When it was first developed the .300 Weatherby Magnum produced nearly unheard of velocities. Around 70 years later, and the round is still consider one of the world's blistering hot magnums.
I have been told, and I suspect that it is very accurate information, that the .300 Weatherby Magnum is the most popular cartridge in the Weatherby line of high intensity cartridges.
Roy Weatherby initially developed four cartridges in the mid-to-late 1940s. These were the .220 Rocket, based on the .220 Swift case, and the first three of the Weatherby line of magnums, the .257 WM, .270 WM, and .300 WM. Weatherby's brainchild developed a muzzle velocity of over 3500 fps with the 150 grain bullet, almost 3400 fps with the 165 grain, 3250 fps with the 180 grain, and over 3,050 fps with the 200 grain bullet. For the time, those velocities were eye-openers, and even today are still sizzling down range.
The ballistics provided by the .300 Wby. made it about as close to ideal as one is apt to find for the all-around one-gun hunter. One example is that of C.J. McElroy, the founder of Safari Club International. Mr. McElroy hunted all over the world and for many years used nothing but a Weatherby Mark V rifle chambered for the .300 Wby cartridge. He used it for almost everything he hunted. I knew Mac quite well and last time I saw the rifle, it was about as dilapidated as a rifle could be and still function.
Mac was not a gun nut and to him, the rifle was nothing but a tool. He once told me that the rifle was like an extension of his arm in the field. Finally as the effects of his advanced age finally began to affect him, he switched rifles for the remainder of his hunting years. It was another Weatherby Mark V rifle, but chambered for the 7mm Wby. instead of another .300.
Another well known international hunter that used nothing but a .300 Wby. chambered Mark V for his hunting was Elgin Gates. Gates wrote numerous magazine articles about his exploits with the rifle, and also wrote a book or two about his adventures with it. Both McElroy and Gates could have afforded most any rifle they wanted, but both were more than pleased with their Weatherby rifles.
Well known custom rifle maker David Miller also is a one-rifle hunter. His hunting rifle is one of his own make, but chambered for the .300 Wby. David specializes in chasing big Coues deer around the mountains of southern Arizona and northern Mexico. He has taken more trophy bucks than anyone I know or have ever heard of.
Now I fully understand that a very large Coues buck is not a very large animal, and a rifle as powerful as the .300 Wby. is not needed to slay such a buck. However, big trophy bucks are very wary animals, and if spotted at all, are generally seen at long ranges. Miller and his .300 have taken several book sized bucks at ranges exceeding 500 yards, a few exceedingly so.
There are those hunters who have found the Weatherby Mark V, chambered in .300 Weatherby Magnum to be all the gun they ever needed, no matter their quarry.
Personally, I have owned but one rifle chambered for that cartridge, a German-made Mark V that I bought in Germany at a US Army Rod & Gun Club in Stuttgart about 1964. I kept it for a while, but at the time had no real need for it, so traded it for something else, I've long since forgotten what. It was a pleasant rifle to shoot, very accurate with factory ammo (I hadn't started handloading at the time), and an attractive rifle, even with its California styling. At the time, the styling was acceptable to me, although these days, it gives me the “vapors” as O'Connor used to write.
The Weatherby line of “hyper” velocity cartridges was the earliest of the genre that I'm aware of. There were few, if any coming before, and plenty coming after. The downside, if it is a downside, is that in order to achieve such velocities, the cartridge is loaded to the max pressure wise, or very close to it. They also have considerable free-bore in the chamber to tame the high pressures somewhat.
Still, I've not heard of a Weatherby rifle so chambered causing any damage. I have heard of a few blown primers, but that was about it. For the one gun hunter, a much worse choice could be made than the .300 Weatherby.
An impressive performer, the Glock 42 sets the bar high for other .380 ACP pistols.
What makes the Glock 42 a good carry gun:
Single-stack makes it easy to conceal.
Lightweight, the pistol is comfortable to carry all day.
6+1 capacity provides ample firepower for most defensive situations.
.380 ACP ammunition is more formidable than ever.
The G42 digests nearly every load without a hiccup.
Despite short sight radius, pistol proves consistantly accurate.
Legions of American shooters have warmed up to the Glock striker-fired pistol platform over the past three decades but it could never quite get my juices flowing because of the rather square look and the grip frame simply didn’t fit my hand.
The Glock G42 has a traditional post front sight.
Now along comes the dandy little pocket-sized G42, a model chambered for the .380 ACP with a single-stack profile, and it’s gotten my attention. A pal of mine who is a reserve police officer rounded one up for an evaluation as a personal backup gun, and he let me run it through its paces. Long story short, I’m really impressed, and that comes from a guy who doesn’t really care so much for striker-fired semi-autos, as I tend to prefer the looks of a Model 1911 and its clones.
But those are .45-caliber guns and this is a .380, a classic cartridge that has been chambered in some of the most popular pistol models, including my dad’s Model 1934 Beretta, the legendary Walther PPK and the Colt Model 1908. In today’s lineup, one still finds the PPK, along with the Ruger LCP, Sig Sauer P238, Kahr P380, Colt Mustang Lite, Smith & Wesson Bodyguard and others chambered for the cartridge.
Bad news for all of those guns, the Glock 42 is going to give them some very stiff competition. Glock’s slim-line subcompact has already become very popular in a short time, and like other suddenly popular pistols, the gunmaker has had to race to keep up with demand. Models aren’t sitting on store shelves very long.
Brass Tacks Of The G42
For my test, the piece proved itself a sizzler right out of the box. It liked Remington UMC and American Eagle ammunition, and it loved 85-grain Winchester Silvertips, though I had some trouble with Black Hills 90-grain JHPs when it came to feeding. However, as far as accuracy goes, all four of those loads went where I wanted them to go. I’m not entirely certain what was up with the Black Hills load, because I’ve had tremendous results with their ammunition over the years.
Rear sight of the Glock G42 is dovetailed and has a white outline square notch. Notice the upper rear of the frame and the nice beavertail effect. Author photos
The Glock G42 holds a six-round magazine and in a tight spot by the time the ammunition is gone, you’ve gotten someone’s attention. The magazine is not tough to load, as are some single-stack models when the last couple of cartridges need to go in. I was particularly pleased that the pistol is less than an inch wide on the slide and is less than six inches in length. It hits the scale at 14.36 ounces loaded, and it goes virtually unnoticeable when carried in the pocket of a down vest or parka.
Proven Safe Action
Like all of its larger siblings, the G42 has Glock’s proven safe action, and I was really impressed with the trigger. Once I had the uptake down pat, the trigger broke crisp and that helped me not only plug away at Shoot-N-C targets, but also bits of broken clay targets, a couple of sticks and one empty plastic water bottle.
The Glock 42 has the earmarks of a great hideout gun, sized right for carry in a holster of my undershirt genre, the so-called “tuckable” (a term I personally detest, but I’ll get over it). It will also tuck in an ankle holster or a pocket holster, and as noted earlier, it easily slides into a pocket without a holster. I’ll hazard a guess that by the time you read this, every major holster maker in the country will be knocking IWB (inside waist band) rigs together for this gun, whether leather, nylon or Kydex, and if they’re not, they are going to be behind the curve because I think Glock is going to sell a boatload of these pistols, and not just because of favorable reviews.
Today’s modern ammunition will make the G42 rock, so nobody should worry about those tales of anemic .380 ACP performances. Modern propellants and bullet designs makes this cartridge a rather formidable little number at gunfighting range, and nobody should discount it for defensive purposes. The cartridge is one of those old-timers that simply won’t die, and it goes through cyclic resurgences when a new generation of shooters seems to rediscover it for its close-up defensive potential. Such is the potential this G42 proposes to create.
Glock’s new G42 in .380 ACP is a winner for concealed carry.
Winchester’s 85-grain Silver Tip averaged 911.6 fps out of the muzzle, while the 95-grain American Eagle FMJ crossed the screens averaging 870.2 fps. The Remington UMC 95-grain range ammo averaged 848.7 fps and the Black Hills 90-grain JHP clocked a rather surprising 833.7 fps, which seemed a bit slow. I corresponded with Black Hills’ Jeff Hoffman about this and it surprised him, too, since not long ago I’d used the same ammunition in a different .380-caliber pistol without so much as a hiccup. I’m going to chalk it up as one of those little unexplainable mysteries and keep shooting the same ammo.
The G42 tears down likeother Glocks and goes back together the same way. I had no trouble breaking it into its components for a quick cleaning.
Glock 42 Accuracy
Glock designers gave the G42 a 3.25-inch barrel, which is pretty average for small pistols of this caliber. With a sight radius of 4.92 inches, the Glock 42 maintains accuracy rather consistently, which is all anyone could ask for from a purely defensive handgun. This is not designed for precision target work, though I’ll gamble that someone who spends time with this gun on the range and finds the perfect load would likely be able to pot a rabbit or two in an emergency.
The single stack magazine is the foundation of the gun’s slim profile. Author photo
People laugh at me occasionally for suggesting that a defensive handgun might double as a dinner provider, but I know other guys who have used handguns for just such a purpose. If you can hit something as small as a bunny in the noggin, you will be able to hit something considerably larger.
Speaking of the sights, the rear is dovetailed into the slide with a white outline square notch, and the front is pinned with a visible white dot. If I were to buy this gun, I’d consider swapping for a set of tritium sights.
Ejection of spent cases is positive and they tinkled rather well on the cement floor of the shooting shack, about three feet to my right rear. Another thing about the G42 that I found pleasing is the beavertail rear profile of the polymer frame. You’re not going to pinch the flesh between thumb and index finger unless you get sloppy with your hold.
Glock packages this pistol in a handy hard plastic case that has egg carton padding inside, along with a lock and spare magazine. While Glock has a couple of other .380 ACP pistols that are European-made, the Glock 42 is the only one available to private citizens in this country because it is made here. The others are offered to civilian law enforcement only.
Like other Glock models, the G42 is easy to field strip for cleaning. Author photo
Anyone shopping for a concealed carry gun will want to give the Glock 42 a look. It’s a great compact .380 option and is sure to find a warm spot in the hearts of pocket pistol aficionados everywhere.
Learning the basics of shotgun shooting and practicing often translates to more success in the field.
Whether busting birds means heading afield with a brace of pointing dogs or traveling to the range to smash orange discs, here are six shotgunning tips to improve your overall score.
Shotgun basics begin before you’re on the range or in the field. First of all, you need to understand the basic tenets of successful shooting. Developing a proper shooting stance is the first step in successful shotgunning. To begin, your front leg (opposite your shooting hand) should be slightly forward, knees should be roughly shoulder width apart and bent slightly. Your feet should be firmly planted, but you should be comfortable, and your foot position shouldn’t impair your swing.
For lateral movements, you rotate at the hips; the upper body remains fixed, you should maintain a good cheek weld on the shotgun, and the shoulders and head should move with the gun as one solid unit. Elevation changes are accomplished by flexing the back. It’s important that the gun comes up to your eye and that you don’t plant the gun on your shoulder and lower your head to meet the gun. The butt of your shotgun should always land in the same point on the shoulder, and once you’ve got the gun mounted, maintain a steady lock between the upper body and the firearm.
Above all else, remain target focused. Unlike pistol and rifle shooting, which require you to align the sights on the target, shotgun shooters devote total concentration to the bird.
Sometimes we can’t correct our own mistakes, and it requires an instructor to help us sort out the issues. More often than not, missing comes down to some element of basic shooting—grip, stance, swing, focus or follow-though.
The Crosser
Crossing shots are common in the field when hunting doves or ducks, and the skeet range is the best place to develop your skills. New shooters are often fixated on lead, and they ask how far ahead of the target they should be at every station on the skeet field. If you learn sustained lead, you can do pretty well shooting the invariable list of shots you’ll see at the skeet range, but that isn’t very practical for the field—doves and ducks rarely give you the time to decipher whether you need to be three or five feet ahead of the target, and devotees of sustained lead often end up “riding” the target to find the perfect hold point.
Instead, learn to shoot swing-through. This requires you to keep your eyes on the target, swing the gun to catch up, and press the trigger as you catch and pass the bird. The faster the target is going (say, a dove rocketing by at 60 miles an hour), the faster you’ll be swinging. It takes practice, and you must keep the muzzle moving after the shot, but it will make you a better target and field shooter. Rotate from the hips, and remember to keep your upper body locked to the gun as you swing.
Incoming
You’ll see incoming targets on the skeet range, and it’s a common shot you’ll encounter on decoyed waterfowl. The incoming shot should be relatively easy, but it’s often missed because it happens quickly, and the shooter doesn’t understand the physics of the shot. Unlike crossers, you don’t get behind and swing through an incomer; rather, focus on raising the muzzle up to meet the flight path of the target, and when these two lines intersect, fire and keep swinging. Oftentimes the muzzle will cover the target, and you should fire as the gun is coming up and just a bit ahead of the target’s position so that the shot string intercepts the target. Incoming shots require practice to master, so be sure to spend plenty of time on the skeet range, and always remember to remain target-focused.
Outgoing
This is the classic trap shot and is often encountered when hunting game birds in the field, so it’s important to be proficient. The basic rules are the same for any other shot (good stance, eyes on target, good cheek weld, follow-through). Bring the gun up to the target, and don’t forget that any angling outgoing shot requires some lead, though it won’t be as dramatic as when shooting hard crossing targets. Your gun’s point of impact is particularly important when shooting an outgoing target; some guns shoot very flat, so you’ll have to position the gun higher for the shot. Others, particularly guns designed for trap, tend to have a higher point of impact, often 80/20 (80 percent of the shot will strike at a point above the rib) or even more.
Good cheek weld means that your face and the gun are mated the same way every time, and that your head and the shotgun move as one unit.
High Overhead
This is a common shot for duck and dove hunters and those who shoot driven birds, and it’s a shot that is becoming more common on sporting clays courses. High overhead shots seem tough, and they can be, but the rules of good shotgunning still apply. If the bird is coming at you, you’ll need to swing through and actually cover the target when you shoot. If the bird is going away, swing ahead and follow through as you press the trigger. The real key here is to keep the upper body fixed with a good cheek weld on the gun and bend your back. This requires practice, and one way you can accomplish this is to raise an unloaded gun to your shoulder and run the bead up and down the length of a vertical target (trees work well), maintaining your focus on the target while flexing and extending your back to track the bead up and down.
The Rabbit
Ah, the rabbit—bane of every sporting clays shooter. These deceptive targets bounce along the ground ahead of the shooter; leaping and lunging in a fashion that seems out-of-sorts with the steady, smooth travel of an aerial clay. But the basic principles remain the same, so be sure to rotate at the hips, keep your eyes on the target, and swing through after the shot. If the rabbit is rolling along the ground, it works in much the same way that a crossing target does, but if it takes a bounce, you’ll need to be tracking through the arch and keep the gun moving as you fire. You’ll need to shoot a bit ahead of the target (most rabbits are missed behind) and, above all else, keep that muzzle moving.
This article originally appeared in the Aug. 7, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The 28-gauge is often overlooked, but there are many sweet-shooting guns chambered in this gauge.
The 28-gauge has proven its worth on the field and range, and number of manufacturers are turning out options in this nifty gauge.
There are a lot of reasons to love the little 28-gauge, and every year more and more shooters are trading in their hard-kicking heavy 12-bores for these lighter guns.
The 28-gauge still packs plenty of power for most upland situations, and there are now a number of manufacturers producing fine 28s for the field and range.
Fausti
The Fausti DEA SLX of Italy.
If you prefer classic doubles, check out Fausti’s beautiful DEA side-by-side, a svelte, gorgeous little double that weighs right around 5 pounds and could only have come from Italy.
Franchi
The Franchi Aspire is available in 28- and .410 gauge.
If you prefer an over/under, Franchi now offers its round-body, which tips the scales under 6 pounds and features a case-hardened receiver and oil-finished walnut stock.
Weatherby
Weatherby's SA-08 Deluxe 28 is a dedicated 28 gauge autoloader.
If you’re looking for a budget 28, Weatherby’s SA-08 28-gauge Deluxe offers superb balance and handling, and the gas system virtually eliminates felt recoil.
Steyr recently released the newest version of its bullpup rifle. The AUG A3 M1 offers different rail and optics to better suit the shooter.
The Steyr AUG A3 M1 gives shooters a number of options in how they configure their rifle optics.
It’s turning out to be a banner year for bullpup fans.
The latest bit of news that should buoy the spirits of those who love the compact platform comes from a company well known for its bullpups. Steyr Arms has been churning out its AUG bullpup since 1978 and is now shipping it newest version for the consumer market.
The Austrian-based manufacturer recently released the AUG A3 M1, which Steyr bills as a multi-configurable variant of the rifle.
The most notable development on the M1 is the rail choices on the three new models. High-Rail, Short-Rail and Integrated-Optic models are all now presently available for the .223/5.56 rifle.
Both of the railed models have Picatinny rails, configured to suit shooters optics preferences.
The rail on the Short-Rail model ends at the back of the receiver and is suited for reflex sights or long-eye relief optics. Despite its petite size the rail offers wiggle room with 11 slot positions and is situated .435 over the comb.
The high-rail model is a bit bigger with 16 slots – a feature that is intended to allow a greater variation of optics. The High-Rail extends 2.57-inches back from the receiver and sits .820 over the stock comb. The company boasts the High-Rail is set up for nearly any optic, from a high-magnification scope to a red-dot sight.
The Integrated-Optics model obviously has the least wiggle room when it comes to versatility, given it comes outfitted with a 1.5X or 3X optic. But those who yearn for a earnest facsimile of Steyr’s special operations bullpup – the AUG SF – should be satiated.
The optics are mounted 1.945-over the stock comb, which according to the company should produce a solid cheekweld. The optics themselves also have been refined from earlier versions, with windage and elevations turrets adjustable with a coin or flathead screwdriver.
The Low-Rail, High-Rail and Integrated-Optic for the new Steyr AUG A3 M1 are completely interchangeable, via the three base screws that thread from the underside of the top of the receiver.
The AUG A3 M1 boasts an overall length of just 28.15 inches, including its 16-inch heavy barrel, making it at least 8-inches shorter than an M4 carbine with a comparable-length barrel. The rifle boasts a short-stroke gas-piston operation and is outfitted with stainless steel operation and guide rods affixed to the bolt carrier.
The rifle is available with two different stock styles. The standard AUG stock is compatible with AUG magazines. The NATO stock accepts STANAG mags. Each model is sold with a 30-round magazine.
The new AUG A3 M1 is completely produced at Steyr’s new Alabama factory. The Short-Rail and Long-Rail versions have MSRPs of $2,099. The Integrated-Optic model has two price points, $2,499 with the 1.5X scope and $2,599 when outfitted with the 3X scope.
The match barrel and trigger of the CCO delivered tight, accurate groups. Dan Daessite photo.
The Guncrafter CCO is a thoroughbred 1911 for everyday carry.
The Guncrafter CCO has an unadorned matte stainless finish that lends it a no-nonsense workhorse aesthetic.
As a reviewer of guns, it’s my responsibility to be fair and impartial and come to every review with an open mind. Having said this, I know it’s not possible for a fallible human being to accomplish true impartiality. As a result, I give every effort to approach every review as open minded as possible.
On the same day I received the Guncrafter’s CCO described in this review, I participated in another gun test with another writer. We tested several 1911s designed for concealed carry use. All of them were relatively expensive guns, all were accurate enough for a defensive carry gun and every one of these guns malfunctioned, in spite of the fact that they were built by what I consider to be premium makers. To say the least, I was disappointed.
Having run several hundred rounds through lightweight 1911s the previous day, I wasn’t that excited about doing the same thing the next but a gun writer’s work is gun writer’s work. I had to visit my gunsmith, Mike Byrd of B&B Precision Machine, though, and Mike loves to shoot, especially when someone else is furnishing the ammo. Mike rebuilds almost every gun he gets, and he’s a perfectionist. So when Mike is impressed, so am I.
The CCO is a beautiful gun. I don’t normally wax poetic about 1911s. They’re workhorse guns, and I don’t care for fancy inlays, engraving or ivory grips. I love functional 1911s, and the CCO is functional and beautiful. While the front and back grip straps are checkered, all the corners are gently rounded. There’s a substantial beavertail on the grip safety and a generous bump at the bottom to allow thin hands to engage it.
The officer-sized bottom end has a rounded butt for comfort and concealment, and the magazine well is beveled. The grips are slim, but provide excellent purchase without being abrasive. The medium-sized safety and magazine release are nicely grooved, and the slide release outer surface is checkered for a better feel.
The top of the slide is milled flat with longitudinal grooves. My test gun was the matt stainless version, and the finish was uniform and unadorned, with the only branding being in small letters on the right side, almost under the lower edge of the slide.
Premium Quality Firearm
Of course, pretty is as pretty does, or something like that, and the CCO shoots pretty darn good. My first session impressed Mike and me with how good the trigger is, how accurate it is and how easy it is to manage in spite of being a concealed carry 1911.
It’s also very reliable, and that’s a premium quality in a defensive firearm. We both ran plates at 10 and 15 yards and stayed well under the standard time of six and seven seconds respectively. In fact, Mike ran the plates in five seconds and change from 15 yards. Recoil with hardball .45 was there, but it was manageable and not uncomfortable. As a matter of curiosity, we even tried some light 650-fps plate loads with 230-grain bullets.
I didn’t think a standard defensive gun would run loads that light, but the CCO ran them without a hiccup. We didn’t check the spring weight, but both felt it was a standard spring. I think the gun is just so slick it can run those light loads.
At $3,299, this isn’t a gun that will be purchased on price point. It’s a gun that will be purchased on quality point. If there’s a thoroughbred 1911 carry gun, this is probably it. I’ve mentioned the aesthetics, but the CCO isn’t just about looks, it’s about everything being as good as it can get. The frame, slide and stainless match barrel are all forged.
The skeleton hammer, sear and disconnector are machined from high-grade tool steel. The slide stop is machined from bar stock and there’s an extra heavy-duty barrel bushing with an extra thick flange. There’s a match trigger, and the Tritium sights are extra sturdy to allow for one-handed slide racking using the rear.
The 1911 design is probably the most successful firearm design in history and may be the most successful ever. It’s still at the top of the heap after 104 years, and I see no signs of that popularity fading. Model 1911s dominate almost every pistol-shooting venue shot across the country, from precision shooting at Camp Perry to USPSA, IDPA and even the famed Bianchi Cup. There’s a whole industry formed around the 1911.
Having said this, a 1911 works best in its original configuration, and shortening and lightening it can create potential issues.
The four compact 1911s I tested the day I received the CCO illustrate this perfectly. All those companies can build a perfectly adequate full-sized 1911. I recently tested a compact 1911 that ran flawlessly, but it was a top-of-the-line gun for the maker. It’s possible to downsize for concealed carry, but it’s harder to build a reliable, smaller 1911 handgun.
The CCO represents an effort by Guncrafter to build a quality concealable version of John Browning’s finest achievement. They didn’t cut corners anywhere in the process. They built the best gun they could, and then they figured up the price. I can assure you there are guns that cost this much that aren’t reliable, accurate and well-prepped for daily carry use. I can also assure you that the Guncrafter CCO I tested was all of those things, and the best doesn’t come cheap.\
Guncrafter CCO Caliber: .45 ACP Capacity: 7 + 1 Magazines: Two stainless steel Barrel: 4 ¼ in. match stainless Sights: GI extra heavy, tritium vertical inserts Frame: Forged stainless or aluminum, black Melonite or matt stainless finish Slide: Forged stainless, black Melonite or matt stainless finish Length: 7 7/8 in. Height: 5 in. w/o magazine Weight: 33 oz. in stainless, 27 oz. in aluminum frame Options: Stainless or aluminum frame, stainless or duo-tone finish, ambidextrous safety SRP: $3,299 Website: guncrafterindustries.com
Speed strips hold loads flat and are flexible, making them easier to carry in a pocket than a bulky speedloader.
Too many shooters who practice concealed carry overlook spare ammo — a critical aspect of effective personal protection. Here Massad Ayoob refutes 6 of the most common objections to carrying more rounds.
When it comes to needing to access spare ammunition quickly, nothing beats a belt-mounted mag pouch. Author photos
An amazing number of people who carry loaded guns carry them without a reload. I’m not going to dump on them here—in my (much) younger days, I used to be among their number. Hell, I had a gun didn’t I? And I was a good shot, right? How much ammo was I likely to need, anyway?
The years taught me the fallacy of those arguments, as well as others that I hear from folks in gun discussions, particularly those on the Internet. Let’s look at some of the excuses not to carry extra ammunition.
#1: Odds are I’m not gonna have to fire this thing at all, let alone run it dry and still be in a gunfight.
True enough. Trouble is, we don’t carry guns because of the odds of needing one, or most of us wouldn’t carry at all. We carry because if, against the odds, we do need one and don’t have it, the cost of being unable to save our own life and the lives of those who count on us to protect them is so catastrophic as to be simply unacceptable. If you are in the uncommon situation where you run the gun dry and the danger is still present, you’re back to not having a loaded gun when you desperately need one.
#2. If I need more than the five shots in my snub-nose 38, I couldn’t have won the fight with more.
No. If you haven’t won the fight with five shots, all it means is, you need more than five shots to win the fight. In the 1970s, the Illinois State Police gave me free rein to poll their troopers and study their gunfights, back when they were the only troopers in the country carrying auto-loading pistols. I was able to identify 13 troopers who almost certainly survived because they had auto-loaders (single-stack 9mm S&W Model 39s) instead of the six-shot revolvers they carried before.
#3. But I’m not a cop!
Doesn’t matter. You’re facing the same scumbags they face. I’ve run across the occasional case where the private citizen has run dry, reloaded and prevailed. I’ve also run into cases where they emptied their gun and the danger was still there. A good friend of mine, Richard Davis, shot it out with three armed robbery suspects in a Detroit alley many years ago. When the last round in his six-shot revolver went off, he had severely wounded one opponent, seriously wounded a second, and slightly wounded a third. With no spare ammo he had nothing to do but run, at which time one of the perps shot him twice. He survived—and learned to carry powerful semi-auto pistols with spare ammunition.
#4. But those guys had guns all over the place. I’m out and about—I can’t do what they did.
No. And if they’d had just had one gun with no spare ammunition they couldn’t have, either. Which is why I’ve come to recommend that if you carry a gun, it’s an awfully good idea to carry spare ammunition for it. Why do you suppose every uniformed street cop you see has that ammo pouch on the duty belt? Remember, you’re preparing yourself to face, alone, the exact same violent criminals for which society has armed those police officers in anticipation of facing.
#5. I carry an 18-shot auto pistol, so I don’t have to worry about running out of ammunition.
While that’s debatable, you do have to worry about your auto pistol malfunctioning. It happens to the best of them, and any gunsmith or armorer will tell you that assuming you’re using good quality ammunition, the single most common cause of an autoloader’s stoppage is something going wrong with the magazine. Clearing the stoppage and getting back to fighting may require replacing the defective or compromised magazine with a fresh one. Another predictable occurrence is the struggle for the gun. As noted in my study of Illinois troopers, one department alone had several “saves” when the troopers deliberately “killed the guns” by pressing the mag releases during the struggle. Suppose you’ve done that successfully and retained control of the gun—and the bad guy now pulls a knife. With your magazine lost on the ground in the dark, you have, at best, a single-shot pistol with which to defend yourself, and not even that if your gun has the disconnector safety feature.
#6. Well, if my five shots or six shots aren’t enough, I’ll just run away.
An amusing suggestion, but if you could have run away, why didn’t you do so before? The very fact that you’re in a situation that has required you to empty a gun at one or more human beings probably indicates that if you turn and run, you’ll just get a few bullets in the back.
Rock Island Auction Company is getting ready to close its 2014 premiere auctions. It's “Remember December” sale is set to run Dec. 5-7, and as always it will include some of the world's most breathtaking and rare firearms. And RIA sent a little something to whet gun aficionados appetites. Check out a few of the rare and wonderful guns that will be drawing bids in few short weeks.
Ruger is taking aim at the value AR market with the release of its AR-556.
Ruger is aiming at the value-minded with the introduction of its new AR-556.
Ruger has been in the AR-style rifle game for a spell. But there was always a bit of a barrier when it came to the company’s SR family of firearms.
The rifles earned praise as being well engineered and reliable. But complete with a two-stage piston system, the SRs’ price tags didn’t exactly lend them as “everyman’s” firearms.
With a recent addition to its catalog, however, Rugers looks to make a run at the entry-level AR market. The AR-556 appears to have all the bells and whistles shooters look for on the platform, including a fairly decent price.
Presently, the new rifle’s MSRP is $749 – nearly a third of the price of Ruger’s SR-556. Of course, there is cost-savings engineered into the AR-556, which overall equates to it being a more traditional AR-style rifle.
Perhaps the biggest chunk of change saved on the new .223/5.56 is drifting away from the SR series piston system. Instead, the AR-556 is driven by a time-tested direct impingement system.
The AR-556 also has another aspect setting it apart from the rest of Ruger’s AR-style rifles and a lot AR-style rifles in general. The company has strayed away from the ever popular 1:9” twist rate, opting instead for a 1:8” rate.
In theory, the faster twist rate should make the gun happier with heavier ammo. But Ruger gives a fairly wide spectrum of optimum bullet weights – 35 grain to 77 grain.
The gun also has a proprietary barrel nut with a threaded delta ring. The concept behind this is to allow for quick and simple hadguard swaps. The nut is still compatible with standard wrenches and is interchangeable with Mil-Spec barrel nuts.
Ruger's new AR-556 offers shooters a light and accurate direct impingement option.
The AR-556’s barrel is cold hammer forged from 4140 chrome-moly steel with a matte black oxide finish. It has 44 feed ramp cuts and has a ½”-28 threaded muzzle that comes outfitted with a flash suppressor.
The upper and lower receivers are made of 7075-T6 aluminum and are hard coat anodized. The rifle comes standard with a forward assist, dust cover and brass deflector.
The rifle boasts a M4 style six-position buttstock, adjustable between 32.25 inches and 35.5 inches. The AR-556 tips the scales at a manageable 6.5 pounds and has a carbine-length 16-inch barrel.
It also boasts a single-stage trigger and comes standard (depending on your state’s laws) with a 30-round Magpul PMag.
It should be noted, everything on the rifle is compatible with Mil-Spec parts. It is also the first firearm to be completely manufactured at Ruger's new North Carolina plant.
Through the urging of handloaders and outdoor writers, among them Elmer Keith, the .44 Magnum became a factory load in 1956. Smith & Wesson also released the Model 29, chambered for the round, the same year.
The powerful .44 magnum cartridge, along with a new revolver to chamber it, the Smith & Wesson Model 29, were introduced to the shooting public in 1956. The shooting industry finally legitimized the big .44 after years of handloaders loading up the .44 Special cartridge to handle heavier bullets at increased velocities.
Elmer Keith was a member of the group clamoring for the factories to build on their experiences and to introduce the cartridge and handguns to handle it. Elmer was a well-known and respected outdoor writer and his sermon from that bully pulpit carried a bit more weight with the industry than did the average handloader.
Keith had loaded the .44 Special cartridge substantially heavier than the factory fodder available, for a long time, and proclaimed the improvements in the “improved” round long and loud. Industry finally heeded the message and the first two production S&W Model 29 revolvers went to Julian Hatcher of the American Rifleman and none other than Elmer Keith. Bill Ruger followed suit not long after and introduced a Ruger revolver later in 1956.
As Elmer told the story in his book Keith An Autobiography (Later reworked and republished as Hell, I Was There):
I wanted two things from Remington. I wanted them to factory-load my heavy .44 Special load, and I also wanted a 1-1/4-ounce Magnum 16-bore load that I'd been hand-loading successfully for years. There was no problem whatever on the 16-bore load. Petersen had called the boys all together, and they agreed on it right off the reel. But they were afraid of the old triple-lock Smith & Wesson .44 with my heavy loads. I told them I'd been shooting it for ten to fifteen years in the old gun I'd got from McGivern with no problems what-ever, fine accuracy, no undue pressure. However, they were skeptical of the old gun holding it. So I told them, “Why not make the case one-tenth inch longer and call it a .44 Magnum?” They agreed that would be a good idea.
In the end, Remington agreed to make the ammo, and S&W agreed to wrap a handgun around it, and the .44 Magnum was born.
The cartridge and new revolvers were popular enough after their introductions, but in a quirk of fate, the thing that really lit the flame of desire in many otherwise disinterested shooters was the release of the movie Dirty Harry in 1971 starring Clint Eastwood.
After detective Harry Callahan began singing the praises of the “most powerful handgun” on the screen as well as mowing down the criminal element with his S&W Model 29, the firearms literally flew off the dealers’ shelves. Within a short period of time, it was almost impossible to find a Model 29 anywhere, and in the rare event one could be found, the selling price was well north of the MSRP. The factory couldn't keep up with the orders and I was told were actually rationing Model 29s to their distributor/dealer network.
In order to prevent a shooter from inadvertently stuffing a .44 Magnum round into one of the old revolvers chambered for the .44 Special cartridge, the Magnum case is a bit longer than the Special case, eliminating that potential disaster.
The .44 Magnum utilizes a case 1/10 of an inch longer than the .44 Special. Increasing the brass' length was meant to dissuade shooters from using the more potent round in the .44 Special.
The cartridge is factory loaded to between 1,300 and 1,500 fps depending on the load and bullet weight, and at pressures up to 36,000 psi. So loaded, it is a pretty fair hunting cartridge for a handgun, provided the shooter is experienced and can handle the recoil. It requires considerable practice to master. I was living in Alaska at the time of the height of its popularity, and .44 Magnum chambered revolvers were in great demand for carrying in bear country.
Although designed as a powerful revolver cartridge, it didn't take long after its introduction for manufacturers to come out with handy rifles chambered for the cartridge. Ruger brought out the first one that I'm aware of, a handy little semi-auto rifle. Marlin followed with a lever action rifle not long after, and these days there are quite a few available from several manufacturers.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it was not uncommon for a shooter to carry a sidearm and a handy rifle, both firing the same cartridge. Three such cartridges were the .32-20, .38-40, and 44-40. At one time, I owned a Winchester Model 73 and a Colt Single-Action, both chambered for the .44-40 cartridge. I wish I still had them.
Every now and then, Gun Digest‘s official store, GunDigestStore.com, rolls out something above and beyond. This is one of those times.
The best gun e-books and downloads on the planet are on sale right now for 30% off. There's no coupon code to enter, but the sale does end at 11:59 p.m. this Halloween (Oct. 31).
That means kids in costumes won't be the only ones with a treat this Halloween. This deal is good on a pile of Gun Digest goodies, such as:
Jack Lewis, resident firearms expert for Cowan’s Auctions, notes a real market shift in the collectibles market.
There is much less interest in those top-tier guns costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in the past year.
Demand for vintage firearms is still very strong, he stresses, but is now focused on items in the $1,000 to $50,000 range, and steadily pushing up prices within this category.
“Collectible firearms made between 1900 and 1980 are on fire,” says Lewis. “We had an LC Smith shotgun up for auction recently that, a few years ago, would’ve gone for somewhere between $6,000 and $9,000. It went for $28,000. Amazing!”
World War Two firearms are especially hot right now, including M1 Carbines, U.S. military sniper rifles, and any and all 1911 handguns.
On the European side of things, he notes that German bolt action rifles from 1900 to 1930 are moving especially well.
That’s increased interest in accessories for these rifles, too, including optics. For their May auction, Cowan’s will present a selection of German made, claw-mounted optics, for manufacturers that include Zeiss.
Editor's Note: This brief originally appeared in the June 12, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The crimp on a shotgun shell is easy to overlook, but this simple aspect of reloading holds a lot of sway over the ammunition's performance.
No matter whether the hull is paper or plastic it needs to be positively crimped. And shotgun shell crimp styles play a number of roles in properly functioning ammunition.
One purpose of the crimp is to seal the end of the shell to prevent the shot from falling out and keep dirt from entering. The crimp also keeps the powder and shot properly packed for that micro-second when the primer ignites the powder and pressure begins to build.
The crimp is a patterned fold. Its design is essential for proper powder ignition and controlling the burn rate. Varying the depth of the crimp or otherwise changing a pre-established fold when you reload can quickly and surprisingly affect your shell’s pressure, so mind your crimp as you do the rest of your components and stick to the recommendations of the recipes you use.
A few years ago, two types of crimps were common, the roll crimp and the star fold.
The roll crimp dates from blackpowder days. Blackpowder was bulky, at least compared to today’s smokeless powders, so it needed all the room it could be afforded inside a shell. Everything was packed in tightly and a small over-shot card (also called a wad) topped off a roll-crimped load before the crimp was applied. The crimp, when applied, rolled the hull firmly back on itself and down to the card, thus holding the powder and shot firmly in place.
With the advent of more efficient smokeless powders, less hull length was needed to contain the powder, because less powder volume in a smokeless loading could accomplish the same or better results than did blackpowder. As a result, more hull was available for sealing the shell.
The over-shot card was dispensed with and the final quarter-inch of standardized paper or plastic shell was simply folded over toward the middle. Today’s final crimp depth is about 1/16-inch and has either a six- or eight-segment fold. Your shotshell press should accommodate crimp starts of either configuration, and you should use the right one depending on the number of folds your hull originally had.
Is there a difference between the six- and eight-segment folds? Except for the number of leaves or folds, no, but it is believed that the eight-segment fold holds a little tighter and is, therefore, a little better for the smaller shot sizes of No. 7½, 8, 8½, and 9 used in target and small-game loads.
There is a tendency for the six-fold to be used with larger shot in hunting and field loads. Also, the smaller shells in the 28-gauge and the .410-bore use a six-fold crimp, and though it seems counter-intuitive, the large shells of a 10-gauge also use a six-fold crimp.
Many experienced reloaders recommend that, when you work with a new (not previously crimped) hull, consider using a six-point fold starter rather than an eight-point, if you have a choice. The six-fold is easier to work into a fresh hull and usually realigns more easily.
Aimpoint ACO red-dot optic is designed specifically with ARs and other carbines in mind.
October has turned out to be a busy month for Aimpoint. This should be good new for red-dot optics fans.
The Swedish manufacturer was the first to market an electronic version of the sight. The company continues to be at the forefront of the optic’s innovation. And with the release of the past month, it appears ready to carry on its tradition of being at the cutting edge.
In Aimpoint's most recent expansion of its catalog, the company has introduced two new red-dot optics that appear right on target. In one case, the company has introduced a new generation of a popular compact model. In the other, it has given AR shooters an optic tailored to their firearm.
The Micro T-2 Sight should presently be available and is the updated version of the Micro T-1. The optic does have a few superficial differences from its predecessor, but Aimpoint was quick to point out in its press release that the T-2 also has some new design tweaks that should enhance its performance:
The most important development in this new sight however, is enhanced optical performance. A newly designed front lens, incorporating an important breakthrough in reflective lens coatings, provides a noticeable increase in the clarity and performance properties of the Micro T-2.
Aimpoint's Micro T-2 is an updated version of an older red-dot optic, and comes with some intriguing improvements.
The 1x optic also incorporates a number of features advocated by users of the earlier generation. In particular, the accessory has a new sight housing that allows for the addition of flip covers and anti-reflective devices. And it boasts more rugged adjustment turrets and housing for internal electronic components.
Like the earlier generation of micro optic, the T-2 is designed to work with nearly any firearm – from pistol to shotgun to rifle. Aimpoint’s other new offering, however, is more specific in design.
As its name suggests, the Aimpoint Carbine Optic is engineered with tactical rifles in mind. At least from the high points listed on the company’s press release on the optic, it sounds to have some solid features:
The ACO pairs a 30mm aluminum alloy sight tube with an extremely rugged fixed height mount designed to provide absolute co-witness with AR-15 backup iron sights. A two minute of angle (2 MOA) red dot is utilized to allow maximum target acquisition speed and accuracy at all distances. The ACO is completely waterproof, and offers one year of constant-on use from a single 1/3N battery.
The other selling point Aimpoint boasts on the ACO is its price point. With a MSRP of $393, the optic is among the more affordable in the company's catalog. The Micro T-2, on the other hand, has a steeper price tag with MSRP of $846.
Micro T-2 Specifications Magnification: 1x Red dot size in MOA: 2 Adjustment 1 click: 1/2″ at 100 yards. Battery: One 3V Lithium battery, type CR2032 Battery life in hours: 50 000 (over 5 years of continuous use) Material housing: Extruded high strength aluminum Length: 2.7″ Weight (sight only): 3.4 ounces
ACO Specifications Magnification: 1x Red dot size in MOA: 2 Adjustment 1 click: 1/2″ at 100 yards Battery: One 3V Lithium battery, type 2L76 or DL1/3N Battery life in hours: 10,000 (over 1 year of continuous use) Material housing: Extruded high strength aluminum Length: 5.1″ Weight sight only: 7.8 ounces
Gamo has reintroduced its storied Varmint Hunter air rifle, decked out with some new top-notch features.
Gamo has reintroduced one of its most popular air rifles, offering the Varmint Hunter with a number of top-line features.
Literally and metaphorically, air guns tend to be a quiet corner of the gun world. But if you listen carefully, there is always noise being made in this gun niche.
One of the most recent ruckuses was created by Gamo, who recently released a new take on one of its classics. The Spanish manufacturer has updated its Varmint Hunter with a number of top-line features, which look to add plenty of value to the popular air rifle.
Perhaps the two most notable upgrades to the .177 caliber rifle is Gamo’s addition of its proprietary Smooth Action Trigger and Shock Wave Absorber.
The SAT is a two-stage trigger noted for its short first stage. The trigger has an adjustable second stage, though the pull-weight range was not available on the company’s website.
The SWA is a recoil-reduction pad on the buttstock, which has adjustable configuration. For the most part, most shooters most likely wouldn’t notice the 74-percent recoil reduction Gamo promises from the pad. But those looking to use the rifle for precision target shooting have the potential of being appreciative of the addition.
The break-barrel air gun has continued to be outfitted with one of its more popular features. The rifle is ready to hit the field out of the box adorned with a slick sights and lights package.
The rifle comes with Gamo’s 4×32 Varmint Hunter Kit II scope pre-installed. The optic has a flashlight/laser combo mounted on top, which has a handy pressure-pad control.
The optics aren’t just for show, given the Varmint Hunter produces velocities that helps the rifle live up to its name. The air gun pushes, at the muzzle, Gamo’s premium PBA Platinum pellets 1,250 fps and regular lead pellets 1,000 fps – plenty of oomph to knock a squirrel on his brushy tail.
The Varmint Hunter has an all-synthetic stock and boasts a polymer jacket over its steel barrel. These features keep the gun a manageable 7.15 pounds.
The rifle measures in at 43-inches, boasting an 18-inch barrel. The length of the gun not only aids accuracy, it also helps make the 30-pounds cocking effort easier to tackle.
Gamo has an MSRP of $249.95 on the Varmint Hunter, making it an affordable option in high-powered air rifles.
Kris W. Jacob — Bullseye USA, Inc., Stores in California and Nevada
With stores in Castro Valley and San Rafael, Calif., Bullseye USA is seeing a surge in small handgun sales. Why?
Explains Bullseye President Kris Jacob, “While demand for full-size handguns in self-defense calibers is still strong, concealed carry has been getting a great deal of press in California and Nevada as a result of two 9th Circuit Court decisions challenging local law enforcement’s ‘may issue,’ policies on constitutional grounds.”
California handgun options are restricted to that state’s “approved list,” but within that parameter, smaller models by Kahr, Ruger and Sig Sauer are doing well.
At the Gardnerville, Nev., store, the Glock 42 is a big seller, at $480.
“When we can get them in!” Jacob added.
Handguns haven't been the only thing moving for Bullseye.
“We've been having great success with Off The Grid MKi Appendix Carry Holsters, as well as the Haley Strategic/G-Code INCOG Holsters,” Jacob notes. “These holsters offer deep concealment and comfort in one package.”
Editor's Note: This brief originally appeared in the May 15, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Defend Yourself: A Comprehensive Security Plan for the Armed Homeowner by Rob Pincus is the most complete and practical guide to home defense available today. Drawing from experience helping law enforcement, military, private security and people just like you understand how to protect themselves or others, Rob Pincus presents detailed information about planning for, training for and, ultimately, defending yourself and your family from a violent predator inside your home.
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.
