New ARES Semi-Automatic Rifle Legal in All 50 States

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May 2, 2014

ARES Defense’s new rifle is ingenious. At the same time, it’s hard to miss what the cleverness of the Sports Configurable Rifle aims to defeat.

In short, the Florida manufacturer expanded its product line in response to potential and actualized gun-control legislation. In fact, it has been reported ARES came up with the design when it was rumored the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban would be reestablished in 2013.

Inspiration such as that is tough to gut for those who cherish civil rights. But at the same time, one cannot help but be heartened with what ARES has accomplished.

The SCR is legal in all 50 states, giving those subjected to recently passed state-level legislation the ability to buy and own an AR-style rifle. Well, almost an AR-style rifle.

Unlike many of the conversion kits meant to strip the accessories that run afoul of the law – pistol grips, bayonet lugs, etc. – the SCR is a redesign of the AR platform.

Most obviously, the semi-automatic rifle has the lines of more traditional long guns. It features the choice of sporter, sporter short and Monte Carlo stocks and is outfitted with a cross-bolt safety. But it’s not the exterior that is the radical departure. The guts of the gun is where the leap away from the AR design is really found.

Given the stock, ARES has done away with the buffer tube on the SCR. Instead, the company opted for a system similar to many semi-auto shotguns, utilizing a carrier link and action spring system in the gun's stock. Due to this, the gun most likely will have a different feel compared to the AR when fired, with the recoil going downward as opposed to straight back into a buffer tube.

These tweaks certainly make the SCR a shift from most AR-style rifles, but the firearm does retain some important features from the popular platform. Perhaps the foremost is ARES preserving the same bolt as traditional ARs, in turn making the gun compatible with any AR-15 upper without any modification.

This is a big plus, given part of the allure of the AR is its versatility. The rifle has earned fans with its ability to quickly change calibers with a new upper, as well as its compatibility with a slew of aftermarket add-ons meant to optimize and customize. ARES also, wisely, made the SCR able to accept any AR/M-16 magazine.

Where there might be a potential bone to pick is the SCR's fire control. It has been reported by those who have handled the gun that it appears to have a proprietary trigger. If this is true and it is non-compatible with aftermarket upgrades, it could prove to be a strike against the SCR.

The SCR is a more than manageable 5.7 pounds and is presently – off the shelf – available in two calibers: .223/5.56x45mm and 7.62x39mm. Shooters can choose from a carbine-length barrel (16.25 inches) or rifle (18). Each has a 1:9 twist rate. The firearm comes with a black hardcoat anodized finish. There was no MSRP on the rifle available at writing.

Certainly, the SCR has the ability to stir mixed emotions, given its origin. But gun owners, overall, should be pleased with its appearance. ARES is keeping shooters shooting, even the ones stuck in un-enlightened corners of the country.

Video: .338 Lapua Ringing the Bell From More Than a Mile Out

By

Elwood Shelton

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May 2, 2014

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The .338 Lapua has become a renowned round for those aiming to stretch marksmanship to its limits. It has certainly done that since its development in 1980s, becoming a favorite of police and military snipers worldwide.

In fact, the .338 Lapua was the instrument used in the longest confirmed sniper kill to date. British Corporal of Horse Craig Harrison in 2009 came up with 2,707-yard kill shot in Afghanistan with his .338 Lapua. It's a shot that is hard to imagine – until you watch the above video.

The video poster gives the best setup of what can only be considered an incredible piece of shooting:

A few days ago I took out the .338 Lapua [Savage Arms 110 BA] and attempted the 2500 yard shot. So I placed the target at 2530 yards or 1.43 miles away, at that distance the bullet flight time is almost 4.5 seconds! …
I went out early in the morning to beat the mirage, luckly there was very little wind around 3-4 mph coming from the left, I dialed 2.6 mils Left. I had to dialed the maximum elevation my scope (Nightforce NXS 5.5-22×56 MIL/MIL) had at 27.4 mils then held over 2.5 mils on the reticle to get me to 29.9 mils.

Given the price of the rifle's ammunition – around $5 per round – this guy certainly made every shot count. Be sure to watch the entire video, at the end the shooter shows off the recovered slugs and boy does the rifle do a job on them.

Mastering the Art of Long Range Shooting

Galati’s Launching Line of Pocket Holsters

By

Elwood Shelton

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May 1, 2014

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When it comes to concealing a handgun there is an often overlooked option for clandestine carry – the pocket.

With the right fitting clothing, what could be a better spot to keep a pistol or revolver under wraps? Pockets are, after all, part of the garment, in turn they have a natural level of comfort built in and tend not to draw attention. Not to mention, they don’t require a ton of gear to make them suitable to tote along a gun.

Count Galati Gear among those who have seen the benefits of pocket carry. The Missouri-based tactical gear manufacturer has just introduced a line of holsters tailored for pocket carry.

Galati’s Grip-It Pocket Holsters have the potential to appeal to wide spectrum of shooters seeking a versatile and simple carry solution.

Constructed of a single of piece tricot material with fabric edging and featuring a non-slip granular outside, the holsters are lightweight and unassuming. But they are designed to do more than just provide a comfortable place to carry. The holsters also protect firearms with the exterior providing a moisture barrier.

The exterior also gives the holster its name, with the material facilitating a strong grip to the pocket. This grip is key in the holster providing a smooth draw. The exterior is enhanced by the overall design of the holster, which is cut to snugly fit into nearly any pocket.

The Grip-It’s minimalism makes the holster extremely adaptable, as well. The holster is ambidextrous, fitting comfortably in either right- or left-hand pockets. The Grip-It can also be used as an inside the waistband holster, one that does not require a belt to properly function.

There are three models of the holster that work in conjunction with 10 different kinds of handguns and are compatible with laser sights. But the Grip-It, and pocket carry for that matter, has its limitations.

It is definitely an option for those who carry more diminutive firearms, those who favor the .45 ACP might look elsewhere. And pocket carry, like all styles of carry, require wardrobe considerations. It might not be the best option for the skinny jeans crowd.

Galati’s Grip-It has the potential to win over the cost conscious with a light price tag. The holster’s MSRP is $19.95, putting it at the low end of the holster market.

12 Essentials of Concealed Carry

Are you considering getting your concealed carry permit? Then you need this download. Author, gunsmith and firearms instructor Grant Cunningham takes you through the basics of CCW in the 12 Essentials of Concealed Carry. Cunningham cuts through the fog of concealed carry, giving you the fundamentals of what it takes to carry effectively and responsibly. This book is perfect for you if:

You are considering acquiring your concealed carry permit
You want a better idea of concealed carry accessories
You are looking to get a better idea about concealed carry handguns

Semi-Autos for Concealed Carry

By

Gila Hayes

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April 30, 2014

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The Glock and Kahr Arms pistols are popular striker fired semi-auto pistols for concealed carry.

From Concealed Carry for Women, author Gila Hayes explores some of the many semi-automatic pistols sold, summarizing their various options and how they operate.

As with revolvers, selecting a semi-automatic handgun from a prominent manufacturer who has a proven track record of a decade or two in business is a good idea.

Walther’s P99 with the striker cocked, as indicated by the protruding red dot at the back of the slide.

While everyone likes to have something that is unique, the more mainstream your defense handgun, the easier it will be for you to find a wide variety of accessories like holsters, sights, replacement magazines and grips, to say nothing of repair parts in the event of breakage.

Among semi-automatic handguns there are several discrete operating systems: single action, double action, double action only, striker fired, and some hybridization between those types.

Much of the separation focuses on how the firing pin or striker is put into motion to discharge the firearm. For handguns, discharging a cartridge of ammunition is still, at present, a mechanical process by which a striker or firing pin must be released to impact the primer in the ammunition cartridge. To do so, handguns need a mechanism by which a hammer or a striker is released so it can spring or fall forward to do its work.

The single-action semi-automatic’s hammer must be cocked for the gun to fire, and this is generally accomplished through cycling the slide, either manually during the initial loading sequence, or as part of the slide’s cycle during firing.

If practicing dryfire, the hammer can also be pulled back with a thumb. Generally, the only way to lower a single-action semi-automatic pistol’s hammer (called decocking) is to press the trigger with the chamber empty.

Example of a decocked Smith & Wesson Model 3913. — Example of a cocked Smith & Wesson Model 3913.

Most single-action handguns have quite a short trigger pull, often as little as 1/8 inch, and not much pressure is required to discharge the gun. For defensive use, it is best if the trigger pull requires at least five if not six pounds to discharge the gun; extremely light trigger pulls of three to four pounds belong only on handguns used for sporting purposes, if at all.

The 1911 variant is the most common representative of the single-action semi-automatic type of handgun. These are produced by a wide variety of manufacturers, including Kimber, Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, Taurus, Para Ordnance, Springfield Armory, Colt, Ruger and many, many more.

Less common today, but still a very attractive option, is the Hi-Power style pistol, usually sold by the Browning company. In fact, it is common to hear this type of handgun identified as the Browning Hi-Power, when actually a number of other manufacturers over the years have also produced pistols on good old John Moses Browning’s Hi-Power single-action design.

Double-action semi-automatics start their firing cycle with the hammer lowered, but like the double-action revolver, pressure on the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer to fire the gun.

This can require from six to 15 pounds of pressure on the trigger distributed over trigger pulls of ¾ to one inch long depending on the gun’s design. When the slide cycles during firing, it leaves the gun cocked so that it subsequently fires in single action, with a shorter trigger pull and pull weights of five to six pounds and lower.

The better quality examples of this gun type have additional mechanisms for safely lowering the hammer without using the trigger. These mechanisms are called decockers.

Today, the most prominent manufacturer of this pistol type is Sig Sauer, though Smith & Wesson and Ruger, who once ruled this part of the market, still make a few traditional double-action semi-automatic pistols.

Still, much of their product line has moved on to striker-fired pistols. Heckler & Koch, Beretta, Bersa, CZ, and Walther are other common sources for double-action autoloaders equipped with decockers.

Glock’s in-trigger safety prevents the pistol from firing unless the center spar on the trigger is pressed. Thus, inadvertent contact with the side of the trigger is insufficient to discharge the pistol, but anything that presses against the center of the trigger face can make the gun fire.

Double-action-only guns have no single-action mode at all. Trigger pull weights and length are similar to the double-action mode of a traditional double-action pistol, and differ from traditional double-action semi-automatic operation in that every trigger pull is the same, long and often heavy, just like on a revolver.

These days, most manufacturers of traditional double-action semi-autos also offer variations in double-action only, usually in response to specifications required for police or military purchase bids.

One unusual example is Para Ordnance’s Light Double Action (LDA) model on which the length of the trigger pull is fully an inch, but the trigger pull is accomplished by applying under six pounds of pressure to the trigger, about half that of most double-action-only pistols.

Striker-fired handguns are quite similar to double-action-only semi-autos, in that every trigger pull is of the same length and weight, but the striker-fired mechanism generally requires in the neighborhood of five pounds pull weight, give or take a pound or so.

Striker-fired pistols have been around for decades, but they really rose to prominence in the United States with the adoption of the Glock auto pistol by law enforcement agencies, a trend which private gun owners eagerly copied.

Soon thereafter, a dozen manufacturers were offering striker-fired semi-auto pistols, including Smith & Wesson, Steyr, Kahr Arms, Walther, Heckler & Koch, Kimber, Springfield Armory, Taurus and many, many more.

Interview with Grant Cunningham

By

Editor James Card

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April 30, 2014

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How a do-it-yourself project on a Colt Python turned into a career path as a revolver gunsmith, firearms instructor and book author.

Author of Defensive Revolver Fundamentals, the Gun Digest Book of the Revolver and the Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to Handguns, Grant Cunningham has spent a lifetime with firearms as a hunter, a longtime action pistol competitor and gunsmith. These days as a Combat Focus Shooting instructor, he teaches a progressive, practical approach to the revolver as a legitimate choice for a self-defense sidearm.

When were you introduced to guns?
I grew up on a farm [in Oregon] and firearms were part of our toolset. Like most kids I started off with a single-shot .22 Winchester. Of course, we had a .30-30 deer rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun. I remember these things from the time I was very little. As kids, we were introduced to them at a young age, and they were looked upon as just another tool.

What career path led you to where you are now?
I spent many years in the photographic industry in various management positions. Some years ago, about 2000, I left my management job and was bumming around for a few years. From the mid-1990s, I had been shooting, competing and teaching a lot. At one point, I worked on a Colt Python I owned because I couldn’t find anyone to work on it. They all said it was too complicated. Massad Ayoob and I had known each other for a number of years, and one day I said, “Hey Mas, tell me what you think about the work I did here.” “Well this is really pretty good,” he said. He wrote an article about me and before I knew it I was known, and people were calling me from all over the United States wanting me to work on their guns.

You are primarily known for your work with revolvers. Why the affinity towards them?
It was really a case of nobody else [gunsmithing] them. I found that I liked revolvers from the standpoint of their efficiency. They don’t require anything beyond grasping the gun to get them ready to fire. That’s as opposed to other auto pistols that require you to deal with safeties, de-cockers or trigger pulls that change from shot to shot. Most of it, quite frankly, was that I bought my first revolver as an adult and I couldn’t hit anything with it, shooting it double action. That really annoyed me, so I put down my autoloading pistols and worked exclusively with my revolvers for a couple of years to get to the point where I could shoot them quite well.

For years you competed in numerous action pistol matches. What are your shooting hobbies today?
It would be small-game hunting with a .22 rifle. I have a serious fetish for Mossberg bolt-action .22s. I love taking them to the field and hunting with them, usually squirrels. One of my favorite things to do is to take some golf tees and put paint balls on top of the tees. I then get back 25 or 50 yards, and shoot them with the .22 and watch them splat once they get hit with the bullet.

What’s a tip for beginners starting with double-action revolvers?
My advice is to force yourself never to cock the gun to single action because that defeats the entire purpose in shooting a double action firearm. You’re giving up. Understanding how the double-action trigger works and how your finger has to move along the face of the double-action trigger is incredibly important.

This interview appeared in the April 17, 2014 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Learn more from Grant:

Check out Defensive Revolver Fundamentals by Grant Cunningham. Click here to get your copy.

Choosing the Best Reloading Press for Your Needs

By

Philip Massaro

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April 30, 2014

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RCBS Summit Reloading Press — Photo courtesy Massaro Media Group and JNJphotographics

From powder tricklers to bullet pullers, there are a slew of tools handloaders need. Check out what a professional ballistician has to say about picking the right press for your bench.

As a reloader, the first and foremost piece of gear you’ll need is a reloading press. They come in many different shapes, sizes, colors and styles, and your style of reloading should dictate which one will best serve your needs. Are you a high volume reloader? Do you primarily reload for pistols or rifles? Or maybe both?

Let’s take a look at the different options and get you set up properly. Reloading presses generally fall into three categories: single stage, turret and progressive.

The single stage presses are designed to hold one reloading die at a time, and to perform one function at a time. Many are shaped like an “O”, such as the classic RCBS Rock Chucker or the Lyman Orange Crusher, and these are the strongest designs. They offer the rigidity that produces the most uniform ammunition, which is the key to accuracy. Others are shaped like the letter “C”, like the Lee Single Stage reloading press. These are generally more affordable, although they have more flexure, and therefore more room for variation.

For most of my reloading work, I prefer the single stage “O” style press, even though the process takes a little longer than the other styles. It lets me give the attention to detail that is required for ammunition destined for benchrest or long-range rifle work. This style of press is what I would recommend for the beginner, as it will best help you to learn the individual processes involved in safely reloading your own cartridges.

The turret press is a modified version of the single stage press, in that it still only performs one function per pull of the handle, yet it has a rotating ‘turret’ head which holds between three and seven reloading dies at once. If you need to switch between resizing, flaring or seating dies, you simply rotate the turret head to that particular die and proceed with the operation.

They do have a bit more play in them than do the “O” style single stage, but they can be very useful for reloading pistol ammunition. The Lee Turret press is a classic example of this style, and although it does have a bit of play in the rotating aluminum head, I have used one to produce thousands of accurate rounds of ammunition.

Redding’s T7 turret press is a different animal altogether, the steel construction gives it the capability of doubling as an anchor for a cruise ship (this is a good thing, you want your press to be very stable). As is the case with most Redding products, the tolerances are held very tight. The seven threaded die holes allow you to keep two or three calibers on the press at once, which can save you time and maybe prevent carpal tunnel syndrome from screwing dies in and out. I own and use a T7, and will happily report that it is a great press, and well worth the investment.

Progressive presses are the answer to providing large amounts of ammunition quickly, and are a worthwhile choice for those who participate in gun games. They generally feature four or five “stations”, and multiple functions are performed each time the press handle is pulled. A powder measure is part of the operation, which is activated when the empty case is pressed against the dispenser’s mouth.

RCBS Rock Chucker Single Stage Reloading Press — Photo courtesy Massaro Media Group and JNJphotographics

So, once you have the machine properly adjusted, five cases are worked at once, and a case gets resized, re-primed, flared, charged, and a new bullet seated with one pull of the handle. The downside? As with any system that has moving parts, it is not difficult for things to come out of adjustment. A pistol case that is not properly resized, or even worse overcharged, can result in a jam or personal injury.

I recommend that you become thoroughly experienced with loading ammunition on a single stage press before you delve into the progressive presses, so you can adjust and observe all the functions with confidence. Should a primer be misaligned and go off due to being crushed in the process, the presence of a dispenser full of powder can pose a dangerous threat.

Now, I’m not trying to scare you, but please realize that the danger does exist, and that is why I recommend the progressives be left for a more experienced reloader. Once you do get them set up right, you can quickly and effectively crank out hundreds of rounds per hour. I like the RCBS Pro2000 Auto-Index and the Dillon RL550B. I’ve used both of these machines with good results.

Whichever style fits your needs and reloading experience level best, be sure and do your homework, read customer reviews, and buy the best press you can afford. The results at the range and in the field will be well worth the expense.

Video: Coleslaw Miculek Style, with a .460 Magnum

By

Elwood Shelton

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April 28, 2014

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In its short history the .460 Smith & Wesson Magnum has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the baddest handguns on the market. But exactly what does that mean? Well, Cartridges of the Word perhaps spells out the finer points of the .460's bad-ass credential the most succinctly:

Announced, in 2005, as a joint Hornady-Smith & Wesson development, the .460 Smith and Wesson (S&W) is the fastest revolver cartridge ever produced, reaching velocities of about 2200 fps with 200-grain bullets. It is chambered in the S&W M460 Extreme Velocity Revolver for long-range handgun hunting. Used by a skilled pistol shooter, the .460 S&W cartridge can achieve MOA accuracy at 100 yards.

A handgun throwing 200-grain bullets 2200 feet per second with MOA accuracy from 100 yards out, that sounds pretty wicked. But there is only one way to truly appreciate what the .460 has to offer in the way of power and sheer nastiness – shoot a red cabbage with it! Luckily enough, one of modern day's top shots has obliged us.

The above video of Jerry Miculek thumbing off a couple rounds in a Smith & Wesson Performance Center 12-inch .460 Magnum is pretty amazing on a couple of levels. The violence of the slug's impact is the most obvious aspect – it downright mistifies the cabbage. But what is also astounding is how casually Miculek handles the hand cannon. Really, he makes that monster look like a .38 with the ease in which he shoots it. Guess that's what a lifetime of daily shooting gets ya.

Recommended Resource

Cartridges of the Word

Are you a cartridge collector? Do you want complete specs of 1,500+ cartridges? Reference this fully updated, expansive cartridge comparison guide. You’ll love Cartridges of the World, 13th Edition if:

You’re looking for current and updated manufactured & wildcat cartridge listings
You want specs and information on those obsolete & hard-to-find cartridges
You’re a firearms owner, enthusiast, or cartridge collector

Gallery: New Gun Optics for 2014

By

Editor James Card

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April 28, 2014

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[imagebrowser id=421]

Editor's note, this gallery was adapted from an article appearing in the March 27, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Recommended Resources

Mastering the Art of Long Range Shooting

ABCs of Rifle Shooting

Gun Digest Presents Modern Shooter TV Coming Soon

By

Gun Digest Editors

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April 28, 2014

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Have the most trusted gun values resource at the tips of your fingers with our NEW Find Guns app. The app is powered by the Standard Catalog of Firearms and is available for Android and Apple devices, as well as on standard web browsers. The app also makes finding gun shows a snap with updated listings of events around the county. Get yours now by CLICKING HERE!

The new Modern Shooter TV promises to deliver plenty of shooting action. Yamil Sued Photo

Get ready for lights…cameras…and some serious action as Modern Shooter comes to a television near you.

If you’re like millions of shooting enthusiasts across the country who love the smell of gunpowder in the morning (and afternoon and night) and can’t get enough time behind the stock or grip of a gun, get ready as Modern Shooter promises to become your virtual fix.

Whether it’s learning how to choose the best gun for home defense, customize your AR, make a long-distance shot or empty a magazine of ammo all while staying on target, Modern Shooter promises something for everybody—from the longtime firearms aficionado to someone just coming into the fold and looking to buy and safely use their first gun.

Look for Modern Shooter television to begin airing each week beginning in January 2015 during the primetime shooting block on the Sportsman Channel.

The half-hour program will mirror much of the instructional and entertaining information found in the pages of the new quarterly Modern Shooter magazine. The program will be produced by the F+W Outdoors Group, the publishers of Gun Digest and producers of award-winning television programs Destination Whitetail and Deer & Deer Hunting TV.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to showcase the best firearms available along with the companies and people who make and shoot them,” says Jamie Wilkinson, group publisher of the F+W Outdoors Group.

Modern Shooter television will be unlike any other shooting program on television as it seeks to gather some of the most knowledgeable personalities in the firearms world, such as famed instructor and gun writer Masaad Ayoob, to teach you each week how to become a better shooter.

It is also well on its way to attracting some of the biggest manufacturers in the firearms industry to support the program as well with the signing of Colt as the program’s very first sponsor and the chief sponsor of this inaugural issue of Modern Shooter magazine.

Just some of the great topics you’ll see covered on Modern Shooter television include:

Concealed Carry: Choose the Right Handgun
Long-Range Shooting Secrets
Master Crossing Shots on Clays
Improve Your Shooting With 3-Gun
Drills to Improve Handgun Shooting Speed
Keep Your AR Running Smoothly
Improve Your Grip for Better Aim
Best Ways to Carry Concealed
Today’s Best Optic Options
Best Defensive Calibers
And much, much more.

It’s going to be an exciting year when Modern Shooter appears, and until it’s airing weekly on the Sportsman Channel, be sure to check your newsstand for future issues of Modern Shooter magazine.

Download Modern Shooter Spring 2014 presented by Gun Digest.

Comp-Tac Reintroduces Revamped Discreet Gun Case

By

Elwood Shelton

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April 25, 2014

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Stowing firearms in inconspicuous luggage is an idea old as Tommy Guns and violin cases.

Repurposing overnight bags and old suitcases as discreet gun cases has, however, become a thing of the past. Manufacturers have gotten the hint shooters want their privacy and now offer clandestine gun totes in every shape and size.

Comp-Tac Victory Gear is bound and determined to grab a slice of this market, introducing the Heavy Rated Trojan Horse Long Gun Case. But the non-traditional gun bag is not actually a brand new product, instead it is an overhaul of the company's original gun case.

There were apparently some issues with the first iteration of the discreet gun case that led Comp-Tac to discontinue the line. The original Trojan Horse is still available on the company’s website as the “Light” version of the case and is on clearance.

Based off customer feedback, the company has beefed up the new Trojan Horse case, making it a more durable option. One of the more notable changes in this area is the use of heavy-duty stitching to give the bag more overall strength. The case is now rated to carry up to 35 pounds of firearms and gear.

Another new feature to the case is the addition of handles, giving a second carry option. Before, the case was only outfitted with a shoulder strap.

While Comp-Tac has made some tweaks, it has kept many of the features that made the Trojan Horse popular in the first place.

The new version still offers firearms substantial protection while being transported, with rigid side panels. But the panels serve a dual purpose, also keeping the bag's contents under wraps by eliminating printing.

The Trojan Horse is 36-inches in length, making it perfect for most modern guns with 20-inch barrels and adjustable stocks. And outfitted with a dividing panel, the case is designed to carry more than one firearm at a time.

The interior of the case also has a number of features that have the potential to keep shooters organized. The case has two inside zipper pockets, Molle Straps and female Velcro to keep gear in place during transportation.

The case’s shape is ambiguous, while it definitely does not appear to be a gun case it also does not look like many other pieces of luggage out there. Perhaps it most closely resembles a tennis racquet bag. This might be good and bad.

Overall, the shape looks like it will keep the bag’s contents under wraps. But the Trojan Horse’s overall abstractness could pique the interest by someone just plain curious about what one carries in such a bag.

Despite this potential, the Trojan Horse and other discreet gun cases like it are certain to gain popularity. The bags give urban and suburban shooters the ability to make it to the range without eliciting panic from the pearl clutchers of the world.

The Trojan Horse has an MSRP of $100, the middle price range of many similar cases. Still, it's not a bad price for shooters to keep their privacy when in public.

Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to the AR-15

Gun Digest Authors Signing Books at NRA Annual Meeting

By

Alicia Capetillo

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April 24, 2014

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Gun Digest authors Gila Hayes, Massad Ayoob and Grant Cunningham will be meeting with fans and signing books at the National Rifle Association’s 2014 Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Indianapolis, Ind., April 25 and 26.

The three firearms authors will make separate special appearances at the Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network, Inc. booth during the event. Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as each author will be signing a limited number of complimentary copies of their book, courtesy of Gun Digest Media.

The Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network, Inc. is an organization of gun owners dedicated to the legal protection of members facing the scrutiny of the legal system after using deadly force in self defense.

Massad Ayoob, an internationally recognized authority in the firearms world, has authored thousands of articles and more than a dozen books on guns and self-defense topics. Ayoob is an Advisory Board Member for the Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network and directs the Massad Ayoob Group. His most recent book, Gun Safety in the Home, guides readers to a more comprehensive understanding of safe firearm handling and secure storage methods in the home, and encourages parents to educate their children about guns.

Gila Hayes, author of Concealed Carry for Women, has been teaching gun safety and armed self defense since 1993. She is one of the three founders of the Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network and currently serves as its Operations Manager.

Grant Cunningham is a renowned author, teacher and gunsmith. In his new book, Defensive Revolver Fundamentals, he makes a convincing case for utilizing the revolver as a personal defense firearm.

Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network, Inc. Signing Schedule (Booth #4262):

Grant Cunningham (Defensive Revolver Fundamentals) – April 25 from 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Massad Ayoob (Gun Safety in the Home) – April 25 from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Gila Hayes (Concealed Carry for Women) – April 26 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Recommended Resources

Gun Safety in the Home

Defensive Revolver Fundamentals

Concealed Carry for Women

Market Trends: “Zombie Special” Shotguns Popular in Fresno

By

Brian McCombie

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April 24, 2014

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John Lewis — Herb Bauer Sporting Goods, Fresno, Calif.

Taking a nod from the current zombie craze, the gun department at Herb Bauer got creative recently and has tricked out a number of guns.

The retailer had modified Mossberg 500 Persuader and Remington 870 Express self-defense shotguns with Mesa Tactical six-position stocks and alloy side-saddle shell holders.

With an EOTech or Surefire tactical light, these “Zombie Specials” became a top seller, and go for $849, says gun manager John Lewis.

Rimfire shooters like the Browning Maple stock T-bolt, especially the 17HMR model (the rifle’s also offered in 22LR and 22Mag), at $789. The new Ruger American rimfire rifle in 22LR and 22Mag is also moving well, as are the new camouflage Ruger 10/22 takedown rifles

Local deer hunters who hunt in California’s lead-free condor zone have been buying up Corbon 30-30 DPX ammunition. Made with solid copper bullets, a 20-round box of the DPX goes for $49.95.

Editor's note, this brief originally appeared in the Dec. 16, 2013 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Gun Digest Book of Survival Guns

Sniper Shooting Basics

Ultimate Handbook of Handgun Training

Market Trends: Rising Popularity for Large-Bore Webley Revolvers

By

Brian McCombie

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April 24, 2014

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Classic Firearms and Echoes of Glory Auction House, Virginia Beach, Va.

When it comes to collectable revolvers, one Virgina auction house has seen some of the largest from the British Empire fetch attention and top dollar this past winter.

“British military large-bore Webley Revolvers are hot right now, the prices having  doubled in the last year,” notes Robert House, owner of Classic Firearms and Echoes of Glory Auction House. “The Webley Mark I in the original .455 caliber went from being a $600 handgun to an $1,100-$1,200 revolver in less than six months.”

British Lee-Enfield rifles and the Imperial Japanese Arisaka rifles (with the chrysanthemum stamp) have increased in value 100 percent over the last year.

“Even the lowly imported Soviet 91/30 Mosin-Nagant rifles, historically low priced, have gone from being $89.95 bolt-actions to $150-$175 rifles in the last six months as supplies have dried up,” he adds.

For firearm accessories, German military WWI and WWII Mauser bayonets are selling well, bringing $125 to $250 at auction depending on condition.

Editor's note, this article originally appeared in the Dec. 16, 2013, edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Recommended Resources for Gun Collectors:

2014 Standard Catalog of Firearms, 24th Edition

Standard Catalog of Military Firearms 7th Edition

Gun Digest 2014, 68th Edition

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Full Fury of Catamount’s Tactical Shotgun

By

Doug Howlett

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April 23, 2014

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Whether talking home defense or ultimate survival gun, plenty of arguments can be made for the shotgun as the one type of firearm that will serve those purposes best. It also doesn’t hurt if it boasts a little visual intimidation factor and tactical attitude, something the Catamount Fury delivers in spades.

The Catamount Fury is a Chinese-made tactical shotgun imported by one of North America’s largest importers of surplus firearms, Florida-based Century International.

The Fury is a new offering by Century in 2013 and is similar in design to the popular (and pricier) Russian-made Saiga-12 (also imported by Century), a shotgun built on the even more popular and renowned AK-47 action, both guns operating in the same manner and assembling in much the same way—the parts obviously much bigger to accommodate 12-gauge sized loads rather than the AK’s 7.62x39mm.

The Fury is a gas-operated piston-driven semi-auto 12-gauge that is adjustable for both high brass and low brass ammo, meaning you can easily fire less expensive field loads for practice or practical use, but switch over to heavier-hitting magnum loads if the situation dictates and still get the gun to cycle as it must.

It is capable of handling both 2 ¾-inch and 3-inch shells and unlike any other semi-auto shotgun I’ve ever fired, most of them tube magazine fed, the Fury comes with two five-round detachable box magazines that slip into the bottom of the receiver in the same rolling fashion as an AK-47 magazine. It comes with a cylinder choke tube installed, along with a Full and Modified tube, and is designed for lead shot only.

The matte black composite straight stock offers a solid cheek weld for aiming down the notched rear and single-post front sight. A solid hold on the gun is enhanced by the checkered pistol grip of the stock and a narrow composite forearm with granular texturing to its feel. A rubber recoil pad mounted to the butt of the stock mitigates the kick a 12-gauge load can transfer to the shooter, particularly in frequent fire situations.

Both the design and overall weight of the Fury—8.7 pounds—make it stout without being cumbersome. For the possibility of lengthy carry or toting through the forest, I would recommend a quality sling, which the Fury is ready to accept with a threaded brass insert in the bottom of the stock and a front handguard rail that will accommodate a tactical sling attachment.

Additional features that round out the Fury is a side safety lever that prevents the gun from firing when rotated up to block the recoil of the bolt and all the way down to permit the locking open of the bolt. Enhancing the tactical nature of the Fury is the integrated Weaver-style rail along the top of the receiver, as well as the aforementioned rail mounted on the front bottom of the handguard.

The packaging of the Fury also includes a cleaning rod and brush that can easily packed in the field if needed. The modular nature of the gun allows it to break down in essentially seven main pieces (not counting the magazine) and it assembles and disassembles pretty easily once you have the system down.

Target Time

Using a number of strategically placed target stands pasted with Birchwood Casey Shoot•N•C targets and loaded with Federal Vital Shok 3-inch No. 4 Buckshot, I moved down the line and shot targets at every distance between 7 yards and 40 yards. Even at the longer range and shooting through a Cylinder choke, I found the patterns to be sufficiently dense and even. At the closer distance, the pattern punched through the target about the size of a boxer’s fist.

Obviously, if regularly shooting at 30- or 40-yard distances or using heavier shot such as 00 Buck, I would recommend switching to the Modified tube and for even farther out, the Full. For most defensive situations, however, the Cylinder is more than ample, and if shooting standard slugs, you'll definitely want the more open choke screwed in at the end of the barrel lest you could damage the gun and possibly injure yourself. That’s the case with any smoothbore shotgun with screw-in chokes.

As for the choke tubes themselves, my only beef was other than the Cylinder tube, I couldn’t find markings to distinguish what the others were, though it would be easy enough to shoot patterns through them at identical distances, determine which throws the tighter pattern and mark it, perhaps with a small notch on the outer edge. Perhaps this is something Century can address going forward.

Because the design of the gun is different from what many American shooters are used to, I’d love to see a little more detail in the manual explaining more fully the operation of the gun, such as the bolt release button (I had to figure that one out myself) and gas operating system.

I found the Catamount Fury an extremely fun gun to shoot and at a retail price of $600, it cost virtually less than half of what many semi-autos, tactical or otherwise, can be had for in today’s market. That alone is sure to attract an audience of gunowners looking for that scattergun that looks as tough as it shoots, the sight of which is often enough to send a threat scurrying away before the first shot ever has to be fired.

Century International Catamount Fury Specs
Gauge: 12
Action: Semi-Auto
Receiver: Black anodized, detachable 5-round magazine fed
Barrel: 20.125”
Chokes: Full, Modified, Cylinder
Trigger: N/A
Stock: matte black composite
Overall Length: 42.5”
Weight: 8.7 lbs.
Options: two magazines, trigger lock, choke tube tool and cleaning rod and brush
Suggested Retail Price: $600
Website: centuryarms.biz

This article originally appeared in the Dec. 16, 2013 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Carry Right With 8 Top Concealed Carry Holsters

By

Gun Digest Editors

-

April 22, 2014

4

This photo gallery is adapted from the February 13, 2014 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Expand Your Knowledge on Concealed Carry Holsters

- Best Concealed Carry Holsters for Women
- Best Holster for Concealed Carry
- Best Pocket Carry Holster – Options For CCW
- CCW Shoulder Holsters – Best Up-Top Carry Options
- Pros & Cons of AIWB Holster Carry
- How to Choose the Right Fanny Pack for Guns

Becoming a Better Marksman at Shooting School

By

David Hart

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April 22, 2014

0

Gun schools aren’t just for experienced shooters.

Arizona’s Gunsite Academy, the largest and most famous shooting school in the country, teaches shooters with skill levels ranging from expert to absolute beginner. Classes include everything from basic handgun instruction to advanced tactical and defensive shooting, wing shooting, long-range rifle shooting and tactical shotgun shooting.

“We get quite a few students that have never fired a gun,” says Gunsite Academy training director Dave Starin. “About a third of our students are beginners, a third have some experience and the rest are skilled shooters, often with a military or law enforcement background. We offer training that matches the skill level of the shooter and then we help them become better.”

Tim Fallon – owner of Sportsmen’s All-Weather, All-Terrain Marksmanship School held at FTW Ranch in Barksdale, Texas – instructs shooters who share similar experience levels.

“We have a lot of shooters who are avid hunters but who may not have the opportunity to shoot much,” he says. “We help improve their abilities by reinforcing good techniques and changing bad habits.”

Fallon likes to call it the perfection of the fine art of shooting. He and his instructors analyze everything from the way a shooter grips the gun and squeezes the trigger to the follow-through after they take a shot. All of those things, and many more, play a major role in shot placement.

“One-thousandth of an inch movement at the muzzle equals a sixteenth of an inch at one hundred yards. If you multiply that by just a tiny fraction, you can see how the slightest movement of the muzzle can translate to a poor shot at three or four hundred yards,” he explains.

Class In Session

Missing isn’t just a result of bad form, though. A number of factors besides the guy behind the gun contribute to poor shot placement. Some guns just don’t like certain bullets or loads, and even the most skilled shooters may not fully grasp the intricate details of ballistics. That’s why the best schools include a little classroom time.

Instructors typically cover everything from basic marksmanship and safety to ballistics and the intricate functions of a scope. Each day is a progression of lessons that helps participants improve one step at a time.

The classroom instructors are typically the range instructors, who not only know how to shoot, but how to teach. They tend to be ex-military or law enforcement with lots of experience as instructors.

Fallon’s lead instructor is a retired Navy SEAL sniper, and Gunsite’s teachers not only taught shooting in their past lives, they have undergone extensive training themselves. The best teachers not only know guns and shooting, they have good people skills, too, and know when to push their students and when to use a different approach.

Don’t Forget the Fun

If you can drill a bull’s-eye at 100 yards and shoot sub-minute-of-angle groups at twice that distance, you may not need someone to tell you how to shoot better than you are already. But in some ways, Fallon’s classes and other, similarly intense instructional seminars aren’t necessarily about becoming a better shooter. They’re about having fun.

Where else can you test your ability out to 500, 600 even 1,000 yards? The best schools have multiple ranges with a variety of targets scattered throughout challenging, even intimidating topography.

You can’t have too much fun, though, at least not if you measure fun by the number of times you squeeze the trigger. Gunsite’s students will burn through upwards of 1,000 rounds in some five-day sessions, but Fallon typically limits his shooters to three or four boxes of ammo per day.

Depending on the group, he might turn a range session into a game, pitting shooters against each other in speed drills, accuracy contests and distance shoot-offs. In the end, though, it’s all about combining fun with improving your ability to defend yourself, break more clay pigeons or hit a target every time you pull the trigger, even a steel plate over a half-mile away.

Cool Schools for Shooters

Whether it’s long distance with a rifle, up close with a handgun or swinging at flying targets with a shotgun, the following schools offer a fun, exciting way to spend a few days improving marksmanship skills that will last a lifetime. Heck, the skills you learn could even safe your life someday ensuring that lifetime lasts a little longer.

This article originally appeared in the Oct. 7, 2013 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.

GUN DIGESTWE KNOW GUNS SO YOU KNOW GUNS

From Concealed Carry for Women, author Gila Hayes explores some of the many semi-automatic pistols sold, summarizing their various options and how they operate.

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From powder tricklers to bullet pullers, there are a slew of tools handloaders need. Check out what a professional ballistician has to say about picking the right press for your bench.

Get ready for lights…cameras…and some serious action as Modern Shooter comes to a television near you.

Target Time

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