In short, the study documents a sea-change in opinion regarding the right to keep and bear arms. For the first time in more than two decades, American citizens support gun rights more than gun control.
From the report’s introduction:
Currently, 52% say it is more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns, while 46% say it is more important to control gun ownership.
There are few reasons why the shift is particularly heartening. First, it has occurred across nearly every demographic, no matter race, geographical region or sex. Next, it comes on the heels of the Newtown tragedy of two years ago, when it appeared opinions were set to break the other direction. And finally, American's changing perspective doesn’t only pertain to gun ownership as a Civil Right. Also documented in the report is the shift in opinion that firearms are practical tools in avoiding becoming a victim of crime:
The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted Dec. 3-7 among 1,507 adults, also finds a shift in attitudes about whether gun ownership in this country does more to protect people or put people’s safety at risk. Nearly six-in-ten Americans (57%) say gun ownership does more to protect people from becoming victims of crime, while 38% say it does more to endanger personal safety.
On this point, the shift has nearly been across the board, as well. But there has been three demographics in particular that have lead the way. African Americans, women and Conservative Republicans all saw double-digit swings in viewing gun ownership as a way to protect again crime victimhood.
This shift was particularly pronounced in the African American community. Two years ago in the last Pew study on this topic, only 29 percent of African Americans viewed gun ownership as a tool to protect against crime. This time around, 54 percent of that community see gun in this light – a 25-point swing!
There are a number of reasons why the swing concerning firearms have occurred. As has been pointed out in a number of recent articles, current events, such as the Furguson, Mo., riots, and long-term trends, such as plummeting crime rates, play their roles. I believe the Internet smashing the ability of gatekeeper journalists (that is the mainstream media) to deliver their preferred narrative has also had an effects.
The shift in views makes for grim reading for gun control advocates, who, according to Pew, have lost support among every demographic except Hispanics and liberal Democrats. City-dwellers, women, and blacks moved particularly hard toward a view put forth by pro-gun rights researcher John Lott: that an armed society is a polite society.
The Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle, a concept envisioned by Col. Jeff Cooper, is reintroduced as a do-it-all shooter in another versatile caliber.
The 16.1-inch barrel wears a flash hider that comes off, making room for other barrel attachments. Notice the black blade front sight that is well protected. Author photo
Consider this: After getting a rough zero through an extended eye relief scope mounted on Ruger’s new version of the Gunsite Scout rifle chambered in .223 Remington, I leveled it at a couple of clay trap targets at 200 yards and what I didn’t hit, the misses were so close as to be negligible had I been shooting at a coyote or anything bigger.
That’s one very good rifle. Originally introduced in .308 Winchester, as the late Col. Jeff Cooper envisioned this concept, the Scout, as Cooper dubbed his rifle, is a short-action model on which a long eye relief scope is mounted just ahead of the action. It was and remains a good idea, but just because the original concept was a .30-caliber model doesn’t mean that is chiseled in stone.
Let’s be honest. The .223 Rem. isn’t my first choice for a defensive or offensive rifle caliber, but it’s not too shabby for urban challenges or rural survival. It shoots flat and accurately, has very light recoil, ammunition can be found just about anywhere, and somebody who knows what he’s doing can neck-break deer-sized game all day with the right load. Against predators, the .223 is devastating, and I doubt anyone could give a reasonable estimate on the number of prairie dogs, rock chucks and other varmints that have been put away with those little bullets. It has also been proven in combat as a fight stopper.
The Scout Rifle Concept
My test model had a matte black finish on the 16.1-inch medium contour barrel and receiver, a single 10-round magazine that proved itself to be tough as nails, a black laminate stock with QD sling swivel studs and a straight comb and a Mini-14-style protected-post front sight and adjustable ghost ring rear.
That rear sight may be removed to mount a scope in the conventional over-the-action position, and Ruger supplied the rings to accomplish that task. They fit into the integral scope mounts that are machined into the steel receiver. There are a total of four models: black matte and stainless are available for both left- and right-handed shooters.
The one-piece stainless steel bolt contrasts handsomely with the matte black finish, and the bolt head is smooth to allow for fast cycling. Ruger designers also included a three-position safety that works smoothly with a positive click. It also comes with a Picatinny-style rail mounted ahead of the action, holding true to Cooper’s original concept.
The barrel is cut with six lands and grooves on a 1:8 right-hand twist and ends with a flash suppressor. The flash suppressor can be removed, exposing the ½-inch 28 threads so other accessories can be mounted. Overall, the rifle hits the scale at just over 7 pounds. That may seem on the heavy side, especially among folks who like the AR-type platform to launch .223 Rem. bullets, but this is one tough little bolt-action carbine that could survive a catastrophe and still deliver the goods. It bounced around in my pickup for a few days while driving off road and was no worse for wear.
Ruger mounted a nice, thick, soft rubber recoil pad on the butt and supplies three 1/2-inch spacers to adjust the stock to an individual’s length of pull preference, from 123⁄4 inches to 141⁄4 inches. That puts the overall length from 37 to 381⁄2 inches. It’s also got a tough glass-reinforced trigger guard and Mini-14-type paddle magazine release, and the stock is checkered on the curved grip and forend.
Out-of-the Box Accuracy
The black laminate stock is rugged and appears to have something of an urban camo appearance. Ruger fits this rifle with a thick recoil pad. Author photo
During my first range session, I used the metallic sights exclusively. Right out of the box, I put several rounds into the X-ring in tight little groups. That got my attention, so I stuck on a Bushnell long-eye relief scope I’ve had for a couple of years, returned to the range, did a rough adjustment at close range and knowing how flat the .223 shoots, put the crosshairs on a couple of clays that someone had stuck in the sand on the 200-yard berm.
Cracking those clays came as a bit of a surprise, even with a flat-shooting round like the .223. I wish I’d had a more powerful scope on the rifle just to see how precise I could make those 200-yard shots.
On a couple of occasions, when chambering a fresh round, it did feel as though the cartridge hung up a bit, but I’ll chalk that up to the newness of the rifle.
The rest of the time, it ran like a Benz. It has a Mauser-type controlled round feed extractor and fixed blade ejector. Trigger let-off in my test gun was crisp and clean. I could not detect any creep. Off a sandbag rest, the Scout was as steady a platform as any rifle I’ve ever fired, including my personal guns.
What exactly is Ruger’s Gunsite Scout rifle? It’s a serious tool, not some toy for would-be zombie killers. Capable of 200-yard accuracy with the bare minimum of scope fine-tuning, this should be welcomed by anyone who likes the Scout concept but favors the far lighter recoil of the .223 round. In an emergency, one could be in far worse shape than to be equipped with the Ruger Gunsite Scout in .223/5.56mm. This rifle could easily ride around in the back of a pickup or SUV, or in a saddle scabbard, and it would be ready for action at a moment’s notice.
Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle Caliber: .223 Rem. / 5.56mm Action: Bolt action Receiver: Alloy steel BARREL: 16-in. matte black alloy steel magazine: 10-round detachable sights: Adjustable ghost ring rear, post front stock: Black laminate Weight: 7.1 lbs. overall Length: 37-38.5 in. SRP: $1,039 website: ruger.com
This article appeared in the November 20, 2014 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Premier Gun Shows holds more than 40 shows a year, most of them in major Texas metropolitan areas, including their signature The Original Fort Worth Gun Show.
In turn, the company has a pretty solid handle on firearms trends in the Lone-Star state. And in the past year, the wind has definitely been blowing a certain direction when it comes to the show's demographics.
Co-owner Tim Finucane has noticed a definite increase in the number of women attending his shows and purchasing a certain type of firearm and accessories.
Most of the women are looking for concealed carry and self-defense handguns, the smaller the better. These ladies want concealed carry accessories, too, and Finucane’s vendors have taken notice.
“I have one vendor who recently started selling a line of clothing for women, clothing with concealed carry capabilities, special-made blouses and slacks and vests,” he notes. “And a number of vendors are now offering ladies’ purses with special concealed carry compartments.”
As far as shooting accessories, custom-made Krydex handguns holsters are moving very well. So, too, are night vision rifle and spotting scopes. These optics can be very expensive—$2,000 and up is the norm—but the demand is surprisingly strong.
Finucane credits many of these sales to hunters who go after feral hogs at night, a practice that is legal in Texas.
Editor's Note: This brief originally appeared in the March 6, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
If you're a woman looking to learn the basics in mindset, skill, and equipment for successful self-defense, the Self-Defense and Concealed Carry for Women Collection is for you. With the four resources included in this bundle, you'll be able to develop the confidence and skills you need to avoid becoming a victim, and fight back if you need to, in any situation.
Despite's California's anti-gun reputation, one county is doling out concealed carry permits, proving that not all Californians are drinking the Kool-Aid.
Following a federal court ruling that required law enforcement officials in Orange County, Calif., to issue concealed carry permits for people who wanted the permit for general personal safety—rather than the documented justification of a specific threat that had been required before—more than 700 permits have been issued to citizens.
As the Los Angeles Times reported, “That number will continue to rise as county officials process the stack of pending applications, which had grown to more than 2,800 by the end of August. In all, more than 7,000 people have filled out applications or requested appointments, sheriff’s officials said.”
Apparently, Orange County residents want to exercise their full civil rights, despite their state’s anti-Second Amendment reputation and ongoing anti-gun legislation.
Beretta's Pico is now selling after a bit of a wait, giving shooters one of the smallest .380 ACPs on the market.
This is a bit of old news, given the Beretta Pico has been selling across America for more than a month now. But given the rash of new .380 ACPs recently, the handgun is still worth a gander.
What makes the U.S.-made pistol from the Italian manufacturer interesting is the svelte figure it cuts. The 2.7-inch barreled handgun has an overall length of 5.1 inches, a width of .725 inches, and tips the scales at 11.5 ounces unloaded.
The width of the gun appears particularly appealing for those searching for a concealed carry gun. In fact, Beretta is boasting that particular dimension is slimmer than any other .380 presently on the market.
It doesn’t appear Beretta just focused on the modular pistol’s size in making it conducive to concealed carry. The gun's overall design has a number of features that should make it dandy in or outside the waistband.
The Beretta Pico is a double-action only pistol. But unlike most DAOs the handgun is hammer fired, not striker.
The Pico appears to have incredibly smooth lines top to bottom and front to back. Rounding out the sharp edges and corners should make the handgun a smooth draw, reducing the likelihood of snagging on clothing.
Also helping the pistol as an undercover piece is its polymer frame and stainless steel slide and subchassis. The materials provide corrosion resistance, an import feature when the gun is carried in the muggy recesses of the body. Not to mention, the two tone has a certain aesthetic appeal, too boot.
Similar to most pistols in the Pico’s class, its limiting factor is capacity. The .380 – rated to shoot +P ammunition – ships with two six-round magazines. One has a flushing baseplate, the other an extension to ensure an all-finger grip.
The pistol is designed for righties and lefties, boasting an ambidextrous magazine release. And, via a hex screw, the Pico’s sights are full adjustable and interchangeable. Beretta pointed out in its media, this includes compatibility with available Trijicon night sights.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of Beretta's Pico is how slender it is.
The Pico is unique in the world of double-action-only pistols, given it is hammer fired, not striker. And this feature should make the gun particularly safe, given its firing system does not store energy until the trigger is pulled.
The DAO system also gives the pistol some unique characteristics, perhaps the most desirable being its ability to restrike. In short, this means that the trigger can be pull a second time, if the first did not fire the round.
Being hammer fired, Beretta has done away with passive safeties, saying the Pico does not require drop or magazine-disconnect safeties.
The pistol's other unique feature is its subchassis, which is the only place that is serialized on the handgun, thus is the only part – by Federal Law – defined as a firearm. In turn, any other part of the gun can be switched out without going into foul territory.
Beretta introduced the Pico in 2013, but delayed its “manufacturing schedule to ensure the new Pico would meet Beretta's exacting standards. Specifically Beretta focused on reliable feeding and extraction across a wide variety of commercially available .380 ammunition.”
In addition to two magazines, the Pico ships with a soft case. Presently, its MSRP is $399.
SilencerCo is now helping handgunners make their pistols suppressor-ready with a line of aftermarket threaded barrels.
SilencerCo has been at the cutting edge of consumer suppressor products since it was founded in 2008. And the Utah manufacturer doesn’t look to rest on it laurels anytime soon.
The company has voiced that it plans to diversify and expand its catalog beyond just silencers, offering accessories for the accessory. And recently, SilencerCo took the first step in this direction.
The company recently announced it is now producing and selling threaded pistol barrels. The aftermarket upgrade allows shooters to make their handgun suppressor ready in a blink of an eye, without having to search for a make and model that is already outfitted with a threaded barrel.
However, owners of one of the most popular brands of semi-automatic handguns get the first crack at the new barrels. The company’s initial offerings are all tailored for Glocks – models 17, 21, and 19.
The company plans to have a full array of barrel options for a number of the most popular pistols in the near future. On SilencerCo’s website, it lists the Glock 17L, Glock 34, Sig Sauer P226, Springfield XD, and Smith & Wesson M&P as “Coming Soon”.
This move is logical for SilencerCo, given the nature of pistols. Unlike a rifle, which can be threaded to accept a suppressor, most pistols require a full barrel replacement.
SilencerCo’s barrels are made of 416R stainless steel, a pre-hardened chromium stainless steel typically used in match-grade rifle barrels. The barrels have a black nitride finish, and are tailored in length and twist rate to the model and caliber of pistol it was designed for (see specs below).
Presently, SilencerCo has an MSRP of $220 for all of its models.
CMMG’s new Mk47 MUTANT aims to take the best from the AK and AR platforms and blend them.
CMMG has come out with a unique take on a rifle chambered for the 7.62x39mm cartridge. The company has attempted to blend the best of both the AK and AR in creating its MUTANT rifle.
As sure as Uncle Ivan drinks vodka, the 7.62x39mm cartridge is a heck of a round.
The Soviet-developed intermediate rifle cartridge delivers plenty of energy on target. It’s tapered case makes for smooth, worry-free feeding in semi-automatic rifles. And, being one of the most produced rounds in the world, it’s economical to thumb off.
The one hitch in the nifty cartridge’s giddyap is the limited choices to fire it off. Sure, AK-47 style rifles are as dependable as daybreak, but the platform leaves something to be desired when it comes to tack-tapping accuracy, not to mention customizability.
CMMG, however, is aiming to shoot down these issues with the introduction of the Mk47 MUTANT. The rifle takes the reliability and ballistic advantages of the 7.62×39 cartridge and mates it to the accuracy and versatility of the AR platform.
Perhaps the MUTANT’s most dramatic adoptions from the American rifle’s system are the AR’s free-floating barrel and ample rail space. The former, however, could have the potential to be controversial in some corners of the shooting world.
The Missouri Manufacturer uses a carbine-length direct-impingement gas system to cycle the rifle, thus achieving sound barrel harmonics on its 16.1-inch 1:10 twist rate barrel. This, of course, might draw sneers from those who live for the steadfastness of the AK’s long-stroke piston system.
The rail space, on the other hand, should win praise, even among purists. CMMG has included a full-length Picatinny rail that runs atop the Mk47, making it easy add sights or optics. The rifle also boasts the company’s RKM KeyMod hand guard, which has slots found in the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions. For accessories that are not yet KeyMod compatible, CMMG offers 5-slot accessory rails.
The Mutant's bolt retains all of the material on its face for added durability and strength.
The MUTANT’s upper and lower receivers are built from 7075-T6 billet aluminum and feature a unique design to manage the dimensions and pressures of the 7.62×39's tapered cartridge. At the same tick, CMMG has kept the weight of the rifle manageable, with the Mk47 tipping the scales just over seven pounds.
The lower receiver has been engineered to accept existing AK magazines and ships with one Magpul PMAG 30-round AK/AKM MOE Magazine. The rifle is outfitted with an ambidextrous magazine release, a paddle similar to the AK47 system. But the safety, trigger group and pistol grip are all off the AR system.
The Mk47 utilizes a unique bolt carrier group derived from the massive one found in the AR10. The group has been shortened to a length of 8 inches and retains all of the material on the bolt face for added durability and strength.
The Mk47 MUTANT comes in three different configurations and has a MSRP between around $1,500 and $1,900. The new rifles will be available January 2015.
True stories of everyday armed citizens taking action to defend themselves and others.
A 34-year-old woman entered her home and found a man in her bedroom. “When she saw he had a hammer and large screwdriver, she retrieved a handgun and confronted him,” the Daily Herald reported. “She told police that, fearing for her life, she fired at [the man] but missed. Then she held him at gunpoint until police arrived.”
A man staying in Clackamas Co., Ore., awoke to someone breaking in through the front door. “The man fired a single shotgun shot at the burglary suspect, striking him in the head and neck, according to Clackamas County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dan Kraus,” The Oregonian noted. Police arrived and transported the burglar to a hospital.
An attempted robbery was foiled at the Six Corners market in Springfield, Mass. when a man approached the storeowner, sticking a gun into the owner’s face and demanding cash. The storeowner realized the gun was fake and after a struggle, The Republican reported, the owner pulled out his handgun and held the man until police arrived.
A homeowner in Person County, N.C., awoke to find a man standing next to his bed, holding a shotgun and demanding money. The homeowner drew his handgun and fired once at the intruder. Hit, the criminal fled for a hospital but died of his wounds while en route.
These top personal protection loads can make a difference, self-defense ammo choices well worth your consideration.
Winchester W Train & Defend
Winchester has a series of W Train & Defend ammunition that offers ballistically matched loads for training and for carry or defensive use. The Defend loads utilize hollow point loads with the same point of impact as the lighter recoiling full metal jacket Train loads. W Train & Defend ammunition is offered in a 95-grain .380 ACP, 147-grain 9mm, 180-grain .40 S&W and a 130-grain .38 Special. Look for the Big Red W to roll out a .45 ACP load for the line in 2015. (winchester.com)
Remington High Terminal Performance
Remington has a line called High Terminal Performance, which has been developed to deliver immediate stopping power. There are two selections in this family for the .38 Special, five choices in .357 Mag., two offerings in .40 S&W, a pair of .44 Magnums, two more in .45 ACP and one each in .45 Colt and .41 Mag. (remington.com)
Black Hills Ammunition .45 ACP
Whether it’s a classic 1911 pistol or a new polymer striker-fired design, .45 ACP has a lot of fans out there because of the stopping power it delivers. For those fans, Black Hills Ammunition’s premium offerings boast a long list of options for the cherished caliber. Loadings include a 185-grain jacketed hollow point, a 230-grain jacketed hollow point, a 230-grain jacketed hollow point +P and a 185-grain Barnes Tax-XP bullet with a +P loading. For range time, they also offer a 200-grain match-grade semi-wadcutter and a 230-grain FMJ. (black-hills.com)
Federal Premium Personal Defense Shotgun
Federal has shotgun loads for 12- and 20-gauge home defense. In 12-gauge, you’ll find one load in No. 4 buckshot and another in 00 buck. In 20-gauge, there’s a 2¾-inch load of No. 4 buck. The .410 offerings include both 2½- and 3-inch shells, including a pair with 000 buckshot and others with No. 4 buck. (federalpremium.com)
HPR Black Ops
New from HPR is the Black Ops ammunition line offering three handgun calibers. It includes a 9mm load with an 85-grain bullet, a .40 S&W topped by a 105-grain pill and a .45 ACP featuring a 150-grainer. All of these projectiles are lead-free Open Tipped Frangibles that deliver maximum punch to the target. There’s also a Black Ops rifle load in .223 Rem. that boasts a 62-grain bullet that leaves the muzzle at a reported 3,021 fps out of a 24-inch barrel. (hprammo.com)
With the ability to be loaded with many projectiles or just one, there are few other rounds with as much versatility as the 12-gauge shotshell.
Find out why there may be no more versatile round in all the world of firearms than the venerable 12-gauge shotshell.
Perhaps the most versatile and popular cartridge on the face of the earth is the 12 gauge shotshell.
The only cartridge that I can think of that might equal it in popularity is the .22 rimfire, if there is any ammo for them left. Judging from the availability of ammo for them around my neck of the woods, feeding that popularity with ammo might be difficult. But, I digress.
Practically every hunter owns at least one 12 bore shotgun. Sport shooters shooting trap, skeet or sporting clays for entertainment or competition, likewise own one or more scattergun so chambered, usually more.
Even among non-hunters and sport shooters, at least in my part of Kentucky during my growing up years, practically every farmhouse had a shotgun handy, usually a 12 bore. Among hunting families of that era, it was a right of passage to manhood for a young lad to graduate from the .410 or 20 bore single-shot scattergun that he started with, to a grown up 12 bore.
At some point in our history, some bright fellow figured out that it would be much easier to hit their intended target when unleashing numerous projectiles rather than just a single one. The 12-gauge gun could be used for single projectiles, originally round lead balls, graduating to the plethora of shaped shotgun slugs available on the market today, to an array of multiple projectile loads. From buckshot to birdshot, the scattergun uses had a large choice available to match the load to the intended target.
In addition to the ample choice of projectile loadings, the user also has a choice when it comes to the length of the 12-gauge shell. Ammunition for the 12 bore has been loaded with shell lengths of 2”, 2-1/2”, 2-5/8th”, 2-3/4 inch (most common), 3”, and 3-1/2 inch that I know of. It could be that a few others were loaded that I'm not aware of. Naturally, the longer the shell case, the more powder and shot it will hold, creating a more powerful round.
The military also learned early on that a short barreled, smooth bore scatter gun was just the ticket for military use at close quarters. The same thinking applied to civilian police and security guard use. There were a number of Winchester Model 97 “riot” guns in use in Vietnam. One scattergun was even used in the tussle at the OK Corral in Tombstone, wielded by none other than Doc Holliday. Practically every police cruiser has a tactical shotgun available, often carried in the trunk of the vehicle.
Wilhelm Brenneke invented the shotgun slug in 1898, which greatly improved shotgun performance for big game hunting over the round lead ball.
Quite a number of our states, usually located in densely populated areas, require a shotgun loaded with slugs for deer hunting. Wilhelm Brenneke invented the shotgun slug in 1898, which greatly improved shotgun performance for big game hunting over the round lead ball. The shotgun has evolved into quite a potent and accurate big game load.
Many shotguns designed specifically for big game hunting are equipped with rifled bore barrels and when loaded with slugs intended for use with rifled bore guns, are very accurate. They also greatly improve the effective ranges from around 40 yards or so for a hollow-base Foster type “punkin ball” slug to 100 yards and more for saboted slugs in rifled bore guns.
A pretty good argument could be made that an individual armed with a .22 RF and a good 12 bore shotgun, is pretty much ready for most anything requiring a firearm, from defending his pea patch, to keeping food on the table.
Bond Arms offers a unique accessory holster that gives their pistol a significant added versatility of riding shotgun while you drive your vehicle.
Are these small but powerful firearms — call them hand cannons or pocket shotguns — just market hype or true mighty midgets for concealed carry?
Winchester 410 Defender velocity is about 750 fps, roughly 200 fps shy of .45 Colt loads. Though recoil was uncomfortable, there was surprisingly little muzzle flip. Author photo
The newest modern derringers are now essentially the same caliber as Henry Deringer’s first pocket pistol of 1852. Back then, the muzzleloading single-shot Philadelphia Deringer used 15 to 25 grains of black powder to drive a .41 caliber round ball. Since those days, derringers have been chambered for many handgun cartridges, but only fairly recently have they been made to shoot the .410 shotshell.
Are these modern pocket shotguns and hand cannons just gimmicks or are they really viable for self-defense? To answer that, we need to know if .410 ammunition can stop an attacker. Also we need to know if the derringer has the physical characteristics suitable for concealed or pocket carry, and if the derringer is controllable in pointing and in recoil.
Hand Cannon Ammo
One selling point for these handguns is the happy coincidence that chambers can be made to fit both .45 Colt cartridges and .410 shotgun shells (though rim diameter and thickness is not identical), providing a “twofer” benefit. However, because .45 Colt bullet diameters vary from .452 to .454 inches, and factory loads can measure as small as .440 inches, you must be sure that yours properly fits the groove diameter of your pistol, otherwise you could suffer unacceptable accuracy and reduced penetration.
The specific derringers examined here have rifling groove diameters of .450 inches (Bond Arms) and .452 inches (Heizer Defense PS1), so you should use bullets of not less than those diameters and not more than about .0005 inches over.
While small shot like No. 9 through No. 1 may stop an attacker up close, it may be less likely to instantly incapacitate than the buckshot sizes 00 and 000, especially as distance increases. Three to five 00 balls will fit in a .410 shell, depending on whether it is 2 inches or 3 inches long. Stepping up to 000, three or four fit in a 2-inch shell and five can get into a 3-inch shell; it varies with the maker.
Winchester’s PDX 410 Defender ammo, used for testing and now marketed as just Defender, goes a slightly different route, being loaded with three full-caliber, plated lead discs on top of 12 pellets of plated BB shot (larger than #1, but smaller than buckshot). While not an exhaustive evaluation, it’s a starting point for testing defense-specific ammo.
Unfortunately, there is just about zero data from real-life shootings using .410 pistols because they are so new to the world of defensive handguns. Still, it seems likely that striking an attacker a few feet away with multiple .35 to .41-caliber bullets would be effective.
The Guns
Because of its top hinge, the Bond Arms derringer should be held sideways or slightly inverted to prevent cartridges from sliding out when closing the action. The lever is the barrel release, the auto/manual extractor is mounted on the barrel, and the circular object under the hammer is the cross bolt safety.
Life is full of tradeoffs. We chose a derringer for its size, knowing we must forego fine sights, full-size grips, backup shots and the effective range of other carry guns. We tested two .410 derringers, the Bond Arms double barrel and the single-barrel Heizer Defense PS1.
Each maker approaches the derringer concept differently, and it’s up to the individual shooter to decide which features are most desirable. Both pistols here chamber only the 2-inch shotshell. Trigger pull weights, by design, are intentionally heavy and exceeded the capacity of spring-type gauges. Bond Arms
The Bond Arms derringer is a hefty 19.9-ounce chunk of stainless steel and has a very short bird’s-head grip with a smooth backstrap.
Couple that with expected sharp recoil, and the first inclination is to settle the gun too low in the hand and grip the trigger at the first knuckle of the index finger. But allowing the web of your hand to press against the cocked hammer can increase trigger pull weight. So hold the derringer as you would your other pistols, with an imaginary straight line running from the front sight to your elbow and only the pad of your finger in the trigger face.
This is a single action (SA) pistol requiring thumb cocking of the hammer before firing. With practice it doesn’t have to add any time to present the pistol to the target, but the handgun’s ergonomics and the considerable effort needed for thumb cocking must suit your hand size and strength.
If too large or too hard for you to cock, you may find yourself unintentionally squeezing the trigger while cocking. The wide, serrated hammer spur aids in cocking but it can snag on clothing during the draw unless you cover the hammer with your thumb upon drawing from a holster or pocket.
The pistol’s cross-bolt safety is not readily disengaged with one hand, especially if you’re in a hurry. For carry, turning a screw locks the safety in the off position. The Bond Arms loads safely with the hammer down. Because the 3-inch barrel assembly is hinged at the top, shells and cartridges will slide out when closing the action, unless you tip the pistol on its side or slightly invert it.
The Heizer Defense PS1
The PS1’s hollow grip holds two spare cartridges, but they may rattle when walking or trotting. Author Photo
The most immediately notable feature of the PS1 is its 1/2-inch wide, flat profile, totally lacking any protrusions other than the low front sight. Clearly, the snag-proof, melted-edge design is intended specifically for pocket carry, though the maker includes a list of holsters that fit the PS1. Barrel length for the .410 is 3 inches and the weight is 21.4 ounces. The only operating control other than the trigger is the ambidextrous recessed barrel release. A spring-loaded extractor pushes cases from the chamber far enough to grasp with the fingers.
The trigger pull is long and stacks at the end as the striker spring compresses. The trigger is adequate for the pistol’s purpose. The .45 Colt rim diameter is slightly smaller than the .410. Several times during loading with the barrel pointed down, .45 Colt cartridge rims slipped past the extractor; when this happens it’s impossible to close the action.
These are truly diminutive guns, and even the smallest hands won’t get a pinky finger on either grip. The PS1 has the edge for shooters with weaker hands who may find the Bond Arms pistol difficult to thumb cock. If gripping with both hands Weaver style, placing your offhand index finger on the front of the trigger guard of either pistol puts it a fraction of an inch from the muzzle, so extra caution or changing your grip is in order.
Shooting Results
The PS1’s grip is hardly wider than a cell phone, which does nothing good for perceived recoil but helps make it concealable. Author Photo
Both guns patterned well at 7 feet, placing multiple hits close to center mass. As expected; however, at 21 feet the shot from the short barrels spread so much as to render hits iffy though several still landed at center mass.
The rifling in each barrel apparently caused shot to favor to the left. These are utilitarian self-defense handguns, not something you’ll shoot often for pleasure. And frankly, in .410 they are not a pleasure to shoot; the PS1’s slim grip made recoil particularly uncomfortable. A few rounds for regular practice and familiarity are necessary but anything more than that would be punishing.
Bottom Line
Derringers are intended for convenient carry and up-close defensive situations. An across-the-room shot is fairly long, with accuracy and instant incapacitation decreasing rapidly with distance. There are better choices for home defense. Protracted gunfights are obviously not an option with derringers. If firepower is your priority then Bond Arms gets the nod with two immediate shots; if non-snag pocket carry concealment is number one, then the PS1 has a clear design advantage.
M7A1 PDW Stock Kit allows any AR to quickly shrink its size.
The slick collapsible stock found on Troy's M7A1 line is now available for all AR rifles.
A quick scan of Troy Defense’s M7A1 line and its easy to pick out the petite rifles’ most distinguishing feature.
The collapsible stock on the firearms are downright diminutive and when fully compress nearly become part of the receiver. But to reap the benefits of the nifty system meant shooters had specifically shop that line of carbines.
That is until now. The Massachusetts manufacturer recently unleashed the accessory to the black rifle world with the release of the M7A1 PDW Stock Kit.
M7A1 PDW Stock has a number of proprietary elements, such as its recoil spring, buffer tube and bolt carrier.
The six-position stock is compatible with any Mil-Spec AR-15 and allows for nearly 3 inches of adjustment. For a quick example, the stock makes Troy’s 14.5-inch barreled M7A1 Carbine overall length between 30.5 inches and 33 inches.
The system, however, is a bit more involved than most stocks when it comes to instillation. The recoil spring, buffer system, latch assembly and bolt carrier are proprietary and come as part of the kit.
Given the specialization of parts, the stock costs quite a bit more than many on the market. Currently, Troy has the M7A1 PDW Stock Kit listed with an MSRP of $499. Presently, the stock is available in black and flat dark earth.
Both of the author’s 20-gauge Brownings have the round grip, a feature preferred by many shooters and collectors.
When a gun manufacturer introduces a new shotgun, it is almost a foregone conclusion that it will first be offered in 12 gauge. Only after the market has been tested for a while does the maker come out with other gauges. Browning is no different, but the wait was worth it for the company's first 20-gauge models.
The Hammering Humpback
The venerable old Browning humpbacked A-5 first came off the production line at the Fabrique Nationale factory in Belgium in 1903. The first shipment to the U.S. arrived in 1905, all in 12 gauge. Four years later, in 1909, the first 16 gauges came off the assembly line, but the 20 gauge didn’t see the light of day until 1958, more than a half century after the first 12 was made.
There are many reasons why it took Browning so long to come up with a 20-gauge A-5. For one thing, the 16 was a more popular bore size than the 20 during the first half of the 20th century. Another reason was that the 16-gauge A-5, which was lightened considerably in 1936 as the “Sweet Sixteen,” was a great seller for Browning. Anyone wanting a smaller gauge, lighter gun, bought the Sweet Sixteen.
Then, of course, World War II had an impact. It put a hold on many Browning projects when the Nazis occupied Belgium. But before the war, there just weren’t any other autoloading shotguns that could compete with Browning’s quality and reputation.
At the end of the war, Remington vastly modified and modernized their autoloader and in 1949 came out with the Model 11-48. The 11-48 was made in 12, 16 and 20 gauge. The 20 weighed less than Browning’s Sweet Sixteen, and it also cost less. Additionally, new imports from Italy – the Franchi 48AL and the Breda, two modernized versions of the Browning autoloader – appeared on the market in the 1950s. They were both lighter than the A-5 and available in 20. The Franchi in particular was exceptionally lightweight, and caught the attention many of upland gunners.
Many years ago I shot ducks with an old gentleman who called his Sweet Sixteen “Widgeon.” He said the 12 gauge I was shooting should be called “Mallard” because it was bigger, thicker. He said an A-5 20 would be a “Teal” because it was smaller and more slender.
Not long after the end of World War II shotgun ammunition was improved considerably and the newer 20-gauge rounds became as effective as the old 16 gauge of the prewar era. The popularity of the 20 gauge soared while the 16, although still popular and number two in sales, began to sag a bit.
It was time for Browning to do something about the situation, so Val Browning, son of the great John M. Browning, redesigned the old A-5 and scaled it down for a 20 gauge. Val had done this before, back in 1936 when he redesigned and lightened the 16 gauge and came up with the highly successful Sweet Sixteen model.
The new “Twenty” was introduced in 1958 and became an immediate success. Although Browning advertised it as weighing less than 6¼ pounds, to reach that weight you had to get a gun with a short, plain barrel, and hope the wood was not very dense. It did weigh less than 6½ pounds with a ribless barrel, sometimes dipping down to 6¼, but rarely below that weight unless you went for a 24-inch barrel. Nevertheless, it was a great success and the Twenty remained unchanged, except for the shape of its grip in 1968, until it was discontinued in 1997.
The Sleek Superposed
The Browning Superposed over/under made its first appearance in America in 1928 as a 12-gauge gun. It was made only in 12 through all the pre-World War II years, although Val Browning had developed a scaled-down 20-gauge version and there may have been some very rare 20-gauge Superposeds in Europe before the war. However, it wasn’t until after the war, in 1949, that the first 20-gauge models arrived in America.
Initially they were available in just one grade, the so-called Grade I with minimal engraving. They were delightful little guns and immediately caught the fancy of upland gunners. Unlike the A-5 20 gauge, which remained the same throughout its life except for a change in grip shape and the change of manufacture to Japan in 1976, the Superposed 20 underwent some changes almost immediately.
First, the engraving pattern was increased only two years after its introduction. Then in 1955, the Lightning grade was introduced. The Lightning had been available in 12 gauge before the war, but production was stopped after the war. In 1955, both the 12 and the 20 were available in the Lightning grade.
The Lightning was a lightened version of the Superposed. In 12 gauge, there was sometimes as much as a pound difference in weight between the Standard and the Lightning. This was especially true of the prewar 12-gauge Lightnings, which were available without a rib and could weigh as little as 6¾ pounds. In 20 gauge the difference was not that great, although the Lightning 20s tended to be lighter by anywhere from ¼ to ½ pound than the Standard 20s.
The 20-gauge Superposed later appeared in an even lighter version called the Super Light, with not just slimmer wood but also metal shaved and thinner barrels. However, there were some so-called “Super Light” A-5s made by FN that were never imported by Browning. These were alloy-framed A-5s that weighed much less and were made in Belgium at the FN factory in the 1970s, just about the time Browning switched the manufacture of A-5s to Japan. But, they were only sold in Europe.
The 20-gauge Superposed made its first appearance in the 1950 issue of Gun Digest. For the first year or so, Browning tagged the 20-gauge model the “Blue Streak.” However, that name was unceremoniously dropped a short time later. Note the issue prices!
The first-year 20 Superposed was a very simple affair. The engraving pattern was sparse, but deeper cut and of very good quality. The wood, although not fancy, tended to be much better, showing some attractive grain, unlike the later “blonde” wood that showed up in the 1960s. For some reason many seem to think that this very plain, light colored wood is somehow superior, and actually seek out the guns with blonde wood.
The main difference appears to be in the finishing of both metal and wood. The early guns seem to show much more care in metal polishing and fitting. The wood was oil finished before the war but finished with lacquer after the war. It had a nice subdued finish, not the glossy finish found on later guns when polyurethane replaced the traditional lacquer finish. The checkering was also finer and of better quality, or so it seems.
Collecting Browning's 20s
Are these guns all that rare and collectible? Well, that depends.
Perhaps the Superposed 20 is more collectible since fewer were made and it is older than the A-5 20 by some 10 years. Normally, when you do find a Superposed 20 that was made in 1949, it is usually pretty worn or has had some changes made to it, most of the time it has been re-blued.
The same thing applies to the 20-gauge A-5, perhaps even more so, since A-5s were less expensive and were considered to be working guns and used heavily, sometimes carelessly. A die-hard Browning collector would consider them as collector’s pieces.
Belgian Brownings are still quite common on the used gun market. The Superposed, in the opinion of many, is still not overpriced like some of the other classic shotguns. This applies primarily to the Grade I 20 gauge, which can still be found for anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000 in good to excellent condition. Unfortunately, the Superposed higher grades have skyrocketed in price. The Pigeon Grade (Grade II) usually sells for between $3,500 to $7,500 in good to excellent condition, and the Diana Grade, probably the most desirable of the higher-grade Brownings, can go for anywhere from around $6,000 up to $10,000, and even more for mint condition.
These prices, as already stated, are for 20-gauge models. Values are much higher for the 28 gauge and .410 bore. The 12-gauge guns are much lower priced and more common, and therefore may be considered even better bargains.
This article is an excerpt from Gun Digest 2015, 69th Annual Edition.
The benefits of hunting with a suppressor can be soothing to your ears.
Joe Metzger and his hunting guide spotted the elk herd in a small canyon, just below a ridgeline, near Craig, Colo. There were about 15 bulls and cows milling around and feeding. Using boulders for cover, Metzger and his guide got to within 220 yards of the elk. Metzger had a cow tag. Selecting a yearling cow, he lined up the crosshairs on his custom .308 bolt-action rifle and squeezed off a shot.
Providing reduced recoil and a muffled report, suppressors are excellent on rifles for younger shooters. Author photo
The young elk reared up on her back legs for a moment and then fell over backwards, sliding down the snow-covered slope. The other elk were momentarily startled, jumped a bit, looked around but within a minute went back to feeding.
“If there’d been another hunter with me, he could’ve filled his tag, too,” says Metzger. “My guide said he’d never seen anything like that.”
This happened in October 2013 at the C-Punch Ranch, on a hunt for wounded veterans, and Metzger’s rifle was tipped with a Thunder Beast 30 PI suppressor. For Metzger, a former U.S. Army Ranger who suffered wounds while serving in Iraq, a suppressor was a natural way to hunt. He was introduced to suppressors while in the military, and instantly saw the many benefits to using them, including hearing protection and allowing better communications when multiple shooters/hunters were afield.
Another advantage Metzger sees as a hunter is that suppressors can actually make the hunting experience better for other sportsmen as well.
“I can see if you’re on BLM or Forest Service lands out West, and you’re walking into an area, and all of a sudden a guy starts cracking off shots up ahead of you,” Metzger says. “You might as well go back to your camp. Everything’s going to be scared off for a good square mile or better from that shooting.”
But with suppressed rifles, even if game animals are frightened, it will be in a much more localized area. To paraphrase the American poet Robert Frost, good suppressors make good hunter neighbors.
Suppressor Style
Using suppressed rifles on hunts where multiple shots may be required, sportsmen can really protect their hearing. Author photo
Jonathan Owen co-founded Special Hog Weapons and Tactics over two years ago, SHWAT.com, as a meeting place for people who like tactical hog hunting. He’s hunted and taken hogs with suppressed rifles. Along with AR-style rifles and night vision gear, suppressors top the list of equipment that tactical hog hunters gravitate toward—and for good reason.
“With a hearing safe suppressor, you can communicate much more easily with hunting partners,” Owen notes. “You can hear the pigs feeding and moving around when you don’t have foamies crammed in your ear canal. Additionally, suppressors tend to mitigate both recoil and muzzle rise, allowing you faster and more-accurately fired follow-up shots.” The latter, Owen notes, is big help when you suddenly come up on a group of wild hogs and it’s time to dump a full magazine.
“People used to ask me, ‘Why would you want to hunt with a suppressor?’” says John Hollister. “I had a lot of very good reasons, like saving your hearing, and I would explain that. But, really, I’m to the point where I just switch it around and ask them back—‘Why would you not want to hunt with a suppressed firearm?’”
Hollister admits to a rather large pro-suppressor bias. He is, after all, the product manager for Advanced Armaments Corporation (AAC), one of the country’s top manufacturers of suppressors. But he’s also been using suppressors, at the range and in the field, for over a decade. He’s introduced friends, family and all sorts of complete strangers to suppressors, the latter at various shooting events around the country. And any time a newbie has tried out a suppressed firearm, he or she always has the same reaction: “I have to get one of these!”
“Saving your ears from muzzle blast, communicating with other hunters in the field—these are really important reasons to use suppressors,” says Hollister. “But one reason that doesn’t get a lot of attention for suppressor use in hunting is introducing young people and newcomers to our sport.”
A relatively quiet, suppressed deer rifle, for example, is going to be much less threatening to a fledgling hunter than a gun that sounds like a clap of thunder. And because of the way they disperse muzzle blast, suppressors often reduce recoil significantly. Young people, as well as smaller-framed female and male shooters, are much more likely to try and enjoy hunting with a rifle that doesn’t mule-kick their shoulders.
Ultimate Eradication Tool
If the hunters were wearing ear protection, they would not have heard this hog rooting around in the brush. Author photo
Buck Holly knows firsthand how suppressors can reduce felt recoil—and in the process, make hunting more enjoyable and successful.
Holly runs a custom rifle-making business, C&H Precision Weapons of City, LaBelle, Fla., which specializes in manufacturing authentic Marine Corps M-40 sniper rifles. For the last half-dozen years, he’s hunted game with suppressed rifles, including deer and elk—but most especially hogs.
That’s because Holly’s “part-time” job, when he’s not making custom rifles, is being contracted by the state and local governments to eradicate the wild and very destructive hogs on 20,000 acres of public lands in South Florida. Holly does this work with suppressed rifles and has excellent results.
Unlike Metzger’s experience, Holly says his use of suppressors really is not about relative quiet and not scaring off his prey. There’s a good deal of hunting pressure on the public lands where Holly does his eradication work, and the wild hogs here are generally what hunters consider “educated.” “They know the game,” says Holly. “They hear that sonic crack of the bullet and they’re running.”
In addition to the improved communication between hunters that suppressors provide, the big advantage of the AAC suppressors Holly uses is that they really tame the recoil of the big-bore rifles he uses on his hog work. Holly goes after hogs in really thick, southern Florida swamps. He also has to account for all hogs killed, which means actually having a carcass to show the people he works for.
“I used some smaller caliber rifles in the beginning, but they wouldn’t always drop the hog where he stood,” Holly explains. “Believe me, you don’t want to go far into some of this brush looking for a hog. So the rifles I settled on are all chambered in .300 Win. Mag. One good shot and they drop.” The recoil, though, can be pretty stout on a .300 Win. Mag. bolt action. Until, that is, Holly attaches an AAC Mark 13 suppressor. Even Holly’s teenaged sons can fire the rifle without getting their shoulders pounded and bruised.
“With the Mark 13, my .300 Winchester Magnums really don’t kick much more than a .243, and my boys love using the rifles,” Holly says. “And we don’t have to worry about trying to find a wounded hog in the snake-infested swamps!”
Maximizing Benefits of Suppressor Hunting
If you’re only going to use one suppressor on one firearm, Holly suggests you have the end of your barrel threaded, and buy a suppressor that directly screws onto that barrel. That way, you essentially have a complete unit, always at the ready.
However, let’s say you buy a suppressor to attach to a number of different rifles, depending on hunting conditions and game species you are going after. In that case, each of your rifles will need a special muzzle break or mount to accept the suppressor.
“Whichever way you go, you may well need to get your barrel threaded,” Holly notes. “My advice? Don’t do that yourself. It might look easy enough—all you need is a tap and a die, right?—but, guaranteed, most people are going to get it wrong. Even if your threading is ever so slightly off, you are going to have big problems. So have a professional gunsmith do the threading.”
For most rifles, adding a suppressor changes the bullet’s point of impact, too. The weight and balance of a rifle will be different with a suppressor, too, and may affect the shots you can and would want to take. For those reasons, SHWAT.com’s Owen says it is important that you practice and train with your suppressor on your firearm.
As Owen says, “Training makes us better at anything we do, but we should train with what we use. If you plan to hunt suppressed, train suppressed. In the field, in the middle of a hunt, is no place to find out what your suppressed rifle can and can’t do.”
The Swarovski STR 80 isn't just another spotting scope. With an illuminated reticle and first focal plane subtensions, the optics is engineered to get shooters on target lightning fast.
In the realm of hunting and shooting, Swarovski Optik is best known for its riflescopes.
The Austrian-based company has earned a place in hunters' hearts with high-end options to draw a bead on their game. But Swarovski has made a push in recent years to diversify into sport shooting.
The STR 80 spotting scope is an example of this move. The optic zeros in at F-Class and other long-range shooters offering Swarovski’s clarity, and a number of other features to get them on target.
Perhaps, the feature most likely to endear the STR 80 to long-distance shooters is its illuminated reticle. It is designed to aid in evaluating target distance, as well as correcting point of impact.
Presently, the optic is available with two version of the reticle, one with MRAD subtensions and one in MOA. The former version is adjustable in .10th MRAD increments, the latter in ¼ MOA increments.
In both cases, the reticles are adjustable to match nearly any light condition with 15 brightness levels – 10 for day levels and five for night.
The subtenions in the spotting scope operate on the first focal plane, meaning they are always in proportion to the target. This is makes the scope ideal for rapid ranging and holdover adjustment, particularly if there are multiple targets at various distances.
Swarovski's STR 80 isn't just for competitive shooters. It also functions as a traditional spotting scope and can work in conjunction with an iPhone and camera.
What appears to be an added bonus for tack tappers is STR 80’s HD optical system. Swarovski touts the rich contrast and color fidelity of the system as being ideal for identifying bullet holes in paper targets, no matter the distance.
The company has not completely pigeonholed the optic for the competitive range, however. The reticle can be shut off, to allowing the STR 80 to be used as a traditional spotting scope, as well.
The scope appears to have some versatility in magnification in it can be used with both Swarovski’s 20-60x and 25-50xW (wide angle) eyepieces. With the proper adapter, the STR 80 can also work in conjunction with an iPhone 5 or a camera.
The top-notch clarity and function of the STR 80 comes at a price. Presently, Swarovski lists the spotting scope for $3,689 on its website.
Technical Data Effective objective lens diameter (mm): 80 Shortest focusing distance (ft/m): 19 / 6 Diopter correction at ∞ (dpt): > 5 Diopter correction reticle: ± 5 dpt Objective filter thread: M 82 x 0.75 Functional temperature: -40 °F to +131 °F (-40 °C to +55 °C) Storage temperature: -40 °F to +158 °F (-40 °C to +70 °C) Submersion tightness: 13 ft (4m) water depth (inert gas filling)
Technical data STR 80 with eyepiece 25-50x Magnification: 25-50x Exit pupil diameter (mm): 3.2-1.6 Field of view (ft/1000 yds / m/1000m): 126-81 ft / 42-27 m Field of view (degrees): 2.4-1.55 Field of view for spectacle wearers (degrees): 2.4-1.55 Field of view. apparent (degrees): 60-70 Light transmission (%) total product: 75 Weight without battery (oz/g): 71.6 / 2030 Length (in / mm): 15.9 / 403
Technical data STR 80 with eyepiece 20-60x Magnification: 20-60x Exit pupil diameter (mm): 4.0-1.3 Field of view (ft/1000 yds / m/1000 m): 108-60 / 36-20 Field of view (degrees): 2.1-1.1 Field of view for spectacle wearers (degrees): 2.1-1.1 Field of view. apparent (degrees): 40-65 Light transmission (%) total product: 75 Weight without battery (oz/g): 70.4 / 1995 Length straight view (in/mm): 15.9 / 403
While the big, booming sales in AR-style rifles are over, Merrimack Firearms is selling a surprising number of pricier black rifles.
The typical fair the New England retailer reported earlier this year were AR-10s, chambered in .308 Win., including models from Windham Weaponry and Ruger’s then new SR 762.
“That Ruger retails for right around $2,000, and I have no trouble selling them,” Merrimack owner Steven Soucy said. “At the same time, I have .308 ARs at around $1,000, good quality, good names, and they just do not move. Kind of strange.”
Merrimack is getting good quantities of most ammunition, though the 9mm and .380 handgun ammo has increased 15 to 20 percent in price lately. The store is actually getting very decent amounts of hard-to-find .22LR but it is not the relatively inexpensive range and plinking .22 rimfire.
“Most of the .22LR we get in stock is the more expensive, match-grade types,” Soucy notes.
With a large segment of his customers practicing concealed carry, inside waist band holsters are very steady sellers, especially models made by Uncle Mike’s and Quest.
Get to know your AR-15 inside and out and outfit it with one of Hi-Lux’s CMR scopes with this exclusive collection. Familiarize yourself with the popular black gun with the six invaluable resources included, and put your newfound knowledge to work starting with the included scope. In addition to the CMR scope, you also get all four volumes of Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 by Patrick Sweeney, Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to the AR-15, and Gun Digest Guide to Customizing Your AR-15.
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.
