P3 Ultimate Target Stands looks to make shooting setup and takedown a snap.
CTK Precision’s P3 Ultimate Target Stand is an intriguing system allowing shooters to set up targets nearly anywhere.
Whether on public lands or at a buddy’s farm outside of town, it’s great to have a place to go shooting – especially without a range fee.
The trouble with these little slices of paradise, however, is setting up for more formal shooting. Certainly, the wide-open spaces of BLM land are great for plinking around, but might not be the best for scoping in a rifle.
Typically, the trouble for someone aiming at tuning in an optic or shoot at silhouettes is where they attach their targets. It seems when they’re most needed trees can be scare commodities.
Luckily, there have been some elegant solutions to setting up targets in the field quickly and affordably. One that appears to score on both counts is one of CTK Precision’s newest products.
What looks to make the P3 Ultimate Target Stands so nifty is its simplicity. In essence, the system is a set of heavy-duty legs and braces that hold furring strips, of which targets are attached. But the stand’s minimalism in design has some potential benefits.
Perhaps the first that pops out is the stand’s potential for fast setup and takedown. The system utilizes clamping plates adjusted with screw knobs, meaning a target can be put up without the use of a single tool.
P3 Ultimate Target Stand uses furring strips to mount targets and can be adjusted to fit nearly any sized target on the market.
The other feature that could turn shooters’ heads is the stand’s cost. The Wisconsin manufacturer lists the P3 with a MSRP of $60. Given furring strips typically won’t break the bank, the system overall seems fairly economical.
The stand is made of 14-gauge tubing and its feet from 3/8-inch rod, which should give it the backbone for years of use. The metal pieces have an E-coat finish, helping to prevent rust in humid climates.
The legs are 24 inches in length and are angled to provide a stable four-point stance no matter how rough the terrain. The legs are also designed to be further anchored in the ground or with sandbags, if the conditions are particularly windy.
CTK appears to have gone the extra mile in making the stand stable, integrating a cleaver bracing system. Instead of just a screw fastening the furring strips, the stand utilizes clamping plates that evenly disperses pressure on the lumber.
The system comes with four large clips to attach paper or cardboard targets. But the company has thrown in some twists to make the stand a more versatile shooting accessory.
CTK sells bottle holders (MSRP $6) that quickly turn the stand into a reactive target. One gander at the video below, demonstrates the potential this extra.
Certainly, heading out into the country to shoot around isn’t an option everyone can enjoy. But for those that can, CTK certainly looks to have produced a system worth taking a shot at.
Hunters, settlers and soldiers boosted their reach and firepower with metallic cartridges and Sharps rifles. Even today, the renowned rifle is popular looking to connect with distant targets.
Loading from the breech had been a dream long before the advent of the percussion cap. As legions of mechanics struggled with repeating actions, Christian Sharps built a stronger breechloading single-shot. The New Jersey native had apprenticed under John Hall at Harpers Ferry Arsenal. In 1848, he received his first patent, for a sliding breech block. The tight breeching held promise for hunters, because it could handle cartridges that would hit hard at long range.
Sharps: The Buffalo Rifle
Sharps rifles played a signal role in the act of clearing the plains of large animals. It was a period of shameless killing and insatiable appetites. The U.S. Army turned a blind eye to the slaughter, as it advanced its own aim to bring recalcitrant Plains Indians to heel. Starving tribes capitulated.
In a 1930 edition of the Kansas City Star, hunter George Reighard explained how he shot bison:
In 1872 I organized my own outfit and went south from Fort Dodge to shoot buffaloes for their hides. I furnished the team and wagon and did the killing. [My partners] furnished the supplies and the skinning, stretching and cooking. They got half the hides…I had two big .50 Sharps rifles… .
Usually, I went to the top of some rise to spy out the herd, [then I’d] sneak up to within good ranges. Between 200 and 350 yards was all right…I carried a gun rest made from a tree crotch…
The time I made my biggest kill I lay on a slight ridge behind a tuft of weeds l00 yards from a bunch of 1,000 buffaloes… After I had killed about 25 my gun barrel became hot and began to expand. A bullet from an overheated gun does not go straight, it wobbles, so I put that gun aside and took the other. By the time that became hot the other had cooled, but then the powder smoke in front of me was so thick I could not see through it; there was not a breath of wind to carry it away, and I had to crawl backward, dragging my two guns, and work around to another position on the ridge, from which I killed 54 more. In 1½ hours I had fired 91 shots, as a count of the empty shells showed afterwards, and had killed 79 buffaloes, and we figured that they all lay within an area of about 2 acres of ground. My right hand and arm were so sore from working the gun that I was not sorry to see the remaining buffaloes start off on a brisk run … .
That expedition yielded “a few more than 1,000 buffaloes in one month.”
The last half of the 19th century was the most productive period in firearms history, albeit progress came in fits and starts. Christian Sharps fielded several forgettable rifles before his company came up with its powerful, long-range “buffalo rifles.” The first patent model Sharps was an 1841 Mississippi rifle with a new breech that featured a vertical sliding block operated by a guard-bow finger lever.
Six rifles have been produced under the Sharps name: Models 1849, 1850, 185l, 1852, 1853 and 1855. The last four were “slant-breech” rifles, the breechblock operating at a 112-degree angle to the bore. Some military versions had a “coffee mill” in the buttstock (most soldiers of the day used it to grind grain).
During the late 1850s, Sharps rifles were shipped by abolitionists to Kansas “Free Staters,” to get votes against slavery. A shipment of 200 carbines got to John Brown. In the West, the Sharps rifle became known as “Beecher’s Bible,” after a news item described abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher’s observation that, “You might as well read the Bible to buffaloes as to those fellows who follow Atchison and Stringfellow; but they have a supreme respect for the logic [of] Sharps rifles.” When the Civil War broke, the Sharps enterprise was producing 30,000 guns annually in a factory driven by a 250-horsepower, single-cylinder Corliss steam engine.
The Sharps Rifle was potent when used on the American Bison. Unfortunately, it was almost too potent for its own good.
The Model 1859 was followed by new models 1859, 1863 and 1865. The strength, accuracy and potent chamberings of Sharps rifles would endear them to hunters. The Civil War put them into the hands of Colonel Hiram Berdan’s Sharpshooters. Initially, these troops were equipped with muzzleloaders, and Berdan’s request for breechloaders brought only surplus Colt’s revolving rifles. These he refused, and his men threatened mutiny! They finally got Sharps, though these lacked the double set triggers Berdan had ordered. At Gettysburg, 100 sharpshooters and 200 Maine regulars held Little Round Top against 30,000 Confederates. They fired nearly 10,000 rounds in 20 minutes!
As government contracts dried up after the war, the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company shifted its focus to sportsmen. The New Model 1869 was the first cartridge Sharps with no provision for outside priming. It came in .40-50, .40-70, .44-77, .45-70 and .50-70. Only 650 were produced before the Model 1874, announced in 1870, replaced it. The 1874 in myriad forms would remain popular for 12 years. Christian Sharps died of tuberculosis, in 1874, but the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company, built on patents Sharps had bargained away to Penfield, chugged along.
The Model 1875 Sharps rifle incorporated patents by Rollin White and Nelson King. A Long-Range version shown at the Philadelphia Exposition was bought there for $300 by Colonel John Bodine. It remains the only surviving specimen, as no other 1875s were made. But Charles Overbaugh and A.O. Zischang, who had helped design the rifle, delivered a replacement.
The Model 1877 had a leaner, rounder action. Locks and barrel blanks came from Webley of England. Like the Model 1874 Creedmoor that would hand Americans their victory over the Irish in the first Creedmoor match, it excelled at distance. Fewer than 300 Model 1877s were built, in three grades priced at $75, $100 and $125. Overbaugh made 73 into scheutzen rifles. Denver dealer J.P. Lower sold 75 as “special Model 1874s.” These became known as “Lower Sharps” rifles.
Hugo Borchardt joined Sharps soon after the Model 1875’s debut. Like Nelson King of Winchester fame, who became plant superintendent at Sharps, Hugo Borchardt turned his hand to rifle design at the firm. He earned $1,855 for his first rifle, the Sharps Model 1878. The first 300 Borchardt rifles went to the Chinese government in 1877. Its action also showed up in hunting and target guns priced as low as $18.
In May 1879, Hugo Borchardt sailed to Europe seeking military contracts. He got none. Sharps’ efforts to field a repeating rifle came to naught, and the company scrambled. Retailers were given huge markdowns on re-barreled Sharps rifles. Carlos Grove & Son, of Denver, took 270 Model 1874s at $15 to $17 each! It was the beginning of the end. The Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company vanished from Connecticut records in 1905.
The Sharps rifle most celebrated is the 1874, which, if you’d bought one with double set triggers in 1878, would have cost $44. Replicas can bring a hundred times as much now. The movie Quigley Down Under introduced the Sharps to people who’d never heard the name. Following the film, in which its star, Tom Selleck, drills a bucket far away, the Quigley Match emerged in Forsyth, Montana. A bucket-shaped target, 44 inches wide at the top is 1,000 yards off—a long shot for a scoped bolt rifle. For a blackpowder Sharps, iron sights and round-nose bullets at 1,400 fps, it is indeed a challenge! Still, many shooters hit that bucket regularly!
Despite the Sharps Rifle being a more than 150-year-old design, modern manufacturers continue to product the timeless firearm. Above is a specimen from Shiloh Sharps out of Montana.
Surely the best known—and most debated—of Sharps feats occurred at the frontier town of Adobe Walls in the north Texas panhandle. Buffalo hunter Billy Dixon was one of just 28 men sleeping in the tiny settlement on June 26, 1874. At dawn, 700 Comanche warriors led by chief Quanah Parker, killed three whites before the remaining defenders barricaded themselves in buildings. Most were hunters, well armed. They repulsed the charge with withering rifle fire, but they were badly outnumbered, and many of the Comanches had repeating rifles.
Two days later, some warriors still lurked, like circling wolves, on the perimeter of Adobe Walls. As legend has it, about 15 appeared on a bluff nearly a mile off. Billy Dixon, renowned for his marksmanship, was urged to take a shot with the local saloon owner’s .50-bore 1874 Sharps. Dixon had used this rifle during the initial attack, so, when he took aim, there was more than hope at play. Still, onlookers were astonished, when, seconds after the blast, one of the Indians fell off his horse. The distance was later surveyed at 1,538 yards. Possible? Yes. Probable? Certainly not.
Wind drift aside, that bullet would have been descending so sharply that a range estimation error of just 50 yards would have caused a miss. Whether or not you believe Billy Dixon hit a Comanche at more than 1,500 yards with a blackpowder Sharps, you’ll have plenty of company! The Sharps 1874 has come to rival the Winchester 1873 as a signature rifle of the post-Civil War West.
Shiloh Sharps, a Montana company that now builds Sharps rifles after their original design, put an 1877 Sharps on its list, in 2013. Given the high quality and attention to detail lavished on the company’s 1874s, from Old Faithful hunting rifles to Creedmoor target versions—and the strong demand for them—the 1877 likely will build a list of backorders.
The ONYX IWB holster is for all-day concealment, and what makes it comfortable is the inner VentCore breathable platform that dissipates your sweat and keeps your waistline area dry. The outer shell is Kydex, and the rig attaches with stainless steel clips. Each holster is custom built. Made in the USA. (See StealthGearUSA IWB Holsters at Amazon.com)
Crossbreed
The SuperTuck Deluxe is a blend of stability and comfort. The backing is offered in horsehide, cowhide or hard-rolled cowhide. One option to consider is the Combat Cut where some of the leather is trimmed from the backing. This allows the shooter to get a better grip and a faster draw. The trade-off is a slight decrease in comfort. ($67 – $78, amazon.com)
Blackhawk!
The Epoch Level 3 Light Bearing Duty Holster is designed for Glock and Smith & Wesson M&P pistols mounted with an under-barrel pistol light. It will fit with Streamlight’s TLR-1 and TLR-2 and the SureFire X300. Made of a proprietary polymer blend, the holster has the same master grip release principle as the Serpa series of holsters, which involves a thumb-activated release that disengages both the ejection-port lock and the protective pivot guard. ($68 to $169, amazon.com)
Galco
The Royal Guard is a great choice for larger defensive pistols that are to be worn inside the pants. The rough side of the leather faces out, with the friction adding stability. The smooth side is on the inside for a quick draw and easy holstering. It is made of horsehide with a natural finish. ($100-$120, amazon.com)
Safariland
Safariland took three popular holster models and added a Cordura nylon wrap finish over the SafariLaminate thermal-molded shell. They come in MultiCam, Ranger green, coyote and khaki. The models offered are the 6004USN and the 6354DO, two tactical holster rigs; and the 6378USN, an open-top concealment hip holster. ($144-$220, amazon.com)
A striker-fired pistol with a good grip and trigger, the P320C is “boringly reliable.” David Bahde has the Sig Sauer P320C review.
Even at my early introduction to striker-fired pistols as a law officer in the 1990s, there were positives and negatives. Weight was always a consideration, as carrying a pistol 10 hours a day changes your perspective. Reliability was solid, maintenance minimal and operation simple. We parted company when it came to fit, trigger feel and accuracy. Early triggers were gritty, with significant stacking, and there was that annoying trigger safety. My large hands just did not like the square fit.
Once a personal gun could be carried, a 1911 was in my holster most of the time. Another choice was a P220 or P226, but de-cockers have always been a no-go for me. What I needed was a solid striker-fired pistol with a normal grip, standard grip angle and a metal trigger with nothing attached to it. That finally came to be with the introduction of the Sig Sauer P320 pistol.
While a few polymer striker-fired pistols addressed most of my issues, the P320 was the first to address them all. The metal trigger has no safety on it unless you want it. Take-up is minimal with a feel closer to a single-action pistol.
Accuracy is astounding given the price, and it is boringly reliable. Using a grip angle comparable to a 1911 in a contoured grip and steel dovetailed sights, it was about perfect for me. Testing the full-sized P320, it was flawless over thousands of rounds. Its only downside was size. The design allows you to switch lowers and slides, but I wanted a dedicated carry version, and Sig Sauer came through with the P320C.
C is for Carry
Standard and threaded barrels are available for the P320C. Disassembly is easy and safe as you cannot turn the takedown lever with a magazine in the pistol. Author photo
Sig Sauer’s P320 Carry is a commander-sized pistol, suitable for concealed carry, yet large enough for duty carry. Although my test pistol is 9mm, it is available in, or can be converted to, .40 S&W or .357 Sig with .45 ACP on the way. It can be configured with safeties that meet most agency needs. The fire control system meets the drop test with or without a trigger-mounted tab.
Shooters that require them can get what they need, others can leave them off providing a clean trigger, and a metal one at that. There is a distinct reset with little take-up and a crisp break at around 6 pounds. Using an ambidextrous slide stop (or release) fits either hand, and the magazine release can be switched easily. Both standard and threaded barrels are available. Carry grip frames come in small, medium and large, all with a lanyard loop, and they swap out in minutes using no tools.
Sig Sauer’s SIGLITEs are excellent night sights. Along with tritium inserts, the dots are large and easy to see. A pronounced ledge on the rear sight facilitates unconventional reloads. The pistol can also be ordered with contrast dot sights. Magazines are metal, and a cutout in the grip allows you to pull on it to clear malfunctions or to properly seat the magazine. Carry magazines hold 15 rounds, but full-size (17-round) magazines fit and function perfectly. A full-length rail accommodates lights and lasers of your choice.
There is no need to press the trigger for disassembly and cleaning. Remove the magazine and lock the slide back. Turn the takedown lever completely and the slide comes right off. Repeat in reverse when done. You cannot turn the takedown lever with a magazine in the pistol (loaded or not), making it the safest and easiest to maintain striker-fired pistol yet.
Testing
As good as the factory sights are, my 55-year-old eyes just prefer the Trijicon HD sights. Using a U-notch provides for quick aiming, and the oversized yellow or orange front sights are easy for me to see. Tritium inserts keep you on target in low-light conditions. No dots at the rear mean there is only one dot to find under stress. Tritium tubes without outlines keep them visible at night, yet subdued. A ledge for unconventional reloads and malfunction drills remains.
All of the testing was completed using my Milt Sparks 55BN holster fit to my full-sized P320. Milt Sparks remains one of the finest leather holsters you can buy. Fit is solid, finish is excellent, with construction to last a lifetime. This rig is my primary carry rig most of the time.
On the Range
The P320C spit out brass in a neat little pile no matter how fast the trigger was pulled. It ran everything thrown at it, including some steel cased ammunition. Ejection patterns are incredibly consistent. It worked with the two carry magazines supplied, as well as all of my 17-round full-sized magazines.
It worked incredibly well as a carry pistol, carried comfortably in my Milt Sparks, as well as in a custom Kydex IWB holster. This pistol was on my hip for several weeks. Weighing in at 26 ounces, it is similar to its competitors.
Accuracy was excellent. Fired from 15 yards from off hand, it put five rounds of Sig Sauer Elite Performance into roughly an inch grouping. Just about every carry round fired did the same thing. Even my Black Hills FMJ was accurate; it just stacks rounds on top of each other. Recoil is minimal, no real difference from the full-sized pistol. This trigger measured 5.6 pounds using my trigger gauge. Crisp and predictable with little take-up, it lends itself to accuracy.
Reset on the trigger is positive for those in need of making fast split times on multiple shots the norm. Short of my custom 1911 pistols, nothing tested has been any faster. Using the full size in a couple 3-Gun and other matches, it is plenty fast and 100 percent reliable.
The P320 Carry is about perfect for attachment to a tactical vest. Mounting the P320C without a light on the chest rig using a Safariland ALS holster, it was easily accessible and fast. Adding various lights, it fits in my SLS holster designed for a G20 nicely. If you are an officer or other professional, this pistol will do it all with no issues. It can move from the duty holster to the tactical rig, and back into your off-duty holster, never losing effectiveness or compromising your ability to fight in most any condition.
During testing, both the Orange and Yellow HD sight was tested. The yellow became my preferred choice. The factory night sights are excellent, so most will not need to change. It also confirms the sight is the same as the P226, making personal choices possible.
Given only one pistol (full sized or carry), the Carry would be my choice. You can even add a threaded barrel. Like most pistols in this size, it remains about the perfect compromise between a true compact and a full-size pistol.
As many pistols as go through my hands, it is rare to be excited about a polymer pistol. Sig Sauer’s P320 has been a solid exception. Accurate, reliable, comfortable to carry and shoot, they are very pragmatic. Normally polymer pistols are used from need, not desire, but the P320 has changed that for me. If you are looking for a solid striker-fired pistol with unmatched modularity, make certain this is one of your choices.
The Sig Sauer P320C Type: Semiautomatic striker-fired Caliber: 9mm (tested), .40 S&W, .357 Sig Weight: 26 ozs. Overall Length: 7.2 in. Barrel Length: 3.9 in. Frame: Polymer Grips: Polymer / interchangeable grip frames Sights: SIGLITE Night Sights / Trijicon HD Sights Tested Magazine Capacity: 15+1, accepts full-size magazines (17+1) SRP: $713 Contact: sigsauer.com
This handgun review appeared in the October 9, 2014 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Exciting news as Sig – one of the big players in firearms – rolls out their own line of defensive ammo.
There was big news during the past few months from SIG Sauer with the introduction of their own line of Elite Performance handgun ammunition. It’s available in several popular calibers, all featuring the new SIG V-Crown jacketed hollowpoint. This ammunition is available in five introductory calibers and grain weights.
According to SIG, the lineup includes a .380 ACP with a 90-grain pill clocking a reported 980 fps at the muzzle, a 9mm topped by a 124-grain projectile scooting out at 1,189 fps and a .357 SIG pushing a 125-grainer at a sizzling 1,356 fps.
Up the ladder from there is a 165-grain pill in .40 S&W that leaves the muzzle at a reported 1,090 fps and naturally there’s a .45 ACP load that launches a 200-grain JHP at 918 fps.
Gun Digest has learned that there will be five more bullet weights in three calibers, 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP, and the line will quickly be expanding to include tactical and hunting rifle ammunition, the first of which will be a .300 Blackout load. (sigsauer.com)
In this timely rewrite of the world’s most authoritative work on the topic, In the Gravest Extreme, Massad Ayoob utilizes an extra thirty years of experience to discuss the ideas and issues surrounding the armed citizens’ rules of engagement. Learn more
You need not stick to hunting grounds close to home, there are some great wingshooting destinations worth checking out.
You’ve practiced until you’re proficient, and now you want to test your skills in the field.
There is no quicker way to get on some birds than many of the great sporting lodges around the nation. Not to mention, they have grand amenities, too boot.
Consider heading to Winghaven Lodge in Providence, Ky., for a few days of quail hunting behind superb dogs in the heart of bourbon country. The food is superb, and the quail hunting is equally as good.
If you’re interested in chasing wild birds in some breathtaking and remote country, check out Heaven’s Gate Outfitter’s wild chukar, hun, quail and grouse hunts in Idaho’s Seven Devils Range. For the real adventure lover, Heaven’s Gate offers horseback hunts for mountain grouse in some of the country’s most magnificent wilderness areas.
Duck hunters should plan on heading to Texas to try out Bay Flats Lodge, where tens of thousands of migrating waterfowl pass along the Gulf Coast on their southerly migration every fall.
If your heart gets thumping around military hardware, then you might need to take a deep breath before watching the above video.
In short, what Larry Vickers documents is incredible.
The proprietor of Vickers Tactical, highlights four late World War II select fire German rifles. In the process, he gives a fairly good glimpse at the foundation of many modern military firearms.
Vickers takes a look at the Sturmgewehr 44 and a few of its competitors – MK42W, Grossfuss’ Sturmgewehr and Mauser’s Sturmgewehr 45M. He also gives a glimpse of a Volksmaschienenpistole (“people’s machine pistol”), the MP 3008.
Even in this cursory exploration of the select-fire rifles, it is easy to pick out different design concepts that are still with us today. But there is another intriguing aspect to the firearms that is not brought up in the video.
The firearms documented are rare, as Vickers points out there are only 2 ½ Grossfuss StGs in existence. In turn, these guns represent nearly priceless collectors’ specimens.
How priceless?
Well, at a recent Rock Island Auction Company event a German Krieghoff FG42 drew an astounding $299,000 winning bid. It’s fair guess that if the Mauser StG 45M or Grossfuss StG ever came up on the block both would have the potential to leave it in the dust.
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.
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.
