Gun Digestthe Magazine is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. With a subscription to Gun Digest the Magazine, readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews, how-to instructions and Second Amendment issues.
Gun Digestthe Magazine is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. With a subscription to Gun Digest the Magazine, readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews, how-to instructions and Second Amendment issues.
When it comes to the AR platform, typically there have been a couple ways to improve the rate of fire.
The bump stock has been one of the more enduring methods, dating back a couple decades now. More recently, advancements in fire control have aftermarket triggers an option in upping an AR's cycle rate.
With a little experimentation, the guys at Tactical Existence have found yet another way to pick up an AR's pace. Their stroke of genius? Simply marrying the two aforementioned AR upgrades, then letting the brass fly.
Slide Fire SBS stock
The above video shows the results when an AR is outfitted with a Slide Fire Stock and Tac-Con 3MR Trigger. Really, the only thing that appears like it could slow the system down is ammunition prices.
It’s difficult to say if the combination of components achieves the same rate of fire as the AR’s select-fire cousin. Even if it doesn’t hit the 700-950 round rate of the M16, the tweaks certainly do get the rifle chewing through ammo at a jowl-shaking rate.
Of course, as the Tactical Existence guys point out, the practicality of mating these upgrades is debatable. They might make an AR blistering fast, but most likely at a cost – accuracy. Bump-fire systems earn points for the volume of fire they create, but have usually won little praise for producing a precision instrument.
The combination of these upgrades might not be the best for tactical applications, but they sure do appear to be a heck of a lot of fun. But it's the type of fun a shooter would really have to squirrel away their nickels and dimes to enjoy.
Tac-Con 3MR Trigger
The upgrades themselves come with hefty price tags. The Tac-Con Trigger is listed at $495.00 on the company's website, the stock $299.95 at Slide-Fire's site. Then there is the issue of ammo, which could bite the pocketbook fairly quickly. Even if the accessories had an AR cycling at the low end of an M16, it would only take minutes to burn hundreds of dollars of ammo.
For those who can afford it, the upgrades seem like they'd be a hoot. And would still be cheaper than, and involves less hoops to jump through, than owning a select fire rifle.
When it comes to gunlether, there’s been no busier corner of the world than Amityville, N.Y. The town is home of DeSantis, who – as of late – has been in overdrive in expanding its lines of holsters.
Much of what has prompted the company’s product expansion is the introduction of a number of popular polymer pistols. But the company has also continued to added holsters for a number of existing handguns. Below is a rundown of what's new for DeSantis.
The Dual Carry II The holster features our Tuck-able 360-degree ‘C' clip for unlimited positing adjustment in the IWB. It is made of soft non-molded leather with thumb break and integral belt loop for OWB carry. An optional J clip is available at extra cost. It is now available for Ruger SR9C/SR40C, Ruger LC9 and Springfield XDs 9mm/.45. Retail price is $32.99.
Speed Scabbard Holster is now available for the Smith & Wesson Shield and is designed to meet the needs of those who prefer a holster without a thumb break while still providing firearm retention. Belt slots are 1 ¾-inch wide. Retail price is $72.99.
Companion II The holster is now available for Glock 19, 26, 27, 23, 32, 33, Smith & Wesson 59-44, 59-46 and Smith & Wesson J 332, 340, 342, 432PD, 442, 640-1, 642 2- and 2 1/4-inch. The tuckable 360-degree C-Clip makes it adjustable for cant and height. It can also be worn OWB with its 1 ¾-inch belt slots. Optional J-Clips are available. Retail price is $50.99.
Model Expansions for the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard
Mini Scabbard The holster has been reduced to the barest of essentials, yet offers a secure grip on the handgun thanks to exact molding and adjustable tension device. It will accommodate belts up to 1 1/2-inches wide. Retail price is $59.99
Pocket-Tuk This dual-purpose pocket and tuckable IWB holster features Tuckable 360-degree C-Clip making it both tuckable and adjustable for cant and height. The reinforced mouth aids in re-holstering, and the suede construction helps keep it all in place. Retail price is $25.99.
Pro Stealth Made of heavily padded 1050D black senior Ballistic nylon and lined with slick pack cloth, the holster comes with a 1 ¾-inch powder coated black spring clip. The clip may be removed and inserted on opposite side for left hand carry. A spare magazine pouch is standard for auto loader models. Retail price is $38.99.
Tuck-This II Built from heavily padded 1050D black senior Ballistic nylon and lined with slick pack cloth. The tuckable 3600TM clip can swing from cross draw to FBI-strong side carry, and even the small of the back. Retail price is $39.99.
Nemesis The pocket holster’s inside is made of a slick pack cloth for a low friction draw, and the core is just the right amount of foam to break up the outline of the gun along. It is reinforced with added polymer in the right places. Retail price is $24.99.
Superfly Pocket The holster comes with a removable, reversible outer flap to even further disguise the firearm. The inside is made of slick pack cloth for a low friction draw and is reinforced with added polymer in the right places. Retail price is $38.99.
Apache Ankle Rig A 5-inch wide elasticized leg band largely eliminates the unwanted rocking motion commonly associated with ankle holsters. All semi-auto models feature an adjustable hook/loop thumb break. Optional C14 ankle support strap is available. Retail price is $54.99.
Insider The Insider contains design features to minimize bulk. It is made with a heavy-duty spring steel clip positioned high for deep cover. The leather is soft and un-molded. Retail price is $27.99.
Cozy Partner Features a tension device and precise molding for handgun retention. A memory band retains the holster's shape for easy one handed re-holstering. 1 ¾-inch split belt loop is standard. Must be worn with a belt. Retail price is $75.99.
Maverick Holster features detailed molding along with a sturdy steel spring clip for easy on and off. This holster will accommodate belts up to 1 3/4″ wide and is available in premium black or tan saddle leather. Retail price is $50.99.
Quick Snap Holster features a one way snap on belt loop for easy on and off, and precise molding. It will accommodate belts up to 1 ½-inch wide. The Quick Snap is available in premium black or tan saddle leather. Retail price is $50.99.
Pop-Up Holster is built from premium saddle leather with rough side out design and features a tough powder coated “J” clip. The pistol rides low and out of sight. The draw is accomplished by pushing up at the muzzle end. Must be worn with a belt. Retail price is $46.99.
It’s no secret that the Mil-Spec AR trigger is terrible. It has everything a good trigger does not have, like take-up, creep, over-travel, and inconsistency.
Because of this, a number of manufacturers offer aftermarket triggers for the AR-15 and the AR-10. (As a side note, triggers for the AR-10 and AR-15 are different and are, therefore, not interchangeable.) I could recommend most any of these triggers, but, more importantly, let me explain to you what a good trigger actually is.
Mil Spec AR triggers are notorious for being terrible. If you make only one upgrade to your AR, replace the Mil Spec trigger.
When we are born, we enter a life of buttons and switches, those many things that must be pulled, pushed, or flipped in order for us to get what we want. From a metaphorical standpoint, we push these buttons and pull these strings of life in many ways. From turning on the radio in our car to the subtle looks we give our significant others, we are flipping switches.
It is no different when we shoot. To make our rifles fire, we must pull the trigger. However, when compared to the other buttons we physically manipulate, pulling a trigger is more akin to that wink you give to get a kiss. Pulling a trigger is a much more subtle exercise than jabbing at a light switch or poking the TV remote. When you pull a trigger you have—hopefully—ended your hunt, stopped a threat, or hit dead center of your target. Pulling a trigger might be one of the ultimate exercises in hand/eye coordination.
What we simply cannot do is shoot a rifle with precision, if it has a bad trigger. The really sad thing is that most shooters do not know what a good trigger really is—and just because a rifle is expensive doesn’t mean it has a good trigger. I test dozens of ARs every year and have done so for a long time. The percentage of those rifles that come with a good trigger is less than 10.
A trigger is a moving mechanism, and there are several terms used to describe how it moves. It’s important to understand both the movement and the terms, so you can evaluate a trigger and better understand how to pull one. Following are the common terms used to describe trigger function. Let’s define each separately and examine how their function can negatively or positively impact your shooting.
Take-Up
Take-up describes the initial movement of a trigger before resistance is met. There are two types of triggers, single-stage and two-stage. Both can have take-up, but, with a two-stage trigger, you’ll feel some resistance, which can be as much as half the overall pull weight, during take-up. Take-up with a single-stage trigger is generally very light and is completed over an infinitesimal distance. In other words, a good single-stage trigger has no take-up; you put your finger on it, apply pressure, and the rifle goes bang.
Pull Weight
Pull weight describes the amount of pressure that must be applied to a trigger to release the sear. Pull weight can vary a great deal, and shooters often argue about what an ideal pull weight should be. Here again we are talking about feel, so opinions are subjective.
A good place to start is with a pull weight that is no more than half the weight of the rifle itself. The reason for this should be obvious. If you have pressure to the trigger that equals or exceeds the rifle’s weight, how are you supposed to keep your sights on target without moving the rifle?
Creep
Creep describes the movement of a trigger after take-up but prior to sear release. Creep is very common in factory triggers. Know that you can have a trigger with very minimal creep and still shoot with precision as long as the creep is smooth and consistent. It is in experiencing trigger creep that you will often feel roughness and inconsistency. This is due to the wide tolerances found in the mass-produced and inexpensive parts that make up many factory trigger mechanisms.
Over-Travel
The importance of over-travel is probably the most misunderstood aspect of a trigger. Over-travel relates to the movement of the trigger after the sear has been released. Very few triggers have no over-travel, but a good trigger will have very little or an almost imperceivable amount.
Why is over-travel so important? As hard as it may seem to believe—considering that bullets leave rifle barrels sometimes in excess of 3,000 fps—the movement of your finger on the trigger after the sear has been released can move the rifle before the bullet exists the barrel. The flight time of most bullets through a rifle barrel is between 1.0 and 1.5 milliseconds.
Aftermarket AR triggers like those from Timney are relatively easy to install. The complete process can be finished in about 15 minutes.
The “lock time,” the time between sear release and primer ignition, can be five times that long. Any movement to the rifle prior to the bullet exiting the barrel will affect your point of impact and excessive over-travel will cause this movement. Due to the higher force imparted on the trigger when it stops, a heavy pull weight will exaggerate the effects of over-travel. In essence, what you’re doing when you pull a trigger with excessive over-travel is inducing movement to your launch platform. It’s kind of like you’re trying to throw a curve ball.
Consistency
Consistency is probably the most important aspect of any trigger, regardless its pull weight, creep, take-up, or over-travel. This consistency is why companies like Timney Triggers are in business.
Replacement Triggers
Now, with some understanding of what a good trigger should feel like, you can start experimenting with triggers to see which ones pull in a manner that pleases you and will lead to good shooting. Triggers are relatively easy to install on an AR, and most installations can be accomplished in about 15 minutes.
Photo courtesy Massaro Media Group and JNJphotographics
As a reloader, the proper gunpowder for the cartridge you’re loading is an important choice. It can make or break the accuracy of the load or obtain (or not obtain) the velocity at which you are aiming.
Researching the various properties of the canister grade powders available to us handloaders is very important, and much of this data is available in the myriad of reloading manuals that are published or available on powder companies’ websites. Having a pretty good handle on burn rates of smokeless powder will also help you make an informed decision. Hodgdon Powders has a great burn-rate chart on their website, which I refer to often.
Certain powders go hand in hand with some cartridges; the .45 Colt and Unique, the .308 Winchester and IMR 4064, the .22-250 Remington and H380. However, some powders just aren’t available during this ammunition and component crunch, and I hope that situation reverses itself soon. We reloaders must make do with what we’ve got. Understanding powder behavior, and the burn rate chart, can help you find a suitable replacement powder.
Pistol cartridges tend to be more forgiving than do rifle cartridges. There are many powders that can be used to obtain similar results in your pistol cartridge, with a minimum of effort. I like to pick a powder that is rather universal, like the aforementioned Unique, or maybe Bullseye or TiteGroup. They work in all of the handguns I shoot, and they give me the flexibility I like.
Rifle cartridges, and rifles as well, tend to be a bit more finicky. The high pressures that they generate, and the high velocities they attain, tend to magnify differences in powder behavior. Some, like the .308 Winchester, the .30-06 Springfield, and the .270 Winchester tend to work well with a multitude of powders. The magnum cases usually require the slowest burning powders to achieve the screaming velocities they’re famous for. The varmint calibers tend to be particular also, but when you find that magic recipe, you’ve got it.
Photo courtesy Massaro Media Group and JNJphotographics
Depending on the lineup of rifles you’ve chosen to fill your gun rack, you can choose a powder that can work well with a bunch of different calibers. To illustrate, my own personal battery includes (but is not limited to) a .22-250 Remington, .308 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum and a .416 Remington. For all of these cartridges, with their different volumes, velocities, and payloads, I have found an accurate load using IMR 4064. Some powders may have worked better, but in a pinch I know I can make IMR 4064 work for each of them. Now that’s not to say that 4064 is the only powder that will behave that way; it could just have easily been Hodgdon’s VARGET or another powder with a similar burn rate.
Read up on the cartridges you want to load, look at a bunch of reloading manuals and you’ll find that there are several powders that work well with your choice. There’s nothing wrong with having several loads for your favorite pistol or rifle, in the event that your favorite is temporarily unavailable. Keep diligent notes and records of your load development, and you’ll never be stuck without ammunition.
Enjoy the improved accuracy of hand-tuned ammunition, and gather the necessary information needed to get started with the reloading process. You’ll benefit from this reloading guide if:
You want to learn how to reload rifle and pistol ammo
You need to know the necessary tools required for reloading
You’d like to learn the benefits of reloading ammo
Arizona Shooters World has two stores, each with an indoor shooting range.
In recent months, customers have taken one particular firearm on test drives and then home. It seems Shooters World just keeps moving Glock 19 out the door.
“The Glock 19 is by far our best seller,” gun department manager and buyer Don Langworthy said. “They outsell all other guns by a two-to-one margin.”
A Glock 19 Gen 3 sells for $499. But the popular handgun is not the only product of which the store has seen an uptick in sales.
Holsters and related accessories are also in high demand, especially the Galco line. Leather, though, no longer dominates the market.
When it comes to holsters, half sold at Shooters World are crafted from man-made materials like Kydex.
Away from handguns, tactical merchandise has been hot.
The store reports moving a ton of Magpul magazines, handguards, grips and stocks for AR-style rifles.
For those who have aimed to spend a bit more tactical optics have topped the list. The most popular has been the Trijicon ACOG.
Glock Deconstructed is the ultimate guide for anyone wanting to gather knowledge about any topic related to the popular Glock pistol. You will also find an interesting exploration of the growing Glock aftermarket industry, as well as a review of Gen4 improvements.
Pistol grips used to just be pistol grips. Now you can adjust them for size, angle and storage capacity.
What are the best AR-15 parts to have as backup in case something breaks? Here are Patrick Sweeney's top picks to keep your AR running.
Breaks and Losses
The spares you might be able to use in an emergency, or without extensive tools. A complete bolt, extra extractor, pin and o ring. Firing pin, cotter pin, gas rings.
The spare parts you can use are those that might break (even if the odds are remote) and those that you might lose, in cleaning, disassembly or other maintenance.
If you are cleaning your AR and have the bolt stripped, whatever you drop you will probably never see again. Well, if you are cleaning it in a bare concrete room maybe you’ll find it. But in grass, sand, dirt, water, weeds, etc. it will be gone, whatever it is/was. So we plan not just for breakage, but droppage as well.
Extractor
Extractors are not so expensive that you can’t afford a spare. A spare for each one, perhaps stored in the pistol grip. And while you’re at it, don’t be cheap. Your spare extractor should already be equipped with spring, internal buffer and D-Fender or O ring. “Hey, if my extractor breaks, I’ll just strip the spring and such out of the old one.” Uh-huh. And if you have dropped it? Have the new one fully equipped.
As extra insurance, I’d put a spare extractor pin in the kit, maybe two. (Hey, if you drop one, you’ll drop another, right?)
Firing Pin
They hardly ever break, but again, they aren’t expensive and they don’t take up much room,. Besides, you can always use the spare firing pin as a disassembly assistance tool. Oh, and the firing pin should have its own cotter pin, too, or maybe two.
Gas Rings
They are small, light, cheap, and easy to bend or lose. So you should have three spares. Why three? As I said, they are small, light, cheap and easy to bend.
Spare Bolt
The current tacti-cool fashion is to have a spare bolt someplace, typically inside the pistol grip. In the past I really wasn’t a fan of this. A bolt, fitted with rings, ejector, extractor, tested to your barrel, and stuffed in the pistol grip, costs you from $75 to $150. And in the past, bolts were not a problem.
Well, we’ve been seeing enough broken bolts lately that having a spare bolt, ready to go, seems like a lot better idea than it did back then.
If it is going to do you any good, it has to be right there, so the Magpul pistol grip designed to store a bolt is a must-have.
The bolt must be headspaced to that rifle (and if you have more than one rifle, make absolutely sure the spare stays with the tested rifle), fully-assembled and test-fired.
Batteries
If you have anything that runs on batteries, and you don’t have spare batteries, it will die and you will be out of luck.
If anything on your rifle is battery-driven, and you depend on it for more than entertainment, spare batteries are essential. Sealed, so rain, snow or a spill into water won’t short them out.
Tools
A toolkit to go with the spares is good. In it, have a screwdriver to fit the pistol grip screw (or one of those horrid allen wrenches to fit), something to push the takedown pins if your rifle is a tight fit, and either a broken case extractor, a cleaning rod or, better, both.
A compact cleaning system like the Real Avid or the Otis, with a broken case extractor tossed in, will do the job. Remember, this is the emergency kit, not the maintenance kit.
The rest of the tools are in your gunsmithing gear kit, or maintenance kit, not on your belt or in your bug-out/fighting bag.
The star of the show from lot 1147, a magnificent cased and silver banded Colt No. 5 Texas Paterson with shell carved ivory grips and accessories, lived up to its lofty expectations and brought $805,000. Photo Courtesy Rock Island Auction Company.
Big crowds and intense bidding battles made for an action-filled weekend at Rock Island Auction Company’s latest event, which surpassed $14.7 million in sales.
The mood was electric and the imminent sale of numerous items well known to the collector community kept the energy high all weekend long at the May 2-4 Premiere Firearms Auction held May 2-4, at the Rock Island Auction Company. More than a dozen fierce bidding battles broke out during the 3-day event.
This Winchester Model 1890 rifle, deluxe, casehardened, and factory engraved realized an impressive $80,500. Photo courtesy Rock Island Auction Company.
Some items were expected to be contested, like the highly desirable Winchester Model 1890 rifles. One deluxe, casehardened and factory engraved example of the beloved boys’ rifle realized an impressive $80,500 and yet another similar specimen in near mint condition commanded a staggering $46,000.
The star of the show may have been a magnificent cased and silver banded Colt No. 5 Texas Paterson with shell carved ivory grips and accessories, which more than lived up to its lofty expectations and brought $805,000.
This Colt Civilian Walker brought $546,250. Photo Courtesy Rock Island Auction Company.
Its counterpart, the iconic Colt Civilian Walker, had collectors shouting bids before the auctioneer could even finish describing this remarkable item! It rang the bell at $546,250.
The “Holland Triplets,” three consecutively serial numbered Holland & Holland Royal double barreled Express Rifles, stayed together as a set and sold to a very discerning collector for $310,500.
An elaborately ornate exhibition quality Le Page double barrel percussion shotgun was a show favorite for many collectors who had the chance to see it at gun shows across the country. It was once given as an international gift between presidents, but at auction it drew a princely sum of $253,000.
Two of the biggest names in early American firearms were combined when a Henry rifle owned by Samuel Colt crossed the auction block. Gun collectors’ shared love of history and high condition was on full display as the one-of-a-kind rifle found a new home for $184,000.
Speaking of high condition, collectors took strong notice of the fabulous and documented special order 1885 Winchester with gold inlays, panel scenes, and relief carved stock performed by Master Engraver J. Ulrich. This impressive and prestigious piece, featured in several prominent books on the subject of Winchester engraving, would achieve $149,500 on the final day of the auction.
This sale may have also given strength to the position that 1911 pistols are an up and coming hot genre in the firearms collecting and investing fields.
Any auction would be pleased to offer one of the “Holy Grail” of 1911 collectors, the Singer, but RIAC had two of the coveted handguns that sold for $40,250 and $25,875. There was also one of the scare M1911 pistols made by North American Arms that blew past its estimate on its way to sell for $34,500.
This Singer 1911 sold for $40,250. Photo courtesy Rock Island Auction Company.
Even predecessors of the 1911 performed better than their estimates. A scarce, three digit serial number, Colt Model 1900 Sight Safety was taken home for $37,375 and a gorgeous U.S. Army contract Colt Model 1902 pistol with its documents and accessories more than doubled its high estimate to bring $34,500.
Other guns that exceeded estimate prices came from several genres such as the Civil War Sharps Model 1859 Berdan’s Sharpshooter rifle, estimated to bring between $9,500 – $13,000, that knocked down a realized price of $31,625.
Colts were also no exception, like the nickel plated, pearl gripped, factory documented and engraved Single Action Army which was estimated for $18,000 – $27,500, but sold for $37,375. Or the superb condition, nickel plated Colt Banker’s Special 22 double action that was predicted to bring between $2,250-$3,500, but one lucky collector finally won for $12,650.
With the buzzing auction and preview halls, lengthy bidding wars, excited RIAC phone bidders, last second bids, legendary firearms, items selling well into six figures, plus a very engaged crowd, this was easily one of the most entertaining auctions that RIAC has held in recent memory.
Their next sale is the July 11, 12, & 13 Regional Firearms Auction. All spots in that sale have already been filled, but they are still accepting consignments for their September and December 2014 Premiere Auctions. For more information on consigning with Rock Island Auction Company, please call 1-800-238-8022 or send an email to [email protected].
It's hard to deny that, over recent years, size has mattered when it comes to handguns.
With concealed carry becoming more commonplace over the past two decades smaller pistols and revolvers have ruled the roost. But lately, there have been a number of manufacturers who have swam against the tide.
One of the newest companies subscribing to the philosophy bigger isn’t half bad is perhaps not the one many would expect. Diamondback, after all, is probably best known for its pocket pistols. The Florida gunmaker, however, has taken a decided turn from its roots with the introduction of the DB FS Nine.
The 9mm, striker fired, full-sized polymer pistol is by far the largest handgun in Diamondback’s catalog. The pistol is 7.8 inches long, 5.6 inches high, 1 inch in width, it has a 4.75-inch barrel and has an unloaded weight of 21.5 ounces.
While the FS’s size is the most dominant feature of the gun, it has plenty of other facets that have the potential to turn heads. Perhaps the most noticeable is the FS Nine’ grip. Right off the bat, it appears spindly compared with the rest of the gun. That is because it is more slender, an effort by Diamondback to make a more ergonomic double-stack pistol.
Along with its slender diameter, the grip also curves to match the hand and is designed to facilitate a high grip on the pistol. The hand naturally situates itself to a tight fit under the beavertail, allowing the shooter to take full command of the handgun.
Form has not come at the expense of function with the handgun. The FS Nine boasts the capacity shooters expect out of a full-sized pistol, holding 15+1 rounds and the handgun comes standard with one 15-round magazine.
Similar to many striker-fired pistols, the FS Nine has only one manual safety – a blade safety on the trigger. The pistol also has a passive safety, a firing pin block to prevent a negligent discharge if the firearm is dropped.
The gun has a cocking indicator at the rear of the slide, similar to the one found on Springfield Armory’s XD pistol. The indicator protrudes when cocked, facilitating visual and tactile confirmation of the gun’s status.
The FS Nine is outfitted with Ameriglo 3-dot sights, which gives the gun plenty of aftermarket potential. Ameriglo is creating a subcategory for the handgun, in turn any sights the company produces for Glock will be available for the FS Nine.
The gun has a Picatinny rail under the muzzle for the addition of a flashlight or other accessories. And it boasts aggressive cocking serrations at the front and rear of the slide.
Like many new additions to the handgun market, Diamondback has gone with one of the most popular calibers. But for those who need a bit more zip than a 9mm, the company will introduce a 40 S&W version later in the year.
The FS Nine has plenty to get shooters excited, but its biggest selling point might not be any of its built-in features. Instead it might be the gun's price. With an MSRP of $483.34, its affordability is more than enough to temp shooters to make a little more space in their gun safes – even if they have plenty of polymers already.
Gun training should embrace bad weather days as an opportunity to become a more competent shooter.
It’s too windy, or it’s cold or raining too hard to go out and practice. The truth of the matter is, whether hunting or competing, long-distance shooters can’t always depend on blue bird skies. To win in nasty conditions, your gun training can't be called for bad weather.
Practice for Wind
Wind is an easy problem to practice where I live in Idaho. It’s windy most every day.
Sometimes it is so windy it would be a waste of ammo to go out and shoot, but most of the time it is really good for practice. We all know the formulas or put the data in our PDA’s, but how often do we shoot on windy days? Getting everything zeroed must be done in perfect conditions, but after that crummy days are what we are going to have to deal with whether it is hunting, competition or a life saving mission.
Wind not only affects the flight of the bullet but can be a problem beating against the vehicle the rifle is resting on or on the firearm itself. While I’m not sure there is much that can be done to overcome this, shooting in these types of conditions will give the shooter some experience in compensating for it. With a rifle, if the wind is banging against my rest and causing grief, I might go to prone to finish the shot.
Ultimately, the only way to figure out how to shoot in bad weather is to shoot in bad weather.
Beat the Rain, Snow
Rain and snow are other problematic conditions that can cause variances in the flight of your precision bullet. We know that rain and snow are going to make contact with the projectile but will it affect its flight path?
When the rain is blowing sideways with the wind it could cause a change in your usual windage D.O.P.E. (Data on Previous Engagements) a bit at longer ranges. Shooting in rain will fine-tune this adjustment. At the very least, the humidity will be higher.
Rain and snow beating against the shooter is also distracting and a little practice in this environment will help the shooter know what clothing will help minimize this, as well as how to deal with it mentally. Warm clothes, boots and waterproof gear can be tested for utility before the competition during a practice session. Operating a precision rifle with gloves should definitely be done before needed.
Temperature Changes
One of the things that will affect performance immensely is temperature. I’m not talking 20 degrees at ranges less than 400 yards, although they will affect bullet flight a bit. I’m talking about extreme temperature changes that will affect impact greatly and that create performance effects on the shooter.
I was shooting a .300 Win. Mag. that was easily capable of 1/3 MOA at 300 yards. I zeroed the rifle at that range in 70-degree weather and went shooting with it in -2-degree weather one afternoon. The rifle still printed its 1/3 MOA group; only it was about 16 inches low. At 300 yards that could be a definite miss on an elk.
Understand what heat, cold, rain and other weather does to the flight of a bullet helps shooters adjust to stay on target.
Even with the new temperature-resistant powders being developed, the air density is different when the mercury ranges so far. In fact, the affect on the bullet is immense. When shooting at different temperatures, make sure the ammo is out in the cold—or the heat—like it will be in the competition or other shooting scenario.
Conclusion
Ultimately, practicing in crummy weather comes easy for me because the high valley where I live regularly dishes out some of the worst weather in the country each winter. But Idaho doesn’t own crummy weather and no matter where you live or shoot, foul weather days will find you. Don’t use them as an excuse to sit inside and take it easy. Instead, get outside on a few of those crummy days and when the mission, competition or hunt day comes you will have the right gear and D.O.P.E. to make the shot.
Editor's note, this article originally appeared in the Feb. 11, 2013 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Sniper Shooting Basics is your chance to understand the equipment and techniques used to make the long shot come in. This digital download draws upon the expertise of some of the world’s best hunters and tactical shooters to bring you a practical guide to long-range shooting.
This long-range shooting guide is perfect for you if:
You want to understand the fundamentals to making long-range shots
You want to study the specialized rifles used by snipers
You want to generally improve your overall shooting
Randy Farris had plenty good to say about the latest Smith & Wesson revolver he put under the microscope.
The gun blogger ran a Performance Center Model 629 V-Comp through the rigmarole in a review for Gun Digest the Magazine. And when everything was said and done, he only really had only one complaint. Turns out, from Farris’ experience, the .44 Magnum is much happier chewing through heavier loads.
Now the writer has spent enough time with the slick-looking wheelgun and he is aiming to unload it. Farris has a link up at his website – AverageJoesHandgunReviews.blogspot.com – where the semi-famous firearm may be purchased.
While the gun should be enough to motivate buyers, Farris is sweetening the pot. He’s throwing in an autographed copy of the Gun Digest in which the gun and his review appeared. Check it out and see if you like the top end Smith & Wesson as much as Farris.
S&W PC 629 V-Comp .44 Magnum Caliber: .44 Magnum Action: Double/Single Barrel: 4-inches, with removable compensator Front Sight: Dovetail adjustable with blaze orange insert Rear Sight: Adjustable black rear sight Construction: Stainless Steel Weight: 3.11 lbs. Grips: Wood
When it comes to holster material, combining leather with polymer gives the armed citizen the best of both worlds. No wonder hybrid holsters for concealed carry are so popular.
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Hybrid holsters have become hugely popular in the last few years. One such is Mark Craighead’s Crossbreed brand, so popular the brand has become almost a generic term for this sort of rig. As the name implies, the hybrids comprise a mating of leather with Kydex or polymer. The portion that encompasses the gun on the outside is made of the hard synthetic, while the leather is used to form a broad backing between wearer and holster, separating and protecting one from the other. I use that phrase advisedly: the “shield” protects the gun from the user’s sweat, since these are often carried under a shirt directly against bare skin, and at the same time protects the skin from being abraded by sharp edges on the firearm.
Several companies make hybrids that are also “tuckable,” meaning they can be effectively concealed beneath a tucked-in shirt. Comp-Tac produces a popular model in this vein, the Minotaur MTAC. The backing material varies. Crossbreed offers both horsehide and cowhide, explaining, “Horsehide is a denser and lighter-grained flesh than cowhide. This results in it being more moisture resistant.
Customers in very humid climates or who tend to sweat heavily find this to be a useful option, as horsehide tolerates dampness better. Horsehide is only available in natural finish, as its moisture resistance can also cause it to not take dye well. Additionally, the natural finish is very attractive on Horsehide.”
It is possible to eliminate leather entirely from the picture. N82 – phonetically, Nate Squared, since the company was founded by two guys named Nate who consider their partnership more than the sum of their parts – makes a very comfortable hybrid holster whose backing is a cushioned synthetic.
The concept of leather or other material between the gun and the wearer is not new. It goes back at least to the Shadow Concealment holster of years ago, now produced as the LAW Concealment holster. The good news and the bad news existed then, and remain for this type of holster.
The good news is that the shield does indeed protect the wearer from the sharp-edged gun, and the gun from the sweaty wearer. The bad news is that the side of the pistol’s grip area is pressed tight against the leather shield, and the fingers have to dig between the two to gain a drawing grasp. This very definitely slows down the draw.
Honest holster-makers recognize this, and give their customers some options. At Crossbreed, the option is the Combat Grip. The company explains, “The Combat Grip is where we trim away some of the leather from the holster backer. This allows a firmer grasp on the gun during the draw stroke.
This modification does sacrifice a little bit of comfort but does increase the draw speed. This is an extra cost option because this cut is made to follow the contour of the slide/grip of the individual firearm and varies from one gun to another. Approximately 20% of our customers like this option, the others either have no preference or feel it sacrifices too much comfort.”
The author liked the Black Mamba from Concealment Solutions. This custom model works well with light-equipped handguns. Photo courtesy Concealment Solutions.
Raven Concealment is another brand of hybrid, and perhaps best known for combining the concept with not only bare pistols, but those with lights attached. The brand has earned a strong following.
Jason Christensen at Concealment Solutions also makes a hybrid with the option of a light on the gun, the Mamba holster. I find its synthetic backing slows me down less than leather, and for that reason it’s my current choice for concealed carry of a full-size Glock with SureFire light attached.
One thing to consider with the backing design on these hybrid holsters is body shape. If there’s a spare tire around your middle, the good news will be that the hybrid’s backing will be particularly comfortable. The bad news is that the pressure of the flesh will tend, over time, to roll the material over the back of the slide. On the models where the entire grip-frame is shielded by the backer, it may eventually start rolling over the backstrap of the grip frame itself. This won’t just slow the draw, it can stall it or cause a “fatal fumble” when you need the pistol most. A minimal backing will be more important for those with this type of body shape.
Hatsan has made a name for itself as an accurate option in air guns. And the Turkish company's new air pistol should help shooters stay on target with the addition of a removable, adjustable stock.
Typically, when shooters think about high-powered air guns one thing comes to mind – rifles. But Hatsan USA has worked to change that perception with their line of pre-charged pneumatic pistols.
The Turkish manufacturer’s PCP handguns are nearly as potent as the company’s line of powerful air rifles. And HatsanUSA recently has given shooters another option with the expansion of its pistol line.
The company is now shipping its AT-P2 air pistol, a more versatile model of HatsanUSA’s AT-P1. The main modification on the new air pistol is the inclusion of an extendable stock, giving shooters the ability to place more precise shots off the pistol platform.
The telescopic stock can be adjusted to fit nearly any shooter and comes outfitted with an adjustable cheek rest. From there, the air pistol retains all the features that made its predecessor popular.
The AT-P2's PCP power system ensures consistent accuracy, utilizing a 50cc air cylinder with 200-bar fill (3000 PSI). The pressure allows the air pistol to shoot pellets at velocities as high as 870 fps, making it ideal for plinking or the taking of small varmints.
Like all of HatsanUSA’s guns the AT-P2 comes outfitted with a Quattro Trigger. The proprietary two-stage match trigger offers three-point adjustment to control the trigger load, the position of the first and second stages and the length of travel – all while maintaining full sear engagement.
The air pistol has a precision rifled barrel made from German steel and is available in three calibers: .177, .22 and .25. The .177 and .22 models come with 10-round magazines, while the .25 has a nine-round magazine. The AT-P2 is fitted with a dovetail grooved receiver for both 11mm and 22mm scope mounts and micro-adjustable rear and front sights, both with TRUGLO fiber optics.
It also features an anti-double pellet feed system that prevents more than one pellet from loading into the barrel and Hatsan's patented anti-knock system to prevent gas wastage in case the airgun is knocked or bounced.
The MSRP of the AT-P2 is $720.00. It includes one additional magazine, detachable air cylinder with a built-in pressure gauge, quick-fill nozzle and air cylinder discharge cap.
For years now, traditional double action police service pistols such as the SIG P-series have been pushed out of the spotlight by polymer-frame, striker fired pistols, a revolution begun by Glock in the 1980s. SIG had entered the polymer pistol market twice, both times with polymer frame guns that were hammer-fired with double action triggers.
The SIG P320 full-sized Nitron.
The SIG Pro, introduced some twenty years ago, is still in the line as the Model 2022, currently produced in 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, and .357 SIG. A perfectly good pistol, it is seen largely as a budget-priced version of the P-series guns, and is not on the radar screen of buyers – individual or institutional – who are locked into Glock or Glock’s arch competitor in that market, the Smith & Wesson Military & Police pistol.
SIG’s next foray into the polymer pistol market was the P250. Its selling point of interchangeable frame sizes, calibers, etc. was not what the law enforcement market was looking for. While it had an excellent double action only trigger, it was markedly different from the short-throw triggers cops were being trained on with Glocks and M&Ps at their departments, and police interest was scant. SIG finally decided to meet the striker-fired polymer pistols on their own ground. P320 development
Superstar engineer Ethan Lessard led the project of what would become the P320 pistol. The early versions were done on the P250 format, with the first two prototypes being a “straight drop in” for the P250 production line. A button takedown was designed: Lessard told me, “SIG protocol is for the user to HAVE to remove the magazine and HAVE to lock the slide to the rear to begin disassembly.”
SIG P320 Carry Nitron.
Stagnant for a time, the striker-fired pistol project resumed in 2011. One prototype was, said Lessard, “Way, way outside the norm for striker-fired guns because it cocked on opening like a hammer-fired pistol. Most striker-fired pistols cock on closing.” Eventually, Lessard and SIG chose to make their new pistol cock on closing, too.
The result is a good-feeling pistol with its own distinctive look, lively in the hand, with the relatively low bore axis which the striker-fired concept promotes. This results in less muzzle rise and therefore less time between accurate shots.
As was necessary for the market SIG wants to penetrate with it, the P320 has a consistent trigger pull for every shot. Lessard tells me that trigger pulls will be able to be adjusted for weight by replacing parts, giving end-users and departments the option of trigger pulls in the 5.5-pound to 7.5 pound range. Price should be competitive with the Glock and the M&P.
I handled the early model in June of 2013, but did not have the opportunity to test-fire it. Introduction of the P320 took place at the SHOT Show in January of 2014. This pistol will definitely be an important chapter in the history of SIG-Sauer.
Milking all of the ballistic potential out of a rifle has a certain attraction, for obvious reasons.
Connecting with targets exceeding the 1,000-yard range is both an analytic and physical challenge. The mental side demands the ability to quantify environmental factors then apply them to dial in the shot. Physically, breath and body control are paramount in the bullet reaching its target.
Those assets and abilities must have been on full display in April at Whittington U’s School of Extreme Long Range. In the school’s inaugural Masters Course a handful of shooters pulled off what can only be described as incredible shots.
Braving wind and snow during the three days of instruction at the Whittington Center outside Raton, N.M., five students established breathtaking benchmarks for the course using a variety of precision rifles:
Billy Carter: .375 Cheytac. Carter achieved back-to-back confirmed impacts on a 1 MOA Target (36 inch by 36 inches) at 2.07 Miles in a 9 round shooting iteration!
George Costello: .338 SnipeTac. Costello achieved one confirmed impact a 2.07 miles.
James Elmore: .375 Cheytac. Elmore achieved two confirmed impacts at 2.07 miles in two separate Measured Courses of Fire.
Gerald Guzman: .416 Barrett. Guzman achieved two confirmed impacts at 2.07 miles in two separate 5 round Measured Courses of Fire on a 4 MOA Target (12 feet by 10 feet).
Bruce Mansur: .375 Cheytac. Mansur achieved one confirmed impact at 2.07 miles in a six round shooting iteration.
Shooters utilized a non-typical range to accomplish their breathtaking marksmanship – the Whittington Center's Backcountry Training Area. The range is situated in the hill and canyon country surrounding the center and boasts three ranges: 2,000-yard known distance range, 2,800-yard high angle and unknown distance range and a 3,650-yard unknown distance range.
The Master Course is a continuation of Whittington’s School of Extreme Long Range, which previously had three courses. The original course included introductory instruction on long-range shooting, shooting from different positions, high-angle shooting, shooting at unknown distances and other long-range shooting concepts.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
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