Gun Review: Armalite Super S.A.S.S.

July 27, 2009

The Armalite Semi-Auto Sniper System is based on an AR10 lower and flat top upper, with many accurizing modifications.

Dave Morelli takes a look at the Armalite Super S.A.S.S. – an AR-10-style semi-auto sniper system that rocks, and is super accurate.

The bolt-action rifle has traditionally been the base for the sniper rifle. The locking of the bolt with enlarged lugs perfectly fitted by a skilled craftsman and the rugged simplicity of the repeating system has made the bolt-action favored by weekend sportsmen and professional tactical operator.

The semi auto, while offering a higher magazine capacity and faster rate of fire, has always suffered because of the tuning of all the moving parts and springs that have to be kept functioning in match-grade condition.

There also is the temptation to fall back on the fact that there are additional rounds available and not take each shot with the same precision as if it was the only bullet.

TRU Group I shot a ¾-minute group with the SASS using Federal TRU (Tactical Ri?e, Urban) the Federal Police Tactical shot just over a minute group. — TRU Group I shot a ¾-minute group with the SASS using Federal TRU (Tactical Rifle, Urban) the Federal Police Tactical shot just over a minute group. Both are acceptable groups and with some practice with the system tighter groups should be possible.

Yet the semi-auto has a place in the modern world and the U.S. military is actively seeking to deploy a semi-auto sniper rifle. That military interest has prompted many manufacturers to get in the game and produce sniper-grade quality like the Armalite S.A.S.S. (Semi-Auto Sniper System).

I tested one of Armalite’s AR-10 .308 rifles several months ago and really liked the rifle. The SASS is based on the AR-10 lower with flat-top upper and many modifications. The foregrip is a four-rail picatinny type system for adding necessities and allows the 20-inch stainless match-grade barrel to float free.

The barrel on the model I fired is fitted with a mock Advanced Armament Corporation suppressor type apparatus that wasn’t sound restricting but would hold down muzzle flash. In a police or military environment or where legal it could be fitted with a sound suppressor for quiet shooting and improved velocity and reduced recoil.

The unused sections of the rails are covered with rubberized tops that protect the hands and the rails. The lower rail of the fore grip was used for an A.R.M.S. quick-detach bipod attachment that was affixed to a Harris bi-pod. I really like the Harris bipod. It is a quality pod at an economic price.

The Super SASS has an adjustable gas block for precisely adjusting gas flow for consistency and reliable operation. This is an important adjustment to regulate the recoil gasses and is helpful adjusting the gas when shooting the SASS with a suppressor. The Magpul Precision Rifle Stock adds adjustment to the Super SASS stock. It adjusts for cheek height and length of pull with calibrated dial knobs that are easy to get to and readjust in the field if necessary. I really like the easy adjustment because sometimes I would have to get into a shooting position dictated by the environment that would be more comfortable with some slight readjustment. Adjustments that involve screws and moving parts that need a screwdriver don’t offer this advantage.

The lower end of the buttstock also has a rail for accessories like a sling swivel or other leveling attachment that certain shooting situations might dictate. The already accurate SASS was fitted with a Leupold Mark LR/T 3.5-10x40mm scope.

This scope was equipped with M3 dials which have ½ minute windage adjustments and 1 minute elevation. It also was equipped with .308 Win drop compensation numbers on the elevation dial. The 30mm main tube gives better light transmission and increased elevation and windage adjustments.

Your average scope usually offers enough windage adjustment but on a long-range rifle, those elevation adjustment can become mighty dear as the distance increases. I have never run out but extras are always appreciated.

The scope has an illuminated reticule that lights the Mil Dot portion. It also disappears in bright light when it is not needed and lights up when aiming at darker areas. The scope, like all Leupold products, has great clarity and light transmission and is a quality rugged optic.

The scope is attached with A.R.M.S. quick-detach rings so that the flip up rear sight and optional front sight could be used to meet the circumstances that might require peep sight shooting.

Even though this gun is designed to be a long-range semi auto it is still a semi auto capable of laying down sustained fire when needed. Being able to quickly take the restricting scope off for close-quarter defense should the need arise is a great feature. The improved magazines for the SASS were improvised designs from the M-14 style sniper weapon. They are rugged and less likely to malfunction.

They are also short enough to shoot comfortably from a prone position and still have 20 rounds. The improved ruggedness would be my primary concern so they would survive and function in the toughest of circumstances.

The SASS system comes with six 20-round magazines and a 10-rounder. Also included are a sling and cleaning kit all wrapped up in a Starlight Cases hard case.

The rifle has to be taken down to fit in the cutout foam lining but that is the best way to transport the system. I would recommend a soft tactical bag from Blackhawk or a similar outfit for a drag system to carry the gun to duty location.

How the Rifle Performed

I couldn’t wait to take the Super SASS out and heat up the barrel. When I put the trigger scale on the trigger and it weighed in at a crisp 4.5 pounds. The two-stage match trigger had some light take up then it was ready to drop. I keep my precision rifles at 3 pounds so it took some getting used to but it was a smooth, crisp trigger.

The action was smooth and the extended handle made the gun easier to charge with the scope on. Shouldering the 13-pound package had a familiar feel as it is based on an AR design. I packed up some Federal Police Tactical and TRU (Tactical Rifle Urban) and headed out.

I assembled the rifle at the range. Again, being based on the AR the upper and lower popped to-gether quickly and the rifle was ready for action. The A.R.M.S. quick detach accessory on the bi-pod jumped on the lower rail. The scope in stored in the case attached to the upper.

It was a great day, 0-3 mph wind at my back and about 79 degrees F. I shot off of a bench using the Harris bi-pod and a sandbag under the butt. The rifle was rock solid. I would have preferred a fatter pistol grip on the gun but that’s just a personal thing as I have become accustomed to the fat pistol grips on bolt rifle stocks.

Anyone working with a rifle in a sniper position would get accustomed to the grip. The fatter grip makes my hand fit better and helps me to place only the tip of my finger on the trigger. As this is a modification that would tailored to each individual I could see Armalite’s wisdom in letting the sniper change the pistol grip to fit his hand.

The first couple groups I shot with the Federal Police Tactical ammo. This is a 168-grain soft-nose bullet of match quality. The ammo functioned flawlessly in the semi-auto action and the bolt cycled with a positive feel to it.

Leupold Mark Scope on Armalite SASS. The Leupold Mark Scope has half-minute windage and one-minute elevation adjustments with easy-to-read numbers. The A.R.M.S. quick detachable rings allow the scope to be easily removed to access peep sight system and replaced to zero.

I didn’t fiddle with the adjustable gas block as the rifle functioned great and the recoil seemed a bit milder than a bolt .308. I think it is a valued modification though as adjustments could be made if there was a problem with the addition of suppressor or if the sniper was using subsonic loads.

The groups with this ammo were just a bit larger than one minute. I shot five-shot groups instead of three because that is what my department required and I have adopted that way. I thought that was acceptable for not having worked with the rifle for a training period. I shot up a box of the Tactical ammo giving the barrel time to cool in between shots so every shot was more like a cold shot the police sniper strives for.

The Federal TRU ammo is a hollow point bullet also 168 grains and designed to break up quicker in an urban environment, minimizing over-penetration problems. Both of these bullets have a boat-tail design.

I think the best performance that can be achieved in the .308 is with a 165- or 168-grain boat-tail bullet. The 175 bullet is gaining popularity for longer range as its extra weight will help it make the long journey, but my department used Federal Match ammo exclusively in the sniper rifles and our five-shot weekly qualification groups were in the half minute category.

For the military sniper where the distances are longer the heavier bullet may be a better choice, but in the police environment shots would be much shorter. The TRU ammo produced a ¾ minute group. That’s perfectly acceptable for a police sniper rifle and that group most likely could be shrunk down a bit more with constant practice. The semi auto sniper system is definitely accurate enough to be an addition to the modern police tactical unit.

With the additional threat that the police may encounter terrorist activity in the course of their duties, having a sniper system with additional firepower is an advantage. The semi auto has come a long way and is proving itself in battle and on the street. The Armalite Super SASS is definitely a system to look into if a police tactical unit wants to add a semi-auto sniper system to the team.

One Good Gun: The Savage 99

Jim Romanelli

July 27, 2009

You don’t hear much about the Savage Model 99 or the 300 Savage cartridge anymore, but when I was a youngster in the 1950s farm country of Pennsylvania it was a pretty popular combination.

My first introduction to that outfit was by an uncle who, since the early 1940s, owned a Savage M99G (featherweight take-down) in the 30-caliber chambering and, years later, installed a 4X Weaver scope on its deck.

My earliest recollection was seeing that rifle leaning in his closet and always hoping that one day I’d be allowed to give it a try. Every time I asked, the answer was that I was a little too young and had to wait ’til I got a little more meat on my bones.

Compact and fast-handling, the customized Savage ’99 worked well in the deer woods.

I was 11 years old when I finally got to fire that rifle. It happened when my Dad and I were at my uncle’s farm while he was in the middle of his “sighting-in session,” just before the deer season.

Uncle Dick put a piece of plywood with a white circle painted on it (about 10 inches in diameter) out around 100 yards. From a rest on the hood of his old Ford he hit that circle two out of two shots, and my Dad proceeded to do the same. As you can tell, they weren’t interested in tack-driving, only in what it took to put venison on the table. On our way back from the target, Uncle Dick must have seen that sorry-eyed Bassett hound look on my face when I saw him nudge my father and nod towards me.

I heard Dad say, “I don’t see why not.” Then my Uncle asked, “Jim, you want to see if you can hit anything with this?” Well, I couldn’t have been any more surprised than if I had been struck by lightning. I was only about 10 feet behind them, but I know that I broke the sound barrier in closing that distance.

We were only about 50 yards away from the target when he handed me the Savage. It seemed to weigh a ton compared to the Daisy BB gun and the Remington Model 121 22LR that I was allowed to shoot. He showed me how to open and close the action, load the magazine and put the safety on. There were some other instructions on breathing, holding steady and sight picture that I barely heard since I couldn’t get over the excitement of actually holding the rifle that I was only allowed to look at for the past 11 years.

He handed me a cartridge, I loaded it and thought that I’d go one better than both my Uncle and Dad by trying the shot offhand. I’ll never forget seeing the target through the scope and trying to keep those crosshairs from dancing around. Keep in mind that I was only 11 years old and didn’t weigh 80 pounds soaking wet…so when I finally pulled the trigger, a little more happened than I expected.

All I remember was a hell of a belt, seeing my uncle holding onto the scope – and the both of them belly-laughing while I was on the ground wondering what happened. As I recall, Dad said “There’s a hole in the corner of the plywood.” That was bullseye enough for me and I could feel my chest swell with pride almost as fast as my shoulder did from the pain of that steel buttplate. I can remember my Uncle saying, “Jim, if that had been an elephant, we’d be having tail soup for supper.”

Although I was more than game to try another shot, I was lucky to have two adults around with common sense to override my enthusiasm. The rest of the day, my left arm reminded me of my graduation into the centerfires. As the years passed, I grew a little bigger and become less sensitive to recoil. I got into the fad of faster, flatter-shooting cartridges housed in more modern bolt rifles topped with variable-power range-finding scopes.

Whenever my Uncle saw me with a new rifle and equipment he’d ask, “Where’s the safari, Jim?” His opinion was that if a deer couldn’t be got with the Savage – along with a little woods savvy – then that deer couldn’t be got at all.

He would make that point time and again by harvesting 95 percent of his deer within 50 yards. That other five percent proved that if you have only one rifle and know how to shoot it well, that variable scopes and belted magnum trajectories weren’t necessary. I once saw him shoot twice at a doe out past 300 yards and put her down on the spot. A quick post-mortem showed the bullets struck her in the neck and chest.

It wasn’t until 1988 that his statement came to haunt me. I was in a little gun shop browsing the racks and spotted a couple of Savage Model 99s in the 300 Savage chambering. One was a Model F in nice condition and the other was customized in the Mannlicher style, with a 20-inch barrel chambered for the 300 Savage cartridge, and wearing a Weaver K2.5X scope.

It was love at first sight and the next day I was back at the gun shop, trading in one of my heavy tack-driving bolt guns with its 3-12X variable scope. The rifle’s serial number put the Savage’s date of manufacture around 1954, but when it was customized I’ll never know. I brought it to my local gunsmith to see what he could tell me and he believed that it was customized at the factory, by the evidence of the matching wood and tell-tale Savage checkering.

I have found this little Savage has never exceeded 1 1/2-inch groups at 100 yards with either 150- or 180-grain bullets and that the K2.5X scope is no hindrance when shooting a practical field ranges (point-blank to 200+yds.). I don’t mind saying that its recoil is a lot lighter than what I remember from 30 years earlier.

If I need to take a shot beyond 200 yards, then I think I need to learn to hunt a little better. It is by far the handiest rifle I have ever handled. In the past 10 years it has been my woods companion through many miles, and it looks it with the honest dings and scratches earned from the thick brushy areas I hunt. Every one of those scars is a reminder of a memorable hunt to harvest a little venison for the table.

My Uncle has long since passed into the happy hunting ground, but I tend to agree with him that this little custom Savage M99 Mannlicher is all the rifle I’ll ever need.

This article is an excerpt from the Gun Digest 2009 Annual.

Gun Sales Still Off the Charts

Gun Digest Editors

July 27, 2009

Requests for firearms background checks, a good barometer of gun purchases in Wisconsin, are on pace to best 193,000, according to FBI data. Federal authorities handled 96,917 background checks in the first six months of 2009, about 16 percent ahead of the same period last year.

Dan Gussart, owner of Gus's Guns on E. Mason Street, said handguns are the strongest sellers — when he can get them in stock. Inventory of handguns and some rifles is scarce across the country, he said.

Most buyers say the election of a Democrat to the White House in President Barack Obama and fears of possible restrictions of firearm sales are behind their purchases, Gussart said.

“We're getting a lot of people who never had a gun who come in and say, ‘I'm going to get one in case they say I can't have one anymore,'” Gussart said. “And with the economy being crappy, they think, ‘If things get rough, I want to be able to protect myself.' That mentality is out there.”

Calls to Wisconsin's background check hot line — a requirement for all handgun purchases — are up 40 percent for the first six months of 2009 compared with the same period last year. The boon started in November, but the high point came in March with 7,606 requests. Read more

Source: postcrescent.com

Chicago Police Applaud Armed Self-Defense

Gun Digest Editors

July 27, 2009

And so was his companion. Since the people who defended their lives with a handgun were what National Gun Rights Examiner David Codrea might call “Only Ones,” it was politically safe even for high-ranking “exempt” members of the Chicago and Markham police departments to praise their courage and decisiveness, and no one felt obligated to make the standard political statements that always seem to follow any incident where a plain old citizen defends herself from a robber, a rapist, murderer or mugger:

“Although it happened to work out for the best this time, we do not encourage civilians to take the law into their own hands,” or . . .
“It's usually a lot safer just to give them what they want and comply with all their commands,” . . .
“It's great that this citizen was able to defend herself, but this is the sort of thing you should really leave to the police. We'd rather you call 911 and be a good witness.”

Clearly, all available evidence indicates that the defenders in this case did the right thing. Once you're outnumbered and under deadly attack in some dark backyard, it's a little late to call the cavalry for help.

In fact, the case was considered so straightforward that Chicago detectives questioned the shooter, the Cook County State's Attorney's office declared the shooting justified, and the Markham Police Department is already talking about how soon the shooter can return to work–all in the same day.

All that is appropriate; the shooter earned his congratulations and his hassle-free trip through the legal process by responding with alacrity and precision to a lethal attack. Chicago police are being exhorted to “be warriors” by their bosses, and that's what this Markham officer apparently did. Everybody won in this situation, in short, except the people who failed so spectacularly at victim selection.

Happy ending, freeze frame on laughter, roll credits and let's switch to a commercial while we cue up the next bit. Read more

Source: Chicago Gun Rights Examiner

National CCW Vote Fails by 2

Gun Digest Editors

July 24, 2009

The amendment to a major defense-authorization bill attracted 58 votes – including 20 Democrats – but fell two short of the supermajority needed to defeat a promised filibuster by opponents. Two Republicans, Sen. Richard G. Lugar of Indiana and George V. Voinovich of Ohio, joined 35 Democrats and two independents in voting to strip the gun provision from the bill.

“This is one of those times when the defeat of legislation is actually a victory,” said Sen. Robert Menendez, New Jersey Democrat. “For families who don't want to have to worry about who might be hiding a gun every time they take their kids to school, go to the supermarket or go to work, this is a big victory in the name of safety.”

Sen. John Thune, South Dakota Republican, sponsored the amendment. Among those backing him was Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat.

Guns have proved a politically tricky issue for the Democrat-led Congress as leaders in both the House and Senate have tried to avoid votes on the issue for fear they would pass with the help of Democrats from Western and Southern states.

Indeed, Second Amendment advocates led by the National Rifle Association won a victory earlier this session when Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, added to a credit card consumer-protection bill a measure that would allow people to carry guns in some national parks.

Separately, a Senate amendment that would eliminate most of the District of Columbia's gun laws has all but killed a congressional voting rights bill for the city as leaders in the House would rather table it than risk passage with the gun provision included.

Adding to the political heat in Wednesday's vote was the fact that the NRA announced it would “score” the vote as a part of its overall measure of how lawmakers vote on critical gun issues.

Mr. Thune and other supporters argued that the concealed-weapon proposal would reduce violence and enable truck drivers and travelers to protect themselves as they crossed state lines.

“Criminals commit crimes; that's what they do. Criminals kill people. This isn't directed at criminals – this is directed at law-abiding citizens who want to protect themselves,” Mr. Thune said.

Under the amendment, an individual with a permit to carry a concealed firearm in his state of residence would have been able to take his gun across state lines, but then would have to abide by that state's gun laws. Read more

Source: washingtontimes.com

National Concealed Carry Vote a Sham?

Paul Valone

July 24, 2009

Plenty of ink (and not a little hot air) has been expended over yesterday’s US Senate vote on the “Thune Amendment” to the National Defense Authorization Act. Introduced by Senator John Thune (R-SD) and much-ballyhooed by the NRA, the amendment would have created national reciprocity between states with concealed carry laws, enabling concealed handgun permit-holders to protect themselves and their families during interstate travel.

(Side note: Sixty votes – for “cloture” – were required for passage rather than the usual 51 due to a threatened filibuster by perennially anti-gun Sen. Charles Schumer. In the gentile land of the US Senate, threats routinely substitute for real action.)

Despite hand-wringing by The Washington Post that “Democrats Fear Defections on GOP Gun Proposal,” rest assured that Harry Reid almost certainly engineered every Democrat vote for or against the measure.

So why did Reid engage in such Vaudeville slight-of-hand? Did he schedule the vote to “show his commitment to gun rights”? After all, he insists his intentions are pure:

“This has nothing to do with electoral politics,” assured Reid spokesman Jim Manley, according to politico.com: “Harry Reid has always supported gun rights and intends to do so in the future.”

Yeah, right. In reality, Reid is vulnerable in his 2010 re-election bid and, consequently, threw the NRA a very small bone.

And what does the NRA get? The appearance of accomplishing something – if not actual passage of the amendment, at least a recorded vote which purports to show who’s “fer ya” and “agin ya.” More action means more NRA members and more money. Read more

Source: Charlotte Gun Rights Examiner

Harold Fish Freed in Self-Defense Case

Gun Digest Editors

July 23, 2009

Harold Fish, 62, left the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis near Buckeye where he was incarcerated for the fatal shooting of Grant Kuenzli, 43, on a forest trail north of Payson in May 2004. Fish claimed self-defense, and there were no witnesses.

The Arizona Court of Appeals last month ordered a new trial in the second-degree murder case, ruling that testimony was improperly kept out of Fish's trial. The Coconino County attorney then said he would not retry the case and agreed to Fish's release.

Fish's legal ordeal is not over. As he was being set free, the Arizona Attorney General's Office announced plans to challenge the appellate-court ruling. The attorney general will ask the Arizona Supreme Court to review the case, said Steve Wilson, a spokesman for Attorney General Terry Goddard.

“We disagree with the Court of Appeals' decision, particularly its ruling that the trial court should have allowed testimony about other acts of violence by the victim that were unknown to the defendant at the time of the killing,” Wilson said in a prepared statement. “We hope the Arizona Supreme Court will grant a review and uphold the jury's verdict.”

The Arizona Supreme Court review could restore the Coconino County Superior Court jury verdict, meaning Fish would return to prison, or choose to let the appellate decision stand. Fish will remain free while that is decided.

Earlier this month, Gov. Jan Brewer signed a bill that makes the new self-defense law retroactive to Fish's case. Though it seems unlikely Fish will face a new trial, if he were retried, prosecutors would be required to prove he did not act in self-defense. In Fish's trial, the burden was on the defense to prove Fish acted in self-defense. Read more

Source: azcentral.com

Gun Digest the Magazine August 3, 2009

Gun Digest Editors

July 22, 2009

Gun Digest is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. Readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews and practical how-to instructions. Subscriptions are the First Amendment way to stand up for your Second Amendment rights. Click here to begin your subscription to Gun Digest.

Inside This Issue

• Once a gunfight breaks out, even a mouse gun is better than no gun at all, writes Kevin Michalowski.

• Everything is roses in Editor Kevin Michalowski's “Editor's Shot” column. Click here to read it.

• Rifles: Mossberg and Mountain
• Shotguns: Weatherby
• Handguns: High Standard

• Handloading the Turkey Shotgun

• Plenty of new gear for shooters

• Gunsmithing according to Herr Frankenpistole

• Precision Rifle Part III: Stocks

• Towsley on Target: Don’t let your guard down

Click here to load up on a subscription.

ATF, Obama Attack States’ Rights

Gun Digest Editors

July 22, 2009

In the last few months, a grass-roots, federalist revolt against Washington, D.C. has begun to spread through states that are home to politically active gun owners. Montana and Tennessee have enacted state laws saying that federal rules do not apply to firearms manufactured entirely within the state, and similar bills are pending in Texas, Alaska, Minnesota, and South Carolina.

Yet the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and Explosives now claims that that not only is such a state law invalid, but “because the act conflicts with federal firearms laws and regulations, federal law supersedes the act.”

Tennessee's law already has taken effect. The BATF's letter on July 16 to firearms manufacturers and dealers in the state says “federal law requires a license to engage in the business of manufacturing firearms or ammunition, or to deal in firearms, even if the firearms or ammunition remain within the same state.”

A similar letter was sent to manufacturers and dealers in Montana, where the made-in-the-state law takes effect on October 1, 2009. Neither law permits certain large caliber weapons or machine guns, and both would bypass federal regulations including background checks for buyers and record-keeping requirements for sellers.

While this federalism-inspired revolt has coalesced around gun rights, the broader goal is to dust off a section of the Bill of Rights that most Americans probably have paid scant attention to: the Tenth Amendment. It says that “powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Read literally, the Tenth Amendment seems to suggest that the federal government's powers are limited only to what it has been “delegated,” and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1918 confirmed that the amendment “carefully reserved” some authority “to the states.” That view is echoed by statements made at the time the Constitution was adopted; New Hampshire explicitly said that states kept “all powers not expressly and particularly delegated” to the federal government. Read more

Source: cbsnews.com

Tactics: Pocket Carry

Massad Ayoob

July 21, 2009

People have been carrying guns in their pockets ever since firearms became small enough to fit there.

Wild Bill Hickok carried one or more derringers in his pockets to back up his famous pair of 36-caliber cap ’n ball Navy Colts. Wyatt Earp testified under oath in re the deaths of Frank McLaury, William Clanton, and Thomas McLaury that he began the OK Corral shootout with his hand on the butt of a Colt Single Action Army 45 revolver in the pocket of his overcoat.

The author’s preference is a lightweight J-frame 38 in front trouser pocket on non-dominant hand side, for backup, so either hand can access a weapon.

Colt’s in-house gun shark J.H. Fitzgerald made up a pair of heavy frame New Service 45 revolvers with stubbed barrels, and wore a pair of them in leather-lined side pockets in his trousers. He made up one of those guns for Col. Rex Applegate, who packed one in a hip pocket when he bodyguarded Franklin D. Roosevelt. Legendary Border Patrol gunslick Bill Jordan was partial to a bobbed-hammer Smith & Wesson Model 37 Airweight Chief Special 38 in a hip pocket for backup and sometimes off-duty wear.

On duty or off, famed NYPD Stakeout Squad gunfighter Jim Cirillo carried a hammer-shrouded 38 Colt Cobra snubby in a trouser pocket.

Today, in the 21st Century, we don’t have the baggy pants of the Depression Years that allowed “Fitz” to carry a big-frame 45 in each pocket. But, thanks to the caprices of the fashion world, we have billowy Dockers-style trousers and BDUs. We have light, powerful handguns only dreamt of in Fitzgerald’s time. And, perhaps most important, we have the finest pocket holsters that have ever existed.

The Pocket Itself

In the olden days, the pocket was the holster. The history of the Old West tells us that Luke Short carried his Colt Thunderer double-action 41 in a leather-lined hip pocket, and used that combination to outdraw and kill a gunman deemed much more dangerous than he, “Long-Haired Jim” Courtright. Famed lawman Dallas Stoudenmire carried a pair of short-barrel Smith & Wesson single action, top-break 44s in special pants, whose hip pockets he had likewise had lined with leather by an obliging tailor.

Today, the leather-lined pocket has gone the way of the dodo bird. However, reinforced pockets designed expressly for handguns remain. A company called Betz started the trend to jackets with hidden, built-in holsters. A Betz coat can carry a full-size service auto inside next to the breast.

It’s drawn in a fashion similar to what you’d use with a shoulder holster. The Royal Robbins 5.11 Tactical vest has built-in gun pockets of similar style. Our nation’s largest sheriff’s department, comprised of several thousand uniformed deputies, orders all their uniform jackets with a special inside pocket of this kind, cut for the J-frame S&W snub-nose 38 most of their sworn personnel carry for backup. Concealed Carry Clothiers has reinforced side pockets for small handguns in their line of vests made especially for CCW carriers.

Nor have pants pockets been neglected. For decades, the troopers of a certain state have been issued two handguns, one full size and one small. The full-size gun, of course, went in a uniform belt holster. The smaller was carried in a side trouser pocket: mandatory, no exceptions. The pants were ordered with one reinforced pocket from the uniform manufacturer.

Over the years, many a trooper in that state was saved by this little pants pocket hideout. Sometimes, it happened when someone got the primary gun away and the trooper had to resort to “Plan B.” Sometimes, it was just easier to approach a stopped car with the hand inconspicuously in the pocket and wrapped around the little 38.

When danger threatened, this made for a lightning fast draw and return of fire. Over the years that department went from the 38 Special as a primary service revolver, to the 357 Magnum, to the 9mm auto, to their currently issued 40-caliber service automatic. The backup has stayed pretty much the same: a small-frame Smith & Wesson revolver with short barrel. The current issue is the Model 640-1 “hammerless” 357 Magnum, loaded with +P+ Hydra-Shok 38 Special ammunition.

“Civilians” have not been neglected. Blackie Collins created special jeans for pistol-packers, appropriately called Toters. Both hip pockets and both side pockets are specially reinforced for carrying handguns. Since this is the very same Blackie Collins who first became famous as a knife designer, there’s also a special quick-access pocket for a tactical folder.

Pocket Holsters

To allow for tight pockets and spurred hammers, thumb takes this position. It dramatically reduces hand’s thickness profile, thus reducing chances of a snag. It also turns the thumb into a hammer shroud for conventional-hammer revolvers.

Even by the time of the Old West gunfighters, it had become apparent that regular pockets by themselves weren’t enough to sustain the carrying of a defensive handgun. The pistol’s weight, and sometimes its sharp edges, would tear through pocket linings. A small handgun could change its orientation due to body movement through the day, and perhaps turn upside down in the pocket. The shape of the gun was likely to “print” through the fabric, betraying the “concealed” element of concealed carry.

The first pocket holsters were simply leather squares or rectangles with gun pouches sewn on, sometimes crudely. In modern times, the art and design of the pocket holster have been refined dramatically. In addition to leather, we now see them crafted of Kydex, nylon, and assorted other synthetics. Greg Kramer popularized a leather model with a flat Kydex square on the outside, which broke up the outline of the gun. With tight pants, someone might be able to see that you had something in your pocket, but they wouldn’t be able to tell that it was a firearm.

There are numerous fine pocket holsters available today. Manufacturers of same include Jerry Ahern, Lou Alessi, Gene DeSantis, Galco, Greg Kramer, Ky-Tac, Mach-2, Bob Mika, Milt Sparks, Mitch Rosen, Thad Rybka, Safariland, Uncle Mike’s, and more. I’ve used most of the above, with good success.

Personal favorites, for my own specific needs, have come down to three. With a snub-nose J-frame revolver, I’ve had the best luck with the Safariland. Designed by Bill Rogers, it’s made of synthetic Porvair on the inside and faux suede on the outside. The outer surface makes it stick to the pocket lining and yield the gun instead of coming out with it, no matter what the angle of draw; the smooth Porvair on the inside reduces friction and speeds the draw. Unfortunately, it seems to be made only for J-frame snubs at this writing. (Seems to wear hell out of the gun’s finish, too.)

For the baby Glock, I use either the Mach-2 or the Ky-Tac. Both are made of Kydex and are so close in design and function that they’re hard to tell apart. An almost curlicue flange at the top catches the upper edge of the pocket as you clear the square-shaped auto pistol, and a similar protrusion at the rear of the holster catches the bottom edge if you prefer to draw horizontally out of the pocket.

For most anything else – for instance, the neat little Kahr PM9 polymer-framed 9mm, a favorite pocket auto, or the 380 size Colt Pocket Nine – I prefer Greg Kramer’s classic pocket rig. Mike Dillon, who makes a point of putting only the best of everything in his Blue Press catalog, lists the Kramer pocket holster in those pages. It’s a hell of an endorsement, and when you work with a Kramer pocket rig, an understandable one.

Gun Reviews: NAA Guardian 380 ACP & Micro Desert Eagle

Kevin D. Michalowski

July 21, 2009

Gunfights happen quickly and will be over before you know it. So, you need something that fulfills those two requirements. You won’t have time to go get your gun once the fight starts and, if your gun is too big, too bulky or too heavy, you won’t carry it all the time.

Of course, the one time you don’t carry it will certainly be the time you need it.

Accuracy withthe NAA .380 was not bad for a gun with a 2.49-inch barrel.

Which gun fills both those needs? How about the lowly .380 auto? My friend Mas Ayoob calls them “mouse guns” but readily admits he would rather have a mouse gun than no gun at all. We should all think so clearly.

And if the market shows us anything, it may be that many gun buyers are starting to think as clearly. These days there are plenty of .380 automatics on the market; too many for us to review all of them here. But we can look at a couple that will fill the bill.

Both are stainless steel pistols designed for deep concealment and completely easy carry. They are simple in operation, plain in design and robust in construction. They are the North American Arms Guardian and the Magnum Research Micro Desert Eagle. In short these are the type of tools you would want to have when a fight starts.

North American Arms Guardian

The tried and true North American Arms Guardian is not a new design, but as a classic should not be left out of the discussion when talking about a .380 for personal defense. This six-plus-one auto sports a stainless slide and frame and the standard fixed-barrel design that works so well with a tiny auto-loading pistol.

The Guardian 380’s design is based on the popular Guardian 32 ACP, which was introduced in 1997. Introduced in 2001, the Guardian 380 ACP is popular with law enforcement and for concealed carry. Over the years, NAA has made many subtle improvements to the design, based in part on the many suggestions received from customers. The result is an extremely high quality gun that’s convenient, reliable, and very effective. It is also backed with a lifetime warranty.

The gun is comfortable, easy to shoot and the controls are all in the right places. Forget about the sights, you will not be using them as anything more than a reference point. This is a CQB pistol. If you have to take a 25-yard shot across a street, you are using the gun for something other than its designed purpose. Ideally, you want to be using this gun at 20 feet or less.

The Guardian is easy to carry in a pocket or purse and with any number of good pocket holsters on the market, the pistol will disappear until it is needed and can be brought into action quickly.

For those who feel they need it, North American Arms has introduced the Guardian 380S with an Integral Locking System (ILS) safety. The part number for this gun is NAA-380Guard S. You’ll need to check with your local dealer to order this version of the Guardian 380 ACP. You can also get Crimson Trace Lasergrips for the Guardian. That’s a nice feature.

On the range, the Guardian performs admirably. Firing offhand at 15 feet, the pistol puts all six rounds within an 8-inch bull’s eye rather easily. The trigger pull is long and stout, but very comfortable and controllable. The sights are too small to be anything but a reference point. Still, they work well for that and will not snag on the draw. The finger rest extension on the magazine is a nice touch that adds comfort without sacrificing the ability to conceal the pistol. Overall this is a good solid performer.

As a side note, Guardians are no longer available in California, which seems like a good reason to move out of California.

Micro Desert Eagle

The Micro Desert Eagle pistol from Magnum Research is also chambered in .380 ACP. And while the measurements show this to be a true compact personal protection pistol, it offers a much different profile than the Guardian.

Weighing in at less than 14 ounces, the Micro Desert Eagle is comfortable in a pocket or in a purse, easy to deploy and features the Magnum Research gas-assisted blowback system for ultimate reliability and amazing accuracy in such a small package. Again, don’t count on the sights to give you match-grade accuracy. This is an “up-close-and-personal” gun.

While I don’t have data on the official trigger pull weight, I can say the trigger pull on the Micro Desert Eagle is “different.” It took me a bit to get used to this trigger. To fire the pistol requires a long heavy trigger stroke and there is considerable stacking as you reach the point where the sear releases. In short you really have to want to make this gun go off. Pull hard and pull long.

On the range the Micro Desert Eagle proved every bit as accurate as the NAA Guardian and both guns functioned well considering the job they are expected to do. Shooting comfort was simply a matter of shooter preference. The ergonomics are right for both guns, though the Micro Desert Eagle looks like it has more mass in the slide. It looks top-heavy, but that didn’t interfere with its shooting performance.

As far as carry and concealment; both are great. They can be slipped into a pants pocket or a purse with no trouble. Though a good quality pocket holster or CCW-type purse would help to keep the gun under control.

These are not target pistols. They are not comfortable to shoot for long range-time sessions, but with the right ammo, like Extreme Shock, (www.extremeshockammo.net) you will have all the power you need in a package you can hide just about anywhere. Everybody needs at least one small gun and the know-how to use it correctly. Either of these two will fill the bill nicely.

NAA Guardian 380 ACP
Caliber: .380 ACP
Magazine Capacity: 6 rounds
Operation: Double Action Only
Material: 17-4 pH stainless steel
Barrel Length: 2.49 inches
Height: 3.53 inches
Overall Length: 4.75 inches
Width: 0.930 inches
Weight: 18.72 ounces unloaded
Sights: Fixed, non-adjustable
www.naaminis.com/magnum.html

Micro Desert Eagle
Caliber: .380 ACP
Magazine Capacity: 6-rounds
Operation: Double Action Only
Finish: Nickel Teflon
Barrel length: 2.22 inches
Height: 3.71 inches
Overall length: 4.52 inches
Width: 0.90 inches
Weight Empty: 14 ounces
Sights: Fixed, non-adjustable
www.magnumresearch.com

From Pocket Pistols to Perfect Loads: .380 ACP Insights

Exploring the Best .380 Handguns for Everyday Defense
Choosing the Best Fit: .380 vs 9mm for Females
Is .380 ACP Good for Self-Defense? Pros and Cons Explained
Why a .380 for Self-Defense is an Effective Choice

National Concealed Carry Amendment Likely to be Debated This Week

Brian McCombie

July 20, 2009

According to the National Rifle Association (NRA), “There is a very high likelihood of a Senate floor vote on this important and timely pro-gun reform on Monday or Tuesday.”

With 40 states allowing at least some form of concealed carry, practicing carry across state lines would be possible for tens of thousands of permit holders˜IF the right federal law was place.

As the NRA noted, “Under the Thune-Vitter amendment, an individual who has met the requirements for a carry permit, or who is otherwise allowed by his home state's state law to carry a firearm, would be authorized to carry a firearm for protection in any other state that issues such permits, subject to the laws of the state in which the firearm is carried.”

“The Thune-Vitter amendment recognizes that competent, responsible, law-abiding Americans still deserve our trust and confidence when they cross state lines. Passing interstate Right-to-Carry legislation will help further reduce crime by deterring criminals, and˜most important of all˜will protect the right of honest Americans to protect themselves when deterrence fails.”

The NRA urged gun owners to contact their senators as soon as possible, to respectfully ask for their support of the Thune-Vitter Amendment.

Gun Digest Gun Rights Forum »

SOURCE: Nat ccw amend, NRA 7/20/09:

The Battle Begins: ATF vs the Constitution

Gun Digest Editors

July 20, 2009

A line was drawn in the sand last week – a response by the Federal Government to the State of Tennessee and their assertion of sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the US Constitution.

(Editor’s note: A similar response was sent to Montana Firearms licenses on 07-16-09 as well)

Part of a series of moves by states seeking to utilize the Tenth Amendment as a limit on Federal Power, the Tennessee State Senate approved Senate Bill 1610 (SB1610), the Tennesse Firearms Freedom Act, by a vote of 22-7. The House companion bill, HB1796 previously passed the House by a vote of 87-1.

Governor Breseden allowed the bill to become law without signing.

The law states that “federal laws and regulations do not apply to personal firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition that is manufactured in Tennessee and remains in Tennessee. The limitation on federal law and regulation stated in this bill applies to a firearm, a firearm accessory, or ammunition that is manufactured using basic materials and that can be manufactured without the inclusion of any significant parts imported into this state.”

At the time of passage through the TN House and Senate, Judiciary Chairman Mae Beavers had this to say-

“Be it the federal government mandating changes in order for states to receive federal funds or the federal government telling us how to regulate commerce contained completely within this state – enough is enough. Our founders fought too hard to ensure states’ sovereignty and I am sick and tired of activist federal officials and judges sticking their noses where they don’t belong.”

The Federal Government, by way of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms expressed its own view of the Tenth Amendment this week when it issued an open letter to ‘all Tennessee Federal Firearms Licensees’ in which it denounced the opinion of Beavers and the Tennessee legislature. ATF assistant director Carson W. Carroll wrote that ‘Federal law supersedes the Act’, and thus the ATF considers it meaningless. Read more

Source: tenthamendmentcenter

The ATF Letter to Tennessee Firearm Dealers:

Below is the full text of the letter sent last week by the ATF:

U.S. Department of Justice
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives

Assistant Director

OPEN LETTER TO ALL TENNESSEE
FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSEES

The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance on your obligations as a Federal firearms licensee (”FFL”). The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (”ATF”) is dedicated to your success in meeting your requirements as a Federal firearms licensee. The following guidance is intended to assist you in accomplishing this goal.

The passage of the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act, H.B. 1796, 106th Leg. (Tenn. 2009) 1796 (”Act”), effective June 19, 2009, has generated questions from industry members as to how this State law may affect them while engaged in a firearms business activity. The Act purports to exempt personal firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition manufactured in the State, and which remain in the State, from most Federal firearms laws and regulations. However, because the Act conflicts with Federal firearms laws and regulations, Federal law supersedes the Act, and all provisions of the Gun Control Act and the National Firearms Act, and their corresponding regulations, continue to apply.

As you may know, Federal law requires a license to engage in the business of manufacturing firearms or ammunition, or to deal in firearms, even if the firearms or ammunition remain within the same state. All firearms manufactured by a licensee must be properly marked. Additionally, each licensee must record the type, model, caliber or gauge, and serial number of each firearm manufactured or otherwise acquired, and the date such manufacture or other acquisition was made. The information required must be recorded in the licensee’s records not later than the seventh day following the date such manufacture or other acquisition was made. Firearms transaction records and NICS background checks must be conducted prior to disposition of firearms to unlicensed persons. These, as well as other Federal requirements and prohibitions, apply whether or not the firearms or ammunition have crossed state lines.

If you have any questions regarding the Federal firearms laws and regulations, please contact your local ATF office. ATF works closely with the firearms industry and appreciates the important role the industry plays in combating violent crime. A listing of ATF office phone numbers can be found at https://www.atf.gov/contact/field.htm. Carson W. Carroll, Assistant Director (Enforcement Programs and Services)”

The Long-Range Handgun Load

Walt Hampton

July 20, 2009

Shooting traditional handgun cartridges at long range takes practice and careful loading. You have to do a lot of things right to make it work, starting with the handgun load.

This week’s column deals with long-range handgun loads for revolvers and semi-auto pistols in 9mm, .357, .41, .44 and .45 calibers (not for “hand rifles” and their associated rifle calibers; I have nothing against the hand-held long shooter, such as the Remington XP and its clones, but loading for them and their longer barrels is a science unto itself).

I have been an avid handgunner since my teenage years but didn’t really get hooked until I bought my first revolver, a Smith & Wesson Model 28, in 1973. This is the Highway Patrolman model, same exactly as the N-frame Model 27 except for finish.

With its 6-inch barrel and my near-maximum handloads, that first 28 took several deer and various varmints to over 200 yards. This was made possible due largely to the fact that I was shooting it every day. My brother-in-law owned the exact same model and, for a period of several years, neither of us was ever without a Smith.

Anyone interested in long-range handgunning should secure a copy of Sixguns by Keith, the standard reference work by Elmer Keith. Through descriptions of his various experiences written in that wonderful bygone “Keith” style, he draws a good picture of just what can be accomplished with a good handgun and a healthy dose of practice. This book was largely responsible for my entry into the world of handgun hunting; I still enjoy re-reading it today. Truly, the man that is well-practiced with a good handgun has no trouble bringing home the game.

The revolver is usually the subject when long-range handgunning is discussed. Ed McGivern, that wizard of fast and fancy revolver shooting, once said that armed with a good 6-inch .357 magnum revolver he felt he was the match of any man with a 94 Winchester to 600 yards. While I might not entirely agree with that statement, I feel completely comfortable carrying the 6-inch Smith during deer season as my only gun.

In my Model 28 Smith and my two Ruger single action guns — one a Bisley with 7 ½-inch barrel and the other a Blackhawk with 4 5/8-inch barrel — I use 14.5 grains of #2400 with the 158-grain Hornady or Nosler jacketed hollowpoint. This one load has proven very accurate and stiff enough to kill our large-bodied mountain whitetails to 200 yards, usually completely penetrating them.

While I have owned and shot just about all the “normal” handgun calibers I still like the .357 best of all, for killing power, trajectory and “shootability”, the ability to keep all of the shots in the X ring. By the way, since these loads are for a revolver, a good strong crimp is necessary to keep the bullets from backing out in the cylinders when you let one go!

The .41 magnum is a wonderful cartridge for long-range shooting and in a fairly heavy revolver with a 6” barrel it can be mastered by most shooters. My favorite load in the Model 57 Smith & Wesson is 21.8 grains of H110 with the 210-grain Hornady flat point. This load will flatten the biggest whitetail with a solid shoulder hit — at least that’s what it’s done for the 10 years I have shot with it.

There may be a difference in performance between the 240-grain, .44 Magnum load and this .41 load, but I can’t see it in live, deer-sized game. It’s very flat shooting for ranges between 100 and 200 yards.

The .44 Remington Magnum has been done and redone in print, so I won’t rehash all the BS and hype. It’s a very good long range handgun cartridge. Some say the best. But I disagree because it’s not for the majority of shooters. In a handgun with a barrel length between 6 and 10 inches, it can still be too much for most people to shoot accurately.

For shooting beyond 100 yards, I’ve always liked the Ruger Super Blackhawk shooting 20 grains of #2400 behind the 250-grain Keith-type cast bullet. This is a great load for accuracy at long range. In my Ruger, it’s the best I’ve tried with this bullet. My second favorite is 21 grains of #2400 under the Hornady 240-grain jacketed flat point. Either will penetrate a motor block.

The .45 Colt is a great old cartridge, newly re-discovered by the cowboy action clan. My favorite load, however, is not for them. Using 7.5 grains of Unique with the 250-grain jacketed bullet from any maker in a good, strong 6 1/2-inch Ruger revolver with good sights, I can keep all my shots within 6 inches at 100 yards. This one kicks, but not as bad as the .41 and .44.

For a cast-bullet long-range load, try 15 grains of #2400 and a 250-grain Keith-style flat point, but only in a good, strong revolver.

While Keith spent the lion’s share of his time with the revolver, some semi-auto handguns can be remarkable performers at long range. My son Wade and I have done some good work with the Beretta 92FS and 5.5 grains of Blue Dot under the 147-grain Speer hollowpoint. From a steady rest we can repeatedly hit a coffee can at 150 yards, not bad for the “anemic” 9mm Luger cartridge and a semi-auto, fixed-sight pistol. This is not a deer load, but if pressed it would do to this range, if it were necessary.

The old .45 ACP can also turn in some respectable long-range groups, in the right gun, in the right hands. We shoot a lot of .45 ammo. My favorite load for game is also a great self-defense load, and is pretty darn accurate in Wade’s Colt Government 1911. It is 6 grains of Unique with the 230-grain hollowpoint from Speer.

Some say it’s not powerful enough for long-range shooting, but I don’t think I’d want to be hit by it, at any range. I’ve seen Wade, with his 25-year-old eyes, keep a full magazine of shots on a 5-gallon bucket at 200 yards and inside of 5 inches at 100. (Damn kid.)

As usual, take these loads as maximum and work up carefully to them. As I have no control over your load technique or system, I can assume no liability for your use of them.

Winchester: The Collector’s Choice

Joseph Cornell

July 20, 2009

Collecting Winchesters is fun, profitable and easier than you may think.

If you’re going to collect the early lever actions, competition exists everywhere. If you’re going to collect some of the later models, little or moderate competition is what you will find.

In addition, Winchester prices have a great deal to do with condition and factory originality, not always rarity. For example, a Winchester model 255 is quite rare, but no one seems to care. On the other hand, a standard early Winchester model 1886 is much more common than the model 255, but everyone seems to care about 1886s.

An extremely nice 1886, with just a few value-adding features, can cost as much as a brand new sports car. A mint condition model 255 Winchester usually costs less than a one-night stay at a fancy hotel.

Over the years, I have come to view some of the dichotomies in Winchester collecting – e.g., the difference in prices between Winchester Model 1886s and Winchester Model 71s -– to be very interesting.

The Winchester model 71 was created in the early 1930s using model 1886 Winchester receiver designs, with improvements, so that the rifle could handle an improved cartridge, the .348. With a little looking around, a deluxe Winchester model 71 in very nice condition can be purchased for the very modest price of under $2500. A deluxe Winchester Model 1886, depending on value-adding features to be found on the weapon, can cost 25 to 50 times more. These are the types of interesting paradoxes one finds in the world of the Winchester collector.

Even though there are some very real differences between these two rifles, I see many more deluxe Winchester model 1886s for sale than I see deluxe Winchester model 71s for sale.

Mechanically speaking, and except for a couple of the 1886s calibers, it’s much easier to find ammunition for the Model 71 than for the 1886, and in terms of hunting, the Model 71 has it hands down over the model 1886. However, this is what makes collecting Winchesters so fascinating, and so compelling.

Every serious Winchester collector dreams of that moment when the phone rings, and on the line is a neighbor, or someone at work, telling him that a relative has passed away and that they found a Winchester Model 1886 in the closet. They then ask him if he would like to buy the weapon for $1000, because that’s what a neighbor told him it was worth. The Winchester collector’s heart rate will increase by a minimum of 20 beats a minute then and there. If, upon inspection, the rifle’s receiver shows bright case color, the telltale band of a take-down rifle is there, the wood on the rifle is checkered, and the caliber is one of the more rare ones, the collector just might be in danger of having a heart attack.

Such is the collector’s dream – except for the heart attack part – and it happens in real life with more regularity than most people might suspect.

Model 94 1 of 1000. Closeup of left receiver. Photo courtesy of U.S. Repeating Arms Company.

In the mid-1980s, I purchased seven mint model 1876 rifles, of which all are different, and all were deluxe models, one being a 1 of 100 model and one being a 1 of a 1000 model. I paid a total of $5000 for the seven rifles. When I think back to those glorious moments, even today, I get excited.

I still have these rifles, and they give me great pleasure and satisfaction, and I realize how lucky I was then, and how fortunate I am now.

Winchester, or U.S. Repeating Arms, closed its doors in New Haven, Connecticut effective March 31, 2006. Collectors and dealers alike, have already started to accumulate recently manufactured examples of that Model 94 rifles and carbines.

Many of these later weapons have been selling for as much as 50% over retail value. This may represent an opportunity for investment, or for collecting weapons that exist in the marketplace in rather large numbers, but, for the most part, are still very affordable.

Beware, production of these rifles may, at some point in time, recur – and if it does, it’s likely that prices will recede to approximate recent levels.

Bonded PDX: A Real Fight-Stopper

Dave Workman

July 15, 2009

This new defensive handgun ammunition, adopted by the FBI, is available for handgunners everywhere.

Terminal performance. It’s what every savvy handgunner expects out of the ammunition he or she carries for personal protection, and a new cartridge from Winchester promises to deliver the goods.

Early in 2009, during a demonstration for me and several other gun writers, Winchester showed what this stuff could do, and it was impressive. We’re talking deep penetration, very good expansion and velocity that packs a punch.

Winchester’s bonded PDX1 ammunition is available in four calibers and six different loadings (two each in 9mm and .40 S&W). If you own a handgun in 9mm, .40 S&W, .38 Special or .45 ACP and want a load that will stop an attacker, this may be what you’re looking for, as it certainly stacks up to other personal defense ammunition, or better.

Now that is penetration! The Winchester Bonded PDX traveled 12 inches into the gel block.

Why am I devoting much of a column to this stuff? Winchester did not provide me with a bunch of free ammunition, I don’t own stock in the company, nor is this treatise linked to any advertising. The stuff just plain got my attention, and if the FBI is loading its guns with this round, there’s a reason.

At the range, we watched as .40-caliber, 180-grain loads were fired into blocks of ballistic gelatin. The bullets consistently penetrated to about 11.5-12 inches, which is ample to punch deep into, if not through, most humans. En route, it raises hell with whatever is in the way by expanding dramatically. If that’s not the recipe for stopping a fight immediately, it is pretty darned close!

Velocities were right up there at 990 to 1,000 fps, which is what one should expect out of a .40-caliber projectile fired from the typical defensive handgun built for that cartridge, with a 4- to 4.5-inch barrel.

Here are the options: In 9mm, there’s a Plus-P load with a 124-grain JHP, and a standard load with a 147-grain JHP. For you .40-caliber fans, in addition to the 180-grainer mentioned above, there is a 165-grain JHP. Those packing .38 Special revolvers ought to warm right up to the 130-grain JHP load, while those of us who carry a .45 ACP pistol have a 230-grain JHP to load in our magazines.

Winchester developed the bonded PDX1 with a proprietary process that joins the lead core to the jacket for controlled expansion and weight retention. Expansion is the result of a good hollow point cavity that works in combination with the carefully notched jacket that is made from a copper alloy and divided into six segments.

Winchester Centerfire Products Manager Glen Weeks told me that the PDX1 had been under development for about two years. The project was aimed at providing a round the FBI would adopt, and this meant it had to perform on penetration tests against steel car doors and windshields.

“Glass is hands down the toughest thing you have to go through,” Weeks observed. “There are .38s that will bounce off windshield glass.”

The vast majority of armed citizens load their defensive handguns with factory ammunition. On the street in my .45 ACP, I go with factory loads, while in the backcountry — where I suspect any defensive encounters would most likely be against four-legged predators — I load up my .357 Magnum or .41 Magnum with handloads using reliable data from my reloading manuals and projectiles developed for maximum tissue damage; the same loads I use for handgun hunting.

If I were limited to factory ammunition only — that is, if I didn’t reload ammunition for hunting and long-range target shooting — there is little doubt that high on my list of ammunition choices would be the new Winchester Bonded PDX1. Available in 20-round boxes, this is a cartridge that promises to have a distinguished career.

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GUN DIGESTWE KNOW GUNS SO YOU KNOW GUNS

Gun Review: Armalite Super S.A.S.S.

Dave Morelli takes a look at the Armalite Super S.A.S.S. – an AR-10-style semi-auto sniper system that rocks, and is super accurate.

How the Rifle Performed

One Good Gun: The Savage 99

Gun Sales Still Off the Charts

Chicago Police Applaud Armed Self-Defense

National CCW Vote Fails by 2

National Concealed Carry Vote a Sham?

Harold Fish Freed in Self-Defense Case

Gun Digest the Magazine August 3, 2009

ATF, Obama Attack States’ Rights

Tactics: Pocket Carry

Gun Reviews: NAA Guardian 380 ACP & Micro Desert Eagle

From Pocket Pistols to Perfect Loads: .380 ACP Insights

National Concealed Carry Amendment Likely to be Debated This Week

The Battle Begins: ATF vs the Constitution

The Long-Range Handgun Load

Shooting traditional handgun cartridges at long range takes practice and careful loading. You have to do a lot of things right to make it work, starting with the handgun load.

Winchester: The Collector’s Choice

Collecting Winchesters is fun, profitable and easier than you may think.

Bonded PDX: A Real Fight-Stopper

This new defensive handgun ammunition, adopted by the FBI, is available for handgunners everywhere.

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