FN has expanded its striker-fired pistol line with a model set up for concealed carry – the FNS Compact.
FN Herstal America has never played coy about its FNS series of pistols.
Nearly as quickly as the line was released at the 2012 SHOT Show, the transnational gun maker announced the family of polymer-frame pistols was destine to grow. First it added a longslide model of the FNS, and now the company is going the other direction.
The company announced recently the release of the FNS-9 and FNS-40 Compact, news that could get concealed carry practitioners’ hearts soaring. The variations share the same features as the standard model, but in a slightly smaller package.
The compact version of the striker-fired pistol measures in at 6.7 inches in overall length and boasts a 3.6-inch barrel. The gun tips the scales at 23.4 ounces empty, around 2-ounces lighter than the standard model.
While smaller in dimensions, the FNS Compact has retained the line’s respectable capacity. The 9mm model ships with two 12-round magazines and one 17 round; the 40 S&W has slightly less capacity, shipping with two 10-round magazines and one 14 round.
The magazines appear to be outfitted with finger extensions, allowing for a full grip, while maintaining a low profile.
Shooters will have a few decisions to make if their eye is caught by the FNS Compact. Similar to earlier iterations, the pistol’s stainless-steel slide is available in matte black or silver. In both finishes the slide boasts front and rear cocking serrations.
The FNS Compact is also available with or without an ambidextrous thumb safety. The safety, like the pistol’s ambidextrous magazine and slide releases, is understated in design. Combined this with the smooth lines FN has incorporated, the handgun is engineered to be snag-free upon draw.
The compact model has aggressive texturing on its grip, helping with a firm purchase on the pistol. And like its forebears, the gun comes with interchangeable back straps to adjust to nearly any hand size.
The trigger pull on the new FNS is in lockstep with the rest of the series at between 5.5 and 7.7 pounds. And it is boasts a Picatinny rail under the muzzle, a popular configuration allowing for the addition of accessories. The pistol come with the choice of fixed standard or night three-dot sights.
The MSRP on the FNS-9 Compact and FNS-40 Compact is $599.
Your goal, should you ever need to shoot, is to get your attacker to stop. Grant Cunningham reveals what he thinks are the best calibers for self-defense to make sure that happens.
Now you’d think that with about 150 years of defensive handgunning history at our fingertips we’d have an absolute, ironclad, incontrovertible picture as to what works best to stop a bad guy. You’d be wrong. The reason is because a lot of things work and every shooting is different.
There just isn’t one good, standard way of looking at each individual shooting and decide what happened, because every bullet wound is different and every bad guy is different. Add in different calibers and bullet types and distances and number of shots and… well, you get the idea. There are just too many variables to come up with precise answers.
Over the years, however, researchers like Greg Ellifritz at Active Response Training have come up with a pretty good set of data that helps us to see what generally works and what generally doesn’t.
As it happens, when you look at the most common defensive calibers – 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .40 S&W and .45ACP – there isn’t a whole lot of statistical difference between them in terms of their ability to stop an attacker.
This runs counter to a lot of gun store gossip, and you’ll find lots of people who just “feel” that their favorite caliber is head and shoulders above everyone else’s, but the best data we have says there just isn’t a huge difference.
I like to say that there is a floor of effectiveness, and once you’ve risen above that floor, caliber is no longer a deciding factor in effectiveness. At least, it shouldn’t be.
Rapid, Multiple Shots
One of the interesting things that came out of Ellifritz’s data is that it’s not caliber which reliably predicts whether an attacker is stopped; it’s the number of rounds fired that actually hit a vital area of the target that stops people. In other words, two rounds of a “lesser” caliber beats a single round of a “better” caliber. More rounds on target as quickly as possible is what ends fights, not the “power” of the round – as long as it reaches the “floor” I alluded to earlier.
For this reason I recommend that you consider a 9mm handgun (aka 9mm Parabellum, 9mm Luger, 9x19mm). The 9mm, loaded with just about any modern defensive hollowpoint ammunition, is effective and most importantly is easy to shoot well. No matter how well you shoot a “bigger” caliber, you’ll shoot a 9mm better – faster at any given level of precision.
Since it’s the number of rounds on target which really determines effectiveness, and the faster you can get those rounds on target the faster the bad guy is going to stop, the 9mm simply makes sense. Many of the top defensive shooting trainers in the country have moved to and endorse the 9mm for this very reason. For those who decide on a revolver, the equivalent is the .38 Special.
The Savage 99’s forward looking design made the gun a staple of riflemen for nearly 100 years.
Most guns are reactive products of their times, fulfilling a need that exists. But the Savage 99 was ahead of the curve, in both design and calibers. Moreover, it was invented by a man as remarkable as the rifle that bore his name.
Arthur W. Savage was born in Jamaica, in 1857. The son of a British colonial official, he was schooled in England and the United States. While still in his twenties, he decided to seek adventure in Australia. He found it, for he was captured by Aborigines and held prisoner for more than a year. Finally gaining his freedom, Savage remained in Australia and created the largest cattle ranch that country had ever seen. He returned to Jamaica briefly before finally settling in Utica, New York, where he became the Superintendent of the Utica Belt Line Railroad.
Evidently he had plenty of free time on that job, because on June 8, 1887, at just 30 years of age, Savage patented a rifle based upon the Martini lever-action system. By all accounts, the gun didn’t work. Undeterred, Savage kept at it, until he ended up with a rifle that featured a more conventional-looking finger-lever and a unique rotary magazine.
With a group of financial backers in Utica, on April 5, 1894, the Savage Repeating Arms Company was founded. The rifle it produced was the Savage Model 1895, forerunner of the Model 99 and the world’s first hammerless lever-action. Moreover, the solid brass internal magazine was revolutionary, in the most literal sense of that word. Looking somewhat like a can opener wedged in the receiver, it rotated within the action of the gun, aligning a fresh cartridge with every crank of the lever, thus making the Savage imminently suitable to the new, ballistically superior spitzer bullets.
Mindful of its somewhat shaky financial footing, Savage subcontracted with the Marlin Firearms Company to produce tooling and manufacture the Savage Model 1895 rifles, which explains the “JM” stamp on their barrels. Although the goal of Arthur Savage was to secure a military contract with his unique rifle, the Army had already adopted the Model 1892 .30-40 Krag.
So, in spite of the fact that the prototype featured a 30-inch barrel with a full-length military musket stock, Savage turned to the now-familiar half-stocked 26-inch barreled sporting rifle version (along with a much less commonly found 20-inch barreled carbine), to appeal to the civilian market. The Savage 1895 was only chambered for the .303 Savage, a round developed especially for it and ballistically equivalent to the then-new Winchester .30-30. It is obvious Savage wanted to compete with this smokeless powder cartridge on a proprietary basis.
In addition to its hammerless feature and rotating magazine, another distinguishing feature of the Model 1895 was a hole in the top of the bolt through which the firing pin could be seen. When the rifle was cocked, a stamped letter “C” was visible though the hole; when fired, the letter “F” appeared. Almost needless to say, this “safety” feature caused problems with rain and debris. Consequently, a number of improvements evolved over the next four years, culminating in the new Savage Model 1899.
Looking into a Savage 99’s receiver, the gun revolutionary rotary magazine is easily seen. The advancement allowed the gun to utilize the then new and ballistically superior spitzer bullets.
The Savage 99 (as it was later called) emerged with all the attributes of a lever-action destined for the twentieth century. Small wonder it would remain in production, off and on, for the next 98 years. Its sleek, straight-gripped walnut stock, schnabel-tipped fore-end, and slim receiver combined to produce a handsome, well-balanced gun that was fast pointing and easy to carry, as its weight was centered in the receiver by virtue of the six-shot rotating magazine.
A coil mainspring provided an extremely fast lock time, and the viewing hole on the bolt was replaced by an oblong post—easy to see and feel—that popped up from the top of the bolt when the rifle was cocked. Later, around 1908, this cocking indicator was redesigned as a steel pin on the upper tang. Another notable innovation, a small oval hole on the left side of the receiver, revealed a brass cartridge counter that displayed the number of rounds left in the magazine. Fired casings were smartly ejected to the side, even though the Model 99 did not come drilled and taped for scope mounts until the 1950s. Until then, a wide variety of factory-supplied tang sights and open iron sights were the norm.
Initial chamberings were for the .303 Savage, as well as Winchester’s .30-30, with scarcer variations in .25-35, .32-40, and .38-55. Some of Savage’s more popular Model 99 calibers over the years included the .22 Hi-Power, brought out in 1912, and the classic .300 Savage, introduced in 1920, a round that was a stubby-necked equivalent to the .30-06 (for which the Model 99 action was too short).
To me, the cartridge most representative of the Model 99 is the .250-3000 (or the Savage .250, as it is known today), which came out in 1914. Its nomenclature was derived from the fact that the original 87-grain bullet was the first factory round to crack the 3,000 fps barrier. That feat all of itself gave the Model 99 another boost in notoriety among early twentieth century hunters. Even today, a Model 99 in .250-3000 remains a potent pairing for whitetail and antelope, although the cartridge is now offered in a heavier 100-grain bullet, which doesn’t travel quite as fast. In the latter years of its life, the Savage 99 proved adaptable to numerous “modern” chamberings, including the .308 and .358 Winchester.
In 1919 a notable event occurred in the annals of Savage history—and firearms advertising. A Native American named Chief Lame Deer contacted Arthur Savage in the hope of procuring a number of the highly esteemed Model 99s for use on his reservation. Savage agreed to sell his rifles to the tribe at a discount, if he could get their endorsement. To fully grasp the significance of this transaction, one must remember that this was an era in which many could still remember the Indian uprisings. The chief accepted and presented Savage with an image of his profile, which Savage promptly made part of the company logo. Thus, the rifle inventor’s surname took on a new and even more romanticized imagery.
Savage went on to invent the detachable box magazine, which would appear many years later on the Savage 99C. He also became enraptured with building and racing automobiles and, in 1901, moved to California, where he established the Savage Tire Company in San Diego, and subsequently invented the radial tire. Sadly, Savage committed suicide in 1938 at the age of 81. Thankfully, his namesake rifles lived on.
One of the features of the Savage 99 that shooters of every stripe loved was the swift and smooth lever action.
Throughout its long and distinguished history, the Savage Model 99 was produced in many versions, including a takedown model introduced in 1909, and a 22-inch barreled short rifle which was made from 1899 until 1922. An octagon-barreled rifle—the 99B—was made from 1899 until 1922. There was also a Model 99 Featherweight supplied with a separate .410-bore smoothbore shotgun barrel (which had to be used as a single-shot, as the shells would not function in the rotary magazine).
In 1960, the button safety on the lever was changed to a sliding tang version, and a new 99DL incorporated a Monte Carlo stock. That same year a low-cost 99E was brought out, without the famous cartridge counter and sporting a plain, uncheckered birch stock. But the most radical departure from the famous rifle’s logistics was the 99C, made in 1965 and, again in the late 1990s. This iteration featured a detachable four-shot clip, thus eschewing the famed rotary magazine. This, along with the pressed checkering (introduced in 1965), that replaced the hand-checkered workmanship of earlier years, were indications of the complexity of manufacturing the Model 99. Even an embellished Model 99CE (Centennial Edition), made to celebrate the company’s hundredth anniversary, came out one year late, in 1996, thus foretelling the gun’s demise.
A great gun from inception, manufacturing costs and questionable manufacturing decisions combined to close the curtain on the Savage 99 in 1997. Thus, it barely missed making the centenary mark it so richly deserved—but, at least it made our bucket list.
A snappy AR-15 trigger is one of the quickest ways to increase an AR’s accuracy, but can cost some coin. HIPERFIRE has put the upgrade in its crosshair, with the introduction of a economically priced option.
One of the fastest ways to improve an AR-style rifle’s accuracy is to outfit it with a good trigger. A snappy trigger, whether in a tactical, competitive or hunting situation can make all the difference in the world in putting rounds on target.
There is one barrier in outfitting an AR with a slick new fire control, the aftermarket upgrade typically carries a somewhat hefty price tag. But a Minnesota manufacturer has put high-performance triggers’ costs in its crosshairs.
HIPERFIRE recently released the HIPERTOUCH Enhanced Duty Trigger, offering AR shooters a single-stage trigger with a 4.5- to 5.5-pound pull weight. But what really catches the eye on the system is the EDT’s MSRP. Priced at $89, the aftermarket trigger appears to be a value and doesn’t seem to skimp on design features.
Modern Shooter TV travels to Florida to meet with Massad Ayoob. The legendary firearms instructor walks us through one of the fastest growing competitive shooting sports, the Glock Sports Shooting Foundation with some help from a genuine Glock Matchmeister.
Ruger has released a new model of its GP100 Match Champion, outfitted with adjustable rear sights.
Now with adjustable rear sights Ruger’s GP100 Match Champion should be accurate, no matter what ammo it’s shooting.
The Ruger GP100 revolver has been one of the company’s staples since it was introduced in 1985. But a year ago, the handgun received a rather sporty makeover.
The GP100 Match Champion was released at the 2014 SHOT Show, the New Hampshire/Arizona manufacturer’s offering to the competitive shooting market. While the handgun had a number of features that made it an option for IDPA matches and the like, it lacked an asset many competitive shooters look for in a firearm.
The first iteration of the match pistol came without adjustable sights. It was a design choice the company admits it heard its share of opinions over. And it’s a choice of which Ruger has been quick to react.
One of the first new guns the company has introduced for 2015 is the GP100 Match Champion with adjustable sights. The rear sights are variable for both windage and elevation, making the gun more accurate, no matter the ammunition rotating through the revolver’s six chambers.
The new model of the .357 Magnum comes outfitted with a fiber optics front sights, an addition that should allow shooters to acquire a sight picture more quickly. And those who prefer the Novak Lo-Mount Carry sights on the original, needn’t worry. Ruger presently is continuing to produce this model.
Outside of the sights, the new variation of the GP100 Match Champion has all the features that aimed to make the revolver a shooter in the first place.
The competitive model of the GP100 weighs in at 38 ounces and is 9.5-inches long. It frame, barrel and cylinder are all made of stainless steel, each with a satin finish.
The revolver boasts a 4.2-inch, half-lug, slab-sided barrel that gives it a sleek look. But it is designed for performance, with a target crown aiding in its accuracy.
Even with new sights, Ruger’s GP100 Match Champion looks to be a sharp shooter.
Ruger has match tuned the action, polishing the internals of the revolver, and including a centering boss on the trigger and centering shims on the hammer. This is meant to produce a smooth, consistent double-action trigger pull.
The revolver’s cylinder has been designed for consistent alignment, in turn dependable operation. It achieves this through a triple-locking system that locks the cylinder in place from the front rear and bottom.
The cylinder also features a light chamfer on the chamber mouths. This slight enlargement aims to shave seconds off reload time.
The GP100 Match Champion also has Ruger’s patented transfer bar mechanism. This is a standard feature for the company’s revolvers, helping guard against accidental discharge.
The MSRP of the new variation of the revolver is the same as the one introduced a year ago – $929.
Given its lasers’ classes, the original DBAL-A3 was a tough accessory for civilians to lay hands on. But Steiner is giving every day shooters access to the device with an eye-safe model.
In its military form, Steiner’s (formerly Laser Devices) DBAL-A3 has been around for a while.
The laser pointer/infrared illuminator has seen its share of action as a standard issue piece of equipment for the U.S. military. But for civilians, given the restrictions on certain classes of lasers, the device was little more than unobtainable wish list fodder.
Steiner, however, is set to relieve a wide swath of shooters’ frustrations with one of its most recent announcements. The subsidiary of Berretta, has come out with a version of the multi-purpose device that doesn’t require enlistment to obtain.
The DBAL-A3 (Dual Beam Aiming Laser) Civilian is slated for release on the US market soon, giving shooters a practical-tactical aiming and low-light solution.
Though, specifications on the aiming device are scant, Steiner has released the DBAL-A3 has a Class I green visible laser and a Class 3R IR laser and IR illuminator. This, as pointed out in the company’s produce announcement, makes the device eye-safe.
While the lasers and illuminator may be different from its military counterpart, the DBAL-A3 has much the same layout and features of the original.
Similar to earlier iteration, the new sighting device includes a single laser activation switch, low profile windage and elevation adjusters and mounting holes for a flip-up front sight, sub-miniature red dot sight or a MIL-SPEC-1913 top rail. The DBAL-A3 also features dual remote cable ports that allow the operator to plug a Forward Mounted Light directly into the laser housing using the dual remote cable switch.
A one switch pressure pad activates the light and visible laser simultaneously; a second switch activates the infrared functions, enabling operators to instantly transition from infrared to white light on the fly. Housed in an Aircraft aluminum 6061-T6 / MIL-SPEC Type III hardcoat anodized case, the DBAL-A3 Civilian is as rugged and reliable as the military issue DBAL-A3 on which it is based.
With the introduction of the 3-laser DBAL-A3 is also the 2-laser DBAL-I2 that offers a choice of either an IR pointer with a visual pointer or an IR pointer with an IR illuminator.
The DBAL-A3 Civilian’s MSRP was not available at the time of writing, neither was the official release date of the device.
The Gun Garage specializes in parts for vintage firearms, and of this past summer the big sellers are target hammers and target triggers for older Smith and Wesson K- and L-frame revolvers.
“They’ve been flying out the door pretty fast,” co-owner Evan Bolduc said.
The especially has gone for one a batch of parts. Triggers acquired from a gun shop close-out that Bolduc sells for $49.99 apiece and moved like hotcakes.
In fact, Bolduc said, any parts for older S&W revolvers are hot, including the screws for target grips. The Gun Garage got 350 of these target grip screw sets last year, and sold every one of them within six months.
That has the Gun Garage working with a manufacturer to make reproductions of these screw sets, which Bolduc will soon have in stock.
For long guns, Bolduc notes a big demand for any of the smaller parts for 19th and early 20th Century lever guns. Ejectors and extractors are in demand, as are side plates.
“Side plates for the Winchester 73, reproductions, go for $100 a set,” Bolduc said. “Every collector out there wants the originals, and they move for $200 to $300 a set, depending on condition. As soon as we get in these original side plates? They are gone.”
This acclaimed series of assemble and disassembly guides is now available to you in digital form. The six books are among the most detailed firearms references available, with step-by-step instructions and comprehensive photos walking you through the takedown and reassembly of the most popular models of guns. Each guide starts with a detailed list of the tools required and what each will be used for. The references all include individual firearms listings, detailing the firearms’ manufacturers, makes, where it was produced.
Every rifle Patrick Sweeney owns has had the following things checked and, if need-be, tended to. It just so happens that winter is the ideal time for these easy AR-15 DIY projects.
Gas keys have to be tight, and the best way to make sure they stay tight is to stake the screws in. That means a MOACKS.
Chamber check for 5.56 leade, with M-guns gauge. If not 5.56, it gets M-guns 5.56 reamed. (I long ago gave up checking headspace, as the problem has not been a problem for so long, it wasn’t worth the effort. Someday that will “bite” me, but until then….)
AR-15 rifles with .223 Remington leades have caused more problems than anything else with the exception of the next step.
The only barrels not to be reamed are those which have been treated to the Melonite process. This makes the steel surface so hard it will take the edge off the leade reamer. The carrier key is staked, double-staked, and if I thought it would help and still had the tools, I’d tack-weld the thing on.
Gas blow-by from the carrier key is the cause of many other problems, problems that have in the past been erroneously attributed to other sources.
This calls for use of the MOACKS (carrier key staking tool), after disassembling, cleaning and then applying Loctite.
If the stock is a fixed stock, A1 or A2, I make sure it is tight. The A1/A2 gets the screw removed and checked. If it has a nylon locking section, great. If it has a smear of blue Loctite, fine. If not, I use blue and tighten it down.
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If it is a tele-stock, I make sure everything is tight and aligned, and I then stake the castle nut.
I take off the pistol grip, remove the spring that activates the selector plunger, and apply a small wedge/diamond of masking tape to it. I then jam the spring back down into the pistol grip, tape end first. The tape makes sure the spring doesn’t fall out when next I disassemble the pistol grip.
I do all the inspections I’ve described, to make sure all the parts are there, tight, straight, and properly secured. I then paint-in the various parts that might try to move, such as BUIS, and then I’m done.
Well, done until the next round of experimentation, adjustment, trying new gear, etc.
Ruger has reintroduced its 22 Charger pistol with some wrinkles to make it a perfect plinker.
Ruger has never shied away from unique firearms designs – the 22 Charger is an example. And the rimfire pistol has returned in all its glory, now available in two models to suit nearly any plinking need.
If anything can be said about Ruger, the gun maker has never shied away from unique firearm designs. The 22 Charger is one shining example.
The .22 rimfire, introduced in 2007, cuts one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the world of firearms. Its long frame, with a 10-inch barrel and 10/22 receiver mounted on it, seemingly begs shooters to blow an afternoon or whole day plinking away.
After a short absence from the market, Ruger has reintroduced the Charger. And the New Hampshire/Arizona manufacturer appears to have thrown some interesting twists into the pistol’s design.
The most striking tweak Ruger has made is offering two models of the Charger. The company has retained the classic fixed frame, but also thrown a takedown model into the mix.
The new variant makes sense, given the size of the firearm. At 19.25-inches in overall length, the pistol definitely does not fall into the sub-compact category. With the ability to effectively halve the Charger’s length, the pistol will most likely make more camping trips and the like.
The takedown model weighs a hair more than the classic. It tips the scales at 3.22 pounds, 1.44 ounces more than the classic. And the takedown model has a green laminate stock, compared to the classic’s brown.
The dissimilarities between the models, however, end there. Both models of the new Charger feature a number of upgrades that follow some popular shooting trends.
Ruger has embraced the modular movement with the new charger, outfitting them with A2-style pistol grips. The grips are familiar to a wide swath of the shooting world and can be easily swapped out with any preferred AR grips.
The takedown model of the 22 Charger makes the pistols size much more manageable.
The company has also made the gun easier to add optics to, doing away with the old scope base. A factory mounted Picatinny rail has taken its place, making a red-dot sight or scope a snap to throw on top of the receiver.
Ruger has also opted for more capacity with the Charger, including one BX-15, 15-round magazine. The earlier iteration of the pistol included Ruger’s 10-round rotary magazine.
Both Chargers, like the original, are shipped with a bi-pod, which can be attached to the stock without tools. It is held in place by a swivel stud, located at the forend of the firearm.
The pistols also have ½”-28 threaded barrels that accept most flash hiders and suppressors. The barrels themselves are cold hammer forged and boast 1:16” rifling.
Going pistol in 10/22 costs a bit more than going carbine. The classic Charger has an MSRP of $309, with the takedown model is listed at $409.
Ruger’s decision to pull the Super Redhawk (SRH) in .480 Ruger from production several years back sent a shockwave through the ranks of .480 aficionados across the land. But now the big bore is back — with a vengeance.
Think about this: if Ruger won’t produce a revolver chambered in .480 Ruger, why would anyone else? Was Ruger sounding the death knell of the .480? Apparently not. It’s okay to relax and let your guard down now, as the .480 SRH is back, tanned, rested and ready to wreak havoc on the hunt.
But let’s back up to 2001. Ruger had just released a new Super Redhawk in a proprietary cartridge bearing its name (the first cartridge to ever bear the Ruger moniker), resplendent in the love-it-or-hate-it Target Gray finish. Upon returning to California from an overseas assignment, as was my habit in those days, after being away for year-long stretches, I dropped in on my local gun shop to say hello and catch up (and, inevitably, buy more guns). In the display case, drawing me toward it like a beacon, was the new .480 Ruger Super Redhawk, in all its gray glory and big-bore perfection.
Ruger’s advertising campaign of the day boasted more energy than the .44 Magnum and less recoil than the .454 Casull—both stable mates in the Super Redhawk lineup. For me at least, the .480 SRH looked to be the perfect Goldilocks cartridge. However, with the big revolver arms race heating up, the great idea of the .480 Ruger never stood a chance. It couldn’t brag having the most size, the most velocity or the most muzzle energy. Those attributes were being rightfully claimed by Smith & Wesson. However, those in the know recognized that the .480 Ruger was merely a cut-down .475 Linebaugh. In hardcore handgun hunting circles, John Linebaugh’s creation, the .475 Linebaugh, has earned legendary status as one of the preeminent big-game revolver cartridges.
The first handful of factory loads offered the public did not show the true potential of this cartridge and were overshadowed by the aggressive marketing of the .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum, and later, the .460 Smith & Wesson Magnum. The lightest load featured a jacketed hollow-point of 275 grains, the other two loads featuring 325-grain bullets at an advertised 1,325 fps.
Max broke in the new .480 SRH on a couple of small wild hogs in North Carolina, accompanied by Buffalo Creek Guide Service (buffalocreekguideservice.com). Handloads featuring 220-grain Cutting Edge Bullets Raptors at 1,700 fps were used to dispatch the two barbeque hogs. Author Photo
Like the .454 Casull version of the Super Redhawk, the .480’s cylinder is also carved out of special high-strength steel called “465 Carpenter,” a steel that was torture tested by Ruger to make absolutely certain it was up to the task of repeated 65,000 psi abuse, such as only the .454 Casull can dish out. While the cylinder walls are thinner on the .480 iteration, the maximum pressure specification for the .480 Ruger is considerably lower than Dick Casull’s wonder cartridge.
The Redhawk’s Return
The big news for 2014 is the return of the .480 Ruger Super Redhawk. Plagued with purported sticky extraction since its inception in 2001, the on-again, off-again .480 Ruger SRH is back for good now. Upon first glance, the new .480 SRH is basically the same. Under more careful scrutiny, some differences present themselves, most notably the front sight and the thing it’s attached to.
Back now with only one barrel length offered, a 7½-inch bull barrel (without taper), a revised front sight and new chamber dimensions (remember the complaint about the .480 Ruger SRH has always been a sticky extraction), I acquired the first new .480 SRH to leave the factory. Gone is the love-it-or-hate-it Target Gray finish and in its place is an attractive satin stainless steel finish. Ruger engineers cited that the wear characteristics of the gray finish were not up to its standards, and that once the finish became worn, it could not be touched up or reapplied. Since Target Gray met with mixed reviews from the start, the decision was made to discontinue it.
Gone from the product lineup is the 9½-inch barreled version of the .480 Super Redhawk; I personally felt that barrel length made for a cumbersome and rather unwieldy revolver, so it won’t be missed by me. Even the 7½-inch version is a bit on the long side for my tastes, but I can live with it, particularly when a revolver proves to be as unbelievably accurate as this one, but more on that later.
Hogue’s excellent Tamer grips now come standard on all Super Redhawk models, a welcome addition; adding those grips is a change I have made to every SRH I have owned in the past. The Tamers come with an integral Sorbathane insert in the backstrap area that rests in the web of your hand, precisely where hard-kicking double-action revolvers deliver their punishment. Another pleasant surprise was the creep-less trigger pull that came in at right around four pounds in single-action mode.
The Prodigal Gun didn’t disappoint at the range. I fitted the new Super Redhawk with an Ultradot 30 red dot-type sight mounted via Ruger’s 30mm rings (the rings supplied with the SRH are of the 25mm, or one-inch variety). Not the ideal set-up for shooting groups off of the bench, I was more concerned with performance in the field on game.
I hit the range with a number of factory loads before developing my own, just to get a baseline and to see how the new SRH would perform. The SRH delivered consistent accuracy, the likes of which I have rarely encountered—especially from a production handgun right out of the box. In the Field
The game test would be in Argentina. I booked a hunt with Caza y Safaris (cazaysafaris.com) for water buffalo in the province of Buenos Aires. I loaded up CEB’s 340-grain solid bullets (made of copper), at right around 1,300 fps. We spent hours in the mild weather playing cat and mouse games with a small herd of water buffalo.
My first shot was at 30 yards, a double lung hit, but despite the mortal wound, I unloaded into the fleeing animal, my PH firing as well, to prevent the buffalo from going to water and making recovery problematic. Unequivocally, I am of the mindset that a hunter shoots until his game is down for good. The 1,500-pound bull went less than 25 yards before piling up and succumbing to the .480 Ruger. I am pleased that the .480 Ruger SRH is back.
The Super Redhawk platform is able to handle the most powerful revolver cartridges ever created. The look may not be for everyone, but there is pure beauty in function for me, and if beauty is measured by function, the Super Redhawk in .480 Ruger is Miss Universe.
IWI has two new UZI models on tap for the new year. The UZI PRO SB (above) comes outfitted with a collapsible brace.
Two semi-automatic versions of the famed UZI sub-machine gun will debut at the 2015 SHOT Show.
There is no mistaking an UZI.
The submachine gun’s boxy lines and snub-nosed barrel are among the most recognizable in the world of firearms. And soon, the iconic gun will be available to US shooters.
Israel Weapons Industries US will debut two semiautomatic versions of the firearm at the 2015 SHOT Show. The UZI PRO and UZI PRO SB might not feature the incredible rate of fire of Uziel Gal’s original creation, but they certainly appear to have plenty to offer shooters.
The UZI PRO and PRO SB each have advanced polymer pistol grips, incorporating integrated magazine releases for fast reloads. The 9mm pistols have cocking handles located on the receiver, allowing for a full-length Picattiny rail on the top of the pistols. And they each have a short rail below the barrel, giving the smallish platform more room for accessories.
There is, however, a big difference between the two models. The PRO is configured in the classic pistol style, while the PRO SB comes outfitted with a stabilizing brace.
The side-folding brace is produced by SB Tactical, the innovators of braces for AR-style pistols and other large-format pistols. There was no length given for the brace, but it appears in pictures equal to the 9.5-inch long UZI pistol.
UZIs are among the most recognizable firearms in the world.
The blow-back operated pistols have 4.5-inch cold-hammer forged barrels, which are outfitted with 1:10” twist rifling. The PRO and PRO SB are both listed with a weight of 3.66 pounds; it’s a fair guess the SB actually is a bit heavier with its brace.
The pistols have a conventional manual thumb safety, a firing pin block and a grip safety that must be depressed before the gun can be cocked and fired. The guns come with two magazines, one with a 20-round capacity, the other 25 round.
Owning an UZI doesn’t come cheap, even as a semiautomatic variant. But the pistols don’t exactly break the bank either. The UZI PRO has an MSRP of $1,109 and the UZI PRO SB is listed at $1,309.
Lupua has a slew of new ammunition and reloading products that should catch shooters’ eyes.
The clock is ticking down for the 2015 SHOT Show, which means more and more companies are leaking their new products for the coming year. One of the most recent to let the cat out of the bag is one of Europe’s largest ammunition manufacturers.
Lapua recently announced it is adding four new products to its catalog, and each has the potential to intrigue a wide swath of the shooting world. Check out what the Finnish company (part of the NAMMO Group) has in store.
.300 AAC Blackout Cartridges Of all the new products Lapua has slated, this has the potential to be the most significant. The addition of the 300 Blackout should reach more shooters than any other product the company is introducing, given the growing popularity of the round.
The Blackout has found a place in the shooting world among those searching for a 30-caliber round that performs well in the AR-15. It has also developed fans due to its supressability when loaded as a sub-sonic round.
While the company has announced it is adding the 300 Blackout to its catalog, it did not release the specs for the cartridge.
ScenarL Bullet
The brand name Scenar is familiar to competitive shooters. The line of match bullets have captured their share or records since their introduction in the 1980s.
Lapua is introducing a new generation of their high-performance projectile in its ScenarL line. However, the company has not attempted to reinvent the wheel with the new bullets.
The bullets themselves have not been redesigned, instead the manufacturing process has been refined. The company promises a high-precision product in its press release, touting the ScenarL line’s:
Closer weight tolerances, tighter jacket wall concentricity standards, and greater uniformity in every dimension, starting from the gilding metal cup, lead wire and jacket forming, ending up to core-jacket assembly, boat tail pressing and tipping.
ScenarL Bullets
ScenarL Cartridges
.224 (5.69mm/.224) 4.5g/69gr.
.223Rem. 4.5g/69gr.
.224 (5.69mm/.224) GB545 5.0g/77gr.
6mm BR 6.8g/105gr.
6mm (6.16mm/.243) 5.8g/90gr
6,5×47 Lapua 7.8g/120gr
6mm (6.16mm/.243) 6.8g/105gr
6,5×47 Lapua 8.8g/136gr
6.5mm (6.72mm/.264) 7.8g/120gr
6,5×55 SE (slow) 7.8g/120gr
6.5mm (6.72mm/.264) 8.8g/136gr
6,5×55 SE (fast) 7.8g/120gr
.30 (7.83mm/.308) 10.0g/155gr
6,5×55 SE 8.8g/136gr
.30 (7.83mm/.308) 11.3g/175gr
.308 Win. 11.3/175gr
.30 (7.83mm/.308) 14.3g/220gr
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.30 (7.83mm/.308) 14.3g/220gr
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.30 (7.83mm/.308) 14.3g/220gr
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7mm-08 Remington, 8x57mm IS Brass
Lapua has expanded its reloading options in 2015, adding cases for the 7mm-08 Remington and 8x57mm IS. The 7mm-08 Remington is popular in High Power Silhouette competition round, as well as a respected hunting cartridge. While the 8x57mm IS has been a staple of the European hunting community for more than a century. Lapua has long been praised for the tight tolerance and attention to detail in the production of its brass.
If you’re a .380 ACP fan, then 2014 was your year.
The market was flooded with handguns chambered for the John M. Browning-designed cartridge, fueled by the growing interest in concealed carry. And the field got a bit more crowded before the New Year, with a manufacturer familiar with the .380 introducing a new pistol in the caliber.
Bersa added another .380 to its roster, expanding its Concealed Carry line with the BP380. And while the company already produces a highly popular .380 pistol – the Thunder – its new offering definitely seems to fill a place in the Argentinean manufacturer’s catalog.
The new BP380 offers shooters a polymer-framed option in the caliber that is also striker fired. Both have been among the most popular features in recent years for those hunting for a concealed carry pistol.
The new handgun is identical in size and shape of earlier models in the Concealed Carry line, which should be good news for anyone intrigued with the pistol. The pistols appear to have the dimensions to make them comfortable carry pieces.
Like the 9mm and 40 S&W models, the BP380 tips the scales at 21.5 ounces and has an overall length of 6.35 inches. But the tale of the tape that really catches the eye is the pistol’s width – a mere .94 inches. In addition to reducing printing, the slenderness of the pistol has the potential to make it a popular option for those who carry inside the waistband.
The pistol boasts a 3.3-inch barrel, a factor in its concealability. But, the shorter barrel has the potential to increase the felt recoil and muzzle flip compared to larger pistols. These issues, as with many in shooting, can be addressed if a person is dedicated to learning how to handle the idiosyncrasies of the firearm.
Like the 9mm model, the BP380’s single-stack magazine holds eight rounds and has a loaded-chamber indicator that is both visual and tactile. The pistol also have a number of safety features, including a trigger safety, integral locking system, magazine disconnect, trigger safety and an automatic firing-pin safety.
The BP380 is outfitted with three-dot sights. If the system isn’t what a shooter wants, they are interchangeable with any aftermarket options compatible Sig Sauer #8 (front) and Glock (rear). Bersa also offers some cosmetic choices for its new pistol. The BP380 comes in a matte black finish or duotone.
The new pistol MSRP is in the neighborhood of many comparable handguns, presently listed at $430.
If it has to do with tactical and the AR-15 rifle, it’s probably for sale at Black Weapons Armory.
Late this summer, the top rifles he is selling are higher-end AR’s, especially those made by LWRC International, gun department manager Tommy Rompel said.
The R.E.P.R. by LWRC, in 7.62 NATO, and LWRC’s M6 Individual Carbine, 5.56 NATO, are currently tops with his customers, says Rompel. The R.E.P.R. sells for over $3,000, the M6 for around $2,200.
Entry-level AR’s are being discounted from his suppliers at 10 to 20-percent versus prices from just six months ago, but buyers really have not reacted to the potential savings, Rompel notes.
Trijicon and AimPoint are his best movers in optics. Customers especially like the Trijicon ACOG TA31 and TA11 models, priced at right around $1,300 apiece.
Rompel could sell a lot more ball ammunition in the 9mm, .40S&W, and .45 ACP handgun calibers. Could. But his distributors can’t seem to find much of it.
“It just looks to us like the ammo makers just are not making that much ball ammo right now. We’re not sure why,” he said.
Editor’s Note: This brief originally appeared in the Aug. 28, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to the AR-15 by Richard A. Mann presents a comprehensive and user-friendly look at today’s most popular modern sporting rifle. Among a wide variety of topics, the firearms expert and noted author provides helpful ammunition and accuracy tips, an explanation of the AR platform, a wide range of AR-15 applications, and much more, enhanced by 250 black and white photos. Keep up with the increasing popularity of the versatile AR-15 with this indispensable shooter’s guide.
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.
