We take a quick look at the new Kimber 2K11, a high-capacity 1911 modernized for the 21st century.
The 2011 craze continues to boom, and the latest company to take a shot at the growing market is Kimber with the new 2K11. A high-capacity, modernized 1911, the Kimber 2K11 is available in both 9mm and .45 ACP in standard and target configurations.
Sporting 5-inch barrels, both versions of the Kimber 2K11 ship with three magazines. The 9mm variants come with one 17-round and two 20-round mags, and the .45 ACP versions come with three 13-round mags. All models are also optics-ready and ship with a C&H optic plate for the RMR mounting footprint (three other footprint plates are available separately). The 2K11 Target in 9mm is also available to purchase as a package with a Trijicon SRO. Features that separate the Target model from the standard 2K11 include its ported slide, adjustable rear target sight and Stan Chen Customs magwell. It also sports a coyote finish instead of black.
Other noteworthy features found on all Kimber 2K11s include external extractors for better reliability, aluminum grip modules, excellent GT Triggers and improved internal geometry for feeding from high-capacity mags. The guide rod design even allows for easy, tool-less disassembly.
Everett Deger, Director of Marketing and Communications at Kimber, said this about the new pistols:
We were determined to produce the very best high capacity 1911 and deliver a superior value. The 2K11 has several unique features that come standard that you have to have customized in the aftermarket to achieve what you get out of the box with Kimber.
The standard Kimber 2K11 has an MSRP of $1,995 in 9mm and $2,125 in .45 ACP. The 2K11 Target has an MSRP of $2,495 in 9mm and $2,595 in .45 ACP.
We take a closer look at the Winchester 94 lever-action, the most iconic American hunting rifle ever made.
In some hunting circles, it was once considered a rite of passage to be able to silently cock back the hammer of a lever-action rifle. More often than not, it was the hammer of a Winchester Model 1894, more commonly known as the Winchester 94.
With over 7.5 million made since the model’s introduction in 1894 the Winchester 94 is easily the most popular deer rifle ever produced, and there was a time when almost every American hunter had one in his gun rack, safe or hanging from the window of his truck. Compared to shotguns and bolt-actions, lever-action rifles aren’t as popular with hunters as they once were, but the Winchester Model 94 remains in production to this day and still holds the title of the single most iconic American hunting rifle of all time.
Cartridge: .30-30 Winchester Action: Lever-action Capacity: 7+1 Barrel Length: 20 inches Weight: 6.8 pounds Overall Length: 37.8 inches Sights: Rear notch and front post
John Browning Perfects The Lever Action
Like so many other historically significant firearms from the period, the story of the Winchester Model 94 starts with John Browning.
The original Winchester 94, chambered for .32-40 Winchester and .38-55 Winchester, was designed to handle the pressures generated by these black powder cartridges. Following the recent introduction of smokeless powder, Winchester wanted to offer the rifle in a smokeless cartridge. In turn, .30-30 Winchester (aka .30 Winchester Center Fire. or 30 WCF) cartridge was developed alongside a new beefed-up Winchester 94 to shoot it in 1895.
The advantages of smokeless powder cartridges range from improved ballistics to less fouling, but it also means higher pressures, so a stronger type of steel was required for the rifle to handle the .30-30 cartridge.
Before Browning’s 1886 and 1892 designs, lever-action rifles had not evolved that much from the Henry Model 1860, the first commercially successful lever-action rifle. The Henry, as well as the Winchester Model 1866 and Model 1873, used a double toggle system that was smooth to operate but not strong enough to handle large, powerful black powder cartridges.
Browning fixed that with the Winchester Model 1886, chambered for some of the most powerful black powder cartridges of its time. In the early 1890s, Browning developed the Winchester Model 1892, a smaller-scale rifle that fired pistol cartridges. Cowboys and other shooters of the day liked the idea that their rifles and pistols could share ammunition.
A cutaway Winchester Model 94.
Besides stronger steel, it was one of Browning’s innovations that set the new Model 1894 apart from these previous lever-action designs. The Winchester 94 used a single locking bar rather than two locking lugs like the Model 1886 and Model 1892.
The single lug of the 94 locks the bolt in place on both sides of the receiver, so it was not only strong enough for large black powder cartridges but for new smokeless powder cartridges as well. The locking bar also housed the transfer bar for the firing pin which simplified the safety system in the bolt compared to previous models.
The Model ’94 also incorporated a new safety in the form of a pin that protruded from the bottom receiver tang. This pin blocks the trigger as the lever is cycled, meaning that the lever needs to be fully closed against the pin for the rifle to be fired.
Winchester Model 94 In .30-30
What truly cinched the Winchester 94’s place in history was the version chambered for .30-30 Winchester. As the first successful smokeless powder cartridge on the U.S. hunting market, .30-30 offered an excellent balance of power and mild recoil in a lightweight, easily maneuverable rifle.
It proved the perfect companion for hunters—ideally suited for deer and medium-sized game but versatile enough to take smaller and larger animals. I suspect nearly every North American game species has been hunted with a Model 94 in .30-30 at some point, including elk, caribou, and bear. This is why the .30-30 Winchester 94 became the most iconic variant of the rifle and why the vast majority sold over the years were chambered for this cartridge. It was an unbeatable combination.
Evolution Of The Winchester 94
There were some major design changes made to the Model 94 over the years, and Winchester collectors today generally divide the rifle’s production into three main eras.
The first spans from the introduction of the 94 through 1963, and rifles built during this period are the most valuable to collectors. The second era goes from 1964 through 2006. Rifles manufactured during this period use sintered steel for the receiver and stamped steel rather than machined parts for certain components. This reduced manufacturing costs, but many Winchester fans felt that these updates eroded the quality of the rifles. Understandable, but the reality is that none of these changes negatively impacted performance, although the new receiver material did result in some very ugly bluing.
A Winchester 94 AE Big Bore in .307 Winchester with a scope mounted.
Another change that Winchester made during this time frame was to the ejection system, altering it to toss empty brass out at an angle instead of straight out of the top of the receiver. This change in 1982 was an effort to make the Winchester 94 more functional for hunters who were now regularly using scopes.
As optics came into wider use for hunting after WWII, the Model 94 was hamstrung. Since cartridge cases ejected out of the top of the receiver, the only options for mounting a scope were on the side of the receiver or further forward scout rifle style. Neither method was ideal, but the angle-eject (AE) Model 94s resolved the issue.
This period also saw the introduction of the Model 94 Big Bore series, variants that upped the power with chambering options like .307 Win., .356 Win., .375 Win., .444 Marlin and .450 Marlin. However, these large-bore calibers did not have the long-range capabilities that hunters desired and most weren’t available for very long.
This Big Bore Model 94 in .307 Winchester also features the dreaded cross-bolt safety.
The final era of the Winchester 94 began around 1992 following the bankruptcy of the U.S. Repeating Arms Company (the then-current iteration of Winchester) and its acquisition by FN Herstal. One positive of this was that FN modernized production of the rifle through the use of CNC machines, but one change that was widely viewed as negative was the addition of a cross-bolt safety which was deemed ugly and unnecessary by shooters.
Thankfully, the new safety was eventually moved to the tang to not disrupt the lines of the gun. New-production Winchester 94 rifles all still feature the tang safety, but the guns haven’t been produced in the United States since 2006. Following their reintroduction in 2010, all Model 94s have been made by Miroku in Japan.
Legacy Of The Winchester 94
While the Winchester Model 1894 may have arrived too late to play as major of a role in the Old West as other Winchester lever-action rifles did, it made up for it by establishing a reputation in hunting camps as a deer-getter. The Winchester allowed generations of hunters to hang meat on the game pole and fill freezers from Alaska to New England and everywhere in between.
Outside of hunting, the Winchester 94 also saw some limited military use in both WWI and WWII. The Americans, British, Canadians and French all issued the rifle in some capacity during these conflicts, but mostly to rear-echelon troops such as ship guards, couriers and coastal defense militias. If one was ever fired in anger during these wars is hard to say, but they surely didn’t see enough action to be remembered as military rifles.
Robert Duvall in True Grit (1969) holding a Winchester 94. The film is set in 1880, so its inclusion is an anachronism. Photo: IMFDB.
It’s also worth mentioning that while the Model 1894 didn’t see much actual use by Old West gunslingers in the real world, it did see its fair share of action on the silver screen. Its inclusion is often an anachronism, but plenty of old cowboy movies and shows feature the Winchester 94 even if the plot is set before the gun’s advent in 1894.
Owning A Winchester 94 Today
Even if they’re no longer made in the U.S., it’s nice that you can still buy new-production, Winchester-marked Model 1894 rifles today. Currently available models include the Model 94 Carbine and Model 94 Short Rifle (both with 20-inch barrels but different styles of buttstock), the Model 94 Sporter and Model 94 Deluxe Sporting (both with 24-inch barrels) and the Model 94 Trails End Takedown model (also with a 20-inch barrel). All five variants are available in either the classic .30-30 Winchester chambering or in .38-55 Winchester, but the Short Rifle and Takedown models are offered in .450 Marlin as well.
A new-production Japanese-made Winchester Model 94 Short Rifle.
MSRPs for the new production Winchesters start at just over $1,300 for the most basic configuration but go up to over $2,200 for the Deluxe Sporting model that has features like a case-hardened receiver.
With so many millions of Model 94s made over the years, if you want an original American-made gun, you shouldn’t have too much trouble tracking a used one down either. Examples made before 1964 are the most highly sought after by collectors and will demand the highest price, but you can still find shooters in decent shape for around the same price (or even less) as a new-production Winchester 94 Carbine.
If you’re able to inspect a used rifle before putting money down (and you know what you’re doing), you might get a good deal this way, but if not you’re probably better off getting a new production gun. If you’re willing to settle for one made after 1964, prices also become even more reasonable.
An Uberti 1894 Carbine Model 94 clone.
You’re even more in luck if you don’t care about who made the gun, as companies like Uberti in Italy produce some great Winchester 94 clones as well. While the clones are nice, they unfortunately cost about the same as a new Winchester, so the choice really comes down to details and your preference. Historical purists will likely lean toward the Italian-made ones (or first-generation used Winchesters) since they lack the updated features like the manual safety or angle-eject.
Parting Shot
Any way you slice it, the Winchester Model 1894 is one of the most iconic American firearms ever produced. It has an earned reputation of being an extremely effective hunting rifle, the same timeless good looks as the Old West lever-actions that came before it and they’re still making them today. Not even including clones from other companies, over 7.5 million ‘94s have been made and that number only keeps rising.
Like the 1911 or the AK, the Model ‘94 seems to be a gun that’s just not going to go away any time soon, and one that will likely continue to see some degree of use as long as humans are around and have things to shoot at. Whether you’re looking for a functional, versatile lever gun for hunting or just appreciate the history, few other guns deserve a spot in your gun safe more than a Winchester 94.
If you’re ever involved in a self-defense shooting, who calls 911? The decision isn’t as straightforward as it might seem.
In the aftermath of a self-defense shooting, countless considerations can impact your immediate safety and legal standing. One of the most crucial decisions is determining who should make the 911 call. Should it be you, or should the responsibility be delegated to a friend or family member who might be with you?
This decision isn’t as straightforward as it might seem, and understanding the nuances can make a significant difference in both the short and long term.
Why the 911 Call Matters
The importance of the 911 call cannot be overstated. This call is not just a request for help; it’s the first official account of the incident, and it will play a significant role in how law enforcement views you and the situation. In many cases, the first person to contact 911 is assumed to be the victim, and this call can change the trajectory—not only the response by first responders, but also the ensuing investigation.
Therefore, it’s crucial to make that call as soon as it is safe to do so, provided that you or your designee remain at the scene unless safety concerns dictate otherwise.
Who Should Make the Call?
Whether you should make the 911 call yourself or have an associate do so depends on several factors, starting with your immediate physical and situational condition. If you’re injured or still dealing with a threat, making the call might not be feasible, in which case it would be necessary for someone else to step in. The primary focus should always be on surviving the encounter before worrying about the legal aftermath.
Assuming you’re able to make the call, it’s essential to consider the capability and composure of your associate. In a high-stress situation, the person making the 911 call needs to be clear, concise and able to provide accurate information. The call will be recorded, and what is said—or not said—could be critical in any subsequent legal proceedings. The recording may be played in court, possibly in front of a jury, and it could shape the narrative of what happened during the incident.
Given the potential ramifications, you should think carefully before delegating this responsibility. Personally, I’d be hesitant to allow anyone else to make that call unless it were someone I trust implicitly, such as my wife or a close trusted friend, who has undergone substantial training. The reality is that very few people you interact with regularly will have the composure and clarity needed to handle this kind of pressure.
What Information to Provide
Whether you or an associate makes the 911 call, the information provided to the dispatcher should be clear and focused. Start with the basics: your name, location and a brief statement requesting both emergency medical services and police. It’s crucial to identify yourself as the victim early in the conversation. A simple, direct statement, such as “I was attacked and had to use my firearm to defend myself,” can establish this crucial fact and the active dynamic at the scene.
Additionally, you should specify your exact location within the area, such as “I will be standing by a white Ford truck.” This helps responding officers quickly and accurately identify you. For your safety, provide a physical description of yourself, including clothing, height, weight and any other distinguishing features. This ensures that the officers arriving on the scene can identify you as the “good guy or gal,” reducing the likelihood of a tragic misunderstanding.
Equally important is what not to say during the 911 call. Avoid providing unnecessary details or making statements that could be misinterpreted or used against you later. Stick to the essential information outlined above and leave further explanations for when you have legal counsel present.
Preparing for the Aftermath
The 911 call is just the first step in what can become a long and complex legal journey. Once the police arrive, there will be additional safety and legal considerations to address. It’s essential to be familiar with how to interact with law enforcement following a defensive shooting. Resources like the Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network and the concept of the “three rings of safety” advocated by experts like Massad Ayoob can provide valuable guidance on what to do after the call is made.
Conclusion
While there are situations where it might be necessary for someone else to make the 911 call, if you are able, it’s generally advisable to handle it yourself. The call is your first opportunity to establish the context of the incident, identify yourself as the victim, and provide vital information that can influence both the immediate response and any future legal proceedings. Knowing in advance who among your friends or family is capable of handling this responsibility under extreme pressure is also critical.
By planning ahead and understanding the importance of the 911 call, you can better protect yourself both during and after a defensive shooting.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Every state has its own gun laws, and it’s recommended that you consult with an attorney to understand the specific legalities around gun storage and parental responsibility in your jurisdiction.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
A quick look at the new Taurus 650, a snub-nosed .357 Magnum CCW revolver with a shrouded hammer.
Taurus has just announced the reintroduction of the Taurus 650, a no-frills concealed carry revolver with a shrouded hammer. Chambered for .357 Magnum/.38 SPL +P and sporting a 5-shot cylinder, this small-frame wheelgun was designed with concealability and reliability in mind.
Due to its shrouded hammer, the Taurus 650 has a DAO (Double-Action Only) trigger, but that also means it should have a snag-free draw and can be fired from a pocket without jamming. It’s available with either a 2- or 3-inch barrel and with a stainless steel or matte black finish. The 650 also features rubber grips and a removable/replaceable serrated front sight, and Taurus says that the guns will work with existing 5-shot speedloaders and holsters for similar revolvers.
Caleb Giddings, Manager of Marketing at Taurus USA, said this about the new revolvers:
This is the ultimate expression of what my friend Darryl Bolke refers to as ‘the snubby lifestyle … Some people want a simple, reliable DAO revolver they can carry every day, and this gun answers that need perfectly.
Both the 2-inch and 3-inch versions of the Taurus 650 with a black finish have an MSRP of $454.99, and both stainless versions have an MSRP of $469.99.
Maxim Defense has just announced a slick new quick-detach flash hider suppressor mount system.
Maxim Defense’s MSX line of suppressors just got even better thanks to the recent launch of new quick-detach variants. These QD suppressor models, available for the DS, DSX and DS-K, are available now and can be purchased as a package with the proprietary flash hider QD mount.
The QD flash hider mount allows for quick attachment and detachment of the suppressor without the use of tools, and they’re also multi-caliber compatible and available with either a 1/2×28 or 5/8×24 thread pitch. Further, the three suppressors are available in both 7.62 and 5.56 and with either a black or FDE finish. The QD mount that Maxim Defense ships with the suppressors (when purchased as a package) is an A2-style flash hider that doesn’t require timing. It also features 1-16th ACME threading externally, and the company says that the QD suppressors are compatible with other brands of muzzle devices such as those from CGS.
David Farrell, Vice President of Commercial Sales at Maxim Defense, said this about the new QD system:
We couldn’t be more excited about this new suppressor and flash hider system … The QD is the only quick detachable suppressor system on the market that’s fully serviceable and maintainable, giving it a longer lifespan and better performance.
The QD versions of the DS, DSX and DS-K suppressors are all available now, and when purchased as a package with the QD flash hider mount, MSRPs range from $1,150 to $1,550.
When it comes to rimfire chores, is .22 Mag overrated? Or does its extra punch make it more versatile than old reliable .22 LR?
In each annual edition of this Gun Digest, you are regaled by tales of exotic places full of stories about trophy bull elk or dangerous African game. You read about rifles that, if they’re not modern and sexy, are at least classic and classy. And then there are my assignments, which are here to keep you grounded.
With that in mind, let me tell you about a skunk I killed the other day on a muddy trail in Kentucky with a .22 Magnum. It wasn’t the first skunk I’ve taken with the legendary rimfire cartridge. In fact, I killed a different skunk only the day before. And if history is any indicator, I’ll shoot another one or two before the year is out—and I’ll use the heralded .22 Magnum to handle all the heavy lifting.
This skunk was dispatched from 120 yards—guessed but not confirmed with a rangefinder—with the rifle rested across the handlebars of a Honda four-wheeler. Only a single bullet was required, and the results were swift and, as skunk killings go, mostly odor-free.
What brought me into the situation was that from late December through February each year, I run a line of about two dozen predator traps. My primary targets are coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, and foxes. To dispatch them in a trap and preserve their furs, I mostly use a .22 Long Rifle handgun loaded with standard-velocity 40-grain bullets.
But now and then, a striped polecat (that’s Southern for skunk; I realize true polecats are living elsewhere) finds its way into one of my Bridger footholds. I trap partly for the fun of it but primarily for predator control. I’ve learned that removing some predators in the late winter equates to more turkey poults and deer fawns in the spring and summer. As skunks are documented nest predators, they get no quarter from me on the trapline.
Not that I’d be brave enough to approach and release one. Being caught in a foothold trap seems to activate a hair trigger for the skunk’s primary defense, which is quite noxious and something you’ll learn all about if you get too close. That is one reason why, in addition to my .22 LR handgun, I never check a trapline without a scoped and highly accurate .22 WMR rifle close by with which I can kill skunks instantly and from well out of reach of their spray.
Another reason for the rifle? Not every shot you get at a predator while running a trapline happens because you’ve caught one. Every season, I get chance opportunities at critters, from coyotes and bobcats to armadillos. The .22 WMR is the perfect cartridge for incidental varmint work because it offers more effective range and power than the .22 LR without the ear-ringing report and fur-wrecking properties of a .22 centerfire.
My go-to rifle on the line is a Bergara Micro Rimfire Carbon with a threaded, 20-inch carbon-fiber barrel and match-grade chamber. Mine’s fitted with a SilencerCo Sparrow suppressor, and I have it topped with a 30mm Hawke Vantage 3-9×42 IR scope. The illuminated reticle really shines, pun intended, for low-light shooting at slinky predators. The rifle weighs just 5 pounds, and with the scope and suppressor added, the finished weight can’t be much more than 7 pounds. It’s impervious to the weather and grime that guns are exposed to on a trapline, and it shoots lights out.
Yet, that rifle is far from the only .22 Magnum I own and shoot regularly. There’s the worn Marlin bolt gun I still use for killing groundhogs at my folks’ cabin, the new Ruger Precision Rimfire that has become a go-to squirrel sniper, and the scratched-and-battered Ruger Single Six revolver that’s my companion for summer frog hunting.
Since my teenage years, the .22 WMR has been a favorite cartridge for hunting and varmint shooting. Given its utility in rifles and handguns, I think it’s one of the best cartridges a serious outdoorsperson can own. Better factory ammunition, premium bullets, and outstanding new rifles and handguns have also given the .22 WMR a resurgence in popularity.
Origins and Reputation
The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire—.22 WMR or .22 Magnum for short—was introduced in 1959. It is an elongated version of the .22 Winchester Rimfire (WRF), introduced in 1890 and still factory-loaded by Winchester and CCI today. Though the .22 WRF offered ballistic advantages over the .22 LR loads of the day, it had little advantage over today’s high-velocity Long Rifle ammunition and is basically obscure.
But the .22 Magnum is another matter. Though it uses bullets of the same diameter, WMR cases are longer in length and larger in diameter than .22 LR. From a rifle barrel, published ballistics show a 40-grain CCI Gamepoint .22 WMR leaves the muzzle at 1,875 feet per second, 615 fps faster than a 36-grain CCI Mini-Mag .22 LR. The magnum rimfire also carries almost twice the muzzle energy at 312 foot-pounds. For perspective, that’s more energy than a 130-grain .38 Special +P fired from a handgun.
Though public opinion seems more favorable now, the .22 Magnum suffered a mixed reputation for decades, particularly among some gun writers. Field & Stream Rifles Editor David Petzal included it in his 10 Most Overrated Cartridges Ever Made roundup. He summarized the .22 WMR by saying:
“It’s been around since 1959, and is by any account a commercially successful cartridge, but I’m damned if I can see why. On the one hand, it’s more powerful than the .22 LR, but on the other, it gives you only 25 yards (or so) more effective range. It has neither the low cost of the .22 LR or its accuracy.”
Now, to give credit where due, Petzal is one of history’s great gun writers who knows more about rifles than I do. As a hunting editor of Field & Stream myself, I know him personally. He’s a nice guy (despite the gruff persona) who happens to be wrong about the .22 Magnum.
Of course, if you compare the merits of the .22 WMR to the .22 LR, the cost is a natural consideration, and the magnum cartridge is indeed more expensive. CCI Maxi-Mags are about 25 cents per shot in 2024, compared to 8 cents for Mini-Mag .22 LR. Yet, compared to cheap centerfire rifle ammunition, the .22 WMR remains economical to shoot. For perspective, .223 Remington American Eagle 55-grain FMJ is about 62 cents per round.
If your idea of a rimfire’s role is primarily burning up ammunition by the brick at targets and maybe shooting a squirrel on occasion, then sure, the cost savings of the .22 LR is a big consideration. But the .22 Magnum is not a plinking or training round; it’s a hunting cartridge.
The flatter trajectory from the added velocity is a decisive advantage. Sighted in at 50 yards, the .22 WMR hits a half-inch low at 75 yards and 8 inches low at 150 yards. The .22 LR, sighted in at the same distance, drops 1.8 inches at 75 yards and 20 inches at 150. For perspective, a squirrel’s head is about 2 inches in diameter, and a coyote’s vitals are about 6 inches in diameter. So, with the .22 WMR, you can hold dead-on and clip a squirrel’s noggin out to 75+ yards or dump a coyote at 150 yards without holding off fur. You simply cannot do the same with a .22 LR.
Besides that, the .22 WMR carries more energy at 100 yards than the .22 LR does at the muzzle—and that creates a dramatic difference in the terminal effect on critters and is the primary reason behind the .22 WMR’s fanbase. Those who regularly use this cartridge know it punches above its fighting weight.
The .22 WMR is an incredibly versatile hunting cartridge, and the author much prefers it over the standard .22 Long Rifle.
My buddy Ryan usually keeps a Ruger American Rimfire in .22 WMR in his truck. It’s not only his go-to squirrel gun but also his pick for coyotes, opossums, and any other critters he comes upon in a day of countryside turd-kicking. Ryan’s also a part-time cattle farmer, which isn’t always a pleasant business. Sick and injured cattle frequently have to be put down, and he makes no bones about what works best to do the job humanely. “I’ve tried to put cows down with pistols, like 9mms and .380s, and it’s not good,” he says. “Those pistol bullets will not always penetrate a cow’s skull. But the .22 Magnum between the eyes is a different story. It’s one and done about every time.”
I’ve shot hundreds of predators, both called and trapped, with the .22 LR, .17 HMR and .22 WMR. I’ve also hunted squirrels extensively with each of the cartridges. There is no question in my mind that the .22 Mag is the most decisive killer of the bunch. The .17 has the edge in velocity, but the .22 Mag’s bullets weigh about twice as much. They penetrate deeper and do a better job of anchoring tough coyotes quickly—though they’re not always as friendly on fur. I like the .17 HMR slightly better for squirrel hunting because, with the right bullet, it’s less destructive on meat. But the .22 WMR works excellently if you take headshots.
If I had to choose just one all-purpose rimfire rifle for everything from small game hunting to 100-yard coyote calling, it would unquestionably be a .22 Magnum. Fortunately, I’m not in such dire straits, and I have great rifles chambered for all three cartridges.
Accuracy
All that power is great, but it doesn’t do a squirrel hunter any good if the guns don’t shoot. For a time, the .22 WMR’s reputation for inaccuracy may have been warranted. My dad has an old bolt-action Marlin with a tubular magazine, perhaps a 783, that I used when I was a kid for shooting groundhogs in the neighbor’s pasture. It worked well enough, but good 50-yard groups for that gun were around an inch. I need a squirrel rifle to shoot better. (To be fair to the old Marlin, it wore a cheap 4x scope, and the bolt handle had been broken off and welded back on.)
I’ve shot several new .22 Mags from various manufacturers over the past decade, and I rarely find one now that doesn’t shoot very well. Take my Ruger Precision Rimfire, for example. Topped with a Leupold VX Freedom 4-12×40, it will put five CCI Gamepoints into a tiny, ragged hole at 50 yards. That’s not just headshooting accuracy for squirrel hunting; it’s eyeball accuracy. My “skunk rifle,” the Bergara BMR, doesn’t shoot quite that well, but it nonetheless groups well under an inch at 50 yards with CCI Maxi-Mag hollowpoints.
Rifle manufacturing processes have improved (not just for rimfires but also for rifles). Factory triggers are much improved and often adjustable. As I understand from folks in the know, chamber tolerances have improved for the .22 WMR. That .22 Mag rifles aren’t capable of outstanding accuracy is not true anymore. Many of them will shoot just as well as .22 LR guns.
Besides that, factory ammunition is far better. I was limited to a few 40-grain jacketed hollowpoint options when I was a teenager, hunting groundhogs. Today, manufacturers are loading .22 WMR with a variety of premium bullets. CCI offers the polymer-tipped 30-grain V-Max and VNT, the 40-grain Maxi-Mag Jacketed Hollowpoint, the 40-grain Gamepoint Jacketed Soft Point (my personal favorite), and the 46-grain Polymer-Coated Segmented Hollowpoint. Winchester has 10 .22 WMR options, including a 30-grain Varmint High-Velocity JHP, a 30-grain V-Max, and a pair of defensive offerings, including a 40-grain Silvertip and 40-grain Defender JHP. Hornady has a load with its signature 30-grain V-Max and a defensive option with the 45-grain FTX (Flex Tip).
The lighter-weight bullets tend to bump velocities up by 200 fps and provide a more explosive effect on smaller critters. For my use, I usually lean toward 40-grain bullets with more controlled expansion. They don’t always “blow up” when they contact a squirrel, meaning better weight retention and deeper penetration on predators. They exit coyotes more often than not.
A Few Favorite .22 Mag Rifles
Plenty of excellent .22 Magnum rifles are on the market now, but I have firsthand experience with all these or guns very close to them. None are cheap, but they won’t break your budget.
Ruger Precision Rimfire
I was skeptical of this “chassis rifle” when I first carried it into the squirrel woods, but I quickly came around. With a Quick-Fit precision adjustable stock, free-floating handguard, threaded target barrel and adjustable trigger, it’s built for competitive shooters. Still, it is also right at home in the oaks and hickories. The rifle uses Ruger’s dead-nuts-reliable rotary mag (like the 10/22), which is the best rimfire rifle magazine made if you ask me. Mine is the most accurate .22 WMR I’ve ever shot, too.
The Ruger Precision Rimfire in .22 WMR has become one of the author’s go-to squirrel guns.
Bergara BMR
The Bergara is the .22 Mag I reach for, if not daily, at least weekly during the fall and winter. It’s my truck gun, ATV gun, and out-the-back-window-of-the-house gun. As mentioned, it won’t quite shoot with my Ruger Precision, but it is still more than capable of headshooting accuracy in the squirrel woods. With a traditionally styled stock and No. 6 carbon-fiber barrel, it’s also ultra-lightweight and impervious to the weather.
My only critique of it is the magazine system. It feeds well enough, but the mag release lever is large and obnoxious, and the mags (both five- and 10-rounders are supplied) require some finagling to seat properly into the rifle.
The Bergara BMR Carbon is lightweight, and shoots lights out. It could be the perfect truck gun.
Savage A22 Magnum
Over the years, semi-automatic .22 Magnums have come and gone, but few of them have worked reliably. Savage figured it out with the A22 Magnum, which uses a delayed-blowback action to cycle the magnum cartridges reliably without splitting cases. The rifle works exceptionally well with CCI’s complementary A22 Magnum ammunition, which uses a 35-grain version of my favorite Gamepoint bullet.
The A22 Magnums I’ve shot, and there have been several, wouldn’t quite group with the Ruger or Bergara listed above, but they were ahead of my dad’s old Marlin, and reliability was excellent. If I were looking for a dedicated predator hunting rifle where report and over-penetration were concerns, this would be tops.
Henry Lever-Action .22 Magnum Express
Once upon a time, Winchester and Marlin ruled the lever-gun roost, but not anymore. Henry Repeating Arms has more top-shelf lever guns in its lineup than anyone else. The rifles are made in America with classic bluing and walnut furniture, and I’ve yet to shoot one that I didn’t want to keep and hand down to my son one day.
I have two Henry Single-Shots and a Big Boy in my centerfire collection, but the Lever-Action .22 Magnum Express would be next on my wishlist. It has the lines of a classic lever gun with an 11-round tubular magazine but with a Picatinny optics rail pre-installed and a Monte Carlo buttstock with a raised comb. There’s no sense in having a quality .22 Magnum rifle without a solid scope on top.
.22 Mag Handguns
The .22 Magnum is a rifle cartridge that shines in handguns, too. It’s outstanding for the trail and campsite. It also offers potential for defensive use, particularly with new ammunition like Speer Gold Dot, optimized for performance in shorter handgun barrels. Expect a louder report than a .22 LR handgun but identical recoil (none) and far better terminal performance.
Ruger New Model Single Six
The Ruger New Model Single Six single-action revolver was originally meant to capitalize on the popularity of the Colt Single Action Army. Still, it’s become a classic in its own right. It has interchangeable cylinders, one for shooting .22 Long Rifle (or .22 Shorts or Longs), and the other for .22 Magnum. My first handgun was a Single Six with a 5.5-inch barrel that my dad bought used, and it only came with the magnum cylinder. That’s all I’ve ever needed. There’s no telling how many critters have been befallen by that gun, and it still rides on my hip on many an excursion to this day.
The .22 WMR is a fine revolver cartridge. The author has carried this worn Super Single Six for decades.
Smith & Wesson Model 48
I like single-action revolvers, but I love a classic double-action, and Smith & Wesson in particular. The K-frame Model 48 is available in S&W’s Classic series. It’s a steel beauty with wood grips and Patridge sights but with modern enhancements like a transfer bar safety. If I wanted a top-of-the-line .22 Magnum double-action as an all-purpose handgun for hunting, target shooting, and defense in a pinch, this would be it.
Kel-Tec PMR 30
I love revolvers but won’t go full Fudd on you in the handgun section. A few other companies now offer high-capacity .22 WMR semi-autos, but the Kel-Tec PMR 30 was among the first that worked. My buddy Ryan (mentioned earlier) has one, and he says that any problem that can’t be solved with 30 rounds of .22 Magnum is a real problem indeed. The gun is a bit finicky if magazines are not loaded correctly, but when they are, it’s a reliable little blaster that’s easy to hit with, a ball to shoot, and not terribly expensive.
Conclusion
The .22 WMR is many things, but overrated ain’t one of them. That it is capable of pinpoint accuracy worthy of precision small game hunting, has the punch to anchor coyotes, and works nearly as well in revolvers as it does in rifles makes it a cartridge worth keeping around, perhaps in a few different guns.
There’s maybe no finer round for dispatching those striped polecats, either.
A quick look at ZeroTech Optics’ Vengeance line of feature-rich, affordably priced riflescopes.
Hunters, competitive shooters and anyone else looking to buy an optic without breaking the bank have some new riflescopes to consider before their next purchase from ZeroTech Optics. Packed with features typically found on more expensive optics, the new ZeroTech Vengeance riflescope line aims to deliver excellent performance at a more affordable price.
There are currently a total of 12 models featured in the Vengeance line, 7 unique scopes plus an additional 5 variants with different reticles (some of which are illuminated). The unique models include a 1-6x24mm, a 3-12x40mm, a 4.5-18x40mm, a 4-16x44mm, a 6-24x50mm, a 4-20x50mm and a 5-25x56mm. Regardless of the exact model or variant in question, all ZeroTech Vengeance scopes feature coated, high-quality glass lenses that provide excellent clarity and light transmission. They also all feature locking turrets with crisp, tactile adjustments, zero stop technology for quick returns to zero and a durable construction that can stand up against shock, water and fog.
MSRPs for the optics in the ZeroTech Vengeance line range from $279 to $799, and each scope will ship with a microfiber lens cloth and either a stretch-fit or Neoprene scope cover depending on the model.
Savage Arms has just announced the Revel series of rimfire lever-action rifles, featuring two models and three chambering options.
The lever-action rifle trend we’re currently living through is still going strong, and Savage Arms has just added fuel to the fire with its new Revel series of rimfire rifles. The two models, the Revel Classic and the Revel DLX, will each be available in three different chambering options (.22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR), but only the Revel Classic in .22 LR is currently available. Savage says that the other five variants will begin shipping in the Spring of 2025.
Both The Revel Classic and the Revel DLX have a 12-round magazine capacity in .22 LR and a 9-round capacity in .17 HMR and .22 WMR. Both models also feature 18-inch barrels, crossbolt safeties, drilled and tapped receivers and adjustable iron sights. Both rifles are also described as sporting oversized lever loops, but according to Savage Arms’ photos, only the Revel Classic features one. The DLX model’s loop looks to be the normal size by comparison.
Savage Revel DLX.
Another aspect the Revel Classic and Revel DLX have in common is their ability to be taken down quickly. Pressing out two push pins will allow the stock and lever-action/trigger assembly to be separated from the receiver and barrel. This makes the Revel a great backpack gun option, but the feature is also handy for transport, storage and maintenance. The only things that set the DLX apart from the Revel Classic are its threaded barrel (1/2×28), its rubber butt pad, hooded front sight and its different style of Walnut stock with stippling on the grip.
All chambering options for the Revel Classic have an MSRP of $439 while all DLX models have an MSRP of $539.
It’s a question hunters should pose to themselves, now more than ever. And in so many words, it was the first question the instructors asked when I attended Outdoor Solutions’ level 1 long-range shooting school, at the Guitar Ranch in West Texas.
Great leaps in firearms designs and manufacturing, plus next-level bullet engineering have extended hunters’ ranges further than ever before. Yet, have the men and women behind the trigger kept up? Or are 1,000-yard rifles shouldered by 100-yard shooters?
Outdoor Solutions founder Greg Ray knows the answer—hence the reason his company’s shooting school was created.
Long-Range Shooting School’s Founding
Outdoor Solutions founder and owner Greg Ray (above) is among the instruction staff and very hands on in getting shooters on target.
If you’re not familiar with the Oklahoma-based hunting empire of Outdoor Solutions, it essentially helps dreams come true.
Born out of a side hustle, Ray has grown the company into a premier outfitter, primarily focused on what are for many once-in-a-lifetime hunting and fishing expeditions. However, he noticed an issue for many who planned to shell out thousands of dollars for big-time Western hunts.
Faced with an arena where 400- or even 500-yard shots are called for, many potential hunters were cowed by the prospect. In turn, they looked for other, to their minds, safer alternatives.
The school was founded in 2011 to remedy this major hurdle and in nearly a decade and a half has honed its curriculum into an efficient and practical shooting course. In addition to Texas, the company also runs schools in Utah and Michigan.
The big claim to fame Ray and his crew of instructors love to ballyhoo is they’ll get you to hit at 1,000 yards in the two-day course. We must have been advanced, because a mixture of gun writers, and beginner and intermediate hunters were banging steel at that distance by the end of day one.
Go back a little more than a decade or so, this feat—even among advanced marksmen—would have seemed inconceivable. The fact that in less than six hours a random cross-section of shooters was hitting at this range is a testament to what Outdoor Solutions offers.
Ballistic Basics
Steve Aryan (above) oversees the classroom instruction, which was short but intensive, grounding students in the technical foundation of long-range marksmanship.
Upon arriving in West Texas and getting settled into my very comfortable cabin at the ranch, the first order of business was delving into the academic aspects of long-range shooting. This is a vast topic of which volumes can and have been written on (a side note we have an excellent book on the topic, The Ballistics Handbook).
Much of the evening was spent learning to read mirage and environmental features for wind speed and direction, learning the particulars of our scope reticles and, of course, understanding bullet drop.
Additionally, there was a heathy dose of spotter training. The course is designed around two-man shooter-spotter teams, similar to the military. Spotters were given the basics of how to track shots off the bullets trace or glint, evaluate impacts and quickly communicate adjustments.
Having solo hunted much of my life, I gained a new appreciation of having a partner in the field. If there was any one area I walked away improved in after the course, it was in the role of a spotter.
We also got downloaded, set up and got into the finer points of the GeoBallistics app, which would provide us with our shooting solutions for the class.
While this might sound like a load of info, it was compressed into a mere 2 hours. The long-range shooting school isn’t focused on on-paper ballistics, but in-field shooting.
As Steve Aryan, Outdoor Solution’s Director of Instruction, pointed out in his conclusion of the classroom work, “Repetition is the best teacher.” You only get that behind the trigger.
Gearing Up
Outdoor Solutions had an incredible selection of rifles, all of them suppressed and all of them sporting Zeiss optic. My selection was the lightweight GunWerks Clymr (above) in 6.5 Creedmoor.
The next day was the start of the live-fire section of the course, but the first order of the day was getting equipped.
Outdoor Solutions urges shooters to bring their own equipment, after all, that’s the rifle and scope they’ll head out in the field with. However, the school has an incredible selection of precision hunting rifles to choose from if you don’t want the hassle. Benelli, Christensen Arms, AllTerra and GunWerks lined the absolutely gorgeous range’s racks.
I went with the GunWerks ClymR 6.5 Creedmoor rifle, topped with a Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24X 50mm scope and outfitted with a SilencerCo. Omega suppressor. It turned out a solid choice when slinging 140-grain Barnes Precision Match—Outdoor Solutions ammunition of choice for the class.
Guns situated, it was on to bench shooting.
Bench Shooting
Every long-range shooting school needs a first-rate range. Outdoor Solution’s did not disappoint, reaching out to 1-mile.
While anyone who’s done any amount of hunting will attest, this is the least realistic style of shooting. Yet, there are solid reasons behind this crawling-before-learning-to-walk approach.
First off, it gave shooters the opportunity to become comfortable with their hardware and get to know their rifle and scope. It also offered the instructors time to evaluate and address any gaping holes in the shooters’ mechanics. Finally, it was an opportunity to learn to adjust for range and wind in a controlled environment, unencumbered by the slew of variables encountered in the field.
To the point of the wind adjustments, West Texas didn’t disappoint offering up a constant 5 to 10 mile per hour blow that challenged shooters, but didn’t make connecting with a target impossible.
In addition to shooting, the long-range shooting class also involved a good dose of proper spotting. This is one skill the author walked away feeling much improved.
The course of fire started at a 100-yard sight in and progressed in 100-yard increments out to 1,000 yards. The impressive part was the entire class was banging away at 3 MOA steel targets at the furthest range by day’s end.
This included a father-son team that not only were taking their first steps into long-range shooting, but—for the most part—rifle shooting in general. That’s a big leap for a tandem who said their effective range was 100 yards at the start of the school.
Field Shooting Scenarios
This is where the rubber meets the road at Outdoor Solutions—the cap-rock canyons of West Texas.
The Guitar Ranch backs up onto the rimrock canyons of West Texas. Besides providing a starkly beautiful backdrop, the terrain also makes an excellent arena for the long-range shooting school’s field shooting course. On the final day we headed out to these wilds to put what we learned in a controlled environment to the test.
Three-dimensional animal targets were our quarry, placed strategically around the canyon where you’d likely find them on a hunt. This meant not simply applying the shooting smarts we sharpened thus far, but also putting our spotting skills to the test.
The mule deer at 300 yards in rushes along a creek bed and an elk at 400 or so yards in pine shadows below a ridge were particularly difficult to get eyes on. Yet, diligence in spotting and proper aim on the shot rewarded you with the very satisfying sound of a steel gong ringing—strategically placed behind the animals’ sweet spot.
Overall, engagement ranges varied from a 100-yard chip-shot coyote to a black bear just shy of 600. The latter was particularly tricky, given there was a hillock to the right of the shooting lane that played havoc with your wind call. Gusts on one side were certainly not like the ones on the other.
The genius of the canyon course is forcing students to shoot in field conditions with equipment they’d have on the hunt.
As instructed—and the norm for most long-range shooting—we dialed our drops on these targets but held for wind. Moreover, the shots were taken from several different positions and utilizing different pieces of gear common to modern hunters—shooting sticks, tripods and backpacks.
I must confess, I walked away from this section of the course a little wiser. One particular method that’s going into my bag of tricks is a system of using a shooting bag—a coat or pack will do in the field—tucked under your strong-hand arm, as a rear rest when shooting off sticks or a tripod.
Long-Range School’s Practical Application
The overall comfort of Outdoor Solutions’ school should be overlooked. Private cabins and all meals included. It proved a first-rate experience.
For the record, at the start of the course I pegged my ethical range—where I was confident of hitting the vitals on game—at 400 yards. I’ve taken deer just under that range. After the course and all the instruction, I pegged my ethical range at… 400 yards.
All in all, this fits right in line with what the long-range shooting school was aiming at. Outdoor Solutions hasn’t set its sights on making every hunter into a precision sniper, able to pick an elk off at 1,000 yards. In fact, the instructors discourage this kind of hunting. But going this distance in a controlled and simulated environment is important.
The father-son duo I referred to earlier—dedicated dove hunters—planned on bagging their first deer together. Chances are when they hit the field they’ll take it between 100 and 150 yards—statistics back up my assertion. An even greater likelihood, neither will have any hesitation in pulling the trigger if they put their crosshairs on the critter at this range. After all, they’ve hit targets at 10-times that distance.
Therein lies the benefit of what Outdoor Solutions is attempting to accomplish.
The goal of the course isn’t country-mile kills, but instead more confident hunters. In some cases, that’s pushing a whitetail hunter out his comfort zone to 200 to 400 yards in preparation for a Western hunt. In other cases, it’s simply taking the uncertainty of pulling the trigger 200 yards in and trusting yourself and your equipment to do the rest.
For either scenario, hitting—consistently so—at 1,000 yards makes both less daunting and a heck of a lot more doable. And it makes Outdoor Solutions’ course well worth the money for anyone truly aiming to improve their shooting in the field.
EAACorp has just announced the Witness2311 Brat, a compact 2011-style pistol for concealed carry.
2011-style pistols are continuing to grow in popularity, and that means new models are continuing to hit the market. The latest is from Girsan in Turkey, imported by EAA, called the Witness2311 Brat.
The Witness2311 Brat is the first compact version of the pistol to be released and was designed with concealed carry in mind. Previously, the shortest barrel length the standard Witness2311 was available with was 4.25 inches, but the Brat features an officer-size 3.4-inch barrel. That said, the rest of the Brat is identical to its larger counterparts, including the accessory rail, extended beavertail and flared magwell that’s removable for a slimmer profile.
The Brat also has the same full-size grip and therefore the same magazine capacity of 17 rounds in 9mm and 11 rounds in .45 ACP. Unlike the standard version, the Witness2311 Brat is not currently available in 10mm Auto. Other features include Novak-style 3-dot sights, a skeletonized hammer and an ambidextrous thumb safety. Each pistol will also ship with a hard travel case.
Both the 9mm and the .45 ACP versions of the Witness2311 Brat have an MSRP of $679 and are available now.
Daniel Defense has just announced the relaunch of the Daniel H9.
We covered the pistol when it was announced under its original Hudson H9 name, as well as when it was released as the Daniel H9 by Daniel Defense at the beginning of this year, but the handgun’s story doesn’t end there. The highly anticipated Daniel H9 experienced a rocky launch with a small number of users reporting keyholing on targets. The company offered to fix affected pistols free of charge for any owners experiencing that, but it also led the company to take another look at the design.
The new, upgraded Daniel H9 pistols now feature an enhanced barrel and recoil spring assembly that should ameliorate the issue. If it somehow doesn’t, the guns still include Daniel Defense’s Lifetime Guarantee, and it still applies to any owners of the first-generation version regardless of whether they experienced the issue themselves or if they installed the enhanced parts designed to fix it.
Rod Reasen, CEO of Daniel Defense, said this about the H9’s relaunch:
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do … Their trust and input drive us to continuously improve. We don’t just build firearms; we create lifelong relationships with our customers by listening to their needs and standing behind our products 100%. With this relaunch, we’re proud to offer a handgun that reflects Daniel Defense’s unwavering commitment to quality and the highest standards of firearm manufacturing.
If you weren’t able to come out to CANCON South Carolina this year, this recap video will give you a small peek at what you missed. Hosted at the expansive Clinton House range, attendees got to spend the weekend shooting everything from tiny .22 pistols to full-auto AR-15s to massive .50 BMG rifles, all equipped with suppressors from some of the biggest names in the industry.
CANCON South Carolina will be returning to the Clinton House in 2025, we hope to see you there!
For more information on future CANCON events, please visit canconevent.com.
Savage Arms has just announced the Stance XR, an increased-capacity and enhanced version of the Stance micro-compact 9mm carry pistol.
Savage Arms announced the original Stance micro-compact 9mm concealed carry pistol in late 2021, but the company has seemingly just replaced it with the new Stance XR. The big new features of the Stance XR include increased magazine capacities and quick-detach optics plates, and the pistols will be available with or without manual safeties and night sights.
Stance XR pistols now feature a capacity of 13+1 rounds when using extended magazines and 10+1 rounds with flush-fit mags. One of each is included. The original Stance models, which are now discontinued, had a maximum capacity of only 10+1 rounds when using their extended magazines. The other big change on the XR is not only the introduction of optics-ready slides, but slides that feature a quick-release optics (QRO) plate. This system allows users to quickly add, remove or swap which red dot is mounted to the pistol.
Most other features of the Stance XR are the same as the original, including ambidextrous magazine and slide release buttons, interchangeable backstraps (two included) and a serialized internal chassis. They also still feature 3.2-inch barrels. There are five different variants of the XR available, a version with no manual safety, a version with a manual safety, a version with night sights and a version with a manual safety and night sights. The final and most expensive variant features a manual safety and ships with a Crimson Trace CTS-1500 red dot sight. Each version is available with either a black, FDE or gray frame as well.
Beth Shimanski, Director of Marketing at Savage Arms, said this about the new pistols:
The Stance XR adds another reliable and versatile everyday carry pistol to our lineup … With its increased capacity and the ability to easily attach different optics, the Stance XR offers enhanced functionality and customization options to meet the needs of our customers.
MSRPs for the Stance XR range from $469 to $659 and each pistol comes with a hard case, two magazines and two sizes of backstrap.
We take a deep dive into the history, function and legacy of the StG 44, the progenitor of the modern combat rifle.
Thanks to the mainstream media, many people falsely equate assault rifles with the AR-15, even going so far as to believe that “AR” stands for “assault rifle” rather than “ArmaLite Rifle.” These individuals also tend to think that the AR-15 is a much newer design than it is. These people would likely be surprised to find out that the term “assault rifle” as well as the fundamental concept both originate with the StG 44.
StG 44 stands for Sturmgewehr 44, and the literal translation of Sturmgewehr is “Storm Rifle”, although “storm” is in the context of military maneuvers rather than weather phenomena. Hitler is given credit for naming the Sturmgewehr, a name that undoubtedly was an attempt at striking fear in enemy soldiers while boosting the morale of German ones.
Regardless of how effective that aspect of the firearm was, the StG 44 was immediately recognized in the field for its qualities as an excellent fighting weapon. It was such a revolutionary design that it would go on to influence countless post-war rifle designs including the extremely prolific AR-15 and AK platforms.
How did the Germans come up with such a radical concept? How did it function and fare in actual combat? What designs would the StG 44 go on to influence? Here we’ll discuss all of that and much more.
StG 44 Specs
Cartridge: 8mm Kurz Action: Gas-operated long-stroke piston w/ tilting bolt ; select-fire Capacity: 30-round detachable magazine Barrel Length: 16.5 inches Weight: 10.125 pounds unloaded Overall Length: 37 inches Sights: Adjustable rear notch and hooded front post ; provision to mount optics
WWII German War Machine
Today, the concept of the intermediate cartridge, select-fire military carbine seems obvious, but it wasn’t always. Keep in mind, most of the top brass of WWI needed a lot of convincing before they accepted that submachine guns were a good idea, too. The development of the StG 44 follows a similar trajectory.
The main infantry rifle for the German Army in WWII was the Karabiner 98k, a manually operated bolt-action rifle that was effective out to 500 meters. Warfare changed, however, and during WWII close quarters combat became much more frequently encountered in the bombed-out streets of Europe.
The 98k was long, heavy and bulky to maneuver with, as is true with any rifle of that style, and its cartridge was more powerful than it needed to be. The semi-automatic Gewehr 43, also chambered for 8mm Mauser, offered better firepower but it was still cumbersome to fight with.
The downsides of long and heavy combat rifles were obvious, and the obvious solution to them was the use of submachine guns. SMGs were excellent weapons in close-range, urban environments and offered a lot of firepower.
The MP 40 or Maschinenpistole40 (Machine pistol 40) was a lightweight, compact submachine gun chambered in the 9x19mm Luger handgun cartridge with a 32-round magazine capacity. It was used effectively by German troops during WWII, but just like any submachine gun, the MP 40’s weaknesses were range and power.
What the German Army soon realized, especially on the Eastern Front, was that there was a hole to fill between the K98k and the MP 40. They saw the need for an intermediate cartridge, one that could reach out to longer ranges like 8mm Mauser but was still easy to control in full-auto like 9mm Luger.
The solution was the development of a new cartridge as well as the StG 44 to go along with it.
Rise of the Assault Rifle
The Maschinenkarabiner (Machine carbine) 1942, or MKb 42, was the designation given to the new class of rifle to differentiate it from full-power rifles and submachine guns. Two German firearms manufacturers were tapped to each produce a prototype, Walther and Haenel.
Walther came up with the MKb 42 (W) and Haenel’s was called the MKb 42 (H). The primary difference between the two rifles was the Haenel used a tilting bolt while the Walther used a rotating bolt, but both used a long-stroke gas piston above the barrel to operate the bolt mechanism. The Heanel was determined to be the better design and was chosen for combat trials and further development.
It’s believed that some of the very first MKb 42 (H) prototypes were airdropped outside Leningrad for testing by German troops on the Eastern Front. It was officially adopted into service in early 1943 and about 8,000 to 12,000 guns were made in total before production ended.
Before we talk about how the MKb 42 (H) evolved into the StG 44, we should talk about how the final gun almost never came to fruition.
Hitler Gets Pissed
No less than three times Hitler nixed the development of what was to become the StG 44. In April of 1942, the German Army General Staff was excited to tell Hitler about the MKb 42, especially how it performed in combat trials.
The General Staff envisioned all German troops trading their K98k bolt-actions and MP 40 submachine guns for MKb 42 carbines. Hitler was uninterested and unenthused. The development of a new rifle and new ammunition type would utilize too much time and resources and was not part of his plan.
Germany already had enormous stockpiles of 8mm Mauser ammo and Hitler questioned why they would adopt a new rifle that could not use the ammunition they had on hand. The German Army brass was dejected but nonetheless continued developing the MKb 42 behind Hitler’s back.
The workaround was to rename the MKb 42 to the MP 43 (Maschinenpistole 43, or Machine Pistol 43). Hitler was jazzed about new submachine guns, which is what he thought he was signing off on, but it was really just the MKb 42 under a new name. The General Staff continued development on MP 43, which by now was the Heanel design, and prepared another formal presentation to Hitler.
Hitler rejected the idea again and reminded the General Staff he’d already dismissed the idea. In early 1943, the General Staff made one last attempt to sway Hitler and receive approval to commence production. This was the third time Hitler said no to the project and he was growing angry at his staff for not listening to his orders. The Army brass explained that an order for the rifle had already been placed and that production had started. Hitler resentfully acquiesced and said to produce the initial run, then stop.
By January of 1944, however, Hitler had an epiphany and changed his mind. He wanted two divisions in Russia equipped with the MP 43 for more combat testing.
Behind the scenes, it may have been Henrich Himmler, Hitler’s lead for the Gestapo and Waffen-SS, who convinced Hitler that the MP 43 was a good weapon system to pursue further. The first batch of MP 43s went to the Waffen SS and it seems Himmler listened to what his ground troops said. They liked the new rifle, so more MP 43s were sent to troops on the Eastern Front to fight the Russians.
A few very minor modifications were made to the MP 43, and the updated design was renamed the MP 44. The story goes that after seeing the MP 44 demonstrated, Hitler decided to change the name of this impressive new weapon to the Sturmgewehr. The gun was then formally designated as the StG 44 and marked the introduction of the term assault rifle to our lexicon.
StG 44 Design And Manufacture
It might sound strange the German toy industry had an impact on the design of the first assault rifle, but Germany had extensive experience with stamped steel to make children’s toys. In wartime, resource-poor Germany, using stamped steel was more cost-effective than machining rifles from expensive high-strength steel and other alloys.
Many manufacturing techniques we take for granted today were revolutionary during WWII. Stamped steel was less expensive than machined steel and took less time to produce, and it resulted in lighter guns as well.
For the StG 44, it made sense to use stamped steel for parts that didn’t need to be as robust such as the receiver, trigger group and handguard, but other components that received the brunt of the pressure from firing a cartridge like the barrel and bolt were still made from machined parts.
The use of stamped steel was unique for a military rifle at this time, but that wasn’t the only distinct characteristic of the StG 44. It also notably used an inline stock to reduce recoil, sights that were elevated above the bore axis, a pistol grip and detachable 30-round magazines.
The stock was wood, the sights were a rear notch adjustable up to 800 meters (though its maximum effective range was realistically less than 500 meters) and a tapered post front sight under a protective hood. The rifle was equipped with a 16.5-inch barrel with a threaded muzzle for rifle grenade launchers or other muzzle devices. The ejection port on the right side of the rifle sported a dust cover, though the left side was left open where the charging handle reciprocates.
The StG 44’s controls consisted of a thumb-operated safety selector on the left side of the pistol grip along with a large round magazine release button near the magazine well. The reason the magazine release was on the left side was so a right-handed shooter could hold the magazine while pressing the release so he could retain the magazine. Unlike today where magazines in war are often treated as disposable, metal and manufacturing were more expensive for all sides during WWII, so soldiers were expected to retain and reuse their detachable mags.
The fire selector was a push-button that could be pressed back and forth into the trigger group. On the left side an “E” would appear for Einzel (semi-auto), and when protruding from the opposite side a “D” appears for Dauerfeuer (full auto). In action, however, soldiers were instructed to primarily use the guns in semi-auto only and to only fire short bursts in full-auto if the situation necessitated it. Further, while the magazine capacity was officially 30 rounds, the doctrine was to only load 25 rounds to increase the longevity of the spring.
The tilting bolt mechanism does exactly as it sounds, tilting up as the piston and bolt move rearward. As the bolt moves forward via a recoil spring in the stock, the bolt tilts down and locks back up to fire.
Disassembly is simple and fast. One pin holds the stock to the rear of the receiver. Remove the pin and you can pull the stock and recoil spring from the receiver. The trigger group can then be pivoted down from the receiver for cleaning and the bolt and bolt carrier can be pulled out from the rear of the receiver. AK rifles are often compared to the StG 44, but when disassembling a Sturmgewehr, it starts to look a lot more like an AR-15.
The development of the StG 44 is entwined with the development of 7.92x33mm Kurz, commonly known as 7.9mm Kurz or 8mm Kurz. It’s a bottleneck intermediate cartridge that splits the difference in power between the 8mm Mauser rifle cartridge and the 9mm pistol cartridge.
Kurz is the German word for “short”, and that’s exactly what it was, a short version of 8mm Mauser. It used the same case as the full-power 8mm Mauser rifle cartridge, but the case length was substantially shortened and more tapered for increased reliability. The bullet was the same diameter but was lighter at 125 grains compared to the parent case’s 198-grain projectile. The obvious result was less felt recoil which allowed more accurate and controllable full-auto fire, but the new cartridge was also significantly lighter than 8mm Mauser which allowed soldiers to carry much more of it.
An StG 44 shoots a 125-grain 8mm Kurz bullet at about 2,250 fps out of its 16.5-inch barrel. To put its ballistic potential into a bit more modern context, an AKM shoots a 123-grain 7.62×39 bullet at about 2,400 fps out of its 16.3-inch barrel. This makes the StG 44 just slightly weaker than an AK in terms of muzzle energy with a difference of about 168 foot-pounds (1,573 foot-pounds for an AKM versus 1,405 foot-pounds for the StG).
From left to right: 8mm Kurz, 7.62×39, 8mm Mauser. Photo: Wikipedia.
Since there was a shortage of brass in Germany during the war, all 8mm Kurz cartridges were produced with steel cases. When the StG 44 finally was given the green light, production of 9mm ammunition was reduced so more of the new 8mm Kurz ammo could be manufactured. Bullets used a mild steel core since lead was also in short supply, but this was common for all military ammunition manufactured in Germany during WWII.
The StG 44 After The War
The end of WWII did not mark the end of the StG 44 being issued or seeing combat. Following the Soviet occupation of Germany, the East German Nationale Volksarmee (National People’s Army) used them until they were replaced with Kalashnikovs in the mid-1960s. Some smaller, specialized units in countries like France, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia used them for a period as well.
In the decades that followed WWII, caches of old StG 44s would continue to trade hands and see combat in places like Vietnam and Libya, and even more recently the wars in Syria and Ukraine. Given how far and wide these guns were proliferated, they’ll almost certainly be seen in future conflicts as well.
A Somali rebel armed with an StG 44 in 1977.
The longer-lasting legacy of the StG 44 is found in the massive impact it had on all military small arms designs that came after it, most notably the use of intermediate-power cartridges.
The Soviets immediately used 8mm Kurz for inspiration and came up with 7.62×39 and a new family of weapons to fire it. Some aspects of the Kalashnikov specifically were also certainly influenced by the StG, namely its gas system, 30-round detachable magazines and extensive use of stamped steel.
The AR-10, and by extension, the AR-15, also took great inspiration from some of the StG 44’s smarter features such as its in-line stock and its pivoting, hinged receiver.
The CETME/H&K G3 can also be considered a direct descendant of the StG 44, as the design came from the same German Mauser engineers who were working on refining the StG at the end of WWII. After Germany’s defeat, they continued their work in France and Spain which resulted in the CETME, the G3 and therefore the MP5 and HK33 as well.
No matter how you look at it, the StG 44 changed firearms design forever.
Owning An StG 44 Today
Given that all original StG 44s are select-fire machine guns, very few of us will ever be able to own one due to the very high cost. If you want one but don’t have $30,000 or more to spend on it, you’re going to have to compromise.
The next best thing is a semi-auto clone, but these are very expensive as well.
Sport-Systeme Dittrich in Germany makes them, and some years back PTR imported 200 of them to sell under the name PTR44. Given the low import numbers, these have been extremely desirable ever since and have sold for more than $10,000 on the second-hand market. The good news, however, is that Sport-Systeme Dittrich has recently set up shop under the name D-K Production group to make these Stateside too. The bad news is that the new production ones still have an MSRP of $6,200. If you want a semi-auto StG 44 that’s as close to the real thing as possible, this is as little as you can pay for one.
Palmetto State Armory was also teasing an StG 44 reproduction, a continuation of the Hill & Mac Gunworks project, but the company unfortunately announced that they ran into development problems and have put it on hold for the time being. Hopefully, PSA will come back to it in the future, as their plan to offer the gun in modern chamberings besides the original 8mm Kurz was very appealing.
For those looking for a more reasonably priced Sturmgewehr, you’re going to have to settle for a .22 LR version like the Blue Line Solutions/Mauser model. It’s not a perfect clone by any means, and .22 LR semi-autos are known for having mixed reliability, but the guns definitely look like StG 44s and are readily available for about $450.
Check out the six riflescope models available in Winchester Supreme Optics’ new scope line.
Winchester Supreme Optics has just announced a new line of riflescopes that is initially being launched with six models. The company says that the scopes were designed with hunters, sport shooters and outdoor enthusiasts in mind and that they’re packed full of essential features. They’re available now at select retailers and are being offered at value-focused prices.
Supreme 1-4x24mm Rifle Scope.
All Winchester Supreme Optics scope lenses are fully multi-coated with Winchester WINcoat to help light transmission and accurate color transmission and to help fight glare and protect against scratches. Further, all six scope models in the lineup feature Second Focal Plane (SFP) reticles. Built using durable monolithic 6063-T6 Anodized aluminum housings, the scopes are also nitrogen-filled and use beryllium bronze springs. Other features include knurled magnification adjustment knobs and low-profile fingertip turrets.
Supreme 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope.
The six Winchester Supreme Scope models are:
6-18x50mm SF Illuminated Reticle
4-12x44mm SF
3-9x40mm
3.5-10x50mm
2-7x32mm
1-4x24mm Illuminated Reticle
MSRPs for the Winchester Supreme Rifle scopes range from $145 to $345, and each will ship with lens covers, a lens cloth, a manual and Winchester Supreme Optics’ limited lifetime warranty.
Like cheetahs, fast bullets look the part, but speed alone doesn’t kill and reach unused is pointless.
I shed my pack, slid my arm through the sling and crawled ahead. Only tines showed. The weeds were noisy. Each advancing inch carried risk. Belly to earth, I settled the crosswire above the antler. This close in, with dead air, my scent would reach him soon. “Hey, buck,” I said softly. An ear tip twitched. Again, and its head swiveled. I raised my foot, gently let it fall. The reticle quivered. The buck rose fluidly, one heartbeat from gone, collapsing at the report. On the treeless prairie, whose bleached grass bled to sagging November skies, my bullet had traveled perhaps a dozen steps.
“The last desert ram I shot was not over 30 yards away,” wrote Jack O’Connor, “and the best Dall I have ever taken was maybe about 40 yards from the muzzle …” He allowed that most of the sheep he’d shot probably fell inside 150 yards. Like mid-continent’s prairie, northern sheep country yields much to the hunter’s glass. That killing shots would come close in such environs might seem odd. But long pokes are seldom needed. On my first Alaskan sheep hunt, I carried an iron-sighted Springfield, downing a Dall’s ram at 70 yards on bald shale. Even for sharp-eyed pronghorns on featureless flats, I’ve found lever rifles with aperture sights adequate. The utility of such rifles in eastern whitetail cover is obvious.
Still, the focus of cartridge and bullet design now is on flatter flight and more precise hits at long range. Powerful optics make accurate aim possible beyond the practical reach of traditional “deer rifles,” with their blunt bullets at modest speeds. Sounds like progress.
But wait a minute.
Indeed, the 19th-century shift from patched round balls to conical bullets was a step forward for hunters using muzzleloaders. The ratio of weight to frontal area was higher for conicals, so they fought drag better. They packed more momentum and penetrated deeper.
The march of breech-loading rifles into the 1860s, and the advent of smokeless powder 30 years later, had little effect on bullet shape. Primitive optical sights weren’t reliable enough for hunters. Lethal reach was primarily determined by how well hunters and soldiers could aim with iron sights. But smokeless fuel forced changes in bullet construction, as it sent naked lead bullets so fast they stripped in the rifling and left lead smears in the bore. The U.S. Army tried tin plating but found it could “cold solder” to the case mouth, bumping pressures. One bullet left wearing the neck! Cupro-nickel jackets (60/40 copper/nickel) were better. By 1922, Western Cartridge had a jacket alloy of 90 percent copper, 8 percent zinc, 2 percent tin. Called Lubaloy, this “gilding metal” blessed Western’s Palma Match cartridges that year. Now, most bullet makers use jackets comprising 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc.
Improved propellants and more dependable optical sights with jackets that endured greater bore friction pushed the development of frothy cartridges than bullets that held their velocity better at a distance. The first cartridge in 1898 Mausers was a smokeless 8mm for the 1888 Commission rifle, which had little Mauser influence. Officially, the 7.9×57 or 7.9x57J (correctly, I; in German, these letters can interchange) sent a 227-grain .318 bullet at 2,100 fps. Germany soon had a more potent round for the stronger 1898. The 8×57, with a 154-grain pointed .323 bullet at 2,870 fps, appeared in 1905. Designated 7.9x57IS and 8x57IS, the 8×57 would see Germany through WWII. A Lange Visier rear sight could be set for dead-on aim to 2,000 yards. This 8mm inspired the U.S. Army to swap a blunt bullet for a spitzer in the .30-06.
Round- and flat-nose bullets remained standard in cartridges for tube-fed Winchester and Marlin lever rifles, as primers resting on pointed bullets in the magazine could detonate when the rifle recoiled.
Flat-nose bullets in “deer cartridges” for tube-fed lever rifles help prevent recoil-induced detonation.
For soldiers firing full-jacket bullets, the shift to spitzers dramatically increased effective range. But hunters also had to consider how an expanding bullet behaved after winning its battle with air. On a 1946 moose hunt, John Nosler famously failed to drop a mud-spackled bull with his .300 H&H. When at last the bull succumbed, Nosler found his first bullet had fragmented on entry. With machine-shop savvy from rebuilding automobile engines, he designed a two-part bullet with a web of jacket material between nose and heel. The heel powered on as a solid if the nose failed, ensuring penetration. Next season, John and his pal Clarence Purdie handily killed moose with this homemade bullet. The Nosler Partition Bullet Company was soon birthed in Ashland, Oregon. (Incidentally, in 1915, Charles Newton had designed a partitioned bullet. Poor timing doomed it and Newton’s other worthy projects.)
Also, to improve bullet performance in tough game, Bill Steiger soldered a thick, ductile copper jacket to a lead core. In 1964, he founded Bitterroot Bonded Core Bullets in Lewiston, Idaho—where he also wrote Speer’s first five loading manuals. Years later, IBM executive Jack Carter was drawn to bonded bullets when, in Africa, a Cape buffalo absorbed several shots from his .375. He designed a bullet with a thick copper heel and a bonded nose. Its center of gravity lay farther forward than that of a pointed lead-core bullet. He sold his Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullet to Federal, which began loading it in 1992. Next year, Federal brought production in-house, changing jacket material from copper to 90/10 gilding metal, which Nosler had used for Partition bullets turned on screw machines until 1970.
Geoff McDonald’s rural Australia shop chugs out Woodleigh Weldcore bullets, bonding 90/10 jackets to lead cores. His are big-bore bullets, solid and soft-nose, for traditional dangerous-game rounds. In the early 1980s, Lee Reed improved Nosler’s Partition by bonding its front section. Swift’s A-Frame resulted. Since then, all major ammunition makers have cataloged bonded-bullet loads (Federal, Norma and Kynoch have featured Woodleighs). Their common purpose: deep penetration and dependable upset in tough game, with at least 90 percent weight retention.
Ballistic champs, long noses can be hard to design for reliable upset across a range of impact speeds.
None of these bullets had Pinocchio noses. Nobody at the time seemed to care.
The Era of the Sharp Polymer Tip followed a preoccupation with long-range hits, first on paper and steel targets, then on game. Not to say testing the reach of rifles, ammunition and shooters is new: In 1874, Remington’s L.L. Hepburn designed a Rolling Block rifle to beat the Irish champs in a long-range match. Each team would comprise six men, shooting three rounds at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards, 15 shots per round. A young National Rifle Association, with the cities of New York and Brooklyn, each put up $5,000 for a venue on Long Island’s Creed’s Farm, provided by the State of New York. In September, the Irish team lost to the Americans firing 550-grain bullets from their .44-90s. Sharps dropping-block rifles contributed to the winning score: 934 to 931, with one Irish crossfire. No sharp bullets.
A century and a half later, shooters prop heavy-barreled bolt-actions on bipods and read mirage through riflescopes the diameter of truck axles, with magnifications once reserved for spotting scopes. Once a rare stunt, hitting generous targets at a mile (1,700 yards) has become the first step toward a two-mile attempt. Such efforts have given rise to long-range bullets with high ballistic coefficients (BCs).
BC is a number representing a bullet’s ability to cleave the air. It incorporates bullet weight, shape and diameter. Change any of these variables, and you change the BC. Long, sleek aerodynamic bullets have high BCs. Hornady’s 143-grain 6.5mm ELD-X is .623. A corresponding 7mm bullet (162 grains) comes in at .631. Most traditional pointed soft-nose game bullets hover in the .380 to .490 range. These are “G1” figures, computed using a “standard bullet” (for comparisons) of a century ago. Ballisticians have since adopted a standard bullet better resembling the sleek, long-nose boat-tails popular now. Result: the “G7” BC. A bullet’s G7 BC is lower than its G1 BC. The values are equally useful. Think of any object that can be measured in inches or centimeters. Comparisons are valid if the units are the same.
In the African bush, pointed bullets are pointless. This 9.3×62 hurls 286-grain round-nose bullets, SD .305.
Lost in this race to higher BCs and hits at more extended ranges is bullet performance on game.
The soft-nose struck audibly. With a bellow, the buffalo spun toward me. Through the dust, I sent a solid. The bull absorbed it, lunged off course, then crashed to earth as another solid broke its neck.
The three 9.3×62 bullets ending my Namibian hunt had round noses. For much of the world’s big game hunting, blunt is still best. A blunt bullet is heavier than a pointed bullet of the same length, as nose taper exacts a cost in material. The only way to add weight to a pointed bullet is to make it longer, bringing challenges from the rifle’s action, magazine and rifling twist.
A 250-grain Swift semi-spitzer from a CZ 550 in 9.3×62 got this Canada moose for the author at 40 yards.
Bullets heavy for their diameter have a high sectional density (SD). In a number, SD is the bullet’s mass (weight) divided by its diameter squared: M/D2. Alternatively, it is mass divided by cross-sectional area: M/R2 x pi. (Yes, the results differ, but by a constant ratio).
For any given weight, the slimmer a bullet, the higher its SD. The longer a bullet, the higher its SD, if the nose shape is the same for any given diameter.
What is a “high” SD? My arbitrary threshold is .300. These bullets meet it (see Table 1).
TABLE 1
BULLET DIAMETER/WEIGHT
SECTIONAL DENSITY SD (M/D2)
.264 (6.5mm): 160 gr.
.328
.284 (7mm): 175 gr.
.310
.308: 200 gr.
.301
.308: 220 gr.
.331
.311 (.303 British): 215 gr.
.316
.323 (8mm): 220 gr.
.301
.338: 250 gr.
.313
.338: 275 gr.
.348
.358: 275 gr.
.306
.366 (9.3mm): 286 gr.
.305
.366 (9.3mm): 300 gr.
.320
.375: 300 gr.
.305
.416: 400 gr.
.330
.458: 500 gr.
.341
While even round-nose and semi-spitzer bullets fly flatter and carry energy more efficiently than missiles shaped like soup cans, a tapered nose isn’t necessary. Before vehicles entered Kenya’s Serengeti Plain, a Dutchman named Fourrie guided John A. Hunter’s safari toward Ngorongoro Crater. Fourrie was a resourceful fellow. When hunters in the party rashly shot their way out of solid bullets, Fourrie reversed soft points in their cases. These flat-nose “solids” drove deep and broke big bones in heavy game.
Norma’s soft-point load for the 6.5 Japanese Arisaka features long, blunt bullets, SD .320. Effective!
Skeptics sneer that as soon as round- or flat-nose bullets leave the muzzle, they “head for dirt.” In fact, many blunt bullets with SDs of .300 fly flat enough for 200-yard zeros. For some, point-blank range (farthest at which a bullet stays within 3 vertical inches of sightline) exceeds 240 yards. These examples are from an old B&L list (See Table 2).
TABLE 2
CARTRIDGE/WEIGHT
ZERO RANGE (YARDS)
MAXIMUM POINT-BLANK RANGE (YARDS)
6.5×54 M-S, 156 gr.
206
242
6.5×55 Swedish, 156 gr.
209
245
7×57 Mauser, 175 gr.
201
235
.280 Remington, 165 gr.
228
266
.30-40 Krag, 220 gr.
185
217
.300 Savage, 180 gr.
190
222
.308 Winchester, 200 gr.
203
238
.30-06, 220 gr.
197
230
.300 H&H Mag., 220 gr.
217
254
.303 British, 215 gr.
182
213
.338 Win. Mag., 250 gr.
221
259
.348 Winchester, 250 gr.
186
216
.358 Winchester, 250 gr.
187
219
.375 H&H Mag., 300 gr.
226
264
Early in the 20th century, the 6.5×45 M-S, 7×57 Mauser and .303 British served famous explorers and hunters like Charles Sheldon, F.C. Selous, Jim Corbett and W.D.M. Bell on dangerous game. While speedy bullets with high BCs can kill at eye-popping distances, heavy round-noses or semi-spitzers excel at the ranges most game is killed — especially where quartering shots are typical. The average shot distance for the dozen deer, elk and African plains animals I’ve shot most recently: 103 yards. Seldom is an animal so far or a sneak so difficult that I can’t get close enough to aim dead-on with a semi-spitzer. In fact, I recall fewer than a dozen shots in 50 years that all but mandated a pointed bullet.
More often, I’ve been pleased there was a heavy bullet in the barrel.
This 220-grain Nosler Partition, a semi-spitzer, is one of the deadliest .30-bore bullets for tough game.
Not long ago, bellying through thin grass on loose sand toward a blue wildebeest in a thorn patch, I could see only a suggestion of the bull in its bed. At about 50 yards, I stopped and snugged the sling. The bull rose side-to but moved only to thorn’s hem before quartering steeply off. A blunt 196-grain 8mm soft-nose from my iron-sighted 8×57 drove through rear ribs, paunch and vitals toward the off-shoulder. The tough animal galloped away but nosed in under a cloud of dust about 80 yards on. The bullet’s momentum and high SD made that shot lethal.
Like T.R., Barry Fisher took an iron-sighted Winchester ’95 on safari. He killed this kudu at 45 yards.
Blunt bullets are best for short shots at durable beasts, where SD trumps BC, and in tube magazines to nix primer detonation. But are they as versatile as pointed bullets? Long bullet noses (ogives) and sharp poly tips sell well because they flatten bullet arcs and reduce the rate of velocity loss for easier hits and more punch at distance—ostensibly at no cost in killing effect up close.
This Core-Lokt bullet, from a .308, upset beautifully in game. It’s a spitzer bullet—but not a needle-nose.
Actually, there is a cost. Long, slender noses limit options for making bullets upset and penetrate predictably. Jacket thickness and the cavity size of hollow points are constrained near the tip. So, too, the shape and amount of exposed lead of soft points. While clever engineers have designed pointed bullets to open at impact speeds as low as 1,600 fps and retain their integrity to drive deep, I’m told that task isn’t easy. Small bullet diameters and nose cavities make it more difficult. Federal’s Jared Kutney says the new Terminal Ascent bullet will upset at about 1,500 fps; Swift CEO Bill Hober insists the Scirocco opens at 1,440. Jeremy Millard at Hornady tells me it’s hard to make slim copper noses peel at low speeds without “shaving BC and inviting disintegration at 3,000 fps.”
Round-nose bullets need not be seated as deeply as pointed (note cannelures). More space for powder.
Long bullets can crowd rifle actions, throats and magazines. Deep seating in the case eats powder space. Recent “long-range” cartridges like the .224 Valkyrie, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC and .300 PRC are short from base to shoulder to give the neck full grip on long bullet shanks without exceeding specified cartridge overall length.
New “long-range” rounds have shoulders set back, so the neck gets a full grip on the shanks of sleek bullets.
Pinocchio noses threaten flight stability unless the long bullet gets a faster spin. Until recently, standard rifling twists worked for any bullet because the heaviest ones were blunt. Fast-twist rifling is most offered in .223 rifles. Early cartridges featured 55-grain spitzers. Sisk 70-grain semi-spitzer hunting bullets were about the same length. But current match bullets, as heavy as 80 grains, are much longer and beg sharper twists than the original 1:14. As lead-free bullets are longer for their weight than jacketed lead, twist rates for the LF become critical at a lighter threshold. An accurate 1960s rifle I fed solid-copper 55-grain bullets wouldn’t keep them inside a cabbage at 100 yards. Now, .223 barrels come with a twist as fast as 1:7.5. Insufficient spin can cause bullets to enter targets sideways (keyhole).
TABLE 3
LOAD
MUZZLE
100 YARDS
200 YARDS
300 YARDS
400 YARDS
Hornady 175-gr. Roundnose, BC .285
VELOCITY (FPS)
2,900
2,579
2,279
2,000
1,742
ENERGY (FOOT-POUNDS)
3,267
2,583
2,018
1,554
1,180
ARCS (INCHES)
0.0
+1.9
0.0
-8.6
-26.0
TABLE 4
LOAD
MUZZLE
100 YARDS
200 YARDS
300 YARDS
400 YARDS
Hornady 175-gr. Spire Point, BC .462
VELOCITY (FPS)
2,900
2,699
2,507
2,322
2,146
ENERGY (FOOT-POUNDS)
3,267
2,830
2,441
2,096
1,789
ARCS (INCHES)
0.0
+1.6
0.0
-7.2
-20.8
Not until the bullets pass 300 yards is a significant difference in drop from a 200-yard zero. That’s much farther than many hunters will ever fire at game.
The stability of a bullet after the hit matters, too. Ivory hunters favored heavy, blunt bullets not just for their penetration but also because they stayed on course in tough going better than pointed bullets. That’s still true. Bullets with flat noses are said to drive more reliably straight than either—the reason Woodleigh and Swift solids for heavy game now feature them. Of course, soft points change shape as they penetrate. Proper spin for stability in the air isn’t always adequate in a denser medium. A 300-grain .375 bullet from 1:14 rifling is stabilized at a rate of 2,229 rotations per second through air. Entering water, it must turn 66,870 rps to maintain stability! As animal muscles, bones and organs aren’t of uniform consistency, the ideal spin rate changes as a bullet penetrates. But bullets become shorter as they expand, reducing the spin needed for stability. A pointed bullet barely stable in the air can have a tough time staying stable after impact.
“Softs and solids,” 260 to 350 grains, make the .375 versatile. Use heaviest bullets for big game close.
In sum, bullets with long, sharp noses aren’t beneficial at ordinary shot ranges. Their niche is The Long Poke. Their lofty BCs trace shallow arcs, defy wind and maintain speed and energy well. When you needn’t kill a township away—arguably a hard sell anytime—blunt bullet noses can deliver the result you want.
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.
