There’s no question about it, handguns are the top sellers right now at Sharp Shooting Indoor Range & Gun Shop.
“Mid-size frames continue to be the strongest sellers, but many of the small compact handguns are also selling well,” owner Robin Ball said.
As far as which makes and models have dominated, many are among the most popular presently available on the market.
“Our top five handgun sellers, in order, are the Glock 19 Gen4, Glock 42, Smith & Wesson Shield in 9mm, Springfield XDS in 9mm, and Ruger LC9,” Ball said. “All these firearms range in price from $400 to $580. The higher-priced handguns typically used by our competition shooters are slower selling right now.”
The store’s best-selling optic manufacturer is Vortex.
“All of their product line moves great. Our tactical shooters and hunters love the products and the great customer service from Vortex.”
EOTech is still a strong seller here, but sales have dropped somewhat as sales of AR-style rifles have slowed.
Sharp Shooting’s concealed-carry customers love the Sticky Holsters line, which sell from $25 to $28. Galco Summer Comfort and Triton holsters are selling well also.
“The ammo shortage in the rimfire category is still impacting firearm sales in this category and will likely impact Christmas sales,” say Ball.
He notes that more than one ammunition representative has told him the .22 rimfire shortage will last at least another year, if not two years!
Editor’s Note: This brief original appeared in the January 22, 2015 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Be prepared to tackle any situation with the convenient and compact Everyday Carry Kit. Great for the gun owner who has it all, or those looking for EDC essentials in a compact package, the resources and EDC gear in this bundle will help ensure your readiness – no matter what happens. Kit includes: CRKT M16-13Z Knife, Williams Tactical Applications Flashlight, Trauma Pack Pro and two invaluable Gun Digest resources. Gear Up
The Burris MTAC Illuminated 1-4 scope on 1X magnification makes for fast target acquisition while keeping peripheral vision. Author Photo.
CMMG thinks it has finally built the solution for those who pine for a true, high-functioning AR/AK hybrid. Part AR, part AK – the new CMMG Mutant is a true beast.
The CMMG Mutant is a cross between Eugene Stoner’s design and Mikhail Kalashnikov’s brainchild. Both these guns have been wildly successful, so it makes sense that a marriage of features from both guns should be a winner.
The MK 47 uses the much superior Stoner trigger, safety and stock design. In fact, the MK 47 is about 80 percent Stoner design and 20 percent Kalashnikov. From the trigger back, it’s 100 percent Stoner.
The bolt assembly is a massive version similar to the AR-10 bolt. There’s no forward assist and no bolt lock-back on the last round.
The standard AK magazine is used, but the magazine release is far superior to the Kalashnikov design. There’s a grooved ambidextrous paddle lever at the front of the trigger guard that can be pushed forward with the tip of the index finger. If you lower the muzzle of the rifle as you press the lever, the magazine will drop free. This makes magazine changes incredibly fast.
The MK 47 is about 80 percent Stoner design and 20 percent Kalashnikov.
Of course, the most notable advantages of the MK Mutant over the AK are the ability to mount an optic and feel like it isn’t super glued on the gun. The MK 47 has a full length Picatinny rail that runs from the receiver flat top to the forward end of the handguard. While we’re talking about handguards, the CMMG handguard is the same as the one on the 3-Gun rifle.
MUTANT OPTIONS
The AKM is the middle of three Mutant models from CMMG. The T model is the base model with basic furniture, and the AKM2 adds a Geissele SSA trigger. All models come with CMMG’s lifetime quality guarantee.
With a weight of less than 7 pounds, it’s no heavier than an AR-15 of similar length and options. There’s a CMMG SV Brake Threaded 5/8-24, so mounting a suppressor is a simple task. The upper and lower receivers are of 7075-T6 aluminum, and the gun comes with a Magpul PMAG 30 AK/AKM MOE magazine. The 16.1-inch barrel is made of 4140 steel and has six-groove rifling and a groove diameter of .311-inch.
While no one will argue that the AK 47 has been a success and is arguably the best combat weapon in existence today, the AR side of the family has been no slouch. The MK 47 marries the best aspects of both systems to produce a very good rifle. It’s pleasant to shoot pushing to the right, but with little muzzle rise.
I scoped the test gun with the excellent Burris MTAC Illuminated 1-4 scope. While dot sights have found a lot of popularity, I find a low magnification variable to be a wonderful choice for ARs and similar rifles.
Using Winchester ammo, the Mk47 punched a 1½-inch group at 100 yards. Author Photo.
It only took a couple of shots to get the MTAC on, and once there, I was pleased with the accuracy level of the Mutant. With 125-grain Brown Bear softpoints, it grouped within 3 inches for five-shot groups at 100 yards, and Winchester 125 brought that to less than 2 inches, with my best group under 1 ½ inches.
The AKM2 with the Geissele trigger paired with a higher magnification scope might do better. Functioning was 100 percent with both loads tested.
Over the years, I’ve come to realize just how versatile the AR platform has become, but I realize there are limitations to the .223/5.56 round. The 7.62 x 39 round offers a much heavier bullet and better penetration while keeping the option of using low-cost steel-cased ammunition.
The MK 47 Mutant certainly is a viable choice for general use as a defense/utility rifle and would make a great hog slapper with the power of the 7.62 round. It’s accurate, reliable, offers the ability to shoot cheap ammunition, and uses cheap and easy-to-find magazines.
I’m more than pleased with it.
CGGM Mutant Specs
Caliber: 7.62 x 39 Action Type: Direct impingement, semi-auto Receiver: 7075-T6 aluminum Barrel: 16.1” six-groove 4140 steel Magazine: Standard AK configuration P Mag Trigger: CMMG single stage mil-spec style Sights: N/A, flat top with full-length Picatinny rail Stock: Magpul CTR and MOE pistol grip Weight: 7.2 lbs. (unloaded) Overall Length: 33.5” (stock collapsed) Accessories: N/A Suggested Retail Price: $1,650
Editor’s Note: This article appeared in the January 22, 2015 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Sales of AR-style rifles and other tactical fare have slowed greatly at Gamaliel Shooting Supply. On the other hand, bolt-action rifles have steadily ramped up.
The catalyst, the past fall hunting season.
“For centerfire rifles, we are selling quite a few bolt rifles at the lower price points like the Savage Axis and the Ruger American series,” notes Grayson Pare, Gamaliel’s sales and marketing manager. “We sell the Savage Axis packages for $350 (black) or $400 (camo). They do come with a scope. The Ruger American rifles are $370, but do not include a scope.”
Waterfowl and upland hunters were also buying mood. But they purchased shotguns at both ends of the price spectrum.
Local hunters prefer the Benelli Super Black Eagle II, at $1,570, and the Stoeger P3000 series shotguns, at just a shade under $600, Pare said.
“Ammunition is still moving pretty steady—at the right price point,” Pare says. “High-end hunting or self-defense loads are slow, but cheap FMJ (full-metal jacket) ammo sells well. All rimfire ammo sells well, and we are moving a lot of .17 HMR now that availability has gotten better.”
Top brands for the .17 HMR ammunition buyers are Hornady or CCI, at approximately $14 per box of 50 rounds.
Editor’s Note: This brief appeared in the January 1, 2015 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Steiner has releases some fairly intriguing new optics this year that aim to take shooters to a new level of accuracy.
When it comes to drawing a bead, Steiner Optics is one of the favorites among many shooters. And the German subsidiary of Beretta continues to churn out aiming solutions to fit nearly any situation. This year has proven no different with Steiner introducing or refining a number of scopes, sights and other accessories to get shooters on target. Here’s a look at three innovative offerings from the company’s new releases. Sorry, no MSRPs were available at time of writing.
Steiner Intelligent Combat Sight (ICS) Steiner has come out with a number of new riflescopes this year, but the most interesting might be its Intelligent Combat Sight. The unit has an integrated laser rangefinder and ballistic calculator, in addition the 6x40mm scope itself. The system provides shooters with trajectory compensation, automatically calculating point of aim based off ammunition ballistics, measured distance and angle to target. Steiner designed the calculator for the 7.62x51mm round, but it can be adjusted to work with 5.56 NATO, 300 Blackout and .300 Winchester Magnum cartridges. The ICS runs off one CR123A battery and has a Picatinny rail on top for mounting a backup iron sight.
Steiner Micro Reflex Sight Steiner doesn’t look like it’s adding much with its new MRS, except faster target acquisition. That’s because the 1x holographic sight weighs in at less than 3 ounces – officially 70 grams. The sight has a 3 MOA red dot that can be set for automatic illumination control or manually adjusted through three brightness levels. It is fully adjustable for windage and elevation and mounts to any Picatinny rail. The until delivers 550 hours of operation off one CR1632 battery and is submersible to 10 meters.
Steiner eOptics SBAL-PL The SBAL-PL shoots to make the most of rail space, combining an adjustable laser sight and flashlight into one package. The device has a green laser-aiming module situated above a 500-lumen flashlight in rugged 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum case with a hardcoat anodized finish. The waterproof module offers shooters the ability to utilize the laser and flashlight functions independently or in conjunction. These functions are controlled by an ambidextrous switch and are run off a CR123 battery that can be changed without removing the device from its mount. The unit is designed for use on mid- to full-sized pistols or a rifle, and adds 4 ounces to a firearm.
Modern Shooter TV takes a look at the art and craft of gunsmithing — from custom engraving to basic maintenance. New episodes of Modern Shooter TV airs on Sportsman Channel 8 p.m. ET Monday; replays of the week’s episodes are then broadcast 9 a.m. ET Thursday and 12 a.m. Sunday.
This new collection of 6 must-have resources is perfect for gunsmiths and at-home do-it-yourselfers. It’s packed full of how-to instruction for accessorizing, repairing and upgrading your guns. Covering pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns and the ever-popular AR-15s, this collection is one you’ll want to have at your fingertips the next time you need to make repairs, adjust the timing on your revolver, change a barrel, adjust a stock, reduce recoil, clean, and so much more. A total retail value of $180.94, through this limited-time offer, you can get these 6 resources for just $79.99. Learn More
One of the most famous smokeless powder military cartridges in history actually started out as a black-powder round. Here’s a look at the load and the revolutionary new repeating rifle that chambered it – the Lee-Metford.
By the mid-1880s, it was becoming manifestly evident that the smallbore, bolt-action repeater was the top choice for general service military longarms. A number of different systems were devised whole cloth or adopted from earlier ones, resulting in groundbreakers such as the French Model 1886 Lebel, German Model 1888 Commission Rifle, Italian Model 1891 Terni, Japanese Type 22, Russian Model 1891 Mosin-Nagant, American Model 1892 Krag-Jorgensen and one of the best – Britain’s 1888 Mark I Lee-Metford.
Curiously, while a number of its contemporaries were introduced with smokeless powder loads, the Metford’s designers decided that a black-powder load was suitable for Her Majesty’s forces – at least as a stopgap.
The Lee-Metford, like its two single-shot predecessors the Snider and Martini-Henry, had its origin in the United States. James Paris Lee was a naturalized American citizen whose parents emigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1836. Though initially following his father’s occupation of watchmaking, firearms were his real passion and by the time he moved to Wisconsin in 1858 he had taken up gun making and design full time.
While Lee didn’t invent the box magazine, there is no question he perfected it. His circa 1879 Remington-Lee bolt-action rifle was tested by the U.S. Navy, and though not used by the American military in any great numbers, this revolutionary rifle caught the eye of British authorities. In 1880, versions of the rifle chambered for the .577-450 Gatling variation of the British service round and fitted with Martini-Henry barrels, bested a number of foreign and domestic rifles in early trials. Further testing continued throughout the 1880s with altered Remington-Lees, as well as with production .45-70 and .43 Spanish models.
Early on, sentiment leaned towards the adoption of a .402 service round, but the success of a .303-caliber cartridge by Swiss designer Col. Eduard Rubin caused some rethinking. Plans for the larger caliber were dropped and further testing ordered for the .303.
The Lee-Metford’s rounded rifling (bottom) was found to be unsuitable for use with smokeless powder cartridges and was replaced by the more angular Enfield style (top).
Finally in 1888, prototype Lees fitted with barrels featuring the seven-groove rifling of William E. Metford were tested using the .303 Rubin round, and in December of that year the first Lee magazine rifle was officially adopted into British service.
This .303 round had a drawn brass case and round-nosed, 215-grain cupro-nickel-jacketed bullet. The cartridge was Boxer primed and incorporated a compressed black-powder charge of 71½ grains. Though ordnance officials planned on using smokeless powder pending the acceptance of a suitable propellant, it was decided to be prudent and stay with black powder for the moment.
Britain’s first general-issue repeating rifle, the “Magazine Lee-Metford Rifle Mark I” was a unique arm. Featuring rifling devised by William Ellis Metford, it had an eight-shot, sheet-steel metal box magazine, which protruded from the stock in front of the triggerguard. The magazine was detachable, though it was linked to the rifle and not intended to be routinely removed.
The bolt, while not as strong as many later Mauser designs, was fine for the pressures developed by the .303 round. Locking was effected by means of a lug that engaged a recess in the receiver and a solid rib that was secured against a shoulder. The bolt head was a separate piece that threaded onto the bolt body, and by snapping it out of a rail on the receiver, the bolt could be freed and removed rearwards out of the receiver. The gun locked on closing and proved to be one of the smoothest military bolt actions ever – one that could be manipulated with considerable rapidity. A rear-mounted cocking piece allowed the Metford to be armed or disarmed with the bolt closed. Though the gun was a repeater, it was fitted with a sliding cutoff that permitted single-shot firing. The rounds in the magazine were then held in reserve.
The Mk I’s barrel-mounted rear sight was graduated to 1,900 yards, though it was also equipped with a long-range dial sight on the left side of the stock. This was marked to an optimistic 3,500 yards.
Overall length of the rifle was 49½ inches and the barrel measured just over 30 inches. Like the Lee-Metfords and Enfield that would follow it, the Mark I Metford had a two-piece walnut stock. The butt was secured to the receiver by means of a long bolt that passed through it. The grooved fore-end was secured by a combination of screws and barrel bands. A cleaning rod was housed under the barrel. To use it, two sections had to be screwed together.
A Pattern 1888 bayonet featuring a nine-inch sword blade and grip with walnut panels was introduced with the Metford, and in a couple of different versions that would be used with all the Metfords and Long Lees.
Military arms were marked on the left side of the socket with a Queen’s Crown over “VR,” for Victoria Regina, the place of manufacture (Enfield B.S.A. – Birmingham Small Arms Co., Sparkbrook or L.S.A. – London Small Arms Co.) Beneath this was the date of manufacture and the “Mark.”
In early 1892, a number of small changes were made to the Lee-Metford. Modifications on this Mark I* (a “Mark” signified a major change, while a “*” indicated only a minor one) involved the elimination of a rear-mounted safety lever in favor of a half-cock notch on the cocking piece which was also found to be problematic, and the arrangement was changed to a cocking-piece-mounted lever in some later Lees; along with the substitution of a brass stock identification for a steel one and re-graduation of the rear sight to 1,800 yards and the dial sight to 2,900 yards.
A year later a Mark II Metford was authorized. Its most important feature was a 10-round magazine, upping the Lee’s capacity by two rounds. Other mods included a brass buttplate, improved bolt, sturdier nose cap, simplified cutoff and the elimination of finger grooves. In addition, the ID disc was jettisoned, the elongated tang on the new buttplate serving as a marking place for unit designations. Two years later a Mark II* rifle was released that included a safety catch on the cocking piece. As the Mark II had a compartment in the butt for a cleaning pull-through and oil bottle, the rod beneath the barrel was now solely intended for stuck cartridge case removal. Eventually, it was removed altogether.
A stalwart group of soldiers of the 1st Bn. King’s Royal Rifles pose for the photographer with their Mark I Metfords during the Chitral Relief Expedition of 1895.
In late 1891, Britain’s first smokeless powder rifle load was officially adopted—and its acceptance would ultimately sound the death knell for the Lee-Metford. The “Cartridge, S.A., Ball .303 inch Cordite (Mark I)” featured the black-powder round’s drawn brass case and 215-grain bullet, but was charged with 31 grains (60 strands) of Cordite, an extruded propellant fashioned from nitroglycerine, guncotton and mineral jelly. The composition of the Boxer primer was also changed.
While the relatively smoke-free Cordite was a real advantage on the battlefield – it boosted the muzzle velocity of the .303 from 1850 fps to 1970 fps – it unfortunately burned much hotter than the black powder, and soon it was found that Metford rifles and carbines were experiencing distressing bore erosion.
Ordnance technicians set to work to modify the Lee’s rifling to take better advantage of the new round. What emerged was a more angular, deeper five-groove rifling that would not be damaged by the new propellant. Termed “Enfield” after the site where it was developed, this rifling heralded the beginning of a firearms legend, but it also marks the end of our developmental history of the Lee-Metford.
Despite the fact the Mark I Lee-Enfield was approved in 1895, stocks of Metfords were manufactured until 1896 and kept in service while production and issue of the new arm could be brought up to speed (as well as kept as a supplementary arm well into the 20th century). Accordingly, many Metfords saw service in India and other places in the Empire for a good number of years; most notably in the Sudan in 1898 at the Battle of Omdurman, where in the hands of British regulars it helped achieve a lopsided defeat over the Khalifa’s forces, with the British killing 11,000 and wounding 16,000 of the enemy. Their own casualties were a mere of 48 killed and 328 wounded.
SHOOTING THE BLACK-POWDER LEE-METFORD I’ve always been fascinated by the fact the modern .303 started out relying on a then-800-year-old propellant, so I was curious to see just how it would perform. Accordingly, I rounded up a nice condition Mark II Lee-Metford (no mean task, as Metfords are quite tough to come by nowadays) and had some ammunition rustled up by Bob Shell of Shell Reloading, using Privi Partizan .303 cases, Winchester large rifle primers, Hawk Precision Bullets’ 215-grain, 311 RT bullets and a compressed charge of 55-grains of Hodgdon FFg black powder.
Our original evaluation Lee-Metford handled beautifully and was a joy to shoot. Recoil was relatively light with the black-powder loads, though they did throw out a good volume of smoke and flame. Photo Jill Marlow
Why only 55 grains you may ask? Try as he may, that was all Bob could squeeze into the cases, but as the original Brit brass probably had a bit more internal area and the factory had a special method of forming the 71½-grain load into a pellet, this is understandable.
Our 1895-dated Sparkbrook-built Mark II was fired at 50 and 100 yards from a rest. Bullets chronographed at an average of 1480 fps, some 370 fps less than the period round, so it didn’t surprise me when the strikes were about 10 inches low at 50 yards and 12 inches low at 100. With the rear sight set to 450 yards the bullets hit at point of aim and gave good results (in a clean bore), with groups at 50 yards running in the 2½-inch range and those at 100 yards, 2¾ inches. It was interesting, but not surprising, to find out that accuracy dropped off considerably after about 20 rounds due to the black-powder fouling, some spreads widening out to five or six inches. Smoke was considerable, but recoil, quite manageable.
For a control I also tried some British-issue 174-grain c. 1967 Mark VII Cordite .303s and 150-grain Hornady STs in the Metford. Amazingly, they hit in exactly the same spots as the black-powder loads, and groups with both types of ammo were just about the same, giving the edge to Hornady. I talked this over with Bob and neither of us had an adequate explanation other than the fact that sometimes these older guns can present Quixotic results. The gun had an excellent bore and functioned perfectly.
I’m still not quite what all this proves, other than the fact the Metford, in the black-powder mode, was a formidable arm – at least for the first three or four magazine’s-full, after which time the groups, while not match-grade, would have probably been OK for combat. I do have a Long-Lee Enfield in my collection and it is a tack driver, even after extended firing, so there is no question it was an improvement over the Metford.
Still, Britain was well served by its first magazine rifle. As well as being a formidable arm in its own right, it paved the way for a family of bolt-action repeaters that would continue in use as a service rifle with the parent nation past the midpoint of the 20th century, and considerably longer with other nations. You can’t ask for a much better legacy than that.
This article originally appeared in Gun Digest 2015.
Many shooters express concerns with POI, or Point of Impact, shift when using a suppressor. Unfortunately, a lot of people aren’t 100 percent sure what that is, even though it’s a very simple concept.
At a high level, POI shift is simply the shift of the bullet when a suppressor is installed. It’s typically measured in MOA (Minute of Angle); so a POI shift of 2 MOA would indicate a 2-inch shift at 100 yards, 4-inch at 200 yards, etc.
With suppressors, there are really two types of POI shift to be concerned with:
POI Shift When Mounting The Suppressor
When you put a suppressor on, or take it off, you’ll typically see some POI shift. We’ve run quite a few tests on this and have found that the initial POI shift tends to be more impacted by the threads on the weapon rather than the suppressor. So, if you run 10 different suppressors on the same gun, they will generally all shift in the same general direction.
There are a couple of cases where you’ll see no POI shift at all:
If the threads on your weapon are perfectly aligned with the bore.
If you are using a suppressor with a larger bore, it typically won’t impact POI as much as a smaller bore suppressor. (It won’t be as efficient as a smaller bore suppressor either.)
The initial POI shift will be repeatable with most suppressors; so, it should shift to the exact same place every time you put the suppressor on or take it off. It’s not uncommon at all to see a shift of 2 MOA (i.e. 2 inches at 100 yards), but still see an improvement in accuracy (your group sizes shrink). In this case, simply rezero your optics and call it good.
If you see larger POI shifts of 8 MOA or more (i.e. 8 inches at 100 yards), that’s the time to take care to avoid possible issues. The best thing to do is to have a gunsmith check the threads on your weapon to be sure they’re concentric (which means the threads are fully aligned with the direction your bore is pointing).
You’ll hear a lot about suppressors that claim to have no POI shift—but that’s typically only possible if the silencer’s bore size is made larger than necessary. The problem with that is a larger bore will result in a less efficient suppressor—so you’re often trading the slight POI shift for decreased suppression. Remember that a POI shift is NOT the same as a decrease in accuracy; and, it’s often possible to see a POI shift and an increase in accuracy at the same time.
POI Shift From Shot To Shot
The second type of POI shift is a shift that occurs from shot to shot—and this is generally more related to the mounting system of a quick attach suppressor.
Although mounting systems have improved a lot over the last few years, and it’s often possible to see the same accuracy from direct thread and quick attach suppressors, many locking quick-attach designs will result in a loss of accuracy. That loss of accuracy is a result of the slight movement of the suppressor as it shifts on the mount from shot to shot.
Because of this loss of accuracy on some quick-attach mounts, many accuracy shooters will only use direct thread suppressors because they don’t have any shot-to-shot wobble. Some of the new compression mounts and small tooth mount systems are also starting to venture into the accuracy realm.
Most modern quick-attach systems are capable of at least 1.5 MOA accuracy. Most people are shooting larger groups than that anyway and typically won’t see much, if any, change in accuracy.
At the end of the day, the initial POI shift isn’t a very big deal in most cases. As we already mentioned, just put on the suppressor and rezero your weapon.
What are the habits and trick of the trade that can help reloaders avoid making mistakes? For one, good records. Author Photo.
When it comes to getting down and dirty at the reloading bench don’t learn from your own mistakes. Instead, allow custom ammunition manufacturer Philip Massaro help you avoid them through his lifetime of experience.
When I started out handloading, it was a simple matter of economics. The younger me couldn’t afford to buy the Federal Premium and other top shelf ammunition, but I desperately wanted that level of performance. I owned but one big game rifle, a Ruger 77 in .308 Winchester (which still serves me well), so I really didn’t have a major investment in reloading gear. I asked my dad, Ol’ Grumpy Pants, to drag his Lee turret press and RCBS grain scale out of the closet, and I purchased a Lee trimmer and a set of RCBS dies. The first few seasons were spent just making ammo that worked, and I was successful in that department, but the mad scientist experimentation wasn’t far off. It still continues today, in varying forms. Here are some things I’ve learned along the way, which might help you on your path.
1. Don’t Try to Make a Silk Purse Out of a Sow’s Ear
My .308 Winchester, while a fantastic big game round, wasn’t a .300 Magnum, though I did my best to wring every last ounce of velocity out of it. Studying the reloading manuals, I did my best to turn it into a flat shooting magnum. I was obsessed with velocity, and lost sight of the big picture. Cratered primers, erratic accuracy and wasted money were the end effects. When I regrouped my thoughts and loaded the cartridge for the purpose that it was intended for, I got the results I should have been looking for in the first place: accuracy, and great field performance. Read up on your cartridges performance specs, and try to stay within reason.
2. Don’t Discount Old Data
There are many new powders and bullets on the market today, and they are wonderful, but that doesn’t mean that a tried and true bullet and powder combination from yesteryear won’t produce for you. I hoard old reloading manuals, because canister grade powders don’t change, and some of the newer manuals don’t cover all the possible powders. I’ve found great recipes in the old Speer, Hornady and Sierra manuals that have dropped out of print in recent years. Scour the gun shows, peruse eBay, and read through those old books.
3. Be Diligent
Once you become comfortable and proficient with reloading ammunition, it is not difficult to become lax. It’s simply human nature, and I’ve caught myself doing it. But, like the attention given to a chainsaw or a kitchen knife, we loaders need to be consistent and diligent. Treat every loading session as if were your first, and follow the rules of safety and common sense. Don’t clutter your bench with two or three projects. Turn the cell phone off, and free yourself from distractions.
4. Keep Good Records
When you finally find that sweet load that your pistol or rifle likes so much, you certainly don’t want to lose it. Or, when things don’t work, say a load that proved to give dangerous pressures with a particular bullet/powder combination, keep good note of that. I keep a spiral bound notebook that is precious to me, as it contains all the load development information that I have compiled, both things that worked well and things I’ll never do again. I also keep a digital copy of that in my computer, so the work isn’t lost should my notebook fall into enemy hands.
Attempting to force a cartridge to do something that it’s not suppose to can lead to inaccurate results and wasted money. Author Photo.
5. Clean Your Gear
Sounds silly, but with the very precise tolerances that are involved with reloading, it doesn’t take a great amount of case lube mixed with tiny brass shavings and spent primer residue to gum up a resizing die, or the copper and lead shavings to get jammed in the bullet cup of a seating die. This will change the dimensions of the loaded ammo, and affect accuracy in addition to creating feeding problems. I like to disassemble my dies to give them a bath in the ultrasonic cleaner every so often, to keep things neat and tidy. If you don’t have an ultrasonic, take some cotton swabs and a good copper solvent and scrub away. I then give them a light coating of RemOil or other lubricant to prevent rust, and then reassemble. One more trick in this department: I make a dummy round, using the bullet/cartridge I like, but without primer or powder, so I can easily readjust my seating dies to give the proper dimension after cleaning. Don’t forget to degrease and lubricate your press as well. All of these tips will make your life as a handloader safer, easier and much more enjoyable.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the Jan. 1, 2015 of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Carl Zeiss Sports Optics recently named Gun Digest author Joseph Von Benedikt the 2014 Carl Zeiss Outdoor Writer of the year.
Joseph von Benedikt, who recently authored his first work with Gun Digest, Firearms for Personal Protection: Armed Defense for the New Gun Owner, was named the 2014 Carl Zeiss Outdoor Writer of the Year on January 19, 2015, at Zeiss’s annual writer’s party during SHOT Show week in Las Vegas.
“Joseph is one of the most progressive technical hardcore writers and optic users in the industry. He’s a pure gentlemen and carries competence and confidence in every aspect of his life and work,” said Mike Jensen, President of Carl Zeiss SBE, LLC. “He masterfully communicates with soulful insight, along with accurate and in-depth technical information that benefits his readers. His passion and appreciation for the outdoors resonates throughout all of his work. Quite simply, nobody deserves this prestigious award any more than this man does.”
Von Benedikt is an avid hunter and shooter of all types of firearms, including rifles, handguns, shotguns, and muzzleloaders. He was raised on a ranch in Utah and developed all the skills necessary to flourish in that rugged outdoor environment, and he also learned to appreciate the fine arts, including music and literature. He attended Utah Valley University in Orem, studying creative writing, while working several jobs, including as a hunting guide and gun store clerk. He’s competed in numerous shooting events, including Camp Perry, and has taken first place in some of those competitions. He also has hunted throughout the world.
Joining InterMedia Outdoors in 2007, von Benedikt worked as associate editor under Jerry Lee and Scott Rupp in California on RifleShooter, Handguns, and the Special Interest Publications until 2009. At that time he relocated to Illinois and became editor in chief of Shooting Times. In 2013 he made the transition to full-time writer and moved back to Utah with his wife and children. He currently writes for Shooting Times, RifleShooter, Handguns, Petersen’s Hunting, the IMO Special Interest Publications, and IMO online. His first book, Firearms for Personal Protection: Armed Defense for the New Gun Owner, was published by Gun Digest in 2014.
“While I have worked with Joseph for just six years, I can honestly say that he is one of the most enthusiastic writers I’ve encountered during the 23 years that I’ve been editing Shooting Times,” said Joel J. Hutchcroft, Editor In Chief. “He possesses a wealth of firearms knowledge as well as a healthy eagerness to learn about new technologies. In that way, Joseph bridges the gap between old and new. Additionally, he is one of the most pleasant people I’ve ever worked with, and I’m very pleased that he is receiving the Zeiss Writer of the Year award.”
Established in 2003, the Carl Zeiss Outdoor Writer of the Year Award is in its 12th year. The previous winners are: Wayne van Zwoll (2003), David Fortier (2004), David Petzal (2005), Ron Spomer (2006), John Barsness (2007), Terry Wieland (2008), Craig Boddington (2009), John Zent (2010), Andrew McKean (2011), Mike Schoby (2012) and Thomas McIntyre (2013). Carl Zeiss has also honored several writers with Lifetime Achievement Awards. These went to Bill McRae (2003), Jim Carmichel (2008) and Pete Dunne, Chief Communications Officer of New Jersey Audubon and Director of the Cape May Bird Observatory (2013).
Get a realistic and common sense approach to concealed carry and self-defense with Firearms for Personal Protection by Joseph von Benedikt. Providing a practical, non-tactical perspective, this comprehensive guide covers essential concepts, including concealed carry, good safety and handling practices, nightstand guns, shotguns, carbines, and much more. Click Here
Evans Machining Services has cut and coated its share of metal for the firearms industry. Now the Pennsylvania company is taking a crack at manufacturing the whole kit and caboodle. The firm is getting into gun making with the launch of Nite Owl Firearms at the upcoming Great American Outdoors Show in Harrisburg, Pa. And to get things rolling, Evans has chosen an extremely popular pattern of firearm to start off.
The company’s initial offering is the NO9, a polymer framed, striker-fired 9mm pistol – a style and caliber that has dominated the market in recent years. But Nite Owl has thrown an unusual twist in its first gun.
Right off the bat, the NO9 will be available in both right- and left-handed models. Typically, if a company ever builds a southpaw iteration, it is years down the line from the introducing of one configured for a righty. More common nowadays are pistols configured for ambidextrous control.
The NO9 is also just the start for Nite Owl. According to the company’s website, it will introduce a .45 ACP model in the future, and then expand to 12 models overall. Nite Owl plans on offering full-sized, compact and sub-compact – right- and left-hand version – of the two calibers.
No matter the variation, the NO9 appears set up to handle any of the duties of a polymer pistol. In particular, the handgun looks to have the dimensions to fill the role of a concealed carry pistol.
The NO9 has a width of 1.12 inches, overall length of 7.2 inches, 4.17-inch barrel and an unloaded weight of 28 ounces. While not as slender or small as some other options on the market, shooters should still be able to comfortably conceal the pistol.
The new pistol has both active and passive safeties. Common to polymer pistols, the NO9 has a blade safety situated on the trigger. It also has a firing pin block that helps the firearm avoid a negligent discharge if dropped.
Nite Owl appears to have paid special attention to the grip texture, which is abundant and fairly aggressive. It also has ample rail space situated beneath the muzzle for the addition of an accessory.
The pistol’s slide is outfitted with cocking serrations both fore and aft. The handgun has three-dot sights. And it is compatible with M9 Beretta-style magazines; the 45 will use Para P14 style magazines.
The NO9 should win over those who like to buy American, as the entire pistol is made in house by Nite Owl. And company is backing up the firearm with a full lifetime warranty.
The MSRP of the NO9 is $675. No information about the release of future models was available at time of writing.
Mas Ayoob’s latest work, Deadly Force, hits the ten ring on personal protection and the aftermath of a defensive gun use. Like his perennial classic, In the Gravest Extreme, it’s simply required reading for anyone who carries concealed.
When I was a rookie cop back in the 80’s, a copy of Mas Ayoob’s Stressfire, Gunfighting for Police made it around the graveyard shift complete with coffee stains and doughnut crumbs. It was also full of real-world gun wisdom in a conversational style that made it seem like this guy was a street-wise beat partner sitting next to me in the unit. In his newest offering, Deadly Force, Understand Your Right to Self Defense, Ayoob delivers again — for the civilian with a carry permit.
Make no mistake. This is not a gratuitous parade of blood-and-guts anecdotes or a shallow skimming of the ability/opportunity/jeopardy triad. It’s a serious and comprehensive treatment of the key legal principles that both enable and constrain the civilian with a permit. As a result, this content-laden book requires disciplined attention because of the tremendous volume of information it contains. Most books in this field (including mine) are good basic treatments. Ayoob’s is grad school for the serious student. Just ponder for a moment the depth in this gem from Chapter 2: “If you act to the standards by which you know you will be judged, you should not be found wanting in the judgment.”
“If you act to the standards by which you know you will be judged, you should not be found wanting in the judgment.”
Massad Ayoob Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self Defense
Fortunately, Ayoob has a rare ability to cover nuanced points with an economy of words and crisp style that is simultaneously educational and engaging. Especially helpful for the private citizen is his treatment of castle doctrine, furtive movement and what level of force may be legally used against a criminal who attacks with intermediate force weapons, including fists. The author also gives excellent coverage of the “Tueller Principal.” (If you carry a gun and still don’t know who Dennis Tueller is, that’s reason enough to buy this book.)
This book’s comprehensive review of the Trayvon Martin case is the most lucid I have ever read. Ayoob has a unique point of view that can only come from an expert who understands lawyers as well as he understands firearms. The prosecution of this case contains specific lessons for every civilian with a CCW.
My only criticism of the book, and it’s a tiny one, is that I wish Mas would have commented on the pro’s and con’s of retaining competent public relations counsel to try to manage the post-gunfight narrative and supplement a strong legal defense. Otherwise, this book is all in the ten ring.
In areas where politically ambitious DA’s are pimped by anti-gun media, you should presume that you are going to be charged criminally regardless of the inherent rightness of your defensive actions. Although this should never be a reason not to defend yourself — it’s better to be tried by twelve than carried by six — I think the information in this book is just as important to your daily carry as extra ammo.
You might survive a gunfight without either, but why would you risk it?
Magpul has expanded its horizons in 2015, extending its magazine catalog to include a slew of new firearms. But there is one model in particular that has the potential to reach a rather wide swath of the shooting world.
That is because the Wyoming manufacturer’s PMAG 17 GL9 is meant to keep a good part of Glock’s lineup well fed. The 17-round magazine is compatible with all full-sized, compact and sub-compact Glock 9mm pistols, though the magazine will have some overhang in the smaller-framed handguns.
The best part of Magpul’s new product is its price tag. At $15.95, there are few options less expensive. And it’s a fair bet almost none of the cheaper options out there demand the trust Magpul has built over the years.
According to a post on Magpul’s Facebook page, the Glock magazine will feature a new proprietary all-polymer construction. It will also boast a high visibility anti-tilt follower, SS spring, removable floorplate for cleaning, Dot matrix for mag marking, ridged floorplate edges for better grip and a indicator window.
Magpul will begin shipping the PMAG 17 GL9 in March, according to the company’s website.
Savage is shooting at making the versatile Scout Rifle even more so with the Model 11 Scout.
At the heart of the Scout Rifle concept is versatility. The rifle is meant to be as capable in tactical use as it is harvesting game.
Savage, however, has taken the idea of flexibility in a different direction with the release of its new version of the gun. The Model 11 Scout Rifle is meant to be as adaptable in ergonomics as it is in application.
The Massachusetts manufacturer accomplishes this by the inclusion of some adjustable features on the rifle’s stock. To better transition between optics and open sights, the Model 11 has a modifiable comb. And to make it a better fit to an individual’s body size and preferred shooting position, the length of pull can be adjusted via butt pad spacers.
The .308 Winchester’s stock itself should also aids the rifle’s accuracy, given it’s Savage’s popular AccuStock. While it appears to be an injection-molded stock on the outside, the AccuStock boasts an aluminum chassis on the interior, outfitted with a three-dimensional bedding system that free floats the barrel and offers rigidity to the platform.
The ATK subsidiary also has included the AccuTrigger on the Model 11, allowing shooters to tune the trigger pull to their preferred weight. The system, as crowed about in the video below by Tactical Life, can be dialed all the way down to 2.5 pounds.
The other new feature the Model 11 boasts is the Savage’s new 10-round detachable magazine. Extra magazines will be sold separately and are compatible with a number of other Savage firearms.
The rifle shouldn’t prove to be a burden in the field with a respectable weight. The Model 11 tips the scales at 7.8 pounds. And at 40.5-inches in overall length, the firearm should prove to be very maneuverable.
Some of the rifle’s other features include an 18-inch button-rifled barrel topped with a flash suppressor, a tang safety and sling swivels.
Savage plans to release the Model 11 Scout Rifle to the public this month. The present MSRP is $794.
Look Ma, no belt! The 28 Nosler promises to be the most powerful 7mm round out there.
A year ago, Nosler introduced its first namesake cartridge – the blistering hot 26 Nosler. Now the company has grown its family to include the most powerful 7mm round available today: The 28 Nosler.
A year ago, Nosler introduced its first namesake cartridge – the 26 Nosler.
The round milked the most out of the 6.5mm’s inherently high ballistic coefficient to create a blistering long-range round. Now the Oregon company is growing its family of proprietary cartridges with the 26’s little brother.
Truth be told, the new 28 Nosler, introduced at the 2015 SHOT Show, is a bit bigger than the company’s initial offering. The round utilizes the same case as the 26, but necked up to 7mm.
The company is billing the 28 Nosler as the most powerful 7mm cartridge available today. And the if the numbers Nosler has provided on the two variants it’s releasing are on the mark, there is little arguing the cartridge has plenty of snap.
The 175-grain 28 Nosler is topped with an AccuBond LR bullet and has a muzzle velocity of 3,125 fps. The 160-grain cartridge boasts an AccuBond bullet, which according to the company’s numbers leaves the muzzle at 3,300 fps.
To give some context, at 160-grains the 28 Nosler is around 300 fps faster at the muzzle than one of the most popular round in the caliber – the 7mm Remington Magnum.
While the 28 Nosler has hot-rod ballistics, it appears to be a hunter at heart. One of aspects the company is touting about its proprietary cartridges – beltless, mind you – is they’re designed to operate in standard-length actions.
This feature helps weight-conscious sportsmen to lighten their load before venturing into the backcountry. The cases’ overall length also aid in quick follow-up shots, since the bolt throw is shorter than on a magnum action.
Nosler isn’t just pitching the cartridge to the shooting world. The company also announced it will support the 28 Nosler with a full line of its M48 rifles in 26-inch barrel configurations. And it will produce brass for those who aim to reload the cartridge. Presently, however, Nosler has not released reloading data on its new round.
Savage Arms went big at the 2015 SHOT Show by going small. In the process, the monolithic rifle manufacturer may have solved one of the trickier problems plaguing firearms design.
With the introduction of the A17 .17 HMR, the Massachusetts-based subsidiary of ATK looks to have produced a viable semiautomatic magnum rimfire. This is a feat other companies have attempted, but have fallen short.
Of course, cracking what has proven to be a tricky nut required some out-of-the-box thinking on Savage’s part. Where the company particularly broke with tradition is jettisoning the straight blowback action so common in rimfires for a delayed blowback system.
The company has outfitted the A17’s bolt with integrator lug that locks the bolt in place momentarily after a shot has been taken. It is just enough time to allow the majority of gases to disperse, thus allowing for the action to safely cycle without venting from the receiver. The design also keeps the breach block light, since it does not purely have to rely on weight to regulate the rifle’s cycling.
The A17 also utilizes a more robust construction to tackle the hotter rimfire rounds, of which the above video by the Kentucky Gun Company does a good job documenting . One of the most noticeable is the rifle’s burly action, which definitely appears robust enough to handled the extra pressure.
Savage has chromed the action’s components to aid in cleaning and cycling. It also includes its adjustable Accu-Trigger, allowing shooters to tailor the pull weight all the way down to 2.5 pounds. And the company has outfitted the firearm with a 10-round rotary magazine. Larger magazines should be available in the future.
As would be expected from Savage, the barrel is button rifled. However, at time of writing, the twist rate of the A17 was not available.
Savage must be fairly confident it has hit the sweet spot with its new rimfire, given it has worked with another ATK subsidiary to produce the hottest .17 HMR round available. CCI has cooked up A17 Ammunition, which the company boasts as being 100 fps faster than anything currently available on the market. At 2,650 fps, it should do the job on any varmint unlucky enough to wonder in front of it.
The Savage A17 presently has an MSRP around $470. The rifle should be hitting store shelves sometime in March 2015.
Plano is no stranger to making first-rate storage systems for firearms.
The Illinois company has created its fair share of handy and well built cases for both hunting an general shooting. But the long-time plastics manufacturer appears to be shooting to outdo itself with its most recent additions.
The company unveiled its new line of Field Locker Mil-Spec Pistol and Rifle cases at the 2015 SHOT Show. And if they live up to Plano’s billing, they’ll give firearms fans a case worthy of their most cherished firearms.
Perhaps the biggest seal of approval that has been put on the five new cases comes from the military itself. Each has been certified by an accredited test facility as meeting military specifications for immersion, dust, vibration and transit drop per MIL-STD-810G.
One of the most impressive asset of the Field Lockers is Plano outfitting them with heavy-duty gaskets. Not every hard case comes with the feature, but it goes a long way to securing a firearm. The gaskets, in conjunction with the latch system, helps make the case water resistant, a plus in any shooter’s book. But the feature also keeps firearms free of dust and other particulate matter that could potentially foul a gun’s bore or action.
With five different size to choose from, Plano has a Field Locker Mil-Spec gun cases for nearly every shooter.
The outside and inside of the cases are also ruggedly constructed. The exterior is made of high-impact molded plastic, able to deflect the most brutal blows. The interior is lined with cut-to-fit foam, gentlely holding firearms in place and cushioning any impact.
The cases are manufactured to precise dimensions and are designed to stack and interlock with each other. A bonus on the rifle cases, they come outfitted with wheels, making them a snap to transport.
The Field Locker comes in five sizes to fit nearly every make and model of firearm. The pistol cases are available in large (Exterior 17.876” x 10.920” x 6.882”) and extra large (19.343”x 14.892”x 8.937”) models. Rifle cases come in three sizes, double long (56.38” x 18” x 7.25”), tactical long (46.38” x 18” x 7.25”) and single long (52.14” x 13” x 6.75”).
The MSRP of the Field Locker Mil-Spec Rifle and Pistol cases range from $89.99 to $259.99, depending on model.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 of the best concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
Robin Ball — Sharp Shooting Indoor Range & Gun Shop, Spokane, Wash.
