Blackhawk! offers discreet options for the transportation of firearms.
Firearms transportation can be tricky, even more so in a discreet manner.
BLACKHAWK!, however, has made getting your gun from point A to point B less of a hassle. The shooting and tactical gear manufacturer has introduced an inconspicuous option for moving around your firearms, even in the most delicate situations.
BLACKHAWK! Diversion bags barely raise an eyebrow, mimicking everyday backpacks and bags. The full line of customized bags and packs prevent drawing unwanted attention, giving gun owners low-profile weapons storage, retention and transportation capabilities.
The Racquet Bag, Workout Bag, Range Bag, Courier Bag, Carry Sling Pack, Carry Backpack, and Board Pack use common color schemes and popular designs that enable secure and safe transportation. The luggage keeps firearms hidden in plain sight.
Discreet and Convenient When the situation dictates off-body carry, quick and easy access to a firearm is essential. With the Diversion Carry Sling Pack and Diversion Carry Backpack, access is only a zip away. Both packs offer lockable, two-way zippers and come with a Universal Holster for optimal firearm placement. These small packs can accommodate just about any handgun from a J-frame to a full-size Beretta 92.
Everyday Look with Intelligent Options The Diversion Range Bag and Courier Bag offer a wide variety of options for carrying range supplies and personal protection needs. The Range Bag appears as a common gym bag but features two hidden handgun compartments and two pockets for magazines or gun cleaning supplies. A side compartment conveniently opens to provide a gun rug for cleaning and maintenance.
The Courier Bag’s customizable front pocket allows for multiple configurations, including storage of four AR-15 mags and a single pistol mag or four M14 magazines. A pass-through zipper in the lid gives quick access to the main compartment, which contains numerous loops and pockets for accessories, radios and additional pistol mags. The hidden handgun compartment provides ambidextrous access for added versatility.
Casual, but Concealed At just the right length, the Diversion Racquet Bag, Diversion Workout Bag and Diversion Board Pack allow discreet rifle storage and transportation. Accommodating rifles up to 29 inches in length or AR platforms separated into upper and lower receivers, these bags blend into the surroundings without drawing unwanted attention.
The Racquet Bag’s padded outer walls prevent printing while internal dividers provide protection for the rifle. With an interior lined in S.T.R.I.K.E. webbing and internal divider, the Board Pack allows for attaching holsters, pouches and accessories next to a rifle for quick access. The Workout Bag’s ingenious design features internal loop sections for additional hook-back pouches, holster and accessories. The main compartment extends into end pockets for carrying multiple firearms or separate upper and lower receivers.
A heavier hitting round, with smoother feeding on an AR platform and superior performance with a suppressor — the .300 AAC Blackout came about in an effort to meet a slew of tactical demands. But it has not taken long for the round to break free from its military and law-enforcement roots.
The AAC Blackout has become all the rage with the general shooting public, who have been quick to grasp the upside of the relatively new .30-caliber round. The popularity of the AAC Blackout even has some manufacturers upping their game to keep up with shooters' demand.
Barnes Bullets announced it is expanding two of its lines to include heavier .300 AAC Blackout options. The company is launching a 120-grain bullet in both its TAC-TX and its VOR-TX Ammunition and component lines, offering tactical and hunting options in the popular bullet.
Before, one of the nation's leading lead-free bullet manufacturers only offered an 110-grain bullet in the .300 AAC Blackout. The new products will be made available in February 2014.
Features of the 120 grain TAC-TX include a specially designed profile that ensures flawless magazine-length loading in AR rifles, a boattail base to increase the ballistic coefficient and the proven solid-copper construction. The copper rounds were pioneered by Barnes and ensures consistent terminal performance through barriers and thick skinned game – making it an excellent choice for big game hunting as well as defense initiatives.
To be sure, hogs and whitetail deer have plenty to be worried about with Barnes' latest release.
Recommended Ammunition Resources
The AAC Blackout is far from the only intriguing round in the world. In fact there are tons of them. Keep up on the newest and oldest ammunition from around the globe with Cartridges of the World. The richly illustrated reference is perfect if you’re looking for current and updated manufactured & wildcat cartridges, want specs on obsolete & hard-to-find cartridges or are a firearms owner, enthusiast, or cartridge collector. This book and much more can be found at GunDigestStore.com.
The most efficient way to recharge your revolver is to use a speedloader. The speedloader inserts all rounds into the cylinder simultaneously and greatly reduces the fiddling necessary to get bullet noses started into their chambers.
Speedloader Technique
The speedloader really comes into its own when paired with the Universal Revolver Reload. With one hand holding the cylinder and the other handling the speedloader you can take advantage of proprioception; all you need to do is to bring your hands together and the speedloader will be right on top of the cylinder where it needs to be.
When retrieving the speedloader, the most important thing is to grasp it by the body, not by the knob.
Reloading in the dark or while keeping your eyes on your threat is more efficiently accomplished with the speedloader than with any other method.
Like anything else, there is a technique to using the speedloader. Poor speedloader technique can slow the reload significantly. Here’s what I’ve found to be the best way to use one.
When you retrieve your speedloader, it’s important to grasp it by the body, and ideally so that your fingers align with and extend just past the bullet noses. This slightly enhances the effect of proprioception and makes it easier to handle the speedloader. If you don’t get it exactly right, don’t worry; the technique won’t fail if your fingers aren’t in exactly the right place. The most important thing is to grasp the speedloader by the body, not by the knob!
As you bring the hand with the speedloader toward the one that is holding the cylinder, proprioception ensures that the speedloader will naturally end up over the chambers. Just bring your hands together.
(Some trainers advise, and I used to teach, that the tips of your fingers can make contact with the edge of the cylinder to help align the rounds with the chambers. I’ve found that’s not necessarily true, particularly if your initial grasp of the speedloader doesn’t leave your fingertips in front of the bullet noses. Instead, I now teach to simply bring your hands together – the speedloader will be in just the right position automatically.)
Sometimes you’ll get lucky and the bullet noses happen to line up with the chambers; other times they’ll line up on the metal between the chambers. The solution is simple: as the bullet noses come into contact with the cylinder, simply jiggle the speedloader by twisting it very slightly and very quickly clockwise and counter-clockwise. The bullets will drop into the chambers without further work on your part. (This is a fine motor skill, which validates my insistence on using your most dexterous hand to do the job.)
After the rounds have dropped into the chambers, release them by whatever method your speedloader brand requires. If you’re using a Safariland or SL Variant, simply push the body of the speedloader toward the cylinder and the rounds will release.
If your speedloader is an HKS or similar design, insert the rounds into the cylinder, then grab the knob and twist it to release the rounds.
As the rounds drop from the speedloader, pull it straight back out to make sure all of the rounds have cleared, then drop it over the side of the gun. This eliminates another failure point of the reload procedure: rounds binding in the loader.
It’s not uncommon to have the speedloader tilt just a bit and cause a round or two to bind inside the loader. When this happens the round(s) don’t clear the loader, and if you attempt to close the cylinder you’ll trap that round(s) and the speedloader against the frame of the gun. You’ll then need to open the cylinder, grab the speedloader, shake the round(s) loose and finally finish the reload. Yes, it’s time consuming and aggravating, which is why I strive to avoid it by lifting the loader and allowing the rounds to drop free, then tossing the speedloader away.
Speedloader Recommendations
The two most common and widely available speedloaders on the market are the Safariland, which use a push-to-release mechanism, and the HKS, which releases by turning a knob. (There are other examples of each style, such as the push-type SL Variant and the turn-type Five Star, but Safariland and HKS are by far the most readily available. They’re the least expensive in their respective categories as well.)
In general I much prefer the Safariland, simply because they’re more intuitive in use. You’re already grasping the speedloader by its body and pushing the rounds into the cylinder; releasing the rounds from the Safariland is a simple continuation of that movement. The HKS style, on the other hand, requires you to release your grasp of the body, find the knob and grab it, then twist it in the proper direction to allow the rounds to drop into the cylinder. I don’t consider that as intuitive as simply continuing pushing the way you’re already pushing.
I’ve also found that the Safariland speedloaders, when properly loaded, are more secure. They’re less likely to accidentally release in a pocket or when dropped.
Taran Butler has made a name for himself as a top shot on the 3-Gun circuit, a member of Team Benelli and an instructor for Hollywood actors. Below is an excerpt from an interview Butler did with Barb Baird of Women's Outdoor News. The big question Baird had for someone who lives in his range bag, what exactly is in it?
Trainer of the stars and dubbed one of the most versatile competitive shooters in the world, Hollywood’s Taran Butler is a no-nonsense, get-it-done-now guy. You might know him as one of Benelli’s 3-Gun pros, and he has collected multiple championships, including the Rocky Mountain World 3-Gun tactical champion (three times) and SMM 3-Gun Tactical Champion, 11 times consecutively.
During the height of his current competitive season, Butler took time to reveal what he carries in his trusty range bag, made by Green Mountain.
“I have been using the Green Mountain bag since 1996, and it’s awesome—not overly big or too small, and it can handle brutal baggage handlers. It’s by far the ultimate bag,” said Butler. For 3-Gun matches, Butler shoots a custom TR-1 ULTIMATE AR-15, TTI Glock 34, TTI ulti-mate Benelli M2 and a custom Infinity 1911.
Here’s what you’ll find in his range bag:
Infinity 1911 24-round magazines
BLADE TECH holster belt and mag pouches
Federal and Black Hills ammo
Tools and replacement parts
Pro Grip spray
Oakley glasses, Vltor fitted hat
4-shot shotgun Kaddys
Aquafina water, vitamins
PMags
Editor's note, the NRAblog.com was the source for this story.
Since 2011, there has been all sorts of scuttlebutt about what happened to Strum, Ruger & Company’s Red Label Shotguns.
Some in the shotgun world insisted poor sales forced the company to abandon the 32-year project. Other smoothbore fans were just plain left scratching their heads as to the model's whereabouts.
After nearly 3 years off the shelves and out of the catalogs, Ruger has set the record straight on where the Red Label had disappeared. It seems the scattergun went back to the drawing board for an overhaul. And recently the company unveiled where its engineering efforts went in retooling its well known shotgun.
Ruger has re-released the Red Label in a 12 gauge version and has made a number of tweaks it's certain will make it a smoother shooting and more effective shotgun.
The shotgun has a redistributed center of gravity for even greater instinctual swing and pointing. It has two-inch extended forcing cones and maximum back-bored barrels. And the shotgun's soft Pachmayr® buttpad enhance the shooting experience with reduced recoil.
The Red Label’s familiar, low profile receiver reduces muzzle climb because the centerline of the bore is closer to the gun’s center mass.
It also features an American Walnut stock with a 1.5-inch drop at comb and a 2.5-inch drop at heel. Red Label shotguns are available with 26-, 28- or 30-inch barrels and each model features a 14.5-inch length of pull.
The new models retain the Red Label’s classic lines and good looks, which are further enhanced by the new stainless steel top lever. The suggested retail price for all three models is $1,399.
Each shotgun includes a custom molded, semi-soft case, five Briley chokes (two skeet chokes and one full, one modified and one improved cylinder choke), a premium-quality Briley choke tube wrench and a safety lock.
Features:
Automatic, two-position tang safety/barrel selector provides instant visibility and accessibility.
Finely polished, stainless steel receiver is corrosion-resistant and has no exposed pins or screws.
Reliable, single mechanical trigger that allows for firing the second barrel without recocking and features rebounding hammers for easy opening.
Sleek, compact locking system is considered to be among the strongest ever built for over-and-under shotguns.
Precision matched, blued alloy steel, cold hammer-forged barrels made of high-strength chrome-molybdenum steel feature 2″ forcing cones and maximum back boring for superior recoil reduction and more uniform patterns.
1/4″ dovetailed, free-floating, ventilated rib with brass bead front sight is stress relieved, contour-grounded, precisely fitted and silver-brazed (not soft-soldered) to the finished monoblock.
Beautifully crafted, cut-checkered American Walnut stock features a traditional pistol grip, tapered, slim forend and a stainless steel latch release.
A soft Pachmayr® buttpad is mounted on the 14.5″ length of pull stock, which features a 1.5″ drop at the comb and a 2.5″ drop at the heel.
Five steel-shot compatible, screw-in Briley® chokes and wrench included, featuring two skeet chokes and one full, one modified and one improved cylinder choke, plus a premium-quality Briley® choke tube wrench.
Also includes: custom molded, semi-soft case; safety lock
This affordable plastic shotgun sight can change your shotgunning perspective.
Some new products are simple and elegant in their design and the Snap Shot Sight is one of them. It is merely some plastic molded in the shape of a tubular figure eight with the bottom tube partially cut away.
Line up that gap on a shotgun barrel and press firmly and the sight will snap into place at the muzzle. It comes in sizes for 12- and 20-gauge shotguns and those sizes could also fit other types of firearms such as muzzleloaders or other rifles depending on the barrel thickness. It fits most shotguns including those with normal-sized ventilated ribs.
The sight is useful in two ways: fast target acquisition and accuracy improvement by forcing the shooter to keep his cheek down on the stock in order to look through the sight.
The fast target acquisition can work as the Snap Shot frames a stationary target very well, like a circular picture frame of a turkey poking its head from behind a deadfall. This simple sight is definitely of value to turkey hunters and close-encounter varmint hunters that use shotguns (it also comes in camo).
The second benefit can be a double-edged sword depending on how you treat your shotgun: is it a wingshooting tool or used more often like a rifle? Rifle shooters bring their cheek to the stock to align their eyes on the sights. In wingshooting, the shotgun should be brought to the cheek.
And it is here where the Snap Shot gets interesting. On a crossing skeet shot, for example, if you were to frame the clay in the circle sight of the Snap Shot, you will most likely miss, as you did not lead the clay pigeon.
This is a common problem for many shooters but the Snap Shot can be turned into a tool to teach a shooter to lead a bird. It works like this: tell the shooter to swing the gun past the target until nothing but blue sky is framed in the flight path of the clay pigeon.
Instruct the shooter to only pull the trigger once empty sky is framed in the Snap Shot sight ahead of the target. That might be just enough lead to crush the clay. For shotgunners that like to experiment with wingshooting sighting aids, the Snap Shot is a great bargain. ($15, ezaccessgear.com)
As her college career and national titles attest, Kirsten Joy Weiss is downright deadly with a .22 rifle in her hands. But she is capable of doing more than scoring Xs off the firing line. Weiss' trick shot ability is certain to drop your jaw in these video clips.
Kirsten Joy Weiss isn’t just another pretty face – she's a dang fine shot.
The expert rifleman was among the most decorated competitors to ever pull the trigger for the University of Nebraska. Since her days with the Huskers, Weiss has gone on to win national championships and a spot on Lapua Team USA.
She also has taken the time to produce and star in a number of trick-shot videos that push the limits of marksmanship. Here is a taste of what Ms. Weiss is capable of when armed with a small-bore rifle and some prime targets.
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.
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.
Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to Shotguns
