Shotguns have long been regarded as the most do-all shooting tools available. With a shotgun, a person can shoot a single projectile or a pattern of shot, they can shoot as close as a few yards and out to beyond 100 yards (with a slug), and they can hunt, target shoot and defend themselves. This year’s crop of new loads only improves their applications for whatever you desire.
Hornady Superformance & Heavy Mag
Hornady is making the Superformance shotgun slugs available in 12 and 20 gauge. If you shoot a rifled slug gun you need to give these slugs a try. Using a 250-grain Monoflex slug in 20 gauge or a 300-grain Monoflex slug in 12 gauge, these loads are just what the doctor ordered for deer, black bear or hogs. Also, if varmints are on the menu, the Hornady Heavy Mag Coyote 12-gauge loads will not disappoint the close-range hunter. (hornady.com)
Kent Cartridge Diamond Shot & 5-Star Penetrator
Kent 10-Point Precision Slugs.
Kent Cartridge has some great turkey loads in their Diamond Shot and 5-Star Penetrator shells. The Diamond Shot loads are available in 12 and 20 gauge, and the Penetrator loads are available in 12 gauge only, but feature a 50/50 mix of Tungsten Matrix and Diamond Shot. I will be testing the Kent Tungsten Matrix l6 gauge, 11/8-ounce upland load in No. 5s during turkey season this year and have high expectations on its performance. There are many 16-gauge shooters in the country and this is a great load for upland birds; it can be used in your treasured side-by-side guns without worry. (kentgamebore.com)
Kent 10-Point Precision
The Kent 10-Point Precision slugs are a new addition to the Kent line as well, with a hard-hitting 1-ounce slug that launches at a scorching 1,850 fps. This one should satisfy the serious deer or hog hunter. (kentgamebore.com)
Winchester Razorback XT
Winchester Razorback XT.
Winchester has recognized the out-of-control feral hog problem across much of the country and the need of hunters for dedicated shotgun hog loads to deal with the problem. The new Razorback offerings in 12 gauge, with either buckshot or a frangible 1-ounce slug will meet this need. The 12-gauge Razorback XT buckshot load will feature eight buffered 00 buck pellets for hard-hitting, close-range knockdown power. The Razorback XT segmented rifled slug is designed to segment into three equal pieces upon impact for devastating trauma caused by multiple wound channels. It also features an innovative wad stabilizer for pinpoint downrange accuracy up to 125 yards. (winchester.com)
Winchester AA TrAAcker
Winchester AA TrAAcker.
Winchester also has a new load that may be just the thing for wingshooter training, the AA TrAAcker offering. The secret of AA TrAAcker is in the revolutionary wad. Loaded with 1 1/8 ounces of shot like a standard AA shotshell, the innovative wad design includes longer, notched petals and captures 1/8-ounce of shot, which stabilizes wad spin and ensures that the wad remains in the center of the shot cloud for optimum tracking. The AA TrAAcker load is available in two highly visible colors: orange, for overcast conditions or dark backdrops and black for clear skies or light backdrops. (winchester.com)
Anschütz Sporting Arms has delivered a major shipment of the much sought after Anschutz MSR RX22 small-bore tactical training rifle to Steyr Arms, the exclusive importer of the gun.
Better known for its competitive rifles, Anschütz introduced the MSR RX22 last year, but until now demand has far exceeded availability. Featuring a target barrel and a competition-inspired trigger, the MSR RX22 is a full-featured .22-caliber training and small-game hunting rifle.
The rimfire was developed from the ground up as an extremely accurate semi-automatic .22-cal. rifle. The MSR RX22 offers a self-loading rifle platform — it operates on a force-locking blowback action with a hammer lock — that promises reliability and accuracy according to the company.
The gun's barrel is manufactured to the same tolerances of any other Anschütz target barrel, they say, with a special button-rifling process. The barrel features a recessed target crown. The single-stage trigger features components that are hardened and finely ground to produce a fast trigger with a very consistent release. The trigger is factory set at 4 lbs. and can be adjusted from 3.3 to 5.5 lbs. by the user.
The MSR RX22 was designed for ease of use for either a left- or right-handed shooter. The cocking handle can be quickly located to any of three positions on either side of the rifle for a total of six possible cocking-handle locations. The trigger-locking safety is easily engaged by way of a large selector switch, familiar to most tactical centerfire rifles on either side of the receiver.
Available in four versions, the Desert and Black Hawk models feature a side-folding stock that is collapsible for length of pull and adjustable for cheek weld. These models have Picatinny rails on the side and bottom of the foreend for attaching accessories. The Precision and Precision Black models have fixed wooden stocks and foreend components. All MSR RX22 rifles have a full-length Picatinny rail on top for mounting the included flip-up iron sights as well as your choice of optics.
The MSR RX22 comes equipped with one 10-round polymer detachable single-stack magazine. Magazines with capacities of 2, 5, 20 and 22 rounds are also available as accessory items. The suggested retail price of the standard Desert and Black Hawk models is $895. MSRP for the Precision and the Precision Black models is $995.
For more information, contact Steyr Arms at 7661 Commerce Lane, Trussville, AL 35173; call (205) 655-8299; or visit www.steyrarms.com.
ANSCHÜTZ MSR RX22 Rifle Specifications Model: MSR RX22 Operation: Semiautomatic Caliber: .22 LR Magazine type: Detachable polymer single-stack Magazine capacity: 10 rounds (2, 5, 20, 22 available) Action material: Anodized aluminum Barrel: 16.5 inch target barrel (button rifling) Rifling: 1:16 Sights: Flip-up iron sights; 16.92 inch Picatinny rail Safety: 2-position ambi-safety Trigger type: Single-stage, adjustable 3.3 – 5.5 lbs. Pull weight: 4 lbs. Stock material/type: wood or polymer; fixed or foldable stock (depending on model) Recoil pad: Rubber elastomer Checkering: Non-slip stippled surfaces Weight, empty: 6.94 lbs. Overall length: 32.8 – 43.1 inches (depending on the model) Included accessories: CD-Owner’s manual, one detachable 10-round magazine, Gun transport case, tool kit MSRP: $895 (standard Desert or Black Hawk models), $995 (Precision or Precision Black)
Hunt Geek Shooting Game Targets. Paper targets with the standard bull’s-eye are ideal for sighting-in a rifle or handgun, testing a shotgun’s pattern and shooting groups, but you can add a whole new dimension to family shooting day out at the farm with some of the following cool targets.
Caldwell Magnum Rifle Gong
Caldwell’s Magnum Rifle Gong is a durable gong-style target that delivers a resounding “thwack” with each impact. The gong is capable of handling repeat shots from virtually every calibers rifle or handgun. The 3/8-inch-thick gong is 10 inches in diameter and comes with an easy-to-setup freestanding frame and chains. The center of the target hangs 18 inches above the ground. ($170; Caldwell)
Champion DuraSeal Wobble Target
This target wobbles and bobs with each hit and then with its weighted round bottom immediately rights itself for quick follow-up shots. The small high-visibility Radiation Green target is made of Champion’s DuraSeal, a non-metal, self-healing material that keeps its shape even after thousands of rounds. Shoot it with calibers ranging between.17-caliber all the way up to .50-caliber. It will be fine. ($25; Champion)
Do-All Outdoors Spin Cycle Targets
Do-All Outdoors’ Spin Cycle Target is a cool windmill style target that allows for same time shooting by two shooters. The Spin Cycle is made of steel and stands upright on three-stable legs. Reactive, large visibility targets spin and automatically reset. Models are available for .22-caliber rifles, .38- to .44-caliber handguns and 9mm to .30-06 caliber pistols and rifles. ($100-$180; Do-All Outdoors)
Comfortable to carry and packing 10+1 rounds of .45 ACP, the Glock 30S is the latest member of the Glock line-up. It packs the ultimate punch in a concealable package.
Glock 30S: Defining a Subcompact
Glock currently offers four variants of this pistol: a standard Model 30 (the original), the 30SF (reduced frame circumference for an easier trigger reach), the 30S you see here (slimmer slide on an SF frame) and the Glock 30 Gen4.
Experiment mounting the holster inside the waistband between the 4 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions (for lefties try the area from 9 to 8 o’clock spots) in order to determine what works best for your comfort.
Gen4 Glocks feature a new grip texture, recoil spring assembly, enlarged and reversible magazine catch and adjustable backstrap. Practically speaking, all the 30s are the same gun, offering the 10+1 capacity of .45 Auto in a smaller but thicker to hold package.
Unloaded the 30S weighs 20.28 ounces. Loaded it jumps to 30.16 ounces. Hard data aside, the gun never really feels heavy in the hand nor in the holster. In fact, it is well balanced and, depending on the holster, relatively easy to carry for long periods of time.
The size and weight of the Glock 30S prevents you from carrying it in your pocket or in an ankle holster. Even though it is relatively small and lightweight, it’s not that small nor lightweight. Laws of physics and common sense all but demand that this gun be carried in an inside or outside the waistband holster.
Carrying Inside the Waistband
With most holsters, carrying inside the waistband maximizes concealability at the expense of some comfort. While this was mostly true for the Glock 30S, carrying it in an inside the waistband holster demonstrated the benefits of this pistol’s relatively light weight. While dimensionally smaller guns exist, few can boast being chambered in .45 Auto with a 10+1 capacity.
So, the main draw (pun intended) for the Glock 30S becomes a matter of being able to carry the maximum in concealable firepower. Consider: 10+1 in any caliber is a good number of rounds for concealed carry. 10+1 of .45 Auto is heavy duty, literally. With 230-grain self-defense rounds tucked in your belt, that’s 2,530 grains of hollow-point bullet at the ready.
Carrying the chunky Glock 30S inside the waistband in the Galco Scout holster, a relatively thick holster, resulted not in the feeling that you were trying to hide a small animal on your hip, but actually felt pretty good and carried well.
The High Noon Slide Guard holster is a good match with the Glock 30S for shooters that like the gun to ride outside the pants and on the belt for quick access.
Outside the Waistband
If carrying the Glock 30S inside the waistband just won’t work, then carrying it outside the waistband is probably the next best means. While a little less concealable than inside the waistband, it’s definitely more comfortable.
A High Noon Slide Guard was on duty for this part of the review, excellently enveloping the Glock 30S in high-quality cowhide while securely attaching to my belt. As a new, custom-made, leather holster—every High Noon Slide Guard holster is—it exhibited some new, custom-made, leather holster tendencies, namely, a very tight fit for both gun and belt.
The High Noon Slide Guard seemed to conceal the Glock 30S best at 4 o’clock, just like the Galco Scout. With this outside-the-waistband holster in this position, my concern was less about concealing the stock and more about concealing the back of the slide, which stuck out the most. Cinching up my belt another notch helped, but in the end the best concealment again came from a loose, untucked T-shirt or unbuttoned casual shirt.
Shooting the Glock 30S
At the range, the Glock 30S proved to be the best kind of boring. Every round of the Winchester PDX-1 self defense ammo I was using fed, fired and ejected properly. So did the Remington and HPR .45 Auto I fed it. In fact, just to make things interesting, I loaded a magazine with two or three of each kind of round, staggered, to try to throw the 30S off and cause a hiccup. No problems.
Firing at a paper silhouette target right at 10 yards away and using the Glock’s standard sights, in no time a jagged hole about the size of a softball appeared. The vast majority of the rest of the rounds would travel through this opening.
The beefier build of the 30S contributed to a good grip during the range time and handled the recoil well, making this an exceptionally comfortable gun to shoot.
In one sense, the Glock 30S is big, pushing the limits of what could reasonably be considered “subcompact.” In another sense, the Glock 30S is a marvel: How else can you comfortably conceal a handgun with 10+1 rounds of .45 Auto? While smaller, lighter guns exist, they may be lacking the capacity or reputation of the Glock 30S.
In the end, the Glock 30S is not only a capable shooter with plenty of on-board capacity but also, in holsters such as the Galco Scout or High Noon Slide Guard, a decently comfortable carry.
Glock 30S Caliber: .45 Auto Capacity: 10+1 Magazines: 2 Barrel: 3.78 in. Sights: Fixed, standard Frame: Polymer Slide: Tenifer coated steel Length: 6.97 in. Height: 4.8 in. Weight: 20.28 oz (unloaded) Options: N/A SRP: $637
Watch these amazing videos of German Hunter Franz Albrecht shooting running boar. He is hunting with the Sauer 202 rifle topped with an Aimpoint optic. Wow!
Pedro Ortiz, a self-taught gunsmith from Savannah, Ga. via Puerto Rico, holds the custom AR-15 that bears his name.
In assembling his custom AR-15 rifle, self-taught gunsmith Pedro Ortiz adds the special touch that only a true master can bring to the table.
The Ortiz Custom Rifle starts with a Geissele two-stage trigger, which Ortiz has further honed and set at 3.5 pounds. Ortiz has for years specialized in trigger work, starting in three decades ago when he modified Model 1911 triggers for most of the competitive shooters in Puerto Rico.
“Frankly the most important part of any gun is the trigger assembly,” Ortiz says. “It’s virtually impossible for a firearm to perform at its best in human hands if the trigger pull is not smooth and crisp.”
The second part of the Ortiz Custom Rifle is a Stoner AR-15 stainless barrel with the popular Wylde chamber. Many shooters like the Wylde chamber because it has a longer throat than the .223 SAAMI spec, which allows safe usage of 5.56x45mm NATO approved ammunition.
This match grade barrel features a 1-in-8-inch twist with 5R rifling. The barrel is fluted for greater strength, less weight and accelerated cooling, and is made of 416R stainless. The barrel also features M4 Feed Ramps, a gas port mid-length and is threaded 1⁄2”-28. The customer has the choice of an 18- or 20-inch barrel.
The trigger assembly is the most important part of the gun according to Ortiz. He uses a Giessele two-stage trigger on his custom AR-15 rifles.
To assist in the cooling and handling of the gun, Ortiz selected the Troy Industries Alpha Battle 15-inch free floating rail. This modular handguard is lightweight and slim enough to feel great in the hands of most shooters. The popular rail is constructed of aircraft aluminum and finished with a mil-spec anodized coat. It can accept modular rail sections and can easily accept a number of tactical accessories.
With the popularity of the AR-platform rifle these days, you can bet that there are a number of stock options available, too. It is the stock configuration that comfortably allows the sighting eye to look through any chosen optic. Ortiz selected the Magpul PRS, which is short for Precision Rifle Sniper. This stock is similar to those used on the finest precision target rifles, but is designed to withstand the elements.
The Magpul PRS is fully adjustable for length of pull and comb height in order to ensure the best fit possible. The length of pull is adjustable from 1⁄4-inch shorter to 3⁄4 of an inch longer than factory dimensions. The comb height can be adjusted a full 3⁄4 of an inch, which allows an easy comb height fit for shooters of all shapes, sizes and genders.
One of the problems AR shooters may one day encounter is a broken or malfunctioning charging handle. Ortiz Custom Guns has addressed this concern by selecting a Vltor BCM Gunfighter Charging Handle for its custom gun. The Vltor BCM Gunfighter handle is machined from 7075 billet aluminum and finished with an anodized hard coat.
One of the features of a custom rifle is that it not only look good, it must also feel good in the hands of the shooter. To help ensure both of these physical attributes, Ortiz added an Ergo Sure Grip Pistol Grip AR-15, which is made for left- and right-hand shooters.
This grip is ergonomically designed to fit the shooter’s hand more comfortably, which provides better recoil control. In many ways the grip is an extension of the trigger pull, since a comfortable grip of the gun greatly reduces mistakes when squeezing the trigger.
To complete the physical gun, Ortiz mounts a JP Enterprise Compensator. which serves to significantly reduce the felt recoil of the gun. Obviously muzzle jump can be a significant factor for second shot accuracy whether hunting predators or competing in 3-Gun, and Ortiz has recognized the need to keep the muzzle calm during operation.
To enhance the performance of the Ortiz Custom Rifle, Ortiz has also added a Harris 6-9 Bipod and a Burris Full Field II 3.5-10x50mm tactical scope to the standard model. The scope is seated in a Burris AR-P.E.P.R. one-piece quick-release scope mount. Burris P.E.P.R. stands for Proper Eye Position Ready, which means that as much as 2 inches of forward scope movement is possible for the shooter to achieve the perfect eye-relief distance.
Putting It All Together
Of course all of the “best of the best” parts are only as good as the sum of those parts once assembled, tweaked and made to be as perfect as possible. The Ortiz Custom Rifle is designed to be accurate at 350 to 400 yards, and Ortiz guarantees ½-inch M.O.A. or less at 100 yards using factory ammunition.
According to Ortiz, the rifle will shoot a 4-inch group or less at 400 yards, again with factory ammo. Shooters are shooters, however, and as with all rifles, the proof has to be seen.
A recent trip to a gun range in late July proved to be a real test for the Ortiz Custom Rifle. It was almost 100 degrees on the range and there was a steady crosswind of more than 10 miles per hour.
Ortiz put the gun through its paces by shooting not on a bench, but from a standing position off of a BogPod with an AR rest. Using factory Winchester Match Grade ammo, the rifle performed as advertised.
The standard Ortiz Custom Rifle comes assembled as described and weighs 6¾ pounds without optics and approximately 8½ pounds with optics. There are also numerous upgrade options available, which may be added upon request. The standard rifle retails for $1,795. That’s about the same cost as some more expensive assembly line models, but with Ortiz, the shooter gets a custom rifle that delivers unbelievably good custom performance.
For more information on the Ortiz Custom Rifle, contact Pedro Ortiz at 912-925-0799 or visit his website at ortizcustomguns.com.
This article is an excerpt from the November 4, 2013 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
“Any kind of smaller pocket gun—snub-nose revolvers, semi autos like the Smith & Wesson Shield—are really blowing out the doors,” says Justin Perkins, manager of Oceana Pawn, Gun, Bait & Tackle, which sells new and used firearms. “I get in a new Springfield XD-S compact .45. It’s sold before I can get it out of the box.”
Concealed carry is driving the demand for sure. New self-defense and tactical shoguns are moving fast, too. Customers are buying up any of the shorter-barrel, higher capacity shotguns, especially Mossberg models. In the used market, it’s “bigger is better.” The most popular used items are big, large framed revolvers, like the S&W Model 57 and Model 29.
“The hottest selling products right now are the new Savage B.Mag .17 Winchester Super Magnum Rifle and the 20-grain Winchester .17 WSM ammunition,” says department manager John Lewis.
The .17 WSM was introduced earlier this year by Winchester Ammunition, a new rimfire cartridge travelling over 3,000 fps. Recently, Savage unveiled the .17 B.Mag, a bolt-action using a center-feed rotary magazine and sporting a 22-inch barrel.
Handgun sales are brisk, too, especially for 1911 models and various striker-fired semi-automatics. “Our local Sheriff is issuing concealed weapon permits and keeping the demand high for any type of concealable handguns,” Lewis notes.
Self-defense ammunition is hot, and Bauer’s moves a good deal of it made by Dynamic Research Technologies and Liberty Ammunition. Speer Gold Dot, Winchester PDX and Federal Hydra-Shok are selling well, too.
Weighing in at almost 3 pounds, Remington’s 2020 Networked Tracking Scope will add some heft to your rifle. Bipods, shooting sticks or some type of makeshift rest is required to accurately shoot in the field.
With a high-tech digital sniper scope and tracking software, Remington's 2020 Networked Tracking Scope make long-range shooting a snap.
My very first shot with Remington’s new high-tech rifle system was at a steel silhouette target 326 yards away.
I “tagged” the steel with the NASA-like digital optic, lined up the reticle on the red dot tag mark and squeezed off a shot. Hit! “Damn,” I thought to myself, “forget that 100-yard stuff—I’m center-massing steel at 326 yards with a rifle I’ve never shot before.”
I worked the bolt on the Remington 700 Long Range rifle, chambered another .30-06 round, retagged the steel and fired.And missed, the bullet blowing dirt a good foot to the left side of the man-sized target.And that, in a nutshell, is the reality of this newest offering from Remington Arms Company, a rifle system that pairs one of three rifles with a Remington 2020 Networked Tracking Scope.
The new system is the result of collaboration between firearms giant Remington and TrackingPoint, a tech company based in Austin, Texas. I recently spent three days using the three rifles and the Networked Tracking Scope in a variety of range and field conditions, and the system does what Remington says it will do—make consistent, accurate hits on game-sized animals out to 500 yards.
But it will do that if, and only if you either possess solid shooting fundamentals or are willing to acquire them. Also, the rifle system is not made for every hunting or shooting scenario.
On that second shot I got a little excited and jerked the trigger. I missed, even though the target was tagged, the reticle was working fine and the zoom function on the scope had the target just about in my lap.
I calmed down, breathed deep, reacquired my sight picture and slammed a couple rounds into the 326-yard target. I then made hits on similar-sized targets at 414 and 494 yards.
Making the perfect shot with Remington 2020 Networked Tracking Scope is as simple as tagging the target with the red dot, then bringing the blue circle of the reticle around it to make the perfect shot.
How It Works
TrackingPoint has been in the news because of the $27,000 super high-tech rifle it makes, capable of 1,000-yard shots (see TrackingPoint page 20). That rifle system has a number of differences from this Remington system, but suffice it to say TrackingPoint’s technological expertise is what makes the Networked Tracking Scope work.
The optic contains a laser range finder, gyroscopes to judge the angle or cant of the rifle, and sensors to determine humidity, barometric pressure and even the Coriolis effect (bullet drift caused by the Earth’s spin). You also program the optic to the ammunition you are using, and the software adjusts for the degree of bullet drop. All the shooter has to plug in is the estimated wind speed and direction, which is accomplished via a handy directional lever atop the optic.
The optic has 3- to 21-power zoom capability. It also video records all your shots and, with the press of a button, will stream a live video feed of what you are seeing through the optic to a nearby iPad. Looking through the optic, you line up the center white dot on your target. Next, you press the TAG button atop the optic housing and the optic “tags” that target with a red dot. At the same time, a number pops up in your field of view. That is the range in yards to your target.
Once your target is tagged, the Networked Tracking Scope checks and rechecks all data factors at an astounding 54 times per second, to provide what TrackingPoint engineers call the “ballistic solution” for that shot. You aim dead on with the reticle, but the optic has already figured out the bullet drop at that range, the impact of the wind, etc.
Once the tag red dot is set, a reticle appears with a blue center circle and four blue aiming posts. Line up the blue circle with the red tag dot, and the whole reticle, circle and aiming posts also turn red. Squeeze the trigger at that point, and the bullet is heading right for the red dot.
The author took this axis deer at 240 yards with the Remington 2020 Networked Tracking Scope. The shot was a quick, clean kill through the lungs.
The Catch
The rifle system isn’t perfect. One problem I had at the range was that the images were often so dark, I could barely make out the reticle. The sun and our bright plywood shooting tables created some very bright back lighting. Given the digital nature of the optic, the situation was much like taking a television set outside and trying to view the screen, which, of course, is hard to do. Inside a covered blind with no glaring backlight? It all works great.
The Networked Tracking Scope adds almost three pounds to the rifle. With the tag button atop the optic, offhand shooting and tagging is nearly impossible. It’s simply too difficult to hold a 10- or 11-pound rifle up with one hand and keep it still enough to effectively place the white dot on your target while you also press the tag button.
So shooting options are limited to firing from a stand or shooting bench, prone with a bi-pod or using very stable shooting sticks. The rifle system also has a suggested retail of $5,000, and that, folks, is a good chunk of change.
Hunting Ethics
Many hunters will have ethical concerns about such a system. Is it right to use this much technology? Isn’t it up to the shooter to become proficient with his or her firearm, not to rely on computerized optics? These and other questions will certainly be debated. Yet, one of the central questions for the ethical hunter has always been: can you make a clean kill shot?
“With our new system, the question of when or if to take the shot still remains with the hunter. And the hunter still needs to practice with our system, though we believe it requires a good deal less time than traditional rifles,” said Alan Serven, Remington’s director of new technology. “But what we’ve created here is a system that will improve your accuracy and extend your range. That sounds pretty ethical to us.”
Wonder what the future of firearms looks like? Solid Concepts might have recently given the world a peek.
The 3D printing service released a video Thursday with what it claims is the first 3D printed metal gun. According to the company’s blog, the .45 ACP 1911 has fired 50 successful rounds, even nailing a couple bull’s eyes at 30 yards.
The process Solid Concepts used to create the 1911 is known as Selective Laser Sintering (a process explained in great detail in the video below).
The amazing part of the printing process is the fact that, outside of some finishing, the company claims the gun was manufactured without any machining. The barrel’s rifling was even printed or as Solid Concepts put it “grown”.
Solid Concepts had a point to prove with the creation of the 1911, more about laser sintering process than the creation of a new firearms manufacturing system:
“The whole concept of using a laser sintering process to 3D Print a metal gun revolves around proving the reliability, accuracy and usability of 3D Metal Printing as functional prototypes and end use products,” says Solid Concepts’ Vice President of Additive Manufacturing Kent Firestone. “It’s a common misconception that laser sintering isn’t accurate or strong enough, and we’re working to change people’s perspective.”
Solid Concepts has come up with a compelling firearm, much more so than some of the first iterations of 3D printed guns (such as the Lutz Liberator). But unlike those early versions, metal printing is presently far outside the price range of the 3D printing hobbyist.
Did you find the 3D printed gun article interesting? Than you're certain to find Gunsmithing with Patrick Sweeney a useful read. The CD is the compilation of three books by Sweeney: Gunsmithing: Pistols & Revolvers; Gunsmithing: Rifles; and Gunsmithing: Shotguns. The reference is perfect if you are looking for a troubleshooting guide for your firearms, want to find the right methods of cleaning and repairing your firearms, or if you are interested in becoming a gunsmith.
Authenticity plays a large role in Cowboy Action Shooting, with competitions held in Old West settings and competitors donning the garb of the day. (photo by Sara Norman)
Many years ago a few IPSC shooters came up with an idea to shoot a competition using only outdated Old West-type guns.
They thought it would be fun shooting stages with six guns instead of using the new fangled eight shooter. Then they thought, why not take it a step further and get dressed up into clothing of the period? From there, the idea of shooting stages built to resemble old saloons and jails and using additional guns from the period such as a lever rifle and old double-barreled shotguns came about.
In the end, they had developed one of the newest and fastest growing sports today. They had created Cowboy Action Shooting. I don’t know if it came together precisely in that order but, the end result has been an action-packed series of events that are all about having fun, and in that department, they certainly deliver.
What is Cowboy Action Shooting? Cowboy Action Shooting is organized by SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) and offers many shooting categories that differ from the types of guns used to the styles of clothing worn. It even offers the opportunity for participants to have an Old West alias.
The first main rule is the only firearms permitted for use must be guns of 1898 vintage or earlier and includes two single-action revolvers, a lever-action pistol caliber rifle and either a side-by-side shotgun or a pump or lever shotgun.
The side-by-side can be hammer or hammerless with no ejectors, but the pump must have a hammer like the Winchester 1897. Pumps are only loaded with two rounds at a time to eliminate any advantage they might otherwise offer over those using double shooters.
The six guns are loaded with five rounds so that the hammer rests on an empty chamber. This is the way they were carried in the Old West because they didn’t have safety bars as we do today in the Ruger Vaquero and other reproductions.
Shooting styles range from Traditional, which is shooting each pistol one at a time with a two-handed hold to Duelist, holding one pistol at a time one handed, or even Gunfighter, which is a pistol in each hand being fired using alternating shots.
Cowboy Action competitions often demand precise shots, such as this one where a competitor attempts to hit a target through two doorways. (photo by Sara Norman)
Getting Started I started shooting in the Gunfighter Division many years ago thinking it would give me practice with my weak hand. As a result, I now shoot much better with it as far as lining up the sight and trigger control are concerned.
Again, beyond the practice it provides a person’s shooting skills, it is so much fun shooting guns like the cowboys of the old movies, a six gun in each hand, and actually hitting the targets.
There are two ways to shoot Gunfighter. One is cocking both pistols at the same time and shooting both rounds (one at a time) and cocking them again until the stage is shot, or the way I started out, cocking the pistols one at a time. In that fashion, a shooter ends up cocking one pistol as they fire the other.
Whichever style of shooting you choose, there is also the option to go over to the dark side: black powder. The Frontiersman category, for instance, requires the shooter to use black powder in all the guns shot.
These are fun matches that take the smokeless folks out of their comfort zone. There is a lot of smoke, and with any luck, a small breeze so you can see the targets. As a course of competing in the Frontiersmen category, competitors get pretty good at knowing where target are through the smoke.
Making a Name for Yourself Costuming and an alias are mandatory to a cowboy action shoot. They go hand in hand as you might dress to fit your alias.
Thinking up an alias can be easy or hard. You might pick up an alias because of your conduct, like a lot of the cowboys of old did, or you can pick a name from one of the characters of the Old West and integrate it into your name. The name can also not have anything to do with the West but is an interesting play on words.
Some of the names people come up with are extremely witty and SASS keeps a record of the registered names so there are no duplicates. Your name is your name throughout the SASS world so pick a good one.
Minimum cowboy dress includes a hat, boots, western shirt, bandana and pants, but you could easily go overboard with the costume and are actually encouraged to do so.
Working a Stage Stages are set up much like a 3-gun match only Old West-style.
We shoot through windows and doors, off of wagons and horses (not real horses unless your mounted shooting), and move from spot to spot between firearms.
A typical cowboy stage will start out with some kind of scenario like you’re tending cattle on the range and the bad guys are going to rustle your cows. There may or may not be a line that you have to recite to start the timer, and when the timer rings you go.
Firing pistols may be first, and you have to shoot them in the order mandated by the scenario. Usually it will be 10 shots on steel targets then you might move to another spot to shoot the rifle, then the shotgun. The rifle targets are usually a bit farther out and the shotgun can be stationary steel, knockdowns, or clay flyers.
Misses are a 5-second penalty added to the time from start to last shot and failure to shoot the stage in the manner of the scenario is a procedural error, which adds 10 seconds.
Scores are added up by overall raw time, which starts at the buzzer and runs to the last shot.
It’s amazing the stress the timer puts on the shooter. The idea is to finish in the fastest time, which isn’t always attributed to shooting faster. A bunch of time can be made up by smooth transitions from gun to gun and moving from position to position.
Always Welcome New shooters, especially new female shooters are always welcome and every shooter will help them break into this new sport. Even veterans will get the cowboy helping hand. If your gun goes down, there is always a cowboy who will loan you one to finish the match. He or she will even keep the friendly cowboy smile when you shoot a bit faster than they do.
If you really want to have a good time, dust off that old wheel, lever and shotgun and get out to a cowboy match. It’s extremely addictive and loads of fun. If you don’t have all the guns go to a match anyway I will bet someone will loan you a gun and encourage you to shoot a stage. Take the opportunity and get a little western.
Find Cowboy Action Shooting right up your alley? Then you're certain to enjoy the Handbook of Modern Percussion Revolvers. This richly illustrated volume is perfect if you own a percussion revolver, want how-to on percussion revolvers or would like to learn more about historic percussion revolvers. Also check out our Blackpowder books, as well.
Stop beating yourself up. New low recoil ammo from Hornady joins other popular offerings from Remington and Federal to make shooting fun. In fact, even lightweights like me can handle it.
Hornady has introduced a new line of low recoil ammo, called Custom Lite, which promises good performance with 25-43 percent less kick. The new easy-going ammo is loaded with either the well-proven SST or very excellent RN Interlock bullets, and all are on the light side of the bullet weight range.
Custom Lite is available in .243 Win., .270 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., 7mm Rem. Mag., 30-30 Win., .308 Win., 30-06 Springfield and .300 Winchester Magnum—all popular deer cartridges.
Federal Fusion Lite reportedly knocks recoil down up to 50 percent.
Of course, low recoil ammo isn’t a new concept. Remington’s Managed Recoil has been around for a spell, and even I could handle shooting Federal’s Fusion Lite, which reportedly slashes recoil up to a whopping 50 percent. Wisconsin-based Nyati makes a variety of dangerous game chamberings in low recoil, too, allowing you to practice shooting the really big stuff without dislocating your spine or popping your eyeballs out.
As far as I’m concerned, this is very good news. Now, apparently some shooters don’t mind getting whacked, but not me. I have my reasons.
Like the time I shot an exceptionally lightweight rifle chambered in the big, bad 7mm Remington Magnum.
It was as much fun as getting struck head-on by a rushing 300-pound NFL linebacker. It felt as if my brain had just bounced like a handball off a gymnasium wall, while my shoulder sat there trembling and looking like something resembling moldy cottage cheese.
OK, that was a slight exaggeration. But it was sure no fun.
Physical pain isn’t entirely bad (I guess). After all, it is a built-in defense mechanism: the body’s way of telling you to avoid unhealthy things—like playing chicken with dump trucks, or chewing on broken glass.
But some people never learn. Like that one friend we all have who, after studying the little trajectory graphic on the side of his ammo boxes, becomes a ballistics expert once a year, usually right before the deer season. “This here is the flattest-shooting cartridge money can buy,” he declares. “See, only drops 54 inches at 550 yards!”
“Shouldn’t you learn how to hit a paper plate at 50 yards first?” your other buddy says.
The ballistician accepts the challenge. With some duct tape and a few broken sticks, the paper plate is propped up at 50 paces—and proudly hammered into submission, shredded with all the ferocity of the fiercest magnum you’ve ever seen.
“Dat’ll kill a deer,” he says. “Good enough.”
But what are we really talking about here? How much recoil is too much?
Hornady's new Custom Lite reduced recoil ammo is available in a number of popular big game hunting calibers.
That depends on a lot of things, including the individual, but generally recoil energy in excess of 20 foot pounds (7mm Rem. Mag., for example) will make most shooters uncomfortable. Recoil energy in excess of 40 pounds (.416 Taylor, .416 Rem. Mag. etc.) can leave mere mortals quaking in fear and flinching at every shot. And anything over 60 foot pounds (.470, or 600 Nitro Express) will definitely, in the immortal words of Austin Millbarge, suck the paint off your house and give you a permanent orange afro.
Even a gun chambered in the mild-mannered .30-06 can kick like a deranged mule if it is too lightweight—that is to say it lacks the mass—and can’t overcome the recoil velocity of the cartridge. That’s no fun.
To control recoil you can have a gunsmith add weight to the stock. Install a muzzle brake on the barrel. Or err on the side of caution and do what I do: Happily suck down an entire box of Keeblers while watching reruns of I Love Lucy from the relative safety of the couch.
Low recoil ammo is another trick that tends to work well.
If you do even half as much shooting as I do (not a hard thing to accomplish) you can think of situations where low recoil ammo would have come in real handy. I’m thinking young shooters. Female shooters. And dudes built like Pee-Wee Herman.
Every shooter has a limit to what they can tolerate. Mine happens to be embarrassingly low. Thanks to modern reduced recoil ammunition even I can shoot guns that used to wreak all kinds of havoc, but now are just plain fun. You have to admit: it sure beats chewing on broken glass. What could be better than that?
The Remington MCS Tactical Shotgun in a full-stock breaching gun configuration.
There is no other shotgun system quite like the Remington Model 870 MCS, and its design allows the company to sell the system to countries that have adopted other makes for their daily use tactical shotgun.
Although the 1990s were the break-out years for the various tactical versions of the 870, it wasn’t until we were firmly into the new century, in 2004, that a revolutionary new concept was applied to the 870 system and the Model 870 MCS was developed.
This is the MCS—Modular Combat System—for the Model 870. Three stocks, three barrels, two magazine tubes, accessory mounts, and Remington’s REM LOC quick-change stock system allow officers and military personnel to customize their shotgun to meet ever-changing circumstances in the field.
The Modular Combat Shotgun (MCS) was developed largely due to the ideas brought by an employee new to Remington at the time, and now the current Director of International Military/Law Enforcement Sales, a man named Michael Haugen. Haugen convinced Remington to develop a radically different system, one based on his experience as a Special Forces (Green Beret) soldier of more than 17 years.
There is no other shotgun system quite like Remington’s Model 870 MCS, and its design allows the company to sell the system to countries that have adopted other makes for their daily use tactical shotgun.
The 870 MCS system can be changed from a short, pistol-gripped 10-inch barreled “breaching” shotgun to a longer barreled version with a buttstock designed for other applications, or it can include screw-in chokes or a rail system for attaching laser devices and lighting systems. It is a very flexible, multifunctional system that no other maker produces.
Another system that is utilized by the military and police is called the ARS or Accessory Rail System. In this system, an even shorter version of the 870 breaching gun is attached via a rail to the lower portion of the M-16 rifle or the M-4 carbine.
Better suited to a potential shootout, this version of the 870 MCS features an extended magazine and a longer barrel.
However, this makes for an extremely heavy weapon, and while it is not the most popular way of using the 870 for military and police applications, it does have its place in an arsenal designed to address specific tactical situations.
The Remington Model 870 MCS is light years away from the original 870 R that was used in the 1960s and ’70s. But it is still an 870, the most desirable combat shotgun around.
This article is an excerpt from the Gun Digest Book of the Remington 870.
The SureShell Shotshell Carrier and Rail System, now with a model for the Remington VERSA MAX Shotgun.
Too much ammunition, it’s a problem most shooters wished they had. This especially goes for owners of the VERSA MAX Shotgun.
Remington’s newest edition to its catalog of semi-automatic smoothbores is specifically designed to chew through shells – no matter their size. And Mesa Tactical’s latest product is specifically designed to keep the hungry shotgun well fed.
The Costa Mesa, Calif., designer and manufacturer recently expanded its SureShell Shotshell Carrier and Rail System to include the Remington VERSA MAX Shotgun. The side mount carrier system allows for an extra four, six or eight shells to be toted along and within quick reach.
The SureShell Shotshell Carriers are machined from aircraft aluminum and features a replacement anodized aluminum Picatinny optics rail which supports mounting points for optics, and lasers. Presently, only the VERSA MAX Tactical edition comes standard with a Picatinny rail.
Whether used for tactical operations, home defense or competition, owners of this new platform will have the ability to carry more ammunition “at the ready”, while the integrated rail system allows for further customization.
SureShell carriers work well in all climates and environments, and are capable of withstanding the daily use and abuse which arsenal weapons are commonly subjected. Like Mesa Tactical’s other systems, the new VERSA MAX model is made from 6061-T6 aluminum, hard coat anodized matte black and uses a rubber friction retention system.
In addition to the Remington VERSA MAX, SureShell Shotshell Carriers are also available for a variety of other popular shotgun models including the Remington 870, Remington semi-automatics, Mossberg 500, Mossberg 590, Mossberg 930, FN SLP, Kel-Tec KSG, Benelli M1, M2, M3, M4 and Benelli SuperNova.
The idea behind the +P is to add enough energy to reliably deliver an expanded bullet deep enough to do its job. It doesn’t have to be a lot of extra energy – it just has to be enough. Here's what you need to know.
What About +P Ammo?
Remember that hollowpoints use part of their energy to expand their diameter, but the energy that’s used to expand the bullet is energy that can’t be used to drive the same bullet forward. There is no such thing as a free lunch; if you want the bullet to expand, it’s going to use energy. If there is too little of it to start with, there won’t be enough left to carry the bullet on its path.
In .38 Special, the best loads are all of the +P variety.
In those cases the expanded bullet will stop forward movement too soon, which results in very shallow wounds that don’t reach vital organs. This is why you don’t find a lot of expanding bullets in standard .38 Special cartridges – there just isn’t enough energy to drive a bullet deeply into the target and expand it at the same time.
The answer is to start out with more energy, enough to both expand the bullet and penetrate sufficiently. This is often accomplished with “+P” ammunition, which is simply a cartridge which has been loaded beyond what is considered “normal” pressure. The +P loading boosts the energy of the cartridge to accomplish a specific task.
A common misunderstanding of +P loadings is that they’re useless since they’re not a huge increase in power. Here’s the thing: they don’t have to be.
The idea behind the +P is to add enough energy to reliably deliver an expanded bullet deep enough to do its job. It doesn’t have to be a lot of extra energy – it just has to be enough. If a normal-pressure load can’t quite deliver that bullet to where it needs to, but a little hotter +P version does, then that is sufficient for the task at hand.
It’s important to understand that you don’t need vast increases in power for defensive applications; you simply need enough power to perform both of the tasks we discussed earlier. Some will argue that it’s better to have a larger reserve amount of energy on tap than a +P, but everything comes at a price.
Ammunition for the Recoil Sensitive
Federal Nyclad is the only standard pressure .38 Special round author feels comfortable recommending for self-defense work.
Many people, particularly those with the ultra-light revolvers, find that the recoil of .38 Special +P ammunition is too much to comfortably handle. Sadly, there aren’t a lot of alternatives; the .38 Special, in standard-velocity loadings, isn’t well known as a fight-ending cartridge.
There is an exception, but unfortunately it’s a little hard to find: the Federal Nyclad 125 grain hollowpoint.
This load combines a very soft lead bullet with a nylon jacket, which allows it to travel down a barrel without leaving a lot of lead behind. The soft lead expands readily even at .38 Special velocities, but still has a decent amount of penetration.
The load has been around for many years and there is a small but reliable number of defensive shootings where it has been used to good (though not spectacular) effect.
It would not be my first choice except for those cases where +P ammunition is contra-indicated.
From handguns to sniper rifles, to water-cooled machine guns, feast your eyes on 20 of the baddest, most collectible military firearms you'll ever wish to see.
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This photo gallery is excerpted form the new Standard Catalog of Military Firearms, 7th Edition.
Following last year's gun control hysteria and panic-buying of AR-15s, gun prices are finally back to normal. Editor Jerry Lee tells why referring to a copy of the newly updated Standard Catalog of Firearms 2014 is the surest way to avoid getting gouged.
One of the things I like about being editor of Standard Catalog of Firearms is that the book is a lot like a gun show. When I start working on a new edition, I get the same feeling I do when I walk into a really big show, one of those so big you can’t see it all in one day.
If you’ve ever been to the Tulsa Arms Show you know what I mean. Or Houston, or the one that used to be at the Los Angeles County Fair Grounds. It’s an exciting feeling to walk in the door and scan the room, and see literally thousands of tables full of guns, waiting for you to look at, as questions about, and check prices.
I hope the readers get as much enjoyment from reading Standard Catalog as I do putting it together. Every year I get to go through this virtual gun show, and with the help of some very knowledgeable contributors and consultants, decide if the values need to be adjusted up, down or stay the same—all of which I thoroughly enjoy.
I think back to a Sports Afield Hunting Annual I bought at the drug store in our little Texas town in the early 1950s. In the back of the magazine was the first “gun catalog” I had ever seen. Before long I’d memorized just about every spec and feature of every gun on the market. Soon I was getting catalogs from manufacturers and learning as much as I could about all their guns. I guess you could say I was statistically inclined and before long was a gun catalog junkie. And I still am.
The AR Scare of 2012-2013
When I was starting to work on the 2014 Standard Catalog of Firearms, we had a dilemma about what to do about the ARs. Anyone reading this knows that the values of both new and used AR-style rifles went through the roof late last year.
After several years without much talk of gun control from the political left, throughout much of 2012 guns were in the news almost every day. Following several mass shootings with guns the media insists on calling “assault rifles,” the gun control agenda was back. AR and AK prices doubled but people bought them anyway, some because they wanted to get one while they could, and others because they wanted to turn a profit.
AR-15 panic buying begins to slow as gun prices approach historic norms.
How to handle such a swing in values in Standard Catalog? This is a book that is published annually—the values shown are going to be on bookshelves for a year or more. How much speculation could be done on prices six or 12 months in the future? What was a poor editor to do?
Thankfully, by early summer, several things happened. By then, just about everyone who had to have their first, or one more military-style semi-auto rifle, had obtained it. Also the manufacturers had increased production enough so the supply had caught up with the demand. And the anti-gun political leaders realized there was no way that stricter gun control measures were going to become law in the near future.
Prices for ARs began to shrink and soon were at MSRP and even lower. In other words, things were back to normal.
The result is that the values shown for military-style semi-auto rifles in the 2014 Standard Catalog are about where they were in the last edition—where they should be. And those buyers who thought a rack full of ARs would be a great investment, have a nice collection of overpriced ARs.
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.
