Home Blog Page 311

The Gun Digest Interview: Steve Sanetti

By
Brian McCombie
-
0

Steve Sanetti, NSSF

It’s the largest trade organization in the shooting sports industry. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is a 7,000-members strong group and includes manufacturers and retailers, shooting ranges, conservation groups, gun clubs and most everything in between. As such, it’s no surprise that the biggest event in the firearms and hunting industries are the NSSF-organized Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show, the SHOT Show, a four-day extravaganza of all things shooting held in Las Vegas each January. Since 2008, NSSF’s president and CEO has been Steve Sanetti, 63, a self-described “gun nut” who loves shooting and hunting, Sanetti recently talked with GD about NSSF, the SHOT Show and the future of our shooting sports.

GD: So, just how big will the 2013 SHOT Show be?

Sanetti: We estimate it will be about the same size as last year—and last year was an all-time record. So, in the neighborhood of 20,000 exhibitors, 1,200 booths, 35,000 attendees and 2,500 members of the media. We’re at 625,000 square feet, which is the largest show the Las Vegas Sands Hotel puts on. Currently, the SHOT Show is the 13th largest trade show in North America of any kind.

GD: Any improvements or changes at SHOT?

Sanetti: The Sands Hotel has really worked with us to improve SHOT. There are more escalators [than last year], so it will be easier than ever to get between levels, the lighting’s better, the food choices are better and we’ve been able to widen the aisles. We’ve also made a concerted effort to bring more European buyers to SHOT. It’s a different market, but it’s a significant market and one we can’t afford to ignore.

GD: Let’s talk NSSF. If I’m not currently a member, why should I consider becoming one?

Sanetti: We are the trade association for the firearms, ammunition and related accessories industries. If you look at our website (www.nssf.org), you’ll see we have literally hundreds of programs to promote and protect the shooting sports.

GD: Such as…?

Sanetti: The First Shots program, which encourages people to try the shooting sports. Our research shows that, within 12 months, about 40 percent of First Shots attendees actually return to the range or the store that held the event. Families Afield has been a huge success, too. We partnered with the U.S. Sportsman’s Alliance and the National Wild Turkey Federation to introduce people to hunting without first having to go through a hunter education course. In a Families Afield state, as long as they are hunting with a qualified mentor, a young person—or grandpa, for that matter—can try a hunt. If they like it and want to do more? Then they take the appropriate hunter education or safety course. With Families Afield, tens of thousands of people have tried out hunting and returned to hunt again.

GD: NSSF is very involved in the political process, too, right?

Sanetti: Absolutely. Our clout rests on that fact that, when we go to The Hill, Congress knows we represent the shooting sports industry. That gives NSSF considerable influence, in and out of Washington.

GD: On a personal note, what are your favorite types of shooting and hunting?

Sanetti: Informal target shooting with my family. We go into the woods behind our cabin in New Hampshire and shoot—it’s a lot of fun, and great family time. Deer hunting is my favorite hunting.

GD: Do you have a favorite firearm?

Sanetti: Probably my Ruger Standard [.22 LR] Pistol. But one of my best memories is of a Springfield 1903A3 rifle I sporterized when I was 16. Dad and I bought it at a pawn shop for $19.95! I handloaded my own ammo, too, took it deer hunting and got my first deer that year. Dad was there. I was very proud, but very moved by the whole experience, too.

GD: What did you do before coming to the NSSF?

Sanetti: I worked for Sturm Ruger for 28 years, the last five as President and CEO. I took a job right out of the Army, defending Ruger in product liability lawsuits. That was in the 1970’s. Bill Ruger came up to me in the early 1980’s and said, “A lot of people are saying we need to give you a job, and I think we should, too. One day, I believe you’ll be president of this company.” I took the job—but I never really thought I’d really be president of Ruger.

GD: What do you hope your legacy will be as President of NSSF?

Sanetti: NSSF headed up a Shooting Sports Summit several years ago, and the goal that came out of it was we as an industry were going to increase participation in the shooting sports by 20 percent by the end of 2014. I thought it was a pretty large goal—workable, but one that was going to take much work. Well, Americans are buying firearms like never before, and there’s a huge interest in shooting. We certainly didn’t do all of that. But, with the programs and initiatives we had in place—like First Shots and Families Afield—and the many new efforts we are making to promote the shooting sports? I think we’ve got a darned good chance of hitting that 20 percent mark. I’m thrilled to be a part of that, and to work with such a great staff at NSSF.

This interview appeared in the January 28, 2013 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Expert Tips on Buying a Revolver for Concealed Carry

By
Grant Cunningham
-
0

So you’re shopping for a new carry gun, and you’ve decided that it needs to be a revolver? Good for you. The revolver definitely has a lot to offer, even in this heyday of compact autoloading pistols, but there are still many things to consider before making your purchase. Following are the key considerations you will want to think about.

How Will It Be Carried?

How you plan to carry the gun has a huge impact on your range of choices. For instance, if you plan to carry it in a pocket, you’re obviously not going to want a full-size 4-inch revolver.

Pick the gun for the most restrictive carry method you’ll be using. If you’re going to carry it in an ankle holster as a back-up during the week, but as your primary gun in a tuckable appendix holster on weekends, pick the one that works on the ankle. You can always carry a small, light revolver on your belt, but the opposite is not true for a similarly sized steel model.

If you’re going to wear this gun in an ankle holster, you’ll find that it will get very dirty quite quickly. The Smith & Wesson Centennial series guns, like the 442 and 642, don’t have exposed hammers, nor the opening in the frame through which the hammer protrudes. As a result they’re better sealed against dirt and lint. That’s not to say that they’re impervious to filth getting inside them, just that they’re more resistant to getting fouled than their exposed hammer brethren.

Don’t forget about corrosion resistance either. If your carry method is a pocket holster you’re likely to discover that the pocket is a surprisingly humid place — particularly in the summer months. A gun with any amount of carbon steel (like the barrel and cylinder of the Smith & Wesson 442) will rust pretty quickly, as I can personally attest. For pocket carry, an all alloy or alloy/stainless steel alternative, like the S&W 642, is a better choice. Nothing, mind you, is corrosion proof, but stainless steel is far more resistant than any kind of carbon steel.

The new polymer revolvers, like the Ruger LCR, may prove to be among the most corrosion-resistant revolvers yet made for concealed carry.

How Much Recoil Can You Stand?

You can’t fight city hall and you can’t fight the laws of physics, either. Regardless of the caliber you’ve picked, a small light gun will have more perceived recoil than a larger, heavier gun. Once you’ve narrowed your choices into the size and caliber range that makes the most sense for your use, you’ll often have the choice between an ultra-lightweight model (polymer or alloy) and a heavier, all-steel model.

Naturally the lighter models, while easier to carry in places like pockets and ankle holsters, have a higher level of recoil than their heavier counterparts. There is no free lunch; to get the nice weight, you’ll have to put up with more pain — and the pain can be severe!

I’m no stranger to recoil, but even I find the kick of an ultra-lightweight gun, loaded with a good +P defensive load, to be more than I really want to handle. I’ve even shot one with full-house .357 Magnum rounds. You’ll notice I said “one,” and I say that because my reaction was immediate: “Never Again!”

Remember that recoil affects not just your comfort, but also your ability to deliver additional shots to your target. One round of any caliber is unlikely to stop someone cold in his or her tracks, so you have to plan to shoot more than that. Each additional round from a light but high-recoiling gun will be slower to shoot than from the same sized gun made of heavier material, because you have farther to bring the gun back on target. The lightweight guns are certainly comfortable to carry, but they will impact your ability to deliver the rapid, multiple, combat-accurate hits that actually stop bad guys.

Gun Digest the Magazine June 3, 2013

By
Corey Graff
-
0

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.

Gun Digest the Magazine June 3, 2013.

Inside This Issue

  • Gun Review: Barrett MRAD
  • Gun Review: Smith & Wesson M&P Shield
  • Sniper Skills for Hunters
  • Walther WWII Volkspistole
  • Guns for Sale and More!

Click here to start a subscription to Gun Digest.

Did you receive a suspicious subscription offer? A bogus company is sending out Gun Digest the Magazine subscription scams.

Gun Digest the Magazine Digital Back IssuesRecommended: Looking for digital back-issues of Gun Digest the Magazine? Click here

– Instant Downloads
– PDF format
– More great gun reviews and articles!

Gun Digest the Magazine May 20, 2013

By
Corey Graff
-
0

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.

Gun Digest the Magazine, May 20, 2013Inside This Issue

  • Gun Review: Remington Versa Max Sportsman
  • Handgun Review: Springfield Armory XD-S
  • Alexander Arms .17 HMR Reviewed
  • New Rangefinders
  • Guns for Sale and More!

Click here to start a subscription to Gun Digest.

Did you receive a suspicious subscription offer? A bogus company is sending out Gun Digest the Magazine subscription scams.

Gun Digest the Magazine Digital Back IssuesRecommended: Looking for digital back-issues of Gun Digest the Magazine? Click here

– Instant Downloads
– PDF format
– More great gun reviews and articles!

The Gun Digest Interview: Mike Stock

By
Brian McCombie
-
0

Gun Digest interview with Mike Stock, ammo engineer.

In 1999, Mike Stock — then a college student studying to become a mechanical engineer — got an internship at the Winchester Ammunition plant in East Alton, Ill., and he’s been a part of the Winchester family ever since. A life-long hunter and shooter, Stock, 34, is Centerfire Product Manager for the ammunition giant, doing what he calls his dream job. A native of Southern Illinois, Stock actually grew up just 40 miles from Winchester’s East Alton facility, where he works today. Once he graduated with a Master’s Degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla, Stock worked in the new product design department for Winchester Ammunition, and then did a stint selling ammunition to law enforcement agencies. For the last two years, he’s been Centerfire Product Manager.

What exactly does a Centerfire Product Manager do?
A product manager is really the conduit for information between the sales team and manufacturing. The sales guys are out selling and talking to retailers and customers, and we filter that back to manufacturing.

So your job is to help create new ammunition?
That’s the “glamour” part of the job, if there is a glamour part. We’re in charge of helping to create new products, what they’re going to be and what they’ll look like, and, once they are out, how to position them in the market. We’re also involved with issues like, “When do we switch over from making one type of ammunition to another?” Winchester Ammunition has over 600 different products, and we can’t make all of them at the same time. To go from one ammo to another, it’s not like you just grab some different brass and bullets, and go. You have to change over machines and the whole manufacturing process. It can be very complicated.

What’s the tough part of your job?
The best part is the tough part: coming up with new, cool products every year. There’s never a shortage of ideas. But taking those ideas and making them a reality? If you didn’t have to worry about money and costs and production times, you could make all sorts of new things all the time. But we don’t live in that world. It can be really stressful trying to make your ideas work out.

How long does it take to go from an idea for a new load to actually having it ready for consumers?
It really depends. Take the .17 Winchester Super Magnum (WSM), our new rimfire. When I started working for Winchester fulltime in 2003, we were talking about that round already. I did some early work loading prototype rimfire casings for the .17—and I wasn’t the first guy to do that! So the .17 WSM essentially has had a 10-year life cycle, and we just now announced it to the world in January. With our Razorback XT hog ammo we were able to react a lot faster and get it to market much quicker. With Razorback, we went from drawing board to store shelves in 12 months.

On a more personal note, how did you become interested in hunting and shooting?
My dad was a hunter. Dad was a businessman, too, and he worked a lot of hours. There were only two times a year he took off from work: for the family vacation in the summer and for deer hunting with his buddies in the fall. So I knew, from a very early age, that hunting was a really cool thing to do. And I’ve been doing it ever since.

What was your first gun?
It was a J.C Higgins Model 20 12 gauge, at a nifty 10.5 pounds! Actually, I still have it. I occasionally deer hunt with it, just for fun.

How important to you are hunting and shooting?
I’ve been hunting and shooting since I was a kid, and I know for fact that’s why I am in this industry today. I love my job. I get a kick out of it every day. As a guy who loves to hunt and shoot, it really is my dream come true to have this job and to work here.

And, for 2013, you expanded the Razorback line to include 12 gauge shotgun slugs and 00 Buckshot, plus .44 Remington Magnum handgun loads.
The early response was so positive on the Razorback, we knew we had to follow up on it and soon. Really, this quick response is a testament to the great people we have working here at Winchester Ammunition, people who recognized an opportunity and reacted so quickly. The manufacturing people here really outdid themselves with all the work they did on the new Razorback loads.

Why did Winchester develop and introduce your new Varmint X loads?
The number of predator hunters have doubled in the last decade. That’s a lot of new hunters and shooters. But I’ve stood in the ammo aisles at retailers myself, looked around and thought, “Wow! There’s a lot of different ammunition out there — which one should a guy use for varmints and predators?” So we built the Varmint X loads to answer that very question. They have polymer tips for maximum and fast expansion, and we made it all the right calibers—204 Ruger, 22-250 Rem, 223Rem, and 243Win—and made it very, very accurate.

Varmint and predator hunting also skews to a younger demographic, and we feel these younger hunters are very important to the industry and the future of hunting. So we wanted to give them a round made specifically for what they were doing.

This interview appeared in the April 22, 2013 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Looking for More Ammo and Reloading Information?

W0932ReloadingHandgunnersReloading for Handgunners

Cartridges of the World, A Complete and Illustrated Reference for Over 1,500 Cartridges

The ABC's of Reloading, The Definitive Guide for Novice to Expert, 9th Edition

 

The Gun Digest Interview: Joe Wanenmacher

By
Doug Howlett
-
0
Joe Wanenmacher (left) with NRA Executive VP Wayne Lapierre (right).
Joe Wanenmacher (left) with NRA Executive VP Wayne Lapierre (right).

The Tulsa Arms Show is held twice a year and boasts more than 4,150 tables of guns—new, old and downright ancient—as well as shooting accessories, ammo, private firearms collections, wildlife and western art and even scrimshaw and decorative items. Laid end to end there is more than 6 miles of guns and exhibits. The show, to be held this year April 6-7 and again Nov. 9-10, has been around since 1955, and since 1968, the man behind its organization has been Tulsa resident and retired petroleum consultant Joe Wanenmacher, 78. The show brings in so much money and business to the local area, in 2009, the mayor of Tulsa made Feb. 5, Joe Wanenmacher Day—the honor made perhaps more impressive coming from a Democratic mayor who served on New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns council. We caught up with Joe to get his thoughts on what it takes to build and run such an event and how it feels to have anti-gunner crosshairs placed squarely on gun shows around the country.

What first got you interested in firearms?
My dad was always a hunter and took me out at a young age and introduced me to firearms. Around Tulsa they had strip-mining pits, and as youngsters we would save up all of our bottles and jars and would put them in the water in bottom of these pits and shoot them. It was a great way to learn to shoot because you could see where your shots were hitting when you missed.

What was your first gun?
My first gun was a Mossberg .22. I liked it, but have seen a lot better guns since then.

Being around so many different firearms, do you have any favorites?
I’ve always been interested in guns. I would like to own them all, but I realized long ago that you can’t. I own a lot of different firearms, but my big interest now is in antique arms.

What is the coolest one you own?
The coolest gun I have is one maybe considered one of the first machine guns ever made. It was made in 1590. It’s a wheel lock; it has two wheel locks on it and shoots 16 shots. It shoots elliptical bullets that have a hole through them and works on a Roman Candle theory: You start the first one and it keeps on going until all of them are shot. That gun will soon be on display at the National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Va. It’s quite an honor to be asked to display it there.

How did you come to organize the Tulsa Arms Show?
The show started in 1955 as a club project for the Indian Territory Gun Collectors Association in Tulsa, Okla. I moved to the area in 1961 and joined the organization a couple years later. I was the world’s worst member. I never attended meetings, because I was more interested in shooting than meeting. When the secretary/treasurer left the group in 1968, since I was still among the newest and most gullible members, they elected me. That officer was in charge of organizing the show.

Was it as big then as it is now?
The first show I did we had 117 tables. Me and one other member were the only ones to show up and put them all out. After that, I decided this needed to be run more like a business. From 1955 to 1968, it never made it a profit, and it took me two years to turn it around and grow it into a 400-table show. Today, we more than 4,150 tables.

What makes this gun show so unique?
This isn’t just a local gun show. We have vendors and exhibitors from all across the country. It draws 83 percent of people outside Tulsa, and we’re now seeing third generation shooters coming to the show, which is really special.

Background checks at gun shows are a hot topic in the news today. What impact might background checks have on shows such as yours?
Right now, the laws are not being enforced to prevent purchases with the background checks that are in place. Any additional legislation will not prevent gun-related crimes. A universal background check on the surface sounds good, but there are many reasons why we should not have these checks. Most obvious is most people would not do it and it would make criminals out of many otherwise law-abiding citizens…it would ultimately lead to registration and that leads to confiscation. Every country that has started with registration has led to confiscation. Just look at Mexico where criminals have the guns, but very few regular citizens have them…Less firearms does not mean less crime, it means more crime.

This interview appeared in the April 8, 2013 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Recommended Resources for Gun Collectors:

Gun value in the standard catalog of firearms.2013 Standard Catalog of Firearms, 23rd Edition

Standard Catalog of Military Firearms 6th Edition

Gun Digest 2013, 67th Edition

Sign up for the FREE Gun Digest eNewsletter »

The Gun Digest Interview: Jordan King

By
Brian McCombie
-
0

Jordan King of King's Arsenal.

Jordan King is a busy guy. A husband and father, King, 27, is a full-time diesel mechanic who just happens to also run a full-time gun manufacturing business, King’s Arsenal. The custom gun making operation in Abilene, Texas, specializes in AR-style rifles. What started out as a hobby working on his own guns has turned into a business, a vocation and a passion for King. Along the way, he’s learned a few things about gun making, regulations and just how the national political climate can help and harm someone in this industry. Gun Digest caught up with King recently—as he was literally driving between jobs, no less—and got the scoop on what it’s like to be a “new guy” in the rifle making business, and going head-to-head with industry big boys like Smith & Wesson.

How did you get introduced to firearms?
I grew up around guns and hunting and fishing—all that good stuff. Got my first gun when I was about 12 years old, a Browning lever action in .223 with a top-of-the-line Simmons Whitetail scope on it, and I hunted with that rifle for a long time.

Still have that rifle?
I do. It doesn’t fit me anymore, but I imagine my son, Stone, will get it and use it one day.

How did you go from a hunter and shooter to someone who actually makes firearms?
About six years ago, I bought an AR at a gun show, a Bushmaster XM15, and took it out and shot it. There wasn’t anything wrong with it. But it just didn’t shoot like I wanted it to shoot. So I took it apart and started tinkering. Anything I could upgrade, I did. Friends saw my rifle and started asking me to help them with theirs. I started doing work on upper receivers on the side. That was when I found out about billeted receivers [receivers milled from a solid block of metal], and I never went back to forged receivers. In 2011, we got our FFL [federal firearms license], and started doing complete ARs and bolt actions as King’s Arsenal.

Jordan King of King's Arsenal.What’s the most popular rifle and calibers you make and sell?
Our Crown 15, which is our AR15 model. The .300 Blackout is probably the most popular caliber right now, and lots of people come to us for the 6.5 Grendel.

Who are your main customers?
We get a lot of hunters buying our rifles and a lot of ranchers out here in Texas. Good number of 3-Gun shooters, too. And we’re selling our guns all over the country, not just Texas.

What’s your advertising and marketing plan look like?
We haven’t been able to afford much advertising. It’s pretty much word of mouth. People hear about us and find our website (https://kingsarsenal.com/), and we’re on Facebook, too. Facebook’s helped a lot. We have achieved more than 9,000 Likes in just a year.

So business is good?
Bigtime. Because of all this talk about gun control, everybody’s worried, and we’ve sold a whole bunch of rifles recently, and taken orders for a lot more. That’s put our name out there a lot, so we’re getting more interest and more orders all the time. We’re able to do all the work we have now. If we take on your rifle, we will get it done as soon as we can. But I may have to hire some more people pretty soon.

Sounds like it’s time to expand.
With all these new orders and sales, I’d like to take the profits and put it right back into King’s Arsenal and grow. I want to open a store-front operation here in Abilene. Right now, we’ve got a smaller shop, kind of crowded, with tools lying everywhere. But we haven’t expanded because of all this possible anti-gun legislation. It’s just too big a liability hanging out there for me to throw a bunch of money into upgrading. Not until all this settles down. But it does kind of make me mad. We’re so new and we’re in this great place to really take off, and the federal government might shut us right down [with an AR ban].

Is it hard competing with the Bushmasters and Smith & Wessons of the gun world?
They make the same kind of rifles we do. But I think we’re in an entirely different market, and we don’t really compete with each other. We’re making all our guns custom, each one is put together one at a time, no assembly line. So I don’t really see us competing with each other.

What’s been the hardest part of being in this business for you?
Once we got our FFL, we had to learn all the regulations and other stuff that goes along with having one. For a while there, it was pretty hard to get used to all the ATF [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives] paperwork you had to do anytime you made a rifle. When we first got the FFL, we figured, well, we’d make two or three rifles a year, no big deal on the paperwork. But we’re doing a lot more than two or three rifles now! Lots of paper, and you have to learn how to do it right or you can get in some bigtime trouble!

This article appeared in the March 25, 2013 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Recommended Tactical Rifle Resources
Gun Digest Book of the Tactical RifleGun Digest Book of The Tactical Rifle

Gun Digest Buyer's Guide to Tactical Rifles

Own the Night: Selection and Use of Tactical Lights and Laser Sights

Targets for Shooting Long Range

By
Dave Morelli
-
0
I like a large board on which to hang paper targets. The larger 1000 yard targets are ideal because their large area allows you to see hits that are off the mark. This is essential when checking zeros at longer range. The F-Class center is a little smaller than the 1000-yard target and I use it to practice for those shoots.
I like a large board on which to hang paper targets. The larger 1000 yard targets are ideal because their large area allows you to see hits that are off the mark. This is essential when checking zeros at longer range. The F-Class center is a little smaller than the 1000-yard target and I use it to practice for those shoots.

There are no special targets that will make us better shooters. To be better shooters we need to use targets for shooting a lot and regularly. Here are some good targets for long-range shooting.

Shooting at a variety of targets and scenarios is more like training. Practice makes us better shots; training wins matches and prepares us for difficult situations. Getting your own targets for shooting is the key.

Not all of us have the luxury to have a shooting range nearby let alone a long-range facility. With a little engineering and help from some target makers, any safe stretch of BLM or other public ground can become our fun house and give us the training we need in between matches and practice shoots.

My formal 1000-yard range is 120 miles one way from my house. I cannot always make it out for practice sessions although I go as much as I can. These days one has to save travel money for the matches so I practice close by the house with the help of some prefab targets.

For getting on paper I use a target board. The rifle has to be printed on paper to see what it is really doing. Mostly it is for shooting groups and sighting in rifles at 100 yards. It is big enough though, I can shoot at further ranges and show hits on the paper while fine-tuning my ballistic charts. This paper target helps me get some of my elevations set and also I can check variances in different climates.

The paper target backstop is made from some scrap plywood and 2×6 lumber that fit into a metal upright stand.

It breaks down quickly and fits in the back of the truck for easy set up in the field. I can staple any target on it and since I shoot F-Class competition I use a replacement center for along-range paper target. For closer groups that I want to record for later reference I use a Benchrest type target that can be put into a ring binder. These are made out of a heavy grade plastic-coated paper and hold up well in a binder. These record the actual group and any other info on weather and the load that was used.

MGM Targets make a great long range reactive target they call the Flash Target. It is a 10 strike area and that equals one minute at 1000 yards. It is a challenging target and the plastic cards can be seen moving at long distances.
MGM Targets make a great long range reactive target they call the Flash Target. It is a 10 strike area and that equals one minute at 1000 yards. It is a challenging target and the plastic cards can be seen moving at long distances.

Shooting the paper target is doable out to around 400 or 500 yards without a vehicle to get back and fourth to score the targets. I can usually use the exercise but I don’t always have the time to walk back and forth to 1000-yard targets. Sometimes I will put the ATV in the back of the truck and set up a portable shooting bench like the one Caldwell offers for longer range shooting.

For just getting the elevation I will many times use the Caldwell Tack Driver Shooting Bag right on the hood of the truck (Idaho Shooting Bench) and drive back and forth to the target. It is faster than moving the shooting table to different ranges. The Caldwell bags off the hood are not as comfortable as a bench and a front rest, but for portability in shooting different long ranges in the field they work great.

One way I deal with the walk back and forth on the longer range stuff is to use reactive targets. Once the rifle is zeroed on paper and various elevation adjustments recorded I can practice on reactive targets placed in different positions. In the field being able to shoot targets at 1000 yards and see the hit is good practice and can be done without a couple of range buddies in the pit or running back and forth to see the score.

I was surprised at how inexpensive steel targets from MGM Targets are. Considering they last forever with a lifetime guarantee and include the shipping, a backwoods rifleman can get plenty of long-range practice in the field without going back and forth.

Two of my favorite reactive targets are tannerite and plastic cubes. The tannerite is a binary exploding target and adds some fun to the shooting. These cubes and spheres from Just Shoot Me Products can be spread out on a hillside or hung in the sagebrush for hard-to-spot reactive targets. They will jump when hit and roll to a different position to be engaged again.
Two of my favorite reactive targets are tannerite and plastic cubes. The tannerite is a binary exploding target and adds some fun to the shooting. These cubes and spheres from Just Shoot Me Products can be spread out on a hillside or hung in the sagebrush for hard-to-spot reactive targets. They will jump when hit and roll to a different position to be engaged again.

I like the attitude at MGM Targets (Mike Gibson Manufacturing). They dare you to tear up these targets. That’s confidence in their quality. I simply haven‘t been able to shoot these things apart. The strike plates are hard steel and the welds are neat and strong.

They use hardened bolts instead of welding to hold the targets on to the stands so the hardness won’t be compromised from welding heat. About all the bullet does to them is knock the paint off.They come in white, but in winter black shows up better against snow.

For longer range practice the Flash Target is a great choice. It has a 10-inch target area and with larger caliber bullets hits can be seen without a spotter past 600 yards. The smaller calibers don’t move it much further out.

There are two plastic squares on the swivel bar; one is white and one florescent orange. The movement of the target is easily seen when the plastic squares move. The hanging gong swivels on a bar of stainless steel and has a zirk fitting to keep it lubricated. This target breaks down and will fit in a car trunk. It goes up in seconds.

Another great shorter range target is one of their poppers. These targets have 5 inch strike areas and reset themselves via spring action. Neither of these targets makes a gong sound when hit but there is a noticeable thwack. I have several different locations scouted that give me practice in different conditions.

Don’t forget to put up some flags to help dope the wind. It is good to have a spotter to help with the corrections. MGM makes such a variety of targets for the competitive shooter the best thing to do is check out their website. www.mgmtargets.com

There are a variety of other reactive targets that will give the precision marksman some good practice and some fun. Try golf balls, eggs, and balloons. The nice thing about balloons is you can make them different sizes. The challenging thing about them is when the wind is blowing windage isn’t the only problem.

 Companies like Just Shoot Me make plastic targets that are reactive and come in cubes, circles, and shapes like ground squirrels that can be placed on hillsides and engaged. They jump indicating a hit and can be shot again in a different location. They are extremely durable and allow the bullet to pass and then they close back up. A box of these will last a long time and give many hours of practice in one sitting.

These smaller targets are great for sighting in and recording groups. I like the notebook style benchrest targets that are made out of a plastic-type paper. They are weather resistant and can be kept in a ring binder. The actual group is right there to compare with others along with the entire climate and load info.
These smaller targets are great for sighting in and recording groups. I like the notebook style benchrest targets that are made out of a plastic-type paper. They are weather resistant and can be kept in a ring binder. The actual group is right there to compare with others along with the entire climate and load info.

One of the most fun targets to engage at long range are exploding targets. They are small 2×2 square targets that can be bought in a kit and report when hit like an M-80. The active ingredient in these is a binary explosive material called tannerite. Binary means it is two inert chemicals that have to be mixed together to become active. They can only be set off by a high-power rifle bullet strike and are extremely stable even after mixed.

Exploding targets add a lot of fun to the marksman’s training but read all the directions and warnings before using and make sure it is being used within the legalities of your locale.

All my target missions are “leave no trace“. I pick up all brass, target debris, as much lead as I can find (it melts back down into cowboy bullets), even the 22 brass. The only thing left behind where I target practice is the depressions in the ground from bullet strikes.

Caldwell: (573) 445-9200
www.battenfeldtechnologies.com

Eberlestock: (877) 866-3047
www.eberlestock.com

Lenny Magill: (800) 942-8273
gunvideo.com

This article appeared in the February 14, 2011 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

AR-15 Review: Rock River Arms Pro Series Government

By
Corey Graff
-
0
The Rock River Arms Pro Series Government exceeded the government's testing and was awarded contracts by the DEA, FBI and Marshals Service.
The Rock River Arms Pro Series Government exceeded the government's testing and was awarded contracts by the DEA, FBI and Marshals Service.

The civilian version of the AR-15 used by the DEA and FBI is one sweet rifle, with all the needed accessories to boot. Here's a look at the Rock River Arms Pro Series Government.

Civilian gun owners often benefit from the competition among gun makers vying for government contracts. The Rock River Arms Pro Series Government AR-15 is but one very good example.

Back in the early fall of 2002, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) began to search for a 5.56 AR-style carbine to replace the 9mm submachine guns it had been using. 11 companies submitted samples, but it was a then-fledgling company out of Colona, Illinois, that survived the pass/fail test.

The RRA Pro Series was reliable and easy to shoot. We experienced no malfunctions during testing.
The RRA Pro Series was reliable and easy to shoot. We experienced no malfunctions during testing.

Rock River Arms (RRA) was awarded a 5-year DEA contract to make 5,000 carbines, with the FBI and U.S. Marshals acquiring the same gun with follow-up contracts. The civilian version is the Pro Series Government Model.

A Look at the Gun

What really impressed me about the RRA Pro Series is that it comes as a complete package. You get a LAR-15 5.56mm-chambered carbine, with a 16-inch chrome lined, chrome moly 1:9 twist barrel (the DEA version had a 14.5-inch barrel) fitted with an A2 flash hider.

The trigger is two stage, and breaks just over 5 pounds, very nice. It comes with a flat-top Picatinny rail and pre-installed A.R.M.S. flip-up rear sight.  Not only that, there’s an EOTECH 552 Holosight (though we actually tested the rifle with a Trijicon RSR Reflex, but that’s another story).

The combination of EOTECH and rear sight allow you to “cowitness” both sights at the same time — a well thought out touch.

In the case you get a Viking VTAC Single Point Sling, Cleaning Kit, and Surefire M951 Weapon Light. When you consider the included EOTECH and other goodies you get, the retail price of $2375 makes this a very good value.

The RRA Pro-Series at the Range

Hornady TAP 55 grain .223 ammo was accurate and reliable in the RRA Pro Series. Shots were fired from 25-50 yards standing and kneeling.
Hornady TAP 55 grain .223 ammo was accurate and reliable in the RRA Pro Series. Shots were fired from 25-50 yards standing and kneeling.

We didn’t do extensive off-the-bench accuracy testing of the gun (RRA says 1.5 MOA accuracy out of the box) but instead opted for real-world shooting from standing and kneeling positions. We fed it with Hornady 55-grain TAP ammo, and she shot excellent groups out to 50 yards (see photo).

We experienced no malfunctions. And the rifle, which weighs in at just over 8 pounds, produced virtually no recoil to speak of. It was downright enjoyable to shoot.

Check out the Rock River Arms Pro Series Government. It’s a proven gun that exceeded the government's very rigorous testing and comes complete with an accessory package of all the best-quality stuff. It’ll surpass your expectations, too.

www.rockriverarms.com

Get On Target With More AR-15 Knowledge

Gun Digest the Magazine May 12, 2013

By
Corey Graff
-
0

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.

2013 Gun Digest Shooter's GuideInside This Issue

  • 2013 Shooter's Guide
  • What's new in rifles, handguns and shotguns
  • Report: new optics and handloading accessories
  • New Glock!
  • Guns for Sale and More!

Click here to start a subscription to Gun Digest.

Did you receive a suspicious subscription offer? A bogus company is sending out Gun Digest the Magazine subscription scams.

 

Gun Digest the Magazine Digital Back IssuesRecommended: Looking for digital back-issues of Gun Digest the Magazine? Click here

– Instant Downloads
– PDF format
– More great gun reviews and articles!

Gun Collecting: Firearm Auction Realizes $12.5 Million

By
Corey Graff
-
0
U.S. Colt Walker Model 1847 revolver. This lot commanded not only the highest price of the weekend, at $138,000
U.S. Colt Walker Model 1847 revolver. This lot commanded not only the highest price of the weekend, at $138,000

ROCK ISLAND, IL — Rock Island Auction Company (RIAC) set the firearms market ablaze at their inaugural 2013 Premiere Firearms auction held April 19, 20 & 21, realizing over $12.5 million in sales.

In addition to those who made the trip to bid live, nearly 15,000 sealed, telephone and internet bids were placed with RIAC over the course of the three days. “The response from the collecting community and those savvy investment buyers was spectacular. This auction set a record for us not only as the most absentee bids placed in a Premiere auction but we had 930 successful bidders” said Hogan.

The highest grossing item of the week was Lot number 3069, which was the scarce and desirable documented U.S. Colt Walker Model 1847 revolver. This lot commanded not only the highest price of the weekend, at $138,000, but also one of the most intense bidding wars as bidder cards seemed to shoot up almost simultaneously around the room.

Winchester Pre-64 carbine in 7.92 mm caliber, which brought $31,626.
Winchester Pre-64 carbine in 7.92 mm caliber, which brought $31,626.

“It was a classic war of attrition as bidders bowed out at $100,000, and it was between two determined phone bidders” said Kevin Hogan, Patrick’s son and fellow auctioneer.

Other Colt firearms also commanded large sums – Lot 1091, the finest pair of U.S. Martially Inspected Colt 2nd Model Dragoon Revolvers brought $115,000, Lot 1412, the rare Bertrand Couch factory engraved and gold inlaid revolver brought $109,250, while a Patterson No. 3 Belt Model Pistol, which was estimated from $30,000-40,000 realized $54,000.

Winchester firearms were also in high demand. A beautiful collection of Winchester Model 1887 Shotguns experienced quite a bit of interest as Lot 1025, a Special Order 20 inch Winchester Model 1887 shotgun in phenomenal condition estimated $25,000-$37,500 brought $54,625, while Lot 1026, one of only five factory engraved Winchester Model 1887 shotguns, rang the bell at $97,750.

Yet shotguns were only the beginning, as the world famous Winchester Model 70 experienced a banner weekend. In total 12 different Model 70 rifle and carbine variations all brought over $15,000 apiece. Most notably were Lot 1739, the only known Pre-64 carbine in 7.92 mm caliber, which brought $31,626 while a factory engraved and gold inlaid Model 70 Super Grade commanded $28,750. Other notable sales in the Winchester collecting genre include two different Henry Rifle variations — Lot 3017, an exceptionally rare, iron frame Henry, which brought $109,250, while an equally rare documented Civil War engraved Henry achieved $74,750.

Surveillance Video: Concealed Carry Stops Milwaukee Robbery

By
Corey Graff
-
0

On Jan. 30, 2012, Dierre Cotton allegedly attempted to rob an Aldi grocery store in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a sawed off rifle. A customer carrying a concealed handgun changed the outcome of events for the better — and stopped the robbery spree (it was reportedly Cotton's third robbery in so many days).

The suspect was stopped by Wisconsin concealed carry holder Nazir Al-Mujaahid. Interestingly, Al-Mujaahid was carrying his firearm inside the store despite the property being posted against CCW. The DA said it would be “inappropriate” to charge him. In response, Aldi wiped the egg off its face and has since reversed its anti-gun policy.  Concealed carry is now allowed in the company's Wisconsin stores.

According to Al-Mujaahid:

LESSON Learned: Always carry fully loaded and ready to use in an instant! That night the firearm was carried without a round in the chamber and with the safety on which were the longest milliseconds of my life.
Careful analysis shows at 1:22/2:28 the robber was engaged by customer while thug was pointing his rifle at someone AFTER having the money! He didn't simply leave. At 1:47 you'll see the thug point at customer while making his exit.

Following the failed robbery attempt, both suspects involved were arrested.

One thing that struck me about the video is the contrast between how the concealed carry practitioner reacts versus those who are unarmed. The CCW citizen has war-gamed out this very scenario, planned for it, mentally accepted it as a possibility and is prepared to take some action. He or she has options. The others don't.

The drama further deepened when the Milwaukee PD confiscated Al-Mujaahid's gun and refused to return it. As pressure began to mount following outcry by the Wisconsin gun rights community and many legal threats by the gun's owner, it was finally returned to him. It's a good reminder that even if you survive a gunfight and the DA doesn't maliciously prosecute you, expect many months of headaches and hassle for doing the right thing.

Do the right thing anyway, but don't expect a hero's welcome by our upside-down society and courts.

My recommended resources for concealed carry:

Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry, 2nd EditionThe Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry, 2nd Edition

The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery

Armed: The Essential Guide to Concealed Carry

Find more resources at gundigeststore.com/tactical

 

The Unthinkables: Concealed Carry Holsters

By
Corey Graff
-
0

Choosing concealed carry holsters

Massad Ayoob dedicates no fewer than eight (of 23) chapters directly to holster choice and use in his ever-popular Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry, 2nd Edition. An additional chapter speaks to concealed carry clothing.

That says a lot.

It’s almost 40 percent of the content of the entire book.  By comparison, one chapter is dedicated to the best handguns for concealed carry, while two chapters tackle ammo and one more is about tactical lights.

Is there really that much to know when it comes to holsters and clothing for concealed carry? It turns out there is.

Which Concealed Carry Holster to Choose?

Holsters for open carry should have a retention system. This SERPA holster, from Blackhawk is popular for open- and concealed carry.
Holsters for open carry should have a retention system. This SERPA holster, from Blackhawk is popular for open- and concealed carry.

Committing to carrying a concealed weapon (CCW) for self-defense carries with it a profound lifestyle change. You now need to think about that handgun on a practical level — ensuring it is concealed, secured and at the ready.

That’s why concealed carry holsters and clothing are so important: The only other things besides your gun you’ll always be carrying are your clothes. And because your clothes are always changing (they are always changing, aren’t they?) your holster will sometimes need to be adapted as well.

Newcomers always wonder what handgun is best. Price is always a concern. And the availability and cost of ammo is another worry. Holsters, belts and new clothes are the unthinkables — the things that get overlooked.

But don’t overlook them. A good gun belt for concealed carry, two or three top-quality holsters, and new clothes better suited to concealing a pistol are essential.

Just keep in mind that the cost of these things can add up fast, so be sure to take them into account.

Here are some more tips:

  • Buy at least one iwb concealed carry hip holster (Inside-the-Waistband, strong-side) matched to your handgun. The IWB-style is the most versatile, four-season holster, in my opinion.
  • Invest in a good 1¼ -1½ inch wide steel-reinforced gun belt. This is the backbone of your gun load-bearing system. Buy the best quality you can. It will keep your piece from digging into your side.
  • Have one good alternate method holster, such as a shoulder harness holster for concealed carry or an ankle holster and compact pistol for those times when you just can’t conceal the big gun (and as a full-time backup gun).
  • Get a dummy training pistol and practice drawing and re-holstering (with one hand) from beneath a variety of garments. You’ll quickly learn what type of holster works best for your lifestyle.

More Recommended Reading: How to Choose the Best Concealed Carry Holster

My recommended resources for concealed carry:

Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry, 2nd EditionThe Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry, 2nd Edition

The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery

Armed: The Essential Guide to Concealed Carry

Find more resources at gundigeststore.com/tactical

 

The Gun Digest Interview: Darryl Worley

By
Brian McCombie
-
0

Darryl Worley opens up about guns and hunting.

Country music star Darryl Worley opens up on guns, hunting and preserving our way of life

In 2002, Darryl Worley’s song, “I Miss My Friend,” hit the top of the country music charts, and he’s been a mainstay in the country music scene ever since. In all, Worley’s released seven studio albums with nearly 20 hit singles, plus two other Number One songs (“Awful, Beautiful Life” and “Have You Forgotten”). His latest hit, “You Still Got It,” is climbing the music charts now. Worley, 48, was born and raised in Western Tennessee, where guns and hunting were important parts of daily life. This passion for shooting and hunting landed Worley as a member of “Team Weatherby,” the rifle maker’s new promotional effort to attract younger people to the shooting sports and to Weatherby firearms.

What was your introduction to firearms?
Both sides of my family were—and are—hunters. My father was an avid hunter and he wanted us to learn it. I grew up with guns and hunting as much as I did the music. If I wasn’t “picking and grinning,” so to say, we were out shooting and hunting. That’s just the way it was.

What was your first gun?
I was probably nine years old when I got a .35-caliber Marlin lever-action as my main Christmas gift. Honestly, it’s probably one of my best deer guns ever. We hunted thick brush and heavy cover in Western Tennessee for whitetails, and the Marlin always got the job done.

Do you still have that rifle?
No, my old one got stolen several years back. The boys in my band pooled their money and got me a new one. I’ve taken deer and coyotes with it. Sweet rifle.

How did you become a member of Team Weatherby?
I met the Weatherby people thru Eric Richey [co-host] of Sovereign Sportsmen TV show. Weatherby asked me to go on a hog hunt with them in California. While I was out there, I stopped by their home office and visited the factory. It was a great trip, and the relationship started from there.

So what’s your “job” with Team Weatherby?
I could take all day and talk about Weatherby and how awesome their rifles are. I’ve been shooting Weatherby rifles for years and years. I just hope I can find ways to help expand Weatherby into the country music audience. That’s kind of my job, although Weatherby really doesn’t need me to tell the world how good their rifles are.

Do you have a favorite Weatherby rifle or caliber?
The .300 Weatherby and the .257 Weatherby magnums would have to be my favorites. The .257 is just such a versatile gun—you can hunt so many different species with it, from coyotes to deer and most everything in between, and it shoots so flat. And the .300 will take care of everything else! I still have to kill an elk with my .300 Weatherby Mark V. That’s my dream hunt. Maybe that will happen this year.

Tell us about visiting and playing music for our military people, something you’ve been known to do.
That started in 2002, right after 9/11. We’ve played for troops here and abroad. 2004 was our first trip to bases in Japan and South Korea. We’ve been all around the world, and we’ve played for our military stationed in the Middle East many, many times. In 2007,we started doing “remote” stuff, too.

Remote?
We decided it was time to get out and visit the people who usually didn’t get the chance to see anyone, servicemen not stationed on the big bases. May of last year, for example, was our 11th trip to the Afghanistan Theater. We asked the military to let us visit small Special Forces and Navy SEAL teams embedded on the edges of these Afghan villages. On that trip, we flew into one of the Afghan villages right after they’d been under attack. Twelve Navy SEALS were attacked by 100 Taliban. It was the worst mistake those 100 Taliban guys ever made. It was very surreal being there, right after the battle. I have so much respect for our people serving there, risking their lives for us every day. Truly they are heroes.

The current Administration has decided to use the killing of young students at Sandy Hook Elementary School as a means to attack our Second Amendment rights. Your thoughts?
It’s very, very unfortunate that things like the school massacre happen in our country. But I don’t know why people are so quick to point the finger at the guns. Guns just lay there—people have to pick them up and do horrible things with them to have something like Sandy Hook. And most gun owners will never break the law with their firearms.

What worries you most about assaults on our Second Amendment?
People like to talk a lot about freedom—I’m one of them. But my belief is our freedom is based on the right to keep and bear arms. When you talk about freedom, freedom starts with the ability to protect yourself and your family, to preserve your life and the lives of your loved ones. If you take away or diminish the ability of a people, a community or a nation to defend itself? You’ve taken away a big part of what we call freedom. That’s just where I stand on that.

This interview appeared in the March 11, 2013 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

For more Gun Digest Interviews Click Here.

Recommended Books & Resources:

Gun Digest 2013Gun Digest 2013, The World's Greatest Gun Book, 67th Edition

Gun Digest 1944-2013 3-Disc Digital Library

2013 Standard Catalog of Firearms

Shop more at gundigeststore.com

Gun Digest the Magazine May 6, 2013

By
Corey Graff
-
0

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.

Gun Digest the Magazine, May 6, 2013Inside This Issue

  • Ithaca Custom 1911s
  • Smith & Wesson Performance Center .45s
  • Report: Where is all the ammo?
  • Anatomy of a gunfight
  • Guns for Sale and More!

Click here to start a subscription to Gun Digest.

Did you receive a suspicious subscription offer? A bogus company is sending out Gun Digest the Magazine subscription scams.

 

Gun Digest the Magazine Digital Back IssuesRecommended: Looking for digital back-issues of Gun Digest the Magazine? Click here

– Instant Downloads
– PDF format
– More great gun reviews and articles!

Survival Guns: Advantages of the 20-Inch AR-15

By
Scott Wagner
-
2
On the left, the Del-Ton AR-15A2, on the right the Century International Arms C15A1. Note the shorter overall length of the C15A1 versus the A2 Del-Ton. The C15A1 has been set up for multiple patrol and entry duties with the addition of an Inova carbon fiber tactical light on a Midwest Industries tower sight rail adaptor. A SIG mini red dot sight has been mounted on the carry handle via a Tapco carry handle rail adaptor. The author used the lightest weight red dot and light available so as not to destroy the near perfect weight and balance of the original M16A1 rifle configuration.
On the left, the Del-Ton AR-15A2, on the right the Century International Arms C15A1. Note the shorter overall length of the C15A1 versus the A2 Del-Ton. The C15A1 has been set up for multiple patrol and entry duties with the addition of an Inova carbon fiber tactical light on a Midwest Industries tower sight rail adaptor. A SIG mini red dot sight has been mounted on the carry handle via a Tapco carry handle rail adaptor. The author used the lightest weight red dot and light available so as not to destroy the near perfect weight and balance of the original M16A1 rifle configuration.

Full-length 20-inch ARs with the original pencil-thin barrel profile are rather hard to find these days, but it's my top choice among survival guns.

Among my primary survival guns is the C15A1 produced by Century International Arms. Using an original surplus M16A1 upper receiver—forward assist, no case deflector, birdcage-enclosed flash suppressor, original triangular handguards, and fool-proof sights, Century added a new 20-inch, 1:9 barrel, a new forged lower receiver, and topped it off with an original, shorter, exactly-right-the-first-time A1 buttstock.

I’m here to tell you, this is the gun I would keep if I could keep only one for civil survival. I keep it absolutely stock, just as it came from the factory , and it rides in my personal vehicle as my primary off-duty arm. With it I can respond to active shooters, barricades, warrant service, or entry. The C15 snaps quickly up to the shoulder, swings like a lively field shotgun, can be carried all day with a basic weight of 6.5 pounds (you gotta love that) and, because of the 20-inch barrel, retains the full ballistic potential of the 5.56 round.

If the Marines hadn’t gotten their way in the development of the A2 version in terms of adding the longer buttstock, heavy barrel, and overbuilt sight system (as a corps of riflemen, their reason for the changes wrought was the enhancement of long-range accuracy and so I find no fault with the concept), there would have been much less need for the M4 carbine, which is replacing the full-length rifle in all branches of service.

Other advantages of the 20-inch C15A1 include:

  • It is much smoother shooting than M4-type carbines with their short gas tube. There is definitely less abruptness to the operation.
  • Heat buildup is not as bad, due to the longer distance that the tapped gasses follow back to the bolt carrier during firing.
  • It gives a longer sight radius for iron sight use.
  • It gives longer reach with a bayonet mounted.
  • There is no fooling with stock adjustment, it is always right.
  • If you desire, electronic sights can be mounted on the carry handle or with a forward scout-type system.
  • A weapons light can be added with a front sight tower adapter. (Midwest Industries is a great source for these.)
The rifle that preceded the M16 in combat in Vietnam was the Colt/Armalite-produced 601/601. Issued with a green Bakelite stocks, the 601 featured a hard-chromed bolt carrier group and prong-type flash suppressor. It lacked the forward assist that was added two generations later to the M16A1 series, and the case deflector that appeared on the M16A2. The case deflector has definite merit, which cannot be said of the forward assist. Left-handed law enforcement M16s need the addition of an add-on to protect the shooters’ faces from cartridge case burns.
The rifle that preceded the M16 in combat in Vietnam was the Colt/Armalite-produced 601/601. Issued with a green Bakelite stocks, the 601 featured a hard-chromed bolt carrier group and prong-type flash suppressor. It lacked the forward assist that was added two generations later to the M16A1 series, and the case deflector that appeared on the M16A2. The case deflector has definite merit, which cannot be said of the forward assist. Left-handed law enforcement M16s need the addition of an add-on to protect the shooters’ faces from cartridge case burns.

There is one disadvantage for the C15A1 or any basic A1-pattern upper, and that is the lack of a case deflector when the gun is used by a left-handed shooter. If you want an A1-style AR and are left-handed, you will need to secure a bolt-on cartridge case deflector. They mount through the hole in the carry handle, don’t obstruct the operation of the weapon, and save your face from being burned beyond recognition by hot brass. Dillon Precision carries them for around $20.

Full-length ARs with the original pencil-thin barrel profile are rather hard to find these days, since everyone seems to want an M4 profile for the advantages they feel they gain with the shorter barrel and adjustable stock. DPMS is cataloging one that is very close to the original rifle format, the A1 Lite 20.

Not really a true A1 nor an A2, it is sort of a hybrid. The Lite 20 weighs in at 7.3 pounds (still heavier than an A1, but not by much), compared to the nine-pound heft of the standard A2-style rifle. Weight is saved by using a lightweight barrel and the A1-style carry handle and sight system, which drops nearly two pounds off the basic weapon load is significant.

There is a case deflector and forward assist, as well as a bayonet lug. The handguards are the modern round format, and the buttstock is the longer A2 style (can someone please start producing A1 buttstocks again?), which is a little long when body armor or heavy winter clothing is worn. In any event, the fixed A1 or A2 stocks have one final advantage over any collapsible M4-type stock, and that is the capability of delivering a last-ditch defensive strike with the buttstock.

1...310311312...436Page 311 of 436

MUST READ ARTICLES

Get The

Magazine

Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing.

Subscribe Now

Get The

Newsletter

Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com.

Sign Up

Get The

Book

Get the 79th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book.

Buy Now

Information

Subscriptions

Resources

Business