicon. Maciak recently showcased some of his company’s marquis products with dedicated long-range capability including the sniper-friendly 3-15×50 TARS (Tactical Advanced Riflescope) and the brand new 1-6×24 VCOG (Variable Combat Optical Gunsight). Before guiding our group in their practical application among the steep hillsides and open range of the Castle Valley Outdoors shooting and hunting resort in Emery, Utah, the longtime shooter and engineer summed up the 12 keys to successful long-range shooting.
1. Fit the Rifle to You
Ensuring the proper fit of a firearm to the shooter is more than just properly placing your head and eye behind the optic. More importantly, it’s about being able to control the rifle and establishing consistent attachment to the rifle every time the shooter brings it to his shoulder.
“The same thing has got to happen the same way every time you shoot the rifle,” says Maciak. For serious long-range shooting, you’ll want a rifle with a tactical stock that permits simple—and instant—adjustment to the length of pull and the cheek rest so the shooter can be completely comfortable. Take time to adjust the bipod or rest and any rear support of the buttstock before getting in position to shoot. Failing to do so will make it impossible to achieve a consistent weld to the gun and will increase the likelihood of scope shadowing, where the full visual diameter of the scope cannot be seen.
By getting your entire body behind the scope and not off to the side, you can better absorb recoil, which will help you stay on target, particularly when follow-up shots are needed. Author Photo
2. Adjust the Eyepiece/Ocular Diopter
A clear, focused reticle is critical for precise shot placement and is a very individual setting when viewed through different eyes. A good long distance scope will allow for this adjustment. Focus the reticle using the ocular adjustment while viewing it against a plain background such as a wall or the sky. Because the human eye will make adjustments to what it is focusing on itself, don’t look at the reticle while adjusting. Dial a quarter of a turn and look at and repeat the process until the reticle is clear and crisp.
3.Parallax
Parallax is the apparent movement of the reticle when viewing it at different, distance magnifications. At 9x and below, it’s not an issue. But for anything at 10x and above, if the reticle appears to wave inside the scope when viewed, parallax will need to be adjusted or it will affect your point of impact. To adjust, turn the parallax adjustment all the way out to infinity and bring it back in focus. The reticle should stop moving. Like focus, parallax may have to be adjusted at every distance.
Don’t hold your breath more than three or four seconds or you will get the shakes. Shoot at the bottom of your exhale. If you are not on target, take another breath and try again. Author Photo
4. Reticle Illumination
If your scope has an illuminated reticle, a popular option in many high-end scopes these days, you do not want it on when using a reticle for ranging. Blooming, the affect created when viewing a lit object with the human eye, will thicken the size of the reticle and disrupt focus for proper ranging.
5. First or Second Focal Plane
When ranging a target using a ranging reticle, understand that first focal plane ranging will work at all magnifications. Second focal plane ranging only works at the highest magnification. How do you know which one you have? When adjusting magnification, if the reticle size adjusts with it, yours is in the first focal plane. If it doesn’t change size, it’s a second focal plane reticle. The first focal plane offers more flexibility, though you might have to dial down the magnification to find the target because full magnification creates a narrow field of view; it’s ultimately a personal preference. Between 2.5x to 10x, it probably isn’t a big deal which one your scope is.
The breeze you feel uprange might be a gust downrange. Use a spotting scope to read mirages, wind flags, or the direction of blowing grass to get a feel for wind speed. Author Photo
6. Place Your Body Behind the Scope
Watch most shooters and they will stand or position themselves behind the rifle at an angle. But all that recoil is transferred to your body, and if the mass of your body is largely to the side of that energy, it will jerk the body more. For long-range accuracy, square the body off behind the target to provide a more reliable base better able to accommodate recoil. It will help you stay on target throughout recoil for follow-up shots or to simply observe where your bullet strikes.
7. Ensure Reticle is Horizontal
Ballistics are made to operate with relation to a horizontal reticle, so if the scope is mounted improperly or not sitting on its rest so that the reticle is perfectly horizontal, make the necessary adjustments. An angled reticle can alter the relationship of your aim to the actual trajectory of the bullet and lead to missed shots at long distances.
8. Adjustment Dials and Come-Ups
This is where a shooter’s homework and knowledge of long-range ballistic performance is critical. First, you need to determine what increments or how much each click of adjustment of the scope will move your point of impact and whether that measurement is in MOA or mils. The farther you plan to shoot, the more adjustment will be needed in the elevation department so you need to ensure the scope has enough adjustment. (For a rough example, when shooting a .308 at a target 2,000 yards away, the bullet would have to be launched at an angle equivalent to a five-story building so that it would drop in and strike the target. That’s a lot of adjustment and for such shots, an angled base may be needed.)
You also need to understand dope sheets and come-ups or doping elevation, meaning you have to know how much your bullet will drop at the distances you will be shooting. Other aspects that must be factored in include the velocity of the load at various ranges, elevation where the shot will take place, the temperature, relative humidity, the difference between plain of the bore and the optic and then you need to be able to make accurate calculations for the particular bullet to be shot. “When you do your homework, it works well,” says Maciak. “Do your homework beforehand, and you don’t have to worry about that when it is time to make the shot.” He likes JBM Ballistics’ website at jbmballistics.com as a good resource for developing his data.
Dope cards for long-range shooting.
9. BDC Reticle
If the scope you are shooting has a BDC (Bullet Drop Compensating) reticle, the calculations are somewhat already done for you, but remember those reticles are made for a particular caliber or bullet at a specific elevation. They also tend to work on average loads rather than specific loads, so you will still need to shoot your specific load and determine the actual drop with relation to the reticle’s hash marks.
10. Wind
Entire books could be written on how to negotiate wind when shooting at distance so we’re not likely to nail it down in a paragraph or two. Suffice it to say, understanding a bullet’s performance in the wind is a true art form, and the only way to begin mastering it is to spend a lot of time shooting in the wind. Remember, wind where you are may be different than where the target is and can be influenced by the terrain the bullet must travel over. One trick is to use mirage, visible through a high-power optic to read the wind near the target and determine how far off to the side you must aim.
11. Shoot On the Bottom of Your Exhale
When you’re locked on a target and all dialed in, there is a rise and fall of your reticle from breathing and heartbeat. Remembering consistency is critical to shooting, if we shoot on the exhale, it gives us a consistent trigger time at a moment when the body is most relaxed. Hold that breath at the exhale for no more than three or four seconds and no longer. If you do, the body will start shaking because it’s technically becoming oxygen deprived. If you don’t make the shot, take another breath, and settle back in.
12. Trigger Follow-Through
Pull the trigger back and hold it. Don’t slap it; don’t lift your head off the stock. Keep it there long after the shot. You want to see the bullet impact the target through the scope, and holding the trigger prior to resetting it will help you retain sight of the target when you cycle the bolt for a second shot, which should be an automatic reflex when shooting a bolt-action rifle. You won’t have to reposition the scope and your body because they are pretty much the same. Keep in position until the shot strikes the target. “Remember, you’re not done shooting until the bullet hits target, which might be several seconds in long-range situations,” says Maciak.
The M87 is the first walnut stocked pump-action shotgun Escort is offering in America.
There is just something about a shotgun stocked in a stick of walnut.
The classic wood's fine texture and grain bring a firearm – particularly those made specifically for sporting purposes – to a whole different level of aesthetics. Of course, there is typically a bit more of a price to pay when shooters opt for a firearm decked out in walnut rather than a polymer material.
This is why Escort Shotguns' newest addition to its lineup appears so intriguing. Imported by Legacy Sports International, the M87 pump-action shoots for a solid looking shotgun at an affordable price. With an MSRP of $350, the M87's satin-finished walnut stock is well within reach of almost any shooter.
Part of what makes the gun so affordable is where it is manufactured and its proximity to key materials. Escort is a brand of Turkish gun maker Hatsan Arms, which means it has one of the world's richest walnut supplies at its finger tips.
The M87 appears to be an American version of the Escort WS and will be offered in both 12- and 20-gauge stateside. In addition to the standard model, their will also be a youth version available.
The new Escort smoothbore, no matter the gauge, will be offered in two barrel lengths, 28 and 26 inches. In both variations, the shotgun has a 14.5-inch length of pull, which makes the gun's overall length either 48 or 46 inches, depending on the barrel length.
The M87 shouldn't be a burden in the field, weighing in from 5.8 to 6.8 pound, depending on the model. To ensure it can easily be toted around, the shotgun comes pre-fitted with sling swivels, located at the front of tube magazine and the buttstock.
The youth edition is set up to give new shooters a more manageable platform, which should provide a lower-recoil firearm upon which to cut their teeth. It is a 22-inch barreled 20-gauge that tips the scales at 5.8 pounds and has a 13.5-inch LOP.
All models have a 4+1 capacity and come with three Escort V3 Removable Chokes in full, modified and improved. Choke choices don't end there, with the shotgun threaded to be compatible any made for Remington 1100 shotguns.
The gun come outfitted with a rubber butt pad, to help reduce felt recoil. It has a front fiber optics bead set atop a ventilated rib. And has a large slide release button, to make it easier to operate with gloves on.
The stock is made to gain a solid purchase, boasting checkering on the slide and grip.
Designed for cordite powder, the .375 has a sleek, tapered case that feeds easily. A wide variety of softpoints and solids makes it truly versatile.
Disagree? Few others can boast a century in the greatest game fields!
A hundred years ago, the English gun-making firm of Holland and Holland introduced the .375 Belted Rimless Nitro Express. It arrived Stateside in 1925, when Western Cartridge Company began loading it. As the .375 H&H Magnum, it spawned the .300 H&H Magnum. Around 1926, up-scale New York gun-builder Griffin & Howe began barreling Magnum Mausers to .375.
Wayne used this BRNO rifle in .375 for buffalo n Australia. He fired Norma Africa PH ammo featuring Woodleigh bullets.
In 1937 it became a charter chambering in Winchester’s new Model 70. Remington offered the .375 H&H in its 725 Kodiak (though fewer than 100 were built, all in 1961). Actions for the .375 must accommodate its 3.60-inch loaded length. Cases measure 2.85 inches, base to mouth. A rimmed form of the .375, for double rifles, also appeared in 1912: the .375 Flanged Magnum Nitro Express. But the belted round works fine in hinged-breech mechanisms. Steeply tapered, with a shoulder angle of less than 13 degrees, .375 rounds slip eagerly into a double’s open breech, and feed silkily in bolt rifles.
In his book, “African Rifles and Cartridges,” John Taylor praises the .375 H&H: “I’ve had five of these rifles … and have fired more than 5,000 rounds of .375 Magnum ammunition at game…. One [rifle] accounted for more than 100 elephant and some 411 buffalo, besides rhino, lions … Although my formula gives this rifle a Knock-Out value of 40 points, I must regretfully admit that does not really do full justice to it.”
Taylor recalled a buffalo he’d shot with a 300-grain solid from his .375 double. “The bull dropped to the shot but in an instant was up again … I gave him the left barrel fairly in the center of his great chest…. He crashed on his nose [and] keeled over — stone dead.”
With .375s I’ve downed buffalo and elephant. Woodleigh solids, loaded in Norma ammunition, drive deep. At 350 grains, they carry more weight and length than standard 300-grain bullets. The stout Trophy Bonded bullets (Federal) and Swift A-Frames are my pick for softpoints.
One Woodleigh solid from Wayne’s Mauser at 16 yards dropped this elephant. The bullet entered between the eyes, penetrated to a hip.
In full-throttle loads, they bring two tons of energy to 50 yards. Still, the .375 can be chambered in a rifle as lively as a .30-06. Most hunters can point such a rifle more deftly than they can a heavier if shorter, double. And they can fire it without fear of turning their cheek or shoulder the color of old cheese. Part of the reason the .375 is so popular for dangerous game is that it can be fired accurately by people of average build and shooting experience — in rifles of modest weight.
Quick handling and high magazine capacity make first hits faster, and put more bullets into crippled animals than might be possible with ponderous big-bore rifles. A couple of years ago, I dashed around a bush to the cry of a tracker who’d come suddenly upon the leopard we’d been trailing. My .375 — a Montana Rifles lightweight — came up like a shotgun and all but fired itself. The cat rocketed into the air with broken shoulders. It died as it hit the ground.
My favorite .375s? Certainly that Montana, which has also taken buffalo and eland and a big giraffe — which weighed almost twice as much as a buff! An old Model 70 with Redfield receiver sight downed my first buffalo and still ranks high. Sako’s handsome Kokiak has a nose for the target; its laminated stock is among the most comfortable I’ve used. Remington briefly marketed a Mauser in .375, and I snapped one up. It’s a classic, with features — a positive extractor, dead-certain feeding — that made early .375s so effective.
For decades, the .375 H&H brooked no rivals. In the 1940s Roy Weatherby came up with his own .375 Magnum on the same case, but blown out, with a radiused shoulder. Despite a velocity edge of 200 fps, it couldn’t compete with the Holland round. (Recently it has returned to the Weatherby stable). A few years ago, Hornady trotted out the .375 Ruger. Developed to work in .30-06-length actions, it has roughly 10 percent more capacity than the .375 H&H Magnum, thanks to a wider body with little taper. Its .532 head diameter is the same as that of the .375 H&H; but the .375 Ruger is rimless. It pushes bullets 5 percent faster, from a hull .27 inch shorter.
Still, in every game field worldwide, you’ll find cartridges for your .375 H&H rifle. It may be another century before another .375 can make such a claim!
A newer configuration of an established firearms platform has been a hot ticket for a Washington retailer.
“We are selling just a ton of AR pistols, mostly for home defense purposes,” Cory Hamilton, manager at Wade’s Eastside Guns said. “It seems like every week, a load of them goes right out the door.”
The top AR pistol at the store has been the 300 Advanced Armament Corp. Blackout Pistol with a 9-inch barrel and chambered in 300 Blackout. Base price is approximately $1,500, though Hamilton notes most buyers like their AAC tricked out with an arm brace and optics and/or a laser sight, often to the tune of $2,000 or better.
The new MK18 AR pistol from Daniel Defense is coming on strong.
Wade’s does a large business with the local concealed carry crowd, too. Best-selling handguns for these folks are Glock 42’s, at $499, the Glock 19 Gen 3 at $600 and the Glock 19 Gen 4 at $650.
“We’ve been moving a good number of Smith & Wesson Shields, too,” Hamilton said, “and actually quite a few S&W J-Frame revolvers for concealed carry.”
AR-style rifles?
Slow, with the exceptions being the Colt 6920 AR-15, for $1,100, and the M&P Sporter by Smith & Wesson at the very popular price of $750.
Editor's Note: This brief appeared in the January 22, 2015 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Simplify the process of storing a handgun in your car with the Gum Creek Vehicle Handgun Mount – an innovative design that fits snugly under your steering wheel column while also providing quick and easy access to your handgun. The convenience of this mount allows you to avoid placing your handgun between or underneath seats, in a door or console, or any other location that is uncomfortable, unsafe, or non-secure. Stay Protected
When it comes to dry firing with a rifle, the practice should be as much about learning to acclimate to field conditions as it’s learning about a rifle’s idiosyncrasies.
Anymore, it seems a lot of the discussion on dry firing revolves around handguns. But the exercise definitely has its place in the world of rifle shooting.
Famed hunter and gun writer Jack O’Connor, for instance, was avid about dry firing, finding time every day to pull the trigger on his rifle. But there is more to it than just getting behind the business end of your favorite long gun and firing away on an empty chamber.
In many cases, the practice should be as much about learning to acclimate to field conditions as it’s learning about a rifle’s idiosyncrasies. This is where the above video from Wyoming custom gun maker GunWerks hits the nail on the head.
The instructional quickly covers the basics of the practice, such as working on breath control and keeping the crosshair steady. But perhaps its most salient point is to practice these skills in the positions they’ll likely be utilized.
It’s faulty logic to believe knocking the eye out of the bull from a bench rest equates to bagging a trophy buck from the kneeling position or confidently wielding a personal defense carbine in modified offhand.
Deftly shooting in the field, in many respects, is a matter of understanding and adapting to variables. A sled or bench rest, in most respects, sterilizes the practical challenges out of shooting.
There’s no question about it, handguns are the top sellers right now at Sharp Shooting Indoor Range & Gun Shop.
“Mid-size frames continue to be the strongest sellers, but many of the small compact handguns are also selling well,” owner Robin Ball said.
As far as which makes and models have dominated, many are among the most popular presently available on the market.
“Our top five handgun sellers, in order, are the Glock 19 Gen4, Glock 42, Smith & Wesson Shield in 9mm, Springfield XDS in 9mm, and Ruger LC9,” Ball said. “All these firearms range in price from $400 to $580. The higher-priced handguns typically used by our competition shooters are slower selling right now.”
The store’s best-selling optic manufacturer is Vortex.
“All of their product line moves great. Our tactical shooters and hunters love the products and the great customer service from Vortex.”
EOTech is still a strong seller here, but sales have dropped somewhat as sales of AR-style rifles have slowed.
Sharp Shooting’s concealed-carry customers love the Sticky Holsters line, which sell from $25 to $28. Galco Summer Comfort and Triton holsters are selling well also.
“The ammo shortage in the rimfire category is still impacting firearm sales in this category and will likely impact Christmas sales,” say Ball.
He notes that more than one ammunition representative has told him the .22 rimfire shortage will last at least another year, if not two years!
Editor's Note: This brief original appeared in the January 22, 2015 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Be prepared to tackle any situation with the convenient and compact Everyday Carry Kit. Great for the gun owner who has it all, or those looking for EDC essentials in a compact package, the resources and EDC gear in this bundle will help ensure your readiness – no matter what happens. Kit includes: CRKT M16-13Z Knife, Williams Tactical Applications Flashlight, Trauma Pack Pro and two invaluable Gun Digest resources. Gear Up
The Burris MTAC Illuminated 1-4 scope on 1X magnification makes for fast target acquisition while keeping peripheral vision. Author Photo.
CMMG thinks it has finally built the solution for those who pine for a true, high-functioning AR/AK hybrid. Part AR, part AK – the new CMMG Mutant is a true beast.
The CMMG Mutant is a cross between Eugene Stoner’s design and Mikhail Kalashnikov’s brainchild. Both these guns have been wildly successful, so it makes sense that a marriage of features from both guns should be a winner.
The MK 47 uses the much superior Stoner trigger, safety and stock design. In fact, the MK 47 is about 80 percent Stoner design and 20 percent Kalashnikov. From the trigger back, it’s 100 percent Stoner.
The bolt assembly is a massive version similar to the AR-10 bolt. There’s no forward assist and no bolt lock-back on the last round.
The standard AK magazine is used, but the magazine release is far superior to the Kalashnikov design. There’s a grooved ambidextrous paddle lever at the front of the trigger guard that can be pushed forward with the tip of the index finger. If you lower the muzzle of the rifle as you press the lever, the magazine will drop free. This makes magazine changes incredibly fast.
The MK 47 is about 80 percent Stoner design and 20 percent Kalashnikov.
Of course, the most notable advantages of the MK Mutant over the AK are the ability to mount an optic and feel like it isn’t super glued on the gun. The MK 47 has a full length Picatinny rail that runs from the receiver flat top to the forward end of the handguard. While we’re talking about handguards, the CMMG handguard is the same as the one on the 3-Gun rifle.
MUTANT OPTIONS
The AKM is the middle of three Mutant models from CMMG. The T model is the base model with basic furniture, and the AKM2 adds a Geissele SSA trigger. All models come with CMMG’s lifetime quality guarantee.
With a weight of less than 7 pounds, it’s no heavier than an AR-15 of similar length and options. There’s a CMMG SV Brake Threaded 5/8-24, so mounting a suppressor is a simple task. The upper and lower receivers are of 7075-T6 aluminum, and the gun comes with a Magpul PMAG 30 AK/AKM MOE magazine. The 16.1-inch barrel is made of 4140 steel and has six-groove rifling and a groove diameter of .311-inch.
While no one will argue that the AK 47 has been a success and is arguably the best combat weapon in existence today, the AR side of the family has been no slouch. The MK 47 marries the best aspects of both systems to produce a very good rifle. It’s pleasant to shoot pushing to the right, but with little muzzle rise.
I scoped the test gun with the excellent Burris MTAC Illuminated 1-4 scope. While dot sights have found a lot of popularity, I find a low magnification variable to be a wonderful choice for ARs and similar rifles.
Using Winchester ammo, the Mk47 punched a 1½-inch group at 100 yards. Author Photo.
It only took a couple of shots to get the MTAC on, and once there, I was pleased with the accuracy level of the Mutant. With 125-grain Brown Bear softpoints, it grouped within 3 inches for five-shot groups at 100 yards, and Winchester 125 brought that to less than 2 inches, with my best group under 1 ½ inches.
The AKM2 with the Geissele trigger paired with a higher magnification scope might do better. Functioning was 100 percent with both loads tested.
Over the years, I’ve come to realize just how versatile the AR platform has become, but I realize there are limitations to the .223/5.56 round. The 7.62 x 39 round offers a much heavier bullet and better penetration while keeping the option of using low-cost steel-cased ammunition.
The MK 47 Mutant certainly is a viable choice for general use as a defense/utility rifle and would make a great hog slapper with the power of the 7.62 round. It’s accurate, reliable, offers the ability to shoot cheap ammunition, and uses cheap and easy-to-find magazines.
I’m more than pleased with it.
CGGM Mutant Specs
Caliber: 7.62 x 39 Action Type: Direct impingement, semi-auto Receiver: 7075-T6 aluminum Barrel: 16.1” six-groove 4140 steel Magazine: Standard AK configuration P Mag Trigger: CMMG single stage mil-spec style Sights: N/A, flat top with full-length Picatinny rail Stock: Magpul CTR and MOE pistol grip Weight: 7.2 lbs. (unloaded) Overall Length: 33.5” (stock collapsed) Accessories: N/A Suggested Retail Price: $1,650
Editor's Note: This article appeared in the January 22, 2015 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Sales of AR-style rifles and other tactical fare have slowed greatly at Gamaliel Shooting Supply. On the other hand, bolt-action rifles have steadily ramped up.
The catalyst, the past fall hunting season.
“For centerfire rifles, we are selling quite a few bolt rifles at the lower price points like the Savage Axis and the Ruger American series,” notes Grayson Pare, Gamaliel’s sales and marketing manager. “We sell the Savage Axis packages for $350 (black) or $400 (camo). They do come with a scope. The Ruger American rifles are $370, but do not include a scope.”
Waterfowl and upland hunters were also buying mood. But they purchased shotguns at both ends of the price spectrum.
Local hunters prefer the Benelli Super Black Eagle II, at $1,570, and the Stoeger P3000 series shotguns, at just a shade under $600, Pare said.
“Ammunition is still moving pretty steady—at the right price point,” Pare says. “High-end hunting or self-defense loads are slow, but cheap FMJ (full-metal jacket) ammo sells well. All rimfire ammo sells well, and we are moving a lot of .17 HMR now that availability has gotten better.”
Top brands for the .17 HMR ammunition buyers are Hornady or CCI, at approximately $14 per box of 50 rounds.
Editor's Note: This brief appeared in the January 1, 2015 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Steiner has releases some fairly intriguing new optics this year that aim to take shooters to a new level of accuracy.
When it comes to drawing a bead, Steiner Optics is one of the favorites among many shooters. And the German subsidiary of Beretta continues to churn out aiming solutions to fit nearly any situation. This year has proven no different with Steiner introducing or refining a number of scopes, sights and other accessories to get shooters on target. Here’s a look at three innovative offerings from the company’s new releases. Sorry, no MSRPs were available at time of writing.
Steiner Intelligent Combat Sight (ICS) Steiner has come out with a number of new riflescopes this year, but the most interesting might be its Intelligent Combat Sight. The unit has an integrated laser rangefinder and ballistic calculator, in addition the 6x40mm scope itself. The system provides shooters with trajectory compensation, automatically calculating point of aim based off ammunition ballistics, measured distance and angle to target. Steiner designed the calculator for the 7.62x51mm round, but it can be adjusted to work with 5.56 NATO, 300 Blackout and .300 Winchester Magnum cartridges. The ICS runs off one CR123A battery and has a Picatinny rail on top for mounting a backup iron sight.
Steiner Micro Reflex Sight Steiner doesn’t look like it’s adding much with its new MRS, except faster target acquisition. That’s because the 1x holographic sight weighs in at less than 3 ounces – officially 70 grams. The sight has a 3 MOA red dot that can be set for automatic illumination control or manually adjusted through three brightness levels. It is fully adjustable for windage and elevation and mounts to any Picatinny rail. The until delivers 550 hours of operation off one CR1632 battery and is submersible to 10 meters.
Steiner eOptics SBAL-PL The SBAL-PL shoots to make the most of rail space, combining an adjustable laser sight and flashlight into one package. The device has a green laser-aiming module situated above a 500-lumen flashlight in rugged 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum case with a hardcoat anodized finish. The waterproof module offers shooters the ability to utilize the laser and flashlight functions independently or in conjunction. These functions are controlled by an ambidextrous switch and are run off a CR123 battery that can be changed without removing the device from its mount. The unit is designed for use on mid- to full-sized pistols or a rifle, and adds 4 ounces to a firearm.
Modern Shooter TV takes a look at the art and craft of gunsmithing — from custom engraving to basic maintenance. New episodes of Modern Shooter TV airs on Sportsman Channel 8 p.m. ET Monday; replays of the week's episodes are then broadcast 9 a.m. ET Thursday and 12 a.m. Sunday.
This new collection of 6 must-have resources is perfect for gunsmiths and at-home do-it-yourselfers. It's packed full of how-to instruction for accessorizing, repairing and upgrading your guns. Covering pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns and the ever-popular AR-15s, this collection is one you'll want to have at your fingertips the next time you need to make repairs, adjust the timing on your revolver, change a barrel, adjust a stock, reduce recoil, clean, and so much more. A total retail value of $180.94, through this limited-time offer, you can get these 6 resources for just $79.99. Learn More
One of the most famous smokeless powder military cartridges in history actually started out as a black-powder round. Here’s a look at the load and the revolutionary new repeating rifle that chambered it – the Lee-Metford.
By the mid-1880s, it was becoming manifestly evident that the smallbore, bolt-action repeater was the top choice for general service military longarms. A number of different systems were devised whole cloth or adopted from earlier ones, resulting in groundbreakers such as the French Model 1886 Lebel, German Model 1888 Commission Rifle, Italian Model 1891 Terni, Japanese Type 22, Russian Model 1891 Mosin-Nagant, American Model 1892 Krag-Jorgensen and one of the best – Britain’s 1888 Mark I Lee-Metford.
Curiously, while a number of its contemporaries were introduced with smokeless powder loads, the Metford’s designers decided that a black-powder load was suitable for Her Majesty’s forces – at least as a stopgap.
The Lee-Metford, like its two single-shot predecessors the Snider and Martini-Henry, had its origin in the United States. James Paris Lee was a naturalized American citizen whose parents emigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1836. Though initially following his father’s occupation of watchmaking, firearms were his real passion and by the time he moved to Wisconsin in 1858 he had taken up gun making and design full time.
While Lee didn’t invent the box magazine, there is no question he perfected it. His circa 1879 Remington-Lee bolt-action rifle was tested by the U.S. Navy, and though not used by the American military in any great numbers, this revolutionary rifle caught the eye of British authorities. In 1880, versions of the rifle chambered for the .577-450 Gatling variation of the British service round and fitted with Martini-Henry barrels, bested a number of foreign and domestic rifles in early trials. Further testing continued throughout the 1880s with altered Remington-Lees, as well as with production .45-70 and .43 Spanish models.
Early on, sentiment leaned towards the adoption of a .402 service round, but the success of a .303-caliber cartridge by Swiss designer Col. Eduard Rubin caused some rethinking. Plans for the larger caliber were dropped and further testing ordered for the .303.
The Lee-Metford’s rounded rifling (bottom) was found to be unsuitable for use with smokeless powder cartridges and was replaced by the more angular Enfield style (top).
Finally in 1888, prototype Lees fitted with barrels featuring the seven-groove rifling of William E. Metford were tested using the .303 Rubin round, and in December of that year the first Lee magazine rifle was officially adopted into British service.
This .303 round had a drawn brass case and round-nosed, 215-grain cupro-nickel-jacketed bullet. The cartridge was Boxer primed and incorporated a compressed black-powder charge of 71½ grains. Though ordnance officials planned on using smokeless powder pending the acceptance of a suitable propellant, it was decided to be prudent and stay with black powder for the moment.
Britain’s first general-issue repeating rifle, the “Magazine Lee-Metford Rifle Mark I” was a unique arm. Featuring rifling devised by William Ellis Metford, it had an eight-shot, sheet-steel metal box magazine, which protruded from the stock in front of the triggerguard. The magazine was detachable, though it was linked to the rifle and not intended to be routinely removed.
The bolt, while not as strong as many later Mauser designs, was fine for the pressures developed by the .303 round. Locking was effected by means of a lug that engaged a recess in the receiver and a solid rib that was secured against a shoulder. The bolt head was a separate piece that threaded onto the bolt body, and by snapping it out of a rail on the receiver, the bolt could be freed and removed rearwards out of the receiver. The gun locked on closing and proved to be one of the smoothest military bolt actions ever – one that could be manipulated with considerable rapidity. A rear-mounted cocking piece allowed the Metford to be armed or disarmed with the bolt closed. Though the gun was a repeater, it was fitted with a sliding cutoff that permitted single-shot firing. The rounds in the magazine were then held in reserve.
The Mk I’s barrel-mounted rear sight was graduated to 1,900 yards, though it was also equipped with a long-range dial sight on the left side of the stock. This was marked to an optimistic 3,500 yards.
Overall length of the rifle was 49½ inches and the barrel measured just over 30 inches. Like the Lee-Metfords and Enfield that would follow it, the Mark I Metford had a two-piece walnut stock. The butt was secured to the receiver by means of a long bolt that passed through it. The grooved fore-end was secured by a combination of screws and barrel bands. A cleaning rod was housed under the barrel. To use it, two sections had to be screwed together.
A Pattern 1888 bayonet featuring a nine-inch sword blade and grip with walnut panels was introduced with the Metford, and in a couple of different versions that would be used with all the Metfords and Long Lees.
Military arms were marked on the left side of the socket with a Queen’s Crown over “VR,” for Victoria Regina, the place of manufacture (Enfield B.S.A. – Birmingham Small Arms Co., Sparkbrook or L.S.A. – London Small Arms Co.) Beneath this was the date of manufacture and the “Mark.”
In early 1892, a number of small changes were made to the Lee-Metford. Modifications on this Mark I* (a “Mark” signified a major change, while a “*” indicated only a minor one) involved the elimination of a rear-mounted safety lever in favor of a half-cock notch on the cocking piece which was also found to be problematic, and the arrangement was changed to a cocking-piece-mounted lever in some later Lees; along with the substitution of a brass stock identification for a steel one and re-graduation of the rear sight to 1,800 yards and the dial sight to 2,900 yards.
A year later a Mark II Metford was authorized. Its most important feature was a 10-round magazine, upping the Lee’s capacity by two rounds. Other mods included a brass buttplate, improved bolt, sturdier nose cap, simplified cutoff and the elimination of finger grooves. In addition, the ID disc was jettisoned, the elongated tang on the new buttplate serving as a marking place for unit designations. Two years later a Mark II* rifle was released that included a safety catch on the cocking piece. As the Mark II had a compartment in the butt for a cleaning pull-through and oil bottle, the rod beneath the barrel was now solely intended for stuck cartridge case removal. Eventually, it was removed altogether.
A stalwart group of soldiers of the 1st Bn. King’s Royal Rifles pose for the photographer with their Mark I Metfords during the Chitral Relief Expedition of 1895.
In late 1891, Britain’s first smokeless powder rifle load was officially adopted—and its acceptance would ultimately sound the death knell for the Lee-Metford. The “Cartridge, S.A., Ball .303 inch Cordite (Mark I)” featured the black-powder round’s drawn brass case and 215-grain bullet, but was charged with 31 grains (60 strands) of Cordite, an extruded propellant fashioned from nitroglycerine, guncotton and mineral jelly. The composition of the Boxer primer was also changed.
While the relatively smoke-free Cordite was a real advantage on the battlefield – it boosted the muzzle velocity of the .303 from 1850 fps to 1970 fps – it unfortunately burned much hotter than the black powder, and soon it was found that Metford rifles and carbines were experiencing distressing bore erosion.
Ordnance technicians set to work to modify the Lee’s rifling to take better advantage of the new round. What emerged was a more angular, deeper five-groove rifling that would not be damaged by the new propellant. Termed “Enfield” after the site where it was developed, this rifling heralded the beginning of a firearms legend, but it also marks the end of our developmental history of the Lee-Metford.
Despite the fact the Mark I Lee-Enfield was approved in 1895, stocks of Metfords were manufactured until 1896 and kept in service while production and issue of the new arm could be brought up to speed (as well as kept as a supplementary arm well into the 20th century). Accordingly, many Metfords saw service in India and other places in the Empire for a good number of years; most notably in the Sudan in 1898 at the Battle of Omdurman, where in the hands of British regulars it helped achieve a lopsided defeat over the Khalifa’s forces, with the British killing 11,000 and wounding 16,000 of the enemy. Their own casualties were a mere of 48 killed and 328 wounded.
SHOOTING THE BLACK-POWDER LEE-METFORD I’ve always been fascinated by the fact the modern .303 started out relying on a then-800-year-old propellant, so I was curious to see just how it would perform. Accordingly, I rounded up a nice condition Mark II Lee-Metford (no mean task, as Metfords are quite tough to come by nowadays) and had some ammunition rustled up by Bob Shell of Shell Reloading, using Privi Partizan .303 cases, Winchester large rifle primers, Hawk Precision Bullets’ 215-grain, 311 RT bullets and a compressed charge of 55-grains of Hodgdon FFg black powder.
Our original evaluation Lee-Metford handled beautifully and was a joy to shoot. Recoil was relatively light with the black-powder loads, though they did throw out a good volume of smoke and flame. Photo Jill Marlow
Why only 55 grains you may ask? Try as he may, that was all Bob could squeeze into the cases, but as the original Brit brass probably had a bit more internal area and the factory had a special method of forming the 71½-grain load into a pellet, this is understandable.
Our 1895-dated Sparkbrook-built Mark II was fired at 50 and 100 yards from a rest. Bullets chronographed at an average of 1480 fps, some 370 fps less than the period round, so it didn’t surprise me when the strikes were about 10 inches low at 50 yards and 12 inches low at 100. With the rear sight set to 450 yards the bullets hit at point of aim and gave good results (in a clean bore), with groups at 50 yards running in the 2½-inch range and those at 100 yards, 2¾ inches. It was interesting, but not surprising, to find out that accuracy dropped off considerably after about 20 rounds due to the black-powder fouling, some spreads widening out to five or six inches. Smoke was considerable, but recoil, quite manageable.
For a control I also tried some British-issue 174-grain c. 1967 Mark VII Cordite .303s and 150-grain Hornady STs in the Metford. Amazingly, they hit in exactly the same spots as the black-powder loads, and groups with both types of ammo were just about the same, giving the edge to Hornady. I talked this over with Bob and neither of us had an adequate explanation other than the fact that sometimes these older guns can present Quixotic results. The gun had an excellent bore and functioned perfectly.
I’m still not quite what all this proves, other than the fact the Metford, in the black-powder mode, was a formidable arm – at least for the first three or four magazine’s-full, after which time the groups, while not match-grade, would have probably been OK for combat. I do have a Long-Lee Enfield in my collection and it is a tack driver, even after extended firing, so there is no question it was an improvement over the Metford.
Still, Britain was well served by its first magazine rifle. As well as being a formidable arm in its own right, it paved the way for a family of bolt-action repeaters that would continue in use as a service rifle with the parent nation past the midpoint of the 20th century, and considerably longer with other nations. You can’t ask for a much better legacy than that.
This article originally appeared in Gun Digest 2015.
Many shooters express concerns with POI, or Point of Impact, shift when using a suppressor. Unfortunately, a lot of people aren’t 100 percent sure what that is, even though it’s a very simple concept.
At a high level, POI shift is simply the shift of the bullet when a suppressor is installed. It’s typically measured in MOA (Minute of Angle); so a POI shift of 2 MOA would indicate a 2-inch shift at 100 yards, 4-inch at 200 yards, etc.
With suppressors, there are really two types of POI shift to be concerned with:
POI Shift When Mounting The Suppressor
When you put a suppressor on, or take it off, you’ll typically see some POI shift. We’ve run quite a few tests on this and have found that the initial POI shift tends to be more impacted by the threads on the weapon rather than the suppressor. So, if you run 10 different suppressors on the same gun, they will generally all shift in the same general direction.
There are a couple of cases where you’ll see no POI shift at all:
If the threads on your weapon are perfectly aligned with the bore.
If you are using a suppressor with a larger bore, it typically won’t impact POI as much as a smaller bore suppressor. (It won’t be as efficient as a smaller bore suppressor either.)
The initial POI shift will be repeatable with most suppressors; so, it should shift to the exact same place every time you put the suppressor on or take it off. It’s not uncommon at all to see a shift of 2 MOA (i.e. 2 inches at 100 yards), but still see an improvement in accuracy (your group sizes shrink). In this case, simply rezero your optics and call it good.
If you see larger POI shifts of 8 MOA or more (i.e. 8 inches at 100 yards), that’s the time to take care to avoid possible issues. The best thing to do is to have a gunsmith check the threads on your weapon to be sure they’re concentric (which means the threads are fully aligned with the direction your bore is pointing).
You’ll hear a lot about suppressors that claim to have no POI shift—but that’s typically only possible if the silencer’s bore size is made larger than necessary. The problem with that is a larger bore will result in a less efficient suppressor—so you’re often trading the slight POI shift for decreased suppression. Remember that a POI shift is NOT the same as a decrease in accuracy; and, it’s often possible to see a POI shift and an increase in accuracy at the same time.
POI Shift From Shot To Shot
The second type of POI shift is a shift that occurs from shot to shot—and this is generally more related to the mounting system of a quick attach suppressor.
Although mounting systems have improved a lot over the last few years, and it’s often possible to see the same accuracy from direct thread and quick attach suppressors, many locking quick-attach designs will result in a loss of accuracy. That loss of accuracy is a result of the slight movement of the suppressor as it shifts on the mount from shot to shot.
Because of this loss of accuracy on some quick-attach mounts, many accuracy shooters will only use direct thread suppressors because they don’t have any shot-to-shot wobble. Some of the new compression mounts and small tooth mount systems are also starting to venture into the accuracy realm.
Most modern quick-attach systems are capable of at least 1.5 MOA accuracy. Most people are shooting larger groups than that anyway and typically won’t see much, if any, change in accuracy.
At the end of the day, the initial POI shift isn’t a very big deal in most cases. As we already mentioned, just put on the suppressor and rezero your weapon.
What are the habits and trick of the trade that can help reloaders avoid making mistakes? For one, good records. Author Photo.
When it comes to getting down and dirty at the reloading bench don’t learn from your own mistakes. Instead, allow custom ammunition manufacturer Philip Massaro help you avoid them through his lifetime of experience.
When I started out handloading, it was a simple matter of economics. The younger me couldn’t afford to buy the Federal Premium and other top shelf ammunition, but I desperately wanted that level of performance. I owned but one big game rifle, a Ruger 77 in .308 Winchester (which still serves me well), so I really didn’t have a major investment in reloading gear. I asked my dad, Ol’ Grumpy Pants, to drag his Lee turret press and RCBS grain scale out of the closet, and I purchased a Lee trimmer and a set of RCBS dies. The first few seasons were spent just making ammo that worked, and I was successful in that department, but the mad scientist experimentation wasn’t far off. It still continues today, in varying forms. Here are some things I’ve learned along the way, which might help you on your path.
1. Don’t Try to Make a Silk Purse Out of a Sow’s Ear
My .308 Winchester, while a fantastic big game round, wasn’t a .300 Magnum, though I did my best to wring every last ounce of velocity out of it. Studying the reloading manuals, I did my best to turn it into a flat shooting magnum. I was obsessed with velocity, and lost sight of the big picture. Cratered primers, erratic accuracy and wasted money were the end effects. When I regrouped my thoughts and loaded the cartridge for the purpose that it was intended for, I got the results I should have been looking for in the first place: accuracy, and great field performance. Read up on your cartridges performance specs, and try to stay within reason.
2. Don’t Discount Old Data
There are many new powders and bullets on the market today, and they are wonderful, but that doesn’t mean that a tried and true bullet and powder combination from yesteryear won’t produce for you. I hoard old reloading manuals, because canister grade powders don’t change, and some of the newer manuals don’t cover all the possible powders. I’ve found great recipes in the old Speer, Hornady and Sierra manuals that have dropped out of print in recent years. Scour the gun shows, peruse eBay, and read through those old books.
3. Be Diligent
Once you become comfortable and proficient with reloading ammunition, it is not difficult to become lax. It’s simply human nature, and I’ve caught myself doing it. But, like the attention given to a chainsaw or a kitchen knife, we loaders need to be consistent and diligent. Treat every loading session as if were your first, and follow the rules of safety and common sense. Don’t clutter your bench with two or three projects. Turn the cell phone off, and free yourself from distractions.
4. Keep Good Records
When you finally find that sweet load that your pistol or rifle likes so much, you certainly don’t want to lose it. Or, when things don’t work, say a load that proved to give dangerous pressures with a particular bullet/powder combination, keep good note of that. I keep a spiral bound notebook that is precious to me, as it contains all the load development information that I have compiled, both things that worked well and things I’ll never do again. I also keep a digital copy of that in my computer, so the work isn’t lost should my notebook fall into enemy hands.
Attempting to force a cartridge to do something that it's not suppose to can lead to inaccurate results and wasted money. Author Photo.
5. Clean Your Gear
Sounds silly, but with the very precise tolerances that are involved with reloading, it doesn’t take a great amount of case lube mixed with tiny brass shavings and spent primer residue to gum up a resizing die, or the copper and lead shavings to get jammed in the bullet cup of a seating die. This will change the dimensions of the loaded ammo, and affect accuracy in addition to creating feeding problems. I like to disassemble my dies to give them a bath in the ultrasonic cleaner every so often, to keep things neat and tidy. If you don’t have an ultrasonic, take some cotton swabs and a good copper solvent and scrub away. I then give them a light coating of RemOil or other lubricant to prevent rust, and then reassemble. One more trick in this department: I make a dummy round, using the bullet/cartridge I like, but without primer or powder, so I can easily readjust my seating dies to give the proper dimension after cleaning. Don’t forget to degrease and lubricate your press as well. All of these tips will make your life as a handloader safer, easier and much more enjoyable.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Jan. 1, 2015 of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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.
