If you're a first-time gun buyer, you can easily get confused by all the jargon used to describe handgun actions.
Terms like single-action (SA), double-action (DA), double-action only (DAO), striker-fired or hammer-fired — and innumerable variations on these — are used by gun makers in catalogs and websites. They assume everybody knows what they're talking about.
I've never concerned myself too much with these definitions, instead preferring to handle the gun and see with my own eyes what it actually does: How the trigger feels, but more importantly how it resets, where it breaks, how the hammer cocks (if it has a hammer), and basically how the gun works.
A basic understanding of action types and functions will help you narrow down your search. Watch this video for a good overview of handgun action types. And then get to a gun store and try out several different types of handguns. See what you like, and then get on with more important matters, like regular practice.
John Linebaugh turned the big bore revolver world upside down in 1986 when he introduced his .500 Linebaugh five-shot revolver and the .500 Linebaugh cartridge.
At a time when handgun and ammunition makers were loading brass to the max, trying to see just how fast and far they could push a bullet, Linebaugh went old school. He built a revolver around the concept that a large bullet pushed at considerably less than “magnum” velocities would actually be a better hunting round, with less recoil and therefore better accuracy, with equal or better penetration. Now 57, Linebaugh shows no signs of slowing down. Working from his home-based shop outside of Cody, Wyoming, he runs a one-man operation making various handguns for hunters, collectors and all-around handgun shooters. Recently, he finished big bore revolver Number 1,000.
So what sparked your interest in big-bore handguns and creating your own? I moved to Wyoming in 1976. In the early 1980s, they legalized handgun hunting for big game. We couldn’t get the .454 Casull—it wasn’t in production yet—but I knew about it and the cartridge. So I started building my own guns on Dick Casull’s round. We used Abilene and Seville .45 Colt frames and some Rugers. I think we built 20 to 30 of those. We made our own .454 ammunition, too. From there, I began tinkering with bigger caliber bullets, an effort that eventually became the .500 Linebaugh.
But why create a new handgun at all? The .44 Remington Magnum had been around since the 1950’s. Why not just use that? The .44 Magnum is like a small V-8. What’s wrong with it? Nothing. It’s a small block Chevy. Going up and down the road, it’s fine. But you put a trailer on it? It can’t do it.
Can’t do what? From the shooting and testing I did, I found the .45 Colt, even though it has a lot less velocity, would outperform the .44 Magnum. Now, you plug the numbers in from the ballistics tables and mathematical models, and it all comes out in favor of the .44 Mag. But we just couldn’t get it to work on the range or in the field. The problem is, the faster you push a bullet, the faster it decelerates. It builds up a block of air in front of the bullet. Ultimately, less speed creates less resistance, creates more penetration. So with the .45 Colt and the .500 Linebaugh, you have about 25 percent less chamber pressure than the .44 Mag., less recoil and more control. All the testing I’ve done also found deeper penetration than the .44, too. My big bores run best at 1,200 to 1,300 feet per second. After that, you’re just gaining recoil and noise.
A trio of John Linebaugh custom sixguns.
Sounds like some heavy-duty physics. Learn this in college? I barely got through high school. Never went to college. I’m self-taught—with a great deal of help from some really good people such as Lee Jurras of Super Vel Cartridges, Dick Casull himself, dozens of other men all over the country who’ve been my friends for years and let me ask all sorts of questions and Hamilton Bowen, who is absolutely the greatest six-gun maker in the country today.
Did you grow up shooting and hunting? Actually, I grew up in what you’d have to call a “gun-free zone.” My dad’s cousin was hurt in a BB gun accident, and my grandmother refused to have any guns around. I sort of broke the mold.
What was your first gun? The first gun I personally owned was a 16-gauge, double-barreled Damascus shotgun. My first six gun was an old three-screw .357 Ruger Blackhawk with a 6 ½-inch barrel. I must’ve been about 15 or so when I got that.
So in 1986, the .500 Linebaugh comes out. What was the reaction? It was on the cover of Guns & Ammo. The orders came in and they’ve never stopped. To date, I’ve probably built about 400 of the .500 Linebaughs.
In 1988, you also added the .475 Linebaugh to the mix. Why did you develop that revolver? The .500 Linebaugh cartridge was originally built on the old .348 Winchester [rifle] brass. Just as the .500 Linebaugh was taking off, Winchester Ammunition informed me the cartridge was being discontinued. They told me they could make me the brass—but it would take an order of one million of them, minimum. No way I had that kind of money. So I started playing around with .45-70 brass, seeing if it might work. One night, I took a case, cut it and then machined a .475 key-style bullet out of a bolt, just to see if it would all fit. It worked. It was .500 at the case base and .497 at the neck. I had a new handgun round. Meantime, other companies started making brass for the .500.
If someone orders a handgun from you, how long does it take? Over a year right now. It’s been that way for years, backlogged like that. I’ve been especially busy these last few years, with the work and the travel and the seminars that I do. I don’t even get to do much hunting any more.
Speaking of which, what’s the biggest animal you’ve taken with your revolvers? I shoot a buffalo every year or so. I’ve got a buffalo on my wall right now that weighed over 1,000 pounds. I’ve killed a dozen antelope, four mule deer and 10 or 12 buffalo, all but one of them with a handgun. And I very seldom recover a bullet. They go right through the animal.
Even the buffalo? Yes, sir.
What’s your favorite, every day handgun? A .500 Linebaugh with a 4 ¾ inch barrel. That little gun doesn’t kick at all.
What’s the best thing about being the inventor and maker of the .475 and .500 Linebaugh revolvers? All the great people I’ve met, all the truly good friends I’ve made over the years. I’m thankful for the freedoms we do have in this country, and I try to take the time to enjoy them, to appreciate the sunrises and pay attention to the sunsets.
This article appeared in the February 25, 2013 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. For more information on John Linebaugh’s Custom Sixguns visit www.customsixguns.com.
Gun Digestthe Magazine is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. With a subscription toGun Digestthe Magazine, readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews, how-to instructions and Second Amendment issues.
Choosing the right scope can be more challenging than picking out a gun, due to all the options available today.
It is odd that more has not been written about gun scope models and options. Think about it: An accurate .308 rifle is … just an accurate .308 rifle.
With one scope it’s an adequate deer gun. Install a different style, say a forward-mounted high eye relief model, and it becomes a scout rifle. Or stick a tactical-style scope on that gun and you’ve got a 1,000+ meter tack-driver. That’s quite a difference.
You can start to see that even within these broad categories you’re only getting warmer.
Looking for a good value in a mid-priced deer scope? No problem. You only have hundreds of scope makers from which to choose, any one of which may offer literally dozens or hundreds of variations of scopes fitting that definition. And each year they introduce new models and features (just to keep you on your toes).
And we haven’t even started talking about reticles. Yet, as small a detail as a scope’s reticle may seem, it can make or break its function as it relates to your shooting goals.
Just deciding on magnification level can give any gun owner the sweats. There are variable power and fixed power.
Heck, different scopes speak completely different languages. There are MOA-based scopes, or Mil-reticle scopes with MOA-based turrets. There are ¼ MOA turrets, ½ MOA turrets and even 1MOA turrets or some combination thereof. It’s like the optical Tower of Babel.
Companies like Leatherwood Hi-Lux make excellent hunting scopes that are more affordable than some of the big name brands.
Then there are 1-inch tube scopes, 30mm, 34mm and — from our friends at Vortex Optics — 35mm tubes. Will you need a lot of elevation and windage travel for complex solutions to hit at long-range? Or will you sight-in your rifle once a year so you can shoot that buck on opening morning like you always do — from your stand on the edge of the pines at 75 paces?
There are other things. I like a 40mm objective on a low-sitting scope, but 50mm and 56mm are common choices, too. Does a big objective really let in that much more light? It’s a choice you’ll face.
If all this strikes you as overwhelming (it is) then take a deep breath and ask yourself a few simple questions: What is the most demanding task you will require of your rifle? Under what conditions do you expect to use your gun and optics? And how important, really, is brand loyalty at the end of the day?
Only you can answer these questions. And these are but a drop in the bucket of all the things you can and should consider. The main thing is, if you’re in the market for a new scope and feeling overwhelmed faced with so many options, all I can say is, welcome to the club.
And it’s a great club to be in — a genuine good problem to have. It means that we modern day shooters are blessed with innumerable quality scope choices for which we can window shop to our heart’s content. We truly are kids in the proverbial candy shop.
So, take your time, be realistic and study, study, study. Buy the thing and then forget about it. It’s time to get on with life. It’s time to go shooting.
Members Can Download the Handbook of Standard Reticle Patterns by Manufacturer, Compiled by D. Andrew Kopas
This handy 82-page reference contains diagrams of tactical reticles from all the major optics manufacturers. D. Andrew Kopas shares the digital handbook with members of tacticalgearmag.com and scout/snipers in all branches of the armed forces, police marksmanship units and civilian long-distance shooting disciplines.
A good sling and bipod are two of the three most important gun accessories you can add to any rifle.
These essential long gun upgrades and gun accessories are critical to better shooting.
I’ve been on a spring cleaning kick lately. I’m trying to pare down my gun accessories. It helps with cabin fever.
American shooters are too gadget-focused. Many gadgets are plastic and can break down when you need them most. They can also become a crutch — something upon which you become dependent. But there are some shooting accessories that truly are essential.
What Gun Accessories Do You Really Need?
Consider the Professional Hunter (PH) of Africa. This character exemplifies a practical and rugged utilitarianism. He works hard under a blistering sun. He walks, creeps and crawls over many thorn- and tick-infested miles. His rifle goes with him.
Leopards, with claws like razor blades, consume his nightmares — cats from hell that launch onto unsuspecting hunters, reducing them to piles of shredded flesh.
Indeed, his gun can harvest game, but what it absolutely must do is save his sorry hide.
It's precisely because the PH depends on his rifle at all times that he uses only what he needs. He can shoulder and shoot suddenly if a nasty cat pounces or a buffalo charges; or, he can take a careful shot at a trophy animal from a fair distance.
You can apply this same thinking to your own guns. Get away from the bench and take your rifle hunting. Lug it around. You’ll quickly discover what’s needed and what’s not.
That was my thinking when I lugged a 14-pound Army sniper rifle to the deer blind last season. Now, some might say that’s pushing the bounds of the absurd — and, I admit it sort of is — but it taught me there were three things I couldn’t do without: A sling, a bipod and shooting sticks.
All three of these gun accessories help you get a steady sight picture. And fast. The sling and bipod can be affixed to the rifle easily and don’t make the gun too cumbersome or heavy. What’s more, the sling does double-duty both as a carrying solution and as an additional rifle-steadying measure. The shooting sticks can be carried or set below the rifle to support its weight during a sit.
These three gun accessories help you shoot well in the most elementary fashion. Strive for simplicity. Use gear that helps you be a practical shooter. And chuck the rest.
Do all ARs look the same? Not the RRA LAR-15. It stands out apart from others on the shelf but blends in out in the woods.
The Rock River Arms LAR-15 is one AR that is made to seriously hunt.
It’s a fair observation that hunters have been among the last groups within the shooting community to fully embrace today’s modern tactical rifle platform and indeed, among a proud contingent of traditionalists who love their bolt actions and smooth contoured stocks and receivers, the love has still yet to be showered upon the platform. But these attitudes are certainly changing, more and more everyday, led primarily by the growing contingent of predator and hog hunters among the ranks, who were quick to recognize the AR’s amazing utility and put its standard chambering—the 5.56/.223—to work on game for which the caliber is up to the task.
Indeed, familiarity breeds fondness, and after more than a decade of highly publicized deployments of our military; news footage of our men and women in uniform valiantly serving in action; adrenaline-fueled video games, television shows and movies in which ARs are visibly employed; and their respected performance among the high-volume, competitive shooting crowd and now simply by plinkers on the range who love the look and rapid-fire fun of the firearm, the tactical rifle has become as ubiquitous as the bolt-action .30-06 or the semi-auto 12 gauge.
While the classic gun designs used primarily for the field and forest for generations still do their job just fine and will always maintain an air of beauty and form-to-function timelessness, the increased interest in and use of ARs among hunters has spawned a plethora of expanded chamberings and design features made to appeal and serve this important segment of the shooting market.
On that front, Rock River Arms LAR-15 in either their WYL-Ehide or PRK-Ehide finishes certainly delivers—and in a way that is one part novelty, two parts practical and all pure design genius. After completing my first book on which I wrote about ARs, I jokingly quipped to my publisher upon looking at the page layouts that to the casual enthusiast, we could have virtually used only a handful of rifles to illustrate the hundreds of AR models covered because for the most part—except for a rail here, a muzzle attachment there or the stock used—they all looked pretty much the same. That’s where this Rock River Arms (RRA) model departs from the crowd. It stands out visually among its competition on the shelf or at the range, but blends in in the field where it should.
The LAR-15 Hunter boasts all of the features a true tactical rifle fan will want in an AR with RRA’s nod to quality and design infused throughout.
To begin, the LAR-15 boasts a 16-inch chrome-moly lined barrel shrouded in a free-floated, half-quad rail that allows for multiple attachments on all sides at the fore end of the rail, but a comfortable ¾-grip aft. I like this design as it provides the utility of a full quad rail, but won’t chew up ungloved hands, particularly during frequent fire, like full-radius uncovered rails might. The barrel is fitted with a tactical muzzle brake to reduce flip and further reduce recoil for quick on-point follow-up shots.
The 1:9 twist is a good choice as it’s capable of delivering standard 55-grain or even slightly heavier bullets downrange accurately, yet launches the lighter 40-grain bullets designed for varmints more accurately than a 1:7. The gun is guaranteed to print 1 MOA at 100 yards.
Additional features include an LAR-15 lower paired with an M-4 upper, both forged, a low-profile gas block, an RRA two-stage trigger with a Winter trigger guard, Star safety selector and an RRA Operator CAR six-position adjustable stock and comfortable Hogue pistol grip. A 10-round magazine is included.
What really separates this rifle from the standard AR is the anodized Ehide digital finish. The WYL-Ehide design mimics the fur of a coyote, while the PRK-Ehide is a precise image of a wild hog’s coarse hair. Unlike other many other camo finishes, these patterns aren’t dipped or a rolled on appliqué, but rather digitally integrated in the hard-coat anodized finish. The process makes the pattern much more durable and prevents it from chipping over time from rugged field use or wearing from harsh cleaning compounds.
It certainly gives the rifle a unique look from other ARs, which in an increasingly competitive market may not make as much a difference in the field as the gun’s shooting ability, as it will on the store shelf and in the company of other interested shooters clamoring to check out your new rifle.
The LAR-15 is only available in 5.56/.223, a great chambering for coyote-sized game and smaller, and certainly in use and adequate for dispatching hogs. But for the latter, I’d love to see a future offering in some slightly harder hitting options in perhaps 6.8mm SPC or 300 AAC Blackout. For now though, this gun will definitely hunt.
FNH USA introduces a new, improved .45-caliber handgun for the civilian market. Gun Digest got the scoop on the new FNX-45.
If you were in the market for a new semi-auto pistol, what features would be the most important to you? Would reliability top your list? How about a high magazine capacity? Perhaps you like guns that are easy to maintain; or maybe accuracy is the most important factor when purchasing a new gun.
FNH-USA’s line of semi-auto handguns meet all of the criteria listed above, and if you don’t believe me, just ask one of the hundred-plus militaries and police agencies around the world currently carrying FNH-USA guns. FNH-USA’s products have earned a reputation among those who stake their life and liberty on the guns they carry, which is as solid a recommendation as there is as far as I’m concerned. The FN semi-auto consumer line consists of both striker-fired models (which wear the FNS label) and traditional double-actions (those with an FNX designation). The striker-fired semis are available in 9mm and .40 S&W, while the double-action FNX line is available in 9 and .40, and now the .45 auto.
Military-Grade Performance for Civilians
The company’s latest offering, officially debuting at the 2013 SHOT Show, is the FNX-45, a .45-caliber FNX offering modeled after the FNP-45 service pistol, which was introduced in 2007 under the U.S. Joint Combat Pistol Program (JCP). Like the FNP, the FNX-45 is a double-action/single-action hammer-driven semi-auto with a manual safety and decocker.
Both the safety and the decocker as well as the magazine release are ambidextrous on the FNX and FNP, meaning southpaw shooters will have no problem handling the pistol.
Other key features include a stainless steel slide and barrel, checkered polymer frame, multiple interchangeable backstraps with lanyard eyelets and a MIL-STD 1913 mounting rail on the underside that accepts tactical lights and lasers. Atop the FNX-45 are low profile fixed combat sights. In fact, with regard to function and styling, the FNP-45 and the FNX-45 are identical; the only difference is that the FNP models were built to NATO specifications and the new FNX model has slightly different interior dimensions to reliably feed a wider variety of commercial ammunition.
The FNX-45 will come in two color finishes–matte black and silver or flat dark earth and matte black.
Built for Reliability
While the FNX-45 wasn’t yet available for testing at the time of this writing, I have enjoyed range time with the FNP-45, the FNX’s predecessor. The FNP-45 I tested was factory stock with no special modifications, and shooting it, I got a glimpse at how the FNX will be received. First, the manual safety and decocker are easy to use and well positioned. You can carry the gun cocked and on safe, then release the safety by pressing the lever down one notch and decock with another, farther push. The whole process is simple and straightforward. I also liked the availability of the interchangeable backstraps, which allow the shooter to choose between a deeper grip and a thinner one.
FNH-USA’s impressive client list, which includes our own Department of Defense, is a clear indication that the company builds guns that keep on shooting no matter what. The FNP-45 I tested ate every type of ammo and continued to cycle smoothly throughout the test. With the FNX designed to be even more accommodating, reliability should be superb.
Throughout the duration of the test, the pistol was fired without cleaning and cycled without a single jam. Of special note was how well the semi-auto handled.
In a tense situation how well a gun handles means more than accuracy, fit and finish or, for that matter, cost. The handgun handled particularly great when fully loaded, balanced nicely in the hand and came to point naturally. It doesn’t take long for one of these guns to become an extension of your arm, which is probably part of the reason other FNH USA models are, and no doubt soon this one will be, popular among the three-gun crowd.
The FNX-45 is also designed to be quick and easy to disassemble and reassemble, which I believe is one of the most important qualities in a semi-auto. Pull the slide back, lock it, rotate the release button in a clockwise direction and slowly release the slide. It slips forward and falls apart in the hand, simple as that.
For the shooter concerned about shot capacity, the FNX-45 is a good gun to have along since it has a double stack magazine capable of holding up to 15 .45 cartridges. The engineers at FNH-USA certainly took into account the weight of the loaded magazine when designing this gun because when unloaded, the FNP I tested seemed a bit front-heavy, but with a loaded magazine in place it really shined.
The FNX-45 promises to be a workhorse made to keep shooting, again and again, over and over. They’ll be on store shelves soon, but it’s a good bet, with the interest sure to follow from avid shooters, they won’t stay there long.
FNH-USA FNX-45 Caliber: .45 ACP Operation: Double-Action/Single-Action (DA/SA) Frame Color: Flat Dark Earth (FDE) or Black Slide Finish: Matte Black or Matte Silver Sights: Fixed 3-Dot Magazines: 10 or 15 rounds Weight: 33.2 oz. O/A Length: 7.9” Barrel Length: 4.5” MSRP: $809 Contact: fnhusa.com
This article appeared in the January 28, 2013 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Gun Digestthe Magazine is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. With a subscription toGun Digestthe Magazine, readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews, how-to instructions and Second Amendment issues.
Panic can lead to shutting down in survival situations. Learn how to control fear before that ever happens.
Your Worst Enemy: How to Control Fear
It's said that survival is partially a mental game. That's actually incorrect.
It's almost entirely a mental game.
Go ahead, buy all the gear you want. But if you don't know how to control fear, all the fancy knives and freeze-dried chemistry in the world won't make a bit of different. You'll be too out of yourself to use them.
In order to prevent panic, we must understand how to control fear. We now know some of the fears that affect people in a survival situation. But that is not enough.
Mark Twain once said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.”
We must learn how to control fear, so panic does not have a chance to control us.
When fear strikes, we know we must act immediately. Don’t run from it, but recognize and admit it. To prevent the physical symptoms of fear from setting in, there are several things you can do.
How to Control Fear: B-R-E-A-T-H-E
People tend to hold their breath when frightened, so breathe, breathe, breathe! Breathing prevents hyperventilation. Take slow, deep breaths to establish a regular breathing pattern, which will help you relax.
How to Control Fear: Stay Loose
People also have a tendency to freeze when frightened. The breathing helps you to relax, which helps prevent you from becoming tense. Tense muscles can add to anxiety by reinforcing fear. To know how to control fear is also to understand your body.
How to Control Fear: Move Around
Some people spend a lot of mental energy worrying about wild animal attacks in the outdoors. But such attacks are rare and generally not concerning. Being educated helps control fear by focusing energy on what matters.
Move! When people freeze in the middle of a threatening situation it results in inaction. To break this natural instinct, move. Doing something will lessen the dread of the fear and help you restore confidence in yourself.
Staying busy also keeps your mind busy and away from the negative aspects of the situation that reinforce the fear.
How to Control Fear: Be Prepared
Another way to limit fear is by being prepared to survive! I have always been an advocate of carrying the basic essentials for survival with me whenever I leave the safety of my immediate surroundings, or what I call the “safety zone.”
I always wear, or have with me, proper clothing for a change of weather. Many times when I am hiking it starts to rain. While continuing on my way wearing the rain gear I keep with me, I pass others in a soaked t-shirt and jeans.I have seen these same unprepared hikers on a hot sunny day without any signs of having water with them.
Preparedness also includes knowledge and training in regard to handling a survival situation. I have “beat a dead horse to death” over the years advocating the necessity of practicing with your survival kit and learning the skills of survival. Being properly equipped is not enough; knowing how to use the equipment is also critical.
In John Leach’s book, Survival Psychology, he states, “Familiarity with the use and handling of survival equipment is also essential during training. Unfamiliarity with equipment stops people from using it. Victims have been recovered from life rafts with a survival box (containing flares, rations, first-aid kit and so on) unopened and the necessary contents unused.”
Carry the essentials to survive and be comfortable with their use.
How to Control Fear: Physical Fitness
Lastly, stay physically fit. The combination of preparation, knowledge and fitness for survival develops confidence in yourself and your ability to face your fears in a survival situation.
Add all these factors up, and you'll be well on your way to understanding how to control fear.
Gun Digestthe Magazine is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. With a subscription toGun Digestthe Magazine, readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews, how-to instructions and Second Amendment issues.
It used to be that if I wanted ammo for my .280 Ackley Improved, I needed to shoot .280 Remington in order to fireform it and then reload it. Now, Nosler Custom offers .280 Ackley ammo – and the stuff is darn accurate!
I don’t reload as much as I used to, thanks to limited free time, but equally at fault is the fact that factory ammo has become so good. This is especially true when it comes to match-grade ammo.
One benefit of reloading precision rifle ammunition is the ability to customize loads for your rifle. Benchrest shooters are renown for this level of exactness. They’ll weigh out cases and bullets and discard any component that doesn’t fall within their self-imposed tolerances.
I don’t take it to this level. For one thing, I’m not a benchrest shooter. I enjoy banging steel or shooting IDPA targets at long range. At six football fields distant, I celebrate when I shoot a respectable MOA-sized group.
For handgunning, I still like to reload the .44 magnum. My favorite handgun load for deer is a genuine 250- or 300-grain “Keith-style” lead bullet design. These suckers kill big game today just like they did in the good ‘ol days for Elmer.
I can buy ammo loaded with the little sledgehammers — and I just might if time gets any tighter — but for now I’ve got an accurate recipe and the dies are all set up just right. So, go ahead and make my day.
Meanwhile, my .280 Ackley Improved requires .280 Remington ammo be shot for fireforming, after which it is then reloaded at Ackley levels. Having done my fair share of this, it’s refreshing that I can buy Nosler Custom .280 AI ammo that just happens to be extremely accurate in my gun.
For defensive handgunning, much shooting can and should be done to improve proficiency. An easy-going target load cranked out on a progressive press would make this endeavor more affordable. Unfortunately, reloading components — just like AR-15s and Glocks — are in short supply.
So for now I’m scrounging factory handgun ammo just like everyone else.
Which has inspired this thought: Factory ammo has gotten so good in recent years that a case could be made that it eclipses the benefits of handloading.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and tell me your thoughts.
Windham Weaponry AR-15 rifles are just what you'd expect out of this long-time manufacturer from Maine: Top quality and great shooters. Here's a look at the Windham Weaponry Special Build 02.
As happens often when one company gets bought out by another, operations are merged for cost reductions and efficiencies and all too often, the result is somebody loses their job. Such was the case when Bushmaster was bought several years back. Manufacturing that had been performed at the company’s factory in rural Windham, Maine, was moved out of state and workers were laid off. That might have been the end of the story. But not for former Bushmaster owner, Richard Dyke, who decided to come out of retirement and help put his former employees back to work doing what they know best: producing top-quality AR-15 rifles.
The Special Build
I hiked 50 yards into the forest and wired a rusty cast-iron skillet to a tree. It had just started snowing when I laid the Windham Weaponry SB02 in the grass and tossed an extra magazine next to it and went inside. It was all part of my weather test.
After 4 inches of snow covered the ground, I brushed off the rifle and lifted the front sight and rear dual aperture Diamondhead flip-up sight. Each sight locked solid despite being gummed with snow. I pulled out the telescoping stock, shouldered the rifle, clicked the safety off and aimed at the makeshift target swaying in the blustery wind. The .223 bullet smacked the iron skillet as the snowy woods swallowed the sharp noise. The crusted snow and ice did not hamper any of the functions of the rifle.
The SB02 stands for Special Build. The SB02 is one of many AR rifles produced by Windham Weaponry and is marketed towards the law enforcement audience, partly because of the Diamondhead 2-Piece aluminum handguard with quad rails. The conventional thinking is that police will want to trick out their rifle with lasers, bipods and flashlights — but so do civilians. Dismissing the idea that some guns are better suited for police and not for regular folks, the SB02 is a great versatile rifle for anyone — cop, hunter, competition shooter or home defender.
The .223 Myth
Weeks before, I tested the SB02 right before deer season. That is the worst time of year to visit a gun range since so many hunters are sighting in their deer rifles. I was the only one there with an AR-15-style rifle. It drew many odd looks, and I was asked a few times if I was going to hunt deer with it. Unfortunately, the .223 is not a legal cartridge for hunting whitetail deer in Wisconsin, the state where I live. The idea that the .223 is not a viable caliber for deer is an old myth as hunters in other states where it is legal have proven it as a deadly cartridge. If it were legal in my home state, I would not hesitate to take the SB02 into the woods.
Made-in-America Match Up
I attached a 1.5-6x40mm Burris Xtreme Tactical Riflescope (XTR-156) to the SB02. This Burris scope is an ideal match-up with AR-15 rifles. Burris scopes are known to be rugged and can take some of the roughest treatment in the optics world as the XTR tubes are 30mm, resulting in reported 25 percent thicker main tubes and 42 percent more strength. Inside the housing there is some high technology going on. Besides being waterproof, fogproof and shockproof, the lenses have a StormCoat finish, which causes water to bead up and shed off the lens.
While shooting quite a number of experimental rounds during testing, I adjusted the turret-mounted parallax adjustment system and got familiar with the Ballistic 7.62 Reticle. Once I got it zeroed in, I was shooting sub-1-inch five-shot groups at 100 yards with Hornady TAP ammo.
As I hiked back and forth across the range with the other hunters to fetch our targets, some were curious about how this so-called black rifle was shooting. After inspecting the evidence — the tight groups punched in the paper — they figured this .233 AR-15 might make a fine deer rifle after all.
Windham Weaponry SB-02 Model Number: R16M4FTT-SB02 Caliber: .223 Rem. / 5.56mm NATO Action: Semi-Auto, Gas Impingement Capacity: 30 + 1 Round Magazine Safety: Manual Lever with Indicator Markings Both Sides of Receiver Receiver: M4A4 Type Flat Top Upper Receiver Receiver Material: Forged 7075 T6 Aircraft Aluminum with Aluminum Trigger Guard Receiver Finish: Hardcoat Black Anodized Finish Bolt Material: Carpenter 158 Steel – MP/HP Tested Barrel: 16” M4 Profile, Chrome Lined with A2 Flash Suppressor Barrel Material: 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium 11595E Steel, M4 Feed Ramps Rifling: 1 Turn in 9” – Right Hand Twist Pistol Grip: A2 Black Plastic Grip Weight: 6.55 lbs. (without magazine) Length Overall: 36.125” (32.375” collapsed) MSRP: $1,480 Website: windhamweaponry.com
This article originally appeared in the January 28, 2013 issue of the newly-redesigned Gun Digest the Magazine.
Squirrels are the perfect survival food, and they taste better than you'd think. And best of all, chasing the little critters is a whole lot of fun. It's time to rethink squirrel hunting.
Name the wild game that can meet these requirements:
* Is found abundantly throughout North America * Has generous hunting seasons * Is able to sustain high levels of hunting without a population collapse * Can be hunted using inexpensive rimfire ammunition * Is high in protein * Lives in urban, suburban and rural areas * Has a mild taste that isn't “gamey” * Eats only plant matter * Is easy to hunt compared to most other game * Requires minimal processing to eat
No, this isn't the legendary snipe hunt to nowhere. I'm talking about squirrels. It's time to rethink squirrel hunting.
I know, I know, you're already cuing the theme song to “Deliverance” in your head. There are plenty of stereotypes about eating squirrel. Throw them away. Look at this small game animal from a self-sufficiency standpoint.
Squirrel Hunting: The Ideal Survival Food
Squirrels are the ideal survival food. They're everywhere, and it doesn't take a ton of effort to hunt them. You can use that emergency .22 rifle or handgun. They only need a couple months to reproduce. And unlike rabbits, they'll sit on a branch and ask you to shoot them.
Cast aside any delusions about relying only on big game during an extended crisis. Any deer hunter knows how perceptive these animals are to human pressure. Now imagine everyone and their brother heading to the woods for dinner. Your odds are better to take the “low-hanging fruit” in your backyard and go squirrel hunting.
I recently went squirrel hunting in Minnesota to experience this for myself. The photos chronicle some of the highlights.
The hunt was also a reminder of my roots, as I'm sure it is for many hunters. Only a few generations ago, my immigrant relatives were dirt poor and eating whatever they could find. It's no coincidence that my family has a catalog of squirrel recipes. The self-sufficiency they practiced to survive in a new country offers plenty of lessons for today.
Squirrel Hunting in the ‘Burbs
To rural folks, squirrel hunting is nothing new. But if you're living in urban or suburban areas, take note. This is 100 percent organic, free-range, sustainable protein that will get you to the clear side of a disaster. And you're living in squirrel central.
Trust me, squeamish urbanites, it's what you'll be eating anyway if the SHTF. Better to prepare now. Get your hands on a .17 or .22 rifle and get to squirrel hunting.
How Does it Taste?
Squirrel tastes mild and mellow, without a hint of gaminess. I won't say it tastes like chicken, but it is pretty close to grouse. The meat is clean on the tongue and finishes smooth. No need to chug a beverage to keep it down.
Preparing the meat is simple. Make a vertical cut down the sides. Pull half the skin off and over the head. Then pull the other half down toward the tail. Chop off the four legs.
It is possible with larger squirrels to cook the whole body. But in most cases, the legs (especially the rear pair) are where the meat is concentrated.
Dredge the legs in seasoned flour, then fry in oil. Eat them just like chicken wings. It doesn't get any simpler than that.
It's time to rethink squirrel hunting. Give it a try and discover why it's the ideal survival food.
Gun Digestthe Magazine is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. With a subscription toGun Digestthe Magazine, readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews, how-to instructions and Second Amendment issues.
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