Shooting with both eyes open is an underappreciated skill, one of which it is easy to turn, well, a blind eye.
When it comes to basic target shooting, whether thumbing off rounds with a pistol or rifle, it really doesn’t matter if one or both eyes are open. The name of the game is placing the bullet in the X-ring by whatever means necessary. But move into the real world and it’s a whole different game.
Applied shooting – tactical, self-defense or hunting – happens in a dynamic environment. The shooter, the target or both might be moving. There could be action to the periphery of a shooter of which they need to take account. There is even the potential for more than one target spread over a wide geographic area. In turn, a full-field of view can be the the make-or-break element to a successful engagement.
The above video by Sootch00 touches upon these and other reasons why it's important to shoot with both eyes open. But more importantly, the video goes over a number fundamental concepts and drills that help shooters keep both peepers open and in the game.
While the video is full of useful tidbits, perhaps one of the most vital areas it touches upon is determining the dominant eye. Really, this is a relatively simple task, one that goes a long way in being able to shoot with both eyes open. But, unfortunately, it is also process that flies under many shooters' radar.
Watch the entire video. For the lack of a better way to put it, it's eye opening.
The lighter and easier-to-conceal compact 1911-style semi-auto has met with considerable success, and for good reason. The Para Executive Carry tested in this handgun review is a top contender in the category.
The author shot ragged, one-hole, 10-shot groups on silhouette targets with the Para Executive Carry, and shooting steel plates at 10 yards was just as easy. Author photo
The Para Executive Carry is a single-stack 1911 with a 3-inch barrel and a lightweight aluminum frame. Magazine capacity is eight rounds in a standard-length single-stack magazine, but the ability to conceal the Executive Carry is enhanced by an Ed Brown-style Bobtailed mainspring housing.
Sights are easy-to-see Trijicon night sights, and there’s a match-grade, skeletonized trigger. The stainless steel barrel is ramped for reliability. The slide is also stainless with an Ionbond anodized mat finish that is not only corrosion resistant but also increases lubricity of the moving parts.
As one might imagine, the Executive Carry isn’t a low-recoil pistol. The full-sized grip certainly makes recoil manageable, though, and I found it to have more than acceptable accuracy for a carry gun. I really liked the full-sized grip.
The oversized beavertail grip safety has a bump on the bottom side to assist with thin-handed guys like me in engaging it, and the machined G-10 grips provide more than adequate hand purchase for fast follow-up shots.
Made for Carry
Galco's Miami Classic Shoulder Holster was the perfect solution for carrying the Para Executive Carry.
Everything about the Executive Carry is engineered for easy carry and concealing. The edges have all been melted to make it easy to carry without snagging on clothing, the sights are unobtrusive, and the rounded bobtail contributes.
The full-sized grip might create some issues for certain holster choices, but I found it more than acceptable for both appendix carry and the Galco Miami Classic shoulder system I chose for the test.
The Miami Classic shoulder rig made the perfect carry system for the Executive Carry. With the gun nestled snugly beneath my left armpit, the pistol was completely hidden, even when I was wearing nothing but a light jacket. The double magazine pouch under my right arm balanced the outfit and provided me with 25 rounds of Winchester Silvertip defensive hollow points at the ready.
The easiest way to make a great personal protection gun better is to add a laser sighting system. I chose the Crimson Trace LG-401G front activation green lasergrips.
Shooting the Executive Carry impressed me with the accuracy level that can be obtained with a carry .45. At 10 yards, ragged-hole groups were the standard.
I actually do like the modern striker-fired compact-carry guns, but there’s no substitute for the excellent trigger that can be obtained with a 1911, and the Para Executive Carry has a good one; it’s crisp and clean at just over 4 pounds with almost no backlash. I’m sure the Executive Carry was built with a little heavier trigger than the 14/45 Custom I recently tested at Gunsite, because a carry gun shouldn’t have the same kind of trigger as a match gun for safety reasons.
I expected accuracy from the Executive Carry, because last year at Gunsite I shot its little brother, the Elite Officer. Even with the shortened grip of the Officer, I managed a couple of one-hole 10-shot groups that got the attention of Para’s Daniel Cox and Travis Tomasie.
It’s a shame I can’t shoot this kind of group at race gun speed, or I’d be dangerous. Back on my range at home with the Executive Carry at 10 yards, I had no problem cleaning the plates within the prescribed 6 seconds from the Classic Miami rig or a belt holster.
The sights were easy to pick up and get back on the next plate. Recoil was certainly there, but the full-sized grip and machined G-10 grips helped make it manageable. Having put about 200 test rounds through the Para, I haven’t experienced a single malfunction.
The Executive Carry offers a reasonable capacity but still-concealable 1911 that is an alternative to the current crop of striker-fired carry guns, and that’s just the point. Both schools of thought make for a viable concealed carry gun; it’s just a matter of what you like. Ultimately, the new Para represents just how good a 100-year-old proven design can be as an everyday concealed carry gun.
Para Executive Carry Caliber: .45 ACP Capacity: 8 + 1 Magazines: Two single-stack magazines with base bumpers Barrel: 3-inch stainless ramped bull Sights: Combat-style Trijicon Frame: Aluminum Slide: Stainless steel Length: 7.685 inches Height: 5.5 inches without the magazine Weight: 30 ounces Options: Crimson Trace compatible SRP: $1,399 Website: para-usa.com
Shoulder holsters can be configured to carry handguns vertically (with the muzzle pointing straight up or straight down), horizontally, or at a 45-degree angle. Grant Cunningham explains the pros and cons.
Vertical Shoulder Holsters
Vertical holsters with the muzzle pointing up are generally referred to as upside-down holsters. They are very concealable, but because the butt of the gun is pointing toward the back and is on the backside of centerline, they are the hardest with which to achieve a good firing grip.
They are also limited in terms of the barrel length that can be accommodated, with the armpit serving as an upper limit.
Vertical holsters that carry the opposite direction – with the muzzle down – are superb choices for larger guns with longer barrels. (As a point of trivia, Dirty Harry’s six-inch Model 29 was carried in such a holster.)
Some are made to accommodate scoped hunting guns, though obviously not as a piece of concealment gear. Muzzle down holsters are relatively easy to draw from, but do sacrifice a bit of concealment – especially with the longer barrels.
Horizontal Shoulder Holsters
Galco's Miami Classic is a great example of a popular horizontal carry angle shoulder holster. Photo courtesy Galco.
Horizontal holsters seem to be the most commonly available, and they are certainly the easiest to draw from. The gun’s butt is in a position to afford a very natural grip and draw stroke, and the butt is carried the furthest forward of any style.
This makes them not the best choice for concealment, as the gun is carried with its longest dimension cutting across the body’s shortest dimension. The cylinder width is on the midline and pushes both the butt and the muzzle away from the body, leaving the gun in a sort of rocking position that I liken to a turtle on its back.
For more information on concealed carry holsters check out:
The muzzle tends to poke out at the rear and the butt in the front, a clear sign that the wearer has something under his coat. It is also the only shoulder holster where it is impossible to draw without sweeping the muzzle across an unintended target. If one insists on a horizontal holster, I can only recommend sticking to the very shortest barrels and smallest frames.
45-Degree Shoulder Holsters
Those carrying the gun at a 45-degree angle, with the muzzle pointing up, are a workable compromise. The grip is easier to access than an upside-down model, and the geometry of carry makes the gun easier to hide. The 45-degree also works with slightly longer barrels than the horizontal types.
Here’s something that might surprise you: most men, in my experience, don’t have the upper body flexibility necessary to draw efficiently or safely from a shoulder holster. Most women do.
The more muscular the man, the less likely it is that he’ll be able to make use of the shoulder holster, while women seem to not be so limited regarding their figure. For this reason I tend to recommend shoulder holsters for women more often than I do for men.
Shoulder holsters are generally available in leather and nylon cloth, though at least one maker has constructed them out of thin polyethylene. I recommend avoiding those made of nylon; I’ve not encountered any that were not cheaply constructed and/or very poorly designed.
If you decide to make the shoulder holster your default concealed carry option, be aware that virtually all shooting schools prohibit their use in class, and I know of no shooting competition which will allow them.
This is an excerpt from Grant Cunningham’s Gun Digest Book of the Revolver.
CMMG is shooting for accuracy, outfitting its Mk4 rifles with heavy taper barrels.
CMMG's Mk4 series of rifles has earned its share of fans in the AR community. The rifles now might win over precision shooters with the introduction of heavy taper barrel models.
When it comes to designing a highly accurate AR-style rifle, there are many ways to skin a cat.
The addition of a match-grade trigger or a low-mass operating system are a couple of ways to ensure bullets land where a shooter is aiming. While these options are popular, CMMG has gone another direction in helping a line of its rifles drive tacks.
The Missouri manufacturer has focused on the barrel in an effort to step up its rifles’ accuracy. And while reviews are still coming in, the heavy taper barrels of CMMG’s new Mk4 HT series looks like they will score a bull’s eye with precision shooters.
Heavier barrels have a number of advantages when it comes to accuracy, but their primary asset is the ability to absorb heat. The added material means the barrel takes longer to heat up, thus keeping it more rigid and groups tighter. This facet of heavy barrels is especially advantageous for individuals who need to shoot several rounds in succession.
CMMG is offering its new series in three calibers – .22 Long Rifle, .223/5.56mm and 300 BLK. The .22LR comes with nitride 4140 chrome-moly steel barrel, while the other two calibers come with the choice of either stainless steel or 4140 chrome-moly steel.
The barrels, for all calibers, are 16.1-inches long, giving the 7-pound rifle an overall length of 31 inches with the stock collapsed. The 5.56mm and 300 BLK each have 1:7 twist rates, while the .22 has a 1:16 twist.
The company has aimed to make its new series as versatile as its other rifles, outfitting it with RKM11 KeyMod hand guard and Picatinny rail. The Picatinny rail runs on the top, while the KeyMod slots are at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions.
Accessories that are not yet compatible with the KeyMod system won’t be left out in the cold. CMMG sells a five-slot Picatinny adapter rails separately that can easily attach to any of the KeyMod slots.
The Mk4 HT series comes equipped with an A2 pistol grip and a mil-spec M4 butt stock. The series is suppressor-ready and has a castellated thread protector attached to the muzzle to shield the threads from unwanted debris.
The rifles utilizes CMMG’s single stage mil-spec style trigger with a crisp break thanks to polished surfaces. The company also includes a 30-round Magpul PMAG with every 5.56 and 300 Blackout rifle. The .22 Long Rifle versions come with a 25-round magazine.
CMMG’s Mk4 HT series are moderately priced. The .22 version has a MSRP of $924.95. The 5.56mm and .300 BLK have a MSRP of $1,049.95 for stainless steel barrel models and $1,099.95 for nitrated models.
The AR-18 was designed for manufacture by unskilled labor. Made mostly of stamped metal, the number of machining operations were minimized. Author photo
Known for their development of the famed AR-15, Armalite's AR-18 was another important tactical trendsetter in the black rifle space.
Evolution of the AR-18
In the early ’50s, Eugene Stoner worked on the 7.62 x 51mm AR-10 rifle, and after several years of revision, in 1956-57, the rifle was offered up as Armalite’s entry into the U.S. military’s trials to replace the M1 Garand as the standard service rifle. Stoner’s AR-10 went up against the FN FAL (dubbed the T-48 in trials) and the M-14 (dubbed the T-44) in a competition to provide the U.S. with the “rifle of the future.”
The AR-10 was not selected, so ArmaLite licked their wounds and moved on to continue designing cutting-edge firearms using state-of-the art materials (plastics, polymers, titanium and Stellite) when other manufacturers were still dealing in steel and wood.
In 1956, Stoner was also working on a new lightweight rifle, the AR-15, which fired the 5.56mm/.223 round that the U.S. and NATO were exploring. This rifle was eventually adopted by the military, beginning with the U.S. Air Force in 1961, and became the standard military rifle.
At the same time he was working on the AR-15, Stoner collaborated with ArmaLite engineer Arthur Miller on a lightweight, easy to manufacture rifle to be shopped to U.S. allies whose armed forces couldn’t afford the expensive AR-10. The AR-16 was, for all intents and purposes, an experiment. It was made of sheet metal stampings and on machinery that was not expensive and could be operated by indigenous personnel in developing nations.
The folding stock of the AR-18 is difficult to replace, so the author used a FAL-style folder on his rifle. Author photo
The rifle was designed to have only a few machined and milled parts, including the barrel, bolt and carrier, and flash hider. Surprisingly, this rifle wasn’t intended to supplant the U.S. military’s M-14 rifles, but rather, it was designed to be a cheap and easy to manufacture rifle to support Asian, African and South American allies in the battle against communism.
Unfortunately, the rifle didn’t really make it past the prototype stage, but the lessons learned in its design and construction would be used in ArmaLite’s next automatic rifle, the AR-18.
The AR-18 was designed and patented after Stoner’s departure from ArmaLite, but it still bore some design elements from his previous AR-10, AR-15 and AR-16 offerings. Arthur Miller, who worked on the AR-16 project with Stoner, along with two other engineers named George Sullivan and Charles Dorchester, began, in 1962, to design a new AR-16.
It would be in a 5.56mm format and easy for unskilled labor to manufacture. Miller and his team took the lessons learned from the AR-16 and put them into practice with the AR-18 design. Again, it was made largely of stamped metal, and the number of forging and machining operations required for manufacture were minimized.
When the rifle debuted in 1964, it was a pretty neat offering—shorter than the AR-15, with an 18-inch barrel instead of the 20-inch AR-15. It also had a clever side-folding stock that made vehicle transport much easier than carrying a full-sized rifle. Unfortunately, by the time it was released, the U.S. was entrenched in the Vietnam Conflict and had little to no desire to adopt the new AR-18, although they did test a few. It didn’t seem like too many other nations wanted the new rifle either.
Production was started in 1967 on the rifle based on some limited orders at the Howa factory in Japan (ArmaLite at the time was more of a design and prototype company, not a manufacturing facility), and even this was problematic. The Japanese government forbade the shipment of weapons to nations actively involved in the war in Southeast Asia. As a result, production was moved to Costa Mesa, Calif.
The AR-18 had a civilian counterpart called the AR-180. This was designed to be a sporting rifle or a police long arm, and was semi-automatic only. It sold marginally well. It seemed that the only enthusiastic users of the AR-18 were those in the Irish Republican Army, which used illegally purchased and stolen ArmaLite rifles in Northern Ireland against the British, and even nicknamed the rifle “The Widowmaker.” In 1980, after roughly 16 years of production in Japan, the U.S. and, later, in Dagenham, England, production ceased.
My First AR-18
One major design flaw is that the AR-18 cannot use AR-15 mags. Author photo
At a gun show in February of 2004, I got an almost identical representation of the AR-18/180 that Arnold used in The Terminator. It was even missing the butt stock just like the rifle in the movie. The best part was they were only asking $300 for it.
I bought the rifle and took it home with the intent of quickly getting a new stock from an online vendor. Wrong. Evidently, butt stocks for the AR-180 are made of “un-obtanium.” They were unavailable at any price, so I had my machinist friend make a mounting block to attach to the rear of the sheet metal receiver, and I put an Ace FN-FAL style folder on it. It wasn’t historically accurate, but I could at least fire it from the shoulder.
So by March of 2004, my dream rifle had a stock and could be fired. I took it for a test run. My impressions were that the designers did a lot of things right with the AR-18/180 and quite a bit wrong. It was fairly accurate, as long as I stayed with 55-grain bullets. The 1:12 rifling would turn heavier projectiles into boat-shaped holes in the target.
The trigger was very heavy compared to most AR-15s I’ve fired. Also, the proprietary magazine release and mag-locking cut in the magazine made finding the correct magazine difficult. The AR-15 can use an AR-18 mag, but not vice-versa.
What did they do right? The gas system is very, very good. My rifle has eaten every round I’ve thrown at it. The ergonomics are pretty good, too. Plus the folding stock makes it handy to carry. However, all things considered, I wish the Terminator had chosen a rifle with a better trigger. While I still think my AR-180 is cool, it’s not the go-to gun I imagined it would be after watching that film back in 1984.
I shoot it every once in a while, and my range mates all think it looks cool, but after owning my own ArmaLite AR-180, I came to the inexorable conclusion that I’d have to move on to my second favorite semiautomatic to appear in a film. I saw Robin Williams in this movie called The Survivors, and he had this Valmet M-76—maybe we’ll talk about that next time.
This article appeared in the June 12, 2014 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
These rock stars don't just steal the show with blistering riffs and ear-piercing volume – they're also unabashed gun owners who collect and shoot firearms.
Krist Novoselic, Formerly of Nirvana
Krist Novoselic, ex-bassist for Nirvana, breaks from the traditionally liberal take on guns in the music industry and explains why he owns and shoots firearms.
Eric Clapton
In one of his more popular tunes, guitar virtuoso Eric Clapton says he shot the sheriff, not the deputy, but he swears it was in self-defense. In any event, Clapton, a well-known collector of rare and custom guns, sold a pair of Boss & Co. over-under shotguns for £84,000 ($142,956) back in 2010. Prior to that, in 2008, he made the news with a major gun collection sale reportedly exceeding £500,000 ($850,932). “Shooting guns has taught me to get on with my fellow human beings,” he reportedly said.
Warren Zevon
Photographer George Gruel spent as much time with the late legendary song writer Warren Zevon (Werewolves of London fame) as nearly anyone else. Gruel's book, “Lawyers, Guns and Photos,” features Zevon with his S&W 44 on the cover. “Now knowing that the couple of loud claps going off in the beginning of ‘BAD LUCK STREAK IN DANCING SCHOOL' are the authentic actual sounds of Warren firing his Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum will forever give me a smile every time I hear that song anew!” writes Gruel.
Joe Perry of Aerosmith
In an interview with noisecreep.com, Aerosmith's Joe Perry makes no apologies for his life-long interest in guns:”I’ve been into guns ever since I was a little kid,” says Perry, “and the ones that fascinate me most are the black powder guns that people used back in the 17 and 1800s. That cannon you see on the show is actually from World War I. Any things from that era, semi-black power items, I think are fascinating, because of what they were used it for.” Read more
Ted Nugent
Rock n' Roll's number one pro-gun proponent is the ever-outspoken Ted Nugent. In this video, CNN's Deborah Feyerick goes shooting with the famed rocker and gun rights activist on Nugent's Texas ranch.
Today’s hunter is constantly searching for the load with the best knockdown power, when shot placement is far more important in regards to knocking an animal down.
Ask anyone which has more knockdown power — a round that produces 1,000 foot pounds of energy or one that produces 3,000 foot pounds — and they’ll unanimously side with the bigger load. I like to point out that 1,000 foot pounds, given the appropriate construction of the bullet or slug, will knock down any animal immediately if it strikes the right spot, while the 3,000 pounder that misses the critical spot will not. While energy is a factor in what is called knockdown power, location of the hit and construction of the bullet/slug are far more important.
LAWS OF PHYSICS How about if I told you that the whole idea of knockdown power related to kinetic energy is something that is impossible to achieve with a shoulder-fired shotgun or rifle?
Can we agree that Sir Isaac Newton knew a thing or two about physics? Well, his fabled musings that “for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction” implies that any load that is capable of blowing a deer off its feet will do the same thing to the shooter. The difference is that since guns are heavier than bullets, we experience the forces in different ways, but Newton’s Third Law nevertheless applies.
Of the nearly 200 head of big game animals I’ve taken over the last four-plus decades with centerfire and muzzleloading rifles, shotguns and handguns, maybe 10 percent dropped on the spot. In each case it was due to a structural breakdown (neck, head or spine hit) or a hit that disrupted a vital function. None occurred from sheer energy transfer — it simply doesn’t happen.
Knockdown power is evident when you punch a hole somewhere important with a structurally sound projectile. It is the mechanical stress of the projectile crushing/cutting essential tissue and bone that causes the immediate collapse. In other words, a deer falls over when something causes its brain or muscles to quit holding it up. Short-circuiting the central nervous system or a skeletal breakdown is the most immediate.
CONSIDER VELOCITY I’ve heard of knockdown power being touted for everything from the .204 Ruger (I’m not making this up) to .220 Swift to the expected magnums and 600-grain shotgun slugs. All such claims are taken with an entire shaker of salt. But it can be argued that velocity has a bigger effect on knockdown power than kinetic energy. A suitably constructed, high-velocity projectile causes hydrostatic shock—the shock wave that runs through the body’s liquid mass, short-circuiting vital systems.
A sturdy, high-velocity projectile, again, causes cavitations, or the destruction of residual tissue surrounding the actual wound channel. Ballisticians feel that the projectile must be moving more than 2,000 fps in order to induce hydrostatic shock. Note that hydrostatic shock and cavitations both result in the immediate disruption of vital functions or structural damage.
A bullet or slug’s terminal performance is based on its construction, mass and velocity at impact.
ENERGY DOES COUNT All this is not to say that kinetic energy has no role in knockdown power. It does.
An expanding bullet pushed at sufficient velocity will do this more effectively than one with less energy. But simply citing kinetic energy (derived from velocity and mass) ignores the abilities of the bullet. It must accelerate negatively — ballistic jargon for expanding radically while simultaneously slowing due to friction with tissue it is passing through.
It also ignores the ability of the bullet to fragment and cause multiple wound channels. These abilities are crucial characteristics of modern bullets and slugs and their ability to cause stress on tissue. The construction of the bullet and its placement are far more critical to knockdown power than energy.
KNOCKDOWN VS. KILLING POWER Understand that the concepts of knockdown power and killing power are not identical. Energy is a far more important indicator of killing power than it is knockdown power. Cartridges that do not develop adequate energy are not likely to place very high on any rational killing power list.
Commercially, kinetic energy is the most commonly used measure of a load’s killing power. It is the figure listed, along with velocity, in practically all ballistic tables. It can be computed quite easily and is essentially the product of a bullet’s mass times its velocity squared.
Energy, the ability to do work (or damage in the case of a bullet or slug) is certainly an important component of killing power. It’s obvious that a bullet carrying more energy when it hits the target has the potential to do more damage than a bullet carrying less energy. Energy, after all, is what powers such important functions as penetration, bullet expansion and tissue destruction.
A cartridge’s energy is often touted as the measure of its knockdown power when, in fact, it is more indicative of the round’s killing power.
But energy is a rough estimate of killing power only so long as you are comparing two reasonably similar calibers and bullets in terms of sectional density.
Compare a 200-grain bullet fired from a .35 Remington rifle to the same bullet fired from a .350 Remington Magnum and you’ll find that the magnum’s bullet carries more energy to the target – and has been proven to have more killing power. By the same token, compare a 130-grain .270 Remington Core-Lokt bullet with a 150-grain Core-Lokt in .30-06. You’ll find that the .270 carries about 2,225 foot-pounds of energy at 100 yards and the .30-06 about 2,281.
The two bullets are similar in performance and energy and are essentially identical in killing power. Decades of use on big game have proven this.
Editor's note: This article originally appeared in the January 27, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Nowadays, target shooting needn't be confined to just punching holes in paper.
Face it, when it comes to target shooting it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. Good old paper targets have their place, but sometimes they can be a less than thrilling way to run through ammo. Luckily, there are plenty of striking targets just begging to be filled with lead. Here are three unusual ammunition wasters of which I definitely would love to take a potshot.
Zombie Industries' Bleeding/Mutilating Targets For better or worse, the shooting world has undergone a zombie pandemic – this includes targets. But one company has added a gruesome touch of reality to its undead bullet catchers. Zombie Industries offers the choice of 3D zombies that bleed or mutilate upon being shot. Of course, when you’re staving off the undead apocalypse it's always nice to have a touch of gore. But there is a practical side to these oozing targets – they give the shooter instant feedback about where they’re placing their shots. MSRP: $49.95 to $69.95.
Challenge Targets' Economy Hostage Target Shotgunning has an advantage over almost all other shooting in that it’s almost always at moving targets. With the help of Challenge Targets, pistol and rifle fans can enjoy shooting at a kinetic target without switching to a smoothbore. The company’s Economy Hostage Target is an intriguing set up, based off systems the company sells to the military and law enforcement. The target is simplicity itself: Silhouettes are mounted on rockers and controlled by ropes, allowing one target to dive behind the other and the other dodge away. The added bonus of the system, it strikes home importance of precision shooting. MSRP: $199.
Do-All's 3D Prairie Dog There is a reason why varmint hunting has taken off in recent years – it’s just so dang fun! But for those times when rodents and their ilk are in short supply Do-All Outdoors has a solution. The company’s 3-D Prairie Dog is like having an endless prairie dog town at your disposal, sans the bubonic plague. The beauty of the bright orange rodent is its durability and convenience. It is made of self-healing foam, which can take repeated punishment from dang near every caliber. And it has a spring system that bounces the varmint back into the ready position after every shot. Game on! MSRP: $99.
Browning aims to build on the Citori 725's popularity, now offering the over-under in 20 gauge.
Browning made waves a few years back, introducing an updated version of its Citori over-under shotgun. The 725 has proven so popular, in fact, the company has now released a 20-gauge version.
When Browning introduced the latest iteration of its Citori shotgun it was easy to scoff. After all, how could the century-old over-under shotgun be improved?
Well, Browning found some ways with the 725. The Utah company produced a more streamlined gun, lighter and more maneuverable and with a snappier and more consistent trigger.
The 725 won over sportsmen, from the trap range to the corn stubble. And this popularity has spurred Browning to expand the line of its over-under shotguns.
The company recently announced it is broadening the 725 line to include the 20 gauge, in both its Field and Sporting models. The new guns give shooters a smaller, lighter kicking bore size, while offering all the features that made the 12-gauge version popular.
Along these lines, perhaps no feature has the potential to win more fans than the 20 gauge’s Fire Lite Mechanical Trigger System. Not only does the trigger offer a crisp 4-pound pull, but also guarantees follow-up shots, unlike earlier Browning triggers.
Before the 725, Browning outfitted its Citoris with inertia triggers, which relied on the recoil from firing the first barrel to cock the firing pin for the second. The mechanical system, on the other hand, cocks the second barrel simply by pulling the trigger for the first.
While affordable, the Citori 725 line offers elegant features, such as engraving and three grades of walnut.
While the 20 gauge has a manageable kick, Browning has gone step further to mitigate it. The company has included its Inflex II recoil pad, which reduces felt recoil by diverting energy down and away from the shooter’s face.
The company has aimed for a more consistent pattern on the 725 with the inclusion of Browning’s Back Bored Technology barrels. The gun also comes outfitted with Vector Pro lengthened forcing cones and the new Invector-DS choke tube system.
The Field model of the 20 gauge features a silver nitride finish receiver accented with high relief engraving of game bird scenes. The Grade II/III stock features a gloss oil finish. The Field model is available with 26- or 28-inch barrels. Its MSRP is $2,469.99.
The 20-gauge Sporting model features a Silver nitride finish receiver with gold accented target engraving. Ventilated top and side ribs are featured in 28″, 30″ or 32″ barrel lengths. The Grade III/IV walnut stock features a gloss oil finish with close radius pistol grip and palm swell. Its MSRP is $3,139.99.
One reason cited for the recent ammo shortage was increased buying and hoarding. If you’re one of those people with cases of ammo lining your garage or closet shelves, protect your investment and store your ammo where it will stay dry and ready to access with one of these 3 new ammo storage ideas.
1. RangeMaxx Ammo Can Field Box
This smaller sized field box—holds six to eight standard boxes of ammo—is made for the easy storing and carrying of ammunition. The tongue-and-groove latching lid and polypropylene construction keeps water out and is lockable. An easy-grip handle folds down for the seamless stacking of boxes. ($10; basspro.com)
2. MTM Case-Gard Ammo Can Combos
MTM’s Ammo Can Combos come in three varieties designed to store .223, .45 ACP or 9mm loads. The Combos boast latching polypropylene boxes with thick sidewalls for extra durability and padlock tabs for securing contents. Each combo comes with interior plastic cartridge boxes and labels. The .223/5.56 Combo holds 400 rounds, the .45 Combo (pictured) holds 700 and the 9mm holds 1,000. ($23-$34/varies; mtmcase-gard.com)
3. Cabela’s Ammo Travel Case
This is a great and attractive case in which to transport and even store boxes of ammo. The weathertight case is made of fully TIG-welded 5052 H32 aircraft-grade aluminum and is secured with a staked piano hinge and plated lockable steel latch. Dimensions are 5 7/8 in. x 10 in. x 8 in. ($85; cabelas.com)
Lee 3-die set with taper crimp die. Photo courtesy Massaro Media Group and JNJphotographics.
Cartridge crimping, that final stage of handgun cartridge assembly. Whether done as a separate operation, or as a part of the bullet seating process, one simple fact remains – it must be done.
There are two distinct types of cartridge crimps: Roll crimping and taper crimping.
In the handgun world, it is a pretty clear distinction. Roll crimping is best used on the revolver cartridges, and taper crimping is the way to go for semi-automatic pistol cartridges. Here’s the why.
Cartridges designed for use in a revolver use some sort of a rim to properly headspace the case in the cylinder. Think .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .45 Colt, .44 Remington Magnum. This guaranteed headspacing allows the reloader to “roll” the case mouth around the cannelure of the bullet, ensuring that the bullet will not move during recoil. This also gives us a consistent overall length if you roll crimp on the cannelure.
I will note that a roll crimp should only be used with bullets that have a cannelure; if you try to roll crimp on a bullet without one, you risk bulging the case mouth, and it will not fit properly in the cylinder. We’ll get back to how to crimp a bullet with no cannelure for revolver use in a second.
The bullet seating die for most pistol cartridges can be adjusted to give a good, solid roll crimp. Read the die set instruction carefully, and follow the directions. It may take a few tries to get the proper crimp, and I usually make a dummy round, with no powder or primer, to use as a guide should the die come out of adjustment.
Those cartridges that work well in the semi-automatic pistols can’t be roll crimped, because those cartridges headspace on the case mouth rather than a rim, which most lack. You see, rimmed cartridges (generally speaking) don’t feed well from a pistol magazine, so the autoloaders usually employ a rimless design. Think .45 ACP, 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, .380 Automatic.
The rimless design needs to headspace on something other than the rim, of which there is none, and the lack of a shoulder (as in a rifle cartridge) leaves only the case mouth. If we were to roll crimp, we would compromise the squared case mouth for headspacing. Yet, we still need to hold the bullet firmly in the case.
40 Smith & Wesson ammo needs to be taper cripmed. Photo courtesy Massaro Media Group and JNJphotographics.
This is where the taper crimp method comes into play. It squeezes the sides of the case wall tightly against the bullet, and effectively prevents the bullet from moving, while maintaining the nice square case mouth that allows the cartridge to headspace.
A taper crimp can solve the problem I previously mentioned, where revolver cases use a bullet with no cannelure, yet need to be crimped. No bulged cases, no mess. Taper crimp and fire away!
Most companies that make quality reloading dies will have a taper crimp die available for purchase. If you’re serious about your pistol’s performance, I highly suggest you invest in one.
BoomFab aims to give competitive shooters the edge with its Titane titanium bolt carrier.
Like most competitors, 3-gun shooters are always on the lookout for an edge.
Of course, gaining an upper hand when behind the trigger is typically earned through hard work and practice. But, there are component upgrades which many have turned to gain an advantage in their quest to become top gun.
Low-mass reduced-gas operating systems in AR-style rifles have become a popular option among those aiming to shave seconds off their time. And BoomFab has its sights set on exactly these shooters with its Titane Carrier.
The Missouri manufacturer recently introduced its CNC machined titanium carrier, billing it as the lightest production model on the market. It's a claim that is hard to argue against with the Titane tipping the scales at 2.6 ounces stripped and 4.4 ounces with a pre-installed gas key.
The carrier's slight proportions makes it ideal for a low-mass system, which is based off a relatively simple concept. The idea behind using ultralight components in the reciprocating mechanisms of a semi-automatic firearm is to use less gas to cycle the gun. Reducing the amount of gas in the system, in turn, equates to less muzzle rise and felt recoil, allowing for faster follow-up shots. Low mass systems also tend to chip away at a gun's overall weight, making it more maneuverable.
Early on, shooters after a low-mass system sometimes went to drastic ends – such as drilling their carriers to reduce their weight. There were also attempts to manufacture carriers out of aluminum, but the metal did not prove resilient enough over the long haul. Titanium, on the other hand, has the benefit of being ultralight and supremely durable, making it ideal as a carrier material.
This is not the first time gunmakers have seen the benefits of the low-mass, tough metal. Taurus has used titanium for the frames of a number of its revolvers for a spell. Amalgamated Titanium not only produces bolt carriers out of the material, but also lowers, uppers and forends. And titanium nitrite has become a popular coating for carriers, due to its hardness.
BoomFab’s carrier is fully compatible with standard mil-spec AR-15 bolts, firing pins and retaining pins. It comes pre-installed with a mil-spec gas key and staked torx fasteners. The Titane Carrier also can be purchased as a complete bolt carrier group. This includes, mill-spec HP/MP tested C158 bolt, firing pin, cam pin and retaining pin.
Putting the most recent material technology in a rifle does come with a price tag. The Ttiane Carrier with gas key has a MSRP of $479; a complete carrier group has a MSRP of $579.
For waterfowlers, the Breda was available in 10-gauge and in 12-gauge 3-inch magnum models. These guns weighed from 7½ pounds in 12-gauge, up to 8½ pounds in 10-gauge.
The Breda autoloader, which appeared in the U.S. in the early 1950s, was an exceptionally well made, long-recoil operated, Browning-type shotgun. Its distinguishing features were that it could be completely disassembled without tools, and all parts were machined and polished.
The Breda was the only autoloading shotgun made that could be disassembled without the use of screwdrivers or other tools. All the parts are interlocking and do not require screws.
In short, the Breda was one of the best-finished autoloaders on the market, when it appeared. Additionally, it was light; only Franchi could claim a lighter gun. The balance and the handling qualities were very good, and it was advertised as being a perfect autoloader for upland gunning.
Although the Breda utilized Browning’s old long-recoil system, it was definitely a modernized version.
It was made screw-less and also had interchangeable chokes—the original “extended” choke tubes. Breda’s choke-tube system was called Quick-Choke, and the tubes, uniquely, screwed onto the outside of the barrel.
Bredas may have been imported in small numbers early on, but it was first imported in large numbers by Continental Arms, in the 1950s. Later, it was handled by Dakin Gun Company and, finally, by Charles Daly, in the late 1960s.
This 1960s magazine ad was done by the Dakin Corporation, the Breda importer at the time.
Just what made the Breda autoloader so special? As stated, it was an improved and modernized version of the Browning.
Comparing the two, it can be seen that the disassembly of the Auto-5 requires screwdrivers of at least two sizes.
Then there was the angular receiver profile of the A-5, which isn’t the most attractive to some.
Too, even in its Light Twelve model, the Browning was not the lightest around. For the European market, FN made some A-5s with alloy receivers and called them “Superlights,” in an attempt to recapture part of the market it was losing to Franchi and Breda, but these guns were never imported into the U.S.
In contrast, the Breda could be completely disassembled without tools (all internal parts interlocked with each other), thus eliminating the need for screws.
The receiver was attractively sculpted, rounded, and streamlined, unlike the sharp angular silhouette of the Browning. Additionally, the Breda weighed less than the Browning, and the buttstock (at least on the 20-gauge model), could be adjusted for cast, pitch, and drop. Finally, it had interchangeable Quick-Chokes.
The Breda Quick-Choke system. The tubes are, from left to right: Cylinder, Modified, and Full. The tubes are screwed on without the use of any tools.
Despite these pluses, there were several things that kept Breda from becoming popular in the U.S. The first was its availability.
Although the model was imported over the years by several different companies, it was never widely distributed, and advertising was not as widespread or aggressive as it was for Browning and other popular brands.
A second problem was the price, which was higher than most comparable shotguns. In 1959, the Breda autoloader with a ventilated rib cost $189, while a Browning A-5 Light Twelve with a vent rib was $154. Today, that may not seem like much of a difference, but, in 1959, the $35 difference could get you enough ammunition to last a couple seasons, or even procure a second, inexpensive shotgun.
Although the price was eventually lowered to make it more competitive with other autoloaders, that change came too late. The damage had been done. The smart marketing strategy is to initially price an item low and capture the market first. Breda importers had failed to do that. It is unfortunate that the Breda never met success in the U.S. Elsewhere, especially in Europe, it is still considered to be a premier autoloader, even though it is no longer in production.
The high-grade Breda autoloaders and their pricing in the early 1960s.
The Breda autoloader, like its progenitor, the Browning A-5, left its mark with other makers and can be considered a pioneer in several areas. The Benelli receiver owes much to the Breda. That company’s two-part receiver, like the one on the Super Black Eagle and Super Sport, first appeared on the Breda. The takedown of the Benelli trigger group, which is held in place by a single pin, rather than the two of most other guns, is also borrowed from Breda. (Breda’s trigger group is held in place by the “L”-shaped safety).
In an era when fairly open pistol grips, such as Browning’s round knob semi-pistol type, were popular, Breda chose to go the other way. Breda used a close, full pistol grip with a tight radius, something that now appears to be standard on the various Berettas, Benellis, and other modern autoloaders. Like the Breda, most makers also now offer autoloaders with buttstocks that are adjustable for cast and drop, and you would have a hard time finding one that does not have a choke tube system.
Some say the Breda is an example of an over-engineered gun; no one has attempted, in recent years, to make a gun mechanism with interlocking parts that can be disassembled without tools.
Whatever the case, in its day, it was, without a doubt, one of the finest autoloaders available. If you find one in the used gun rack, take a close look at it. You’d be hard pressed to find such fine workmanship on today’s autoloading shotguns, and it still makes an outstanding upland gun.
The new G41 Gen4 pistol gets everything out of the .45 ACP cartridge, and then some.
Stripped down, the G41 Gen 4 is a basic Glock with simple components. It tears down fast and goes back together just as fast. Author Photo
Not long ago, a pal of mine got hold of a G41 Gen4 to evaluate as a duty sidearm, and when he showed the pistol to me, I have to admit I was intrigued. It looks like a Glock. It functions like a Glock. It has that low slide profile like a Glock. It’s a Glock!
Ahhh, but it shoots like the proverbial house on fire. Get used to the trigger and pretty soon you’ll be bouncing a tin can around at 25 yards with 230-grain ball launched from a pistol that holds 13 rounds in the magazine. That is darned near twice the capacity of the original Model 1911, and find yourself in a gunfight and you‘ll definitely like that math.
Some folks have said this is a lot like a longer-barreled version of the G21 Gen4, but that’s not entirely accurate. It definitely has a thinner profile, and I like that.
I seriously tried to screw with this pistol by using all kinds of ammunition, which it cycled without fail.
The rounds I finally settled on for the range evaluation performed without a hiccup. By the time the dust had settled, I had a new respect for a sidearm that is very likely going to find its way into duty holsters all over the landscape. My guess is that the G41 Gen4 is going to acquit itself rather well on the mean streets.
Unloaded, this pistol weighs 27 ounces and loaded, it hits the scale at 36 ounces. Now, here’s where the longer barrel and slide profile make a real difference. There is more weight forward that balances well against a fully-loaded magazine, which makes for a better feel in the hand, improved recovery after each shot for quick follow-ups if necessary and the 7.56-inch sight radius contributes to more consistent accuracy.
Glock 41 Review: In the Hand
Cartridges line up perfectly with the Glock’s feed ramp. Author Photo
Recoil is extremely manageable, thanks in large part to the weight and to the double recoil spring setup. That soaks up a lot of punch, and your hands will benefit as a result. The polymer grip frame is textured all the way around, even in the front finger grooves.
Translate this to a positive hold even in a Pacific Northwest rainstorm, which is what I shoot in more often than I care. That’s one thing about Washington, if you want to test a gun in the rain, you’ll get the chance. Just go outside and wait.
According to Glock’s website, this pistol has a 5.5-pound trigger pull with a 0.49-inch travel, but it also has a very short reset. I found this rather appealing and managed to plug a couple of targets repeatedly before turning my attention to some broken chunks of clay targets, turning a few of those into even smaller particles.
Stripping down this pistol goes like it does with every other Glock. Clear the chamber, drop the magazine, check clear, press trigger and move the takedown control and off comes the slide. A good aerosol cleaner will get the Glock clean inside and then you can quickly reassemble for a return to shooting action.
Added Features
The G41 points well aided by a perfect grip from the interchangeable grip adapters. Author Photo
Like so many pistols today, the G41 Gen4 has an accessory rail molded into the polymer frame ahead of the trigger guard. One of the main reasons this pistol got my attention was because it comes with interchangeable grip adapters that may be installed to let users tailor the pistol to their hand size.
To install, simply pop out the small pin at the top of the grip backstrap, slide on one of the four adjustment sections and then tap in a longer retention pin to hold the additional piece in place. The whole operation takes less than a minute.
Two of these grip adjusters have full beavertails and two do not, sized instead to marry up to the backstrap below the top rear of the frame.
In addition, the pistol comes with a magazine loader, rugged case and lock, and a synthetic cleaning rod and brush. It’s an impressive package.
Ammo Test
Out of the G41, the Black Hills 230-grain FMJ scooted across my chronograph at an average of 760.9 fps, a bit on the slow side, but not so much that I’m going to be concerned, though it did prove to be the slowest round of the bunch I chronographed.
The author cut loose with a mixed magazine of test ammo from Remington, Winchester and Black Hills, at a fast pace at 15 yards. Author Photo
Next up, Remington’s UMC 230-grain leadless range ammo clocked at 787 fps, and it was a consistently accurate round. Coming in next was the Remington 230-grain Golden Saber JHP with its brass jacket. This load averaged 829.9 fps, which is right in the ballpark for any bullet of that weight. I carry Golden Sabers occasionally in my personal .45, and have never had a concern about their performance.
Winchester’s 230-grain JHP Personal Protection load averaged 854.9 fps, and that’s not bad for a hollowpoint, either. The G41 seemed to like this cartridge, it fed well and I broke up a couple of busted clay targets at 25 yards off a makeshift rest, so it’s going to deliver the goods if you do your part.
For those who like sizzle, Remington’s 185-grain JHP zipped out of the muzzle at 1,047 fps average. It got my attention, and the 185-grain pill out of any .45-caliber semi-auto I’ve ever fired turns in impressive ballistics.
Now, for those who like a rugged, reliable striker-fired pistol in .45 ACP with a long sight radius, serious firepower and the capacity to digest every kind of ammunition on the shelf, I think you will be pleased with the Glock G41 Gen4. It is a pistol that has a bright future in dark places.
Glock G41 Gen 4 Caliber: .45 ACP Capacity: 13+1 Magazines: One 13-round Barrel: 5.31” Sights: White dot front, white bracket rear Frame: Matte polymer Slide: Tenifer Length: 8.9” Height: 5.47” Weight: 27 oz. unloaded/36 oz. loaded Options: Interchangeable backstraps, magazine loader, cleaning rod and brush, case MSRP: $775
Just because you wear corrective lenses doesn't mean you can't hit the broadside of a barn. Follow these handgun shooting tips to overcome less-than-perfect eyesight.
Legally carrying a gun concealed is not just for young adults with 20/20 vision. Take me for example, for whom the days are long gone when, in semi-annual qualifications at the police department, I pounded out groups that could be covered with one hand.
As time went on, my groups opened up a bit but were all “center mass.” Still, several years before I retired, I had to start choosing between seeing the sights or seeing the target.
At concealed carry classes I observe lots of good folks with corrective lenses. And in those states where a shooting qualification is required, I shouldn't chuckle — but I still do — when they squint with noses held high in the air using bifocals to see the front sights. Don't do this.
If you get in a jam that requires you to pull your gun, you are not going to assume that ridiculous posture to pick up the sights through the bottoms of your glasses. Adrenalin will drive you into a semi-crouch and your vision will tunnel on the threat.
If the gun fits your hand and you practice regularly, you may get hits at contact distance whether you can see the sights or not. If the gun doesn’t fit and/or you don’t practice with it often, you will probably miss.
The best solution to old eyes like mine is adding a laser designator to your gun — or buy a new handgun that comes equipped with a laser. Use your glasses to read the paper. Use the laser to run the gun (an added bonus is that with the right verbal commands, the laser can help you de-escalate).
Remember, all lethal encounters are different and everybody brings unique needs and capacities to the fight.
Smith & Wesson’s foray into really big-bore revolvers came with the introduction of the double-action X-frame. This one is chambered in the high-velocity .460 Smith & Wesson Magnum.
Picking a revolver to carry in the woods isn’t necessarily an easy decision or one that should be taken lightly. Your sidearm should become an extension of yourself if you are carrying for protection – from two and four-legged predators.
If your revolver is to be used as a primary hunting tool, you have a bit more leeway in your decision between single and double action. Chances are good that your double-action hunting piece will be shot single action anyhow, negating any advantages—perceived or real—between one type or the other. So, put all of your needs up front when it comes time to make your decision. I’ve compiled a partial list to get you started in singling out what will be your perfect revolver.
Primary Use
What will the revolver be used for? Protection or hunting? Protection against what (this will help determine the caliber)? Double duty? A back-up piece will only need to be accurate at short distances where it will be used to save your bacon, so a short barrel will be preferable.
Carry Method
How will you carry your revolver? On your belt? In a shoulder holster? In a pack? Size, optics and overall weight will help hone in on how you carry your chosen firearm, and your carry preference will also limit your options.
Optics
If you are gifted with the vision of an adolescent, then open sights are attractive from a number of perspectives. However, we often need a little help to accurately place our bullets on target. A scope will pretty much limit your revolver to hunting duty, as the long eye relief offered by handgun scopes do not lend themselves to quick acquisition in an emergency situation. You will likely mount a scope on a revolver with a longer barrel for longer shot expectancy. A red dot-type sight offers a bit more flexibility than a scope because it is easier to acquire, yet still adds bulk to the revolver.
Recoil Tolerance
Those sensitive to recoil will find double-action revolvers to be harder on the shooter in the hotter calibers. The recoil tends to come straight back into the hand, whereas a single action tends to want to rise more, deflecting recoil by reducing or redirecting the thrust. Many simply find the single-action revolver, even in large calibers, easier to shoot and not nearly as abusive.
Editor's Note, this article originally appeared in the February 13, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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.
