NRA Smallbore National Championship Temporarily Changing Venues

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October 28, 2013

Gun Digest the Magazine is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. With a subscription to Gun Digest the Magazine, readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews, how-to instructions and Second Amendment issues.

Inside This Issue:

Great Christmas Gifts for Shooters
Interview with Pawn Stars' Sean Rich
Shooting the Kel-Tec PMR-30 .22 Mag
The Classic Model 1973
Guns for Sale and More!

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Need Backup! Secondary Iron Sights for AR-15s

By

Chad Adams

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October 28, 2013

The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery

A competitor engages short-range rifle targets utilizing RTS sights from Dueck Defense.

Ever since tactical and practical shooters began putting glass on rifles to serve as the primary sighting system, they began to search for better ways to back up the optics with iron sights.

In the tactical community, and in 3-gun events, flip-up iron sights became en vogue—out of the way when you didn’t need them, there in a flash when you did.

As Open shooters have known for some time, putting the secondary sighting system in a usable position is much more advantageous to the shooter. Today there are several different makes and models of sights hanging on seemingly every position in which one can be hung on an AR-15.

Dueck Defense RTS

Barry Dueck’s Rapid Transition Sight (RTS) has become one of the more popular secondary iron sight systems in 3-gun. Dueck, a veteran of the Marine Corps and top 3-gun competitor, used his combined experience and took the old A2-stype sight from the M16 family, developed a mount to handle it at 45 degrees—just as Open shooters do with optics—and the RTS was born.

Samson Manufacturing’s Upgrade Kit features offset iron sights, along with the company’s extremely popular Evolution rail system.

Because he used a military aperture and front sight post, the RTS is capable of accurate fire to surprisingly extended ranges.

So, while the RTS is intended for use hosing closing-range targets, should the primary optic go down over any distance, shooters are still in the game with the RTS.

“A must-have for 3-gun shooting,” said Practical Shooting Academy’s Keith Garcia, a law enforcement officer and two-time 3-Gun Nation Shoot-Off winner. “The best back-up sight available anywhere. These sights are so sturdy I put a second set on my SWAT entry rifle.”

Samson Competition Rifle Upgrade Kit

At a retail price around $550, the Samson Manufacturing Rifle Upgrade Kit is touted to contain everything a shooter needs to get their rifle match ready.

The kit contains a 15-inch Evolution Rail, Quick Flip Front and Rear Sights, Enhanced Low Profile Gas Block, Evolution QD sling point, and Samson Field Survivor tool.

Handguns: Today’s Top Carry Options

By

Doug Howlett

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October 28, 2013

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For all the hype over AR-style rifles in recent years, ask any gun shop owner and it’s handguns—ones made for carrying concealed specifically—that continue to drive the hyper-powered firearms market.

Fun and easy to shoot and even easier to keep hidden from prying eyes or tipping your hand to would-be thugs, these six new and recent models on the scene are worth a serious look next time you’re in the market for a defensive sidearm.

Ruger LC380

Running with the interest in a soft-shooting carry gun, Ruger’s LC380 morphs the company’s popular LC9 design into a .380-caliber package. This 6-inch long, 17-ounce lightweight is only 4 inches tall and less than an inch wide. It holds 7+1 rounds that cycle through an alloy steel slide and barrel and one-piece glass-filled nylon grip frame. Features include a high-visibility three-dot sight, checkered grips, a finger grip extension floorplate for a lengthened hold and a number of safety features including an internal lock, manual safety, a magazine safety and loaded chamber indicator. The finish is blued. ($449; ruger.com)

Kahr CM9

Compact in size, yet still full of Kahr’s top line features, the CM9 is a compact 9mm semi-auto made with a black polymer frame and matte stainless steel slide. The frame boasts 4140 steel inserts molded inside to aid in its durability for many rounds of shooting. The 3-inch barrel and .9-inch width aids in the gun’s compactness as does its 4-inch barrel and 14-ounce unloaded weight. It holds six rounds in the mag plus one in the pipe. Kahr’s smooth-double action only trigger aids rapid firing. The hammerless design allows for a higher grip for less felt recoil. Drift adjustable, white bar-dot combat sights round out the package of this well-designed semi-auto. ($517; kahr.com)

Taurus Millennium G2

Designed for carry, Taurus melted both the slide and poly-overmolded steel frame to produce nonsnagging contours to the semi-auto. The polymer pistol is available in 9mm or .40 caliber with a progressive single-action/double-action trigger, 3-dot low-profile sights, ambidextrous thumb rests, finger indexing memory pads on the grips for a quick, consistent hold that will aid rapid aiming and target acquisition and a Picatinny rail beneath the front of the barrel for lights or lasers. The G2 is a cool looking piece that holds 12 rounds in the 9mm configuration and 10 rounds in the .40. Overall length is 6.2 inches, height is 5.1 inches and the width is 1.2 inches. It comes at an unbeatable price, too. ($349; taurususa.com)

Walther PPQ M2

Sleek lines and ergonomic contours define the M2’s appearance as a tapered slide and textured grip dresses out this striker-fired semi-auto available in 9mm or .40 S&W. The gun is light at 21 ounces and fits nicely in the hand with an overall length of 7.1 inches. Performance is enhanced with the Quick Defense Trigger that is precocked and set to deliver a constant pull at 5.6 pounds. The 9mm version holds 15 rounds, the .40 caliber model, 11. Additional features include three grip back straps for a custom-like fit, three safeties, an ambidextrous-friendly mag release and 3-dot metal sights. ($599-$699; waltherusa.com)

Bersa BP9

This year, Bersa rolled out their first polymer frame handgun in the form of the BP9 and packed it with features to appeal to the concealed-carry shooter. The 9mm BP9 is striker fired and features an ambidextrous magazine release, Picatinny rail, polygonal rifling, loaded chamber indicator, micro-polished bore, integral locking system and 3-dot low-profile sighting system for rapid aiming. The magazine holds eight rounds. The BP9 tips the scales at 21.5 ounces and is 6.35 inches long and just short of 5 inches tall. It comes in three color schemes including an all-matte finish, a duo-tone model with a matte frame and nickel slide and another duo-tone model with an olive drab frame and matte slide (pictured). ($444-$455; bersa.com)

Colt .380 Mustang Pocketlite

While some debate the effectiveness of the .380 in delivering adequate knockdown power, the compact size and manageable recoil make it a popular carry option. The recent releases of .380 models such as the Colt .380 Mustang Pocketlite underscores that. The Mustang boasts a nickeled aluminum alloy receiver, brushed stainless steel slide and barrel, all machined from solid bar stock. Even with a loaded mag of six rounds, the gun tips the scales at less than a pound. Empty, it weighs a mere 12.5 ounces. Overall length of the Mustang is 5.5 inches making this the perfect pocket pistol. Additional features include high-profile sights, a commander-style hammer, standard safety lock, lowered ejection port and aluminum trigger. ($599; coltsmfg.com)

Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from the June 30, 2013 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

What's your favorite small carry pistol? Log in below and leave a comment!

Recommended resources for concealed carry:

The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry 2nd Edition

Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to Handguns

Find more resources at gundigeststore.com/tactical

Video: Officer Loses Badge After Armed Altercation with Squirrel

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October 27, 2013

Gun Digest's Guide to Handgun Marksmanship

Gun Digest takes the safe handling of firearms seriously. The topic is first and foremost in any subject our writers touch upon – whether it is handloading, concealed carry or any other conceivable matter.

There are times, however, the improper use of firearms can be instructive. Jody Putnam provides one such instance. The former Mountain City, Tenn., police officer demonstrated the negative ramifications of unholstering a gun without taking account if the situation called for deadly force.

Putnam drew and fired his sidearm in a Dollar General store, in addition to discharging a goodly amount of pepper spray, according to a report by WJHL-TV News. What set off the officer’s hair trigger? A squirrel.

Certainly had Putnam run afoul an armed robber or similar villain his response might have been warranted. But thumbing off rounds at a discount-minded Appalachian brushy tail in public, that’s a whole different story.

And it was a tale that not only rightly raised the ire of the property owner and shoppers, but also the town of Mountain City and its police department. The municipality was quick to yank the officer’s badge after his lapse in judgment.

As you can watch above, the TV station’s report is long on the incident’s particulars and the city’s response. But one detail was omitted, whether Putnam got his man – err, I mean mammal – before being fired.

Editor's note, WJHL-TV News was the source for this story

Recommended Handgun Resources

Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World Vol. I

Browse More Handgun Books

Ouch! 10 Shoulder-Crushing Guns (VIDEO)

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October 25, 2013

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10 best videos of brave people pulling the trigger on heavy, and we mean HEAVY, recoiling guns!

1. The .577 T-Rex (Yeah, that's gonna smart). Next Video

High School Senior Shoots Down NRA National Title

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October 24, 2013

Gun Digest Guide to Rifle Marksmanship

Amy Fister checks the chamber of her gun in between shots at the NRA 3-Position Championship at Camp Perry, Ohio. — Amy Fister checks the chamber of her rifle in between shots at the NRA 3-Position Championship at Camp Perry, Ohio.

Staying on target at the NRA’s National Rifle and Pistol Championship is no easy task. It’s even trickier from three positions.

Amy Fister, however, proved she was the hot shot at Camp Perry in Port Clinton, Ohio no matter if she was standing, kneeling or prone. The high school senior captured the NRA 3-Position Rifle High Woman Title with ease.

The Kutztown, Pa., teen scored 2374 – 140x (good for 7th overall) and came away with three titles: High Woman with Metallic Sights, High Civilian with Metallic Sights and High Woman Overall.

The win left Fister ecstatic and relieved, given her history with the championship.

“Last year I was close, but not close enough,” Fister said. “I guess this year it was my time.”

Fister’s final score made her accomplishments appear easy, in actuality her titles were anything but simple. In addition to the challenges inherent to 3-position shooting, she also had some other obstacles to overcome.

One of her most testing moments came halfway through the match, just before shooting prone. Fister placed her target down range, but staggered by dehydration and fatigue she momentarily believed it was gone.

“I was delusional, seeing things,” Fister said. “After setting up my target, it wasn’t there. I started chasing down the target guy for another one. It was interesting and little bit scary.”

Fister’s accomplishments at Camp Perry are impressive in their own rights, but are made more striking given she is relatively new to competitive shooting. Following her older sister Valerie's footsteps in the sport, she picked up the shooting in 2010 when she turned 14-years-old.

Despite being a bit green when it comes to drilling bull’s eyes, Fister has had a long history with shooting in general. She was a regular in her father’s deer and goose blinds during hunting season.

“Deer and goose, that’s what we went for,” she said. “I go out deer hunting whenever I can, but it cuts into my shooting time. You’ve got to find a happy medium.”

Shooting time has become increasingly important to Fister, who has earned a shooting scholarship to the University of Memphis. But her ambitions don’t stop with the Tigers.

Fister has her eyes on Rio De Janeiro and perhaps Olympic gold.

“Now the goal is to be part of the Olympic Rifle Team in 2016,” she said. “Problem is that I don’t want my scores to drop and I don’t want my grades to drop.”

Editor's note, the NRAblog.com was the source for this article

Recommended Rifle Resources

Browse More Rifle Books

Essential Pistol Reloading Techniques

By

Erik Lawrence

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October 23, 2013

The act of pistol reloading is an overlooked issue in most training, but it is true that shooters are killed due to dropping magazines, shaking hands, placing the magazine in backwards and placing empty magazines back into the pistol.

The stress induced by a life-threatening situation causes shooters to do things that they would not otherwise do. Consistent and repeated training — properly performed — is needed to avoid such mistakes.

Here are four techniques to know and practice.

Use your index finger to position the magazine for correct insertion. And practice this consistently.

1. Develop a consistent method for carrying magazines in the ammunition pouches. All magazines should face down with the bullets facing forward and to the center of the body. Your pouches should properly secure your magazines during strenuous actions.

2. Never practice an administrative reload. On the initial load, perform a speed reload. Be slow and technically correct to begin with and speed will come, but it is critical to practice with proper technique so as not to practice bad habits into routine.

3. Know when to reload. When possible, perform the tactical reload; it is safer to reload with a round in the chamber to fire in an emergency. And you do not have to release the slide as when reloading from a slide lock. In a fight, reload when you can, not when you are forced to. Think tactically and ask yourself if you have the time and the opportunity to do it; if so, then perform a tactical reload.

4. Obtain the proper grip on the magazine to be loaded. This grip precludes the magazine being dropped or difficulty in placing the magazine into the pistol. Use the index finger to guide the magazine into the pistol. You must force yourself to shift focus momentarily to ensure you put the magazine into the magazine well correctly every time.

Practice these techniques under some type of stress. It may be through competitions, noise, after physical exercises—whatever gets your heart to pound—and you will then have to learn to calm yourself.

This article is an excerpt from the book Tactical Pistol Shooting, Your Guide to Tactics that Work, 2nd Edition.

Market Trends in Military Gun Collecting

By

Phillip Peterson

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October 22, 2013

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The import of military surplus firearms has slowed to a trickle, with only a handful of bolt-action rifles coming in. The ubiquitous Mosin-Nagant M1891/30 finally disappeared from wholesaler catalogs in late 2012.

From the re-election of Barack Obama and push for new gun control following the tragic Sandy Hook school shooting, to the United Nations push for small arms disarmament, there's no shortage of geopolitical and economic forces shaping trends in military gun collecting. Phillip Peterson, editor of the new Standard Catalog of Military Firearms, 7th Edition, gives his take on where things are heading.

The 2012 re-election of Barack Obama has basically extended the buyers market for firearms that had started when he was elected the first time, in 2008. Manufacturers continue to struggle to fill demand for new handguns and semi-automatic rifles.

AR-15 style rifles like this are still in demand following recent attempts to ban them.

After the mass shootings that took place in 2012, the administration and national media have been on a crusade for another “assault weapon” ban, and bans on high-capacity magazines. As we go to press it looks as though the bans have little chance of getting passed by the U.S. Congress. But the surge in demand continues.

The collectible firearms market has dropped a bit as many buyers are purchasing the new guns they fear are soon to be banned. As we gathered pricing data of realized prices from auctions, internet sales and some observed traffic at gun shows, it is clear that there has been a slight drift downward in the selling price of collectible military firearms. The biggest hit has been in what I call midrange collectibles in the $250 – $750 range.

My read on this is that the working-class segment of collectors and accumulators are the ones who have been affected the most by the economy. Fewer new collectors are entering the market and the more common items have fallen in price as the existing collectors already have them. There are fewer sales to “noncollector” buyers of old military guns who were buying those items in the past because they were cheap.

The import of military surplus firearms has slowed to a trickle, with only a handful of bolt-action rifles coming in. The ubiquitous Mosin-Nagant M1891/30 finally disappeared from wholesaler catalogs in late 2012.

These Russian rifles had been retailing for about $125 with a sling and bayonet. It does not take long for prices to climb once an item disappears from suppliers’ listings, and the 91-30s quickly have jumped to the $200 – $300 range. There are now no surplus rifles that can be bought for under $100, a threshold that has been approaching for several years.

With the United Nations pushing an international treaty limiting the small-arms trade, it is unlikely any new imports of military surplus will hit these shores. Poorer nations are being pressured to destroy surplus small arms and ammunition by granting them financial aid in exchange for destroying their old guns.

Embarrassing Moments for Armed Women

By

Gila Hayes

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October 22, 2013

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Because carrying a gun adds just one more complication to our already complex lives, carrying a gun in public is a fertile breeding ground for errors that can sometimes be embarrassing and sometimes prove very dangerous. Here are some tips for armed women.

Imagine that a friend makes a romantic “pass,” and instead of giving you a nice warm hug, gets a handful of your Glock Model 26.

A playful young child at the local playground dashes headlong into your hip and bellows in outrage, “Mommy! Your gun hurt my head!”

You stand to rise from a comfortable captain-style chair at a nice restaurant when your gun’s grips tangle in the chair arms, making a loud clacking sound, tipping the chair over and jerking the gun half out of its holster.

While the myriad stories about inadvertent breaches in concealment are instructional and funny to all but the embarrassed party, there are more serious errors of which you should be aware.

These usually center on a dropped gun or a dropped magazine, or rounds of ammunition that got loose and rolled around in a public place.

Carrying Concealed When Nature Calls

When carrying a gun in a belt holster, the question of how to secure it while using the toilet is quite a topic of contention. One school of thought calls for drawing the gun and setting it on the toilet tank, the tissue roll dispenser, or other flat surface.

This is probably functional at home and maybe even in a locked single restroom if you’re not too germ-phobic. This solution, however, is very iffy in restrooms with multiple stalls separated by metal dividers where one door slamming shakes the entire structure, and the toilets rarely have water tanks at all.

Here, some trainers recommend drawing the gun and stowing it in your purse, or even in the crotch of your trousers.

If the gun must come out of the holster at all, a safer solution, in my opinion, is the one offered by Kathy Jackson, author of The Cornered Cat(1) website, who recommends hanging your purse on the coat hook, opening it, and stowing the gun in the purse.

Since I have been carrying a gun for some two decades, I’ve honed my carry gear to such good equipment that I can hold the belt tight against my thigh and the gun and holster remain safely upright, even with the trousers lowered.

I prefer this option in restrooms, since it entails absolutely no gunhandling in a public place. My dear friend Vicki Farnam likes a purse holster for these circumstances, since, like my solution, it entails no gunhandling whatsoever.

The aspect of all this gun handing that troubles me greatly is that there is no safe gun direction in a public restroom or even a single restroom in a public building, and often a safe, bullet-stopping backstop is not available in the home restroom, either.

With respect to all the folks who recommend various places to stash your gun in a public restroom, I simply will not do it. When you draw the gun out of the safety of its holster and handle it, that loaded gun is pointing somewhere.

Inadvertent contact with the trigger can discharge it with very tragic results, since something important may be forward of the muzzle in the direction in which the gun points.

Again, good gear contributes much to avoiding a dangerous problem. A gun carried on a rigid belt in a holster that is molded to the shape of the gun will stay securely in the holster even when it is not in its normal, muzzle-down orientation on your waistband.

Close your gun-side hand around holster, belt and waistband while lowering your trousers.

If bathroom duties require both hands, squeeze the holster against the outside of your thigh until pulling your britches up.

Denim jeans sometimes have enough stiffness to do this alone, but with a softer fabric like wool gabardine, you can also buckle your belt around your thighs or knees to create the needed tension, if that proves necessary.

Yes, this takes some finesse, but it can be done. I’ve been doing it for years. That way the gun need never leave the security of the holster, where the covering over the trigger guard provides a considerable margin of safety against an unintentional and very dangerous discharge.

Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from Concealed Carry for Women, a new book by Gila Hayes. It takes a comprehensive approach for women who have decided to carry a concealed handgun for self-defense. Click Here to Get Your Copy

Wild Bill Hickok’s Revolver Takes Aim at $500,000

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October 22, 2013

SAN FRANCISCO—In its Nov. 18 armor and gun auction, Bonhams is offering a Smith & Wesson No. 2 revolver owned by Wild Bill Hickok that was on him when he was murdered by Jack McCall in Deadwood in 1876.

Wild Bill Hickok (James Butler Hickok), 1837-1876, is one of the most iconic figures of the Old West. As a lawman, gunfighter and scout, his reputation as possibly the finest shot with a handgun was known far and wide.

On Aug. 2, 1876, while playing poker at the Number 10 Saloon in Deadwood, holding the infamous ‘Dead Man’s Hand’ of aces and eights, he was murdered by Jack McCall. Seth Bullock had arrived in Deadwood the previous day and was made sheriff shortly thereafter. As was common at the time, it is quite likely that the deceased Hickok’s effects were held by the sheriff’s office.

The revolver being offered by Bonhams (estimated at $300,000-$500,000) is a fascinating historic piece in .32 rimfire, with a 6-inch barrel, blued finish and varnished rosewood grips, and serial no. 29963.

It is on offer with an extensive file of documents backing its provenance, including photocopied reference works stating it is well known that Hickok was carrying a Smith & Wesson No. 2 when he was killed; a photocopy of pertinent pages from Ed McGivern’s book “Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting,” in which McGivern details his visit to Deadwood in 1932 to research Wild Bill’s guns, at which time he saw this gun and notes “The Willoth gun is quite generally established as being one of Wild Bill’s guns, and all reports seem to support such claim convincingly”; and photocopies of various documents about how the gun was passed down through the Willoth family of Deadwood to the present owner’s father.

The Ruger SR-762: A Piston-Driven .308 AR-Style Rifle

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October 21, 2013

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The Ruger SR-762: A Quick Look at the Features:

Ruger chrome-plated, two-stage piston with multi-stage regulator provides a cleaner, cooler running, reliable firearm.
Two-stage piston to provide a smooth power delivery stroke to the bolt carrier.
The four-position chrome-plated gas regulator can be adjusted for optimum reliability and superior operating endurance.
Gas system may be closed completely for manual operation during training or when using a suppressor.
Folding backup iron sights include a windage adjustable rear sight and an elevation adjustable front sight.
Six-position telescoping M4-style buttstock is mounted on a Mil-Spec diameter tube.
Chrome-lined, cold hammer-forged Mil-Spec 41V45 chrome-moly-vanadium steel barrel.
Fluted barrel features an SR-556/Mini-14-style flash suppressor.
Round, smooth-sided Ruger Lightweight Adaptable handguard with flattop receiver features a Mil-Spec 1913 Picatinny rail.
Hogue® Monogrip® pistol grip* adds comfort when carrying or shooting.
Chrome-plated bolt and chrome-plated one-piece bolt carrier with oversized and radiused rear bearing surface.
Three 20-round MAGPUL PMAG magazines; soft-sided case; three finger-grooved rail covers.

Gun Digest has learned that Ruger has just released the details on its new Ruger SR-762, bringing the .308 Win./7.62 NATO cartridge to its SR-556 family of rifles. The SR-762 offers the downrange authority of the .308 cartridge in a two-stage, piston-driven rifle. Ruger says it runs cooler and cleaner than traditional gas-driven AR-style guns, a trend other AR makers have brought to the market as of late.

The SR-762 features the familiar and ergonomic AR-style platform. The .308 Win./7.62 NATO cartridge is well-known to our readers as an ideal hunting cartridge for medium- and large-sized game — as well as enhancing the capability of the AR-style platform in defensive or tactical roles.

Shooters will find lots to like about this rifle. For instance, it retains the features of Ruger's very popular SR-556 (5.56mm, .223) that will make it a solid performer among AR-style rifles. The SR-762's two-stage piston reportedly delivers a smooth power stroke to the one-piece bolt carrier, a feature known to reduce felt recoil and improve the rifle’s durability, according to Ruger.

Also interesting is its four-position gas regulator: It allows the shooter to tune the rifle to function reliably with a broad variety of ammunition and in varying environmental conditions.

A heavy contour, 16.12” chrome-lined, cold hammer forged barrel with a 1:10” twist features exterior fluting to minimize weight while promoting accuracy. Ruger supplies the rifle with its Lightweight Adaptable Handguard, bringing the SR-762 weight to just around 8.6 pounds.

Three 20-round Magpul PMAG magazines are provided with the gun. Folding backup iron sights, a Hogue Monogrip, Picatinny rail sections and rail covers add considerable value to the package for shooters wanting a ready-to-rock gun right our of the box. The six-position stock, sight adjustment tool, and a soft-sided carry case are icing on the cake.

The Ruger SR-762 has a suggested retail price of $2,195.

Ruger SR-762 Specs

Stock: Black Synthetic, Collapsible
Finish: Manganese Phosphate/Hardcoat Anodized
Sights: Folding Iron Sights Height: 8.00″
Barrel Length: 16.12″ Overall Length: 34.75″ – 38.00″
Width: 2.50″ Weight: 8.60 lbs.
Twist: 1:10″ RH Grooves: 6
Length of Pull: 11.50″ – 14.75″ Capacity: 20
Suggested Retail: $2195.00

6 Handy Tools for Shooters

By

Doug Howlett

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October 15, 2013

Stuff needs adjustments and has a way of breaking at the worse times—even guns. From the bench to the range, these are the tools for shooters that deserve a place in your range bag.

Leatherman Rail and Pump

Leatherman is rolled out two shooting-specific tools for shooters awhile back. The Rail (pictured above), designed for AR fans, includes a replaceable firearm disassembly punch, a carabiner tool, an oxygen tank wrench, a ¼-inch Hex bit driver, 3⁄8-inch open-end wrench and a front sight adjustment tool. A two-piece bit kit includes Phillips, Hex and Torx ends. For shotgun shooters, the Pump boasts a firearm disassembly punch, Hex bit driver, gut hook, choke tube wrench, ¼-inch box wrench, 8mm box wrench, 3⁄8-inch box wrench, scope adjustment tool and similar two-piece bit kit. ($45 for each; leatherman.com)

Multitasker Series3

Multitasker was the first to design a tool specifically for AR shooters and the Series3 takes their AR-centric approach to the next level. A CNC-machined plier head and fiber impregnated G10 scales on the handles combine with a castle nut spanner wrench, STD screwdriver for an ACOG mount, 3-inch drop point knife blade, a 3⁄8-inch box wrench, 1.2-inch Hex, a pin punch, a removable four-prong A2-style front sight adjustment tool, 8-32 male thread and 10 Hex bits to round out this rugged tool. ($190; multitaskertools.com)

CRKT Picatinny Tool

The tactically skeletonized and compact design of the AR-focused Picatinny Tool by CRKT is great for attaching or adjusting CTC sights and aid in the breakdown of ARs and semi-auto pistols for cleaning. It boasts a Hex wrench driver, an 8mm wrench, fold-out pin, bits in Phillips, Torx and Hex, a 2.8-inch fold-out serrated blade with a scraper edge and two CTC Allen tools. ($50; crkt.com)

Grace USA Gun Care Tool Set

A bench-worthy set of tools, made mobile-friendly in the zippered protective case they come in, the Grace USA Gun Care Tool Set comes with the company’s most popular sets of tools. The 17-piece set includes eight screwdrivers, eight brass punches from size 1⁄16 inch to 5⁄16 inch and Grace USA’s specially fabricated 8-ounce brass hammer. ($125; graceusaguntools.com)

Gerber eFECT Weapons Tool

The eFECT Weapons Tool is made specifically for working with and cleaning an AR-style rifle. It’s also compatible and interchangeable with Otis cleaning components such as brushes, scrapers, picks and rods. It includes an Otis nylon end brush, a patented Saf-T-Lock, a front sight pin tool (interchangeable from four to five pin), a flat driver scraper, a full-bladed scraper, an Otis curved pick and a punch. ($111; gerbergear.com)

Real Avid FINI

Compact and super useful by shotgunners and riflemen alike, the FINI fits choke tubes for six different gauges ranging from .410 to 10 gauge. The wrench uses a patent-pending step design to quickly and easily slide into the grooves of nearly any choke tube for quick removal and installation. It’s designed to withstand 50 pounds of torque. The slotted tip is also ideal for adjusting windage and elevation turrets on riflescopes. Totes easy by simply clipping on a keychain. ($13; realavid.com)

This article appeared in the June 6, 2013 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Why Carry a Gun? 7 Objections Destroyed

By

Massad Ayoob

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October 14, 2013

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The question is constantly asked: Why do you want to carry a gun? Here are Massad Ayoob's 7 proven answers vindicating concealed carry.

GDConcealedCarry — Anybody interested in CCW needs this book! Great advice on the best concealed carry gear, clothing, and how to understand related handgun laws & regulations.

1. “Why do you carry a gun?”

Kathy Jackson said it best on her website (www.corneredcat.com): “I carry a gun because I can’t carry a policeman.”

2. “But aren’t you worried that if more people carry guns, more arguments will escalate into people being shot and killed?”

No. Responsible gun owners are too practical to worry about things that don’t happen.

3. “Why should a person who lives in a low crime area feel they had to carry a gun?”

Famed combat small arms instructor John Farnam said it best. He was teaching an officer survival class to rural police when one officer asked him, “Hey, how often do you think cops get killed around here, anyway?” Farnam’s reply was classic: “Same as anywhere. Just once.”

4. “Why can’t you face the fact that a study has proven that a gun in the home is 43 times more likely to kill a member of the household than a burglar?”

Probably because, being logical people, most of us who carry guns detest having to look at such fact-twisting exercises in sophistry.

5. “A review of strategy discussions on Internet gun boards reveals the fact that many people who are licensed to carry guns carry more than one. If this is not an indication of two-gun cowboy mentality, how else can it be explained?”

Firearms instructor and author David Kenik was once asked, “Why do you carry three guns?” He calmly replied, “Because four would be ostentatious.”

Ankle holsters allow business-casual dressers to be prepared at all times. Who could be against that?

6. “You bloodthirsty gun people only carry weapons because you want a chance to hurt or kill someone!”

On the contrary, we carry guns so we will be less likely to have to kill or cripple someone. It’s called “Peace Through Superior Firepower.”

7. “You don’t have any right to carry guns anyway! The Second Amendment is about the National Guard, not personal protection!”

The Bill of Rights was framed shortly after the American Revolution. A “National Guard” in the time of the revolution would have been Tories loyal to King George and duty-bound to crush the American patriots. Do you really think this was what the framers intended to empower and enable?

Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from the new Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry, 2nd Edition. For a detailed analysis of these answers and more reasons on why you should carry, don't wait to get your copy.

Leatherwood CMR Review: Best AR-15 Optic 2013

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October 11, 2013

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The Leatherwood CMR scope tested with the Les Baer Police Special AR-15.

The Leatherwood CMR (Close Medium Range) scope is tough, versatile and best of all, affordable. Giving it my Best AR-15 Optic for 2013 endorsement was an easy decision.

When Corbett Leatherwood insisted I take a look at his company’s CMR 1-4x scope (Close Medium Range), I admit it was an easy decision. That’s because I’d already reviewed the excellent Leatherwood ART M1000 scope, which turned out to be one hell of a quality product that did exactly what it promised.

The CMR (Close Medium Range) features a very fine reticle, allowing you to shoot very tight groups.

So I was eager to take a look at the CMR. And it did not disappoint.

But just to make sure the CMR wasn’t afforded any unfair leeway, we set the bar high and mounted it atop a Les Baer Police Special—arguably one of the finest AR-15 style guns on the market. If the broadside of the barn went untouched, it certainly wouldn’t be the fault of the gun.

Leatherwood CMR Review on the Bench

The Leatherwood CMR is a genuine 30mm scope, and the first thing you notice when you pick it up is how rugged it is. I’ve handled a great many scopes in this price range and have never seen one constructed this tough for under $400 dollars. That’s no joke.

The build quality on this thing seems on par with optics costing three or four times as much (it is matte black and uses what the company calls a Diamond Tuff14 coating). It’s hefty, at just over 16 ounces, and is about 10 inches in length.

The tube is a 24mm objective, and the power adjustment ring—1-4x—is glass smooth. The external turrets are both ½ MOA and the scope has a really neat ZRO-LOK System, enabling you to return to a rock-solid and easy-to-find zero after making on-the-fly adjustments in the field.

The CMR reticle is very versatile. It has 11 illumination settings, plus Night Vision or NV (to be mated with a separate night vision device). It’s intuitive and fast-pointing—thanks to a ring encircling a precision dot—which seems to enable the mind to naturally gravitate the dot to the target. The Mil-based ranging hash marks are icing on the cake.

Its built-in Bullet Drop Compensation (BDC) for 5.56mm and 7.62mm are alone worth the price of admission. What all of these features add up to is one lightning-fast scope—ideal for tactical applications on any AR-15 or AR-10 style carbine, and equally useful on a heavy-caliber dangerous game rifle.

Shooting the Les Baer Police Special with Leatherwood CMR optic.

Leatherwood CMR at the Range

Any lingering reticence I might have harbored about sticking a scope that retails for $399.00 on a top-of-the-line AR-15 like the Les Baer flew out the window immediately when we shot the combination together.

Les Baer Police Special with Leatherwood CMR scope.

At the risk of gloating too much, it’s really not accurate to describe the CMR as a “value optic” because you don’t get any hint that any corners were cut in the making of it.

The scope’s 3-inch minimum eye relief gave a clear and instant field of view while shooting. And the clarity of the glass was superb, with no indication whatsoever of edge distortion.

It only took a few shots to acquire zero; the turrets were precise and had no discernible slack or sloppiness (plus you hear a very audible click when you adjust them, as yet another layer of verification when making quick adjustments).

The reticle’s fine lines are precise—allowing you to wring the most accuracy out of your gun (see photo for the little cluster groups we were able to shoot).

For faster 3-gun or tactical-style shooting, activating the illuminated reticle allows you to really get on target, and quick, against a myriad of varying background colors and lighting in a dynamic environment.

We banged away well into the late-summer afternoon, from close range out to one hundred yards. Both the Les Baer Police Special and Leatherwood CMR kept rounds on target, whether it was from the bench or shot off-hand. We shot slow. We shot fast. And the scope did its job without a hiccup. We shot slow. We shot fast. And the scope did its job without a hiccup.

In fact, this gun and scope combination is so good, so fast and so precise that I’d be remiss if I didn’t come clean about the fact that the equipment exceeded my skill level, and by a country mile. So unlike my ever-wanting shooting skills, I can’t imagine a single thing I’d improve about the Leatherwood CMR. It’s that good.

Gun Digest the Magazine, November 18, 2013

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October 10, 2013