Justin Perkins – Oceana Pawn, Gun, Bait & Tackle, Virginia Beach, Va. As would be expected for the 2013-2014 deer season, Virginia retailers saw an uptick in calibers perfect for putting venison on the table.
At one firearms outlet, however, there was a marked trend in exactly what hunter were searching for in a deer gun. All in all, the top sellers at Oceana Pawn, Gun, Bait & Tackle have been guns that go light on the wallet.
Many are buying either the Ruger American ($389.00 without a scope) and the Savage AXIS XT rifle with 3-9 scope included ($400).
Top calibers in the bargain-rifle category are .243 Win and .308 Win.
“I’d sell a lot more used deer files, but I just can’t get in many,” notes Justin Perkins, manager of Oceana Pawn, Gun, Bait & Tackle.
On other hunting fronts, Perkins has seen a certain shotgun gain favor with waterfowlers. The Stoeger M3000, a 3-inch semi-auto – selling at $600 – has been the choice for those aiming to plate ducks and geese.
The ABCs of Rifle Shooting by David Watson holds to the idea that shooters should hone their skills and streamline their equipment to achieve the desired results, rather than merely seeking out the newest pieces of equipment. Learn to put the time, effort, and training into the firearm you use—whichever you choose will be an accurate rifle because you’ve adapted to using it, not because it’s the latest and greatest, or most expensive model.
The AK-47 is among the world's most iconic firearms – for good reason. The rifle spread like wildfire after World War II, finding its way into the most remote corners of the globe.
The firearm's profile is unmistakable, even to those who are not gun enthusiasts. The AK's magazine is among the features that makes the rifle so recognizable. A quick glance at the curves and angles of the stamped sheet metal and you know almost automatically which gun's mag well it fits.
The above micro-documentary was produced by the Bosnia- and Herzegovina-base Matra Group, who proudly boasts on its site it builds, “The toughest AK47 magazine made. Ever.”
Really, it is little more than a video of how an AK magazine is made. For AK lovers, gun enthusiasts and individuals who just love manufacturing, however, the video is a bit more. In essence, it's a moment of Zen.
Outside the recent ammo shortage, the .22 Rimfire might be one of the most ubiquitous rounds in the shooting world. A great majority of shooters sent a .22 bullet down range the first time they pulled the trigger.
The little rimfire round is one of the most useful cartridges ever developed. I have not been without at least one firearm so chambered in more than 69 years.
I presently have three rifles and one handgun, including a rifle that I've owned for about 65 years. It was my second rifle ever. My dad traded the first, a single shot Winchester Model 68, in on a Marlin Model 81-DL repeater when I felt that I had outgrown the single shot. My ammo bill went up appreciably with that acquisition.
I bought my ammo at Bill Williams's general store for the hefty price of one penny per round. A ten round purchase was about the most I could ever afford at one time.
My new Marlin was deadly accurate and I kept the local population of starlings, squirrels, cottontail rabbits, possums and ground hogs pretty much in check, so long as I could come up with a nickel or two for ammo. I usually reserved my meager supply of ammo for serious purposes, and used my Daisy BB gun for the more mundane shooting.
Ten cents doesn't sound like much today, but back then it was a lot of money and squandering it on less than necessary usage was deeply frowned by my dad. A product of the great depression, he wasted nothing. I had to account for each round of the precious rimfire ammo.
Over the years, I've owned a number of handguns chambered for the little rimfire. Alas I recently sold my next-to-last remaining handgun so chambered. It was a Smith & Wesson Model 18 Combat Masterpiece with target trigger and hammer. I've also owned and used several Colt Woodsman semi-autos, as well as a Colt Ace or three. I've had Ruger Single-Sixes, High Standard semi-autos, and both Harrington & Richardson and Iver Johnson revolvers.
I once had a S&W Model 34 Kit Gun chambered for the rimfire. I usually carried it with me when deer and antelope hunting, to administer the coup de gras if necessary, and whatever else I might need it for. I've long since lost track of all that have come and gone through my hands, but all have been handy and useful, as well as a lot of fun.
Perhaps the best use for the cartridge is as a training and practice round. Just about every kid learns to shoot with .22 RF chambered firearm. However, it does have some serious applications.
For example, during my college days, I was a ROTC cadet for all four years, and shot competitively on the collegiate rifle team. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when they issued me a new Winchester Model 52D rifle, all the ammunition I could shoot, and keys to the indoor rifle range. I shot that same Model 52 all four years on the team and really hated to have to turn it in upon graduation. I don't have any idea how many rounds I used during those collegiate years, but it was a bunch – many thousands to be sure.
In the hands of a good marksman who is careful with his shots, it is very effective on small game and varmints. One of our best squirrel hunters in my part of Appalachia was Lonnie Murphy. While most local squirrel hunters used shotguns, Lonnie used nothing but his trusty Winchester Model 61 pump. He also wasted no meat as he shot all his squirrels in the head! I had the pleasure of hunting with him a few times and he taught me a lot about hunting the delicious little rodents.
When I was growing up, there were three varieties of .22 RF ammo widely available. They were classified as shorts, longs, and long rifle. Most of the available rifles were chambered for all of the three varieties. A few, mostly so-called Gallery rifles, were chambered for the .22 short only. Every county fair and/or traveling carnival, had at least one shooting gallery equipped with rifles shooting .22 shorts only.
Many use the .22 Rimfire as a plinking load, but it also has many practical applications. For small varmints, there might not be a better or more economical round.
I'm sure that shorts and longs are still loaded in modest quantities, but they have largely disappeared and replaced by the vastly more popular long rifle variety. Though I've not been to a carnival in a very long time, I believe the shooting galleries have also gone the way of the dodo bird. There may still be a few around, but in today's phobia with political correctness, I doubt it.
I've been told, and I have read of Eskimo hunters in the Arctic shooting polar bears with the .22 RF. I don't think I'd want to participate in such a feat, but no doubt, it has happened. The only time that I was ever in an Eskimo hunting camp, the lone rifle in camp was a .223 chambered rifle held together with hose clamps. I didn't see them shoot it, but I'd guess that they would have to close the range to a few feet to hit anything with it. Perhaps that is the reason that they can get away with such small cartridges on large game.
The Smith & Wesson Model 629 V-Comp Performance Center in .44 Magnum offers the variable power to handle anything from varmints to big game.
Let’s get reacquainted with the Smith & Wesson Model 629 V-Comp Performance Center .44 Magnum. This is one versatile and fun firearm.
The PC 629 V-Comp is topped with an adjustable black rear sight and drift-adjustable blaze ramp front. Author photo
In addition to a 4-inch barrel with a removable compensator, adjustable sights, stainless steel construction and synthetic grips, the PC 629 also features a non-fluted cylinder, chrome finishing on the teardrop-shaped hammer and trigger, and a trigger stop to eliminate unnecessary trigger over-travel. Additionally, the extremely skilled Performance Center gunsmiths have tuned up the action.
Upon first firing the revolver, I felt that the black synthetic grips that accompanied the 629 were too thin. I wasn’t getting a good grip on the revolver with my hands, and the thin grips focused the recoil into the web of my hand in particular. I chucked them and ordered a set of Super Rosewood grips from Altamont.
While these grips were absolutely beautiful, they also allowed my hand to slip down the back strap during firing, so I turned to Ahrens for a set of their cocobolo tactical grips.
It is tough to beat the beauty of the Altamont grips, but the Ahrens grips are still pretty good looking, too! They are also thicker, so they disperse the recoil energy over a wider area through your hands for added comfort.
The finger grooves fit well and are deeper, which helps hold your fingers in place, even when dealing with the recoil of follow-up shots.
Now one of the first things you’ll notice about this handgun is the compensator at the muzzle of the 4-inch barrel. The compensator is removable, but why would you? It’s just so darn cool.
At the rear of the top strap is Smith & Wesson’s fully adjustable all-black rear sight. Up front is a drift-adjustable blaze orange ramped front sight that is easy for my 58-year-old eyes to see.
Although the PC shop has tuned the action, it still required more than 12 pounds of pressure to fire the revolver, which is the limit that my digital scale can measure.
The double-action pull is extremely smooth, and before attempting to measure it, I had guessed that it was about 8 pounds. The single action has little take-up and a smooth 4.11-pound trigger pull.
OK, so it looks real cool, but the ultimate test of any firearm comes down to how well does it shoot?
Power Performance
The 629 preferred heavy magnum loads over lighter cowboy rounds. Author photo
I started off with a little warm-up using some Black Hills .44 Special Cowboy loads at 15 feet, and the light cowboy loads in the big 629 are very pleasant to shoot. I then moved back to see what she could do at 21 feet.
Quite frankly, I was a little disappointed with the spread of this group and seriously began to question my shooting skills.
My fears were put to rest when I set up another target at 21 feet and fed the 629 some PMC 240-grain .44 Magnum ammo. That group was much more respectable. Clearly this revolver suffered from some self-esteem issues when fed the puny cowboy loads, and it craved to show off what it could do when allowed to handle the full power magnums. But I do have to admit that after firing the first two rounds, I retreated to my range bag to grab a shooting glove.
As powerful as the Magnum loads were, the revolver was a lot of fun to handle. Power and accuracy combined can be quite a rush. So before packing up my gear and filing away all of the little bull’s-eye targets, I just couldn’t resist running a Zombified Nazi out to 31 feet and letting him have the last four rounds of the PMC Magnum ammo. To see all four rounds touching brought a big smile from yours truly.
Obviously a compensated .44 Magnum would be a great choice for the hunter who prefers to take game with a handgun. However, the 4-inch tube and the big front sight also make it a darn good choice for defending hearth and home. Whether you find yourself attacked by man, beast or a Chrysler 300 ala Dirty Harry, the punch of the .44 Magnum will always put the odds in your favor.
This article appeared in the May 15, 2014 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
S&W PC 629 V-Comp Caliber: .44 Magnum Action: Double/single Capacity: 6 rounds Barrel: 4” with removable compensator Front Sight: Dovetail adjustable with blaze orange insert Rear Sight: Adjustable black rear sight Construction: Stainless steel Weight: 3.11 lbs. Overall Length: 10” Grips: Synthetic SRP: $1,509 Website: smith-wesson.com
Flying Circle Bags has released a slew of new gun cases. This includes a handy waist pack that fits nearly any revolver or compact/sub-compact pistol.
Flying Circle Bags has earned top marks as a soft luggage manufacturer. Now the Texas-based company is taking aim at shooters, expanding its catalog with a new line of gun cases for every type of firearm.
When it comes to soft luggage, Flying Circle Bags has been a favorite of both military and civilian consumers. Now, the Texas manufacturer is aiming to please gun owners of both communities.
Flying Circle announced recently it is expanding its catalog to include gun cases, a selection that covers nearly every conceivable type of firearm. In all, the company has introduced five new cases, the majority designed purely for firearms transportation.
The company has, however, come up with some solutions for tasks other than getting a gun from point A to point B. One of the most eye-catching is Flying Circle’s Concealed Carry Waist Pack.
While off-body carry isn’t always ideal, it is sometimes the only practical choice. Flying Circle makes the decision a bit easier with its pack offering a multitude of features right in line with the needs of most people who concealed carry.
Perhaps the handiest feature of the pack is the inclusion of a versatile holster in the main compartment. The inclusion of a removable, ambidextrous holster ensures a handgun is always at the ready, facilitating rapid access to the firearm's grip and a clean draw from the pack. The holster fits nearly any compact or sub-compact pistol and can be further adjusted to present the firearm at the most convenient angle.
The pack is adjustable to nearly any body size with a belt that can fit up to a 42-inch waist. It also comes outfitted with a side release buckle that is concealed to keep it secure.
The pack’s padded back with mesh vent fabric adds to its comfort. And it has extra room to store more than just a handgun. A front zipper pocket provides space for keys, wallet and what have you.
The other cases Flying Circle is introducing includes its Scoped Carbine Case, Scoped Rifle Case, Small Tactical Pistol Rug and Large Tactical Pistol Rug.
The carbine case fits firearms up to 34 inches in length, while the rifle case can handle guns up to 47 inches in length. Each boasts a variety of pockets tailored to carry magazines and extra ammunition. And they each are outfitted with Flying Circle’s Vehicle Attachment System.
The system utilizes four-point, adjustable webbing and side-release buckles to attach the case to a roll cage or cargo rack, for safe and easy storage and transportation.
The Small and Large Pistol Rugs fit most compact and sub-compact pistols and full-sized revolvers. The small rug accommodates handguns up to 8.5 inches in length, and the large rug can fit guns up to 12.75 inches in length. Each has a side zippered pocket that will hold a couple extra magazines, ammo, or mobile phone.
Flying Circle's gun cases and packs are constructed of durable water resistant polyester fabric or MultiCam ripstop nylon with PVC backing. The material gives structure to the case, making them semi-rigid, without adding weight. Each product features tactile zipper pulls to allow for easy identification by feel between weapon and accessory pockets.
The cases run the gamut of prices. At the low end, the fabric model of the Small Pistol Rug retails for $9.50 on Flying Circle's website. At the high end, the MultiCam version of the Scoped Carbine Case runs $95.
Beretta is completely pulling up stakes in Maryland, after the state passed harsh gun-control legislation.
With a press release Tuesday, Beretta signaled it is the most recent gun maker to join the migration south.
The Italian company, announced it is moving its complete U.S. manufacturing operations from Accokeek, Md., to Gallatin, Tenn. And the world’s oldest gun manufacturer made no bones about why it is following the lead of so many others in its industry.
In short, Maryland’s recently enacted draconian gun legislation had the historic company fearing for its future in the state. From Beretta's press release:
During the legislative session in Maryland that resulted in passage of the Firearm Safety Act of 2013, the version of the statute that passed the Maryland Senate would have prohibited Beretta U.S.A. from being able to manufacture, store or even import into the State products that we sell to customers throughout the United States and around the world. While we were able in the Maryland House of Delegates to reverse some of those obstructive provisions, the possibility that such restrictions might be reinstated in the future leaves us very worried about the wisdom of maintaining a firearm manufacturing factory in the State, stated Jeff Cooper, General Manager for Beretta U.S.A. Corp.
While we had originally planned to use the Tennessee facility for new equipment and for production of new product lines only, we have decided that it is more prudent from the point of view of our future welfare to move the Maryland production lines in their entirety to the new Tennessee facility, Cooper added.
Beretta is the latest in a slew of gun companies that have pulled up stakes due to legislation hostel to the Second Amendment. Nearly every state that jumped on the gun-control bandwagon the past couple of years has seen gun and gun accessory manufacturers based in their state move operations in one form or another.
Beretta anticipates it will invest some $45 million in building and equipment and will employ 300 employees at its Tennessee facility the next five years. The company, however, presently has no plans in moving its administrative and executive functions from Maryland.
Nickel brass cases are visually appealing since the coating resists tarnishing after being handled. Photo courtesy Massaro Media Group and JNJphotographics.
Nickel-plated cases are the shining gems of ammunition, but using the component for reloading takes some understanding of the material's characteristics.
When I first saw nickel brass cases around twenty or so years ago, I was immediately enamored. They were shiny, almost mirror-like, and when I read that they wouldn’t tarnish like a regular brass case, I simply had to have some.
I still use them for some applications, but in those twenty years, I’ve had some experiences with them that have forced me to rethink their uses.
Nickel-Plated Case Construction
The construction of these cases is relatively simple. They are a brass cartridge case, plated in nickel. Nickel is a metal that is still malleable enough to be worked, yet does not tarnish when carried in a leather shell holder or when handled with sweaty hands. These features are good, but they come at a price.
Reloading Considerations Of Nickel-Plated Cases
Nickel is harder than brass, and in repeated uses will scratch the inside of a standard reloading die. They are also more apt to stick in a reloading die. I know this firsthand, because when I first tried to load some ammunition for my .375 Holland & Holland Magnum, all I had was nickel-plated cases, and I simply didn’t use enough lubricant in the resizing process. Yep, I stuck that case in the resizing die so bad it seemed like I had welded the case in there. Had to toss that die, and I never forgot it.
Nickel cases also seem to vary a bit more in case volume. This can pose a problem in higher-pressure rifle cartridges. I have used “nickel brass” in my .22-250 Remington and my .300 Winchester Magnum, and here’s what I’ve noticed. The cases that performed with the same level of accuracy as their all brass counterparts had a different point of impact while using the same powder charge, primer type and brand, and the same particular bullet.
This effect is all but unnoticeable in the pistol cartridges, but the same drawbacks of reloading die damage apply unless you use a carbide or titanium resizing die. I use them frequently, and I don’t have an issue resizing nickel-plated pistol brass. I do however believe that as a result of the flaring of a pistol case’s mouth the harder nickel brass has a shorter life than the all brass variety.
Then there’s the issue of having small bits of nickel flake off into your firearm’s chamber or barrel, and that can be a problem. Brass can be removed with a good solvent, but nickel can’t be removed as easily, so when you clean your gun, be sure and use a good brush to remove all those tiny nickel fragments.
Usage Of Nickel-Plated Cases
Now, these issues don’t stop me from using nickel-plated brass. In fact, in some rifles, I use it almost exclusively. My favorite safari rifle, a Winchester Model 70 in .416 Remington Magnum, is one example.
When I first bought the rifle, Remington only offered nickel-plated brass as a reloading component. Therefore, I developed the load for this big stick using the case volume of the nickel cartridge cases, and it has proved to be a very accurate rifle and load. I use the nickel brass for all of my soft-point loads and reserve the brass cases for the solid bullets that African big game requires.
The soft points are what I use most often, and being a sweaty Italian in the tropical sun, I don’t worry about my paws tarnishing the cartridge cases while handling them on safari. This idea of two types and colors of cartridges makes them immediately identifiable. I use those nickel cases for my .300 Winchester specifically for the slower 220-grain loads that I use for black bear, and I can easily differentiate between those and the brass-cased, and much faster 180-grain loads I use for long-range work.
While nickel brass cases are sharp looking care must be taken when reloaded. Harder than brass, nickel has the potential to scratch the inside of some dies. Photo courtesy Massaro Media Group and JNJphotographics.
If you choose to load nickel-plated brass in your rifle, I recommend you pick up enough to create a good amount of ammunition, so that you don’t have to worry about a different point of impact with all brass cases. If you’re worried about pinpoint accuracy from your handgun, I would recommend segregating the brass from the nickel, and range testing the two to see if there is any difference in target impact.
I’d be willing to bet you won’t, but it’s always good to know.
From black guns, tactical rifles or Modern Sporting Rifles (MSR) to the inaccurate and slanderous “assault rifle,” the AR has been called more names than Slick Willie. Editor Doug Howlett thinks it should have one more—the UFF.
I was recently asked by a contributor whether I preferred he use the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)-endorsed MSR (Modern Sporting Rifle) when referring to an AR-style rifle, the term tactical or the trademarked, but generically used, AR itself.
Throughout its 50-year history these firearms have also been called assault rifles and black guns, and I’m sure a few other terms that escape me at the moment, both from within the shooting community and outside of it.
I had to ponder my answer before responding, and I have to admit, the more I thought about it, the more uncertain I was of the correct one. As a writer myself, I like the luxury of having as many words as possible at my disposal to describe an object or action. Few things are more tedious to read than a story where the same words are used over and over again.
I’ve always had issues with the term assault rifle since it describes an action the gun can be used for, not the gun itself. It seems if someone is “assaulting” me with a weapon, and I have an AR, then it is technically a defensive rifle in my hands—and a damn good one at that.
I don’t have an issue with the MSR designation, and I certainly get the motivation behind the NSSF’s move to clarify the term for the media, most of whom often know little to nothing about guns. But it can be cumbersome. And while I’m nearly as old as the AR design itself, I, too, like to think of myself not so much old as “modern.” But my 14-year-old daughter and her friends would probably disagree.
I suppose my go-to designation would be “tactical rifle,” since it covers ARs and other military-inspired designs, is true to the gun’s utility and, to be totally honest, is just much cooler sounding.
Regardless of what you call it, it’s a great design, boasts versatility for nearly every shooting purpose, delivers minimal recoil, is accurate and with a six-position stock, can fit most every shooter with on-the-spot adjustments.
Maybe it should just be called a UFF—for Ultimate Freakin’ Firearm. That’s certainly what it is. Yeah, lets call it that.
With a heavier barrel than the rest of Ruger's American Rifle line, the Predator looks to be a wickedly accurate bolt-action rifle.
Ruger has enlarged its popular American Rifle line with the introduction of the Predator. And like its name suggests, the bolt-action rifle is filled with features certain to win over predator and varmint hunters.
Ruger struck upon a heck of a package when it introduced the American Rifle a few years back.
The Connecticut company delivered an accurate and practical bolt-action rifle that had all the bells and whistles, including a move away from proprietary features. The one thing, however, Ruger didn’t include as a part of its new line was a hefty price tag.
The American Rifle remains one of the most affordable bolt-actions on the market. And it is a line that continues to expand to fit a large swath of the shooting and hunting community.
Ruger’s latest enlargement of the American Rifle line is its recently introduced Predator. The rifle includes the features that made the line’s growth explode in popularity; but Ruger has thrown in a couple extras that make it appeal to predator hunters and long-range shooters.
Along that line, the primary aspect likely to get coyote hunters and the like howling is the Predator’s barrel. Ruger has incorporated a couple of twist into its new firearm in an attempt to make it more accurate and useful.
First off, the cold-forged barrel is heavier than any other in the American line. This addition should give the rifle superior harmonics and aid in mitigating heat build up after shooting long strings. Even with a heavy barrel, Ruger has kept an eye on maintaining the Predator's field-rifle chops. The gun tips the scales at a svelte 6.35 to 6.62 pounds – depending on caliber – with the barrels taper keeping its weight within reason.
The other feature of the barrel certain to get ear perked up is the inclusion of threading at the muzzle. This makes the rifle suppressor ready right out of the box, a feature certain to win fans among the growing crowd who use the accessory for hunting. The threads are standard for respective calibers, 1/2″-28 for its .22 and .204 rifles and 5/8″-24 on rifles chambered for larger calibers.
Presently, the Predator version is available in six calibers – .223 Rem., .204 Ruger, .22-250 Rem., .243 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win.
The Predator line boasts a moss green composite stock and also comes outfitted with a one-piece aluminum scope rail. But it also has retained a number of features that have become highly popular in other versions of the American Rifle.
Ruger maintained the Marksman Adjustable Trigger, a feature popular with the company's American Rifles.
The line comes with the Ruger's Marksman Adjustable Trigger standard, allowing the pull weight to be modified from between three and five pounds. The rifle utilize the company’s Power Bedding system, stainless-steel bedding blocks that positively locate the receiver and free float the barrel.
The Predator retains the Ruger American Rifle's three-lug, 70-degree bolt that provides ample scope clearance. The bolt also utilizes a full diameter body and dual cocking cams for smooth, easy cycling from the shoulder. The rifle has a four-round (five-round for .223 Rem. and .204 Ruger) rotary magazine that fits flush with the stock and offers the smooth feed.
The Predator is slightly more expensive than the standard model of American Rifle. But with an MSRP of $489, the firearm is extremely well priced, even for the tightest of budgets.
Here’s a way you may be able to avoid having to use your handgun in self-defense, thanks to a simple trick that costs less than $30.
If you carry a legally concealed handgun for protection an old trick might become a last-chance tactical option. That trick is the decoy wallet.
Back in the ‘70s, in crime ravaged cities where executives and street hoods worked cheek by jowl, some executives who couldn’t carry guns for protection carried a second wallet for deception.
When confronted by a mugger they simply reached into their off-side hip pocket, tossed what appeared to be their wallet and ran like hell in the other direction (undercover cops used the same trick if they got bounced on a stakeout and didn’t want to get made.
It’s an option for the concealed carry permit holder smart enough to know that throwing thirty bucks worth of fake wallet at a street thug may be a lot cheaper than throwing a hundred grand at a good defense lawyer.
I know … I know … I’m going to get lots of colorful invective like, “This is cowardice!” or “We need to take back our streets!” and “If somebody threatens to hurt me they should get shot!”
Really? Do you understand that even if you are in the right you may still be criminally charged? Are you aware that if you are not criminally charged and you own property, you may be subject to civil action by the dead thug’s grieving widow and children (who will get polished up by their lawyer and placed in the front row of the court room just opposite the jury box).
And if you must use lethal force and start out behind the action curve, (you are already at the mercy of his weapon) tossing a decoy wallet, or even your real one at the feet of the armed assailant may take his eyes off your gun hand just long enough to even the odds.
No “trick” is ever foolproof nor should be depended upon to overcome lack of situational awareness or training in the fundamentals. But the decoy wallet has worked in the past — and might just give you that crazy little edge that saves the day.
Editor’s Note: Got a question for Joseph Terry about concealed carry not covered here? Log in and post your question in the comments below.
At a recent estate sale of 400 mostly older firearms, Curt Kramer was surprised to see gun parts and project guns go for such high prices.
The owner of Kramer Auctions points out, these guns will usually have some non-factory original parts or have been modified in some way (the barrel shortened, for example) or be missing various parts.
Several such Marlin 1895’s went for $500 to $1,500, when Kramer expected them to fetch between $400 and $800.
“There were a lot of people bidding on these guns, many more than I was expecting,” Kramer said. “That tells me there are a lot of guys doing vintage gun projects, a lot of gunsmiths working on old guns, and the original parts are getting hard to find.”
Another mild eye opener: demand for vintage but rather off-beat military rifles.
An Italian Model 1891/28 Carbine with bayonet sold for $400, while an Italian 1938 Calvary Carbine with folding bayonet went for $210, approximately twice Kramer’s pre-auction estimates.
Editor's note, this brief originally appeared in the January 13, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Beretta proudly touts itself as, “born from the dream and capability of a renaissance craftsman.” It’s hard to argue against the statement.
The Italian company has become renown for its ability to merge form and function to produce firearms of superior aesthetics and performance. This holds true for Beretta’s latest addition to its shotgun catalog.
Earlier this month, the oldest firearms manufacturer in the world unveiled the 690 Field III. And at first blush, the 12-gauge appears to have the delightful lines and mechanical genius of previous Beretta over-under shotguns.
Dick Jones was in Tuscany when Beretta revealed its new creation. The Gun Digest the Magazine contributor will have a review of the firearm in an upcoming edition. But he publish some initial observations of the shotgun on Outdoorhub.com:
When I heard Beretta had a new shotgun to introduce, I feared the new gun might be the replacement for the 686 and that it couldn’t possibly be an improvement on what’s been a truly great design. The compact receiver on the 686 line has made for an easy to carry and graceful gun that proven as reliable as a rock. The new 690 Field III that Beretta recently revealed to the public on a writer’s retreat in central Italy is a functional improvement of the 686 rather than a completely new design with improvements in weight and function. The forearm hardware on the 690 is aluminum, and the locking system is improved for better wear resistance. The locking lugs are now curved and with a larger contact area for extra strength. The hinge pin is larger for longer wear and there’s a new ejector system that uses something called the Eco Ejectors that can be converted to work as extractors. These changes have been made without increasing the depth of the action, though it is slightly wider.
Jones mainly looked at some of the functional and material aspects of the over-under shotgun. But there are also a number of other features Beretta incorporated into its new smoothbore.
Perhaps the most eye catching is new roll marked game scene engraving on the receiver. The artistic addition is worthy of a legacy shotgun and is enhanced by a stunning high-grade walnut stock.
The 690 is a hunting version of Beretta’s high-end trap gun, the 692. Thus, the gun has a couple features making it more rugged. The barrel is made from Beretta’s durable nickel/chrome/molybdenum/steel alloy – Steelium. And the stock is hand oiled to create a more resilient moisture barrier.
The 12-gauge is available with 26-, 28- and 30-inch barrels and with either 35/55 or 38/60 stock drops, in both cast on and off. Models with Beretta’s Optima-Choke HP system come with five different chokes. Fixed-choke models are available upon request. Beretta's main website did not have an MSRP listed on the 690.
Figuring out the greatest cartridges of all time has the benefit of having to test a ton of ammo.
When it comes to talking about the great cartridges of the world, there is plenty of ammo to support many arguments.
I'll ask the question for you esteemed reader, what divine proclamation anointed your humble scribe the guru of all the cartridges that exists? The answer is simple, there is no such anointment. Well, perhaps my publisher indicated such, but that certainly isn't divine providence.
I have, however, had a long and varied shooting and hunting career. I received my first firearm, a Winchester youth rifle (a Model 68 I believe it was), single-shot .22 RF, at the ripe old age of six years. If I make it to Mid-August this year, I'll turn seventy-six. Math has never been my strong suite, but I think that gives me seventy years of shooting experience.
In addition, for more than four decades, I have earned at least a part of my living writing about shooting, hunting, and firearms. I also spent twenty-six years wearing a US Army uniform as a professional soldier.
In that time, I've shot just about every commercially available cartridge at least a few times. Those that I've not personally fired, I've generally witnessed them in action, either on the range or in the field.
The smallest I've shot is the .17 rimfire, and the largest, a .600 Nitro Express. I have never known anyone that owned a .700 NE, and the last time I had any information on the subject a single round of .700 ammo was $100.00 or more. I'll leave that one to one of the youngsters in the business.
I have learned a few things in my seven-decade shooting career so far. One is that shooters are a finicky lot with a strong tendency to pick a lot of nits.
The truth be told, practically speaking that is, we have at least ten or fifteen times the number of cartridges available that any reasonably sane person could possibly justify needing. However, since when does NEED enter into the decision making process. The fact that one wants some off-the-wall, ten-times duplicated cartridge is enough justification. If need was the determining factor, most of the rifle and ammunition manufacturers would have gone out of business eons ago.
The average North American hunter, for example, could make it very nicely with only three or four rifles. Add a couple handguns and a couple shotguns, and he could handle anything in North America very handily. For the International hunter, add one more rifle and he'd be set for anything from a titmouse to a T-Rex.
One of the most experienced hunters that I knew, the late C. J. McElroy, took just about every animal on our earth with one rifle, a .300 Weatherby Mark V. He did, later in life, switch to a 7mm Weatherby Mark V with its softer recoil. He told me he couldn't tell any difference in killing power between the two. Another, the late Grancel Fitz, took all twenty-five legal species of North American game, using but one rifle, a Griffin & Howe .30-06. Those two examples should answer the NEED debate quite nicely.
I will add one thing, however, neither Mr. McElroy nor Mr. Fitz were gun nuts. Both were pragmatic men that viewed their rifle as a tool, and nothing more.
Truly we live in the golden age of ammo. There are more calibers and cartridges available now than at any other time in the history of firearms.
Mr. McElroy's rifle was a stock factory Weatherby Mark V .300, and when he retired it in favor of another, but chambered for the 7mm Weatherby, the .300 was the most dilapidated rifle I think I've ever seen. It looked as though Mac had used it for a boat anchor for at least a decade or two. At least, Mr. Fitz had Griffin & Howe make his rifle for him. He treated it a bit better than Mac did his, but nevertheless it was still a tool to him.
However, when rifle, handgun, or shotgun nuttiness enters the equation, all sanity and reason goes out the window.
Pragmatism gives way to silliness. The nits get smaller and smaller, but picking them gets more and more frequent. I can't condemn anyone for this malady, as I am one of the better examples of the genre. Even so, if forced to do so, I could eliminate most of my vault contents and pretty much be unaffected in a practical sense in the field, or on the range, or defending my Arizona pea patch.
What follows then is a listing of cartridges that I have found to be as good or better than most in their category, and why I've found them to be so.
The Beretta M9, in service since 1985, might soon be replaced as the U.S. Army's service pistol.
It’s official, the U.S. Army is in the market for a new handgun.
The military branch formally signaled it is hunting for the replacement to the Beretta M9 in June when it issued a Request for Information, initiating the search for a new sidearm. Though this is not the first indication the army and other service branches were moving in the direction of replacing the 9x19mm pistol.
According to National Defense Magazine, the Air Force initiated a joint project with the Army in 2008, known as the Modular Handgun System. The project investigated potential replacements for the M9 that were currently available on the market. And the undertaking kicked the door wide open for the new sidearm, not limiting competing models on calibers or features.
In fact, an RFI filed in January by the Army was extremely vague in exactly what the service branches were searching for in a handgun. The only hard information on the project, according to Defense Media Network, were the standards by which the handguns would be evaluated.
The article stated, the Army would assess competing handguns at ranges from 0 to 50 meters and in ballistic gelatin 0- to 14-inches thick. The accuracy standard for competitors, a 90-percent or better probability of a hit on a 4-inch circle at 50 meters from a test fixture. The potential replacement also must have a rating of 2,000 mean rounds between stoppages and 10,000 mean rounds between failure.
According to The Washington Times, the Army plans on evaluating .45ACP, .357 SIG and .40 S&W in the selection process. There is also talk of looking into features such as night sights and Picatinny Rails.
Spurring the drive for a new service pistol has been consistent complaints about the M9 by soldiers. Servicemen have repeatedly express a lack of confidence in the handgun, this has included complaints by soldiers who served in Afghanistan about the 9mm NATO round being underpowered.
There is also a push to make a more resilient handgun. The M9 has been criticized for breaking too easily. And there has been discussion of extending the lifetime of the new pistol past its predecessor. The M9 is reported to have a 17,000-round service life. The Army would like the new handgun to last 25,000 to 35,000 rounds.
The winner of the new government contract has the potential to reap a windfall with the Army planning on purchasing 400,000 new pistols, according to Military.com. Presently, there are some 200,000 M9s in service.
The move to replace the Army’s service pistol has drawn criticism from some corners. It has been pointed out by some that the project comes in the midst of defense-spending cuts. It also comes on the heels of the Army’s fruitless campaign to replace the M4 Carbine.
The M9 has been a somewhat controversial firearm since the Army adopted it in 1985. The handgun rubbed many the wrong way since it displaced the M1911A1, which was the service branch’s sidearm of choice since 1911.
Many tend to think the belt on belted magnums is to help the cartridges handle high pressure. In reality, the belt creates proper headspace in a rifle's chamber. Photo courtesy Massaro Media Group and JNJphotographics.
I love them. They captured my heart as a young man.
Wide bodied, with that sexy belt of brass just in front of the case head, and a name that inferred an unprecedented level of power: “Magnum.” I’d raise my eyebrows and prick up my ears like a German shepherd every time I read one of Col. Boddington’s articles where he highlighted one of the new magnum cases.
To my unknowing eyes, the cartridge that had that big belt of brass could withstand unearthly pressures; it just had to, because it was built so strong.
Well, time and education has revealed the truth of it all. That beautiful belt has nothing at all to do with strength; it serves to function as a means of headspacing. Allow me to rewind the clock 100 years or so.
The good gents at Holland & Holland had developed a high powered (for the day) .375” diameter cartridge. Not the .375 H&H Magnum we all know and love, but a cartridge called the “Veloplex.” As it didn’t quite fit the bill, they kept the bore diameter and revamped the case. What those proper British fellows were after was a cartridge that would offer the easy feeding attributes of those new fangled rimless cases, but still give the positive headspacing of the rimmed cartridges.
Rimmed cartridges didn’t require a shoulder for headspace, yet they don’t feed well from a box magazine rifle. Rimless cases need (generally speaking, there are exceptions) a shoulder for headspace. I’m not sure who the genius was at H&H that said (at least this is how I can vision it) “Why not put a small rim ahead of the rimless case head, and Bob’s your uncle, we’ve got the best of both worlds!”
The long and short of it is that the gentleman was onto something.
The .375 H&H Magnum, and its junior counterpart, the .300 H&H Magnum, both headspace off the belt, not off the shoulder. The very slight shoulder on the .375 H&H and the sloping shoulder of the .300 H&H are the features that give those cases the “smooth feeding” quality that proponents of those cartridges love so much. I believe the same could be said of the .416 Remington Magnum. The straight walled .458 Winchester Magnum and the .458 Lott are examples of cases that have no shoulder and also headspace off the belt.
The more familiar magnums, like the .300 Winchester Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, .338 Winchester Magnum and .300 Weatherby Magnum all headspace off the cartridge shoulder, and perform best when cases are resized to have that shoulder at the proper dimension. Most every other cartridge that features the H&H style belt will use the shoulder for headspace, and the belt on this style case is non-functional.
The same decade that saw the birth of the .375 H&H Magnum would bear witness to the release of the .404 Jeffery’s and the .416 Rigby. Although neither of these cases had the “Magnum” title, they certainly performed like one. The .416 Rigby has a very steep shoulder (almost 45 degrees) and has been used as the parent case for some of our modern magnum sweethearts: the .338 Lapua Magnum and .450 Rigby.
All three of those cases are beltless, and perform just fine. The .404 Jeff went on to be the platform for Remington’s Ultra Magnum series. Case wall were expanded to near parallel, and necked down to hold 7mm, .308”, .338” and .375” diameter bullets, and my buddy Bryce Towsley has a great wildcat based on this case necked to hold .358” bullets. The popular Winchester Short Magnum series would also be a beltless design.
The more familiar magnums, like the above .300 Winchester Magnum, headspace off the cartridge shoulder, and perform best when cases are resized to have that shoulder at the proper dimension. Photo courtesy Massaro Media Group and JNJphotographics.
All the beltless cases are, in some theories, more “inherently accurate.” I can’t verify that theory, as I’ve seen some incredible accuracy from both kinds of cases.
On the positive side, if you shoot a belted magnum case, can create brass from other cases based on the H&H platform. On the downside, there is some case stretching that occurs just in front of the belt, which may shorten case life.
If you’re picking out a new magnum cartridge, don’t feel that you must have that belt. But I’m not getting rid of my .300 Winchester, .375 H&H or .416 Remington any time soon!
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 of the best concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
Justin Perkins – Oceana Pawn, Gun, Bait & Tackle, Virginia Beach, Va.
