Although there has been some initial bias towards the AR as a hunting firearm, more and more sportsmen are favoring the AR as the gun of choice when heading into the woods. Patrick Hayes Photo
While misperceptions about tactical rifles remain among the sporting public, and even some division remains among sportsmen in camp (one recent magazine article talked about being the first guy in camp with an AR and how to present yourself as a good ambassador for the tactical gun crowd), studies show that opinions are changing.
One 2011 study commissioned by the National Shooting Sports Foundation found that just over 18 percent of all gun owners now own an AR-style rifle (probably higher since 2013). Of those, nearly 20 percent say they use them for hunting.
This is a sizable number given the relatively recent arrival of ARs on the hunting scene but will likely only continue to trend upwards as more sportsmen become familiar with the platform.
Of course, nobody will ever accuse hunters—at least not most of them—of being on the forefront of cutting edge changes in the way they live or do things. Admittedly, most of us hunt out of a respect for the traditions and simple pleasures the outdoors offers.
But as younger hunters raised in a technologically focused society take to the woods and start to produce their own income, the AR promises to be as continuing a presence in hunting camp as it does in the capable hands of our military forces.
Ninety-four percent of those surveyed said they approve of the use of semi-auto AR-platform rifles for target shooting. That number dropped to a 75 percent approval rating when asked if they thought those same guns should be used for hunting.
While I have found no data measuring those same attitudes, say just four or five years ago, I believe it would be safe to assume, that the percentage of approving hunters and shooters has grown considerably.
More telling of where the field of sporting ARs is likely to go can be found in the responses where approximately 20 percent of those surveyed said they intend to purchase a modern sporting rifle within the next 12 months. Can you say, “Coming to a camp near you!”
Spend any time shooting trap and skeet and it quickly becomes apparent coming up with a proper and effective sight picture can be difficult.
The eye has a natural tenancy to be drawn straight down the barrel, which can cause problems – especially in skeet. With clays traveling side to side, a sight picture straight down the barrel means the shot ends up trailing the clay. Instead, shooters need to become accustom to tracking the clay with their eyes while positioning the shotgun at a proper lead.
In some respects, it's the same theory behind catching baseball, softball or football – your eyes are focused on one thing, while your hands are doing something else. Gil and Vicki Ash of OPS Shooting School have a quick and easy way to build good habits in acquiring a proper sight picture and lead in the video above.
The best part of the Ash's method is it can be done nearly anywhere – from backyard to living room (with an unloaded gun, of course). And it's one of those whacky shooting drills that almost seem too simple to work. But if given a chance, it is almost certain to pay dividends the next time you hit the range.
Savage Model 1907 Field Test Pistol. (Photo courtesy Rock Island Auction Company). Taking a gander at the Savage Model 1907 it's difficult not to ponder what if…
The delayed blowback single-action semi-automatic pistol is obscure as spats nowadays. But the handgun – in it's .45 ACP iteration – stood at the precipice of greatness. The Savage 1907 was, after all, the handgun that went toe-to-toe with the Model 1911.
The pistol was Savage's first and only attempt at procuring a military contract for a sidearm and Elbert H. Searle's design did surprisingly well. The 1907 – along with what became the Colt 1911 – was one of the last two guns standing in the military field trials.
Of course, firearms enthusiasts all know how the story ends – the laurels and glory went to the 1911 and John Browning. The video below, details what happened in this epic battle of designs and what did in the 1907.
Despite the failure as a .45 ACP, the 1907 did go on to find success as a pocket pistol chambered in .32 and .380 ACP. And it went on to influence the designs of the Savage 1915 and 1917.
While it didn't cut muster as a military weapon, Searle's design is interesting. As the National Firearms Museum points out, the pistol is elegantly simple:
This arm contained only 34 parts and contained no screws or flat springs. A distinctive feature of the original design was the inclusion of checkered sheet metal stocks that were held in place by simple friction. The gun incorporated a hammer/cocking piece that was directly connected to the firing pin. This assembly was in turn housed within a modular breechblock that also contained the mainspring and a top-mounted notched extractor that doubled as a rear sight.
Arguably, the 1911 winning the military contract was a factor in its un-paralleled influence on the firearms world. There are few guns on the market that don’t take something from the 1911, whether in action or aesthetics. Which kind of make one scratch their head about what if the Savage 1907 would have won the contract. Would modern pistols designs have favored the svelte barrel lines of the 1907? Would designers have preferred variations on the blowback action? Answers to these and other questions, obviously, will forever linger in the realm of conjecture.
Only 200 or so 1907s chambered in .45 ACP were produced, all for military trials. In turn, the pistol is rare and desirable; The Standard Catalog of Firearms lists a .45 1907 in excellent condition at $13,500. In the end, it appears Savage's loss has turned out to be collectors' gain.
Flashbang Holsters entered the market with a unique under bra holster for women, but quickly expanded its line to include more traditional holster options like these excellent “Baby Face” models – for women and men carrying under varying circumstances and risk profiles.
Your life circumstances affect your “risk profile,” which has as much bearing on choosing the best concealed carry holster as which gun you choose to carry.
I get asked a lot of questions about concealed carry holsters, usually focused on comfort and security for the weapon. Those are important attributes but rank below an often overlooked factor of greater importance—your personal risk profile.
If you're an armed professional whose employment requires you to go in harm’s way, the most important variable would probably be speed of presentation. This “high-risk” profile would warrant a Kydex-type holster, worn on the belt on the strong side, with a slight forward tilt.
For most shooters in this risk profile, including a civilian whose life situation places them in a dangerous environment, this is likely the carry method that would facilitate the quickest draw from a standing position.
However, if you are a civilian (male) who is fortunate enough to live in a low risk town but must traverse a bad area on your regular commute to work, the most important variable might be ease of access while seated in the car.
For this application an ankle holster may be the best choice, allowing you to get to the gun quickly while in the car. Car-jacking is usually best resisted from within the car. You can present from the ankle in about one quarter of the time it takes to unclip the seatbelt, get through your cover garment, twist your torso radically and present the gun from a belt holster.
Because ankle holsters usually require a smaller pistol or revolver, when arriving at work it can be discretely transferred from its “driving position” to a jacket pocket without getting out of the car.
For women in this risk profile, a belt carry cross-draw would probably be the quickest presentation but it is less comfortable than an ankle presentation for most people and it requires pants.
If you are fortunate enough to live and work in a relatively safe area and want to be armed “just in case,” then the most important tactical variable is likely comfort. If carry becomes tedious it will soon be discarded out of habit.
When choosing a concealed carry holster, both gun and comfort play obvious roles. But keep your lifestyle and personal risk profile in mind, too—it's critical to getting the best practical fit.
For the most part, an actual PEQ can be a difficult item to procure. Certainly, the mil-spec laser sights can be found floating around here and there on the Internet, but their cost is prohibitive.
As far as replicas are concerned, typically they’re all sizzle and little steak. Sure they look like their military counterparts, but for the most part they add little more than a superficial quality to a rifle.
These drawbacks are, in part, why one of Sightmark’s newest products is a relief. One glimpse at the LoPro Combo is enough to discern it was inspired by what is fixed on our military’s M4s. But upon closer inspection, the multi-functional accessory is more than just a good-looking bobble. It is practical tactical.
The LoPro Combo delivers two popular AR accessories in one compact package, allowing shooters to add a laser sight and flashlight in one fell swoop. And the best part is Sightmark has not scrimped on either device.
The sight is Class IIIA green laser, powerful enough to handle almost any situation that might be thrown at a shooter. It has its place in the daytime with a range of around 50 yards when the sun is out, but it really shines at night reaching out to 600 yards.
The sight is also fully hand adjustable for windage and elevations with 1-inch MOA click adjustments turrets. And the unit is designed to keep its zero not matter how roughly it’s treated.
The LoPro is constructed of high performance thermoplastic that yields a weather resistance rating of IPX6 – that's equivalent to high-seas conditions. The unit is also built for tactical durability, resistant to 1000G’s of maximum recoil.
The laser isn’t the only souped-up aspect of the LoPro with the flashlight boasting plenty of power. The LED flashlight is 220 lumens, more than enough to light up a room or to quickly spot a target. To some, the flashlight is among the most important accessories that can be added to a defensive AR.
The multi-functional laser and flashlight device can be mounted on a Picatinny or Weaver rail and is intended to work on any AR, no matter its setup. It is designed to function either in front of a riflescope, without interference with the field of view, or on the side or bottom of a quad rail.
It has pressure-pad controls, to reduce the chance of fumbling for the on-off switch when it counts. The unit is powered off a 3V Lithium battery, giving the laser 12 hours of life, the flashlight 17 and both devices run in conjunction 4.5.
Given the versatility of the LoPro, the unit checks in at a moderate price. Sightmark sells it for $179.96 on its website and it is also available at a number of other shooting retailers. The drawback of the LoPro is it might not float minimalists' boats. The unit is larger than just a flashlight or lower-powered laser sights. Like all accessories, it will have its fans and those who will turn their noses up.
Certainly, the unit won’t appeal to everyone. But for those looking for a practical PEQ-style device to top off their rifle, the LoPro is one that has the potential to steal the spotlight.
Typically, Kirsten Joy Weiss can be found attempting some pretty wild trick shots on her YouTube channel. But the former college All-American and present member of Team Lapua takes time out of her busy schedule to answer one of the more pressing questions of the day – exactly how many Peeps will a .22LR shoot through?
Ms. Weiss comes well prepared to see how many of the gooey marshmallow Easter treats it takes to stop a bullet. And when everything is said and done, the results are rather surprising. No bean spilling here, you've got to watch the video.
Bushnell has made a name for itself in the tactical world.
The Kansas manufacturer’s Elite Tactical scopes have won kudos from shooters who aim to knock the X out of targets two counties over. As effective as this line has proven to be, however, there was a glaring hole in it. There was nothing for shooters whose applications were up close and personal, requiring fast and accurate target acquisition.
That has all changed with Bushnell’s newest optic making the Elite Tactical line more useful than every before – no matter the distance at which a shooter needs to hit. The Close Quarters Tactical Sight is the first red-dot sight in the line and with the name Elite Tactical tied to it, it comes with everything a shooter might want out of a low-powered optic.
Like the other Elite Tactical optics, the 1x32mm CQTS is built to tight specs boasting the same professional grade, field-tested standards of the rest of the line. This includes high-end multi-coated lenses for a clear and bright sight picture, housed in a rugged tube ready to absorb the roughest handling.
The fixed-power optic has the sighting features that make it useful in tactical or competitive situations. It has a precise 3 MOA red dot, allowing a tight bead on a target. And the CQTS is set up to handle nearly any environmental conditions with eight brightness setting.
The optic is also engineered to go above and beyond for nighttime applications. The CQTS has three brightness setting specifically designed to work in conjunction with night-vision devices.
Like the rest of the Elite Tactical line, the CQTS is constructed to withstand abuse. It has a durable 30mm tube and features rubber-armored, tethered turret caps. And the sight includes a rugged one-piece cantilever mount and flip-up lens caps to protect the optic during transport.
The optic can also be quickly and easily added to almost any firearm. The CQTS is compatible with both Picatinny rails or Weaver-style bases.
This is not the first red-dot sight Bushnell’s has produced. The CQTS is probably most closely related to the TRS-25 HiRise AR optic. But the new red-dot sight comes in at a bit higher price point than the relatively inexpensive cousin with an MSRP of $349.
If, however, the optic is anything like the rest of the Elite Tactical line it is certain to earn its keep.
Recommended AR-15 Resources
Thinking about buying an AR-15 or decking yours out with all the bells and whistles? Then you need the Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Series Set! Author and gunsmith Patrick Sweeney gives you an in depth look at the modern sporting rifle, helping you get a grasp on all of the AR's iterations, accessories and advancements. Make sure you get everything you want out of your AR-15 with this series. For more resources on guns, shooting and gun collecting check out GunDigestStore.com.
CCW practitioners have made the Ruger LCP in .380 ACP the top carry handgun at the Lebanon Gun Shop this past winter. But it is not the only concealed carry handgun that has won favor. The Smith & Wesson J Frame .38 revolver has moved quickly, as well.
With the general difficulty in getting many calibers of ammunition, reloading equipment and supplies have gone strong. Hodgdon’s Varget Smokeless Powder has been especially in demand, at $189 per 8-pound jug. Customers have been buying up .223/5.56mm reloading components, especially bullets and primers.
Speaking of which, while the AR surge is over, Lebanon’s owner David Wilson noted customer interest has remained strong in AR platform rifles, just not at “surge” prices. The DPMS Panther Oracle went on sale here for $679, and the rifles are moved out fast.
“What we have seen since the surge in sales ended this summer is a return to more normal seasonal trends,” Wilson said. “However, sales are still about 10-percent higher, month to month, compared to last year.”
Music, banking, games – there's an app for nearly everything. Shooters haven't been left out in the cold. There are plenty of gun apps out there that turn smartphones into nifty shooting, reloading and general gun tools.
It’s no small statement smartphones fill a large role in our lives nowadays.
They have become our entertainment centers, mobile banks and occasionally, well, phones. But do these omnipresent gadgets have a place in the shooting world? You’re dang Skippy they do!
In fact, Google Play and iTunes are chalked full of more gun apps than you can shake a M1A at. There are game calls for hunters, timers for competitive shooters and cadre of other apps for every stripe of gun enthusiast.
The market is crowded, so much so an article about what is available could easily become a directory. Therefore, the following list is hardly exhaustive. It’s more like a few apps I’ve found handy on my iPhone and have passed one big test – they’re free or nearly so.
iStrelok
I got this ballistics calculator when it was still free, but to be honest I would shell out the $4.99 it now costs. The app is not as extensive as other calculators out there, but it has one feature that beats out most – its wind direction adjustment.
The interface is laid out on a clock face, all the shooter has to do is estimate where the wind is coming from relative to their 12 o’clock. It is very intuitive, it is more sensitive to this variable than most calculators and it is easily programed in the field. The app has a bunch of other bells and whistles, but this one feature makes the app one of the most practical and cost effective out there.
Bullet Drop
If you’re too cheap to shell out five bucks (I don't blame you), there are still options in ballistics calculators. Bullet Drop – the first calculator I tried – is a solid one. The app is plain vanilla with nothing but numbers for input and output. But the data it churns out is invaluable, giving shooters a fairly detailed ballistic table.
The table goes out to 1000 yards and is broken down in 50-yard increments. The bullet’s path can be expressed in inches, minutes of angle or mils. The table also details velocity, energy and drift. The drawback of the app is inputting variables can be a bit arduous, making it less practical as a field tool.
RCBS Reloading Calculator
Reloading not only allows shooters to keep tight reigns on their ammunition’s performance, but also its costs. RCBS’s Reloading Calculator is wiz at projecting costs for projects. The free app breaks down the expenses of a specific cartridge per 1000, 50, 20 and single rounds.
Certainly, for individuals that turn out few rounds yearly the app might be of marginal utility. But for high-volume reloaders/shooters the calculator is a gem, giving them a quick and simple way to compare and contrast the costs of different components in seconds.
Gun Values by Gun Digest
You didn’t think you’d get away without me talking about Gun Digest’s app, Gun Values by Gun Digest, did you? Well, you thought wrong, because the app is slick. Where else can you find an updated list of gun shows from around the county and a gun values all in one?
The handiest aspect of the app is the ability to search prices on a particular gun while at a show or store. A smartphone is a heck of a lot easier to tote around than the Standard Catalog of Firearms – a couple thousand-page reference. If you love to snoop for the best firearms deals, this app is worth its subscription rate — starting at $4.99.
Free Shot Timer
I wish I could boast that I’m a competitive shooter. Alas, maybe someday. Even without IDPA match involved, there is a lot to be said about having a shot timer. It can be a dynamite tool for general training.
Where I’ve found the Free Shot Timer app the handiest is pistol shooting, adding a layer of pressure. Quickly and accurately placing shots are important defensive skills. This app allows shooters to add exactly this aspect to their training, without investing $100-pluse for a shot timer.
Here are a few apps I’ve yet to try, but seem intriguing.
Gunbroker – App is exactly what it sounds like, the mobile version of the popular online gun auction.
Revolvr – Interesting app that facilitates gun accessory trades and sales.
Concealed Carry 50 State Guide – App gives state-specific information about concealed carry laws, including where your license has reciprocity.
Inteliscope – App turns smartphone into a tactical optic, we've covered the system here and here.
Gunstruction – AR15.com allows you to build an AR from the ground up on your smartphone. Another one of our writers gave it a day in court.
Where to Shoot – NSSF’s app that helps you find the nearest shooting range.
This versatile red dot sight allows hunters to adjust to any conditions, no matter what turkey season throws at them.
Anybody who hunts turkeys understands the venture is far from shooting fish in a barrel.
The jittery nature of the bird alone is enough to send most hunters home empty handed. But even if old Tom is kind enough to let his guard down to come into shooting range, then there is the whole issue of making one of the dicer shots in hunting.
A turkey’s noggin, after all, is about the same size as a baseball. In the heat of battle it doesn’t take much to miss.
TRUGLO aims to tip the scales when it comes to staying on target during turkey season with its newest red dot sight.
The Triton Gobble Stopper is based on the Texas manufacturer’s tactical Triton optics and incorporates many of its features. Perhaps the most striking is its multi-colored reticle.
The optic can cycle through green and red reticles and also comes outfitted with a brightness control. These are important features, taking environmental factors out of play when drawing a bead and making the shot.
The 3 MOA dot on the circle-dot pattern is perfect for turkey hunting. The circle equals 24 inches at 30 yards, allowing the precise delivery of the bulk of shot on target.
The optic is the usual 1x and has a 30mm objective lens, making it a practical choice for low and full light. It comes with a sunshade to eliminate glare, for those birds that might come in during the midday sun. The guts of the sight are housed in a CNC-machined aluminum tube that has been tested to remain true even on the hardest-kicking shotguns.
The optic is fully adjustable for elevation and windage and a 3v 2032 battery powers it. It is also outfitted with extra battery storage, so hunters never have to worry about running out of juice at the moment of truth. And the sight has a weaver-style mount, making it a simple-to-add accessory to any turkey gun.
Similar to most TRUGLO products, the Gobble Stopper comes at a decent price. Most online retailers have it listed in the $80 to $100 range.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking the thrifty price equates to poor merchandise. TRUGLO has won many fans – especially its Triton series – as a cost-effective optic that delivers. That could spell trouble for long beards strutting around this season.
Smith & Wesson Shield semi-auto handguns, in 9mm and .40 caliber, are very much in demand here with concealed carry and self-defense customers, and sell for $449.
The Sig P238 and P938 are strong movers, too.
“We sell the Sigs as fast as we get them in,” Center Target Sports owner Ed Santos said. The P238 commands $535, the P938 $689.
For accessories, Center Target Sports has seen a great interest in low-powered optics. The AimPoint PRO and T1 Micro red dot sights are very popular, especially with AR shooters, who are always happy to gobble up quality tactical optics.
The only real items that customers are shying away from, Santos said, are long guns and handguns chambered in .22 rimfire. For the fans of the rimfire, there is a fairly obvious reason behind the customers' aversion to the caliber.
“The lack of rimfire ammo is to blame for that, in our opinion,” he said
Cincinnati, Ohio (April 2, 2014) – Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to the AR-15, authored by firearms expert and noted author Richard A. Mann, cuts through the clutter and offers readers a user-friendly look at today’s most popular modern sporting rifle.
This latest entry in Gun Digest Books’ Shooter’s Guide series helps AR-15 owners understand and appreciate the complexity of this versatile firearm.
Supported by hundreds of photos, Mann delivers an explanation of the AR platform, shares the wide range of AR-15 applications available, offers tips on accuracy and ammunition, and much more. Novices and experienced shooters alike will all find something to learn in Mann’s Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to the AR-15.
About Gun Digest Gun Digest is the world’s foremost authority on guns in print and online. In addition to Gun Digest the Magazine, the brand’s portfolio includes the Gun Digest Books line, Standard Catalog of Firearms, the GunDigest.com online community, and ecommerce specialty store, www.gundigeststore.com. For more information, visit gundigest.com, the Gun Digest Facebook page, www.facebook.com/gundigest, or follow on Twitter @gundigest. Gun Digest is an imprint of Gun Digest Media.
Kris W. Jacob — Bullseye USA, Inc., stores in Castro Valley and Marin, Calif., and Gardnerville, Nev.
At Bullseye’s three retail locations, women have made up 51 percent of the new customer base, noted company president Kris Jacob this past December. And they have made up over half the students in the various firearms classes this FFL offers.
For most of these women shooters, personal defense has been the focus, and at the Nevada store Ruger LCP’s and Smith & Wesson Shields have been very popular.
Not so at Bullseye’s two California locations, as neither of these models is on the California list of “approved handguns,” and therefore can’t be sold in the state.
Here, self-defense oriented customers have tended to buy full-sized Glock 17 and 19’s, as well as Smith & Wesson M&P’s.
Waterfowl and upland hunters at the California stores are especially interested in the Beretta A400 semi-automatic shotgun, not in the least put off by a price tag of between $1,700 and $1,900. “They’re even trading in their old shotguns to be able to get the Beretta,” Jacob said.
It doesn’t matter if you holster a striker-fire polymer or a good old single-action 1911, there are skills that translate over the entire spectrum of semi-automatic pistols and are musts to learn. Tiger McKee goes over a good cross section of these important pistol manipulations in this video.
The founder of the Shootrite Firearms Academy in Alabama touches on the finer points of loading, reloading and dealing with malfunctions with a semi-auto. The pistol training might seem basic, but these skills are among the most vital for those who shoot and carry this style of firearm.
These are fundamentals everybody should aim at mastering and plan on working into their regular pistol training regime. The great thing is everything McKee covers can be done away from the shooting range. Though, it would be advisable to invest in some snap caps if you plan on going over these at home, just to add an extra layer of safety.
Whether you are a newbie building your skill sets or a veteran looking for a refresher, this video has some solid information. Either way, you’d better get ready to keep up. McKee is on rapid fire in this video, packing a lot of training into 3-minutes.
Before you take a trip across state lines, heed this key advice on concealed carry reciprocity before you encounter the police.
Reader “allendavis58” asked about concealed carry reciprocity. (“Reciprocity” refers to certain states that may recognize the concealed carry permits issued by other states.)
Here's some practical advice from my perspective as a retired cop.
Imagine yourself getting “made” [Someone notices your concealed gun. – Editor] in a state that is not the one that issued your permit. The cops are called. The officer asks you for your CCW permit and says, “I don’t know if this is valid here.”
“But they told me it was when I got it,” you say. “And I checked it on the Internet.”
Most cops couldn’t care less about what is legal in your state of residence. And you need to presume that many cops will not know if your out-of-state permit is valid in their jurisdiction. Do not expect that they have some magic “list” in their patrol car for a ready reference.
Getting a definitive answer on the validity of your permit may take only minutes or it may take a lot longer. Whether you are detained until that is reconciled or let go with an admonition would probably be considered within the realm of “officer discretion” in most areas.
But there is one important thing you can do to make it easier for cops where you travel to send you on your way with a handshake and a smile: Get a citation that documents the reciprocity agreement between your home state and the state in which you're traveling.
A reciprocity agreement is going to be documented somewhere. It may be in state criminal law or in your state's Department of Justice rules and regulations.
When you get your permit, be firm that you need a “citation” that documents the reciprocity in the state you will be traveling through.
If you already have your permit, get back in touch with your instructor and ask them to help you find the necessary citations. If the vendor that issues your permit claims multi-state validity as a sales point, the burden of proof is on them to provide citations. Confirm this before you take the class.
Now imagine you are back in the situation described above. If any question exists about reciprocity you tell the officer, “The citation for reciprocity in (state) is DOJ policy 162-(a) 12.” This gives the officer something easy to check and may—I say again “may”—get you a smile and a “No worries, buddy” send off without even doing the check.
We always need to remember that the most important law is the law of necessity. You do what you gotta do.
Just be sure you get a citation for each non-resident state you plan to travel in, even if you have to pay an attorney to research it for you.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
This article is an excerpt from the new magazine Modern Shooter Spring 2014 presented by Gun Digest.
