The Liberator GP Tactical Light from First-Light USA allows hands-free, hands-directed and hands-enabling operation, letting you hold objects or reload firearms.
The lights were recently purchased for use by the U.S. Border Patrol, a division of the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Contact First-Light USA at www.first-light-usa.com.
Using a daylight-visible green laser, the new LaserLyte Kryptonyte Laser Bore Sighting System is 100 times more visible than traditional red lasers.
Incorporating LaserLyte’s one-piece design and caliber-fitting systems, the Kryptonyte is easy to use and fits 12- to 20-gauge shotguns, any handgun with at least a 4-inch barrel, and any rifle or carbine from .22 to .50 caliber and .51 to .75 caliber. It also works with all LaserLyte accessories, including the improved laser gun/scope leveler.
Powered by one CR2 lithium battery, the Kryptonyte offers 1.5 hours of continuous on by using the latest Auto Power Control digital circuitry. The daylight-visible 532-nanometer green laser creates a dot that can be seen up to 100 yards with your eye, meaning you can sight in from 10 to 100 yards. Each unit measures 7.5 inches and weighs just 2.5 ounces.
Contact LaserLyte at (928) 649-3201 or www.laserlyte.com.
According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, “Citi Merchant Services and First Data Corp. are refusing to process any credit card transactions between federally licensed firearms retailers, distributors and manufacturers, a move that will severely limit available inventory of firearms and ammunition to military, law enforcement and law-abiding Americans.”
Citi Merchant Services provides all the systems, technology and processing services for consumers to make credit-card purchases from Citi-affiliated merchants. The first company affected by the anti-firearms decision appeared to be CDNN Sports Inc. of Abilene, Texas, an internet retailer of firearms, parts and accessories.
“We were contacted recently by First Data/Citi Merchant Services by a June Rivera-Mantilla stating that we were terminated, and funds were being seized for selling firearms in a non-face-to-face transaction,” said Charlie Crawford, president of CDNN Sports Inc. “Although perfectly legal, we were also informed that no transactions would be processed in the future, even for nonfirearms. I find this very frightening.”
In her letter to Crawford, Rivera-Mantilla noted that violations of the federal Gun Control Act could occur through the internet sale of a firearm.
Though she did not claim that CDNN Sports had ever committed such a violation, she wrote that the company was being terminated as a customer because, “We at Citi Merchant Service are unable to monitor or track adherence to these Gun Control laws.”
Alpen Optics introduces the new Teton 8.5×50 and 10×50 binoculars, which provide high performance at a reasonable price.
The binoculars have a light yet durable body design. They feature the same superior eye-lens system as Alpen¹s top-performance Rainier binoculars combined with the prism and body system of the popular Apex series.
Tetons have BaK4 prisms, and fully multicoated, SHR metallic and PXA phase-correction-coated optics. The optical system is treated with more than 40 layers of high-performance coatings, providing great color and sharpness in all light conditions.
Contact Alpen Optics at (909) 987-8370 or www.alpenoutdoor.com.
KonusPro M-30 riflescopes are designed for power and precision.
M-30s are ideal long-range scopes for hunting, military use, target shooting or law-enforcement. The line includes these models: 4.5-16×40 mm, 6.5-25×44 mm and 8.5-32×52 mm. The M-30 series has a glass-engraved reticle system, in which the reticle is laser-etched on precision glass rather than using a thin wire.
Contact Konus USA at (305) 262-5668 or www.konususa.com.
Click Here for a How-To Article on Choosing the Best Riflescope
Birchwood Casey’s new Universal Gun Cleaning System makes is easy to clean rifles, pistols and shotguns.
The kit is self-contained and features a four-piece rod, a v-groove handle, a universal shotgun adapter, a flathead screwdriver adapter, two jags (one small, one large) and a slotted patch holder (for .22-caliber and larger).
The rod has 8×32 threads to fit most brushes, swabs and tips. The specially designed swivel end of the rod turns with the bore’s rifling for more thorough cleaning. The kit is made of 304 stainless steel and breaks down easily for storage or travel.
Contact Birchwood Casey at (800) 328-6156 or www.birchwoodcasey.com.
Two new BV Series waterproof binoculars from Minox provide high performance at an affordable price.
The BV 8×25 BRW and BV 10×25 BRW roof prisms are 43/16 by 37/8 by 11/2 inches and weigh just 10.4 ounces. Their aluminum bodies are armor-coated for protection and a sure, comfortable grip.
The binoculars provide high image contrast and excellent detail rendition. All glass/air surfaces are multi-coated for maximum light transmission and stunning image brilliance without glare, and the prisms are fully phase-corrected.
Contact Minox USA at (866) 469-3080 or www.minox.com.
Winchester Repeating Arms announces the return of the venerable Model 70 bolt-action rifle for 2008.
The all-American Model 70s will be built by American craftsmen in Columbia, S.C., at the same state-of-the-art factory (FN Manufacturing) as rifles and machine guns used by America’s armed forces.
The new Model 70 features the M.O.A. Trigger System, improved fit and finish, enhanced accuracy, a three-position safety and classic Pre-64 Controlled Round Feeding.
The new Winchester Model 70 will be offered in a Super Grade, Featherweight Deluxe, Sporter Deluxe and Extreme Weather SS models. All will feature a thick, black Pachmayr Decelerator pad.
Contact Winchester at www.winchesterguns.com.
The new Minox MD 50 W Spotting Scope weighs just 21.69 ounces and measures only 8.5 inches, making it ideal for travel.
The scope delivers 16-30X magnification with bright, high-resolution images. The high-resolution objective lens system features exclusive multilayer M*Coating for brilliance, high light transmission and natural color rendition,
Further, the MD 50 has an extremely close-focus range. The angled shape of the scope offers a more relaxed viewing stance.
Contact Minox USA at (866) 469-3080 or www.minox.com.
A Colt single-action Sheriff’s Model revolver sold for $92,000 and highlighted Cowan’s Auctions May 2007 Historic Firearms and Early Militaria sale. The auction, which attracted more than 1,400 absentee bids, generated total sales of $1.52 million from 1,256 lots.
The Sheriff’s Model is a .45 caliber, with a 3.5-inch barrel, serial No. 172734, with the two-line address on top. The left side of the barrel bears caliber markings in a banner, and the left side of the frame carries the two-line patent dates. The frame is a black-powder version with the ejector-release screw in the front under the cylinder pin. The revolver is factory-engraved, with a silver finish and carved bull’s-head pearl grips. The backstrap was marked with the factory inscription “Johnnie Johnson.” An inscription on the bottom of the butt reads “Mrs. Roberto.” The original factory letter accompanied the revolver, which was shipped to H. Woodhaus & Son on Sept. 15, 1897.
In addition to the Colt, the sale focused on some great Winchester items, including lever-action rifles and memorabilia.
“It was the best collection of Winchester-made items to come to light in many years,” said Jack Lewis Jr., head of Cowan’s Historic Firearms and Early Militaria Department.
Highlighting the first day of the sale was the Hunter Winchester collection, an assortment of accouterments sold from the estate of Clarence R. Hunter. The collection brought more than $375,000. The Hunter lots included two Winchester baseball bats and a fielder’s glove that sold for a total of $1,035. Four- and six-lot Winchester gun-oil cans brought $977.50 each, and Winchester gun grease tubes sold for $862.50. A Winchester lawnmower sold for $747.50.
Winchester advertising from the Hunter collection was also auctioned. A Winchester window two-sided display panel sold for $2,300. Two lots of three Winchester display signs sold for $1,092.50 and $1,840, respectively. A Winchester .22-caliber cartridge smokeless-powder sign brought $1,150, and two sets of Winchester display cards sold for $2,530and $3,450.
Cartridge boxes were in demand, reflecting the increasing popularity of these items, especially from the 1920s and 1930s. Proving that nostalgia in its original state provokes any collector, a group of 13 .22-caliber cartridge boxes advertised as Copperhead sold for $1,495. Further, 11 Peter’s cartridge boxes sold for $977.50, and 10 Savage cartridge boxes sold for $632.50.
Local Cincinnati items were also featured, including a Peter’s league paper shotshell empty box that sold for $2,185. Peter’s Cartridge Co. was located in King Mills, Ohio, and made ammunition for years. Peter’s Cartridge was eventually bought by Remington Arms in 1934.
Surprises included a leather hunting pouch from the 1800s. The item, in great condition and accompanied by the original accouterments (a measure and powder horn), sold for $12,650. Four Winchester paint cans brought $1,150. Also, a Revolutionary War-era saber made by Louis Prahl sold for $4,312.50.
Cowan’s next Historic Firearms and Early Militaria auction is slated for November 2007. For information, contact Jack Lewis Jr. at (513) 871-1670 or [email protected].
When I look at development of firearms, one thing stands out. Designers spent lots of time working to cartridges powerful and capable of precisely hitting targets at great distances.
The .50 BMG cartridge seems to be the culmination of those aspirations. It was designed for the Browning M-2 Machine Gun in the first decade of the 20th century. It first saw service in 1921. Also called the 12.7×99 NATO, it was based on an upscaled version of the .30-06 case. It has always been known for accuracy. In fact, I found a picture of World War II soldiers scoping a machine gun. It’s a great long-range and sniper round, and the only round capable of consistent shot placement at more than 1,000 yards.
The .50 caliber is not listed as a destructive device, so it’s popular with long-range shooters. To illustrate the power of this cartridge, let’s compare it with the .30-06 Springfield. The .30-06 produces 2,000 to 3,000 foot pounds of energy. The .50 can produce 10,000 to 13,000 foot pounds. More recently, the .50 has served our troops well in Afghanistan, as evidenced in clips showing its performance on small targets at incredible distances.
There’s also much controversy about the .50. Some folks claim it will be used by criminals and terrorists. But in truth, the .50 is too massive and heavy to conceal for criminal use. Further, we should focus more on catching terrorists and keeping them out of the country rather than worrying about what weapon they might use.
Armalite chambers the .50 caliber in a 34-pound rifle that really impressed me with its comfort, accuracy and ease of operation. I wouldn’t want to pack the gun around much, but I could shoot it all day.
The gun comes with a package of Tylenol, which made me chuckle but then made me think. Was this some kind of warning? Armalite has gone to great lengths to make this rifle comfortable to shoot. As my wife, Lu, and I found out, one of the recoil reducers makes the rifle very loud. I didn’t notice as much behind the gun, but Lu was taking pictures while I shot and said she could feel the concussion, even though she was behind me and to the side. We were wearing double ear protection.
The AR-50 is a solid, well-built rifle. The massive receiver is octagonal and houses a huge bolt with a triple-locking lug. It’s equipped with a Sako-style extractor and Schillen standard single-stage trigger. The massive, tapered barrel is 31 inches long. Inside the pipe are eight grooves with an right-hand 1-15 twist. The muzzle is fitted with a cylindrical multi-flute brake (thus the Tylenol). I have never been a fan of brakes on rifles such as .338 or .300magnums, but I believe it’s necessary on this caliber.
The adjustable buttplate and stock brings the rifle to 59.5 inches long, and the AR-style hand grip really gives the gun a familiar feel. It’s attached to an aluminum stock, and the barrel is floated from the receiver out. There’s a lot of space between the barrel and forend of the stock. The buttplate is fitted with a robust recoil pad that’s adjustable, making it easier to repeat a solid shouldering.
Armalite recommends shooting high-quality ammo in the AR-50, so I went to The Hunting Shack and got some match-grade ammo. The Hunting Shack is one of the largest ammo manufacturers in the country, and it loads .50-caliber ammo one cartridge at a time. Its quality ammo matches the rifle’s capability for accuracy. The Hunting Shack sent me some 750-grain bullets that leave the muzzle at about 2,650 feet per second.
The bullet has an aluminum V-max-type tip that causes massive fragmentation when it hits the backstop. That was right where I wanted that bullet to terminate. I collected some of the fragments from the backstop, and the bullet terminated as it was designed to.
There are many loads for the long-range .50, and trajectories will vary with each. In general, the .50 sends a big pill very fast, flat and accurately at long range.
I shot the rifle with two scopes: a Shepherd V1 6-18X, which has drop compensator for the BMG round, and a Leupold Vari-X 2-10X. I sighted in a 500-yard zero. The scopes held up to the big .50’s recoil without a hitch. We only shot the rifle at about 500 yards, but at longer ranges, the 18X Shepherd would be an asset. With the expense of ammo for these guns, the one-shot zero of the Shepherd was also appreciated. After the gun was sighted in, it made softball-sized rocks on the 500-yard hillside disappear.
The weight and massive muzzle brake do their jobs, reducing recoil to a pleasant push. I shot a couple of boxes of ammo comfortably, with no black shoulder. I didn’t shoot the rifle in the prone position, but even though the prone transfers a bit more recoil to the shooter, I don’t believe it will be a concern. It didn’t beat me up. Armalite’s manual said it’s best for onlookers to be directly behind the rifle when it’s fired, and I agree. The bark is truly worse than the bite.
Before going afield with the gun, I checked the trigger so I had no surprises in live fire. The Schillen single-stage was crisp and clean with no creep. It weighed just less than 5 pounds with my scale. The trigger is very precise, as you’d expect with a rifle capable of such long-range accuracy. It felt lighter than 5 pounds, which usually indicates a well-tuned trigger.
This rifle must be shot from a rest — not because of recoil but because of weight. I could not shoulder the rifle long enough for Lu to snap a picture. Armalite offers a Prince bipod option, which is a strong, well-made support designed for the rifle. Not having one, I used a Harris Bipod I borrowed from my .300 Win. Mag. The one I used with the .50 had a tilt feature, and it kept the 34-pound rifle on target.
Since my experience as a SWAT sniper, I’ve been addicted to precision long-range shooting. The .50 BMG opens up a new experience with long-range shooting. Just because the rifle can send a projectile past 1,000 yards doesn’t mean anyone can make it fulfill its potential. However, I think it’s possible to develop the skills to make one-mile hits with the Armalite AR-50, and I think that’s a much better addiction than the tobacco habit I recently kicked.
— Dave Morelli is an all-around gun nut from Idaho.
Typically, I like shooting almost anything that goes boom. I have opportunities to shoot many types and styles of firearms, but when a 1911 comes along, it finds a soft spot in my heart.
The Nighthawk Custom 1911 Dominator is a great example of such guns.
When I removed the 1911 Dominator from its case, I was immediately struck by the laser-engraved cocobolo grips. They are beautifully done. Matched with a Black Perma-Coat slide on a hard-chromed frame, they give the pistol a great look and tough finish that will resist the normal wear of a carry gun.
The gun also has Nighthawk Custom fully adjustable sights that fit a Bo-Mar dovetail, with yellow tritium inserts in the rear and green in front. All the inserts have white rings for daytime gunfights. The 5-inch match-grade barrel is crowned and beveled flush with the bushing.
There are 25-lines-per-inch serrations on the slide-stop, rear of the slide and checkered on the front and backstrap. They give the pistol a firm, comfortable grip. The serrations on the slide keep glare from being a problem in critical sighting situations. The checkering grabs your hand, but the pistol does not grab your clothing because it’s dehorned for concealed carry.
When I get smooth frames in my shop, I always recommend checkering, and most folks love the difference in feel. When buying a custom gun, I look for this feature because it’s so important for a good grip. This is especially true in damp conditions or quick-presentation drills. During the stress of a defensive situation, the feel of checkering adds confidence you need to survive.
The front-sight blade is pyramid-shaped so it doesn’t grab on the way out of a concealed holster. The slidehas front and rear cocking serrations. I don’t know why everybody doesn’t put front cocking serrations on 1911s. I do a press check every time the pistol goes in my holster for sentry duty, and although that can be done without front serrations, they make it much easier. (A press check involves inspecting the chamber for a live round by pushing the slide back a bit to get a visual on the round and then letting it close.)
On older Colts that didn’t have front serrations, the thumb or edge of your second finger pushed back below the barrel on the guide rod. Those guns didn’t have a full-length guide rod — as most do now — and putting the thumb or any body part in front of the muzzle isn’t safe. The serrations let you grip the frame from underneath and pull the slide back. The Dominator I shot did not have one-piece guide rod, so it could be done either way. However, I prefer to grab the slide from behind the muzzle.
The magazine well on the 1911 Dominator is deep and extended. It’s easily hit with a fresh magazine when recharging the gun in quick-load fashion. The gun comes with quality eight-round magazines. Some folks think the extended magazine well is too large for concealed carry. I don’t have much of a problem with that, as a full-sized 1911 is easily concealed under a vest or coat in the strong-side position, and the half-inch of the magazine well that sticks out doesn’t present a problem. I would rather have the right tool for the job when I need it, even if it violates fashion rules.
Like all 1911s, my Dominator feels great in the hand, and its lines and slimness look great. My pistol had a strong-side thumb safety that was slightly extended but rounded off at the corners to make it snag-free. It’s extended enough so my thumb easily engages it.
NightHawk Custom offers an optional ambidextrous safety. Some folks differ about these, but I prefer them on a carry gun. I often shoot weak-handed. The safety doesn’t weigh much, and I like having it there.
As always, I did some dry-fire drills before hitting the range, and I was pleased with the way the gun felt in my hand. There’s no substitute for a custom feel. I replaced my normal carry gun with the Dominator and went to work.
The sights lined up and were easy to see, even with my blurry close-range vision. The magazines fed easily and dropped out like they knew where they were going. The magazine release has serrations for positive thumb contact. The slide frame fit was excellent. The trigger was everything I would expect in a custom gun: crisp, clean and no creep. The trigger pull was slightly more than 3 pounds, and it fires right after a brief takeup. The grip safety has a well-defined beavertail and disengages nicely when gripped properly.
The gun fired flawlessly with ball and hollow-point bullets. It was a pleasure to shoot a group right at the point of aim out of the box. The gun comes in .45 Auto, which fits the criteria of a defensive pistol. (That is, the caliber starts with four and ends with five.) I shot MagTech ball ammo and Speer Gold Dot carry stuff, each in 230-grain weights. They shot accurately and reliably. Drawing and firing the gun felt familiar, but the checkered front strap and mainspring housing gave it a positive feel at the range.
My wife, Lu, took a break from picture-taking to give the Dominator a lash. She isn’t a 1911 fan — yet — but she really liked the feel of the pistol and kept a group together on the target. She always has been a good pistol shot, but she told me the Dominator is easy to shoot.
The Nighthawk Custom comes in a convenient soft case that holds the included spare magazine and many more. It has room for other possibles you might need, such as the Wilson Combat Versa-Tool or other maintenance stuff. The case is adequately padded to protect the pistol’s exquisite finish.
The Dominator is a professionally made custom pistol that would satisfy professionals or serious shooters. It’s definitely a beauty-and-the-beast thing: very pretty, but when the beast comes out, it’s a rhino.
If you’re seeking a custom 1911, I’d recommend a visit to www.nighthawkcustom.com.
The Gun Digest – 2012 | |
| Table of Contents | |
| John T. Amber Literary Award | 3 |
| Introduction | 4 |
| Italy's Double Barrel Bargains | 8 |
| Guns for the Great North | 18 |
| Smith & Wesson: American Pioneer | 22 |
| The Kautzky Dynasty | 31 |
| Me & My Dad & Gun Digest | 34 |
| Custom & Engraved Guns | 38 |
| PCSACs: Pistol-Cartridge Semi-Auto Carbines | 49 |
| HK: A History of Innovation | 57 |
| My 33 Years with the .338 Magnum | 71 |
| The Express Bullet in America | 75 |
| In Search of the Perfect Upland Autoloader | 82 |
| Addicted to Military Iron | 87 |
| In the Service of the Crown | 97 |
| America's Forgotten Big Game Rifle | 101 |
| Protecting Your Collection Investment | 108 |
| The Garin Surestrike System | 110 |
| Fit for a Lady | 119 |
| The French Service Revolver Model of 1892 | 124 |
| Bolt-Action Baloney | 128 |
| A Big Bad Ball Gun | 136 |
| My Pistolas of the Contra War | 141 |
| Warthog Rifles and Cartridges | 147 |
| That Custom Touch | 153 |
| A Labor of Love of a Love of Labor? | 161 |
| The Winchester Model 1887 Lever-Action Shotgun | 167 |
| The Husqvarna and the Zebra | 173 |
| A Mysterious Stranger from Canada | 175 |
| The Beretta S680 Series Over/Under | 179 |
| What's Up Down Under | 186 |
| Cape Buffalo Really Are Tough | 195 |
| Reports from the Field: | |
| New Rifles | 201 |
| New Shotguns | 210 |
| New Semi-Automatic Pistols | 222 |
| Revolvers (And a Few Others) | 245 |
| New Gunsmithing Products | 257 |
| The Feminine Perspective | 262 |
| Airguns | 267 |
| Ammunition, Ballistics and Components | 273 |
| Blackpowder Update | 286 |
| Handloading | 295 |
| New Optics | 305 |
| One Good Gun: | |
| A Century Old Hammer Gun | 321 |
| Remington Model 11-48 28 Gauge | 324 |
| Grandpa's Guns | 328 |
| Bob's 270 | 332 |
| The Rhino Revolver | 337 |
| Cooper Firearms Model 54 | 342 |
| Space Gun! | 348 |
| Leupold FX-11 | 352 |
| The I.O. Inc. AK-47 and .380 Pocket Pistol | 358 |
| The CzechPoint vz. 61 Skorpion | 365 |
| Ballistics Tables: | |
| Average Centerfire Rifle Cartridge Ballistics & Prices | 368 |
| Centerfire Handgun Cartridge Ballistics & Prices | 375 |
| Rimfire Ammunition Ballistics & Prices | 378 |
| Shotshell Loads & Prices | 379 |
| Handguns: | |
| Autoloading | 382 |
| Competition | 412 |
| Double-Action Revolvers | 416 |
| Single-Action Revolvers | 424 |
| Miscellaneous | 430 |
| Rifles: | |
| Centerfire – Autoloaders | 432 |
| Centerfire – Levers & Slides | 442 |
| Centerfire – Bolt-Actions | 447 |
| Centerfire – Single Shots | 462 |
| Drillings, Combination Guns, Double Rifles | 468 |
| Rimfire – Autoloaders | 470 |
| Rimfire – Lever & Slide Actions | 472 |
| Rimfire – Bolt-Actions & Single Shots | 473 |
| Competition – Centerfires & Rimfires | 477 |
| Shotguns: | |
| Autoloaders | 480 |
| Slide & Lever Actions | 488 |
| Over/Unders | 493 |
| Side-by-Sides | 501 |
| Bolt Actions & Single Shots | 504 |
| Military & Police | 506 |
| Blackpowder: | |
| Single Shot Pistols – Flint & Percussion | 508 |
| Revolvers | 509 |
| Muskets & Rifles | 511 |
| Shotgunss | 519 |
| Smokeless Muzzleloaders | 519 |
| Airguns: | |
| Handguns | 520 |
| Long Guns | 522 |
| References | 527 |
| Directory of the Arms Trade | |
| Manufacturer's Directory | 536 |
The Gun Digest – 2010 | |
| Table of Contents | |
| John T. Amber Literary Award | 3 |
| Introduction | 4 |
| The Incredible 2-Bore Rifle | 8 |
| Gas-Delayed Blowbacks: Junk or Cutting Edge? | 14 |
| Hornet Hotrod: The .19 Calhoon Badger | 22 |
| The Beretta Survival Kit: The Model 84 .380 ACP | 26 |
| The Magnificent Seven | 32 |
| An Introduction to the Military Handguns of Imperial Japan | 38 |
| Blowup! | 44 |
| Custom and Engraved Guns | 46 |
| When Bulldogs Ruled | 58 |
| The Marlin Model 90: A Case Study in Ingenuity | 66 |
| Make Mine a .32! | 70 |
| The Elusive Gerfen Rifle | 76 |
| The Colt Official Police and S&W Military & Police | 80 |
| From Factory to Meat on the Table: Gunmaking in the Val du Trompia | 88 |
| Power and Grace: The Ruger Super Blackhawk Turns 50 | 96 |
| Classic .22s: There are but Two | 102 |
| Fit to Shoot! | 108 |
| The Age of Mobilubricant | 118 |
| Fun with the .45 Colt | 126 |
| Oddalls: Why We Love ‘Em | 132 |
| The Xman | 138 |
| Updated Classics: The NEW Ithaca Model 37s | 146 |
| The .44 Special Begins Its Second Century | 150 |
| Reports from the Field: | |
| Editor's Picks | 161 |
| Handguns Today: Semi-Autos | 164 |
| Handguns Today: Revolvers | 176 |
| Rifles Today | 184 |
| Shotguns Today | 192 |
| Tactical Gear Today | 198 |
| Muzzleloaders Today | 202 |
| Airguns Today | 208 |
| Gunsmithing Today | 212 |
| Optics Today | 216 |
| Women's Perspective | 226 |
| The Guns of Europe | 232 |
| Handloading Today | 240 |
| Ammunition Today | 248 |
| One Good Gun: | |
| The Unique Kleinguenther K14 Insta-fire in 7×57 Mauser | 270 |
| The Remington Model 760 in .300 Savage | 272 |
| A Classic Springfield Sporter | 274 |
| The Valmet 412 Shooting System | 276 |
| Testfire: | |
| Czechmate! CZ's Vz-58 | 278 |
| Not Your Father's BB Gun: The .50 Dragon Slayer | 280 |
| Century International Arms M-70 AB2T Yugo Underfolder | 282 |
| Ruger Gets Small: The LCP | 284 |
| Remington's R-25 | 286 |
| Civil War Naval Artillery | 288 |
| The Encyclopedia of Bullet Casting | 289 |
| Catalog of Arms and Accessories: | |
| GUNSDEX | 306 |
| Handguns: | |
| Autoloading | 317 |
| Competition | 343 |
| Double-Action Revolvers | 346 |
| Single-Action Revolvers | 353 |
| Miscellaneous | 360 |
| Rifles: | |
| Centerfire – Autoloaders | 362 |
| Centerfire – Lever & Slide | 376 |
| Centerfire – Bolt-Action | 382 |
| Centerfire – Single Shot | 403 |
| Drillings, Combination Guns, Double Rifles | 412 |
| Rimfire – Autoloaders | 414 |
| Rimfire – Lever & Slide Action | 417 |
| Rimfire – Bolt-Actions & Single Shots | 419 |
| Competition – Centerfire & Rimfire | 425 |
| Shotguns: | |
| Autoloaders | 431 |
| Slide & Lever Actions | 440 |
| Over/Unders | 446 |
| Side-by-Side | 457 |
| Bolt Actions & Single Shot | 462 |
| Military & Police | 465 |
| Blackpowder: | |
| Single Shot Pistols – Flint & Percussion | 467 |
| Revolvers | 468 |
| Muskets & Rifles | 470 |
| Shotguns | 480 |
| Airguns: | |
| Handguns | 481 |
| Long Guns | 483 |
| References: | |
| Web Directory | 488 |
| Arms Library | 500 |
| Directory of the Arms Trade: | |
| Manufacturer's Directory | 529 |
The Gun Digest – 2011 | |
| Table of Contents | |
| John T. Amber Literary Award | 3 |
| Introduction | 4 |
| Features | |
| TR's “Big (Fire) Stick” by Tom Caceci | 8 |
| The Innovative Winchester Model 59 by Bernard H. DiGiacobbe, M.D. | 14 |
| The French Service Revolver Models of 1873 and 1874 by Raymond Caranta | 18 |
| The N-Frame S&W Revolver by Paul Scarlata | 22 |
| The Mighty (?) 9mm Rimfire by Phillip Peterson | 28 |
| Smith & Wessons of the Great War by Tom Osborne | 32 |
| The Mossberg Brownie (1919-1932) by Jack A. Myers | 40 |
| The Ars of Olympic Arms by Steve Gash | 44 |
| On the Trail of “Small Deer” with Allyn Tedmon by Clarence Anderson | 50 |
| Custom and Engraved Guns by Tom Turpin | 56 |
| The “Other” Autoloaders by Nick Hahn | 66 |
| Unusual Remington Military Rolling Block Rifles by George J. Layman | 70 |
| The Bull Dog Pack: Variations of the Breed by Gordon Bruce | 76 |
| Life Begins at .40 by Dr. George E. Dvorchak, Jr. | 86 |
| A Robert Hillberg Cornucopia by Robert Hillberg | 91 |
| Resurrection of the .500 Jeffery by Tom Tabor | 98 |
| The Old & Newer Winchester Model 88 Rifle & Carbine by Bernard H. DiGiacobbe, M.D. and George E. Dvorchak, Jr. M.D. | 103 |
| The Colt 1911: The First Century by John Malloy | 108 |
| The .38 S&W: The Little Round That Refuses to Die by David J. LaPell | 118 |
| The West and the Gun by Jim Foral | 122 |
| Light Cartridges for Deer by L. P. Brezny | 129 |
| All About the .45 Auto Rim by Robert H. Campbell | 134 |
| The Return of the Krieghoff Luger by Jim Dickson | 140 |
| Rifle Sights of Iron and Their Management by Sam Fadala | 146 |
| Military Rifle Accuracy: A Comparison by John T. Butters | 150 |
| The Top 20 Cartridges by Wayne Van Zwoll | 156 |
| An Inside Look at an American Classic: Speer Bullets by Steve Gash | 166 |
| The Smallest Revolvers by Jeff Quinn | 170 |
| Buying Bullet Alloy on the Internet by Kenneth L. Walters | 173 |
| The “Other 1911” – The Winchester 1911 Shotgun by John Malloy | 178 |
| Reports From The Field: | |
| Revolvers and Others by Jeff Quinn | 180 |
| Rifles by Tom Tabor | 192 |
| Semi Auto Pistols by John Malloy | 202 |
| Guns and Gear for Women by Gila Hayes | 216 |
| Muzzleloaders by Wm. Hovey Smith | 224 |
| Optics by Wayne Van Zwoll | 232 |
| Shotguns by John Haviland | 246 |
| Airguns by Tom Caceci | 256 |
| Editor's Picks by Dan Shideler | 266 |
| Gunsmithing Products by Kevin Muramatsu | 270 |
| Handloading by Larry Sterett | 274 |
| Ammunition, Ballistics and Components by Holt Bodinson | 284 |
| One Good Gun | |
| Pappy's Squirrel Gun by Steve Gash | 292 |
| My Nine Lives Mauser 98 by Andy Ewert | 297 |
| My Sporterized Mauser – At Last by Harvey T. Pennington | 300 |
| Only One by Andy Ewert | 307 |
| Marlin's 1894-CL Classic by John W. Rockefeller | 312 |
| The Mossberg 146B by Eric Matherne | 316 |
| Testfire | |
| The New S&W Shotguns by Dr. George E. Dvorchak, Jr. | 318 |
| The 4″-Barrel .45 Colt Ruger Redhawk Revolver by Jim Dickson | 322 |
| The Model 392 Benjamin/Crosman Air Rifle by Chris Libby | 328 |
| Pocket Parabellum: The 9mm Kel-Tec PF-9 Pistol by Jim Dickson | 332 |
| .22 LR Ammunition: CCI Standard Velocity by Mike Thomas | 336 |
| The Lyman Plains Pistol by Chris Libby | 342 |
| Ballistics Tables | |
| Average Centerfire Rifle Cartridge Ballistics & Prices | 348 |
| Centerfire Handgun Cartridge Ballistics & Prices | 355 |
| Rimfire Ammunition Ballistics & Prices | 358 |
| Shotshell Loads & Prices | 359 |
| Catalog of Arms and Accessories Contents | 361 |
| Handguns | |
| Autoloading | 362 |
| Competition | 387 |
| Double Action Revolvers | 390 |
| Single Action Revolvers | 398 |
| Miscellaneous | 404 |
| Rifles | |
| Centerfire – Autoloaders | 405 |
| Centerfire – Lever & Slide | 414 |
| Centerfire – Bolt Action | 419 |
| Centerfire – Single Shot | 434 |
| Drillings, Combination Guns, Double Rifles | 440 |
| Rimfire – Autoloaders | 442 |
| Rimfire – Lever & Slide Action | 445 |
| Rimfire – Bolt Actions & Single Shots | 446 |
| Competition – Centerfire & Rimfire | 450 |
| Shotguns | |
| Autoloaders | 454 |
| Slide & Lever Actions | 460 |
| Over/Unders | 464 |
| Side-by-Side | 471 |
| Bolt Actions & Single Shot | 474 |
| Military & Police | 476 |
| Blackpowder | |
| Single Shot Pistols – Flint & Percussion | 478 |
| Revolvers | 479 |
| Muskets & Rifles | 481 |
| Shotguns | 489 |
| Airguns | |
| Handguns | 490 |
| Long Guns | 492 |
| References | |
| Web Directory | 497 |
| Arms Library | 511 |
| Directory of the Arms Trade | |
| Manufacturer's Directory | 541 |
The Gun Digest – 2009 | |
| Table of Contents | |
| John T. Amber Literary Award | 3 |
| Introduction | 4 |
| Features | |
| Smith & Wesson's M&P Pistol For USPSA by Paul Scarlata | 8 |
| All You Need Is A 300 Savage by Harvey T. Pennington | 14 |
| Sorting 22 Rimfire Ammunition: Worth the Trouble? By Mike Thomas | 22 |
| Origins of the 220 Swift by Robert Keen | 27 |
| The Overlooked Savage Model 99 by David R. Pierce | 35 |
| The Double-Action Revolver for Concealed Carry by Jerry Ahern | 40 |
| The Art of Engraved & Custom Guns by Tom Turpin | 48 |
| Handgun Sights – Better than Ever! By Robert K. Campbell | 58 |
| A New Budget Rifle for an Old African Veteran, the 9.3×62 by Tom Turpin | 62 |
| The Forgotten 45 by Ron Terrell | 70 |
| The Punitive Expedition and Its Small Arms by James W. Hurst | 78 |
| The Rebirth of “Old Reliable” – The Sharps Rifle by Toby Bridges | 84 |
| Nitro Express by Terry Wieland | 93 |
| What Works – The Secrets of the Accurate Blackpowder Cartridge Revealed by Markus F. Moll and David J. Joses | 100 |
| The Ruger 10/22 Goes Tactical by Jerry Ahern | 107 |
| A.H. Hardy – Local Boy Makes Good by Jim Foral | 117 |
| About Dueling and Dueling Pistols by Norm Flayderman | 124 |
| Rifle Scopes That Make Sense by Wayne Van Zwoll | 132 |
| 30-30: Short Magnum for the Frontier by Wayne Van Zwoll | 139 |
| Cape Buffalo – Why Not? By Bill Pace | 146 |
| Testfire | |
| Sig Sauer's P250 by Dave Workman | 152 |
| Remington Arms R-15 VTR by L. P. Brezny | 156 |
| Ruger's Charming Charger by Dave Workman | 159 |
| Weatherby Mk. XXII by Layne Simpson | 162 |
| First Strike: Ruger SR9 by Brad Fitzpatrick | 165 |
| One Good Gun | |
| A Savage Model 99 by Jim Romanelli | 168 |
| Ruger Single Six by Steve Gash | 170 |
| Reports From The Field | |
| Autoloaders: Handguns Today by John Malloy | 172 |
| Six-guns & Others: Handguns Today by John Taffin | 186 |
| Rifles Today: Rifle Review by Layne Simpson | 198 |
| Shotguns Today: Shotgun Review by John Haviland | 206 |
| Today's Muzzleloading: Blackpowder Reiew by Wm. Hovey Smith | 210 |
| Hunting & Shooting Optics by Wayne Van Zwoll | 218 |
| Handloading Upday by Larry S. Sterett | 228 |
| The Guns of Europe: The New Walther PPS by Raymond Caranta | 235 |
| Ammunition, Ballistics & Components by Holt Bodinson | 238 |
| Ammunition Ballistic Charts & Prices Centerfire Rifle, Centerfire Handgun, Rimfire & Shotshell | 245 |
| Catalog of Arms and Accessories | |
| GUNDEX | 258 |
| Handguns | |
| Autoloaders, Service & Sport | 267 |
| Competition | 291 |
| Double Action Revolvers, Service & Sport | 294 |
| Single Action Revolvers | 301 |
| Miscellaneous | 308 |
| Centerfire Rifles | |
| Autoloaders | 310 |
| Lever & Slide | 321 |
| Bolt Action | 326 |
| Single Shot | 343 |
| Drillings, Combination Guns, Double Rifles | 353 |
| Rimfire Rifles | |
| Autoloaders | 355 |
| Lever & Slide Action | 358 |
| Bolt Actions & Single Shot | 360 |
| Competition Rifles | |
| Centerfire & Rimfire | 365 |
| Shotguns | |
| Autoloaders | 371 |
| Slide & Lever Actions | 379 |
| Over/Unders | 384 |
| Side-by-Side | 396 |
| Bolt Actions & Single Shots | 401 |
| Military & Police | 404 |
| Blackpowder | |
| Pistols: Single Shot, Flint & Percussion | 406 |
| Revolvers | 408 |
| Muskets & Rifles | 411 |
| Shotguns | 421 |
| Airguns | |
| Handguns | 422 |
| Long Guns | 424 |
| Accessories | |
| Metallic Cartridge Presses | 428 |
| Shotshell Reloading Presses | 435 |
| Scopes / Hunting, Target & Varmint | 438 |
| Laser Sights | 450 |
| Scope Rings & Bases | 452 |
| Metallic Sights | 458 |
| Spotting Scopes | 468 |
| Chokes & Brakes | 471 |
| Reference | |
| Website Directory | 472 |
| Periodical Publications | 483 |
| Arms Library | 486 |
| Arms Associations | 530 |
| Directory of the Arms Trade | |
| Table of Contents | 533 |
| Product & Service Directory | 534 |
| Manufacturer's Directory | 549 |
