Gun Digestthe Magazine is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. With a subscription to Gun Digest the Magazine, readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews, how-to instructions and Second Amendment issues.
Well, besides the company’s big red “H” logo, probably bullets, ammunition and reloading supplies. But if the Grand Island, Neb., manufacturer has its way Hornady will become synonymous with another facet of the firearms industry – safes.
The company’s new division – Hornady Security – is slated to release its line at the 2014 SHOT Show. And the company's first offering is a bit of a break from what has been available on the market to date.
The RAPiD Safe is meant to address the issue of quick firearm retrieval, while keeping a handgun secure the rest of the time. It does so by utilizing radio frequency identification embedded in a bracelet, card or key fob.
One quick swipe over the reader with one of the entry options and the safe springs open, presenting the firearm in a padded sleeve at a drawable angle. The company touts it as the fastest handgun safe retrieval systems on the market.
Presently, most handgun safes utilize mechanical or electronic keypads, biometric readers or keys. Each of the existing methods has its pros and cons. The common perceived drawback for each is the potential to fumble with the entry system when seconds count.
Hornady’s RFID system is meant to overcome this situation, but it also appears to have limits. The bracelet, card or key fob must be on person for the radio frequency ID system to work. Otherwise, it's back to the old methods.
Hornady is one of the first major manufacturers to bring RFID technology to the gun safe market, but there are other companies in the race. Startup The Gun Box announced in October that it would start shipping pre-orders of its RFID safe in December.
The RAPiD Safe also has a number of other entry options, including a keypad and key. It runs off standard household 110V power and includes battery backup. It weighs more than 15 pounds and is constructed of 16-gauge steel. It includes a 1,500-pound rated cable secure.
Innovation has a price tag. The company lists the MSRP on the RAPiD Safe at $276.67. Hornady is also introducing two other handgun safes, of the low-tech variety. The ArmLock Box ($45.91 MSRP) and the TriPoint Lock Box ($40.21 MSRP).
The new technology has the potential to turn some heads. But it’s a wait-and-see game if Hornady Security’s line becomes as popular as the company’s ballistic products.
Recommended Home Defense Resources
Did Hornady's handgun safes get you thinking about home security? Well, there's no better reference on the matter than Defend Yourself: A Comprehensive Security Plan for the Armed Homeowner. The book is perfect if you’ve purchased firearms for home defense and protection, you want practical guidance on home security and defense and you’re looking for practical ways to apply home defense principles. Also check out our other concealed carry and self defense books.
Used revolvers and other handguns have jumped up considerably in value. Firearms specialist Scott Lutz said, Colt Diamondbacks are especially popular, fetching anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000 apiece, depending on condition and engraving.
Any Smith & Wesson revolver no longer in production is getting Blue Book-plus prices, especially the small- and medium-sized models. Lutz recently watched a Model 19 K Frame in .357 mag, with a 2.5 inch barrel, go for $600, when $400 would have taken the same revolver just two years ago.
The H&R Sportsman, a 9-shot .22 LR caliber revolver, is quite popular at the lower priced end of the collectible’s market. Usually selling for under $400 apiece, even for vintage examples, people are assembling nice collections of these durable and reliable revolvers—without going broke competing with the Smith & Wesson and Colt collectors.
Editors note, this article appeared in the Oct. 21, 2013 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Rex Kehrli, owner of R.K. Gun Shows, hasn’t seen any decline in the demand for ammunition at his shows. But where gun show customers had been desperate for any .223 rifle and 9mm, .40 cal and .45 ACP handgun ammunition, the big ticket item is now .22 LR rimfire.
“I was at a Kansas City gun show recently, and a guy had a table maybe half covered with 500 round bricks of [Remington] Thunderbolt .22 rimfire,” Kehrli says. “In just the time we were talking, he sold out—at $50 a brick.” This, when stores last year sold the same bricks for half or less.
Reloading supplies are hot at R.K. Shows, too, especially primers and brass. Top accessories are high-tech rifle scopes, especially those with tactical turrets and reticles. Lately, a number of tables have been offering thermal imaging optics, too, at prices as high as $5,000 per optic. They’ve been selling surprisingly well.
Editors note, this article appeared in the Oct. 21, 2013 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Rock-solid actions, improved calibers and pinpoint accuracy – these are but a few qualities on which Weatherby built its name.
Now, with its latest line of rifles the Paso Robles, Calif., manufacturer aims to take the latter virtue to the next level. Running each of Mark V Terramark RC rifles through the rigmarole before shipping, Weatherby promises to deliver unparalleled out-of-the-box accuracy.
The RC in the new line stands for “Range Certified”, with each gun going through a number of tests to ensure sub-MOA accuracy. Weatherby checks each rifle at its indoor range, mounting the guns with premium optics, boresighting them and determining their optimal load using the Oehler Research 83 Ballistic Imaging System.
All RC rifles are guaranteed to shoot Sub-MOA (a three-shot group of .99-inch or less at 100 yards) with specified Weatherby factory or premium ammunition.
The rifles are then sold with the proof targets, each signed by Weatherby president Ed Weatherby. The rifle also come with a number of features certain to aid their accuracy, including:
A raised-comb, Monte Carlo stock.
A button-rifled, fluted and free-floating stainless steel barrel.
A Pachmayr Declerator pad on the buttstock to reduce felt recoil.
The rifles also come with a special RC engraved floorplate and are available in 14 calibers: 240 Wby. Mag., 257 Wby. Mag., .270 Win., .270 Wby. Mag., 7mm Rem. Mag., 7mm Wby. Mag., .308 Win., .30-06 Springfield, .300 Win. Mag., .300 Wby. Mag., .30-378 Wby. Mag., .338 Lapua Mag., .338-378 Wby. Mag. and .340 Wby. Mag. Additional calibers and left-hand models are available through the Weatherby Custom Shop.
The MSRP on the rifles is $2,800. For more information, contact a local dealer, visit www.weatherby.com or call the company at (805) 227-2600.
Gun Digestthe Magazine is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. With a subscription to Gun Digest the Magazine, readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews, how-to instructions and Second Amendment issues.
Gun Digestthe Magazine is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. With a subscription to Gun Digest the Magazine, readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews, how-to instructions and Second Amendment issues.
J-frame revolvers make practical and effective concealed carry handguns.Glenn Duncan — Duncan’s Outdoor Shop, Bay City, Mich.
The biggest customer need here is for new, small carry revolvers, says owner Glenn Duncan. Top of their wish list are Smith & Wesson J-Frame revolvers, especially the Model 442. He can’t get enough 442s to satisfy demand, though S&W’s new Bodyguard 38 revolver and Bodyguard 380 semi-automatic are taking up much of the slack.
“We still have a number of the higher-end AR’s on backorder, and the demand’s there,” he says. “But the $1,000 and under AR’s? The pipeline’s pretty much filled up with those; sales are good, but down considerably from earlier this year.”
.22 LR rimfire ammunition is still tough to get, and the store limits customers to 100 rounds per day (50 rounds for all other calibers). They’ve kept their standard profit margins on ammo, Duncan notes, but his prices keep going up. “Federal .22 rimfire just went up 12 percent my cost, so we had to adjust accordingly.”
Editors note, this article appeared in the Oct. 21, 2013 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Mastering the Art of Long-Range Shooting is a complete guide to the science behind shooting long distance, an ideal book for anyone interested in hunting or competitive shooting.
Cincinnati, Ohio (December 6, 2013) – Long-range shooting requires a well-trained eye to be successful. In Mastering the Art of the Long-Range Shooting, the newest title from Gun Digest Books, award-winning author Wayne van Zwoll aims to improve reader eyes, confidence and accuracy with his expert advice on the precision that goes into long-range shooting.
The book starts at the beginning with the history of snipers from the Civil War era and travels to the present, exploring the colorful history of marksmanship along the way. van Zwoll gives readers tools – including tables on long-range loads for centerfires, a section on expert military and competitive shooting techniques and an analysis of the equipment that does not help accuracy over distance – designed to ease readers into a better understanding of long-range shooting technique.
More than 300 full-color images illustrate van Zwoll’s key points and anecdotes of famous marksmanship feats sprinkled throughout the book further inspire readers to hone their skills. Readers will close the book with knowledge of how to choose the right hardware, deal with varying conditions and accurately evaluate shooting success at a distance. With their interest in long-range shooting effectively piqued, van Zwoll then guides readers to finding the best equipment with ballistics to match dozens of today’s long guns and load choices.
Pick up a copy of Wayne van Zwoll’s Mastering the Art of Long-Range Shooting at www.gundigeststore.com, all major trade and specialty book stores, or as an ebook through most major vendors, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Mastering the Art of Long-Range Shooting by Wayne van Zwoll, Gun Digest Books ISBN-13: 978-1-4402-3465-1 ∙ Price: $29.99 ∙ Paperback: 8.25 x 10.88
About the Author Award-winning author Wayne van Zwoll is the author of hundreds of magazine articles and 15 books, including The Complete Book of the .22, Gun Digest's Shooter's Guide to Rifles and Bolt Action Rifles. He is a regular contributor to the annual Gun Digest volume and a winner of that book's John T. Amber award for writing excellence.
Modern Custom Guns 2nd Edition packs an abundance of information and 200 color photographs into its 208 pages. In addition to the spectacular photography filling its pages, readers will also gain insight into the creation process and the industry with features that put the spotlight on today’s most talented men and women artisans.
Cincinnati, Ohio (November 13, 2013) – The first edition of Modern Custom Guns hit bookstores 16 years ago. This month, Gun Digest Books puts the “modern” back in the title with the release of Modern Custom Guns 2nd Edition.
Features include an examination of how today’s guilds for stockmakers and engravers are making a difference and the histories behind some of today’s master craftsmen and women.
For beginners looking to educate themselves on the art, the included complete custom gun maker glossary gives them a vocabulary for better understanding and discussing the craft. Experienced collectors and those looking to start a collection will enjoy referencing the complete artist listings included in Modern Custom Guns.
Renowned firearms authority and author Tom Turpin is at the helm of this latest edition, bringing a wealth of experience and an exceptional interest in the art of creating custom guns. With Modern Custom Guns, Turpin aims to showcase the unequaled craftsmanship behind every custom masterpiece on the market today.
“I write about custom guns because I’m a big fan of custom guns in general and custom rifles in particular,” Turpin says. “My preference runs to classic styling, and I follow the principle that if any one facet of a custom rifle immediately jumps out at you, it is surely overdone. Quiet elegance is best for me.”
Explore the beautiful world of custom firearms with Turpin’s Modern Custom Guns 2nd Edition, available now at www.gundigeststore.com and all major booksellers.
Modern Custom Guns 2nd Edition by Tom Turpin, Gun Digest Books ISBN-13: 978-1-4402-3644-0 ∙ Price: $59.99 ∙ Hardcover 8.25 x 10.88
About Tom Turpin Tom Turpin has been a professional writer in the outdoor industry for more than 40 years. He has several hundred published articles, four books, and substantial contributions to several more to his credit. He is presently a contributing editor to the annual Gun Digest volume, and Gun Digest recently reprinted his book Custom Guns: Mastery of Wood & Metal. An avid hunter, Tom has taken game on four continents. Retired as a lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Army, in 1986, after a 26-year career, Tom and his wife, Pauline, live and work in the wonderful high desert community of Sierra Vista, Arizona.
In The Technical Rifleman, the latest e-book release from Gun Digest Books, rifle expert Wayne van Zwoll shares his best advice for mastering shooting basics and excelling at marksmanship.
From new gun owners to hunters to experienced shooters, The Technical Rifleman contains something of value for everyone. Wayne van Zwoll — an industry-leading author who has spent a lifetime in competitive shooting and hunting — showcases his experience as he thoroughly covers the technical aspects of rifle shooting in a conversational, engaging voice.
The eBook is the compilation of van Zwoll’s blog series of the same name on GunDigest.com. From milliradians and walnut stocks to exploding rifle chambers and disintegrating bullets, van Zwoll covers it all.
In addition to detailing the basics of rifle shooting, van Zwoll offers his favorite advanced shooting tips and guides readers through a how-to for choosing the best rifle based on hunting game preferences. Readers will also enjoy a tutorial on riflescope options and nomenclature.
The Technical Rifleman by Wayne van Zwoll, Gun Digest Books ISBN-13: 978-1-4402-3656-3 ∙ Price: $7.99 ∙ E-Book
About Wayne van Zwoll Wayne van Zwoll is a regular contributor to the Gun Digest annual, and author of Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to Rifles. He is a nationally recognized expert on rifles, optics and Western hunting.
About Gun Digest Gun Digest is the world’s foremost authority on guns in print and online. In addition to Gun Digest the Magazine, the brand’s portfolio includes the Gun Digest Books line, Standard Catalog of Firearms, the GunDigest.com online community, and ecommerce specialty store, www.gundigeststore.com. For more information, visit gundigest.com, the Gun Digest Facebook page, or follow on Twitter @gundigest. Gun Digest is an imprint of Gun Digest Media.
Inteliscope turns your iPhone into a digital scope. A digital tactical scope – you bet there’s an app for that!
The Inteliscope Tactical Rifle Adapter App hit the market in June, giving shooters easy access to what is becoming a popular option in firearms optics. The iPhone and iPod Touch compatible app gives shooters a range of functions – from a catalog of reticles to windage and ballistic data, even the option to record video.
The Sandpoint, Idaho company recently took the app to the next level with its 1.4 release doing a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to ballistic calculation. The defining feature of the update is the app’s ability to calculate bullet trajectory, even if the gun is not kept on an even plane.
Be the gun tilted or completely upside down, the software’s algorithm predicts the bullet’s trajectory and corrects the aiming point in the direction in which gravity is pulling. The app continuously adjusts to the gun's angle putting the reticle on target, no matter the shooter’s position.
The trajectory prediction algorithm is not the only new bell and whistle in the update. The app also offers a novel way to sight in. The app shifts the background video of the shot, rather than the reticle, in turn the crosshairs always remain centered on screen. Inteliscope predicts a bullet's trajectory, no matter a shooter's position. This changes, the company boasts, “coupled with the wide viewing area of the Inteliscope system, significantly improves time-on-target and allows shooters to easily aim around obstacles with zero head exposure!”
Considering the price of rifle optics today, Inteliscope is extremely affordable – it’s free for download at the Apple App Store. The Inteliscope Tactical Rifle Adapter is available for $99.
Necessity may be the mother of invention, but for the founder of Concealed Carrie — a company that makes high-end purses and handbags for women who carry concealed handguns — there's no reason why that invention needs to be ugly. Here is the story of Leslie Deets, and her war on hideous handbags.
It all started at a handgun training class for women. They showed up with guns stuck in their bras, in cumbersome holsters and in ugly tactical handbags.
“The handbags looked hideous,” says Leslie Deets, founder of Concealed Carrie, a maker of fashionable handbags that can conceal handguns.
The other women in the class agreed: the current concealed carry options for women were pretty unfashionable and that gave Deets the sudden inspiration to start her new business.
A designer by trade, she studied trends in high-end handbags, drew up her own designs with a separate compartment that conceals a handgun securely, yet allows for quick access.
Each handbag has a removable and adjustable holster so users can arrange the way they draw their handgun according to their liking. The line of handbags includes totes, satchels, hobos and computer carry-alls that come in ostrich and crocodile prints and smooth and distressed leather.
“We had a lot of men purchasing these handbags for their wives over the holidays,” said Deets. Her philosophy is that fashion should not be completely sacrificed to function.
She even believes her handbags will encourage women to carry a handgun more often since many fashion-conscious women would rather not carry any handgun at all if it means lugging around a military-styled man purse or having to wear a holster that sticks out in the wrong places. Prices range from $249 to $299.
Modern hunters want modern guns and the light-hitting .223 isn’t the only caliber offering for tactical rifles.
Choose the Right AR
The first decision you’ll have to make is what size AR you want. There are two sizes to choose from, with the most popular being the AR-15 that our military uses. Then there is the larger original size most commonly referred to as the AR-10—most commonly chambered in .308 Winchester.
Whether you choose the standard sized AR or the larger size will determine what calibers you’ll have available to you. The larger sized AR will give you options in the high-power cartridge range, such as the .308 Win. The standard sized AR has fewer whitetail cartridge options, but its smaller, lighter size is better suited for hunting in tree stands and confined spaces such as deer blinds and is easier to carry.
Small-Platform Calibers
Ambush Firearms 6.8 SPC II.
Whitetail hunting for me is spent in a tiny hang-on tree stand or sitting in a tripod blind. The best choice for these confined spaces is the standard AR-sized rifle.
The small receiver with carbine length barrel and collapsible stock are tough to beat when maneuverability is important. Following are two deer-suitable calibers that are growing rapidly in popularity for these smaller rifles. Note that I limited the choices to those that are most easily found on the shelves of local stores.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I’m a huge advocate of the 6.8 SPC (Special Purpose Cartridge). It’s my favorite AR cartridge.
A lot of shooters agree, with it being the second-best selling AR cartridge on the market right now, and it’s not because of a big corporate push, but rather the people who shoot it and hunt with it. Thankfully, more ammunition manufacturers are jumping on the 6.8 SPC wagon, making it more common on store shelves and everywhere online.
Offerings range from good-quality budget ammo from Sellier & Ballot and American Eagle to high-end custom loads from Wilson Combat. Silver State Armory makes excellent ammo at a great price, as does Federal Ammunition.
Having a giant like Federal behind the cartridge makes it a sure bet you’ll be seeing more of it. Additionally, just this year Federal released the Fusion MSR 6.8, ammunition specifically designed for hunting with 6.8 SPC ARs.
Of all the AR deer cartridges on the market, the 6.8 SPC is the most versatile, and I believe it’s the best. It’s perfect for whitetail, great for hogs and it doubles as a fantastic defensive round. The .270-caliber bullet shoots flat and retains its energy well down range. A 95-grain bullet leaves the barrel at 2,850 feet per second and has 1,715 foot-pounds of energy. A 110-grain bullet flies at 2,700 fps with 1,780 ft.-lbs. of energy.
Hot on the heels of the 6.8 SPC in popularity is the .300 BLK (AAC Blackout). But I have to confess, I’m not on the bandwagon here.
Still, it’s very popular and has a growing fan base of hunters. The primary advantage to the .300 BLK is that it is available in subsonic rounds in stores. However, subsonic performance on whitetails negates this advantage. I talked to Chris Lucci, owner/operator of the Wild River Ranch (WRR) in Texas, about the .300 BLK. Chris tests this stuff, using it in the real world, and between him, his staff and his clients, a lot of whitetail and hogs are killed at the WRR.
Hunting subsonic with the .300 BLK is, as far as ballistics are concerned, like hunting with a 9mm MP5, and the deer don’t always go down like they should. A suppressed 220-grain bullet has a velocity of 1,020 fps and 508 ft.-lbs. of energy.
A supersonic, nonsuppressed, 110-grain bullet has a velocity of 2,350 fps with 1,349 ft.-lbs. of energy. If opting for the .300 BLK, I would recommend staying away from the subsonic rounds. For most hunters, it simply won’t matter.
M&P10 (.308 Win. MSRP $1,729). What’s not to like about this 8.1-pound camouflage beauty? Comes with a Magpul MOE stock and an 18-inch barrel, which makes it maneuverable.
Large-Platform Calibers
When not constrained by the tight confines of a small blind or platform, the larger sized ARs in the AR-10/SR-25 models give you a lot of excellent choices in caliber, and most weigh in at around eight to 10 pounds, so they’re still plenty light. Here are five calibers that all make excellent choices:
.308 Win.—The .308 Winchester, also known as the 7.62x51mm NATO, is one of my top two favorite cartridges of all time. An excellent all-around deer hunting cartridge, the .308 Win. was designed to replicate the ballistics of the .30-06 Springfield, but in a length that fits in a standard-length action rifle. The .308 Win. has more bullet options from more manufactures than just about any other rifle cartridge. It’s capable of excellent accuracy with excellent performance—a 150-grain bullet leaves the barrel at 2,820 fps and has 2,648 ft.-lbs. of energy, twice the energy of the .223 Rem.
7mm-08 Rem.—Much can be said about the flat-shooting 7mm (.284 caliber), and with its outstanding accuracy, it makes an excellent long-range whitetail choice. Based off a necked-down .308 Win. case, the 7mm-08 has all the virtues of the 7mm, but delivers it in the AR-10/SR-25 platform. A 140-grain soft point exits the barrel at 2,860 fps with 2,542 ft.-lbs. of energy.
.243 Win.—Developed in 1955, the .243 Win. (6mm) met immediate success and was soon chambered in the rifles of several U.S. manufacturers and almost every European gunmaker. Its parent cartridge is the .308 Win., which makes it perfect for the AR-10/SR-25 platform. At the light end of bullets, its high velocity makes it an excellent choice for smaller game, and at the heavy end it’s suitable for whitetail. The 80-grain is fast at 3,550 fps and 1,993 ft.-lbs. of energy. For whitetail, the 100-grain bullet leaves the muzzle at 2,960 fps with 1945 ft.-lbs. of energy. New bullets from Barnes, Hornady and Lapua have made this an even more lethal whitetail bullet.
.260 Rem.—Another cartridge from the .308 Win. family, the .260 Rem. is a good long-range cartridge and is excellent for whitetail. It’s also a good choice for shooters who are recoil sensitive. Performance wise, the .260 Rem. far exceeds the .243 Win. and is not far behind the 7mm-08 Rem. A 140-grain bullet leaves the muzzle at 2,750 fps and has 2,351 ft.-lbs. of energy.
.338 Fed.—Following a trend, the .338 Fed. was spawned from the .308 Win. and necked up to a .338-caliber bullet. Excellent for close- to mid-range whitetail, elk and bear, it’s borderline big in areas with small-framed whitetails, but will still work. Surprisingly mild in recoil compared to other cartridges in this caliber range, a 180-grain bullet travels at 2,830 fps with 3,200 ft.-lbs. of energy.
The continued growth of the AR in the hunting field demonstrates the effectiveness of the rifle. With more makers designing them for hunters and the continued expansion in caliber choices, it’s no wonder why they’ve become so popular. With the effectiveness of these .223-alternatives, there’s little reason to use the .223, even in areas where legal.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
Inside This Issue:
