Comparing Carry Revolvers

March 6, 2015

The S&W 340 M&P is an updated, lighweight version of the famed Model 36 Chief’s Special. — The S&W 340 M&P is an updated, lightweight version of the famed Model 36 Chief’s Special.

The author puts three great compact carry revolvers through a little side-by-side testing.

We all understand the stopping power of the firearm can have a profound effect on the number of rounds required to stop a determined assailant.

Certainly, most would agree that a single, well-placed, highly effective round would be more likely to stop a bad guy than one from a .22 rimfire. Because of this, I advocate carrying the most potent firearm you can handle. My choice of a five-shot compact revolver is the lightest and most powerful I can obtain.

Very Worthy Carry Revolvers

The five-shot Ruger LCRx revolver is the newest of the test class and performed quite admirably.

Three such Noisy Crickets are the Ruger LCRx and the Charter Arms Undercover Lite, both chambered in .38 Special +P, and the Smith & Wesson 340 M&P chambered for the .357 Magnum round. I chose these guns for this comparison because they’re both powerful and lightweight, and have excellent triggers that are light and manageable.

I chose the .357 in the S&W because it represents, as do the other guns, the highest power-to-weight ratio in their product line. Other companies make similar guns in .357, but those guns are heavier. The Charter Arms Mag Pug and the LCR both are available in .357, but both are based on heavier frames, the extra mass taking them up and into another weight class.

All three guns are similar in concept. The S&W is an updated, lightweight version of the time-honored Model 36 Chief’s Special, using the small J frame and made of lightweight Scandium alloy with a stainless steel cylinder. The 340 M&P is the double-action only, shrouded hammer version. At 13.3 ounces, it’s a powerful lightweight with a good trigger pull and unobtrusive, yet it has effective sights consisting of an integral U-notch rear and a pinned, round tritium front sight.

The Charter Undercover Lite is a lightweight version of the standard Undercover I carried for about 20 years. It served hard duty, having the undesired experience of going swimming twice, not by choice. It traveled thousands of miles, endured minimal care and never even thought of malfunctioning. It still serves my son-in-law faithfully. The Undercover Lite has a lighter trigger pull, though not as smooth as the other two guns. It has a machined-in ramp front and the same integral notch rear sight as the other guns.

The Ruger LCRx was chosen primarily because it’s new in the Ruger line this year. While the S&W and Charter Arms designs have a long and storied history, the Ruger is a relative newcomer. The LCR product line was introduced in 2009. In spite of being a newcomer, the LCR series has received a warm reception in the world of personal protection revolvers. My sample version weighed the exact same amount on my scales as the S&W at 13.3 ounces, both guns being a half-ounce heavier than the Undercover.

The Ruger uses less conventional materials to reduce overall weight. The functioning part of the LCR frame is aluminum, but the grip frame and trigger guard are of polymer. A conventional pinned ramp front sight mates up with an integral notch rear sight providing adequate sights for a short-range carry gun. The Ruger has a less traditional look with the cylinder sculpted for weight reduction rather than the more conventional fluting on the Smith.

With .38 Special +P and .357 Magnum chambers, and weighing less than 14 ounces, these guns generate levels of recoil that’s not for the faint of heart. They’re not the kind of gun you want to burn a lot of defense level ammunition through.

Recoil, though stout, is manageable. I’m a mid- to back-of-the-pack guy at an action shooting event, and I could manage five shots into the A zone of an IDPA target at seven yards within four seconds, with both .38s using Remington Golden Sabre defense ammunition, though I lost an additional second with the .357 S&W.

While there’s room for argument that follow-up shots would take more time with such a powerful combination, the most important shot is the first and a well-placed shot from a +P .38 or .357. Even one with a short barrel should discourage even the most determined attacker. And while we’re on the subject, yes, I do know a 2-inch .357 isn’t as powerful as one with a 6-inch barrel, but it’s considerably more powerful than a .38 Special with a 2-inch barrel.

Of course, there are guns with more weight that are easier to handle than these super light thumpers, but the primary issue with civilian everyday carry is comfort, and the plain fact is that you’ll carry the gun far more often than you’ll shoot it. For a civilian to use deadly force, there must be a real threat of loss of life, serious bodily harm or sexual assault. Under those conditions, the defender won’t be likely to remember feeling any recoil at all.

Seven-Yard Standard

The Charter Arms Undercover Lite not only shoots well, but comes in a variety of finishes.

In teaching the North Carolina Certification, our curriculum requires a discussion of the seven-yard standard of the Tueller drill, involving an assailant without a firearm.

Though civilians using firearms for defense are almost never criminally charged, most defense with a firearm eventually involves a lawsuit, and shooting an assailant without a gun at ranges of less than seven yards will put the defender in a bad position in a civil suit. Having said all this, all three guns tested delivered quarter-sized groups at seven yards, more than enough accuracy for 99 percent of all civilian/aggressor confrontations.

Accuracy levels of guns like this are more dependent on your ability to achieve good sight alignment and manage the trigger than on the actual accuracy capability of the gun and ammunition. Recently, I did a video with Chris Cerino, of Top Shot fame, and Chris hit a 12×16-inch target on the third shot double-action at 100 yards with a 2-inch S&W .38.

A couple of years back, I shot a 25-yard, five-shot group with the S&W 637 I was carrying at the time. I shot the group in low light, using a Crimson Trace grip laser rather than the sights on the gun. Off a sandbag, the 2-inch barreled belly gun produced a 3-inch group, centered in the target.

The average distance in defensive shootings is generally agreed to be less than three yards; anything beyond seven is rare indeed.

Adding a laser contributes both to low light capability and accuracy, though the laser should be set to be below the shooter’s line of sight for practice purposes. Lasers are great and the reliability levels are spectacular, but depending solely on a battery in a life or death situation might not be the best practice. Of course, grip laser systems are available for all three guns tested.

It still makes sense to carry ammunition for a possible reload, and reloading should be a part of your training exercises and drills. Speed loaders and speed strips are assets in fast loading, and they make the extra ammunition less fumble proof, an important factor when your life is in danger. Since the extractor rod is shorter on the 2-inch guns, making sure ejected rounds clear the gun is important.

The ejector stroke on the Ruger is .656, compared to .618 on the Smith and .616 on the Undercover, but all three guns require a strong ejection stroke with the muzzle pointed skyward to assure that brass clears the chambers. Even then there’s a possibility of a case or two needing removal.

Between these three guns, there’s no bad choice. Your wise choice depends more on your product preference than on quality of features. I carry the S&W because I like the .357 round. I admit it’s hairy to shoot, but I manage it just fine.

My wife carries a Charter because they make it in pink. The Ruger is as good as either, just a little different. Yes, a five-shot revolver gives up magazine capacity and speed of reloading, but is as reliable as a hammer and offers a lot of power in a small package. In spite of the clichéd name, the snub-nose .38 is still a viable choice.

The Charter Arms Undercover Lite "Pink Lady." — The Charter Arms Undercover Lite “Pink Lady.”

Ruger LCRx
.38 Special+P
5 rounds
1.875 in.
U-notch
Aluminum & polymer
6.50 in.
4.50 in.
13.5 oz.
Crimson Trace
$545
ruger.com

Charter Arms Undercover Lite
.38 Special+P
5 rounds
2 in.
U-notch
Aluminum
6.4 in.
4.25 in.
12 oz.
Crimson Trace
$410
charterfirearms.com

S&W 340 M&P
.357 S&W
5 rounds
1.875 in.
U-notch
Scandium alloy
6.31 in.
4.375 in.
13.3 oz.
Crimson Trace
$869
smith-wesson.com

This article appeared in the Spring 2015 Concealed Carry issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Video: Extreme Accuracy and Precision of Rail Guns

Elwood Shelton

March 6, 2015

A clover-leaf grouping sends nearly any benchrest competitor’s heart soaring, except one perhaps. Linking shots together is really just the tip of the iceberg for rail gun shooters. Putting them all through the same hole is the goal.

Simply put, these firearms are custom built onto a platform that provides the utmost stability, among other extreme enhancements. As Jeff at Taofledermaus (German for bat) points out in the above video, there isn’t a stone left unturned in these shooters’ quest for accuracy and precision.

How well can these one-of-a-kind firearms deliver? Well, as the video shows, a micrometer is sometimes required to determine who takes the day. I suppose on a rig such as a rail gun, a finish with any wider margin would be disappointing for everyone involved.

Reloading Ammo: Annealed Brass the Hot Way to Extend Case Life

Philip Massaro

March 5, 2015

Ever wonder why some company's brass lasts longer than others. Simply put, theirs is annealed brass.

There is a simple technique that adds a ton of life to your cases – annealing. Of course, there are some tricks to annealed brass, which custom ammunition manufacturer Phil Massaro unveils in this blog.

Have you ever noticed when you’ve purchased some premium cases, they have a bit of a “rainbow” color around the neck and/or case mouth? It’s not just there for looks, it’s totally there for a reason.

What you’re seeing is an annealed case. Perhaps you’ve read about the technique, or maybe not, but it warrants an explanation.

For years, I’ve enjoyed the consistency and longevity of Norma, Hornady and Lapua brass, and didn’t really know why. I mean, there is the fact that you can pretty much load them straight out of the box, with little or no working. But it dawned upon me when I picked up some once-fired brass from these three companies that they could be reloaded more times than the other cases from the big three manufacturers.

The fact of the matter is that all three companies anneal their cases. The act of annealing brass is a technique which will soften the neck and case mouth, so as to keep the brass soft, and able to be reworked time and time again before becoming so brittle as to split or crack.

So why don’t all cases come with annealed necks and mouths. Well, it’s a process, and the more processes that are involved with any item, the greater the cost. Is it worthwhile? Can we anneal brass that doesn’t come from the factory already annealed? Yes, and yes.

Producing you own annealed brass is a simple process that can be done at home and save you money.

Unlike steel, and pretty well the exact opposite of its properties, brass becomes more malleable when heated and quickly quenched. This technique will ‘temper’ steel (hence the phrase “don’t lose your temper”), but will soften brass.

Once softened, or annealed, the brass will soften where the steel becomes much harder. So, how do we anneal brass that isn’t delivered to us already in that state? Here’s how, but there are caveats, and please heed them.

First, it involves fire, so don’t go getting all Beavis and Butthead on me. Second, it should, under no circumstances, be performed in your home. Like casting your own lead bullets, it is a practice that is best done in the great outdoors, free from distraction and in a place where you won’t start a fire on the scale of Mrs. O’Leary’s fabled bovine arsonist.

You’ll need a cookie sheet, a bit of water and a blowtorch. Yes, Beavis, a blowtorch.

Set your cases upright in the cookie sheet, which should be filled with water almost to the rim. Use the blowtorch to heat the cartridge neck and mouth, or top third, in the case of a straight-walled case, not to the point of melting it, nor to the point where it’s just blackened, but until it’s good and hot, and then use the tip of the blowtorch to knock the case over into the water. The water will quench the brass, and thereby anneal it. You should see that aforementioned rainbow in the area you’ve heated.

There you have it: a rather simple process, yet it takes a bit of responsibility (it’s a blowtorch after all), and your case life should increase two to three fold.

This comes in especially handy when you’ve got cases that are fire formed to an Ackley-Improved chamber, or cases that are so rare that you have no guarantee or being able to obtain them again. Use common sense when using that blowtorch, so I can sleep soundly, please? Happy annealing!

Photo Gallery: 10 Incredible Guns of Elmer Keith

Elwood Shelton

March 5, 2015

See the incredible guns of Elmer Keith that are up for auction at James D. Julia.

What Are Some Of The Guns Of Elmer Keith For Sale:

“The Last-Word – Old No. 5″
Jim Corbett’s W.J. Jeffery .450/.400 3” Nitro Express
Elmer Keith’s Personal Sidearm and Holster
First Ithaca NID 10-gauge Magnum of Col. Charles Askins
Consecutively Numbered Smith & Wesson Model 57 Revolvers
Hoffman Arms Custom Springfield Rifle
Colt Model 1905 Pistol with Original Holster
Gold Inlaid W.J. Jeffery .500 Nitro Express
Custom Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Bridgeport Style Belt Rig
Sharps Model 1874

Anybody who knows their way around the business end of a sixshooter knows the name Elmer Keith.

The crusty old cuss was one of the most prolific gun writers of the 20th Century, not to mention firearms innovator. It is because of Keith, in part, we have the .44 and .357 Magnums today. This fails to mention his custom handloads and cast bullets, of which he was also well known for developing.

In addition to writing about and working with firearms, Keith was also an inexhaustible gun collector. And now fans of firearms and the Keith himself, have a shot at owning a piece of his collection.

James D. Julia, Inc., a Maine-based auction house, is putting Elmer Keith’s collection on the block at its March 11-12 and 15-16 events. And it appears the sale has some incredible opportunities to own this unique man’s unique guns. Here are 10 that caught our eye.

“The Last-Word – Old No. 5″

Custom designed by Keith and Harold Croft, the Colt Single-Action Army .44 Special gained fame in a 1929 article in the American Rifleman titled “The Last Word” where Keith detailed the specifics about the ornate handgun. Expected sale price: $30,000-50,000.

Jim Corbett’s W.J. Jeffery .450/.400 3” Nitro Express

Anyone who has read Jim Corbett’s exploits hunting tigers in India mind will be set reeling by this rifle. This boxlock double rifle was detailed in his book Man-Eaters of Kumaon, where he hunted the deadly feline for the Indian government. One was purported to have killed some 400 people. Expected sale price: $75,000-150,000.

Elmer Keith’s Personal Sidearm and Holster

As the title suggests, this is no ordinary Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum. Yessir, this is the piece of iron that hung off the old cuss' side, originally shipped to the Idaho Hardware Co., Boise, ID., in 1958. The Model 29 features beautiful ivory grips, engraved with a longhorn steer’s head. And the handgun appears well used, note the wear on the barrel from repeated un- and re-holstering. Expected sale price: $7,000-10,000.

First Ithaca NID 10-gauge Magnum of Col. Charles Askins

There is so much history in this gun it is almost frightening. In addition to being owned by two of the 20th Century’s foremost gun writers – Askins and Keith – the shotgun also is the collaboration of two gun industry giants. Spencer Olin of Winchester-Western Cartridge Company developed the 3 ½-inch loads and had Lou Smith of Ithaca build the monstrous scattergun to chamber it. This is the very first one to roll off the line. Expected sale price: $15,000-25,000.

Consecutively Numbered Smith & Wesson Model 57 Revolvers

Keith and the Smith & Wesson had a long history together and these guns are a testament to their collaboration. The .41 Magnums look to be gifts from the company to Keith, perhaps in celebration for his help in developing that caliber. The double-action revolvers are beautiful in and of themselves, but are made truly unique with Keith’s signature in raised script on the ivory grips. The frames and triggers also have his name engraved upon them. Expected sale price: $10,000-20,000

Hoffman Arms Custom Springfield Rifle

Hoffman Arms Company built renown as one of the top precision bolt-action rifle makers in pre-World War II America. For many collectors that’s enough to set them on the path to putting one in their gun safe. The one for auction from Keith’s collection takes this pedigree to the next level. The .400 Whelen chamber rifle has “No 1. Hoffman Arms Co, Cleveland, Ohio,” engraved across the top of the barrel, making the unique rifle one of a kind. Expected sale price: $10,000-20,000.

Colt Model 1905 Pistol with Original Holster

Keith is better known for his affinity for revolvers, but that doesn’t mean the man didn’t appreciate a good semi-automatic pistol. This specimen from the Keith collection is rare and important, with the .45 ACP being a step in the path to the famed 1911 pistol. There were only around 6,000 of the model made between 1905 and 1911. Expected sale price: $10,000-15,000.

Gold Inlaid W.J. Jeffery .500 Nitro Express

Of all the dangerous game guns, there are few as legendary as the .500 Nitro Express. This Jeffery sidelock double rifle is as spectacular as the caliber. The rifle has exquisite gold inlay, on one side depicting grazing elephants, the other a tiger pouncing on a Sambar stag. The trigger guard has a gold leopard stalking a gazelle. The toe of the rifle boast a gold oval, engraved in English and Sanskrit around what is believed to be the crest of the Raja of Miraj Junior State. The English reads “Chief of the Miraj Junior.” Expected sale price: $50,000-80,000.

Custom Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Bridgeport Style Belt Rig

This is another sidearm that is easy to insinuate Keith had an affinity for, give the wear on the finish. The Colt .45 was originally a U.S. Cavalry gun, but was customized with a blue finish, adjustable rear sights and ivory grips. The engravings on the grips are of particular interest; one side boasts Keith’s initials, the other the Masonic compass and square, as the owner was a well known Mason. Expected sale price: $3,000-5,000.

Sharps Model 1874

This converted .45-120 Sharps might be the bell of the ball for Keith fans, given it’s personal history with its owner. The heavy buffalo rifle was used by Keith to harvest his first bison. Really, little more to be said about a historic rifle with a historic owner and a historic event of which it took part. Expected sale price: $8,000-13,000.

Gun Auction: Marine Sniper Rifle Sells for $26,400

Corey Graff

March 5, 2015

Remington Model 40 sniper rifle of the type used by the US Marine Corps in Vietnam, in original, unmodified condition, $26,400. Morphy Auctions image

Record turnout for Morphy’s Jan. 31-Feb. 1 firearms auction yields $1.2 million result, including fierce bidding for a Vietnam-era marine sniper rifle.

Never-fired Model 1877 ‘Lightning,’ also known as a ‘Shop Keeper’ or ‘Sheriff’s Model,’ $8,400. Morphy Auctions image

DENVER, Pa. – A packed house and aggressive phone and Internet bidding all contributed to the $1.2 million result at Morphy’s Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2015 Firearms Auction. The 1,270 lots of guns, edged weapons and collectible ammunition boxes attracted the largest turnout ever seen at Morphy’s gallery for a firearms sale, said Dan Morphy, founder and president of the south-central Pennsylvania auction house.

In today’s auction marketplace, few collecting categories have the firepower of antique and vintage guns. “We handle many, many categories of antique and vintage items, and do well with all of them, but none of our divisions has grown or developed a following quite as rapidly as Firearms,” Morphy said.

Prior to the event, there had been predictions that a Remington Model 40 sniper rifle of the type used by the US Marine Corps in Vietnam, would finish at the top of prices realized. Those expectations were validated. In original, unmodified condition, the rifle was hotly pursued and finished near the top of its estimate range at $26,400. All prices quoted are inclusive of a 20% buyer’s premium.

Winchester .44 caliber Model 1873 manufactured in 1892, $8,400. Morphy Auctions image

Morphy Auctions’ Firearms Division expert Dave Bushing observed: “The sniper rifle appealed to a whole other breed of collector. Because of the movie ‘American Sniper,’ a lot more people are getting into this category who may not have been gun collectors before.” But veteran collectors and those who favor military arms were just as interested in the gun, which came with its case and documentation. “To my knowledge, it’s only the second one the government ever released to the public,” Bushing said.

Some collectors drove long distances to attend the preview and auction, which contained the largest grouping of Winchester and Marlin lever-action rifles ever presented in a Morphy gun sale – many of them high-condition examples. “Winchesters, Marlins and Colts are the Coca-Cola stock of firearms – they’re the blue chips. As I see it, the future is open ended for guns of that type,” Bushing said.

Winchester rifles finishing in the top 10 included a .44 caliber Model 1873 manufactured in 1892, $8,400; and a .405 caliber Model 1895 made famous by Teddy Roosevelt and nicknamed “Big Medicine,” $7,800. Too, a Winchester 28-gauge Model 12 single-shot shotgun reached $5,100.

Custer-era 1875 Springfield US Officers Model trap-door rifle, a type made under special order for commissioned officers only, $13,200. Morphy Auctions image

A fine 1875 Custer-era Springfield US Officers Model trap-door rifle, was described in the auction catalog as being of a type considered “one of the crown jewels in every US martial collection.” Such firearms were made under special order from 1875 to 1885, and only for commissioned officers.

“That Springfield rifle had never been fired. It ‘walked’ into a Chicago police supply shop, and after I found out about it, I drove to Chicago to check it over and make sure it was legit,” said Bushing. “It turned out to be the finest and earliest of its type in private hands. It was made during the second month of production.” The gun surpassed its high estimate at Morphy’s to settle at $13,200.

A Johnson Model 1941 US.30-.06 caliber semi-automatic rifle came equipped with a particularly rare bayonet and “frog.” It sold within estimate for $7,800.

Sharps New Model 1859, Civil War era, one of 2,000 such rifles issued in 1862 to Hiram Berdan’s 1st and 2nd Regiments of the US Sharpshooters, $10,800. Morphy Auctions image

The event featured a rare Sharps New Model 1859, was one of 2,000 such rifles issued in 1862 to Hiram Berdan’s 1st and 2nd Regiments of the US Sharpshooters. Its serial number fell within the range confirmed to have been used in the Civil War by a specially organized sniping unit documented in many articles and books. Accompanied by a Springfield Research letter, the rifle was bid to $10,800.

Antique and vintage handguns were led by two Colt productions: a cased and exceptionally well-documented Colt “Banker’s Special” that had been presented on Feb. 22, 1932 to then-Governor Joseph B. Ely of Massachusetts; and a never-fired Model 1877 Lightning – also known as a “Shop Keeper” or “Sheriff’s Model.” Each of the guns realized $8,400.

Commenting on the latter gun, Bushing said he believes the price paid for it at Morphy’s was “a world auction record for a blue Colt Lightning not associated with a famous person,” adding, “It was a ‘plain Jane’ gun that was shipped to Denver in 1886, when that part of the country was still the wild west. It sat in a drawer for a hundred years, which explains its remarkable condition.”

Johnson Model 1941 US.30-.06 caliber semi-automatic rifle with rare bayonet and ‘frog,’ $7,800. Morphy Auctions image

Bushing said the current market for antique, vintage and collectible guns is “on fire…Guns generate more interest and more questions than anything else, both online and in person. It’s a category that doesn’t exclude anyone. In the gun world, there’s something for every budget.”

“Sometimes I’m asked, ‘What’s the fascination with guns?’” Bushing continued. “I always reply that they’re associated with war, and American history is defined by wars, going all the way back. Even people who are opposed to guns can still appreciate their history and artistry. When I show people the beautiful workmanship, how even the insides of some guns are engraved like a Swiss watch, they understand. Guns are regarded as heirlooms. People may go through their house and get rid of clothing and furniture, but they’ll keep their guns to pass on to the next generation. Many collectors look for guns that they remember their fathers or grandfathers had.”

Consignments are currently being accepted for Morphy’s May 23, 2015 Firearms Auction. To contact Morphy’s, call 717-335-3435 or email [email protected].
Visit Morphy Auctions online at www.morphyauctions.com.

Concealed Carry: Remain Vigilant

Doug Howlett

March 5, 2015

Understanding Self-Defense Laws Collection

One of the most important components of an armed encounter is what happens after the actual event. Maintaining an awareness of self-defense laws – not just in your home state but others as well – is crucial in order to avoid possible arrest, trial, and even conviction or sentencing via the justice system. Ensure a well-rounded understanding of your right to self-defense with this exclusive collection, which includes: Deadly Force (Massad Ayoob), The Law of Self Defense (Andrew F. Branca), Self-Defense Laws of All 50 States and Citizen's Guide to Armed Defense. Get Educated Now

Interest in concealed carry permits continues to be the number one driving force behind firearms sales in this country.

That fact was driven home at a recent joint press conference conducted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and industry-leading researcher Southwick Associates. There, speakers noted how concealed carry permits in the United States had grown by as much as 70 percent in the relatively short time frame between 2010, when there were an estimated 6.9 million CCW permit holders, and 2014, with an estimated 11.7 million permit holders—numbers that continue to climb.

Amidst the growth, there has also been a shift of public opinion with more households saying a gun in the home is apt to make it safer, not less so. More guns in citizens’ hands have not lead to more crime, either. Department of Justice statistics prove that citing how homicides with firearms have dropped 39 percent between 1993 and 2011 and other crimes committed with firearms have dropped a whopping 69 percent in that same time frame.

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Still, being a victim of random crime, while statistically in most individual’s favor, does occur everyday as witnessed on the news. Terror attacks such as the one that recently rocked Paris and threats of more violence in Europe and the United States by groups such as ISIS are now a real concern. Even anti-gun Sen. Dianne Feinstein was quoted by CNN as saying, “I think there are sleeper cells not only in France but certainly in other countries and, yes, in our own. This calls for vigilance … ”

The vigilance she called for centered on obtaining intelligence and remaining watchful. But CCW holders take this vigilance to the next step as an effort to protect themselves.

While most self-defense experts will tell you the first and often wisest course of action in any violent encounter is to retreat from the situation, sometimes that’s simply not an option. Being armed and trained to use a gun can be the best insurance policy anyone can own. It may give you a fighting chance where none before existed. Such is the power and utility of firearms.

This article appeared in the Spring 2015 Concealed Carry issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Click here to download the issue

Subscribe to Gun Digest the Magazine

Video: Going Big with the Glock 20

Elwood Shelton

March 4, 2015

Glock made a lot of noise this year with the introduction of the G40. The long-slide 10mm is just the ticket to get handgun hunters’ hearts a thumping. But, as fans of the Austrian pistols know, this wasn’t the company’s first foray into large-bore handguns.

Glock has had a long history with the 10mm, offering two models in the caliber before this year. The above video, from YouTube gun guru Sootch00, gives a good rundown of one of these beasts – the Glock 20.

Watch the entire video, because he gives a solid synopsis of the round’s history and the gun’s unique applications around the world. He also makes a pretty good case on why, despite being a relatively large handgun, the G20 might be a better personal-defense option than some other large-bore options out there.

Most interestingly, Sootch00’s highest rating of the G20 comes from its shootablity – not a complement common to the caliber. He credits Glock building the pistol around the caliber for this trait, something not found in pistols that are just 10mm adaptations of existing designs.

POF’s Revolt Rifle, Legal in All 13 Colonies

Elwood Shelton

March 3, 2015

POF-USA's ReVolt Rifle offers shooters a precision AR-platform rifle, legal from sea to shining sea.

POF's Revolt Rifle reworks the AR platform with a straight-pull action, making for an extremely precise firearm that has the benefit of being legal from sea to shining sea.

In the world of MIL-SPEC firearms, it can be difficult to be original. But Patriot Ordnance Factory has found a way.

The Arizona-based manufacturer has won a place in many shooters’ hearts with its innovative piston-driven AR-style rifles. Now the company has made a move to put an entirely different twist to the platform.

The ReVolt Rifle, in short, offers shooters the precision of a bolt-action with the flexibility of an AR. POF-USA has accomplished this by making its new creation a straight-pull action, built off the AR platform.

Much of the advancement comes in a often overlooked feature of the AR-style system – the charging handle. POF-USA has enlarged it, making the ambidextrous feature easier to manipulate. And it has also modified how it attaches to the bolt-carrier group, which essentially has remained the same.

The handle fits into a pocket of the carrier, allowing it to be quickly removed from the action. This is plays into the overall design, as the charging hand doubles as a tool, meant to aid in adding or subtracting accessories from the rifle’s rail.

Given the gun doesn’t not rely on POF-USA’s piston system, the already fine accuracy of the AR platform is enhanced. The company boasts the ReVolt is a sub-MOA firearm.

Driving tacks, however, isn’t the rifle’s only selling point. Its availability also could put it atop of some shooters’ wish lists, given POF-USA has designed the ReVolt to be legal in all 50 states – even as the company points out, “The 13 Original Colonies, where the Tories live.”

The gun’s compliance is achieved not only through being a straight-pull action, but also from its captive pivot pin in the front of the receiver. This, at all times, keeps the upper and lower receiver attached.

The firearm, at least in the video below, appears to achieve a decent cycling rate. This is especially true when a bipod and rest are incorporated, freeing up the off hand to work the handle.

Perhaps helping the ReVolt’s rate of fire is POF-USA including its E² Extraction system. Simply put, the chamber has four channels allowing a small amount of gas to escape around the neck of the cartridge, making extraction easier.

The ReVolt is available in two calibers, the Heavy .308 Win/7.62x51mm NATO and Light .223 Rem/5.56x45mm NATO. The firearms are compatible with all MIL-SPEC magazines and comes with a number of POF-USA’s proprietary features (see specs below).

The MSRP of the ReVolt Heavy model is $2,949 and the Light $2,229. POF-USA is also making a Light upper assembly available, MSRP $1,399.

ReVolt Light Specs
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO/.223 Rem
Action: Straight Pull
Weight: 8.2 pound empty
Barrel: 18.5-inches match grade, nitride heat treated, deep fluted, heavy contour
Length: 38.5-inches collapsed
Finish: NP3
Rifling: 1:8, ½”-28 thread
Handguard: POF Free Floating Monolithic M Rail 14.5 inch, M-Lok Compatible
Muzzle Device: POF Triple Port Muzzle Break
Trigger: POF single stage, 4-pound pull
Furniture: LUTH-AR MBA, Magpul MOE Grip
Fire Control: Ambidextrous bolt release, safety selector, bolt catch, magazine release
Includes: 10-round Magpul PMAG

ReVolt Heavy Specs
Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO/.308 Win
Action: Straight Pull
Weight: 9.2 pound empty
Barrel: 18.5-inches match grade, nitride heat treated, deep fluted, heavy contour
Length: 40-inches collapsed
Finish: NP3
Rifling: 1:10, 5/8×24 thread
Handguard: POF Free Floating Monolithic M Rail 14.5 inch, M-Lok Compatible
Muzzle Device: POF Triple Port Muzzle Break
Trigger: POF single stage, 4-pound pull
Furniture: LUTH-AR MBA, Magpul MOE Grip
Fire Control: Ambidextrous bolt release, safety selector, bolt catch, magazine release
Includes: 10-round Magpul PMAG

Modern Shooter – TV With a Bang!

Doug Howlett

March 2, 2015

It was nearly a year ago when the publishers of Gun Digest announced the creation of a whole new brand designed to serve today’s shooting enthusiast. At the heart of this new media effort is Modern Shooter television, a program designed to share the how-to skills and behind-the-scenes views of the firearms world like nothing seen anywhere else.

The quarterly Modern Shooter magazine, now in its fourth issue, serves as a print mirror of the TV show with deeper details and insight behind the great action captured by the program’s cameras.

Since that first announcement of the new television show, the Modern Shooter crew has been busy traveling the country meeting with and filming some of the top shooting experts and firearms manufacturers across the nation. Now, finally, with the start of 2015, Modern Shooter leads the way on Sportsman Channel’s Monday night primetime shooting block of television, airing at 8 p.m. (EST) January through June.

Modern Shooter television will be unlike any other shooting program on television as it seeks to gather some of the most knowledgeable personalities in the firearms world, such as famed instructor and gun writer Massad Ayoob, to teach you each week how to be become a better, more informed shooter.

Modern Shooter has also attracted some of the biggest manufacturers in the firearms industry including Colt, Glock, Ruger and Silencer Shop. Recent filming stops have included a week spent on the range with members of the Glock shooting team, and visits to Colt and Ruger, which provided unprecedented access to their facilities. As this goes to press, the crew is on a one-of-a-kind Texas adventure with the team from Silencer Shop, who displayed how suppressors enhance the total hunting experience.

We are thrilled for the premier of Modern Shooter and now that the line is hot, we are confident shooters everywhere will want to make the program must-see viewing each week.

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.

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Get the Winter 2015 issue of Modern Shooter magazine, presented by Gun Digest. Click here to download this issue.

Beretta APX – Going Full-Sized in Striker-Fired

Elwood Shelton

March 2, 2015

Beretta APX is the company's first foray into full-sized striker-fired pistols. Photo Beretta

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As the world’s oldest firearms manufacturer, there is little under the sun Beretta hasn't taken a crack at making. Given this, the Italian company’s newest handgun is a bit of a surprise.

One would have thought that in around half a millennia of gun making, Beretta would have produced a full-sized striker-fired pistol somewhere along the way. Alas it hasn't until now.

The company filled this hole in its catalog at the Feb. 22 IDEX (International Defense Exhibition and Conference Show) held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. At the convention, Beretta unveiled the APX, a model the company said in a press release completes its full-sized pistol portfolio.

While the length of time it has taken Beretta to produce this style of pistol might be shocking, for those following recent events in the American military, the company moving in this direction isn't.

The U.S. Army announced in the summer of 2015 it was set to replace the Beretta M9 as its service pistol; the 9mm had been the branch’s sidearm of choice since 1985, replacing the M1911A1, a pattern of pistol that had seen service in both World Wars. Then in December, the service’s Configuration Control Board denied a submission by Beretta of an updated version of the pistol – the M9A3.

Beretta stated, the APX was specifically designed to meet the needs of military and law enforcement. And announced at IDEX that the pistol would by submitted as the company’s entrant for the U.S. Army Modular Handgun System – the program to find the new military sidearm.

In-depth details about the pistol are scant, outside of caliber and capacity. The APX will be initially available in a 17+1 round 9x19mm model, and 15+1 .40 S&W and 9x21mm IMI. The handgun will feature a Picatinny rail for the addition of accessories and a trigger safety.

The initial iteration of the Beretta APX is bound for the military and law enforcement, however the company plans to release variations for the civilian market. No date was given on this release or the pistol’s pricing.

Video: Army Primer on Ballistics

Elwood Shelton

March 2, 2015

What is ballistics? Well, like love it’s, complicated. But if you have around 20 minutes, this video of a vintage U.S. Army training film does a pretty good job of demystifying the multifaceted subject.

The film, circa 1949, touches on all three forms of ballistics – internal, external and terminal. And it gets into some more complex subjects, of which some shooters unfortunately are never exposed.

On this point, the film does a superb job of explaining how the physical shape of a propellant actually influences its burn rate and pressure it produces. Good info, especially for those who wondered how some modern gunpowders can achieve higher velocities, with reduced chamber pressure.

As kind of a fun twist, the film isn’t purely concerned with ballistics in regards to small arms. It also applies the concepts to artillery and missiles. Even so, it’s worth an entire watch, if you’re looking to bone up on the subject.

More than anything, the video will make you appreciate how far we’ve come regarding ballistics in the half-century since the film was made. Just be happy that putting together ballistic data on your firearms doesn’t require a room-sized “computing machine” or a slide ruler, for that matter.

Philip Massaro's next important reference on reloading — Understanding Ballistics: Complete Guide to Bullet Selection

Verdict: Taurus Public Defender Review

Dick Jones

March 2, 2015

This versatile handgun designed for defense proves it is no gimmick.

When Taurus introduced a .45/.410 revolver, it found instant popularity and sales. The series was dubbed “the Judge” when the company discovered the .410 revolvers were popular as a defensive sidearm for judges, since a .410 shot load would have excellent short range stopping power and less chance of collateral damage to bystanders at even medium ranges.

The Judge has a solid following and remains one of the more popular handguns in the Taurus line. In my experience, there are two kinds of people, those who love the Judge and those who hate it. It seems a lot of gun writers view it with a certain level of disdain, but the Judge, especially the Public Defender version, has a lot of redeeming virtues.

Taurus Public Defender Review

In the same cylinder, a Public Defender owner can carry two snake shot-sized shotgun loads and three hard-hitting 250-grain .45 Long Colt loads for a good mix of protection. Author Photo

In the standard all-metal configurations, the Judge is a bit heavy and bulky for daily carry, though no more than the full-sized service pistols some carry. My test gun came in at 23 ounces, so a fully loaded Defender would come in with a loaded weight a bit less than a compact double stack .40. Due to the fact it’s a revolver, it would be a bit thicker, but it would have a slightly shorter profile.

What makes the Defender attractive is the level of versatility it offers. With birdshot, it would be a spectacular snake killer and a devastating defense firearm at very short ranges. For an apartment dweller, the potential for a stray round could be disastrous and by judicial choice (no pun intended) of shot size, unwanted penetration could be negated.

Most defensive situations occur at less than 3 yards, and backup .45 Colt loads could certainly be loaded for subsequent shots. Of course, not all handguns are purchased for urban defense; many are used as protection from both two- and four-legged aggressors. In the event you need a broad-based revolver, capable of handling a lot of different situations, the Judge has real merit.

Opinion Based On Testing

All the talk over gun shop counters proves nothing except that opinions are like excuses—everybody has one. I decided to form an opinion based on actual testing, and I came away a bit surprised.

Since a Public Defender will handle everything from serious stopping .45 Colt defensive rounds to skeet loads suited for dispatching snakes, I decided to test the whole gamut. I called Winchester Ammunition and requested No. 9 shot AA skeet loads, No. 4 hunting loads, rifled slugs and the popular PDX1 .410 Defense Disc loads.

I also tested .45 Colt loads, the 750 fps 250-grain Cowboy Action load and the Super X 255 grain 860 fps load that delivers a whopping 410 ft-lbs. of energy. No one will argue that the .45 ACP isn’t a capable stopper and the Super X 255 load exceeds the energy levels of the Winchester Defender .45 ACP load at 392 ft-lbs. True, the Public Defender only has five rounds in a cylinder, but most compact .45s with similar weight and dimensions only hold six or seven.

Shooting the Public Defender is fun, provided you don’t mind recoil and muzzle blast. I actually enjoyed my morning of testing, though I admit, the Defender is a hard kicker. I began with AA skeet loads. At about 5 yards, they provide a dense enough pattern to allow only a very skinny and lucky snake to avoid destruction.

For defense, they’ll certainly deter, but even at a distance of 5 feet, they failed to penetrate ½-inch oriented strand board (OSB) as used for construction. For the apartment dweller, I’d recommend the No. 4 load.

For shooting snakes, the pattern would be pretty spotty at 5 yards, but at 5 feet, they penetrated the hard OSB and blew out sections of it. Certainly they would penetrate a rib cage and cause massive hemorrhaging, which is the only reliable stopping factor when it comes to handgun calibers.

While I didn’t build wall sections for testing, I seriously doubt the No. 4 shot load would penetrate two thicknesses of drywall gypsum. The most impressive looking effect came from the PDX1 Defender load with three-plated discs and 12-plated BB shot. The PDX1 simply beats the center out of a target. At normal defense distances of under 7 yards, it would be both painful and devastating, the discs would likely penetrate the rib cage and the BBs would pepper the attacker all over the targeted area.

I also tried shooting rifled slugs but they’re less accurate and more expensive than .45 Colt loads and therefore not recommended.

Shooting the .45 Colt loads, I was impressed by the accuracy potential of the Public Defender. To center the X in a USPSA Dirty Bird target, I needed to hold about 2 inches low at 10 yards. While the rifling of the Judge series is more shallow than normal because of the .410 chambering, accuracy was certainly acceptable. My 10-yard, five-shot groups were always ragged holes unless I called a shot out.

The real argument for the merit of the Polymer Judge is versatility. In the same cylinder, the user can carry two No. 9 shot snake loads and three hard-hitting, 250-grain .45 caliber bullets. For the backpacker, this means real utility.

The time it takes to swing out the cylinder and switch from a bear or pig stopper to a snake-dispatching load is less than two seconds. For quite some time, I carried a Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Special revolver as my daily carry gun.

I eventually began leaving it in the safe in favor of a lighter, but similarly powerful 340 S&W .357. The Bulldog is a defensive carry gun only. The Public Defender is much more versatile, and the .44 Special and .45 Colt have almost identical ballistics.

Everyone is certainly entitled to his own opinion, but as for me, I can certainly see a lot of merit to the Public Defender, and it would be my first choice as a kit gun for an extended outing in rough country.

Taurus Public Defender
Caliber:   .45 Colt/.410
Capacity:   5 rounds
Barrel:   2.5 in. with shallow rifling
Sights:   High-visibility front and windage adjustable rear
Frame:   Steel and polymer
Length:   7.875 in.
Height:   4.6 in.
Weight:   23 oz.
Options:   N/A
SRP:   $653
Website:   taurususa.com

This article appeared in the Spring 2015 Concealed Carry issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Black Hills Ammunition’s New Cartridges

Elwood Shelton

February 27, 2015

If you are a cowboy action shooter, you’re most likely familiar with Black Hills Ammunition. The company made a name, in part, feeding old west single-action revolvers and repeating rifles with authentic ammunition for that genre of firearms. But the South Dakota company has full lines of cartridges for modern rifles and handguns. And it’s a catalog that continues to grow; below are the newest additions to Black Hills Ammunition’s lineup for 2015.

.338 Lapua, 250-grain Nosler AccuBond

Black Hills already had a modest lineup of rounds for the precision long-distance .338 Lupua. But the company has expanded its collection with a round topped with a shooter favorite – Nosler AccuBond. The company's aim with the load was to provide a premium performance option in a caliber that has few off the shelf. The 250-grain projectile was chosen, according to the company, due to its optimum performance in rifles with standard twist rates. Black Hills measured the round’s muzzle velocity at 2,850 fps and muzzle energy at 4,500 ft-lbs.

.308 Winchester, 168-grain Sierra Tipped MatchKing

Black Hills Ammunition has expanded its partnership with Sierra Bullets to produce what should be a top load for precision shooters. The company is releasing a .308 round topped with a Tipped MatchKing bullet in the popular 168-grain weight. The weight is preferred choice of many match shooters and law-enforcement snipers. And it should prove even more so with the Sierra bullet’s superb ballistic coefficient, which ranges from .462 to .535, depending on velocity.

5.56x45mm, 70-grain Hornady GMX

Black Hills new 70-grain 5.56 is just the medicine for those searching for a high-performing monometal round. The load features a Hornady GMX monolithic copper alloy bullet. The longer projectile offers shooters an outstanding .350 ballistic coefficient. This combined with its weight and 95-percent retention of mass after impact, the round has excellent terminal ballistics and can really reach out and touch a critter. It also gives law enforcement a solid choice for a barrier penetration. Note, the load is designed to function with 1:7- and 1:8-inch twist rates.

5.56x45mm, 69-grain Sierra Tipped MatchKing

Black Hills has been busy with one of America’s most popular calibers – the 5.56. This new load is 69-grain round designed for the 1:9-inch twist rate, common in many AR-style rifles. Mated with a Sierra Tipped MatchKing bullet, the round offers shooters an impressive ballistic coefficient for the caliber – .375. This gives the round the qualities of a standard 77-grain load in a lighter projectile.

Canadian Rangers Bidding Farewell to the Lee-Enfield

Elwood Shelton

February 26, 2015

The Canadian Rangers will start to phase out the Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I this summer.

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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.

Gallery: 5 New Defensive Ammo Choices

Doug Howlett

February 25, 2015

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

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GUN DIGESTWE KNOW GUNS SO YOU KNOW GUNS

The author puts three great compact carry revolvers through a little side-by-side testing.

Very Worthy Carry Revolvers

Seven-Yard Standard

There is a simple technique that adds a ton of life to your cases – annealing. Of course, there are some tricks to annealed brass, which custom ammunition manufacturer Phil Massaro unveils in this blog.

See the incredible guns of Elmer Keith that are up for auction at James D. Julia.

What Are Some Of The Guns Of Elmer Keith For Sale:

“The Last-Word – Old No. 5″

Jim Corbett’s W.J. Jeffery .450/.400 3” Nitro Express

Elmer Keith’s Personal Sidearm and Holster

First Ithaca NID 10-gauge Magnum of Col. Charles Askins

Consecutively Numbered Smith & Wesson Model 57 Revolvers

Hoffman Arms Custom Springfield Rifle

Colt Model 1905 Pistol with Original Holster

Gold Inlaid W.J. Jeffery .500 Nitro Express

Custom Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Bridgeport Style Belt Rig

Sharps Model 1874

Record turnout for Morphy’s Jan. 31-Feb. 1 firearms auction yields $1.2 million result, including fierce bidding for a Vietnam-era marine sniper rifle.

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Interest in concealed carry permits continues to be the number one driving force behind firearms sales in this country.

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Stay on the cutting edge of the knife world at the BLADE Show! Reserve your spot today!

POF's Revolt Rifle reworks the AR platform with a straight-pull action, making for an extremely precise firearm that has the benefit of being legal from sea to shining sea.

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Philip Massaro's next important reference on reloading — Understanding Ballistics: Complete Guide to Bullet Selection

This versatile handgun designed for defense proves it is no gimmick.

Taurus Public Defender Review

Opinion Based On Testing

Related Video:

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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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